AN EXPERIMENTAL ECONOMICS APPROACH TO ANALYZING PRICE DISCOVERY IN FORWARD AND SPOT MARKETS

Laboratory experiments are used to generate data that facilitate investigation of pricing behavior in forward and spot markets. Results suggest a tendency for prices in a spot market to converge to levels higher than those in a forward market. The difference in these market environments is the supply schedule. Buyers in a spot market are aware that supply is inelastic and become relatively aggressive bidders. Forward markets have a relatively elastic supply schedule and buyers fare better. This may motivate firms to promote forward markets and/or vertically integrate in the procurement of inputs.Experimental economics, Forward market, Price discovery, Spot market, Marketing,

SiGe HBT X-Band LNAs for Ultra-Low-Noise Cryogenic Receivers

We report results on the cryogenic operation of two different monolithic X-band silicon-germanium (SiGe) heterojunction bipolar transistor low noise amplifiers (LNAs) implemented in a commercially-available 130 nm SiGe BiCMOS platform. These SiGe LNAs exhibit a dramatic reduction in noise temperature with cooling, yielding Teff of less than 21 K (0.3 dB noise figure) across X-band at a 15 K operating temperature. To the authors’ knowledge, these SiGe LNAs exhibit the lowest broadband noise of any Si-based LNA reported to date

Star formation in the merging Galaxy NGC3256

The central 5 kpc of the ultra-luminous merging galaxy NGC 3256 was mapped at J, H, K, L, and 10 micrometer, and a 2 micrometer spectra of the nuclear region was obtained. This data was used to identify and characterize the super starburst which has apparently been triggered and fuelled by the merger of two gas rich galaxies. It is also shown that the old stellar population has relaxed into a single spheroidal system, and that a supernova driven wind might eventually drive any remaining gas from the system to leave a relic which will be indistinguishable from an elliptical galaxy

Double Arrays, Triple Arrays and Balanced Grids

Triple arrays are a class of designs introduced by Agrawal in 1966 for two-way elimination of heterogeneity in experiments. In this paper we investigate their existence and their connection to other classes of designs, including balanced incomplete block designs and balanced grids

Evaluating quality of life tools in North American patients with erythropoietic protoporphyria and X-linked protoporphyria.

BackgroundErythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) and X-linked Protoporphyria (XLP) are rare photodermatoses presenting with severe phototoxicity. Although anecdotally, providers who treat EPP patients acknowledge their life-altering effects, tools that fully capture their impact on quality of life (QoL) are lacking.MethodsAdult patients with EPP/XLP were given four validated QoL tools: the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System 57 (PROMIS-57), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Illness Perception Questionnaire Revised (IPQR), and an EPP-Specific tool. All patients received the PROMIS-57 while the HADS, IPQR, and EPP-Specific tools were introduced at a later date. Associations between responses and clinical phenotypes were explored.ResultsTwo hundred and two patients were included; 193 completed PROMIS-57, 104 completed IPQR, 103 completed HADS, and 107 completed the EPP-Specific tool. The IPQR showed that patients strongly believed EPP/XLP had a negative impact on their lives. Mean scores in anxiety and depression domains of both HADS and PROMIS-57 were normal; however, anxiety scores from HADS were borderline/abnormal in 20% of patients. The EPP-Specific tool revealed a decreased QoL in most patients. The PROMIS-57 showed that 21.8% of patients have clinically significant pain interference. Several tool domains correlated with measures of disease severity, most being from the PROMIS-57.ConclusionsImpaired QoL is an important consequence of EPP/XLP. PROMIS-57 was most sensitive in evaluating impaired QoL in EPP/XLP. Further research is needed to compare the effectiveness of it for assessing response to treatment

Type II supernova spectral diversity, II: spectroscopic and photometric correlations

