The abandoned antimony-mines of SE Sardinia: impact on surface waters

This study investigates the impact of abandoned Sb-mines on the Flumendosa River, which is the most important water resource in southern Sardinia. Hydrogeochemical surveys carried out in 2005 and 2006 indicated a significant impact of waters flowing out from adits, slag, tailings and waste materials on surface waters. The contaminated waters show alkaline pH, and high dissolved SO4, Sb and As (up to 1900, 9.6 and 3.5 mg/L, respectively). Although the flow rates of drainages from the mining area are usually low (in the range of < 0.1 to 1 L/s), the contribution to dissolved concentrations of Sb in the streams downstream of mines is high. Sampling under high flow conditions in the Flumendosa River before the confluence with the contaminated streams showed Sb concentrations below the limits established by the guidelines of World Health Organization for drinking water (i.e. 20 g/L), while downstream of the confluence dissolved Sb was 32 g/L. Contamination in the Flumendosa extended 16 km, and attenuation (15 g/L Sb) was only observed close to the Flumendosa mouth

Capital gains taxation and shareholder wealth in takeovers

Before December 1999, the capital gains of shareholders who sold their shares into Australian takeovers have been taxable irrespective of payment method. Subsequently, shareholders can elect to rollover capital gains in equity takeovers. We examine the effect of this change on the association between target shareholder capital gains and bidder and target firm shareholder wealth. The results indicate that prior to the regulatory change, cash consideration results in higher target shareholder returns for non-taxation reasons. After the introduction of capital gains tax rollover relief, we find that target and acquiring firm shareholders earn lower returns when cash consideration is offered to shareholders with greater capital gains. © The Authors. Journal compilation © 2009 AFAANZ

Programming with Quantum Mechanics

Quantum computing is an emerging paradigm that opens a new era for exponential computational speedup. Still, quantum computers have yet to be ready for commercial use. However, it is essential to train and qualify today the workforce that will develop quantum acceleration solutions to get the quantum advantage in the future. This tutorial gives a broad view of quantum computing, abstracting most of the mathematical formalism and proposing a hands-on with the quantum programming language Ket. The target audience is undergraduate and graduate students starting in quantum computing -- no prerequisites for following this tutorial

Consequências da monocultura de braquiárias e da invasão de cambarazais e algodoais sobre a ictiofauna de alagados no Pantanal.

As áreas inundáveis do Pantanal são importantes ambientes de alimentação, crescimento e desova para a ictiofauna. A vegetação das áreas inundáveis passa por fortes mudanças, em parte causadas por oscilações naturais do nível hidrológico, em parte ocasionada pelo manejo humano da paisagem. São exemplos dessas mudanças, naturais ou antrópicas, a substituição de campos nativos pela expansão de algodoais (Ipomoea carnea), cambarazais (Vochysia divergens) e pela introdução das forrageiras Brachiaria spp. Avaliamos as consequências dessas substituições sobre a ictiofauna em áreas alagáveis do Pantanal Norte. Comparamos riqueza de espécies, biomassa e abundância das ictiocenoses coletadas em 30 parcelas com 25 m2. Registramos 101 espécies de peixes de variados grupos taxonômicos e funcionais, incluindo espécies reofílicas e de interesse à pesca. Pantanal flooded areas are important feeding, growth and spawn sites for fishes. Both natural and antropogenic causes are changing the vegetation on these areas. For instance, native grasses have being replaced by algodoais (Ipomoea carnea), cambarazais (Vochysia divergens) and exotic pastures (Brachiaria spp.). We studied the consequences of these landscape replacements over fishes in northern Pantanal flooded areas. We compared species richness, fish biomass and abundance in those four vegetation types using thirty 25 m2 quadrants. We registered 101 species of several taxonomic and ecological groups, including migratory ones of interest to fisheries.bitstream/item/56660/1/BP112-lancado.pd

Inclusive business through partnerships

Academic and policy thought on economic growth and sustainable development in the 21st century represents a breach with traditional thinking. Traditional development approaches are getting replaced by new and more modern development thinking that adopts a contingency approach towards development. In addition to governments, multilateral organizations and NGOs, (multinational) enterprises are considered relevant agents of international development and change. This paper argues that at this stage of the discussion, managers of multinational enterprises as well as academics are in need of more sophisticated business models that can establish the link between the micro level of corporate strategies (‘inclusive business’) and macro models of development (‘inclusive growth’)

Market returns to acquirers of substantial assets

Does poor post-acquisition performance characterise firms that make non-M&A acquisitions? We investigate the wealth effects of substantial asset acquisitions (i.e. acquisitions that cost over $10 million) on acquiring firms' shareholders. We find significant abnormal positive market reaction to asset acquisition announcements and, contrary to findings for firms undertaking M&As, the acquiring firms perform exceptionally well post-acquisition. Our findings are robust to the research method weaknesses common to many studies of long-term performance and we control for free-cash-flow as well. Our results contradict the hubris hypothesis of acquisitions and lend weight to the argument that the auction-style process that characterizes corporate takeover bids contributes to overpayment

The Demutualisation of the Australian Stock Exchange: Causes and Consequences

N