Effects of disorder on the vortex charge

We study the influence of disorder on the vortex charge, both due to random pinning of the vortices and due to scattering off non-magnetic impurities. In the case when there are no impurities present, but the vortices are randomly distributed, the effect is very small, except when two or more vortices are close by. When impurities are present, they have a noticeable effect on the vortex charge. This, together with the effect of temperature, changes appreciably the vortex charge. In the case of an attractive impurity potential the sign of the charge naturally changes.Comment: 10 pages, 16 figures. Accepted in Phys. Rev.

Lag-user method: Using laggards to leverage user innovation

Laggards are the last users to adopt a product. Prior literature on user-led innovation ignores laggards’ impact on innovation. In this paper, we develop the Lag-User Method, through which laggards can generate new ideas. Through six studies with 62 teams in three countries, we apply the method to different technologies and services and present our findings to executives to get managerial insights. Findings reveal that laggards who generate new ideas (lag-users) have different perceptions of user-friendly products and different unfulfilled needs. They prefer simple products. We propose that by involving lag-users in NPD, firms can improve the effectiveness of NPD.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (Portugal), Nova Forum

The late adopter scale: A measure of late adopters of technological innovations

Diffusion of Innovation is a topic of interest for researchers and practitioners. Although substantial research is conducted on user categories, researchers often focus on the first half of the curve, ignoring the late adopters. We conduct two studies to measure the attributes of late adopters. In our first study of mobile phone users, we develop the Late-Adopter Scale. We then test it on a sample of laptop users. This scale is multi-dimensional, presents nomological and discriminant validity and has three dimensions: 1) rate of adoption, 2) resistance to innovation, and 3) skepticism. Findings reveal that all three Late Adopter Scale dimensions are significantly associated with low price preference. Moreover, in both samples skepticism is associated with high preference for simple products, lower leading edge status, and lower product involvement. Discussion focuses on implications of this new scale to theory and practice of new product development and diffusion of innovation.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Nova Forum

Mining archaeology sites at the Alto Minho region (Northern Portugal) - a management perspective

[Abstract] Archaeological mining sites in northern Portugal include a few roman gold mines in shear zones and the tin and tungsten mining of the first half of the XX century, widespread through the entire Alto Minho region, and related to residual-granite mineralization. Pre-roman vestiges of mineral resources disposal are restricted to Pleistocene industries, without known mining evidences. Better preserved sites represent the tin and tungsten period from which, some testimony of local peculiar technologies, are remaining. From a land use point of view, the preservation of old excavations and ruined plants may be in equilibrium with new mining projects for the mineral resources potential and new forms of tourism regional offe

Vida/morte e diafania do mundo na história da carochinha: ensaio etnológico

Diante da necessidade íntima de identificar as matrizes da cultura portuguesa, a única opção que se me ofereceu foi estudar os documentos da tradição, bebendo nas suas águas tranquilas os entendimentos que a modernidade e a pós-modernidade vão lançando, cada vez mais rapidamente, na vasa do esquecimento. Dentre eles destaca-se a «história da carochinha», um dos textos mais importantes de toda a tradição contística popular e um dos exemplos mais claros de como o povo elabora o que considera fundamental para a compreensão das coisas da vida. Contudo ela é considerada ridícula por todos os que, esvaziando-a de todo o seu poder evocativo de verdades essenciais não constatáveis, dela fazem uma leitura pragmática, dando-lhe, na melhor das hipóteses, a mera função de divertir as crianças e de lhes desenvolver a imaginação.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Phase of bi-particle localized states for the Cooper problem in two-dimensional disordered systems

The Cooper problem is studied numerically for the Anderson model with disorder in two-dimensions. It is shown that the attractive Hubbard interaction creates a phase of bi-particle localized states in the regime where non-interacting states are delocalized. This phase cannot be obtained in the mean-field approximation and the pair coupling energy is strongly enhanced in this regime. The effects of magnetic field are studied and it is shown that under certain conditions they lead to delocalization.Comment: revtex, 7 pages, 8 figure