The two-signal model of T-cell activation is still valid after 30 years. The recent understanding of the first signal intricacy and its tight relationship with the second signal have thrown decisive light on T-cell activation processes and the complex molecular events that occur on the surface and within the T cell. Furthermore, the recognition of numerous accessory pathways that, in addition t...

Using a symmetric 2-person prisoners’ dilemma as the base game, each player receives a signal for the number of rounds to be played with the same partner. The actual number of rounds (the length of the supergame) is determined by the maximal signal where each player expects the other’s signal to be smaller, respectively larger, by a fixed number of rounds with 50% probability. In the tradition ...

Real-time optimization of a traffic signal system is a difficult decision-making problem with no considerable model given. To achieve this optimization, a perfect tradeoff should be made between the distributed learning in each individual intersection, and the integrated cooperation in the whole traffic grid. This paper explores such a tradeoff and designs an efficient traffic signal system by ...

This paper studies the formation of Japanese ventures in family planning deployed in various villages in Asia from the 1960s onward in the name of development aid. By critically examining how Asia became the priority area for Japan's international cooperation in family planning and by analyzing how the adjective "humanistic" was used to underscore the originality of Japan's family planning prog...

In a population of interacting agents, the update dynamics defines the temporal relation between the moments at which agents update the strategies they use when they interact with other agents. The update dynamics is said to be synchronous if this process occurs simultaneously for all the agents and asynchronous if this is not the case. On the other hand, the network of contacts defines who may...

We develop a theoretical framework for international cooperation that can be used for the elimination of asbestos-related diseases (ARDs). The framework is based on the similarities in the temporal patterns of asbestos use and occurrence of ARDs in diverse countries. The status of each nation can be characterized by observing asbestos use and ARD frequency therein using a time window. Countries...

Divergent cumulative cultural evolution occurs when the cultural evolutionary trajectory diverges from the biological evolutionary trajectory. We consider the conditions under which divergent cumulative cultural evolution can occur. We hypothesize that two conditions are necessary. First that genetic and cultural information are stored separately in the agent. Second cultural information must b...

Differently from previous studies of tag-based cooperation, we assume that individuals fail to recognize their own tag. Due to such incomplete information, the action taken against the opponent cannot be based on similarity, although it is still motivated by the tag displayed by the opponent. We present stability conditions for the case when individuals play unconditional cooperation, unconditi...

Wise management of natural resources has become a fundamental challenge nowadays. Cooperative approaches are needed in order to provide a sustainable framework for stimulating the individual awareness and participation towards common environmental objectives. In order to reach mutually beneficial outcomes, public administrations, companies, individuals and communities will need to organize for ...

While there is evidence that politics matter for international cooperation, the impact on economic integration of the quality of institutions has been given short shrift in the previous literature. I argue that the quality of institutions—control of corruption and enforcement of the rule of law, in particular—raises the quantity and the quality of information available to potential member state...