The influence of the Ratio Bias phenomenon on the elicitation of Standard Gamble utilities

This paper tests whether logically equivalent risk formats can lead to different health state utilities elicited by means of the standard gamble (SG) method. We compare SG utilities elicited when probabilities are framed in terms of frequencies with respect to 100 people in the population (i.e., X out of 100) with SG utilities elicited for frequencies with respect to 1,000 people in the population (i.e., Y out of 1,000). We found that utilities were significant higher when success and failure probabilities were framed as frequencies type “Y out of 1,000” rather than as frequencies type “X out of 100”. This framing effect, known as Ratio Bias, may have important consequences in resource allocation decisions.Framing effect, risk format, standard gamble, health state, dual-process theories.

Fiscal Decentralization and Public R&D Policy: A Country Panel Analysis

This paper presents a first analysis of the potential link between the level of fiscal decentralization of a country and its public investment in innovation. We present a theoretical model where a ‘benevolent government’ invests in R&D aiming at maximizing net income, and R&D results are subject to interregional knowledge spillovers. The model predicts that decentralization leads to a lower level of public spending on innovation, and to a lower share of basic research in the government R&D budget. These hypotheses are empirically tested using country aggregate data. The results provide empirical support to the mentioned hypotheses, as we find evidence that higher levels of both expenditure and revenue decentralization are associated with a lower intensity of basic research in public R&D and with a lower level of R&D spending. The strength of the evidence, however, is weakened by the small sample size and shortcomings of the indicators used in the analysis

S3S_3 discrete group as a source of the quark mass and mixing pattern in 331331 models

We propose a model based on the $SU(3)_{C}\otimes SU(3)_{L}\otimes U(1)_{X}$ gauge symmetry with an extra $S_{3}\otimes Z_{2}\otimes Z_{4}\otimes Z_{12}$ discrete group, which successfully accounts for the SM quark mass and mixing pattern. The observed hierarchy of the SM quark masses and quark mixing matrix elements arises from the $Z_{4}$ and $Z_{12}$ symmetries, which are broken at very high scale by the $SU(3)_{L}$ scalar singlets ($\sigma$,$\zeta$) and $\tau$, charged under these symmetries, respectively. The Cabbibo mixing arises from the down type quark sector whereas the up quark sector generates the remaining quark mixing angles. The obtained magnitudes of the CKM matrix elements, the CP violating phase and the Jarlskog invariant are in agreement with the experimental data.Comment: 12 pages. Version published in European Physical Journal

Characterization of abiotic coaditions affecting vegetation distribution in the river plate coastal plain, Argentina

The river Plate coastal plain is located in northeastern Buenos Aires province, where geological events such as sea transgressions and regressions in the Holocene have produced a stratigraphic column with marine-estuarine, fluviatile and continental sediments, as well as a variety of landforms and soils. The aim of this paper is to describe these different coastal settings and their influence in the distribution of plant communities

Delayed presentation of an arteriovenous malformation after cerebellar hemangioblastoma resection—Case report

AbstractIntroductionHaemangioblastoma has been uncommonly reported to occur in coexistence either temporally or spatially with the development of an arteriovenous malformations (AVM). We present a case of a delayed AVM following haemangioblastoma resection.Presentation of case44 year old female initially presented with a several week history of headaches, vertigo and nausea and emesis and was found to have a cystic lesion with a solid enhancing component on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in the superior aspect of the vermis. She underwent gross total resection and final pathology was consistent with WHO grade I haemangioblastoma. One year later, patient re-presented with headaches, dizziness and left trochlear nerve palsy with rotary nystagmus. Imaging revealed a left posterior tentorial paramedian cerebellar vascular nidus with venous drainage into the left transverses sinus suspicious for arteriovenous malformation. She underwent gross total resection of the lesion. Final pathology confirmed the diagnosis of an arteriovenous malformation.DiscussionRecent research supports both haemangioblastoma and AVM are of embryologic origin but require later genetic alterations to develop into symptomatic lesions. It is unclear in our case if the AVM was present at the time of the initial haemangioblastoma resection or developed de novo after tumor resection. However, given the short time between tumor resection and presentation of AVM, de novo AVM although possible, appears less likely.ConclusionAVM and haemangioblastoma rarely presents together either temporally or spatially. We present a case of a delayed AVM following haemangioblastoma resection. More research is needed to elucidate the rare intermixture of these lesions

A Gap Between Extinct Pleistocene Megafaunal Remains and Holocene Burial Contexts at Archaeological Sites in the Southern Argentinian Puna

