Strategy Profile Research Articles

Nash meets Łukasiewicz: computing equilibria through logic

Abstract A Nash equilibrium is a strategy profile of a game in which none of the players involved has any gain by changing alone his/her own strategy. Given a two-player game, we show a codification of all of its Nash equilibria into Łukasiewicz infinitely-valued logic, that is, we derive a propositional theory in this logic whose models codify all the Nash equilibria. Based on such propositional theory, we derive a polynomial reduction from the problem of computing a Nash equilibrium to the problem of satisfiability of (sets of) formulas of Łukasiewicz infinitely-valued logic. These applications of logic to game theory lead to new methods for computing Nash equilibria.

Toolpath and Tool Design Innovations in Deformation Machining for Superior AA-7075 T6 Fins

Abstract A hybrid manufacturing process, deformation machining (DM) combines subtractive manufacturing with incremental forming. Monolithic components with complex profiles are created through the hybridization of manufacturing technologies, which also reduces the wastage of raw materials. The properties of geometry and surface quality of the fin made from the aluminum alloy Al-7075 T6 using the DM process’s bending mode was examined in this research, as were the effects of various approaches, toolpath methods, and tool design. To achieve the desired shape for the machined fin, various combinations of arcuate and slanting fin toolpath techniques were explored utilizing both top-down and bottom-up methods. The bottom-up method and the arcuate toolpath strategy were used to investigate various tool profiles. Using the best combination of toolpath strategy and tool profile, named as the T3 tool profile, which has a 0.6 mm nose radius and a circular sector, bottom-to-top (BTT)technique, and arcuate toolpath method, components with better geometrical features and surface roughness (SR) were produced. The analysis of the forming force in the bending approach of the DM progression was further carried out using this optimal combination.

Heterogeneously Networked Evolutionary Games With Intergroup Conflicts.

Network games primarily explore the intricacies of individual interactions and adaptive strategies within a network. Building upon this framework, the present study delves into the modeling, analysis, and control of heterogeneously networked evolutionary games with intergroup conflict (HNEG-IC), where attacking players possess area-monitoring capabilities with limited attacking power. To begin with, a mathematical model is introduced to capture intragroup strategy dynamics and intergroup conflicts of HNEGs-IC via the algebraic state space representation (ASSR). A necessary and sufficient condition for achieving global cooperation of HNEGs-IC is established. Then, a criterion for verifying the κ -cooperation below a certain mortality is presented. Considering the HNEGs-IC with strategy feedback control, it is proven that the feedback control, subject to global cooperation, is robust to conflicts when the intersection of the strategy threshold set and the reachable set of the preset initial strategy profiles is empty. Finally, for verification and demonstration, the obtained results are applied to a simplified virtual game model of the NATO and the Warsaw Pact.

Exploring Volatile Profiles and De-Flavoring Strategies for Enhanced Acceptance of Lentil-Based Foods: A Review.

Lentils are marketed as dry seeds, fresh sprouts, flours, protein isolates, and concentrates used as ingredients in many traditional and innovative food products, including dairy and meat analogs. Appreciated for their nutritional and health benefits, lentil ingredients and food products may be affected by off-flavor notes described as "beany", "green", and "grassy", which can limit consumer acceptance. This narrative review delves into the volatile profiles of lentil ingredients and possible de-flavoring strategies, focusing on their effectiveness. Assuming that appropriate storage and processing are conducted, so as to prevent or limit undesired oxidative phenomena, several treatments are available: thermal (pre-cooking, roasting, and drying), non-thermal (high-pressure processing, alcohol washing, pH variation, and addition of adsorbents), and biotechnological (germination and fermentation), all of which are able to reduce the beany flavor. It appears that lentil is less studied than other legumes and more research should be conducted. Innovative technologies with great potential, such as high-pressure processing or the use of adsorbents, have been not been explored in detail or are still totally unexplored for lentil. In parallel, the development of lentil varieties with a low LOX and lipid content, as is currently in progress for soybean and pea, would significantly reduce off-flavor notes.

