From knowledge dependence to knowledge creation: Industrial growth and the technological advance of the Japanese electronics industry

The thrust of the argument put forward in this paper is that the postwar technological advance of the Japanese electronics industry was in essence a product not a primary cause of industrial growth. We demonstrate that the industry's surge forward resulted from the interaction of a unique combination of political, economic and cultural forces. Business leaders took full advantage by investing on a massive scale in physical, organizational, human and technological resources. It was success in the marketplace and strong cash flows that allowed Japanese firms to import technology on a large scale, invest in scientists and engineers, and progressively develop world class technological capabilities. In establishing themselves as global players, Japanese electronics firms moved over the years from a position of knowledge dependence to one of knowledge creation. We explore how this transformation was achieved and how they learned to control and exploit knowledge creating systems and processes. In particular, we establish the multi-faceted context and complex set of relationships that have conditioned strategic decision making and the creation of technological capabilities

Analysis of Adaptive Multilevel Splitting algorithms in an idealized case

The Adaptive Multilevel Splitting algorithm is a very powerful and versatile method to estimate rare events probabilities. It is an iterative procedure on an interacting particle system, where at each step, the $k$ less well-adapted particles among $n$ are killed while $k$ new better adapted particles are resampled according to a conditional law. We analyze the algorithm in the idealized setting of an exact resampling and prove that the estimator of the rare event probability is unbiased whatever $k$. We also obtain a precise asymptotic expansion for the variance of the estimator and the cost of the algorithm in the large $n$ limit, for a fixed $k$

Three Methods for Solving the Low Energy Neutron Boltzmann Equation

The solution to the neutron Boltzmann equation is separated into a straightahead component dominating at high energies and an isotropic component dominating at low energies. The high-energy solution is calculated using HZETRN-05, and the low-energy isotropic component is modeled by two non-coupled integro-differential equations describing both forward and backward neutron propagation. Three different solution methods are then used to solve the equations. The collocation method employs linear I3-splines to transform each equation into a system of ODES; the resulting system is then solved exactly and evaluated using numerical integration techniques. Wilson\u27s method uses a perturbational approach in which a fundamental solution is obtained by solving a simple ODE, a new source term is generated by the fundamental solution, and the collocation method is then used to solve the remaining equation. The fixed-point series method extends Wilson\u27s method by continuing the perturbational procedure until desired convergence criteria are met. In all three cases, the total neutron flux is found by adding the forward and backward components. Comparisons are made between the three methods in one, two and three layer configurations in various space environments and compared to Monte Carlo data where available

Study of rutin nanocarriers for skin care

Rutin (quercetin-3-rhamnosyl glucoside) is a natural flavonoid widely distributed in vegetables and fruits which has many therapeutic properties, mainly attributed to its potent antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. These benefits are used in different fields namely in the pharmaceutical to treat some infectious diseases or in the cosmetics to fight against premature aging. Rutin plant pigments have multiple effects on skin, one of the most important being to promote redness-free skin. Furthermore, rutin has showed an increase in skin elasticity and a decrease in the length, area and number of wrinkles. The consequences of human aging are primarily visible on the skin, such as increased wrinkling, sagging and decreased elasticity. It also enhances the action of vitamin C on the body, on the face particularly, by increasing its absorption, delaying its elimination then limiting wrinkles. [1] The main objective of this study was first to prepare Rutin-loaded polymersomes which have the particularity to be nanoparticles. An important goal of this research was to develop antioxidant and antibacterial mechanism of rutin-loaded nanoparticles. Different concentrations (e.g. 1, 5 and 10 mg/mL) and amplitudes (35 and 50%) during the preparation of polymersomes using single step ultrasound process. Radical scavenging assays with DPPH and ABTS were then employed as tools to further assess the antioxidant efficacy of the nanoformulated rutin. The other objective was to analyze the antimicrobial effects of rutin polymersomes with on common Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria according to Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) method. A strategy was elaborated to increase the antimicrobial performance of rutin NPs by combining them with another antimicrobial agent (colistin). Even if, the experiments have showed very good antioxidant activities thanks to ABTS assay but not relevant antimicrobial activities, we will try to find the good concentration and amplitude during the preparation of rutin nanoparticles to incorporate into a skin care cream to minimize the development of bacteria responsible for skin infections such as Staphylococcus and Streptococcus and the destruction of bacteria from skin flora (S.epidermis, S.hominis) as well as maximize the radical scavenging inhibition for more antioxidant properties.Incomin

Impact of the department of small business and development on the performance of small, medium and micro enterprises in Durban, South Africa.

Doctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.This inquiry unpacks the challenges constraining the active contribution of the Small Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMME’s) by putting the focus on the role that is played by institutions like the Ministry of Small Business that has been created by the government to support SMME’s. The objective of the study was to find out from the SMME’s the extent to which the Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) and other institutions have been able to address the factors that have been identified as hindering the growth of the SMME’s. The review of literature focused on theories such as economic growth, institutional theory, network theory and social entrepreneurship theory. The extent of the literature review examined the emerging markets in terms of the authorities’ handling of the SMME’s performance oriented endeavours and aspirations. The study was conducted in KwaZulu Natal, within eThekwini Municipality. The population of the study comprised of 800 SMME’s of which a sample of 260 was chosen. The research approach that was employed was the quantitative methodology. Data was collected by means of structured selfadministered questionnaire. The results of the study revealed that the majority of SMME’s have never received grants, loans, finances, favourable discounts, and favourable credits. The result of the study revealed that the majority of SMME’s have never received grants, loans, finances, favourable discounts and credits form conventional banks and big companies. Furthermore the majority of the respondents indicated that DSBD has not been able to assist them as it was envisaged it would do. The study showed that the technical support, access to markets, business environment, business climate, competitive business landscape and the external environment in general is not conducive for the SMME’s to thrive. The study revealed that there is stride that DSBD is playing concerning the creations of networks, collaborative partnership and associations although less than 50% indicated so. It is recommended that the financial resources be made more accessible by the SMME’s irrespective of where they are and that the policy-makers must reinforce the laws that compels big companies to spend the 3% of the post-tax profit as the compliant requirement in the support of SMME’s. It is further, recommended that the DSBD should do more in stimulating the Economic Growth Factors on behalf of the SMME’s should facilitate the coordination of different institutions in assisting them not to work silos. . Lastly, the study recommended that the SMME innovation and capacity building, which translate into market opportunities, should be the focal point of attention for the DSBD. The literature review explored various concepts, theories and typologies that influence policy directives that provides stimulus for entrepreneurial activation. Theoretical framework focused on various theories that has levelled the entrepreneurial playing field for the SMME’s to thrive. The research design employed was the quantitative methodology. Data was collected by means of structured self-administered questionnaire. Furthermore, the majority of the respondents indicated that the DSBD has not been able to assist them as envisaged

Flash@Hebburn Urban Art in the New Century

The publication of Flash@Hebburn, explores the creation of the public art installation Flash@Hebburn featuring light and electricity, by Charles Quick, on the banks of the River Tyne at Hebburn Riverside Park in South Tyneside, which spanned a period of seven and a half years and was inaugurated on March 9th 2009. It extensively documents the testing, making and installing of a public art installation that resembles a technical functional placement, which serves to evoke a largely post-industrial site without resorting to nostalgia, while strongly relating to the community where it is placed. Jonthan Vickery’s essay, Infrastructures: Creating Flash@Hebburn, places the work not only in its context of site and its relation to the audience but also in the development of an art world discourse on new urban arts. This is supported by an interview with the artist by Dr John Wood, Henry Moore Institute which discusses the project as a piece of art work in relationship to other contemporary works the artist and others have carried out

Verifying Diagnostic Software

Livingstone PathFinder (LPF) is a simulation-based computer program for verifying autonomous diagnostic software. LPF is designed especially to be applied to NASA s Livingstone computer program, which implements a qualitative-model-based algorithm that diagnoses faults in a complex automated system (e.g., an exploratory robot, spacecraft, or aircraft). LPF forms a software test bed containing a Livingstone diagnosis engine, embedded in a simulated operating environment consisting of a simulator of the system to be diagnosed by Livingstone and a driver program that issues commands and faults according to a nondeterministic scenario provided by the user. LPF runs the test bed through all executions allowed by the scenario, checking for various selectable error conditions after each step. All components of the test bed are instrumented, so that execution can be single-stepped both backward and forward. The architecture of LPF is modular and includes generic interfaces to facilitate substitution of alternative versions of its different parts. Altogether, LPF provides a flexible, extensible framework for simulation-based analysis of diagnostic software; these characteristics also render it amenable to application to diagnostic programs other than Livingstone

A Cultural Resources Survey Of Texas Eastern Transmission LPS Phase 1 Pipeline Anomaly Repairs On The PETR To Tivo Segment Of Line 16 In Refugio And Aransas Counties, Texas

On behalf of Texas Eastern Transmission, LP and Edge Engineering and Science, LLC., HRA Gray & Pape, LLC, of Houston, Texas, has completed a 100% pedestrian cultural resources survey and limited shovel testing of an estimated 4.5 kilometers (2.8 miles) of linear area in Refugio and Aransas Counties, Texas. Texas Eastern has identified several locations along the PETR to TIVO Segment of Line 16 that require replacement of aging pipe. One of the areas requiring maintenance work is identified as “Phase 1”, for which the archaeological survey was completed in May of 2015. The Lead Federal Agency has been identified as the United States Army Corps of Engineers, Galveston District. Thus the goals of the survey were to determine if land altering activities required to complete this project would affect any previously identified historic properties as defined by Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended (36 CFR 800), and to establish whether or not previously unidentified cultural resources were located within the project’s Area of Potential Effects (Advisory Council for Historic Preservation 2004). Initial investigation consisted of a background literature and site files search to identify the presence of recorded sites in close proximity to the project area. No previous archaeological linear or area surveys have taken place within the project area. No previously recorded archaeological sites were identified within the project area. The project is located on private property, thus an Antiquities Code of Texas Permit was not required prior to performing fieldwork. All work was conducted following accepted standards set forth by the Texas Historical Commission and the Council of Texas Archeologists. All 4.5 kilometers (2.8 miles) of the proposed “Phase 1” pipeline replacement area have been investigated. Fieldwork for the Phase I workspaces was completed in a single mobilization that took place from May 18 to May 22, 2015, and required 96 person hours to complete. Field investigation was conducted entirely on privately owned properties and consisted of walkover and shovel testing within the project area. During this investigation no cultural resources were identified or confirmed within the project’s Area of Potential Effects. Based on the negative findings of the survey, HRA Gray & Pape, LLC. recommends that no further cultural resources work be required for the “Phase 1” portion of the project and that the project be allowed to proceed as planned within the surveyed areas. Additional project phases are in the process of being surveyed. Results of those efforts will be submitted when completed