Entrepreneurial Innovations, Entrepreneurship Policy and Globalization

What explains the world-wide trend of pro-entrepreneurial policies in the last few decades? We study entrepreneurial policy in a lobbying model taking into account the con.ict of interest between entrepreneurs and incumbents. It is shown that international market integration leads to more pro-entrepreneurial policies. It becomes more difficult to protect the profits of incumbent firms from entrepreneurial entry and pro-entrepreneurial policies make foreign entrepreneurs less aggressive. Making use of the Doing Business database, we find, consistent with our theory, evidence that international openness reduces barriers to entry for new entrepreneurs and that the effect is stronger in countries with more rent-seeking governments.Entrepreneurship; Regulation; Innovation; Market Integration; Lobbying

RANCANG BANGUN MULTIMEDIA PEMBELAJARAN BERBASIS GAME ADVENTURE MENGGUNAKAN METODE PROBLEM SOLVING UNTUK MENINGKATKAN PEMAHAMAN SISWA PADA MATERI JARINGAN KOMPUTER

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk merancang-bangun multimedia pembelajaran berbasis game adventure menggunakan metode problem solving pada materi jaringan komputer, mengetahui peningkatan hasil belajar siswa terhadap mata pelajaran jaringan dasar yang dalam pelaksanaannya menerapkan multimedia pembelajaran berbasis game adventure menggunakan metode problem solving, dan mengetahui signifikan besarnya peningkatan hasil belajar siswa setelah menerapkan multimedia pembelajaran berbasis game adventure. Tahapan pengembangan multimedia pembelajaran ini terdiri dari tahap analisis, desain, pengembangan, implementasi, dan tahap penilaian. Multimedia pembelajaran yang telah dikembangkan kemudian diimplementasikan di SMK BPI Bandung dan data yang diolah diperoleh dari tes yang dilakukan oleh siswa setelah menggunakan multimedia pembelajaran. Sementara untuk data penilaian terhadap multimedia menggunakan kuesioner yang dirancang berdasarkan Learning Object Review Instrument (LORI) version 1.5 yang ditujukan kepada ahli materi dan ahli media, juga siswa sebagai pengguna aplikasi multimedia tersebut. Dari penelitian ini didapatkan bahwa (1) penilaian multimedia oleh ahli media terhadap multimedia pembelajaran berbasis game adventure menggunakan metode problem solving sebesar 89,57%, termasuk ke dalam kategori sangat baik, penilaian multimedia oleh ahli materi sebesar 85%, termasuk ke dalam kategori sangat baik, dan penilaian pengguna terhadap multimedia sebesar 97,69% termasuk ke dalam kategori sangat baik; (2) multimedia dapat meningkatkan hasil belajar siswa dilihat dari adanya peningkatan signifikan nilai dengan hasil th (8,81) > tt (2,42), gain sebesar 0,61 yang termasuk kedalam kategori sedang, dan tanggapan siswa terhadap multimedia sebesar 97,74% termasuk ke dalam kategori sangat baik.;--- This research aims to design Multimedia Learning adventure game based uses a problem solving method for materials computer networking, to know improving student learning outcomes of the course base networking that is in the implementation implement multimedia learning adventure game based uses a problem solving method. Moreover, it is to know how significant size the improving of student learning outcomes after applying the multimedia learning adventure game based. Multimedia development stages of this learning phase consists of the analysis, design, development, implementation and assessment phase. Multimedia learning that has been developed and then implemented in SMK BPI Bandung and the processed data obtained from tests performed by the students after using multimedia learning. As for the assessment data of multimedia used the questionnaire that was designed based on the Learning Object Review Instrument (LORI) version 1.5, which is addressed to subject matter experts and media experts, as well as the students as the multimedia application users. From this study, it was found that (1) the assessment of multimedia by media experts to multimedia learning adventure game based uses a problem solving method at 89.57%, included into the excellent category, multimedia votes by subject matter experts of 85%, including into the excellent category, and assessment of users to multimedia by 97,69% included into excellent category; (2) multimedia can improve student learning significant outcomes if it had been seen from any increase in value with a th (8,81) > tt (2,42), gain of 0.61 included into medium category, and reaction of students to multimedia by 97,74% included into excellent category

A new challenge for objective uncertainties and the propensity theorist

The paper is concerned with the existence of objective uncertainties. What would it take for objective uncertainties to exist, and what would be the consequences for our understanding of the world we live in? We approach these questions by considering two common theories on how we are to understand the being of propensities and how it pertains to possible outcomes that remain unmanifested. It is argued that both or these theories should be rejected, and be replaced with a theory we call unrestricted actualism according to which the possible outcomes of propensities (whether realized or unrealized) are denizens of the actual world

A System for THz Imaging of Low-Contrast Targets Using the Born Approximation

A THz imaging system, operating at 346 GHz and tailored for implementation of an imaging algorithm based on the Born approximation, is presented. The imaging algorithm provides focusing by compensating for the antenna footprint. This allows for using a more simple antenna system without optical focusing. Several aspects of implementing an imaging algorithm based on the Born approximation in THz imaging are discussed and key system properties are highlighted. The performance of the imaging algorithm is verified by imaging two simple dielectric targets. The results indicate that this approach provides a qualitative indication of the distribution of contrast in the samples complex permittivity and is a potential complement to existing imaging techniques

