Political reform from a constitutional economics perspective: a hurdle-race. The case of migration politics in Germany

This paper approaches the matter of political reform from the perspective of constitutional political economy with particular attention to the case of migration politics in Germany. That the process of policy-making has to be a constrained one is a central element of this approach, the identification of "desired" and "undesired" constraints its main aim. Through the metaphor of the hurdle-race it will be shown that the results of the political process depend on the rules of the game of politics on the constitutional level, but can be influenced by the contingent obstacles on the subconstitutional level. With reference to migration politics in Germany, I will argue that a separation of labour migration from other social aspects connected to migration can be useful for a more matter-of-fact discussion in this sensitive realm. The influence of subconstitutional events and factors is shown through the example of the recently approved German Immigration Act. --

Stochastic components of individual consumption: a time series analysis of grouped data

In this paper we propose a method to characterize the time series properties of individual consumption, income and interest rates using micro data, as studies in labour economics have characterized the time series properties of hours and earnings. Our approach, however, does not remove aggregate shocks. Having estimated the parameters of a flexible multivariate MA representation we relate the coefficients of our statistical model to structural parameters of theoretical models of consumption behaviour. Our approach offers a unifying framework that encompasses the Euler equation approach to the study of consumption and the studies that relate innovations to income to innovations to consumption, such as those that have found the so-called excess smoothness of consumption. Using a long time series of cross sections to construct synthetic panel data for the UK, we estimate our model and find that the restriction of Euler equations are typically not rejected, while the data show ‘excess smoothness’

Stochastic Components of Individual Consumption: A Time Series Analysis of Grouped Data

In this paper we propose a method to characterize the time series properties of individual consumption, income and interest rates using micro data, as studies in labour economics have characterized the time series properties of hours and earnings. Our approach, however, does not remove aggregate shocks. Having estimated the parameters of a flexible multivariate MA representation we relate the coefficients of our statistical model to structural parameters of theoretical models of consumption behaviour. Our approach offers a unifying framework that encompasses the Euler equation approach to the study of consumption and the studies that relate innovations to income to innovations to consumption, such as those that have found the so-called excess smoothness of consumption. Using a long time series of cross sections to construct synthetic panel data for the UK, we estimate our model and find that the restriction of Euler equations are typically not rejected, while the data show ‘excess smoothness’.

Does a brief mindfulness intervention counteract the detrimental effects of ego-depletion in basketball free throw under pressure?

Research has shown that a brief mindfulness intervention may counteract the depleting effects of an emotion suppression task upon a subsequent psychological task that requires self-control. However, the effects of a brief mindfulness intervention on perceptual–motor tasks particularly in stressful situations have not yet been examined. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether a brief mindfulness intervention can counteract the detrimental effects of ego-depletion in basketball free throw performance under pressure. Seventy-two basketball players (mean age = 28.6 ± 4.0 yrs) were randomly assigned to one of the following 4 groups: depletion/mindfulness, no depletion/mindfulness, depletion/no mindfulness and control (no depletion/no mindfulness). The mindfulness intervention consisted of a 15-min breathe and body mindfulness audio exercise, while the control condition (no mindfulness) listened to an audio book. A modified Stroop color-word task was used to manipulate self–control and induce ego depletion. Participants performed 30 free throws before and after the experimental manipulations. Results showed that basketball players’ free throw performance decreased after ego-depletion, but when ego-depletion was followed by the mindfulness intervention, free throw performance was maintained at a level similar to the control group. Our results indicate that a brief mindfulness intervention mitigates the effects of ego depletion in a basketball free-throw task

How an accelerator can catalyse your ecosystem

Many industries from IT to car manufacturing, robotic and biotechnology, competition is moving from the product level to the ecosystem level. The creation of an ecosystem by a rival and the consequent shift to ecosystem competition can be quite challenging for product-focused incumbent organisations who may find that they have a challenge to establish the reputation and legitimacy of their own new ecosystem. This article discusses the ways and means an incumbent organisation can adopt and mobilise their own ecosystem

Auditory and cognitive performance in elderly musicians and nonmusicians

Musicians represent a model for examining brain and behavioral plasticity in terms of cognitive and auditory profile, but few studies have investigated whether elderly musicians have better auditory and cognitive abilities than nonmusicians. The aim of the present study was to examine whether being a professional musician attenuates the normal age-related changes in hearing and cognition. Elderly musicians still active in their profession were compared with nonmusicians on auditory performance (absolute threshold, frequency intensity, duration and spectral shape discrimination, gap and sinusoidal amplitude-modulation detection), and on simple (short-term memory) and more complex and higher-order (working memory [WM] and visuospatial abilities) cognitive tasks. The sample consisted of adults at least 65 years of age. The results showed that older musicians had similar absolute thresholds but better supra-threshold discrimination abilities than nonmusicians in four of the six auditory tasks administered. They also had a better WM performance, and stronger visuospatial abilities than nonmusicians. No differences were found between the two groups\u2019 short-term memory. Frequency discrimination and gap detection for the auditory measures, and WM complex span tasks and one of the visuospatial tasks for the cognitive ones proved to be very good classifiers of the musicians. These findings suggest that life-long music training may be associated with enhanced auditory and cognitive performance, including complex cognitive skills, in advanced age. However, whether this music training represents a protective factor or not needs further investigation

Artificial Spill Generator at COMPASS

openThe Artificial Spill Generator firmware for controlling, monitoring, and generating accelerator timing signals, has been developed for the DAQ system of CERN SPS M2 beamline experiments COMPASS and AMBER, within the frame of the Summer Student Program. In this work, the COMPASS experimental context is described, reporting its field of research, the main purposes of its creation, and the architecture of its spectrometer setup. A more detailed presentation of its Trigger and DAQ systems is also produced, providing a description of the bigger architecture in which the Artificial Spill Generator was first devised and eventually deployed. The structure and behaviour of the M2 beam line of CERN SPS exploited by COMPASS is explained, providing links with the functioning of the FPGA-based continuously run- ning DAQ currently used in the experiment. Moreover, the hardware and software monitoring tools of the DAQ are presented, making comments on how they interact with the Artificial Spill Generator. Eventually, the logic and the behavior of the firmware are reported in detail, explaining the different tasks and measurements associated with such a module. After having passed all the required tests, the Artificial Spill Generator firmware has been programmed into an FPGA board, which is currently still implemented in COMPASS and AMBER DAQ systems, improving their acquisition performances

Legionella is an emerging Public Health problem

The issue of Legionnaires' disease has emerged as a major public health problem, interesting not only researchers, but also managers of public and private organisations, those responsible for public health, the general population and occasionally magistrates.The cases of legionellosis are increasing as a result of improved etiological diagnostic methods, population lifesyles and characteristics which fovour the presence of the responsible organism in the environment which leads to the frequent exposure and transmission of the disease to at-risk groups whose relative numbers are growing

Political reform from a constitutional economics perspective: a hurdle-race ; the case of migration politics in Germany

"This paper approaches the matter of political reform from the perspective of constitutional political economy with particular attention to the case of migration politics in Germany. That the process of policy-making has to be a constrained one is a central element of this approach, the identification of 'desired' and 'undesired' constraints its main aim. Through the metaphor of the hurdle-race it will be shown that the results of the political process depend on the rules of the game of politics on the constitutional level, but can be influenced by the contingent obstacles on the subconstitutional level. With reference to migration politics in Germany, I will argue that a separation of labour migration from other social aspects connected to migration can be useful for a more matter-of-fact discussion in this sensitive realm. The influence of subconstitutional events and factors is shown through the example of the recently approved German Immigration Act." (author's abstract