Drop In Output Research Articles

Non-Flooding Hybrid Polymer Fuel Cell

One of the chief difficulties associated with low temperature (<100°C) fuel cells is water management. Specifically, nucleation of liquid water droplets in the electrodes (i.e., flooding) causes a drop in power output as reactants are prevented from arriving at the electrodes. Here, we describe first attempts at a hybrid polymer fuel cell that prevents flooding. A proton exchange membrane and an alkaline exchange membrane are placed on opposite sides of a porous, water-soaked layer. Water formed in the porous layer is shunted to the exterior of the fuel cell. Though the design is promising, preliminary attempts have shown that the electrolytic resistance is too high for practical use.

Sympathetic and cardiovascular responses to glossopharyngeal insufflation in trained apnea divers

Glossopharyngeal insufflation (lung packing) is a common maneuver among experienced apnea divers by which additional air is pumped into the lungs. It has been shown that packing may compromise cardiovascular homeostasis. We tested the hypothesis that the packing-mediated increase in intrathoracic pressure enhances the baroreflex-mediated increase in muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) in response to an exaggerated drop in cardiac output (CO). We compared changes in hemodynamics and MSNA (peroneal microneurography) during maximal breath-holds without and with prior moderate packing (0.79 ± 0.40 liters) in 14 trained divers (12 men, 2 women, 26.7 ± 4.5 yr, body mass index 24.8 ± 2.4 kg/m(2)). Packing did not change apnea time (3.8 ± 1.0 vs. 3.8 ± 1.2 min), hemoglobin oxygen desaturation (-17.6 ± 12.3 vs. -18.7 ± 12.8%), or the reduction in CO (1 min: -3.65 ± 1.83 vs. -3.39 ± 1.96 l/min; end of apnea: -2.44 ± 1.33 vs. -2.16 ± 1.44 l/min). On the other hand, packing dampened the early, i.e., 1-min increase in mean arterial pressure (MAP, 1 min: 9.2 ± 8.3 vs. 2.4 ± 11.0 mmHg, P < 0.01) and in total peripheral resistance (relative TPR, 1 min: 2.1 ± 0.5 vs. 1.9 ± 0.5, P < 0.05) but it augmented the concomitant rise in MSNA (1 min: 28.0 ± 11.7 vs. 39.4 ± 12.7 bursts/min, P < 0.001; 32.8 ± 16.4 vs. 43.9 ± 14.8 bursts/100 heart beats, P < 0.01; 3.3 ± 2.1 vs. 4.8 ± 3.2 au/min, P < 0.05). We conclude that the early sympathoactivation 1 min into apnea after moderate packing is due to mechanisms other than excessive reduction in CO. We speculate that lower MAP despite increased MSNA after packing might be explained by vasodilator substances released by the lungs. This idea should be addressed in future studies.

Cross-Cutting Themes in Employment Experiences During the Crisis

The human cost of the recent global crisis is reflected in its impact on the labor market. Explaining why economies with similar downturns had very different employment trends can help design policies to reduce such costs and improve labor markets. This paper analyzes the recent employment experiences of six economies: Germany, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Spain, and Sweden. These economies represent a wide range of labor market institutions, policy responses, and outcomes to the crisis. The divergence of labor market outcomes and of the effectiveness of policies during the crisis can be explained by the interaction between the nature of the shocks and differences in the structure and institutions of each country’s economy. The worst job losses compared to the drop in output followed permanent shocks, particularly in dual labor markets and in the presence of wage rigidities. Policies to avoid job cuts were much more effective when they were well-targeted and responded to temporary shocks. In contrast, policies to facilitate labor movements were more appropriate following permanent shocks.

Sustaining a global recovery

Recovery from the global economic crisis has begun, but the crisis has most likely caused a drop in potential output. The higher-than-normal growth that follows most recessions should not be expected this time. Sustaining the recovery will require two delicate rebalancing acts. First, countries will have to rebalance from public to private spending. Second, aggregate demand will have to be rebalanced across counties, with a shift from domestic to foreign demand in the United States and a reverse shift from foreign to domestic demand in the rest of the world, especially Asia.

