Paradoxical Results Research Articles

Risk Taking Under Limited Liability and Moral Hazard: Quantifying the Role of Motivated Beliefs

This paper investigates whether limited liability and moral hazard affect risk taking through motivated beliefs. On the one hand, limited liability encourages investors to take excessive risks. On the other, excessive risk taking makes it hard for investors to maintain a positive self-image when moral hazard is present. Using a novel experimental design, we show that subjects form motivated beliefs to self-justify their excessive risk taking. For the same investment opportunity, subjects invest more and are significantly more optimistic about the success of the investment if its failure can harm others. We show that more than one third of the investment increases under limited liability, and moral hazard can be explained through motivated beliefs. Moreover, through a treatment with limited liability but no moral hazard, we show that motivated beliefs are formed subconsciously and can lead to the paradoxical result of investors taking larger risks when their investment can harm a third party compared with when it cannot. These results underscore the importance of motivated beliefs in regulatory policy, emphasizing that policymakers must not only address bad incentives, but also address the role of bad beliefs. This paper was accepted by Bruno Biais, finance. Funding: Financial support by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft [Grant CRC TRR 190, project number 280092119] is gratefully acknowledged. Supplemental Material: The online appendix and data files are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2021.03947 .

Tumor vascular disrupting agent 5,6-dimethylxanthenone-4-acetic acid (DMXAA): Suppresses macrophage capping protein beyond STING activation

The vascular disrupting agent (VDA) 5,6-dimethylxanthenone-4-acetic acid (DMXAA) induces apoptosis in vascular endothelial cells and leads to tumor hemorrhagic necrosis. While DMXAA has been proven to be a potent agonist of murine stimulator of interferon genes (mSTING), it has little effect on human-STING (hSTING). This species selectivity of DMXAA may explain its effectiveness against solid tumors in mice and its failure in clinical trials. However, DMXAA did reduce tumor volume in some patients during clinical trials. These paradoxical results have prompted us to investigate the anti-tumor mechanism of DMXAA beyond STING in the destruction of tumor vasculature in humans. In this study, we demonstrated that DMXAA binds to both human and mouse macrophage capping protein (CapG), with a KD of 5.839 μM for hCapG and a KD of 2.867 μM for mCapG, as determined by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) analysis. Homology modeling and molecular docking analysis of hCapG indicated that the critical residues involved in the hydrogen bond interaction of DMXAA with hCapG were Arg153, Thr151, and GLN141, Asn234. In addition, electrostatic pi-cation interaction occurred between DMXAA and hCapG. Further functional studies revealed that CapG protein plays a crucial role in the effects of DMXAA on human umbilical endothelial vein cell (HUEVC) angiogenesis and migration, as well as the expression of cytoskeletal proteins actin and tubulin, and the invasion of A549 lung adenocarcinoma cells. Our study has originally uncovered a novel cross-species pathway underlying the antitumor vascular disruption of DMXAA extends beyond STING activation. This finding deepens our understanding of the multifaceted actions of flavonoid VDAs in animal models and in clinical settings, and may provide insights for the precise therapy of DMXAA based on the biomarker CapG protein.

A paradox of coalition building in public good provision

Does partial coalition among players help mitigate the issue of underprovision of public goods? This study considers endogenous coalition formation and endogenous technology choices in a model of the private provision of global public goods. We show that the possibility of future interstate (partial) coordination may hinder the current adoption of better technology by a country outside the cooperation, which may exacerbate an existing underprovision problem. Specifically, in the subgame perfect equilibrium of a three-stage game, we find two paradoxical results: the inability to form future partial coalitions encourages a country outside the cooperation to adopt better technology, which could lead to an increase in the total public good supply and an improvement of global welfare. These results have important policy implications. For example, in the context of the Paris Agreement, if a major country announces reduced nationally determined contributions in a strategic move to adopt less advanced technology to motivate other countries to form coalitions, it may ultimately lead to a decrease in the overall supply of public goods and global welfare.

