American Influence in the International Financial Institutions

As the world becomes more globalized and the prosperity of new, rising powers begins to challenge that of long-standing powers, many scholars and policy-makers have begun to examine America’s place in the global political economy. Ongoing changes in the world politi­cal economy such as the flourishing economies in the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa), continued integration in Europe, as well as questions about eco­nomic policies derived from American dominated neoliberal ideology have raised many doubts regarding how long the United States can remain the world leader. The conventional wisdom holds that the United States has enough influence in these international organizations to both pass items the U.S. supports and block items that it opposes. This broader context of influence within international financial institutions leads to the more specific research question addressed in this study: is the United States able to block loans and other items that it does not support? This empirical analysis raises doubts about the prevailing ideas about American influence in these important multilateral banks. Through this combined data and analysis, the study is able to address where the U.S. stands with its influence in the MDBs and the World Bank

A transonic interactive boundary-layer theory for laminar and turbulent flow over swept wings

A 3-D laminar and turbulent boundary-layer method is developed for compressible flow over swept wings. The governing equations and curvature terms are derived in detail for a nonorthogonal, curvilinear coordinate system. Reynolds shear-stress terms are modeled by the Cebeci-Smith eddy-viscosity formulation. The governing equations are descretized using the second-order accurate, predictor-corrector finite-difference technique of Matsuno, which has the advantage that the crossflow difference formulas are formed independent of the sign of the crossflow velocity component. The method is coupled with a full potential wing/body inviscid code (FLO-30) and the inviscid-viscous interaction is performed by updating the original wing surface with the viscous displacement surface calculated by the boundary-layer code. The number of these global iterations ranged from five to twelve depending on Mach number, sweep angle, and angle of attack. Several test cases are computed by this method and the results are compared with another inviscid-viscous interaction method (TAWFIVE) and with experimental data

Understanding Current Signals Induced by Drifting Electrons

Consider an electron drifting in a gas toward a collection electrode. A common misconception is that the electron produces a detectable signal only upon arrival at the electrode. In fact, the situation is quite the opposite. The electron induces a detectable current in the electrode as soon as it starts moving through the gas. This induced current vanishes when the electron arrives at the plate. To illustrate this phenomenon experimentally, we use a gas-filled parallel plate ionization chamber and a collimated $^{241}$Am alpha source, which produces a track of a fixed number of ionization electrons at a constant distance from the collection electrode. We find that the detected signal from the ionization chamber grows with the electron drift distance, as predicted by the model of charge induction, and in conflict with the idea that electrons are detectable upon arrival at the collection plate.Comment: 21 pages, 12 figure

The Welfare of Children During the Great Depression

This paper examines the impact of New Deal relief programs on demographic outcomes in major U.S. cities during the 1930s. A five-equation structural model is estimated that tests the effect of the relief spending on infant mortality, non-infant mortality, and fertility. For 111 cities for which data on relief spending during the 1930s were available, we collected annual data that matched the relief spending to the demographic variables, socioeconomic descriptions of the cities, and retail sales, which serve as a proxy for the level of economic activity. Relief spending directly lowered infant mortality rates to the degree that changes in relief spending can explain nearly one-third of the decline in infant mortality during the 1930s. Relief spending also raised general fertility rates. Our estimates suggest that the cost of saving an infant life during this period ranged from $2 to 4.5 million dollars (measured in year 2000 dollars). This range is similar to that found in modern studies of the effect of Medicaid and is within the range of market values of human life.

Births, Deaths, and New Deal Relief during the Great Depression

This paper examines the impact of New Deal relief programs on infant mortality, noninfant mortality and general fertility rates in major U.S. cities between 1929 and 1940. We estimate the effects using a variety of specifications and techniques for a panel of 114 cities for which data on relief spending during the 1930s were available. The significant rise in relief spending during the New Deal contributed to reductions in infant mortality, suicide rates, and some other causes of death, while contributing to increases in the general fertility rate. Estimates of the relationship between economic activity and death rates suggest that many types of death rates were pro-cyclical, similar to Ruhm's (2000) findings for the modern U.S.. Estimates of the relief costs associated with saving a life (adjusted for inflation) are similar to estimates found in studies of modern social insurance programs.

