3,463 research outputs found
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Evaluating Historical Episodes using Shock Decompositions in the DSGE Model
We present alternative methods for calculating and interpreting the influence of exogenous shocks on historical episodes within the context of DSGE models. We show analytically why different methods for calculating shock decompositions can generate conflicting interpretations of the same historical episodes. We illustrate this point using an extended version of Drautzburg and Uhlig's (2015) model of the U.S. economy, focusing on the periods 1964-1966, 1979-1987, 2007-2008 and 2016-2018. We argue that the best method for analyzing particular episodes is one which isolates the influence of the shocks during the period under consideration and where the initial conditions represent the system's distance from steady state at the beginning of the episode
Cavity optomechanics with stoichiometric SiN films
We study high-stress SiN films for reaching the quantum regime with
mesoscopic oscillators connected to a room-temperature thermal bath, for which
there are stringent requirements on the oscillators' quality factors and
frequencies. Our SiN films support mechanical modes with unprecedented products
of mechanical quality factor and frequency reaching Hz. The SiN membranes exhibit a low optical absorption
characterized by Im at 935 nm, representing a 15 times
reduction for SiN membranes. We have developed an apparatus to simultaneously
cool the motion of multiple mechanical modes based on a short, high-finesse
Fabry-Perot cavity and present initial cooling results along with future
possibilities.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure
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IT Governance-An Integrated Framework and Roadmap: How to Plan, Deploy and Sustain for Improved Effectiveness
The issues, opportunities and challenges of effectively managing and governing an organization’s Information Technology (IT) demands, investments and resources has become a major concern of the Board and executive management in enterprises on a global basis. A rapidly growing number of organizations have become increasingly dependent on a broad array of technologies to manage and grow their businesses. IT is an integral part of most organizations today and will certainly become more critical in the future. This paper proposes a comprehensive and integrated IT governance framework and roadmap which identifies the appropriate current and emerging best practices methodologies for each of the major IT Governance components that must be addressed in any approach and is critical for companies to achieve more effective alignment and management of IT. The framework can serve as a guideline for any organization to select and customize the appropriate approach applicable to its environment, plans, priorities, capabilities and available resources. The findings and implications are based on extensive primary and secondary research and are grounded in a review of current and emerging industry and government best practices and select case studies of leading global and regional organizations based on the recently published book by the author entitled, “Implementing Effective IT Governance and IT Management,” published by Van Haren Publishers, 2015
Implementing Information Technology (IT) Strategy and Governance
Seminar notes from the University of Bridgeport and SENAC University Four Day Professional Development Seminar for Professor Gad Selig’s presentation “Implementing Information Technology (IT) Strategy and Governance: A Practical Guide to World Class IT Management Using Current and Emerging Best Practices for Competitive Advantage”
Introduction to IT/business alignment, planning, execution and governance
This chapter contains:
An overview and execution summary of the key IT/business alignment, planning, execution, governance issues, constraints and opportunities and processes
Discussion of the roles of the Board, and responsibilities of executive management and the CIO
A review of the value propositions for IT governance
An overview of IT demand management, decision rights, Balanced Scorecard metrics and how much governance is required
Identifying the steps in making IT governance real
Discussion of an assessment technique to determine the current level of IT governance maturity in an organization, and illustration of a blueprint for an ideal future target state of IT governanc
HABITAT UTILIZATION BY THE TEXAS HORNED LIZARD (PHRYNOSOMA CORNUTUM) FROM TWO SITES IN CENTRAL TEXAS
The Texas Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum) is found in a variety of habitats. Although several studies have been conducted on habitat use by this species, none have been performed in central Texas, a more mesic habitat than most of those previously studied. This area is of special interest because horned lizard populations have been experiencing sharp declines in central Texas over the last approximately 50 years. We collected habitat data at two sites in central Texas, Camp Bowie and Blue Mountain Peak Ranch. Microhabitat data included canopy cover and ground cover from digitized photographs of Daubenmire quadrats; macrohabitat variables included vegetation height and length, cactus height, soil penetrability, woody plant species richness, tree density, tree diameter at breast height (DBH), and density of ant mounds collected along 100-m by 2-m transects. Similar patterns of habitat use were observed between the two sites. At Blue Mountain Peak Ranch, lizards appeared to be located in areas with a diversity of ground cover types, as observed in previous studies. At Camp Bowie, vegetation encroachment limited lizards in some areas to the use of roads and road margins. Implementation of prescribed burns or other vegetation management could create the preferred ground cover mosaic at such sites
Franchising and Entrepreneurship: High Reward or High Risk?
According to the Department of Commerce, start-up, small, and family businesses are among the fastest growing areas of employment. Even under the best economic environment, starting a business is risky. To reduce the risks and to establish their own businesses, an increasing number of entrepreneurs and corporate converts are buying franchises.
Franchising has enjoyed a major increase in popularity during the early 1990s, fueled largely by the growing pool of available candidates made possible by significant corporate and government downsizing. According to the Department of Commerce, franchising accounts for nearly one-third of all U.S. retail sales and employs over 7 million people.
If an individual has the motivation, skills, capital, leadership, entrepreneurial spirit, and risk-taking attributes required to start and manage a business, franchising provides a structured alternative to accomplish this objective. Franchising encompasses both high risks and high rewards. While it is not for everyone, franchising represents a method to start and/or transition into your own business.
This refereed article describes the why, what, and how of franchising. It discusses the driving forces for franchising from both the franchiser\u27s and franchisee\u27s perspective, what it takes to be a franchisee, how to become an educated businessperson, what to do once you have selected a franchise, the do\u27s and don\u27ts, the risks and rewards, and how to sell a franchise
The interaction of unidirectional winds with an isolated barchan sand dune
Velocity profile measurements are determined on and around a barchan dune model inserted in the roughness layer on the tunnel floor. A theoretical investigation is made into the factors influencing the rate of sand flow around the dune. Flow visualization techniques are employed in the mapping of streamlines of flow on the dune's surface. Maps of erosion and deposition of sand are constructed for the barchan model, utilizing both flow visualization techniques and friction velocities calculated from the measured velocity profiles. The sediment budget found experimentally for the model is compared to predicted and observed results reported. The comparison shows fairly good agreement between the experimentally determined and predicted sediment budgets
The effect of non-uniform damping on flutter in axial flow and energy harvesting strategies
The problem of energy harvesting from flutter instabilities in flexible
slender structures in axial flows is considered. In a recent study, we used a
reduced order theoretical model of such a system to demonstrate the feasibility
for harvesting energy from these structures. Following this preliminary study,
we now consider a continuous fluid-structure system. Energy harvesting is
modelled as strain-based damping and the slender structure under investigation
lies in a moderate fluid loading range, for which {the flexible structure} may
be destabilised by damping. The key goal of this work is to {analyse the effect
of damping distribution and intensity on the amount of energy harvested by the
system}. The numerical results {indeed} suggest that non-uniform damping
distributions may significantly improve the power harvesting capacity of the
system. For low damping levels, clustered dampers at the position of peak
curvature are shown to be optimal. Conversely for higher damping, harvesters
distributed over the whole structure are more effective.Comment: 12 pages, 10 figures, to appear in Proc. R. Soc.
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