Much effort has been devoted to the synthesis of gold nanoparticles with different shapes, including the zero-dimensional nanospheres, one dimensional nanorods, and two-dimensional nanoplates. Compared to zero or one dimensional nanostructures, the synthesis of two-dimensional nanostructures in high yield has always been more involved, often requiring complex and timeconsuming steps such as mor...

Despite debuting to little fanfare under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), dispute settlement under the World Trade Organization (WTO) has been called the “backbone of the multilateral trading system.” Indeed, whereas GATT dispute settlement could scarcely have seemed more flawed, the WTO’s Dispute Settlement Understanding (DSU) is widely touted for boosting confidence in an in...

The development of computerized systems in the financial industry facilitated the growth of the stock exchange market for institutional and private investors. Paperless settlement systems for stocks and bonds were first introduced in the Nordic region. The successful introduction of the new infrastructure for the securities markets was the result of solid cooperation between market participants...

The paper presents a theoretical model that seeks to answer the question of why former squatter settlements tend to upgrade/redevelop at a slower pace than otherwise similar settlements originating in the formal sector. We argue that squatter settlers’ initial strategy to access urban land creates a ‘legacy effect’ that curtails settlement upgrading possibilities even after the settlements are ...

It is commonly believed that Adventure-based Counseling (ABC) training is intended for young people who are active and energetic. The St. James’ Settlement (a NGO) in Hong Kong, however, believes that such training can also have positive effects on the young olds (individuals aged 50-65). A group of young old trainees was recruited from the community to help implement related activities to elde...

This essay discusses the preliminary results of recent archaeological investigations into stone axe production and exchange processes at a Neolithic hilltop settlement in South India. The site in question comprises a stone-lined circular structure situated on a plateau area on the side of a topographically complex hill, known locally as Hiregudda. Across the plateau, extensive surface scatters ...

Recent technology change and market liberalization have substantially reduced the costs of providing international message telephone services (IMTS). However, the full extent of these cost reductions have generally not been reflected in lower prices. This paper reviews the recent literature on international telecommunications markets, and examines regulation and IMTS pricing behaviour. Particul...

As nuclear families have become increasingly less stable over the past quarter century, married couples have been faced with the difficult task of negotiating the terms by which marriage is ended. For parents, divorce involves questions revolving around the care and sustenance of children. In this paper we investigate whether observed divorce settlements indicate that parents make trade-offs in...