The Hyperintensional Variant of Kaplan’s Paradox

David Kaplan famously argued that mainstream semantics for modal logic, which identifies propositions with sets of possible worlds, is affected by a cardinality paradox. Takashi Yagisawa showed that a variant of the same paradox arises when standard possible worlds semantics is extended with impossible worlds to deliver a hyperintensional account of propositions. After introducing the problem, we discuss two general approaches to a possible solution: giving up on sets and giving up on worlds, either in the background semantic framework or in the corresponding conception of propositions. As a result, we conclude that abandoning worlds by embracing a truthmaker-based approach offers a promising way to account for hyperintensional propositions without facing the paradoxical outcome.

Regional Rights, Environmental Wrongs: Unpacking the Paradox of Autonomy in Indonesia's Environmental Governance

This paper delves into the complex interplay between regional autonomy and environmental governance in Indonesia, shedding light on the paradoxical outcomes that arise from decentralized decision-making. It examines how the delegation of power to local authorities has both empowered and challenged efforts to enforce environmental regulations and protect natural resources. Through a comprehensive analysis, the paper elucidates the ways in which regional autonomy has led to divergent approaches to environmental management across Indonesia's diverse regions. While some local governments have demonstrated commendable commitment to environmental conservation, others have prioritized economic interests at the expense of environmental sustainability, leading to widespread degradation and ecological harm. Drawing on case studies and empirical evidence, the paper unpacks the factors contributing to this paradox, including varying levels of institutional capacity, political dynamics, and socio-economic pressures. It highlights instances where regional autonomy has resulted in regulatory loopholes, weak enforcement mechanisms, and conflicts of interest, exacerbating environmental challenges and undermining national conservation efforts. Furthermore, the paper explores potential pathways for reconciling the tension between regional rights and environmental wrongs in Indonesia. It advocates for a holistic approach to environmental governance that integrates principles of subsidiarity with national environmental priorities, fostering collaboration between central and local authorities, and promoting community engagement and empowerment. In conclusion, the paper underscores the imperative of addressing the paradox of autonomy in Indonesia's environmental governance.

A Paradoxical Role for Somatic Chromosomal Mosaicism and Chromosome Instability in Cancer: Theoretical and Technological Aspects.

Somatic chromosomal mosaicism, chromosome instability, and cancer are intimately linked together. Addressing the role of somatic genome variations (encompassing chromosomal mosaicism and instability) in cancer yields paradoxical results. Firstly, somatic mosaicism for specific chromosomal rearrangement causes cancer per se. Secondly, chromosomal mosaicism and instability are associated with a variety of diseases (chromosomal disorders demonstrating less severe phenotypes, complex diseases), which exhibit cancer predisposition. Chromosome instability syndromes may be considered the best examples of these diseases. Thirdly, chromosomal mosaicism and instability are able to result not only in cancerous diseases but also in non-cancerous disorders (brain diseases, autoimmune diseases, etc.). Currently, the molecular basis for these three outcomes of somatic chromosomal mosaicism and chromosome instability remains incompletely understood. Here, we address possible mechanisms for the aforementioned scenarios using a system analysis model. A number of theoretical models based on studies dedicated to chromosomal mosaicism and chromosome instability seem to be valuable for disentangling and understanding molecular pathways to cancer-causing genome chaos. In addition, technological aspects of uncovering causes and consequences of somatic chromosomal mosaicism and chromosome instability are discussed. In total, molecular cytogenetics, cytogenomics, and system analysis are likely to form a powerful technological alliance for successful research against cancer.

Цинично я гляжу на наше поколение

The article contains spontaneous reminiscences about the formation of the first Russian student generation at the Faculty of Philosophy of Lomonosov Moscow State University (1991–1996). This philosophical generation found itself in the most difficult situation of the 90s, the collapse of the USSR, the devaluation of most of all the spiritual and material foundations of life. As a paradoxical result, it can be stated that the first free philosophical generation, for the most part, was formed as more oriented not so much towards scientific or philosophical, as towards political, economic and mass media success and made its small contribution to the generation of the current stagnant state of socio-political life in the country. Nevertheless, it has given rise to several bright names that today define the face of the current philosophy of Russian philosophy.

