History biases reveal novel dissociations between perceptual and metacognitive decision-making

Human decision-making and self-reflection often depend on context and internal biases. For instance, decisions are often influenced by preceding choices, regardless of their relevance. It remains unclear how choice history influences different levels of the decision-making hierarchy. We used analyses grounded in information and detection theories to estimate the relative strength of perceptual and metacognitive history biases and to investigate whether they emerge from common/unique mechanisms. Although both perception and metacognition tended to be biased toward previous responses, we observed novel dissociations that challenge normative theories of confidence. Different evidence levels often informed perceptual and metacognitive decisions within observers, and response history distinctly influenced first- (perceptual) and second- (metacognitive) order decision-parameters, with the metacognitive bias likely to be strongest and most prevalent in the general population. We propose that recent choices and subjective confidence represent heuristics, which inform first- and second-order decisions in the absence of more relevant evidence

Urban case studies : general discussion

Urban case studies: general discussio

An ISOCAM survey through gravitationally lensing galaxy clusters III : new results from mid-infrared observations of the cluster Abell 2219

The massive cluster of galaxies Abell 2219 (z = 0.228) with two spectacular gravitational lensing arcs was observed at 14.3 μm (hereafter 15 μm) with the Infrared Space Observatory and results were published by Barvainis et al. (\cite{1999AJ....118..645B}). These observations have been reanalysed using a method specifically designed for the detection of faint sources that had been applied to other clusters. Five new sources were detected and the resulting cumulative total of ten sources all have optical counterparts. The mid-infrared sources are identified with three cluster members, three foreground galaxies, an Extremely Red Object, a star and two galaxies of unknown redshift. The spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of the galaxies are fit with models from a selection, using the program GRASIL. Best-fits are obtained, in general, with models of galaxies with ongoing star formation. Infrared luminosities and star formation rates are obtained for six sources: the cluster members and the foreground galaxies. For the three cluster members the infrared luminosities derived from the model SEDs are between ˜5.7 × 1010 L⊙ and 1.4 × 1011 L⊙, corresponding to infrared star formation rates between 10 and 24 M⊙ yr-1. The two cluster galaxies that have optical classifications are in the Butcher-Oemler region of the color-magnitude diagramme. The three foreground galaxies have infrared luminosities between 1.5 × 1010 L⊙ and 9.4 × 1010 L⊙ yielding infrared star formation rates between 3 and 16 M⊙ yr-1. Two of the foreground galaxies are located in two foreground galaxy enhancements (Boschin et al. \cite{2004A&A...416..839B}). Including Abell 2219, six distant clusters of galaxies have been mapped with ISOCAM and luminous infrared galaxies (LIRGs) have been found in three of them. The presence of LIRGs in Abell 2219 strengthens the association between luminous infrared galaxies in clusters and recent or ongoing cluster merger activity. Based on observations with ISO, an ESA project with instruments funded by ESA Member States (especially the PI countries: France, Germany, the Netherlands and the UK) and with the participation of ISAS and NASA

Productivity, Biomass Partitioning, and Energy Yield of Low-Input Short-Rotation American Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis L.) Grown on Marginal Land: Effects of Planting Density and Simulated Drought

Short-rotation woody crops (SRWC) grown for bioenergy production are considered a more sustainable feedstock than food crops such as corn and soybean. However, to be sustainable SRWC should be deployed on land not suitable for agriculture (e.g., marginal lands). Here we quantified productivity and energy yield of four SRWC candidate species grown at different planting densities (1250, 2500, 5000, and 10,000 trees ha−1) under a low-input regime on a marginal site in the Piedmont of North Carolina and responses to reduced water availability. By the end of the first growing season, 75 to 100% tree mortality occurred in all tested species (Liquidambar styraciflua, Liriodendron tulipifera, and Populus nigra) except American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis), the productivity of which was positively affected by planting density, but unaffected by the throughfall reduction treatment. After 4 years of growth, the 10,000 trees ha−1 sycamore treatment produced smaller individual trees but the largest amount of total tree biomass (23.2 ± 0.9 Mg ha−1), which, although greater, was not significantly different from the 5000 trees ha−1 treatment (19.6 ± 1.5 Mg ha−1). The two highest planting density treatments had similar aboveground net primary productivity (ANPPwood) of 7.2 Mg ha−1 year−1. By contrast, in the 1250 and 2500 trees ha−1 treatments, ANPPwood was significantly lower, ranging from 3.4 to 5.4 Mg ha−1 year−1. Stem wood made up a majority of the biomass produced regardless of spacing density, but live branch biomass weight increased with decreasing planting density, comprising up to 31% of total aboveground biomass in the 1250 trees ha−1 treatment. Gross energy yield reached 140 GJ ha−1 year−1 for the 10,000 trees ha−1 treatment. Given this productivity, American sycamore could potentially yield 2400 (±380) L ethanol ha−1 year−1 over the first 4-year rotation. This study demonstrated that of the four species tested, only American sycamore grown on marginal land under low inputs (no fertilizer, no irrigation, limited weed control) had the capacity to successfully establish and maintain SRWC productivity, which might compare favorably with other fast-growing tree and grass species that typically require high inputs

Dynamical processes in the Arctic atmosphere

This book presents current knowledge on chemistry and physics of Arctic atmosphere. Special attention is given to studies of the Arctic haze phenomenon, Arctic tropospheric clouds, Arctic fog, polar stratospheric and mesospheric clouds, atmospheric dynamics, thermodynamics and radiative transfer as related to the polar environment. The atmosphere-cryosphere feedbacks and atmospheric remote sensing techniques are presented in detail. The problems of climate change in the Arctic are also addressed