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IN 1964, THE National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) published a comparatively short volume (only 157 pages, cover-to-cover) written by Norman Thompson. Thompson had been the first President of the Factory [...]

Abstract Niumasi Coal Mine (located in Shaodong City, Hunan Province, China) was an important producing area of high-quality coking coal in Hunan Province. After large-scale mining of underground coal seams in the area, there has been a large area of surface subsidence and serious land damage. The damaged land urgently needs to be reclaimed. In this paper, the suitability of land reclamation as arable land in Niumasi coal mining area was comprehensively evaluated, and a catastrophe progression model (CPM) for the suitability evaluation of land reclamation as arable land in coal mining area was put forward with the help of the catastrophe theory. The suitability classification was divided into four grades: suitable, moderately suitable, less suitable, and unsuitable. Eleven parameters including terrain slope grade, effective thickness of soil layer, soil parent materials, soil contamination, organic content, alkali hydrolyzable nitrogen (N), available phosphorus (P), available potassium (K), ground collapse, land destruction extent, and conditions of irrigation and drainage were selected as evaluation indicators, and the classification standards of each evaluation indicator was determined. Using MATLAB software to generate a total of 1200 samples (300 samples per level) between the arrays corresponding to each level of standards according to the normal distribution principle, of which 800 samples were used as training samples to establish the catastrophe progression criteria, and 400 samples as test samples to verify the reliability of the proposed criteria. According to CPM, the suitability status of the four land samples in Shuijingtou working area of Niumasi Coal Mine were identified. The evaluation results show that the suitability level of three lands are all ‘Moderately suitable’, and one sample is ‘Unsuitable’. Mining coal has the greatest damage to paddy fields, followed by the dry farming lands and vegetable lands, and the least impact to the forest lands. CPM can not only evaluate the suitability of land reclamation, and comprehensively compare the suitability degrees, but also can assess the damage degree of coal mining to different types of lands. This paper aims to provide a new idea for the study of quantitative evaluation methods of land reclamation suitability. The results have reference and guiding significance for the comprehensive evaluation of the suitability of land reclamation as arable land in coal mining areas. Article highlights The catastrophe theory can be used to evaluate the suitability of land reclamation as arable land in coal mining area. A catastrophe progression model for the suitability evaluation of land reclamation as arable land in coal mining area was put forward. Using MATLAB software to establish the catastrophe progression criteria according to the normal distribution principle. The results have reference and guiding significance for the comprehensive evaluation of the suitability of land reclamation as arable land in coal mining areas.

Abstract This paper shows the construction of a performance evaluation system for the inheritance of traditional sports intangible cultural inheritors. In order to ensure the scientific nature and rationality of the indicators, a theoretical model of performance evaluation content is first established. Then, based on the theoretical model, the preliminary selection of indicators is completed, and then the expert screening of indicators is further completed by Delphi method, and the weights of each indicator are established through analytic hierarchy. Finally, in order to verify the application effect of the indicator system in practice, this study conducts an empirical study on the system from the perspective of regional performance evaluation. The results show that the discriminating power and applicability of the evaluation indicator are effective, and the evaluation system has a very distinct epochal and people-centered character. In conclusion, the construction of this evaluation system is of great significance to improve the scientific and standardized level of evaluation of Intangible cultural heritage inheritors.

The search for enablers of continued growth of SMS traffic, as well as the take-off of the more diversified MMS message contents, open up for enterprises the potential of bulk use of mobile messaging, instead of essentially one-by-one use. In parallel, such enterprises or value added services needing mobile messaging in bulk--for spot use or for use over a prescribed period of time--want to minimize total acquisition costs, from a set of technically approved providers of messaging capacity. This leads naturally to the evaluation of auctioning for bulk SMS or MMS messaging capacity, with the intrinsic advantages therein such as reduction in acquisition costs, allocation efficiency, and optimality. The paper shows, with extensive results as evidence from simulations carried out in the Rotterdam School of Management e-Auction room, how multi-attribute reverse auctions perform for the enterprise-buyer, as well as for the messaging capacity-sellers. We compare 1- and 5-round auctions, to show the learning effect and the benefits thereof to the various parties. The sensitivity will be reported to changes in the enterprise's and the capacity providers utilities and priorities between message attributes (such as price, size, security, and delivery delay). At the organizational level, the paper also considers alternate organizational deployment schemes and properties for an off-line or spot bulk messaging capacity market, subject to technical and regulatory constraints. Keywords: mobile commerce, auctions, multi-attribute auctions, SMS, EMS, MMS, mobile operators, 1. Introduction and Context 1.1. INTRODUCTION When we think about auctions, fashionable e-commerce websites auctions spring to mind. The popularity of auctions has encouraged the growth of auction support software [...]

