Performance Evaluation of the New Connecticut Leading Employment Index Using Lead Profiles and BVAR Models.

Dua and Miller (1996) created leading and coincident employment indexes for the state of Connecticut, following Moore's (1981) work at the national level. The performance of the Dua-Miller indexes following the recession of the early 1990s fell short of expectations. This paper performs two tasks. First, it describes the process of revising the Connecticut Coincident and Leading Employment Indexes. Second, it analyzes the statistical properties and performance of the new indexes by comparing the lead profiles of the new and old indexes as well as their out-of-sample forecasting performance, using the Bayesian Vector Autoregressive (BVAR) method. The new coincident index shows improved performance in dating employment cycle chronologies. The lead profile test demonstrates that superiority in a rigorous, non-parametric statistic fashion. The mixed evidence on the BVAR forecasting experiments illustrates the truth in the Granger and Newbold (1986) caution that leading indexes properly predict cycle turning points and do not necessarily provide accurate forecasts except at turning points, a view that our results support.Business cycles, leading and coincident employment indexes, turning points, BVAR Models

Self-consistent variational theory for globules

A self-consistent variational theory for globules based on the uniform expansion method is presented. This method, first introduced by Edwards and Singh to estimate the size of a self-avoiding chain, is restricted to a good solvent regime, where two-body repulsion leads to chain swelling. We extend the variational method to a poor solvent regime where the balance between the two-body attractive and the three-body repulsive interactions leads to contraction of the chain to form a globule. By employing the Ginzburg criterion, we recover the correct scaling for the $\theta$-temperature. The introduction of the three-body interaction term in the variational scheme recovers the correct scaling for the two important length scales in the globule - its overall size $R$, and the thermal blob size $\xi_{T}$. Since these two length scales follow very different statistics - Gaussian on length scales $\xi_{T}$, and space filling on length scale $R$ - our approach extends the validity of the uniform expansion method to non-uniform contraction rendering it applicable to polymeric systems with attractive interactions. We present one such application by studying the Rayleigh instability of polyelectrolyte globules in poor solvents. At a critical fraction of charged monomers, $f_c$, along the chain backbone, we observe a clear indication of a first-order transition from a globular state at small $f$, to a stretched state at large $f$; in the intermediate regime the bistable equilibrium between these two states shows the existence of a pearl-necklace structure.Comment: 7 pages, 1 figur

Penerapan Cost Volume Profit Analysis Sebagai Dasar Perencanaan Penjualan Pada Tingkat Laba Yang Diharapkan (Studi Pada Perusahaan Paving Block CV Eterna Mergosono Malang)

Research is aimed to know the application of cost volume profit analyisis at CV ETERNA Mergosono Malang in 2014 as the basis for planning sales at a profit expected in 2015. The research is done to paving block companies CV ETERNA Mergosono Malang. Data analysis used is Classify all costs at the company into fixed costs, variable costs, and mixed costsSeparating the mixed cost with the least square methods. Counting the break even point (BEP). Planning sales in level expected profit. Determine the margin of safety. Technique data collection use documentation of a financial statement CV ETERNA Mergosono Malang. The result of this research is based on BEP value obtained CV ETERNA 2014 which 27.617 m2 with income Rp 1.374.226.818,00, then CV ETERNA set the profit increase for 2015 of 18 %. To reach net profit was, companies should able to reach sales of 45.111,40 m2 or Rp 2.244.750.683,00, with the margin of safety value of 17.494,40 m2 or Rp 870.523.865,00

Discrete Formulation for Multi-objective Optimal Design of Produced Water Treatment

Produced Water is naturally occurring water that is brought to the surface during the extraction of the oil and gas and it constitutes the largest waste stream in the oil and gas industry. In offshore platforms, the majority of the produced water is discharged into the ocean, threatening marine life. The treatment of produced water is attractive, not only to meet regulations but to secure a potential source of fresh water. The design of water treatment should consider economic, environmental, and social aspects. This paper presents a discrete model for the evolution of oil droplet distribution due to breakage and coalescence phenomena. The discrete model combined with a superstructure representation for process design results in a mixed integer non-linear program which is solved using a nature-inspired meta-heuristic optimization method

