Analysis of Fluctuations in the Early Universe Using Fokker-Planck Formalism

The thesis begins with a review of basic elements of general theory of relativity (GTR) which forms the basis for the theoretical interpretation of the observations in cosmology. The first chapter also discusses the standard model in cosmology, namely the Friedmann model, its predictions and problems. We have also made a brief discussion on fractals and inflation of the early universe in the first chapter. In the second chapter we discuss the formulation of a new approach to cosmology namely a stochastic approach. In this model, the dynam ics of the early universe is described by a set of non-deterministic, Langevin type equations and we derive the solutions using the Fokker—Planck formalism. Here we demonstrate how the problems with the standard model, can be eliminated by introducing the idea of stochastic fluctuations in the early universe. Many recent observations indicate that the present universe may be approximated by a many component fluid and we assume that only the total energy density is conserved. This, in turn, leads to energy transfer between different components of the cosmic fluid and fluctuations in such energy transfer can certainly induce fluctuations in the mean to factor in the equation of state p = wp, resulting in a fluctuating expansion rate for the universe. The third chapter discusses the stochastic evolution of the cosmological parameters in the early universe, using the new approach. The penultimate chapter is about the refinements to be made in the present model, by means of a new deterministic model The concluding chapter presents a discussion on other problems with the conventional cosmology, like fractal correlation of galactic distribution. The author attempts an explanation for this problem using the stochastic approach.

Value orientation of professional students in kerala

The present study is on value orientation of professional students•and as such the theoretical value is inherent and implied. Variation on this value is likely to be limited among the subjects. The relevance of the present study is with particular reference, to management as a profession. In organisational settings motivation plays an important role. According to McClelland's theory of needs, achievement, power, and affiliation are the three important needs that help in understanding motivation. Achieve~ent need may be defined as the drive to excel, to achieve in relation to a set of standards, and to strive to succeed. Some people have a compelling drive to succeed. They have a desire to do something better or more efficiently than it has been done before. McClelland found that high achievers differentiate themselves from others by their desire to do things . better. Considering this fact, 'achievement' is included as one of the values for the study

Arbitrage Pricing Theory and Return Generating Process: A Macroeconomic Approach to Indian Stock Market

A study focusing on the identification of return generating factors and to the extent of their influence on share prices the outcome will be a tool for investment analysis in the hands of investors portfolio managers and mutual funds who are mostly concerned with changing share prices. Since the study takes into account the influence of macroeconomic variables on variations in share returns by using the outcome the government can frame out suitable policies on long term basis and that will help in nurturing a healthy economy and resultant stock market. As every company management tries to maximize the wealth of the share holders a clear idea about the return generating variables and their influence will help the management to frame various policies to maximize the wealth of the shareholders.

Provenance, Isolation and Characterisation of Organic Matter in the Cochin Estuarine Sediment-“a Diagenetic Amino Acid Marker Scenario

