Ricardian equivalence for sub-national states

The authors test Ricardian equivalence within an endogenous growth model for U.S. states, which have high rates of migration relative to most countries. Results are consistent with both Ricardian equivalence and endogenous growth, despite the relative ease of migration. Increases in productive government expenditures increase long-run real growth by the same amount, for example, whether financed by taxes or bonds. State rules limiting the use of bond financing may play a role in supporting Ricardian equivalence. The study provides the first explicit test of Ricardian equivalence for sub-national states in the context of an endogenous growth model.endogenous growth

An Economist’s Guide to Heaven

This paper is the first to offer an economic model of God and humanity as optimizing agents in the context of concrete belief archetypes (religious ‘contracts’) in Judeo-Christian theology. Data support the model’s unique predictions, despite their otherwise counterintuitive, unlikely nature. For example, the model requires that in one belief archetype, ‘good works’ not increase with strength of faith, as one might otherwise expect, and that what appears may be God’s dominant contract precisely balances divine penalties for reneging on promises with incentives to seek divine ‘gifts’—an equivalence supported in the data.economics;religion

The rising share of nonmarital births: A response to Ermisch, Martin, and Wu

We are flattered that our recent paper in Demography, GSS (2006), has attracted such close attention from Ermisch Martin and Wu (EMW). In this response we appreciate the opportunity to expand on several key aspects of our paper, but see no reason to substantially revise any of our major conclusions based on EMW comments. Reading EMW, one might think we had proposed the demographic equivalent of Newton’s second law of thermodynamics – the existence of a universal phenomenon, manifest in identical form in all places, for all groups, during all times periods, regardless of circumstances. It will be helpful, then, to review briefly the central points in GSS before turning to the major EMW comments, along with our responses.fertility, illegitimacy ratio, marriage, nonmarital fertility ratio, nonmarital births

A Study Of The Causes And Remedies For The Inferiority Complex

In order to study the problem of adolescent maladjustment, clinics have been established to provide tor scientific study or individual cases. The first guidance clinic along the line or individual Psycnoiogy was organized (1912) by Dr. Alfred Adler in Vienna, Austria. Since that time several have been established in various sections of the United States. It was through guidance clinics that psychologists have been able to rind sources of adolescent maladjustment. According to Meyer, Adler, and. Other personality disturbances are the results of undesirable habits which might have been avoided if the individual had received adequate training and proper guidance. According to Valentine, a thwarted ambition may have created in an individual a sense 01 minority, inability, incompleteness, or weakness. The sense of minority may have to do with one\u27s stature, appearance, mentality, or inadequacy in any respect. This study purposes: 1. To determine causes or the inferiority complex. 2. To discover its symptoms as are indicated by behavior. 3. To determine its effect upon the individual. To suggest possible remedies

Height and Pressure Test for Improving Spray Application

Pesticide application in agricultural fields affects a little over a million acres each year (USDA 2012). Current spray application equipment can automatically adjust nozzle flow rates in reaction to speed changes to maintain consistent application rates across the field. Uniform distribution of pesticides from the spray boom is critical to ensure proper crop care while minimizing negative environmental effects. Boom pressure and height are two primary factors that affect proper spray uniformity; however information on the combined effects of these factors are limited. The goal of this study was to provide end users with quantified data regarding the effects of combined nozzle pressure and height variability on spray uniformity for three common spray nozzles. Specific objectives of this project were to 1) determine a suitable operating envelope (i.e., nozzle pressure and height) to meet current performance standards for the nozzles tests, 2) determine errors between theoretical spray distributions (from nozzle manufacturer flow and spacing data) to laboratory patternator data collected at different nozzle pressures, and 3) compare nozzle distribution errors (theoretical versus patternator data) with coefficient of variation (CV), a current spray uniformity performance metric. A laboratory patternator was used to collect nozzle distribution in 25 mm increments across the spray pattern while varying height and pressure for the spray nozzles tested. The operating envelope for different combinations of pressure and height was considered acceptable if the CV values were less than 10%. CV values were compared to root mean squared error (RMSE) for the AIXR 11003 nozzles operated at a height of 51 cm and four operating pressures to evaluate potential differences when accuracy is considered (i.e., RMSE). In some configurations the data exceeded 10% CV resulting in a more constricted operating envelope for each individual nozzle type. The CV values show more variance versus RMSE values. For the AIXR11003, as pressure increased the RMSE decreased in value, meaning the experimental pattern became closer to the ideal pattern as pressure increased. The CV values decreased as pressure increased until a threshold is reached; CV values focus on precision but not accuracy, showing the spray pattern was consistent but not necessarily accurate, indicating the CV disregards the theoretical values and does not indicate error in the values. Thus accuracy of spray pattern distribution may not be considered in the manufacturer’s nozzle report

