Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Incomplete Contracts and Signalling

This article presents a principal-agent model in which asymmetric information leads to contractual incompleteness. I show that in the presence of transactions costs, incompleteness may act as a signal of the principal's type. Two types of transactions costs are considered: those incurred ex ante (drafting costs) and those incurred ex post (enforcement or verification costs). I prove that in the presence of either of these costs asymmetric information leads to more contractual incompleteness than full information does.
Peran United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) dalam Harmonisasi Hukum Transaksi Perdagangan Elektronik (E-Commerce) Internasional

This paper is entitled The Role of the United Nations Commission onInternational Trade Law (UNCITRAL) in the Harmonization of the Law of InternationalElectronic Commerce (E-Commerce) Transaction, also becomes the subject to study,especially about harmonizing the laws of each state on the international electroniccommerce (e-commerce) transactions. It applies normative legal research methodcombined with other relevant literature approach and statute approach. The conclusiondraw through this writing shall be means the UNCITRAL has a role to harmonize thetransaction of electronic commerce (e-commerce) by making a Model Law, that isUNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Commerce 1996.
Productivity in hotels: a stepwise data envelopment analysis of hotels' rooms division processes

Low productivity within service industries has been a major concern, but this situation is unlikely to improve without a general change in the way productivity is measured and managed. This paper aims to illustrate the value of stepwise data envelopment analysis (DEA) for measuring and benchmarking productivity. The issues and problems regarding productivity measurement as well as the advantages of using DEA in productivity measurement are analysed. The article extends current DEA applications by developing a stepwise approach to DEA. The latter technique combines correlation and DEA analysis for developing robust models and sound productivity measurement. The advantages of the proposed methodology are illustrated by applying it to a dataset of three-star hotels in the UK. Six inputs and three outputs are identified as the factors affecting rooms division efficiency in three star hotels.
Improving retrieval accuracy for aerosol optical depth by fusion of MODIS and CALIOP data Bo Han

Original scientific paper MODIS and CALIOP are two independent observation instruments in the A-train satellite constellation. They both provide aerosol optical depth (AOD) retrievals and scan the same points on the Earth’s surface within a two-minute interval. With different design principles, MODIS and CALIOP instruments obtain varying AOD retrieval accuracies under different conditions. In this paper, we propose a two-stage fusion approach, including an analysis stage and an integration stage, to improve AOD retrieval accuracy. In the analysis stage, we systematically analyse conditions where MODIS retrieves well while CALIOP does not, and vice-versa. In the integration stage, we combine AOD retrievals from both instruments together by drawing on the other's strong points to make up one's weak points. We test the fusion approach on the two-year collocated data from MODIS, CALIOP and AERONET. The fusion result is significantly more accurate than AOD retrievals from any single observation facility.
Liquidity, Labels, and Medium-Term Notes

We suggest that the medium-term note market provides an excellent laboratory for exploring the relationships between yield, liquidity, and the label affixed to a financial instrument. Crabbe and Turner (1995) examined the liquidity issue and uncovered the counter-intuitive result that issue size is unrelated to liquidity. Their study failed to examine a potential channel for a liquidity effect, however, in the form of multiple issues from a single, typically large, MTN registration filing. We find evidence that file size is significantly related to yield in a number of instances. Several other proxies for liquidity, such as frequency of issue, are also sometimes significantly related to yields. Contrary to Crabbe and Turner (1995), we find that labeling a security an MTN can have an impact on its yield. The label "note" also appears to matter for yield in some instances.
Electoral Distortion under STV Random Sampling Procedures: A Comment

In a recent Note in this Journal by Gallagher and Unwin, it was stated that the element of randomness due to sampling surplus votes in single transferable vote (STV) elections ‘has long been recognized, but no previous attempt has been made to assess its impact’. This is incorrect. Work done in Australia (and reported in the leading Australian journals in their respective fields) has comprehensively dealt with this problem both in theory and practice. Since STV is practised in national elections in only three countries (Australia, Ireland and Malta, the most populous being Australia) it is surprising that contributors to, and referees of, this Journal should be unaware of such material. It was largely because of the evidence contained in these articles that the Joint Committee on Electoral Reform recommended to the Australian Parliament an amendment to the Electoral Act, to avoid the problems caused by sampling votes, by using the Gregory method of counting them. The Act was amended in this way in 1983.
Robust Time and Frequency Synchronization in OFDM based 802.11a WLAN systems

In this paper, robust and efficient time and frequency synchronization technique suitable for IEEE 802.11a wireless LAN system is proposed. The proposed method performs OFDM symbol boundary detection and frequency offset estimation using correlation techniques. The conjugate property of long preamble is used to reduce the computational complexity. In this proposed method, coarse time and fine frequency offset are estimated jointly and the frequency offset is estimated accurately before fine time estimation
Technical Trading Rules in the European Monetary System

