Policy determinants of growth : survey of theory and evidence

This paper explores the broad themes of the literature on economic growth. It makesthe following two broad conclusions. First, it notes that the efficiency of investment is as important as the level of investment in determining growth performance. Secondly, it states that keeping to a minimum the distortion of resource allocation by government policies makes saving and investment more efficient and promotes long-term economic growth. Policies that contribute to the efficiency of investment and that lower distortions in resource allocation will thus generally encourage growth. Policies that promote investment, liberalize trade restrictions and remove distortions in financial markets are likely to raise a country's long-run rate of growth. It is noted, however, that more research is needed to formulate structural models of growth that give clear guidance on the effect of various policy measures.Achieving Shared Growth,Economic Theory&Research,Environmental Economics&Policies,Economic Growth,Governance Indicators

Investigation of the role of thermal boundary layer processes in initiating convection under the NASA SPACE Field Program

The current NWS ground based network is not sufficient to capture the dynamic or thermodynamic structure leading to the initiation and organization of air mass moist convective events. Under this investigation we intend to use boundary layer mesoscale models (McNider and Pielke, 1981) to examine the dynamic triggering of convection due to topography and surface thermal contrasts. VAS and MAN's estimates of moisture will be coupled with the dynamic solution to provide an estimate of the total convective potential. Visible GOES images will be used to specify incoming insolation which may lead to surface thermal contrasts and JR skin temperatures will be used to estimate surface moisture (via the surface thermal inertia) (Weizel and Chang, 1988) which can also induce surface thermal contrasts. We will use the SPACE-COHMEX data base to evaluate the ability of the joint mesoscale model satellite products to show skill in predicting the development of air mass convection. We will develop images of model vertical velocity and satellite thermodynamic measures to derive images of predicted convective potential. We will then after suitable geographic registration carry out a pixel by pixel correlation between the model/satellite convective potential and the 'truth' which are the visible images. During the first half of the first year of this investigation we have concentrated on two aspects of the project. The first has been in generating vertical velocity fields from the model for COHMEX case days. We have taken June 19 as the first case and have run the mesoscale model at several different grid resolutions. We are currently developing the composite model/satellite convective image. The second aspect has been the attempted calibration of the surface energy budget to provide the proper horizontal thermal contrasts for convective initiation. We have made extensive progress on this aspect using the FIFE data as a test data set. The calibration technique looks very promising

Small Firms and Superfund: Assessing the Impact

While all firms experience varying degrees of difficulty in complying with environmental regulations, small firms have their own set of special problems in dealing with environmental compliance. The lack of legal and engineering staffs, the management structure, and a high cost per unit of production to comply with environmental regulations implies a diversion of a small firm’s limited resources to formulating a cost effective response to the rapidly changing landscape of environmental regulations. The cornerstone of the shifting focus towards hazardous waste regulation, in terms of both actual and potential impacts, is the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, commonly referred to as Superfund. Given the unique liability features of Superfund, the objective of this research is to assess the impact of Superfund liability on the ability of small firms to raise capital, invest in plant and equipment, and to continue their role as the principal job generating segment of the U.S. economy

The Ursinus Weekly, October 30, 1950

Four fraternities institute rushing in first semester • Dr. Miller speaks to IRC on value of United Nations • Forum to present English economist next Monday night • Junior class to sponsor Shipwreck Ball Friday • Omwake goes to Virginia • Sportsmen meet in gym • Masquerade postponed • MSGA takes steps toward setting up dorm government • Discussion of domestic and political problems features rally • Sororities on campus open annual week of rushing • IRC to sponsor John C. Kunkel at open forum • Red Cross unit sets up five groups on campus • Philadelphia doctor presents program at pre-med meeting • Yost to present reading • Bud Buchanan is official doughnut-maker • Antiques are prime hobby of Mrs. Donald Helfferich • Outstanding Ursinus graduate honored at recent Pennsylvania week luncheon • Committee heads further work for Dusty Halo • Canterbury Club sponsors series of talks on marriage • Chesterfield announces contest for campus photographers • Y to present series of speakers in lieu of Emphasis Week • Alumnus awarded doctorate by Drew on Founders Day • MSGA fills two posts; Kern, Rearick selected • French Club to present program November 1 at Studio Cottage • Hockey team falls to Bryn Mawr, 2-1; JV Belles tie, 2-2 • F & M to provide strong opposition for Bruin eleven • Bears beat Seahawks 25-6 to continue surge: Fischer paces Grizzlies with long scoring runs • Soccer squad drops pair of decisions to Lincoln and Swarthmore booters • Belles get 5-0 win at William and Mary • Albright registers big 17-40 victory over Bear Harriers • Philadelphia Orchestra to give concerts at Academy of Music • Bachman talks at vespershttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/1550/thumbnail.jp

