Uncovered Interest Parity: Cross-sectional Evidence

This paper proposes a different empirical approach to estimate the UIP by analyzing a large number of cross-country bilateral exchange rates using cross-section analysis. Different from conventional time-series UIP, cross-sectional UIP is examined with single equation estimation and panel regression model estimation. The exchange rates analyzed here include a broad spectrum of countries: developed, developing, low inflation and high inflation countries. Based on the empirical evidence, there does not appear to be a well-publicized UIP puzzle for cross-sectional UIP, and the slope estimates remain largely between zero and one throughout the sample periods, with a few exceptions. Evidence of UIP is more clear for low inflation countries than for high inflation countries. As interest rate maturity becomes longer, UIP relationship becomes weaker.Uncovered interest parity, Cross-sectional UIP

Scalar Non-Luminous Matter in Galaxies

As a candidate for dark matter in galaxies, we study an SU(3) triplet of complex scalar fields which are non-minimally coupled to gravity. In the spherically symmetric static spacetime where the flat rotational velocity curves of stars in galaxies can be explained, we find simple solutions of scalar fields with SU(3) global symmetry broken to U(1) X U(1), in an exponential scalar potential, which will be useful in a quintessence model of the late-time acceleration of the Universe.Comment: 6 pages, no figure, LaTex. Submitted to IJMP

Predictive factors for breast cancer in patients diagnosed atypical ductal hyperplasia at core needle biopsy

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Percutaneous core needle biopsy (CNB) is considered to be the standard technique for histological diagnosis of breast lesions. But, it is less reliable for diagnosing atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH). The purpose of the present study was to predict, based on clinical and radiological findings, which cases of ADH diagnosed by CNB would be more likely to be associated with a more advanced lesion on subsequent surgical excision.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Between February 2002 and December 2007, consecutive ultrasound-guided CNBs were performed on suspicious breast lesions at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital. A total of 69 CNBs led to a diagnosis of ADH, and 45 patients underwent follow-up surgical excision. We reviewed the medical records and analyses retrospectively.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Sixty-nine patients were diagnosed with ADH at CNB. Of these patients, 45 underwent surgical excision and 10 (22.2%) were subsequently diagnosed with a malignancy (ductal carcinoma <it>in situ</it>, n = 8; invasive cancer, n = 2). Univariate analysis revealed age (≥ 50-years) at the time of core needle biopsy (p = 0.006), size (> 10 mm) on imaging (p = 0.033), and combined mass with microcalcification on sonography (p = 0.029) to be associated with underestimation. When those three factors were included in multivariate analysis, only age (p = 0.035, HR 6.201, 95% CI 1.135-33.891) was an independent predictor of malignancy.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Age (≥ 50) at the time of biopsy is an independent predictive factor for breast cancer at surgical excision in patients with diagnosed ADH at CNB. For patients diagnosed with ADH at CNB, only complete surgical excision is the suitable treatment option, because we could not find any combination of factors that can safely predict the absence of DCIS or invasive cancer in a case of ADH.</p

Effective Exchange Rate Classifications and Growth

We propose an econometric procedure for obtaining de facto exchange rate regime classifications which we apply to study the relationship between exchange rate regimes and economic growth. Our classification method models the de jure regimes as outcomes of a multinomial logit choice problem conditional on the volatility of a country's effective exchange rate, a bilateral exchange rate and international reserves. An `effective' de facto exchange rate regime classification is then obtained by assigning country-year observations to the regime with the highest predictive probability obtained from the estimation problem. An econometric investigation into the relationship between exchange rate regimes and GDP growth finds that growth is higher under stable currency-value regimes. Significant asymmetric effects on country growth from not doing what is said are found for nonindustrialized countries. Countries that exhibit `fear of floating' experience significantly higher growth.

The effects of floating islands planted with various hydrophytes for water quality improvement

This study was carried out for measurement of total nitrogen and total phosphorus removal effiency by each hydrophyte (Scirpus tabernaemontani, Iris pseudoacorus, Phragmites australis, Tyha angustifolia), control and All (Scirpus tabernaemontani, Iris pseudoacorus, Phragmites australis, Typha anfustifolia planted) 22 ℓ batch reactors. The highest total nitrogen removal efficiency was using 94.8% of All. The highest total phosphorus removal efficiency was 85.1% of Typha angustifolia. The effects of floating islands ont the changes in phytoplankton community structure were investigated in a small artificial pond. The floating islands planted with various emergent macrophytes coverd 35% of total water surface area of the pond. Total 17 genera and 25 species of phytoplankton were found in the pond, of which Dinophyceae was 1 genera and 1species, Cyanophyceae 1 genera and 1 species, Bacillariophycear 6 genera and 8 species, and Chlorophyceae 9 genera and 15 species. Dominant phytoplnaktons under floating islands were changes from Aphanizomenon sp. as a Cyanophycear for 56 days after the construction of floating islands on July 24, 2001. The changes of dominant phytoplanktons of the control without floating islands were similar to those under floating islands in July and August, but Aphanizomenon sp. was rapidly increased in the control sites in September. About 99% of the cell number of Aphanizomenon sp. was disappeared for a month after construction of floating islands. Our results showed that the floating islands could be a useful eco-technique for the control of water bloom by Cyanophyceae and Chlorophyceae in a pond ecosystem.Article信州大学山地水環境教育研究センター研究報告 2: 121-126(2004)departmental bulletin pape

Stability of wheat germ oil obtained by supercritical carbon dioxide associated with lipase ethanolysis

Wheat germ oil was extracted using an environmental friendly solvent, supercritical carbon dioxide (SCCO2) at a semi-batch flow extraction process. The supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) extraction was carried out to extract oil at temperature of 40°C and pressure of 25 MPa. Ethanolysis was performed with 1,3-regiospecific lipase at different temperatures (40 to 70°C) to produce diglycerides and monoglycerides containing fatty acid ethyl esters. For determination of stability, wheat germ oil obtained by ethanolysis reactants was characterized by measuring the acid value, peroxide value, free fatty acid contents, thiocyanate method, DPPH radical scavenging effect and rancimat test. The optimized condition of 40°C shows the highest oil stability among the various conditions.Keywords: Supercritical carbon dioxide, wheat germ oil, ethanolysis, immobilized lipases, oil stabilityAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(22), pp. 3570-357

Reply to "Comment on 'Scalar-tensor gravity coupled to a global monopole and flat rotation curves' "

In Brans-Dicke theory of gravity we explain how the extra constant value in the formula for rotation velocities of stars in a galactic halo can be obtained due to the global monopole field. We argue on a few points of the preceding Comment and discuss improvement of our model.Comment: 4 pages, RevTeX4 fil