Instalment credit terms before and during regulation

Credit ; Consumer credit

Regularity in the local CR embedding problem

We consider a formally integrable, strictly pseudoconvex CR manifold $M$ of hypersurface type, of dimension $2n-1\geq7$. Local CR, i.e. holomorphic, embeddings of $M$ are known to exist from the works of Kuranishi and Akahori. We address the problem of regularity of the embedding in standard H\"older spaces $C^{a}(M)$, $a\in\mathbf{R}$. If the structure of $M$ is of class $C^{m}$, $m\in\mathbf{Z}$, $4\leq m\leq\infty$, we construct a local CR embedding near each point of $M$. This embedding is of class $C^{a}$, for every $a$, $0\leq a < m+(1/2)$. Our method is based on Henkin's local homotopy formula for the embedded case, some very precise estimates for the solution operators in it, and a substantial modification of a previous Nash-Moser argument due to the second author

Implementation of virtual manufacturing by a technology licensing company

NoThe paper considers the implementation of a virtual manufacturing system as an alternative to outward technology licensing in a high technology industrial sector. Brief theoretical definition and description of the two strategy options is provided to give background and context. This is followed by empirical material from a longitudinal case study of a company that has developed a virtual manufacturing system in addition to its pre-existing outward technology licensing business stream. A summary account of the company history and development is followed by description of the virtual manufacturing proposal. Analysis of this identified a number of competencies that would be required in order to succeed. The final part of the paper describes the company's response to this analysis and discusses early implementation of the virtual system. It is shown that implementation of the proposal has represented a positive response to the business challenges facing the company

Fiber optic data bus using Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM) and an asymmetric coupler

A fiber optic data bus, using frequency division multiplexing (FDM) is discussed. The use of FDM is motivated by the need to avoid central control of the bus operation. A major difficulty of such a data bus is introduced by the couplers. An efficient low loss access coupler with an asymmetric structure is presented, and manufacturing processes for the coupler are proposed

Structural Studies of Nonionic Dodecanol Ethoxylates at the Oil–Water Interface: Effect of Increasing Head Group Size

The conformation of charged surfactants at the oil-water interface was recently reported. With the aim to assess the role of the head group size on the conformation of the adsorbed layer, we have extended these studies to a series of non-ionic dodecanol ethoxylate surfactants (C12En, ethylene oxide units n from 6 to 12). The study was performed using neutron reflectometry to enable maximum sensitivity to buried interfaces. Similarly to charged surfactants, the interface was found to be broader and rougher compared to the air-water interface. Irrespectively of the head group size, the tail group region was found to assume a staggered conformation. The conformations of the head group were found to be significantly different compared to the air-water interface, moving from a globular to an almost fully extended conformation at the oil-water interface. The stretching of the head groups is attributed to the presence of some hexadecane oil molecules, which may penetrate all the way to this region. It is proposed here that the presence of the oil, which can efficiently solvate the surfactant tail groups, plays a key role in the conformation of the adsorbed layer and is responsible for the broadening of the interface