Rational Habit Modification: the Role of Credit.

This paper proposes an asymmetric model within which consumer credit facilitates both consumption smoothing and rational habit modification. The model provides a better description of aggregate time series consumption data than competeting models. In particular, the model can account for the various aggregate consumption anomalies that have led to repeated rejections of Hall's (1978) random walk model of consumption. The model is applied to US data using a GMM approach. The evidence suggests that new credit can predict short-run changes in consumption and has assisted consumers to become more forward-looking since 1975.CONSUMPTION ; CREDIT ; ESTIMATOR

Skills Mismatch and Returns to Training in Australia:Some New Evidence

This paper utilises Australian data to evaluate the effect of firm-provided job training on labour income. It also examines whether training can shed light on the effects of skill-job mismatch. We employ the Heckman selection model to account for selection bias in training as well as work participation. The evidence shows that training has a significant positive impact on wages. Also, training ameliorates the disadvantage associated with the mismatch between formal education and required education. In addition, training is most valuable to the undereducated and young workers, and assists in the restoration and replenishment of human capitalTraining; Education; Overeducation; Undereducation; Earnings; Human capital depreciation

Second-Generation Greek-Australian and Italian-Australian Students at Victoria University

This paper examines the academic performance of the second-generation Australians at Victoria University in 2007. The study utilises Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2006 estimates of socio-economic status to investigate the roles of socio-economic background, and cultural and linguistic diversity (CALD). Attention is given to students of Greek and Italian ancestry. The study also accounts for selection bias, elite high school participation, gender, age, employment status, and study intensity. The evidence suggests that academic outcomes vary by sector, and languages-other-than- English (LOTE) are a key driver of the disadvantage observed in second-generation Australian students

Overeducation and Overskilling in Australia: Second-Generation Greek-Australians and Italian-Australians

We utilise HILDA data over the period 2001–2005 to evaluate the performance of second-generation Greek-Australians and Italian-Australians in the labour market. We focus on the effect of overeducation, undereducation, languages-other-than-English (LOTE), and ethnicity on weekly earnings of full-time workers. The evidence is as follows: (a) most Greek-Australians are over-represented amongst the overeducated; (b) overeducation and overskilling can be attributed to a lack of new skills on the job, parental occupational status, non-English-speaking overseas born, and unobserved characteristics of second-generation females; (c) LOTE does not seem to make a contribution to earning of individual workers; and (d) the use of LOTE amongst the two second-generation groups has declined, though second-generation women in part-time employment are an exception

Intended use of IPO proceeds and firm performance: A quantile regression approach

This paper employs quantile regressions to investigate the link between the intended use of proceeds and the post-issue operating performance of IPO firms in Indonesia over the period of 2000-2010. The evidence presented here suggests that post-issue performance can be explained by a firm’s motivation to IPO issues. Investment in fixed assets and stock market shares associate with better performance for average and high-performing firms while other usages seem to lead to poor performance. The findings are robust when ownership structure was considered. These results have policy implications for the management of IPOs

Combined logical and data-driven models for linking signalling pathways to cellular response

Background Signalling pathways are the cornerstone on understanding cell function and predicting cell behavior. Recently, logical models of canonical pathways have been optimised with high-throughput phosphoproteomic data to construct cell-type specific pathways. However, less is known on how signalling pathways can be linked to a cellular response such as cell growth, death, cytokine secretion, or transcriptional activity. Results In this work, we measure the signalling activity (phosphorylation levels) and phenotypic behavior (cytokine secretion) of normal and cancer hepatocytes treated with a combination of cytokines and inhibitors. Using the two datasets, we construct "extended" pathways that integrate intracellular activity with cellular responses using a hybrid logical/data-driven computational approach. Boolean logic is used whenever a priori knowledge is accessible (i.e., construction of canonical pathways), whereas a data-driven approach is used for linking cellular behavior to signalling activity via non-canonical edges. The extended pathway is subsequently optimised to fit signalling and behavioural data using an Integer Linear Programming formulation. As a result, we are able to construct maps of primary and transformed hepatocytes downstream of 7 receptors that are capable of explaining the secretion of 22 cytokines. Conclusions We developed a method for constructing extended pathways that start at the receptor level and via a complex intracellular signalling pathway identify those mechanisms that drive cellular behaviour. Our results constitute a proof-of-principle for construction of "extended pathways" that are capable of linking pathway activity to diverse responses such as growth, death, differentiation, gene expression, or cytokine secretion.Marie Curie International Reintegration Grants (MIRG-14-CT-2007-046531)Vertex Pharmaceuticals IncorporatedBundesministerium für Wissenschaft und Forschung (HepatoSys)Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Rockwell International Career Development Professorship)Bundesministerium für Wissenschaft und Forschung (HepatoSys 0313081D

