Global Aspects of Abelian Duality in Dimension Three

In three dimensions, an abelian gauge field is related by duality to a free, periodic scalar field. Though usually considered on Euclidean space, this duality can be extended to a general three-manifold M, in which case topological features of M become important. Here I comment upon several of these features as related to the partition function on M. In a companion article, arXiv:1405.2483, I discuss similarly the algebra of operators on a surface of genus g.Comment: 62 pages, 1 figure, v2: references adde

Prevention of cracking of soldered joints in electronic assemblies

Printed circuit board design allows for thermal stressing of the soldered joints during many thermal cycles. Components' leads should be cleaned, tinned, and freed of particles that prevent solder adherence, have a thin conformal coating, and have an air space between the coating and the body of the component

Basics of F-theory from the Type IIB Perspective

These short lecture notes provide an introduction to some basic notions of F-theory with some special emphasis on its relation to Type IIB orientifolds with O7/O3-planes.Comment: 7 pages, contribution to the proceedings of the 9th Hellenic School on Elementary Particle Physics and Gravity, Corfu 200

German-language culture and the Slav stranger within

The aim of this article is to delineate the symbolic position of the Slavonic, and in particular the Czech, in German-language Austrian culture of the period 1890–1940. My approach will be informed by psychoanalysis. A subsidiary aim is to try to demonstrate uses of psychoanalysis in the study of central European culture. What is at issue here is an historical set of social power relations that find their expression in culture, that is to say, in art and literature, and that can be interpreted by psychoanalysis. All too often psychoanalysis avoids the social and the political outside the framework of the individual and her or his predictable traumas emanating from domestic life.1 This article, however, constitutes an exercise in inter- and intra-cultural psychoanalysis: intra-cultural as an investigation of psychoanalytic dynamics within German-language culture; inter-cultural as an examination of the relationship between German-language and Slav cultures in psychoanalytic terms

Yukawa couplings in F-theory SU(5)

The fermion mass textures are discussed in the context of F-theory SU(5) GUT. The tree-level up, down and charged lepton Yukawa couplings are computed in terms of the integrals of overlapping wavefunctions at the intersection points of three matter curves. All remaining entries in the fermion mass matrices can also be reliably estimated from higher order non-renormalizable Yukawa couplings mediated by heavy string modes and/or Kaluza-Klein states.Comment: 4 pages, to appear in the proceedings of 10th Hellenic School and Workshops on Elementary Particle Physics and Gravity (CORFU2010), Corfu, Greece, 29 Aug - 19 Sep 201

Comparing Three Water Quality Sampling Techniques for Measuring Non-Point Source Pollution in Forest Streams

Coshocton wheel samplers, ISCO pumping samplers, and single stage samplers were compared on each of three small (5-6 ha), forested watersheds in the Ouachita Mountains of central Arkansas. The objective of the comparisons was to evaluate the performance of each sampling method in providing reliable samples for measuring concentrations of total suspended solids (TSS). H-flumes and water level recorders provided stream discharge data; a network of recording and non-recording raingages provided preciptation measurements. Rainfall and storm discharges during the study period were unusually low. No samples were collected by the single stage samplers. They appear unsuited for use on small ephemeral headwater streams in the ~achita Mountains because only unusually large storms will provide the depth of flow required to fill the sample bottles. A few of the Coshocton Wheel samples provided eradic and unpredictable measurements of TSS; however, there was generally good agreement between the Coshoston and pumped samples. The ISCO pumping samplers provided data that were more consistent and predictable than that of the Coshocton wheel. The small number of storm events during the study precludes a definite conclusion as to which sampling method is best . Measurements are continuing

Recent results from zero g cargo handling studies

Cargo handling, transfer, and stowage under weightlessness conditions of space shuttl

Graduate Entrepreneurs: Intentions, Barriers & Solutions

Purpose This paper investigates the factors that influenced seven graduates in the creative and digital industries to start their own businesses in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK - an area with lack of employing establishments and locally registered businesses. Design/methodology/approach Questionnaires and semi-structured interviews identified the constraining and enabling factors graduates may encounter when attempting to start a business, and explored the impact of support provided. Findings Perceived constraining factors were: lack of general business knowledge, contradictory advisory support from external agencies, lack of sector-specific mentors, lack of finance, and experience of familial entrepreneurship. Perceived enabling factors were: co-mentoring from business partners, course content, financial gain, creativity and innovative ideas, control and risk taking, and the overarching package of support. Linkages between internal and external support could be improved. Research limitations/implications The study provided insights into constraints and enablers to self-employment for a small cohort of recent graduates looking to start-up in the creative and digital industries. Further studies are required to explore the suggested effect of the ‘creative identity’, and of sector-specific family entrepreneurial background. Practical implications The support provided by universities can facilitate the transition from early stage ideas to actual graduate business start-up. Issues such as provision of specialist advice and links with external parallel and follow-on support need to be considered. Originality/Value University start-up units provide an important contribution to the development of graduate entrepreneurs and their role in the growth of national and global economy. Suggestions for improvements in performance, such as closer links with external business development agencies and support providers, are discussed. Keywords Student and graduate business start-up, Regeneration, Entrepreneurship educatio