Asymmetric Allocation Research Articles

Balance between asymmetric allocation and repair of somatic damage in unicellular life forms as an ancient form of r/K selection

Over the course of multiple divisions, cells accumulate diverse nongenetic, somatic damage including misfolded and aggregated proteins and cell wall defects. If the rate of damage accumulation exceeds the rate of dilution through cell growth, a dedicated mitigation strategy is required to prevent eventual population collapse. Strategies for somatic damage control can be divided into two categories, asymmetric allocation and repair, which are not, in principle, mutually exclusive. We explore a mathematical model to identify the optimal strategy, maximizing the total cell number, over a wide range of environmental and physiological conditions. The optimal strategy is primarily determined by extrinsic, damage-independent mortality and the physiological model for damage accumulation that can be either independent (linear) or increasing (exponential) with respect to the prior accumulated damage. Under the linear regime, the optimal strategy is either exclusively repair or asymmetric allocation, whereas under the exponential regime, the optimal strategy is a combination of asymmetry and repair. Repair is preferred when extrinsic mortality is low, whereas at high extrinsic mortality, asymmetric damage allocation becomes the strategy of choice. We hypothesize that at an early stage of life evolution, optimization over repair and asymmetric allocation of somatic damage gave rise to r and K selection strategists.

Selling Fast and Buying Slow: Heuristics and Trading Performance of Institutional Investors

ABSTRACTAre market experts prone to heuristics, and do these heuristics transfer across buying and selling domains? We investigate this question using a unique data set of institutional investors with portfolios averaging $573 million. A striking finding emerges: While there is evidence of skill in buying, selling decisions underperform substantially, even relative to random‐selling strategies. This holds despite the similarity between the two decisions in frequency, substance, and consequences for performance. Evidence suggests an asymmetric allocation of cognitive resources such as attention can explain the discrepancy: We document a systematic, costly heuristic process for selling but not for buying.

Expert recommendations on homogenization management of the diagnosis and treatment of rare diseases in children

Rare diseases in children are characterized by low prevalence, complex pathogenesis, variety, and difficulty in the diagnosis and treatment. With the development of medical services, progress has been made in the diagnosis and treatment of rare diseases. However, due to asymmetric allocation of medical resources at different levels, there are still many shortcomings in the establishment and promotion of the homogenized management system of rare disease diagnosis and treatment. In order to further standardize the homogenized management of rare diseases in children, achieve early and accurate diagnosis and treatment, and improve the quality of life of the children, the Rare Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Center of Tianjin Children's Hospital (Tianjin University Children's Hospital) invited relevant experts in the field to develop recommendations for the management model of homogenized diagnosis and treatment of rare diseases in children from the aspects of information construction, hierarchical diagnosis and treatment, personnel training, scientific popularization, and multi-participation. The recommendations provide reference for the regional homogenization of clinical diagnosis and treatment management system for children with rare diseases.

A Hybridization Approach to Solve the Capacitated Asymmetric Allocation Hub Location Problem

This paper deals with a capacitated asymmetric allocation hub location problem (CAAHLP). We determine the number of hubs, the locations of hubs, and asymmetric allocation of non-hub nodes to hub with the objective of minimum total transportation costs satisfying the required service level. To solve the problem optimally, we present a 0-1 integer programming model and find an optimal solution using CPLEX. As the CAAHLP has impractically demanding for the large-sized problem, a solution method based on combined ant colony optimization algorithm and genetic algorithm is developed which solve hub location problem and node allocation problem respectively. We investigate performance of the proposed solution method through the comparative study. Key Words: Hub Location, Asymmetric Allocation, Ant Colony Optimization, Genetic Algorithm

Assembly of Microbial Communities Engaging in Metabolic Division of Labor in a Diffusion-Limited Environment Is Governed by Metabolic Flux.

