Parallel Importation and Service Quality: An Empirical Investigation of Competition between DVDs and Cinemas in New Zealand

Investigations into the causes and effects of parallel importing have concentrated on price discrimination but arbitrage can also occur on non-price dimensions. Using a natural experiment in the New Zealand film distribution industry between May 1998 and November 2001 we examine the effect of parallel importing on quality as it relates to the timing of the availability of film media. We demonstrate that a) cinema revenues were undermined as consumers substituted viewing films on parallel imported DVDs for thecinema format and b) that studios responded to the threat of parallel imported DVDs by bringing forward the release of films into New Zealand cinemas. The reduced delay between US and New Zealand cinematic release dates is shown to be consistent with the introduction of competition when timing is a dimension of quality and choice. We conclude that parallel importation of DVDs almost certainly resulted in a net increase in welfare in New Zealand

The Structure and Function of the TACC Protein Family in Neurodevelopment

Thesis advisor: Laura Anne LoweryThesis advisor: Eric FolkerIn order to form the exact synaptic connection required for proper neurological function, the growing tip of the neuron hosts an orchestra of hundreds of different proteins interacting with extracellular cues to steer neuron growth in the right direction. The goal of our current research is to study several of the components of this pathway, known as the TACC family. Here, we present a detailed structure/function analysis of the TACC family in regards to binding and activity with other proteins in the growth cone. We investigate the function of TACC3 in mediating neuron outgrowth and guidance in vivo. We have found structural elements of the TACC family that enable their activity. Studying these conserved structures and functions of the TACC family will enable greater understanding of the entire process of cytoskeletal regulation and neurodevelopment.Thesis (BS) — Boston College, 2015.Submitted to: Boston College. College of Arts and Sciences.Discipline: Scholar of the College.Discipline: Biology

Indoor Location Technology

ME450 Capstone Design and Manufacturing Experience: Fall 2015People rely on GPS to reach destinations, but once the destination is reached, there is no system for navigation to a desired location inside a building. With an indoor positioning system (IPS), users could view their location in a building and determine indoor routes. Additionally, the FCC has set an objective to implement IPS to improve E911 accuracy. Currently, there are over 200 start-ups and large firms in competition to develop IPS, with most utilizing signals such as Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) or WiFi. A better IPS product can be developed using magnetic positioning to generate a magnetic field using an extremely low frequency (ELF) signal. ELF consumes little energy and can travel through walls and objects; therefore avoiding troublesome issues encountered with BLE and WiFi. The main challenge with magnetic positioning is the size of the copper coil used to generate the magnetic field: it must be large enough to create a strong field, yet small enough for integration as a beacon into building infrastructure. The ELF beacon is rectangular-shaped for placement above doorways to tag users upon entering a room. Tagging occurs when the user’s smartphone magnetometer detects the dipole magnetic field of the beacon. The field is generated using a set-up that mimics a signal generator: Arduino Uno connected to Arduino Motor Shield, running C-code to create an ELF square wave, powered by batteries. By setting each beacon frequency to a distinctive value, user location can be determined based on unique identification. The prototype beacon’s coil was wound by hand; therefore the largest gauge wire could not be used due breakage risk and the prototype is not fully optimized in terms of size. Future plans include winding a 40 gauge copper wire by machine with multiple layers for further size optimization.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/117339/1/ME450-F15-Project20-FinalReport.pd

Series Bosch System Development

State-of-the-art (SOA) carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction technology for the International Space Station produces methane as a byproduct. This methane is subsequently vented overboard. The associated loss of hydrogen ultimately reduces the mass of oxygen that can be recovered from CO2 in a closed-loop life support system. As an alternative to SOA CO2 reduction technology, NASA is exploring a Series-Bosch system capable of reducing CO2 with hydrogen to form water and solid carbon. This results in 100% theoretical recovery of oxygen from metabolic CO2. In the past, Bosch-based technology did not trade favorably against SOA technology due to a high power demand, low reaction efficiencies, concerns with carbon containment, and large resupply requirements necessary to replace expended catalyst cartridges. An alternative approach to Bosch technology, labeled "Series-Bosch," employs a new system design with optimized multi-stage reactors and a membrane-based separation and recycle capability. Multi-physics modeling of the first stage reactor, along with chemical process modeling of the integrated system, has resulted in a design with potential to trade significantly better than previous Bosch technology. The modeling process and resulting system architecture selection are discussed