Cochin estuarine system is among the most productive aquatic environment along the Southwest coast of India, exhibits unique ecological features and possess greater socioeconomic relevance. Serious investigations carried out during the past decades on the hydro biogeochemical variables pointed out variations in the health and ecological functioning of this ecosystem. Characterisation of organic matter in the estuary has been attempted in many investigations. But detailed studies covering the degradation state of organic matter using molecular level approach is not attempted. The thesis entitled Provenance, Isolation and Characterisation of Organic Matter in the Cochin Estuarine Sediment-“ A Diagenetic Amino Acid Marker Scenario” is an integrated approach to evaluate the source, quantity, quality, and degradation state of the organic matter in the surface sediments of Cochin estuarine system with the combined application of bulk and molecular level tools. Sediment and water samples from nine stations situated at Cochin estuary were collected in five seasonal sampling campaigns, for the biogeochemical assessment and their distribution pattern of sedimentary organic matter. The sampling seasons were described and abbreviated as follows: April- 2009 (pre monsoon: PRM09), August-2009 (monsoon: MON09), January-2010 (post monsoon: POM09), April-2010 (pre monsoon: PRM10) and September- 2012 (monsoon: MON12). In order to evaluate the general environmental conditions of the estuary, water samples were analysed for water quality parameters, chlorophyll pigments and nutrients by standard methods. Investigations suggested the fact that hydrographical variables and nutrients in Cochin estuary supports diverse species of flora and fauna. Moreover the sedimentary variables such as pH, Eh, texture, TOC, fractions of nitrogen and phosphorous were determined to assess the general geochemical setting as well as redox status. The periodically fluctuating oxic/ anoxic conditions and texture serve as the most significant variables controlling other variables of the aquatic environment. The organic matter in estuary comprise of a complex mixture of autochthonous as well as allochthonous materials. Autochthonous input is limited or enhanced by the nutrient elements like N and P (in their various fractions), used as a tool to evaluate their bioavailability. Bulk parameter approach like biochemical composition, stoichiometric elemental ratios and stable carbon isotope ratio was also employed to assess the quality and quantity of sedimentary organic matter in the study area. Molecular level charactersation of free sugars and amino acids were carried out by liquid chromatographic techniques. Carbohydrates are the products of primary production and their occurrence in sediments as free sugars can provide information on the estuarine productivity. Amino acid biogeochemistry provided implications on the system productivity, nature of organic matter as well as degradation status of the sedimentary organic matter in the study area. The predominance of carbohydrates over protein indicated faster mineralisation of proteinaceous organic matter in sediments and the estuary behaves as a detrital trap for the accumulation of aged organic matter. The higher lipid content and LPD/CHO ratio pointed towards the better food quality that supports benthic fauna and better accumulation of lipid compounds in the sedimentary environment. Allochthonous addition of carbohydrates via terrestrial run off was responsible for the lower PRT/CHO ratio estimated in thesediments and the lower ratios also denoted a detrital heterotrophic environment. Biopolymeric carbon and the algal contribution to BPC provided important information on the better understanding the trophic state of the estuarine system and the higher values of chlorophyll-a to phaeophytin ratio indicated deposition of phytoplankton to sediment at a rapid rate. The estimated TOC/TN ratios implied the combined input of both terrestrial and autochthonous organic matter to sedimentsAmong the free sugars, depleted levels of glucose in sediments in most of the stations and abundance of mannose at station S5 was observed during the present investigation. Among aldohexoses, concentration of galactose was found to be higher in most of the stationsRelative abundance of AAs in the estuarine sediments based on seasons followed the trend: PRM09-Leucine > Phenylalanine > Argine > Lysine, MON09-Lysine > Aspartic acid > Histidine > Tyrosine > Phenylalanine, POM09-Lysine > Histadine > Phenyalanine > Leucine > Methionine > Serine > Proline > Aspartic acid, PRM10-Valine > Aspartic acid > Histidine > Phenylalanine > Serine > Proline, MON12-Lysine > Phenylalanine > Aspartic acid > Histidine > Valine > Tyrsine > MethionineThe classification of study area into three zones based on salinity was employed in the present study for the sake of simplicity and generalized interpretations. The distribution of AAs in the three zones followed the trend: Fresh water zone (S1, S2):- Phenylalanine > Lysine > Aspartic acid > Methionine > Valine ῀ Leucine > Proline > Histidine > Glycine > Serine > Glutamic acid > Tyrosine > Arginine > Alanine > Threonine > Cysteine > Isoleucine. Estuarine zone (S3, S4, S5, S6):- Lysine > Aspartic acid > Phenylalanine > Leucine > Valine > Histidine > Methionine > Tyrosine > Serine > Glutamic acid > Proline > Glycine > Arginine > Alanine > Isoleucine > Cysteine > Threonine. Riverine /Industrial zone (S7, S8, S9):- Phenylalanine > Lysine > Aspartic acid > Histidine > Serine > Arginine > Tyrosine > Leucine > Methionine > Glutamic acid > Alanine > Glycine > Cysteine > Proline > Isoleucine > Threonine > Valine. The abundance of AAs like glutamic acid, aspartic acid, isoleucine, valine, tyrosine, and phenylalanine in sediments of the study area indicated freshly derived organic matter.

Euroland: besser als befürchtet aber schlechter als erhofft?

