644 research outputs found
Integrating cross-border acquisitions: a process-oriented approach
Acquisizioni o fusioni spesso falliscono nel creare valore per gli azionisti poiché, nella maggior parte dei casi, le modalità di integrazione impediscono di sviluppare le opportune sinergie. Questo argomento è stato affrontato da molti studi secondo due differenti filoni di pensiero: il primo guarda alla combinazione di risorse a disposizione dopo l’acquisizione e il secondo si focalizza sul fattore umano. Lo studio propone un modello integrato, dove gli effetti di questi aspetti sono testati simultaneamente e considera tre variabili indipendenti: l’importanza della pianificazione del processo, la conoscenza derivante da acquisizioni precedenti e la conoscenza derivante da relazioni precedenti. Crediamo che attraverso questo modello i manager possano prioritizzare le loro azioni e selezionare un orizzonte temporale appropriato per l’integrazione.Acquisitions and mergers of equals often fail to deliver shareholder value, largely because poor integration practices do not allow synergies to be created. The issue has been addressed by several studies from two different research streams: the first looks at the combination of resources after the acquisitions and the second focuses on the human factor. We propose an integrated model where the effects of these key aspects are tested simultaneously and where three independent variables are included: the extent of planning and knowledge from previous acquisitions and knowledge from previous relationships. We believe that through the model managers can prioritise their actions and select an appropriate time horizon for the integratio
A Machine Learning-Based Approach for Audio Signals Classification using Chebychev Moments and Mel-Coefficients
This paper proposes a machine learning-based architecture for audio signals classification based on a joint exploitation of the Chebychev moments and the Mel-Frequency Cepstrum Coefficients. The procedure starts with the computation of the Mel-spectrogram of the recorded audio signals; then, Chebychev moments are obtained projecting the Cadence Frequency Diagram derived from the Mel-spectrogram into the base of Chebychev moments. These moments are then concatenated with the Mel-Frequency Cepstrum Coefficients to form the final feature vector. By doing so, the architecture exploits the peculiarities of the discrete Chebychev moments such as their symmetry characteristics. The effectiveness of the procedure is assessed on two challenging datasets, UrbanSound8K and ESC-50
First Principles Analysis of Electron-Phonon Interaction in Graphene
The electron-phonon interaction in monolayer graphene is investigated by
using density functional perturbation theory. The results indicate that the
electron-phonon interaction strength is of comparable magnitude for all four
in-plane phonon branches and must be considered simultaneously. Moreover, the
calculated scattering rates suggest an acoustic phonon contribution that is
much weaker than previously thought, revealing the role of optical phonons even
at low energies. Accordingly it is predicted, in good agreement with a recent
measurement, that the intrinsic mobility of graphene may be more than an order
of magnitude larger than the high values reported in suspended samples.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figure
Combined Use of Terrestrial Laser Scanning and IR Thermography Applied to a Historical Building
Abstract: The conservation of architectural heritage usually requires a multidisciplinary
approach involving a variety of specialist expertise and techniques. Nevertheless, destructive
techniques should be avoided, wherever possible, in order to preserve the integrity of the
historical buildings, therefore the development of non-destructive and non-contact
techniques is extremely important. In this framework, a methodology for combining the
terrestrial laser scanning and the infrared thermal images is proposed, in order to obtain a
reconnaissance of the conservation state of a historical building. The proposed case study is
represented by St. Augustine Monumental Compound, located in the historical centre of the
town of Cosenza (Calabria, South Italy). Adopting the proposed methodology, the paper
illustrates the main results obtained for the building test overlaying and comparing the
collected data with both techniques, in order to outline the capabilities both to detect the
anomalies and to improve the knowledge on health state of the masonry building. The 3D
model, also, allows to provide a reference model, laying the groundwork for implementation
of a monitoring multisensor system based on the use of non-destructive techniques
Macroscopic polarization and band offsets at nitride heterojunctions
Ab initio electronic structure studies of prototypical polar interfaces of
wurtzite III-V nitrides show that large uniform electric fields exist in
epitaxial nitride overlayers, due to the discontinuity across the interface of
the macroscopic polarization of the constituent materials. Polarization fields
forbid a standard evaluation of band offsets and formation energies: using new
techniques, we find a large forward-backward asymmetry of the offset (0.2 eV
for AlN/GaN (0001), 0.85 eV for GaN/AlN (0001)), and tiny interface formation
energies.Comment: RevTeX 4 pages, 2 figure
Mt. Etna Volcanic Aerosol and Ash Retrievals using MERIS and AATSR Data
Envisat MERIS and AATSR data have been acquired in
the framework of the Eurorisk-Preview project. The
project addresses European civil protections and
proposes to develop, at the European scale, new
information services to support the risk management. In
Italy one of the most important natural risks is due to
the presence of volcanoes. Mt. Etna in Sicily, displays
persistent activity, periodically interrupted by eruptions,
which emit volcanic aerosol and ash to different
altitudes in troposphere affecting the central
Mediterranean area. In order to test the use of MERIS
and AATSR data to derive emitted particles parameters
as optical depth, effective radius and the ash mass of
particles, the already developed remote sensing
techniques has been adapted. MERIS and AATSR data
acquired during the Mt. Etna 2002-2003 volcanic
eruption has been chosen.
The use of VIS and TIR bands of the two sensor
demonstrates the potential to derive useful information
on plume particles and to monitor the volcanic plume
during eruption if frequent and high resolution data is
available in near real time
Ultrathin films of black phosphorus as suitable platforms for unambiguous observation of the orbital Hall effect
Phosphorene, a monolayer of black phosphorus, is a two-dimensional material
that lacks a multivalley structure in the Brillouin zone and has negligible
spin-orbit coupling. This makes it a promising candidate for investigating the
orbital Hall effect independently of the valley or spin Hall effects. To model
phosphorene, we utilized a DFT-derived tight-binding Hamiltonian, which is
constructed with the pseudo atomic orbital projection method. For that purpose,
we use the PAOFLOW code with a newly implemented internal basis that provides a
fairly good description of the phosphorene conduction bands. By employing
linear response theory, we show that phosphorene exhibits a sizable orbital
Hall effect with strong anisotropy in the orbital Hall conductivity for the
out-of-plane orbital angular momentum component. The magnitude and sign of the
conductivity depend upon the in-plane direction of the applied electric field.
These distinctive features enable the observation of the orbital Hall effect in
this material unambiguously. The effects of strain and of a perpendicularly
applied electric field on the phosphorene orbital-Hall response are also
explored. We show that a supplementary electric field applied perpendicular to
the phosphorene layer in its conductive regime gives rise to an induced
in-plane orbital magnetization.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figure
Micro- and Nanoscale Measurement Methods for Phase Change Heat Transfer on Planar and Structured Surfaces
In this opinion piece, we discuss recent advances in experimental methods for characterizing phase change heat transfer. We begin with a survey of techniques for high-resolution measurements of temperature and heat flux at the solid surface and in the working fluid. Next, we focus on diagnostic tools for boiling heat transfer and describe techniques for visualizing the temperature and velocity fields, as well as measurements at the single bubble level. Finally, we discuss techniques to probe the kinetics of vapor formation within a few molecular layers of the interface. We conclude with our outlook for future progress in experimental methods for phase change heat transfer.United States. Dept. of Energy (Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy Grant DE-AR0000363)National Science Foundation (U.S.) (Grant 1261824)United States. Office of Naval Research (Grant N00014-13-1-0324
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