Fast Calculation Methods in Collective Dynamical Models of Beam/Plasma Physics

We consider an application of modification of our variational-wavelet approach to some nonlinear collective model of beam/plasma physics: Vlasov/Boltzmann-like reduction from general BBGKY hierachy related to modeling of propagation of intense charged particle beams in high-intensity accelerators and transport systems. We use fast convergent multiscale variational-wavelet representations for solutions which allow to consider polynomial and rational type of nonlinearities. The solutions are represented via the multiscale decomposition in nonlinear high-localized eigenmodes (waveletons). In contrast with different approaches we do not use perturbation technique or linearization procedures.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, JAC2001.cls, presented at European Particle Accelerator Conference (EPAC02), Paris, June 3-7, 2002; changed from A4 to US format for correct printin

MUD JEANS. A Circular Economy Business Model Case

This report presents the case study corresponding to the retail company MUD Jeans, which has been selected by the R2π project given its importance in the world fashion market. The adoption of a circular model by fashion companies is extremely important, given the huge social, economic, and environmental impact of this industry. This report presents the analysis of the MUD Jeans business model. The objective of the report is to offer a holistic view of how the MUD Jeans circular business model creates, delivers, and captures value. We obtained this holistic view through analysis and synthesis of the business context in which MUD Jeans operates and their business model, followed by an assessment of the circularity of their business model. MUD Jeans is a company with a truly circular ambition: a world without waste. They have a clear and specific vision about circular value creation and are acting on it. Their business model is a circular business model designed from scratch and implements a variety of circular business model patterns. They implement the Circular Sourcing pattern using both recycled jeans (40%) and bio-organic cotton (60%). They implement the Recondition pattern by turning worn and leased jeans into vintage jeans. They implement the Performance pattern by offering a long-lasting and stylish product making people look good while contributing to a sustainable lifestyle. Customers of MUD Jeans are conscious men and women. Initially their customers were confined to a small niche, vegans. Currently, more and more people are wearing their jeans, either by buying (75%) or leasing them (25%). Customers get free repairs if required. Besides that, MUD Jeans offers customer service like any other fashion company. Many customers like their fashionable and modern jeans so much that they actively share why and what they buy or lease from MUD Jeans. This active community leads to word of mouth that grows the customer base as well as sharing the story about their vision and mission. In everything they do, there is the drive to further decouple growth from social and environmental impact. MUD Jeans received several awards for their innovative approach in the fashion industry. At the core of how they organize value creation is their circular design approach, which is implemented and executed with a number of strong partners, who share a similar vision about changing the fashion industry. The report contains an in-depth analysis and assessment of the MUD Jeans business model in order to better understand the design and dynamics of their circular value creation. We also provide a detailed look at the business context in which MUD Jeans operates. Important contextual factors are the explosion of production and the associated negative effects, consumer awareness of the negative effects of fast fashion, and the growing need of personalized and customized products and experiences. The business model is presented visually using the Business Model Canvas, both the big picture and at a more detailed level. The MUD Jeans business model is consistently designed and implemented, with clearly defined strategic choices underpinning their model. They have a very strong value network with partners that share a similar vision and help each other succeed in bringing circular fashion to the market. We also include an assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of the building blocks of the business model as well as an assessment of the opportunities and threats for the business as a whole. Three options for future business models are also identified: 1) a shift towards a new customer segment, 2) a shift in the value proposition, and 3) shift in using new materials. MUD Jeans has traction in the market and is a serious circular company now. They are on a growth trajectory both in terms of increasing customers and revenues as well as decreasing socio-environmental impacts. Their loyal and active customers and strong partnerships work as an enabler in this. The media these days is also paying close attention to these new ways of creating, delivering, and capturing value. There are still some barriers to overcome. Circular business models are treated in the same way as traditional business models with respect to taxes. Another barrier is the financial evaluation of leased jeans, without much recognition of the value of materials that is retained for the long term. It is also difficult for MUD Jeans to find the right investor to double down on growth. The report concludes with guidelines for entrepreneurs to make better strategic choices as well as recommendations for policy makers to accelerate circular value creation.This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 73037

Arbitrage Pricing Theory: Empirical Evidence from Turkish Stock Market

Financial Equilibrium models have been widely studied in finance literature especially with respect to asset pricing theories. Validity of CAPM and Preference of APT over CAPM has been interest of academia as well as professionals. This research investigates number of potential factors explaining returns in Turkish markets as suggested by Ross (1980) when presented APT. For this purpose data of Istanbul Stock All exchanges from January 1, 2003 to December 31, 2013 has been used all the listed companies have been considered for this purpose. Our results suggest that in most of portfolios made for purpose of this research has two significant factors explaining returns although most of portfolios were having three orthogonal factors. It was rare that three factors were significantly explaining returns but it was not investigated that what are those factors. Keywords: Arbitrage Pricing Theory, Factors Analysis, Principal Component Analysi

Calibration : the Achilles heel of predictive analytics

Acknowledgements This work was developed as part of the international STRengthening Analytical Thinking for Observational Studies (STRATOS) initiative. The objective of STRATOS is to provide accessible and accurate guidance in the design and analysis of observational studies (http://stratos-initiative.org/). Members of the STRATOS Topic Group ‘Evaluating diagnostic tests and prediction models’ are (alphabetically) Patrick Bossuyt, Gary S. Collins, Petra Macaskill, David J. McLernon, Karel G.M. Moons, Ewout W. Steyerberg, Ben Van Calster, Maarten van Smeden, and Andrew Vickers. Funding This work was funded by the Research Foundation – Flanders (FWO; grant G0B4716N) and Internal Funds KU Leuven (grant C24/15/037). The funders had no role in study design, data collection, data analysis, interpretation of results, or writing of the manuscript. Contributions All authors conceived of the study. BVC drafted the manuscript. All authors reviewed and edited the manuscript and approved the final version.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Journal of Business Models, Vol. 1, No. 1

The Inaugural Issu

Observational Cosmology in Macroscopic Gravity

We discuss the construction of cosmological models within the framework of Macroscopic Gravity (MG), which is a theory that models the effects of averaging the geometry of space-time on large scales. We find new exact spatially homogeneous and isotropic FLRW solutions to the MG field equations, and investigate large-scale perturbations around them. We find that any inhomogeneous perturbations to the averaged geometry are severely restricted, but that possible anisotropies in the correlation tensor can have dramatic consequences for the measurement of distances. These calculations are a first step within the MG approach toward developing averaged cosmological models to a point where they can be used to interpret real cosmological data, and hence to provide a working alternative to the "concordance" LCDM model.Comment: 22 page