Open Innovation, ambiguity and technological convergence

Objectives. Current paper aims to provide a fresh conceptual framework on the relationship among open innovation, decision ambiguity, and technological convergence. We argue that there is a curvilinear relationship between open innovation and both technological convergence and ambiguity. Contained level of convergence and ambiguity foster open innovation, whilst an excess of them is an impediment to collaboration. Technological convergence further acts as a moderator for ambiguity, in light of the benefits of isomorphism. Methodology. We propose a conceptual framework for open innovation decisions after accurately reviewing the main literature antecedents. Findings. We suggest an inverse u-shaped relationship between open innovation and either ambiguity or technological convergence. Research limits. In future, the theoretical framework proposed by thus study has to be tested with robust and proper statistical techniques on large scale samples. Practical implications. The model offers a heuristic for open innovation decisions under ambiguity. Originality of the study. To the best of our knowledge, the relationship linking open innovation, technological convergence and ambiguity emerges as a literature gap. This study tackles this issue, proposing an interpretation for the analysis of alliances decision in innovation

El problema del límite entre Secundario y Terciario en las proximidades de Serraduy, en el valle del Isábena (Provincia de Huesca)

El problema del límite entre Secundario y Terciario es uno de los problemas esenciales de la estratigrafía de las series sedimentarias del Prepirineo. La formación garumniense, cuya base es evidentemente cretácica, tiene un techo cuya edad es problemática, cosa destacada ya por diversos autores que han estudiado la cuestión. Nosotros hemos estudiado el problema en las proximidades del pueblo de Serraduy (Huesca) y hemos podido hallar una serie de intercalaciones marinas entre las margas rojas de la facies garumniense; la más inferior de estas capas marinas contenía Alveolina (Glomalveolina) primaeva REICHEL, cuya presencia indica una edad Montiense-Tanaeciense (Paleoceno) y, por tanto, ya claramente terciaria

Magnetic order in double-layer manganites (La(1-z)Pr(z))1.2Sr1.8Mn2O7: intrinsic properties and role of the intergrowths

We report on an investigation of the double-layer manganite series (La(1-z)Pr(z))1.2Sr1.8Mn2O7 (0 <= z <= 1), carried out on single crystals by means of both macroscopic magnetometry and local probes of magnetism (muSR, 55Mn NMR). Muons and NMR demonstrate an antiferromagnetically ordered ground state at non-ferromagnetic compositions (z >= 0.6), while more moderate Pr substitutions (0.2 <= z <= 0.4) induce a spin reorientation transition within the ferromagnetic phase. A large magnetic susceptibility is detected at {Tc,TN} < T < 250K at all compositions. From 55Mn NMR spectroscopy, such a response is unambiguously assigned to the intergrowth of a ferromagnetic pseudocubic phase (La(1-z)Pr(z))(1-x)Sr(x)MnO3, with an overall volume fraction estimated as 0.5-0.7% from magnetometry. Evidence is provided for the coupling of the magnetic moments of these inclusions with the magnetic moments of the surrounding (La(1-z)Pr(z))1.2Sr1.8Mn2O7 phase, as in the case of finely dispersed impurities. We argue that the ubiquitous intergrowth phase may play a role in the marked first-order character of the magnetic transition and the metamagnetic properties above Tc reported for double-layer manganites.Comment: 11 pages, 9 figures. Submitted to Phys. Rev.

Chemical fingerprint of plastic litter in sediments and holothurians from Croatia: Assessment & relation to different environmental factors

This paper increases knowledge on litter transfer from sediments towards the trophic web throughout sea cucumbers, key protected benthic species. In October, sediment and holothurian samples from seventeen sampling sites from Croatian Islands characterized by different levels of protection (Silba n = 7; Tela\u161\u107ica MPA n = 10) were collected. Collected particles ranged in sediments within 113.4\u2013377.8 items/kg d.w., and in holothurians within 0.6\u20139.4 items/animal, showing sizes within 1.4\u201310,493 \u3bcm. In holothurians, cellulose and cellulose acetate (non-synthetic materials) mean percentages were within 5.0\u201312.7% of the total amount of particles. Nylon fibres ranged within 0\u201326.7%; while PP, PE, PA, and PS% were more abundant than in sediments. Among factors of variability tested, \u201cisland group\u201d and \u201clevel of protection\u201d resulted to affect plastic composition in sediments. Otherwise, other environmental factors (i.e. orientation, morphology of sampling site, P. oceanica) were significantly related to chemical composition of microplastic ingested by holothurians

Iron Age metallurgy at Salūt (Sultanate of Oman): a preliminary note

Extensive excavations at the Iron Age site of Salūt, near Bisyā in central Oman, revealed a complex architecture, allowing the reconstruction of a long history of building activities and rearrangements. Among the discovered structures, none can clearly be associated to metal production, although a small vertical furnace could be tentatively interpreted as a metallurgical structure, possibly used for small-scale copper/bronze remelting. The presence of charcoalrich deposits, metal scraps, and stored broken objects in its vicinity also points in this direction. A selection of these items, together with some plano-convex ingots from other contexts within the site, has been analysed and the preliminary results are outlined here. The significance of this work is underlined by the current dearth of data on Iron Age metallurgy in the Oman peninsula, compared to comprehensive studies of Bronze Age metal production, when the land of Magan was widely renowned for its wealth of copper ores

