Determinants of entry mode choice of MNCs in emerging markets:evidence from South Africa and Egypt

It is now stylized that the importance of foreign direct investment for developing countries and emerging markets arises from the impact of the presence of multinational corporations (MNCs) in the host country on the productivity of local firms, by way of technology diffusion and competition. There is also general agreement that the extent of technology transfer by an MNC to a developing country affiliate depends on the extent of its control on the local affiliate and that, in turn, the extent of this control depends on the mode of entry of the MNC into the host country. However, the existing literature is based on the experience of developed countries and as such does not contribute to the literature on development economics. This article addresses this lacuna using unique firm-level data from South Africa and Egypt. Our results indicate that the determinants of entry mode choice not only differ between developed and developing countries, but also among developing countries. They also bring into question the role of MNCs in fostering productivity growth in developing countries.

Comparison of the ageing behaviour of PM 2124 Al alloy and Al-SiCp metal-matrix composite

The ageing response of 2124 Al-SiC particulate metal-matrix composite (MMC) and unreinforced alloy has been examined using hardness measurements and Arrhenius analysis. The formation of phases during precipitation has been studied using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The MMC exhibits accelerated ageing compared to unreinforced alloy, due to enhanced S′ formation. The activation energy for diffusion is lower in the MMC than in the unreinforced alloy. DSC scans show Guinier-Preston B (GPB) zone nucleation to occur at a lower temperature in the MMC, whilst the total volume of GPB zones formed is smaller than in the unreinforced alloy. A model has been proposed to explain the GPB zone formation behaviour, in which ease of GPB zone nucleation varies within the MMC, as a function of ageing time and of position within the matrix. S′ formation is enhanced in the MMC because of improved diffusion and a large increase in density of heterogeneous nucleation sites compared to the unreinforced alloy. © 1994 Chapman & Hall.

Knowledge, technological catch-up and economic growth

‘The literature on economic growth has needed for a long time a simple, but rigorous, textbook exposition of the role of knowledge in the growth process, suitable for undergraduates and policymakers. Mark Rogers’s new book provides an excellent introduction, combining clear and succinct theory with up-to-date empirical evidence on this important topic.’ – A.P. Thirlwall, University of Kent, UK Knowledge, Technological Catch-up and Economic Growth investigates the relationship between knowledge diffusion and economic growth. Using a broad definition of knowledge – encompassing technology, production skills, know-how and firm capabilities – the central argument of the book is that the extent of knowledge diffusion is an important determinant of economic growth.

Vulnerability and disobedience:new repertoires in French environmental protests

The emergence of the counter-globalisation movement in France has been accompanied by an apparent diversification of social protest repertoires. Protest events carried out by groups associated with a wide array of issues have been remarkable for their use of spectacular and novel actions, while civil disobedience campaigns have been prominent features of environmental and civil rights protests in particular. Drawing on a number of examples of contemporary environmental and global justice campaigns, opposing advertising, four-wheeled drive vehicles, nuclear energy and, especially, open field trials of genetically modified crops, this article discusses the rise of such new forms of protest, placing them in the wider context of transformations in protest repertoires in France. It identifies key examples of innovation, before discussing the twin processes of diffusion and domestication that shape them. It is argued that, although transnational agents and processes are key determinants of repertoire innovation, it is vital to identify the national, movement and sectoral contexts and discourses which enable the naturalisation and legitimisation of new action forms.

What determines the molecular composition of abnormal protein aggregates in neurodegenerative disease?

Abnormal protein aggregates, in the form of either extracellular plaques or intracellular inclusions, are an important pathological feature of the majority of neurodegenerative disorders. The major molecular constituents of these lesions, viz., beta-amyloid (Abeta), tau, and alpha-synuclein, have played a defining role in the diagnosis and classification of disease and in studies of pathogenesis. The molecular composition of a protein aggregate, however, is often complex and could be the direct or indirect consequence of a pathogenic gene mutation, be the result of cell degeneration, or reflect the acquisition of new substances by diffusion and molecular binding to existing proteins. This review examines the molecular composition of the major protein aggregates found in the neurodegenerative diseases including the Abeta and prion protein (PrP) plaques found in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and prion disease, respectively, and the cellular inclusions found in the tauopathies and synucleinopathies. The data suggest that the molecular constituents of a protein aggregate do not directly cause cell death but are largely the consequence of cell degeneration or are acquired during the disease process. These findings are discussed in relation to diagnosis and to studies of to disease pathogenesis.

