Some Probabilistic Models of Simple Choice and Ranking

Of the major areas into which experimental psychology has been traditionally partitioned, motivation is the least well understood and systematized. This is true whether we consider theory, experimental paradigms or experimental re­sults. Moreover, of the various notions usually considered to be primarily motivational, preference is the only one that mathematical psychologists have attempted to analyze with any care: there are almost no satisfactory formal theories concerning, for example, drive and incentive, and those that exist are best discussed as aspects of learning. So this chapter on mathematical theories of motivation is limited to a study of preference and the closely related constructs of utility and subjective probability. (Luce and Suppes., 1965, p. 252). In this thesis we develop certain aspects of the theor­ies of preference discussed in the above mentioned chapter

Desiccation, thermal stress and associated mortality in Drosophila fruit flies induced by neuropeptide analogue treatment

Drosophila suzukii is a serious pest of soft fruit worldwide. With the global over-dependence on broad-spectrum pesticides, a strong imperative exists for more environmentally friendly and targeted methods of control. One promising avenue involves employing synthetic neuropeptide analogues as insecticidal agents to reduce pest fitness. Neuropeptides, central to the regulation of physiological and behavioural processes, play a vital role in cold and desiccation survival. Building upon this, the current study investigated the effects of biostable kinin, the cardioacceleratory peptide CAP2b and pyrokinin (PK) analogues (the latter of which have previously displayed cross-talk with the capa receptor), on desiccation, starvation and cold stress tolerance of the pest, D. suzukii, and the closely related non-pest, D. melanogaster. Results demonstrated analogues of the superfamily (CAP2b and PK derived) significantly impacted survival of the target insect under conditions of desiccation stress. However, these peptides enhanced desiccation stress survival in relation to controls, suggesting that they may act as antagonists of the capa signalling pathway in the Malpighian tubules. Of particular note was the ability of analogues 1895 (2Abf-Suc-FGPRLa) and 1902 (2Abf-Suc-FKPRLa) to impact D. suzukii but not D. melanogaster. A focus on native Drosophila CAP2b/PK and kinin sequences in analogue development may yield pure agonists with diuretic action that may reduce desiccation stress survival in the pest flies. In highlighting the PRXamide neuropeptide superfamily more generally, and the structures of promising analogues more specifically, this research will feed the evolution of next-generation analogues and drive forward the development of neuropeptidomimetic-based agents

Control de activos fijos y su relación con la rentabilidad de la empresa La Inmaculada S.A.C. Tarapoto, 2020

La presente investigación titulada “Control de activos y su relación en la rentabilidad de la empresa La Inmaculada S.A.C., de la ciudad de Tarapoto, año 2020”, cuyo objetivo es determinar la relación entre el control de activos fijos y la rentabilidad de la empresa La Inmaculada S.A.C., de la ciudad de Tarapoto, año 2020. El tipo de investigación que presenta es aplicada con nivel descriptivo de diseño correlacional, en la cual se ha considerado como muestra 11 colaboradores del área de almacén, el gerente general y el acervo documentario, las técnicas empleadas para la recolección de datos fueron la observación y el análisis documental y los instrumentos empleados fueron la lista de cotejo y una guía de análisis documental, en la cual se llegó a concluir que las actividades relacionadas al registro, ubicación, el etiquetamiento y la depreciación de los activos fijos son realizadas de manera regular en un 58%, asimismo en cuanto a la rentabilidad, esta fue evaluada mediante el cálculo de ratios el cual se tuvo como resultado que la rentabilidad de activos presenta en el periodo 2019 un rendimiento de 56%, sin embargo en el 2020 redujo a 54%. Finalmente se muestra la existencia de una correlación significativa debido a que el valor P (Sig. Bilateral) es de 0,000, de igual manera se observa que el R de Pearson muestra un valor positivo de 0,998, por ende, se acepta la hipótesis alterna que señala que existe relación significativa entre el control de activos fijos y la rentabilidad de la empresa La Inmaculada S.A.C., año 2020

Case report: Case series featuring anastomotic colonic adenocarcinoma following jejunoileal bypass requiring oncologic resection and jejunoileal bypass reversal

Like all surgical fields, bariatric surgery has evolved immensely, so much so that previous procedures are now obsolete. For instance, the jejunoileal bypass has fallen out of favor after severe metabolic consequences resulted in prolonged morbidity and even mortality. Despite this, several patients persevered long enough to develop other pathology, such as cancer. This progression has been validated in animal models but not human patients. Nonetheless, contemporary surgeons may encounter situations where they must resect and re-establish intestinal continuity in patients with this antiquated anatomy. When faced with this scenario, the question of whether or not the previously bypassed small bowel can be safely reunited plagues the surgeon remains unanswered. Unfortunately, the literature does not effectively answer this question, even anecdotally through case reports or series. Therefore, we share our experience with three patients who developed colon cancer following jejunoileal bypass and subsequently underwent oncologic resection with simultaneous reversal of their jejunoileal bypasses