We present an analysis of observed trends and correlations between a large range of spectral and photometric parameters of more than 100 type II supernovae (SNe II), during the photospheric phase. We define a common epoch for all SNe of 50 days post-explosion, where the majority of the sample is likely to be under similar physical conditions. Several correlation matrices are produced to search for interesting trends between more than 30 distinct light-curve and spectral properties that characterize the diversity of SNe II. Overall, SNe with higher expansion velocities are brighter, have more rapidly declining light curves, shorter plateau durations, and higher 56Ni masses. Using a larger sample than previous studies, we argue that "Pd" - the plateau duration from the transition of the initial to "plateau" decline rates to the end of the "plateau" - is a better indicator of the hydrogen envelope mass than the traditionally used optically thick phase duration (OPTd: explosion epoch to end of plateau). This argument is supported by the fact that Pd also correlates with s 3, the light-curve decline rate at late times: lower Pd values correlate with larger s 3 decline rates. Large s 3 decline rates are likely related to lower envelope masses, which enables gamma-ray escape. We also find a significant anticorrelation between Pd and s 2 (the plateau decline rate), confirming the long standing hypothesis that faster declining SNe II (SNe IIL) are the result of explosions with lower hydrogen envelope masses and therefore have shorter Pd values.Fil: Gutiérrez, Claudia P.. Universidad de Chile; Chile. University of Southampton; Reino Unido. European Southern Observatory Santiago; Chile. Millennium Institute Of Astrophysics; ChileFil: Anderson, Joseph P.. European Southern Observatory Santiago; ChileFil: Hamuy, Mario. Millennium Institute Of Astrophysics; Chile. Universidad de Chile; ChileFil: González Gaitan, Santiago. Universidad de Chile; Chile. Universidade de Lisboa; Portugal. Millennium Institute Of Astrophysics; ChileFil: Galbany, Lluis. University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown; Estados Unidos. University of Pittsburgh; Estados UnidosFil: Dessart, Luc. Universidad de Chile; ChileFil: Stritzinger, Maximilian D.. University Aarhus; DinamarcaFil: Phillips, Mark M.. Las Campanas Observatory; ChileFil: Morrell, Nidia. Las Campanas Observatory; ChileFil: Folatelli, Gaston. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Astronómicas y Geofísicas; Argentin

A national policy for malaria elimination in Swaziland: a first for sub-Saharan Africa

Swaziland is working to be the first country in mainland sub-Saharan Africa to eliminate malaria. The highest level of Swaziland's government recently approved a national elimination policy, which endorses Swaziland's robust national elimination strategic plan. This commentary outlines Swaziland's progress towards elimination as well as the challenges that remain, primarily around securing long-term financial resources and managing imported cases from neighbouring countries

Interdisciplinary Graduate Training in Teaching Labs

Modern research and training in the life sciences require cross-disciplinary programs, integrating concepts and methods from biology, physics, chemistry, and mathematics. We describe the structure and outcomes from an example of one such approach, the Physiology Course at the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, and discuss how similar intensive, team-building research courses are also being applied to improve graduate education in universities. These courses are based on teaching laboratories that have students address contemporary research questions by combining ideas and approaches from biology, computation, and physics

Lung Malignancy in Prostate Cancer: a Report of Both Metastatic and Primary Lung Lesions

Prostate cancer is the most common non-cutaneous malignancy diagnosed in men. When it metastasizes, it usually spreads to bone and/or lymph nodes. A handful of cases have described prostatic metastases to the lung; however, this is usually in the setting of existing bone lesions. Here we describe a unique case in which a patient was found to have both metastatic prostate cancer to the lung and a primary lung cancer in the absence of any other evidence of extra-prostatic disease

The Influence of Physical Activity on Monocyte Phenotype on Circulating Platelet-Monocyte Complexes in Overweight/Obese Persons

Elevated platelet-monocyte complexes (PMC) promote atherosclerosis and are associated with cardiovascular disease. It is unknown whether consistent physical activity (PA) decreases circulating PMCs. Additionally, no one has determined the monocyte phenotype most associated with PMCs. Purposes: 1) to examine the influence of PA on PMCs and their association with inflammatory /prothrombotic markers such as C-reactive protein (CRP), L-selectin (LS), platelet factor 4 (PF4), von Willebrand Factor (vWF), and hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) and 2) to determine the monocyte phenotype most likely to form PMCs. Methods: Thirty-one overweight/obese subjects (44±5yr, BMI 34.2±5 kg×m2) were divided into two groups: sedentary (SED, n=17) and physically active (PA, n=14) based on physical activity logs. SED participated in \u3c 1 h of formal exercise while PA participated in moderate-high intensity exercise at least 3 h per week. Flow cytometry was used to identify PMCs on the monocyte phenotypes: classical (CD14+CD16-), intermediate (CD14+CD16+), and non-classical (CD14+CD16++). Platelets were identified using the marker CD42a. Results: Percentage of circulating PMCs and median fluorescence intensity of CD42a (MedFI; marker of platelet density per monocyte) were not different between groups; however, monocyte phenotype significantly impacted PMC percentage and MedFI where the lower the CD16 expression, the greater the adhesion of platelets. Classical monocytes (CD16-) had the highest % of PMC, etc. (Fig 1). HbA1c was greater (p=0.031) and LS (p=0.019) was lower in SED compared to PA (Fig. 2). There were no significant associations between any blood marker and PMC percentage, but PF4 was correlated with percent of CD16 -(r= -0.482, p=0.031) and CD16+(r= 0.473, p=0.035) monocytes. Conclusions: The absence of a separation between groups in VO2max may partially explain the lack of a difference in PMCs between groups. Regarding our second aim, classical monocytes appear to be more involved in PMC formation than do CD16+ monocytes with CD16++ having the lowest percentage of cells with platelets adhered (PMC). This observation may be due to the shedding of adhesion molecules from platelets and monocytes during activation from classical (CD16-) to a more inflammatory state (ie. CD16+)