1,899 research outputs found
A Correspondence-Theoretic Approach to Dynamic Optimization
This paper introduces a method of optimization in infinite-horizon economies based on the theory of correspondences. The proposed approach allow us to study time-separable and non-time-separable dynamic economic models without resorting to fixed point theorems or transversality conditions. When our technique is applied to the standard time-separable model it provides an alternative and straightforward way to derive the common recursive formulation of these models by means of Bellman equations
Effects of climate change on the Nossana karst spring (northern Italy): future discharge projections and water distribution system sustainability
Nossana represents an important pre-Alpine karst spring located in Lombardy Region (Northern Italy). It is used for drinking supply and it sustains a water distribution system serving 300,000 people, including the city of Bergamo. The objective of this study was to project Nossana discharges, to evaluate potential supply limits for four future periods (2021-2040, 2041-2060, 2061-2080, 2081-2100). The study was carried out following a four-step approach. First, the EURO-CORDEX bias-corrected Regional Climate Models (RCMs) available for all the emission scenarios (RCP2.6, RCP4.5, RCP8.5) were evaluated in terms of precipitation and temperature monthly climatology. Second, they were statistically downscaled by means of change factors and a stochastic weather generator. Third, a rainfall-runoff model ensemble accounting also for snow dynamics (GR4J with CemaNeige module) was calibrated and validated on historical time series (1998-2017). Finally, the future downscaled time series were used as input in the calibrated model and the projected discharges evaluated in terms of low flow. In detail, two warning discharge thresholds - one for high water demand periods and one for ordinary water demand periods - were recognized with the service company managing the spring (Uniacque S.p.A.). Then, the number of (consecutive) days below them were calculated for each future period and compared to the historical time series. For each emission scenario, the calibrated model ensemble counted three RCMs and ten rainfall-runoff parameterizations. Projected ensemble mean discharges are lower than observations for all future periods and RCPs (from -3% for 2021-2040 and RCP4.5 to -23% for 2081-2100 and RCP8.5), although they do not show a clear trend between the four time periods. Days characterized by discharges lower than the warning thresholds are projected to decrease except for the RCP8.5 emission scenarios and the period 2081-2100 (14% increase for the ordinary-demand threshold, 10% increase for the high-demand threshold). Conversely, consecutive days are expected to increase between 2061 and 2100 for all emission scenarios and the two thresholds (by 0% and 26% for RCP 2.6, by 8% and 15% for RCP 4.5, by 28% and 48% for RCP 8.5). These results reflect the projected precipitation trend, characterized by longer, drier summer periods and wetter autumns in comparison to today\u2019s climate. Also, they indicate the need to develop a plan for the research and use of alternative drinking water resources for the long-term period. Therefore, the proposed methodology demonstrated to deliver useful information for water management planning. Future studies are intended to focus on chemistry and isotopic composition of water
Monetary Equilibrium and the Differentiability of the Value Function
In this study we offer a new approach to proving the differentiability of the value function, which complements and extends the literature on dynamic programming. This result is then applied to the analysis of equilibrium in the recent class of monetary economies developed in [Lagos, R., Wright, R., 2005. A unified framework for monetary theory and policy analysis. journal of Political Economy 113, 463-484]. For this type of environments we demonstrate that the value function is differentiable and this guarantees that the marginal value of money balances is well defined
Matching and Anonymity
This work introduces a rigorous set-theoretic foundation of deterministic bilateral matching processes and studies systematically their properties. In particular, it formalizes a link between matching and informational constraints by developing a notion of anonymity that is based on the agents\u27 matching histories. It also explains why and how various matching processes generate different degrees of informational isolation in the economy. We illustrate the usefulness of our approach to modeling matching frameworks by discussing the classical turnpike model of Townsend
Anonymous Markets and Monetary Trading
We study infinite-horizon monetary economies characterized by trading frictions that originate from random pairwise meetings, and commitment and enforcement limitations. We prove that introducing occasional trade in \u27centralized markets\u27 opens the door to an informal enforcement scheme that sustains a non-monetary efficient allocation. All is required is that trading partners be patient and their actions be observable. We then present a matching environment in which trade may occur in large markets and yet agents\u27 trading paths cross at most once. This allows the construction of models in which infinitely lived agents trade in competitive markets where money plays an essential role
Ultrasound scan to detect acalculous cholecystopathy in immunocompromised hosts with unexplained fever.
We found a significant prevalence of acalculous
cholecystopathy in a group of patients with hematologic
malignancies and unexplained fever. Ultrasound
scan (US) detected a case of acute cholecystitis,
two of gallbladder overdistension and biliary
sludge, and one of striated gallbladder wall thickening.
US proved effective in early identification of
abdominal infection site
Rate-of-Return Dominance and Efficiency in an Experimental Economy.
One of the main challenges for monetary economics is to explain the use of assets that are dominated in rate-of-return as media of exchange. In this paper, we use experimental methods to study how a fiat money might come to be used in transactions when an identically marketable, dividend-bearing asset, a consol, is also available.EXPERIMENTS ; ECONOMICS ; MONEY
Evaluation of the deposition, infiltration and drainage of the atmospheric pollutants in the vadose zone
In the last decades, a large effort has been carried out to reduce atmospheric pollutant emissions in Europe. However, despite the progresses of the last 30 years (Rogora et al., 2016), water and soil acidification, nutrition unbalance in forest trees, and eutrophication in surface waters are still of great concern. In particular, nutrients that fall on the ground from the atmosphere represent a minor component of the total nitrogen input to soils, especially when compared to agricultural, civil and industrial inputs (EEA, 2005). Although often underestimated, this source apportionment becomes a part of leaching from the soil to groundwater. Therefore, the overarching goal of this study is to identify anthropogenic background values of pollutants in groundwater, not related to direct sources of contamination (e.g., industrial wastes, leakages from sewage systems, fertilizers)
A Random Matching Theory.
We develop the theoretical underpinnings of pairwise random matching mechanisms. We formalize the mechanics of matching, and study the links between properties of the different mechanisms and trade frictions. A particular emphasis is placed on providing exact mappings between matching technologies and informational constraints.Random matching ; frictions ; anonymous trading ; spatial intersections ; search
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