Magnetoimpedance Effect in Field Annealed (FeNi)78Nb7B15(FeNi)_{78}Nb_{7}B_{15} Amorphous and Nanocrystalline Bilayer Ribbons

The influence of the magnetic field annealing on the magnetoimpedance effect has been investigated in rapidly quenched $(Fe_{0.5}Ni_{0.5})_{78}Nb_{7}B_{15}$ monolayer and bilayer thin ribbons. The highest impedance ratio value $(ΔZ//Z)_{max}$=72% and the maximum field sensitivity $η_{max}$=12 %/Oe was obtained in the bilayer ribbon, annealed under longitudinal magnetic field at 773 K that exhibited nanocrystalline structure. The higher values of $(ΔZ//Z)_{max}$ in bilayer ribbons, as compared to their monolayer counterparts, are attributed to the increased ratio of their thickness to the penetration depth

Effect of Temperature on Magnetization Processes in Amorphous Rapidly Solidified FeSiB/CoSiB Bilayer Ribbons

Amorphous bilayers consisting of Fe-Si-B and Co-Si-B layers have been prepared by planar flow casting from a single crucible using a double-nozzle technique. Temperature dependencies of magnetization and hysteresis loops have been investigated in a wide temperature range. At room temperature, the effects of interlayer stresses, induced in material due to different thermal expansion coefficients of two mechanically interconnected soft magnetic layers, resulted in rounded hysteresis loops with flattened central part, indicating a dominant role of magnetization rotational processes. With an increase of measurement temperature, the interlayer stresses are relieved and the hysteresis loops became more squared

Upgrading local economies in central and eastern Europe? : The role of business service foreign direct investment in the knowledge economy

Original artcile can be found at: http://www.tandfonline.com/ Copyright Taylor & Francis [Full text of this article is not available in the UHRA]This article introduces the main themes of the special issue on the role of business service foreign investment in Central and Eastern Europe and its propensity to upgrade regions and localities. The debate is firmly set in the context of an increasing emphasis on the knowledge economy. We point to conceptual and data problems which make it difficult to accurately gauge quantitative and qualitative trends. A connection is made between the drivers of offshoring and the potential benefits for localities. The importance of linking research findings to policy issues is underlined.Peer reviewe

Place marketing, place branding and foreign direct investments: Defining their relationship in the frame of local economic development process

Attracting foreign direct investments (FDI) constitutes one of the primary aims of the regions and cities, globally. In the new internationalized environment, places are characterized by a plurality of efforts to create their images based on their distinctive characteristics, and through this way to attract investments and specialized human resources. Traditional economic factors, such as agglomeration economies, access to the European and national markets, urban infrastructure, but also qualitative soft factors, such as the quality of life, urban aesthetic and local development policies, were considered as location criteria for business establishment in potential places. In this framework, the role of strategic planning, place marketing and branding has been increasingly important in Europe and all over the world. The aim of this article is to present, using a conceptual model, the FDI attraction through the use of place marketing process in order to provide answers in three critical points. First, how important and effective is place marketing as a tool in FDI. attraction? Second, what are the prerequisites for place marketing implementation so that FDI attraction becomes successful? Third, how important is branding on overall place marketing effectiveness? © 2010 Macmillan Publishers Ltd