Hermite Calculus

We develop a new method of umbral nature to treat blocks of Her mite and of Hermite like poly- nomials as independent algebraic quantities. The Calculus we propose allows the formulation of a number of ”practical rules” allowing significant simplific ations in computational problem

Relativistic tunneling through two "transparent" successive barriers

In the case of tunneling of relativistic particles, differently from the nonrelativistic case, a limit of "transparent" barrier can also lead to an apparent "superluminal" behavior when considering the phase time. In this limit, the restricting condition of "opaque" barrier of the nonrelativistic case is avoided, nevertheless, the very thin width of a single barrier to obtain this "transparent" limit can result in a problem itself, for probing the effect. A combination of two successive transparent barriers can show an apparent "superluminal" behavior along a macroscopic arbitrary distance "L". Two solutions for energy E above and below the potential square barrier V are found, for both solutions there the apparent superluminal behavior is possible above a threshold of free travelling group velocity (energy) and dependent on the ratio barriers length free path as function of the ratio group velocity - speed of light

Market microstructure, bank's behaviour and interbank spreads

We present an empirical analysis of the European electronic interbank market of overnight lending (e-MID) during the years 1999–2009. The main goal of the paper is to explain the observed changes of the cross-sectional dispersion of lending/borrowing conditions before, during and after the 2007–2008 subprime crisis. Unlike previous contributions, that focused on banks’ dependent and macro information as explanatory variables, we address the role of banks’ behaviour and market microstructure as determinants of the credit spreads

Review of Emory L. Kemp’s \u3ci\u3eTaming the Muskingum\u3c/i\u3e

Article reviews the book, Taming the Muskingum By Emory Leland Kemp

Referral systems and health-care-seeking behaviour of patients: an economic analysis

The paper studies medical referral systems of developing countries in relation to patients' health-care-seeking behaviour. It is shown that the vertical referral structures are consistent with patients' cost-minimizing behaviour in their search of medical treatments. This consistency is a consequence of a common desire among patients and health planners, to minimize costs of treating illnesses so as to get the most from their limited resources. The conditions under which the medical referral system reflects treatment seeking behaviour of patients are specified. Since these conditions do not hold exactly in the real world, the referral system has some major weaknesses as a model of how National Health Service delivery systems actually function. Reforms that can be undertaken to rectify these weaknesses are suggested