Should the Randomistas (Continue to) Rule?

The rising popularity of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in development applications has come with continuing debates about the merits of this approach. The chapter takes stock of the issues. It argues that an unconditional preference for RCTs is questionable on three main counts. First, the case for such a preference is unclear on a priori grounds. For example, with a given budget, even a biased observational study can come closer to the truth than a costly RCT. Second, the ethical objections to RCTs have not been properly addressed by advocates. Third, there is a risk of distorting the evidence-base for informing policy-making, given that an insistence on RCTs generates selection bias in what gets evaluated. Going forward, pressing knowledge gaps should drive the questions asked and how they are answered, not the methodological preferences of some researchers. The gold standard is the best method for the question at hand.

Formation of Minimax Ensembles of Aperiodic Gold Codes

Introduction. Signals constructed on the basis of ensembles of code sequences are widely used in digital communication systems. During development of such systems, the most attention is paid to analysis, synthesis and implementation of periodic signal ensembles. Theoretic methods for synthesis of periodic signal ensembles are developed and are in use. Considerably fewer results are received regarding construction of aperiodic signal ensembles with given properties. Theoretical methods for synthesis of such ensembles are practically nonexistent.Aim. To construct aperiodic Gold code ensembles with the best ratios of code length to ensemble volume among the most known binary codes.Materials and methods. Methods of directed search and discrete choice of the best ensemble based on unconditional preference criteria are used.Results. Full and truncated aperiodic Gold code ensembles with given length and ensemble volume were constructed. Parameters and shape of auto- and mutual correlation functions were shown for a number of constructed ensembles. Comparison of the paper results with known results for periodic Gold code ensembles has been conducted regarding growth of minimax correlation function values depending on code length and ensemble volume.Conclusion. The developed algorithms, unlike the known ones, make it possible to form both complete ensembles and ensembles taking into account the limitation of their volume. In addition, the algorithms can be extended to the tasks of forming ensembles from other families, for example, assembled from code sequences belonging to different families.

THE GROWTH AND PERFORMANCE OF THE UDMURT CLIMATETYPE OF SCOTCHPINE IN THE CONDITIONS OF MOSCOW REGION

In normative documents defining the principles of reforestation, unconditional preference is given to local or nearby populations. This situation contradicts the data obtained by many authors in various forest growing areas, as well as the results of our research, which were performed in 65-year-old geographical cultures of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) in the Serebryanoborsky forestry of the Institute of Forest Science, located in the central part of the Moscow region. Despite the remote origin (the distance from the geographical landings under study was about 900 km to the east), the planting grown from seeds obtained from the Mozhginsky region of the Udmurt Republic was close to the average height with the Moscow region and Vladimir climatypes and significantly exceeded them in average diameter and stock. The distribution of trees by thickness steps in the tree stands under study is close to normal. At the same time, in the Udmurt climatype, a shift towards the predominance of large trunks is noticeable, whereas in the Vladimir climatype, they are lagging behind. Moscow Provision occupies an intermediate position. According to the dependences of relative heights on tree diameters, the most intense competitive relations are characteristic of the Vladimir climate type. In the first place, this reflects the greatest density of the plantings. In the Udmurt climatype, a high H/D value, corresponding in size to that in Moscow and Vladimir climatypes, is characteristic of trees lagging behind in growth, the diameter of which does not exceed 20 cm. Leading trees in the Udmurt clima type are significantly larger than the local provences. . Planting of Udmurt origin not only adapted to the climatic conditions of the study area, but also surpassed local climatypes in terms of the aggregate characteristics of growth and productivity.

Legislator Dissent as a Valence Signal

Existing research suggests that voters tend to respond positively to legislator independence due to two types of mechanism. First, dissent has an indirect effect, increasing a legislator’s media coverage and personal recognition among constituents (profile effects). Secondly, constituents react positively to dissent when this signals that the legislator has matching political or representational preferences (conditional evaluation). This article presents a third effect: dissent acts as a valence signal of integrity and trustworthiness. Consistent with the valence signalling mechanism, it uses new observational and experimental evidence to show that British voters have a strong and largely unconditional preference for legislators who dissent. The findings pose a dilemma for political systems that rely on strong and cohesive parties.