Die Schaffung der Europäischen Währungsunion hatte in wissenschaftlichen Kreisen heftigste Kontroversen ausgelöst. Der vorliegende Beitrag unternimmt, dreieinhalb Jahre nach dem Beginn der Währungsunion, eine Bestandsaufnahme der Entwicklungen in den diesbezüglich zugrundeliegenden zentralen Problembereichen: den Arbeitsmärkten, der Inflationsentwicklung und der Budgetproblematik. Eine Analyse der Thesen im Lichte der bisherigen makroökonomischen Daten führt zu einem gemischten Urteil: während die Entwicklungen auf den Arbeitsmärkten und im Inflationsbereeich bislang in der Tendenz positiv sind, stagniert die angestrebte Besserung bei der Budget- und Schuldenproblematik. Da die weltwirtschaftlichen Einflüsse bislang günstig bzw. für alle Teilnehmerländer von ähnlicher Wirkung waren, steht ein harter Test des makroökonomischen Rahmens aber noch aus.

Design, implementation and application of a generic framework for integrated regional land-use modeling

Land use is a crucial link between human activities and the natural environment and one of the main driving forces of global environmental change. Large parts of the terrestrial land surface are used for agriculture, forestry, settlements and infrastructure. Given the importance of land use, it is essential to understand the multitude of influential factors and resulting land use patterns. An essential methodology to study and quantify such interactions is provided by the adoption of land-use models. By the application of land-use models, it is possible to analyze the complex structure of linkages and feedbacks and to also determine the relevance of driving forces. Modeling land use and land use changes has a long-term tradition. In particular on the regional scale, a variety of models for different regions and research questions has been created. Modeling capabilities grow with steady advances in computer technology, which on the one hand are driven by increasing computing power on the other hand by new methods in software development, e.g. object- and component-oriented architectures. In this thesis, SITE (Simulation of Terrestrial Environments), a novel framework for integrated regional sland-use modeling, will be introduced and discussed. Particular features of SITE are the notably extended capability to integrate models and the strict separation of application and implementation. These features enable efficient development, test and usage of integrated land-use models. On its system side, SITE provides generic data structures (grid, grid cells, attributes etc.) and takes over the responsibility for their administration. By means of a scripting language (Python) that has been extended by language features specific for land-use modeling, these data structures can be utilized and manipulated by modeling applications. The scripting language interpreter is embedded in SITE. The integration of sub models can be achieved via the scripting language or by usage of a generic interface provided by SITE. Furthermore, functionalities important for land-use modeling like model calibration, model tests and analysis support of simulation results have been integrated into the generic framework. During the implementation of SITE, specific emphasis was laid on expandability, maintainability and usability. Along with the modeling framework a land use model for the analysis of the stability of tropical rainforest margins was developed in the context of the collaborative research project STORMA (SFB 552). In a research area in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, socio-environmental impacts of land-use changes were examined. SITE was used to simulate land-use dynamics in the historical period of 1981 to 2002. Analogous to that, a scenario that did not consider migration in the population dynamics, was analyzed. For the calculation of crop yields and trace gas emissions, the DAYCENT agro-ecosystem model was integrated. In this case study, it could be shown that land-use changes in the Indonesian research area could mainly be characterized by the expansion of agricultural areas at the expense of natural forest. For this reason, the situation had to be interpreted as unsustainable even though increased agricultural use implied economic improvements and higher farmers' incomes. Due to the importance of model calibration, it was explicitly addressed in the SITE architecture through the introduction of a specific component. The calibration functionality can be used by all SITE applications and enables largely automated model calibration. Calibration in SITE is understood as a process that finds an optimal or at least adequate solution for a set of arbitrarily selectable model parameters with respect to an objective function. In SITE, an objective function typically is a map comparison algorithm capable of comparing a simulation result to a reference map. Several map optimization and map comparison methodologies are available and can be combined. The STORMA land-use model was calibrated using a genetic algorithm for optimization and the figure of merit map comparison measure as objective function. The time period for the calibration ranged from 1981 to 2002. For this period, respective reference land-use maps were compiled. It could be shown, that an efficient automated model calibration with SITE is possible. Nevertheless, the selection of the calibration parameters required detailed knowledge about the underlying land-use model and cannot be automated. In another case study decreases in crop yields and resulting losses in income from coffee cultivation were analyzed and quantified under the assumption of four different deforestation scenarios. For this task, an empirical model, describing the dependence of bee pollination and resulting coffee fruit set from the distance to the closest natural forest, was integrated. Land-use simulations showed, that depending on the magnitude and location of ongoing forest conversion, pollination services are expected to decline continuously. This results in a reduction of coffee yields of up to 18% and a loss of net revenues per hectare of up to 14%. However, the study also showed that ecological and economic values can be preserved if patches of natural vegetation are conservated in the agricultural landscape. -----------------------------------------------------------------------

