53 research outputs found
Real estate derivatives : products and prospects
No full textThesis (S.M. in Real Estate Development)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Program in Real Estate Development in Conjunction with the Center for Real Estate, 2013.This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections.Cataloged from student-submitted PDF version of thesis.Includes bibliographical references (pages 78-79).The paper reviews the development, structure and trade of past real estate equity hedging instruments. The reviewed products represent a wide array of real estate derivatives, covering multiple property types, index methodologies and trading domains. Based on a series of interviews with leading product developers, market makers, traders and scholars, the paper examines and defines the unique features of the different products and analyzes their value proposition, market conditions and performance. In order to gain an overall perspective on the prospects of real estate derivatives, the paper discusses types of market demand for real estate investing and hedging. In this context, we present real estate debt hedging instruments and compare their trade and use with past real estate equity products. In addition, we discuss recent regulatory acts and their influence on trading requirements and costs, market making and players as well as market efficiency. In the last chapter, the paper presents Pure Property, a current real estate hedging solution, marketed by NAREIT and FTSE. We research Pure Property and compare it to past products. The paper points on Pure Property's new concept and its implications on asset valuation, product functionality and trading liquidity. The paper studies the ETF structure of the product and its contribution to arbitrage activity. For the above-mentioned advantages, the paper predicts that Pure Property is likely to establish a liquid, real estate hedging market.by Oriel Eisenberg.S.M.in Real Estate Developmen
De processione mundi de D. Gundisalvo. Texto del Codex Oxoniensis Coll. Oriel n. 7.
No full textResumen: La autora ha estudiado el texto del «De Processione mundi» en el manuscrito de Oxford (col. Oriel n. 7), que en la edición de 1925 de G. Büllow no pudo ser trabajado directamente. En el artículo examina las relaciones con los otros tres manuscritos antes estudiados, Parisinus (Paris. Bibliothèque Nationale. Lat. n. 6443), Laodunensis (Laon. Bibliothèque Municipale n. 412) y Vaticanus (Biblioteca Vaticana. Lat. n. 2186). El manuscrito de Oxford manif iesta cierta tendencia a las expresiones abreviadas; ofrece pequeñas mejoras del texto; apoya algunas lecturas que antes se apoyaban sólo en V o L y V; y se muestra conforme con ciertas conjeturas sugeridas por Büllow. Respecto a las relaciones entre los mss., dif iculta considerar el grupo POL como una unidad, porque hay lecturas de cierto interés, en que O y V coinciden, o, en ocasiones OL y V; no obstante, en muchas otras O y P mantienen su concordancia.Sumario: The author has studied the oxonian text (Col. Oriel n. 7) of «De processione mundi» that could’t be directly studied by G. Büllow in its 1925 edition. She examines the relations with the other three ms. studied before, Parisinus (Paris. Bibliothèque Nationale. Lat. n. 6443) Laodunensis (Laon. Bibliothèque Municipale n. 412), and Vaticanus (Biblioteca Vaticana. Lat. n. 2186). The result is that there is a certain tendency to abbreviate expressions; it offers little improvements for the text; it supports some readings that had only been supported so far by V or L and V; and it agrees on some conjectures suggested by Büllow. With regard to relations among ms., it makes difficult to consider the group P O L as a unity, because there are readings of certain interest, in which O and V coincide, or, even O L and V; while in a lot of others O and P maintain their concordance
Anàlisi genètica i funcional de la migranya hemiplègica i la migranya comuna
No full text[cat] Aquesta tesi es centra en la genètica de la migranya. La migranya comuna és un trastorn neurològic caracteritzat per episodis recurrents de mal de cap. Els criteris de la IHS (International Headache Society) subclasifiquen la malaltia en migranya amb aura (MA) i migranya sense aura (MO). L'aura són símptomes neurològics transitoris que poden acompanyar el mal de cap. Les aures més freqüents són les aures visuals, tot i que també existeixen les aures sensorials essent l'aura hemiplègica la seva forma severa. La nostra investigació es va dividir en dues areas d'acord amb la base genètica dels trastorns, d'una banda, s'ha estudiat la genètica complexa de la migranya comuna, d'altra banda s'ha estudiat una forma rara de la migranya que presenta una herència mendeliana anomenada migranya hemiplègica familiar (FHM).
