Education and Mortality: Evidence from a Social Experiment

ducational reform that increased the years of compulsory schooling. Using the gradual phase-in of the reform between 1949 and 1962 across municipalities, we estimate insignificant effects of the reform on mortality in the affected cohort. From the confidence intervals, we can rule out effects larger than 1–1.4 months of increased life expectancy. We find no significant impacts on mortality for individuals of low socioeconomic status backgrounds, on deaths that are more likely to be affected by behavior, on hospitalizations, and consumption of prescribed drugs

Magnetic Resonance in the Spin-Peierls compound α′−NaV2O5\alpha'-NaV_2O_5

We present results from magnetic resonance measurements for 75-350 GHz in $\alpha$'-NaV$_{2}$O$_{5}$. The temperature dependence of the integrated intensity indicates that we observe transitions in the excited state. A quantitative description gives resonances in the triplet state at high symmetry points of the excitation spectrum of this Spin-Peierls compound. This energy has the same temperature dependence as the Spin-Peierls gap. Similarities and differences with the other inorganic compound CuGeO$_{3}$ are discussed.Comment: 2 pages, REVTEX, 3 figures. to be published in Phys.Rev.

Methodological considerations in the analysis of fecal glucocorticoid metabolites in tufted capuchins (Cebus apella)

Analysis of fecal glucocorticoid (GC) metabolites has recently become the standard method to monitor adrenocortical activity in primates noninvasively. However, given variation in the production, metabolism, and excretion of GCs across species and even between sexes, there are no standard methods that are universally applicable. In particular, it is important to validate assays intended to measure GC production, test extraction and storage procedures, and consider the time course of GC metabolite excretion relative to the production and circulation of the native hormones. This study examines these four methodological aspects of fecal GC metabolite analysis in tufted capuchins (Cebus apella). Specifically, we conducted an adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) challenge on one male and one female capuchin to test the validity of four GC enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) and document the time course characterizing GC me- tabolite excretion in this species. In addition, we compare a common field-friendly technique for extracting fecal GC metabolites to an established laboratory extraction methodology and test for effects of storing “field extracts” for up to 1 yr. Results suggest that a corticosterone EIA is most sensitive to changes in GC production, provides reliable measures when extracted according to the field method, and measures GC metabolites which remain highly stable after even 12 mo of storage. Further, the time course of GC metabolite excretion is shorter than that described yet for any primate taxa. These results provide guidelines for studies of GCs in tufted capuchins, and underscore the importance of validating methods for fecal hormone analysis for each species of interest

Abundances of the elements in the solar system

A review of the abundances and condensation temperatures of the elements and their nuclides in the solar nebula and in chondritic meteorites. Abundances of the elements in some neighboring stars are also discussed.Comment: 42 pages, 11 tables, 8 figures, chapter, In Landolt- B\"ornstein, New Series, Vol. VI/4B, Chap. 4.4, J.E. Tr\"umper (ed.), Berlin, Heidelberg, New York: Springer-Verlag, p. 560-63

Submillimeter Wave ESR Study of Spin Gap Excitations in CuGeO3

Transitions between the ground singlet state to the excited triplet state has been observed in CuGeO3 by means of submillimeter wave electron spin resonance. The strong absorption intensity shows the break down of the selection rule. The energy gap at zero field is evaluated to be 570 GHz(2.36 meV) and this value is nearly identical to the gap at the zone center observed by inelastic neutron scattering. The absorption intensity shows strong field orientation dependence but shows no significant dependence on magnetic field intensity. These features have been explained by considering the existence of Dzyaloshinsky-Moriya (DM) antisymmetric exchange interaction. The doping effect on this singlet-triplet excitation has been also studied. A drastic broadening of the absorption line is observed by the doping of only 0.5 % of Si.Comment: 6 pages, 8figures submitted to J. Phys. Soc. Jp

Causal Effects of the Timing of Life-course Events Age at Retirement and Subsequent Health

