Colorado and Washington Got Too High: The Argument for Lower Recreational Marijuana Excise Taxes

This article discusses the tax schemes of newly legal recreational marijuana in both Colorado and Washington and how these taxes are similar to other taxes the state levies. This article then examines the policies behind the taxation of marijuana, including competing theories of taxation. Finally, this article concludes that while both states succeed in generating revenue, the taxing scheme employed fails to optimize revenue, creating deadweight loss for both the state economy and the recreational marijuana market

Colorado and Washington Got Too High: The Argument for Lower Recreational Marijuana Excise Taxes

This article discusses the tax schemes of newly legal recreational marijuana in both Colorado and Washington and how these taxes are similar to other taxes the state levies. This article then examines the policies behind the taxation of marijuana, including competing theories of taxation. Finally, this article concludes that while both states succeed in generating revenue, the taxing scheme employed fails to optimize revenue, creating deadweight loss for both the state economy and the recreational marijuana market

Nuclear shape dependence of Gamow-Teller distributions in neutron-deficient Pb isotopes

We study Gamow-Teller strength distributions in the neutron-deficient even isotopes (184-194)Pb in a search for signatures of deformation. The microscopic formalism used is based on a deformed quasiparticle random phase approximation (QRPA) approach, which involves a self-consistent quasiparticle deformed Skyrme Hartree-Fock (HF) basis and residual spin-isospin forces in both the particle-hole and particle-particle channels. By analyzing the sensitivity of the Gamow-Teller strength distributions to the various ingredients in the formalism, we conclude that the beta-decay of these isotopes could be a useful tool to look for fingerprints of nuclear deformation.Comment: 20 pages, 11 figures. To be published in Physical Review

Brain Differently Changes Its Algorithms in Parallel Processing of Visual Information

Feedback from the visual cortex (Vl) to the Lateral Geniculate Nucleus (LGN) in macaque monkey increase contrast gain of LGN neurons for black and white (B&W) and for color (C) stimuli. LGN parvocellular cells responses to B&W gratings are enhanced by feedback multiplicatively and in contrast independent manner. However, in magnocellular neurons corticofugal pathways enhance cells responses in a contrast~dependent non-linear manner. For C stimuli cortical feedback enhances parvocellular neurons responses in a very strong contrast-dependent manner. Based on these results [13] we propose a model which includes excitatory and inhibitory effects on cells activity (shunting equations) in retina and LGN while taking into account the anatomy of cortical feedback connections. The main mechanisms related to different algorithms of the data processing in the visual brain are differences in feedback properties from Vl to parvocellular (PC) and to magnocellular (MC) neurons. Descending pathways from Vl change differently receptive field (RF) structure of PC and MC cells. For B&W stimuli, in PC cells feedback changes gain similarly in the RF center and in the RF surround, leaving PC RF structure invariant. However, feedback influence MC cells in two ways: directly and through LGN interneurons, which together changes gain and sizes of their RF center differently than gain and size of the RF surround. For C stimuli PC cells operate like MC cells for B&W. The first mechanism extracts from the stimulus an important features in a independent way from other stimulus parameters, whereas the second channel changes its tuning properties as a function of other stimulus attributes like contrast and/or spatial extension. The model suggests novel idea about the possible functional role of PC and MC pathways

A comparison of the autecology of two seed-taking ant genera, Rhytidoponera and Melophorus

Members of the genus Rhytidoponera and, to a lesser extent, certain Melophorus spp. are keystone mutualists for the dispersal of seeds in the southwest of Western Australia, with important ramifications for the ecology and speciation of plants in this biodiversity hotspot. For this reason, it is important to understand the autecology of the relevant ant species and the way in which they interact with plant seeds. This paper addresses key aspects of the ecology of three such ant species, Rhytidoponera violacea (Forel), R. inornata Crawley and Melophorus turneri perthensis Wheeler. Data are presented on their geographic distribution, seasonality of foraging, diurnal activity, response to fire, nest site preference, nest structure, colony size, feeding habits, foraging response to seed availability, and seedling emergence from nests. The role of all three species as seed dispersers is confirmed, and all three species have ecologies that are well-suited for dispersal and survival of native plant seeds. Preservation of this interaction is important for the conservation of plants, and it is fortuitous that all three species are able to survive disturbance and return to rehabilitated areas. However, the smaller R. inornata, and to a lesser extent, the larger R. violacea, are vulnerable to invasive ant [Pheidole megacephala (Fabricius)] incursions. M. turneri perthensis is able to coexist with the invasive ant unless this is at high densities, probably as a result of its ability to forage during high temperatures when the invasive species is inactive

AMCIS 2022 Awards Luncheon

This is a video recording and PDF document with the AMCIS 2022 Awards Ceremony

Weak interaction rates for Kr and Sr waiting-point nuclei under rp-process conditions

Weak interaction rates are studied in neutron deficient Kr and Sr waiting-point isotopes in ranges of densities and temperatures relevant for the rp-process. The nuclear structure is described within a microscopic model (deformed QRPA) that reproduces not only the half-lives but also the Gamow-Teller strength distributions recently measured. The various sensitivities of the decay rates to both density and temperature are discussed. Continuum electron capture is shown to contribute significantly to the weak rates at rp-process conditions.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figure

beta-decay in neutron-deficient Hg, Pb, and Po isotopes

The effect of nuclear deformation on the energy distributions of the Gamow-Teller strength is studied in neutron-deficient Hg, Pb, and Po even isotopes. The theoretical framework is based on a self-consistent deformed Skyrme Hartree-Fock mean field with pairing correlations between like nucleons in BCS approximation and residual spin-isospin interactions treated in the proton-neutron quasiparticle random phase approximation. After a systematic study of the Gamow-Teller strength distributions in the low excitation energy region, relevant for beta-decay, we have identified the best candidates to look for deformation signatures in their beta-decay patterns. beta+ half-lives and total Gamow-Teller strengths B(GT+) and B(GT-) are analyzed as well.Comment: 18 pages, 7 figures, to appear in Phys. Rev.

Half-lives of rp-process waiting point nuclei

We give results of microscopic calculations for the half-lives of various proton-rich nuclei in the mass region A=60-90, which are involved in the astrophysical rp-process, and which are needed as input parameters of numerical simulations in Nuclear Astrophysics. The microscopic formalism consists of a deformed QRPA approach that involves a selfconsistent quasiparticle deformed Skyrme Hartree-Fock basis and residual spin-isospin separable forces in both the particle-hole and particle-particle channels. The strength of the particle-hole residual interaction is chosen to be consistent with the Skyrme effective force and mean field basis, while that of the particle-particle is globally fixed to 0.07 MeV after a judicious choice from comparison to experimental half-lives. We study and discuss the sensitivity of the half-lives to deformation and residual interactions.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures, to be published in Eur. Phys. J.

Deformation of the N=Z nucleus 76Sr using beta-decay studies

A novel method of deducing the deformation of the N=Z nucleus 76Sr is presented. It is based on the comparison of the experimental Gamow-Teller strength distribution B(GT) from its beta decay with the results of QRPA calculations. This method confirms previous indications of the strong prolate deformation of this nucleus in a totally independent way. The measurement has been carried out with a large Total Absorption gamma Spectrometer, "Lucrecia", newly installed at CERN-ISOLDE.Comment: Accepted in Phys. Rev. Letter