Institutions and Foreign Investment: China versus the World

Weak institutions ought to deter foreign direction investment (FDI), and mass media stories highlight China's institutional deficiencies, yet China is now one of the world's largest FDI destinations. This incongruity characterizes China's paradoxical growth. Cross-country regressions show that China's FDI inflow is not exceptionally large, given the quality of its institutions and its economic track record. Institutions clearly determine a country's allure as an FDI destination, but standard measures of institutional quality can be problematic for countries undergoing rapid institutional development, and can usefully be augmented by economic track record measures. Deng Xiaoping's 1993 "southern tour" heralded sweeping reforms, and this regime shift is insufficiently reflected in commonly used measures of institutional quality. China's FDI inflow surge after these reforms resembles similar post-regime shift surges in the East Bloc, and so is also unexceptional. Recent arguments that China's FDI inflow is inefficiently large because weak institutions deter domestic investment while special initiatives attract FDI are thus either unsupported or not unique to China.

Spectral Properties of the Overlap Dirac Operator in QCD

We discuss the eigenvalue distribution of the overlap Dirac operator in quenched QCD on lattices of size 8^{4}, 10^{4} and 12^{4} at \beta = 5.85 and \beta = 6. We distinguish the topological sectors and study the distributions of the leading non-zero eigenvalues, which are stereographically mapped onto the imaginary axis. Thus they can be compared to the predictions of random matrix theory applied to the \epsilon-expansion of chiral perturbation theory. We find a satisfactory agreement, if the physical volume exceeds about (1.2 fm)^{4}. For the unfolded level spacing distribution we find an accurate agreement with the random matrix conjecture on all volumes that we considered.Comment: 16 pages, 8 figures, final version published in JHE

On the effects of (partial) quenching on penguin contributions to K-> pi pi

Recently, we pointed out that chiral transformation properties of strong penguin operators change in the transition from unquenched to (partially) quenched QCD. As a consequence, new penguin-like operators appear in the (partially) quenched theory, along with new low-energy constants, which should be interpreted as a quenching artifact. Here, we extend the analysis to the contribution of the new low-energy constants to the K^0 -> pi^+ pi^- amplitude, at leading order in chiral perturbation theory, and for arbitrary (momentum non-conserving) kinematics. Using these results, we provide a detailed discussion of the intrinsic systematic error due to this (partial) quenching artifact. We also give a simple recipe for the determination of the leading-order low-energy constant parameterizing the new operators in the case of strong $LR$ penguins.Comment: 17 pages, 1 figure, minor correction

The modified retrosigmoid approach: a how I do it

BACKGROUND: The traditional retrosigmoid (RS) approach provides limited exposure of the inferior compartment of the CPA, while radical skull base approaches are demanding and associated with significant morbidity. METHODS: This study outlines the relevant surgical anatomy and the different surgical steps of a modified retrosigmoid (MRS) approach. RESULTS: The MRS provides enhanced exposure of the CPA and deep vascular structures resulting from a modified RS craniotomy and limited exposure of the sigmoid sinus. CONCLUSION: In selected posterior fossa lesions, this cisternal approach is a straightforward corridor that can be routinely performed as a safe alternative to radical cranial base approaches

Low-energy couplings of QCD from topological zero-mode wave functions

By matching 1/m^2 divergences in finite-volume two-point correlation functions of the scalar or pseudoscalar densities with those obtained in chiral perturbation theory, we derive a relation between the Dirac operator zero-mode eigenfunctions at fixed non-trivial topology and the low-energy constants of QCD. We investigate the feasibility of using this relation to extract the pion decay constant, by computing the zero-mode correlation functions on the lattice in the quenched approximation and comparing them with the corresponding expressions in quenched chiral perturbation theory.Comment: 31 pages. v2: references and a small clarification added; published versio

Vertical Integration, Institutional Determinants and Impact: Evidence from China

Where legal systems and market forces enforce contracts inadequately, vertical integration can circumvent these transaction difficulties. But, such environments often also feature highly interventionist government, and even corruption. Vertical integration might then enhance returns to political rent-seeking aimed at securing and extending market power. Thus, where political rent seeking is minimal, vertical integration should add to firm value and economy performance; but where political rent seeking is substantial, firm value might rise as economy performance decays. China offers a suitable background for empirical examination of these issues because her legal and market institutions are generally weak, but nonetheless exhibit substantial province-level variation. Vertical integration is more common where legal institutions are weaker and where regional governments are of lower quality or more interventionist. In such provinces, firms led by insiders with political connections are more likely to be vertically integrated. Vertical integration is negatively associated with firm value if the top corporate insider is politically connected, but weakly positively associated with public share valuations if the politically connected firm is independently audited. Finally, provinces whose vertical integrated firms tend to have politically unconnected CEOs exhibit elevated per capita GDP growth, while provinces whose vertically integrated firms tend to have political insiders as CEOs exhibit depressed per capita GDP growth.