Per entendre més la base genètica de la migranya comuna es va utilitzar un estudi d'associació tipus cas-control amb gens candidats. Amb aquesta finalitat es van seleccionar al voltant de 550 pacients amb migranya (MA i MO) i el seu corresponent grup de control. Per tal d'analitzar la seva implicació en la susceptibilitat genètica a la migranya, es van triar gens que codifiquen per als canals de la superfamília heterogeni de potencial receptor transitori (Transient Receptor Potential- TRP) que se sap que estan implicats en les vies nociceptives. Aquesta feina ha donat lloc a una publicació (Carreño et al. SNP variants within the vanilloid TRPV1 and TRPV3 receptor genes are associated with migraine in the Spanish population. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet. 2012).
En el cas particular de les formes monogèniques de FHM es coneixen tres gens involucrats en la malatia (CACNA1A, ATP1A2 i SCN1A), les proteïnes codificades per aquests gens tenen un paper rellevant en la neurotransmissió del glutamat. L'anàlisi funcional de les mutacions que causen FHM han mostrat en última instància un augment de l'alliberament de la neurotransmissió. En el cas de mutacions al CACNA1A s'ha vist un efecte de guany de funció, a diferència de les mutacions al ATP1A2 que presenten un efecte de pèrdua de funció. En aquest treball s'ha fet un screening mutacional per identificar mutacions en pacients per seqüenciació directa. Quan les mutacions eren suficientment interessants s'han generat construccions en vectors d'expressió per subseqüents estudis funcionals en cèl·lules eucariotes. Aquesta feina ha donat lloc a tres publicacions. A la primera (Serra et al. A mutation in the first intracellular loop of CACNA1A prevents P/Q channel modulation by SNARE proteins and lowers exocytosis. Proc Natl Acad Sci. 2010) es va identificar un canvi que modula la funció del canal de CACNA1A. Aquest estudi ajuda a explicar la contribució genètica en la heterogeneïtat clínica d'una família i a entendre millor el mecanisme molecular dels canals de calci tipus P/Q. El segon (Carreño et al. Acute striatal necrosis in hemiplegic migraine with the novo CACNA1A mutation. Headache. 2011) és un informe d'un pacient que presenta una necrosi aguda stratial. Té una rellevància clínica a causa de l'aparició primerenca dels símptomes neurològics previs als atacs hemiplègics. El tercer i últim treball (Carreño et al. Screening of the ATP1A2 and CACNA1A genes in patients with hemiplegic migraine: clinical, genetic and functional studies. [work in progress]) recull l'screening mutacional al gens ATP1A2 i CACNA1A en 19 pacients amb FHM. Es van identificar 5 mutacions prèviament descrites i dues mutacions noves.[eng] This Thesis is focused in migraine genetics, migraine is a prevalent neurological disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of headache. This research was divided in two areas according to the genetic basis of the disorders; on the one hand we studied the common migraine with a complex genetics, on the other hand we studied the rare mendelian forms of familial hemiplegic migraine (FHM).
To understand more the genetic basis of the common migraine a case-control association study approach was used with candidate genes. For that purpose, around 550 patients with migraine and their corresponding control group were selected. In order to analyze their involvement in the genetic susceptibility to migraine, we chose genes encoding for channels of the heterogeneous superfamily of Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) which are known to be involved in the nociceptive pathway.
