Learning Prices for Repeated Auctions with Strategic Buyers

Inspired by real-time ad exchanges for online display advertising, we consider the problem of inferring a buyer's value distribution for a good when the buyer is repeatedly interacting with a seller through a posted-price mechanism. We model the buyer as a strategic agent, whose goal is to maximize her long-term surplus, and we are interested in mechanisms that maximize the seller's long-term revenue. We define the natural notion of strategic regret --- the lost revenue as measured against a truthful (non-strategic) buyer. We present seller algorithms that are no-(strategic)-regret when the buyer discounts her future surplus --- i.e. the buyer prefers showing advertisements to users sooner rather than later. We also give a lower bound on strategic regret that increases as the buyer's discounting weakens and shows, in particular, that any seller algorithm will suffer linear strategic regret if there is no discounting.Comment: Neural Information Processing Systems (NIPS 2013

Development of novel heat-treatable magnesium alloys for low-pressure twin-roll casting

This thesis was submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and awarded by Brunel University LondonMagnesium alloys are ideal for light weighting, especially given the continued pressure on the automotive industry to reduce CO2 emissions while increasing the fuel efficiencies. Major contribution to weight savings in automotive applications can be made using sheet product. However, due to hexagonal crystal structure magnesium is inherently difficult to deform and a strong basal texture forms during large scale deformation such as rolling or extrusion. Twin-roll casting (TRC) process provides a pathway to producing sheet material by casting directly into thickness close to final thickness, opening a path to produce sheet magnesium. The conventional sheet production routes, such as rolling, requires many homogenisation steps and small rolling passes which is energy-intensive, time consuming and ultimately not economical. Currently, majority of TRC research is based on magnesium alloy AZ31 (Mg-3Al-1Zn (wt%)) which can only be strengthened by grain size control. The new alloy development for conventional twin-roll casting considers alloys with very dilute concentrations that relies on grain size strengthening as the main strengthening mechanism. However, the low-pressure TRC developed within BCAST, relies on solidification to control the microstructure. This process minimises the severe segregation issues associated with conventional TRC and produce a thin strip that may be directly stamped. This requires a different approach to alloy design as the constraints associated with the conventional TRC process no longer controls the microstructure evolution. The approach used in the design of alloy compositions considers both the availability of the additions as well as individual and combined effect of these additions on both mechanical properties’ enhancement and texture modification of the TRC strip. Alloying elements and compositions that lends to precipitation hardening following final forming are chosen to provide enhanced strengthening. The thesis reports the development of novel thermo-mechanically processed low pressure TRC magnesium alloys based on Mg-1Al-1Zn-0.3Mn, Mg-1Al-4Zn-0.3Mn and Mg-4Al-1Zn-0.3Mn, with and without Ca additions. Alloys show enhancement of age hardening response following small scale deformation at room temperature which allows enhancement of the mechanical properties of the low-pressure TRC alloys. The addition of calcium to Mg-1Al-1Zn-0.3Mn led to rapid peak ageing response within 1 hour and significant grain refinement of 48%, this resulted in grain size reduction from 238±9μm to 114±7μm. The greatest increment in age-hardening was observed through increasing concentration of zinc to 4%wt with calcium containing alloy. At 48hrs, a hardness value of 71HV was achieved, an increment of 25HV from as-quenched condition. TEM micrographs of peak-aged Mg-1Al-4Zn- 0.3Mn and Mg-1Al-4Zn-0.3Mn-0.3Ca showed precipitates are mainly rod like precipitates that form parallel to the direction. In low-pressure TRC Mg-1Al- 1Zn-0.3Mn-0.3Ca, the columnar grains measured to approximately 153±13μm with minimal sign of centre line segregation. T6 treatment of low-pressure TRC Mg-1Al- 1Zn-0.3Mn-0.3Ca drastically improved yield strength from 93.5MPa to 140.3MPa. As for low-pressure TRC Mg-1Al-4Zn-0.3Mn-0.3Ca it was greater as the yield strength increased from 85.1MPa to 171.4MPa

Textile wastewater treatment by advanced oxiidation process -fenton process

Textile wastewaters are emerging contaminants in the aquatic environment because of their adverse effects on aquatic life and human. The organic substances that may be resistant to biological degradation make it hard to treat