Listen to Nice

In describing Humphrey Jennings’ wartime documentary propaganda film, 'Listen to Britain' (1942), a film with an overtly poetic sensibility and dominantly musical soundtrack, John Corner asserts that ‘through listening to Britain, we are enabled to properly look at it'. This idea of sound leading our attention to the images has underpinned much of the collaborative work between composer and sound designer, Geoffrey Cox, and documentary filmmaker, Keith Marley. It is in this context that the article will analyse an extract of A Film About Nice (Marley and Cox 2010), a contemporary re-imagining of Jean Vigo’s silent documentary, 'A propos de Nice' (1930). Reference will be made throughout to the historical context, and the filmic and theoretical influences that have informed the way music and creative sound design have been used to place emphasis on hearing a place, as much as seeing it

Individuals' Decisions in the Presence of Multiple Goals

This paper develops new directions on how individuals’ use of multiple goals can be incorporated in econometric model

Rescaling quality of life values from discrete choice experiments for use as QALYs: a cautionary tale

Background: Researchers are increasingly investigating the potential for ordinal tasks such as ranking and discrete choice experiments to estimate QALY health state values. However, the assumptions of random utility theory, which underpin the statistical models used to provide these estimates, have received insufficient attention. In particular, the assumptions made about the decisions between living states and the death state are not satisfied, at least for some people. Estimated values are likely to be incorrectly anchored with respect to death (zero) in such circumstances. Methods: Data from the Investigating Choice Experiments for the preferences of older people CAPability instrument (ICECAP) valuation exercise were analysed. The values (previously anchored to the worst possible state) were rescaled using an ordinal model proposed previously to estimate QALY-like values. Bootstrapping was conducted to vary artificially the proportion of people who conformed to the conventional random utility model underpinning the analyses. Results: Only 26% of respondents conformed unequivocally to the assumptions of conventional random utility theory. At least 14% of respondents unequivocally violated the assumptions. Varying the relative proportions of conforming respondents in sensitivity analyses led to large changes in the estimated QALY values, particularly for lower-valued states. As a result these values could be either positive (considered to be better than death) or negative (considered to be worse than death). Conclusion: Use of a statistical model such as conditional (multinomial) regression to anchor quality of life values from ordinal data to death is inappropriate in the presence of respondents who do not conform to the assumptions of conventional random utility theory. This is clearest when estimating values for that group of respondents observed in valuation samples who refuse to consider any living state to be worse than death: in such circumstances the model cannot be estimated. Only a valuation task requiring respondents to make choices in which both length and quality of life vary can produce estimates that properly reflect the preferences of all respondents

Performance of the Gemini Planet Imager Non-Redundant Mask and spectroscopy of two close-separation binaries HR 2690 and HD 142527

The Gemini Planet Imager (GPI) contains a 10-hole non-redundant mask (NRM), enabling interferometric resolution in complement to its coronagraphic capabilities. The NRM operates both in spectroscopic (integral field spectrograph, henceforth IFS) and polarimetric configurations. NRM observations were taken between 2013 and 2016 to characterize its performance. Most observations were taken in spectroscopic mode with the goal of obtaining precise astrometry and spectroscopy of faint companions to bright stars. We find a clear correlation between residual wavefront error measured by the AO system and the contrast sensitivity by comparing phase errors in observations of the same source, taken on different dates. We find a typical 5-$\sigma$ contrast sensitivity of $2-3~\times~10^{-3}$ at $\sim\lambda/D$. We explore the accuracy of spectral extraction of secondary components of binary systems by recovering the signal from a simulated source injected into several datasets. We outline data reduction procedures unique to GPI's IFS and describe a newly public data pipeline used for the presented analyses. We demonstrate recovery of astrometry and spectroscopy of two known companions to HR 2690 and HD 142527. NRM+polarimetry observations achieve differential visibility precision of $\sigma\sim0.4\%$ in the best case. We discuss its limitations on Gemini-S/GPI for resolving inner regions of protoplanetary disks and prospects for future upgrades. We summarize lessons learned in observing with NRM in spectroscopic and polarimetric modes.Comment: Accepted to AJ, 22 pages, 14 figure