Consumer confidence indices and stock markets’ meltdowns

Consumer confidence indices (CCIs) are a closely monitored barometer of countries’ economic health and an informative forecasting tool. Using European and US data, we provide a case study of the two recent stock market meltdowns (the post-dotcom bubble correction of 2000–2002 and the 2007–2009 decline at the beginning of the financial crisis) to contribute to the discussion on their appropriateness as proxies for stock markets’ investor sentiment. Investor sentiment should positively covary with stock market movements (DeLong, Shleifer, Summers, and Waldmann 1990); however, we find that the CCI–stock market relationship is not universally positive.We also do not find support for the information effect documented in the previous literature, but identify a more subtle relationship between consumer expectations about future household finances and stock market fluctuations

FATORES SOCIOCULTURAIS QUE INFLUENCIAM A PRÁTICA DA AMAMENTAÇAO ENTRE MULHERES DE BAIXA RENDA EM FORTALEZA, CEARÁ, BRASIL: UMA PERSPECTIVA A PARTIR DO MODELO DO SOL NASCENTE DE LEININGER

This study was developed to analyze socio-cultural factors that may influence the breastfeeding practices of low-income women in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil. This observational study utilized Leininger’s Culture Care Theory to identify and analyze key socio-cultural factors. The study was based on 12 pregnant and breastfeeding women. Using an observational data sheet created in concordance with the Sunrise model (Leininger), we visited the homes of pregnant and breastfeeding women and observed their living conditions. Our observations were recorded and photographs were taken of the overall housing conditions, the surrounding neighborhood, and the local clinic. Living conditions were impoverished. Most homes had inadequate refrigeration, structural problems, and provided small living space. This indicated the severity of the residents’ economic situations. The women observed were usually self-employed and living with at least one family member. The factors that appeared to have the most influence on women’s decisions regarding breastfeeding were familial and economic factors. It is expected that the findings of this study will lead to more culturally appropriate and effective interventions aimed at increasing breastfeeding initiation and duration.Esta investigación fue desarrollada para analizar los factores socioculturales que pueden influir en la práctica de la lactancia entre mujeres de baja renta en Fortaleza, Ceará, Brasil. Este estudio de observación utilizó la Teoría del Cuidado Cultural de Leininger para identificar y analizar los factores socioculturales clave. El estudio involucró a 12 gestantes y nodrizas. Usando un formulario de observación creado de acuerdo con el modelo del Sol Naciente (Leininger), fueron llevadas a cabo visitas en los domicilios de las mujeres y observadas sus condiciones de vida. Las observaciones fueron registradas en el formulario y se sacaron fotografías de las condiciones generales de la morada, de la vecindad y del servicio de salud local. Las condiciones de vida son pobres. La mayoría de las casas tiene refrigeración inadecuada, problemas estructurales y poco espacio. Eso revela la gravedad de las condiciones económicas de los residentes. Las mujeres observadas en general eran autónomas y vivían con por lo menos un miembro de la familia. Los factores que aparentemente ejercían mayor influencia sobre la decisión de las mujeres a favor de la lactancia fueron los económicos y familiares. Se espera que los hallazgos de este estudio lleven a intervenciones más efectivas y culturalmente apropiadas con objeto de aumentar el inicio y la duración de la lactancia.Este estudo foi desenvolvido para analisar os fatores socioculturais que podem influenciar a prática da amamentação entre mulheres de baixa renda em Fortaleza, Ceará, Brasil. Este estudo observacional utilizou a Teoria do Cuidado Cultural de Leininger para identificar e analisar os fatores socioculturais chave. O estudo envolveu 12 gestantes e nutrizes. Usando um formulário de observação criado de acordo com o modelo do Sol Nascente (Leininger) foram realizadas visitas nos domicílios das mulheres e observadas suas condições de vida. As observações foram registradas no formulário e foram realizadas fotografias das condições gerais da moradia, da vizinhança e do serviço de saúde local. As condições de vida são pobres. A maioria das casas tem refrigeração inadequada, problemas estruturais e pouco espaço. Isso revela a gravidade das condições econômicas dos residentes. As mulheres observadas em geral eram autônomas e viviam com pelo menos um membro da família. Os fatores que pareceram ter mais influência sobre a decisão das mulheres em amamentar foram os fatores econômicos e familiares. Espera-se que os achados deste estudo levem a intervenções mais efetivas e culturalmente apropriadas visando o aumento do início e duração da amamentação

Neural Activity Reveals Preferences without Choices

We investigate the feasibility of inferring the choices people would make (if given the opportunity) based on their neural responses to the pertinent prospects when they are not engaged in actual decision making. The ability to make such inferences is of potential value when choice data are unavailable, or limited in ways that render standard methods of estimating choice mappings problematic. We formulate prediction models relating choices to "nonchoice" neural responses, and use them to predict out-of-sample choices for new items and for new groups of individuals. The predictions are sufficiently accurate to establish the feasibility of our approach

Spin Relaxation Resonances Due to the Spin-Axis Interaction in Dense Rubidium and Cesium Vapor

Resonances in the magnetic decoupling curves for the spin relaxation of dense alkali-metal vapors prove that much of the relaxation is due to the spin-axis interaction in triplet dimers. Initial estimates of the spin-axis coupling coefficients for the dimers are 290 MHz for Rb; 2500 MHz for Cs.Comment: submitted to Physical Review Letters, text + 3 figure

