Advances in Quantitative Analysis of Finance and Accounting: Part A (Advances in Quantitive Analysis of Finance & Accounting, Vol)

Book Description

The purpose of this paper is to incorporate both skewness and kurtosis explicitly through extending Zhang (1994) to provide bounds for the prices of and expected payoffs for options, given the first two moments of skewness and kurtosis. The rest of this paper is organized as follows. Section II - distributions of terminal stock prices with given expected prices, standard deviation, skewness, and kurtosis under the assumption that the underlying asset price is continuously distributed. Similar to the results given in (1), the bounds derived in this paper depend on the information of the cumulative distribution of the underlying asset. However, it is shown in Section II that for each set of moments, there always exists one semi-parametric upper bound which is independent of the information of any distribution of the underlying asset. This semi-parametric upper bound has the same property as that in the case of the first two moments in Zhang (1994), that is, it is always greater than, or equal to, the distribution dependent bounds.

Book Description

Asia-Pacific Journal of Human Resources (March 2006): `the book comprehensively covers leadership and people management issues that are topical in the present context of competitiveness in the contemporary business environment' ... `he has demonstrated a rare degree of professionalism in selecting and putting together the contents of the book (and) the entire sets of contents knit together exceptionally well' ... `the editorial and production quality is outstanding' ... `this book can be seen as one of the best intertwinements of management theory and management practice' ... `this remarkably helpful bible to practicing managers ... is full of ideas, insights, analyses and even exhortations rooted in corporate and business realities, and is perhaps the best book of its type that I have read in my 34 year academic career' (Professor Debi S. Saini). Stern Management Review, (December 2005): `If I were giving a graduate-level class in leadership and people management skills, I would use this book as the text' ...`if a client asked for a great book to enhance his/her leadership skills this would be one of the first books I would suggest. It's that good! This book is an outstanding resource for leaders and aspiring leaders. It is filled with an abundance of insights: the distinction it makes between a leader and a manager is one of the best, if not the best, we've read'... `it's a powerful, broad-spectrum leadership toolkit with a wealth of information about skills and practices … it is clearly written and superbly organized. An excellent bibliography and subject index top off this outstanding work. We highly recommend this book' (editors, Yvette Borcia and Gerry Stern). Business Information Alert (September 2005): `Maximum Performance is a comprehensive business tome. Although it is designed for students, busy executives who use the chapter summaries or chapter sections that focus in topics that interest them will find the book useful… `The strength of Maximum Performance is its depth. Forster touches on everything from whether leaders are born or made, to Machievellian strategies for dealing with toxic work environments. Anyone interested in leadership will find several sections of interest. Those sections that are particularly strong include the discussions on the different roles of leadership, key issues in motivating employees, the team development process, and best practices in leading organisational change' (Scott R. Jenkins) The Australian Financial Review (August 2005): `This is a big book in more ways than one ... a detailed and illuminating exploration of leadership qualities, attributes, skills and competencies ... the mixture of theory, reflective questions, stories, tools and practical exercises demand a level of thoughtful engagement and self-reflection rarely required by books on leadership ... the Australian content is refreshing, as is the lack of evangelistic promises of immediate transformation ... this book is firmly grounded in supporting the learning and skill development needed for maximum performance' (Viv Read).

Customer Reviews:

Towards Performance Excellence in the Era of Chaotic Competition.......2006-02-12

After reading the book, the reader tends to be provoked into thinking about the core values, standards and principles that will underpin her leadership and people management practices in the future.

While illustrating his formulations, Forster has very thoughtfully selected the anecdotes and stories about leaders and managers they worked under, as also their personal experiences of leading and managing others. In the chapter on female managers, he has presented evidence to show that successful leaders and managers in western industrialized countries have personal qualities and competencies that encompass male and female characteristics, and hints towards emergence of "a superior hybrid style that will transcend the traditional male-female stereotype" (p. 542). He has demonstrated a rare degree of professionalism in selecting and putting together the contents of the book, including the material, exercises, questionnaires and self-evaluation exercises. He claims to have "tried and tested them in dozens of leadership and management development courses over the last decade" (p. xiii), and he has included only those materials and exercises that worked for busy managers and professionals.

The book comprehensively covers leadership and people management issues that are topical in the present context of competitiveness in the contemporary business environment. In nutshell, the book has argued that organizations and managers that get most out of their people over a long period of time are the ones which focus not just on setting up systems and processes but focus on people management style, people skills and organizational culture to support the systems and processes.

