POLITICAL RISK IN FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT IN THE RUSSIAN ELECTRIC POWER SECTOR

Russia approved ambitious reform plan for the electricity sector in 2001 including privatisation of the country’s huge thermal generation assets. So far the sector had suffered from power shortages, aging infrastructure, substantial electricity losses, and weak productivity and profitability numbers. There was obvious need for foreign investments and technologies. The reform was rather successful; the generation assets were privatised in auctions in 2007-2008 and three European energy companies, E.On, Enel and Fortum, invested in and obtained together over 10% of the Russian production assets. The novelty of these foreign investments serves unique object for the study. The political risk is involved in the FDI due to the industry’s social and economic importance. The research’s objective was to identify and analyse the political risk that foreign investors face in the Russian electricity sector. The research had qualitative study method and the empirical data was collected by interviewing. The research’s theoretical framework was based on the existing political risk theories and it focused to understand the Russian government in relation to the country’s stability and define both macro-level and micro-level sources of political risk for the foreign direct investments in the sector. The research concludes that the centralised and obscure political decision-making, economic constriction, high level of governmental control in economy and corruption form the country’s internal macro-level risk sources for the foreign investors in the sector. Additionally the retribution due to the companies’ home country actions, possible violent confrontations at the Russian borders and the currency instability are externally originated risk sources. In the electricity industry there is risk of tightened governmental control and increased regulation and taxation. Similarly the company-level risk sources link to the unreformed heating sector, bargaining with the authorities, diplomatic stress between host and home countries and to companies and government’s divergent perspective for the profit-making. The research stresses the foreign companies’ ability to cope with the characteristics of Russian political environment. In addition to frequent political and market risk assessment, the companies need to focus on currency protection against rouble’s rate fluctuation and actively build good company-citizenship in the country. Good relationship is needed with the Russian political authorities. The political risk identification and the research’s conclusive framework also enable political risk study assessments for other industries in Russia

Direct effect of PGF2 alpha pulses on PRL pulses, based on inhibition of PRL or PGF2 alpha secretion in heifers

The relationships between PRL and PGF(2 alpha) and their effect on luteolysis were studied. Heifers were treated with a dopamine-receptor agonist (bromocriptine; Bc) and a Cox-1 and -2 inhibitor (flunixin meglumine [FM]) to inhibit PRL and PGF(2 alpha), respectively. The Bc was given (Hour 0) when ongoing luteolysis was indicated by a 12.5% reduction in CL area (cm(2)) from the area on Day 14 postovulation, and FM was given at Hours 0, 4, and 8. Blood samples were collected every 8-h beginning on Day 14 until Hour 48 and hourly for Hours 0 to 12. Three groups of heifers in ongoing luteolysis were used: control (n = 7), Bc (n = 7), and FM (n = 4). Treatment with Bc decreased (P < 0.003) the PRL concentrations averaged over Hours 1 to 12. During the greatest decrease in PRL (Hours 2-6), LH concentrations were increased. Progesterone concentrations averaged over hours were greater (P < 0.05) in the Bc group than in the controls. In the FM group, no PGFM pulses were detected, and PRL concentrations were reduced. Concentrations of PGFM were not reduced in the Bc group, despite the reduction in PRL. Results supported the hypothesis that a decrease (12.5%) in CL area (cm(2)) is more efficient in targeting ongoing luteolysis (63%) than using any day from Days 14 to >= 19 (efficiency/day, 10-24%). The hypothesis that PRL has a role in luteolysis was supported but was confounded by the known positive effect of LH on progesterone. The hypothesis was supported that the synchrony of PGFM and PRL pulses represents a positive effect of PGF(2 alpha), on PRL, rather than an effect of PRL on PGF(2 alpha). (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Porting monitor di rete per gestione interfacce su device android.

