REITs and Idiosyncratic Risk

This study examines various determinants of idiosyncratic risk from the perspective of un-diversified REIT investors, managers holding options, other option holders, and arbitrageurs. Since real estate investment trusts (REITs) enjoy a unique organizational structure and tax status, the relevant determinants derived from the two-stage regression model are different from other industrial firms. Results suggest that efficiency, liquidity and earnings variability are the important determinants of idiosyncratic risk, whereas size and capital do not

Stationarity and Co-Integration in Systems with Three National Real Estate Indices

This study examines the stochastic properties of the commercial real estate wealth indices for three countries (the U.S., Canada, and the U.K.) and for several property types (aggregate, office, retail, and industrial). Each of the indices is tested for a unit root and all series are found to be nonstationary. Furthermore, all indices also indicate the presence of both drift and trend. The results are strongest when the indices are tested in real estate and exchange rate-adjusted form. Application of Johansen's model indicates that the system for the three countries shows evidence of co-integration for the aggregate, retail, office, and industrial properties. Again, the evidence is the strongest when the indices are tested in real and exchange rate-adjusted form. Hence, it is conceivable that inflationary expectations may be the factor that provides the common linkage between commercial real estate across national boundaries.

Knowledge of IPM Practices among Cotton Growers of Sabarkantha District; Gujarat, India

India is the pioneer country for the commercial cultivation of hybrid cotton. Cotton is one of the principal commercial crops and has been one of the main sources of Indias economic growth and foreign exchange earner. Gujarat is the second largest cotton producing state of India. In Gujarat state Sabarkantha is also has major area under cotton crop. The study was conducted in Sabarkantha District of Gujarat State. Sabarkantha district was selected purposively on the basis of leading hybrid cotton growing area. Total sample size 240 respondents of cotton growers were selected from twelve villages of the district. The cotton crop is attacked by a number of insect, pests, diseases, nematodes and weeds. So, the aims of the study were to study the knowledge of cotton growers about IPM technology and find correlation between selected personal, socio-economic and psychological characteristics of cotton growers and their knowledge of IPM technology. A perusal of the data indicated that cotton growers had medium level of knowledge regarding IPM technology in cotton, In case of independent variable like age and land holding was found no-significant relationship with their knowledge level while selected remaining independent variables were found significant relationship with their knowledge level of farmer regarding IPM technology. DOI: 10.17762/ijritcc2321-8169.15020

Collusive behaviour in finite repeated games with bonding

In finite repeated games, it is not possible to enforce collusive behaviour using deterrent strategies because of the "unraveling" of cooperative behaviour in the last period. This paper demonstrates that under certain conditions collusion among the players can be maintained if they can post a bond which they must forfeit if they defect from the cooperative mode. We show that the incentives to cooperate increase as the period of interaction grows in that the size of the bond required to deter defection becomes arbitrarily small as the number of periods in the game increases

Appliction of nontraditional optimization techniques for airfoil shape optimization

The method of optimization algorithms is one of the most important parameters which will strongly influence the fidelity of the solution during an aerodynamic shape optimization problem. Nowadays, various optimization methods, such as genetic algorithm (GA), simulated annealing (SA), and particle swarm optimization (PSO), are more widely employed to solve the aerodynamic shape optimization problems. In addition to the optimization method, the geometry parameterization becomes an important factor to be considered during the aerodynamic shape optimization process. The objective of this work is to introduce the knowledge of describing general airfoil geometry using twelve parameters by representing its shape as a polynomial function and coupling this approach with flow solution and optimization algorithms. An aerodynamic shape optimization problem is formulated for NACA 0012 airfoil and solved using the methods of simulated annealing and genetic algorithm for 5.0 deg angle of attack. The results show that the simulated annealing optimization scheme is more effective in finding the optimum solution among the various possible solutions. It is also found that the SA shows more exploitation characteristics as compared to the GA which is considered to be more effective explorer