The author has fully succeeded in delivering what he promises to the reader in the preface. He has used little jargon in building his formulations. The editorial and production quality is outstanding. Most other how-to books on people management are simplistic and tend to be prescriptive of universal magical truths, often through bullet points; they are often unrelated to research underpinnings and the contexts in which the prescriptions can be made use of. For, business dynamics is far more complex than it is presumed to be. Forster has related his formulations mostly with the help of anecdotes and stories, which is the hallmark of this book. But he never loses sight of the wider theoretical underpinnings in his narrations. This is reflected in his quoting the American comedian Groucho Marx when he said, "That's all very well in practice--but how does it work in theory" (p. 538).

This book should be an essential reading for all line and human resource managers, and management consultants. It will also be liked by academics belonging to areas such as leading change, performance management and strategic HRM. More than that, it would be found useful by all leaders, who could pick up a good number of insights from it and also develop perspectives from the analyses made. While I read through this book, I had a feeling, I wish I could author it myself.

Debi S. Saini
Professor of Human Resource Management
Management Development Institute
Mehrauli Road, Gurgaon-122 001.

A POWERFUL, PRACTICAL LEADERSHIP GUIDE.......2005-12-07

If we were giving a graduate-level class in leadership and people management skills (we are UCLA Business & Management Program instructors) we would choose this book as the text.

If a client asked for a great book to enhance his/her leadership skills, (we consult in organization, compensation & performance management) this would be one of first books we would suggest.

This book is that good!

The book offers a comprehensive guide for developing leadership and people management skills. It's a powerful, broad-spectrum leadership toolkit with a wealth of information about skills and practices, and hundreds of suggestions and opinions from business and political leaders, consultants, and academics.

This book is an outstanding resource for leaders and aspiring leaders. It is filled with anabundance of insights: the distinction it makes between a leader and a manager is one of the best, if not the best, we've read.

Just few of the subjects covered are: the leadership-as-servant philosophy; leaders as coaches and mentors; communication; motivation; leading and managing teams; women as leaders; managing power, politics and conflict; leading organizational and cultural change; creating an innovative organization; leadership and people management in high-tech, networked; and
virtual organizations.

Throughout the book are bullet-point lists, exercises, and to-the-point conclusions. It is clearly written and superbly organized. An excellent bibliography and subject index top off this outstanding work. We highly recommend this book.

Yvette Borcia & Gerry Stern, Editors
Stern's Management Review

Book Description

Newton's 1702 lunar theory has puzzled scholars for centuries. Was it based on gravitational theory, as the anonymous prefatory matter suggests? If so, why does it make use of epicycles---the last serious astronomical work to do so? How did its various parameters fit together? How accurate was it? How was it related to Newton's lunar theory in the 1713 edition of the Principia? Did anyone actually use it?

In this engaging piece of detective work, Nicholas Kollerstrom has combined historical research with computer analysis to investigate these questions. The lunar theory turns out to have been the basis for numerous eighteenth century tables, and the theory was used in China well into the twentieth century. It was taken (heavily disguised) into the Principia of 1713, with one important correction. In this form, it was remarkably accurate, about as good as the observations on which it was based. It was used by Halley (in a procedure explained here for the first time) to compute lunar positions with an accuracy of under one arcminute-good enough to have won the Longitude Prize.

Newton's Forgotten Lunar Theory includes the complete text of the 1702 English edition, with annotations and a detailed commentary, and numerous tables and graphs showing the results of computer analysis. The book is supported by a freely downloadable computer model of the lunar theory. This program allows readers to test the theory for themselves.

Book Description

This book offers extensive coverage of the most important aspects of UVR effects on all aquatic (not just freshwater and marine) ecosystems, encompassing UV physics, chemistry, biology and ecology. Comprehensive and up-to-date, "UV Effects in Aquatic Organisms and Ecosystems" aims to bridge the gap between environmental studies of UVR effects and the broader, traditional fields of ecology, oceanography and limnology. Adopting a synthetic approach, the different sections cover: the physical factors controlling UVR intensity in the atmosphere; the penetration and distribution of solar radiation in natural waters; the main photochemical process affecting natural and anthropogenic substances; and direct and indirect effects on organisms (from viruses, bacteria and algae to inverterbrate and vertebrate consumers). Researchers and professionals in environmental chemistry, photochemistry, photobiology and cell and molecular biology will value this book, as will those looking at ozone depletion and global change.

Amazon.com

Did the dinosaurs disappear, or did they merely take flight? In The Mistaken Extinction, two eminent paleontologists make a case for the continued existence of dinosaurs, at least in the form of some relatively diminutive descendants: birds. To prove their point, Lowell Dingus and Timothy Rowe first review leading theories about the dinosaurs' extinction, pointing to the shortcomings of each. Instead of dying out, Dingus and Rowe write, the dinosaurs merely evolved into another form. For skeptics troubled by such a direct link between their backyard blue jay and the lumbering T. rex, the authors point to problems with the current Linnean system of classifying life. Under a rival system known as cladistics, they contend that it's possible to identify the anatomical characteristics shared by birds and dinosaurs. It's an intriguing hypothesis, and one open to considerable debate. Either way, this beautifully illustrated and admirably comprehensive volume has much to offer birders and dinosaur buffs alike.

