Influencers in Dynamic Financial Networks

To monitor risk in temporal financial networks, an understanding of how individual behaviours affect the temporal evolution of networks is needed. This is typically achieved using centrality and importance metrics, which rank nodes in terms of their position in the network. This approach works well for static networks, that do not change over time, but does not consider the dynamics of the network. In addition to this, current methods are often unable to capture the complex, often sparse and disconnected structures of financial transaction networks. This thesis addresses these gaps by considering importance from a dynamical perspective, first by using spectral perturbations to derive measures of importance for nodes and edges, then adapting these methods to incorporate a structural awareness. I complement these methods with a generative model for transaction networks that captures how individual behaviours give rise to the key properties of these networks, offering new methods to add to the regulatory toolkit. My contributions are made across three studies which complement each other in their findings. Study 1: \begin{itemize} \item I define a structural importance metric for the edges of a network, based on perturbing the adjacency matrix and observing the resultant change in its largest eigenvalues. \item I combine this with a model of network evolution where this metric controls the scale and probabilities of subsequent edge changes. This allows me to consider how edge importance relates to subsequent edge behaviour. \item I use this model alongside an exercise to predict subsequent change from edge importance. Using this I demonstrate how the model parameters are related to the capability of predicting whether an edge will change from its importance. \end{itemize} Study 2: \begin{itemize} \item I extend my measure of edge importance to measure the importance of nodes, and to capture complex community structures through the use of additional components of the eigenspectrum. \item While computed from a static network, my measure of node importance outperforms other centrality measures as a predictor of nodes subsequently transacting. This implies that static representations of temporal networks can contain information about their dynamics. \end{itemize} Study 3: \begin{itemize} \item I contrast the snapshot based methods used in the first two studies by modelling the dynamic of transactions between counterparties using both univariate and multivariate Hawkes processes, which capture the non-linear `bursty’ behaviour of transaction sequences. \item I find that the frequency of transactions between counterparties increases the likelihood of them to transact in the future, and that univariate and multivariate Hawkes processes show promise as generative models for transaction sequences. \item Hawkes processes also perform well when used to model buys and sells through a central clearing counterparty when considered as a bivariate process, but not as well when these are modelled as individual univariate processes. This indicates that mutual excitation between buys and sells is present in these markets. \end{itemize} The observations presented in this thesis provide new insights into the behaviour of equities markets, which until now have mainly been studied via price information. The metrics I propose offer a new potential to identify important traders and transactions in complex trading networks. The models I propose provide a null model over which a user could detect outlying transactions and could also be used to generate synthetic data for sharing purposes

Exploring "medically unexplained symptoms" with GPs and counselling psychologists : a Foucauldian Discourse Analysis

"Medically unexplained symptoms" or "MUS" has been constructed as a term to describe persistent physical symptoms for which no medical aetiology can be found. "MUS" account for at least 20 per cent of UK medical consultations, yet fit uneasily within a biomedical discourse where illness is legitimised by medical diagnosis. "MUS" supposedly operates as a neutral category, yet critical review of the literature problematises this so-called neutrality: it fails to be neutral whilst avoiding depicting the situation as it is. There is widespread conflict about terminology and aetiology, which results in the subjective creation of legitimacy criteria; disavowal of a psychological dimension; and patients receiving costly and ineffective treatment. This research, motivated by the need within this conflict to better understand the implications of how we talk about “MUS”, explores how practitioners are constructing “MUS”. Four semi-structured interviews with GPs and counselling psychologists were undertaken and analysed using Foucauldian Discourse Analysis. Alongside underlying biomedical discourses, discourses of separation, mindbody dualism, psychology and holism were identified. These contributed to various constructions of "MUS", including "MUS-as-choice", "MUS-as-challenge", "MUS-as-unreal", "MUS-as-placeless" and "MUS-as-untold-story". This research problematises the separation of illness into categories, the psychologisation of "MUS" and the lack of availability of an acceptable holistic discourse with which to construct illness. It emphasises the performative nature of our talk about "MUS" and the importance of discourse awareness for deepening our understanding of social and cultural influences on how we see the world and act within it. Exclusive biomedical and psychological constructions of illness displace "MUS" as legitimate illness and limit opportunities for constructive dialogue. As practitioners, we need to resist getting caught up in these frameworks. Suggestions are made for how practical disturbances of current working practices might be achieved

