10,632 research outputs found
Improved Sequential Stopping Rule for Monte Carlo Simulation
No full textThis letter presents an improved result on the negative-binomial Monte Carlo technique analyzed in a previous paper (L. Mendo and J. M. Hernando, ``A simple sequential stopping rule for Monte Carlo simulation,'' IEEE Trans. Commun., vol. 54, no. 2, pp. 231-241, Feb. 2006) for the estimation of an unknown probability p. Specifically, the confidence level associated to a relative interval [p/mu_2,\, pmu_1], with mu_1, mu_2>1, is proved to exceed its asymptotic value for a broader range of intervals than that given in the referred paper, and for any value of p. This extends the applicability of the estimator, relaxing the conditions that guarantee a given confidence level
Evidence for the decay B0→J/ψω and measurement of the relative branching fractions of meson decays to J/ψη and J/ψη′
No full textFirst evidence of the B 0 → J / ψ ω decay is found and the B s 0 → J / ψ η and B s 0 → J / ψ η ′ decays are studied using a dataset corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.0 fb -1 collected by the LHCb experiment in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of sqrt(s) = 7 TeV. The branching fractions of these decays are measured relative to that of the B 0 → J / ψ ρ 0 decay:frac(B (B 0 → J / ψ ω), B (B 0 → J / ψ ρ 0)) = 0.89 ± 0.19 (stat) - 0.13 + 0.07 (syst),frac(B (B s 0 → J / ψ η), B (B 0 → J / ψ ρ 0)) = 14.0 ± 1.2 (stat) - 1.5 + 1.1 (syst) - 1.0 + 1.1 (frac(f d, f s)),frac(B (B s 0 → J / ψ η ′), B (B 0 → J / ψ ρ 0)) = 12.7 ± 1.1 (stat) - 1.3 + 0.5 (syst) - 0.9 + 1.0 (frac(f d, f s)), where the last uncertainty is due to the knowledge of f d / f s, the ratio of b-quark hadronization factors that accounts for the different production rate of B 0 and B s 0 mesons. The ratio of the branching fractions of B s 0 → J / ψ η ′ and B s 0 → J / ψ η decays is measured to befrac(B (B s 0 → J / ψ η ′), B (B s 0 → J / ψ η)) = 0.90 ± 0.09 (stat) - 0.02 + 0.06 (syst)
Agraphydrus elongatus Ribera & Hernando & Cieslak 2019, sp. nov.
No full textAgraphydrus elongatus sp. nov. (Figs 17, 21) Type locality. Wadi Bani Ghafir, Murri, Oman (Loc. 8; Figs 1, 8). Type material. HOLOTYPE: ♁ (NHMW), “8 Oman 7.4.2010 Murri env. // wadi Bani Ghafir, stream with pools // N23 29 46.2 E56 53 34.8 759m // Ribera, Cieslak & Hernando leg.”, aedeagus dissected and mounted in DMHF on a transparent card, with holotype label. PARATYPES (88 spec.) (CCHB, IBEB, MNCN, NHMW, NMPC): 15 spec., same data as holotype, with paratype labels; 8 spec. “2 Oman 5.4.2010 J. Al-Akhdar // Bahla, wadi in city residual pools // N22 57 42.1 E57 17 47.5 559m // Ribera, Cieslak & Hernando leg.”, with paratype labels (1 ♁ used for DNA extraction,voucher number IBE-RA105); 6 spec. “6 Oman 6.4.2010 J.Al-Akhdar // wadi Bani Awf residual pools // N23 13 42.9 E57 25 25.8 660m // Ribera, Cieslak & Hernando leg.”, with paratype labels; 1 spec. “7 Oman 7.4.2010 J. Al-Akhdar // wadi Bani Awf residual pools // N23 17 23.8 E57 28 03.9 487m // Ribera, Cieslak & Hernando leg.”, with paratype label; 18 spec., “9 Oman 8.4.2010 Said Bin Sahran env. // wadi Indam, Rd. 33 residual pools // N22 45 15.2 E58 00 56.9 463m // Ribera, Cieslak & Hernando leg.”, with paratype labels; 1♁ “12 Oman 9.4.2010 1 km W Qalhat // residual pools in wadi // N22 41 25.4 E59 22 03.0 88m // Ribera, Cieslak & Hernando leg.”, with paratype labels; 3 spec. “ UAE: Ras al-Khaimah // (south), Wadi Shawkah // Hajar Mountains (UAE 3) // ca. 80 km ESE Dubai // 23.I.2010, leg. M.A. Jäch”, “upper course // residual pools // ca. 318 m a.s.l. // 25°06′06.1″N // 56°03′26.4″E ”; 1 ♁ “ UAE: Ras al-Khaimah // (south) (UAE 10) // Hajar Mountains // ca. 80 km SE Dubai // 26.I.2010, leg. M.A. Jäch”, “small stream // ca. 385 m a.s.l. // 25°03′25″N // 56°03′40.7″E ”; 19 spec. “ UAE: Fujairah (UAE 12) // Wadi Maidaq // Hajar Mountains // 26.I.2010, leg. M.A. Jäch”, “ca. 8 km NW Masafi // ca. 75 km E Dubai // springfed streamlet in // canyon”, “residual pools // ca. 386 m a.s.l. // 25°20′48.7″N // 56°05′28″E ”; 16 spec. same label data, but “leg. K. Mahmoud”. Description. Habitus as in Fig. 17; total length: 2.00– 3.10 mm, elytral width: 0.95–1.30 mm. Habitus slender, elytra very weakly widening posterior to midlength, almost parallel-shaped, weakly convex. Labrum, clypeus and frons black, clypeus with narrow, undefined, yellow lateral margins; maxillary palpi yellow, palpomere 4 infuscated in apical third, pronotum dark brown with narrow yellowish margins, elytra dark brown in anterior two thirds, indistinctly brighter brown in posterior third, with very narrow, undefined, yellow lateral margins, ventrites dark brown, legs slightly lighter brown. Clypeus with weakly concave anterior margin, microsculpture absent, punctures fine, interspaces about 2–3 × as wide as punctures. Eyes large, slightly protruding, oval-shaped. Maxillary palpi very slender, palpomere 4 asymmetrical. Mentum with few scattered fine punctures in lateral thirds, microsculpture absent. Pronotal punctation as on head. Elytral punctation as on head and pronotum, four rows of punctures moderately distinct, mesal rows 1–3 strongly reduced in number of punctures, not reaching anterior margin. Mesoventrite with a distinct mesal bulge. Abdominal ventrite 5 with uneven, roughly shaped apical margin, excision absent, or excision present, less than 8 μ deep. Pubescence present on less than proximal half of pro- and mesofemur, on proximal third of metafemur. Aedeagus as in Fig. 21. Phallobase slightly shorter than parameres, evenly converging to weakly defined manubrium. Lateral margins of parameres not constricted subapically, weakly pointed, apex weakly sclerotized. Median lobe slightly shorter than parameres, apex rounded. Differential diagnosis. Agraphydrus elongatus sp. nov. can be easily separated from A. minutissimus (Kuwert, 1890), the only other species of Agraphydrus known from the Arabian Peninsula (Table 2; both species coexisted in locality No. 8, Fig. 8; see Table 3), by the general colouration (pale brown in A. minutissimus, uniformly dark in A. elongatus sp. nov.) and the body shape (almost cylindrical, parallel-sided in A. elongatus, not widened posteriorly). The maxillary palpi are also longer than in A. minutissimus, and the species can also be recognised by the male genitalia. The two species belong to a species group including other small and slender species, although none with a similar body shape as A. elongatus sp. nov. (A. Komarek, pers. comm. 2018). Etymology. Named in reference to the elongated body shape. The specific name is an adjective in nominative singular. Notes on the habitat. The species was commonly found in wadis, both in residual pools with gravelly or sandy margins and in the areas with water flow, among stones and gravel (Figs 3, 7–9, 11). Distribution. Oman and UAE (Fig. 1).Published as part of Ribera, Ignacio, Hernando, Carles & Cieslak, Alexandra, 2019, Aquatic Coleoptera of North Oman, with description of new species of Hydraenidae and Hydrophilidae, pp. 253-272 in Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 59 (1) on page 264, DOI: 10.2478/aemnp-2019-0021, http://zenodo.org/record/448895
Ochthebius (Ochthebius) bernard Ribera & Hernando & Cieslak 2019, sp. nov.
