The health queuing game

This paper studies agent-to-agent games in competition for a free public resource. The resource is not evidently scarce, scarcity may, however, be the equilibrium outcome. The agents' attributes may di er as well as quality parameters between di erent public resources. The examples are taken from the health sector. Based on simple two-player simultaneous games of complete information, results regarding agent equilibrium quality choices are derived. Most notably, Nash equilibria of the type: very ill patients choose low quality hospitals (denoted adverse patient allocation in the paper) are demonstrated. Furthermore, it is argued that a situation characterized by patients with relatively mild diseases but large patient variability (big di erences between patients regarding the given disease) and a health system with medium competition are prime candidates for Nash equilibria characterized by such Adverse patient allocation e ects

Multifacet holographic optical elements

New types of holographic optical elements, combining the flexibility of computer generated holograms with the large space bandwidth product and high diffraction efficiency of interferometrically recorded volume phase holograms, are demonstrated. The optical elements are recorded by subdividing a volume hologram film surface into numerous small areas (facets), each of which is individually exposed under computer control. Each facet is used to produce a portion of the desired final wavefront. Three different optical elements are demonstrated

Remote sensing of land use and water quality relationships - Wisconsin shore, Lake Michigan

This investigation assessed the utility of remote sensing techniques in the study of land use-water quality relationships in an east central Wisconsin test area. The following types of aerial imagery were evaluated: high altitude (60,000 ft) color, color infrared, multispectral black and white, and thermal; low altitude (less than 5000 ft) color infrared, multispectral black and white, thermal, and passive microwave. A non-imaging hand-held four-band radiometer was evaluated for utility in providing data on suspended sediment concentrations. Land use analysis includes the development of mapping and quantification methods to obtain baseline data for comparison to water quality variables. Suspended sediment loads in streams, determined from water samples, were related to land use differences and soil types in three major watersheds. A multiple correlation coefficient R of 0.85 was obtained for the relationship between the 0.6-0.7 micrometer incident and reflected radiation data from the hand-held radiometer and concurrent ground measurements of suspended solids in streams. Applications of the methods and baseline data developed in this investigation include: mapping and quantification of land use; input to watershed runoff models; estimation of effects of land use changes on stream sedimentation; and remote sensing of suspended sediment content of streams. High altitude color infrared imagery was found to be the most acceptable remote sensing technique for the mapping and measurement of land use types

Uncertainty of outcome and varying fan preferences : a game theoretic approach

This paper applies simple game theory to investigate an equilibrium link between composition of football clubs’ fans preferences and the clubs’ talent acquisition decisions. Such a link is identified, and wealth of the clubs turns out to be important for such equilibria to be established. However, even poor clubs can reach equilibria where they end up being winners of the “talent-acquisition-game”, given that their fans are ‘die-hard’ enough. In short; clubs with a long history and a dedicated fan base are much better prepared for successful competition in the football market.publishedVersio

Point score systems and football coaching secrecy

In this paper, a game between two football (soccer) teams is analysed. The focus is on how the choice of point score system may affect Nash equilibria in a given simultaneous game and a corresponding sequential version. The reason for this choice, is (to some extent) experience related to the growing secrecy on pre-game strategic choices among football coaches. It is demonstrated by the relatively simple game theory, that the point score system plays a vital role in how teams (coaches) will “play” such games, given that they are rational and recognize Nash equilibrium as a reasonable game prediction. In fact, some evidence on an increased tendency for more pre-game strategic secrecy is logically established in a move from a 2-1-0 point score system to a 3-1-0 point score system.publishedVersio

Uncertainty of outcome and financial inequality : is the obvious not so obvious?

The article reports a series of regressions between various proxies for financial inequality and uncertainty of outcome in English football. The main finding is that no significant association between these two variables are identified. Potential alternative explanatory factors for uncertainty of outcome are also discussed, and a significant association between corruption and uncertainty of outcome is identified. Keywords: uncertainty of outcome, financial inequality, European football, gini index, corruption indexacceptedVersio

The alleged causality between number of teams in a league and national team quality

This article presents a simple linear regression between national football team quality and uncertainty of outcome in associated national leagues. The main results indicate no significant causal relationship between the variables, a conclusion somewhat contradictive to many practitioners argument on improving competitive balance in local leagues as a mean of improving national team quality. Keywords: Uncertainty of outcome, FIFA rank, number of teams in league, causality.acceptedVersio

Fighting doping through sport redesign

This commentary discusses how the rules of the game may affect doping positively and negatively. The link between rules and doping prevalence is established. Some examples are given, indicating what to do and not. The main scientific outcome of the paper is perhaps that the fight against doping can be performed cheaper than through classical means such as improved test quality/higher test frequency, or less progressive (more egalitarian) prize functions, or tougher sanctions. As such, the recommended strategy may be seen as a “Columbi Egg”. But, as always, nothing comes for free, and some serious creativity in sport redesign is needed to realize this method’s potential. Keywords: economics of doping, sport redesign, sport complexity, uncertainty of outcome, anti dopingacceptedVersio