Real returns on government debt: a general equilibrium quantitative exploration

We extend and apply computable general equilibrium methods to the study of economies with both aggregate uncertainty and uninsured household-specific uncertainty. In our economies the government issues two types of assets: a small denomination, non-interest bearing asset, which we call currency, and a large denomination, interest bearing asset, which we call T-bills. We find that a real interest rate behavior similar to that observed in the U.S. can be sustained as equilibrium behavior in our class of economies. We also find that policy induced real interest rate changes that are perceived as being permanent have significant real effects and that these effects take a few years to be fully realized

Finite size effects in Neutron Star and Nuclear matter simulations

In this work we study molecular dynamics simulations of symmetric nuclear matter using a semi-classical nucleon interaction model. We show that, at sub-saturation densities and low temperatures, the solutions are non-homogeneous structures reminiscent of the ``nuclear pasta'' phases expected in Neutron Star Matter simulations, but shaped by artificial aspects of the simulations. We explore different geometries for the periodic boundary conditions imposed on the simulation cell: cube, hexagonal prism and truncated octahedron. We find that different cells may yield different solutions for the same physical conditions (i.e. density and temperature). The particular shape of the solution at a given density can be predicted analytically by energy minimization. We also show that even if this behavior is due to finite size effects, it does not mean that it vanishes for very large systems and it actually is independent of the system size: The system size sets the only characteristic length scale for the inhomogeneities. We then include a screened Coulomb interaction, as a model of Neutron Star Matter, and perform simulations in the three cell geometries. In this case, the competition between competing interactions of different range produces the well known nuclear pasta, with (in most cases) several structures per cell. However, we find that the results are affected by finite size in different ways depending on the geometry of the cell. In particular, at the same physical conditions and system size, the hexagonal prism yields a single structure per cell while the cubic and truncated octahedron show consistent results with more than one structure per cell. In this case, the results in every cell are expected to converge for systems much larger than the characteristic length scale that arises from the competing interactions.Comment: 17 pages, 10 figure

A new model of justice that repairs the damage caused

L’objectiu d’aquest article és exposar, d’una banda, les bases que sustenten el dret penal des d’un plantejament divulgatiu que ajudi a comprendre a un públic no necessàriament especialitzat els fins de la pena, així com els diversos models de càstig i tractament quehistòricament s’han aplicat a les persones que han comès un delicte. Però, d’altra banda, el text pretén avançar en la modernització de la justícia, després d’assenyalar els límits que el sistema penal troba en l’actualitat. Així, es planteja un seguit de propostes que des del prisma d’una justícia restaurativa significarien no només unes penes més actuals i més acords a la dignitat humana, sinó que també serien més sostenibles tant des d’un punt de vista social com econòmic. La justícia restaurativa, amb els seus inseparables elements ètics, és, en aquest sentit, el paradigma des del qual entenem que la justícia penal es pot is’ha de modificar atribuint a la reparació un important paper durant tot el procés.El objetivo de este artículo es exponer, por un lado, las bases que sustentan el derecho penal desde un planteamiento divulgativo que ayude a comprender a un público no necesariamente especializado los fines de la pena, así como los diversos modelos de castigo y tratamiento que históricamente se han aplicado a las personas que han cometido un delito.Pero, por otro, el texto pretende avanzar en la modernización de la justicia, tras señalar los límites que el sistema penal encuentra en la actualidad. Así, se plantea una serie de propuestas que desde el prisma de una justicia restaurativa significarían no solo unas penas más actuales y más acordes a la dignidad humana, sino que también serían mássostenibles tanto desde un punto de vista social como económico. La justicia restaurativa, con sus inseparables elementos éticos, es, en este sentido, el paradigma desde el que entendemos que la justicia penal puede y debe modificarse atribuyendo a la reparación un importante papel durante todo el proceso.The aim of this article is, on the one hand, to set out in a clear expository form the bases that underpin Spanish criminal law, in order to assist a generally non-specialist public in understanding the objectives of sentencing and the different models of punishment and treatment that have historically been applied to people convicted of a crime. On the other hand, the article seeks to contribute to the modernization of criminal justice by noting some of the limitations under which the penal systemcurrently labours. To this end it puts forward a series of proposals from the perspective of restorative justice which would make sentencing not only less antiquated and more consistent with human dignity, but would also bemore sustainable from both a social and an economic point of view. Restorative justice, with its inseparable ethical elements, is, in this respect, the paradigm from which we consider that criminal justice can and should be modified, in assigning an important role in the whole process to reparation

Isoscaling and the nuclear EOS

Experiments with rare isotopes are shedding light on the role isospin plays in the equation of state (EoS) of nuclear matter, and isoscaling -an straight-forward comparison of reactions with different isospin- could deliver valuable information about it. In this work we test this assertion pragmatically by comparing molecular dynamics simulations of isoscaling reactions using different equations of state and looking for changes in the isoscaling parameters; to explore the possibility of isoscaling carrying information from the hot-and-dense stage of the reaction, we perform our study in confined and expanding systems. Our results indicate that indeed isoscaling can help us learn about the nuclear EoS, but only in some range of excitation energies