Customer Reviews:

Very entertaining!.......2007-02-03

I'm the type of person who rarely reads books for fun. Most of what I read is for my work or on rare occasions I'll grab a book at the airport if I have a long flight. Half the time I'll get bored with it and won't finish it. I'm not even sure how this book ended up on my shelf but I grabbed it about a week ago when I had to go to the hospital and wait for my mother who was having an operation. I literally had a hard time putting it down. Of course it's not fiction but in some ways it reads like fiction in that it tells a story. At times it presents itself as a murder mystery; "What killed the dinosaurs?". Even though the outcome is given away by the title, it's still a fascinating story.

The book is divided into two parts. The first part covers various theories about the cause of the death of the dinosaurs at the end of the cretaceous. The second part in some ways refutes the first part by coming to the conclusion that dinosaurs never really died at all because birds are part of the dinosaur family. I know this is still somewhat of a contentious debate among some, but the book contains some pretty convincing evidence. It's a bit technical at times but you can always get the general idea of what the author is tying to convey.

Even though this book is chiefly about dinosaurs and birds it covers a lot of stuff not directly related to the main topic but interesting never the less. For instance I did not know about the Phylogenetic system of classification before I read it. This book explains it quite well so that someone like me, who is not well versed in biology can easily understand it.

Thought provoking!.......2006-12-07

This is an extremely thorough, yet readable treatment of the subject of the evolution of birds and the non-extinction of dinosaurs. The drawings in particular are excellent illustrations of the features of the lineages. The discussion of the evidence for the different causes of the extinction event that took most of the dinosaurs is clear and thorough. This is a must-read if you are interested in these issues!

My Dino Dreams come true!!!.......2005-11-02

This book rocked so hard it isn't even funny!! I have loved dinosaurs ever since I was a youngster, and still find myself quite fond of those wacky beasts. This book delivers when it comes to dinos. It basically includes two parts: one concerned with the theories of dino extinction(the meteorite-impact hypothesis is given paricular attention-perhaps because one of the authors was involved in research on this hypothesis), the other with dino evolution into birds. Both are written by experts, and more than that they are experts who know how to write in an engaging and easy to understand fashion that the non-expert can understand and appreciate. The prose made the book hard to put down, and the pictures of the biological poetry we call dinosaurs are enough to bring tears to the true dinosaur lovers eyes. So if you like dinosaurs, geology, or I would even say science in general, or are just a curious soul looking for new things to learn I highly recommend this book.

The Mistaken Extinction: Dinosaur Evolution-Origin of Birds.......2004-02-14

The Mistaken Extinction: Dinosaur Evolution and the Origin of Birds written by Lowell Dingus and Timothy Rowe is a dinosaur book that makes a difference. This is a frank account of how we know what we know about the dinosaurs and how the work can and should be approached. There are issues surrounding a dinosaur extinction as though they are elements in a scientific detective story; following a trail of geologic and paleontologic clues toward a solution. This book show the reader the way of intelligent thinking and the conclusions that make sense.

Over the course of this book, it will become clear that the questions being raised today actually have their roots in the debates that raged within the scientific community in the nineteenth century, when Dawin's theory of evolution first burst upon the scene. This book is divided into two parts.

The Search for the Smoking Gun is part 1. The eight chapters include: The Seductive Allure of Dinosaurs, Earlier Extinction Hypotheses, Contrating Volcanic and Impact Hypotheses, Enormoud Eruptions and Disappearing Seaways, THe Fatal Impact, Direct Evidence of Catastrophe, Patterns of extinction and Survival, and Our Hazy View of Time at the K-T Boundary.

These chapters give the reader adequate background information, to take us back to the time of the murderous extinction at the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundry of geological time. Here we find a theory of gradual extinction... a theory that most reseachers favor, but could this be true... there are convincing theories.

Part 2: Dead or Alive has ten chapters and it includes: Living Dinosaurs?, Dinosaurs Challenge Evolution, Dinosaurs and the Hierarchy of Life, The Evolutionary Map for Dinosaurs, Death by decree, The Road to Jurassic Park, Crossing the Boundary, Diversification and Decline, The Real Great Dinosaur Extinction, and The Third Wave.

Here we learn why most researchers now believe that birds and other dinosaurs sprung from the same ancient ancestors, all this stems from one of science's theories... evolution. This book is beautifully illustrated and has plenty of morphoroloigal drawings arising for comparitive anatomy.

