50,994 research outputs found
Wealthier is healthier
No full textWith cross-country, time series data on health (infant and child mortality, and life expectancy) and per capita income, the authors estimate the effect of income on health. They use instrumental variables estimation to identify the effect of income on health that is structural and causal, isolated from reverse causation (healthier workers are more productive and hence wealthier) or incidental association (some other factor may cause both better health and greater wealth). The long-run income elasticity of infant and child mortality in developing countries lies between 0.2 and 0.4. Using those estimates, they calculate that in 1990 alone, more than half a million child deaths in the developing world could be attributed to poor economic performance in the 1980s.Health Economics&Finance,Inequality,Economic Theory&Research,Governance Indicators,Health Monitoring&Evaluation
A 2 h periodic variation in the low-mass X-ray binary Ser X-1
No full textSpectroscopy of the low-mass X-ray binary Ser X-1 using the Gran Telescopio Canarias have revealed a ?2 h periodic variability that is present in the three strongest emission lines. We tentatively interpret this variability as due to orbital motion, making it the first indication of the orbital period of Ser X-1. Together with the fact that the emission lines are remarkably narrow, but still resolved, we show that a main-sequence K dwarf together with a canonical 1.4 M? neutron star gives a good description of the system. In this scenario, the most likely place for the emission lines to arise is the accretion disc, instead of a localized region in the binary (such as the irradiated surface or the stream-impact point), and their narrowness is due instead to the low inclination (?10°) of Ser X-1
Efficient p-Multigrid Based Solvers for Isogeometric Analysis on Multipatch Geometries
No full textIsogeometric Analysis can be considered as the natural extension of the Finite Element Method (FEM) to higher-order spline based discretizations simplifying the treatment of complex geometries with curved boundaries. Finding a solution of the resulting linear systems of equations efficiently remains, however, a challenging task. Recently, p-multigrid methods have been considered [18], in which a multigrid hierarchy is constructed based on different approximation orders p instead of mesh widths h as it would be the case in classical h-multigrid schemes [8]. The use of an Incomplete LU-factorization as a smoother within the p-multigrid method has shown to lead to convergence rates independent of both h and p for single patch geometries [19]. In this paper, the focus lies on the application of the aforementioned p-multigrid method on multipatch geometries having a C0-continuous coupling between the patches. The use of ILUT as a smoother within p-multigrid methods leads to convergence rates that are essentially independent of h and p, but depend mildly on the number of patches.Green Open Access added to TU Delft Institutional Repository ‘You share, we take care!’ – Taverne project https://www.openaccess.nl/en/you-share-we-take-care Otherwise as indicated in the copyright section: the publisher is the copyright holder of this work and the author uses the Dutch legislation to make this work public.Numerical Analysi
Finance and its reform : beyond laissez-faire
No full textThat the financial sector should be liberalized was the orthodox view in the mid-1970s, during a pendulum swing toward reliance on the free market. In the early 1980s, the pendulum swung back to the left, based partly on evidence - especially from Latin America - that overly rapid reform had real costs, and partly on an increased appreciation of financial market failure. Blind adherence to free market principles was no longer appropriate. Now a counter-counterrevolution is in sight, with some swing back toward the view that the market makes a mess of it, but the government makes it even worse. The authors agree that market-oriented financial systems appear to do a better job than systems with extensive government involvement, but contend that the assumption that perfect competition will solve all problems in finance - especially in banking - can be dangerous. Information problems, implicit or explicit government guarantees associated with the payments system make banks unique. Governments implicitly recognize banking's uniqueness - few allow just anyone to enter banking - but public pronouncements and observers'recommendations often favor a move to more competition. Perfect competition, however, is optimal under the assumption, among others, of no government guarantee. In fact, most governments differ only in how explicit they are about their deposit insurance schemes. The financial reforms most likely to succeed are those that give banks an incentive to engage in safe and sound banking. When excessive competition is allowed, the charter value of banking diminishes to the point that it is no longer profitable for bankers to behave prudently. A consideration of finance's role, and a look at how reforming economies have fared, suggest also that gradual reform is often to be preferred in this domain. Deregulation of credit markets and interest rates can be counterproductive in unstable macroeconomic conditions and when banks are unsophisticated or have weak balance sheets. And changes in the charter value may evolve only slowly after reform. Faster progress and greater efforts should be made, however, in bank supervision and regulation and in institutional development, including accounting, auditing, legal and judicial reform, and training (of bankers and other finance professionals). In sum, many economies would benefit from less government intervention in financial markets, but the prescription should not be abrupt or total government withdrawal from the financial sector. Rather than intervening heavily in credit allocation decisions, governments should focus on doing what only they can do: providing an enabling environment for the private financial and nonfinancial sectors, and ensuring that financial operations are safe and sound.Environmental Economics&Policies,Banks&Banking Reform,Financial Intermediation,Economic Theory&Research,Financial Crisis Management&Restructuring
Perceptions of weight, diabetes and willingness to participate in randomised controlled trials of bariatric surgery for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and body mass index 30-39.9 kg/m2
No full textPurposeEvidence from high-quality randomised controlled trials (RCTs) is needed to establish the long-term benefit of bariatric surgery in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and body mass index (BMI) 30–39.9 kg/m2. However, willingness amongst this group to be randomised and undergo surgery is uncertain. This study assessed UK patients’ perceptions of their weight and diabetes, and associations with willingness to participate in RCTs involving bariatric surgery, amongst this population.Materials and MethodsPostal survey of 1820 patients from four regions in England. Eligible patients were as follows: BMI 30–39.9 kg/m2, 18–74 years, diagnosis of T2DM ?2 years. A reminder survey was sent after 4 weeks. Independent predictors influencing patients’ willingness to consider RCT participation were identified using multiple logistic regression analysis.ResultsThirty-four per cent (614/1820) of patients responded. Weight was considered to be harder to control than diabetes [468/584 (80 %) vs. 107/600 (17 %)]. More people reported a negative impact on life for weight rather than diabetes [379/579 (63 %) vs. 180/574 (31 %)]. Feeling unsatisfied/very unsatisfied with weight loss ability was common 261/578 (45 %). Sixty-four per cent (379/594, CI?=?60–68) were willing to consider participating in an RCT. In multivariate analysis, negative impact of weight on life (OR?=?2.55, 95 % CI?=?1.68–3.89, P?<?0.001) and feeling unsatisfied with weight loss ability (OR?=?2.47, 95 % CI?=?1.55–3.95, P?<?0.001) positively influenced patients’ willingness to participate in an RCT.ConclusionStrong patient interest supports the feasibility of such trials for this group. Perceptions of obesity negatively impacting on life and difficulties in achieving weight loss were common and influenced attitudes to potential participation in bariatric surgery RCTs
Protomyzostomum roseus Summers, Al-Hakim & Rouse, 2014, n. sp.