Foreign output shocks, monetary rules and macroeconomic volatilities in small open economies

The 2008 financial crisis is marked by the drop in output of major industrial countries which affected small open economies in various degrees. We examine the role of three different types of monetary policy rules in mitigating or exacerbating the effects of a negative foreign output shock on key macroeconomic variables of a small open economy by numerically solving a dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) model. We find that compared to the Taylor rule, small open economies that follow either fixed exchange rate regime or strict inflation targeting tend to stabilize real exchange rate and inflation at the expense of substantial instability in the real economy.

Ecological optimization of energy selective electron (ESE) heat engine

The ecological performance optimization of an energy selective electron (ESE) heat engine operated at maximum power regime and the intermediate regime (i.e. between maximum power operation and reversible operation) is carried out in this paper by using finite time thermodynamics. In the analyses, the analytical formulae for the entropy generation rate and the ecological function of the ESE heat engine are derived for the two operation regimes, respectively. The performance characteristic curves are obtained by numerical examples. The influence of the resonance widths on the ecological performance of the ESE heat engine at intermediate regime is discussed. The ecological performances are analyzed and compared with the power and efficiency characteristic. It is shown that, when the working point is changed from the maximum power point to the maximum ecological function point, the efficiency increases and the entropy generation rate decreases mostly with only a small power output drop. The results obtained herein have theoretical significance for the understanding of thermodynamic performance of the micro-nano devices.

Oil Shocks and Optimal Monetary Policy

In practice, central banks have been confronted with a trade-off between stabilising inflation and output when dealing with rising oil prices. This contrasts with the result in the standard New Keynesian model that ensuring complete price stability is the optimal thing to do, even when an oil shock leads to large output drops. To reconcile this apparent contradiction, this paper investigates how monetary policy should react to oil shocks in a microfounded model with staggered price-setting and with oil as an input in a CES production function. In particular, we extend Benigno and Woodford (2005) to obtain a second order approximation to the expected utility of the representative household when the steady state is distorted and the economy is hit by oil price shocks. The main result is that oil price shocks generate an endogenous trade-off between inflation and output stabilisation when oil has low substitutability in production. Therefore, it becomes optimal for the monetary authority to stabilise partially the effects of oil shocks on inflation and some inflation is desirable. We also find, in contrast to Benigno and Woodford (2005), that this trade-off is reduced, but not eliminated, when we get rid of the effects of monopolistic distortions in the steady state. Moreover, the size of the endogenous cost-push shock generated by fluctuations in the oil price increases when oil is more difficult to substitute by other factors.

Delayed Presentation of a Post-Traumatic Left Ventricular Pseudoaneurysm in a Child

Left ventricular pseudoaneurysms can occur after myocardial infarction or trauma, but are extremely rare in pediatric patients. We present a case of post-traumatic left ventricular pseudoaneurysm, in whom the causative event was some time before the acute clinical deterioration. The 9-year-old boy had repeated presentations for chest pain and lethargy for some months prior to admission. The report describes an effective primary suture repair.

Institutional Quality and Economic Crises: Legal Origin Theory versus Colonial Strategy Theory

In a natural experiment among former colonies between 1970 and 1999, weak institutions reflected in high settler mortality and French legal origin often increase the likelihood and intensity of local currency and real crises (i.e., those resulting in a drop in real output) amid six global crises. The effects of institutions on crises are often mediated through macroeconomic policies, but they are often not primary channels. Persistent institutions (i.e., those reflected in the legal origins and settler mortality) predict the occurrence and intensity of crises better than time-varying institutions do.

Managing the pneumonectomy space after extrapleural pneumonectomy: postoperative intrathoracic pressure monitoring☆☆☆

