7,139 research outputs found
New Estimates and a Decomposition of Provincial Productivity Change in China
Productivity and efficiency change lies at the heart of some of the key challenges facing Chinaâs economy. This paper contributes to an understanding of TFP change by computing and decomposing provincial-level Hicks-Moorsteen (H-M) total factor productivity (TFP) indexes for the period 1978 to 2008. The H-M index is appealing because, unlike the more commonly-used Malmquist TFP index, it can be decomposed into unambiguous measures of technical change and efficiency change. The efficiency change component can be further decomposed into measures of pure technical, scale and mix efficiency change. We also make use of new capital stock estimates that have been computed using province-specific investment price deflators and capital stock depreciation rates. On average across provinces, we find evidence of moderate TFP growth, as well as large changes in the components of TFP growth over the sample period. Considerable heterogeneity from province to province is also documented both with respect to the rate of TFP growth and its components.
Observations of Dispersion Cancellation of Entangled Photon Pairs
An experimental study of the dispersion cancellation occurring in
frequency-entangled photon pairs is presented. The approach uses time-resolved
up conversion of the pairs, which has temporal resolution at the fs level, and
group-delay dispersion sensitivity of under
experimental conditions. The cancellation is demonstrated with dispersion
stronger than in the signal and idler
modes. The observations represent the generation, compression, and
characterization of ultrashort biphotons with correlation width as small as 6.8
times the degenerate optical period.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure
Financial Capability:New Evidence for Ireland
Recent increases in financial innovation, particularly in the Anglo-Saxon banking culture, have seen a considerable growth in the amount of financial products available to the general public. Simultaneously, many workers are increasingly assuming responsibility for planning for their future pensions. This allied to increased life expectancy necessitates a greater degree of financial capability amongst the general public. This study has empirically examined this issue for the first time in an Irish context. As such, this report follows a nascent literature internationally. The related issue of financial literacy has been studied for several years in the US while a major study of financial capability was completed in the UK in 2006. This report follows that UK study closely. This is the first major evidence on financial capability inIreland, conducted with a purpose-designed, in-depth, representative survey of just over 1,500 people.
Estimating Variable Returns to Scale Production Frontiers with Alternative Stochastic Assumptions
A stochastic production frontier model is formulated within the generalized production function framework popularized by Zellner and Revankar (1969) and Zellner and Ryu (1998). This framework is convenient for parsimonious modeling of a production function with variable returns to scale specified as a function of output. Two alternatives for introducing the stochastic inefficiency term and the stochastic error are considered, one where they are appended to the existing equation for the production relationship and one where the existing equation is solved for the log of output before the stochastic terms are added. The latter alternative is novel, but it is needed to preserve the usual definition of firm efficiency. The two alternative stochastic assumptions are considered in conjunction with two returns to scale functions, making a total of four models that are considered. A Bayesian framework for estimating all four models is described. The techniques are applied to USDA state-level data on agricultural output and four inputs. Posterior distributions for all parameters, firm efficiencies and the efficiency rankings of firms are obtained. The sensitivity of the results to the returns to scale specification and to the stochastic specification is examined.