Academic Achievement at the University of Maiduguri: A Survey of Teaching-Learning Environment

This study assessed the teaching-learning environment at the University of Maiduguri. The study used survey design. The population comprised of the 77 academic departments in the eleven faculties at the University of Maiduguri. A total of 29 departments were randomly and proportionally drawn from the 77 departments. The smallest sample (21 percent) was drawn from the College of Medical Sciences having the largest number of departments. The second level of sampling was for respondents. Average of 20 lecturers per department was estimated targeting 50 percent of them. A norm of 20 students for each of the departments was used.  Results shows that among others institutional contribution to the quality of teaching learning environment is 51 percent; individual contribution is 53 percent; lecturers contribution is 55 percent. The study concludes that the overall quality of the environment for teaching and learning at University of Maiduguri is sub-standard. Thus the study recommends among others that the University management should be committed to planned intervention to bring about the required changes. Keywords: Academic Achievement, Teaching-Learning Environment, Students Characteristics, Departmental Characteristics, Faculty Characteristics, University Characteristic

THE URBAN MUSLIM THOUGHT IN THE AGE OF INFORMATION: THE MUHAMMADIYAH’S DIGITAL QUR’ANIC INTERPRETATION

The advances in information technology change human movement in all aspects, especially urban Muslim communities. The urban Muslim communities such as the Muhammadiyah respond to the technological movements by doing the digital interpretation. This research analyzes the interpretation of the Muhammadiyah which focuses on Tafsir at-Tanwir through the Tarjih Channel of Majelis Tarjih and Tajdid PP. Muhammadiyah. The research addresses two points, namely: the method and the character of digital interpretation by Muhammadiyah presented in Tarjih Channel YouTube. This research uses the descriptive analytical Qualitative in analysing the data. The Data were collected by data condensation, reduction, presentation, and data conclusion. The results of the research show that: 1) a new form or a new media of interaction with the Qur’an in digital era, 2) the tahlily and the maudhu’i methods which are contained in presenting Tafsir at-Tanwir, and 3) the Tafsir at-Tanwir takes part in the development of contemporary interpretations, especially in the dissemination of interpretations digitally. in addition, another contribution is Muslims are now closer and easier in accessing in Qur’anic interpretation than before. These findings indicate that the urban Muslims, especially the Muhammadiyah, contribute to da'wah through the interpretation of Qur'anic verses in digital media on the tarjih channel

KINERJA KANTOR URUSAN AGAMA DALAM MEMINIMALISIR PERNIKAHAN DIBAWAH UMUR DI KECAMATAN PARANGLOE

ABSTRACTThis study aimed to find out how the performance of the Office of Religious Affairs in Minimizing underage marriage in Parangloe District. This study used a qualitative research with the type was descriptive research. It described a problem about level of underage marriage in Parangloe District. The results of this study conducted at the KUA Parangloe District showed there were 4 cases of underage marriage in Parangloe District recorded, of which 2 cases occurred in 2019 and 2020. For the Religious Affairs Office of Parangloe District in an effort to overcome and reduce the level of marriage in Parangloe District. Underage marriages in Parangloe District could be carried out by organizing activities or focusing on discussing underage marriage and socialization of the Marriage Law which was regularly and well programmed and organized as well as it need to collaborate with various institutions or mass organizations, both private and public. government to work together to tackle this problem.Keywords: Employee Performance, Religious Affairs Office, Underage Marriage