In the particular case of FHM, a monogenic form of the disorder, there are three genes known to be involved in the FHM (CACNA1A, ATP1A2 and SCN1A), whose encoded proteins are playing a relevant role in the neurotransmission of the glutamate. Functional analysis of the mutations causing FHM have shown ultimately an increased neurotransmission release. CACNA1A previous studies reveled a gain-of-function effect from FHM mutations, unlike mutations on ATP1A2 that present a loss-of-function effect. Our work consisted on identifying mutations in patients by direct sequencing. If the mutations were interesting enough vector constructions were generated for functional studies in eukaryotic cells. This work gave rise to three publications: First; the identification of a change that modulates the function of the CACNA1A channel. This study contributes to explain the genetic contribution in the clinical heterogeneity of one family and to know more about the molecular mechanism of the P/Q calcium channel. Second; a report of a patient that presents an acute stratial necrosis that had clinical relevance because of the early onset of the neurological symptoms previous to the hemiplegic attacks. Third; a mutational screening of ATP1A2 and CACNA1A genes in 19 patients with FHM. 5 previously described mutations and two new mutations were found. Functional studies were carried out for the newly mutations
God and Morality
No full textRichard Swinburne (Oxford University), is Nolloth Professor of the Philosophy of the Christian Religion, Emeritus, University of Oxford and Emeritus Fellow of Oriel College, Oxford. He is also a Fellow of the British Academy. Swinburne is the author of fifteen books including Space and Time, Epistemic Justification, An Introduction to Confirmation Theory, and The Existence of God
Endothelial keratoplasty combined with cataract surgery or alone using polyethylene glycol hydrogel sealant for closure of corneal incisions
No full textWe present a surgical technique in which polyethylene glycol hydrogel is used to seal corneal incisions and maintain air in the anterior chamber. This technique was used in 11 eyes that had Descemet-stripping endothelial keratoplasty (DSEK). In 2 cases, DSEK was combined with cataract extraction and intraocular lens implantation. In all cases, the anterior chamber was well formed with no leakage and the donor graft remained attached following surgery. The use of polyethylene glycol hydrogel in DSEK and combined DSEK-cataract surgery may shorten surgery, decrease suture-induced corneal astigmatism, and prevent the need for suture removal.
Neither author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned
Supervising Undergraduate Law Students’ Dissertations: A Four-Step Review
No full textThe literature on supervision focuses primarily on postgraduate supervision. Whilst there is some scholarship on supervising undergraduates, there is essentially no scholarship on supervising undergraduate law students specifically. This article investigates undergraduate law students' attitudes toward dissertation supervision. In 2020–2021, the lead author supervised 12 LLB(Hons) students' 15,000-word dissertations at the University of Auckland. The supervision process was in four parts: reviewing the proposal; reviewing the introduction; reviewing the first draft (10,000 words); and reviewing the second draft (15,000 words). The authors invited the supervisees to complete a survey on their supervision experience. This article surveys the literature on the supervision of undergraduate students, describes the lead author’s supervision process, and presents and discusses the study results. Students reported that each step in the four-step review process was helpful for their dissertation progress and achieving their goals for the dissertation, and provided useful feedback that was more useful than anticipated for each step in the review process. Students also reported that they received sufficient and appropriate contact with their supervisor, and sufficient guidance from the supervisor — allowing sufficient autonomy. The article also identifies students’ perceived difficulties and reflects on ways the process could mitigate those difficulties
A scoping review on efficacy and safety of medicinal plants used for the treatment of diarrhea in sub‑Saharan Africa
No full textJournal Article, Faculty of Natural Agric Sciences, PC Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management-- Potchefstroom CampusBackground In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), significant morbidity and mortality have been linked to diarrhea, which
is frequently caused by microorganisms. A rise in antimicrobial-resistant pathogens has reignited the search for alternative therapies. This scoping review aims to map the literature on medicinal plants in relation to their anti-diarrheal
potential from SSA.
