An Exact Solution Method for Binary Equilibrium Problems with Compensation and the Power Market Uplift Problem

We propose a novel method to find Nash equilibria in games with binary decision variables by including compensation payments and incentive-compatibility constraints from non-cooperative game theory directly into an optimization framework in lieu of using first order conditions of a linearization, or relaxation of integrality conditions. The reformulation offers a new approach to obtain and interpret dual variables to binary constraints using the benefit or loss from deviation rather than marginal relaxations. The method endogenizes the trade-off between overall (societal) efficiency and compensation payments necessary to align incentives of individual players. We provide existence results and conditions under which this problem can be solved as a mixed-binary linear program. We apply the solution approach to a stylized nodal power-market equilibrium problem with binary on-off decisions. This illustrative example shows that our approach yields an exact solution to the binary Nash game with compensation. We compare different implementations of actual market rules within our model, in particular constraints ensuring non-negative profits (no-loss rule) and restrictions on the compensation payments to non-dispatched generators. We discuss the resulting equilibria in terms of overall welfare, efficiency, and allocational equity

The waiting time paradox: population based retrospective study of treatment delay and survival of women with endometrial cancer in Scotland

No abstract available

Asymptotic Behaviour of the Proper Length and Volume of the Schwarzschild Singularity

Though popular presentations give the Schwarzschild singularity as a point it is known that it is spacelike and not timelike. Thus it has a "length" and is not a "point". In fact, its length must necessarily be infinite. It has been proved that the proper length of the Qadir-Wheeler suture model goes to infinity [1], while its proper volume shrinks to zero, and the asymptotic behaviour of the length and volume have been calculated. That model consists of two Friedmann sections connected by a Schwarzschild "suture". The question arises whether a similar analysis could provide the asymptotic behaviour of the Schwarzschild black hole near the singularity. It is proved here that, unlike the behaviour for the suture model, for the Schwarzschild essential singularity $\Delta s$ $\thicksim$ $K^{1/3}\ln K$ and $V\thicksim$ $K^{-1}\ln K$, where $K$ is the mean extrinsic curvature, or the York time.Comment: 13 pages, 1 figur

Uniqueness of Flat Spherically Symmetric Spacelike Hypersurfaces Admitted by Spherically Symmetric Static Spactimes

It is known that spherically symmetric static spacetimes admit a foliation by {\deg}at hypersurfaces. Such foliations have explicitly been constructed for some spacetimes, using different approaches, but none of them have proved or even discussed the uniqueness of these foliations. The issue of uniqueness becomes more important due to suitability of {\deg}at foliations for studying black hole physics. Here {\deg}at spherically symmetric spacelike hy- persurfaces are obtained by a direct method. It is found that spherically symmetric static spacetimes admit {\deg}at spherically symmetric hypersurfaces, and that these hypersurfaces are unique up to translation under the time- like Killing vector. This result guarantees the uniqueness of {\deg}at spherically symmetric foliations for such spacetimes.Comment: 10 page

High- and low energy nonthermal X-ray emission from the cluster of galaxies A 2199

We report the detection of both soft and hard excess X-ray emission in the cluster of galaxies A 2199, based upon spatially resolved spectroscopy with data from the BeppoSAX, EUVE and ROSAT missions. The excess emission is visible at radii larger than 300 kpc and increases in strength relative to the isothermal component. The total 0.1-100 keV luminosity of this component is 15 % of the cluster luminosity, but it dominates the cluster luminosity at high and low energies. We argue that the most plausible interpretation of the excess emission is an inverse Compton interaction between the cosmic microwave background and relativistic electrons in the cluster. The observed spatial distribution of the non-thermal component implies that there is a large halo of cosmic ray electrons between 0.5-1.5 Mpc surrounding the cluster core. The prominent existence of this component has cosmological implications, as it is significantly changing our picture of a clusters's particle acceleration history, dynamics between the thermal and relativistic media, and total mass budgets.Comment: Accepted for publication in Astrophysical Journal, Letter