No full text<i>Protomyzostomum roseus</i> n. sp. Summers & Rouse <p>Fig. 7 G–J</p> <p> <b>Holotype:</b> SIO-BIC A4019 <b>paragenophore</b> (1 spm in 70% ethanol after formalin fixation). Off Monterey Canyon, California (36° 48' 7.9194" N, 121° 59' 42" W), 632 m. Collected via the R/V <i>Western Flyer</i> using the ROV <i>Tiburon</i> (Dive 1160) on 18 October 2007 by GWR, Nerida Wilson and R. C. Vrijenhoek.</p> <p> <b>Host.</b> <i>Asteronyx longifissus</i> Döderlein (Asteronychidae, Euryalida, Ophiuroidea). SIO-BIC E6108. Genbank (16S—KM014337; 28S—KM014340).</p> <p> <i>Paratypes:</i> SIO-BIC A3799 <b>paragenophore</b> (1 spm: 95% ethanol). Genbank (COI—KM014172); SIO-BIC 3797 <b>paragenophores</b> (2 spms: 1—in 70% ethanol after formalin fixation; 1—95% ethanol); SIO-BIC A3799 <b>paragenophores</b> (2 spms: in 70% ethanol after paraformaldehyde/glutaraldehyde fixation); SIO-BIC A4023 <b>paragenophore</b> (1 spm: embedded in Spurr’s resin after fixation in glutaraldehyde and osmium tetroxide, some in 1µm sections). Same host and locality as holotype.</p> <p> <b>Etymology.</b> Latin for red, in reference its color in life.</p> <p> <b>Diagnosis and description.</b> Holotype recovered from a host’s bursa (Fig. 7 H). Body elongate, tapering posteriorly and anteriorly (Fig. 7 I). Length ~ 4 mm, width ~ 2.5 mm following fixation. Mouth and cloaca terminal. Five pairs of parapodia, more pronounced in small specimen. Color red in life, white in preservative.</p> <p> <b>Remarks.</b> This is the first species of myzostomid described that infests ophiuroids in the eastern Pacific, and the first record in <i>Asteronyx longifissus</i>.</p> <p>Preliminary histological study showed the body to be ellipsoidal in transverse section (Fig. 7 J). The region sectioned (near anterior) showed the gut to lie dorsally above and adjacent to ovarian tissue, containing oocytes in various stages of development. No testis tissue was in this region. Bases of the chaetae were placed ventrolaterally in chaetal sacs with surrounding musculature for protrusion. Ventral nerve cord not discernable.</p>Published as part of <i>Summers, Mindi M., Al-Hakim, Iin Inayat & Rouse, Greg W., 2014, Turbo-taxonomy: 21 new species of Myzostomida (Annelida), pp. 301-344 in Zootaxa 3873 (4)</i> on page 324, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3873.4.1, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/252208">http://zenodo.org/record/252208</a>
Hypomyzostoma jonathoni Summers, Al-Hakim & Rouse, 2014, n. sp.
No full text<i>Hypomyzostoma jonathoni</i> n. sp. Summers & Rouse <p>Fig. 3 G–K</p> <p> <i>Hypomyzostoma crosslandi</i> A—Lanterbecq <i>et al.</i> (2006)</p> <p> <b>Holotype:</b> SAM E3397 <b>hologenophore</b> (1 spm: 95% ethanol). Snake Pit, Lizard Island, Australia (14° 40.14’S, 145° 34.64’E), 14 m. Collected using scuba on 20 November 2001 by GWR. Genbank (COI—DQ238197).</p> <p> <b>Host.</b> <i>Dichrometra / Lamprometra / Liparometra</i> sp. 1 (Müller) (Mariametridae, Comatulida, Crinoidea). SAM K2049.</p> <p> <i>Paratypes:</i> SIO-BIC A3807/A4024 <b>syngenophore</b> (2 spms: 1spm—95% ethanol, 1 spm—mounted for SEM). Horseshoe Reef, Lizard Island, Australia (14° 41.12’S, 145° 26.31’E), 3 m. Collected using scuba on 20 November 2001 by GWR. Genbank (COI – KM491747). Host: <i>Dichrometra / Lamprometra / Liparometra</i> sp. 1 (Müller) (Mariametridae, Comatulida, Crinoidea). SAM K2039. Genbank (COI—KM491777). SIO-BIC A4021 <b>syngenophores</b> (3+ spms: 2 juveniles + multiple cysts—in 70% ethanol following fixation in formalin; 1 spm—95% ethanol). Granite Bluff, Lizard Island, Australia (14° 39.07'S, 145° 26.91'E), 15 m. Collected using scuba on 19 March 2000 by GWR. Genbank (18S—KM491764). Host: <i>Dichrometra / Lamprometra / Liparometra</i> sp. 4, SAM K1966; Genbank (COI—GQ913319). SIO-BIC A3833 <b>syngenophore</b> (1 spm: 95% ethanol). Gulewa Village, north Misima Island, Papua New Guinea (10°37'58.7994"S, 152°41'59.9994"E), <20 m. Collected using scuba on 14 August 2006 by GWR. Genbank (COI—KM491748). Host: unknown. SIO-BIC A3825 <b>syngenophore</b> (1 spm: 95% ethanol). Gulewa Village, north Misima Island, Papua New Guinea (10°37'58.7994"S, 152°41'59.9994"E), <20 m. Collected using scuba on 21 August 2006 by GWR. Host: unknown.