Interdependent security experiments

This paper analyzes the behavior of subjects in interdependent security experiments which exhibit strategic complementarity. In these experiments, subjects decide whether to pay to mitigate the risk of a loss, but the exact risk depends on the actions of other subjects. Two ranked equilibria exist, and the efficient equilibrium is for all agents to pay for the mitigation. Subjects in the interdependent security experiments rarely coordinate on the efficient equilibrium. Coordination is slightly more common in similar coordination games without the risk mitigation decision. The experiments also compare the effectiveness of two policies at inducing higher levels of mitigation.experiments, coordination game, risk mitigation, interdependent security

Interaction of aluminium hydrolytic species with biomolecules

In this contribution the formation of bioinorganic assemblies between the basic globular protein lysozyme and aqueous aluminium species including Al 13 -mer, Al 30 -mer and colloidal aluminium hydroxide have been explored and comparison made to previous interaction studies performed with bovine serum albumin (BSA). Specific charge-stabilised bioinorganic assemblies involving aluminium species and lysozyme were observed to form in contrast to the gel like structures formed on interaction of BSA with aluminium species. As demonstrated by infrared spectroscopy (structural assignment, 2D correlation spectroscopy), interactions mostly involve acidic surface groups of the proteins (Asp, Glu), with strong complexation and deprotonation in the case of BSA interacting with Al 13 and Al 30 and through hydrogen bonding for lysozyme interacting with the same species and aluminium hydroxide particles interacting with both biomolecules

Energy transfer from an individual quantum dot to a carbon nanotube

A detailed understanding of energy transduction is crucial for achieving precise control of energy flow in complex, integrated systems. In this context, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are intriguing model systems due to their rich, chirality-dependent electronic and optical properties. Here, we study the quenching of fluorescence from isolated quantum dots (QDs) upon approach of individual CNTs attached to atomic force microscope probes. Precision measurements of many different CNT/QD pairs reveal behavior consistent with resonant energy transfer between QD and CNT excitons via a Fohrster-like dipole-dipole coupling. The data reveal large variations in energy transfer length scales even though peak efficiencies are narrowly distributed around 96%. This saturation of efficiency is maintained even when energy transfer must compete with elevated intrinsic non-radiative relaxation rates during QD aging. These observations suggest that excitons can be created at different locations along the CNT length, thereby resulting in self-limiting behavior.Comment: 8 pages, 8 figures, with supplementary informatio

INVESTORS’ DECISION TO TRADE STOCKS – AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY

This paper experimentally examines the behavior of investors when buying and selling stocks. This behavior was tested under different conditions, among them restrictions on asset holdings or different information conditions. Basic financial theory suggests that subjects buy and sell according to expectations regarding the future prices of assets. On the other hand, behavioral biases, such as the disposition effect, suggest that subjects are affected by past performance of assets. In a series of experiments, subjects were asked to allocate a given endowment among six assets. All the assets had the same normal distribution. The results show that when subjects were not restricted regarding the number of assets they were allowed to hold and were given information only on the asset they hold, the holding time for losing and winning assets was the same, indicating that there was no effect of past performance. On the other hand, when subjects were required to hold three assets at all times and replace one asset on each round, they tended to sell losing assets too soon and hold winning assets too long. The results also show that subjects who are given information on market returns tend to sell winning assets (relatively to the market) too soon and hold losing assets too long.Behavioral finance, Disposition effect, experimental economics, momentum, trading.

Expression of IGPR-1 in endothelial cells regulates cell survival

Angiogenesis is a physiological process by which new blood vessels develop from preexisting vasculature. The process of converting endothelial cells into fully developed blood vessels involves multiple coordinated cellular events that occur through the collaboration that exists between a variety of growth factors, receptors and adhesion molecules. The immunoglobulin-containing and proline rich receptor-1 (IGPR-1) is an IgSF containing adhesion molecule that has been recently identified as a novel regulator of angiogenesis in vitro. In this study, we provide evidence that IGPR-1 promotes cell survival in porcine aortic endothelial cells (PAE) and plays a role in the inhibition of p38 MAPK in vitro. Deletion of the extracellular domain of IGPR-1 abolished IGPR-1’s ability to inhibit phosphorylation of p38 MAPK and promote the survival of endothelial cells. Likewise, mutation of serines 186 (A186-IGPR-1) and 220 (A220-IGPR-1) on the cytoplasmic domain of IGPR-1 was also found to reduce both the promotion of cell survival and inhibition of p38 MAPK. These findings suggest that both domains of IGPR-1 are important for endothelial cell survival and the activation p38 MAPK

Psychological interventions for mental health disorders in children with chronic physical illness: a systematic review.