Communication games, sequential equilibrium, and mediators

We consider k-resilient sequential equilibria, strategy profiles where no player in a coalition of at most k players believes that it can increase its utility by deviating, regardless of its local state. We prove that all k-resilient sequential equilibria that can be implemented with a trusted mediator can also be implemented without the mediator if n>3k. These results match the lower bounds given by Abraham et al. (2008) for implementing a Nash equilibrium without a mediator (which are easily seen to apply to implementing a sequential equilibrium) and improve the results of Gerardi (2004), who showed that, in the case that k=1, a sequential equilibrium can be implemented in synchronous systems if n≥5.

Quantum Chicken game under fluctuating quantum field

In this paper, we study the quantum Chicken game under fluctuating massless scalar field subjected to a reflecting boundary. The noisy scheme of quantum Chicken game affected by fluctuating scalar field is constructed. Then we analyze the influences of vacuum fluctuation, two-atom separation and boundary on the game payoff and Nash equilibrium. It is shown that for different strategy profiles, vacuum fluctuation, two-atom distance and atom-boundary distance have different influences on game payoffs. Vacuum fluctuation and two-atom distance may produce positive or negative effects on game payoffs dependent on the specific strategies. It is found that boundary can effectively promote the game payoffs corresponding to those strategy profiles with which payoffs are degraded by vacuum fluctuation. Furthermore, Nash equilibrium of the game is broken under the influence of fluctuating quantum field, but the game symmetry does not change. For long-time evolution, ([Formula: see text]) and ([Formula: see text]) turn into new Nash equilibria. The results would be helpful for understanding and conducting quantum Chicken game in an open quantum system.

Which LGBTQ+ Inclusive School Strategies Support LGBTQ+ Student, Staff and Parent Perceptions of School Climate? A Latent Class Analysis

ABSTRACT Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ+) students, LGBTQ+ staff and LGBTQ+ parents report schools can be unsafe and unwelcoming environments. Yet few studies have explored LGBTQ+ student, LGBTQ+ staff and LGBTQ+ parent perceptions of the school climate simultaneously or adopted person-centered perspectives. The present study sought to identify LGBTQ+ related strategies adopted by schools, and whether these were differentially related to perceptions of school safety and community. Data were collected in 2021 via online sampling of the current Australian school (1,937) students, (124) staff and (75) parents. Four distinct inclusion strategy profiles were identified via latent class analysis: Comprehensive Inclusion, Curriculum & Pedagogical Inclusion, Extracurricular Inclusion and Limited Inclusion. Just under half (48.2%) of schools lacked LGBTQ+ strategies, with participants from these schools reporting greater safety concerns. Our findings suggest that curriculum and pedagogical strategies are likely the most effective and should be a key focus for improving the school climate. Schools that employed LGBTQ+ affirming practices and included LGBTQ+ resources and activities, like Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs), saw improved perceptions of safety and community.

From Wasteland to Bloom: Exploring the Organizational Profiles of Occupational Health and Well-Being Strategies and Their Effects on Employees' Health and Well-Being.

Based on the signaling and conservation of resources theories, this study aims to identify different strategic organizational profiles related to occupational health and well-being (OHWB). Additionally, this study explores how these various organizational profiles impact employees' well-being, specifically in relation to absenteeism, emotional exhaustion, work overload, intention to quit, and job satisfaction. Data were collected from 59 organizations and 2828 employees. The first phase of this study presents the latent profile analysis carried out to identify OHWB organizational profiles. This analysis reveals four organizational profiles that are metaphorically named according to the growth stages of plants (i.e., wasteland, sprouting, budding, and blooming OHWB profiles). The second phase of this study investigates the associations between the latent profiles assigned to the organizations with absenteeism, intention to quit, emotional exhaustion, feelings of work overload, and job satisfaction among their employees using MANOVA. The results show that organizational profiles influence employees' health and well-being. Employees working in organizations with a low OHWB profile, known as the "wasteland profile", tend to report more days of absenteeism, higher levels of emotional exhaustion, greater work overload, and lower job satisfaction. Employees are also more likely to express a greater intention to quit their jobs than those working in organizations with a higher OHWB profile (a "blooming profile"). This study is useful for organizations and practitioners seeking to understand how investing in a health and well-being strategy can benefit their employees.