Predictive Factors of Poor Prognosis After Surgical Management of Traumatic Acute Subdural Hematomas: A Single-Center Series

BACKGROUND: Traumatic acute subdural hematomas (ASDHs) showed the highest mortality of intracranial hematomas. The aim of the current study was to identify predictive factors of poor prognosis among patients who were operated on. METHODS: This is a single-center retrospective cohort study of 82 patients who underwent surgical evacuation of a traumatic ASDH between January 2009 and December 2016. The epidemiologic, clinical, radiologic, and surgical features were recorded. Postoperative outcome were assessed by the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) score at 6 months. Univariate and multivariate analysis and a classification and regression tree (CART) were performed. RESULTS: At 6 months, 76% of patients achieved an unfavorable outcome (GOS score 1-3). The context of polytrauma (P = 0.03) and ASDH thickness ≥20 mm (P = 0.02) were significantly associated with poor outcome in the multivariate analysis. The CART algorithm isolated 3 subgroups of patients with an unfavorable prognosis: polytrauma (91%), isolated head injury (HI) featuring an ASDH thickness ≥20 mm (89%), or isolated HI featuring a thickness <20 mm in a patient older than 54 years (71%). Isolated patients with HI younger than 54 years harboring an ASDH <20 mm thick had the most promising results, with 53% with a GOS score of 4 or 5. CONCLUSIONS: The context of polytrauma, ASDH thickness, and age were major predictive factors of poor prognosis in patients with surgically evacuated traumatic ASDH. The CART algorithm using these features isolated subgroups with decreasingly unfavorable outcome, providing a relevant statistical tool to apply to future studies of traumatic ASDH

Toward the development of 3-dimensional virtual-reality video tutorials in the French neurosurgical residency program

BACKGROUND: The present study developed 3D video tutorials with commentaries, using virtual-reality headsets (VRH). VRHs allow 3D visualization of complex anatomy from the surgeon\u27s point of view. Students can view the surgery repeatedly without missing the essential steps, simultaneously receiving advice from a group of experts in the field. METHODS: A single-center prospective study assessed surgical teaching using 3D video tutorials designed for French neurosurgery and ENT residents participating in the neuro-otology lateral skull-base workshop of the French College of Neurosurgery. At the end of the session, students filled out an evaluation form with 5-point Likert scale to assess the teaching and the positive and negative points of this teaching tool. RESULTS: 22 residents in neurosurgery (n=17, 81.0%) and ENT (n=5) were included. 18 felt that the 3D video enhanced their understanding of the surgical approach (81.8 %). 15 (68.2%) thought the video provided good 3D visualization of anatomical structures and 20 that it enabled better understanding of anatomical relationships (90.9%). Most students had positive feelings about ease of use and their experience of the 3D video tutorial (n=14, 63.6%). 20 (90.9%) enjoyed using the video. 12 (54.5%) considered that the cadaver dissection workshop was more instructive. CONCLUSIONS: 3D video via a virtual reality headset is an innovative teaching tool, approved by the students themselves. A future study should evaluate its long-term contribution, so as to determine its role in specialized neurosurgery and ENT diploma courses

Finite-volume meson propagators in quenched chiral perturbation theory

We compute meson propagators in finite-volume quenched chiral perturbation theory.Comment: 3 pages, Lattice2001(chiral fermions

Another determination of the quark condensate from an overlap action

I use the technique of Hernandez, et al (hep-lat/0106011) to convert a recent calculation of the lattice-regulated quark condensate from an overlap action to a continuum-regulated number. I find Sigma(MSbar)(mu = 2 GeV) = (282(6) MeV)-cubed times (a-inverse/1766 MeV)-cubed from a calculation with the Wilson gauge action at beta=5.9.Comment: 3 pages, Revtex, 1 postscript figure. References added. COLO-HEP-47