Is ICT key to development?

Using panel data for 52 developed and developing countries over the period 1998-2006, this article examines the links between information and communication technology diffusion and human development. We conducted a panel regression analysis of the investments per capita in healthcare, education and information and communication technology against human development index scores. Using a quantile regression approach, our findings suggest that changes in healthcare, education and information and communication technology provision have a stronger impact on human development index scores for less developed than for highly developed countries. Furthermore, at lower levels of development education fosters development directly and also indirectly through their enhanced effects on ICT. At higher levels of development education has only an indirect effect on development through the return to ICT.

Reliability management of machine tool technology: a case study of current practice

Considerable attention has been given in the literature to identifying and describing the effective elements which positively affect the improvement of product reliability. These have been perceived by many as the 'state of the art' in the manufacturing industry. The applicability, diffusion and effectiveness of such methods and philosophies, as a means of systematically improving the reliability of a product, come in the main from case studies and single and infra-industry empirical studies. These studies have both been carried out within the wider context of quality assurance and management, and taking reliability as a discipline in its own right. However, it is somewhat of a surprise that there are no recently published findings or research studies on the adoption of these methods by the machine tool industry. This may lead one to construct several hypothesised paradigms: (a) that machine tool manufacturers compared to other industries, are slow to respond to propositions given in the literature by theorists or (b) this may indicate that a large proportion of the manufacturers make little use of the reliability improvement techniques as described in the literature, with the overall perception that they will not lead to any significant improvements? On the other hand, it is evident that hypothetical verification of the operational and engineering methods of reliability achievement and improvement adopted in the machine tool industry is less widely researched. Therefore, research into this area is needed in order to explore the 'state of the art' practice in the machine tool industry. This is in terms of the status, structure and activities of the operation of the reliability function. This paper outlines a research programme being conducted with the co-operation of a leading machine tool manufacturer, whose UK manufacturing plant produces in the main Vertical Machining Centres (VMCs) and is continuously undergoing incremental transitions in product reliability improvement.

Mechanism of the hydropyrolysis of Manvers coal

Manvers coal has been pyrolysed to 500ºC in a stirred autoclave under various pressures of nitrogen (pyrolysis) and hydrogen (hydropyrolysis). All products were investigated. Pyrolysis of coals involves the transfer of hydrogen atoms from one part of their structure to another. In the above experiments there was no way of labelling the hydrogen or of distinguishing between hydrogen which was initially part of the coal and hydrogen originating in the external atmosphere. Consequently, Manvers coal has been pyrolysed in an atmosphere of deuterium in order to obtain greater insight into the mechanism of hydropyrolysis. In particular it was hoped to distinguish between direct hydrogenation (deuteration!) of the coal and the products of pyrolysis and the 'shuttling' of hydrogen atoms between different parts of the pyrolysing coal. The addition to the coal of 5% (wt.% of coal) of either tetralin or pyrite was also studied. A variety of techniques were used to analyse the products of pyrolysis: gas chromatography - mass spectrometry and high performance liquid chromatography for tars; thermal conductivity gas chromatography and high resolution mass spectrometry for gases; methanol densities, microporosities and diffuse reflectance infra red spectroscopy for the cokes (chars); refractive index to determine deuterium in the liquor. An attempt has been made to apply basic thermodynamics to reactions which are likely to occur in the hydropyrolysis of coals. Diffusion and effusion rates for hydrogen and tar molecules have also been estimated.