Metabolic division of labor (MDOL) represents one of the most commonly occurring interactions within natural microbial communities. Specifically, in a variety of MDOL systems engaged in hydrocarbon degradation, a sequential degradation is performed by several members with final products that are necessary for the growth of each member. In these MDOL systems, each strain catalyzes one or more specific reactions of a multistep metabolic pathway, whose end products are then allocated among the participants. While the benefit allocation is independent of metabolic flux in well-mixed environments, it remains unclear how the benefits are allocated when diffusion is limited. Here, we investigated how MDOL communities assemble in a diffusion-limited environment, by combining mathematical modeling with experimental inquiry using a synthetic consortium engaged in MDOL. Our model analysis in a diffusion-limited environment showed that, when the growth of all populations in the community relies on the final product that can only be produced by the last population, a diffusion gradient of the final products may create a bias favoring the member producing the final products, resulting in a higher relative abundance of the final product producer. Moreover, such asymmetric allocation of the final products is enhanced by both the lower diffusion rate and the higher metabolic flux (i.e., the higher yields of the final products) in the MDOL. Our results show that in a diffusively confined environment, metabolic flux constitutes a determining factor in the assembly of the MDOL community. Together, our findings are critical for a better understanding of how resource-sharing microbial communities are established and should assist in designing such communities for improved biomanufacturing and bioremediation.

Axiomatic Processes for Asymmetric Allocation Rules under Fuzzy Multicriteria Situations

The present paper is dedicated to investigating weighted allocation rules under fuzzy multicriteria situations. In real-world situations, participants may represent administrative departments of different natures in the management system; participants may be able to perform their duties in the economic model. In addition, participants may adopt relative operating levels to different situations and effectively engage multiple objectives under operational processes. Therefore, considering fuzzy behavior and multicriteria situations, it is reasonable to assign corresponding weights to participants and their relative behavior and to allocate efficiency according to weights in proportion to relative weights, even if it will lead to an asymmetrical situation. In existing studies on fuzzy allocation rules, weights are always given to “participants” or their “operating levels” and then the differences between participants and their operating levels are adjusted. Inspired by the above considerations, relative major results are as follows. (1) By simultaneously assigning weights to participants and their operating levels (strategies), this study seeks to use the supreme marginal variations among operating level vectors to define a new asymmetric allocation rule under fuzzy multicriteria situations. (2) This study further utilizes axiomatic results to illustrate the expedience for this weighted fuzzy asymmetric allocation rule. (3) Finally, an extended index is also proposed by replacing weights with the supreme marginal dedications.

Unlicensed Spectrum Allocation for LTE and Wi-Fi Coexistence with HAP

In order to accommodate the ever-increasing traffic demands, numerous approaches have been developed to improve spectrum utilization. Among others, the coexistence of LTE (Long-Term Evolution) and Wi-Fi, addressed by the 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) with hyper access points (HAPs) as bridges, is well recognized as a promising candidate solution. Aimed at improving the spectrum utilization of the unlicensed bands by following LTE-Unlicensed (LTE-U), this article contributes to the determination of the optimal time ratio, δ, for the time-division multiplexing of LTE and Wi-Fi over unlicensed bands. Symmetric allocation with a duty cycle of 50% cannot be an optimal option. Asymmetric allocation according to the quality of service (QoS) requirements and traffic demands should be considered. The problem is formulated as an optimization problem optimizing the total throughput. The lower and upper bounds of δ are obtained according to the QoS requirements of Wi-Fi and the admission control requirements of LTE. The detailed procedure for finding an adequate δ is developed and presented. A series of simulations are conducted to demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed approach. Simulation results show that the proposed approach improves the total throughput without compromising the fairness of Wi-Fi, as intended. Ten percent of improvement in throughput compared with LTE-U can be achieved.

RESPONSE OF STEEL FRAME ASSEMBLY UNDER LOCALIZED FIRE EFFECT

The focus of the present paper is on the investigation of the deformation and forces of an isolated steel beam column sub-frame exposed to localized fire. The investigated frame is modelled using finite element software ABAQUS considering three dimensional solid elements. A sequentially coupled thermo-mechanical analysis, where the derived temperature distribution obtained from the heat transfer analysis used as an input for the mechanical analysis, is carried out. The input heat flux which acts as Neumann boundary condition for the heat transfer analysis is considered from widely recognized handbook of ‘Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SPFE)’ of fire. Elasto-plastic material model is used for steel where the temperature dependent material properties are followed according to the Eurocode 3. Different cases were investigated based on the location of the localized fire source in the floor below the exposed beam. It was observed that for asymmetrical location of the fire source beneath the beam, the rotation for the far end connection to the fire source was always higher than the near end.

INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH IN TREATMENT OF PATIENTS WITH DENTAL ANOMALIES

The article presents data on the treatment of patients with TMJ and concomitant deformities. The most important connection between the dental system and the musculoskeletal system is the temporomandibular joint, which in the presence of dental anomalies and in the period of temporary occlusion undergoes increased loads, which leads to its dysfunction. The concept of the interaction of posture and occlusion was first put forward in the early 20th century, which noted that children with glossoptosis have X-shaped legs, crooked posture and typical signs of distal occlusion. It has been theorized that occlusal disorders can alter posture in the frontal and sagittal planes and ultimately alter body weight distribution. Postural curvature causes a violation of the position of the head of the temporomandibular joint, which in turn leads to pain and joint dysfunction. Any postural disorders lead to compensatory changes throughout the body, not excluding the maxillofacial area. This is especially true for the formation of mesial occlusion (III class according to Angle). Mesial occlusion in the structure of dental anomalies is determined in 12% of cases, but the severity of the anomaly and aesthetic disorders that occur often force orthodontists to use a combination.
 Therefore, further improvement of methods of diagnosis and treatment of occlusions of occlusion of the third class according to Angle will allow most patients to get a positive treatment result and the opportunity to adapt in society. An example of coordination of specialists in the planning and implementation of treatment is the clinical case of patient K. 16 years old, who went to the clinic where on the basis of examination and special research methods diagnosed: Angle class III (skeletal form) true progeny, macroglossia. Also at inspection of a posture sharp curvature of a backbone, with signs of scoliosis is defined. From the back there is a clear asymmetry of the shoulders within 4 centimeters. Asymmetrical location of the shoulder blade and even significant hypertrophy of the right shoulder blade (in this direction the patient is determined by the displacement of the mandible).
 Asymmetry was noted in the general study of the face. Displacement of the chin to the right was noted. The asymmetry of facial structures begins with the upper third. Asymmetry of superciliary arches, orbits, wings of the nose, nostrils, and corners of the mouth was also observed. Deepened nasolabial folds were noted. The lower lip overlaps the upper one. But the profile of the face remains almost straight. Based on the data obtained, the patient was offered the following treatment plan: consultation with an orthopedist traumatologist about scoliosis, consultation with a dentist surgeon about skeletal surgery, consultation with a speech therapist. Orthodontic treatment is concerned with a brace system. The patient’s brace system was fixed on the upper jaw (“straight arch” technique was used). 38 and 48 teeth were removed. Bilateral planar osteotomy of the mandible and resection of the tip of the tongue were performed. The lower jaw brace system was fixed using oblique intermaxillary traction, which the patient used for 6 months. A course of therapy with a speech therapist was conducted to restore speech function. The total duration of the active treatment period contained 4 years. After creating the maximum occlusal contact, the patient regained chewing function. Thus, the treatment of mesial occlusion and its prognosis largely depends on etiological factors and the possibility of their elimination, as well as the severity of morphological and functional disorders, the difficulty of eliminating them during permanent occlusion. Therefore, the sacred rule of medicine "better to prevent than to cure" in relation to skeletal forms of mesial occlusion is the most relevant.

An Asymmetric Bargaining Model for Natural-Gas Distribution

For the sustainable socio-economic growth, the energy supply is one of the foundations for any country. The gas shortage is one of the most significant impediments to any emerging country’s economic progress, making it a contested and disputed resource. In the middle of a supply–demand mismatch, distributing limited available gas across administrative units/provinces with competing requirements is a key challenge. In this work, an asymmetric gas allocation bargaining model is proposed under gas shortage to resolve natural gas-related disputes among Pakistan’s administrative units/provinces. Each administrative unit/province is characterized by its gas demand. Results show that the Nash bargaining theory, when applied under equal and bargaining weights, can address the supply–demand mismatches of the gas sector in Pakistan. Such an approach could help policymakers to make a fair gas-supply management system during gas shortage periods and would help in resolving the disputes between the provinces.

Selling Fast and Buying Slow: Heuristics and Trading Performance of Institutional Investors

Are market experts prone to heuristics, and if so, do they transfer across closely related domains—buying and selling? We investigate this question using a unique dataset of institutional investors with portfolios averaging $573 million. A striking finding emerges: while there is clear evidence of skill in buying, selling decisions underperform substantially—even relative to random selling strategies. This holds despite the similarity between the two decisions in frequency, substance and consequences for performance. Evidence suggests that an asymmetric allocation of cognitive resources such as attention can explain the discrepancy: we document a systematic, costly heuristic process when selling but not when buying.

Allocation of Radiation Shielding Boards to Protect the Urban Search and Rescue Robots from Malfunctioning in the Radioactive Environments Arising from Decommissioning of the Nuclear Facility

A group of Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs) works in the city’s dangerous places that are caused by natural disasters or the decommissioning of nuclear facilities such as the nuclear power plant. Consider the multi sensor platform that the USAR UGV is equipped with, protecting the sensors from the danger that dwells in the working environments is highly related to the success of the USAR mission. The radioactive working environments due to the diffusion of the radioactive materials during the decommissioning of the nuclear facilities are proposed in this work. Radiation shielding boards are used to protect the sensors by installing them on the UGV. Generally, the more shielding boards installed on the UGV, the lower the probability of the sensor malfunctioning. With a large number of UGVs that are used in missions, a large number of shielding boards are needed. Considering the cost of the boards, a conflict between the finite budget and the best protection for the UGV swarm occurs. Due to differences in environments and working times, an asymmetric allocation of shielding boards might protect the UGV swarm better than that by allocating evenly. To minimize the absorption radiation doses, two methods including competitive equilibrium analysis and integer linear programming are proposed. The performances that result from the allocation of the shielding boards by two methods with different budgets are studied.

Inter‐community and on‐farm asymmetric organic matter allocation patterns drive soil fertility gradients in a rural Andean landscape

AbstractSoil fertility in agricultural landscapes is driven by complex interactions between natural and anthropogenic processes, with organic matter (OM) inputs playing a critical role. Asymmetric allocation patterns of these resources among communities and within individual farms can lead to soil fertility gradients. However, the drivers and consequences of such patterns in different socioecological contexts remains poorly documented and understood. The objective of this study was to address this gap by assessing asymmetric OM allocation patterns and the associated consequences for soil fertility management in three indigenous communities located in the Central Ecuadorian Andes. We found that both distance from homestead and perception of fertility were associated with asymmetric OM allocation patterns to fields as well as with soil fertility gradients within farms. For example, soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (N), available phosphorus (P), and exchangeable potassium (K) all decreased with distance from the homestead, while SOC, total N, and available P were positively correlated with a farmer's perception of soil fertility. We note that these fertility gradients remained even in the case of increased farm‐level OM inputs. Overall OM allocation patterns differed significantly among communities and were associated with significant differences in soil fertility, with the highest levels of available P and exchangeable K found in the community with the highest OM inputs. The results of this study indicate the importance of asymmetric OM allocation patterns encountered at different scales, both within farms and among neighboring communities, in rural Andean landscapes and their significant interactions with soil fertility gradients.

Asymmetric Attention and Stock Returns

This paper constructs a new measure of attention allocation by local investors relative to nonlocals using aggregate search volume from Google. We first present a conceptual framework in which local investors optimally choose to focus their attention on local stocks when they receive private news, leading to an asymmetric allocation of attention between local and nonlocal investors. Consistent with the main prediction of this framework, we find that firms attracting abnormally high asymmetric attention from local relative to nonlocal investors earn higher returns. A portfolio that goes long in stocks with high asymmetric attention and short in stocks with low asymmetric attention has an alpha of 32 basis points per month. The results are stronger for stocks with a greater degree of information friction. The new measure of asymmetric attention allows one to infer the arrival of unobservable private information by observing investors’ attention allocation behavior. This paper was accepted by Karl Diether, finance.

Podział obowiązków w gospodarstwach domowych w Polsce: analiza sezonowości pracy domowej i zawodowej

The analysis based on data from the Time Use Survey 2013 presents how household activities related to paid and unpaid work are distributed between women and men in Poland. The share of persons involved in selected activities at the defined time is presented. The 24‑hour rhythm of paid and unpaid work refers to weekdays (working days and weekends separately) and months. The analysis covers different groups of households, defined by the source of income and household living arrangements. The results confirm the hypothesis about double burden of women imposed by the asymmetric allocation of household duties between women and men, irrespectively of the source of household income. They also demonstrate how living arrangements contribute to the differences in paid and unpaid work of women and men.

