318 research outputs found
Non-equilibrium steady states of stochastic processes with intermittent resetting
Stochastic processes that are randomly reset to an initial condition serve as
a showcase to investigate non-equilibrium steady states. However, all existing
results have been restricted to the special case of memoryless resetting
protocols. Here, we obtain the general solution for the distribution of
processes in which waiting times between reset events are drawn from an
arbitrary distribution. This allows for the investigation of a broader class of
much more realistic processes. As an example, our results are applied to the
analysis of the efficiency of constrained random search processes.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure
Muller's ratchet with overlapping generations
Muller's ratchet is a paradigmatic model for the accumulation of deleterious
mutations in a population of finite size. A click of the ratchet occurs when
all individuals with the least number of deleterious mutations are lost
irreversibly due to a stochastic fluctuation. In spite of the simplicity of the
model, a quantitative understanding of the process remains an open challenge.
In contrast to previous works, we here study a Moran model of the ratchet with
overlapping generations. Employing an approximation which describes the fittest
individuals as one class and the rest as a second class, we obtain closed
analytical expressions of the ratchet rate in the rare clicking regime. As a
click in this regime is caused by a rare large fluctuation from a metastable
state, we do not resort to a diffusion approximation but apply an approximation
scheme which is especially well suited to describe extinction events from
metastable states. This method also allows for a derivation of expressions for
the quasi-stationary distribution of the fittest class. Additionally, we
confirm numerically that the formulation with overlapping generations leads to
the same results as the diffusion approximation and the corresponding
Wright-Fisher model with non-overlapping generations
Anomalous Diffusion of particles with inertia in external potentials
Recently a new type of Kramers-Fokker-Planck Equation has been proposed [R.
Friedrich et al. Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 96}, 230601 (2006)] describing anomalous
diffusion in external potentials. In the present paper the explicit cases of a
harmonic potential and a velocity-dependend damping are incorporated. Exact
relations for moments for these cases are presented and the asymptotic
behaviour for long times is discussed. Interestingly the bounding potential and
the additional damping by itself lead to a subdiffussive behaviour, while
acting together the particle becomes localized for long times.Comment: 12 pages, 8 figure
Investigating the relation between legal disclosure environments and IT governance transparency
The relevance of information technology has steadily increased over past decades. As a result, corporate disclosure about IT governance aspects is of considerable interest to investors. Despite such disclosure being voluntary and not enforced by law, this research investigates whether there is any relation between varying legal disclosure environments and the level of IT governance disclosure by companies. To investigate this relationship, 48 companies´ 2015 annual reports are analysed in accordance with an IT governance disclosure framework previously constructed by Bollen et al. (2013). Moreover, the World Bank’s Business Extent of Disclosure Index is used as a proxy for legal disclosure environments. The results imply no significant relation between legal disclosure environments and the level of IT governance disclosure which indicates that other factors on the industry and firm-level play a more significant role in determining the level of IT governance disclosure
Advice as a vocation: politics, managerialism and state funding in the Swiss refugee support community
Refugees often find themselves in precarious situations when trying to claim asylum. This paper examines the changing nature of legal advice in Switzerland, where a new law is drastically altering the asylum regime to a more centralized and tightly managed procedure. This reform directly affects the refugee advice community, which sees an increase in state funding opportunities paired with a higher demand for quality standards and ‘managerial’ practices. These changes reveal frictions between advice organizations and challenge long-standing agreements and collaborations. (Re-)emerging fault lines concern whether to collaborate with or oppose the Swiss asylum regimes, and whether to assist with asylum appeals with low chances of success. Structurally and individually, pre- existing notions of ‘good advice’ are being challenged and threaten to divide the advice community into political advocates and pragmatic caseworkers. The changing nature of advice thus brings with it both pitfalls and new opportunities that require careful examination
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