Transportation choices and the value of statistical life

This paper exploits an unusual transportation setting to estimate the value of a statistical life(VSL). We estimate the trade-offs individuals are willing to make between mortality risk andcost as they travel to and from the international airport in Sierra Leone (which is separated fromthe capital Freetown by a body of water). Travelers choose from among multiple transportoptions ? namely, ferry, helicopter, hovercraft, and water taxi. The setting and original datasetallow us to address some typical omitted variable concerns in order to generate some of the firstrevealed preference VSL estimates from Africa. The data also allows us to compare VSLestimates for travelers from 56 countries, including 20 African and 36 non-African countries, allfacing the same choice situation. The average VSL estimate for African travelers in the sample isUS$577,000 compared to US$924,000 for non-Africans. Individual characteristics, particularlyjob earnings, can largely account for the difference between Africans and non-Africans; Africansin the sample typically earn somewhat less. There is little evidence that individual VSL estimatesare driven by a lack of information, predicted life expectancy, or cultural norms around risktakingor fatalism. The data implies an income elasticity of the VSL of 1.77. These revealedpreference VSL estimates from a developing country fill an important gap in the existingliterature, and can be used for a variety of public policy purposes, including in current debateswithin Sierra Leone regarding the desirability of constructing new transportation infrastructure.

Childhood adversity and psychosis: examinig whether the association is due to genetic confounding using a monozygotic twin differences approach

Purpose: To test whether the association between childhood adversity and positive and negative psychotic experiences is due to genetic confounding. Method: Childhood adversity and psychotic experiences were assessed in a sample of 226 twins from the general population. A monozygotic (MZ) twin differences approach was used to assess possible genetic confounding. Results: In the whole sample, childhood adversity was significantly associated with positive (β =.45; SE=.16; p=.008) and negative psychotic experiences (β=.77; SE=.18; p<.01). Within-pair MZ twin differences in exposure to childhood adversity were significantly associated with differences in positive (β =.71; SE=.29; p=.016) and negative psychotic experiences (β =.98; SE=.38; p=.014) in a subsample of 86 MZ twin pairs. Conclusions: Individuals exposed to childhood adversity are more likely to report psychotic experiences. Furthermore, our findings indicate that unique environmental effects of childhood adversity contribute to the development of psychotic experiences.

Las cerámicas de barniz negro de Pollentia

El presente estudio monográfico forma parte de los resultados obtenidos dentro del proyecto de Investigación DGICYT PB 90-0506 "Prospección y análisis de las fases de transición de la Edad del Hierro al mundo romano en el norte de Mallorca, entre la Sierra de Tramuntana y la Sierra de Arta", desarrollado entre los años 1991 y 1994 por el Departamento de Prehistoria, Historia Antigua y Arqueología de la Universidad de Barcelona. El conjunto de materiales analizado incluye los ítems documentados en el yacimiento de Pollentia entre los años 1949 y 1992, procedentes básicamente de las secuencias estratigráficas de las trincheras del área de la muralla occidental, el sector de Sa Portella y la finca de Can Reinés, tratados parcialmente con anterioridad pero carentes hasta la fecha de una análisis global.

High altitude Chironomidae (Diptera) of Serra da Estrela (Portugal): Additions to the Portuguese and Iberian Peninsula fauna

A Chironomidae (Diptera) fauna list for headwater streams of high altitude areas in Serra da Estrela (Portugal) is presented, doubling the previously established species richness for the region. The findings include 17 new records for Portugal, which represent an increase to 219 species for the Continental Portugal Chironomidae fauna. Two new records were detected for the Iberian Peninsula: one species (Tvetenia duodenaria), and one subgenusPsectrocladius (Mesopsectrocladius); and the presence of the genus Natarsia is confirmed. The last two occurrences correspond to monoespecific taxa of the Palearctic region. However, as taxonomic identification has been based on larval material, instead of pupae, pupal exuviae or imagoes, species level assignment is still uncertain. Key words: Diptera, Chironomidae, high mountain streams, Serra da Estrela, Portugal, Iberian Peninsula. RESUMEN Quironómidos (Diptera, Chironomidae) de alta montaña de la Sierra de Estrela (Portugal) y adiciones a la fauna de Portugal y la Península Ibérica Se presenta una lista de especies de Chironomidae (Diptera) recolectados en los ríos de cabecera de zonas de alta montaña en la Serra da Estrela (Portugal). Con esta aportación se duplica la riqueza de especies regional conocida hasta el momento y se eleva la fauna de quironómidos del Portugal continental a 219 especies. Se incluyen dos nuevas citas para la Península Ibérica, una especie (Tvetenia duodenaria) y un subgéneroPsectrocladius (Mesopsectrocladius), y se confirma la presencia del género Natarsia. En los dos últimos casos se trata de larvas de taxones hasta el momento monoespecíficos en la región paleárctica, pero al no haberse recolectado pupas o adultos no se puede asegurar la identificación específica. Palabras clave: Diptera, Chironomidae, ríos de alta montaña, Serra da Estrela, Portugal,

Datos para la Flora de Jaen

Se relacionan, a continuación, siete táxones seleccionados entre las recolecciones realizadas en junio de 1983 en el complejo orogràfico de la Sierra de Segura-Cazorla (Jaén), por C. Benedí, C. Blanché, J. Molerò y J. Vallès. Los testimonios se encuentran depositados en el herbario BCF.

