The use of public support on internationalization activities, firms competencies and internationalization requirements

In particularly in times of budget constraints governments should analyze in detail all aspects related to the implementation of their public support to enterprises. With an Heckman selection model and data collected through a survey to Portuguese firms, we test which variables may affect awareness and use of the public support to internationalization. The results show that firms’ competencies positively affect awareness and negatively affect use of public support. Otherwise, the requirements of internationalization positively affect both the awareness and the use of public support

The use of public support on internationalization activities: evidence from a Heckman selection model

An interesting debate is currently taking place among scholars and decision makers about the evaluation of public support targeted to internationalization activities. In order to understand their efficiency, we need first to know more about the determinants of their use. We developed an econometric model based on the Heckmam method, a two-step statistical approach that corrects for selection bias resulting from non-randomly selected sample of firms' awarenesses. The model is tested on a recent survey that includes 441 firms that used at least one of the 11 internationalization support measures launched in Portugal since 1994. The empirical results overall show that firm competencies and the requirements of internationalization positively affect the awareness of public support. Analysing the effects on use, we found evidence that firm competencies are negatively related with use, unlike the the requirements of internationalization, which are positively related with the use of public support

Internationalization of regions: the role of public policy

The main purpose of this article is to build on previous efforts to investigate the effects of Out-ward-FDI promotion measures taken by governments and levels of outward foreign investment at regional level. We examine regional levels of outward FDI within Italy, a country with marketed regional asymmetries. Within the European arena, the heterogeneity of socio-economic condi-tions among Italian regions is a clear example of intra-border imbalances. In fact, the different growth rates characterizing the various areas of Italy are far from being an exception in the Un-ion, where diversity across member states is a reflection of domestic socio-economic disparities strongly concentrated in space and reproduced over time. The study allows also to investigate and to compare different types of incentives (financial and non-financial). Finally it provides evi-dences on the non-policy factors that determine the spatial evolution of O-FDI projects, a theme deserving careful and close attention. For the empirical model we use information on the population of Italian firms that received in-centives from 2000-2007. Data, aggregated at the regional level, refers to the major public tools implemented to promote Italian companies’ internationalization

Experiments on the induced spawning and larval rearing of the milkfish, Chanos chanos (Forsskal) in 1979

This paper summarizes the results of the experiments on the induced breeding and larval rearing of milkfish during the 1979 season

Crystallographic and superconducting properties of the fully-gapped noncentrosymmetric 5d-electron superconductors CaMSi3 (M=Ir, Pt)

We report crystallographic, specific heat, transport, and magnetic properties of the recently discovered noncentrosymmetric 5d-electron superconductors CaIrSi3 (Tc = 3.6 K) and CaPtSi3 (Tc = 2.3 K). The specific heat suggests that these superconductors are fully gapped. The upper critical fields are less than 1 T, consistent with limitation by conventional orbital depairing. High, non-Pauli-limited {\mu}0 Hc2 values, often taken as a key signature of novel noncentrosymmetric physics, are not observed in these materials because the high carrier masses required to suppress orbital depairing and reveal the violated Pauli limit are not present.Comment: 8 pages, 8 figure

Conversion of end-of-life household materials into building insulating low-cost solutions for the development of vulnerable contexts: Review and outlook towards a circular and sustainable economy

In a world increasingly aware of the environmental cost of the current production/ consumption model, the use of sustainable practices to reduce our environmental impact as a society becomes imperative. One way to reduce this impact is to increase the reuse of materials that are considered, by current definitions of ”waste”, at their end of life. End-of-Life Household Materials (EoLHM) can be defined as household waste materials that still possess exploitable properties, thus making them suitable for reuse. There are several studies in the literature that address the recycling of these materials. When it comes to their reuse, unfortunately, only a limited number of studies are available. This paper aims to fill this gap by investigating the possibility to convert EoLHM, such as clothes or packaging, into low-cost thermal insulating materials for the improvement of the indoor thermal comfort in buildings, especially for households at risk of suffering from energy poverty. For this purpose, a comprehensive literature review and a qualitative analysis of both commercial and EoLHM are proposed. Commercial thermal insulating materials analysis is used as a reference to measure the performance of EoLHM. Important aspects to be considered when choosing suitable EoLHM for a smart conversion and reuse are also investigated. The most important outcome of this investigation is the comprehension that the conversion of EoLHM into insulating material is possible, and it implies a direct reduction in waste production, with environmental benefits and positive social implications. However, some aspects such as adaptability, life expectancy, collection and storage are, at present, in need of further thinking and development to make the EoLHM reuse and re-conversion processes viable on a large (neighborhood/city) scale

Reductions of docosahexaenoic acid-containing phosphatidylcholine levels in the anterior horn of an ALS mouse model

AbstractIn this study, we analyzed the spatiotemporal alterations of phospholipid composition in the spinal cord of an amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) mouse model (G93A-mutated human superoxide dismutase 1 transgenic mice [SOD1G93A mice]) using imaging mass spectrometry (IMS), a powerful method to visualize spatial distributions of various types of molecules in situ. Using this technique, we deciphered the phospholipid distribution in the pre-symptomatic stage, early stage after disease onset, and terminal stages of disease in female SOD1G93A mouse spinal cords. These experiments revealed a significant decrease in levels of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-containing phosphatidylcholines (PCs), such as PC (diacyl-16:0/22:6), PC (diacyl-18:0/22:6), and PC (diacyl-18:1/22:6) in the L5 anterior horns of terminal stage (22-week-old) SOD1G93A mice. The reduction in PC (diacyl-16:0/22:6) level could be reflecting the loss of motor neurons themselves in the anterior horn of the spinal cord in ALS model mice. In contrast, other PCs, such as PC (diacyl-16:0/16:0), were observed specifically in the L5 dorsal horn gray matter, and their levels did not vary between ALS model mice and controls. Thus, our study showed a significant decrease in DHA-containing PCs, but not other PCs, in the terminal stage of ALS in model mice, which is likely to be a reflection of neuronal loss in the anterior horns of the spinal cords. Given its enrichment in dorsal sensory regions, the preservation of PC (diacyl-16:0/16:0) may be the result of spinal sensory neurons being unaffected in ALS. Taken together, these findings suggest that ALS spinal cords show significant alterations in PC metabolism only at the terminal stage of the disease, and that these changes are confined to specific anatomical regions and cell types

Properties of Nb3Al Wires Processed by Double Rapid Heating and Quenching

AbstractWe have been developing Nb3Al wires processed by rapid heating and quenching for a number of years as promising candidates for use in future high-field accelerator magnets. These wires have better strain and stress tolerances than Nb3Sn wires do, but to meet the demands of future accelerator magnet designs, it is necessary to further improve their performance. In particular,it is necessary to increase their non-copper critical current density in 12-20T fields. To pursue this goal, we introduced double rapid heating and quenching (DRHQ) treatment into the fabrication process for Nb3Al wires, and studied the mechanical and superconducting properties of the resulting DRHQ-processed wires