Risky choices in strategic environments: An experimental investigation of a real options game

Managers frequently make decisions under conditions of fundamental uncertainty due the stochastic nature of the outcomes and competitive rivalry. In this study, we experimentally test a theoretical model under fundamental uncertainty and competitive rivalry by designing a sequential interaction game between two players. The first mover can decide either to choose a sure outcome that assigns a risky outcome to the second mover or to pass the decision to the second mover. If the second player gets the chance to decide, she can choose between a sure outcome, conditioned by the assignment of a risky payoff to the first mover, or the sharing of the risky outcome with the first mover. We then introduce the following experimental treatments: (i) relegating second-mover participants to a purely passive role and substituting them with a random device (absence of strategic uncertainty - that is, when the source of uncertainty is a human subject); (ii) providing information about the behaviour of second-mover counterparts; and (iii) completely removing the second-mover participant.We find that decision makers are sensitive to the presence or absence of strategic uncertainty; indeed, in the presence of strategic uncertainty, first movers more often diverge from the behaviour predicted by the model. Given our experimental results, the theoretical model needs to be revisited. The standard model of monetary payoff-maximizing agents should be substituted by one of decision makers who maximize a utility function which includes the psychological cost induced by strategic uncertainty. (C) 2019 Published by Elsevier B.V

Integrals of Motion for Critical Dense Polymers and Symplectic Fermions

We consider critical dense polymers ${\cal L}(1,2)$. We obtain for this model the eigenvalues of the local integrals of motion of the underlying Conformal Field Theory by means of Thermodynamic Bethe Ansatz. We give a detailed description of the relation between this model and Symplectic Fermions including the indecomposable structure of the transfer matrix. Integrals of motion are defined directly on the lattice in terms of the Temperley Lieb Algebra and their eigenvalues are obtained and expressed as an infinite sum of the eigenvalues of the continuum integrals of motion. An elegant decomposition of the transfer matrix in terms of a finite number of lattice integrals of motion is obtained thus providing a reason for their introduction.Comment: 53 pages, version accepted for publishing on JSTA

The management of dental practices in the post-covid 19 era: An economic and operational perspective

Background: In order to protect dental teams and their patients during the COVID-19 pandemic, dentists have had to adopt several measures (operating and post-operating procedures) which may increase the total treatment time and costs relating to individual protective measures. This paper will propose a thorough analysis of operating dentistry procedures, comparing the economic performance of the activity in a dental surgery before and after the adoption of these protective measures, which are required to contain the risk of SARS-COV-2 infections. Methods: The economic analysis is articulated in three approaches. Firstly, it assesses a reduction in markup by maintaining current charges (A); alternatively, it suggests revised charges to adopt in order to maintain unvaried levels of markup (B). And the third Approach (C) examines available dental treatments, highlighting how to profitably combine treatment volumes to reduce markup loss or a restricted increase in dental charges. Results: Maintaining dental charges could cause a loss in markup, even rising to 200% (A); attempting to maintain unvaried levels of markup will result in an increase in dental charges, even at 100% (B); and varying the volumes of the single dental treatments on offer (increasing those which current research indicates as the most profitable) could mitigate the economic impact of the measures to prevent the transmission of SARS-COV-2 (C). Conclusions: The authors of this paper provide managerial insights which can assist the dentist-entrepreneur to become aware of the boundaries of the economic consequences of governmental measures in containing the virus infection

The Baxter Q Operator of Critical Dense Polymers

We consider critical dense polymers ${\cal L}_{1,2}$, corresponding to a logarithmic conformal field theory with central charge $c=-2$. An elegant decomposition of the Baxter $Q$ operator is obtained in terms of a finite number of lattice integrals of motion. All local, non local and dual non local involutive charges are introduced directly on the lattice and their continuum limit is found to agree with the expressions predicted by conformal field theory. A highly non trivial operator $\Psi(\nu)$ is introduced on the lattice taking values in the Temperley Lieb Algebra. This $\Psi$ function provides a lattice discretization of the analogous function introduced by Bazhanov, Lukyanov and Zamolodchikov. It is also observed how the eigenvalues of the $Q$ operator reproduce the well known spectral determinant for the harmonic oscillator in the continuum scaling limit.Comment: improved version, accepted for publishing on JSTA

A single amino acid change A19V in perforin: a novel, frequent predisposing factor to childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia?