Using the genetic programming methodology developed in Neely, Weller and Dittmar (1997), we find trading rules that generate significant excess returns for three of four EMS exchange rates over the out-of-sample period 1986-1996. Permitting the rules to use information about the interest rate differential proved to be important. The reduction in volatility resulting from the imposition of a narrower band may reduce trading rule profitability. The currency for which there was least evidence of significant excess returns was the Dutch guilder, which was also the only currency that remained within a band of 2.25% throughout our sample period. Our results cannot be duplicated by the moving average or filter rules commonly used by technical analysts or by two trading rules designed specifically to exploit known features of target zone exchange rates. The observed excess returns cannot be explained as compensation for bearing systematic risk.
Varying the importance of a prospective memory task: Differential effects across time - and event-based prospective memory

Only few studies have addressed the issue of task importance in prospective memory. Most of them, but not all, have shown that perceived task importance does improve prospective memory performance. However, there is little understanding of (1) the conditions under which importance of the prospective memory task makes a difference in performance and (2) the mechanisms by which perceived task importance has an effect on prospective memory performance. The present study reports two experiments that manipulate task importance in a time-based and an event-based prospective memory paradigm. Results show that importance has an effect on the time-based but not on the event-based task. Further analyses of the performance in the cover tasks as well as the monitoring behaviour indicate that importance improves prospective memory to the degree the task requires the strategic allocation of attentional resources.
The Effects of Globalization on Inflation in Selected OPEC Member Countries during 1998-2007

Economists have considered globalization as one of effective factors on inflation in recent years. They believe that globalization reduces the role of domestic factors and increases the role of foreign factors. This research evaluates the impact of globalization on inflation in selected OPEC member countries included Iran for the period 1998-2007 and using modern panel data econometric techniques. Results of this research show that globalization and trade openness increase inflation considerably in these countries. Domestic output gap, political instability and GDP per worker as an indicator of development economic have not could affect on inflation significantly but foreign output gap have a weak and significant effect on inflation.
Pasta containing tartary buckwheat sprouts prevents DNA damage in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Abstract Recent studies have shown that DNA damage occurs more often in hypertensive patients than non-hypertensive individuals. Here, we analyzed the in vivo effect of pasta containing 30% of tartary buckwheat sprouts (TBSP) on spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and normotensive Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY) to elucidate if TBSP could have an anti-genotoxic effect in hypertensive animal models. Both SHRs and WKY rats were divided into two groups and fed for six weeks with 5 g of TBSP and durum wheat flour commercial pasta, respectively. Our results showed that a diet rich in TBSP has anti-genotoxic effect. Indeed, SHRs fed with TBSP exhibited a significant decrease in DNA damage (38%) and more efficient DNA repair (84%) compared to SHRs fed with commercial pasta.
Stratification of risk factors in venous thromboembolism: use of the D-dimer test.

Thrombosis or thromboembolism (VTE) is a potentially fatal problem encountered in hospitalized patients. Manifesting as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), the condition often remains unrecognized due to its “silent” character and delayed emergence. The full extent of the problem is also not known because – even in developed countries – underreporting occurs, most often also due to unclear symptoms and signs. In the United States, VTE affects 2 million persons with 200.000 deaths every year, of which PE is the most feared with 60.000 deaths every year. , A study among population in Hong Kong revealed an incidence of DVT of 16.64 per 100.000 people, a much lower figure than that of incidence in the united States (124-293/100.000); assuming that it represents also figures for Indonesia, it is also low but might be very relevant due to the large population of the country. An epidemiological study involving several Asian countries (including Indonesia) among 2420 orthopedic surgery patients found that the rate of symptomatic VTE or sudden death was 2.3% (99% CI; 1.6-3.2) and 1.2% (99% CI; 0.7-1.8). the investigators concluded that VTE in Asia was not low – it was in fact comparable to that in Western developed clountries. Pulmonary embolism is the most severe complication of DVT; 82% of patients with acute PE had detectable venous thrombi and that DVT was asymptomatic in nearly two thirds of these patients. RISK STRATIFICATION
The Economic Impact of Entrepreneurship: Comparing International Datasets

Research Question/Issue: What is the impact of entrepreneurship on GDP/capita, unemployment, exports/GDP, and patents per population across countries? Is the impact of entrepreneurship mitigated by legal and cultural differences across countries? Do different international datasets provide different answers to these questions? We empirically compare the impact of entrepreneurship on GDP/capita, unemployment, exports/GDP, and patents per population across countries by examining three datasets from the World Bank, the OECD, and Compendia. Research Findings/Insights: Based on a comprehensive sample of all available countries and years, with the World Bank data being the most comprehensive, we find entrepreneurship has a significantly positive impact on GDP/capita, exports/GDP, and patents per population, and a negative impact on unemployment. Inferences from the Compendia data are very consistent. By contrast, inferences from the OECD data are not supportive of any of these propositions. Theoretical/Academic Implications: Our findings point to institutional and cultural impediments to the effectiveness of entrepreneurship. Most notably, the impact of entrepreneurship is significantly mitigated by excessively strong creditor rights that limit entrepreneurial risk taking. Furthermore, the data indicate cultural attitudes that are associated with low risk taking limit the effectiveness of entrepreneurship. By contrast, the impact of entrepreneurship on exports/GDP does not appear to be directly tied to costs of exporting, which is perhaps best explained by the new economy goods and services created by entrepreneurs that depend less on such costs. For some subsets of the data we find evidence consistent with the view that top tier venture capital funds enhance the impact of entrepreneurship on GDP/capita. Finally, our results show how different definitions of new business entry matter for empirical analysis of entrepreneurship across countries. Practitioner/Policy Implications: The data highlight the importance of access to finance without downside costs so that entrepreneurs are encouraged to take risk. Further, the data highlight institutional differences in risk attitudes more generally inhibit risk taking and thereby limit the effectiveness of entrepreneurship. As well, the data highlight a central role for careful measurement of entrepreneurial activities and for inclusion of as many countries and years as possible in order to effectively analyze the impact of entrepreneurship.
A tenuous dust ring of Jupiter formed by escaping ejecta from the Galilean satellites

[1] This paper focuses on the dust environment between the orbits of the Galilean moons of Jupiter. Recent discovery of dust clouds around the Galilean satellites formed by impact ejecta from hypervelocity impacts of interplanetary micrometeoroids [Kruger et al., 1999d] suggests that a fraction of the ejected particles may escape from the source satellites into circum-Jovian orbits. We estimate production rates and study dynamical evolution of the escaping ejecta, controlled by gravitational, radiation pressure, and electromagnetic forces, to show that grains larger than several tenths of a micrometer in radius are likely to stay in bound orbits around Jupiter for tens or hundreds of years until they either are lost to collisions with the satellites or Jupiter or are ejected to interplanetary space. It is concluded that these small debris form a broad dust ring with number densities up to ∼103 km−3, extending at least from Europa's orbit outward beyond the orbit of Callisto. Our results are consistent with in situ measurements of the Galileo spacecraft. We analyze impact events recorded by the Galileo dust detector from 1996 through 2001 and find more than 200 events outside the orbit of Europa, compatible with impacts of particles orbiting Jupiter in prograde orbits. An empirical dust number density distribution derived from these data agrees quite well with the theoretical one.
Size properties of cointegration tests in misspecified systems

The small sample size properties of three frequently used cointegration tests when a system has been misspecified are investigated. Specifically, the misspecification consists of one relevant variable being omitted from a system with one cointegrating vector. A Monte Carlo study shows that the Johansen (1991) trace test, adjusted by a simple finite sample correction, has the most robust behaviour when lag length in the test equations is chosen according to traditional information criteria.
Larvicidal Activity of Brazilian Plant Essential Oils Against Coenagrionidae Larvae

ABSTRACT Odonate larvae can be serious pests that attack fish larvae, postlarvae, and fingerlings in fish culture tanks, causing significant loss in the supply and production of juveniles. This study reports a screen of the essential oils (EOs) of Nectandra megapotamica (Sprengel) Mez, Nectandra grandiflora Nees, Hesperozygis ringens (Bentham) Epling, Ocimum gratissimum L. , Aloysia gratissima (Gillies & Hooker) Troncoso, and Lippia sidoides Chamisso against Coenagrionidae larvae. In addition, the most effective EO and its 50% lethal concentration (LC50) and chemical analysis are described. The larvae of Acanthagrion Selys, Homeoura Kennedy, Ischnura Charpentier, and Oxyagrion Selys were used to assess the EO effects. EO obtained from H. ringens, O. gratissimum, and L. sidoides showed the highest larvicidal effects at 19 h of treatment.Themajor constituents of theEOofH. ringens include pulegone and limonene, while eugenol and Z-&bgr;-ocimene predominate in the EO of O. gratissimum, and carvacrol and &pgr;-cymene were the major compounds of the EO of L. sidoides. Leaf EOs from H. ringens, O. gratissimum, and L. sidoides showed activity against Coenagrionidae larvae at similar concentrations with LC50s of 62.92, 75.05, and 51.65 µl liter-1, respectively, and these were considered the most promising treatments.
The Calculus of Consensus Democracy