No full textOchthebius (Ochthebius) bernard sp. nov. (Figs 16, 20) Type locality. Source of wadi Bani Awf in Jebel Al-Hajar, Oman (Loc. 4; Figs 1, 5, 6). Type material. HOLOTYPE: ♁ (NHMW), “4 Oman 6.4.2010 J.Al-Akhdar // source of wadi Bani Awf, on rock // N23 10 36.2 E57 24 34.1 1300m // Ribera, Cieslak & Hernando leg.”, aedeagus dissected and mounted in DMHF on a transparent card, with holotype label. PARATYPES (138 spec.) (CCHB, IBEB, MNCN, NHMW, NMPC): 2 ♀♀, same data as holotype, with paratype labels; 3 ♁♁ 3 ♀♀, “1 Oman 5.4.2010 J. Al-Akhdar // Rd J. Shams, ca. Ghul spring with pools // N23 11 01.7 E57 08 30.4 908m // Ribera, Cieslak & Hernando leg.”, with paratype labels (1♁ used for DNA extraction, voucher number IBE-RA96); 130 spec. “3 Oman 6.4.2010 J. Al-Akhdar // rd.Tanuf-Hat, residual pools in wadi // N23 05 36.2 E57 25 56.6 1307m // Ribera, Cieslak & Hernando leg.”, with paratype labels (1 ♁ used for DNA extraction, voucher number IBE-AN1102). Additional material studied. 1 ♀, “8 Oman 7.4.2010 Murri env. // wadi Bani Ghafir, stream with pools // N23 29 46.2 E56 53 34.8 759m // Ribera, Cieslak & Hernando leg.” Description. Habitus as in Fig. 16. Body length: 1.95–2.20 mm; width: 0.90–0.95 mm. With a blackish metallic hue, immature specimens paler (dark brown); palpi dark brown, antennae yellowish except for the brown club, legs dark brown. Upper surface of head with irregular, adpressed fine whitish setae. Labrum deeply incised, anteriorly upturned (more in males). Frontoclypeal suture distinct, strongly arched. Surface of head with a shagreened, almost rugose appearance, especially around two depressed fovea on vertex. Eyes large, with small, recumbent setae among ocelli. With two large ocelli behind fovea. Pronotum trapezoidal, almost as wide as long; surface covered with same type of setae as on head; anterior margin straight in middle; anterior angles straight; lateral margin irregularly defined. Hyaline membrane narrow at anterior and posterior margins, very wide at posterior corners. Surface very densely punctate-granulated, with a rugose but shiny appearance; disc with a shallow irregular median groove and poorly defined, irregular lateral furrows. Elytra oval; with regular rows of punctures and small tubercles, giving a rugose appearance; with a strong, adpressed seta on anterior part of each puncture. Lateral rim smooth, wider on females. Membranous wings well developed. Legs short and robust, with rows of strong spine-like setae, without natatorial setae. Ventral surface black, elytral epipleura and hypomera dark brown; covered with fine, dense uniform pubescence. Margins of metaventrite and abdominal ventrites with longer setae, more orderly disposed. Aedeagus (Fig. 20) with main piece evenly curved, with uniform width. Distal lobe regularly expanded, with a tubuliform apex. Parameres inserted near median part of main piece, not reaching its apex. Differential diagnosis. The new species belongs to the Ochthebius metallescens group, being most closely related to O. hivae Jäch et al., 2013 from western Iran. It differs from this species in the body colouration (brownish in O. hivae, black with metallic reflections in O. bernard sp. nov.), the less strongly granulated elytra, pronotum and head of O. hivae, the more acuminate elytra in O. hivae, and the shape of the aedeagus (see JÄCH et al. 2013). As noted in JÄCH et al. (2013), the shape of the distal