Optimization of an Electromagnetic Energy Harvesting Device
This paper presents the modeling and optimization of an electromagnetic-based generator for generating power from ambient vibrations. Basic equations describing such generators are presented and the conditions for maximum power generation are described. Two-centimeter scale prototype generators, which consist of magnets suspended on a beam vibrating relative to a coil, have been built and tested. The measured power and modeled results are compared. It is shown that the experimental results confirm the optimization theory
Multi-physics ensemble snow modelling in the western Himalaya
Combining multiple data sources with multi-physics simulation frameworks offers new potential to extend snow model inter-comparison efforts to the Himalaya. As such, this study evaluates the sensitivity of simulated regional snow cover and runoff dynamics to different snowpack process representations. The evaluation is based on a spatially distributed version of the Factorial Snowpack Model (FSM) set up for the Astore catchment in the upper Indus basin. The FSM multi-physics model was driven by climate fields from the High Asia Refined Analysis (HAR) dynamical downscaling product. Ensemble performance was evaluated primarily using MODIS remote sensing of snow-covered area, albedo and land surface temperature. In line with previous snow model inter-comparisons, no single FSM configuration performs best in all of the years simulated. However, the results demonstrate that performance variation in this case is at least partly related to inaccuracies in the sequencing of inter-annual variation in HAR climate inputs, not just FSM model limitations. Ensemble spread is dominated by interactions between parameterisations of albedo, snowpack hydrology and atmospheric stability effects on turbulent heat fluxes. The resulting ensemble structure is similar in different years, which leads to systematic divergence in ablation and mass balance at high elevations. While ensemble spread and errors are notably lower when viewed as anomalies, FSM configurations show important differences in their absolute sensitivity to climate variation. Comparison with observations suggests that a subset of the ensemble should be retained for climate change projections, namely those members including prognostic albedo and liquid water retention, refreezing and drainage processes
Moving beyond the âlanguage problem': developing an understanding of the intersections of health, language and immigration status in interpreter-mediated health encounters
Health systems internationally are dealing with greater diversity in patient populations. However the focus on âthe language problemâ has meant little attention is paid to diversity within and between migrant populations; and how interpreted consultations are influenced by intersecting migratory, ethnicity and sociodemographic variables. Our analysis of the experiences of patients, health care providers and interpreters in Scotland evidences the need to move beyond language, addressing multiple hidden inequalities in health care access and provision that operate in both clinic and, especially, home-based settings. We call for a practice-evidenced research agenda promoting cultural communication across health care and home settings, acknowledging immigration status as a social determinant of health.
Sur le plan international, des systĂšmes de santĂ© font face Ă une diversitĂ© croissante dans ses populations de patients. Cependant, lâaccent sur âle problĂšme de langueâ se traduit dans une manque dâattention Ă la diversitĂ© a lâintĂ©rieur mĂȘme et entre des populations des migrants; et la façon par laquelle des variables migratoire, ethnique et sociodĂ©mographique influencent elles-mĂȘmes des consultations interprĂ©tĂ©es. Notre analyse des expĂ©riences des patients, des professionnels fournissant de soins de santĂ© et des interprĂštes offre des preuves du besoin de dĂ©passer le problĂšme de langue. Et en faisant cela, nous adressons des multiples inĂ©galitĂ©s, souvent cachĂ©es dans des contextes de soins de santĂ©, dans les milieux clinique et domicile. Nous proposons un programme de recherche basĂ© sur la pratique, qui favorise la communication culturelle dans des milieux clinique et domicile, et qui reconnait le statut dâimmigration comme un dĂ©terminant social de la santĂ©
A comparative study of angle dependent magnetoresistance in [001] and [110]
The angle dependent magnetoresistance study on [001] and [110] LaSrMnO thin films show that the anisotropy energy of [110]
films is higher when compared with a [001] oriented LaSrMnO film of similar thickness. The data has been analyzed in the light
of multidomain model and it is seen that this model correctly explains the
observed behavior.Comment: 8pages, 2 figure
First principles calculation of uniaxial magnetic anisotropy and magnetostriction in strained CMR films
We performed first - principles relativistic full-potential linearized
augmented plane wave calculations for strained tetragonal ferromagnetic
La(Ba)MnO with an assumed experimental structure of thin strained
tetragonal LaCaMnO (LCMO) films grown on SrTiO[001]
and LaAlO[001] substrates. The calculated uniaxial magnetic anisotropy
energy (MAE) values, are in good quantitative agreement with experiment for
LCMO films on SrTiO substrate. We also analyze the applicability of linear
magnetoelastic theory for describing the stain dependence of MAE, and estimate
magnetostriction coefficient .Comment: Talk given at APS99 Meeting, Atlanta, 199
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