Metal imido-catalyzed ethylene and 1-hexene dimerization

This thesis investigates the development of well-defined ethylene and 1-hexene dimerization pro-initiators related to the industrially important SASOL α-olefin dimerization system, which consists of WCl6/RNH2/Et3N activated by EtAlCl2. The role of Et3N in the SASOL system is to remove HCl generated from the reaction of the amine with WCl6, something that is suggestive of the possible in situ formation of tungsten imido complexes. To probe the potential role of tungsten imido species, here a range of ethylene and 1-hexene dimerization experiments are described using discrete tungsten, niobium, and tantalum imido complexes in combination with an alkyl aluminum activator (usually EtAlCl2). In order to better understand the possible dimerization mechanisms, selected reactions of the aforementioned imido complexes with alkyl aluminum reagents are also explored. Chapter 1: the industrial importance of olefins and the olefin oligomerization processes are introduced with emphasis on the SASOL α-olefin dimerization system. Mechanistic aspects of the olefin oligomerization process are outlined giving examples of previously reported ethylene and 1-hexene dimerization systems. The aims of this PhD thesis are summarized. Chapter 2: the synthesis and structural characterization of a range of tungsten bis(imido) complexes W(NR)(NR’)Cl2(DME) (R, R’ = alkyl or aryl) is presented. The activity of such complexes as pro-initiators in the dimerization of ethylene and 1-hexene is detailed and the effects of ethylene pressure, temperature, activator, pro-initiator concentration, pro-initiator:activator ratios, and use of additives explored; pro-initiator structure-catalytic activity correlations are established. Preliminary mechanistic studies of tungsten bis(imido)-mediated dimerization are described. Chapter 3: tungsten mono(imido) complexes, W(NR)Cl4(THF) and [W(NR)Cl4]2 (R = alkyl or aryl), are tested in the dimerization of ethylene and 1-hexene. Studies similar to those in Chapter 2 are described, demonstrating that such mono(imido) complexes are reasonably active and selective ethylene and 1-hexene dimerization pro-initiators. Reactions between the tungsten mono(imido) complexes and alkyl aluminum reagents are detailed, providing insight into the role of the aluminum activator in the dimerization process; these suggest that reduction of the tungsten centre is an important part of the initiation process. Hence, discrete W(IV) and W(V) mono(imido) complexes were tested for olefin dimerization, with the latter being active. The beneficial effect of additives (chloride anions, amines) in catalytic dimerization reaction is demonstrated and their mode of action probed. Chapter 4: the use of niobium and tantalum imido complexes, M(NR)Cl3(DME), as pro-initiators is explored. In contrast to their tungsten counterparts these group V imido complexes were able to both polymerize and/or dimerize ethylene, but were inactive towards1-hexene. Chapter 5: full experimental details are presented. Chapter 6: supplementary information including - reactivity of the alkyl aluminum reagents employed for the activation of the pro-initiators; definitions used in the analysis of catalysis test data (TON, etc); and development and validation of methods for the analysis of olefin dimerization products

Self-Managed Teams

A self-managed team is defined as an autonomous group of individuals who carry forth a common goal in the absence of a formal leader. In this team configuration, members are given the collective authority to form their own practices and day-to-day processes. An effective self-managed team will have proactive coordination amongst their members to successfully take on the responsibility usually left to a leader. Like any team arrangement, self-managed teams have both benefits and challenges. Therefore, it is imperative for organizations to understand the fundamental functions of self-managed teams and how to utilize them to their greatest potential. This research project discusses the most prominent issues facing self-managed teams, and draws on various theoretical perspectives and empirical studies. These issues include: control, equal contribution, trust, and leadership. The study offers a list of recommendations detailing how organizations can effectively resolve and prevent those four issues from occurring in their own self-managed teams