Graeme Ruxton is a biologist known for his work in ecology and evolution. He is particularly recognized for his research on animal behavior, the dynamics of predator-prey interactions, and the principles of evolutionary ecology. Ruxton's contributions often focus on modeling and understanding various biological phenomena through mathematical and theoretical approaches. He has published numerous academic papers and is involved in educational activities, often emphasizing the importance of ecological principles in understanding biological systems.

Lee R. Dice is known primarily for his contributions to the field of biology, particularly in relation to population genetics and evolutionary biology. His work often focused on the mathematical modeling of biological processes and the study of how genetic variations occur within populations. Dice is also recognized for his development of techniques in the study of genetic variability and his research on the role of genetic drift in evolution.

Richard Levins is an influential American ecologist, mathematician, and theorist known for his work in the fields of population biology, theoretical ecology, and the philosophy of science. He is best recognized for his contributions to the understanding of model building in ecology and the use of mathematical models to analyze biological systems.

The "Iron Law of Prohibition" is a concept in drug policy and sociology proposed by the American economist and law enforcement officer Dale G. F. (Dale) H. P. (Holly) A. Keene, which posits that as the level of prohibition increases, the potency of the prohibited substances also increases. In simpler terms, when a substance is banned or heavily restricted, the illegal market responds by producing more potent forms of that substance.

Monte Carlo methods are a class of computational algorithms that rely on repeated random sampling to obtain numerical results. In finance, these methods are widely used for various purposes, including: 1. **Option Pricing**: Monte Carlo simulations can be used to estimate the value of complex financial derivatives, such as options, especially when there are multiple sources of uncertainty (e.g., multiple underlying assets, exotic options).

Financial engineering is an interdisciplinary field that applies quantitative methods, mathematical models, and analytical techniques to solve problems in finance and investment. It combines principles from finance, mathematics, statistics, and computer science to create and manage financial products and strategies. Key aspects of financial engineering include: 1. **Modeling Financial Instruments**: Developing quantitative models to value complex financial instruments, including derivatives such as options, futures, and swaps.

Exotic options are a type of financial derivative that have more complex features than standard options, which include European and American options. Unlike standard options, which typically have straightforward payoffs and exercise conditions, exotic options can come with a variety of unique features that can affect their pricing, payoff structure, and the strategies that traders employ. Some common types of exotic options include: 1. **Barrier Options**: These options have barriers that determine their existence or payoff.

The Fokker–Planck equation is a partial differential equation that describes the time evolution of the probability density function of the velocity of a particle under the influence of forces, such as random fluctuations or deterministic forces. It is commonly used in various fields, including statistical mechanics, diffusion processes, and financial mathematics, to model systems that exhibit stochastic behavior.

The Johansen test is a statistical method used to test for the presence of cointegration among a set of non-stationary time series variables. Cointegration refers to a relationship among two or more time series variables that move together over the long run, despite being individually non-stationary. The test helps to identify whether a linear combination of the non-stationary time series is stationary, indicating that the series are cointegrated.

Kurtosis risk refers to the risk associated with extreme movements in the tails of a distribution, as indicated by the measure of kurtosis. In finance and investment, kurtosis is used to describe the shape of the probability distribution of asset returns, with a focus on the propensity for extreme events, or "fat tails.

A late fee is a charge incurred when a payment is not made by its due date. Late fees can apply to various types of payments, including bills, loans, rent, and credit card payments. Here are a few key points regarding late fees: 1. **Purpose**: Late fees are intended to encourage timely payments and compensate the creditor for the inconvenience and potential financial impact of delayed payments.

Martingale pricing is a method used in financial mathematics and option pricing theory to determine the fair value of financial instruments, particularly derivatives. This approach is grounded in the concept of martingales, which are stochastic processes in which the future expected value of a variable, conditioned on the present and all past information, is equal to its current value.

Modigliani Risk-Adjusted Performance (MRAP) is a financial metric designed to evaluate the performance of an investment portfolio or asset relative to its risk. Developed by Franco Modigliani and his colleagues, MRAP is a variation of the Sharpe ratio, which measures the excess return an investment earns per unit of risk, but with specific adjustments to better account for various market conditions and risk factors. **Key Aspects of MRAP:** 1.

No-arbitrage bounds are a fundamental concept in financial economics and derivatives pricing that indicate ranges within which the prices of financial instruments should logically fall to prevent arbitrage opportunities. Arbitrage refers to the practice of taking advantage of price differences in different markets to earn a risk-free profit. No-arbitrage bounds establish conditions under which an asset's price must lie to ensure that no opportunities exist for arbitrage.

"Rocket science" is a metaphor often used to describe complex and advanced fields, including finance. In the context of finance, "rocket science" refers to sophisticated financial modeling, quantitative analysis, and risk management techniques that are used by investors, financial analysts, and financial engineers. Key aspects of "rocket science" in finance can include: 1. **Quantitative Finance**: The application of mathematical models and computational techniques to analyze financial markets, evaluate investment opportunities, and manage risk.

The Rule of 72 is a simple formula used to estimate the number of years required to double an investment at a fixed annual rate of return.

A deep-level trap refers to a defect or impurity state within the energy band structure of a semiconductor or insulator that is located significantly deeper in the energy profile compared to the conduction band and valence band edges. These traps can capture and hold charge carriers, such as electrons or holes, and can impact the electrical, optical, and thermal properties of the material.

The Snell envelope is a concept used primarily in the fields of stochastic control and optimal stopping theory. It provides a way to characterize the value of optimal stopping problems, particularly in scenarios where a decision-maker can stop a stochastic process at various times to maximize their expected payoff. Mathematically, the Snell envelope is defined as the least upper bound of the expected values of stopping times given a stochastic process. Formally, if \( X_t \) is a stochastic process (e.g.

A viscosity solution is a type of weak solution to certain types of nonlinear partial differential equations (PDEs), particularly those of the Hamilton-Jacobi type. The concept is particularly useful in cases where classical solutions may not exist, such as when solutions may be discontinuous or exhibit other singular behaviors. ### Definition A viscosity solution satisfies the PDE in a "viscosity" sense, which means it adheres to a specific geometric interpretation involving test functions.