We present a theory of comparative political institutions based on the concept of consensus democracy and social choice theory. Unlike Lijphart, we argue that “consensus democracy” is not a special form of democracy characterized by mutual vetoes, but rather the simplest form of democracy, which we refer to as PR-majority rule. We construct a typology of political institutions based on differences with this simple model. Contra Tsebelis’s veto players approach, our theory predicts that PR-majority rule should be the most flexible form of democracy. We test this with data on overall patterns of government spending and on welfare state reform.
VENTURE CAPITALISTS’ COLLECTIVE BELIEFS ON NEW BUSINESS VENTURE INVESTMENTS

A multi-method approach (investment case analysis, administrative records, published interviews, questionnaire, and personal interviews) was conducted in order to deal with the widest possible range of aspects connected with venture capitalists’ investments in new businesses. Our study identified 73 decision rules or heuristics associated with such investments and we examined the extent to which these rules were shared by the UK venture capital community. We proposed to find out the reasons for business problems/failures and whether venture capitalists’ attribution of blame is biased. We explained what social functions this attribution serves and what consequences it entails for the venture capitalist, the entrepreneur, and the providers of funds to venture capital firms. Our decision rules demonstrate that not only evaluation criteria are important to understanding success of new ventures but also other heuristics associated with the deal structure, and two basic social processes, namely, hands-on management and networks. This very much reflects the widespread belief among venture capitalists that “it is not just a matter of picking up the winners”. This research has made explicit the venture capitalists’ “theory”of new business failures and illustrates their attribution bias towards the managerial team. This attribution of blame has serious consequences for the managerial team and the venture capitalists themselves as they will try to alter the managerial team rather than any other situational factor, e.g. market, product.
Robust motion mode recognition for portable navigation independent on device usage

Portable navigation has become increasingly prevalent in daily activities. The need for accurate user positioning information, including a person's location and velocity, when using a portable device (such as a cell phone, tablet, or even a smart watch) is growing in various fields. Knowing the user's mode of motion or conveyance allows appropriate algorithms or constraints, related to each mode, to be used to estimate a more accurate position and velocity. The modes covered in this paper are walking, running, cycling, and land-based vessels (including vehicles, truck, buses, and trains which include light rail trains and subways). The work discussed in this paper involves the use of sensors - with and without Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) signal availability - in portable devices to help recognize the mode of motion for an arbitrary user, an arbitrary use case - whether the device is held in the hand, in the pocket, or at the ear, etc. - and an arbitrary orientation of the device.
Design and Verification of Real-Life Processes With Application of Petri Nets

This paper focuses on the design and verification methods of distributed logic controllers supervising real-life processes. Such systems have to be designed very carefully and precisely in order to operate flawlessly and to meet user needs. We propose to use interpreted Petri nets as modeling formalism. A new design flow of distributed logic controllers is introduced. The methodology covers the development process from the specification stage to the final implementation of the controller in the distributed devices. In the proposed solution, the system is decomposed into separate modules that form a distributed system. Furthermore, the specification (before and after the decomposition process) is formally verified with the application of the model checking technique against predefined behavioral requirements. Finally, the system is implemented in real devices. The usage of formal methods and double model checking ensure the correct functionality of the designed distributed logic controller. The theoretical approach is supplemented by the practical experiments. Furthermore, the proposed idea is illustrated by an example of a smart home system.
The inhibition of indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase 1 by connexin 43

Upregulation of connexin 43 (Cx43) showed potential in enhancing immune surveillance that was suppressed in the tumor microenvironment. The expression of indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase (IDO) is one of the crucial factors contributing to tumor immune tolerance by depletion of tryptophan and IDO-mediated tryptophan metabolites. Here, we aim to investigate the role of Cx43 in IDO production in murine tumor by using Cx43 inducers. Resveratrol (trans-3, 5, 4 '-trihydroxystilbene) is a natural plant-derived polyphenol possessing positive effect against cancer. Salmonella enterica serovar choleraesuis (S.C.) was proved to target and inhibit tumor growth. Both of them regulated Cx43 expression in tumor cells and led to either chemosensitizing or immune-activating. In this study, the correlation between Cx43 and IDO were determined by the treatment of resveratrol and S.C. Our data showed an increase in Cx43 while IDO protein and IDO-mediated inhibited effects on T cell decreased after tumor cells are given with resveratrol and S.C. treatments. All of which could be inhibited once the expression of Cx43 was blocked. Cx43 involved in IDO regulation might be useful in developing IDO-targeted cancer immune therapy.