I found the book to be a wealth of information easily readable and a plethora of detailed compendia on dinosaur facts. This is a book that lays out the extinction of dinosauria with great skill and clairy

Comprehensive and very entertaining!.......2003-10-30

I originally bought this book for a class I'm taking, coincidentally being taught by one of the authors, Timothy Rowe. Not only does this book include facts and myths about the extinction of dinosaurs, but it makes them comprehendable, and very entertaining by including recent myths such as those presented in popular movies. A total must read for dinosaur fanatics!

Book Description

Como una auténtica receta de alta cocina, esta suculenta novela está elaborada con productos de primera calidad, cuyos principales ingredientes son: alimentos ricos en calorías, especias picantes, sexo y crimen.

Jasmine es la protagonista y cocinera. Profesional de la crítica gastronómica y amante de los platos tradicionales que cocina y disfruta en su tiempo libre. En ningún caso está dispuesta a perder centímetros y kilos a costa de una aburrida dieta. Vive con su marido Daniel, que se desliza peligrosamente por el resbaladizo terreno de la crisis de mediana edad. Su hija de 16 años Careme, es una jovencita frustrada que sufre desórdenes alimenticios y tiene una boa pitón como mascota.

Por si fuera poco, el director del periódico donde Jasmine trabaja como crítica de cocina, opina que sus consejos y recetas son demasiado pesados y amenaza con despedirla. Además está ese pequeño asunto del olor a muerto que sale de la puerta de la cocina. Las cosas no pueden ir peor, pero el poder de la televisión cambiará su vida por completo.

Jasmine cree que la mejor defensa es el ataque, confía en los alimentos ricas en calorías y sabe que una buena comida puede convertirse en la mejor de las venganzas.

Pensada por y para todos y cada uno de los que alguna vez nos hemos sentido culpables de probar y picar entre horas, las páginas de Cómo cocinar a la amante, la primera novela de Nina Killman casi se pueden oler y probar.

La historia es un homenaje imaginativo, divertido y un punto salvaje a los placeres de la buena comida. Una advertencia maliciosa, sexy y directa sobre los peligros del matrimonio.

Book Description

From the 11th century AD, East Asian armies made increasing use of exploding missiles and siege cannon to reduce the fortifications of their enemies. Some of these weapons were very similar to those used in Europe - for example, the heavy siege cannon used in the siege of P'yongyang during the Japanese invasion in the late 16th century. Others, like the Korean hwach'a carts mounting over a hundred rockets that were used to bombard the Japanese at Haengiu in 1593, were very different from their European contemporaries. This book details the design and use of the wide range of weaponry available during this period.

Customer Reviews:

it seems there is nothing they didn't try!.......2002-02-11

This is another great book from Dr. Stephen Turnbull a two part serie on the amazing Siege Weapons of the Far East that they really should change the name to Siege Weapons from China and the Far east thats because of the mayority of the weapons are from china. This is the first time a see a book about the Siege Warfare use by China,Japan and the Mongols, illustrated with spectacular artwork. The Illustration are from Wayne Reynolds which make a great work trying to reconstruct a manual trebuchet use by the chinese.

Exploding cows, wheeled rocket launchers, elephant-mounted crossbows are some of the rare weapons use in Asia, I can tell you that you would not be disappointed because of the great detail of these weapons, to tell you the true is sometime hard to believe that this type of weapons were ever use but the work of Mr Turnbull is very high technical quality.
One of the best and original works publish to this date.Also form the same author Ashigaru 1467-1649(Warrior 29)and Samurai Warfare are another great title to buy.

Book Description

Introduction to Modeling in Wildlife and Resource Conservation provides students with the skills to develop their own models for application in conservation biology and wildlife management. Assuming no special mathematical expertise, the computational models used are kept simple and show how to develop models in both spreadsheet and programming language format.The book develops thought-provoking applications which emphasize the value of modeling as a learning tool. Beginning with basic descriptive equations, matrix representations, and consumer-resources interactions, the book proceeds to explore applications in simulation, scenarios, harvesting, population viability, metapopulation dynamics, disease outbreaks, vegetation stage and state dynamics, habitat suitability assessment, and model selection statistics. Detailed instructions are given on how to construct spreadsheet models, and programmes are written in True BASIC which forms a readily understandable foundation language. Throughout the book a wide range of examples are used relating to birds, fish, plants and large African mammals.An accompanying CD provides models as well as a trial version of the True BASIC programming language.This book provides an essential introduction to modeling for upper-level undergraduate and graduate students who have a completed a basic course in ecology and plan careers in wildlife conservation.

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