Proof of a conjecture of N. Konno for the 1D contact process

Consider the one-dimensional contact process. About ten years ago, N. Konno stated the conjecture that, for all positive integers $n,m$, the upper invariant measure has the following property: Conditioned on the event that $O$ is infected, the events $\{$All sites $-n,...,-1$ are healthy$\}$ and $\{$All sites $1,...,m$ are healthy$\}$ are negatively correlated. We prove (a stronger version of) this conjecture, and explain that in some sense it is a dual version of the planar case of one of our results in \citeBHK.Comment: Published at http://dx.doi.org/10.1214/074921706000000031 in the IMS Lecture Notes--Monograph Series (http://www.imstat.org/publications/lecnotes.htm) by the Institute of Mathematical Statistics (http://www.imstat.org

The Care Accelerator R&D Programme in Europe

CARE, an ambitious and coordinated programme of accelerator research and developments oriented towards high energy physics projects, has been launched in January 2004 by the main European laboratories and the European Commission. This project aims at improving existing infrastructures dedicated to future projects such as linear colliders, upgrades of hadron colliders and high intensity proton drivers. We describe the CARE R&D plans, mostly devoted to advancing the performance of the superconducting technology, both in the fields of RF cavities for electron or proton acceleration and of high field magnets, as well as to developing high intensity electron and proton injectors. We highlight some results and progress obtained so far

Strongly Stable Networks

We analyze the formation of networks among individuals. In particular, we examine the existence of networks that are stable against changes in links by any coalition of individuals. We show that to investigate the existence of such strongly stable networks one can restrict focus on a component-wise egalitarian allocation of value. We show that when such strongly stable networks exist they coincide with the set of efficient networks (those maximizing the total productive value). We show that the existence of strongly stable networks is equivalent to core existence in a derived cooperative game and use that result to characterize the class of value functions for which there exist strongly stable networks via a ``top convexity'' condition on the value function on networks. We also consider a variation on strong stability where players can make side payments, and examine situations where value functions may be non- anonymous -- depending on player labels.Networks, Network formation, strong stability, core, strong equilibrium, efficiency

Assisted conception: fertility preservation, surrogate motherhood, gamete / embryo donation, and in vitro fertilization

Chapter 15. , pp 237-250. In: International Handbook of Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health. Eds Jane Ussher, Joan Chrisler and Janette Perz. Routledge. NY, USA

Reproductive health matters

You do not need to be a psychologist to know that reproductive health plays an important role in society and that individual psychological, behavioural and social factors affect reproductive health and vice versa. What you may not know is that psychological research has shown that health education, willpower, planning and the opportunity to exercise health behaviours such as moderate alcohol and caffeine consumption, not smoking or taking drugs and maintaining a balanced diet, can lead to a healthy reproductive lifestyle, much like it affects general health. Health behaviours can also free people from unnecessary and preventable damage (e.g. unsafe abortions) or disease (e.g. sexually transmitted infections); from the potential psychological consequences of these (depression, guilt, stigma); contribute to early detection and treatment (e.g. breast or testicular cancer); and reduced time off work and utilization of the health care system (van den Akker, 2012). Clearly, reproductive health matters

Psychological and ethical issues in third party assisted conception and surrogate motherhood

The continuing increase in babies born via third party assisted conception (AC) and surrogate motherhood across the world shows the success of and medical and social demand for third party interventions in family building. However, with the increasing use of such interventions world-wide, commercialisation and commodification have proliferated. This in turn has led to inequality in access to AC services, in choice of third party input, and in questionable human rights and psychosocial welfare issues. Transitioning to parenthood using third party AC and surrogate motherhood, in addition to requiring equality in access, also demand accuracy of birth and genetic information. In the absence of accurate record keeping, continuing practices of anonymity, and marginalization of the contribution of donors and surrogates, psychological, social, health and ethical questions are raised for donors, recipients and potentially for (genetic, gestational) part, half and full offspring, siblings and others in the extended family such as grandparents