Abstract This paper synthesizes the characteristics of university rankings that cause pressure or ‘harassment’ on universities and analyses possible strategies for action that can be carried out in the real context of the three main university rankings (QS, THE, ARWU), suggesting the consequences for the so-called world-class universities and others (which represent 95% of the total). Although there is controversy over the criteria of the university ranking systems, many universities are establishing strategies aimed at adapting to these criteria and indicators and improving their positions. This study concludes that international university rankings should not be a relevant source of information to consider the quality of universities because this can have a negative impact on the development of medium- and long-term policies in higher education and the universities themselves. Universities should concentrate on their mission and must provide valid and reliable information to all stakeholders about the level of achievement of their goals.

RESEARCH IMPACT ASSESSMENT is a recent 196-page paper that describes the practice of federal research impact evaluation. The following sections summarize the paper's contents, with references omitted.(1) QUALITATIVE METHODS Peer [...]

When the American Musicological Society held its annual meeting in Boston in 1998, most of the papers reflected business as usual. There were papers on historical styles ('Verse Meter, Word [...]

This paper focuses on the design of a serious game for the teaching and assessment of generic competences, placing particular emphasis on the competences assessment aspect. Taking into account important aspects of competence assessment such as context, feedback and transparency, among other aspects, and using the University of Deusto's Generic Competences Assessment Model based on the defining of levels, indicators and descriptors as a reference point, a serious game has been designed for the development and evaluation of two Generic Competences: Problem Solving and Entrepreneurship, aimed at final-year undergraduate and first-year postgraduate students. The design process shows that having a Competence Assessment Model based on levels, indicators and descriptors is of great help in defining the game's scenarios and learning and assessment activities. Serious games can also be excellent resources to help in the development and assessment of generic competences, but not as a unique tool, since the concept of competence in itself is highly complex (integrating knowledge, skills, attitudes and values) and some elements might require other methods and techniques for its development. It also reveals the difficulties of evaluating competences in general and through serious games in particular.

This paper deals with some of the problems that the Politics of Education has to face both as a subject and as a government action. Based above all on the literature appeared in specialized journals during the last five years, our attention is firstly focused on the concern for using an active methodology in the teaching of this subject which places students at the center of the teaching-learning process with the aim of encouraging their interest in its contents and inducing them to acquire civic competences. Secondly, the new but already deeply-rooted neoliberal conception of education is used to describe some of its policies, such as accountability, assessment and free choice of school. Our study finally stresses the change of prominence experienced by educational actors and calls researchers and teaching staff to face such challenges from an understanding of politics as a transforming action that seeks equality and social cohesion.

Abstract In this paper, the authors focus on the influence of corporate social responsibility (CSR) upon business profitability. In order to be capable of working with homogeneous data, the authors' [...]

Abstract Using a two-regime model of the inflation-unemployment process for US data 1960:2 to 2000:2, this paper finds strong evidence to support the Eisner puzzle, which occurs when the short-run [...]

This paper provides a perspective on Nigeria's global economic position and integration into the world economy. While other emerging market economies have benefited from globalization, there is concern that African countries continue to be marginalized. Among African countries, Nigeria is one of two major countries with strong potential to harness the opportunities and meet the challenges that the global economy could provide. Nigeria has the largest population in the continent and has been growing rapidly, due in part to gains from economic reforms and rising prices of oil. However, Nigeria's integration into the global economy has been below potential. While it has improved its global rankings on indicators of competitiveness, business climate, and productivity in the past five years, it still ranks below most of its peer group on these indicators. It is among the poorest countries in the world in terms of social indicators despite oil wealth. Further integration into the global economy would require sustained policy reforms, improved governance, and public-private investments in social, human, and physical infrastructure., International media attention has focused in recent years on the globalization of the world economy with the integration of national economies through product, capital, and labor markets as well as [...]

Robust control has been a very popular area of research in the last two decades. The goal of this paper is to investigate the assumptions implicit in the 'nonprobabilistic nature' of the a priori information used to derive the linear-quadratic robust control in discrete-time. This is done by comparing robust control with the optimal control for a linear system with time-varying parameters. First the theoretical differences between the two approaches are discussed. Then they are used in two numerical examples: a simple model with one control, one state and a time horizon of two periods, which is suitable for hand calculations, and the permanent income model. The main conclusion is that the decision maker applying robust control is indeed assuming a very restricted class of true, unknown models. Key words: Robust control, optimal control, time-varying parameters JEL classification: C61, 1. Introduction Robust control has been a very popular area of research in the last two decades. (1) By robust control 'one means those control mechanisms that explicitly take into [...]

In this paper we use recent advances in approximate dynamic programming to develop an approximate policy optimization procedure that uses Monte Carlo simulations for numerical solution of dynamic optimization problems in economics. The procedure is applied to the classical problem of 'learning by doing' in regression models, for which the value and extent of active experimentation are demonstrated in a variety of numerical studies. Key words: dynamic programming, policy iteration, rollout, Monte Carlo, learning by doing, 1. Introduction Stochastic optimization problems arise naturally in many fields, including economics and engineering. These problems have stochastic components and optimization is in the sense of maximizing the expectation of [...]

