MNEs and new enterprise creation: Do MNEs have a direct impact on the amount of new indigenous high-tech start-ups in Ireland?

Previous research into the impact of multinational enterprises (MNEs) on their host economies indicated that, in the main, the impact was positive. For example, Turok (1993a and 1993b) and Brand, Hill and Munday (2000) talked about the benefits derived from backward linkages; Barrow and Hall (1995), Fosfuri, Motta, Ronde (2001), Girma and Wakelin (2001), and Kugler (2002) spoke of other aspects of spillover such as the pecuniary, technological, and skills transfer; and Cooper (1981), Gibb and Ritchie (1982), and Birley (1996) delineated the importance of the employment history of the individual (new enterprise founder) in terms of the managerial and technical experience that is required to set up and manage a new enterprise. However, little research exists identifying exactly to what extent MNEs have a direct impact on the level on new high-tech, high-value-add enterprise creation within MNEs* host regions. The purpose of this current research therefore is to identify the extent to which these direct links do, or do not, exist. Starting with a database of over 9,000 enterprises registered in South East and South West Ireland between 1990 and 2001, the researcher identified 37 founders who had a direct link with an MNE prior to starting their enterprises. A triangulation process was employed in order to understand the extent to which MNEs were influential in the setting up of these new enterprises. One element of the triangulation process was to survey and interview founders of the indigenous enterprises; another was to interview senior executives of the MNEs with which the founders had direct links, and that were still operating in Ireland at the time of this research. The third element of the triangulation process involved interviewing CEOs and regional managers of the State enterprise support agencies operating in South East and South West Ireland. This process closed the circle of data gathering into the circumstances under which founders started their enterprises and the extent to which MNEs had a direct impact on the creation of these new enterprise. Another unique aspect of this current research is that, unlike previous research, it does not focus on just one single industry sector such as software or IT; it focuses on high-tech, high-value-add businesses such as chemicals, computers, electronics, engineering, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, plastics & rubber, R&D and labs, software and telecommunications. Nor does this research rely on statistical analysis alone, instead it utilises both quantitative and qualitative techniques. Even though this current research identified that 58% of the founders did have a direct link with an MNE prior to starting their enterprises, nearly half of them did so only because they were let go (made redundant, fired, or resigned by mutual agreement) from an MNE. None of these founders would have started their enterprise if they were not let go from the MNE, if they had not met with a critical incident in their careers (Cope and Watts, 2006). Thus the research also examined for the presence of latent entrepreneurs among the sample of founders. Of the 15 MNE senior executives interviewed, only one MNE encouraged and supported their employees to start their own businesses when there were no actual (or threats of) redundancies taking place. Another interesting finding from this research is that the State enterprise support agencies seem to operate more in a reactive than proactive mode. These agencies appear to wait for clients to come to them and/or wait for announcements of plant closures/downsizing before getting involved in encouraging people to start their own businesses. Also, this research highlights that even though 83% of the founders received soft and/or hard support from State agencies, over 80% of them were not happy with the support they received. In summary, the unique triangulation process utilised in this research has identified that the link between new enterprise creation and the presence of MNEs is more an outcome of unintended consequences then being an output of defined enterprise policies. This research contributes different and additional knowledge to the existing body of literature in relation to the benefits of FDI, spillovers from MNEs into host economies, and the process of new enterprise creation. The research has implications for enterprise policy in relation to the role governments and their agencies could play in supporting MNEs to create an environment whereby additionality of jobs can occur in the MNEs host economy, as opposed to State enterprise support agencies focusing on job replacement alone

Self-pulsation dynamics in narrow stripe semiconductor lasers

In this paper, we address the physical origin of self-pulsation in narrow stripe edge emitting semiconductor lasers. We present both experimental time-averaged polarization-resolved near-field measurements performed with a charged-coupled device camera and picosecond time resolved near-field measurements performed with a streak camera. These results demonstrate dynamic spatial-hole burning during pulse formation and evolution. We conclude from these experimental results that the dominant process which drives the self-pulsation in this type of laser diode is carrier induced effective refractive index change induced by the spatial-hole burning