Problems for MOND in Clusters and the Ly-alpha Forest

The observed dynamics of gas and stars on galactic and larger scales cannot be accounted for by self-gravity, indicating that there are large quantities of unseen matter, or that gravity is non-Newtonian in these regimes. Milgrom's MOdified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND) postulates that Newton's laws are modified at very low acceleration, and can account for the rotation curves of galaxies and some other astrophysical observations, without dark matter. Here we apply MOND to two independent physical systems: Ly-alpha absorbers and galaxy clusters. While physically distinct, both are simple hydrodynamical systems with characteristic accelerations in the MOND regime. We find that Ly-alpha absorbers are somewhat smaller than in Newtonian gravity with dark matter, but the result depends crucially on the (unknown) background acceleration field in which they are embedded. In clusters MOND appears to explain the observed (baryonic) mass-temperature relation. However, given observed gas density and enclosed mass profiles and the assumption of hydrostatic equilibrium, MOND predicts radial temperature profiles which disagree badly with observations. We show this explicitly for the Virgo, Abell 2199 and Coma clusters, but the results are general, and seem very difficult to avoid. If this discrepancy is to be resolved by positing additional (presumably baryonic) dark matter, then this dark matter must have ~1-3 times the cluster gas mass within 1 Mpc. This result strongly disfavors MOND as an alternative to dark matter (Abridged).Comment: Revised version. Important caveat in Ly-alpha calculation discussed; conclusions weakened. Coma cluster and calculation of dark matter mass required by MOND added; cluster conclusions strengthened. 11 EmulateApJ pages with 3 embedded figures. Accepted by Ap

IL-4/IL-13-Dependent and Independent Expression of miR-124 and Its Contribution to M2 Phenotype of Monocytic Cells in Normal Conditions and during Allergic Inflammation

Monocytic cells exhibit a high level of heterogeneity and have two distinct modes of their activation: 1) classical M1 path associated with inflammation and tissue damage, and 2) alternative M2 path. Although it has been demonstrated that M2 macrophages play an important role in the regulation of the allergic immune responses, tissue maintenance and repair, little is known about the mechanisms that determine the M2 phenotype. We have previously shown that miR-124 is expressed in microglia that exhibit the M2 phenotype and overexpression of miR-124 in macrophages resulted in downregulation of a number of M1 markers (MHC class II, CD86) and up-regulation of several M2 markers (Fizz1, Arg1). We further investigated whether the polarization of macrophages towards the M2 phenotype induced miR-124 expression. We found that exposure of cells to IL-4 and IL-13 resulted in the upregulation of miR-124 in macrophages. We also demonstrated that IL-4 induced expression of three miR-124 precursor transcripts with predominant expression of pri-miR-124.3, suggesting regulation of miR-124 expression by IL-4 on a transcriptional level. Expression of miR-124 in microglia did not depend on IL-4 and/or IL-13, whereas expression of miR-124 in lung resident macrophages was IL-4 and IL-13-dependent and was upregulated by systemic administration of IL-4 or during allergic inflammation. Upregulation of several M2 markers (CD206, Ym1) and downregulation of the M1 markers (CD86, iNOS, TNF) in M2-polarized macrophages was abrogated by a miR-124 inhibitor, suggesting that this microRNA contributed to the M2 phenotype development and maintenance. Finally we showed that human CD14+CD16+ intermediate monocytes, which are found in increased numbers in patients with allergies and bronchial asthma, expressed high levels of miR-124 and exhibited other properties of M2-like cells. Thus, our study suggests that miR-124 serves as a regulator of the M2 polarization in various subsets of monocytic cells both in vitro and in vivo

Allelopathic Effect of Lantana Camara on Germinatiion and Growth of Chickpea and Green Gram

An experiment was conducted in Department of Botany, BFIT, Dehradun, Uttrakhand during the months of February and March to understand the allelopathic effects of different concentrations taken through the leaf powder of Lantana camaraleaf on germination percentage and early growth of two pulse crops i.e. chickpea and green gram. The test was conducted in petridishes. Results showed that different leaf powder concentration cause great inhibitory effect on germination and growth of both the pulse crops. Results indicates that the allelochemicals were released from the leaf powder and inhabit the germination and growth of germinated crops