Indications for Cluster Melting from Forward-Backward Charge Fluctuations at RHIC Energies

We study forward-backward charge fluctuations to probe the correlations among produced particles in ultra relativistic heavy ion collisions. We develop a model that describes the forward-backward dynamical fluctuations and apply it to interpret the recent PHOBOS data. Within the present model, the dynamical fluctuations are related to the particle production mechanism via cluster decay and to long range correlations between the forward and backward rapidity hemispheres. We argue that with a tight centrality cut, PHOBOS may see a strong decrease of the dynamical fluctuations. Within the present model, this deterioration of the correlation among the produced hadrons can be interpreted as a sign for the production of a hot, dense and interacting medium.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

An examination of the motivations for the foreign acquisitions of the local banks : a case study of the Egyptian banks

Opposite to the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, where there were several foreign banks joint ventures and branches of foreign banks established; the initial years of 2000s, in particular, between 2005-2010, had witnessed of established a wave of foreign banks M&As in the country –Egypt-. Here is an example of a debatable thesis that tries to investigate the main drivers and factors behind the recent wave of foreign M&As within the country –Egypt-.As a matter of fact, the literature review indicates that there are drivers and factors at each of the host-country, and the local-firm, as well as at the foreign-firm, itself, that motivated the foreign entrants to adopt M&As across the borders.Because of this, this thesis adopted the recent view of the OLI-paradigm of John Dunning that has emerged recently in 2006. This recent development of the OLI- paradigm emphasises on the effective role of the host countries‟ institutional features as a whole in adopting international strategies more than considering the country‟s risk-level and its market state(as suggested in the old OLI-paradigm). This recent development considered to be a theoretical hypothesis that needs to be verified.As illustrated in the recent development of OLI-paradigm: the current study adopted the Locational-advantage that reflecting the institutional theory, to refer to the host- country institutional features; Ownership-advantage that reflecting the Resource- Based view, to refer to resources and capabilities for each of the international-partner and local-partner, and implicitly Internationalisation-advantage that reflecting the transaction-costs-view, which could be handled effectively through the country‟s high quality institutional features. So, the thesis‟ theoretical triangulation is achieved.To verify that, the thesis adopted a positivism paradigm that tended to the realism paradigm, as a research route. A case study and a purposive sample of 6 case studies are adopted. A pattern-matching is employed, in which the emerging factors from the literature are set in order to be verified through a number of theoretical propositions. So, the current study adopted mix research methods, quantitative and qualitative methods, in order to link the empirical data to the study‟s proposed theoretical propositions. Quantitative data was collected through distributing Likert Five-Scale questionnaire and qualitative data was obtained through carrying out semi-structured interviews with the representative‟ staff of the acquiring banks and secondary data was obtained from international and local reports. So primary data and secondary data are used in the current thesis, and this achieved another triangulation in the methodology and the coolecting data of the current study.The quantitative data was analysed by using parametric tests(one-sample t-test) since the study sample size =33 and the study‟s questionnaires data meet the normal distribution requirements.The study results show that with the new millennium, no longer the old view of OLI- paradigm could interpret the entry of FDI into other countries, and instead of that the recent development of OLI-paradigm is suggested. This refers to the important role of the host country‟s preparations of the institutional features in attracting FDI to the country. Since the host country‟s institutional features are considered the only able to exploit the Ownership-advantage of the international banks abroad and to take advantage of the local-partner‟s resources, otherwise, the international banks couldn‟t expolit their resources. Since the international banks are encouraging to move towards a specific country, which its institutional features were prepared well, which involves regulatory quality features, legal and infrastructure, social and transparency features. But, this only possible when the foreign entrant has Ownership-advantage that attracting the local actors to select it, particularly amongst the other international banks. As well, it is also possible only when the local -partner has distinctive resources that attracting the international-partner to select a specific local bank amongst the other local banks.In view of that, Dunning‟s recent development view of OLI-paradigm is verified in explaining the existence of expansionary activities by international banks in the country –Egypt-. However, still this topic needs more investigation since the current study discovered that each of the home countries‟ regulations and cultural influences may have an effect, as an initial mechanism, on the international banks‟ going abroad

Measuring Shear Viscosity Using Transverse Momentum Correlations in Relativistic Nuclear Collisions

Elliptic flow measurements at RHIC suggest that quark gluon plasma flows with very little viscosity compared to weak coupling expectations, challenging theorists to explain why this fluid is so nearly ``perfect''. It is therefore vital to find quantitative experimental information on the viscosity of the plasma. We propose that measurements of transverse momentum fluctuations can be used to determine the shear viscosity. We use current data to estimate the viscosity-to-entropy ratio in the range from 0.08 to 0.3, and discuss how future measurements can reduce this uncertainty.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure

Temperature effects on the electrical performance of large area multicrystalline silicon solar cells using the current shunt measuring technique

The temperature effects on the electrical performance of a large area multicrystalline silicon solar cell with back-contact technology have been studied in a desert area under ambient conditions using the current shunt measuring technique. Therefore, most of the problems encountered with traditional measuring techniques are avoided. The temperature dependency of the current shunt from 5ºC up to 50ºC has been investigated. Its temperature coefficient proves to be negligible which means that the temperature dependency of the solar cell is completely independent of the current shunt. The solar module installed in a tilted position at the optimum angle of the location, has been tested in two different seasons (winter and summer). The obtained solar cell short circuit current, open circuit voltage and output power are correlated with the measured incident radiation in both seasons and all results are discussed

An improved design of a fully automated multiple output micropotentiometer

This paper describes in details a new design of a fully automated multiple output micropotentiometer (?pot). A prototype has been built at the National Institute for Standards (NIS), Egypt to establish this highly improved AC voltage source in the millivolt range. The new device offers three different outputs covering a wide frequency range from only one outlet. This valuably supports the precise sourcing ranges of low AC voltage at NIS. The design and the operation theory of this prototype have been discussed in details. An automatic calibration technique has been introduced through specially designed software using the LabVIEW program to enhance the calibration technique and to reduce the uncertainty contributions. Relative small AC-DC differences of our prototype in the three output ranges are fairly verified. The expanded uncertainties of the calibration results for the three output ranges have been faithfully estimated. However, further work is needed to achieve the optimum performance of this new device