Unraveling in a dynamic matching market with Nash bargaining

Equilibrium sorting in a finite-horizon, two-sided matching market with heterogeneous agents is considered. It is shown that, if the match production function is additively separable in agent-types and if the division of match output is determined by the Nash bargaining solution, then an unraveling of the market obtains as the unique equilibrium in which all matches are formed in the first period.

Math Stories: Learning and Doing Mathematics through Fiction Writing

In this paper, we advocate the writing of mathematical fiction (i) as an aid for students in learning mathematics, and (ii) to engage students in doing mathematics

The economics of vaccination.

The market for vaccinations is widely believed to be characterized by market failures, because individuals do not internalize the positive externalities that their vaccination decisions may confer on other individuals. Francis (1997) provided a set of assumptions under which the equilibrium vaccination pattern is socially optimal. We show that his conditions are not necessary for the welfare theorem to hold but that in general, the market yields inefficiently low vaccination uptake. Equilibrium non-optimality may obtain if (i) agents can recover from infection, (ii) vaccines are imperfect, (iii) individuals are ex ante heterogeneous, (iv) vaccination timing is inflexible or (v) the planning horizon is finite. Apart from the case with heterogeneity, inefficiencies result from the presence of strategic interaction.This is the author's accepted manuscript. It will be under embargo until 9/8/15. The final published version is in the Journal of Theoretical Biology published by Elsevier here: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S002251931400451

Bt Corn Farmer Compliance with Insect Resistance Management Requirements: Results from the 2002 Minnesota and Wisconsin Farm Polls

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reregistered Bt corn in 2001 with mandatory Insect Resistance Management (IRM) requirements in order to promote sustainable use by farmers. Since then studies report IRM compliance rates ranging from 80 to 90 percent. Using survey data from Minnesota and Wisconsin, we show that previous compliance rate estimates are likely too high because they do not use a comprehensive measure for compliance. With a more comprehensive measure, we find compliance rates ranging between 60 to 75 percent.Bt corn, compliance, Insect Resistance Management, refuge, Crop Production/Industries,

Proximity and expectancy modulate response vigor after reward omission

Both humans and some non-human animals tend to respond more vigorously after failing to obtain rewards. Such response invigoration becomes more pronounced when individuals have increased expectations of obtaining rewards during reward pursuit (expectancy), and when they perceive the eventual loss to be proximal to reward receipt (proximity). However, it was unclear whether proximity and expectancy may have distinct influences on response vigor. To investigate this question, we developed a computerized ’scratch card’ task, in which participants turned three cards one by one and won points when all three cards matched (AAA). After each game, they pressed keys to confirm the outcome and start a new game. We included three types of losses: AAB, where participants had increased expectancy of winning as the game evolved, and the final outcome was proximal to winning; ABB and ABA, with reduced expectancy, but high proximity to winning; and ABC, with reduced expectancy and low proximity to winning. In three online studies, we consistently observed that participants confirmed losses more quickly than wins. Importantly, detailed analyses of the different types of losses revealed that proximity reduced vigor, whereas expectancy increased it. Together, these findings are in line with general appraisal theories: the adjustments of response vigor may be triggered by the appraised discrepancy between the current state and a reference state (e.g., attaining one’s goal), and serve to close the gap and facilitate goal pursuit. These findings may also have implications for the effect of ‘near miss’ on gambling persistence. Further exploring how reward omission impacts response vigor may help us better understand the goal pursuit process, and how it becomes maladaptive under certain circumstances

The Effects of Packaging on Customer Purchasing Decision. (Melcom Ghana Limited)

This study’s goal was to reveal the impact of produce packaging on customers' purchasing decisions in the municipality of Ho. Using Melcom as a case study, the study selected a total of 109 customers of about 150 employees, and on what benefits to convenience. When collecting data, respondents who were analyzed using SPSS using frequency evaluation and One-Way Chi-Square were provided with self-managed questionnaires to determine the number and percentage of respondents who consent to specific statements and to check the importance of those answers. The outcome indicated that the packaging affects product prices, which affects the customer's purchasing decision. The study also determined that labels and printed materials promote the company's products and these elements affect consumers' decisions to make before they buy a product. The results also showed how packaging contributes to the company's product. The results showed that good packaging leaves a positive image of goods with the consumers. Based on the results, we have advised that manufacturers also use innovative ways to make packaging more attractive and qualitative, as it affects customer purchasing decisions. It is also recommended that consumer products deliver with good packaging that leaves a positive picture in their minds, creating brand loyalty. Keywords: consumer, customer, packaging, Melcom, shopping, promotion, products, purchasing DOI: 10.7176/JMCR/65-02 Publication date: February 29th 202

Challenges and Opportunities to Enhance the Clinical Reasoning Skills of Medical Students: Lessons Learned from the Advanced Clinical Transactions Pilot Program

Medical school faculty must foster high-quality patient care while simultaneously assessing the clinical skills and reasoning of students in order to promote their independent functioning in the clinical setting. A growing concern noted across medical faculty is that students may complete their undergraduate medical studies without sufficient understanding of how simple clinical tasks are done with real patients. These concerns have been validated by results from numerous studies that have reported many medical students express a lack of confidence and competence to critically evaluate patient needs based on data, a factor that has been linked to problems in performance and patient safety (Radcliffe and Lester 2003; Seabrook 2004; Chumley et al. 2005; Patey et al. 2007)

Statistical distributions of the re-radiated spectrum from two correlated non-linear devices in a reverberation chamber

The statistics of the re-radiated spectrum from two correlated non-linear devices are investigated in a reverberation chamber. The distribution of the mean-value normalized statistics is interpreted using a double-Weibull statistical model. Comparisons are made with the re-radiation spectrum of a single non-linear device showing the statistical distributions to be different. Furthermore, experiments indicate the spatial correlation between the two non-linear devices changes the statistical distributions. This work enhances the understanding about the statistical aspects of the re-radiated spectrum from complex digital equipment

Indirect Ultraviolet Detection of Biologically Relevant Organic Acids by Capillary Electrophoresis

Indirect UV detection of fourteen short-chain organic acids (e.g., oxalic acid, citric acid, malonic acid, tartaric acid, methylmalonic acid, α-ketoglutaric acid, succinic acid, ethylmalonic acid, methylsuccinic acid, glutaric acid, apidic acid, methylglutaric acid, lactic acid and pyruvic acid) by capillary electrophoresis is described. The method used phthalate as the UV-absorbing additive in carbonate buffer and the non-absorbing analytes were detected indirectly at 230 nm. The influences of buffer pH, ionic strenght, concentration of phthalate and organic modifier on indirect signal response and migration behavior of the organic acids were investigated. Comparisons of reproducibility on migration time, limit of detection and separation efficiency among three types of capillary (e.g., polyacrylamide-coated, myristyltrimethylammonium bromide-coated and uncoated capillaries) were conducted. The method developed was applied to detect succinic acid, methylmalonic acid, citric acid, glutaric acid and lactic acid in human body fluids, and preliminary results were provided