On the Frequency of Potential Venus Analogs from Kepler Data

The field of exoplanetary science has seen a dramatic improvement in sensitivity to terrestrial planets over recent years. Such discoveries have been a key feature of results from the {\it Kepler} mission which utilizes the transit method to determine the size of the planet. These discoveries have resulted in a corresponding interest in the topic of the Habitable Zone (HZ) and the search for potential Earth analogs. Within the Solar System, there is a clear dichotomy between Venus and Earth in terms of atmospheric evolution, likely the result of the large difference ($\sim$ factor of two) in incident flux from the Sun. Since Venus is 95\% of the Earth's radius in size, it is impossible to distinguish between these two planets based only on size. In this paper we discuss planetary insolation in the context of atmospheric erosion and runaway greenhouse limits for planets similar to Venus. We define a ``Venus Zone'' (VZ) in which the planet is more likely to be a Venus analog rather than an Earth analog. We identify 43 potential Venus analogs with an occurrence rate (\eta_{\venus}) of $0.32^{+0.05}_{-0.07}$ and $0.45^{+0.06}_{-0.09}$ for M dwarfs and GK dwarfs respectively.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, 2 tables. Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal Letters. More information and graphics can be found at the Habitable Zone Gallery (http://hzgallery.org

Establishing Common Course Objectives for Undergraduate Exercise Physiology

Undergraduate exercise physiology is a ubiquitous course in undergraduate kinesiology/exercise science programs with a broad scope and depth of topics. It is valuable to explore what is taught within this course. The purpose of the present study was to facilitate an understanding of what instructors teach in undergraduate exercise physiology, how it compares with various guidelines, and to continue the conversation regarding what should be taught. A survey was created using course outcomes from the American Society of Exercise Physiologists, National Association for Sport and Physical Education, Ivy’s 2007 Quest article, the National Athletic Training Association, the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, and 36 undergraduate exercise physiology course syllabi. The 134-item survey was disseminated to individuals who use exercise physiology: university faculty members, clinical exercise physiologists, researchers, and other practitioners on various exercise physiology lists; 2,009 surveys were sent, and 322 surveys were completed (16% rate of return). There was a high degree of agreement about a lot of important content in undergraduate exercise physiology. Instructors of exercise physiology should focus their curriculum on regulation and homeostasis (including adaptation, fatigue, and recovery), aerobic systems, bioenergetics, muscle physiology, and fitness principles. In addition, attention should be paid to performance and technical skills. In conclusion, it is up to exercise physiologists to ensure quality of knowledge and practice. Doing so will improve the uniformity and quality of practitioners within the various kinesiology/ exercise science fields and increase the value of a Kinesiology/ Exercise Science degree and set it apart from other healthcare providers and fitness professionals

Making Students Do the Thinking: Team-Based Learning in a Laboratory Course

Team-based learning (TBL) is a teaching pedagogy for flipping the classroom that moves the focus of the classroom from the instructor conveying course concepts via lecture to the application of concepts by student teams. It has been used extensively in lecture courses; however, there is little evidence of its use in laboratory courses. The purpose of this report is to describe the implementation of TBL in a graduate exercise physiology laboratory course. Using TBL in a graduate laboratory course was very successful and well received by both the students and instructor. Students reported increased content learning, skill development, and retention. They took on the responsibility for learning and were more accountable. The learners drove the process and were guided by the instructor rather than through instructor-centered delivery

Teaching the Resistance Training Class: A Circuit Training Course Design for the Strength and Conditioning Coach

Strength and conditioning coaches in high schools and small colleges are asked to perform duties beyond working with athletes, including teaching resistance training courses. Many have not had teacher preparation. This article will address guidelines for physical activity and provide a course description and rationale for a circuit training program