Methods Studies published from 1990 until April 2022 on medicinal plants used for the treatment of diarrhea
from each country in SSA were searched on Scopus, Web of Science, Science Direct and PubMed. The selection
of articles was based on the availability of data on the in vitro and/or in vivo, ethnobotanical, and cross-sectional studies on the efficacy of medicinal plants against diarrhea. A total of 67 articles (ethnobotanical (n=40); in vitro (n=11),
in vivo (n=7), cross-sectional (n=3), in vitro and in vivo (n=2) and ethnobotanical and in vitro (n=2), were considered
for the descriptive analysis, which addressed study characteristics, herbal intervention information, phytochemistry,
outcome measures, and toxicity findings.
Results A total of 587 different plant species (from 123 families) used for diarrhea treatment were identified. Most
studies were conducted on plants from the Fabaceae family. The plants with the strongest antimicrobial activity
were Indigofera daleoides and Punica granatum. Chromatographic methods were used to isolate six pure compounds
from ethyl acetate extract of Hydnora johannis, and spectroscopic methods were used to determine their structures.
The majority of anti-diarrheal plants were from South Africa (23.9%), Ethiopia (16.4%), and Uganda (9%). This study
highlights the value of traditional remedies in treating common human diseases such as diarrhea in SSA.
Conclusion Baseline knowledge gaps were identified in various parts of SSA. It is therefore recommended
that future ethnobotanical studies document the knowledge held by other countries in SSA that have so far received
less attention. Additionally, we recommend that future studies conduct phytochemical investigations, particularly
on the widely used medicinal plants for the treatment of diarrheal illnesses, which can serve as a foundation for future
research into the development of contemporary drugs.Acknowledgements
The first author was supported by the North West University (NWU) Postgraduate student bursary and National Research Foundation (NRF) Freestanding
bursary (Grant UID Number 118247) for Doctoral studies. The NRF grant holder
acknowledges that opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations
expressed in any publication generated by NRF-supported research are those
of the authors and that the NRF accepts no liability whatsoever in this regard.
Funding
Open access funding provided by North-West UniversityQuality Educatio
Experimental study on Xbloc placements for breakwater curvature sections
No full textThe use of concrete armour layer units is becoming more common nowadays as a replacement for the rock armour in the breakwater rubble mound design. The development of concrete armour units in time led to various individual types and forms with specific individual characteristics. One of the latest developments of concrete armour layer units is the Xbloc® unit by Delta Marine Consultants (DMC). The primary objective of this thesis is to investigate and validate the study of the placement of the Xbloc unit specifically on a curved section of the breakwater using a large scale model test. Xbloc unit are placed on a breakwater slope row by row starting from bottom. Then the placement will be continued to another new row above until the units are completely covering the whole slope of the breakwater. Placement of the Xbloc unit on a straight section is quite straight forward with a constant relation between the surrounding units. The relations are based on the horizontal distances to the other unit in the same row and the distance to the unit upslope on the next row above. With a correct placement distances a required packing density and the interlocking effect between the units can be achieved. However, the relations of the distances are not applicable for a curved section of a breakwater. A curved section of a breakwater has a difference in radius length further upslope. The differences in radius lengths create improper placement distances between the units in the higher upslope. The horizontal distance between the two units becoming smaller and very close to each other. Eventually one unit has to be left out. The calculation of the packing density are also differs from the method used to calculate for the unit on a straight section. Hence, a new method was used to calculate the packing density for the breakwater curved section. The relations of the unit placement distances on a breakwater curve have been studied by ten Oever in his MSc thesis in 2006. A theoretically study are made and was validated by a placement tests on a model of a breakwater straight section. From the study, a computer model was developed to generate an optimal design grid position to place the Xbloc unit on a breakwater slope. ten Oever suggested a new unit are place off centre with an angle when the horizontal distances on the row below are becoming closer and closer. The off centre distance will be based on the horizontal distances between the two units. The maximum off centre distance are 0.4D and the unit will be left out. The angle is called the unit adjust angle and to be 450 from the horizontal line. Hence, this thesis focuses on validating the design placement grid generated by the computer model. Two placement tests have been performed using a model of a quarter of a breakwater head. The first test was performed following the generated design grid from the computer model. The output result of the final