Quadratic Core-Selecting Payment Rules for Combinatorial Auctions

We report on the use of a quadratic programming technique in recent and upcoming spectrum auctions in Europe. Specifically, we compute a unique point in the core that minimizes the sum of squared deviations from a reference point, for example, from the Vickrey-Clarke-Groves payments. Analyzing the Karush-Kuhn-Tucker conditions, we demonstrate that the resulting payments can be decomposed into a series of economically meaningful and equitable penalties. Furthermore, we discuss the benefits of this combinatorial auction, explore the use of alternative reserve pricing approaches in this context, and indicate the results of several hundred computational runs using CATS data.Auctions, spectrum auctions, market design, package auction, clock auction, combinatorial auction

Smoking and Mortality Among US Astronauts

Astronauts have lower age-specific mortality risk than the U.S. general population from all natural causes of death, particularly cardiovascular disease and cancer. Yet, understanding if they are as healthy as their backgrounds predict they should be, requires that epidemiologists understand (and measure) all potentially confounding exposures in this cohort. Tobacco smoking prevalence has been measured in the U.S. astronaut cohort, but its impact on mortality has not been previously assessed. If smoking history has a negative impact on mortality, this could confound attempts to measure the relative health of astronauts

Alsophis antiguae

Number of Pages: 3Integrative BiologyGeological Science

UK Accounting Regulation: An Historical Perspective

Accounting regulation in the United Kingdom has arisen as a response to social and economic factors as well as individual events. This paper traces the way in which regulation has developed both by governmental and professional actions. The factors behind regulatory change are in many cases unique to the United Kingdom and the paper concludes that it is these very factors which differentiate the control of accounting from the institutions and methods used by other countries

A Critical Review of Accounting Standards and The Role Of Government From 1980 To 1990

In the UK, the role of the state in accounting regulation has been ambivalent for some decades. On the one hand, confidence has been openly expressed in the system of private sector accounting regulation1 while accounting standards have been granted legitimacy through recognition in company law2. On the other hand government has introduced some detailed regulation through company law and has always been involved in both the institutions and processes of private sector regulation. This involvement has not necessarily been passive, but has always been covert leading to reports of threats of counter-action by the government on some specific issues (Robson). Indeed, it is felt that fear of intervention by the government provides some of the rationale for private sector regulation. (Bromwich, 1981, Sharp, 1971, Taylor and Turley, 1986). Providing a sharp contrast to the UK government’s actions towards the standard setting body, the sunshine policy of the Financial Accounting standards Board (FASB) in the US, means that governmental influence is overt whether in the area of a single issue or the future of the FASB (Beresford)

Switching and Extension of a [c2]Daisy-Chain Dimer Polymer

We report the synthesis of a [c2]daisy-chain dimer via ruthenium-catalyzed ring-closing olefin metathesis. Confirmation of the interlocked nature of the structure was achieved through single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The dimer could be readily switched from the bound to the unbound conformation by treatment with 3.0 equiv of KOH and subsequently reprotonated by treatment with 3.0 equiv of HPF_6. Azide functionalization of the dimer enabled incorporation in linear step-growth polymer chains using the alkyne-azide “click” reaction. Gel permeation chromatography coupled with multiangle laser light scattering analysis showed the polymers contained 22 dimers and had a radius of gyration of 14.8 nm. Acylation of the amines of the dimers sterically forced elongation of the interlocked units, and MALLS analysis of the polymer showed a 48% increase in the R_g (21.4 nm)

The effect of different paddock rotation strategies for organic sows on behaviour, welfare and the environment

This report was presented at the UK Organic Research 2002 Conference. Two alternative paddock rotations for dry sows were established on an organic farm: Rotational (40 x 40m moved three times per year) and Set Stocked (120 x 40m in place for one year). Sows showed distinct preferences in the location of dunging and urination within the paddocks (p<0.001), but no differences between the paddocks. Vegetation cover under the sows was similar overall in the two paddock systems, but showed differences over the year. Work to model the potential for nutrient leaching in the two paddock systems is ongoing