Computational and Experimental Market Design

This dissertation contributes to the literature on the market design of auctions. I use computational and experimental techniques to make two types of contributions to the literature. First, I provide a program that implements a state-of-the-art algorithm for solving multi-unit auctions with asymmetric bidders. This methodological contribution can be used by other economists to solve a variety of auction problems not considered in this dissertation. Second, I undertake the study of one auction environment in particular, utilizing my program to generate hypotheses when bidders participate in a particular sealed-bid, asymmetric multi-unit auction. These hypotheses are then tested in an experimental setting

Effects of simulated insect defoliation and annual weed competition on soybean and velvetleaf development

The separate and combined effects of velvetleaf competition and simulated green cloverworm (SGCW) defoliation were evaluated in a 3-year field study (1979 through 1981). Statistical documentation of velvetleaf competition stress (3 duration intervals x 2 weed densities plus a weed-free soybean control) was limited to soybeans in weed-proximate locations at the tested densities. Pre-harvest weed-induced reductions in nodes with unrolled leaves (1981 only) and certain component and total dry weight (DWT), mean crop growth rate (CGR),(\u27 )and mean relative growth rate (RGR) fractions were determined from samples collected 6 or more weeks after emergence. The SGCW defoliation procedure (4 or 5 densities were simulated through a temperature-dependent defoliation-developmental model by hole-punching) reduced soybean leaf area, height, lodging, certain component and total DWTs, CGRs,(\u27 )and RGRs. Nodal development lagged slightly in 1980 defoliated plots. Little evidence of compensatory growth has noted in plots where stresses were terminated by weed removal or SGCW pupation. None of the 28 or 35 treatment combinations altered soybean stand counts, branching, reproductive development, or gravimetric soil moisture determinations significantly. Statistical confirmation of velvetleaf and green cloverworm treatment interactions was not realized through the analysis of soybean growth and development;A standardized system of describing velvetleaf vegetative and reproductive development was proposed. An undescribed beetle of the family Bruchidae (Abutiloneus new species) emerged from velvetleaf seed. Monocropped velvetleaf eventually exceeded velvetleaf intercropped with soybeans in most growth characteristics. Soybeans began stressing intercropped weeds within 4 weeks of emergence. Few velvetleaf growth characteristics increased in response to linear increases in SGCW defoliation of adjacent full-blown soybeans. Simulated green cloverworm defoliation of adjacent soybeans did not alter weed heights significantly, but did affect the development of weed soybean/canopy height differentials (by stunting the crop). Furthermore, an analysis of weed/soybean canopy height differentials indicated that the temporal feasibility of certain late-season weed control devices (rope-wick applicators and recirculating sprayers) may vary, depending on the level of insect defoliation previously tolerated

Complex family issues: Collective awareness, common narratives and coordinated approaches to promoting resilience

5 page(s

Families, policy and the law: selected essays on contemporary issues for Australia

These collected essays explore the complexities that confront those who frame social policy and those involved in the social services and legal systems that intersect with child and family issues. Introduction There are few areas of policy that carry greater complexity than those that focus on families. The dynamics of family formation are, and have always been, intricately connected with the evolving conditions of societies and the constraints and values they embrace at any given era. Some things, however, are perennial. The functions families fulfil have remained essentially unchanged despite the shifts in the circumstances and challenges that families confront. Not surprisingly, the ways in which policy-makers seek to address the needs of families also evolve and, in turn, influence the changing social context. Broadly speaking, policy initiatives seek to support family stability, facilitate positive functioning, enhance their safety and security, and generally promote the wellbeing of family members to the benefit of their communities and the wider society. Family policy involves a complex mix of social, economic, educational, employment, housing and health policies, along with a range of other child- and family-focused priorities. These policy “levers” are used to enhance opportunities, build capacity and capitalise on individual and family strengths. Just as social policy is framed by the complexities of family and societal change, childand family-focused legal systems also confront the challenges of change. Changing social and policy contexts have far-reaching implications for the law. While legislation tends to follow such change, it can also drive change. The collected essays in this volume seek to explore some of the complexities that confront both those who frame social policy and those involved in the social services and legal systems that intersect with child and family issues. The genesis of the volume was in a set of papers presented to the 12th Australian Institute of Family Studies Conference held in Melbourne from 25 to 27 July 2012. In reflecting on the wealth of material presented at the conference, we were impressed by the many papers that focused on topics at the intersection of policy and the law. We have added some invited essays to these conference presentations to provide succinct snapshots of some of the issues with which Australia, like many other nations, grapples in this first part of the 21st century. It is by no means an exhaustive coverage of the terrain, but a sampling of some of the contemporary issues at the forefront of thinking about the complexities of the lives of Australian children and families