ALMA observations of TiO2_2 around VY Canis Majoris

Titanium dioxide, TiO$_2$, is a refractory species that could play a crucial role in the dust-condensation sequence around oxygen-rich evolved stars. To date, gas phase TiO$_2$ has been detected only in the complex environment of the red supergiant VY CMa. We aim to constrain the distribution and excitation of TiO$_2$ around VY CMa in order to clarify its role in dust formation. We analyse spectra and channel maps for TiO$_2$ extracted from ALMA science verification data. We detect 15 transitions of TiO$_2$, and spatially resolve the emission for the first time. The maps demonstrate a highly clumpy, anisotropic outflow in which the TiO$_2$ emission likely traces gas exposed to the stellar radiation field. A roughly east-west oriented, accelerating bipolar-like structure is found, of which the blue component runs into and breaks up around a solid continuum component. A distinct tail to the south-west is seen for some transitions, consistent with features seen in the optical and near-infrared. We find that a significant fraction of TiO$_2$ remains in the gas phase outside the dust-formation zone and suggest that this species might play only a minor role in the dust-condensation process around extreme oxygen-rich evolved stars like VY CMa.Comment: Accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics, 25 pages, 20 figure

Interventions outside the workplace for reducing sedentary behaviour in adults under 60

This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (Intervention). The objectives are as follows: To assess the effects of non-occupational interventions for reducing sedentary behaviour in adults under 60 years of age on sedentary time. Secondary objectives are: to describe other health effects, and adverse events or unintended consequences of the interventions; to determine whether specific components of interventions are associated with changes in sedentary behaviour; to examine if there are any differential effects of interventions based on health inequalities (e.g. age, sex, income, employment)

Analysis of White Dwarfs with Strange-Matter Cores

We summarize masses and radii for a number of white dwarfs as deduced from a combination of proper motion studies, Hipparcos parallax distances, effective temperatures, and binary or spectroscopic masses. A puzzling feature of these data is that some stars appear to have radii which are significantly smaller than that expected for a standard electron-degenerate white-dwarf equations of state. We construct a projection of white-dwarf radii for fixed effective mass and conclude that there is at least marginal evidence for bimodality in the radius distribution forwhite dwarfs. We argue that if such compact white dwarfs exist it is unlikely that they contain an iron core. We propose an alternative of strange-quark matter within the white-dwarf core. We also discuss the impact of the so-called color-flavor locked (CFL) state in strange-matter core associated with color superconductivity. We show that the data exhibit several features consistent with the expected mass-radius relation of strange dwarfs. We identify eight nearby white dwarfs which are possible candidates for strange matter cores and suggest observational tests of this hypothesis.Comment: 11 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication in J. Phys. G: Nucl. Part. Phy

The Diagnosis, Management and Complications Associated with Fractures of the Talus

Fractures of the talus are uncommon injuries that can have devastating consequences. The blood supply to the talus is tenuous and injuries are associated with a higher incidence of avascular necrosis and malunion. Talar neck fractures are the most common fractures. This review looks at the different types of fractures of the talus, particularly focusing on talar neck fractures. The diagnosis and management are discussed as well as the complications

The relationship between quality of life (EORTC QLQ-C30) and survival in patients with gastro-oesopohageal cancer

It remains unclear whether any aspect of quality of life has a role in predicting survival in an unselected cohort of patients with gastro-oesophageal cancer. Therefore the aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between quality of life (EORTC QLQ-C30), clinico-pathological characteristics and survival in patients with gastro-oesophageal cancer. Patients presenting with gastric or oesophageal cancer, staged using the UICC tumour node metastasis (TNM) classification and who received either potentially curative surgery or palliative treatment between November 1997 and December 2002 (n=152) participated in a quality of life study, using the EORTC QLQ-C30 core questionnaire. On univariate analysis, age (P < 0.01), tumour length (P < 0.0001), TNM stage (P<0.0001), weight loss (P<0.0001), dysphagia score (P<0.001), performance status (P<0.1) and treatment (P<0.0001) were significantly associated with cancer-specific survival. EORTC QLQ-C30, physical functioning (P<0.0001), role functioning (P<0.001), cognitive functioning (P<0.01), social functioning (P<0.0001), global quality of life (P<0.0001), fatigue (P<0.0001), nausea/vomiting (P<0.01), pain (P<0.001), dyspnoea (P<0.0001), appetite loss (P<0.0001) and constipation (P<0.05) were also significantly associated with cancer-specific survival. On multivariate survival analysis, tumour stage (P<0.0001), treatment (P<0.001) and appetite loss (P<0.0001) were significant independent predictors of cancer-specific survival. The present study highlights the importance of quality of life (EORTC QLQ-C30) measures, in particular appetite loss, as a prognostic factor in these patients