2,858 research outputs found
Application of the IS-MP-IA model to the German economy and policy implications
No full textExtending the IS-MP-IA model developed by Romer (2000) and applying the GARCH (Engle, 1982, 2001) methodology, the author finds that equilibrium GDP in Germany is positively affected by stock market performance and real exchange rate appreciation, and negatively influenced by the expected inflation rate, the government deficit/GDP ratio, and the U.S. federal funds rate. The relatively low deficit/GDP ratio of 1.83% in 2003 indicates that its fiscal condition was healthy. However, some other EU members may need to exercise fiscal discipline. Because real appreciation has a positive impact on output, a stronger euro may not be a concern for Germany but may be worried by those EU member nations which depend upon exports to stimulate their economies.
Winning redefined, a new brand positioning for MP Motorsport
No full textMP Motorsport is a talent educating race team participating in the classes below the Formula 1. The problem with the lower classes and therefore MP Motorsport as well is that these classes don’t get much attention and exposure. As a company run by people with passion the branding and positioning is more something that naturally emerged from this passion rather than a series of conscious decisions. This makes it fragile. A more conscious strategy and vision on how MP Motorsport needs to be branded and positioned against their competition that is more than “look how cool racing is” is needed to become more attractive for sponsoring. This report describes the process from analysis to finding the right positioning and an advise for a new brand identity and an implementation plan to help becoming more attractive for sponsoring goals. The analysis done with employees showed a unique characteristic that will help the team to position themselves against the competition; the family atmosphere. This atmosphere is what also characterises their contradictory personality. This personality is on one hand leading and ambitious and on the other hand modest and involved. Competition and stakeholder analysis have been performed to find the right combination of being unique to the competition, desirable for the stakeholders (the fans and sponsors) and builds upon the core strengths of the company. Then using the brand key model, a positioning is made with the essence: Be your best self. The belief, “in everyone hides a talent” and values like “everyone is equal” and “together we succeed” combined with the essence and the positioning resulted in a brand story that describes the feeling MP Motorsport wants to communicate. To manifestate the brand, an advise has been set up for a tone of voice and tone of image. Wrapped in a concept called “winning redefined” this advise is part of the whole implementation plan that should lead the way for the team to implement the newly created brand in short and long term actions. In 3 phases MP Motorsport is advised to start with a clear brand introduction to the target groups Gen Z and potential sponsors. The next phase revolves around creating a community to attract both Gen Z talents and subsequently sponsors to interact with the team and each other. Finally the last phase is long term focused and aims for sustainable growth. In this phase the community is established and can expect various opportunities to discover and develop a whole range of talents, sponsors and gen z are connected to each other via MP Motorsport and the team is able to finance the lower classes without the pressure of the money drivers bring along.Strategic Product Desig
Derivations (MP) and Evaluations (OT)
No full textThe main claim of this paper is that the minimalist framework and optimality theory adopt more or less the same architecture of grammar: both assume that a generator defines a set S of potentially well-formed expressions that can be generated on the basis of a given input, and that there is an evaluator that selects the expressions from S that are actually grammatical in a given language L. The paper therefore proposes a model of grammar in which the strengths of the two frameworks are combined: more specifically, it is argued that the computational system of human language CHL from MP creates a set S of potentially well-formed expressions, and that these are subsequently evaluated in an optimality theoretic fashion.The definitive version of this paper is published in Linguistics in Potsdam 25 (2006).Broekhuis, H. (2006). Derivations (MP) and Evaluations (OT)*. In H. Broekhuis & R. Vogel (Eds), Linguistics in Potsdam 25. Optimality Theory and Minimalism: A possible Convergence? Potsdam : Universitätsverlag PotsdamISBN: 9783939469544 (published book)This research is supported by the Netherlands Organisation of Scientific Research (NWO), grant 276-70-00
Variability in microplastic sediment concentrations in the Upper Okavango Delta
No full textRiver pollution with microplastic particles (MP) has become a global scale problem. Recent research has shown that MP can remain in riverbed sediment for several decades, where they interact with the sediment and biota, potentially impacting food webs, while slowly releasing chemical additives. Thus, a good understanding of the MP distribution within riverbed sediment is critical to quantify potential risks to riverine ecosystems. Here we present first results of MP sediment concentrations for the upper Okavango Delta (Panhandle) in Northern Botswana, which home to about 90,000 people.
