The Use of Passive Magnetic Methods in Inferring the Variability of Sub-Glacial Water Systems

Honors (Bachelor's)Interdisciplinary PhysicsUniversity of Michiganhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/91875/1/nickhac.pd

Factors affecting the level of bank competition : empirical evidence in Vietnamese commercial banks

Purpose: There is increasing interest in the trends and requirements associated with improvement in the competition of commercial banks. Many studies have been conducted on this topic in Vietnam as well as in the rest of the world. In the present study, the factors affecting the level of competition in the banking system in Vietnam have been studied. Design/Methodology/Approach: We employ the Bayesian Multilevel Generalized Linear Model to identify the factors affecting the level of competition in the banking system in Vietnam. Findings: The findings show that the eight variables that affect the level of competition in Vietnam commercial banks were identified, including previous-year competition, equity on total assets ratio, loans on total assets ratio, operating expense on the operating income ratio, return on equity, bank size, economic growth, and inflation rate. Moreover, the results demonstrated that during the 2008–2009 crisis, there was a positive relationship between the crisis and the Lerner index. Practical Implications: Based on the research results, we provide policy implications to improve the competitive status of commercial banks in Vietnam. Originality/Value: The results of the present study would serve as a basis for assisting the policy-makers and the other stakeholders to better understand the current state of bank competition and the factors affecting the level of bank competition, which would assist them in formulating strategies and solutions to improve bank competition in Vietnam.peer-reviewe

Thermal properties of polymers

Polimeri se ubrajaju u najvažnije tehničke materijale današnjice te služe kao zamjena za uobičajene materijale. Svaki polimer ima karakterističnu strukturu te zbog toga i različita svojstva koja utječu na njihovu primjenu. U ovom radu ispitivana su toplinska svojstva i toplinska stabilnost polistirena (PS), polistirena velike udarne žilavosti (HIPS), polietilena niske gustoće (PE-LD), polietilena visoke gustoće (PE-HD), polikaprolaktona (PCL), polilaktida (PLA) i poliuretana (PUR). Primjenom diferencijalne pretražne kalorimetrije (DSC) određena su toplinska svojstva polimera na temelju karakterističnih vrijednosti prijelaznih temperatura i entalpija, prikazanih na DSC termogramima. Toplinska stabilnost određena je termogravimetrijskom analizom (TGA). DSC analiza pokazala je kako amorfni polimeri, PS i HIPS imaju visoka staklišta zbog benzenskih prstenova koji ukrućuju njihovu strukturu i onemogućavaju rotacije segmenata makromolekula. Suprotnost polistirenima su PE-LD i PE-HD koji imaju vrlo nisku vrijednost staklišta što ukazuje na veću mogućnost rotacija segmenata makromolekula uslijed njihove jednostavne strukture. Zbog manje granatosti lanca, PE-HD brže i više kristalizira te posjeduje uređenije kristalne forme od PE-LD-a. PLA i PCL, biorazgradivi su i kristalasti polimeri potpuno različitih staklišta, kristalizacije i taljenja. PLA ima više staklište i sporiju kristalizaciju zbog metilnih skupina u njegovom glavnom lancu koje ograničavaju rotaciju segmenata makromolekula i ometaju kristalizaciju. Toplinska svojstva PUR-a ovise o njegovoj strukturi, odnosno udjelu tvrdih i mekih segmenata. Rezultati su pokazali kako PUR i PLA imaju slične karakteristične prijelaze, međutim, staklište, temperature kristalizacije i taljenja PLA su na znatno višim temperaturama u odnosu na PUR što je posljedica krutosti makromolekula PLA. Rezultati toplinske stabilnosti pokazali su kako najbolju toplinsku stabilnost ima PEHD, dok nešto manju stabilnost od njega ima PE-LD upravo zbog granatije strukture koja ograničava formiranje kristalnih formi s jakim sekundarnim vezama. Najmanju toplinsku stabilnost od svih ispitivanih polimera u ovom radu ima PLA.Today polymers are one of the most important technical materials and serve as a substitute for the usual materials (wood and metal). Each polymer has characteristic structure and therefore different properties which affects their use. In this work thermal properties and thermal stability of polystyrene (PS), high-impact polystyrene (HIPS), low-density polyethylene (PE-LD), high-density polyethylene (PE-HD), polycaprolactone (PCL), polylactide (PLA) and polyurethane (PUR) were investigated. Characteristic value of transition temperatures and enthalpies were determined using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Thermal stability was determined with thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The DSC analysis showed that amorphous polymers, PS and HIPS have high glass transition temperatures due to the benzene rings which stiffen their structure and prevent rotations of macromolecules segments. Opposite of the polystyrenes are PE-LD and PE-HD, which have a very low glass transition temperature due to the higher rotation of macromolecules segments as a consequence of their simple structure. PE-HD crystallize more, crystallization is faster and more arranged crystals are form due to less branching than in PE-LD. PLA and PCL are biodegradable and crystalline polymers, but they crystallize differently and have completely different glass transition temperatures. Crystallization of PLA is slower and it has higher glass transition temperature due to methyl groups in its main chain which limits the rotation of macromolecules segments and hinder the crystallization. Thermal properties of PUR depend on its structure, i.e. proportion of hard and soft segments. Results showed that PUR and PLA have similar characteristic transitions, but glass transition, as well as crystallization and melting temperatures of PLA are at significantly higher temperatures, compared to PUR, as a consequence of macromolecules stiffness. The results of thermal stability showed that the most stabile is PE-HD, while PE-LD is a little less stable, due to more branched structure, which limits the formation of crystalline forms with strong secondary bonds. The lowest thermal stability of all tested polymers in this work has PLA

An unusual presentation of pancreatic pseudocyst mimicking cystic neoplasm of the pancreas: a case report

In spite of their rarity, cystic neoplasms of the pancreas are characterized by existing or potential malignancy that cannot be ignored during decisive process with regard to the choice of treatment. Diagnostic difficulties in the differentiation of pancreatic pseudocyst and cystic pancreatic neoplasm can lead to misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment, since clinical symptoms, preoperative imaging tests and even endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography are often not sufficient to establish the correct diagnosis. We present a case of pancreatic cyst with no typical features of pseudocyst in the medical interview, treated by Child's subtotal pancreatectomy by reason of the high risk of neoplasia suggested by radiological and endoscopic examinations