</p> <p> <b>Etymology.</b> Named for Jonathan Rouse, brother of GWR, in honor of his birthday.</p> <p> <b>Diagnosis and description.</b> Holotype body elongate, rounded anteriorly and posteriorly (Fig. 3 I). Length ~ 2 mm; width ~ 1 mm following fixation. Body margin scalloped, composed of many irregularly-sized triangular cirri (Fig. 3 K). Mouth and cloaca on ventral surface, subterminal. Extended proboscis smooth. Paired penes in line with third pair of parapodia. Five pairs of acirrate parapodia with hooks. Small lateral organs, alternating with parapodia. Dorsal surface smooth. Color light pink with yellow transverse lines in life, transverse lines faded in preservative.</p> <p> <b>Remarks.</b> <i>Hypomyzostoma jonathoni</i> <b>n. sp.</b> is most similar to <i>H. crosslandi</i>, <i>H. elongatum</i>, and <i>H. jasoni</i> <b>n. sp.</b> (see remarks for <i>H. jasoni</i> <b>n. sp.</b> above). <i>Hypomyzostoma jonathoni</i> <b>n. sp.</b> can be differentiated from <i>H. jasoni</i> <b>n. sp.</b> by the location of the cloaca and molecular data, and from all of these taxa by host use. Young specimens were recovered in cysts along the hosts’ pinnules. These forms were lightly colored in life (Fig. 3 I-K) and dark purple in preservative. Paratypes range in size up to ~ 5 mm, in the largest specimen the parapodia are restricted to the anterior-most four-fifths of the body and the color following fixation is light purple with ten dark transverse lines on the dorsal surface.</p>Published as part of <i>Summers, Mindi M., Al-Hakim, Iin Inayat & Rouse, Greg W., 2014, Turbo-taxonomy: 21 new species of Myzostomida (Annelida), pp. 301-344 in Zootaxa 3873 (4)</i> on pages 308-310, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3873.4.1, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/252208">http://zenodo.org/record/252208</a>
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
No full textThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Novel high performance poly(p-phenylene benzobisimidazole) (PBDI) membranes fabricated by interfacial polymerization for H 2 separation
No full text Membranes with high selectivity and permeance are needed to reduce energy consumption in hydrogen purification and pre-combustion CO 2 capture. Polybenzimidazole (PBI) is one of the leading membrane materials for this separation. In this study, we present superior novel supported PBI (poly(p-phenylene benzobisimidazole), PBDI) membranes prepared by a facile interfacial polymerization (IP) method. The effect of IP reaction duration, operating temperature and pressure on membrane separation performance was systematically investigated. The best performance was achieved for membranes prepared in a 2 h reaction time. The resulting membranes display an ultrahigh mixed-gas H 2 /CO 2 selectivity of 23 at 423 K together with an excellent H 2 permeance of 241 GPU, surpassing the membrane performance of conventional polymers (the 2008 Robeson upper bound). These separation results, together with the facile manufacture, pressure resistance, long-term thermostability (>200 h) and economic analysis, recommend the PBDI membranes for industrial use in H 2 purification and pre-combustion CO 2 capture. Besides, PBDI membranes possess high selectivities towards H 2 /N 2 (up to 60) and H 2 /CH 4 (up to 48) mixtures, indicating their potential applications in ammonia synthesis and syngas production. Accepted Author ManuscriptChemE/Catalysis EngineeringOLD ChemE/Organic Materials and InterfacesRST/Storage of Electrochemical Energ
Citations of the author H C Rajpoot
No full textThe list of the articles, research papers, theses, and book chapters globally citing the author H. C. Rajpoot</p
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