The Panhandle comprises meandering channels, oxbow lakes and a wide alluvial plain. River flows in the Okavango Basin are dominated by a strong seasonal pulse. At the upstream end (Mohembo), discharge varies between <100 m3/s during low flow and 700 m3/s during peak flow (March-April).
Sediment samples were collected at 7 sites between Mohembo and Sepupa by scooping. A 15 cm-long push core was also collected to assess MP distribution in depth. Organic matter was digested using either Fenton’s reagent or only H2O2. Each digested sample was split; part analysed with Raman spectroscopy to identify main polymers and part stained with Nile Red for fast MP quantification using fluorescent microscopy. Sediment grain size analysis was conducted using laser diffraction.
Fluorescent microscopy showed MP sediment concentrations from around 57 MP/kg dry weight in some of the oxbows to 400 MP/kg in the main channel. About 92% of the identified MP were classified as fragments, varying in length between 70-1065 μm (lower detection limit was 64 μm). The remainder of the particles were identified as fibres. Raman spectroscopy showed PET, PP and PVC as the main polymer types. Future studies will focus on determining basin-wide MP concentrations and their relation to sediment transport patterns
Stroom- en sedimentmeting Roompot-Veerse Dam (mp.8), 15 en 22 januari 1996
No full textStroom- en sedimentmeting Roompot-Veerse Dam (mp.8) 15 en 22 januari 1996.Deltawerken, Oosterscheld
A novel approach to MP-PIC: Continuum particle model for dense particle flows in fluidized beds
No full textA novel approach to Multiphase-Particle-in-Cell (MP-PIC), called Continuum Particle Model (CPM), is developed for dense gas-particle flows. CPM has high computational speed, comparable to that of MP-PIC, but a robustness and accuracy closer to that of a Discrete Element Model (DEM). The gas phase is treated as a continuum phase and particles are tracked discretely, but particle collisions are modelled by considering the divergence of the continuum particle stress tensor. Details on efficient solution to the model are presented. For comparison, a parametric study is performed for quasi-2D fluidized beds. Comparison of CFD-CPM is made with MP-PIC and CFD-DEM. The particle stress models by Harris and Crighton, and by Srivastava and Sundaresan are tested in our CFD-CPM. Results from CFD-CPM based on the Srivastava and Sundaresan particle stress model show good agreement with CFD-DEM results. We validate our model by comparison with experimental benchmark results from Gopalan et. al. (2016).Complex Fluid Processin
New sedimentological data from the Okavango wetlands (Botswana): and endorheic sink for microplastic particles of the Cubango Okavango River Basin
No full textThe Cubango–Okavango River Basin (CORB) feeds a large endorheic delta with one of the most pristine wetlands on the planet, the Okavango Delta in Northern Botswana. This study presents an overview of the sediment production and distribution system in the CORB, and aims at expanding the current knowledge of anthropogenic impact on the Okavango Delta. Here, together with detailed characterization of surficial sediments from the CORB, we present the first results of MP sediment concentrations for the upper Okavango Delta (Panhandle), considered as a major sink for most of the anthropogenic pollutants in the basin. At the upstream end (Mohembo), discharge varies between 100 m3 s-1 during low flow and 700 m3 s-1 during peak flow (March–April). Sediment samples were collected at 20 sites across the CORB for the characterization of sediment variability in the system. An additional 7 sites were targeted in the Panhandle, between Mohembo and Sepupa, for a preliminary assessment of the MP content in Delta sediments. Samples were collected by scooping from active channels, point bars and oxbow lakes. Grain size distribution is decreasing from 0.5 mm to 0.3 mm moving downstream with virtually no components < 0.15 mm. The average organic matter content in the sands is always below 1%. Fluorescent microscopy showed MP sediment concentrations from around 57 MP/kg dry weight in some of the oxbows to 400 MP/kg in the main channel. About 92% of the identified MP were classified as fragments, varying in length between 64 and 1065 μm. The remainder of the