Investigating designers’ preferred learning media to design for additive manufacturing

In this exploratory study, designers’ preferred learning media in learning to design for Additive Manufacturing was explored. Furthermore, by deploying an online survey questionnaire, factors such as years of experience, and the categories of products designed were explored to understand how they influence designers’ learning media with a response from 201 respondents. The results show that designers have learned how to design for AM through experimentation and present the first step towards developing an appropriate Design for Additive Manufacturing knowledge dissemination approach.</p

Establishing a small scale model with MULTIVARIATE and bayesian statistics

One of the primary challenges during process characterization is establishing the suitability of the small scale models used to generate the data. Monte Carlo simulations of small scale data are able to account for increased variability in process parameters seen at large scale. However, this approach requires an accurate estimate of the large-scale variability, which is complicated by the small size of typical large-scale data sets. Bayesian statistics offer an alternate approach in which scale effects are accounted for by directly incorporating scaling offsets into predictive models. In this context, Bayesian methods are advantageous because they explicitly account for uncertainty in datasets, which is essential when attempting to estimate scaling offsets based on the small manufacturing-scale datasets. A CHO cell line known to demonstrate scale differences in lactate production was used as an experimental system, where lab-scale bioreactors typically underestimated the lactate levels observed in large-scale bioreactors. To address this issue, multifactor DOE experiments were run on process conditions known in influence lactate, including glucose, pH, cell generational age, base control and cell bank. Conditions were established for high and low lactate at small scale and a multivariate model of lactate production was established. To address the issue of scale predictability, Monte Carlo simulations were performed using both frequentist and hierarchal Bayesian methods. Both models more accurately described the large-scale lactate levels, and gave a more realistic picture of the robustness of the bioreactor process at scale. Overall the Bayesian model tended to predict a higher percentage of runs that would result in high-lactate and therefore a more accurate picture of large scale. Pilot studies were completed to verify the ability of each model to predict high and low-lactate production at large-scale

Drilled by the jet? XMM-Newton discovers a Compton-thick AGN in the GPS galaxy Mkn668

We report the XMM-Newton discovery of the first Compton-thick obscured AGN in a Broad Line Radio Galaxy, the Gigahertz Peaked-Spectrum source Mkn668 (OQ+208). The remarkably flat 2-10 keV X-ray spectrum (observed photon index, \Gamma ~ 0.7), alongside with a prominent iron K-alpha fluorescent emission line, is a clear signature of a Compton-reflection dominated spectrum. Mkn688 represents a remarkable example of discrepancy between X-ray spectral properties and optical classification, as its optical spectrum is characterized by broad and asymmetric Balmer lines. The obscuring matter is constrained to be located within the radio hotspots, in turn separated by about 10 pc. If the jets are piercing their way through a Compton-thick medium pervading the nuclear environment, one could be largely underestimating the radio activity dynamical age determined from the observed hotspot recession velocity. The soft X-ray spectrum is dominated by a much steeper component, which may be due to nuclear continuum electron scattering, or inverse Compton of the - remarkably large - far infrared emission. Soft X-rays are suppressed by a further Compton-thin (N_H ~ 10^21/cm/cm) absorbing system, that we identify with matter responsible for free-free absorption of the radio lobes.Comment: 11 pages, 7 figures, To appear in Astronomy & Astrophysic

Parallel Importation and Service Quality: An Empirical Investigation of Competition between DVDs and Cinemas in New Zealand

Investigations into the causes and effects of parallel importing have concentrated on price discrimination but arbitrage can also occur on non-price dimensions. Using a natural experiment in the New Zealand film distribution industry between May 1998 and November 2001 we examine the effect of parallel importing on quality as it relates to the timing of the availability of film media. We demonstrate that a) cinema revenues were undermined as consumers substituted viewing films on parallel imported DVDs for thecinema format and b) that studios responded to the threat of parallel imported DVDs by bringing forward the release of films into New Zealand cinemas. The reduced delay between US and New Zealand cinematic release dates is shown to be consistent with the introduction of competition when timing is a dimension of quality and choice. We conclude that parallel importation of DVDs almost certainly resulted in a net increase in welfare in New Zealand