Analysis of Flatness Measurement and Form Stability of a Granite Surface Plate

It is rather difficult to compare quantitatively flatness measuring results of one and the same object (e.g. in case of a long-term stability investigation) or the results of a series of products (e.g. from the same machinetool in order to indicate machinetool-influences). An extension of a computerprogram applied to the evaluation of flatness measurement (as described in the CIRP-Annals, vol. 26 (1977), no.1), separates the form deviations of a surface into a geometrical part and a random part.\ud The geometric part consists of a best-fitting non-flat, reference plane, composed of the single curvature of a sphere and the double curvature of a real twisted plane. Three parameters (the dimensionless curvature parameters of sphericity and torsion, together with the direction of the torsionvector) are able to characterize the geometrical part of the surface; a fourth one is a measure for the random part.\ud Advantages of the method are demonstrated with the aid of a long-term investigation into the form stability of a granite surface plate.\ud Another extension of the program makes it now possible to measure surfaces with non-rectangular contours in the same way as it is being done in case of a rectangular surface plate.\u

Complex maps without invariant densities

We consider complex polynomials $f(z) = z^\ell+c_1$ for $\ell \in 2\N$ and $c_1 \in \R$, and find some combinatorial types and values of $\ell$ such that there is no invariant probability measure equivalent to conformal measure on the Julia set. This holds for particular Fibonacci-like and Feigenbaum combinatorial types when $\ell$ sufficiently large and also for a class of `long-branched' maps of any critical order.Comment: Typos corrected, minor changes, principally to Section

How is cervical cancer screening information communicated in UK websites? A cross-sectional analysis of content and quantitative presentation formats

Objectives: To investigate whether UK websites about cervical cancer screening targeted to the public include (1) information about benefits and risks of screening, possible screening results and cervical cancer statistics, (2) quantitative presentation formats recommended in the risk communication literature and (3) appeals for participation and/or informed decision-making. Design: Cross-sectional analysis of websites using a comprehensive checklist of information items on screening benefits, risks, possible results and cervical cancer statistics. Outcome measures: We recorded the number of websites that contained each of the information items, and the presentation format used for probabilistic information (no quantification provided, verbal quantifiers only, different types of numerical formats and/or graphs). We also recorded the number of websites containing appeals for participation and/or informed decision-making. Setting: Websites were identified through the most common Google search terms used in the UK to find information on cervical screening, according to GoogleTrends and a commercial internet-monitoring programme. Two additional websites were identified by the authors as relevant. Results: After applying exclusion criteria, 14 websites were evaluated, including websites of public and private health service providers, charities, a medical society and a pharmacy. The websites mentioned different benefits, risks of screening and possible results. However, specific content varied between websites. Probabilistic information was often presented using non-recommended formats, including relative risk reductions to express screening benefits, and verbal quantifiers without numbers to express risks. Appeals for participation were present in most websites, with almost half also mentioning informed decision-making. Conclusions: UK websites about cervical cancer screening were generally balanced. However, benefits and risks were presented using different formats, potentially hindering comparisons. Additionally, recommendations from the literature to facilitate understanding of quantitative information and facilitate informed decisions were often not followed. Designing websites that adhere to existing recommendations may support informed screening uptake

The multipliers of periodic points in one-dimensional dynamics

It will be shown that the smooth conjugacy class of an $S-$unimodal map which does not have a periodic attractor neither a Cantor attractor is determined by the multipliers of the periodic orbits. This generalizes a result by M.Shub and D.Sullivan for smooth expanding maps of the circle

Labeling energy cost on light bulbs lowers implicit discount rates

Lighting accounts for nearly 20% of overall U.S. electricity consumption and 18% of U.S. residential electricity consumption. A transition to alternative energy-efficient technologies could reduce this energy consumption considerably. To quantify the influence of factors that drive consumer choices for light bulbs, we conducted a choice-based conjoint field experiment with 183 participants. We estimated discrete choice models from the data, and found that politically liberal consumers have a stronger preference for compact fluorescent lighting technology and for low energy consumption. Greater willingness to pay for lower energy consumption and longer life was observed in conditions where estimated operating cost information was provided. Providing estimated annual cost information to consumers reduced their implicit discount rate by a factor of five, lowering barriers to adoption of energy efficient alternatives with higher up-front costs; however, even with cost information provided, consumers continued to use implicit discount rates of around 100%, which is larger than that experienced for other energy technologies

Development of prosocial, individualistic, and competitive orientations: Theory and preliminary evidence

The authors adopt an interdependence analysis of social value orientation, proposing that prosocial, individualistic, and competitive orientations are (a) partially rooted in different patterns of social interaction as experienced during the periods spanning early childhood to young adulthood and (b) further shaped by different patterns of social interaction as experienced during early adulthood, middle adulthood, and old age. Congruent with this analysis, results revealed that relative to individualists and competitors, prosocial individuals exhibited greater levels of secure attachment (Studies 1 and 2) and reported having more siblings, especially sisters (Study 3). Finally, the prevalence of prosocials increased—and the prevalence of individualists and competitors decreased—from early adulthood to middle adulthood and old age (Study 4). Traditional theories and insights assume that the principle of rational self-interest or economic man reflects the prevailing motivation among humankind (Luce & Raiffa, 1957; Von Neuman & Morgenstern, 1947; cf. Roth, 1988). However, more recent theoretical developments have indicated that individuals systematically differ in the manner in which they approach interdependen