Do No Harm: Perceptions of Short-term Health Camps in Nepal

Short-term health camps are a growing form of delivering health care services to needy populations. Often these camps, usually lasting around 2 weeks, are led by I/NGOs in developing nations like Nepal and are staffed with volunteers from the Global North. These camps are largely ungoverned, and there are no evaluative techniques in place to monitor the effectiveness of the work done, raising concerns about the unintended consequences of short-term health camps camps. Nepal is particularly vulnerable to this issue because of the vast number of I/NGOs currently operating within its boundaries. This research sought to expand the conversation surrounding medical volunteerism and health camps and to examine perceptions surrounding health camps and approaches to health development in Nepal from the perspectives of I/NGO staff working in the country. Through semi-structured interviews, key aspects of I/NGOs’ approaches to health development and views and experiences surrounding health camps were identified. Research findings show that many I/NGO workers are aware of the limitations and ethical implications of temporary health camps, such as inadvertent medical harm, circumventing the root cause of poverty and ill health, and encouragement of paternalistic attitudes. A strong need is expressed for more effective governance of I/NGOs’ health development work

Circuit Development in the Dorsal Lateral Geniculate Nucleus (dLGN) of the Mouse.

The visual system is one of the most widely used and best understood sensory systems and the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN) of the mouse has emerged as a model for investigating the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the development and activity-dependent refinement of sensory connections. Thalamic organization is highly conserved throughout species and the dLGN of the mouse possesses many features common to higher mammals, such as carnivores and primates. Two general classes of neuron are present within the dLGN, thalamocortical relay cells and interneurons, both of which receive direct retinal input. Axons of relay cells exit dLGN and convey visual information to layer IV of cortex, whereas interneurons are involved in local circuitry. In addition, dLGN receives rich nonretinal input from numerous areas of the brain. Studies thus far have focused on the retinogeniculate pathway and the development of connections between retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and relay cells has been well characterized. However, there are still a number of unanswered questions about circuit development in dLGN. Here we examined two aspects that are not well understood, the pattern of retinal convergence onto interneurons and the structural and functional innervation of nonretinal projections. To address the first issue we conducted in vitro whole-cell recordings from acute thalamic slices of GAD67-GFP mice, a transgenic strain in which dLGN interneurons express GFP. We also did 3-D reconstructions of biocytin-labeled interneurons using multi-photon laser scanning microscopy in conjunction with anterograde labeling of retinogeniculate projections to examine the distribution of retinal contacts. To begin to examine the development of nonretinal connections in dLGN we made use of a transgenic mouse (golli-τ-GFP) to visualize corticogeniculate projections, one of the largest sources of nonretinal input to dLGN. Using this mouse we studied the timing and patterning of corticogeniculate innervation in relation to the development of the retinogeniculate pathway. We also used binocular enucleation and genetic deafferentation to test whether the retina plays a role in regulating nonretinal innervation. We found that there is a coordination of retinal and nonretinal innervation in dLGN. Projections from the retina were the first to innervate and they entered dLGN at perinatal ages. They also made functional connections with both relay cells and interneurons at early postnatal ages. Interestingly, relay cells underwent a period of retinogeniculate refinement, whereas the degree of retinal convergence onto interneurons was maintained. This possibly reflects the different roles that these two cell types have in dLGN. Both structural and functional corticogeniculate innervation was delayed in comparison and occurred postnatally, however in the absence of retinal input the timing of corticogeniculate innervation was accelerated. RGCs transmit the visual information encoded in the retina to dLGN so it may be necessary for these connections to be formed before those from nonretinal projections, which serve to modulate that signal on its way to cortex. Thus precise timing of retinal and nonretinal innervation may be important for the appropriate formation of connections in the visual system and the retina seems to be playing an important role in regulating this timing

Family Structure and Children\u27s Socioeconomic Attainment in the Transition to Adulthood

With the proliferation of different family forms in many western countries over the last few decades, research investigating the influence of family structure on children’s socioeconomic status attainment has expanded dramatically, especially in the United States. The purpose of this study was to estimate the relative influence of family structure, maternal resources and family mental health on predicting children’s educational, occupational, and income attainment in young adulthood. Data for this study were derived from a case-comparison, three-wave panel study of single-parent and two-parent families living in London, Ontario, with interviews conducted in 1993 (wave 1), 1994 (wave 2), and between 2005 and 2008 (wave 3). The sample size at wave one includes 518 single mothers and 502 married mothers. By wave 3, the children of these mothers were 15 to 33 years of age. The data at the third wave included re-interviews with 349 out of 518 (67.4%) of the original sample of single parents, and 430 out of 502 (85.7%) of the original sample of married mothers. Children’s socioeconomic attainment was determined by assessment of post-secondary education credentials, personal and household income and their longest and most recent job held. A latent class cluster analysis was used to determine distinct groups of mothers who shared similar clusters of family structure. Logistic regression and multiple regression models were then used to predict children’s socioeconomic outcomes. There were virtually no differences in status attainment by family structure. The one exception was that children raised in temporally stable single-parent families, and those whose mothers transitioned from a single-parent family to a two-parent family had higher socioeconomic status occupations for their longest job held than did children raised in temporally stable two-parent families. Maternal education was positively related to the likelihood that children would graduate from college/university, and children’s education mediated the influence of maternal education on children’s most recent job held. Children’s mental health problems mediate the relationship between maternal depression and children’s educational attainment

