The ?2-cohomology of hyperplane complements

We compute the l^2-Betti numbers of the complement of any finite collection of affine hyperplanes in complex n-space. At most one of the l^2-Betti numbers is non-zero. <br/

A case of aprosopia associated with anencephaly

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Learn by Doing or Learn by Failing? The Paradoxical Effect of Public Policy in Averting the Liability of Newness

Public policy regulations, designed to legitimate and protect fragile, fledgling new firms from failure, on the surface, appear to be of great value. According to Stinchcombe, to the extent that such policies serve as “standard social routines,” they may even work to decrease the liability of newness. Using a sample of more than 2,600 new banks chartered in the United States over a 15-year span under the supervision of three different regulatory agencies, we find that failure rates vary according to nuances in the differences in regulations levied by these agencies. Paradoxically, banks that are initially subject to more stringent regulations, intended to limit their strategic choices to a set of “safe and sound” practices, and protect them from failure during their early stages of existence, in fact, have a higher likelihood of failure after those restrictive regulations are lifted. Our results suggest that public policy attempts to thwart the liability of newness are in fact a “fix that fails,” as public policy regulations designed to reduce the liability of newness merely delay the inevitable

The Antecedents and Impact of Industry Consultants on the Future Performance of New Banks

While the business advisory role of informal players such as family and friends and more formal players such as board members and federal, state or local governments have been well documented, little attention has been paid to the contributions of industry consultants in startup firms. These overlooked intermediaries play an important role in the successful launch of a new firm. This study examines when and why such advisors might create value for new firms. Analysis suggests complexity and regulatory change are factors in a founder’s decision to hire a consultant. Consultants have a positive impact on firm financial performance but not on a composite multifactor measure of performance. Additional analyses suggest the effectiveness of consulting assistance hinges on specific attributes of the consulting firm, but cumulative consulting experience is not one of these attributes

The production of urban public space : a Lefebvrian analysis of Castlefield, Manchester

The aim of this research is to unravel and interrogate critically the recent histories of the production and reproduction of Castlefield, Manchester. This unravelling is accomplished theoretically through the historicised application of Lefebvre‘s spatial triad. Production of space histories and Castlefield‘s 'regeneration‘ are revisited principally through archival and interview evacuations of the neglected years of the 1970s. Urban public space is seen as the key city synecdoche. The thesis argues against what is called the 'dominant academic narrative‘: challenging the narrative where it ignores or downplays the role of counter-representations and counter-projects in the production of urban public space. The empirical research is based mainly on archival data and complimentary interview and visual data; the analyses are qualitative. Visual representations of space largely neglected in the literature are foregrounded throughout the empirical research. Spaces of representation and spatial practice are interrogated from the perspective of public space analysis which emphasises the importance of the contested nature of representations of space within the public sector and the vulnerable and unstable character of some official representations of space. The thesis therefore does not seek to reproduce what might be called a 'traditional‘ Lefebvrian analysis which counter-poses repressive official representations of space against quotidian heroic, poetic spaces of representation. The research challenges oversimplified characterisations of Castlefield as a space simply of heritage, leisure and exclusive residential enclaves. A dynamic, complex spatial portrait is revealed whereby ludic, 'natural‘ and abstract space rise and fall though intricate spatial layering as time unfolds. Urban differential space and ludic space are found to emerge through the interstices of abstract space as key outcomes of the contestation of space. The thesis concludes that the potential for differential urban public space exists through the production of new spaces and their diverse politicised appropriation.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo