3,318 research outputs found
Political risk in light rail transit PPP projects
Since 2003 public-private partnerships (PPPs) have
represented between 10 and 13.5% of the total investment
in public services in the UK. The macro-economic and
political benefits of PPPs were among the key drivers for
central government's decision to promote this form of
procurement to improve UK public services. Political
support for a PPP project is critical and is frequently cited as the most important critical success factor. This paper investigates the significance of political support and reviews the treatment of political risk in a business case by the public sector project sponsor for major UK-based light rail transit PPP projects during their development stage. The investigation demonstrates that in the early project stages it is not traditional quantitative Monte Carlo risk analysis that is important; rather it is the identification and representation of political support within a business case together with an understanding of how this information is then used to inform critical project decisions
On Fusion Algebras and Modular Matrices
We consider the fusion algebras arising in e.g. Wess-Zumino-Witten conformal
field theories, affine Kac-Moody algebras at positive integer level, and
quantum groups at roots of unity. Using properties of the modular matrix ,
we find small sets of primary fields (equivalently, sets of highest weights)
which can be identified with the variables of a polynomial realization of the
fusion algebra at level . We prove that for many choices of rank
and level , the number of these variables is the minimum possible, and we
conjecture that it is in fact minimal for most and . We also find new,
systematic sources of zeros in the modular matrix . In addition, we obtain a
formula relating the entries of at fixed points, to entries of at
smaller ranks and levels. Finally, we identify the number fields generated over
the rationals by the entries of , and by the fusion (Verlinde) eigenvalues.Comment: 28 pages, plain Te
The W_N minimal model classification
We first rigourously establish, for any N, that the toroidal modular
invariant partition functions for the (not necessarily unitary) W_N(p,q)
minimal models biject onto a well-defined subset of those of the SU(N)xSU(N)
Wess-Zumino-Witten theories at level (p-N,q-N). This permits considerable
simplifications to the proof of the Cappelli-Itzykson-Zuber classification of
Virasoro minimal models. More important, we obtain from this the complete
classification of all modular invariants for the W_3(p,q) minimal models. All
should be realised by rational conformal field theories. Previously, only those
for the unitary models, i.e. W_3(p,p+1), were classified. For all N our
correspondence yields for free an extensive list of W_N(p,q) modular
invariants. The W_3 modular invariants, like the Virasoro minimal models, all
factorise into SU(3) modular invariants, but this fails in general for larger
N. We also classify the SU(3)xSU(3) modular invariants, and find there a new
infinite series of exceptionals.Comment: 25 page
National and Regional Estimates of the Prevalence of Opiate and/or Crack Cocaine use 2008-09: A summary of key findings
<p>This report summarises the results of a follow-up study
to a three year project to estimate the prevalence of
‘problem drug use’ (defined as use of opiates and/or
crack cocaine) nationally (England only), regionally and
locally. The follow-up was carried out two years after the
final sweep of the original project, so could therefore
be considered as ‘sweep 5’. An overview of the national
and regional estimates are presented in this report, as are
comparisons with the estimates produced by the third
(2006-07) sweep of the study. Estimates for 2007-08 are
not available as a study was not commissioned for that
year.</p>
<p>Information about the number of people who use illicit
drugs such as heroin, other opiates or crack cocaine
is key to formulating effective policies for tackling
drug-related harm as these drugs are associated with
the highest levels of harm. It also helps inform service
provision at the local level and provides a context
in which to understand the population impact of
interventions to reduce drug-related harm.</p>
<p>Direct enumeration of those engaged in a largely covert
activity such as the use of class A drugs is difficult
and standard household survey techniques tend to
underestimate the extent of such activity. Indirect
techniques making use of various data sources offer a
more reliable way of calculating prevalence estimates for
the use of opiates and/or crack cocaine. The estimates
presented in this report are derived using two indirect
measurement techniques: the capture-recapture
method (CRC ); and the multiple indicator (MIM ) method.
These methods are described in detail in Hay et al., 2006
and Hay et al., 2007a. Methodological developments
throughout the course of the previous three sweeps are
discussed elsewhere (Hay et al., 2007b, Hay et al., 2008).
The individuals covered by this study were people aged
15 to 64 and resident in each DAT area, and known to
be using heroin, methadone, other opiate drugs or
crack cocaine.</p>
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