University and inter-firm R&D collaborations: propensity and intensity of cooperation in Europe

This paper investigates the determinants of firms’ decision to cooperate in R&D with universities and the intensity of the cooperation effort, in relation to the engagement in inter-firm R&D collaborations. Using novel survey data for seven EU countries between 2007 and 2009, our analysis accounts for unobservable factors influencing R&D cooperation forms and addresses the main endogeneity issues. We find that internal knowledge, appropriability conditions and incoming spillovers explain large variation in the probability and in the intensity of R&D collaborations of European firms with universities (and comparably with unaffiliated companies)

Literature review of lead-lithium thermophysical properties

Abstract In recent years, the scientific community of nuclear fusion raised the issue of thermophysical properties of lead lithium alloys. These alloys are foreseen to be used in several Breeding Blanket concepts in an almost eutectic composition, but only few data on the properties are available in literature and large differences on the same property exist between different authors. Moreover, apparently each organization used different available properties correlations, making practically pointless every comparison of results with the other organizations involved in the design of Breeding Blankets. The aim of this paper is to identify the properties to be used in the design of the Breeding Blankets, performing a literature review of the available data and suggesting a correlation for each of the main properties. These correlations were chosen based on the accurateness of the paper and on the similarities between different authors, where it was possible (e.g., density). The table with the correlations should represent a starting point for a discussion to reach a general consensus on the property database, which should be mandatory in order to allow a comparison of the results from different organizations. Very likely new experiments will be necessary to definitely measure at least the properties with the biggest scattering of the data (e.g., specific heat), encouraging a consensus and reducing the errors in the design activities

Precision diboson measurements at hadron colliders

We discuss the measurements of the anomalous triple gauge couplings at Large Hadron Collider focusing on the contribution of the O-3W and O-3 (W) over tilde operators. These deviations were known to be particularly hard to measure due to their suppressed interference with the SM amplitudes in the inclusive processes, leading to approximate flat directions in the space of these Wilson coefficients. We present the prospects for the measurements of these interactions at HL-LHC and HE-LHC using exclusive variables sensitive to the interference terms and taking carefully into account effects appearing due to NLO QCD corrections

Proton NMR studies of the electronic structure of ZrH/sub x/

The proton spin lattice relaxation times and Knight shifts were measured in f.c.c. (delta-phase) and f.c.t. (epsilon-phase) ZrH/sub x/ for 1.5 or = to x or = to 2.0. Both parameters indicate that N(E/sub F/) is very dependent upon hydrogen content with a maximum occurring at ZrH1 83. This behavior is ascribed to modifications in N(E/sub F/) through a fcc/fct distortion in ZrH/sub x/ associated with a Jahn-Teller effect

Manufacture and Test of the Prototype 5 T Superconducting Undulator for the LHC Synchrotron Radiation Profile Monitor

A superconducting undulator wound with Nb-Ti based conductor, will be used in the LHC as a key part of the synchrotron radiation profile monitor system. Two undulators are needed, one per each circulating beam, providing 5 T in a 60 mm bore over two periods of 280 mm each. A full scale prototype has been designed and successfully tested in the end of 2004. In this paper, the electromagnetic and the mechanical design of the undulator are summarized. The fabrication of the prototype is described and the successful cold test results, both power test and magnetic flux density measurements, are reported

Training Quench Performance and Quench Location of the Short Superconducting Dipole Models for the LHC

The short model program, started in October 1995 to study and validate design variants and assembly of the main LHC dipoles, has achieved its last phase. The last models were focused on the validation of specific design choices to be implemented in the series production, and to the study of the training performance of the coil heads. This paper reports on the manufacturing features of the recent twin-aperture short models, reviews the results of the cold tests and presents a summary of the training quench performance and quench location

What is the best method for preserving the genuine black truffle (Tuber melanosporum) aroma? An olfactometric and sensory approach

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of different preservation methods (freeze-drying, hot-air drying, freezing and canning) on the aroma profile of T. melanosporum truffles. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were extracted by solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and analysed by gas-chromatography olfactometry to monitor changes occurring in key-aroma compounds. Samples were also submitted to descriptive sensory analysis by a panel of trained judges, with the aim of correlating both sets of data. Freeze-drying - and to a lesser extent hot-air drying - were the only treatments able to retain key-compounds such as dimethylsulphide (DMS) and dimethyldisulphide (DMDS), evoking the aroma typically associated with fresh truffle. Principal component analysis (PCA) performed on the descriptive data showed the sensorial proximity between fresh and freeze-dried truffle, and also the differences between them and those frozen and canned. Despite some differences in the odour volatile profile of fresh and freezed-dried truffles (mainly the lack of 2, 3-butanedione and branched ethyl esters), freeze-drying is the most suitable technique for preserving the overall original aroma of fresh truffle. Several key-odour compounds - mainly unsaturated linear chain carbonyl compounds, sulphur and pyrrole derivates - emerge as biomarkers of the studied technologies

Potential aromatic compounds as markers to differentiate between Tuber melanosporum and Tuber indicum truffles

The Tuber indicum (Chinese truffle) and Tuber melanosporum (Black truffle) species are morphologically very similar but their aromas are very different. The black truffle aroma is much more intense and complex, and it is consequently appreciated more gastronomically. This work tries to determine whether the differences between the aromatic compounds of both species are sufficiently significant so as to apply them to fraud detection. An olfactometric evaluation (GC-O) of T. indicum was carried out for the first time. Eight important odorants were identified. In order of aromatic significance, these were: 1-octen-3-one and 1-octen-3-ol, followed by two ethyl esters (ethyl isobutyrate and ethyl 2-methylbutyrate), 3-methyl-1-butanol, isopropyl acetate, and finally the two sulfides dimethyldisulfide (DMDS) and dimethylsulfide (DMS). A comparison of this aromatic profile with that of T. melanosporum revealed the following differences: T. indicum stood out for the significant aromatic contribution of 1-octen-3-one and 1-octen-3-ol (with modified frequencies (MF%) of 82% and 69%, respectively), while in the case of T. melanosporum both had modified frequencies of less than 30%. Ethyl isobutyrate, ethyl 2-methylbutyrate and isopropyl acetate were also significantly higher, while DMS and DMDS had low MF (30-40%) compared to T. melanosporum (>70%). The volatile profiles of both species were also studied by means of headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME-GC-MS). This showed that the family of C8 compounds (3-octanone, octanal, 1-octen-3-one, 3-octanol and 1-octen-3-ol) is present in T. indicum at much higher levels. The presence of 1-octen-3-ol was higher by a factor of about 100, while 1-octen-3-one was detected in T. indicum only (there was no chromatographic signal in T. melanosporum). As well as showing the greatest chromatographic differences, these two compounds were also the most powerful from the aromatic viewpoint in the T. indicum olfactometry. Therefore, either of the two chromatographic methods (GC-O or HS-SPME-GC-MS), together or separately, could be used as a screening technique to distinguish between T. indicum and T. melanosporum and thus avoid possible fraud