Preparation, Characterization and In Vitro Evaluation of Aceclofenac Solid Dispersions

The objective of the present investigation was to study the effect of various water soluble carriers like urea, mannitol, PVP and PVP/VA-64 on in vitro dissolution of aceclofenac from solid dispersions. Aceclofenac binary solid dispersions (SD) with different drug loadings were prepared using the melting or fusion method. In vitro dissolution of pure drug, physical mixtures and solid dispersions were carried out. Solid dispersion of aceclofenac with all four carriers (urea, mannitol, PVP and PVP/VA-64) showed considerable increase in the dissolution rate in comparison with physical mixture and pure drug in 0.1 N HCl, pH1.2 and phosphate buffer, pH, 7.4. Solid dispersions containing PVP showed maximum dissolution rate in comparison to formulation containing urea, mannitol and PVP/VA-64. Amorphous nature of the drug in solid dispersion was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy and a decrease in enthalpy of drug melting in solid dispersion compared to the pure drug. FT-IR spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry studies indicated no interaction between aceclofenac and carriers in solid dispersions in solid state. Dissolution enhancement was attributed to decreased crystallinity of the drug and to the wetting, eutectic formation and solubilizing effect of the carrier from the solid dispersions of aceclofenac. In conclusion, dissolution of aceclofenac can be enhanced by the use of various hydrophilic carriers like urea, mannitol, PVP and PVP/VA-64

Pengaruh Pembangunan Pusat Kuliner Kalimadu terhadap Kinerja Simpang Empat Tak Bersinyal di Kota Gorontalo

Salah satu lokasi simpang dengan adanya pusat Kuliner Kalimadu mengakibatkanbanyaknya jumlah kendaraan yang melewati simpang tersebut, khususnya simpangempat tak bersinyal yang merupakan pertemuan antara ruas Jalan Madura-Jalan Iriandan ruas Jalan Madura-Jalan Makassar-Jalan Kenangan-Jalan Sulawesi. Tujuanpenelitian yaitu menganalisis kinerja simpang pada kondisi eksisting, memprediksikinerja simpang pada masa operasional, dan masa pasca operasional untuk 5 tahun kedepan. Lokasi penelitian pada simpang empat tak bersinyal Jalan Madura-Jalan Iriandan simpang empat tak bersinyal Jalan Madura-Jalan Makassar-Jalan Kenangan-JalanSulawesi. Penelitian ini dilakukan selama tiga hari pengamatan, selama 14 jam mulaipukul 06.00-20.00 WITA. Data primer dalam penelitian ini adalah data geometrisimpang, volume lalu lintas. Data sekunder adalah data jumlah penduduk KotaGorontalo. Analisis ini menggunakan metode MKJI 1997. Berdasarkan hasil analisiskinerja simpang empat tak bersinyal Jalan Madura-Jalan Irian menunjukkan bahwa nilaitundaan (D) pada kondisi eksisting tahun 2021 sebesar 9,84 det/smp, pada masaoperasional tahun 2022 sebesar 10,37 det/smp, dan kondisi 5 tahun ke depan setelahberoperasinya Kuliner Kalimadu sebesar 10,67 det/smp, pada simpang empat JalanMadura-Jalan Makassar-Jalan Kenangan-Jalan Sulawesi nilai tundaan (D) pada kondisieksisting tahun 2021 sebesar 8,93 det/smp, pada masa operasional tahun 2022 sebesar9,23 det/smp, dan kondisi 5 tahun ke depan setelah beroperasinya Kuliner Kalimadusebesar 9,79 det/smp

Toxicity of Vernonia anthelmintica Linn. (Asteracea) seeds against mosquitoes vectors