This paper estimates a model of interest rate dynamics containing multi-factor Wiener and single-factor Poisson jump volatility components. Data from the highly liquid but short term futures markets are used. The difficult numerical problem of estimating such multi-factor models is resolved by using a genetic algorithm to carry out the optimization procedure. It is established that the multi-factor Wiener volatility components are adequate to model the interest rate dynamics without the need to incorporate Poisson jump components, the existence of which would create difficulties in the practical use of interest rate models. Key words: term structure, volatility, mutlifactor, jump, Eurodollar futures, futures markets, genetic algorithm Jel Classification No: C51, C61, E43, 1. Introduction The volatility of interest rate markets has long been of interest to financial market researchers. The market volatility can be thought of as the result of the incessant [...]

Abstract This paper examines the relationship between experience and its differential effects on the types of knowledge that drive an auditor's expert-like behaviors during performance of field tasks. A descriptive [...]

Keywords: higher education institution, new Swedish regional development policy, regional governance, regional growth agreements, regional growth partnerships, University of Umea. Introduction This paper looks at the role Swedish higher education [...]

This paper presents a non-equilibrium, agent-based model of workers and firms, with on-the-job searching, endogenous entrepreneurial decisions and endogenous wage and income determination. Workers and firms are heterogeneous, and learn their strategy in the labor market. The model is able to reproduce a number of stylized facts generally accepted in labor economics and industrial organization, such as the Wage, Beveridge and Okun curve, and the skewness of wage, income and firm size distribution. Most interestingly, important stylized facts such as a negatively sloped Wage Curve and a constant returns to scale matching function emerge only out-of-equilibrium, during the adjustment processes toward the stationary state. Thus, from a theoretical point of view the model suggests that taking these stylized facts as 'building blocks' of equilibrium models might be misleading. The results stress two additional points. From a methodological point of view, the use of non-equilibrium computational models allows for a more comprehensive investigation of the labor market, by considering the endogenous character of many relevant variables. From an empirical point of view, the joint determination of all aggregate relationships and their dependence on the equilibrium or non-equilibrium state of the system suggest to move from the investigation of empirical regularities in isolation one from the other to a joint analysis. Key words: Unemployment, Entrepreneurship, Firm demography, Simulation, Beveridge, Okun, Wage Curve JEL Classifications: J60, L11, C15., 1. Introduction [I]f a model of unemployment conforms to the long-run equilibrium requirements of balanced growth, it is the most suitable starting point for the extensions that will eventually explain [...]

This paper investigates upon job search mechanism at individual level by a deterministic-tochastic approach in an economy with perfect competion and rational agents. Each single unit, firm or worker, is analyzed over time; aggregate dynamics comes directly from the micro-structure of the economy. We show that the unemployment as well as the vacancy rate converge in the long run to an ergodic distribution whose average value lies on the Beveridge curve. Transitional paths are not-monotone and depending on initial conditions. The micro-model is exploited to assess the relationship between job search and social networks (neighborhood effects); results show that, when the network is endogenous, such spillovers affect both transitional paths and steady state in several way, not last in a negative way. Key words: job-search, human capital, social network, epidemic processes JEL Classifications: J20, J23, J24, 1. Introduction Like most other aggregate functions in the macroeconomist's tool kit, the matching function is a black box; we have good intuition about its existence and properties but only [...]

Abstract. This paper argues that the conceptions of 'space' (and increasingly 'time') in the discussion of 'the university' (in its most transcendent sense) have gone through four distinct phases in [...]

Abstract. The aim of this paper is to discuss the prospects of Latin American public universities. Its main assertion is that universities could become important actors of development in Latin [...]

Abstract. This paper examines Oxford University students' conceptions of the role of the tutorial in their learning. An analysis of interviews with 28 students constituted four qualitatively different conceptions of [...]

China appears to be at the edge of an historic demographic transition, setting the country on a path to grow old before it becomes prosperous. This paper presents a detailed [...]

Abstract. This paper reports the outcomes of a study, undertaken from a phenomenographic perspective, of university academics' experiences of their own growth and development, i.e., what it means to them, [...]

Abstract New ideas on the role of central banks have been exposed in recent years. This paper studies the evolution of the consumer price index and the treasury bill rate [...]

Abstract This paper proposes a model and methodology for studying the effect of experience on an auditor's expert potential. Expert potential is defined as an increase in the expected level [...]

This paper presents practical examples on how Monte Carlo simulation software must be evaluated for precision. The examples are from financial planning cases, but the relevance of the methodologies displayed [...]

The choice-value thesis claims that people always choose what is best for them, given their information on the set of alternatives. This paper attempts to show that this assumption is [...]

Tim Hudson (*) Abstract This paper suggests an investment strategy which allows an investor to specify the desired return on investment to be equal to the expected rate of inflation [...]

This paper reviews the U.S. Treasury's new series of TIPS and their role in financing federal deficits and the national debt. After describing TIPS and reviewing the early evidence of [...]