Placing Mexican Ethnic Enclaves: Toward a Recursive Model of Place Attachment

Place attachment, the emotional bond between person and place, facilitates well-being and belonging for Mexicans in the United States. However, place attachment research concentrating on Mexican populations has not explored a key site for placemaking—the ethnic enclave. Thus, we draw on 20 interviews with Mexicans in the United States to examine how individuals form close connections to La Cuatro, an ethnic enclave in California. Despite the overall positive nature of their emotional connections within the enclave, our model uncovers paradoxical and recursive outcomes. While place attachment promotes a sense of belonging within La Cuatro, these emotional bonds are deeply tied to broader experiences of social alienation in areas outside the enclave. This alienation stems from three primary factors: (1) legal status or lack thereof, (2) racialization, and (3) pervasive anti-immigrant socio-political ethos. We propose a recursive model of place attachment that considers social context to explain the placemaking processes of marginalized racial and ethnic groups in public social spaces. This model problematizes the experiences of marginalized communities, such as Mexican immigrants and their descendants, and provides a theoretical framework to examine the interplay between place and broader society.

Quantifying Interrater Agreement and Reliability Between Thoracic Pathologists: Paradoxical Behavior of Cohen’s Kappa in the Presence of a High Prevalence of the Histopathologic Feature in Lung Cancer

IntroductionCohen’s kappa is often used to quantify the agreement between two pathologists. Nevertheless, a high prevalence of the feature of interest can lead to seemingly paradoxical results, such as low Cohen’s kappa values despite high “observed agreement.” Here, we investigate Cohen’s kappa using data from histologic subtyping assessment of lung adenocarcinomas and introduce alternative measures that can overcome this “kappa paradox.” MethodsA total of 50 frozen sections from stage I lung adenocarcinomas less than or equal to 3 cm in size were independently reviewed by two pathologists to determine the absence or presence of five histologic patterns (lepidic, papillary, acinar, micropapillary, solid). For each pattern, observed agreement (proportion of cases with concordant “absent” or “present” ratings) and Cohen’s kappa were calculated, along with Gwet’s AC1. ResultsThe prevalence of any amount of the histologic patterns ranged from 42% (solid) to 97% (acinar). On the basis of Cohen’s kappa, there was substantial agreement for four of the five patterns (lepidic, 0.65; papillary, 0.67; micropapillary, 0.64; solid, 0.61). Acinar had the lowest Cohen’s kappa (0.43, moderate agreement), despite having the highest observed agreement (88%). In contrast, Gwet’s AC1 values were close to or higher than Cohen’s kappa across patterns (lepidic, 0.64; papillary, 0.69; micropapillary, 0.71; solid, 0.73; acinar, 0.85). The proportion of positive versus negative agreement was 93% versus 50% for acinar. ConclusionsGiven the dependence of Cohen’s kappa on feature prevalence, interrater agreement studies should include complementary indices such as Gwet’s AC1 and proportions of specific agreement, especially in settings with a high prevalence of the feature of interest.

The IRA and the Partition of Ireland

The Irish Republican Army (IRA) has been the most aggressively hostile opponent of the border that was established in Ireland during the 1920s. This article focuses on the fact that the IRA’s own violence emerged from a substantial, evolving and complex politics. It suggests that close consideration of that politics, of associated IRA violence and of the long-term implications of both, represents a necessary part of understanding the Irish border and its associated and important histories. Three case studies are considered: Ernie O’Malley (1897–1957); Peadar O’Donnell (1893–1986); the Provisional IRA (1969–2005). The article argues that the paradoxical outcomes of these three significant IRA case studies point towards the need for greater honesty about the actual effects of non-state political violence; it also argues for an empathetic approach to understanding those with whom one instinctively disagrees, if the political history of the Irish border and its legacies is to be properly understood.

