Giant Leaps and Minimal Branes in Multi-Dimensional Flux Landscapes

There is a standard story about decay in multi-dimensional flux landscapes: that from any state, the fastest decay is to take a small step, discharging one flux unit at a time; that fluxes with the same coupling constant are interchangeable; and that states with N units of a given flux have the same decay rate as those with -N. We show that this standard story is false. The fastest decay is a giant leap that discharges many different fluxes in unison; this decay is mediated by a 'minimal' brane that wraps the internal manifold and exhibits behavior not visible in the effective theory. We discuss the implications for the cosmological constant.Comment: Minor updates to agree with published version. 9 pages, 4 figure

ArtsApp.com – Digitizing the Music School Application Process

Dejen Tesfagiorgis was a senior in Entrepreneurship at the University of Saint Thomas. As an accomplished musician, Dejen had to make a decision between accepting a scholarship to pursue music at Juliard or launch the business he developed in his senior capstone Entrepreneurship class. This case provides a rich context in which to formally explore opportunity identification using the well accepted framework of POCD, as well as explore to the student entrepreneur experience

Borealis Software Case Study

This case study details the potential acquisition of Amcom Software by two entrepreneurs. It is intended to be used as an in-class case study in an Entrepreneurial Finance course, after pro formas and valuation have been covered, to illustrate normalizing and projecting financial statements to arrive at an estimate of future firm value. Students are asked to use the financial information given to create their own financial projections for Amcom should the entrepreneurs make the acquisition. Students can then decide whether the company is worth purchasing for the $12 million asking price

SP Equity Case Study

This case involves an entrepreneur who raises a search fund to pursue the acquisition of a software firm. It is intended for the deal structure segment of an entrepreneurial finance course, as it illustrates stages of financing, returns to investors, layering of debt and equity, and valuation, as well as the search/acquisition process. The case is positioned with the entrepreneur having found an “ideal” company to acquire; however, three days prior to closing, he has uncovered some information the seller had been trying to hide. He now needs to decide whether he should continue with the deal

Cash Conversion Cycle Management in Small Firms Relationships with Liquidity, Invested Capital, and Firm Performance

This study investigated the relationship between cash conversion cycle and levels of liquidity, invested capital, and performance in small firms over time. In a sample of 879 small U.S. manufacturing firms and 833 small U.S. retail firms, cash conversion cycle was found to be significantly related to all three of these aspects. Firms with more efficient cash conversion cycles were more liquid, required less debt and equity financing, and had higher returns. The results also indicate that small firm owners/managers may be reactive in managing cash conversion cycle. The study highlights the importance of cash conversion cycle as a proactive management tool for small firm owners

Report of ESCOP Subcommittee on Domestic and International Markets and Policy

International Relations/Trade,

Simulation, modelling and development of the metris RCA

In partnership with Metris UK we discuss the utilisation of modelling and simulation methods in the development of a revolutionary 7-axis Robot CMM Arm (RCA). An offline virtual model is described, facilitating pre-emptive collision avoidance and assessment of optimal placement of the RCA relative to scan specimens. Workspace accessibility of the RCA is examined under a range of geometrical assumptions and we discuss the effects of arbitrary offsets resulting from manufacturing tolerances. Degeneracy is identified in the number of ways a given pose may be attained and it is demonstrated how a simplified model may be exploited to solve the inverse kinematics problem of finding the “correct” set of joint angles. We demonstrate how the seventh axis may be utilised to avoid obstacles or otherwise awkward poses, giving the unit greater dexterity than traditional CMMs. The results of finite element analysis and static force modelling on the RCA are presented which provide an estimate of the forces exerted on the internal measurement arm in a range of poses

Code wars: steganography, signals intelligence, and terrorism

This paper describes and discusses the process of secret communication known as steganography. The argument advanced here is that terrorists are unlikely to be employing digital steganography to facilitate secret intra-group communication as has been claimed. This is because terrorist use of digital steganography is both technically and operationally implausible. The position adopted in this paper is that terrorists are likely to employ low-tech steganography such as semagrams and null ciphers instead

FLAVOR PREFERENCE AND EFFICACY OF VARIABLE DOSE ONTARIO RABIES VACCINE BAIT (ONRAB) DELIVERY IN STRIPED SKUNKS (\u3ci\u3eMEPHITIS MEPHITIS\u3c/i\u3e)

In North America, terrestrial wildlife rabies control is achieved by oral rabies vaccination programs that principally target mesocarnivores. Success at rabies control in striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) has been more limited and may require additional enhancements to existing bait products or novel bait designs and attractants. We evaluated preference among captive striped skunks for six different flavors of placebo Ontario Rabies Vaccine Bait (ONRAB®) ‘‘Ultralite’’ Baits (Artemis Technologies, Guelph, Ontario, Canada). Different doses and delivery methods of ONRAB vaccine were tested for efficacy in a subsequent experiment with the same skunks. Cheese-, egg-, and chicken flavored baits were preferred over plain-flavored baits, but a strong preference for a singular flavor was not observed. Vaccine efficacy of 80–100% was observed among skunks challenged at 335 d postvaccination across a log range of doses tested by a direct instillation into the oral cavity route, respectively (109.3 - 1010.2 median tissue culture infective doses), in contrast to more-limited efficacy by bait delivery. Our results extended the duration of ONRAB vaccine efficacy in skunks and suggested that there may be limited flexibility to alter vaccine titer and volume in novel bait designs for skunks