Do countries default in “bad times”?

This paper uses a new dataset to study the relationship between economic output and sovereign default for the period 1820-2004. We find a negative but surprisingly weak relationship between output and default. Throughout history, countries have indeed defaulted during bad times (when output was relatively low), but they have also maintained debt service in the face of severe adverse shocks, and they have defaulted when domestic economic conditions were favorable. We show that this constitutes a puzzle for standard theories, which predict a much tighter negative relationship as default provides partial insurance against declines in output.Default (Finance) ; Debt

Paper Session I-B - Conceptual Design of a Cargo Lander for the First Lunar Outpost

The Space Exploration Initiative (SEI) encompasses a series of exploratory and colonization missions that will expand human presence to the Moon and Mars via an evolutionary program, whereby each succeeding phase builds on and compliments the previous efforts. The first phase in this initiative, as defined by president Bush, is to return to the Moon, this time to stay . In order to accomplish this goal by the turn of the century the First Lunar Outpost (FLO) strategy has been proposed. In support of this mission scenario, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) has designed a habitation module and cargo lander concept which offers significant advantages over the current baseline design. This paper will briefly present the Marshall design, emphasizing the cargo lander

Community pharmacy type 2 diabetes risk assessment: demographics and risk results

Objectives: To determine the demographics and risk results of patients accessing a community pharmacy diabetes risk assessment service. Method: Participating patients underwent an assessment using a validated questionnaire to determine their 10-year risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Patients were given appropriate lifestyle advice or referred to their general practitioner if necessary. Key findings: In total, 21 302 risk assessments were performed. Nearly one-third (29%) of 3427 risk assessments analysed yielded a result of moderate or high chance of developing the condition. Conclusions: Community pharmacies can identify a significant number of patients at risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the next 10 years. Further follow-up work needs to be done to determine the cost-effectiveness of such a service and the consequences of receiving a risk assessment

Entry Systems Modeling Project

ESM (Entry Systems Modeling Project) is the only dedicated research effort for EDL (Entry, Descent and Landing) modeling at NASA. ESM provides consistent support for experts to develop high-priority model improvements and validation testing, driven by mission needs, that can be delivered in 3-5 years to reduce mission risk and improve performance. Focused research in four elements: Predictive Materials Modeling; Guidance, Navigation and Control; Computational and Experimental Aerosciences; Shock Layer Kinetics and Radiation

Space Technology Mission Directorate Game Changing Development Program

No abstract availabl

Searching for Earth-mass planets around α\alpha Centauri: precise radial velocities from contaminated spectra

This work is part of an ongoing project which aims to detect terrestrial planets in our neighbouring star system $\alpha$ Centauri using the Doppler method. Owing to the small angular separation between the two components of the $\alpha$ Cen AB binary system, the observations will to some extent be contaminated with light coming from the other star. We are accurately determining the amount of contamination for every observation by measuring the relative strengths of the H-$\alpha$ and NaD lines. Furthermore, we have developed a modified version of a well established Doppler code that is modelling the observations using two stellar templates simultaneously. With this method we can significantly reduce the scatter of the radial velocity measurements due to spectral cross-contamination and hence increase our chances of detecting the tiny signature caused by potential Earth-mass planets. After correcting for the contamination we achieve radial velocity precision of $\sim 2.5\,\mathrm{m\,s^{-1}}$ for a given night of observations. We have also applied this new Doppler code to four southern double-lined spectroscopic binary systems (HR159, HR913, HR7578, HD181958) and have successfully recovered radial velocities for both components simultaneously.Comment: accepted for publication in the International Journal of Astrobiology (published by Cambridge University Press); will appear in a revised form, subsequent to editorial input by Cambridge University Pres

Hydraulic Model Study: Wyandotte Wastewater Treatment Plant Influent Pump Station Wet Well Comparison of Existing and Original Wet Well Configuration

https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/154165/1/39015099114921.pd

Handgun carrying among white youth increasing in the United States: new evidence from the national survey on drug use and health 2002–2013

The objective of the present study was to examine trends and correlates of handgun carrying among adolescents ages 12–17 in the United States. Data was derived from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) involving non-Hispanic White, African American, and Hispanic respondents ages 12–17 (n = 197,313) and spanning the years 2002–2013. Logistic regression was used to examine significance of trend year and correlates of previous 12-month handgun carrying. The overall self-reported prevalence of handgun carrying was 3.4%. The prevalence of handgun carrying during 2004–2005 was significantly higher for African-Americans (4.39%) compared to non-Hispanic Whites (3.03%). However, by 2012–2013, non-Hispanic Whites (4.08%) completely diverged and reported carrying handguns significantly more than both African-American (2.96%) and Hispanic (2.82%) youth. Male gender and a number of externalizing behaviors were significant correlates of handgun carrying; however, we also found evidence of differential correlates with regard to such factors as drug selling, parental affirmation, and income by race/ethnicity. To our knowledge, this is the largest study of handgun carrying among youth in the United States. Findings indicate that although at historically low levels handgun carrying is on the rise but only among non-Hispanic Whites. Differential correlates among racial/ethnic groups suggest prevention programming and policies may need modifications depending on group and geographic locale targeted.R25 DA030310 - National Institute on Drug Abuse at the National Institutes of Healt