Neutral B Meson Mixing and Heavy-light Decay Constants from Quenched Lattice QCD

We present high-statistics results for neutral $B$-meson mixing and heavy-light-meson leptonic decays in the quenched approximation from tadpole-improved clover actions at $\beta = 6.0$ and $\beta = 6.2$. We consider quantities such as $B_{B_{d(s)}}$, $f_{D_{d(s)}}$, $f_{B_{d(s)}}$ and the full $\Delta B=2$ matrix elements as well as the corresponding SU(3)-breaking ratios. These quantities are important for determining the CKM matrix element $|V_{td}|$.Comment: LATTICE98(heavyqk). Revised version. Typos in the second and third equations corrected. Very small changes to text. Results unchange

Estimación de la erosión hídrica actual y potencial con RUSLE3D en la provincia de Castellón (España)

The purpose of this study was the estimation of current and potential water erosion rates in Castellon Province (Spain) using RUSLE3D (Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation-3D) model with Geographical Information System (GIS) support. RUSLE3D uses a new methodology for topographic factor estimation (LS factor) based on the impact of flow convergence allowing better assessment of sediment distribution detached by water erosion. In RUSLE3D equation, the effect that vegetation cover has on soil erosion rate is reflected by the C factor. Potential erosion indicates soil erosion rate without considering C factor in RUSLE3D equation. The results showed that 57% of estimated current erosion does not exceed 10 t/ha.year (low erosion). In the case of potential erosion rates, 5% of the area of Castellon Province does not exceed 10 t/ha.year but 55% exceed 200 t/ha.year. Based on these results, the current vegetation cover of Castellon Province is adequate but needs to be conserved to avoid an increase in the current soil erosion rates as shown by potential erosion rates.El objetivo de este estudio fue la estimación de las tasas de erosión hídrica, actual y potencial, en la Provincia de Castellón (España) utilizando el modelo RUSLE3D (Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation-3D), y el apoyo de Sistemas de Información Geográfica (SIG). RUSLE3D utiliza una nueva metodología para la estimación del factor topográfico (factor LS) basado en el impacto de la convergencia del flujo lo cual permite una mejor evaluación del movimiento de sedimentos. En RUSLE3D, el efecto de la cobertura vegetal sobre la tasa de erosión lo refleja el factor C. La erosión potencial representa la tasa de erosión sin considerar el factor C en RUSLE3D. Los resultados mostraron que el 57% de la erosión actual no supera las 10 t/ha.año (erosión baja). En el caso de la erosión potencial, el 5% del área de la provincia es inferior a 10 t/ha.año, pero un 55% supera las 200 t/ha.año (erosión muy alta). En base a estos resultados, la actual cobertura vegetal de la provincia de Castellón es adecuada, pero tiene que ser conservada y protegida para evitar un aumento en las actuales tasas de erosión, tal como lo indican los valores de erosión potencial.Fil: Giménez Suárez, Martín C.. Universidad Politécnica de Madri

Current and potential water erosion estimation with RUSLE3D in Castellon province (Spain)

The purpose of this study was the estimation of current and potential water erosion rates in Castellon Province (Spain) using RUSLE3D (Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation-3D) model with Geographical Information System (GIS) support. RUSLE3D uses a new methodology for topographic factor estimation (LS factor) based on the impact of flow convergence allowing better assessment of sediment distribution detached by water erosion. In RUSLE3D equation, the effect that vegetation cover has on soil erosion rate is reflected by the C factor. Potential erosion indicates soil erosion rate without considering C factor in RUSLE3D equation. The results showed that 57% of estimated current erosion does not exceed 10 t/ha.year (low erosion). In the case of potential erosion rates, 5% of the area of Castellon Province does not exceed 10 t/ha.year but 55% exceed 200 t/ha.year. Based on these results, the current vegetation cover of Castellon Province is adequate but needs to be conserved to avoid an increase in the current soil erosion rates as shown by potential erosion rates.The purpose of this study was the estimation of current and potential water erosion rates in Castellon Province (Spain) using RUSLE3D (Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation-3D) model with Geographical Information System (GIS) support. RUSLE3D uses a new methodology for topographic factor estimation (LS factor) based on the impact of flow convergence allowing better assessment of sediment distribution detached by water erosion. In RUSLE3D equation, the effect that vegetation cover has on soil erosion rate is reflected by the C factor. Potential erosion indicates soil erosion rate without considering C factor in RUSLE3D equation. The results showed that 57% of estimated current erosion does not exceed 10 t/ha.year (low erosion). In the case of potential erosion rates, 5% of the area of Castellon Province does not exceed 10 t/ha.year but 55% exceed 200 t/ha.year. Based on these results, the current vegetation cover of Castellon Province is adequate but needs to be conserved to avoid an increase in the current soil erosion rates as shown by potential erosion rates