lobe of the aedeagus of O. hivae is unusually variable, but none of the different models figured matches the shape of the distal lobe of O. bernard sp. nov., specially those of the type locality (see Figs 2 and 3 in JÄCH et al. 2013). The two species differ by ca. 10% in their COI-3 gene, as measured with one specimen of O. hivae from the type locality (specimen voucher IBE-RA744, Iran: prov. Khuzestan, Behbahan, Morvarid spring, 4.ix.2010, leg. E. Irani; VILLASTRIGO et al. 2019). Despite the strong resemblance of the external morphology (see also JÄCH et al. 2013), O. bernard sp. nov. does not seem to be closely related to the only other species of the O. metallescens group from the Arabian Peninsula, O. wurayah Jäch & Delgado, 2010 (unpublished results), with which it was found to coexist in our locality No. 4 (Table 3; Figs 5, 6). Etymology. We name this species after the first and last authors’ son, Bernard. Noun in nominative, standing in apposition. Notes on the habitat. The species was most common in localities Nos 3 and 4 (Figs 1, 4–6; see description under Hydraena naja sp. nov. above). Distribution. So far only known from the central Al-Hajar mountains (Fig. 1).Published as part of Ribera, Ignacio, Hernando, Carles & Cieslak, Alexandra, 2019, Aquatic Coleoptera of North Oman, with description of new species of Hydraenidae and Hydrophilidae, pp. 253-272 in Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 59 (1) on pages 260-263, DOI: 10.2478/aemnp-2019-0021, http://zenodo.org/record/448895
An empirical note on factor shares
No full textIn general, empirical studies on growth consider, at most, three factors, physical capital, labor and human capital. Land, however, is also a production factor for many activities. In this study, we make growth regressions considering land as factor. We also propose an explanation for why labor and capital shares do not seem to have a trend: It is possible that an increasing trend in physical capital share is compensated by a decreasing trend in land share. Similarly, an increasing trend in human capital share may be compensated by a decreasing trend in raw labor share. We find empirical support for the claim that the elasticity of output with respect to reproducible factors, human and physical capital, is positively correlated with the income level. This result has important implications for economic growth theory and for empirical exercises related to economic growth.Factor Income Shares, Elasticity of output with respect to factors
Measurement of the ratio of prompt χ c to J / ψ production in pp collisions at √s = 7 TeV
No full textThe prompt production of charmonium χ c and J / ψ states is studied in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of √s = 7 TeV at the Large Hadron Collider. The χ c and J / ψ mesons are identified through their decays χ c → J / ψ γ and J / ψ → μ + μ - using 36 pb - 1 of data collected by the LHCb detector in 2010. The ratio of the prompt production cross-sections for χ c and J / ψ, σ (χ c → J / ψ γ) / σ (J / ψ), is determined as a function of the J / ψ transverse momentum in the range 2 < p T J / ψ < 15 GeV / c. The results are in excellent agreement with next-to-leading order non-relativistic expectations and show a significant discrepancy compared with the colour singlet model prediction at leading order, especially in the low p T J / ψ region
Austramastodus apterus Hernando 2023, sp. nov.