Structure of the mirror nuclei 9^9Be and 9^9B in a microscopic cluster model

The structure of the mirror nuclei $^9$Be and $^9$B is studied in a microscopic $\alpha+ \alpha+ n$ and $\alpha+ \alpha+ p$ three-cluster model using a fully antisymmetrized 9-nucleon wave function. The two-nucleon interaction includes central and spin-orbit components and the Coulomb potential. The ground state of $^9$Be is obtained accurately with the stochastic variational method, while several particle-unbound states of both $^9$Be and $^9$B are investigated with the complex scaling method.The calculation for $^9$Be supports the recent identification for the existence of two broad states around 6.5 MeV, and predicts the $\frac{3}{2}^{-}_2$ and $\frac{5}{2}^{-}_2$ states at about 4.5 MeV and 8 MeV, respectively. The similarity of the calculated spectra of $^9$Be and $^9$B enables one to identify unknown spins and parities of the $^9$B states. Available data on electromagnetic moments and elastic electron scatterings are reproduced very well. The enhancement of the $E$1 transition of the first excited state in $^9$Be is well accounted for. The calculated density of $^9$Be is found to reproduce the reaction cross section on a Carbon target. The analysis of the beta decay of $^9$Li to $^9$Be clearly shows that the wave function of $^9$Be must contain a small component that cannot be described by the simple $\alpha+ \alpha+ n$ model. This small component can be well accounted for by extending a configuration space to include the distortion of the $\alpha$-particle to $t+p$ and $h+n$ partitions.Comment: 24 page

Covariant description of inelastic electron--deuteron scattering:predictions of the relativistic impulse approximation

Using the covariant spectator theory and the transversity formalism, the unpolarized, coincidence cross section for deuteron electrodisintegration, $d(e,e'p)n$, is studied. The relativistic kinematics are reviewed, and simple theoretical formulae for the relativistic impulse approximation (RIA) are derived and discussed. Numerical predictions for the scattering in the high $Q^2$ region obtained from the RIA and five other approximations are presented and compared. We conclude that measurements of the unpolarized coincidence cross section and the asymmetry $A_\phi$, to an accuracy that will distinguish between different theoretical models, is feasible over most of the wide kinematic range accessible at Jefferson Lab.Comment: 54 pages and 24 figure

Classification of Light-Induced Desorption of Alkali Atoms in Glass Cells Used in Atomic Physics Experiments

We attempt to provide physical interpretations of light-induced desorption phenomena that have recently been observed for alkali atoms on glass surfaces of alkali vapor cells used in atomic physics experiments. We find that the observed desorption phenomena are closely related to recent studies in surface science, and can probably be understood in the context of these results. If classified in terms of the photon-energy dependence, the coverage and the bonding state of the alkali adsorbates, the phenomena fall into two categories: It appears very likely that the neutralization of isolated ionic adsorbates by photo-excited electron transfer from the substrate is the origin of the desorption induced by ultraviolet light in ultrahigh vacuum cells. The desorption observed in low temperature cells, on the other hand, which is resonantly dependent on photon energy in the visible light range, is quite similar to light-induced desorption stimulated by localized electronic excitation on metallic aggregates. More detailed studies of light-induced desorption events from surfaces well characterized with respect to alkali coverage-dependent ionicity and aggregate morphology appear highly desirable for the development of more efficient alkali atom sources suitable to improve a variety of atomic physics experiments.Comment: 6 pages, 1 figure; minor corrections made, published in e-Journal of Surface Science and Nanotechnology at http://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/ejssnt/4/0/4_63/_articl

Group formation under limited resources: narrow basin of equality

The formation of groups in competition and the aggressive interactions between them are ubiquitous phenomena in society. These include student activities in the classroom, election races between political parties, and intensifying trade wars between countries. Why do individuals form themselves into groups? What is the optimal size of groups? And how does the group size distribution affect resource allocations? These questions have been the subjects of intense research in economics, political science, sociology, and ethology. In this study, we explore the group-size effects on the formation of groups and resource allocations from an economic standpoint. While being in a large group is generally advantageous in competition, an increase in the management costs would set an upper bound to the individual benefit of members. Under such counteracting size effects, we consider the dynamics of group formation in which people seek a conservative measure to reduce their possible maximum loss. We are especially interested in the effects of group size on social inequalities at both group and individual level in resource allocation. Our findings show that the low positive size-effect and the high negative size-effect result in different types of social inequalities. We conclude, from the relation between the inequality measures and group distributions predicted within the model, that overall social equality only can be achieved within a narrow region where two counteracting size-effects are balanced

Viable tax constitutions

Taxation is only sustainable if the general public complies with it. This observation is uncontroversial with tax practitioners but has been ignored by the public finance tradition, which has interpreted tax constitutions as binding contracts by which the power to tax is irretrievably conferred by individuals to government, which can then levy any tax it chooses. However, in the absence of an outside party enforcing contracts between members of a group, no arrangement within groups can be considered to be a binding contract, and therefore the power of tax must be sanctioned by individuals on an ongoing basis. In this paper we offer, for the first time, a theoretical analysis of this fundamental compliance problem associated with taxation, obtaining predictions that in some cases point to a re-interptretation of the theoretical constructions of the public finance tradition while in others call them into question