Els fongs de Catalunya occidental segons les prospeccions recents. II

This paper contains the conclusion of a mycological survey of western Catalonia. The first part of the results was published in Acta Bot. Barc. 45 (Homenatge a Oriol de Bolòs): 57-89. The present part covers the last two groups of Basidiomycota: the agarics (326 species) and the gasteromycetes (44 species). The data regarding the surveyed area, collection localities, abbreviations used in the information on ecology, collectors and identifiers are found in the mentioned first part, which contains records of 37 species of Myxomycota, 5 of Zygomycota, 101 of mitosporic fungi, 8 of Teliomycetes, 1 of Ustomycetes, 16 of Phragmobasidiomycetes and 92 of Aphyllophorales. Together with the first part, the results of our survey are a useful contribution to an improved understanding of the fungal component of plant communities of the dry, warm lowlands of the western Mediterranean region, and highlight the remarkable reproductive activity of the fungi observed during late Autumn and Winter, in the studied area.

Els fongs de Catalunya occidental segons les prospeccions recents. I.

The fungi of occidental Catalonia after recent prospections I. This work intends to collect the mycological data gathered during the last four years as a result of the project "Fungal biodiversity of Catalonia", in the western and southern, mainly lowland areas of this country. The climate is mainly dry (400-600 mm/year) and warm. The survey, that covers 160 localities, has enabled the identification of 37 species of Myxomycota, 5 of Zygomycora, 159 of Ascomyctra, 101 mitosporic fungi, 8 Teliomycetes, 1 Ustomycetes, 16 Phragmobasidiomycetes and 92 Apliyllopllorates, that are included in this paper. Because of space limitations, the remaining 326 agarics and 44 Gasteromycetes will be published in the next number of this journal. This work is a contribution to a best understanding of the fungal flora, chorology, ecology and phenology of the West-Mediterranean dry lowlands.

Las comunidades de líquenes de las rocas silíceas no volcánicas del SE de España

This study contains the results of a survey based on 200 relevés made, following the methodology of Klement (1955), in the provinces of Murcia, Almeria and Albacete, from the coast to 2000 msm, on siliceous rocks, mainly metamorphic schists and, more rarely, on quartzite. The climate is predominantly mediterranean and arid (from 180 to 500 mm of annual rainfall), and belongs to I11 and III(1V) types of Walter and Lieth, in the low regions, and to IV4 in the mountains. The coastal zone and also a lot of south-facing slopes enjoy fairly warm winters.

Mas sobre el Genero Dianthus L. (Caryophyllaceae)

Nos referiremos en primer lugar a D. multiaffinis Pau (Bol. Soc. Esp. Hist. Nat. 21:142. 1921). Descrito de la Sierra de Espadan, pocos han sido los autores posteriores que han tenido en cuenta este nombre. Únicamente, O. DE BOLÓS& J. VIGO (Butll. Inst. Catalana Hist. Nat. 38: 88.1974) lo subordinan como variedad a D. pungens L. dentro de la subespecie multiceps (Costa ex Willk.) Bolos & Vigo y, más recientemente, M. Laínz propone la...

Tratamiento farmacológico de las enfermedades reumáticas

El tratamiento de las enfermedades reumáticas está condicionado por el hecho que, en su mayoría, son procesos de carácter crónico, y que salvo en contadas excepciones, como por ejemplo las artritis infecciosas, no existen tratamientos curativos. Por ello, el objetivo lógico de curar se debe de sustituir por aliviar y conservar.

El despoblado altomedieval de Cuyacabras (Burgos): Realidad, principios y argumentos

The archaeological site of Cuyacabras (Quintanar de la Sierra, Burgos) is one of main early medieval reference settlements in Upper Arlanza basin lands and it attracts a great amount of visitors. The monumental featured half-caved church and the necropolis consisting of several burials dug into the rock present around the whole area are material evidences of an ancient hill town which has remained uninhabited from middle XIIIth century. New fieldworks on this whole site, excavated during the sixties, have been focused on improving the scientific impact of the site and setting up to date the records and information entries for the necropolis. All obtained data emphasize the weakness of several principles used to put in value the settlement, and they also suggest a revision of several-year-old discussions on one hand, and on the other one, they encourage scholars to propound new up to date theories which will fi t better with our knowledge"s current context.

Random assignment of intervention points in two phase single-case designs: data-division-specific distributions

The present study explores the statistical properties of a randomization test based on the random assignment of the intervention point in a two-phase (AB) single-case design. The focus is on randomization distributions constructed with the values of the test statistic for all possible random assignments and used to obtain p-values. The shape of those distributions is investigated for each specific data division defined by the moment in which the intervention is introduced. Another aim of the study consisted in testing the detection of inexistent effects (i.e., production of false alarms) in autocorrelated data series, in which the assumption of exchangeability between observations may be untenable. In this way, it was possible to compare nominal and empirical Type I error rates in order to obtain evidence on the statistical validity of the randomization test for each individual data division. The results suggest that when either of the two phases has considerably less measurement times, Type I errors may be too probable and, hence, the decision making process to be carried out by applied researchers may be jeopardized.

Agreement in interpersonal perception as a predictor of group performance

The present work deals with quantifying group characteristics. Specifically, dyadic measures of interpersonal perceptions were used to forecast group performance. 46 groups of students, 24 of four and 22 of five people, were studied in a real educational assignment context and marks were gathered as an indicator of group performance. Our results show that dyadic measures of interpersonal perceptions account for final marks. By means of linear regression analysis 85% and 85.6% of group performance was respectively explained for group sizes equal to four and five. Results found in the scientific literature based on the individualistic approach are no larger than 18%. The results of the present study support the utility of dyadic approaches for predicting group performance in social contexts.