Perceived economic security, relative gratification, and xenophobic sentiment during the Trump administration

The bulk of prior research focuses on economic hard times as a source of material insecurity and relative deprivation in fueling negative attitudes toward immigrants and immigration. The present study shifts the focus to a novel concept: relative gratification. During the height of Trump administration, the American economy enjoyed unprecedented growth and stability. Yet, as our study shows, anti-immigrant sentiment became more pronounced among US citizens with greater perceived material security, i.e., those who felt more relatively “gratified.” What is the logic behind this seemingly paradoxical outcome? By drawing on insights from the social psychology literature, we propose and demonstrate that favorable macroeconomic conditions instilled in some people a sense of privileged entitlement and heightened national pride, both of which contributed to hostilities toward the foreign born. Our moderation analysis also indicates that controlling for a proxy for Trump approval, this relationship was stronger for Republican-leaning individuals as well as those who self-identify as being more politically conservative.

Unraveling the psychological and behavioral consequences of using enterprise social media (ESM) in mitigating the cyberslacking

Our study addresses the understudied impact of enterprise social media (ESM) on employee productivity and performance. We explore the relationship between ESM use, interruption overload, psychological transitions, cyberslacking behavior, and work performance. Drawing on the Conservation of Resources (COR) theory, we hypothesize that frequent ESM use leads to interruption overload and subsequent psychological transitions, resulting in increased cyberslacking behavior and decreased work performance. We investigate the moderating role of ready-to-resume as a contextual intervention. Using multi-wave data (N = 349) and structural equation modeling, we test our hypotheses. Surprisingly, we find no significant association between psychological transitions and cyberslacking, warranting further exploration. However, we do observe a positive link between cyberslacking behavior and employee performance, highlighting its importance for organizations. We uncover a significant moderating effect of ready-to-resume, indicating that a clear pathway to resume interrupted tasks weakens the relationship between ESM use and interruption overload. Our study offers valuable insights into the complex dynamics of ESM use, interruption overload, psychological transitions, cyberslacking behavior, and work performance. The paradoxical results open avenues for further investigation. For managers, our findings emphasize the need for a supportive work environment and strategies to facilitate prompt task resumption to manage cyberslacking effectively.

On the Child–Langmuir law in one, two, and three dimensions

We consider the limiting current from an emitting patch whose size is much smaller than the anode–cathode spacing. The limiting current is formulated in terms of an integral equation. It is solved iteratively, first to numerically recover the classical one-dimensional Child–Langmuir law, including Jaffe's extension to a constant, nonzero electron emission velocity. We extend to two-dimensions in which electron emission is restricted to an infinitely long stripe with infinitesimally narrow stripe width so that the emitted electrons form an electron sheet. We next extend to three-dimensions in which electron emission is restricted to a square tile (or a circular patch) with an infinitesimally small tile size (or patch radius) so that the emitted electrons form a needlelike line charge. Surprisingly, for the electron needle problem, we only find the null solution for the total line charge current, regardless of the assumed initial electron velocity. For the electron sheet problem, we also find only the null solution for the total sheet current if the electron emission velocity is assumed to be zero, and the total maximum sheet current becomes a finite, nonzero value if the electron emission velocity is assumed to be nonzero. These seemingly paradoxical results are shown to be consistent with the earlier works of the Child–Langmuir law of higher dimensions. They are also consistent with, or perhaps even anticipated by, the more recent theories and simulations on thermionic cathodes that used realistic work function distributions to account for patchy, non-uniform electron emission. The mathematical subtleties are discussed.

FREE AND BOUND WAVES IN THE COASTAL ZONE: FIELD, LABORATORY AND NUMERICAL EXPERIMENTS

Traditionally we look on storm waves as on periodic in space and time motion. Main feature of wave transformation in the coastal zone over inclined bottom is the higher harmonic generation that occurs so fast (during the one wavelength) that we can’t consider the wave motion as periodic in space. Spatial measurements of the wave profile are difficult in the coastal zone and are replaced by point chronograms of free surface elevations and then interpreted using traditional wave theories to calculate the practically important the wave energy and speed of wave propagation. These interpretations very often lead to paradoxical results, such as unexpected spatial fluctuations of the wave energy and propagation velocities, which are usually interpreted as shortcomings in the calibration of gauges, but our experience told that is the result of simultaneous existing of free and bound waves. Many researchers consider the free and bound second and higher harmonics of waves on the intermediate water as “parasitic” or “spurious” and try to avoid it in laboratory and in numerical experiments, but second harmonic are practically important. We will try to figure out what is the matter on the basis of field, laboratory and numerical experiments consider the waves in both time and space domains.

