Transfer of technology in Multinational Enterprises and the Roles of Subsidiaries: an Empirical Investigation

This paper considers the Multinational Enterprise (MNE) as a differentiated learning network with subsidiaries playing a critical role in managing knowledge. Drawing on sample of 92 subsidiaries operating in Greece, this paper empirically tests the relationship between sources of technology acquired and/or generated (internally or externally) and relates them to differently strategically motivated subsidiaries.

Study of image characteristics on digital image correlation error assessment

In this paper, errors related to digital image correlation (DIC) technique applied to measurements of displacements are estimated. This work is based on the generation of synthetic images representative of real speckle patterns. With these images, various parameters are treated in order to determine their impact on the measurement error. These parameters are related to the type of deformation imposed on the speckle, the speckle itself (encoding of the image, image saturation) or the software (subset size)

Mutual information and the F-theorem

Mutual information is used as a purely geometrical regularization of entanglement entropy applicable to any QFT. A coefficient in the mutual information between concentric circular entangling surfaces gives a precise universal prescription for the monotonous quantity in the c-theorem for d=3. This is in principle computable using any regularization for the entropy, and in particular is a definition suitable for lattice models. We rederive the proof of the c-theorem for d=3 in terms of mutual information, and check our arguments with holographic entanglement entropy, a free scalar field, and an extensive mutual information model.Comment: 80 pages, 16 figure

Choice of Location and the Roles of Foreign Subsidiaries: Evidence from UK Regions

In this paper we investigate the location determinants of inward foreign direct investment (FDI) in the UK at a regional level. The paper focuses on a relatively under investigated field, that of the linkage between choice of regional location- within a particular host countryand subsidiary roles. The key contribution steaming from this analysis is that we provide, for the first time, detailed support of the location factors affecting distinctive types of subsidiaries. The external environment affects differently the two types of subsidiaries under investigation with agglomeration features playing the most significant role. At the same time idiosyncratic FDI factors do seem to play the most important role for both types of subsidiaries. Important policy implications are then raised, regarding the design of welltargeted FDI promoting policies aiming both at upgrading regional potential as well as specific sectors and companies.UK Regions, subsidiaries, agglomeration, location choice

A Zero-Parameter Extension of General Relativity with Varying Cosmological Constant

We provide a new extension of general relativity (GR) which has the remarkable property of being more constrained than GR plus a cosmological constant, having one less free parameter. This is implemented by allowing the cosmological constant to have a consistent space-time variation, through coding its dynamics in the torsion tensor. We demonstrate this mechanism by adding a `quasi-topological' term to the Einstein action, which naturally realizes a dynamical torsion with an automatic satisfaction of the Bianchi identities. Moreover, variation of the action with respect to this dynamical $\Lambda$ fixes it in terms of other variables, thus providing a scenario with less freedom than general relativity with a cosmological constant. Once matter is introduced, at least in the homogeneous and isotropic reduction, $\Lambda$ is uniquely determined by the field content of the model. We make an explicit construction using the Palatini formulation of GR and describe the striking properties of this new theory. We also highlight some possible extensions to the theory. A companion paper [1] explores the Friedmann--Robertson--Walker reduction for cosmology, and future work will study Solar System tests of the theory.Comment: Companion paper to arXiv:1905.10382. Minor updates to match published versio

The cosmology of minimal varying Lambda theories

Inserting a varying Lambda in Einstein's field equations can be made consistent with the Bianchi identities by allowing for torsion, without the need to add scalar field degrees of freedom. In the minimal such theory, Lambda is totally free and undetermined by the field equations in the absence of matter. Inclusion of matter ties Lambda algebraically to it, at least when homogeneity and isotropy are assumed, i.e. when there is no Weyl curvature. We show that Lambda is proportional to the matter density, with a proportionality constant depending on the equation of state. Unfortunately, the proportionality constant becomes infinite for pure radiation, ruling out the minimal theory prima facie despite of its novel internal consistency. It is possible to generalize the theory still without the addition of kinetic terms, leading to a new algebraically-enforced proportionality between Lambda and the matter density. Lambda and radiation may now coexist in a form consistent with Big Bang Nucleosynthesis, though this places strict constraints on the single free parameter of the theory, $\theta$. In the matter epoch Lambda behaves just like a dark matter component. Its density is proportional to the baryonic and/or dark matter, and its presence and gravitational effects would need to be included in accounting for the necessary dark matter in our Universe. This is a companion paper to Ref. [1] where the underlying gravitational theory is developed in detail.Comment: Companion paper to arXiv:1905.10380. Minor updates to match published versio

Synthetic, Crystallographic, and Computational Study of Copper(II) Complexes of Ethylenediaminetetracarboxylate Ligands

Copper(II) complexes of hexadentate ethylenediaminetetracarboxylic acid type ligands H4eda3p and H4eddadp (H4eda3p = ethylenediamine-N-acetic-N,N′,N′-tri-3-propionic acid; H4eddadp = ethylenediamine-N,N′-diacetic-N,N′-di-3-propionic acid) have been prepared. An octahedral trans(O6) geometry (two propionate ligands coordinated in axial positions) has been established crystallographically for the Ba[Cu(eda3p)]·8H2O compound, while Ba[Cu(eddadp)]·8H2O is proposed to adopt a trans(O5) geometry (two axial acetates) on the basis of density functional theory calculations and comparisons of IR and UV−vis spectral data. Experimental and computed structural data correlating similar copper(II) chelate complexes have been used to better understand the isomerism and departure from regular octahedral geometry within the series. The in-plane O−Cu−N chelate angles show the smallest deviation from the ideal octahedral value of 90°, and hence the lowest strain, for the eddadp complex with two equatorial β-propionate rings. A linear dependence between tetragonality and the number of five-membered rings has been established. A natural bonding orbital analysis of the series of complexes is also presented.

Using Probability to Reduce the Size of a Voting Body

Suppose a large group of people, such as a university faculty, traditionally makes decisions by meeting together and voting. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, however, large group meetings have become impractical. Having a relatively small subset of the group meet and take votes would be safer and easier to organize. The purpose of this research is to use probability theory to choose a size for this subset which guarantees that the subset has a high probability of voting the same way as the entire group. Our research involves the study of the hypergeometric probability distribution and leads to a computer algorithm for determining the subset size