Recent investigations carried out in the southern Puna of northwest Argentina confirmed the presence of giant ground sloth (Megatheriinae) and Pleistocene horse (Hippidion sp.), which were dated to the late Pleistocene, between 13,350 and 12,510 RCYBP (three uncalibrated dates) (Martínez et al. 2004). These megafauna taxa, not previously reported above 3400 m a.s.l., were found in two high-altitude archaeological sites under study, Peñas de las Trampas 1.1 (PT1.1; 3582 m a.s.l.) and Cueva Cacao 1A (CC1A; 3730 m a.s.l.), both located in Antofagasta de la Sierra, Catamarca, Argentina. The 14C dates were obtained on stratified megaherbivore dung samples very well preserved because of the extreme aridity of this ecoregion (precipitation less than 50 mm/year). The samples come from two rockshelters, which also show evidence of Holocene human utilization after 10,000 RCYBP. The dung dates mark the final stage in the presence of these large mammals in this part of the Puna. Hence, the interpreted paleoecological and paleoenvironmental conditions for the late Pleistocene need to be restated for this area. The record of these taxa indicates that until 13,350–12,510 RCYBP there was a relatively high degree of effective humidity and high plant and biomass density capable of meeting the food requirements of these megaherbivores. A recent 14C analysis of dung corresponding to layer 4 of excavation unit 2E of site PT1.1 yielded a date of 19,610 ± 290 RCYBP (LP-1546). This layer, the earliest stratigraphic unit with dung, is found on a sandy fine sediment of eolian origin. Hence identification of the megafauna extends its presence in the area back to ca. 20,000 RCYBP, within the Last Glacial Maximum, and may provide an imporant beginning date for deglaciation at this elevation, which is according to paleoclimatic models designed for the Andean tropical zone (Paduano et al. 2003). In the study area, High-andean steppe is now found at 4200–4800 m a.s.l., but under these conditions, plant biomass likely increased locally with reference to dominant conditions of the glacial maximumFil: Martinez, Jorge Gabriel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto Superior de Estudios Sociales. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Instituto Superior de Estudios Sociales; ArgentinaFil: Aschero, Carlos Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto Superior de Estudios Sociales. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Instituto Superior de Estudios Sociales; ArgentinaFil: Powell, Jaimie E.. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo; ArgentinaFil: Tchilinguirian, Pablo. Secretaría de Cultura de la Nación. Dirección Nacional de Cultura y Museos. Instituto Nacional de Antropología y Pensamiento Latinoamericano; Argentin

Parameters that determine the wavelength of a passive mode-locked dye laser

We introduce a new stability criterion that should be added to previous theoretical models of passive mode locked lasers in order to predict emission wavelength, which is to require that the pulse spectrum reproduces itself after one transit. The CPM laser consisting of rhodamine 6G as gain medium and DODCI as saturable absorber is studied. The relative population balance of the fundamental and photoisoner species of the DODCI are computed as a function of the pulse energy and wavelength. The necessity of a spectral stability criterion follows from the dependence of the gain profile on the pulse parameters. Use of the criterion is shown to agree with previous experimental results, such as the red spectral region of emission and dependence of emission wavelength on absorber concentration. This criterion is expected to be an useful tool in order to select other dye combinations and predict the laser behavior. Parameters that determine the wavelength of a passive mode-locked dye laser

Soft-x-ray interferometer for single-shot laser linewidth measurements

Includes bibliographical references (page 957).A soft-x-ray Mach-Zehnder interferometer configuration that makes use of the time delay introduced by diffraction gratings to conduct single-shot measurements of the linewidth of soft-x-ray laser amplifiers is proposed and analyzed. The scheme was experimentally demonstrated in the near-IR region of the spectrum by measurement of the mode separation of a semiconductor laser. A symmetric configuration with compensated time delays that can be implemented for plasma diagnostics and for evaluating soft-x-ray optics is also discussed

Microsaccade generation requires a foveal anchor

Visual scene characteristics have the ability to affect various aspects of saccade and microsaccade dynamics. For example, blank visual scenes are known to elicit diminished saccade and microsaccade production, compared to natural scenes. Similarly, microsaccades are less frequent in the dark. Yet, the extent to which foveal and peripheral visual information contribute to microsaccade production remains unclear: because microsaccade are directed to covert attention locations as per the superior colliculus activation map, it follows that peripheral stimulation could suffice to produce regular microsaccade dynamics, even without foveal stimulation being present. Here we compared the characteristics of microsaccades generated in the presence or absence of foveal and/or peripheral visual stimulation, while human subjects conducted four types of oculomotor tasks (fixation, free-viewing, guided-viewing and fixation during passive viewing). Foveal information was either available, or made unavailable by the presentation of both solid and blurred scotomas. We found foveal stimulation to be critical for microsaccade production, and peripheral stimulation, by itself, to be insufficient to yield microsaccades. Our results indicate that a foveal visual anchor is necessary for microsaccade generation.  

Thermal behaviour of natural ester based oil used in distribution transformers

This work compares the thermal behavior of a distribution transformer when using as dielectric liquid a mineral oil or natural esters. These cases have been analyzed using Finite Elements Method (FEM) at the software COMSOL Multiphysics® with a 3D-symmetrical model through the Heat Transfer in Solid module. The results of simulations show a higher values of maximum temperature in mineral oil submerged transformer than in natural ester, for the same operational conditions