Poverty index with time-varying consumption and income distributions

Starting from a stochastic agent-based model to represent market exchange in a developing economy, we study time variations of the probability density function of income with simultaneous variation of the consumption deprivation (CD), where CD represents the shortfall in consumption from the saturation level of an essential commodity, cereal. Together, these two models combine income-expenditure-based market dynamics with time variations in consumption due to income. In this new unified theoretical structure, exchange of trade in assets is only allowed when the income exceeds consumption-deprivation while CD itself is endogenously obtained from a separate kinetic model. Our results reveal that the nature of time variation of the CD function leads to a downward trend in the threshold level of consumption of basic necessities, suggesting a possible dietary transition in terms of lower saturation level of food-grain consumption, possibly through an improvement in the level of living. The new poverty index, defined as CD, is amenable to approximate probabilistic prediction within a short time horizon. A major achievement of this work is the intrinsic independence of the poverty index from an exogenous poverty line, making it more objective for policy formulation as opposed to existing poverty indices in the literature

Cellular and ultrastructural characterization of the grey-morph phenotype in southern right whales (Eubalaena australis)

Southern right whales (SRWs, Eubalena australis) are polymorphic for an X-linked pigmentation pattern known as grey morphism. Most SRWs have completely black skin with white patches on their bellies and occasionally on their backs; these patches remain white as the whale ages. Grey morphs (previously referred to as partial albinos) appear mostly white at birth, with a splattering of rounded black marks; but as the whales age, the white skin gradually changes to a brownish grey color. The cellular and developmental bases of grey morphism are not understood. Here we describe cellular and ultrastructural features of grey-morph skin in relation to that of normal, wild-type skin. Melanocytes were identified histologically and counted, and melanosomes were measured using transmission electron microscopy. Grey-morph skin had fewer melanocytes when compared to wild-type skin, suggesting reduced melanocyte survival, migration, or proliferation in these whales. Grey-morph melanocytes had smaller melanosomes relative to wild-type skin, normal transport of melanosomes to surrounding keratinocytes, and normal localization of melanin granules above the keratinocyte nuclei. These findings indicate that SRW grey-morph pigmentation patterns are caused by reduced numbers of melanocytes in the skin, as well as by reduced amounts of melanin production and/or reduced sizes of mature melanosomes. Grey morphism is distinct from piebaldism and albinism found in other species, which are genetic pigmentation conditions resulting from the local absence of melanocytes, or the inability to synthesize melanin, respectively

Polarization transfer in the d(epol,e' ppol)n reaction up to Q^2=1.61 (GeV/c)^2

The recoil proton polarization was measured in the d(epol,e' ppol)n reaction in Hall A of the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (JLab). The electron kinematics were centered on the quasielastic peak (x_{Bj}~1) and included three values of the squared four-momentum transfer, Q^2=0.43, 1.00 and 1.61 (GeV/c)^2. For Q^2=0.43 and 1.61 (GeV/c)^2, the missing momentum, p_m, was centered at zero while for Q^2=1.00 (GeV/c)^2 two values of p_m were chosen: 0 and 174 MeV/c. At low p_m, the Q^2 dependence of the longitudinal polarization, P_z', is not well described by a state-of-the-art calculation. Further, at higher p_m, a 3.5 sigma discrepancy was observed in the transverse polarization, P_x'. Understanding the origin of these discrepancies is important in order to confidently extract the neutron electric form factor from the analogous d(epol,e' npol)p experiment.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures; updated text, figures and table

Problem gambling: a suitable case for social work?

Problem gambling attracts little attention from health and social care agencies in the UK. Prevalence surveys suggest that 0.6% of the population are problem gamblers and it is suggested that for each of these individuals, 10–17 other people, including children and other family members, are affected. Problem gambling is linked to many individual and social problems including: depression, suicide, significant debt, bankruptcy, family conflict, domestic violence, neglect and maltreatment of children and offending. This makes the issue central to social work territory. Yet, the training of social workers in the UK has consistently neglected issues of addictive behaviour. Whilst some attention has been paid in recent years to substance abuse issues, there has remained a silence in relation to gambling problems. Social workers provide more help for problems relating to addictions than other helping professions. There is good evidence that treatment, and early intervention for gambling problems, including psycho-social and public health approaches, can be very effective. This paper argues that problem gambling should be moved onto the radar of the social work profession, via inclusion on qualifying and post-qualifying training programmes and via research and dissemination of good practice via institutions such as the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE). Keywords: problem gambling; addictive behaviour; socia

Q^2 Dependence of the S_{11}(1535) Photocoupling and Evidence for a P-wave resonance in eta electroproduction

New cross sections for the reaction $ep \to e'\eta p$ are reported for total center of mass energy $W$=1.5--2.3 GeV and invariant squared momentum transfer $Q^2$=0.13--3.3 GeV$^2$. This large kinematic range allows extraction of new information about response functions, photocouplings, and $\eta N$ coupling strengths of baryon resonances. A sharp structure is seen at $W\sim$ 1.7 GeV. The shape of the differential cross section is indicative of the presence of a $P$-wave resonance that persists to high $Q^2$. Improved values are derived for the photon coupling amplitude for the $S_{11}$(1535) resonance. The new data greatly expands the $Q^2$ range covered and an interpretation of all data with a consistent parameterization is provided.Comment: 31 pages, 9 figure