"Schwarzer Untertan versus schwarzer Bruder". Bernhard Dernburgs Reformen in den Kolonien Deutsch-Ostafrika, Deutsch-Südwestafrika, Togo und Kamerun

Nachdem sich in der Kolonialkrise von 1906 das Scheitern der ersten Periode deutscher Kolonialherrschaft (1885-1906) offenbarte, wurde Bernhard Dernburg die grundlegende Reorganisation der Kolonialpolitik anvertraut. Als Mann aus der Welt der Banken und Finanzen sollte er die stagnierende Entwicklung der Kolonien mit Hilfe von administrativen und wirtschaftlichen Reformmaßnahmen vorantreiben und gleichzeitig der indigenen Bevölkerung eine humane Behandlung zu garantieren. Um diese Ziele zu erreichen, verabschiedete er Reformen, die eine Rationalisierung und Humanisierung der Arbeiterpolitik vorsahen. Sowohl in der zeitgenössischen Literatur als auch in der aktuellen wissenschaftlichen Forschung wird der Amtsantritt Bernhard Dernburgs zum Leiter der Kolonialabteilung im Jahre 1906 als der „Beginn einer neuen humanen Ära“ deutscher Kolonialpolitik oder als „Wandel zum Besseren“ bezeichnet. Die Dissertation „Schwarzer Untertan versus Schwarzer Bruder. Bernhard Dernburgs Reformen in den Kolonien Deutsch-Ostafrika, Deutsch-Südwestafrika, Togo und Kamerun“ untersucht die Intention, Akzeptanz, Umsetzung und Auswirkung der reformatorischen Eingeborenenpolitik und klärt, ob die Beurteilung der Ära Dernburg (1906-1910) in der zeitgenössischen und aktuellen Forschung eine Berechtigung hat. Obwohl zumindest in der Theorie sein Konzept einer rationalen und humanen Kolonialpolitik sicherlich eine Abkehr von der bisher betriebenen Kolonialpolitik bedeutete, zeigt sich jedoch bei der Umsetzung der Reformen eine deutliche Diskrepanz zwischen Intention und Realität. Auch wenn zumindest die Bestrebung Dernburgs zur Verrechtlichung der indigenen Arbeitsverhältnisse gewürdigt werden sollte, so muss doch konstatiert werden, dass es in der „Ära Dernburg“ definitiv nicht zu einer grundlegenden Verbesserung der indigenen Lebenssituation in den deutschen Kolonien kam. Im Gegenteil, die Dernburgsche Reformpolitik beschleunigte vielmehr den Verelendungsprozess der indigenen Bevölkerung. In allen afrikanischen Kolonien verschlechterten sich mit der Intensivierung der Verwaltung die sozialen und menschlichen Beziehungen zwischen Afrikanern und Europäern. Vieles von dem, was Dernburg in seinem Programm propagierte, konnte nicht erreicht werden. Zwar führte Dernburg in Deutsch-Ostafrika, Deutsch-Südwestafrika und in Kamerun eine rechtlich bindende Arbeiterverordnung ein, jedoch unterschieden sich die Bestimmungen zum Teil erheblich voneinander, so dass von einer einheitlichen Modernisierung des kolonialen Arbeitsrechts nicht die Rede sein kann. Viele arbeitsrechtliche Bereiche, wie z.B. die Arbeiteranwerbung, Lohnzahlung, Minderjährigenschutz, Vertragsdauer, Arbeitszeit, Verpflegung und Unterkunft wurden nur unzureichend geregelt. Ähnlich negativ muss auch die Reformierung der Strafrechtspflege bewertet werden. Die Kodifizierung eines Eingeborenenstrafrechts scheiterte sowohl am Widerstand der lokalen Verwaltung als auch am Grundkonsens der Rechtmäßigkeit einer Rassenjustiz. Kolonialpolitik war auch in der „Ära Dernburg“ nichts anderes als „rohe Ausbeutungspolitik“, die zur Lösung der Arbeiterfrage beitragen sollte. Aber gerade hier, bei der Mobilisierung von afrikanischen Lohnarbeitern, war der Kolonialstaatssekretär nicht etwa mit einer „Arbeiterfürsorgepolitik“, sondern mit der Fortführung der Enteignungs- und Zwangsmaßnahmen erfolgreich gewesen. Insgesamt ist ein deutlicher Anstieg an afrikanischen Arbeitern in europäischen Unternehmen zu verzeichnen, was darauf schließen lässt, dass Dernburgs Verordnungen einen günstigen Einfluss auf die Arbeiterfrage ausgeübt haben. Obwohl nicht von einem grundlegenden Neuanfang der Kolonialpolitik gesprochen werden kann, sollte ebenso wenig bezweifelt werden, dass sich die deutsche Kolonialpolitik nicht unter Dernburg veränderte. Größere indigene Aufstände und Unruhen blieben aus, so dass während seiner Amtszeit eine systematische wirtschaftliche Erschließung der Kolonien beginnen konnte.