The Human Metaphor for Knowledge Management Systems

Most organizations already have a basic form of knowledge base in their standard operating procedures (SOPs), company policies, transaction records, etc. But organizational knowledge also includes the combined experience of all of the organization’s employees – the human capital of the firm (Penrose 1959). This type of knowledge, diffused throughout the organization, is called “migratory knowledge” (Badaracco, 1991) in that it is only ‘on loan’ to the organization as long as the individual that holds it remains an employee. It is the combination of the diffused and migratory nature of this knowledge, along with its continual creation, that makes the sharing of this knowledge both difficult and imperative. Unfortu- nately, much of an organization’s newly created ‘know- ledge’ is never captured or shared; it never moves beyond those who actually experienced its creation. Thus, this non-collected, non-shared knowledge is continually being lost as employees simply forget their experience or leave the organization

RTJ-303: Variable geometry, oblique wing supersonic aircraft

This document is a preliminary design of a High Speed Civil Transport (HSCT) named the RTJ-303. It is a 300 passenger, Mach 1.6 transport with a range of 5000 nautical miles. It features four mixed-flow turbofan engines, variable geometry oblique wing, with conventional tail-aft control surfaces. The preliminary cost analysis for a production of 300 aircraft shows that flyaway cost would be 183 million dollars (1992) per aircraft. The aircraft uses standard jet fuel and requires no special materials to handle aerodynamic heating in flight because the stagnation temperatures are approximately 130 degrees Fahrenheit in the supersonic cruise condition. It should be stressed that this aircraft could be built with today's technology and does not rely on vague and uncertain assumptions of technology advances. Included in this report are sections discussing the details of the preliminary design sequence including the mission to be performed, operational and performance constraints, the aircraft configuration and the tradeoffs of the final choice, wing design, a detailed fuselage design, empennage design, sizing of tail geometry, and selection of control surfaces, a discussion on propulsion system/inlet choice and their position on the aircraft, landing gear design including a look at tire selection, tip-over criterion, pavement loading, and retraction kinematics, structures design including load determination, and materials selection, aircraft performance, a look at stability and handling qualities, systems layout including location of key components, operations requirements maintenance characteristics, a preliminary cost analysis, and conclusions made regarding the design, and recommendations for further study

MF918

Randall A. Higgins, Sue L. Blodgett and Andrew W. Lenssen, “Alfalfa weevil management in Kansas: II. Non-chemical controls,” Kansas State University, April 1989

ADOPTION OF SUPPLEMENTAL WORK-AT-HOME: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

The primary purpose of this study is to develop a deeper understanding of the dynamics of the adoption of SWAH. Specifically, it examines how the work and family environments of dual-career male and female and traditional male parents who perform SWAH differ from the work and family environments of their cohorts who do not. People who perform SWAH were found to work significantly more hours per week and more hours at home than those who did not adopt SWAH. The data indicates that men and women who have higher level more challenging jobs (Le., greater work expectations and lower role clarity) were more likely to adopt SWAH than were men and women with fewer career demands. There were no significant differences in the family environments of men who did and did not adopt SWAH. Perceived family responsibility (i.e., family involvement, family expectations) was associated with a woman\u27s tendency to adopt SWAH