409 research outputs found
How perception of status differences affects our decision making
No full textAs human beings, we aspire higher to achieve greater security in our lives. We assess our standing in society in relative terms. Past studies have shown that our subjective social status relative to society can determine health consequences (Operario et al, 2004). Yet, we have a limited understanding of how to measure our subjective status and how that affects our decision making and behavior. Understanding these may reveal important information about how perception of status differences affects behavior. Therefore, the primary goal of this dissertation is to closely examine perception of status in order to evaluate its subsequent effect on decision making. Four studies were conducted to examine the relationship between status perceptions and decision making. In the first study, we established a laboratory manipulation of status, designed and validated appropriate questionnaires, and probed its effects on decision making via an economic game called the Ultimatum Game. In study 2, we examined how perception of status affected choice of an experimental status symbol. Both of these studies showed a negative relationship with decision making. In study 1, the low status subjects, who felt inferior to their partner, shared more with their high status partners. And in study 2, we observed that in certain contexts, the low status subjects, who felt inferior to their partner, chose the experimental status symbol more. However, in study 3, when we made the experimental situation riskier, subjects who perceived themselves to be inferior to their partner chose the status symbol less than their high status counterparts. In addition, low status subjects showed more affinity for risk at specific levels. In study 4, we examined if these effects were due to self-esteem and found no effect of self-esteem. Together, these studies showed that laboratory manipulations of status can capture psychological aspects of the status experience and may induce a compensatory tendency. These compensatory tendencies may vary depending on both status of the subject and riskiness of the situation. Studying status in a laboratory setting allows researchers to understand these behaviors more closely and speculate on how to best address status concerns for the betterment of society.Ph. D.Includes bibliographical referencesIncludes vitaby Swati Bhattachary
Trusts Betrayed: The Absent Federal Partner in Immigration Policy
Get PDFThis Article develops a framework for analyzing claims brought by the states with large immigration populations against the federal government. The Article looks at the question of federal plenary power over immigration matters and examines state lawsuits seeking federal reimbursement for the costs of services for illegal immigrants. Illegal immigration problems are addressed in terms of trusts between the states and the federal government. The Author argues that the courts should draw from jurisprudence in other areas of government trust, such as trusts over coastal waters and Indian trusts, when deciding state claims for reimbursement of costs imposed by illegal immigration
Analyzing Advancement in Crowdfunding Research and Envisioning its Future: A Bibliometric Approach
No full textPublished online 24 July 2023. Published in print 1 August 2023.Academy of Management Annual Meeting Proceedings includes abstracts of all papers and symposia presented at the annual conference, plus 6-page abridged versions of the “Best Papers” accepted for inclusion in the program (approximately 10%). Papers published in the Proceedings are abridged because presenting papers at their full length could preclude subsequent journal publication. Please contact the author(s) directly for the full papers.Crowdfunding represents an emerging alternative means of marshaling resources which may prove to be a game-changer in the entrepreneurial finance landscape. Although the rapid growth in this field has yielded a multidisciplinary body of work, the scaffolding of this vast body of work is still largely unknown in the scholarly domain. We conduct a bibliometric analysis of 534 crowdfunding articles to uncover the intellectual landscape of crowdfunding research. Our comprehensive co-citation analysis reveals two generations of crowdfunding research, identifies the most researched themes in area, and highlights its theoretical and disciplinary anchors. In addition, our bibliographic cartography traces the shifts in areas of interest of scholars within the heterogeneous field. Overall, our critical analysis of the most influential conversations in crowdfunding research helps reveals gaps in the extant literature which act as fertile directions for its future inquiry
Biological and bio-inspired morphometry as a route to tunable and enhanced materials design
No full textThesis: Ph. D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, 2016.This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections.Cataloged from student-submitted PDF version of thesis.Includes bibliographical references.Structural materials in nature integrate classical materials selection rules with morphometry (geometry or shape-based rules) to create high-performance, multi-functional structures that exhibit tunable properties through extraordinary complexity, hierarchy, and precise structural control. This thesis explores the use of morphometry as a materials design parameter through the development of bio-inspired, flexible composite armor based on the articulated exoskeleton of an armored fish, Polypterus senegalus, which achieves uniform coverage and protection from predatory threats without restricting flexibility. First, the functional implications of shape and shape variation are examined as materials design parameters within the biological exoskeleton using a new method that integrates continuum strain analysis with landmark-based geometric morphometric analysis in 2D and 3D. Bioinspired flexible composite prototypes are fabricated using multi-material 3D printing and tested under passive loading (self-weight) and active loading (bending) to examine how the shape of scales contributes to local, interscale mobility mechanisms that generate anisotropic, global mechanical behavior. With one prototype design scheme, a wide array of mechanical behavior is generated with stiffness ranging over several orders of magnitude, including 'mechanical invisibility' of the scales, showing how morphometry can tune flexibility without varying the constituent materials. Finally, finite element models simulating the bending experiments are created to establish a computational framework for analyzing the mechanical response of the prototypes. The finite element models are then extended to examine the effect of different loading conditions, scale morphometry, multi-material architecture, and constituent material properties. The results show how morphometric-enabled materials design, inspired by structural biological materials, can allow for tunable behavior in flexible composites made of segmented scale assemblies to achieve enhanced user mobility, custom fit, and flexibility around joints for a variety of protective applications.by Swati Varshney.Ph. D
‘Diminishing Inequalities Is The Key To Robust Human Development’
No full textIn highly unequal regions, redistribution of opportunities and resources are essential for human development advances, author Swati Narayan says in this intervie
Internet of things heatstroke detection device
Get PDFThe increasing frequency and intensity of heat waves due to climate change underscore the critical need for proactive measures to prevent heat stroke, a life-threatening condition affecting individuals of all demographics, with vulnerability among the elderly and outdoor workers. In response to this pressing public health challenge, we present the internet of things (IoT) based heat stroke prevention device, a comprehensive solution leveraging a suite of sensors including temperature, atmospheric, pulse rate, blood pressure, and gyroscope sensors, seamlessly integrated with an ESP32 microcontroller and Firebase's real-time database. Central to the device's functionality is a random forest classifier machine learning model, trained on historical data and user-specific parameters, to accurately predict the likelihood of heat stroke onset in real-time. Rigorous testing and validation procedures demonstrate the device's high accuracy and reliability in sensor measurements, data transmission, and model performance. The accompanying web-based dashboard provides users with intuitive access to their current health metrics, including temperature, humidity, blood pressure, pulse rate, and personalized predictions for heat stroke risk. This innovative device serves as a versatile tool for public health agencies, occupational safety programs, and individuals seeking to safeguard their well-being in the face of escalating temperatures and climate uncertainties
- …