Xbloc position from the first placement tests was generally can be achieved according to the design grid with some distortion. The distortions of the units are mostly on the upper part of the breakwater slope especially in the row above where there is a left out unit. Furthermore, the packing density was 3% lower than the required theoretical packing density. In accordance to the first placement test, the second placement test was made to further improve the placement of the Xbloc unit. The second test is performed by correcting the design grid by using a coherent judgement before placing a new unit. Judgments are made by visually looking to the overview of the units in surrounding to ensure the new unit are placed in a suitable position for better fit between the two base units. The packing density resulted in higher values. Most of the units after the row where there is a left out unit are placed with a lower upslope distances than the design grid. The gap resulted from the left out unit are also being reduced when the unit a placed with a lower upslope distances. In conclusion, the placement quality can be improved by lowering the upslope distances in the computer algorithm for generating the optimal design grid. This could possibly be done by changing the parameters of maximal off centre distance to 0.3D and unit adjust angle in the order of 300 to 400. A comparison of the placement made in the laboratory and the placement of the prototype unit from the breakwater project in Port Oriel are made. Although a direct comparison could not be made in accordance to the relations between the placement grids, nevertheless there are several conclusions that can be drawn from the placement made in Port Oriel. The placement of the units in the Port Oriel was denser than the placement of the model units in the laboratory. This is mainly due to the larger forces on the edges of the units and due to the use of the excavator which actively pushed the units into a tight placement pattern. This is not done in the laboratory as the placements made are based on the use of a crane. Denser placement is acceptable for the stability of the armour layer but it leads to higher concrete use on the breakwater head.Hydraulic EngineeringCivil Engineering and Geoscience
Training design for implementation at the Contractors State License Board
No full textIn order for training to be successful, learning has to occur. Some ways of learning are done through informal methods that provide value for acquiring tacit knowledge. However, this type of learning may not be efficient for complicated work processes (Tannenbaum, Beard, McNall, & Salas, 2010). Properly designed training programs assist learning for complex work procedures, which result in successful outcomes (e.g., increased performance) by identifying key factors in its development (Diamantidis & Chatzoglou, 2014; Kraiger & Cavanagh, 2012). The purpose of this project is to review the current and classic training literature. From this literature, the author will derive specific recommendations for designing a training program at the California Contractors State License Board within the Testing Division. Moreover, management supported the idea of revising the current training for newly hired test monitors and test proctors. While the present training includes certain methods, its processes are limited and has opportunity for improvements. This project analyzes the existing training practices of the Examination Administration Unit, while recommending suitable training models and methods from the research. Specifically, the project follows a methodical training design process that includes the conduction of a needs analysis, consideration for the factors that affect learning, identification of training goals and objectives, development of an evaluation plan, formation of training methods, and administration of evaluations. The suggested models of Grossman and Salas (2011) and Kirkpatrick, J. and Kirkpatrick, W. (2016) would help increase the transfer of training while providing a formal basis for training evaluation. Specifically, the project incorporates several types of training methods and evaluation instruments within the proposed training for new employees
Tuning nonlinear damping in graphene nanoresonators by parametric–direct internal resonance
No full textMechanical sources of nonlinear damping play a central role in modern physics, from solid-state physics to thermodynamics. The microscopic theory of mechanical dissipation suggests that nonlinear damping of a resonant mode can be strongly enhanced when it is coupled to a vibration mode that is close to twice its resonance frequency. To date, no experimental evidence of this enhancement has been realized. In this letter, we experimentally show that nanoresonators driven into parametric-direct internal resonance provide supporting evidence for the microscopic theory of nonlinear dissipation. By regulating the drive level, we tune the parametric resonance of a graphene nanodrum over a range of 40–70 MHz to reach successive two-to-one internal resonances, leading to a nearly two-fold increase of the nonlinear damping. Our study opens up a route towards utilizing modal interactions and parametric resonance to realize resonators with engineered nonlinear dissipation over wide frequency range.Dynamics of Micro and Nano SystemsQN/Steeneken LabQN/van der Zant La
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