Perbandingan Pengaturan Poligami di Indonesia dan Malaysia

This study aims to see the comparison between two laws in two countries, namely the State of Indonesia which uses Law Number 1 of 1974 concerning Marriage, and Government Regulation Number 9 of 1975 concerning the Implementation of Law Number 1 of 1974 concerning Marriage and the State of Malaysia which uses Malaysian Law Deed 303. The problem is what are the similarities and differences in the arrangements for polygamy in the two countries. This type of research is normative, namely scientific research procedures to find the truth based on the logic of legal science from a normative side which is built on the basis of scientific disciplines and the workings of normative legal science. The result of this research is the arrangement of polygamy in Indonesia and Malaysia which have several similarities and differences in the arrangement of polygamy. Conclusion: The Malaysian Law Deed 303 has similarities which include enforceability, permissibility of polygamy, permission of polygamy from the court, submission of written applications, reasons for husbands to do polygamy, there are regulations regarding the requirements for polygamy, criminal sanctions, the basis for granting permission, consent of wives, conditions. -conditions, dissolution of polygamous marriage and the amount of the criminal threat. Suggestion: that in order to create legal certainty, the Indonesian government must make improvements in the regulation of polygamy and increase fines and imprisonment. Abstrak   Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk melihat perbandingan antara dua hukum di dua negara yaitu Negara Indonesia yang menggunakan Undang-Undang Nomor 1 Tahun 1974 tentang Perkawinan, dan Peraturan Pemerintah Nomor 9 Tahun 1975 tentang Pelaksanaan Undang-Undang Nomor 1 Tahun 1974 tentang Perkawinan dan Negara Malaysia yang menggunakan Undang-Undang Malaysia Akta 303. Permasalahannya yaitu  apa persamaan dan perbedaan pengaturan poligami di kedua negara tersebut. Tipe penelitian ini adalah normatif, yaitu prosedur penelitian ilmiah untuk menemukan kebenaran berdasarkan logika keilmuan hukum dari sisi normatif yang dibangun berdasarkan disiplin ilmiah dan cara-cara kerja ilmu hukum normatif. Hasil penelitian ini adalah pengaturan poligami di Indonesia dan Malaysia yang memiliki beberapa persamaan dan perbedaan dalam pengaturan poligami. Kesimpulan: dalam Undang-Undang Malaysia Akta 303 memiliki persamaan yang meliputi keberlakuan, kebolehan poligami, izin poligami dari pengadilan, pengajuan permohonan secara tertulis, Alasan Suami Melakukan Poligami, terdapatnya pengaturan mengenai persyaratan poligami, sanksi pidana, dasar pemberian izin, persetujuan istri, syarat-syarat, pembubaran perkawinan poligami dan besaran ancaman pidana. Saran: bahwa dalam rangka menciptakan kepastian hukum, pemerintah Indonesia harus melakukan perbaikan dalam pengaturan poligami dan memperberat tindak pidana denda maupun pidana penjara

Sejarah Kebangkitan Nasional Daerah Riau

Pada zaman sriwijaya yang berlangsung dari abad ke-7 sampai abad ke-14 Masehi seluruh Daerah Tingkat 1 Riau sekarang ini termasuk ke dalam wilayah kekuasaan kerajaan besar itu. Tatkala kekuasaan Sriwijaya sudah mulai menurun, maka timbullah kerajaan-kerajaan di Riau yang kian berkembang seperti kerajaan Siak Gasib, Bintan, Indragiri, dll. Untuk beberapa waktu mereka mengakui kekuasaan mojopahit yang kuat. Tetapi setelah kerajaan Malaka berkembang dengan pesat dan merupakan kekuasaan politik dan sosial budaya di Asia Tenggara, maka kerajaan-kerajaan yang disebutkan tadi menjadi bagian dari kerajaan malaka

Antecedents of Growth in Market Share of Samsung, a Financial Analysis

In this case study researcher discussed about financial ratio analysis of Samsung by using the financial statements of Samsung. Also focused on industry and competitor analysis of Samsung. The objective of this paper is find the profitability, liquidity and financial position of the Samsung to check the impact of these determinants on the market share of Samsung. This paper discuss the relationships of the different items in financial statements by conducting ratio, time series, and DuPont analysis. Although Samsung have several segments but this paper concentrated on the telecommunication segment of the Samsung Electronics because it generate major portion of Samsung’s revenue.  To conduct this research the financial data of the Samsung up to 10 years is analyzed. The data is taken from the Annual Reports Samsung. Ratios are calculated for 10 years to check the trends in profitability, liquidity and return on equity.  The results of this analysis shows that Samsung’s liquidity is positive and growing trend. The earnings are positive and profitability has positive trend. Samsung is less leveraged. Further research can be conducted on the rising issue of Samsung and its effect on the performance of the firm. The limitation of the research case is that it only focused on the financial aspects of Samsung performance. This research will be helpful for the mangers of the Samsung to analyze the financial performance of the firm, for investors who want to in invest in the stocks of the Samsung and students of finance will also benefited from this paper for their better understanding financial analysis and its practical implication. Keywords: Financial Analysis of Samsung, Liquidity Position, Profitability Position, Capital Structure and Operations Management