War of attrition with implicit time cost

In the game-theoretic model war of attrition, players are subject to an explicit cost proportional to the duration of contests. We construct a model where the time cost is not explicitly given, but instead depends implicitly on the strategies of the whole population. We identify and analyse the underlying mechanisms responsible for the implicit time cost. Each player participates in a series of games, where those prepared to wait longer win with higher certainty but play less frequently. The model is characterised by the ratio of the winner's score to the loser's score, in a single game. The fitness of a player is determined by the accumulated score from the games played during a generation. We derive the stationary distribution of strategies under the replicator dynamics. When the score ratio is high, we find that the stationary distribution is unstable, with respect to both evolutionary and dynamical stability, and the dynamics converge to a limit cycle. When the ratio is low, the dynamics converge to the stationary distribution. For an intermediate interval of the ratio, the distribution is dynamically but not evolutionarily stable. Finally, the implications of our results for previous models based on the war of attrition are discussed.Comment: Accepted for publication in Journal of Theoretical Biolog

Adopting new ways of working in small and medium-sized enterprises: findings from interventions in 12 European companies

This paper elaborates on the factors to be considered in order for interventions (activities aimed at introducing new ways of working through a series of focused activities in an organisation) to lead to long-term effects inside small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Its purpose of it is to describe how interventions can be carried out in order for SMEs to adopt new ways of working by understanding the context, process and content of an intervention. The results of this study suggest that in designing interventions for the SMEs, the context aspects of an intervention must be carefully considered. Not only is the process or context of an intervention important, but so is the content. As a consequence, we suggest content that accomplishes the following: (1) supports the formulation of strategies; (2) encourages dialogue and (3) uses company data. The paper is based on a multiple case study of 12 SMEs from 6 European countries undergoing similar interventions within the FutureSME project. These long-term relationships within a large-scale project have provided access and a rare opportunity to conduct research on this often overlooked business sector. The empirical data have been collected through company presentations, structured reports and narratives. The material has been subject to a cross-case analysis

Proof-of-concept of a novel scalable magnetic bead-based cell separation technology

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The role of pressure-induced stacking faults on the magnetic properties of gadolinium

Experimental data show that under pressure, Gd goes through a series of structural transitions hcp to Sm-type (close-packed rhombohedral) to dhcp that is accompanied by a gradual decrease of the Curie temperature and magnetization till the collapse of a finite magnetization close to the dhcp structure. We explore theoretically the pressure-induced changes of the magnetic properties, by describing these structural transitions as the formation of fcc stackings faults. Using this approach, we are able to describe correctly the variation of the Curie temperature with pressure, in contrast to a static structural model using the hcp structure.Comment: Preprint (no peer-reviewed

Printed dose-recording tag based on organic complementary circuits and ferroelectric nonvolatile memories.

We have demonstrated a printed electronic tag that monitors time-integrated sensor signals and writes to nonvolatile memories for later readout. The tag is additively fabricated on flexible plastic foil and comprises a thermistor divider, complementary organic circuits, and two nonvolatile memory cells. With a supply voltage below 30 V, the threshold temperatures can be tuned between 0 °C and 80 °C. The time-temperature dose measurement is calibrated for minute-scale integration. The two memory bits are sequentially written in a thermometer code to provide an accumulated dose record

Bending machine for testing reliability of flexible electronics

A novel bending machine has been designed and tested. It enables flexible electronics to be subjected to repeated bending with constant radius and tension. In-situ electrical characterization can give accurate analysis of lifetime distributions if sufficiently many samples are ran to failure, allowing reliability prediction models to be developed. Four sets of test samples with different combinations of substrate, routing, interconnect technology and components were examined. A poor level of reliability was observed when using anisotropic conductive paste to form interconnects, whereas a significantly higher level of reliability was observed when using a bismuth-tin solder paste. The assembly of larger components resulted in shortened time to failure, whereas increasing the bending radius prolonged the observed lifetimes.acceptedVersio