Financial Policies

This United Nations Policy Note on Financial Policies provides practical guidance on how to operationalize alternative equitable and employment-generating financial policies in National Development Strategies. This Policy Note has been developed in cooperation with UN agencies, and has been officially reviewed by distinguished academics/ development specialists such as Jose Antonio Ocampo, Jomo K.S. and Nobel Laureate Joseph Stiglitz.financial policies, development planning

Moving Signals and Their Measured Frequencies

In determining the classical Doppler Effect, two assumptions are used for computing the difference in distance travelled by consecutive signals: (a) the receptor is stationary, and (b) the emitter is stationary. The calculated Doppler Effect under the two assumptions are identical, provided the velocity of propagation with respect to source and the velocity of propagation with respect to the receptor differ exactly by the velocity of relative motion. We show that, in the case of light, the ratio of the two calculated classical Doppler Effects, with propagation speed c in the source and receptor inertial frames respectively, remains constant in all geometries and orientations. Furthermore, the observed Doppler Effect, as predicted by special relativity, is the geometric mean of the two expected classical Doppler Effects in all geometries and orientations. This leads to two simultaneous conclusions: (1) by the receptor that the clock associated with the emitter runs slow, and (2) by the emitter that the clock associated with the receptor runs slow. These differences can be resolved if we theorize that light travels at speed c with respect to the emitter as it leaves the emitter and travels at speed c with respect to the receptor as it approaches the receptor.Comment: Revised in accordance with peer review process; Published August 2013 in Int. J. Engg. Res. & Sci & Tech 2(3) pp 24-3

Differing perceptions on the landing of the rod into the slot

In the usual rod and slot paradox, the rod, if it falls, was expected to fall into the slot due to gravity. Many thought experiments have been conducted where the presence of gravity is eliminated with the rod and slot approaching each other along a line joining their centers, whereby the considerations come strictly under Special Relativity. In these experiments the line of motion is not parallel to either the axis of the rod or the slot. In this paper we consider in detail the two cases when the rod does fall into the slot and when the rod does not fall into the slot, each from the perspective of the co-moving frames of the rod and the slot. We show that whether the rod falls into the slot as determined by Galilean kinematics is also valid under relativistic kinematics; this determination does not depend upon the magnitude of the velocity, but only on the proper lengths and the proper angles of the rod and slot with the line of motion. Our conclusion emphasizes the fact that the passing (or crashing) of the rod as a wholesome event is unaffected by relativistic kinematics. We also provide a simple formula to determine whether or not the rod passes through the slot.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figure

Identification of sources and extent of weathering of tar-balls from the eastern seaboard of peninsular malaysia using hopanes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons as molecular marker

Oil pollution is considered to be one of the major contributors to marine pollution. The threat that oil pollution poses to the marine environment is extremely dangerous to its ecosystem. The South China Sea region is blessed with crude oil and has a proven oil reserves. Leaks and contaminations by oil fields are usually contributing factor to oil pollution in the region. However other major contributing factors like tanker accidents and ballast water is also substantial. Once oil is spilled to the ocean, the oil will go through many physical and biological processes like evaporation, emulsification, dissolution and microbial degradation; these initial processes will soon change the physical shape and chemical composition of the oil slick. Tar-balls are generated when emulsification occur on an oil slick, the very last stage of weathering. Tar-balls therefore are considered to be the remnants of an oil spill. These tar-balls will travel the oceans and end up on beaches. This study utilizes diagnostic ratios of n-alkanes, hopanes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to determine he origins, distribution and weathering of tar-balls. Hopanes ratios (e.g. C29/C30, and ΣC31 – C35/C30 ratios) were used to identify the origin of tar-balls. The weathering effects were distinguished by using alkanes, namely the Unresolved Complex Mixture (UCM) and low molecular weight/ high molecular weight (L/H) ratios. Similarly, PAHs were also used for the determination of weathering processes undergone by the tar-balls. These diagnostic ratios gave a very strong indication on the origins of tar-balls in this study. For example, 16 out of 17 samples originate from South East Asian Crude Oil (SEACO) with one sample from Merang, Terengganu originating from the North Sea Oil (Troll). The TRME-2 sample may have come from a supertanker’s ballast water discharge. The second possibility is that the source may have been transported via oceanography. The approaches applied in this study have given more insights on the behavior and weathering of the tar-balls in the marine environment

Robotic Partial Nephrectomy for a Peripheral Renal Tumor

Partial nephrectomy (PN) is the preferred surgical treatment for T1 renal tumors whenever technically feasible. When properly performed, it allows preservation of nephron mass without compromising oncologic outcomes. This reduces the postoperative risk of renal insufficiency, which translates into better overall survival for the patients. PN can be technically challenging, because it requires the surgeon to complete the tasks of tumor excision, hemostasis and renorrhaphy, all within an ischemic time of preferably below 30 minutes. The surgeon needs to avoid violating the tumor margins while leaving behind the maximal parenchymal volume at the same time. Variations such as zero ischemia, early unclamping, and selective clamping have been developed in an attempt to reduce the negative impact of renal ischemia, but inevitably add to the steep learning curves for any surgeon. Being able to appreciate the fine details of each surgical step in PN is the fundamental basis to the success of this surgery. The use of the robotic assistance allows a good combination of the minimally invasive nature of laparoscopic surgery and the surgical exposure and dexterity of open surgery. It also allows the use of adjuncts such as concurrent ultrasound assessment of the renal mass and intraoperative fluorescence to aid the identification of tumor margins, all with a simple hand switch at the console. Robot-assisted laparoscopic PN is now the most commonly performed type of PN in the United States and is gaining acceptance on the global scale. In this video, we illustrate the steps of robot-assisted laparoscopic PN and highlight the technical key points for success