La importancia de la tienda de barrio como canal de distribución aplicado en la Localidad La Candelaria

Las tiendas de barrio en Colombia como canales de distribución aún representan oportunidades de crecimiento en algunas categorías, ya que se convirtieron en una herramienta de captación de capital, oportunidad de trabajo y apoyo a la industria nacional, al brindar mejoras en el acceso de productos, asequibilidad en precios y una relación interpersonal más cercana e intima entre tendero y consumidor; situación que no se evidencia con los almacenes mayoristas, que pese a su aparición y auge, no lograron eliminar a las ya consolidadas “tiendas de barrio” , aún cuando se había pronosticado el final de dichos establecimientos de comercio con la aparición de grandes cadenas como Carrefour, ÉXITO, CAFAM y Makro. De igual manera, la existencia de factores estratégicos como la ubicación, la amabilidad, el crédito que otorgan a sus clientes, la dosis precisa del producto en una presentación de bajo desembolso, la amistad y el trato personalizado, han permitido que las tiendas de barrio continúen manteniendo una fortaleza a nivel económico, cultural y comercial en Colombia. Por otro lado cabe destacar que las grandes superficies cuentan con mayor capital, mejor mercadeo y ventas, mejores prácticas logísticas, aliados internacionales y un bajo nivel de agotados, factores que sin duda atraen a clientes pertenecientes a los estratos económicos más altos, pero también implica el no acceso de sectores populares, que compiten entre el precio y la calidad, primando siempre el primero. La afluencia de las tiendas de barrio no es otra cosa que la combinación de factores económicos tales como la inflación y las tasas de desempleo que según cifras oficiales han venido aumentando en la última década, situación que lleva a los consumidores a querer acceder a las tiendas de barrio, pues los clientes no siempre cuentan con la cantidad de dinero suficiente para adquirir sus productos en las grandes superficies, tal como sucede en la Localidad de La Candelaria que cuenta con un alto número de población flotante, en donde el consumo per cápita y la capacidad de endeudamiento de los consumidores no alcanza para acceder a Almacenes de Cadena y sí a la modesta pero cómoda compra en las tiendas de barrio. Es a partir de esta situación que los proveedores (especialmente los dedicados a los productos de consumo) deciden cambiar la visión y el modus operandi de sus modelos de negocios tradicionales a una visión que busca la expansión rentable de los negocios de la empresa adaptándose a la economía de sus clientes y generando riqueza entre los sectores más pobres de la sociedad, es decir, enfocándose en el segmento de las personas con menos recursos. De esta manera las grandes empresas se convierten en empresas aliadas del sector tradicional.

