Modelling indifference with choice functions

We investigate how to model indifference with choice functions. We take the coherence axioms for choice functions proposed by Seidenfeld, Schervisch and Kadane as a source of inspiration, but modify them to strengthen the connection with desirability. We discuss the properties of choice functions that are coherent under our modified set of axioms and the connection with desirability. Once this is in place, we present an axiomatisation of indifference in terms of desirability. On this we build our characterisation of indifference in terms of choice functions

Modelling indifference with choice functions

We investigate how to model indifference with choice functions. We take the coherence axioms for choice functions proposed by Seidenfeld, Schervisch and Kadane as a source of inspiration, but modify them to strengthen the connection with desirability. We discuss the properties of choice functions that are coherent under our modified set of axioms and the connection with desirability. Once this is in place, we present an axiomatisation of indifference in terms of desirability. On this we build our characterisation of indifference in terms of choice functions

Modelling indifference with choice functions

We investigate how to model indifference with choice functions. We take the coherence axioms for choice functions proposed by Seidenfeld, Schervisch and Kadane as a source of inspiration, but modify them to strengthen the connection with desirability. We discuss the properties of choice functions that are coherent under our modified set of axioms and the connection with desirability. Once this is in place, we present an axiomatisation of indifference in terms of desirability. On this we build our characterisation of indifference in terms of choice functions

Study of arc-jet propulsion devices Final report, 20 Nov. 1964 - 19 Dec. 1965

Energy transfer mechanisms in radiation, water, and regeneratively cooled, and MPD arc jet propulsion device

Measuring the Development of ICT Skills for Personalized Learning:Developing an Instrument for Dutch Primary Education

Our study investigates the development and validation of a questionnaire for competencies learners need to learn in a personalized way using ICT. 9 Dutch schools for primary education collaborate to make personalized learning with ICT evidence-informed. At these 9 iXperium schools, multidisciplinary design teams (consisting of primary school teachers and principals, teachers and students of the teacher-training program of a Dutch university of applied science, researchers from a Dutch university, and external ICT experts) design and research integrated interventions for PL with ICT. We defined personalized learning conditions before filtering the twenty-four learning objectives needed to measure development in personalized learning using ICT. The final questionnaire consists of thirty-three questions to cover the learning objectives. The validity and reliability of our questionary are analyzed in six steps. Cognitive validity (1) and a response model (2) are reported based on literature and a pilot with three iterative rounds of interviews (n=19). Internal constancy (3), confirmatory factor analysis (4), coefficient H (5) are reported after the first run of the questionnaire (n=800), and a test-retest alpha is reported after the second run of the questionnaire (n=800)

Maximumfactuur en kleine risico’s: verdeling van de eigen bijdragen voor gezondheidszorg in België

Overal in Europa komt de financiering van publieke systemen van ziekteverzekering of gezondheidszorg onder druk door de sterke stijging van de uitgaven. België ontsnapt niet aan deze evolutie. De stijging van de uitgaven voor gezondheidszorg lag bij ons zeker gedurende de laatste jaren zelfs duidelijk boven het Europese gemiddelde. Ondanks de grote maatschappelijke populariteit van ons systeem van verplichte ziekteverzekering, vormt het probleem van de kostenbeheersing toch steeds één van de belangrijkste discussiepunten tijdens de regeringsonderhandelingen. Wanneer de stijging van de uitgaven niet kan worden afgeremd, zullen in de toekomst ongetwijfeld fundamentele vragen over de organisatie van het systeem naar voor worden geschoven (Schokkaert en Van de Voorde, 2003)

Hydrological Foundation as a Basis for a Holistic Environmental Flow Assessment of Tropical Highland Rivers in Ethiopia

The sustainable development of water resources includes retaining some amount of the natural flow regime in water bodies to protect and maintain aquatic ecosystem health and the human livelihoods and wellbeing dependent upon them. Although assessment of environmental flows is now occurring globally, limited studies have been carried out in the Ethiopian highlands, especially studies to understand flow-ecological response relationships. This paper establishes a hydrological foundation of Gumara River from an ecological perspective. The data analysis followed three steps: first, determination of the current flow regime flow indices and ecologically relevant flow regime; second, naturalization of the current flow regime looking at how flow regime is changing; and, finally, an initial exploration of flow linkages with ecological processes. Flow data of Gumara River from 1973 to 2018 are used for the analysis. Monthly low flow occurred from December to June; the lowest being in March, with a median flow of 4.0 m(3) s(-1). Monthly high flow occurred from July to November; the highest being in August, with a median flow of 236 m(3) s(-1). 1-Day low flows decreased from 1.55 m(3) s(-1) in 1973 to 0.16 m(3) s(-1) in 2018, and 90-Day (seasonal) low flow decreased from 4.9 m(3) s(-1) in 1973 to 2.04 m(3) s(-1) in 2018. The Mann-Kendall trend test indicated that the decrease in low flow was significant for both durations at alpha = 0.05. A similar trend is indicated for both durations of high flow. The decrease in both low flows and high flows is attributed to the expansion of pump irrigation by 29 km(2) and expansion of plantations, which resulted in an increase of NDVI from 0.25 in 2000 to 0.29 in 2019. In addition, an analysis of environmental flow components revealed that only four "large floods" appeared in the last 46 years; no "large flood" occurred after 1988. Lacking "large floods" which inundate floodplain wetlands has resulted in early disconnection of floodplain wetlands from the river and the lake; which has impacts on breeding and nursery habitat shrinkage for migratory fish species in Lake Tana. On the other hand, the extreme decrease in "low flow" components has impacts on pin smaller pools. These results serve as the hydrological foundation for continued studies in the Gumara catchment, with the eventual goal of quantifying environmental flow requirements.redators, reducing their mobility and ability to access prey concentrate

Ferulic acid-4-O-sulfate rather than ferulic acid relaxes arteries and lowers blood pressure in mice

Consumption of foods rich in ferulic acid (FA) such as wholegrain cereals, or FA precursors such as chlorogenic acids in coffee, is inversely correlated with risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. As a result of digestion and phase II metabolism in the gut and liver, FA is converted predominantly into ferulic acid-4-O-sulfate (FA-sul), an abundant plasma metabolite. Although FA-sul may be the main metabolite, very little has been reported regarding its bioactivities. We have therefore compared the ex vivo vasorelaxing effect of FA and FA-sul (10−7 - 3.10−5 M) on isolated mouse arteries mounted in tissue myographs. FA-sul, but not FA, elicited a concentration-dependent vasorelaxation of saphenous and femoral arteries and aortae. The FA-sul mediated vasorelaxation was blunted by 1H- [1, 2, 4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ), a soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) inhibitor. The role of sGC was confirmed in femoral arteries isolated from sGCα1(−/−) knockout mice. Furthermore, 4-aminopyridine, a specific inhibitor of voltage-dependent potassium channels, significantly decreased FA-sul mediated effects. In anesthetized mice, intravenous injection of FA-sul decreased mean arterial pressure, whereas FA had no effect, confirming the results obtained ex vivo. FA-sul is probably one of the major metabolites accounting for the blood pressure-lowering effects associated with FA consumption