Energy-resolved neutron imaging for reconstruction of strain introduced by cold working

Energy-resolved neutron transmission imaging is used to reconstruct maps of residual strains in drilled and cold-expanded holes in 5-mm and 6.4-mm-thick aluminum plates. The possibility of measuring the positions of Bragg edges in the transmission spectrum in each 55 × 55 µm2 pixel is utilized in the reconstruction of the strain distribution within the entire imaged area of the sample, all from a single measurement. Although the reconstructed strain is averaged through the sample thickness, this technique reveals strain asymmetries within the sample and thus provides information complementary to other well-established non-destructive testing methods

Acquiring knowledge through management consultancy:A national culture perspective

This paper examines how national culture informs the sourcing of management knowledge through external consultancy. First, it hypothesises and compares the relationship between quantitative measures of Hofstede's cultural indices with adjusted expenditure on consulting in nine countries. Two cultural indices are found to correlate with consulting use – power distance (negatively) and individualism (positively). However, the disparity between our findings and prior research suggests limitations of generalisation in studies solely employing quantitative cultural indices to understand the purchasing of business knowledge. We therefore propose the use of supplementary, qualitative data with sensitivity to local contexts and briefly apply this by using secondary sources to provide historical narratives for two countries – the UK and Japan. Overall, we find and tentatively explain significant statistical relationships between Hofstede's cultural indices and adjusted expenditure on consultancy. We then draw attention to wider implications for consulting research and for practitioners involved in this context

130— Reducing Stereotypic Behavior with a Ketogenic Diet

Now a popular fad diet, the ketogenic diet (KD) is a high-fat, low-carb diet that for decades has been used for treatment of intractable epilepsy. Recent therapeutic applications of KD in animal models include treatment of dementia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and autism. These disorders are associated with stereotypic behaviors (repetitive, invariant behaviors with no apparent function) that are life-impairing and stigmatizing. However, little is known about their underlying mechanisms and no effective pharmacological treatments are available. Here, we present a novel application of KD to reduce stereotypic behavior in an inbred strain of mice (FVBN/J) that displays a prominent repetitive circling behavior. In Experiment 1, we reduced overall stereotypic behavior in aged (18 months) mice with 3-week administration of KD. In Experiment 2, adult (6-8 months) females were paired such that a “spinner” mouse and a non-spinning control mouse were housed together (N=14 cages). Using an ABAB design, we compared stereotypic behavior between assessment periods on normal food diet and on KD. These data show an interaction between time and diet on stereotypic behavior. Following Golgi-Cox histochemistry, the density of dendritic spines in the dorsal and ventral striatum were investigated as one potential neurobiological mechanism for these effects

Plant Immunity Directly or Indirectly Restricts the Injection of Type III Effectors by the \u3ci\u3ePseudomonas syringae\u3c/i\u3e Type III Secretion System

Plants perceive microorganisms by recognizing microbial molecules known as pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) inducing PAMP-triggered immunity (PTI) or by recognizing pathogen effectors inducing effector-triggered immunity (ETI). The hypersensitive response (HR), a programmed cell death response associated with ETI, is known to be inhibited by PTI. Here, we show that PTI-induced HR inhibition is due to direct or indirect restriction of the type III protein secretion system’s (T3SS) ability to inject type III effectors (T3Es). We found that the Pseudomonas syringae T3SS was restricted in its ability to inject a T3E-adenylate cyclase (CyaA) injection reporter into PTI-induced tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) cells. We confirmed this restriction with a direct injection assay that monitored the in planta processing of the AvrRpt2 T3E. Virulent P. syringae strains were able to overcome a PAMP pretreatment in tobacco or Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) and continue to inject a T3E-CyaA reporter into host cells. In contrast, ETI-inducing P. syringae strains were unable to overcome PTI-induced injection restriction. A P. syringae pv tomato DC3000 mutant lacking about one-third of its T3E inventory was less capable of injecting into PTI-induced Arabidopsis plant cells, grew poorly in planta, and did not cause disease symptoms. PTI-induced transgenic Arabidopsis expressing the T3E HopAO1 or HopF2 allowed higher amounts of the T3E-CyaA reporter to be injected into plant cells compared to wild-type plants. Our results show that PTI-induced HR inhibition is due to direct or indirect restriction of T3E injection and that T3Es can relieve this restriction by suppressing PTI

The Impact of Rubber Mats on the Health, Behavior and Welfareof Group-Housed Sows at Breeding

Lameness and leg injuries are common in the swine industry and are a serious welfare concern. The impact of rubber mats on measures of sow health, behavior and welfare were evaluated during 10 days at breeding. Sows preferred to rest in stalls with mats, showed a reduction in lesions and an increase in postural changes. The provision of rubber mats should be considered to improve sow welfare