Do envy and compassion pave the way to unhappiness? Social preferences and life satisfaction in a Spanish city

Mounting evidence shows that people’s self-reported life satisfaction (LS) is negatively related to income inequality. Under the interpretation that the relationship between macro-level variables and LS reflects individuals’ social preferences, this finding indicates that most people display inequality-averse preferences. We explore the relationship between self-reports on inequality aversion and LS in a citywide representative survey/experiment conducted in Spain. If self-reported well-being can be used to infer people’s social preferences, LS should correlate negatively with both “envy” and “compassion” scores (i.e., how much one suffers from disadvantageous and advantageous inequality, respectively). We find that LS relates negatively to envy but positively to compassion, which would imply that suffering from observing poorer others, paradoxically, increases well-being. Using an incentivized Dictator Game as a measure of generous behavior, we reject the hypothesis that the positive link between compassion and LS is actually driven by generosity. We discuss how these findings could indicate that the way LS is used to assess social preferences in the population should be revised

Magnetic frustration, phase competition, and the magnetoelectric effect in NdFe3(BO3)4

PACS numbers: 75.85.+t, 75.25. j, 75.30.Et, 78.70.Ck.-- et al.We present an element selective resonant magnetic x-ray scattering study of NdFe3(BO3)4 as a function of temperature and applied magnetic field. Our measurements show that the magnetic order of the Nd sublattice is induced by the Fe spin order. When a magnetic field is applied parallel to the hexagonal basal plane, the helicoidal spin order is suppressed and a collinear ordering, where the moments are forced to align in a direction perpendicular to the applied magnetic field, is stabilized. This result excludes a noncollinear spin order as the origin of the magnetically induced electric polarization in this compound. Instead our data imply that magnetic frustration results in a phase competition, which is the origin of the magnetoelectric response.This work was supported by the DFG through the Emmy Noether Programme (Grant No. GE1647/2-1) and the European Community’s Seventh Framework Program (FP7/2007-2013) under Grant No. 226716.Peer reviewe

Resonant x-ray scattering in La1-xSr1+xMn0 4 (x 0.5): Incommensurate-lattice modulation vs. Charge-stripe models

Using resonant x-ray scattering at the Mn K-edge, we have investigated the nature of the charge and lattice modulation in the La1-xSr1+xMnO4 (x=0.5 and 0.6) manganites. Resonant reflections (h±e, h±e, 0) and (h±2e, h±2e, 0) of the tetragonal I4/mmm structure with a modulation vector of 2e=l-x were found in the insulating phases of both manganites but the intensity of these reflections is much weaker for La0.4Sr1.6MnO4. Resonant x-ray scattering data for the two samples are well explained by the presence of two types of sinusoidal modulations of the oxygen displacements, transverse and longitudinal to the tetragonal [110] direction. The amplitude of the oxygen displacements for any of the modulations decreases with the hole doping, in agreement with the change from a commensurate (x=0.5) to an incommensurate (x=0.6) ordered phase. The different polarization and azimuthal behaviour of the two sets of resonant reflections rule out any kind of stripe model composed by Mn3+-like and Mn4+-like charge-ordering. The maximum charge disproportionation among the different Mn atoms in the unit cell is about 0.15 e- and 0.04 e- for the x=0.5 and x=0.6 samples, respectively. These results thus confirm the existence of a charge-density-wave ordering in both the commensurate-phase of the half-doped La0.5Sr1.5MnO4 and the incommensurate-phase of the over-doped La0.4Sr1.6MnO4 manganites

Electronic states of R F e2 O4(R=Lu, Yb, Tm, Y) mixed-valence compounds determined by soft x-ray absorption spectroscopy and x-ray magnetic circular dichroism

We here report an investigation of the electronic states in the RFe2O4(R=Lu,Yb,Tm,Y) mixed-valence ferrites by means of soft x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and x-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) measurements together with ab initio theoretical calculations. The presence of Fe+2 and Fe+3 pure ionic species is discarded in the XAS spectra at the OK edge in both experimental data and simulations based on the multiple scattering theory. Similarly, no trace of Fe+2/Fe+3 contributions is detected in the XMCD spectra at the FeK edge. On the other hand, the XAS and XMCD spectra at the FeL2,3 edges can be well described in terms of Fe+2/Fe+3 contributions, and are also supported by multiplet calculations. This finding can be interpreted as the existence of a mixture of 3d5/3d6 configurations at the Fe atoms. Alternative ferrimagnetic spin orderings based on a trimodal Fe valence distribution are also proposed and discussed. Finally, a possible explanation for the strong dependence of the FeL2,3 edges XMCD signal magnitude on both the sample surface preparation and detection method is presented

Valence change of praseodymium in Pr0.5Ca0.5CoO3 investigated by x-ray absorption spectroscopy