Equilibrium analysis in majority-based coalitional bargaining games

This paper introduces majority rule into coalitional bargaining games, adapting traditional models that rely on unanimous consent to more accurately mirror decision-making processes in real-world scenarios. We introduce a majority-based coalitional bargaining game (MBCBG), wherein coalitions pass proposals via majority votes. Our analysis of the stationary subgame perfect equilibrium (SSPE) not only establishes the necessary and sufficient conditions for SSPE strategy profiles but also confirms the existence of no-delay SSPEs in MBCBGs. We further delve into symmetric MBCBGs, delineating conditions that ensure equitable outcomes for homogeneous players. Furthermore, we provide a necessary and sufficient condition for the formation of the grand coalition under SSPEs. Additionally, we briefly explore how asymmetries in coalition values, proposal probabilities, and voting weights may influence both the dynamics of coalition formation and the expected equilibrium payoffs.

The use of multilevel emotion regulation strategies in the context of critical public events: the more the better?

Critical public events, like COVID-19, significantly impact individuals' emotional and mental health. People tend to use multi-level emotion regulation strategies (intrapersonal, interpersonal and hyper-personal) to cope with these events, resulting in various strategy profiles. However, few studies have examined ER strategies from a multilevel perspective. Therefore, this study examines the use of multi-level strategies during COVID-19, and evaluates the effectiveness of these strategies, with a particular interest in identifying strategy profiles promoting mental health. We conducted a two-wave study (an interval of 1 week) using online questionnaires during COVID-19, with an initial sample of 1,189 participants and 895 samples completing the surveys across the two waves. Cross-lagged analysis indicated that experiential avoidance was reciprocally positively related to negative emotions while perspective-taking and humorous-meme-saving were reciprocally positively related to life satisfaction or positive emotions over time. Cluster analysis suggested that there were 9 different profiles which scored differently on mental health indicators. Specifically, the use of multi-level strategies tended to be associated with greater positive emotions and life satisfaction while with lower negative emotions and loneliness. This study revealed that the use of multi-level strategies plays a protective role in mental health when facing critical public events. These findings expanded our understanding of how multilevel emotion regulation strategies impact mental health during critical public events and identify protective profiles for mental health.

The future of cancer treatment: combining radiotherapy with immunotherapy.

Radiotherapy (RT) and immunotherapy (IT) are the powerful tools for cancer treatment which act through the stimulation of immune response, and evidence suggest that combinatorial actions of these therapies may augment each other's beneficial effect through complex synergistic mechanisms. These molecular strategies are designed to target rapidly dividing cancer cells by either directly or indirectly inducing DNA damage. However, when cells detect DNA damage, they activate a range of signalling pathways known as the DNA damage response (DDR) to repair. Strategies are being developed to interfere with the DDR pathways in cancer cells to ensure their damage-induced degeneration. The stability of a cell's genetic material is largely dependent on the efficacy of DNA repair and therefore, an in-depth understanding of DNA damages and repair mechanism(s) in cancer cells is important to develop a promising therapeutic strategies for ensuring the efficacy of damage-induced tumor cell death. In recent years, a wide range of small molecule drugs have been developed which are currently being employed to combat the DNA repair deficiencies associated with tumor cells. Sequential or concurrent use of these two modalities significantly enhances the anti-tumor response, however with a concurrent probability of increased incidence of symptomatic adverse effects. With advent of newer IT agents, and administration of higher doses of radiation per fraction, such effects are more difficult to predict owing to the paucity of randomized trial data. It is well established that anti cytotoxic-T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4), anti- Programmed cell death protein 1(PD-1), anti-Programmed cell death one ligand 1 (PD-L1) can be safely administered with RT and many studies have demonstrated survival benefit with such combination for patients with metastatic malignancy. However, the biology of radioimmunotherapy (RT/IT) is still an open area where research need to be focused to determine optimum dosage specially the interaction of the RT/IT pathways to determine optimum dosing schedule. In the current article we have summarised the possible intracellular immunological events that might be triggered when RT and IT modalities are combined with the DDR antagonists and highlighted present clinical practices, outcome, and toxicity profile of this novel treatment strategy.

The Role of Student Coping Strategies on Success in the Command Actions Course: A Special Operations Selection Course of the Brazilian Army.

