Why a rule for stable prices may dominate a rule for zero inflation

An analysis of how a rule for monetary policy specifying a stable price level may dominate a rule for zero inflation with price-level drift, even in the case where, for purely economic reasons, an inflation rule is preferred.Inflation (Finance) ; Monetary policy

A price objective for monetary policy

An argument that the Federal Reserve, by targeting a long-run path for the price level, could achieve its price-stability objective without inhibiting its short-term goals.Monetary policy

Wayfinding without Visual Cues: Evaluation of an Interactive Audio Map System

Work completed as part of an MSc by Research project

RADICALIZATION IN MOZAMBIQUE: THE RISE OF THE ISLAMIC STATE IN CABO DELGADO

In 2017 Cabo Delgado, Mozambique, saw the rapid rise of a violent Islamist movement that would declare its allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) just one year later. This thesis seeks to establish what factors led to the rise of IS-Mozambique to help recommend a balanced U.S. policy to best address the situation. It compiles economic and environmental data and compares the data with public opinions to determine impacts on the population of Cabo Delgado. Additionally, the thesis utilizes literature relating to the political structure of Mozambique and the interactions of its Muslim population. Findings suggest that Mozambique’s political structure, not economical or environmental issues, best explains the rise of IS-Mozambique. Autocratization by Mozambique Liberation Front has destabilized democratic institutions, leading to increases in violence. It is recommended that the U.S. not provide military support to counter this insurgency, with Mozambique receiving aid from regional countries and the EU.Major, United States Marine CorpsApproved for public release. Distribution is unlimited

Fundamental Considerations of HRV Analysis in the Development of Real-Time Biofeedback Systems

Heart rate variability (HRV) biofeedback training is known for its effectiveness in improving physical health, emotional health, and resilience by the ability to regulate heart rhythm. However, there are various challenges in delivering and interpreting the biofeedback information, which prevents an optimal experience. Therefore, this study presents the fundamentals of developing a real-time HRV biofeedback system using deep breathing exercise by exploring the minimum time window of RR-intervals resulting in a reliable analysis. Moreover, it investigates the appropriate HRV measures by examining the significant changes between resting and breathing conditions and the trends consistency across ultra-short-term segments. The overall results suggest that a minimum time window of 20-seconds can provide a reliable HRV time-domain analysis. Whereas the possible HRV measures that can be used in a real-time biofeedback system are SDNN, LF, and total power. These outcomes will contribute to the design of a self-monitoring HRV biofeedback system based on a multi-modal approach

User experience in an interactive music virtual reality system: An exploratory study

The Objects VR interface and study explores interactive music and virtual reality, focusing on user experience, understanding of musical functionality, and interaction issues. Our system offers spatio-temporal music interaction using 3D geometric shapes and their designed relationships. Control is provided by tracking of the hands, and the experience is rendered across a head-mounted display with binaural sound presented over headphones. The evaluation of the system uses a mixed methods approach based on semi-structured interviews, surveys and video-based interaction analysis. On average the system was positively received in terms of interview self-report, metrics for spatial presence and creative support. Interaction analysis and interview thematic analysis also revealed instances of frustration with interaction and levels of confusion with system functionality. Our results allow reflection on design criteria and discussion of implications for facilitating music engagement in virtual reality. Finally our work discusses the effectiveness of measures with respect to future evaluation of novel interactive music systems in virtual reality

Formulae for generating standard and individual human cone spectral sensitivities

Normal color perception is complicated. But at its initial stage it is relatively simple, since at photopic levels it depends on the activations of just three photoreceptor types: the long- (L-), middle- (M-) and short- (S-) wavelength-sensitive cones. Knowledge of how each type responds to different wavelengths—the three cone spectral sensitivities—can be used to model human color vision and in practical applications to specify color and predict color matches. The CIE has sanctioned the cone spectral sensitivity estimates of Stockman and Sharpe (Stockman and Sharpe, 2000, Vision Res) and their associated measures of luminous efficiency as “physiologically-relevant” standards for color vision (CIE, 2006; 2015). These LMS cone spectral sensitivities are specified at 5- and 1-nm steps for mean “standard” observers with normal cone photopigments and average ocular transparencies, both of which can vary in the population. Here, we provide formulae for the three cone spectral sensitivities as well as for macular and lens pigment density spectra, all as continuous functions of wavelength from 360 to 850 nm. These functions reproduce the tabulated discrete CIE LMS cone spectral sensitivities for 2-deg and 10-deg with little error in both linear and logarithmic units. Furthermore, these formulae allow the easy computation of non-standard cone spectral sensitivities (and other color matching functions) with individual differences in macular, lens and photopigment optical densities, and with spectrally shifted hybrid or polymorphic L- and M-cone photopigments appropriate for either normal or red-green color vision deficient observers

Evolution of the human fear-circuitry and acute sociogenic pseudoneurological symptoms: The Neolithic balanced-polymorphism hypothesis

In light of the increasing threat of large-scale massacres such as terrorism against non-combatants (civilians), more attention is warranted not only to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) but also to acute sociogenic pseudoneurological ("conversion") symptoms, especially epidemic sociogenic symptoms. We posit that conversion disorders are etiologically related to specific evolutionary pressures (inescapable threats to life) in the late stage of the human environment of evolutionary adaptedness (EEA). Bracha et al. have recently argued that from the neuroevolutionary perspective, medically unexplained efferent vasovagal syncope and medically unexplained craniofacial musculoskeletal pain in young otherwise healthy individuals, may be taxonomized as stress and fear-circuitry disorders. In the present article, we extend neuroevolutionary perspectives to acute pseudoneurological sociogenic ("conversive") symptoms: psychogenic non-epileptic attacks ("pseudoseizures"), epidemic sociogenic disorders (DSM-IV-TR Epidemic "Hysteria"), conversive motor deficits (pseudo-paralysis and pseudo-cerebellar symptoms), and psychogenic blindness. We hypothesize that these perplexing pseudoneurological stress-triggered symptoms, which constitute psychopathology in extant humans, are traceable to allele-variant polymorphisms which spread during the Neolithic EEA. During Neolithic warfare, conversive symptoms may have increased the survival odds for some non-combatants by visually (i.e., "non-verbally") signaling to predatory conspecifics that one does not present a danger. This is consistent with the age and sex pattern of conversive disorders. Testable and falsifiable predictions are presented; e.g., at the genome-transcriptome interface, one of the major oligogenic loci involved in conversive spectrum disorders may carry a developmentally sensitive allele in a stable polymorphism (balanced polymorphism) in which the gene expression mechanism is gradually suppressed by pleiotropic androgens especially dehydroxyepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S). Taxonomic implications for the much-needed rapprochement between the forthcoming Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-V) and the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) are discussed