X-ray absorption spectroscopy measurements in Pr0.5Ca0.5CoO3 were performed at the Pr M4,5, Pr L3, and Ca L2,3 absorption edges as a function of temperature below 300 K. Ca spectra show no changes down to 10 K while a noticeable thermally dependent evolution takes place at the Pr edges across the metal-insulator transition. Spectral changes are analyzed by different methods, including multiple scattering simulations, which provide quantitative details on an electron loss at Pr 4f orbitals. We conclude that in the insulating phase a fraction [15(+5)%] of Pr3+ undergoes a further oxidation to adopt a hybridized configuration composed of an admixture of atomic-like 4f1 states (Pr4+) and f- symmetry states on the O 2p valence band (Pr3+L states) indicative of a strong 4f- 2p interaction.Comment: 19 pages (.doc), 4 figures, Phys. Rev. B, in pres

Efectos agudos de las vibraciones de cuerpo completo sobre variables funcionales en niños con parálisis cerebral

Accésit Congreso SIBB 2015El objetivo del presente estudio fue analizar los efectos agudos de las vibraciones de cuerpo completo (VCC) sobre el equilibrio y la movilidad en niños con parálisis cerebral, y comparar los efectos producidos por el estímulo vibratorio vertical y oscilante sobre las variables mencionadas. Se utilizó un diseño cruzado aleatorio en el que participaron 6 niños y adolescentes con parálisis cerebral. Se llevaron a cabo 5 sesiones de tratamiento, utilizando las dos primeras como familiarización. En cada una de las tres sesiones restantes, el paciente recibía de forma aleatoria un tratamiento de VCC diferente consistentes en 5 series de 1 minuto de vibración seguidas de 1 minuto de descanso. Antes y después de cada intervención se realizaron valoraciones de esfuerzo percibido, equilibrio y movilidad a través de una escala visual analógica y los test de Romberg y timed up and go, respectivamente. La escala visual analógica mostró un incremento del esfuerzo percibido tras la aplicación del tratamiento (+75%, p=0,007). En el equilibrio se observó un aumento en la velocidad de desplazamiento del centro de presiones tras la intervención (+11,3%, p=0,024).Todos los protocolos aplicados en niños y adolescentes con parálisis cerebral, modificaron de manera aguda el equilibrio, no mostrándose cambios respecto a la movilidad. Los resultados del presente estudio demuestran que, el estímulo vibratorio no parece inducir mayores modificaciones sobre el equilibrio y la movilidad que el propio trabajo isométrico sobre la plataforma.Peer ReviewedAward-winnin

Core losses analysis of the LCL filter inductor for SiC-based inverter

The ability of SiC devices to switch at high speed allows increasing significantly the power density in both converters and passive components, reducing their required size. To mitigate harmonic injection form inverters into the grid, in order to comply with power quality standards, an accurate filter design is required. Given its excellent performance, an LCL filter is the configuration most suitable in grid-connected power converters. Several parameters must be considered when designing an effective LCL filter, and the inverter-side inductor assumes a special importance because of its relevance to suppress high frequency harmonic content at the inverter side. One of the most relevant issues to be considered in the process of designing the LCL filter is the evaluation of core losses in the inverter-side inductor, which will determine the final temperature of the inductor. This paper analyses the core losses of the inverter-side inductor of an LCL filter. The proposed method is based on the computation of the current harmonics generated by the inverter and on Steinmetz’s empirical equation. As a result, core losses calculated taking into account several carrier and sideband harmonics show good agreement with the experimental values. When current harmonics are estimated by simulation, as it is done in the proposed design procedure, results are less accurate, but precise enough for a design procedure

Tratamiento de las fracturas conminutas de cabeza radial mediante exéresis cabeza radial: resultados a largo plazo de 18 casos

La resección de la cabeza radial en las fracturas conminutas supone una opción de tratamiento comúnmente aceptada. El objetivo de este estudio es la evolución de los resultados a largo plazo tras escisión de la cabeza radial. Se realizó un estudio prospectivo en 18 pacientes con fracturas Mason tipo III y IV. La media de edad fue de 50 años con un tiempo medio de seguimiento de 6,8 años. Sólo 4 pacientes presentaron una pérdida de 15 grados o más de la extensión. Se produjo una pérdida den la pronación y supinación de 3,7º y 8,4 respectivamente. De acuerdo a la clasificación funcional utilizada, la media según EMPS fue de 83,3 con un 88,3% de resultados satisfactorios y según la HSSS la media fue de 71,1 con un 94% de excelentes o buenos resultados.Radial head resection is the accepted treatment of comminuted radial-head fractures in adults. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the long-term outcomes of primary radial head excision. A retrospective study was undertaken of 18 patients with Mason type III and IV. The average age at operation was 50 years and the average length of follow-up was 6,8 years. Only four patients lost 15 degrees or more of extension of the elbow. Pronation and supination were decreased by an average of 3,7º and 8,4º respective. According to the functional classification that we use, the average of EMPS score was 83,3 with a 88,3% of satisfactory results and the average of HSSS score was 71,1 with a 94% of excellent o good results