Army Command Action units in Brazil are recognized for their operational effectiveness, operating in hostile scenarios. However, these operations are extremely stressful, requiring specific stress-coping skills. The objective of this study was to identify the profile of stress-coping strategies of military personnel enrolled in the Command Actions Course (CAC) and their relationship with completion of the course. A prospective cohort study was carried out with 87 military personnel from the CAC class of 2022. Data were collected on personal characteristics, coping strategies, and stress levels, among other variables. Specific instruments were used to assess coping (Brief-COPE), stress (DASS-21), social support (MOSS), and sociodemographic variables (own instrument) to evaluate the relationship between coping with stress and course completion. Descriptive analyses were performed (central tendency and dispersion measures), and overall survival analysis was performed using the log-rank test for comparison (P < .05). Cox regression was used for multiple analyses considering a statistical significance of 5%. A total of 31% of the participants completed the course. The profile of graduates is mainly composed of young people with higher education, single status, and White. Certain coping strategies such as Active Coping (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.48; 95% CI, 1.25-1.75) as well as high stress levels (HR = 1.07; 95% CI, 1.02-1.11) were associated with disengagement, while the Humor-based coping strategy reduced the chance of disengagement by 15% (HR = 0.85; 95% CI, 0.74-0.98). This study highlights the importance of investigation using coping strategies in the military context as a useful tool in coping with stress in the CAC.

Quantity Conjectural Variations in Oligopoly Games under Different Demand and Cost Functions and Multilevel Leadership

This paper considers a noncooperative game of quantity competition among firms in an oligopoly market under general demand and cost functions. Each firm’s optimal response to the strategies of other firms is assessed by the magnitude and sign of its conjectural variation, expressing the firm’s expectation regarding the counterparty’s supply quantity change in response to the firm’s unit change in its supply quantity. A game of n firms with the sum of conjectural variations (SCV) regarding all counterparties as the generalized response characteristic is studied. The existence of a bifurcation of the players’ response is revealed; a bifurcation is a strategy profile of the game in which both positive and negative responses are possible with an infinite-magnitude SCV value. Methods are developed for calculating the SCV value under different types of inverse demand functions (linear and power) and cost functions (linear, power, and quadratic), and the impact of these characteristics of firms on the bifurcation state is comparatively analyzed.

A Financial Analysis and Valuation on Disney

This paper focuses on a specific analysis of the corresponding situation of Disney. It introduces the development of Disney as a whole and lists three companies in different industries in the market that compete with Disney in different aspects, namely Netflix, Comcast and Mattel. By collecting and analyzing the corresponding data, the four companies are specifically compared in terms of liquidity, repayment ability and profitability respectively. The result is that Disney's profitability is slightly weaker than that of the other three companies, which may be due to the fact that Disney has a large investment in streaming media, but not resulting in a return that matches it. This paper also analyses Disney's stock market performance in relation to its competitors and shows that although Disney stock is overvalued at this stage, the NTM P/E ratios show that it will improve in the next period. This paper also analyses and summarizes Disney's strategy and risk profile and makes some predictions for the future. This paper believes that in the future Disney will have a better growth and also a better experience for the consumers.

Stress management: how does the academic staff cope with it? a cross-sectional study at the university of Udine

BackgroundIncreasing work-related stress in academia can have an impact on physical and mental health. The aim of this study was to analyse the coping strategies of staff employed at the University of Udine and to verify whether sociodemographic data, professional position, and the presence of anxiety or depression symptoms are related to the use of different coping strategies.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study between June and December 2020 using the Brief COPE questionnaire. We correlated coping strategies with professional position, sociodemographic data, and the presence of anxiety or depressive symptoms measured with the Patient Health Questionnaire–9 and the General Anxiety Disorder–7.ResultsA total of 366 people participated in the study, including 109 junior academics, 146 senior academics, and 111 administrative staff (response rate 23.6%). The three most frequently used coping strategies in terms of approach coping style were planning (6.77 ± 1.41), active coping (6.58 ± 1.45) and acceptance (6.23 ± 1.44). Women were more likely than men to report using approach and avoidant coping strategies (p < 0.001). Positive reframing and religion were most commonly used by administrative staff (p < 0.05), in contrast to junior academics, who were more likely to use substances and self-blame (p < 0.05). Anxiety was found to correlate with self-blame (OR 1.94) as a coping strategy, while depression was associated with venting (OR 2.83), self-blame (OR 3.27), and humor (OR 3.02).ConclusionIdentifying profiles of coping strategies can help higher education institutions to implement support strategies for the academic community, ultimately promoting healthier lives and more effective teaching and research. Our study has shown that women and junior academics among staff at the Udine University would benefit from a tailored health promotion intervention that encourages the use of approach coping styles to reduce their risk of developing anxiety and depressive symptoms.