Osmotic dehydration in plant tissues

The primary aim of the thesis is to provide a comprehensive investigation of the osmotic dehydration processes in plant tissue. Effort has been concentrated on the modelling for simulating the processes. Two mathematical models for simulating the mass transfer during osmotic dehydration processes in plant tissues are developed and verified using existing experimental data. Both models are based on the mechanism of diffusion and convection of any mobile material that can transport in plant tissues. The mass balance equation for the transport of each constituent is established separately for intracellular and extra-cellular volumes with taking into account the mass transfer across the cell membrane the intracellular and extra-cellular volumes and the shrinkage of the whole tissue. The contribution from turgor pressure is considered in both models. Model two uses Darcy’s law to build the relation between shrinkage velocity and hydrostatic pressure in each volume because the plant tissue can be considered as the porous medium. Moreover, it has been extended to solve the multi-dimensional problems. A lot of efforts have been made to the parameter study and the sensitivity analyses. The parameters investigated including the concentration of the osmotic solution, diffusion coefficient, permeability of the cell membrane, elastic modulus of the cell wall, critical cell volume etc. The models allow us to quantitatively simulate the time evolution of intracellular and extra-cellular volumes as well as the time evolution of concentrations in each cross-section.

Ion plating

Under ideal conditions ion plating produces finely grained dense coatings with excellent adhesion. The ion bombardment induced damage initiates a large number of small nuclei. Simultaneous coating and sputtering stimulates high rates of diffusion and forms an interfacial region of graded composition responsible for good adhesion. To obtain such coatings on components far industrial applications, the design and construction Of an ion plater with a 24" (O.6rn) diameter chamber were investigated and modifications of the electron beam gun were proposed. A 12" (O.3m) diameter ion plater was designed and constructed. The equipment was used to develop surfaces for solar energy applications. The conditions to give extended surfaces by sputter etching were studied. Austenitic stainless steel was sputter etched at 20 and 30 mTorr working pressure and at 3, 4 and 5 kV. Uniform etching was achieved by redesigning the specimen holder to give a uniform electrostatic field over the surfaces of the specimens. Surface protrusions were observed after sputter etching. They were caused by the sputter process and were independent of grain boundaries, surface contaminants and inclusions. The sputtering rate of stainless steel was highly dependent on the background pressure which should be kept below 10-5 Torr. Sputter etching improved the performance of stainless steel used as a solar selective surface. A twofold improvement was achieved on sputter etching bright annealed stainless steel. However, there was only slight improvement after sputter etching stainless steel which had been mechanically polished to a mirror finish. Cooling curves Were used to measure the thermal emittance of specimens.The deposition rate of copper was measured at different levels of power input and was found to be a maximum at 9.5 kW. The diameter of the copper feed rod was found to be critical for the maintenance of a uniform evaporation rate.

Hierarchically ordered nanoporous Pd/SBA-15 catalyst for the aerobic selective oxidation of sterically challenging allylic alcohols

The utility of a hierarchically ordered nanoporous SBA-15 architecture, comprising 270 nm macropores and 5 nm mesopores (MM-SBA-15), for the catalytic aerobic selective oxidation of sterically challenging allylic alcohols is shown. Detailed bulk and surface characterization reveals that incorporation of complementary macropores into mesoporous SBA-15 enhances the dispersion of sub 2 nm Pd nanoparticles and thus their degree of surface oxidation. Kinetic profiling reveals a relationship between nanoparticle dispersion and oxidation rate, identifying surface PdO as the catalytically active phase. Hierarchical nanoporous Pd/MM-SBA-15 outperforms mesoporous analogues in allylic alcohol selective oxidation by (i) stabilizing PdO nanoparticles and (ii) dramatically improving in-pore diffusion and access to active sites by sesquiterpenoid substrates such as farnesol and phytol. © 2013 American Chemical Society.

Numerical simulation of mass transfer during the osmotic dehydration of biological tissues

In this paper a mathematical model based on mass transfer in plant tissues is developed. The model takes into account the diffusion and convection of each constituent within the tissue. The driving force for the convection is assumed to be the gradient of hydrostatic pressure. The mass balance equation for the transport of each constituent is established separately for intracellular and extracellular volumes but taking into account the mass exchange across the cell membrane between the intracellular and extracellular volumes. The mass transfer results in not only the change of intracellular and extracellular volumes but also the shrinkage of whole tissue. The model allows us to quantitatively simulate the time evolution of intracellular and extracellular volumes, which was observed in histological sections under the microscope. © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.