Vacuum Decay on a Brane World

The bubble nucleation rate for a first order phase transition occurring on a brane world is calculated. Both the Coleman-de Luccia thin wall instanton and the Hawking-Moss instanton are considered. The results are compared with the corresponding nucleation rates for standard four-dimensional gravity.Comment: 5 page

Characterization and modeling of precipitation kinetics in an Al-Zn-Mg alloy

Abstract The precipitation kinetics in AA7108.70 Al-Zn -Mg alloy have been investigated by small angle X-ray scattering and transmission electron microscopy, and computer modeled by use of an internal state variable model concerning two regimes, (i) precipitation and growth and (ii) growth and coarsening. The modeling and experiments were done for isothermal heat treatment at 120, 140, 150, 160 and 170°C. These treatments were also compared with the industrial two step T6 treatment

Pattern formation and selection in quasi-static fracture

Fracture in quasi-statically driven systems is studied by means of a discrete spring-block model. Developed from close comparison with desiccation experiments, it describes crack formation induced by friction on a substrate. The model produces cellular, hierarchical patterns of cracks, characterized by a mean fragment size linear in the layer thickness, in agreement with experiments. The selection of a stationary fragment size is explained by exploiting the correlations prior to cracking. A scaling behavior associated with the thickness and substrate coupling, derived and confirmed by simulations, suggests why patterns have similar morphology despite their disparity in scales.Comment: 4 pages, RevTeX, two-column, 5 PS figures include

Pinning of a solid--liquid--vapour interface by stripes of obstacles

We use a macroscopic Hamiltonian approach to study the pinning of a solid--liquid--vapour contact line on an array of equidistant stripes of obstacles perpendicular to the liquid. We propose an estimate of the density of pinning stripes for which collective pinning of the contact line happens. This estimate is shown to be in good agreement with Langevin equation simulation of the macroscopic Hamiltonian. Finally we introduce a 2--dimensional mean field theory which for small strength of the pinning stripes and for small capillary length gives an excellent description of the averaged height of the contact line.Comment: Plain tex, 12 pages, 3 figures available upon reques

Impacts of changed litter inputs on soil CO2 efflux in three forest types in central south China

We have defined Neutrosophic Over-/Under-/Off-Set and Logic for the first time in 1995 and published in 2007. During 1995-2016 we presented them to various national and international conferences and seminars. These new notions are totally different from other sets/logics/probabilities. We extended the neutrosophic set respectively to Neutrosophic Overset {when some neutrosophic component is > 1}, to Neutrosophic Underset {when some neutrosophic component is < 0}, and to Neutrosophic Offset {when some neutrosophic components are off the interval [0, 1], i.e. some neutrosophic component > 1 and other neutrosophic component < 0}. This is no surprise since our real-world has numerous examples and applications of over-/under-/off-neutrosophic components

Adoption incentives and environmental policy timing under asymmetric information and strategic firm behaviour

We consider the incentives of a single firm to invest in a cleaner technology under emission quotas and emission taxation. We assume asymmetric information about the firm's cost of employing the new technology. Policy is set either before the firm invests (commitment) or after (time consistency). Contrary to conventional wisdom, we find that with commitment (time consistency), quotas give higher (lower) investment incentives than taxes. With quotas (taxes), commitment generally leads to higher (lower) welfare than time consistency. Under commitment with quadratic abatement costs and environmental damages, a modified Weitzman rule applies and quotas usually lead to higher welfare than taxes

The application of the analytic network process to the assessment of best available techniques

The European Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Bureau produces reference documents on Best Available Techniques, called BREFs. These documents give technical and descriptive information about the installations that represent a significant pollution potential in Europe. However, they do not provide an assessment of the Best Available Techniques, which is a decision to be made by the competent environmental authority. The present work proposes a decision-making process for assessing Best Available Techniques based on the Analytic Network Process. Seven evaluation criteria, grouped into three clusters, have been proposed. The process is applied to a case study and the results are described and analyzed. As a main conclusion, this paper describes a robust and scientific method for a better implementation of the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control approach.The translation of this paper was funded by the Universitat Politecnica de Valencia.Giner Santonja, G.; Aragonés Beltrán, P.; Niclos Ferragut, JJ. (2012). The application of the analytic network process to the assessment of best available techniques. Journal of Cleaner Production. 25:86-95. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2011.12.012S86952

Après une décennie de « buzz » : quelle pertinence pour le concept de modèle d’affaires en stratégie?

Une dizaine d’années après la renaissance manifeste de l’intérêt des praticiens, puis des chercheurs, pour le concept de modèle d’affaires (business model), la question de sa pertinence au regard des concepts et des outils existants en stratégie persiste. Concept polysémique? Concept « valise »? Concept utile? Concept durable? Autant de questions qui, au-delà de la popularité du concept, nous invitent à porter un regard à la fois critique et constructif sur le modèle d’affaires dans le champ du management stratégique.Alors que notre pratique d’enseignement de la stratégie et d’accompagnement de projets d’innovation nous amenait à questionner la pertinence du concept/outil du modèle d’affaires, il nous sembla qu’un tour de table s’imposait pour tenter de répondre aux questions soulevées. Ce tour de table s’est tenu le 8 juin 2011 lors de la XXe conférence de l’Association Internationale de Management Stratégique (AIMS) à Nantes. Ce petit ouvrage a pour but de faire partager au lecteur l’intégralité des propos échangés ce jour-là