The sounding rocket for the DELTA (Dynamics and Energetics of the Lower Thermosphere in Aurora) campaign was successfully launched from Andoya at 00:33 UT on Dec 13, 2004. Though it was cloudy at the time of launch, the Weber Na lidar was operating intermittently between 20:00 UT and 23:30 UT on Dec 12, observing Na density, temperature and meridional wind between 80 and 100 km. Throughout the ...

This study empirically analyzes the effect of hospital competition on prescribing behaviors of oral hypoglycemic agents (OHAs) for ambulatory care in a market setting where hospitals are classified into three levels according to Taiwan' s accreditation system. Without distinguishing the types of market structures and hospital levels, there might be no significant relationship between hospital c...

Ma The importance of inflammation and inflammatory pathways in atherosclerotic disease and acute coronary syndromes (ACS) is well established. The success of statin therapy rests not only on potently reducing levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, but also on the many beneficial, pleiotropic effects statin therapy has on various inflammatory mechanisms in atherosclerotic disease, from r...

This paper presents a functional description of the Launch Processing System, which provides automatic ground checkout and control of the Space Shuttle launch site and airborne systems, with emphasis placed on the Checkout, Control, and Monitor Subsystem. Hardware and software modular design concepts for the distributed computer system are reviewed relative to performing system tests, launch op...

An analysis of on-line autonomous robust tracking controller based on variable structure control is presented for an aerospace launch vehicle. Decentralized sliding-mode controller is designed to achieve the decoupled asymptotic tracking of guidance commands upon plant uncertainties and external disturbances. Development and application of the controller for an aerospace launch vehicle during a...

Two liter bottle rockets made from recycled soda bottles are often used in high school science classes and in introductory college courses. Typically, it is often more challenging to shoot bottle rockets for distance instead of shooting them straight up and measuring altitude, as is often done. Using a device made from pipe and wood to launch bottle rockets and control the launch angle creates ...

Once a new product is available, if the company starts the sales without building an initial inventory (myopic policy), the demand for the product grows rapidly due to extensive word of mouth spreading from past sales and soon may exceed the firm’s capacity resulting in lost sales. To avoid this problem, companies generally delay product launch to build sufficient inventory prior to starting sa...

PURPOSE This study examines the effect of price regulation and competition on launch timing and pricing of new drugs. METHODS Our data cover launch experience in 15 countries from 1992 to 2003 for drugs in 12 major therapeutic classes. We estimate a two-equation model of launch hazard and launch price of new drugs. FINDINGS We find that launch timing and prices of new drugs are related to a...