We screened 100 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) to assess the incidence of single amino acid change A91V in perform. Heterozygous A91V was found in 12/100 patients and 5/127 controls (OR, 3.4; 95%CI: 1.15-9.95; p=0.014). A91V is a novel and frequent predisposing factor for childhood ALL

Preliminary bioassays on the susceptibility of stone fruits rootstocks to Capnodis tenebrionis (L.).

Capnodis tenebrionis (L.) (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), the so called Mediterranean flat-headed root-borer, is an economically important phytophagous pest species mainly on stone fruit trees (apricot, plum, cherry, peach and nectarine). Chemicals and Entomopathogenic nematodes are used for the control of adults and neonate larvae, respectively. Further control means are under investigations in order to have more options within Integrated Pest Control strategies. This study is aimed at investigating the susceptibility of rootstocks to the larvae of C. tenebrionis. Two bioassays were carried out during 2016 and 2017. A first bioassay was based on the evaluation of a potential antixenosis action expressed by neonate larvae infesting twigs of rootstocks (Marianna 26, Barrier, Adesoto, Mylaboran 29C, GF677, Garnem, Cab 6P, Max Ma60 and Colt). This bioassay allowed to process a high number of different rootstocks in a short time. It has a preliminary value. The second bioassay assessed the antibiosis influence of the rootstocks through the breeding of larvae (since the neonate ones) on artificial diets containing bark flour of Adesoto, Cab 6P, Colt, Garnem, GF677, Max Ma60, Montclar and 29C rootstock. The first bioassay showed that Colt, Mylaboran 29C and GF677 were the most susceptible rootstocks to larval infestation of C. tenebrionis and Max Ma60 was less favorable to the pest. Concerning the effects of the diet, larvae reared on a diet containing Montclar, Cab 6P and GF 677 bark flour had a mean daily increase of their weight higher that those reared on cortex tissues of other genotypes whereas Garnem and Colt had a lower increase

Functional Fixedness in Creative Thinking Tasks Depends on Stimulus Modality

This article may not exactly replicate the final version published in the APA journal. It is not the copy of record.Pictorial examples during creative thinking tasks can lead participants to fixate on these examples and reproduce their elements even when yielding suboptimal creative products. Semantic memory research may illuminate the cognitive processes underlying this effect. Here, we examined whether pictures and words differentially influence access to semantic knowledge for object concepts depending on whether the task is close- or open-ended. Participants viewed either names or pictures of everyday objects, or a combination of the two, and generated common, secondary, or ad hoc uses for them. Stimulus modality effects were assessed quantitatively through reaction times and qualitatively through a novel coding system, which classifies creative output on a continuum from top-down-driven to bottom-up-driven responses. Both analyses revealed differences across tasks. Importantly, for ad hoc uses, participants exposed to pictures generated more top-down-driven responses than those exposed to object names. These findings have implications for accounts of functional fixedness in creative thinking, as well as theories of semantic memory for object concepts

Paraconductivity of K-doped SrFe2As2 superconductor

Paraconductivity of the optimally K-doped SrFe2As2 superconductor is investigated within existing fluctuation mechanisms. The in-plane excess conductivity has been measured in high quality single crystals, with a sharp superconducting transition at Tc=35.5K and a transition width less than 0.3K. The data have been also acquired in external magnetic field up to 14T. We show that the fluctuation conductivity data in zero field and for temperatures close to Tc, can be explained within a three-dimensional Lawrence-Doniach theory, with a negligible Maki-Thompson contribution. In the presence of the magnetic field, it is shown that paraconductivity obeys the three-dimensional Ullah-Dorsey scaling law, above 2T and for H||c. The estimated upper critical field and the coherence length nicely agree with the available experimental data.Comment: 12 pages, 5 figure