3,970 research outputs found
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
Blasting away a dwarf galaxy: the \u27tail\u27 of ESO 324-G024
We present Australia Telescope Compact Array radio data of the dwarf irregular galaxy ESO 324-G024 which is seen in projection against the giant, northern lobe of the radio galaxy Centaurus A (Cen A, NGC 5128). The distorted morphology and kinematics of ESO 324-G024, as observed in the 21 cm spectral line emission of neutral hydrogen, indicate disruptions by external forces. We investigate whether tidal interactions and/or ram pressure stripping are responsible for the formation of the H Itail stretching to the north-east of ESO 324-G024 with the latter being most probable. Furthermore, we closely analyse the sub-structure of Cen A\u27s polarized radio lobes to ascertain whether ESO 324-G024 is located in front, within or behind the northern lobe. Our multiwavelength, multicomponent approach allows us to determine that ESO 324-G024 is most likely behind the northern radio lobe of Cen A. This result helps to constrain the orientation of the lobe, which is likely inclined to our line of sight by approximately 60° if NGC 5128 and ESO 324-G024 are at the same distance
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