Casimir force in the O(n -> infinity) model with free boundary conditions

We present results for the temperature behavior of the Casimir force for a system with a film geometry with thickness $L$ subject to free boundary conditions and described by the $n\to\infty$ limit of the $O(n)$ model. These results extend over all temperatures, including the critical regime near the bulk critical temperature $T_c$, where the critical fluctuations determine the behavior of the force, and temperatures well below it, where its behavior is dictated by the Goldstone's modes contributions. The temperature behavior when the absolute temperature, $T$, is a finite distance below $T_c$, up to a logarithmic-in-$L$ proximity of the bulk critical temperature, is obtained both analytically and numerically; the critical behavior follows from numerics. The results resemble - but do not duplicate - the experimental curve behavior for the force obtained for $^4$He films.Comment: 16 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in Physical Review E. Abstract and author order changed to reflect the manuscript as rewritten, and comments changed to reflect the current status of the manuscript. Now publishe

Importance of Cultural Intelligence: cross-cultural examination and analysis

Globalization requires collaboration, partnerships, alliances, trade agreements, and business conduct across both borders and cultures. Growth in international business necessitates corporations and employees to be culturally intelligent. Cultural intelligence has proved to be an instrumental skill that will be a major determinant in the success of cross-cultural collaborations. We examine cross-cultural situations of financial and social problems caused by a lack of cultural intelligence and compare them to situations of effective collaborations. We conclude with practical suggestions and five recommendations that can help improve cultural intelligence levels

Structured modeling for VHDL synthesis

This report will describe a proposed modeling style for the use of the VHSIC Hardware Description Language (VHDL) in design synthesis. We will describe the operations and underlying assumptions of four design models currently understood and used in practice by designers: combinational logic, functional descriptions (involving clocked components such as counters), register transfer (data path) descriptions, and behavioral (instruction set or processor) designs. We will illustrate the various uses of the VHDL description styles (structural, dataflow and behavioral) to represent characteristics of each of these design models. Emphasis is placed on how VHDL constructs should be used in order to synthesize optimal designs

Job Vacancy Chains and Local Employment Creation; the Case of Supply-Side Restrictions

The job-chains model of local labor market change is a demand-driven analytic device for estimating the effects of new job creation. This paper explores the effects of restricting supply, i.e. limiting job access, on the model’s primary outcomes: vacancy chain multipliers, welfare effects and distributional impacts. Major sources of labor supply are the local unemployed, out of the labor force and in-migrants. Three simulations are reported relating to 1) restricting new jobs to current local residents (i.e. no in-migrants), 2) restricting new jobs to current residents in the first round of hiring only and 3) restricting hiring to local unemployed/out of labor force on the first round alone. The results are compared to the basic model that assumes no supply-side restrictions. In terms of chain length, welfare effects, distributional impacts and policy palatability, first round restrictions on in-migrants would seem to be the most plausible option. However, as an economic development strategy,well targeted demand-side initiatives would still seem to be preferable.

A Coupled Oscillator Model for the Origin of Bimodality and Multimodality

Perhaps because of the elegance of the central limit theorem, it is often assumed that distributions in nature will approach singly-peaked, unimodal shapes reminiscent of the Gaussian normal distribution. However, many systems behave differently, with variables following apparently bimodal or multimodal distributions. Here we argue that multimodality may emerge naturally as a result of repulsive or inhibitory coupling dynamics, and we show rigorously how it emerges for a broad class of coupling functions in variants of the paradigmatic Kuramoto model.Comment: 11 pages, 12 figure