Il lavoro svolto in questa tesi consiste nell'effettuare il porting del Monitor di rete da Linux ad Android,facente parte di un sistema più complesso conosciuto come ABPS. Il ruolo del monitor è quello di configurare dinamicamente tutte le interfacce di rete disponibili sul dispositivo sul quale lavora,in modo da essere connessi sempre alla miglior rete conosciuta,ad esempio al miglior Access Point nel caso del interfaccia wireless.

Customizzazione di android

La tesi tratta in primo piano la personalizzazione di un sistema Android utilizzata come piattaforma per la seconda parte del lavoro. Quest'ultima consiste nell'installazione sul sistema operativo Android, personalizzato, un modulo e un'applicazione, il primo denominato Transmission Error Detector (TED), che estende il funzionamento della tecnologia WiFi e la seconda denominata Wvdial che estende invece il funzionamento della tecnologia 3G(o UMTS). Entrambi fanno parte di una architettura per il supporto alla mobilità in contesti eterogenei.

Ḥilyat al-ʻaṣr al-jadīd fī shamāʼil al-malik al-ḥamīd [microform] /

Microfilm.

Hādhā Kitāb al-aḍwāʼ al-bahijah fī ibrāz daqāʼiq al-Munfarijah [microform] /

Microfilm.

Sviluppo di un'applicazione Android per la comunicazione decentralizzata

L'utilizzo di percorsi non centralizzati per la comunicazione tra dispositivi mobili presenta notevoli vantaggi, tra i quali una maggiore sicurezza e segretezza e l'indipendenza da infrastrutture esterne (Internet). Gli studi e le implementazioni di questo tipo di funzionalità stanno emergendo recentemente di pari passo con i traguardi raggiunti nel campo della tecnologia mobile, ma si trovano ancora in uno stato sperimentale e poco fruibile in pratica. È stata sviluppata come proof of work un'applicazione che permette di diffondere messaggi tra dispositivi mobili senza connessione a internet, sfruttando un sistema di comunicazione (quasi) peer to peer. Viene descritta in generale l'architettura e il funzionamento dell'applicazione insieme a dei possibili casi d'uso. Inoltre vengono mostrati i metodi vagliati ed effettivamente utilizzati per implementare questo tipo di comunicazione, insieme ad altre caratteristiche secondarie (crittografia). Il risultato conseguito è a tutti gli effetti funzionante e viene ritenuto la soluzione migliore possibile tra tutte quelle trovate, ma presenta comunque diversi difetti. La conclusione raggiunta è che lo stato attuale dell'arte non permetta di raggiungere lo scopo prefissato in maniera ottimale, in quanto è necessario ricorrere a metodi poco funzionali a causa della mancanza di supporto alle tecnologie necessarie.

Foreign direct investment motives and location decision factors under economic recession: Three cases of Finnish FDI in Portugal

The purpose of this thesis was to study how uncertainty in economic conditions of the FDI host country affects location decision of an investment, and what kinds of motives are behind the investment decision to a country in economic recession, in this case Portugal. The country has attracted foreign direct investment steadily, but it is evident that most multinational firms and investors tend to be more interested in emerging economies in general. The aim was to find out also which host country specific advantages are important in this kind of cross-border investment and which factors are important for an FDI to succeed under economic uncertainty at the host country. The study was done by analyzing three Finnish case companies: a private equity and real estate investment firm Pontos Group, A wave energy technology research and development company AW Energy and NSN, Nokia Solutions and Networks, a global telecommunications company. The research was done empirically, by interviewing experts on the subject, mainly persons representing these companies. In addition relevant articles, journals and content from case companies’ web-pages is used for the desk research regarding the topic. The results of this thesis showed that the FDIs with strategic asset-seeking investments seem most profitable FDI types under uncertain economic conditions. This kind of investments aim to strengthen the company’s long-term strategy, including the time after recession. Firm-specific ownership advantages that bring competitive advantage proved out to be important under these circumstances, as well as first-mover advantages and externally created assets such as government promotional policies regarding FDI incentives. Also the location was considered suitable for resource- or efficiency seeking motives, based on the lowered price level at the host country. Problems were related mainly to financing, but as foreign companies receive financing usually from their home countries, the economic recession of the host country does not have significant effect for FDI decision, according to this study

Plan de negocios Bicigo app

La gran cantidad de personas interesadas actualmente en cuidar de su salud por medio de la Bicicleta, es una tendencia que cada vez toma más fuerza y por esto, se tomara como ventaja que la ciudad de Bogotá con sus últimos alcaldes han decidió apoyar el uso de esta. Aplicación para realizar grupos de ciclistas y poder salir cualquier día de la semana acompañado de más personas por un tema de transporte pero también de ocio. El objetivo es que las personas que no utilizan la bicicleta por miedo a salir solos, puedan unirse a diferentes grupos y hacer bici paseos por la ciudad, también contemplamos el hecho de que existen personas que quieren montar bicicleta como aficionados, es decir que salen por la carreteras aledañas a la capital pero muchas veces no tienen grupo con quien rodar. Queremos para el año 2020, lograr ser una de las aplicaciones de Bicicletas más exitosa de la ciudadanía de Bogotá, siendo una de las aplicaciones que mas apoya el uso diario y deportivo de la bicicleta. Nuestra aplicación ofrece el servicio principalmente de reunir gente y hacer paseos con diferentes personas haciendo uso de las bicicletas, dentro de la ciudad como ocio y transporte se realizarían en la mañana y noches, pero así mismo realizar grupos para hacer uso de la bicicleta por carreteras, es decir más como modo profesional o aficionado. Nuestra aplicación cuenta con una interface para seleccionar el tipo de bici usuario y segundo por donde o a donde quiere dirigirse para así mismo mostrarle las rutas cercanas a él. Nuestra característica principal es la unión de diferentes grupos, personas y entidades para hacer uso de la Bicicleta, tenemos una plataforma interactiva y fácil de usar, tan fácil que cualquier persona que no esté inmersa en el mundo de los Smartphone o aplicaciones pueda aprender a usarla. Unas de las ventajas con las que cuento es que desde muy joven me ha gustado montar en bicicletas y es así como decido crear una aplicación ya que compañeros, familiares y conocidos no salían a montar bicicleta solo conmigo, preferían que fuese un grupo más grande. Así mismo cuento con 3 compañeros de la universidad Javeriana que son programadores y ellos me van a brindar apoyo con la programación de la aplicación, y una compañera cercana a mí que estudio diseño industrial y me brindara apoyo con el diseño e imagen corporativa de la aplicación. Cuento con planta física para ubicar la oficina de nuestra empresa. Esta aplicación va dirigida principalmente a los habitantes de la ciudad de Bogotá, interesados en el cuidado de su salud combinado con medio de transporte, y personas correspondientes al estrato 2 en adelante, ya que son las personas que normalmente hacen uso de la bicicleta o que son personas potenciales para empezar hacer uso de la bicicleta. . La ciudad de Bogotá cuenta con 8’037.732 habitantes y este proyecto va ser desarrollado en toda la ciudad, toca tener en cuenta que la ciudad esta mesclada entre la diferente estratificación, no dirigimos a los estratos 2 y 3 que tenga la posibilidad de tener su Bicicleta y un celular tipo Smartphone, para los estratos 4, 5 y 6 sabemos que tiene la facilidad de obtener una bicicleta y ellos son nuestro usuario potencial el cual generaríamos un cambio y tomarían su bicicleta para hacer ejercicio como ocio y como medio de transporte. En cuanto a la proyección financiera para la aplicación, como se mencionó anteriormente, contamos con una gran ventaja, ya que la inversión requerida será menor debido a la propiedad con la que cuento para llevar a cabo el proyecto. Una propiedad de 60 metros cuadrados para empezar, la cual cuenta con salas de reunión y auditorio, un parqueaderos exteriores. Al hacer la calculación se va tener en cuenta el pago de un arriendo sin importan que sea de nuestra propiedad y así poder evidenciar realmente como es el estado financiero y no subsidiarla. Por otro lado, la inversión en efectivo que se necesitara será aproximadamente de $100.000.000 que serán $50.000.000 de mis padres y el restante saldrán de mis ahorros, Javier Amortegui Babativa, los cuales serán distribuidos para adecuación de planta, equipos y sistemas $17.616.880, para publicidad y mercadeo: $30.000.000, creación de la aplicación $34.000.000, sistemas IOS + Android $421.600, Gastos de composición empresarial y bancarios $11.000.000 y por último se va tener un provisión para imprevistos por el restante $6.961.520. Nuestras proyecciones de ventas han sido basadas en aplicaciones similares con un mismo formato de lucro con el tema de bicicletas pero no con la misma idea de negocio, nuestras proyecciones de ventas estimadas serán de $20.000.000 a $25.000.000 los primeros 3 meses, mientras tomamos fuerza en el mercado.

