Generalized gaugings and the field-antifield formalism

We discuss the algebra of general gauge theories that are described by the embedding tensor formalism. We compare the gauge transformations dependent and independent of an invariant action, and argue that the generic transformations lead to an infinitely reducible algebra. We connect the embedding tensor formalism to the field-antifield (or Batalin-Vilkovisky) formalism, which is the most general formulation known for general gauge theories and their quantization. The structure equations of the embedding tensor formalism are included in the master equation of the field-antifield formalism.Comment: 42 pages; v2: some clarifications and 1 reference added; version to be published in JHE

A theoretical model for design in Management science : the paradigm shift in the design profession for management as a constraint to management science as an opportunity

Design Management has changed greatly since 1990 Peter Gorb definition .The purpose of this paper is to synthetize the various models of Design Management and to explain their limits in front of the paradigm shift of the design profession, changing “from an activity based profession to a knowledge based profession” professor Yjro Sotamaa- UIAH The territory of design in Management science will be developed in detail with the limits of these diverging forces. The converging model of Design value management based not on practices but on management science models will be explained with its proactive force. Finally ,this value model will be applied enhancing its pertinence in the emerging “design leadership” trend and consequently the potential for a “design thinking “ input in front of the new challenges of contemporary managers : sense building, complexity , innovation , Socially Responsible Organizations

Design and competitive edge: A model for design management excellence in European SME's

This article suggests to use the conceptual model of Michael Porter Value Chain in order to integrate all the variables that explain the mechanism of value creation through design. The results of the study of 33 European SMES participating in the European Design Prize explain the role of design in the management of innovation, identify the variables that characterize design management and classify them according to the value chain concept. The main result of this research was the typology of design management strategy. Three clusters emerged through the analysis and the managerial value of design was demonstrated

Prediction of the longitudinal tensile strength of polymer matrix composites

A micromechanical model was developed for the prediction of the longitudinal tensile strength of polymer matrix composites. The model considers successive fibre breaks within an infinitely wide Li-long representative volume element (RVE), Li being the so-called ineffective length. An elastic-plastic stress transfer model is used to define Li and fibre strength is described by a Weibull distribution. The composite strength is obtained by solving numerically an equation for the maximum RVE stress. A simplified closed-form solution derived proved to be in very good agreement with the base formulation. Although there is still significant uncertainty over model input data, predictions agreed well with experimental strengths of carbon fibre composites

Broadcast scheduling for mobile advertising

We describe a broadcast scheduling system developed for a precision marketing firm specialized in location-sensitive permission-based mobile advertising using SMS (Short Message Service) text messaging. Text messages containing advertisements were sent to registered customers when they were shopping in one of two shopping centers in the vicinity of London. The ads typically contained a limited-time promotional offer. The company's problem was deciding which ads to send out to which customers at what particular time, given a limited capacity of broadcast time slots, while maximizing customer response and revenues from retailers paying for each ad broadcast. We solved the problem using integer programming with an interface in Microsoft Excel. The system significantly reduced the time required to schedule the broadcasts, and resulted both in increased customer response and revenues

Influence of Environmental Risk on the Financial Structure of Oil and Gas Projects

The risk profile of a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) project affects its debt service ability. In particular, the total risk profile of an oil and gas project is heavily influenced by its environmental risk exposure. However, this risk is often not given a considerable weight in risk analysis, resulting in underestimation of project's total riskiness and consequent overestimation of the debt capacity. This study is aimed at understanding the dependence of the capital structure of oil and gas BOT projects on environmental risk exposure and proposes a methodology for incorporating such important risk into the total risk rating process to determine the debt leverage. As a result, it is shown that integrating environmental risks into the risk score of a project yields higher values of risk exposure, which may lead to a lower debt-to-equity ratio