Dark side of the principles of non-discrimination and proportionality: the case of mandatory vaccination

Deciding the conflict between various rights and interests, especially in medical ethics where health and lives are in question, has significant challenges, and to obtain appropriate outcomes, it is necessary...

NO Is Not the Same as GSNO in the Regulation of Fe Deficiency Responses by Dicot Plants.

Iron (Fe) is abundant in soils but with a poor availability for plants, especially in calcareous soils. To favor its acquisition, plants develop morphological and physiological responses, mainly in their roots, known as Fe deficiency responses. In dicot plants, the regulation of these responses is not totally known, but some hormones and signaling molecules, such as auxin, ethylene, glutathione (GSH), nitric oxide (NO) and S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO), have been involved in their activation. Most of these substances, including auxin, ethylene, GSH and NO, increase their production in Fe-deficient roots while GSNO, derived from GSH and NO, decreases its content. This paradoxical result could be explained with the increased expression and activity in Fe-deficient roots of the GSNO reductase (GSNOR) enzyme, which decomposes GSNO to oxidized glutathione (GSSG) and NH3. The fact that NO content increases while GSNO decreases in Fe-deficient roots suggests that NO and GSNO do not play the same role in the regulation of Fe deficiency responses. This review is an update of the results supporting a role for NO, GSNO and GSNOR in the regulation of Fe deficiency responses. The possible roles of NO and GSNO are discussed by taking into account their mode of action through post-translational modifications, such as S-nitrosylation, and through their interactions with the hormones auxin and ethylene, directly related to the activation of morphological and physiological responses to Fe deficiency in dicot plants.

Effect of nanostructure lipid carrier of methylene blue and monoterpenes as enzymes inhibitor for Culex pipiens

Solid lipid nanoparticles second generation, nanostructure lipid carrier (NLC), is one of the most important biodegradable nanoparticles. Nanostructure Lipid carrier (NLC) was used to encapsulate methylene blue (MB) dye, carvacrol and citronellal and their efficacy as insecticidal against Culex pipiens (Cx. pipiens) were distinguished. The prepared nanoformulation revealed very good physicochemical properties, especially the homogeneity of the particle size. Transmission electron microscope showed spherical shaped nanoparticles within range less than 200 nm. The prepared NLC-MB-MT system showed a very competitive insecticidal activity and high virulence against the mosquito larvae with higher mortality rate of LC50 of 0.141 µl/mL, in addition to high level of Oxidative stress parameters obtained through all the tested enzymes including hydrogen peroxide (4.8 ppm), protein carbonyl amount (0.12 OD/mg protein), ascorbic acid (0.15 mg) and Superoxide dismutase (SOD) showed strong increasing (0.09 OD/mg protein/min) at 6 µg/mL, respectively. Whereas paradoxical results of the oxidative stress enzymes were obtained from different concentration of nanoformulation that introduce a convenient reason for their potential insecticidal effect. The cytotoxic effect of NLC-MB-MT was evaluated using WI38 human lung cell lines, the LC50 was 6.4 mg/mL. The low cytotoxic reactivity towards the tested cell line makes the NLC-MB-MT nanoformulation has its promising insecticidal efficacy. Molecular docking study for each component were done against acetylcholine esterase protein and accepted binding modes achieved by the three compounds.