Kapitalstruktur - En studie över Market Timing och dess påverkan under finansiell lågkonjunktur

4 Abstract Title Capital Structure – A study about Market Timing and its affects during a financial depression Seminar data 2013-05-29 Course FEKN90 Degree Project, Master of Science in Business and Economics, 30 ECTS Authors Amelie Persson and Robin Fransson Advisor Maria Gårdängen Keywords Capital Structure, Market Timing, Depression, Driving Factors, Debt Level, Nordic Market Purpose The purpose of this study is to empirically investigate how the relationship between Market Timing and Capital Structure changes during a depression compared to a booming economy. Methodology This study has a quantitative approach using panel data regression to investigate the connection between the Market Timing-hypothesis and the Capital Structure. This is done by researching certain variables that may affect a company’s Capital Structure. Theoretical perspective The theoretical framework is based on previous theories about Capital Structure, mainly covering the Trade-off theory, the Pecking order theory and the Market Timing theory as well as previous studies on this topic. Empirical framework A sample containing 247 listed firms on the Danish, Finnish and Swedish exchange markets during 2003-2011. Conclusions The findings of this study shows that there is a relationship between Capital Structure and Market Timing covering the entire survey period. The explanatory variables of this study had a larger impact on Capital Structure before the depression, which indicates that other variables affect during the depression. Furthermore the results of this study cannot conclude that historical M/Bs have a permanent affect on the companies Capital Structure

Integration of Ferroelectric HfxZr1-xO2 on Vertical III-V Nanowire Gate-All-Around FETs on Silicon

We demonstrate a successful process scheme for the integration of a CMOS-compatible ferroelectric gate stack on a scaled vertical InAs nanowire gate-all-around MOSFET on silicon. The devices show promising device characteristics with nanosecond write time and large memory window of >1.5 V. In the current implementation, the device performance is mainly limited by access resistance, which is attributed to the thermal sensitivity of InAs. The findings indicate that the ferroelectricity is not intrinsically preventing future improvements of scaled III-V FeFETs

A brown dwarf desert for intermediate mass stars in Sco OB2?

We present JHK observations of 22 intermediate-mass stars in Sco OB2, obtained with VLT/NACO. The survey was performed to determine the status of (sub)stellar candidate companions of A and late-B members. The distinction between companions and background stars is by a comparison with isochrones and statistical arguments. We are sensitive to companions in the separation range 0.1''-11'' (13-1430 AU) and K<17. We detect 62 secondaries of which 18 are physical companions (3 new), 11 candidates, and 33 background stars. The companion masses are in the range 0.03<M<1.19 Msun, with mass ratios 0.06<q<0.55. We include in our sample a subset of 9 targets with multi-color ADONIS observations from Kouwenhoven et al. (2005). In the ADONIS survey secondaries with K12 as background stars. Our multi-color analysis demonstrates that the simple K=12 criterion correctly classifies the secondaries in ~80% of the cases. We reanalyse the total ADONIS/NACO sample and conclude that of the 176 secondaries, 25 are physical companions, 55 are candidates, and 96 are background stars. Although we are sensitive and complete to brown dwarfs as faint as K=14 in the separation range 130-520 AU, we detect only one, giving a brown dwarf companion fraction of 0.5% (M>30 MJ). However, the number of brown dwarfs is consistent with an extrapolation of the stellar companion mass distribution. This indicates that the physical mechanism for the formation of brown dwarfs around intermediate mass stars is similar to that of stellar companions, and that the embryo ejection mechanism does not need to be invoked in order to explain the small number of brown dwarf companions among these stars.Comment: 29 pages, 9 figures, accepted by A&

Merger policy, entry, and entrepreneurship

We assess the impact of merger policy on entry and entrepreneurship. When faced with uncertainty about its prospects, and foreseeing that it may wish to leave the market should profitability prove poor, a rational entrant considers possible exit routes. Horizontal merger reduces competition post-merger which, all else being equal, lowers welfare; but merger also provides a valuable exit route. By facilitating exit and thus raising the value of entry, more lenient merger policy may stimulate entry sufficiently that welfare is increased overall. We calculate the optimal merger policy in the form of a low, but positive, profitability threshold below which merger is permitted despite the adverse impact on post-merger competition. This may be viewed as an extension of the “failing firm defence” to include ailing, low profitability firms as well as imminently failing ones. Merger policy is compared with an entry subsidy, and the implications of strategic firm behaviour for the choice of merger policy are also examined

Regulating retrotransposon activity through the use of alternative transcription start sites

International audienceRetrotransposons, the ancestors of retroviruses, have the potential for gene disruption and genomic takeover if not kept in check. Paradoxically, although host cells repress these elements by multiple mechanisms, they are transcribed and are even activated under stress conditions. Here, we describe a new mechanism of retrotransposon regulation through transcription start site (TSS) selection by altered nucleosome occupancy. We show that Fun30 chromatin remodelers cooperate to maintain a high level of nucleosome occupancy at retrotransposon-flanking long terminal repeat (LTR) elements. This enforces the use of a downstream TSS and the production of a truncated RNA incapable of reverse transcription and retrotransposition. However, in stressed cells, nucleosome occupancy at LTR elements is reduced, and the TSS shifts to allow for productive transcription. We propose that controlled retrotransposon transcription from a nonproductive TSS allows for rapid stress-induced activation, while preventing uncontrolled transposon activity in the genome