Computer-Aided Tools in Negotiation: Negotiable Issues, Counterfactual Thinking, and Satisfaction

Negotiations research has identified both economic and social-psychological outcomes are important for negotiations. Despite the economic advantages of having multiple issues to negotiate, inconsistencies exist between objective economic outcomes and negotiator satisfaction. Although having more negotiable issues yields better objective payoffs, it can result in more thoughts about different possible outcomes. Such counterfactual thoughts about different outcomes can reduce overall satisfaction due to increased cognitive complexity and thoughts about different outcomes. In this study, we explore how information technology can influence negotiator satisfaction and better manage counterfactual thoughts and post-negotiation satisfaction. Results support the prediction that having a computer aid to better manage cognitively complex issues, even a relatively simple one, reduces participants’ counterfactual thoughts about better possible outcomes. As a result, the use of some type of technology—even a simple technology such as a spreadsheet—may improve overall negotiator satisfaction, while maintaining desirable economic outcomes

Non-Pauli Effects from Noncommutative Spacetimes

Noncommutative spacetimes lead to nonlocal quantum field theories (qft's) where spin-statistics theorems cannot be proved. For this reason, and also backed by detailed arguments, it has been suggested that they get corrected on such spacetimes leading to small violations of the Pauli principle. In a recent paper \cite{Pauli}, Pauli-forbidden transitions from spacetime noncommutativity were calculated and confronted with experiments. Here we give details of the computation missing from this paper. The latter was based on a spacetime $\mathcal{B}_{\chi\vec{n}}$ different from the Moyal plane. We argue that it quantizes time in units of $\chi$. Energy is then conserved only mod $\frac{2\pi}{\chi}$. Issues related to superselection rules raised by non-Pauli effects are also discussed in a preliminary manner.Comment: 15 Pages, 1 Table, Full details and further developments of arXiv:1003.2250. This version is close to the one accepted by JHE

Capacity analysis for compact MIMO systems

We analyze the impact of mutual coupling on the capacity of MEMO systems with compact antenna arrays. Existing studies present conflicting views on the effect of mutual coupling. This is, in part, due to their different scopes and underlying assumptions of the system setups. In this paper, we aim to give a comprehensive picture by first examining the impact of mutual coupling on three capacity-related performance measures: antenna correlation, efficiency and bandwidth. While the first two aspects have received significant attention, antenna bandwidth with mutual coupling is a relatively uncharted territory. We show that while implementing a good matching network can drastically improve the system capacity for narrowband systems in the presence of strong mutual coupling, the same conclusions may not necessarily apply to wideband cases. To exemplify this, we carry out capacity simulations for an end-to-end MIMO system, where a recently proposed S-parameter approach is used in conjunction with the 3GPP-3GPP2 channel model to model realistic wideband channel and antenna effects at both transmit and receive ends

Promotion of exercise in the management of cystic fibrosis - summary of national meetings

This is the final version. Available from the publisher via the DOI in this recordRationale, aims and objectives: Physical activity (PA) and exercise are important in maintaining and improving health and wellbeing in people with cystic fibrosis (CF) and measures of exercise capacity are useful outcomes in monitoring disease progression. The roles and responsibilities of CF multi-disciplinary team (MDT) members in supporting PA and exercise have yet to be fully defined. This communication reports on national meetings of CF MDT staff whose interest is to improve and standardise person-centered exercise provision and testing as part of routine CF care. We also introduce the role of the physiotherapy technician in supporting PA interventions. Meetings: The two meetings covered a range of presentations, discussions and workshops, focusing on the role of exercise and PA in CF management. Forty people from 15 NHS Hospital Trusts and 3 universities were asked to provide feedback via a questionnaire. Results: The common roles and responsibilities of clinical staff involved in exercise testing and prescription are described, with a wide range of duties identified. In addition, physiotherapists were reported as the main MDT member responsible for exercise provision. The majority of teams reported discussing exercise at every clinical visit (57%) and felt confident in discussing exercise with patients (67%). Conclusions: While this report highlights the current provision of exercise in CF MDTs, it also provides insight into the resources MDTs may require in order to enhance the profile of exercise within CF services, including enhanced training, guidelines and standardised clinical roles.Royal Devon & Exeter NHS Foundation TrustUniversity of Exeter Open Innovation Link Fun

Nitrate fertilisation does not enhance CO₂ responses in two tropical seagrass species

