Title: Numerical study on simultanious equations Author: Vojtěch Šaroch Department: Department of Probability and Mathematical Statistics Supervisor: doc. RNDr. Petr Lachout, CSc. Abstract: In this thesis we deal with the simultaneous equation model. In the first chapter we introduce theoretical aspect of this problem, especially estimation procedures and their properties. We mention issues of an identification and an inconsistency of OLS-estimates for simultaneous modeling. In th second chapter we introduce theory of estimation, especially we will focus on the interval estimation and precision. We mention empirical approach too. In the third chapter we perform a numerical study on the simple macroeconomic model of generated dates. We are interested in properties of interval estimations of parameters, the convergence rate, difference between the empirical and theoretical extimation etc. Keywords: simultaneous equations model, interval estimation, empirical estimation 1

This thesis analyzes works of the contemporary Spanish translation theorist, teacher, translator and researcher, Rosa Rabadán Álvarez. The basis of this paper is the analysis of the most important works published in books and journals in Spain and abroad. Close attention has been paid to the translation theories Rabadán has been proceeding from and to the context of her theoretical, pedagogical, translation and research work. The last chapter focuses on the reception of her works in and outside of Spain and in the Czech Republic.

Title: Numerical study on simultanious equations Author: Vojtěch Šaroch Department: Department of Probability and Mathematical Statistics Supervisor: doc. RNDr. Petr Lachout, CSc. Abstract: In this thesis we deal with simultaneous equation model. In first chapter we introduce to theoretical aspect of this problem, especially estimation procedures and their properties. We mention issues of identification and an inconsistency of OLS-estimates for the simultaneous modeling. In second chapter we introduce theory of estimation, especially we will focus on interval estimation and precision. We mention empirical approach too. In the third chapter we perform a numerical study on simple macroeconomic model on generated dates. We are interested in properties interval estimations of parameters, the convergence rate, difference between empirical and theoretical extimation etc. Keywords: simultaneous equations model, interval estimation, empirical estimation 1

The thesis is conceived as an empirical probe into the life of the local residents around the north-south artery in the district of Prague 4. Thematically falls within the urban sociology and is also greatly inspired by the field of urbanism and urban planning. The goal is to obtain and bring out basic information about the quality of housing and urban life around the given section of Prague's north-south highway perceived through the eyes of the population. The first part constitutes theoretical background of the empiric survey. It specifies a relation of branch disciplines to the selected topic and outlines the theoretical concepts associated with the main aspects of this problem. The second part presents conducted empirical probe, gives a summary and comments on results of the analysis. Data collection was carried out using a questionnaire survey in the locality. The processing by quantitative techniques were used for data analysis

Master of Science / Department of Statistics / Weixing Song / The purpose of this report is to propose and evaluate two lack-of-fit test procedures to check the adequacy of the regression functional forms in the standard Tobit regression models. It is shown that testing the null hypothesis for the standard Tobit regression models amounts testing a new equivalent null hypothesis of the classic regression models. Both procedures are constructed based on the empirical variants of a minimum distance, which measures the squared difference between a nonparametric estimator and a parametric estimator of the regression functions fitted under the null hypothesis for the new regression models. The asymptotic null distributions of the test statistics are investigated, as well as the power for some fixed alternatives and some local hypotheses. Simulation studies are conducted to assess the finite sample power performance and the robustness of the tests. Comparisons between these two test procedures are also made.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Economics / Philip G. Gayle / This dissertation is composed of two essays in the field of Industrial Organization. Specifically, the empirical studies are conducted by focusing on the market structure and competition issues in the airline industry. The first essay investigates entry deterrence through incumbents’ pricing strategies in the airline industry. Recent research finds evidence that incumbent airlines tend to cut fares in response to the “threat” of entry by Southwest Airlines. Instead of focusing on the entry threat by a single carrier, this essay re-examines this issue by looking at incumbent airlines’ price response when entry is threatened by a wider variety of potential entrant airlines. Results show that incumbents’ response vary by the identity of the firm making the threat. As expected, incumbents cut fares in response to the threat of entry by some potential entrants; however, a new result is also found that incumbents may respond by raising their fare depending on who is making the threat. The second essay looks into an antitrust-relevant issue in the airline industry. Proper antitrust analysis often focuses on whether the concerned differentiated products are truly competing with each other. This essay uses a structural econometric model to investigate whether nonstop and connecting air travel products effectively compete with each other. Estimate results suggest that connecting products may be an attractive alternative to nonstop products for leisure travelers but less so for business travelers. If connecting products are counterfactually eliminated, the empirical model predicts small price changes for nonstop products. This suggests that the two product types only weakly compete with each other and can be treated as being in separate product markets for antitrust purposes.

Recent years have seen tremendous developments in methods for computational modeling of (bio-) molecular systems. Ever larger reactive systems are being studied with high accuracy approaches, and high-level QM/MM calculations are being routinely performed. However, applying high-accuracy methods to large biological systems is computationally expensive and becomes problematic when conformational sampling is needed. To address this challenge, classical force field based approaches such as free energy perturbation (FEP) and empirical valence bond calculations (EVB) have been employed in this work. Specifically: Force-field independent metal parameters have been developed for a range of alkaline earth and transition metal ions, which successfully reproduce experimental solvation free energies, metal-oxygen distances, and coordination numbers. These are valuable for the computational study of biological systems. Experimental studies have shown that the epoxide hydrolase from Solanum tuberosum (StEH1) is not only an enantioselective enzyme, but for smaller substrates, displays enantioconvergent behavior. For StEH1, two detailed studies, involving combined experimental and computational efforts have been performed: We first used trans-stilbene oxide to establish the basic reaction mechanism of this enzyme. Importantly, a highly conserved and earlier ignored histidine was identified to be important for catalysis. Following from this, EVB and experiment have been used to investigate the enantioconvergence of the StEH1-catalyzed hydrolysis of styrene oxide. This combined approach involved wildtype StEH1 and an engineered enzyme variant, and established a molecular understanding of enantioconvergent behavior of StEH1. A novel framework was developed for the Computer-Aided Directed Evolution of Enzymes (CADEE), in order to be able to quickly prepare, simulate, and analyze hundreds of enzyme variants. CADEE’s easy applicability is demonstrated in the form of an educational example. In conclusion, classical approaches are a computationally economical means to achieve extensive conformational sampling. Using the EVB approach has enabled me to obtain a molecular understanding of complex enzymatic systems. I have also increased the reach of the EVB approach, through the implementation of CADEE, which enables efficient and highly parallel in silico testing of hundreds-to-thousands of individual enzyme variants.