Direct Visualization Of The Action Of Triton X-100 On Giant Vesicles Of Erythrocyte Membrane Lipids.

The raft hypothesis proposes that microdomains enriched in sphingolipids, cholesterol, and specific proteins are transiently formed to accomplish important cellular tasks. Equivocally, detergent-resistant membranes were initially assumed to be identical to membrane rafts, because of similarities between their compositions. In fact, the impact of detergents in membrane organization is still controversial. Here, we use phase contrast and fluorescence microscopy to observe giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) made of erythrocyte membrane lipids (erythro-GUVs) when exposed to the detergent Triton X-100 (TX-100). We clearly show that TX-100 has a restructuring action on biomembranes. Contact with TX-100 readily induces domain formation on the previously homogeneous membrane of erythro-GUVs at physiological and room temperatures. The shape and dynamics of the formed domains point to liquid-ordered/liquid-disordered (Lo/Ld) phase separation, typically found in raft-like ternary lipid mixtures. The Ld domains are then separated from the original vesicle and completely solubilized by TX-100. The insoluble vesicle left, in the Lo phase, represents around 2/3 of the original vesicle surface at room temperature and decreases to almost 1/2 at physiological temperature. This chain of events could be entirely reproduced with biomimetic GUVs of a simple ternary lipid mixture, 2:1:2 POPC/SM/chol (phosphatidylcholine/sphyngomyelin/cholesterol), showing that this behavior will arise because of fundamental physicochemical properties of simple lipid mixtures. This work provides direct visualization of TX-100-induced domain formation followed by selective (Ld phase) solubilization in a model system with a complex biological lipid composition.

Direct Adhesive Pin-retained Restorations For Severely Worn Dentition Treatment: A 1.5-year Follow-up Report.

Excessive occlusal surface wear can result in occlusal disharmony, functional and esthetic impairment. As a therapeutic approach, conventional single crowns have been proposed, but this kind of treatment is complex, highly invasive and expensive. This case report describes the clinical outcomes of an alternative minimally invasive treatment based on direct adhesive-pin retained restorations. A 64-year-old woman with severely worn dentition, eating problems related to missing teeth and generalized tooth hypersensitivity was referred for treatment. Proper treatment planning based on the diagnostic wax-up simulation was used to guide the reconstruction of maxillary anterior teeth with direct composite resin over self-threading dentin pins. As the mandibular remaining teeth were extremely worn, a tooth-supported overdenture was installed. A stabilization splint was also used to protect the restorations. This treatment was a less expensive alternative to full-mouth rehabilitation with positive esthetic and functional outcomes after 1.5 years of follow-up.

Direct And Non-destructive Proof Of Authenticity For The 2nd Generation Of Brazilian Real Banknotes Via Easy Ambient Sonic Spray Ionization Mass Spectrometry.

