Utility based regional purchasing power parities

Calculation of purchasing power parities based on observed consumer behaviour typically relies on the existence of some kind of 'international preferences'. We argue that this unrealistic assumption can be abandoned in 'regional' studies of purchasing power, where prices in both territories under study might differ only slightly. Drawing on recent results for the derivation of equivalence scales, we develop a model of regional purchasing power and discuss several procedures for testing model specification. The model is applied to data of the German Income and Expenditure Survey 1998 to estimate the wedge between purchasing power in the western and eastern part of Germany. --

On the Public Provision of the Performing Arts

In this paper, we present a model in which the performing arts are modelled as congestible public goods. In accordance with empirical evidence, the production of seat capacity is assumed to be subject to fixed costs. We estimate the parameters of the model?s demand and cost functions using German data. Using these estimates in a subsequent social choice analysis, we show that the current situation in the German performing arts sector is best described by a directorship that under the influence of a selfish theater lobby maximizes only the welfare of the spectators. Such an equilibrium, characterized by too low ticket prices and too large capacity, is most likely to establish if citizens have a very positive ex ante notion of the performing arts. --Performing Arts,Public Facilities,Congestion

An Augmented UTAUT Model for Robo-Advisor Adoption

This study aims at identifying factors influencing robo-advisory demand and usage. We show that it is essential to tell apart the intention to invest in financial markets from the intention to use robo-advisor technology. Therefore, we develop an augmented model of the “Unified Theory of Adoption and Use of Technology” (augmented UTAUT model) that allows to explain both of these customers’ intentions simultaneously. The model is evaluated by means of a PLS approach using online survey data collected in the US and Germany. Empirical results shed light on (potential) investors’ intentions and attitudes towards robo-advisory services. The model developed in this paper is generally applicable whenever it comes to model adoption of a new technology that relies on the use of a basic product or a basic technology

Near total laryngectomy: a single institutional experience

Background: Near total laryngectomy (NTL) aims to remove cancer of larynx and hypopharynx while maintaining a lung powered, prosthesis free voice. The oncological and functional outcomes of NTL have been encouraging but the surgical procedure is complex. In this study, we present our experience with NTL in order to encourage more ENT and head and neck surgeons to take up the procedure.Methods: Twenty-eight patients, who had undergone NTL at State cancer institute, Guwahati are analysed retrospectively for survival, disease free status, functional outcomes and complications.Results: There were two recurrences: one local recurrence which was salvaged by a completion total laryngectomy. The other patient had distant metastasis and died eventually. Overall survival (OS) was 96.43% and event free survival (EFS) was 92.86%. The patient who died had extra-nodal extension (ENE) on post op histology (p=0.274). Two patients failed to develop any speech had stenosis of the shunt. One of these was the only Salvage NTL case (p=0.057). Tracheostome stenosis, poor swallow and shunt stenosis were the common complications in our series. Most of them resolved with some intervention. Multiple complications were seen in the salvage NTL cases.Conclusions: Careful case selection and well executed surgery leads to acceptable results following NTL. Special attention should be paid to the salvage cases as they are prone to develop complications and failure to attain speech. Patients with adverse post-op histopathological examination (HPE), like ENE should be kept under close follow up

The leaching of natural colloids from forest surface soils and their role for the P transfer

Soil nanoparticles (d<100nm) and colloids (d<1µm) exert a decisive control on the mobilisation of strongly sorbing compounds such as phosphorus (P). We investigated the nanoparticles and colloids present in forest soil leachates examining their role for the P fixation and for the vertical P transfer in forest soils. Mesocosm experiments with three German forest soils (upper 20 cm) were conducted. The mesocosms were irrigated with artificial rain for 22 months and the nanoparticles and colloids were characterised in the soil leachates with special attention to P. The field flow fractionation (FFF) technique coupled online to UV- and DLS- detectors and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) or to an organic carbon detector (OCD) enabled a size resolved characterization and quantification of the nanoparticulate and colloidal fractions and their elemental composition (P, Corg, Fe, A, Si, Ca. Mn). To visualise and better characterise the particles present in the leachates, transmission electron microscopy with energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (TEM-EDX) measurements were performed. The translocated particles exhibited sizes up to 350 nm. Using FFF we separated the colloids in three size fractions i) 3-20 nm ii) 20-70 nm and iii) 70-350 nm. The particle fractions showed different chemical compositions. However their composition and characteristics were similar between the three forest sites and comparable to the natural nanoparticles and colloids from soils (“water dispersible colloids”) and streams described in literature. Up to 90% (on average ~45 %) of the leached P was associated with the nanoparticles and colloids. Our qualitative and quantitative analysis of the soil leachates showed that nanoparticles and colloids are crucial vectors controlling the P fluxes in forest ecosystems and could be a significant, but as yet still poorly quantified P loss factor