<p>This dissertation contributes to the rapidly growing empirical research area in the field of operations management. It contains two essays, tackling two different sets of operations management questions which are motivated by and built on field data sets from two very different industries --- air cargo logistics and retailing. </p><p>The first essay, based on the data set obtained from a world leading third-party logistics company, develops a novel and general Bayesian hierarchical learning framework for estimating customers' spillover learning, that is, customers' learning about the quality of a service (or product) from their previous experiences with similar yet not identical services. We then apply our model to the data set to study how customers' experiences from shipping on a particular route affect their future decisions about shipping not only on that route, but also on other routes serviced by the same logistics company. We find that customers indeed borrow experiences from similar but different services to update their quality beliefs that determine future purchase decisions. Also, service quality beliefs have a significant impact on their future purchasing decisions. Moreover, customers are risk averse; they are averse to not only experience variability but also belief uncertainty (i.e., customer's uncertainty about their beliefs). Finally, belief uncertainty affects customers' utilities more compared to experience variability. </p><p>The second essay is based on a data set obtained from a large Chinese supermarket chain, which contains sales as well as both wholesale and retail prices of un-packaged perishable vegetables. Recognizing the special characteristics of this particularly product category, we develop a structural estimation model in a discrete-continuous choice model framework. Building on this framework, we then study an optimization model for joint pricing and inventory management strategies of multiple products, which aims at improving the company's profit from direct sales and at the same time reducing food waste and thus improving social welfare.</p><p>Collectively, the studies in this dissertation provide useful modeling ideas, decision tools, insights, and guidance for firms to utilize vast sales and operations data to devise more effective business strategies.</p> / Dissertation

La thèse propose d'appréhender le concept d'équité en matière d'accès aux soins de santé selon de multiples aspects en adoptant une réflexion axée initialement sur les fondements normatifs des conceptions théoriques pour parvenir progressivement aux conceptions profanes. Pour alimenter cette réflexion progressive, une première partie est dédiée à la présentation des différents niveaux de débats qui s'articulent tout au long de ce cheminement. Une vue d'ensemble est dressée afin de mettre en exergue les complémentarités potentielles et l'apport interactif qui lient les différentes approches. La suite de la réflexion s'axe sur les conceptions profanes. Les parties 2 et 3 de la thèse apportent des éclairages à l'élicitation des conceptions profanes. A cette fin, nous avons eu recours à deux méthodologies empiriques de révélation spécifiques. (i) Dans la partie 2, l'expérience que nous proposons est destinée à éliciter les préférences sous « condition d'impartialité » auprès de sujets présentant des caractéristiques différentes : des sujets-étudiants d'une part, puis un groupe plus hétérogène comprenant des patients hospitalisés, des représentants d'usagers et des membres d'association d'autre part. Selon cette approche, nous avons testé certains principes normatifs de justice en les confrontant aux opinions exprimées par les sujets participant aux expériences. (ii) Dans la partie 3, nous avons eu recours à une méthode inductive de recueil d'opinion avec comme sujets un groupe de médecins traitants. La méthodologie adopte ainsi un angle différent puisque nous cherchons à faire émerger des principes de justice de manière inductive. En somme, les parties 2 et 3 de la thèse offrent deux approches empiriques complémentaires pour parvenir à une certaine connaissance des conceptions profanes de l'équité en santé. / The thesis proposes to understand the concept of equity in access to health care in multiple aspects by adopting a reflection initially focused on the normative foundations of theoretical concepts to achieve progressively to profane ones. To supply this progressive thinking, first part is dedicated to the presentation of different levels of discussions. An overview is drawn to highlight the potential complementarities and interactive contributions that link different approaches. Parts 2 and 3 of the thesis provide insight to express profane conceptions. To this end, we used two empirical methodologies of specific revelation. (i) In Part 2, the experience we purpose is designed to elicit preferences under «impartiality» in subjects with different characteristics: subjects - students on the one hand, and a more heterogeneous group including patients, user representatives and members of associations on the other. Under this approach, we tested some normative principles of justice by confronting the views expressed by the subjects participating in the experiments. (ii) In Part 3, we used an inductive method for collecting opinion as subjects with a group of doctors. Methodology takes a different angle focused on principles of justice emergence inductively. To sum up, Parts 2 and 3 of the thesis offer two complementary empirical approaches to bring some knowledge of profane conceptions in health equity.

The aim of this thesis is empirical verification of the fundamental theory of exchange rate determination in the case of the currency pair EUR/USD. The theoretical part is devoted to the issue of exchange rate theory, with emphasis on the importance of the currency pair EUR/USD, and major characteristics of the fundamental theory of exchange rate determination. Attention is also paid to methods of analysis of time series, which will be used in the analytical part. The analytical part is devoted to an empirical verification of the underlying theories. On the basis of these theories are developed econometric models, which are then tested using the methods of linear regression and cointegration. The results of the models and their relevance are discussed in conclusion.