No full textAustramastodus apterus sp. nov. (Figs. 1–15) Type locality: Cape Range Peninsula, 22º10’S 113º59’E, Western Australia, Australia. Type material: Holotype ♁ (WAM): “22. 10S 113. 59E WA / N-W Cape Penin. Site / TL-6 18 May–4 June / 1990 J. M. Waldock / CR’90 #84 / pitfall traps ”. Paratypes: 3 ♀ (WAM): same data as holotype; 1 ♁ (NMW): “22. 10S 113.59E WA / N-W Cape Penin. Site / TL-12 3 June 1990 / J. M. Waldock CR’90 / #72 pitfall traps ”; 1 ♁ (WAM): “22. 12S 113.59E WA / N-W Cape Penin.nr. / Cave, C207 29May / 1990 J. M. Waldock / CR’90 #578”. Description. Body. Length: 2.16–2.50 mm (head included), maximum width: 1.16–1.20 mm. Body elongate-oval, dorsal surface covered with dense, golden and silvery pubescence composed of short, and recumbent setae (Figs. 1–3). Head. Punctation granular, very dense, pubescence short and recumbent, distributed radially from the disc (Fig. 4); eyes in lateral position, very large and rounded (Figs. 4–5), widely separated, space between eyes larger than diameter of one eye (Fig. 5); gena with antennal groove (Fig. 5). Thorax. Pronotum transverse, general shape slightly convex; anterior and posterior margins slightly sinuate (Figs. 1–4); lateral margins slightly curved; anterior angles broadly acute; posterior angles rounded; disc with coarse and somewhat rough punctation, covered with dense and short, regularly recumbent silvery setae (Fig. 4). Elytra long and narrow (Figs. 1–3); lateral margins finely bordered along their entire length; apex connected to last sternite by an interlocking device; punctation granular and very dense; pubescence generally silvery, but in some areas with golden spots (Fig. 1); setae short and regulary recumbent posteriad; epipleuron broad at base and slightly impressed to receive femoral tips, extending to apical interlocking device. Hind wings absent. Hypomeron broad and slightly depressed, without suture or carina, covered with short silvery setae (Figs. 2–5). Prosternal process slightly longer than wide, flat and finely bordered laterally; apex somewhat bluntly pointed. Mesoventrite short and transverse, with large anterior depression to receive prosternal process. Metaventrite uniformly convex, projecting posteriorly, covering the metacoxa. Mesocoxae slightly transverse, trochantins exposed. Metacoxae strongly transverse and oblique, subcontiguous; metacoxal plates large and strongly expanded laterally, posterior margins with two pointed projections, partly covering metatrochantins (Fig. 2). Forelegs relatively short and stout, with a few apical spines; tibia clearly shorter than femur (Fig. 5). Middle legs relatively short and stout, with a few apical spines; tibia as long as femur. Hind legs very long, with a longitudinal row of many strong spurs; tibia much longer than femur (Figs. 2–3). All legs sexually dimorphic, especially protarsus and claws (see below). Tarsal formula 4–4–4. Abdomen. Ventrites (Figs. 6–7) covered with short recumbent setae, finely punctate (not very dense and uniform), and covered by a polygonal squamiform reticulation. Intercoxal process of first abdominal ventrite very small; ventrites 1–3 connate, ventrite 1 long; ventrite 2–4 subequal in length; ventrite 5 with elytral-abdominal interlocking device; setation and apex of ventrite 5 sexually dimorphic (see below). Sexual dimorphism. Male. Ventrite 5 with a pair of sublateral clusters of about 12 long spiniform setae; posterior margin regularly curved apically (Fig. 6). Protarsi extraordinarily dilated (Fig. 5); claws of the meso and metatarsus asymmetrical. Aedeagus articulated and strongly arched in lateral view (Fig. 9), phallobase longer than parameres (Figs. 8–9). Median lobe apically strongly curved ventraly, falciform (Figs. 8–9). Struts very short, forming a lobe (Fig. 8). Parameres slightly longer than median lobe (Fig. 8), apex strongly curved ventrad, falciform (Figs. 8–9). Genital segment IX spatulate (Fig. 10), wide at base; margins strongly sclerotized; apex membranous; parameres of the genital segment IX long, strongly sclerotized and slightly curved, longer than lamina (Fig. 10). Sternite VIII arched (Fig. 11). Female. Sublateral clusters of ventrite 5 with only one long spiniform seta, remaining setae much shorter (Fig. 7); posterior margin acuminate apically (Fig. 7). Protarsi not modified, claws of all legs symmetrical. Ovipositor as in Fig. 12, gonocoxal struts very long, ten