The sub-solar Initial Mass Function in the Large Magellanic Cloud

The Magellanic Clouds offer a unique variety of star forming regions seen as bright nebulae of ionized gas, related to bright young stellar associations. Nowadays, observations with the high resolving efficiency of the Hubble Space Telescope allow the detection of the faintest infant stars, and a more complete picture of clustered star formation in our dwarf neighbors has emerged. I present results from our studies of the Magellanic Clouds, with emphasis in the young low-mass pre-main sequence populations. Our data include imaging with the Advanced Camera for Surveys of the association LH~95 in the Large Magellanic Cloud, the deepest observations ever taken with HST of this galaxy. I discuss our findings in terms of the Initial Mass Function, which we constructed with an unprecedented completeness down to the sub-solar regime, as the outcome of star formation in the low-metallicity environment of the LMC.Comment: To appear in the Proceedings of IAU Symposium 256 "The Magellanic System: Stars, Gas, and Galaxies", 6 pages, 3 figure

Foreign Exchange Intervention and Equilibrium Real Exchange Rates

Monetary authorities intervene in the currency markets in order to pursue a monetary rule and/or to smooth exchange rate volatility caused by speculative attacks. In the present paper we investigate for possible intervention effects on the volatility of nominal exchange rates and the estimated equilibrium behaviour of real exchange rates. The main argument of the paper is that omission of intervention effects -when they are significant- would bias the ability to detect any PPP-based behaviour of the real exchange rates in the long run. Positive evidence for this argument comes from the experience of six Central and Eastern European economies, whose exchange markets are characterised by frequent interventions.Foreign Exchange Market Intervention; Real Exchange Rates; PPP.

"A Structural Approach to Hedonic Equilibrium Models"

This paper presents a quality theory for differentiated products. Analytical solutions for the equilibrium demand for quality and the equilibrium price equation are computed. The model is estimated and the willingness to pay for improvements in the air quality of Houston is computed. The empirical results show that the standard n on-structural approach would seriously underestimate benefits for non-marginal and small changes in air quality.

"Consumer Benefit From Air Quality Improvements"

This paper applies a simultaneous equations estimation technique to estimate a hedonic equilibrium model. The estimation results are used to compute consumer benefit from air quality improvements.

An Evaluation of Risk Attitudes and Risk Tolerance in Emergency Medicine Residents

An underlying issue to our current healthcare system is how decisions made in the emergency department affect patients. This is paramount for underserved populations, which are more likely to have poor physical and mental health, lack of primary care, greater use of health services, and be generally dissatisfied with their medical care.1,2 What should the emergency physician (EP) do for these patients? These decisions are largely based upon individual risk tolerance. While risk is a indelible part of emergency medicine (EM), a risk profile of EM residents has not been compiled. Knowledge of risk taking tendencies among this niche of medical professionals could be critical. If EM residents have great risk aversion, they might practice defensive medicine, thereby incurring crippling costs4. On the other hand, if emergency medicine residents are greatly risk tolerant, they may make decisions that lead to significant morbidity and mortality. It is essential to establish a baseline risk profile before any corrective measures can be advanced. This study attempted to accomplish precisely that using Risk Type CompassTM.https://jdc.jefferson.edu/cwicposters/1023/thumbnail.jp