In this article, we combine the extensive literature on the analysis of life-course trajectories as sequences with the literature on causal inference and propose a new matching approach to investigate the causal effect of the timing of life-course events on subsequent outcomes. Our matching approach takes into account pre-event confounders that are both time-independent and time-dependent as well as life-course trajectories. After matching, treated and control individuals can be compared using standard statistical tests or regression models. We apply our approach to the study of the consequences of the age at retirement on subsequent health outcomes, using a unique data set from Swedish administrative registers. Once selectivity in the timing of retirement is taken into account, effects on hospitalization are small, while early retirement has negative effects on survival. Our approach also allows for heterogeneous treatment effects. We show that the effects of early retirement differ according to preretirement income, with higher income individuals tending to benefit from early retirement, while the opposite is true for individuals with lower income

Geo-neutrinos: A systematic approach to uncertainties and correlations

Geo-neutrinos emitted by heat-producing elements (U, Th and K) represent a unique probe of the Earth interior. The characterization of their fluxes is subject, however, to rather large and highly correlated uncertainties. The geochemical covariance of the U, Th and K abundances in various Earth reservoirs induces positive correlations among the associated geo-neutrino fluxes, and between these and the radiogenic heat. Mass-balance constraints in the Bulk Silicate Earth (BSE) tend instead to anti-correlate the radiogenic element abundances in complementary reservoirs. Experimental geo-neutrino observables may be further (anti)correlated by instrumental effects. In this context, we propose a systematic approach to covariance matrices, based on the fact that all the relevant geo-neutrino observables and constraints can be expressed as linear functions of the U, Th and K abundances in the Earth's reservoirs (with relatively well-known coefficients). We briefly discuss here the construction of a tentative "geo-neutrino source model" (GNSM) for the U, Th, and K abundances in the main Earth reservoirs, based on selected geophysical and geochemical data and models (when available), on plausible hypotheses (when possible), and admittedly on arbitrary assumptions (when unavoidable). We use then the GNSM to make predictions about several experiments ("forward approach"), and to show how future data can constrain - a posteriori - the error matrix of the model itself ("backward approach"). The method may provide a useful statistical framework for evaluating the impact and the global consistency of prospective geo-neutrino measurements and Earth models.Comment: 17 pages, including 4 figures. To appear on "Earth, Moon, and Planets," Special Issue on "Neutrino Geophysics," Proceedings of Neutrino Science 2005 (Honolulu, Hawaii, Dec. 2005

Magnetization profiles and NMR spectra of doped Haldane chains at finite temperatures

Open segments of S=1 antiferromagnetic spin chains are studied at finite temperatures and fields using continuous time Quantum Monte Carlo techniques. By calculating the resulting magnetization profiles for a large range of chain lengths with fixed field and temperature we reconstruct the experimentally measured NMR spectrum of impurity doped Y$_2$BaNi$_{1-x}$Mg$_x$O$_5$. For temperatures above the gap the calculated NMR spectra are in excellent agreement with the experimental results, confirming the existence of $S=1/2$ excitations at the end of open S=1 chain segments. At temperatures below the gap, neglecting inter chain couplings, we still find well defined peaks in the calculated NMR spectra corresponding to the $S=1/2$ chain end excitations. At low temperatures, inter chain couplings could be important, resulting in a more complicated phase.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures, minor correction

S=1/2S=1/2 Chain-Boundary Excitations in the Haldane Phase of 1D S=1S=1 Systems

The $s=1/2$ chain-boundary excitations occurring in the Haldane phaseof $s=1$ antiferromagnetic spin chains are investigated. The bilinear-biquadratic hamiltonian is used to study these excitations as a function of the strength of the biquadratic term, $\beta$, between $-1\le\beta\le1$. At the AKLT point, $\beta=-1/3$, we show explicitly that these excitations are localized at the boundaries of the chain on a length scale equal to the correlation length $\xi=1/\ln 3$, and that the on-site magnetization for the first site is $=2/3$. Applying the density matrixrenormalization group we show that the chain-boundaryexcitations remain localized at the boundaries for $-1\le\beta\le1$. As the two critical points $\beta=\pm1$ are approached the size of the $s=1/2$ objects diverges and their amplitude vanishes.Comment: 4 Pages, 4 eps figures. Uses RevTeX 3.0. Submitted to PR