Error Correction Exchange Rate Modeling for Mexico: 1980 – 2001

Error correction models are estimated for the nominal exchange rate between the Mexican peso and the United States dollar using quarterly data. Empirical estimation results exhibit weaknesses for all four specifications irrespective of the interest rate variable selected. Dynamic simulation properties of the models also exhibit problems. These results are similar to results obtained in earlier research for the peso using annual frequency data.Nominal exchange rates, Mexico, error correction modeling, Foreign Exchange

The reaction e+e- --> hh recomputed

We notice that the existing literature about the reaction e+e- --> hh suffers from a mistake in the relative sign between the t-channel and u-channel graphs. Correcting this lowers the crosssections by about an order of magnitude.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figure

Biomarker combination is necessary for the assessment of Gaucher disease?

Biomarkers are useful tools to help in disease diagnosis and follow-up. According to the US Food & Drug Administration, biomarkers are defined as measurable elements that can be used as indicators in normal biological and pathological processes, or in response to an exposure or therapeutic interventions. Molecular, histologic, radiographic or physiological characteristics are some of those biomarkers (www.fda.gov). The term biomarker is currently being applied to molecular markers that define a specific biological status (1). Considering these factors, the “ideal” biomarker should fulfill susceptibility/risk, be reliable, and can be used for diagnosis, monitoring, prognosis, prediction and pharmacodynamic response. Some useful biomarkers such as the number of BCR/ABL transcripts in chronic myeloid leukemia serve as sensitive indicators that help in the monitoring of the molecular response, a quantitative instrument to monitor the long-term molecular response to therapy (2) or for example the serum concentration of M-component in monoclonal gammopathies ..

Role of the oxygen plasma during in situ growth of YBa2Cu3O6+x thin films by pulsed laser deposition

The incorporation of oxygen into YBa2Cu3O6+x (YBaCuO) thin films during in situ growth by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) has been investigated as a function of the ablation conditions. A quenching technique has been used immediately after termination of growth to avoid any oxygen in or out-diffusion during the cooling down step. It is shown that superconducting YBaCuO thin films can be formed without any post-oxygenation procedure, contrary to what is expected from the (Image, T) thermodynamic diagram. Moreover, it is found that there is an optimal target-substrate distance, D, for each O2 deposition pressure, Image, that leads to the higher critical temperature (i.e., higher oxygenation) as well as to the best structural and morphological properties of quenched films. The results are discussed considering the formation of reactive oxygen in the laser-induced plasma during film growth

Modelling effects of an asphalt road at a dike crest on dike cover erosion onset during wave overtopping

Structures integrated in a grass-covered dike may increase erosion development. Currently, safety assessment methods for flood defences are only applicable for a conventional grass-covered dike and the effects of structures on dike cover erosion are poorly understood. Since many dikes have a road on top, it is important to study the effect of such a road structure on erosion onset during wave overtopping. To investigate this effect, a coupled hydrodynamic–eroison model was developed. The erosion onset caused by overtopping waves was predicted by combining the time-varying bed shear stresses from the hydrodynamic model with a depth-dependent erosion model. The results show that roads on top of a dike increase the erosion of the neighbouring grass cover. This increase in erosion may have a negative impact on dike stability. Therefore, we recommend considering effects of constructions on top of dike profiles during safety assessments. Explicitly, consideration of the roughness transitions in the safety assessments of dikes is recommende