MEASURING MARKET INTEGRATION IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMY

The increased level of market integration in the processed food industry through trade, foreign direct investment, and the expanded use of intellectual property rights are an observed phenomenon of the past three decades. Measurement of market integration is problematic, and the role of FDI in market integration has not been adequately taken into consideration. This study measures the growth in the market shares of multinationals in selected countries and industries to indicate the degree of market integration. We also employ a market share convergence type model to estimate whether the market shares of the multinationals and domestically owned firms in key markets have converged to some steady state during the years 1991 to 2003.Processed food industry, global integration, market shares, Argentina, Brazil, U.S., International Relations/Trade,

E6 Models from F-theory

F-theory is a non-perturbative formulation of type IIB superstring theory which allows for the decoupling of gravity and for the formulation of GUT theories based on the gauge group E6. In this paper we explore F-theory models in which the low energy supersymmetric theory contains the particle content of three 27 dimensional representations of the underlying E6 gauge group, plus two extra right-handed neutrinos predicted from F and D flatness. The resulting TeV scale effective theory resembles either the E6SSM or the NMSSM+, depending on whether an additional Abelian gauge group does or does not survive. However there are novel features compared to both these models as follows: (i) If the additional Abelian gauge group is unbroken then it can have a weaker gauge coupling than in the E6SSM; (ii) If the additional Abelian gauge group is broken then non-perturbative effects can violate the scale invariance of the NMSSM+ leading to a generalised model; (iii) Unification is achieved not at the field theory level but at the F-theory level since the gauge couplings are split by flux effects, negating the need for any additional doublet states which are usually required; (iv) Proton decay is suppressed by the geometric coupling suppression of a singlet state, a mechanism peculiar to F-theory, which effectively suppresses the coupling of the exotic charge -1/3 colour triplet state D to quarks and leptons; (v) The D bar couples to left-handed leptoquarks, providing characteristic and striking signatures at the LHC.Comment: 31 pages, 7 figure

Gauge Coupling Unification in E6 F-Theory GUTs with Matter and Bulk Exotics from Flux Breaking

We consider gauge coupling unification in E6 F-Theory Grand Unified Theories (GUTs) where E6 is broken to the Standard Model (SM) gauge group using fluxes. In such models there are two types of exotics that can affect gauge coupling unification, namely matter exotics from the matter curves in the 27 dimensional representation of E6 and the bulk exotics from the adjoint 78 dimensional representation of E6. We explore the conditions required for either the complete or partial removal of bulk exotics from the low energy spectrum. In the latter case we shall show that (miraculously) gauge coupling unification may be possible even if there are bulk exotics at the TeV scale. Indeed in some cases it is necessary for bulk exotics to survive to the TeV scale in order to cancel the effects coming from other TeV scale matter exotics which would by themselves spoil gauge coupling unification. The combination of matter and bulk exotics in these cases can lead to precise gauge coupling unification which would not be possible with either type of exotics considered by themselves. The combination of matter and bulk exotics at the TeV scale represents a unique and striking signature of E6 F-theory GUTs that can be tested at the LHC.Comment: 21 pages, 5 figure

A corpus-based investigation into lexicogrammatical incongruity and its relation to irony

Presented is a corpus-based investigation into the lexicogrammatical features of irony. A common understanding of irony is of a trope in which the dictum and the implicatum are seen as incongruous. I argue that patterns of lexicogrammatical incongruity can reflect this incongruity at the pragmatic level. Additionally, a bottom-up examination of authentic examples of ironic utterances can reveal common lexicogrammatical patterns. This study attempts to readdress the paucity of linguistic studies into irony by focusing on real-world examples of irony as a source of data. Examples of irony were taken from two irony-rich discourse environments and ironic examples were extracted using an independent framework of irony. Commonalities of patterning were first identified, and then interrogated across the two DIY corpora, as well as two general corpora, in order to measure both frequency (raw/t-score) and fixedness. Finally, a deeper examination of the concordance lines revealed whether such patterns carry an ironic force. Three significant findings are presented. Firstly, the study explores lexicogrammatical patterns of collocation concerning multiple hedging: that is, two or more lexical items which ostensibly have a hedging function, yet often frame strong evaluative or rhetorical statements. Secondly, I present patterns of collostruction in which the progressive aspect colligates with cognition verbs. It is the lexicogrammatical incongruity within these patterns that is often a source of irony. Usage of these phrases does not, however, guarantee that the statement will always be ironic. Yet, when compared within larger general corpora, these patterns demonstrate high tendencies of pragmatic characteristics related to irony. Therefore, the final results chapter argues that such patterns can be considered as having ironic priming. Identification and awareness of such patterns may help audiences in accurately reaching ironic interpretations. More practically, these patterns may also help NLP methodology by building upon previous attempts of automated irony detection to create more robust algorithms. Furthermore, there are wider implications to what corpus linguistic methodology can explore in regard to connections between pragmatics and lexicogrammar

Slow fatigue and highly delayed yielding via shear banding in oscillatory shear

We study theoretically the dynamical process of yielding in cyclically sheared amorphous materials, within a thermal elastoplastic model and the soft glassy rheology model. Within both models we find an initially slow accumulation, over many cycles after the inception of shear, of low levels of damage in the form strain heterogeneity across the sample. This slow fatigue then suddenly gives way to catastrophic yielding and material failure. Strong strain localisation in the form of shear banding is key to the failure mechanism. We characterise in detail the dependence of the number of cycles before failure on the amplitude of imposed strain, the working temperature, and the degree to which the sample is annealed prior to shear. We discuss our finding with reference to existing experiments and particle simulations, and suggest new ones to test our predictions.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure

Book Reviews

Book Review

Hfq binding changes the structure of Escherichia coli small noncoding RNAs OxyS and RprA, which are involved in the riboregulation of rpoS

OxyS and RprA are two small noncoding RNAs (sRNAs) that modulate the expression of rpoS, encoding an alternative sigma factor that activates transcription of multiple Escherichia coli stress-response genes. While RprA activates rpoS for translation, OxyS down-regulates the transcript. Crucially, the RNA binding protein Hfq is required for both sRNAs to function, although the specific role played by Hfq remains unclear. We have investigated RprA and OxyS interactions with Hfq using biochemical and biophysical approaches. In particular, we have obtained the molecular envelopes of the Hfq–sRNA complexes using small-angle scattering methods, which reveal key molecular details. These data indicate that Hfq does not substantially change shape upon complex formation, whereas the sRNAs do. We link the impact of Hfq binding, and the sRNA structural changes induced, to transcript stability with respect to RNase E degradation. In light of these findings, we discuss the role of Hfq in the opposing regulatory functions played by RprA and OxyS in rpoS regulation