Precision delivery of RAS-inhibiting siRNA to KRAS driven cancer via peptide-based nanoparticles

Over 95% of pancreatic adenocarcinomas (PDACs), as well as a large fraction of other tumor types, such as colorectal adenocarcinoma, are driven by KRAS activation. However, no direct RAS inhibitors exist for cancer therapy. Furthermore, the delivery of therapeutic agents of any kind to PDAC in particular has been hindered by the extensive desmoplasia and resultant drug delivery challenges that accompanies these tumors. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) is a promising modality for anti-neoplastic therapy due to its precision and wide range of potential therapeutic targets. Unfortunately, siRNA therapy is limited by low serum half-life, vulnerability to intracellular digestion, and transient therapeutic effect. We assessed the ability of a peptide based, oligonucleotide condensing, endosomolytic nanoparticle (NP) system to deliver siRNA to KRAS-driven cancers. We show that this peptide-based NP is avidly taken up by cancer cell

Differential Eye Movements in Mild Traumatic Brain Injury vs. Normal Controls

Objective measures to diagnose and to monitor improvement of symptoms following mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) are lacking. Computerized eye tracking has been advocated as a rapid, user friendly and field ready technique to meet this need. Eye tracking data collected via a head mounted, video-based binocular eye tracker was used to examine saccades, fixations and smooth pursuit movement in 60 military Service Members with post concussive syndrome (PCS) and 26 asymptomatic control subjects in an effort to determine if eye movement differences could be found and quantified. The diagnosis of mTBI was confirmed by the study physiatrist’s history, physical examination, and a review of any medical records. Results demonstrated that subjects with symptomatic mTBI had statistically larger position errors, smaller saccadic amplitudes, smaller predicted peak velocities, smaller peak accelerations, and longer durations. Subjects with symptomatic mTBI were also less likely to follow a target movement (less primary saccades). In general, symptomatic mTBI tracked the stepwise moving targets less accurately, revealing possible brain dysfunction. A reliable, standardized protocol that appears to differentiate mTBI from normals was developed for use in future research. This investigation represents a step toward objective identification of those with PCS. Future studies focused on increasing the specificity of eye movement differences in those with PCS are needed

Effects of hyperbaric oxygen on eye tracking abnormalities in males after mild traumatic brain injury

The effects of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) on eye movement abnormalities in 60 military servicemembers with at least one mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) from combat were examined in a single-center, randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled, prospective study at the Naval Medicine Operational Training Center. During the 10 wk of the study, each subject was delivered a series of 40, once a day, hyperbaric chamber compressions at a pressure of 2.0 atmospheres absolute (ATA). At each session, subjects breathed one of three preassigned oxygen fractions (10.5%, 75%, or 100%) for 1 h, resulting in an oxygen exposure equivalent to breathing either surface air, 100% oxygen at 1.5 ATA, or 100% oxygen at 2.0 ATA, respectively. Using a standardized, validated, computerized eye tracking protocol, fixation, saccades, and smooth pursuit eye movements were measured just prior to intervention and immediately postintervention. Between- and within-groups testing of pre- and postintervention means revealed no significant differences on eye movement abnormalities and no significant main effect for HBO2 at either 1.5 ATA or 2.0 ATA equivalent compared with the sham-control. This study demonstrated that neither 1.5 nor 2.0 ATA equivalent HBO2 had an effect on postconcussive eye movement abnormalities after mTBI when compared with a sham-control

The Vascular Flora of Doolittle Prairie State Preserve - A Prairie Pothole Wetland Complex

Doolittle Prairie State Preserve is a 10 ha prairie pothole wetland complex located in Story County, central Iowa. A vascular flora of Doolittle Prairie is compiled and the prominent vegetation communities and zones described based on field observations by the authors and several additional investigators from 1982 to 1997. The preserve contains 14 shallow wetlands comprised of low prairie, wet meadow, and shallow emergent plant communities, as well as a disturbed prairie community and fence rows. These communities support a diverse vascular flora of 223 native species, plus 42 non-natives, representing 59 families and 178 genera. The Asteraceae (40), Poaceae (24), and Cyperaceae (22) families contained the greatest number of native plant species. The low prairie community has the highest number of species (104) and the greatest species overlap with the disturbed prairie and wet meadow communities. The fence row/parking area community contains the second highest number of species (101) and the greatest number of non-natives (33), with 78% of the species restricted to that community. Species number decreased in communities with increasing soil moisture. The wet meadow (46 species) and shallow emergent (14 species) communities contained the lowest number of species. A quantitative comparison of floristic composition was made between Doolittle Prairie and three other Iowa state preserves of similar size and vegetation community types. Floristic similarity between Doolittle Prairie and the other preserves ranged from 35-39%