Using a desorption/ionization technique, easy ambient sonic-spray ionization coupled to mass spectrometry (EASI-MS), documents related to the 2nd generation of Brazilian Real currency (R$) were screened in the positive ion mode for authenticity based on chemical profiles obtained directly from the banknote surface. Characteristic profiles were observed for authentic, seized suspect counterfeit and counterfeited homemade banknotes from inkjet and laserjet printers. The chemicals in the authentic banknotes' surface were detected via a few minor sets of ions, namely from the plasticizers bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) and dibutyl phthalate (DBP), most likely related to the official offset printing process, and other common quaternary ammonium cations, presenting a similar chemical profile to 1st-generation R$. The seized suspect counterfeit banknotes, however, displayed abundant diagnostic ions in the m/z 400-800 range due to the presence of oligomers. High-accuracy FT-ICR MS analysis enabled molecular formula assignment for each ion. The ions were separated by 44 m/z, which enabled their characterization as Surfynol® 4XX (S4XX, XX=40, 65, and 85), wherein increasing XX values indicate increasing amounts of ethoxylation on a backbone of 2,4,7,9-tetramethyl-5-decyne-4,7-diol (Surfynol® 104). Sodiated triethylene glycol monobutyl ether (TBG) of m/z 229 (C10H22O4Na) was also identified in the seized counterfeit banknotes via EASI(+) FT-ICR MS. Surfynol® and TBG are constituents of inks used for inkjet printing.

Fast And Direct Na And K Determination In Table, Marine, And Low-sodium Salts By X-ray Fluorescence And Chemometrics.

X-ray fluorescence (XRF) is a fast, low-cost, nondestructive, and truly multielement analytical technique. The objectives of this study are to quantify the amount of Na(+) and K(+) in samples of table salt (refined, marine, and light) and to compare three different methodologies of quantification using XRF. A fundamental parameter method revealed difficulties in quantifying accurately lighter elements (Z < 22). A univariate methodology based on peak area calibration is an attractive alternative, even though additional steps of data manipulation might consume some time. Quantifications were performed with good correlations for both Na (r = 0.974) and K (r = 0.992). A partial least-squares (PLS) regression method with five latent variables was very fast. Na(+) quantifications provided calibration errors lower than 16% and a correlation of 0.995. Of great concern was the observation of high Na(+) levels in low-sodium salts. The presented application may be performed in a fast and multielement fashion, in accordance with Green Chemistry specifications.

Effect of staining solutions and repolishing on color stability of direct composites

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to assess the color change of three types of composite resins exposed to coffee and cola drink, and the effect of repolishing on the color stability of these composites after staining. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifteen specimens (15 mm diameter and 2 mm thick) were fabricated from microhybrid (Esthet-X; Dentsply and Filtek Z-250; 3M ESPE) and high-density hybrid (Surefil; Dentsply) composites, and were finished and polished with aluminum oxide discs (Sof-Lex; 3M ESPE). Color of the specimens was measured according to the CIE L*a*b* system in a refection spectrophotometer (PCB 6807; BYK Gardner). After baseline color measurements, 5 specimens of each resin were immersed in different staining solutions for 15 days: G1 - distilled water (control), G2 - coffee, G3 - cola soft drink. Afterwards, new color measurement was performed and the specimens were repolished and submitted to new color reading. Color stability was determined by the difference (ΔE) between the coordinates L*, a*, and b* obtained from the specimens before and after immersion into the solutions and after repolishing. RESULTS: There was no statistically signifcant difference (ANOVA, Tukey's test; p>0.05) among the ΔE values for the different types of composites after staining or repolishing. For all composite resins, coffee promoted more color change (ΔE>3.3) than distilled water and the cola soft drink. After repolishing, the ΔE values of the specimens immersed in coffee decreased to clinically acceptable values (ΔE<3.3), but remained signifcantly higher than those of the other groups. CONCLUSIONS: No signifcant difference was found among composite resins or between color values before and after repolishing of specimens immersed in distilled water and cola. Immersing specimens in coffee caused greater color change in all types of composite resins tested in this study and repolishing contributed to decrease staining to clinically acceptable ΔE values.