Functional traits of both specific alien species and receptive community but not community diversity determined the invasion success under biotic and abiotic conditions

Abstract Biodiversity can provide some resistance to alien species in some cases, but not in others. The observed paradoxical results may be related to several reasons, including variations in abiotic and/or biotic conditions, alien species characteristics and the fact that the species number cannot adequately reflect native community diversity. A comprehensive study that incorporates these elements is lacking. We constructed invasion systems using nine alien plant species and 12 native communities, composed of two diversity levels (three vs. six species), under different nitrogen (N) and arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF) inoculation conditions. We used this fully crossed factorial experiment, that is, N (low vs. high) × native community diversity (three vs. six species) × AMF (with vs. without), to systematically explore the invasion success in native communities. We found that the species number of native community did not affect invasion success under any of the N or AMF conditions. The effects of N enrichment and AMF inoculation on invasion were not consistent between alien species and native communities based on their phenotypic plasticity of functional traits in response to N enrichment and AMF inoculation. Specifically, the changing of invasion in response to N enrichment and AMF inoculation was associated with the plasticity of plant height and root mass fraction that reflects the competitiveness for the acquisition of light and soil resources. Our results that species number did not capture well the resistance of the native community suggested that the simple expression of species richness is not realistic to describe the invasion resistance of the community. Additionally, the association between functional traits of both alien species and native communities and invasion success suggested that changes in competitive advantage and resource acquisition strategy are more important in explaining changes in invasive success in different N and AMF conditions. Future studies are needed to explore invasion success by systematically considering the characteristics of invasive species and the native community, and the specific abiotic and biotic conditions. Using functional traits may help advance our understanding of plant invasion in broad circumstances and shed light on a generalized framework of biological invasion. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Examining paradoxical session attendance and weight loss relationships in a clinic based lifestyle modification intervention.

Evaluations of lifestyle modification interventions (LMIs), modeled after the Diabetes Prevention Program, have repeatedly shown a dose-response relationship between session attendance and weight loss. Despite this, not all participants had "average" weight loss experiences. Nearly one-third of LMI participants experienced unexpected, paradoxical outcomes (i.e., high attendance with little weight loss, and low attendance with clinically significant weight loss). Paradoxical weight-loss outcomes were characterized based on session attendance among participants in a group-based LMI in a real-world healthcare setting. This group-based LMI was delivered over 1 year to participants with the possibility of attending up to 25 sessions total. LMI participants identified in 2010-2017 from electronic health records were characterized as having low (<75%) or high (≥75%) session attendance. Weight-loss outcomes were defined as expected (≥5%, high-attendance; <5%, low-attendance) or paradoxical (≥5%, low-attendance; <5%, high-attendance). Paradoxical-outcome-associated characteristics were identified using logistic regression. Among 1813 LMI participants, 1498 (82.6%) had low and 315 (17.4%) high session attendance; 555 (30.6%) had paradoxical outcomes, comprising 415 (74.8%) responders (≥5% weight-loss) and 140 (25.2%) non-responders (<5% weight-loss). Among participants with high session attendance, paradoxical non-responders were more likely to be female (odds ratio [OR]: 2.76; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.32, 5.77) and have type 2 diabetes (OR: 3.32; 95% CI: 1.01, 10.95). Among low-attendance participants, paradoxical responders were more likely to be non-Hispanic White and less likely to be non-Hispanic Black (OR: 0.35; 95% CI: 0.18, 0.69), non-Hispanic Asian (OR: 0.40; 95% CI: 0.22, 0.73), or Hispanic (OR: 0.53; 95% CI: 0.35, 0.80). In a healthcare setting, nearly one-third of LMI participants experienced paradoxical outcomes. More research is needed to understand the facilitators and barriers to weight loss above and beyond session attendance.

Finite-time quantum measurement cooling beyond the Carnot limit

We proposed the finite-time cycle model of a measurement-based quantum cooler, where the invasive measurement provides the power to drive the cooling cycle. Such a cooler may be regarded as an alternative thought experiment of Maxwell’s demon. The measurement-feedback information is capable of moving heat from the cold to hot bath without any work input and even making the maximum coefficient of performance larger than the Carnot limit. The causes that this seemingly paradoxical result does not violate the laws of thermodynamics can be clearly explained through the derivation of a generalized Clausius inequality including the mutual information.