What exactly are the properties of scale-free and other networks?

The concept of scale-free networks has been widely applied across natural and physical sciences. Many claims are made about the properties of these networks, even though the concept of scale-free is often vaguely defined. We present tools and procedures to analyse the statistical properties of networks defined by arbitrary degree distributions and other constraints. Doing so reveals the highly likely properties, and some unrecognised richness, of scale-free networks, and casts doubt on some previously claimed properties being due to a scale-free characteristic.Comment: Preprint - submitted, 6 pages, 3 figure

Monetary announcements: the Bank of Japan and the Fed

Bank of Japan ; Monetary policy ; Monetary policy - United States

What makes a central bank credible?

Monetary policy - United States ; Monetary policy - Japan ; Bank of Japan

Information Sources and Purchase Influences For Wood Products Retailers: A Trade Show Attendee Perspective

Retail outlets are an important channel of distribution for wood products sold to professional builders and do-it-yourself consumers. Trade shows serve a prominent role in the wood products industry as a means for showcasing wood building products to such retail outlets. This research provides information about the use of trade shows by building material retailers that will allow wood marketers to better target marketing programs. A survey of all retailer attendees at a large building materials trade show was conducted to determine which information sources are most influential in retailers' purchase decision-making. The survey also investigated which at-show information sources are most influential for buyer-attendees. Results indicate that retailers' relationship with their wood products supplier has the greatest influence on overall purchase decisions. Price reductions on materials displayed at the show was the most influential show-related factor. Statistical analyses suggest that in-exhibit information sources are more heavily used by attendees with greater purchase influence. Additional analyses indicate that attendees with greater purchase influence tend to seek technically oriented information about products displayed

Small piece of paper -- going out, flying around the world: A preliminary discussion on the reproduction of Aboriginal creativity on postage stamps

In this thesis the use of Aboriginal designs on postage stamps is examined from an anthropological perspective. Firstly the ways in which Australia Post reached decisions to use Aboriginal designs is considered and the protocols for their use examined. The theoretical ideas of Munn on the ownership of designs, and of Morphy and Keen pertaining to the economy of knowledge provides an approach for considering the topic. The archival work for the writing of this thesis was conducted in a short visit to the archives of Australia Post. The research showed the practices of Australia Post with regard to using Aboriginal designs reflects the attitudes of anthropologists and museums toward Aboriginal creativity in the respective time periods. The research has also shown that over time whilst Australia Post initially consulted non-Aboriginal experts and used non-Aboriginal designers Australia Post now consults with prominent Aboriginal people and Aboriginal organisations. Australia Post now uses Aboriginal artists to provide designs that are featured on postage stamps. However, Australia Post does not yet appear to appreciate that while designs may be produced by individual artists, the designs are owned on a community basis with a range of people having varying rights. These rights include the right to produce the design, the right to discuss the meaning of the design in it cultural context and the right to restrict the use and discussion of a design. All of these points are central to the notion of an economy of knowledge which is the overriding theme of this thesis

Doctor of Philosophy

dissertationDiabetes affects 25.8 million people in the United States and its prevalence is expected to triple in the next 20 years. Diabetic retinopathy (DR) affects nearly 30% of people with diabetes and is the leading cause of blindness in the working-age population. Current treatments for DR improve vision in only a minority of patients, and carry significant risks. This work advances a new approach that works by reversing retinal vascular damage and restoring normal perfusion to improve vision in this condition. Chapter 1 reviews the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and current standards of therapy for diabetic retinopathy. The roles of vascular maturation factor Angiopoietin-1 (Ang1) and its receptor Tie2 are introduced. Chapter 2 describes the development of an improved method for visualization of leukocytes in the diabetic mouse retina, which was critical for studies in this dissertation and broadly applicable to fields studying leukocyte endothelial interaction and inflammation. Chapter 3 focuses on the studies describing prevention of neurovascular dysfunction in diabetic retinopathy achieved by treating diabetic mice with gene therapy expressing COMP-Ang1. This chapter further details the studies performed to reverse diabetic retinopathy with a combination therapy consisting of endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFCs) and COMP-Ang1. We demonstrated that COMP-Ang1 enhanced the vasculogenic capabilities of ECFCs leading to increased integration into the diabetic retina and preservation of visual function in mice with advanced diabetic retinopathy. Chapter 4 represents my contributions toward the understanding of how targeting alternative VEGF receptor 2 splicing can suppress hemangiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis in the retina and choroid. This work was published in the FASEB journal in 2013. Chapter 5 describes my work published in PLoS ONE describing suppression of both tumor and ocular neovascularization, wherein we used morpholinos to increased soluble VEGF receptor 1. Chapter 6 concludes this work by recapping how the work accomplished in this dissertation built off of previous discoveries. The Appendix describes studies initiated to test the effects of COMP-Ang1 in an acute model of retinal ischemia, central retinal artery occlusion

The Moderating Effects of Positive and Negative Automatic Thoughts on the Relationship Between Positive Emotions and Resilience

Resilience is generally characterized as the ability to recover and grow following adversity (Connor & Davidson, 2003) and is considered an integral factor in the promotion of overall physical and psychological health (Masten & Reed, 2002). One factor thought to be associated with resilience is more frequent positive emotions, but the relationship between positive emotions and resilience varies (Tugade, Fredrickson, & Feldman-Barrett, 2004), suggesting moderating factors may be involved. Cognitive factors may be involved in determining the parameters that define when and to what degree this relationship occurs (Troy & Mauss, 2011). The current study was designed to further elucidate the relationship between positive emotions and resilience by examining the moderating effects of cognition, specifically positive and negative thinking styles. A sample 87 college men and 184 college women participated in this cross-sectional, correlational study by completing a series of online measures. Results indicated that positive affect was directly associated with resilience. In addition, different cognitive styles were associated with resilience in the expected directions. Finally, only negative thinking styles moderated the positive affect/resilience relationship. Implications for theory development and clinical interventions are discussed