times as long as gonocoxites, which are strongly acuminate (Figs. 12–14); apex of gonocoxal struts articulate. Spiculum ventrale with a long manubrium, distal part with two long lateral expansions (Figs. 13–15). Distribution. So far known only from two very close localities in the central part of the Cape Range Peninsula, Australia (Western Australia). Etymology. The epithet, a Latin adjective, means “wingless” and refers to the fact that all specimens collected so far are apterous. Biology and notes on apterism. According to the data provided by the collector, the holotype and four paratypes were captured with pitfall traps placed in the soil near the entrance of a cave (“C-63”) (Fig. 16), and one specimen was found under stones in the leaf litter of trees (probably Eucalyptus or Corymbia) near the entrance of another cave (“C-207”, known as “Two Hundred Cave”) (J. M. Waldock, pers. comm.). The Cape Range Peninsula is an extremely hot and arid region with maximum temperatures of up to 47º C. From 1976 to 1996 the average rainfall was 234 mm (Environmental Protection Authority, 1999). The two localities are far from the coast (circa 11 km), and there seem to be no permanent aquatic habitats in the surrounding area. Therefore, we must assume that Austramastodus apterus is the first known terrestrial species of Thaumastodinae. Perhaps, one of the most relevant peculiarities of the new genus is its apterism, an unusual feature among the largely riparian (paraquatic) Limnichidae usually inhabiting inland water margins and coastal marine habitats. So far, apterism in Limnichidae is known only for a few humicolous species of the subfamily Limnichinae (Hernando & Ribera, 2003b –c) and for the intertidal and highly specialised genus Hyphalus (Hyphalinae), which lives on coral rocks (Hernando & Ribera 2020). Although Doyen (1976) states that all limnichids living in marine habitats are flightless, this is not true for the intertidal Thaumastodinae. The flight ability of some species has been reported from direct observations and can be deduced from the fact that specimens are often collected with light traps (Spilman 1966; Yoshitomi & Putra 2010; Yoshitomi 2019). Some hypotheses can be discussed for the absence of wings in Austramastodus apterus. The apterism might, as in other groups of beetles, be an adaptation related to the extremely arid habitat (Chown et al. 1998). The absence of wings in beetles living in very arid environment is assumed to have evolved in response to reduced environmental heterogeneity or directly to reduce body water loss. Additionally, it could be related to the apparent absence of permanent aquatic habitats in the area, since, as noted above, all other known genera of Thaumastodinae are able to fly and are closely associated with aquatic habitats, whether freshwater habitats, such as wetlands, waterfalls, rivers and streams (Yoshitomi 2019) or intertidal habitats such as mangroves, coral reefs, dogtooth limestone (Spilman 1966; Yoshitomi 2019; Liu & Jia 2021), or rockpools at seashores (Satô 1994). All these habitats have in common a certain instability due to the possibility of sudden water level fluctuations, for instance by unpredictable flash floods in lotic habitats or by storms in coastal areas. Indeed, macroptery appears to be prevalent as a means of escape in certain groups of riparian beetles (Ramey & Richardson 2017). For example, around 83% of the British terrestrial beetles, which are more or less restricted to wetland habitats, are consistently macropterous (Lott, 2003), a hypothesis supported by the tendency in some species with wing dimorphism for macropterous specimens to predominate in frequently flooded habitats and brachypterous ones in more stable habitats (Adis & Junk 2002). Assuming that the newly described species lives in leaf litter or soil and is not associated with any aquatic habitat and therefore not subject to unpredictable instability, might explain its apterism. In any case, further studies will be necessary to determine the habitat requirements of Austramastodus apterus satisfactorily.Published as part of Hernando, Carles, 2023, A new flightless genus of Thaumastodinae from Australia (Coleoptera: Limnichidae), pp. 559-566 in Zootaxa 5315 (6) on pages 563-565, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5315.6.3, http://zenodo.org/record/814249
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