We present a formal model of negotiation between autonomous agents. The purpose of the negotiation is to reach an agreement about the provision of a service by one agent for another. The model defines a range of strategies and tactics that agents can employ to generate initial offers, evaluate proposals and offer counter proposals. The model is based on computationally tractable assumptions, de...

In this paper we present a shape preserving method of interpolation for scattered data defined in the form of some constraints such as convexity, monotonicity and positivity. We define a k-convex interpolation spline function in a Sobolev space, by minimizing a semi-norm of order k+1, and we discretize it in the space of piecewise polynomial spline functions. The shape preserving condition that...

This paper presents measurements of the leptonic asymmetries in Z decays measured with the SLD detector. Using a data sample of approximately 500,000 Z bosons, we report preliminary values for Ae, A , and A using both hadronic and leptonic decays. When combining all results, we report a preliminary value for the e ective weak mixing angle sin eff W = 0:23110 0:00029. Presented at the XXIX Inter...

Multiple representations and multi-media can support learning in many di€erent ways. In this paper, it is claimed that by identifying the functions that they can serve, many of the con ̄icting ®ndings arising out of the existing evaluations of multi-representational learning environments can be explained. This will lead to more systematic design principles. To this end, this paper describes a fu...

A stochastic process X …t† is periodically stationary (and ergodic) if, for every k P 1 and every …t1; . . . ; tk† in Rk, the sequence of random vectors …X …t1 ‡ n†; . . . ;X …tk ‡ n††n ˆ 0;‡1; . . . ; is stationary (and ergodic). For such an ergodic process, let T be a positive random variable de®ned on the sample space of the process, representing a time of failure. The local failure-rate fun...

The ratio between the length of the 2nd and 4th digit (2D:4D) is sexually dimorphic, with mean male 2D:4D lower than mean female 2D:4D. It recently was suggested that 2D:4D is negatively correlated with prenatal testosterone and positively correlated with prenatal estrogen. It is argued that high prenatal testosterone and low estrogen (indicated by low 2D:4D) favors the male fetus and low prena...

In this article, we examine the relation between return volatility, average trade size, and the frequency of transactions using transaction data. Consistent with Jones, Kaul, and Lipson (1994. Review of Financial Studies, 7, 631–651), our results show that the frequency of trades has a high explanatory power for return volatility. However, contrary to their finding, we find that average trade s...

In order to provide an alternative way for accessing WWW, we propose a FaxWeb system to access WWW services using a fax machine in this paper. Based on the FaxWeb system, users, who do not have computers or who do not have the capability of using computers, can access WWW services using fax machines. In this way, people can adopt not only computers but also fax machines, which belong to the tra...

International non-government organisations (INGOs) are increasingly regarded as important in their capacity to influence global policy on development matters such as poverty alleviation, sustainable development, and human rights. This has been possible through their simultaneous attachment to places and local cultures on the one hand, and their critical engagement with the global on the other. ...

Although there has been an increase in the overall financial services market, the profitability of banks world-wide has decreased from the early 1980s to the 1990s. This has been attributed to several factors: the decline of traditional banking activities (deposit taking and lending); poorly performing debts (arising from poor lending decisions); and, for domestic banks, depressed property pric...