Distorted Burden Shifting & Barred Mitigation: Being a Stubborn 234 Years Old Ironically Hasn’t Helped the Supreme Court Mature

This Note explores the intricate relationship between emerging adulthood, defined as the transitional phase between youth and adulthood (ages 18-25), and the legal implications of capital punishment. Contrary to a fixed age determining adulthood, research highlights the prolonged nature of the maturation process, especially for individuals impacted by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). The Note challenges the current legal framework that deems individuals aged 18 to 25 who experienced ACEs as eligible for capital punishment, highlighting the cognitive impact of ACEs on developmental trajectories. Examining cases like Dzhokhar Tsarnaev and Billy Joe Wardlow, this Note argues that courts often bypass mitigating evidence related to ACEs, thereby perpetuating judicial errors. The mismatched burdens of proof for aggravating and mitigating factors further compound the problem, contributing to a flawed system that disproportionately affects emerging adults. In response to these issues, some states are reevaluating their approach to emerging adult justice, considering initiatives such as “raise the age” campaigns and specialized courts. The Note promotes an approach that aligns with cognitive age appropriateness, tailoring interventions to encompass restorative justice, rehabilitative measures, and a comprehensive legal framework to address the distinct needs of the emerging adult population. Recognizing the potential for cognitive development and rehabilitation during this transitional phase, this Note contends that alternative methods can provide opportunities for ACE-impacted individuals to age out of criminal behaviors, potentially altering life trajectories and mitigating the imposition of capital punishment

INTER-JOINT COORDINATION IN THE BACK SQUAT WITH A BAND AROUND THE KNEES

Looped resistance bands are often placed around the knees to provide a proprioceptive aid to reduce knee valgus during a squat. So far, research examining the kinematic effects of band use is limited to frontal plane knee mechanics. The objectives of this thesis were: 1) to determine if the use of looped resistance bands during a loaded barbell squat, would alter sagittal plane squat mechanics and 2) to determine if changes in squat mechanics were different between male and female participants. Subjects (10 males, and 10 females) completed 3 repetitions of 4 squat conditions (3 band conditions of varying tension, and one control) in random order, at 85% of their estimated one repetition maximum loads. Knee, hip, and barbell kinematics were measured, as well as coordination and variability during the ascent and descent of the movement. Reductions in knee flexion angles, joint velocities, and increased variability at the knee were observed with band use. Increased variability at the hip joint, and in turn, coordination between the knee and hip joint, were altered when bands were used. As a result of changes at the knee and hip joint, vertical barbell range of motion was reduced. The effects of the band appeared to be more pronounced with increasing band tension. Analysis of sex differences revealed coordinative differences between the male and female groups in control and band conditions, with female subjects displaying more significant changes in technique with increasing band tension. This study suggests that the effects of a looped resistance band are not limited to the fontal plane as originally intended and have several effects on sagittal plane squat kinematics

Fixed and Growth Mindset in Undergraduate Students: Impacts on Academic Achievement and Resilient Behaviors

The study of mindset is relevant to various outcomes that occur across the span of a college student’s career. There are two different mindsets that all students view themselves through the lens of, a fixed mindset and a growth mindset. The fixed mindset implies that traits are unchangeable, whereas the growth mindset implies that traits are malleable (Dweck 2015). The current study sets out to examine the relationship between mindset and academic achievement, mindset and resilient behaviors, and the potential meditational variables between mindset and academic achievement, in an undergraduate population. Participants completed a Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) release form for their official semester GPA and measures assessing mindset, procrastination, study habits, self- handicapping habits, depressive symptoms, and intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation. Participants completed questionnaires in a lab in the Psychology department for research credit. Mediational analyses were not run due to a lack of variability in the data that produced a negative relationship between growth mindset and GPA in participants. The predicted relationship between emotion growth mindset and lower levels of depressive symptoms was found. Further research on this topic is necessary to explore results that are inconsistent with the present literature on the topic