Rapid internationalization and long-term performance: The knowledge link

Drawing on the knowledge-based view and organizational learning theory, we develop and test a set of hypotheses to provide a first attempt at analyzing the effect of speed of internationalization on long-term performance. Using a panel-data sample of Spanish listed firms (1986-2010), we find that there is an inverted U-shaped relationship between speed of internationalization and long-term performance. We also find that whereas technological knowledge steepens this relationship, the diversity of prior international experience flattens it. Our results contribute to the existing IB literature on the performance of FDI, cross-country knowledge transferability, and nonsequential entry

A track-before-detect labelled multi-Bernoulli particle filter with label switching

This paper presents a multitarget tracking particle filter (PF) for general track-before-detect measurement models. The PF is presented in the random finite set framework and uses a labelled multi-Bernoulli approximation. We also present a label switching improvement algorithm based on Markov chain Monte Carlo that is expected to increase filter performance if targets get in close proximity for a sufficiently long time. The PF is tested in two challenging numerical examples.Comment: Accepted for publication in IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic System

Rhodium and copper 6-methylpicolinate complexes. Structural diversity and supramolecular interaction study

Seven new coordination compounds with 6-methylpicolinic acid (6-HMepic) and rhodium(III) or copper(II) of formula [Rh(6-Mepic)3] (1), [Rh(6-Mepic)2(H2O)Cl] (2), [Rh(6-HMepic)(6-Mepic)Cl2]·3.5(H2O) (3), [Cu(6-Mepic)2(H2O)]·H2O (4), [Cu(6-Mepic)2]n, (5), [Cu(6-Mepic)(6-HMepic)I] (6) and [Cu(6-Mepic)(6-HMepic)Cl] (7) have been obtained. Their syntheses have been rationalized, and their structural and supramolecular characteristics have been studied and compared with other similar rhodium and copper picolinate complexes previously reported, in order to stablish structural correlations and analogies. The electrical properties of coordination polymer [Cu(6-Mepic)2]n (5) have been also analyzed and it has been found that it shows a moderated electrical transport along the chain.We thank the financial support from the Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MAT2013-46502-C2-2P and MAT2013-46753-C2-1P). Also the scientific computing center (CCC) of the Autonoma University of Madrid for their tim

The June 2012 transit of Venus. Framework for interpretation of observations

Ground based observers have on 5/6th June 2012 the last opportunity of the century to watch the passage of Venus across the solar disk from Earth. Venus transits have traditionally provided unique insight into the Venus atmosphere through the refraction halo that appears at the planet outer terminator near ingress/egress. Much more recently, Venus transits have attracted renewed interest because the technique of transits is being successfully applied to the characterization of extrasolar planet atmospheres. The current work investigates theoretically the interaction of sunlight and the Venus atmosphere through the full range of transit phases, as observed from Earth and from a remote distance. Our model predictions quantify the relevant atmospheric phenomena, thereby assisting the observers of the event in the interpretation of measurements and the extrapolation to the exoplanet case. Our approach relies on the numerical integration of the radiative transfer equation, and includes refraction, multiple scattering, atmospheric extinction and solar limb darkening, as well as an up to date description of the Venus atmosphere. We produce synthetic images of the planet terminator during ingress/egress that demonstrate the evolving shape, brightness and chromaticity of the halo. Guidelines are offered for the investigation of the planet upper haze from vertically-unresolved photometric measurements. In this respect, the comparison with measurements from the 2004 transit appears encouraging. We also show integrated lightcurves of the Venus/Sun system at various phases during transit and calculate the respective Venus-Sun integrated transmission spectra. The comparison of the model predictions to those for a Venus-like planet free of haze and clouds (and therefore a closer terrestrial analogue) complements the discussion and sets the conclusions into a broader perspective.Comment: 14 pages; 14 figures; Submitted on 02/06/2012; A&A, accepted for publication on 30/08/201