particles was identified as fibres. Raman Spectroscopy revealed that the composition of the MP is dominated by polyethene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), polyethene (PE), polystyrene (PS), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Overall, abandoned meanders have less MP than the active channels, and no MP were found entangled in the papyrus roots that cover most of the floodplains. From this novel data set it was possible to estimate that 10.9–336.2 billion particles could be annually transported into the Okavango Delta, indicating that the region represents a significant sink for MP, raising concerns for the unique wetland ecosystem. Future studies will focus on determining basin-wide MP distribution and their relation to sediment transport patterns
Age and physiological, perceptual, and affective responses during walking at a self-selected pace
No full textThe aim of this study was to examine physiological, perceptual, and affective responses during self-paced walking for three age groups. 66 adult women were assigned into three groups by age: 20–25 yr. (n = 22), 30–35 yr. (n = 22), and 40–45 yr. (n = 22). Each participant completed a maximal exercise test and a 20-min. bout of walking at a self-selected pace. The preferred walking speed was similar for all age groups, whereas physiological responses relative to maximal and ventilatory threshold values were greater in the 40–45 yr. group than the other two groups. Nevertheless, perceptual and affective responses were similar for all age groups. These findings suggest that physiological responses, but not perceptual and affective responses, of sedentary women are associated with age during walking at a self-selected pace
Genomewide linkage scan of schizophrenia in a large multicenter pedigree sample using single nucleotide polymorphisms
No full textA genomewide linkage scan was carried out in eight clinical samples of informative schizophrenia families. After all quality control checks, the analysis of 707 European-ancestry families included 1615 affected and 1602 unaffected genotyped individuals, and the analysis of all 807 families included 1900 affected and 1839 unaffected individuals. Multipoint linkage analysis with correction for marker-marker linkage disequilibrium was carried out with 5861 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs; Illumina version 4.0 linkage map). Suggestive evidence for linkage ( European families) was observed on chromosomes 8p21, 8q24.1, 9q34 and 12q24.1 in nonparametric and/or parametric analyses. In a logistic regression allele-sharing analysis of linkage allowing for intersite heterogeneity, genomewide significant evidence for linkage was observed on chromosome 10p12. Significant heterogeneity was also observed on chromosome 22q11.1. Evidence for linkage across family sets and analyses was most consistent on chromosome 8p21, with a one-LOD support interval that does not include the candidate gene NRG1, suggesting that one or more other susceptibility loci might exist in the region. In this era of genomewide association and deep resequencing studies, consensus linkage regions deserve continued attention, given that linkage signals can be produced by many types of genomic variation, including any combination of multiple common or rare SNPs or copy number variants in a region. Molecular Psychiatry (2009) 14, 786-795; doi:10.1038/mp.2009.11; published online 17 February 2009</p
On College English Teaching in China from the Perspective of MP in Generative Grammar Theory
No full textThis paper discusses how the theory of MP in generative grammar can be used in College English teaching in China. The author holds that a brand-new teaching paradigm- autonomous English learning-will be built if certain theories and principles of Minimalist Program (MP) are used in China’s college classroom teaching. College teachers of English apply theories of lexicon, derivation by phase under the framework of MP in generative grammar and organization strategies into their English teaching and learning appropriately and college students will renew their English learning ideas, their learning interest will be stimulated and their enthusiasm and initiative in active English learning will be enhanced
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