RISK AND RETURN ANALYSIS OF SIP V/S LUMP SUM INVESTMENT IN MUTUAL FUND SCHEME (EQUITY &amp; HYBRID &amp; ELSS)

This paper conducts a comprehensive risk and return analysis comparing systematic investment plan (SIP) and lump sum investment approaches in various categories of mutual fund schemes, including equity, hybrid, and Equity Linked Savings Schemes (ELSS). The study examines historical data to evaluate the performance, volatility, and risk-adjusted returns of both SIP and lump sum investments over different time horizons. Key metrics such as annualized returns, standard deviation, Sharpe ratio, and maximum drawdown are employed to provide insights into the comparative risk and return profiles of these investment strategies. The findings contribute to a better understanding of the trade-offs between SIP and lump sum investments in different mutual fund categories, aiding investors in making informed decisions based on their risk tolerance, investment objectives, and time horizon

2034: Morbidity profile of different lymph node management strategies in node positive cervical cancer

2034: Morbidity profile of different lymph node management strategies in node positive cervical cancer

Guessing a random function and repeated games in continuous time

We study a game where one player selects a random function and the other guesses that function, and show that with high probability the second player can correctly guess most of the random function. We apply this analysis to continuous-time repeated games played with mixed strategies with delay, identify good responses of a player to any strategy profile of her opponents, and show that each player's minmax value coincides with her minmax value in pure strategies of the one-shot game.

A comparative cost assessment of coalescing epidemic control strategies in heterogeneous social-contact networks

The outcome of an epidemic is contingent upon the mitigating control strategies deployed by policymakers. The deployment of control strategies is constrained by the cost of economic, social, and technological factors, which often depend on regional conditions. Our model facilitates a comparative assessment of costs between two interconnected subpopulations within a heterogeneous social-contact network, which may deploy either aligned or divergent control strategies, as is frequently the case for neighboring countries. Depending on their respective asymmetric resources, each subpopulation can deploy a contact confinement strategy, a vaccination strategy, or a hybrid of both. The multi-objective goal of minimizing both the epidemic burden and the economic cost from policy implementation and productivity losses is compounded using a scaled scalarization method. Due to the inter-dependence of policy outcomes, the optimal strategy is derived from the Nash equilibrium in a 2-player compounded pay-off matrix of the total cost. Our network-based model implements a probabilistic Susceptible-Exposed-Infectious-Recovered-Dead dynamics. It also includes the effects of ego-network support and waning immunity modulated by re-exposure to viral contaminants (‘SEIRSD’). Robust outcomes of repeated network simulations with COVID-19 parameters are examined. Our method aims to equip policymakers in a negotiation process with a comparative cost matrix for divergent mitigation policies and to identify the optimal Nash-based strategy profile.

Computing perfect stationary equilibria in stochastic games

The notion of stationary equilibrium is one of the most crucial solution concepts in stochastic games. However, a stochastic game can have multiple stationary equilibria, some of which may be unstable or counterintuitive. As a refinement of stationary equilibrium, we extend the concept of perfect equilibrium in strategic games to stochastic games and formulate the notion of perfect stationary equilibrium (PeSE). To further promote its applications, we develop a differentiable homotopy method to compute such an equilibrium. We incorporate vanishing logarithmic barrier terms into the payoff functions, thereby constituting a logarithmic-barrier stochastic game. As a result of this barrier game, we attain a continuously differentiable homotopy system. To reduce the number of variables in the homotopy system, we eliminate the Bellman equations through a replacement of variables and derive an equivalent system. We use the equivalent system to establish the existence of a smooth path, which starts from an arbitrary total mixed strategy profile and ends at a PeSE. Extensive numerical experiments, including relevant applications like dynamic oligopoly models and dynamic legislative voting, further affirm the effectiveness and efficiency of the method.