Positive pion absorption on 3He using modern trinucleon wave functions

We study pion absorption on 3He employing trinucleon wave functions calculated from modern realistic NN interactions (Paris, CD Bonn). Even though the use of the new wave functions leads to a significant improvement over older calculations with regard to both cross section and polarization data, there are hints that polarization data with quasifree kinematics cannot be described by just two-nucleon absorption mechanisms.Comment: 14 pages, 6 figure

Measurement of the Polarized Structure Function σLT′\sigma_{LT^\prime} for p(e⃗,e′π+)np(\vec{e},e'\pi^+)n in the Δ(1232)\Delta(1232) Resonance Region

The polarized longitudinal-transverse structure function $\sigma_{LT^\prime}$ has been measured using the $p(\vec e,e'\pi^+)n$ reaction in the $\Delta(1232)$ resonance region at $Q^2=0.40$ and 0.65 GeV$^2$. No previous $\sigma_{LT^\prime}$ data exist for this reaction channel. The kinematically complete experiment was performed at Jefferson Lab with the CEBAF Large Acceptance Spectrometer (CLAS) using longitudinally polarized electrons at an energy of 1.515 GeV. A partial wave analysis of the data shows generally better agreement with recent phenomenological models of pion electroproduction compared to the previously measured $\pi^0 p$ channel. A fit to both $\pi^0 p$ and $\pi^+ n$ channels using a unitary isobar model suggests the unitarized Born terms provide a consistent description of the non-resonant background. The $t$-channel pion pole term is important in the $\pi^0 p$ channel through a rescattering correction, which could be model-dependent.Comment: 6 pages, LaTex, 5 eps figures: Submitted to PRC/Brief Reports v2: Updated referenc

Deeply virtual and exclusive electroproduction of omega mesons

The exclusive omega electroproduction off the proton was studied in a large kinematical domain above the nucleon resonance region and for the highest possible photon virtuality (Q2) with the 5.75 GeV beam at CEBAF and the CLAS spectrometer. Cross sections were measured up to large values of the four-momentum transfer (-t < 2.7 GeV2) to the proton. The contributions of the interference terms sigma_TT and sigma_TL to the cross sections, as well as an analysis of the omega spin density matrix, indicate that helicity is not conserved in this process. The t-channel pi0 exchange, or more generally the exchange of the associated Regge trajectory, seems to dominate the reaction gamma* p -> omega p, even for Q2 as large as 5 GeV2. Contributions of handbag diagrams, related to Generalized Parton Distributions in the nucleon, are therefore difficult to extract for this process. Remarkably, the high-t behaviour of the cross sections is nearly Q2-independent, which may be interpreted as a coupling of the photon to a point-like object in this kinematical limit.Comment: 15 pages,19 figure

Measurement of Deeply Virtual Compton Scattering with a Polarized Proton Target

The longitudinal target-spin asymmetry A_UL for the exclusive electroproduction of high energy photons was measured for the first time in p(e,e'p\gamma). The data have been accumulated at Jefferson Lab with the CLAS spectrometer using 5.7 GeV electrons and a longitudinally polarized NH_3 target. A significant azimuthal angular dependence was observed, resulting from the interference of the Deeply Virtual Compton Scattering and Bethe-Heitler processes. The amplitude of the sin(phi) moment is 0.252 +/- 0.042(stat) +/- 0.020(sys). Theoretical calculations are in good agreement with the magnitude and the kinematic dependence of the target-spin asymmetry, which is sensitive to the generalized parton distributions H and H-tilde.Comment: Modified text slightly, added reference

Q^2 Evolution of the Neutron Spin Structure Moments using a He-3 Target

We have measured the spin structure functions $g_1$ and $g_2$ of $^3$He in a double-spin experiment by inclusively scattering polarized electrons at energies ranging from 0.862 to 5.07 GeV off a polarized $^3$He target at a 15.5$^{\circ}$ scattering angle. Excitation energies covered the resonance and the onset of the deep inelastic regions. We have determined for the first time the $Q^2$ evolution of $\Gamma_1(Q^2)=\int_0^{1} g_1(x,Q^2) dx$, $\Gamma_2(Q^2)=\int_0^1 g_2(x,Q^2) dx$ and $d_2 (Q^2) = \int_0^1 x^2[ 2g_1(x,Q^2) + 3g_2(x,Q^2)] dx$ for the neutron in the range 0.1 GeV$^2$ $\leq Q^2 \leq$ 0.9 GeV$^2$ with good precision. $\Gamma_1(Q^2)$ displays a smooth variation from high to low $Q^2$. The Burkhardt-Cottingham sum rule holds within uncertainties and $d_2$ is non-zero over the measured range.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev. Lett.. Updated Hermes data in Fig. 2 (top panel) and their corresponding reference. Updated the low x extrapolation error Fig. 2 (middle panel). Corrected references to ChiPT calculation