Rapid fluid evacuation of the pneumonectomy space can cause ipsilateral mediastinal shift, contralateral lung hyperexpansion, compromised caval blood return and a precipitous drop in cardiac output. Conversely, rapid fluid accumulation can cause contralateral mediastinal shift with compression of the remaining lung and respiratory insufficiency. In this retrospective analysis, we evaluate the efficacy of intrathoracic pressure monitoring and intermittent fluid aspiration to manage the pneumonectomy space in the early postoperative period following extrapleural pneumonectomy. Prior to chest closure, a 14 F Rob-Nel catheter was placed in the pneumonectomy space and connected to pressure tubing to monitor ipsilateral intrathoracic pressure continuously. Central venous pressure monitoring and serial chest X-rays were performed according to usual intensive care routine. Pneumonectomy space fluid was aspirated intermittently when there was increase in intrathoracic pressure, refractory hypotension, mediastinal shift on chest X-ray, or clinical decline. Postoperative imaging was re-evaluated retrospectively for confirmation of mediastinal shift by a senior radiologist. From January to December 2008, 47 patients underwent extrapleural pneumonectomy for pleural mesothelioma (median age 65 years with range 34-79 years, 77% male). Twenty (43%) patients had left-sided disease and 32 (68%) received local heated intra-operative cisplatin-based chemotherapy. The median baseline pneumonectomy space pressure was 3 cm H(2)O (range: -6 to +12). The median amount of fluid withdrawn over the first 2 days postoperatively was 300 cc (range: 0-1980 cc). Thirty-one (69%) patients had minimal, if any, change in mediastinal position during the first 2 postoperative days with intermittent drainage performed when the pneumonectomy space pressure rose. Eleven (25%) patients had increasing contralateral shift, four of whom had return of the mediastinum to baseline during this time period. The median fluid drained from the four patients whose contralateral shift resolved was 290 cc (range: 220-800 cc) compared to 200 cc (range: 150-480 cc) from the seven patients whose contralateral shift remained, but this difference did not reach significance (p=0.365). Intrathoracic pressure monitoring may be used as a guide for intermittent fluid evacuation of the pneumonectomy space prior to onset of clinical signs or symptoms, to avoid the cardiopulmonary risks of rapid fluid removal. Contralateral mediastinal shift should be treated with incremental drainage when there is a rise in intrathoracic pressure to prevent cardiovascular complications.

Export Shocks and the Zero Bound Trap

When a small open economy experiences a sufficiently large negative export shock, it is vulnerable to falling into a zero bound trap. In addition, such a shock can have very large impact on the economy compared to the case when the zero bound is not a binding constraint. This could be one possible explanation as to why a country like Japan experienced much larger drop in output than the United States during the recent financial crisis. JEL codes: E52, E58, F41

Cross-Cutting Themes in Employment Experiences during the Crisis

The human cost of the recent global crisis is reflected in its impact on the labor market. Explaining why economies with similar downturns had very different employment trends can help design policies to reduce such costs and improve labor markets. This paper analyzes the recent employment experiences of six economies: Germany, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Spain, and Sweden. These economies represent a wide range of labor market institutions, policy responses, and outcomes to the crisis. The divergence of labor market outcomes and of the effectiveness of policies during the crisis can be explained by the interaction between the nature of the shocks and differences in the structure and institutions of each country’s economy. The worst job losses compared to the drop in output followed permanent shocks, particularly in dual labor markets and in the presence of wage rigidities. Policies to avoid job cuts were much more effective when they were well-targeted and responded to temporary shocks. In contrast, policies to facilitate labor movements were more appropriate following permanent shocks.

New insights into sulfur poisoning behavior of Ni-YSZ anode from long-term operation of anode-supported SOFCs

The performance characteristics of high-performance Ni-YSZ (yttria-stabilized zirconia) anode-supported solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are examined under typical fuel cell operating conditions over a period of ∼3000 h when hydrogen contaminated with different concentrations of H2S was used as the fuel. Analyses reveal some new insights into the sulfur poisoning behavior of a Ni-YSZ anode. First, an initial drop in power output upon exposure to H2S-contaminated fuels is more dramatic in an anode-supported cell (with small cell resistance) than in electrolyte-supported cell (with large cell resistance), creating an illusion that a high-performance cell appears to be less sulfur tolerant than a low-performance cell. Second, the transition time for this rapid performance drop to cease is much longer for an anode-supported cell (with a thicker anode) than an electrolyte-supported cell (with a thinner anode). Third, the degree of sulfur poisoning (or the cell resistance increase due to sulfur poisoning) diminishes with operating cell current density, suggesting that the water produced at the active sites on anode surface from electro-oxidation of hydrogen (or oxygen ions) may promote the oxidation and removal of adsorbed sulfur. This effect becomes less pronounced at higher concentration of H2S, but still significant at ∼1 ppm of H2S. Fourth, the subsequent slow degradation in performance after the rapid performance drop upon initial exposure to H2S can be avoided, indicating that the previously reported slow degradation is unlikely the inherent behavior of a Ni-YSZ anode, but associated with other complications. This further implies that sulfur poisoning may be reversible and the performance drop could be fully recovered when the fuel is switched back to clean hydrogen.

