An emerging market for corporate control? The Mannesmann takeover and German corporate governance

Corporate governance in Germany is often described as a bank-oriented, block-holder or stakeholder model where markets for corporate control have not played a significant role. This case study of the hostile takeover of Mannesmann AG by Vodafone in 2000 demonstrates how systemic changes during the 1990s have eroded past institutional barriers to takeovers. These changes include the strategic reorientation of German banks from the house bank to investment banking, the growing consensus and productivity orientation of employee co-determination and corporate law reform. A significant segment of German corporations are now subjected to a market for corporate control. The implications for the German model are examined in light of both claims by agency theory for the efficiency of takeover markets, as well as the institutional complementarities within Germany's specific variety of capitalism. While the efficiency effects are questionable, the growing pressures for German corporations to achieve the higher stock market valuations of their Anglo-American competitors threaten the distributional compromises underlying the German model. --

Characterizing droplet combustion of pure and multi-component liquid fuels in a microgravity environment

The importance of understanding the effects of fuel composition, length scales, and other parameters on the combustion of liquid fuels has motivated the examination of simple flames which have easily characterized flow fields and hence, the potential of being modeled accurately. One such flame for liquid fuel combustion is the spherically symmetric droplet flame which can be achieved in an environment with sufficiently low gravity (i.e., low buoyancy). To examine fundamental characteristics of spherically symmetric droplet combustion, a drop tower facility has been employed to provide a microgravity environment to study droplet combustion. This paper gives a brief review of results obtained over the past three years under NASA sponsorship (grant NAG3-987)

Water Quality Modeling in the Ross Barnett Reservoir using Environmental Fluid Dynamics Code

This thesis investigates the utilization of hydrodynamic models as tools for assessing factors impacting water quality in the Ross Barnett Reservoir. The primary focus is development of a hydrodynamic model that provides transport information to subsequent application of a water quality model. Environmental Fluid Dynamics Code (EFDC) is a complex, dynamic, multi-dimensional computer model used to simulate hydrology in water bodies. The secondary focus is on data acquisition and manipulation methods for completing the hydrodynamic modeling. Monitoring was completed to create modern bathymetry of Ross Barnett Reservoir to provide accurate model cell grid representation. Temperature and dissolved oxygen profile monitoring occurred to provide data for model output comparison. The EFDC model successfully predicted lake stratification and subsequent mixing based on changes in observed meteorological conditions

A Test Suite Generator For Struts Based Applications

Testing web-based enterprise applications requires the use of automated testing frameworks. The testing framework\u27s ability to run suites of test cases through development ensures enhancements work as required and have not caused defects in previously developed sub systems. Open source testing frameworks like JUnit and Cactus have addressed the requirements to test web-based enterprise applications, however they do not address the generation of test cases based on direct analysis of the code under test. This paper presents a tool to generate test cases for web-based enterprise applications. The generator focuses on creating test cases used to test applications built on the Struts MVC framework for the J2EE platform. Using the Struts configuration files, test cases are generated to test each request path and response. The created test cases take advantage of the StrutsTestCase library and run using the JUnit and Cactus frameworks. The generated test cases follow a consistent pattern for the test cases and reduce the time required build the automated testing for the application

Pheng Cheah. What Is a World? On Postcolonial Literature as World Literature. Durham: Duke UP, 2016.

Review of Pheng Cheah. What Is a World? On Postcolonial Literature as World Literature. Durham: Duke UP, 2016

Influx of Chinese Students Into American Universities: WPI Case Study

The number of Chinese applicants to American graduate schools has increased by double-digit percentages since 2005. Worcester Polytechnic Institute’s graduate program is comprised of 35% international students from many countries all over the world. This paper examines these students. In addition, it assesses the effectiveness of WPI’s attempts to integrate them into its classrooms and social groups, along with its efforts to prepare American students for collaboration with international students. Furthermore, I will attempt to assess the impact of the WPI admissions process on the students, faculty, and classroom environments on campus. Finally, predictions and recommendations are produced that are aimed at enhancing the integration of Chinese and American students at WPI

The Christology of Mark

In this thesis I intend to investigate the three layers of tradition in the Christology of Mark: that of the historical Jesus, the Plaestinian community, and the Hellenistic Church. The result of this work will be a clearer picture of Mark’s contribution to the Christology of the Church. I propose that Mark constructed his gospel to bring out the role of Jesus as the Suffering Servant who was exalted through his crucifixion and resurrection

Sinkholes in Florida and Their Effect on Man\u27s Environment

The primary reason for making the research study on Sinkholes in Florida and Their Effect on Man\u27s Environment , is an interest in learning more about this somewhat unique phenomenon and how it is likely to affect man in the future, particularly here in Central Florida. This is significant at this time in view of the large number of existing sinkholes, the frequency of occurrence, the projected population and economic growth, and the possible impact this growth may have on future sinkhole occurrences. The research concentrated on possible causes, effects, frequencies, locations and mean of predicting future sinkhole development. There is a large amount of published material on possible causes, including general agreement on some fundamental aspects. There is controversy however, among qualified experts on some of the finer pints. The research revealed a small amount of data on effects and very little organized activity to collect and evaluate data on all known sinkholes as to location, frequency of occurrence, conditions found at the site, and known geological data pertaining to the area. Descriptive data on conditions is expected to include diameter, depth, size of the opening in the limestone and, if possible, characteristics of the cavern, including whether or not limestone debris was found. Several studies on possible means of predicting potential sinkhole activity were found