Cooperación franco-española frente al terrorismo de ETA durante los gobiernos de José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, Jacques Chirac y Nicolás Sarkozy

Esta monografía analiza la amenaza que representa ETA para Francia y España; la respuesta frente al problema de los Estados implicados y propone los posibles factores limitantes a la cooperación que no han permitido eliminar la amenaza terrorista.

Acido tranexamico y convulsiones luego de cirugia cardiaca

En cirugía cardiaca el sangrado perioperatorio y por consiguiente la necesidad de transfundir productos sanguíneos son el mayor contribuyente al incremento de la morbimortalidad en este grupo de pacientes. Existen estrategias para disminuir el sangrado y el requerimiento de transfusiones, como el uso de de ácido tranexamico (AT) el cual parece estar implicado en el desarrollo de convulsiones luego de cirugía cardiaca. En este estudio retrospectivo desarrollado en la Fundación Cardio Infantil (FCI) examinamos la relación entre el uso de AT y la aparición de convulsiones luego de cirugía cardiaca. Nuestra revisión fue hecha en 679 pacientes de los cuales 20 presentaron episodios convulsivos luego de cirugía cardiaca, sin demostrarse lesiones isquémicas en la valoración imagenológica (TAC) en un periodo que comprendía desde abril 1del 2008 hasta mayo 31 del 2009. Nosotros encontramos que la incidencia de convulsiones después de cirugía cardiaca en nuestra institución en este periodo fue de 2.9 % y encontramos una asociación estadísticamente significativa entre el uso de AT y la presencia de falla renal (p=0.006) con un incremento lineal en la probabilidad de convulsionar con los valores de creatinina (p=0.036). Nosotros concluimos que la incidencia de convulsiones es baja y multifactorial siendo el principal factor de riesgo la presencia de falla renal, posiblemente por ser esta la principal vía de eliminación del medicamento, generando así un incremento de las concentraciones séricas del mismo y produciendo antagonismo del receptor GABA asociado a vasoespasmo que desencadenaría clínicamente un evento convulsivo.

MA348exam 1998

Exam questions and solutions in LaTex

MA348exam 1998 pdf

Exam questions and solutions in PDF

El interés estratégico de Estados Unidos en India, en el período comprendido entre 2000-2010

A partir de la aprobación del Acuerdo Nuclear con fines civiles entre Estados Unidos e India en 2008, se evidencia un viraje contundente de la política exterior norteamericana hacia ésta nación asiática. Este hecho sin precedentes, que implicó para Estados Unidos dejar atrás más de 3 décadas de políticas de no proliferación nuclear y un cambio en su legislación, hace cuestionar cuál es el interés estratégico de Estados Unidos en India. En ese orden de ideas, el objetivo de la presente investigación, ha sido demostrar que dicho interés estratégico busca una alianza con India como un actor de peso en el tablero asiático, para contener el avance del poderío de la República Popular de China en la región, mediante la aplicación de tres dinámicas a través de India: 1) El fortalecimiento de los vínculos en seguridad con India dada su proyección y relevancia geopolítica, 2) El estrechamiento de los lazos comerciales impulsados por Estados Unidos para mejorar las condiciones económicas de India, para así contrarrestar el poder económico de China y su influencia política en la región, y 3), encontrando en India un ancla de la democracia en Asia, en contraste del modelo político socialista de China.

Modos ventilatorios avanzados : Ventilación de Soporte Adaptativo (ASV)

El soporte ventilatorio es una de las intervenciones más utilizadas en las unidades de cuidado intensivo. A pesar de su rol «salvador» puede ser un procedimiento riesgoso para el paciente si no es aplicado apropiadamente. Para disminuír los riesgos inherentes a la misma, modos ventilatorios avanzados continúan siendo desarrollados a fin de mejorar los desenlaces clínicos de los pacientes. Estos avances incluyen sistemas de control de asa cerrada, como el ASV, el cual se ajusta automáticamente a los requerimientos del paciente. Es importante el entendimiento de este novedoso modo ventilatorio por el personal médico, incluyendo sus efectos en la mecánica pulmonar. Este artículo discutirá sobre el modo de ventilación de soporte adaptativo haciendo énfasis particular en sus parámetros, ventajas y desventajas sobre la oxigenación y ventilación.