Determinants of domestic and cross-border bank acquisitions in the European Union

This paper analyzes the determinants of bank acquisitions both within and across 25 members of the European Union (EU-25) during the period 1997–2004. Our results suggest that poorly managed banks (those with a high cost-to-income ratio) and larger banks are more likely to be acquired by other banks in the same country. The probability of being a target in a cross-border deal is larger for banks that are quoted in the stock market. Finally, banks operating in more concentrated markets are less likely to be acquired by other banks in the same country but are more likely to be acquired by banks in other EU-25 countries.Banks and banking - Europe

Thermodynamic scheme of inhomogeneous perfect fluid mixtures

We analyze the compatibility between the geometrodynamics and thermodynamics of a binary mixture of perfect fluids which describe inhomogeneous cosmological models. We generalize the thermodynamic scheme of general relativity to include the chemical potential of the fluid mixture with non-vanishing entropy production. This formalism is then applied to the case of Szekeres and Stephani families of cosmological models. The compatibility conditions turn out to impose symmetry conditions on the cosmological models in such a way that only the limiting case of the Friedmann-Robertson-Walker model remains compatible. This result is an additional indication of the incompatibility between thermodynamics and relativity

Self-referenced characterization of space-time couplings in near single-cycle laser pulses

We report on the characterization of space-time couplings in high energy sub-2-cycle 770nm laser pulses using a self-referencing single-shot method. Using spatially-encoded arrangement filter-based spectral phase interferometry for direct electric field reconstruction (SEA-F-SPIDER) we characterize few-cycle pulses with a wave-front rotation of 2.8x?10^11 rev/sec (1.38 mrad per half-cycle) and pulses with pulse front tilts ranging from to -0.33 fs/um to -3.03 fs/um.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figure

Proximity effect gaps in S/N/FI structures

We study the proximity effect in hybrid structures consisting of superconductor and ferromagnetic insulator separated by a normal diffusive metal (S/N/FI structures). These stuctures were proposed to realize the absolute spin-valve effect. We pay special attention to the gaps in the density of states of the normal part. We show that the effect of the ferromagnet is twofold: It not only shifts the density of states but also provides suppression of the gap. The mechanism of this suppression is remarkably similar to that due to magnetic impurities. Our results are obtained from the solution of one-dimensional Usadel equation supplemented with boundary conditions for matrix current at both interfaces.Comment: Published in The European Physical Journal

Geometric description of BTZ black holes thermodynamics

We study the properties of the space of thermodynamic equilibrium states of the Ba\~nados-Teitelboim-Zanelli (BTZ) black hole in (2+1)-gravity. We use the formalism of geometrothermodynamics to introduce in the space of equilibrium states a $2-$dimensional thermodynamic metric whose curvature is non-vanishing, indicating the presence of thermodynamic interaction, and free of singularities, indicating the absence of phase transitions. Similar results are obtained for generalizations of the BTZ black hole which include a Chern-Simons term and a dilatonic field. Small logarithmic corrections of the entropy turn out to be represented by small corrections of the thermodynamic curvature, reinforcing the idea that thermodynamic curvature is a measure of thermodynamic interaction

Kadar Air dan Total Mikroba pada Daging Sapi di Tempat Pemotongan Hewan (Tph) Bandar Lampung

The aim of this research was: 1) to determine the water content of the meat in Bandar Lapung abattoirs; 2) to determine the microbial quality of the meat in Bandar Lampung abattoirs. The research was conducted at March 2014 continously from Bandar Lampung abattoirs. The analysis of the water content was conducted in Laboratorium Nutrisi Ternak, Jurusan Peternakan while the analysis of the microbial quality conducted in Laboratorium Penguji Balai Veteriner Lampung. The method of research was survey. The obtain data was analyzed by using the descriptive quantitative analysis.The analysis shows that water content of the meat in Mrs. Mul\u27s abattoir were 71,92% and 71,55%. The total microbial count were 0,67 x105 CFU/g and 1,2 x105 CFU/g. The water content of the meat in H. Bustomi\u27s abattoir were 74,84% and 74,43%. The total microbial count were 0,46x105 CFU/g and 5,9 x105 CFU/g. The water content of the meat in H. Udin\u27s abattoir were 74,24% and 73,14%. The total microbial count were 4,9x 105 CFU/g and 0,088x105 CFU/g. The water content of the meat in Mr. Ampan\u27s abattoir were 72,22% dan 72,65%. The total microbial count were 4,4x105 CFU/g and 0,075x105 CFU/g. Based on the result, it was concluded that the meat from Bandar Lampung abattoirs were still proper for consumption