The Toxicological activity (larvicidal, adulticidal and repellent toxicity) of Vernonia anthelmintica seeds fraction was tested against different species of mosquito vectors viz, malaria (Anopheles culicifacies and Anopheles stephensi), filaria (Culex quinquefasciatus) and dengue (Aedes aegypti). The larvicidal toxicity of Vernonia anthelmintica seeds fraction was evaluated against the early 4th instars larvae of different mosquitoes species. Mean LC50 value of the column fraction KAL-4 from seeds of V. anthelmintica against the larvae of An. culicifacies, An. stephensi, Culex quinquifaciatus and Aedes aegpyti were found to be 64 ppm, 70 ppm, 143 ppm and 166 ppm respectively. The larvicidal toxicity was more against An. culicifacies, An. stephensi than Culex quinquifaciatus and Aedes aegypti. The seed extracts did not show any adulticidal toxicity and repellent toxicity even at 10% concentrated impregnated paper and 5% on human hand, respectively

Quantifying engineered nanomaterial toxicity: comparison of common cytotoxicity and gene expression measurements

BACKGROUND: When evaluating the toxicity of engineered nanomaterials (ENMS) it is important to use multiple bioassays based on different mechanisms of action. In this regard we evaluated the use of gene expression and common cytotoxicity measurements using as test materials, two selected nanoparticles with known differences in toxicity, 5 nm mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA)-capped InP and CdSe quantum dots (QDs). We tested the effects of these QDs at concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 160 µg/mL on cultured normal human bronchial epithelial (NHBE) cells using four common cytotoxicity assays: the dichlorofluorescein assay for reactive oxygen species (ROS), the lactate dehydrogenase assay for membrane viability (LDH), the mitochondrial dehydrogenase assay for mitochondrial function, and the Comet assay for DNA strand breaks. RESULTS: The cytotoxicity assays showed similar trends when exposed to nanoparticles for 24 h at 80 µg/mL with a threefold increase in ROS with exposure to CdSe QDs compared to an insignificant change in ROS levels after exposure to InP QDs, a twofold increase in the LDH necrosis assay in NHBE cells with exposure to CdSe QDs compared to a 50% decrease for InP QDs, a 60% decrease in the mitochondrial function assay upon exposure to CdSe QDs compared to a minimal increase in the case of InP and significant DNA strand breaks after exposure to CdSe QDs compared to no significant DNA strand breaks with InP. High-throughput quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) data for cells exposed for 6 h at a concentration of 80 µg/mL were consistent with the cytotoxicity assays showing major differences in DNA damage, DNA repair and mitochondrial function gene regulatory responses to the CdSe and InP QDs. The BRCA2, CYP1A1, CYP1B1, CDK1, SFN and VEGFA genes were observed to be upregulated specifically from increased CdSe exposure and suggests their possible utility as biomarkers for toxicity. CONCLUSIONS: This study can serve as a model for comparing traditional cytotoxicity assays and gene expression measurements and to determine candidate biomarkers for assessing the biocompatibility of ENMs.1R01GM84702-01 - National Institute of General Medical Science

Therapeutic prospects of microRNAs in cancer treatment through nanotechnology

© 2017, Controlled Release Society. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) represent a new class of diagnostic and prognostic biomarker as well as new therapeutic targets in cancer therapy. miRNAs are gaining significant interest due to extensive advancements in knowledge since their discovery and, more recently, their translational application as therapeutic moieties and targets in the management of disease. miRNAs used in the treatment of cancer would position them as a new class of emerging therapeutic agents. Indeed, numerous candidate miRNAs have been identified as having therapeutic application in the treatment of cancer, but there is still much to learn about how to transform these into effective, patient-compliant, and targeted drug delivery systems. In this mini review, we discuss the utility and potential of nanotechnology in miRNA formulation and delivery with particular emphasis on cancer, including their role in conferring multidrug resistance and metastatic capacity. This review benefits both the formulation and biological scientists in understanding and exploring the new vistas of miRNA delivery using nanotechnology in the cancer clinically