Hyperbolic discounting of delayed social interaction

The temporal discounting literature has demonstrated that the loss in value for delayed outcomes is most accurately modeled using a hyperbolic discounting equation. The hyperbolic-shaped function not only describes the shape of discounting for monetary outcomes, but also for other tangibles, such as alcohol, candy, CDs, erotica, cigarettes, cocaine, books, and DVDs. Furthermore, this hyperbolic shape has important theoretical implications. Despite the broad list of outcomes that are hyperbolically discounted, one class of outcomes has only recently received attention: social interactions. For the present study, we used standard binary-choice discounting procedures to explore the function that most accurately describes the change in value of delayed social interactions. The results from the present study suggest that, for 93 participants, the same equations (exponential, hyperbolic, and hyperboloid) used to describe the discounting of nonsocial commodities also describe the relation between delay and the value of social interaction. Similar to previous findings for nonsocial outcomes, the hyperbolic-shaped models provide a fit to the data superior to that of the exponential model.     

Therapeutic effect of methane and its mechanism in disease treatment

Journal of Zhejiang University-SCIENCE B - Methane is the simplest hydrocarbon, consisting of one carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms. It is abundant in marsh gas, livestock rumination, and...     

Concerns of our Students: A Cross‐institutional Study

This study investigated the concerns experienced by students from two Australian tertiary institutions. Randomly‐selected samples of 342 Ballarat College of Advanced Education students and 208 Gold Coast College of Advanced Education students reported the extent to which each of 42 factors had caused them concern since being at college. Consistent with the research findings of Sarros and Densten (1989) and others, respondents were more concerned over academic and course‐related matters than over a range of personal, interpersonal and practical factors. Levels and‐patterns of concern were found to vary between sub‐groups of the student samples. Follow‐up surveys of the academic staff in each of the two institutions suggested that academics are biased in their perceptions of student concerns. Discussion focuses upon the generalizability and practical significance of the findings.     

Responses of Mentally Retarded Children on a Visual Discrimination Task Involving Concept Formation

This study evaluated 3 groups of mentally retarded children on a visual discrimination reading readiness task. Ss included 75 mentally retarded persons residing at the Columbus State Institute divided into 5 MA groups ranging from 3 years to 8 years. Three different groups of 25 Ss were matched on CA, MA, and IQ and two of these were paired on perceptual functioning on the basis of Gellner classifications. The third group included 25 Ss diagnosed as having genetic mechanisms. The task consisted of 100 cards of three coloured pictures with two of them being associated. Results showed the minimally handicapped visual group performed higher than the other two groups. MA was highly related to success especially for the highest MA group. Implications of these data are discussed.