Relationship of depth of invasion of tumour with neck node metastasis in oral squamous cell carcinoma: a clinico pathological correlation

Background: Squamous cell carcinomas of the oral cavity are relatively common among the head and neck cancers. The increasing depth of invasion (DOI) and the microvascular proliferation caused by neoplastic growth might determine proximity to blood vessels and lymphatics, thus facilitating the tumor’s ability to metastasize. The role of tumour DOI as a prognostic parameter for the development of nodal metastases and for the survival of patients with OSCC are important. Aim of the study was to determine the relationship of the DOI of tumor with the neck node metastasis in squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity.Methods: This study is conducted in the State cancer institute, Gauhati medical college over a period of 1 year from June 2021 to June 2022 among 100 patients. All patients underwent tumor resection with neck dissection, and the DOI is measured.Results: Out of 100 patients included in the study 66 were males and 34 were females. Maximum number of cases 30% were seen in the age group of 51-60 years. Gingivobuccal sulcus (32%) is the most commonly involved site. Maximum number of nodal meta-stasis present in tumours with DOI>11 mm and minimum nodal metastasis present in tumours with DOI<3 mm.   Conclusions: We conclude that tumor DOI is significantly related with neck nodal metastasis in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma

Detectable contributions of colloids to soil P and C content in arid and hyperarid region of the Atacama (Chile)

Atacama Desert is mainly known as the driest place on Earth where life has been developed under arid to hyper arid conditions since Oligocene-Miocene. Therefore, soils of Atacama contain fingerprints of past and present life which might be used as an analog to study the evolution of life under equivalent arid conditions, like Mars. In this study, we quantify the colloidal phosphorus and carbon distribution in the first 10 cm of soil profile along an altitudinal transect. Samples were taken along a transect in the region of Quebrada Aroma spanning from the arid Percordillera of the Andes (2720 m a.s.l.) towards the hyper arid core of the desert (1340 m a.s.l.). Water dispersible colloids (WDC) were separated and measured using the field-flow-field fractionation (FFF) method and subsequently their Corg and P content were characterized and quantified by detectors (DLS, ICP-MS, UV, OCD, fluorescence). Data was compared to total C, P and (available) Olsen-P also measured in the samples. The Olsen-P (available-P) varied within the Aroma transect from ca. 2 to 8 mg P kg-1, but was not related to either altitude or depth in the upper soil (0-10 cm). Colloidal P contents ranged from <0.1 to 4 mg P kg-1 soil, with increasing trend from low to higher elevations. Thereby, suggesting an increasing proportion of the available P potential being present in the WDC fraction. The Colloidal Corg content of the Aroma transect did range from 65 to 90 (for sites 2020 to 1340m) and 110 mg Corg kg-1 soil WDC (2720 m). Colloidal Corg content as a function of the altitude showed a similar trend to the Corg content of the soils: the highest colloidal Corg content was found at 2720 m. The proportion of soil Corg within the colloidal fraction was up to 6% of the bulk soil organic matter (OM) content, as the OM content was intensively enriched in the colloidal fraction. Further quantification of phosphorus and carbon content in WDC in deeper part of soil is required to obtain a more comprehensive view of role of colloidal inputs and dynamics in the Atacama Desert

Phosphorus speciation in cultivated organic soils revealed by P K-edge XANES spectroscopy

Cultivated organic soils make a significant contribution to phosphorus (P) leaching losses from agricultural land, despite occupying a small proportion of cultivated area. However, less is known about P mobilisation processes and the P forms present in peat soils compared with mineral soils. In this study, P forms and their distribution with depth were investigated in two cultivated Histosol profiles, using a combination of wet chemical extraction and P K-edge X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy.Both profiles had elevated P content in the topsoil, amounting to around 40 mmol kg(-1), and P speciation in both profiles was strongly dominated by organic P. Topsoils were particularly rich in organic P (P-org), with relative proportions of up to 80%. Inorganic P in the profiles was almost exclusively adsorbed to surface reactive aluminium (Al) and iron (Fe) minerals. In one of the pro-files, small contributions of Ca-phosphates were detected.A commonly used P saturation index (PSI) based on ammonium-oxalate extraction indicated a low to moderate risk of P leaching from both profiles. However, the capacity of soil Al and Fe to retain P in organic soils could be reduced by high competition from organic compounds for sorption sites. This is not directly accounted for in PSI and similar indices.Accumulation of P-org in the topsoil may be attributable by microbial peat decomposition and transformation of mineral fertiliser P by both microbiota and crops. Moreover, high carbon-phosphorus ratio in the surface peat material in both profiles suggests reduced net mineralisation of P-org in the two soils. However, advancing microbial peat decomposition will eventually lead to complete loss of peat horizons and to mineralisation of P-org. Hence, P-org in both profiles represents a huge potentially mobilised P pool