Isometric Handgrip Reduces Symptoms of Initial Orthostatic Hypotension

Initial orthostatic hypotension (IOH) is a large transient (<1 minute) abrupt drop in blood pressure (BP) and cardiac output that occurs within 15 seconds of standing and is associated with postural symptoms in otherwise healthy people. Isometric handgrip evokes an exercise pressor reflex that increases BP by increasing cardiac output. Investigators examined the …

Sudden stops: Determinants and output effects in the first era of globalization, 1880–1913

We study the determinants and output effects of sudden stops in capital inflows during an era of intensified globalization from 1880 to 1913. Higher levels of exposure to foreign currency debt and large current account deficits associated with reliance on foreign capital greatly increased the likelihood of experiencing a sudden stop. Trade openness and strong reserve positions had the opposite effect. Sudden stops accompanied by financial crises are associated with drops in output per capita below trend equal to three to four percent. Frictions in the international capital markets of the day are a likely candidate for these output losses. Sudden stops connected with crises do not seem to bring trend growth downwards. Sudden stops not connected with crises appear to be associated with significant declines in trend growth.

Efficient Red-Edge Materials Photosensitized by Rhodamine 640

We report on tunable, highly efficient and photostable solid-state dye laser emitting around 640 nm based on Rhodamine 640 incorporated into homopolymers, linear and cross-linked copolymers, and silicon-modified organic matrices. The effect on the lasing properties of both dye concentration and environmental conditions was analyzed. Under transversal pumping at 532 nm with 5.5 mJ/pulse, high-lasing efficiencies of up to 42% were recorded. The laser operation was highly stable with a drop in the laser output of approximately 20% after 100 000 pump pulses at the same position of the sample at 10 Hz repetition rate. To the best of our knowledge, these results are the topmost achieved to date for organic, inorganic, and hybrid materials doped with rhodamine 640. When the samples were incorporated into a grazing-incidence grating oscillator, narrow-line-width operation with tunning ranges of up to 40 nm was obtained.

Assessing vulnerability of selected sectors under environmental tax reform: the issue of pricing power

Environmental tax reform could bear heavily on manufacturing sectors that are energy intensive and highly traded, in particular if their options for adapting technology are limited. However, to the extent that such sectors can pass on the cost of the environmental taxes through higher prices charged to their customers, they will not suffer a lasting drop in profitability or output. To assess pricing power in key sectors, a model of long-run price setting behaviour is specified and tested. Significant and plausible results emerged from this exercise. Of the six sectors analysed, the Basic metals sector revealed least pricing power and, hence, greatest vulnerability, and the Non-metallic minerals sector revealed most pricing power. The results indicated that the world price, proxied by the US price, was less of a constraint than the EU price, proxied by the German price. Thus, international competitiveness fears are reduced not just where there is good potential for adapting technology but also if application of environmental tax reform is EU-wide.

Firm Operating and Financial Responses to a Financial Crisis: 'Maximising Value' while 'Managing for Cash' During a Credit Crunch

I develop a model for how heterogeneous firms within an industry respond to a financial shock that temporarily raises the cost of external finance, relative to internally generated funds. The model incorporates three elements that lead to substantial variation across firms in policy response to the shock and affect the time path of aggregate outcomes: endogenous entry, heterogeneity in firm productivity, and gradual scaling up of firm capital stock. I find that these elements lead to firm policies that have off-setting effects on the initial aggregate impact of the crisis, such as the drop in output and investment, but reinforcing effects to slow down the subsequent recovery.

Minimizing the consequences of the current decline in Russian coke output

The optimal drop in Russia’s coke output is considered, so as to minimize the unavoidable current and future losses, including losses of capacity. The positive and negative aspects of various approaches to reducing coke output are evaluated. On that basis, the existing coke batteries are divided into age groups. For each age group, permissible methods of reducing coke production are determined by graphical analysis (as a function of the duration and depth of the drop in output).

Modeling sudden stops: The non-trivial role of preference specifications

A puzzling ambiguity in current international economics literature is the link between sudden stops and output drops. While some studies predict the link, others find sudden stops lead to output increases. This paper theoretically shows that the ambiguity results from alternative preference specifications.