The notion that the international monetary system is hierarchical has become increasingly common, but nature, causes, and shape of hierarchy remain vague. In this article, we develop a theory based on “key currency” approach. We perceive as world-spanning payment inherently because it needs central nodes for clearing settlement. centrality US-Dollar (USD) global key currency places US at apex m...

Let G be the group of projectivities stabilizing a unital U in PG(2, q2). In this paper, we prove that U is a classical unital if and only if there are two points in U such that the stabilizer of these two points in G has order q2 − 1.

We consider dilaton stabilization with R invariance, which insures a vanishing cosmological constant at the scale of stabilization. We construct a few models which accommodate weak gauge couplings with large or small gauge groups. Matter condensation plays a central role in the dilaton stabilization.

Kutten and Patt-Shamir have proposed a method for fast recovery of the output of a non-reactive, distributed protocol: if f < n=2 processors are corrupted from a legitimate global state, then the method recovers the output in O(f) time. The proposed method leaves open the case f n=2. This note presents a technique to handle also the case of f n=2, again recovering the output in O(f) time. The r...

A randomized uniform self-stabilizing protocol that provides each (anonymous) processor of a uniform system with a distinct identiier is presented. The protocol uses a predeened xed amount of memory and stabilizes within expected (d) time, where d is the actual diameter of the network.

Two new methodologies are introduced to improve inference in the evaluation of mutual fund performance against benchmarks. First, the benchmark models are estimated using panel methods with both fund and time effects. Second, the non-normality of individual mutual fund returns is accounted for by using panel bootstrap methods. We also augment the standard benchmark factors with fund-specific ch...

A web of corruption involving the Assad family, the security apparatus, and their business cohorts has been a major factor behind the outbreak of the Syrian revolt that started in 2011. UN-facilitated talks between the regime and the opposition are set to convene in Geneva in January 2016, after the refugee crisis in Europe and Russia’s entry into the Syrian war prompted a renewed international...