Seagrasses are often considered "winners" of ocean acidification (OA); however, seagrass productivity responses to OA could be limited by nitrogen availability, since nitrogen-derived metabolites are required for carbon assimilation. We tested nitrogen uptake and assimilation, photosynthesis, growth, and carbon allocation responses of the tropical seagrasses Halodule uninervis and Thalassia hemprichii to OA scenarios (428, 734 and 1213 μatm pCO₂) under two nutrients levels (0.3 and 1.9 μM NO₃⁻). Net primary production (measured as oxygen production) and growth in H. uninervis increased with pCO₂ enrichment, but were not affected by nitrate enrichment. However, nitrate enrichment reduced whole plant respiration in H. uninervis. Net primary production and growth did not show significant changes with pCO₂ or nitrate by the end of the experiment (24 d) in T. hemprichii. However, nitrate incorporation in T. hemprichii was higher with nitrate enrichment. There was no evidence that nitrogen demand increased with pCO₂ enrichment in either species. Contrary to our initial hypothesis, nutrient increases to levels approximating present day flood plumes only had small effects on metabolism. This study highlights that the paradigm of increased productivity of seagrasses under ocean acidification may not be valid for all species under all environmental conditions

Requirements Defects Techniques in Requirements Analysis: A Review

Defects existing in the systems due to poorly identified requirements defects are viewed as the major factors leading to system failure, especially if the requirements defects are not identified or addressed until at the later stage of software development life cycle. In response to this, several attempts have been made to identify defects during the requirements analysis process. This paper presents a review of the various techniques to handle requirements defects in the requirements analysis activity. These techniques are categorised into four categories, namely reading, inspection, analysis and automated tool. It was found that these techniques have different focus and lack of emphasis on the needs of the industry. This study provides the basis for future research aiming at developing an approach to automate the process of requirements defects handling

Foraging behavior and Doppler shift compensation in echolocating hipposiderid bats, I-Iipposideros bicolor and I-Iipposideros speoris

1. Two hipposiderid bats,H. bicolor andH. speoris, were observed in their natural foraging areas in Madurai (South India). Both species hunt close together near the foliage of trees and bushes but they differ in fine structure of preferred hunting space:H. bicolor hunts within the foliage, especially whenH. speoris is active at the same time, whereasH. speoris never flies in dense vegetation but rather in the more open area (Fig. 1, Table 1). 2. Both species emit CF/FM-sounds containing only one harmonic component in almost all echolocation situations. The CF-parts of CF/FM-sounds are species specific within a band of 127–138 kHz forH. speoris and 147–159 kHz forH. bicolor (Tables 2 and 3). 3. H. speoris additionally uses a complex harmonic sound during obstacle avoidance and during laboratory tests for Doppler shift compensation.H. bicolor consistently emits CF/FM-sounds in these same situations (Fig. 2). 4. Both hipposiderid bats respond to Doppler shifts in the returning echoes by lowering the frequency of the emitted sounds (Fig. 3). However, Doppler compensations are incomplete as the emitted frequencies are decreased by only 55% and 56% (mean values) of the full frequency shifts byH. speoris andH, bicolor, respectively. 5. The differences in Doppler shift compensation, echolocating and hunting behavior suggest thatH. speoris is less specialized on echolocation with CF/FM-sounds thanH. bicolor

Relationship of Enhanced Liver Fibrosis Score with Pediatric Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Histology and Response to Vitamin E or Metformin

OBJECTIVES: To study the diagnostic performance of the enhanced liver fibrosis score (ELF) for detecting different stages of fibrosis and its usefulness in detecting histologic response to vitamin E or metformin in children with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease who participated in the Vitamin E or Metformin for the Treatment Of NAFLD In Children (TONIC) trial. STUDY DESIGN: ELF was measured at baseline and weeks 24, 48, and 96 on sera from 166 TONIC participants. Associations between ELF with baseline and end of trial (EOT) fibrosis stages and other histologic features were assessed using χ2 tests and logistic regression models. RESULTS: ELF was significantly associated with severity of fibrosis at baseline and EOT. ELF areas under the curve for discriminating patients with clinically significant and advanced fibrosis were 0.70 (95% CI, 0.60-0.80) and 0.79 (95% CI, 0.69-0.89), respectively. A 1-unit decrease in ELF at EOT was associated with overall histologic improvement (OR, 1.86; 95% CI, 1.11-3.14; P = .02), resolution of steatohepatitis (OR, 1.88; 95% CI, 1.09-3.25; P = .02), improvement in steatosis grade (OR, 1.76; 95% CI, 1.06-2.82; P = .03), and hepatocellular ballooning (OR, 1.79; 95% CI, 1.06-3.00; P = .03), but not with improvement in fibrosis stage (OR, 1.26; 95% CI, 0.78-2.03; P = .34). CONCLUSIONS: ELF was associated with fibrosis stage in children who participated in TONIC. Although not associated with improvement in fibrosis, a decrease in ELF at EOT was associated with Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis resolution and improvement in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease histology. ELF may be a useful noninvasive test to monitor treatment response in children with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease