Emf Studies Research Articles

Home country influence in cross-border mergers and acquisitions by emerging market firms: a systematic review

PurposeEmerging market firms (EMFs) are increasingly expanding their global presence through cross-border mergers and acquisitions (CBMAs). While such deals are distinct from those by advanced market firms, there is a need for a comprehensive understanding of how emerging home markets form this distinctiveness. This study aims to remedy this gap.Design/methodology/approachThe authors conduct a systematic literature review of 84 empirical papers. Through a broad search string and seven exclusion criteria, the authors carefully select studies on country-level home factors of CBMAs by EMFs.FindingsAfter summarizing paper volumes, journals and context factors of home/host countries and industries, the authors highlight different strands of institutional theory as the prevailing perspective and pre-M&A issues as the foremost theme. CBMAs by EMFs are influenced by distinct home-exclusive factors, and the mechanisms linking home-country factors to CBMAs by EMFs show significant inconsistencies across studies.Originality/valueThis review focuses on home country influence and thus goes beyond general characteristics of CBMAs by EMFs. The authors highlight more diverse types of home country factors and CBMA outcomes and, more importantly, take a closer look at involved mechanisms. Doing so, the authors identify gaps and disparities that have limited the understanding of home country influence in CBMAs by EMFs. To correct this, the authors offer a comprehensive roadmap for future research, contributing to EMF studies in particular and CBMA and international business research in general.

Effect of Nano-Ceria on Physiognomies of Aluminum-5% Zinc Sacrificial Anode

Sacrificial anodes possessing higher electrochemical efficiency is the demand of marine, oil and gas industries. Due to high energy capability and long life light weight aluminum based anodes are more favorable as compare to magnesium and zinc based anodes to protect the engineering structures from corrosion. In present study an attempt was made to develop Al-5% Zn based composite with nano-ceria. The effect of nano-ceria on physiognomies of Al-5% Zn anode was determined through weight loss, CPR (Corrosion Penetration Rate) and emf study in CCP (Close Circuit Potential) conditions. The results indicated that by incorporating the ceria in the matrix of Al-5% Zn anode the corrosion inhibition efficiency and hardness were increased significantly.

Gd-EMF-IL-13 and 177lu-EMF-IL-13 Endohedral Metallofullerene: A Targeting Diagnostic and Therapeutic Platform for Glioblastoma Multiforme Brain Tumors

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) brain tumors represent a devastating disease with no really effective treatment. GBM carries a life expectancy from the time of diagnosis of about 14 months.In this paper we report results for a novel carbonaceous platform, namely, endohedral metallofullerenes (Gd-EMF-IL-13 and 177Lu-EMF-IL-13), as a new multi-modal “theranostic” platform for the diagnosis and treatment of infiltrative GBM tumors. The targeting modality is a cytokine, interleukin-13 (IL-13), which is over-expressed in human and animal GBM cell lines, and is a key addition to the nanoparticle platform that has not been previously employed in therapeutic EMF studies. Our recent results for preparing and in vivo results for multi-modal endohedral metallofullerenes will be the focus of this presentation.1

Preface and introduction to EMF 27

This Special issue of Climatic Change documents the main findings of Energy Modeling Forum Model Inter-comparison Project (MIP) number 27 (EMF 27) entitled “The EMF27 Study on Global Technology and Climate Policy Strategies”. This study focused on the development and cross model comparison of results from a new generation of comprehensive international climate policy intervention scenarios focusing on technology strategies for achieving climate policy objectives. These scenarios enabled the community to exercise enhanced modeling capabilities that were focused on in previous EMF studies on the international trade implications of climate policies; the representation of technological change; and the incorporation of multi-gas mitigation and land use emissions and mitigation policy alternatives. This introduction has four objectives: (1) describe the motivation for the EMF 27 study, (2) put this study in the context of other past and current IAM inter-model comparison projects, (3) describe the structure of this special issue of Climatic Change, and (4) give a brief overview of the insights developed in the papers produced by the individual modeling teams that are included in this special issue. EMF 27 focused on the interactions between climate change policy architectures and advanced energy technology availabilities at global scale. It followed on previous EMF climate change oriented Model Inter-comparison Projects (MIPs): EMF 12 on carbon emission limits (EMF 12 1993; Gaskins and Weyant 1993; Weyant 1993), EMF 14 on carbon concentration limits (EMF 14 1996; Haites et al. 1997), EMF 16 on the costs and energy system impacts of the Kyoto Protocol (Weyant 1999), EMF 19 on carbon constraints and advanced energy technologies (Weyant 2004), EMF 21 on non-CO2 Kyoto gas mitigation (de la Chesnaye andWeyant 2006), and EMF 22 on climate control scenarios (focusing on phased participation in a climate mitigation coalitions and the possibility overshooting long run climate targets (Clarke et al. 2009; Fawcett et al. 2009)). As such, this study was able to take advantage of all Climatic Change (2014) 123:345–352 DOI 10.1007/s10584-014-1102-7

Study of Dehydrated Salts: Electrolyte for Intermediate Temperature Fuel Cell

Fuel cells are receiving growing interest in recent years since they represent one of the most promising energy source to reduce pollutant emission. We propose some new dehydrated salts as an electrolyte in the intermediate temperature fuel cell. The proton conduction in the dehydrated salts was established by the study of DTA/TGA, infrared spectroscopic study, transference number, bulk electrical conductivity measurement and emf study. The electrical conductivity of the dehydrated salts becomes ionic and increases 100-1000 times in the hydrogen ambient with respect to vacuum.

Aggregating Disparate Epidemiological Evidence: Comparing Two Seminal EMF Reviews

Two seminal reviews (IARC, 2002; CDHS, 2002) of possible health effects from power-frequency EMFs reached partly different conclusions from similar epidemiological evidence. These differences have an impact on precautionary policy. We examine the statistical aggregation of results from individual disparate studies. Without consistent exposure metrics, the advantage of meta-analysis to estimate magnitude of effect is lost. However, counting positive and statistically significant results yields important information. This is not a substitute for meta-analysis, but a fall-back when meaningful meta-analysis is not available. Representative results from 33 independent adult leukemia studies tabled by IARC yielded 23.5 positives (p approximately 0.01) and 9 significant-positives (p<10(-7)). From 43 representative results from CDHS, there were 32 positive (p<0.001) and 14 significant-positives (p<10(-12)). There were no significant-negative results in either list. Results for adult brain cancer gave a similar, but less clear, message. Childhood leukemia EMF studies have been sufficiently comparable to allow selective pooled analysis, which was important in classifying carcinogenicity. Aggregating all the studies suggests that results for childhood leukemia are not stronger, numerically, than those for adult leukemia. CDHS did not note the number of significant-positives, but noted the meta-analytic summary and the number of positives, forming a view about the strength of these findings. IARC shows no evidence of considering the aggregation of results other than subjectively. It considered individual studies but this led to a tendency to fragment and dismiss evidence that is intrinsically highly significant. We make recommendations for future reviews.

Thermodynamic activities in the Pb(Zr 1− XTi X)O 3 solid solution at 1373 K

Although Pb(Zr 1− X Ti X )O 3 solid solution is the cornerstone of the piezoelectric ceramics, there is no information in the literature on thermodynamic activities of the component phases in the solid solution. Using inter-crystalline ion exchange equilibria between Pb(Zr 1− X Ti X )O 3 solid solution with cubic perovskite structure and (Zr 1− Y Ti Y )O 2 solid solutions with monoclinic and tetragonal structures, activities of PbTiO 3 and PbZrO 3 in the perovskite solid solution have been derived at 1373 K using the modified Gibbs–Duhem integration technique of Jacob and Jeffes. Tie-lines from the cubic solid solution are skewed towards the ZrO 2 corner. Activities in the zirconia-rich (Zr 1− Y Ti Y )O 2 solid solutions are taken from a recent emf study. The results for the perovskite solid solution at 1373 K can be represented by a sub-regular solution model: Δ G E , M ( J mo l − 1 ) = X PbTi O 3 X PbZr O 3 ( 15280 X PbTi O 3 − 1980 X PbZr O 3 ) where Δ G E,M is the excess Gibbs energy of mixing of the cubic solid solution and X i represents the mole fraction of component i. There is a significant positive deviation from ideality for PbTiO 3-rich compositions and mild negative deviation near the PbZrO 3 corner. The cubic solid solution is intrinsically stable against composition fluctuations at temperatures down to 840 K. The results contrast sharply with the recent calorimetric data on enthalpy of mixing which signal instability of the cubic perovskite solid solution.

Electromagnetic fields (900 MHz) evoke consistent molecular responses in tomato plants

Although the effects of high-frequency electromagnetic fields on biological systems have been studied frequently, unequivocal results have rarely been obtained, primarily because suitably controlled experiments could not be performed. In the present work, tomato plants were exposed to a homogeneous and isotropic field (900 MHz) using a mode stirred reverberation chamber, and the stress-related transcripts (calmodulin, protease inhibitor and chloroplast mRNA-binding protein) were assayed by real-time quantitative PCR. Exposure to an electromagnetic field induced a biphasic response, in which the levels of all three transcripts increased four-to six-fold 15 min after the end of electromagnetic stimulation, dropped to close to initial levels by 30 min, and then increased again at 60 min. We deliberately focused on the very early molecular responses to high-frequency electromagnetic fields in order to minimize secondary effects.

Evaluation of thermochemical and electrochemical data for the pyrochemical partitioning process

This study has been carried out in order to obtain a consistent set ofthennochemical and electrochemical data relevant for the pyrochemical processing of spent nuclear fueL Gibbs energies of fonnation in the supercooled state are obtained by critical evaluation of literature data for some rare-earth and actinide trichlorides. Activity coefficients of the metal halides in the molten LiCI-KCI salt are calculated from experimental emf studies published in literature. The relation between thermo- and electrochemical data is discussed.

EMF and Microcalorimetry Studies Associated with the Binding of the Cationic Surfactants to Neutral Polymers

EMF measurements on binary mixtures of the cationic surfactants tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide and tetradecylpyridinium bromide and a range of nonionic polymers have been carried out. The existence of polymer/surfactant complexes was found for those polymers whose microstructures contain side groups with hydrophobic character. Isothermal titration microcalorimetry measurements were also taken to obtain more information about the polymer/cationic surfactant complexes. An examination of the dependence of the monomer surfactant concentration following the binding showed that “free” micelles are formed in solution before the polymers become “saturated” with bound surfactant. In some cases these free micelles occur in solution before the critical micellar concentration of the pure surfactantan effect which is thought to occur due to an excess counterion concentration in the microenvironment at the vicinity of the complex. Finally a comparison of the present data with the binding behavior of these polymers...

Interactions between a Nonionic Copolymer Containing Different Amounts of Covalently Bonded Vinyl Acrylic Acid and Surfactants: EMF and Microcalorimetry Studies

The binding of both an anionic surfactant, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), and a cationic surfactant, tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide (TTAB), to various water soluble copolymers containing equal amounts of the monomers of methyl vinyl imidazole (MVI) and vinyl pyrrolidone (VP) and various amounts of a third monomer, vinyl acrylic acid(AA), have been studied using surfactant selective electrodes and isothermal titration microcalorimetry (ITC). The change in the binding behavior of both surfactants has been investigated as the charge and content of the acrylic acid monomer has been systematically altered. The data clearly show how surfactant binding can be both moderated and enhanced. In the presence of salt there is almost no binding of the MVI/VP/AA polymer in its anionic form with TTAB, whereas the binding with SDS is somewhat reduced in comparison with the data for no salt. The ITC measurements have also been used to investigate the binding of various forms of the polymer with a commercial sample of sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate. The binding data are very well defined and clearly show similar trends to those observed for SDS.

The use of experimental thermodynamic data in the phase equilibria verification

This presentation summarises shortly the following experimental techniques: emf with liquid and solid electrolytes, vapour pressure measurements and calorimetric studies in application to metallic alloys. It is shown that usually one experimental technique is not sufficient for a reliable separation of the Gibbs energy into appropriate entropy and enthalpy contributions, which is necessary if one seeks the correlation between thermodynamic properties and phase equilibria. Critical assessment of the data available from different sources must be performed to get the proper thermodynamic information. Several specific examples will be analysed for systems with the miscibility gap and with intermetallic compounds to demonstrate this point of view. In some cases the correlation will be extended on the physical properties of alloys as well as the structure. There are, however, some cases for which new experimental data are still needed to clarify the phase equilibria. Two examples from the field of calorimetry and emf measurements will be discussed to show how thermodynamic information must be coupled with the phase diagram investigations to obtain proper results: • Calorimetric measurements. Results obtained in Cu–As and Ge–As systems will be shown and compared with existing binary phase diagrams. New data on the enthalpy of formation of solid and liquid Ge–As alloys let the description of the thermodynamic representation of the binary system be improved and express some doubts about the shape of the Ge–As phase diagram. • emf studies. Results of electrochemical measurements with solid CaF 2 electrolytes on Yb–Ba–Cu–O systems are analysed. This example indicates how emf results can be misinterpreted if simultaneous investigations of phase equilibria are not conducted.

EMF Studies Associated with the Binding of Cetyltrimethylammonium Bromide to the Polymers Poly(propylene oxide), Poly(vinylmethylether), and Ethyl(hydroxyethyl) Cellulose

Emf methods using a surfactant selective electrode have been used to investigate the binding of the cationic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide with the polymers poly(propylene oxide), poly(vinylmethylether), and ethyl(hydroxyethyl) cellulose. The data shows that significant binding takes place and the critical concentrations associated with the onset of binding and the saturation of the polymers with bound surfactant have been determined. Measurements of the counterion concentrations also indicate that the bound surfactant is aggregated. It has also been shown that “free” micelles occur in solution before the polymers become fully saturated with bound surfactant.

An emf Study of the Ternary (Pb, Sn, Sb) Liquid Phase

The Gibbs excess function of the (Pb, Sn, Sb) liquid phase at 900 K is given in a Redlich-Kister formalism. The literature was used for the two binary (Pb, Sn) and (Sb, Pb) border systems. An emf device, in pyrex or in silica glass, was used to measure the tin chemical potential in the binary (Sn, Sb) liquid phase and in the ternary (Pb, Sn, Sb) isoplethic cut x Sn =x Sb . All this information was assembled in the fifth order Redlich-Kister formalism for the integral Gibbs excess function of ternary (Pb, Sn, Sb) liquid alloys in the whole range of compositions. The excess entropy has been deduced from the comparison between the mixing enthalpy and the excess Gibbs function.

Reliability of the Experimental Methods To Determine Equilibrium Constants for Surfactant/Cyclodextrin Inclusion Complexes

A literature survey reveals that the values of the equilibrium constants for inclusion complexes involving surfactants and cyclodextrins can vary by several order of magnitude for the same system when different experimental methods are employed. In this paper we consider the problem of the reliability of binding constants. We report here our emf studies of the inclusion of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide and tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide with α- and β-cyclodextrin and compare these data with other independent studies. The potential of the isothermal titration calorimetry as a method to determine these constants is also examined. We conclude that techniques which yield direct measurements of «free» and «included» surfactant and also isothermal titration calorimetry appear to give results which are consistent

Tribochemistry and kinetics of Al2(SO4)3·xH2O decomposition

The thermal decomposition of tribochemically activated Al2(SO4)3·xH2O was studied by TG, DTA and EMF methods. For some of the intermediate solids, X-ray diffraction and IR-spectroscopy were applied to learn more about the reaction mechanism. Thermal and EMF studies confirmed that, even after mechanical activation of Al2(SO4)3·xH2O, Al2O(SO4)2 is formed as an intermediate. Isothermal kinetic experiments demonstrated that the thermochemical sulphurization of inactivated Al2(SO4)3·xH2O has an activation energy of 102.2 kJ·mol−1 in the temperature range 850–890 K. The activation energy for activated Al2(SO4)3·xH2O in the range 850–890 K is 55.0 kJ·mol−1. The time of thermal decomposition is almost halved when Al2(SO4)3·xH2O is activated mechanically. The results permit conclusions concerning the efficiency of the tribochemical activation of Al2(SO4)3·xH2O and the chemical and kinetic mechanisms of the desulphurization process.

Activity coefficients and standard Gibbs free energies of transfer of NaCl and KCl from water to aqueous solution of 2-butoxyethanol by EMF studies

From the emf measurements of the cell Na- or K-glass electrode|2-butoxyethanol, H2O, NaCl or KCl|Cl ion-selective electrode, the standard potentials were determined at 298 K for five different compositions of the solvent. From the emf data the mean activity coefficients of NaCl and KCl were calculated and fitted to an empirical equation. The standard Gibbs free energies of transfer of NaCl and KCl from water to mixtures of water and 2-butoxyethanol were calculated from the cell potential.

EMF study of thermodynamic properties of AgClAl 2O 3 composite solid electrolytes and low temperature conductivity

EMF studies of electrochemical cells Pb/PbCl 2/(1−ϕ)AgClϕAl 2O 3/Ag(0⩽ϕ⩽60 v/o) were carried out. The formation free enthalpy of AgCl, Δ f G AgCl, of the composites is shown to be practically the same as that for the pure salt. Small changes may be attributed to interfacial effects and elastic strains. The conductivity values of the composite electrolyte systems studied here in more detail, also in the low temperature regime, are in complete agreement with the former analysis. Below room temperature, series effects cannot be separated from the pure parallel effect any longer and give rise to a nominally steeper activation enthalpy in this regime.

An EPR and EMF study of Belousov-Zhabotinskii oscillators: veratric acid and veratraldehyde in a water-acetonitrile medium

The Belousov-Zhabotinsky oscillatory reaction involving veratric acid and veratraldehyde as substrates in (water+20% acetonitrile) mixed medium has been investigated using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and potentiometric techniques. The oscillatory characteristics (induction time, total time, and number of oscillations) obtained from these two techniques show a good correlation. EPR is a very reliable and powerful technique to study the chemical oscillations in these substrates

Thermodynamic properties of electrolyte solutions: An emf study of the system KCl?CoCl2?H2O at 25�C

The activity coefficients of KCl in the KCl−CoCl2−H2O system were estimated at constant total ionic strengths of 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 mol-kg−1 and at 25°C. The data has been analyzed using the Harned, Scatchard, Reilly, Wood and Robinson and the Pitzer equations. The solubilities of KCl in these mixtures at 25°C were also analyzed.