The ‘16+1’ Framework and China-EU Cooperation in the Western Balkans: A Region Building Perspective

This paper adopts a region-building perspective to shed light on the nature of the 16+1 framework and elucidates what it means for EU-China cooperation in the Western Balkans. By comparing the 16+1 framework with the European approach to region-building in the Western Balkans, the paper argues that the Chinese and European approaches towards the Western Balkans are largely complementary rather than competitive as China’s engagement works to facilitate the EU’s agenda in the region. The ‘outside-in’ perspective brought about by China via the 16+1 framework could contribute to region- building in the Western Balkans and the EU and China could jointly move forward the next stage of European integration

Multiscale study of the properties of hybrid laser-welded Al-Mg-Si alloy joints

Hybrid laser welding has been increasingly used in joining aluminium alloys. Due to the nature of hybrid laser welding, the welded joint made from Al alloys typically fractures in the fusion zone, indicating that the fusion zone is the softest part of the joint. Thus, modifying the microstructure in the fusion zone and analysing the according mechanical properties is both academically and industrially of interest. In the first part of this research, it was focused on altering the microstructure of the fusion zone using two different filling materials, Al-Mg alloys and Al-Si alloys. The results showed that the mechanical properties of joints with Al Si as filling material were stronger since the fusion zone features with smaller grain size and multiple-alloys solid solution. However, the fatigue properties and corrosion resistance of joints with Al-Si as filling material were weaker. The reason for such a distinct difference was investigated via theoretical calculation and fracture mechanism. The microstructure properties relationship of hybrid laser welded AA6061 joints at macroscale was well understood through this research. Motivated by understanding the mechanical properties at multiscale, the nano/microscale deformation of a single crystal of the fusion zone was investigated via pillar compression tests. These experiments showed that the strength of the fusion zone with Al-Mg as filling material was size-dependent, showing a “smaller is stronger” trend. Such size-dependent strength disappeared when the pillar’s diameter was greater than 3.3 µm. A theoretical model was built and used to analyse the observed size-dependent strength. Interestingly, the strength of the single crystal of the fusion zone with Al-Si as filling material was not size-dependent. Strong solid-solution effect was proposed for this unusual size effect according to theoretical calculation. With increasing dislocation densities, the size- and orientation-dependent strength for pillars in both FZs disappeared. A theoretical model was proposed to quantitively VII analyse the effect of solute elements, dislocation density, and size on the strength of pillars in FZs. To link the microplasticity with macroscale plasticity, crystal plasticity finite element (CPFE) simulation was conducted. Firstly, microscale-mechanical-properties prediction of single crystals was applied to prove the validity and obtain the material parameters of CPFE simulation. Then, CPFE was successfully utilized to simulate the mechanical properties of the welded joint at macroscale based on the microplasticity obtained by the pillar compression at microscale

International corporate governance in cross-border M&A, a new integrated framework from empirical studies

Successful multinational M&A are not easy, there are many factors needed to consider for participants in cross-border M&A transactions. In addition to traditional corporate governance factors, which mainly embody board of directors, managers and stakeholders and so on, some other factors such as country norms and value, government legislation and regulation, public pressure and media are also vital important for conducting a prosperous cross-border M&A business. Given the recent M&A failures, a further research on this aspect of corporate governance could be helpful

A Semipersistent Plant Virus Differentially Manipulates Feeding Behaviors of Different Sexes and Biotypes of Its Whitefly Vector.

It is known that plant viruses can change the performance of their vectors. However, there have been no reports on whether or how a semipersistent plant virus manipulates the feeding behaviors of its whitefly vectors. Cucurbit chlorotic yellows virus (CCYV) (genus Crinivirus, family Closteroviridae) is an emergent plant virus in many Asian countries and is transmitted specifically by B and Q biotypes of tobacco whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius), in a semipersistent manner. In the present study, we used electrical penetration graph (EPG) technique to investigate the effect of CCYV on the feeding behaviors of B. tabaci. The results showed that CCYV altered feeding behaviors of both biotypes and sexes of B. tabaci with different degrees. CCYV had stronger effects on feeding behaviors of Q biotype than those of B biotype, by increasing duration of phloem salivation and sap ingestion, and could differentially manipulate feeding behaviors of males and females in both biotype whiteflies, with more phloem ingestion in Q biotype males and more non-phloem probing in B biotype males than their respective females. With regard to feeding behaviors related to virus transmission, these results indicated that, when carrying CCYV, B. tabaci Q biotype plays more roles than B biotype, and males make greater contribution than females

MA Dissertation

This thesis studies the state of the use of currency derivatives in small and entrepreneurial businesses. The research concentrates on the examination of whether the literature on the use of currency derivatives differentiates between different companies with different sizes and different maturities. The analysis makes the use of qualitative data collected from three small-sized entrepreneurial companies. Among the participated companies; two are based in the UK and one in China, and are all involved in international trading. In general, the findings have produced a similar result of the rationales that are behind the use of currency derivatives in small and entrepreneurial businesses in comparison with their large and established counterparts. However, it is suggested the current situation of the currency derivative usage among the researched companies is not optimistic even though with an increasing level of concern over foreign exchange risks expressed by the interviewed owner-managers as well as the potential benefits of using currency derivatives. In addition, unlike the demand side of currency derivatives largely shared between all companies, the research discovers a number of distinctive features of the non-usage of currency derivatives in small and entrepreneurial companies in relation to large and established companies

Estimation of N2 and N2O ebullition from eutrophic water using an improved bubble trap device

AbstractEbullition pathway of N2 and N2O emission and its importance on nitrogen loss were quantified during a survey of a eutrophic pond located at the subtropical climate zone in China. Using an improved bubble trap device, in situ collection of N2 bubbles was achieved by avoiding the contamination of N2 in the air. Measurements using the device indicated very high ebullition rates (36.3–366.7mlm−2h−1) and N2 ebullition flux (0.025–0.297gm−2h−1) at warmer months of September and October. The ebullition rates and N2 ebullition fluxes dropped sharply in colder months of December and January, ranged 2.5–15.9mlm−2h−1 and 0.002–0.016gm−2h−1, respectively. Distinct spatial variation of ebullition rates, and N2 and N2O ebullition fluxes were observed, with the highest rate at the heavy sediment location. Ebullition of N2O was a very minor fraction of total gaseous nitrogen released to air. The data demonstrated that ebullition could contribute greatly to biogenic N2 fluxes in eutrophic waters with significant bubble emission

Tuning the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya Interaction in Pt/Co/MgO heterostructures through MgO thickness

The interfacial Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI) in the ferromagnetic/heavy metal ultra-thin film structures , has attracted a lot of attention thanks to its capability to stabilize Neel-type domain walls (DWs) and magnetic skyrmions for the realization of non-volatile memory and logic devices. In this study, we demonstrate that magnetic properties in perpendicularly magnetized Ta/Pt/Co/MgO/Pt heterostructures, such as magnetization and DMI, can be significantly influenced through both the MgO and the Co ultrathin film thickness. By using a field-driven creep regime domain expansion technique, we find that non-monotonic tendencies of DMI field appear when changing the thickness of MgO and the MgO thickness corresponding to the largest DMI field varies as a function of the Co thicknesses. We interpret this efficient control of DMI as subtle changes of both Pt/Co and Co/MgO interfaces, which provide a method to investigate ultra-thin structures design to achieve skyrmion electronics.Comment: 18 pages, 11 figure