Meander Line EBG Based Multiband Antenna for WLAN and WiMAX application

There have been many investigations in the past regarding the design of multi- band antennas. A multiband antenna is the one in which the same antenna can be operated at different frequencies. There have been many approaches towards the design of the multiband antenna like stacked patches, parasitic patches, use of slots, shaping i.e., the use of notches, reactive loading, slot loaded patches etc. The use of slots is an easier approach towards the design of multiband an- tenna as there is a well defined theoretical approach towards the design of the slot antennas. These slots can be cut either in the patch or in the ground plane as needed for the application. Higher gain is an important requirement for an antenna and use of Electromagnetic Band-Gap structures(EBG) is one of the promising technique to achieve this. The present thesis work focuses on the design of multiband antenna as well as novel Electromagnetic Band-Gap structures and their integration for enhance- ment of the gain of the antenna at desired frequencies of operation. The multi- band antenna is designed by cutting slots in the ground plane and the Uniplanar EBG is employed for the gain enhancement. The Fractalized Meander Line EBG based Microstrip Patch Slot Antenna oper- ates in the 6-7 GHz (Extended C-Band) and has a fractional bandwidth of 13% , and it maintains the radiation characteristics in the desired band with gain rang- ing from 5.5 to 7 dB. The Meander Line EBG based Multiband Antenna operates in the WLAN and WiMAX bands at frequencies 2.4, 3.6, 5.2 GHz respectively having gain 3.5 , 4.2 and 6.19 d

Pro-inflammatory cytokines derived from West Nile virus (WNV)-infected SK-N-SH cells mediate neuroinflammatory markers and neuronal death

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>WNV-associated encephalitis (WNVE) is characterized by increased production of pro-inflammatory mediators, glial cells activation and eventual loss of neurons. WNV infection of neurons is rapidly progressive and destructive whereas infection of non-neuronal brain cells is limited. However, the role of neurons and pathological consequences of pro-inflammatory cytokines released as a result of WNV infection is unclear. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine the role of key cytokines secreted by WNV-infected neurons in mediating neuroinflammatory markers and neuronal death.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A transformed human neuroblastoma cell line, SK-N-SH, was infected with WNV at multiplicity of infection (MOI)-1 and -5, and WNV replication kinetics and expression profile of key pro-inflammatory cytokines were analyzed by plaque assay, qRT-PCR, and ELISA. Cell death was measured in SK-N-SH cell line in the presence and absence of neutralizing antibodies against key pro-inflammatory cytokines using cell viability assay, TUNEL and flow cytometry. Further, naïve primary astrocytes were treated with UV-inactivated supernatant from mock- and WNV-infected SK-N-SH cell line and the activation of astrocytes was measured using flow cytometry and ELISA.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>WNV-infected SK-N-SH cells induced the expression of IL-1β, -6, -8, and TNF-α in a dose- and time-dependent manner, which coincided with increase in virus-induced cell death. Treatment of cells with anti-IL-1β or -TNF-α resulted in significant reduction of the neurotoxic effects of WNV. Furthermore treatment of naïve astrocytes with UV-inactivated supernatant from WNV-infected SK-N-SH cell line increased expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein and key inflammatory cytokines.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our results for the first time suggest that neurons are one of the potential sources of pro-inflammatory cytokines in WNV-infected brain and these neuron-derived cytokines contribute to WNV-induced neurotoxicity. Moreover, cytokines released from neurons also mediate the activation of astrocytes. Our data define specific role(s) of WNV-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines and provide a framework for the development of anti-inflammatory drugs as much-needed therapeutic interventions to limit symptoms associated with WNVE.</p

A monoclinic polymorph of 4-(2H-1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-1-(4-methylphenyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-amine

The title compound, C17H15N3O2, is a monoclinic polymorph (P21/c with Z′ = 1) of the previously reported triclinic (P-1 with Z′ = 2) form [Gajera et al. (2013). Acta Cryst. E69, o736–o737]. The molecule in the monoclinic polymorph features a central pyrazolyl ring with an N-bound p-tolyl group and a C-bound 1,3-benzodioxolyl fused-ring system on either side of the C atom bearing the amino group. The dihedral angles between the central ring and the N- and C-bound rings are 50.06 (5) and 27.27 (5)°, respectively. The angle between the pendent rings is 77.31 (4)°, indicating the molecule has a twisted conformation. The five-membered dioxolyl ring has an envelope conformation with the methylene C atom being the flap. The relative disposition of the amino and dioxolyl substituents is syn. One of the independent molecules in the triclinic form has a similar syn disposition but the other has an anti arrangement of these substituents. In the crystal structure of the monoclinic form, molecules assemble into supramolecular helical chains via amino–pyrazolyl N—H...N hydrogen bonds. These are linked into layers via C—H...π interactions, and layers stack along the a axis with no specific interactions between them