Approaching stimuli bias attention in numerical space

Increasing evidence suggests that common mechanisms underlie the direction of attention in physical space and numerical space, along the mental number line. The small leftward bias (pseudoneglect) found on paper-and-pencil line bisection is also observed when participants ‘bisect’ number pairs, estimating (without calculating) the number midway between two others. Here we investigated the effect of stimulus motion on attention in numerical space. A two-frame apparent motion paradigm manipulating stimulus size was used to produce the impression that pairs of numbers were approaching (size increase from first to second frame), receding (size decrease), or not moving (no size change). The magnitude of pseudoneglect increased for approaching numbers, even when the final stimulus size was held constant. This result is consistent with previous findings that pseudoneglect in numerical space (as in physical space) increases as stimuli are brought closer to the participant. It also suggests that the perception of stimulus motion modulates attention over the mental number line and provides further support for a connection between the neural representations of physical space and number

Demographic Change and the Labour Share of Income

Despite similar levels of per capita income, education, and technology the development of labour shares in OECD countries has displayed diff erent patterns since 1960. The paper examines the role of demography in this regard. Employing an overlapping generations model we fi rst examine the mechanisms through which demographic change can aff ect labour shares. Model simulations show that demographic eff ects on the labour share are larger in open than in closed economies. Empirical estimates, conducted using panel cointegration techniques for a panel of 18 OECD countries, provide strong support for demographic eff ects on the labour share. In line with the simulation results, we also fi nd evidence that openness increases this impact.Labour share; demographic change; panel cointegration

Stellar jitter from variable gravitational redshift: implications for RV confirmation of habitable exoplanets

A variation of gravitational redshift, arising from stellar radius fluctuations, will introduce astrophysical noise into radial velocity measurements by shifting the centroid of the observed spectral lines. Shifting the centroid does not necessarily introduce line asymmetries. This is fundamentally different from other types of stellar jitter so far identified, which do result from line asymmetries. Furthermore, only a very small change in stellar radius, ~0.01%, is necessary to generate a gravitational redshift variation large enough to mask or mimic an Earth-twin. We explore possible mechanisms for stellar radius fluctuations in low-mass stars. Convective inhibition due to varying magnetic field strengths and the Wilson depression of starspots are both found to induce substantial gravitational redshift variations. Finally, we investigate a possible method for monitoring/correcting this newly identified potential source of jitter and comment on its impact for future exoplanet searches.Comment: 6 pages, 1 figure, 1 tabl

Understanding rural change - demography as a key to the future

The last decades have seen a rapidly growing interest in foresight methodology. Methods have been developed in corporate and governmental communication exercises often labelled technology foresight. In reality, these foresights have often drifted into processes of social change, since technological change is hard to foresee beyond what is already in the pipe-line. Forecasting of social change, however, must be based on solid knowledge about the mechanisms of continuity and change. Virtually nothing can be said about the future without relating to the past; foresights and futures studies are about revealing the hidden pulse of history. Hence, the answer to forecasting the future is empirical research within the social sciences. Demographic change has been recognised as a key determinant for explaining social change. Population changes are fairly predictable and the age transition can explain a wide range of socio-economic changes. For rural futures, demographic change is a key issue, since age structure in rural areas is often uneven and also unstable due to migration patterns. A number of policy related questions as well as research challenges are raised as a consequence.demographic change; rural futures

Price-Channel Effects of North-South Trade on the Direction of Technological Knowledge and Wage Inequality

This paper develops a general equilibrium endogenous growth model that emphasizes the mechanisms, other than market size, through which trade-induced North-South technological knowledge diffusion influences the direction of technological progress and, thus, the path of intra and inter-country wage inequality. In contrast with the market-size effect, more common in previous literature on skill-biased technological change, the operation of the price channel, central to this paper, predicts an increasing high-skilled technological bias following openness, which is more in line with the recent trends observed in developed and developing countries.North-South trade; Technological knowledge diffusion; Direction of technological progress; Wage inequality.

Evolution of a Network of Vortex Loops in the Turbulent Superfluid Helium; Derivation of the Vinen Equation

The evolution a network of vortex loops due to the fusion and breakdown in the turbulent superfluid helium is studied. We perform investigation on the base of the "rate equation" for the distribution function $n(l)$ of number of loops in space of their length $l$. There are two mechanisms for change of quantity $n(l)$. Firstly, the function changes due to deterministic process of mutual friction, when the length grows or decreases depending on orientation. Secondly, the change of $n(l)$ occurs due to random events when the loop crosses itself breaking down into two daughter or two loops collide merging into one larger loop. Accordingly the "rate equation" includes the "collision" term collecting random processes of fusion and breakdown and the deterministic term. Assuming, further, that processes of random colliding are fastest we are in position to study more slow processes related to deterministic term. In this way we study the evolution of full length of vortex loops per unit volume-so called vortex line density ${\cal L}(t)$. It is shown this evolution to obey the famous Vinen equation. In conclusion we discuss properties of the Vinen equation from the point of view of the developed approach.Comment: Presentation at QFS2006, submitted to JLT