Nutrient Effects on Seedling Survival and Growth Performance of Typha angustifolia in a Mesocosm Experiment

We conducted a mesocosm experiment to investigate nutrient effects on the seedling survival and growth of Typha angustifolia, along a nutrient gradient with considering phosphorus (P) content [low nutrients with phosphorus (LNP), intermediate nutrients with phosphorus (INP), intermediate nutrients without phosphorus (IN), high nutrients with phosphorus (HNP), high nutrients without phosphorus (HN)]. Under LNP conditions, all seedlings survived but grew poorly with an asymmetric biomass allocation into relatively more below-ground parts. Under high nutrient conditions, most seedlings died in a few weeks and all seedlings died under HN conditions, specifically. Seedlings under INP conditions showed the best growth and flowered only. Seedlings under INP conditions almost equally allocated their biomass to above- and below-ground parts. However, some seedlings died under IN conditions and the remaining seedlings showed relatively low growth compared to those grown under INP conditions. Similar to the seedlings grown under LNP conditions, the seedlings grown under IN conditions also showed an asymmetric biomass allocation, possibly indicating that a stoichiometric imbalance could negatively affect T. angustifolia seedlings. We concluded that, although T. angustifolia is a productive macrophyte, high nutrient conditions could be harmful to T. angustifolia seedlings and P-limited conditions could also be stressful for them.

Preliminary Stability and Resistance Analysis of the Cheops Boat

The Cheops Boat is the most complete, largest, and one of the oldest boats ever excavated, but it has received surprisingly little study by Naval Architects. The 43-m boat was constructed around 2500 BC and placed, disassembled, in a pit next to the Great Pyramid at Giza in Egypt. Since its discovery in 1954, there has been speculation about its original design, means of propulsion, and purpose. This article presents previously unpublished results of the first tank testing of a model of the Cheops Boat and some preliminary conclusions about the design, propulsion, and function of the original. It is shown that the stability characteristics of the boat make it suited for carrying lightweight cargo and people in the protected waters of the Nile. Towing tests have shown that the boat can be safely rowed in a variety of wind and current conditions. Windward sailing calculations have shown that, if fitted with sail, then boats such as the Cheops Boat perform well downwind, but sail no closer than a beam reach. During the 1954 clearing of debris from the Giza Plateau, it was noticed that the Great Pyramid's north and west enclosure walls were 23.6m from the base of pyramid, but the south wall was 5mcloser to the base. Careful inspection revealed that the south wall had been built in an asymmetrical location to conceal two boat pits beneath it. The two pits were end to end, one covered by 41 massive limestone blocks and the other by 40. When the eastern pit was opened, the remains of the disassembled boat were revealed. Figure 1 shows photographs of some of the pieces as they were removed from the pit. Remarkably, the 4500-year-old cedar had been so well preserved that it was possible to reassemble this boat like a kit. Even the rope was preserved, and looked like what could be bought today.

An earth fault location method based on negative sequence voltage changes at low voltage side of distribution transformers

The paper presents a new approach for earth fault localization which is based on evaluation of phase to ground voltages recorded by voltage monitors installed at low-voltage side of distribution transformer station deployed under smart metering projects. The introduced method “Vdip” determines the probability of asymmetrical fault location based on comparison of the changes in negative sequence current recorded at the feeding medium voltage substation and changes in negative sequence voltages recorded at the LV sides of distribution transformers. The paper describes the nature of the method and presents its principle using simulation of a MV resonant earthed distribution network where short-term connection of an auxiliary resistor is used. The method was also evaluated in real resonant earthed 22 kV network, where totally 15 earth faults with fault resistance up to 1.2 kΩ were carried out. As the result of this field test, the location error of the Vdip method is presented.

Search Advertising: Budget Allocation Across Search Engines

We investigate advertisers’ budgeting and bidding strategies across multiple platforms; we find that symmetric advertisers may pursue asymmetric budget allocation strategies.

Financial intermediation, resource allocation, and macroeconomic interdependence

During the first decade of the euro, southern countries experienced a boom-bust cycle in bank lending, non-tradable sector growth, and capital inflows. I develop a quantitative, open economy model of banking that is consistent with the banks’ behavior in credit allocation and foreign borrowing observed in Spanish data. I illustrate how movements in the frictions of cross-border deposits generate an endogenous asymmetric allocation of bank credit toward non-traded sectors, while producing a persistent and climbing current account deficit. A common central bank’s unconventional policies in response to sudden stops are successful at ameliorating the downturn.