Children with chronic physical illness are significantly more likely to develop common psychiatric symptoms than otherwise healthy children. These children therefore warrant effective integrated healthcare yet it is not established whether the known, effective, psychological treatments for symptoms of common childhood mental health disorders work in children with chronic physical illness

Doctor of Philosophy

dissertationThis work studies the optical interactions between single emitters, mainly quantum dots (QD) and a sharp tip. The fluorescence intensity, quantum yield and angular emission of a single emitter can be strongly modifi ed by near- field coupling with the sharp tip. Gold, silicon, and carbon nanotube (CNT) tips are employed in order to understand the physical mechanisms which are responsible for the various near- field eff ects. Each of these materials carries diff erent properties, which modify the optical properties of QDs in unique ways. In order to maximize the amount of information accessible by our near- field scanning microscope (NSOM), a novel near-f ield tomography technique is implemented. This technique facilitates the revelation of a number of interesting three-dimensional near- field features and is instrumental in the study of the di fferent near- field mechanisms. The flexibility in the data acquisition (DAC) technique allows us to study the influence of fluorescence intermittency (blinking) in QDs on the near- field coupling with the probes. The fluorescence emission from states with high quantum yield is more sensitive to quenching due to energy transfer, while in the low-yield states, near- field signal enhancement is more pronounced. The emission fluctuations of the QDs are progressively suppressed upon approach of a gold tip due to strong near- field coupling of gold tips to the QDs. Moreover, the angular emission of QDs in proximity to gold tips is very sensitive to the exact tip-QD position but does not depend on the intrinsic quantum yield of the QD. Energy transfer dominates the interactions of single CNTs with the QDs. Precision measurements of the energy transfer exhibit unique features as a result of the one-dimensional nature of CNTs. In particular, the energy transfer efficiency saturates at ~96% for all CNTs tried, even though the CNTs are expected to have a distribution of chiralities

Leading organizational change: a phenomenological study of the nonlinear strategies used by female leaders in global companies

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of female leaders and their role in using nonlinear models of change to influence organizational change. This study was designed to determine how approaches to change leadership deployed by female leaders contribute new information and principles to the field of organizational change. A phenomenological research method was the best approach to capture the insights, perspectives, and experiences of female leaders. This study examined the nonlinear change approaches of fourteen senior female leaders in large corporations. While female leaders are increasing in the executive suite, research around their role in change leadership remains limited. This qualitative, phenomenological study examined how fourteen female leaders used different strategies and approaches to lead organizational change. Their experiences, documented through the interview data, encompassed their personal philosophies and approaches in influencing change initiatives. The data gathered was analyzed to develop themes that scholars and female leaders could analyze and apply in the field of change management. The female leaders in this study shared five key strategies that they used to lead change: (a) Relatedness Strategies, (b) Inclusion Strategies, (c) Experiential Learning Methods, (d) Radar-emotion Detection Strategies, and (e) Authenticity and Trust Strategies. These strategies indicated a nonlinear approach to leading change that focused on intervention strategies that could be applied at any stage in the change journey. Four main conclusions can be derived from this study: (a) Effective change strategies need to be intervention driven; (b) The change leader functions best as an interceptor and connector within the organization; (c) Strategies to change require approaches that create inclusion and trust; and (d) Strategies to change should involve experiential learning designs. This study shed light on new methods and approaches for leading complex organizational change from a female perspective in corporations. Moreover, this research was relevant given the demographic changes in society and the strategic role that female leaders play today in corporations and will in the future