Search results for "WM"
showing 10 items of 175 documents
Fair Wages and Unemployment in a Small Open Economy
2006
In this paper we develop a model of a multi-sector multi-factor small open economy with involuntary unemployment due to fair wages. The model is used inter alia to analyse the labour market effects of changes in unemployment benefits and the domestic labour supply. Our analysis covers both the case where factor prices do not react to endowment changes - as in the Heckscher-Ohlin model - and the case where they do. Results are sensitive to this distinction, thereby emphasizing the benefit of employing a general production structure that encompasses both cases.
Remote Photoplethysmography for Evaluation of Cutaneous Sensory Nerve Fiber Function
2021
About 2% of the world’s population suffers from small nerve fiber dysfunction, neuropathy, which can result in severe pain. This condition is caused by damage to the small nerve fibers and its assessment is challenging, due to the lack of simple and objective diagnostic techniques. The present study aimed to develop a contactless photoplethysmography system using simple instrumentation, for objective and non-invasive assessment of small cutaneous sensory nerve fiber function. The approach is based on the use of contactless photoplethysmography for the characterization of skin flowmotions and topical heating evoked vasomotor responses. The feasibility of the technique was evaluated on volunt…
Numerical Comparison of the Hydrological Response of Different Permeable Pavements in Urban Area
2022
Floods are becoming more frequent, especially in urban environments where most of the surface is waterproofed. Permeable pavement (PP) can be applied as low impact development (LID) systems for runoff mitigation in urban areas. Their effectiveness can be assessed, case by case, by numerical simulations. In this study, the effectiveness of mitigating runoff of different permeable pavements has been evaluated. In particular, porous asphalt (PA), pervious concrete (PC), permeable interlocking concrete pavement (PICP) and grid pavement (GP) have been investigated using EPA Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) software. To this aim, a car parking area located in the University Campus of Palermo (…
Backing out of private pension provision - Lessons from Germany
2012
Financing pensions in the EU is a challenge. Many EU countries introduced private pension schemes to compensate declining public pension levels due to reforms made necessary by demographic change. In 2001, Germany introduced the Riester pension. Ten years after introduction the prevalence rate of this voluntary private pension scheme approximates 37 %. However, numerous criticisms raise doubts that the market for Riester products is transparent. Using the 2010 German SAVE survey, this article investigates terminated and dormant Riester contracts on a household level for the first time. Respectively 14.5 and 12.5 % of households who own or have owned a Riester contract terminated or set dorm…
Control of Power Converters with Hybrid Affine Models and Pulse-Width Modulated Inputs
2021
In this paper, hybrid dynamical systems theory is applied to the analysis and control of switched converters with Pulse-Width Modulated (PWM) inputs. The system is described by a state-space model with continuous flows and discrete jumps, without averaged equations. The modulation effects are captured in full without using time-dependent signals, by enlarging the state vector to include the PWM waveform generation process. Furthermore, the sample-and-hold mechanism associated with the sampling frequency is also taken into account with this approach. A control law is proposed based on a Lyapunov function candidate. Furthermore, convergence sets and the steady state jitter, inherent to PWM-ba…
IC3D Classification of Corneal Dystrophies—Edition 2
2015
To update the 2008 International Classification of Corneal Dystrophies (IC3D) incorporating new clinical, histopathologic, and genetic information.The IC3D reviewed worldwide peer-reviewed articles for new information on corneal dystrophies published between 2008 and 2014. Using this information, corneal dystrophy templates and anatomic classification were updated. New clinical, histopathologic, and confocal photographs were added.On the basis of revisiting the cellular origin of corneal dystrophy, a modified anatomic classification is proposed consisting of (1) epithelial and subepithelial dystrophies, (2) epithelial-stromal TGFBI dystrophies, (3) stromal dystrophies, and (4) endothelial d…
Nitric oxide modulates cerebral blood flow stimulation by acetazolamide in the rat cortex: a laser Doppler scanning study
2001
Abstract The involvement of nitric oxide (NO) in cerebral blood flow (CBF) stimulation by acetazolamide was studied in anaesthetised, mechanically ventilated Wistar rats. CBF was monitored by laser Doppler scanning. Acetazolamide induced a long-lasting significant rCBF-increase. Application of N G -Nitro- l -arginine (L-NNA), an inhibitor of all NO synthetases (NOS), prevented CBF stimulation by acetazolamide. Continuous infusion of the exogenous NO donor SIN-1 (3-morpholinosydnonimine) suppressed L-NNA induced increases of mean arterial blood pressure without effect on rCBF in comparison to baseline. Additional acetazolamide injection then again caused a significant increase of rCBF in spi…
Nifedipine improves blood flow and oxygen supply, but not steady-state oxygenation of tumours in perfusion pressure-controlled isolated limb perfusio…
2002
Isolated limb perfusion allows the direct application of therapeutic agents to a tumour-bearing extremity. The present study investigated whether the dihydropyridine-type Ca2+-channel blocker nifedipine could improve blood flow and oxygenation status of experimental tumours during isolated limb perfusion. Perfusion was performed by cannulation of the femoral artery and vein in rats bearing DS-sarcoma on the hind foot dorsum. Perfusion rate was adjusted to maintain a perfusion pressure of 100–140 mmHg throughout the experiment. Following equilibration, nifedipine was continuously infused for 30 min (8.3 μg min−1 kg−1 BW). During constant-pressure isolated limb perfusion, nifedipine can signi…
Localized hypothermia: impact on oxygenation, microregional perfusion, metabolic and bioenergetic status of subcutaneous rat tumours.
1998
The effect of localized hypothermia on microcirculatory and metabolic parameters in s.c. DS sarcomas on the hind foot dorsum of Sprague-Dawley rats was investigated. Tumours were cooled by superfusion of the tumour surface with cooled saline solution to 25 degrees C or 15 degrees C. Control tumours remained at 35 degrees C. These temperatures were maintained for 30 min. In tumour oxygenation measurements, hypothermia at 25 degrees C and 15 degrees C caused progressive decreases in the size of the fraction of pO2 measurements between 0 and 2.5 mmHg together with a reduction in pO2 variability. No significant changes in median or mean pO2 or in the fraction of pO2 measurements between 0 and 5…
Local Cerebral Blood Flow in a Rat Cortical Vein Occlusion Model
1996
The symptoms following sinus and vein occlusion observed in patients and experimental animals display a considerable variability that so far remains largely unexplained. In a rat cortical vein occlusion model using a photochemical thrombotic technique, we examined changes in the cerebral venous flow pattern by fluorescence angiography and regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and cerebral blood volume fraction (CBVF) by a modern laser Doppler “scanning” technique. Brain damage was assessed histologically. Fluorescence angiographic findings fell into two groups: group A, rats with an altered venous flow pattern after occlusion (n = 12), and group B, rats with interruption of blood flow and/or…