Detecting Starting Point Bias in Dichotomous-Choice Contingent Valuation Surveys

We examine starting point bias in CV surveys with dichotomous choice payment questions and follow-ups, and double-bounded models of the WTP responses. We wish to investigate (1) the seriousness of the biases for the location and scale parameters of WTP in the presence of starting point bias; (2) whether or not these biases depend on the distribution of WTP and on the bids used; and (3) how well a commonly used diagnostic for starting point bias—a test of the null that bid set dummies entered in the right-hand side of the WTP model are jointly equal to zero—performs under various circumstances. Because starting point bias cannot be separately identified in any reliable manner from biases caused by model specification, we use simulation approaches to address this issue. Our Monte Carlo simulations suggest that the effect of ignoring starting point bias is complex and depends on the true distribution of WTP. Bid set dummies tend to soak up misspecifications in the distribution assumed by the researcher for the latent WTP, rather than capturing the presence of starting point bias. Their power in detecting starting point bias is low.Anchoring, Dichotomous choice contingent valuation, Starting point bias, Double-bounded models, Estimation bias

RAPID ESTIMATION OF GAMMA NUMBER OF VISCOSE BY UV SPECTROPHOTOMETRY

ABSTRACT Viscose process is the most important method for industrial cellulose dissolution. The degree of substitution (DS) is an important parameter in cellulose derivatives, and it is usually expressed as a gamma number (γ No.). In this work, viscose was prepared from eucalyptus and cotton linter dissolving pulps. Two methods were used for by-product separation: coagulation method (CM, reference) and ion exchange method (IEM). Similar γ Nos. were obtained with both methods for viscoses from cotton linters. The molar absorptivity of cellulose xanthate at 303 nm (e 303nm ) was determined by, firstly, measuring the absorbance of different purified viscoses and, subsequently, drawing a linear regression with the values obtained. The purification efficacy of IEM was analyzed from the UV peaks obtained in the range of 220-380 nm of the original and purified viscoses. The disappearance of the absorption of the main byproduct, sodium trithiocarbonate, was observed. Finally, with the e 303nm mentioned above and the absorbance measurement of the purified viscoses, their γ Nos. were determined using a spectrophotometric method (SM). This would indicate that UV spectrophotometry could be used to estimate this parameter in a quick and easy way, which is decisive for the use of viscose in regenerated cellulose products

A feasible route for the design and manufacture of customised respiratory protection through digital facial capture

The World Health Organisation has called for a 40% increase in personal protective equipment manufacturing worldwide, recognising that frontline workers need effective protection during the COVID-19 pandemic. Current devices suffer from high fit-failure rates leaving significant proportions of users exposed to risk of viral infection. Driven by non-contact, portable, and widely available 3D scanning technologies, a workflow is presented whereby a user’s face is rapidly categorised using relevant facial parameters. Device design is then directed down either a semi-customised or fully-customised route. Semi-customised designs use the extracted eye-to-chin distance to categorise users in to pre-determined size brackets established via a cohort of 200 participants encompassing 87.5% of the cohort. The user’s nasal profile is approximated to a Gaussian curve to further refine the selection in to one of three subsets. Flexible silicone provides the facial interface accommodating minor mismatches between true nasal profile and the approximation, maintaining a good seal in this challenging region. Critically, users with outlying facial parameters are flagged for the fully-customised route whereby the silicone interface is mapped to 3D scan data. These two approaches allow for large scale manufacture of a limited number of design variations, currently nine through the semi-customised approach, whilst ensuring effective device fit. Furthermore, labour-intensive fully-customised designs are targeted as those users who will most greatly benefit. By encompassing both approaches, the presented workflow balances manufacturing scale-up feasibility with the diverse range of users to provide well-fitting devices as widely as possible. Novel flow visualisation on a model face is presented alongside qualitative fit-testing of prototype devices to support the workflow methodology

IAPAR 8 - Rio Negro, nova cultivar de feijoeiro

After five cycles of selection under  field conditions, a new bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivar was obtained, ‘IAPAR 8 - Rio Negro', which has black seed coat, upright growth habit, 92 days from emergence to maturity, and field resistance to all physiological races of the fungus Colletotrichum lindemuthianum known to the moment. Its 1000 seeds weight is around 210 g, it shows wide adaptation, and yields 3000 kg/ha under good edaphic and climatic conditions. Yield data of the new cultivar, obtained from three different localities in the state of Paraná, Brazil, and its main characteristics are presented.Após cinco ciclos de seleção em condições de campo, foi criada a nova cultivar de feijoeiro (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) 'IAPAR 8 - Rio Negro', de tegumento de cor preta, de porte ereto, de ciclo médio de 92 dias, e que apresenta resistência de campo a todas raças fisiológicas do fungo Colletotrichum lindemuthianum conhecidas até o momento. Seu peso de mil sementes é em torno de 210 gramas, tem ampla adaptação e atinge produtividade de até 3.000 kg/ha em boas condições edafoclimáticas. Resultados de produção da nova variedade, obtidas em três diferentes locais do Estado do Paraná e suas principais características, são apresentados

Repeated Labilization-Reconsolidation Processes Strengthen Declarative Memory in Humans

The idea that memories are immutable after consolidation has been challenged. Several reports have shown that after the presentation of a specific reminder, reactivated old memories become labile and again susceptible to amnesic agents. Such vulnerability diminishes with the progress of time and implies a re-stabilization phase, usually referred to as reconsolidation. To date, the main findings describe the mechanisms associated with the labilization-reconsolidation process, but little is known about its functionality from a biological standpoint. Indeed, two functions have been proposed. One suggests that destabilization of the original memory after the reminder allows the integration of new information into the background of the original memory (memory updating), and the other suggests that the labilization-reconsolidation process strengthens the original memory (memory strengthening). We have previously reported the reconsolidation of human declarative memories, demonstrating memory updating in the framework of reconsolidation. Here we deal with the strengthening function attributed to the reconsolidation process. We triggered labilization-reconsolidation processes successively by repeated presentations of the proper reminder. Participants learned an association between five cue-syllables and their respective response-syllables. Twenty-four hours later, the paired-associate verbal memory was labilized by exposing the subjects to one, two or four reminders. The List-memory was evaluated on Day 3 showing that the memory was improved when at least a second reminder was presented in the time window of the first labilization-reconsolidation process prompted by the earlier reminder. However, the improvement effect was revealed on Day 3, only when at least two reminders were presented on Day2 and not as a consequence of only retrieval. Therefore, we propose central concepts for the reconsolidation process, emphasizing its biological role and the parametrical constrains for this function to be operative