Modification of magnetic and transport properties of manganite layers in Au/La_0.67Sr_0.33MnO_3/SrTiO_3 interfaces

The effect of gold capping on magnetic and transport properties of optimally doped manganite thin films is studied. An extraordinary suppression of conductivity and magnetic properties occurs in epitaxial (001) La_0.67Sr_0.33MnO_3 (LSMO) films grown on SrTiO_3 upon deposition of 2 nm of Au: in the case of ultrathin films of LSMO (4 nm thick) the resistivity increases by four orders of magnitude while the Curie temperature decreases by 180 K. Zero-field 55Mn nuclear magnetic resonance reveals a significant reduction of ferromagnetic double-exchange mechanism in manganite films upon the gold capping. We find evidence for the formation of a 1.9-nm thick magnetic "dead-layer" at the Au/LSMO interface, associated with the creation of interfacial non double-exchange insulating phases.Comment: 4 figure

The effect of using diesel-biodiesel-bioethanol blends on the fuel feed pump of a small-scale internal combustion engine

Biofuels represent an environmental-friendly and feasible alternative to fossil fuels for internal combustion engines. The use of diesel-biodiesel-bioethanol fuel blends (ternary blends) is one of the most interesting solutions in terms of fossil fuels substitution. They provide an improvement of exhausts gas emissions without any significant sacrifices in terms of energy-conversion efficiency. However, engine operation may be affected by the fuel substitution especially in the auxiliary mechanical fuel-feed systems, traditionally designed for low-density and high-viscosity fossil fuels. In the proposed work, two easy-to-use experimental-based mathematical models have been obtained by using the response surface method to assess the behaviour of fuel feed-pumps when biofuels blends are used. Density and mass flow-rates have been measured for several fuel mixtures and at different temperatures. The proposed equations are intended to be used as a practical tool, based on the optimal behaviour of the fuel feed-pump, in order to choose the best ternary fuel-mixture composition and/or predict/infer the engine performances under non-tested conditions (i.e., other mixtures' compositions and temperatures, however within the inquired domain)

Injection and combustion analysis of pure rapeseed oil methyl ester (Rme) in a pump-line-nozzle fuel injection system

none3noThis work suggests an interpretation to the quantitatively higher formation of NOx in a compression ignition (CI) engine when fueled with pure biodiesel (B100). A comparative study about the use of rapeseed oil methyl ester (RME) and diesel fuel mixtures on injection timing, in-chamber pressure, heat release rate, and NOx emissions were carried out using a diesel engine equipped with a pump-line-nozzle injection system. Such engines are still widely adopted mainly in agriculture, as the fleet of agricultural machinery is particularly old (often over 20 years) and the use of biofuels can reduce the environmental footprint of the sector. This work aims to supply some general explanations and figures useful to interpret the phenomena occurring within the fuel line and in the combustion process when using biodiesel, as well as in engines with different construction characteristics and fueling systems. Given the contradictory results available in the literature, the so-called “biodiesel NOx effect” cannot be explained solely by the different physical properties of biodiesel (in particular, a higher bulk modulus). Experimental results show that, with the same pump settings, the start of injection with the RME is slightly advanced while the injection pressure values remain almost the same. With the RME, the pressure in the injection line increases faster due to its greater bulk modulus but the pressure rise starts from a lower residual pressure. The start of combustion takes place earlier, the heat release during the premixed phase is steeper, and a higher peak is reached. The NOx emissions with the RME are at least 9% higher when compared to mineral diesel fuel. The greater amount of the RME injected per cycle compensates for its minor lower heating value, and the brake torque at full load is similar to the two analyzed fuels. Finally, a variation of the pump line timing is evaluated in order to assess the effect of the delay and the advance of the injection on the performance of the engine and on the emissions. A viable and simple solution in the variation of the injection strategy is suggested to counterbalance the biodiesel NOx effect.openCaresana F.; Bietresato M.; Renzi M.Caresana, F.; Bietresato, M.; Renzi, M

Nanoplastics in the oceans: Theory, experimental evidence and real world

This review critically analyses >200 papers collected by searching on Pubmed the word \u201cnanoplastics\u201d, a group of emerging contaminants which are receiving growing attention. The present review intends to provide an overview of current knowledge on nanoplastic pollution starting with the theory of polymer degradation, passing to laboratory confirmation of nanoplastic formation and ending with the possible occurrence in sea water samples. Most of the observations proposed focus the attention on polystyrene (PS) because the majority of research knowledge is based on this polymer. Moreover, we thoroughly describe what effects have been observed on different organisms tested in controlled conditions. Nanoplastics formation, fate and toxicity seem to be a very dynamic phenomenon. In light of this, we identify some aspects retained crucial when an ecotoxicological study with nanoplastics is performed and which elements of nanoplastics toxicity could be deeper covered