Confounding Issues in the Deadweight Loss of Gift-Giving

When a gift is given, someone other than the final consumer makes the consumption choice. Thus there is a possibility that the gift will not match the preferences of the receiver, i.e., the gift will represent a wise use of the money given the gift-giver's tastes but not necessarily a wise use of money given the recipient's tastes. In other words, gift giving can result in a deadweight loss. This paper addresses and clarifies the discrepancy between Waldfogel's (1993) finding of a deadweight loss from gift giving and Solnick and Hemenway's (1996) finding of a deadweight gain from gift giving. It also builds on some of the concerns raised by Ruffle and Tykocinski (2000).

Lithium, sodium and potassium enolate aggregates and monomers: syntheses and structures

\ua9 2024 The Royal Society of Chemistry. In this Article, we report the syntheses and comparative structural studies of lithium, sodium, and potassium anthracen-9-yl enolates, as their aggregates (Li, Na: hexamer; K: tetramer) and ligand-stabilized monomers (for Li and Na). The monomers add new members to the rare collection of group-1 metal monomeric enolates. Moreover, the series covers different group-1 metal cations (Li+, Na+ and K+) and aggregate sizes, allowing comparative structural studies to elucidate how the metal identity and aggregate size influence the enolate structure

Deferred and deterred: a review of literature on the impact of deferrals on blood donors

Background: Potential blood donors can be deferred due to concerns about the impact of the donation on their health or the safety of the blood supply. To date, we lack a comprehensive review of the impact of deferrals on donors and how to mitigate adverse effects. Aims: The aim of this review was to describe the available literature on deferrals, with a focus on the impact of deferrals on donors’ subsequent behaviour, potential reasons for impact and the effectiveness of strategies to improve deferral processes and facilitate donor return. Method: A narrative review of the literature on blood donation deferrals was undertaken. Results: Deferral rates vary widely across different contexts, with female, younger, first time and minority donors more likely to be ineligible to donate. There is clear evidence that deferrals impact on future donation behaviour, particularly for those deferred at their first donation attempt. Deferral has a negative emotional impact if the deferral is permanent or related to positive test results, while emotions experienced at the time of a temporary deferral are related to donors’ willingness to return. Conclusion: An understanding of the impact of deferrals from the donor perspective provides key information to improve the blood centre practices. There is preliminary evidence of the effectiveness of strategies to retain donors, including enabling the ineligible donor to make an alternative contribution, providing clear information about the deferral, notifying the donor when they can return to donate and addressing practical barriers to return

Neotypification and redescription of Amanita preissii (Basidiomycota), and reconsideration of the status of A. griseibrunnea

Amanita preissii (Fr.) Sacc. is redescribed. Re-examination of collections of A. griseibrunnea O.K.Mill. show that they do not differ significantly from A. preissii and the two species are combined. This species is common in the Perth IBRA subregion. Sequence data from the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, 28S nuclear ribosomal large subunit rRNA (28S) region, RNA polymerase II (RPB2) region, β-tubulin region and translation elongation factor 1-α (EF1-α) region have been deposited in GenBank

Towards More Accurate Molecular Dynamics Calculation of Thermal Conductivity. Case Study: GaN Bulk Crystals

Significant differences exist among literature for thermal conductivity of various systems computed using molecular dynamics simulation. In some cases, unphysical results, for example, negative thermal conductivity, have been found. Using GaN as an example case and the direct non-equilibrium method, extensive molecular dynamics simulations and Monte Carlo analysis of the results have been carried out to quantify the uncertainty level of the molecular dynamics methods and to identify the conditions that can yield sufficiently accurate calculations of thermal conductivity. We found that the errors of the calculations are mainly due to the statistical thermal fluctuations. Extrapolating results to the limit of an infinite-size system tend to magnify the errors and occasionally lead to unphysical results. The error in bulk estimates can be reduced by performing longer time averages using properly selected systems over a range of sample lengths. If the errors in the conductivity estimates associated with each of the sample lengths are kept below a certain threshold, the likelihood of obtaining unphysical bulk values becomes insignificant. Using a Monte-Carlo approach developed here, we have determined the probability distributions for the bulk thermal conductivities obtained using the direct method. We also have observed a nonlinear effect that can become a source of significant errors. For the extremely accurate results presented here, we predict a [0001] GaN thermal conductivity of 185 $\rm{W/K \cdot m}$ at 300 K, 102 $\rm{W/K \cdot m}$ at 500 K, and 74 $\rm{W/K \cdot m}$ at 800 K. Using the insights obtained in the work, we have achieved a corresponding error level (standard deviation) for the bulk (infinite sample length) GaN thermal conductivity of less than 10 $\rm{W/K \cdot m}$, 5 $\rm{W/K \cdot m}$, and 15 $\rm{W/K \cdot m}$ at 300 K, 500 K, and 800 K respectively

RXTE Observations of 1A 1744-361: Correlated Spectral and Timing Behavior

We analyze Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) Proportional Counter Array (PCA) data of the transient low mass X-ray binary (LMXB) system 1A 1744-361. We explore the X-ray intensity and spectral evolution of the source, perform timing analysis, and find that 1A 1744-361 shows `atoll' behavior during the outbursts. The color-color diagram indicates that this LMXB was observed in a low intensity spectrally hard (low-hard) state and in a high intensity `banana' state. The low-hard state shows a horizontal pattern in the color-color diagram, and the previously reported `dipper QPO' appears only during this state. We also perform energy spectral analyses, and report the first detection of broad iron emission line and iron absorption edge from 1A 1744-361.Comment: 20 pages, 4 tables, 4 figures, accepted for publication in Ap

Prevention is better than cure, but...: Preventive medication as a risk to ordinariness?

Preventive health remains at the forefront of public health concerns; recent initiatives, such as the NHS health check, may lead to recommendations for medication in response to the identification of 'at risk' individuals. Little is known about lay views of preventive medication. This paper uses the case of aspirin as a prophylactic against heart disease to explore views among people invited to screening for a trial investigating the efficacy of such an approach. Qualitative interviews (N=46) and focus groups (N=5, participants 31) revealed dilemmas about preventive medication in the form of clashes between norms: first, in general terms, assumptions about the benefit of prevention were complicated by dislike of medication; second, the individual duty to engage in prevention was complicated by the need not to be over involved with one's own health; third, the potential appeal of this alternative approach to health promotion was complicated by unease about the implications of encouraging irresponsible behaviour among others. Though respondents made different decisions about using the drug, they reported very similar ways of trying to resolve these conflicts, drawing upon concepts of necessity and legitimisation and the special ordinariness of the particular dru