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In the literature, the volume of a cluster (i.e. a fluctuation of the solid solution or a precipitate) is identified as the volume of a sample of the bulk precipitate phase containing the same number of solute atoms (i.e. of the same size). This approximation is suitable for macroscopic precipitates but is debatable for a rigorous description of microscopic clusters, especially during the nucleation and growth stages. To go beyond this simplification, this work focuses on the notion of 'exclusion volume', a volume which accounts for real cluster configurations in a given 3D lattice. The exclusion volume normalised by the cluster size is a complex function of the cluster size, which, like the cluster free energy, evolves during precipitation kinetics and converges toward an asymptote in the long-time limit. Furthermore, this asymptote exhibits a bifurcation which clearly separates fluctuations from precipitates, for a cluster size which is found equal to the minimum value of the critical size for nucleation. With the help of Atomistic Kinetic Monte Carlo (AKMC) simulations, it is shown that the evolution of cluster volume during precipitation can be accurately predicted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have performed a computer simulation of processes taking place at formation of energetic equilibrium oxygen-octahedral clusters in a ferroelectric phase of a lithium niobate crystal (LN, LiNbO3). In order to do so we used a semiclassical atomistic model with a qualitative approach. For the first time we have modeled lithium niobate structure on the basis of oxygen octahedra, while unit cells are usually used. We have established that there is an energy efficient cluster size with a specific structure that approaches a congruent LN structure. We have also proved that stoichiometric composition of LN leads to loss of electrical neutrality; thus achievement of demanded properties including photorefractive ones is possible by doping. We have chosen an ion with a charge 3+ to build a model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyclic bis(diironhexacarbonyl) dithiolates with double-butterfly architecture and centrosymmetricity are supramolecular coordination complexes that mimic the structure and function of the diiron unit in the H-cluster of [FeFe]-hydrogenase. These ferracycles are an important and interesting class of biomimetic iron-carbonyl complexes related to [FeFe]-hydrogenase that have received less attention. This review focuses on the synthetic approaches employed for the formation of the metallo-macrocycles, structural and electronic properties of the macromolecules and influence of bridging ligands, and some aspects of their reactivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examine whether the presence of alliance firms in the same regional cluster or in close physical proximity influences contracting behaviour of biopharmaceutical companies by enhancing coordination and mitigating the need for control. The literature addressing geographical proximity and alliance contracting fails to make a clear distinction between physical co-location and co-location within a cluster, although the two attributes are conceptually distinct. We find that geographic proximity is not related to contracting behaviour. The impact of co-location within a cluster is more nuanced. Specifically, we find that co-location in the San Francisco Bay Area cluster is associated with less complex contracting; however, co-location in other biotechnology clusters does not seem to be related to contracting behaviour. We believe that the informal business environment characterising the Bay Area cluster, as well as unique roles played by venture capital and law firms located in the Bay Area account for the distinct result. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using an extensive and unique data set that has been created to record the composition of the boards of directors of the top 250 British firms between 1904 and 2010, this article builds upon a previous study by the authors on the corporate network to 1976 by extending the study to 2010. The analysis revolves around three key observations: the nature and depth of the corporate network; the distinct stages in corporate connectivity between 1976 and 2010; and the 1980s watershed in the relationship between financial and other sectors, following which financial institutions withdrew from the corporate network. The article concludes with an analysis of how the data set has changed our perceptions of British corporate networks, wider changes in British business, and a discussion of implications for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The precipitation in ordered and coherent Al3Li clusters embedded in concentrated AlLi alloys is investigated using Atomistic Kinematic Monte Carlo (AKMC) simulations. The free energy of clusters is extracted from simulations as a function of their size and monitored from the initial disordered state until coarsening. All components of the cluster free energy are found to vary linearly with the chemical potential of monomers, a property that it is easy to incorporate into classical precipitation models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a new CQ (cluster quotient) and 3Q (quality and quantity quotient) index to find the magnitude and type of creative clusters and highlights the relationship between creative industries and the urban economy. This study finds that California, MD is the creative cluster and California and Colorado play an important role in the creative industries across the USA. This study also finds that there is a significantly strong relationship between creative industries and the urban economy by employing a Seemingly Unrelated Regression model based on all US metropolitan statistical areas. The elasticities of creative industries and CQ are 0.48% and 0.67% for the gross domestic product (GDP), and the elasticities of the GDP are 0.24% for creative industries and 0.13% for CQ. These results show that they have positive interaction effects between them, and governments can utilise creative industries and creative clusters to develop their economies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aims to better understand the various technology readiness segments by assessing how their readiness relates to demographics variables and their adoption, attitude, ease-of-use, usefulness and continuance intention to use mobile payment apps using the technology readiness index. Using a convenience sample of 416 from a consumer panel, a two-step cluster analysis shared similarities with three of the original technology readiness segments (pioneers, paranoids and explorers) while the other two segments clustered together into a fourth segment, hesitant-sceptics. The results indicate that South African mobile users are ready to use mobile payment applications, with the 'explorer' emerging as the best segment to target due to optimism levels, while the hesitant-sceptic segment represent the key to unlocking the real potential value of mobile payment apps. Understanding different segments provides marketers with the opportunity to select viable segments and to customise strategies to increase uptake and continued use according to customer needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to analyse citizens' sustainability attitudes towards food production in the EU, Brazil, and China (n = 2885), using pork as an exemplary production system. The objective is to map citizens' attitudes towards sustainable characteristics of pig production systems, and investigate whether these attitudes coincide with people's general attitudes towards sustainability, on one hand, and their consumption of specific pork products, on the other. A conjoint experiment was designed to evaluate citizens' preferences towards pig production systems with varying sustainability levels. Conjoint analysis results were then used for a subsequent cluster analysis in order to identify international citizen clusters across the three continents. Respondents' sociodemographic profile, attitudes towards sustainability issues, and consumption frequency of various pork products are used to profile resulting segments. Results for the three continents point out that general sustainability attitudes relate to citizens' attitudes towards pig farming only for specific small-sized social groups. However, what the large majority of respondents think in their role as citizens related to pig production did not appear to influence their pork consumption choices significantly. The main implication of this finding is that while critical attitudes only weakly influence purchasing behaviour, they may, however, still be expressed in the public debate and influence policy formation at national and global levels. This study therefore provides valuable insights to policymakers and practitioners for improvements in an integrated management of food chains to meet consumer sustainability-related expectations better. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Using a novel approach, partial correlations within a complex network framework, we examine the degree of globalization and regionalization of stock market linkages and how these linkages vary across different economic or market cycles. Our results show that geography influences network linkages differently across economic cycles. During normal times, regional factors shape market linkages; however, during periods of turbulence, global rather than regional factors drive the linkages. The network traffic also increases during times of turmoil, but contrary to previous results, we do not find a consistent or overwhelming increase in positive linkages between markets. Also, contrary to expectations, financial centres such as the US, China, Japan, and the UK command a greater regional rather than global influence. Our findings have implications for asset pricing and policy decision making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predicted almost forty years ago, the radiation from thermally populated excited electronic states has recently been recognised as an important cooling mechanism in free molecules and clusters. It has presently been observed from both inorganic clusters and carbon-based molecules in molecular beams and ion storage devices. Experiments have demonstrated that many of these systems radiate at rates approaching microsecond time scales, and often with a distinct dependence on the precise number of atoms in the system. The radiation acts as a strongly stabilising factor against both unimolecular decay and thermal electron emission. In astrophysical context, radiative cooling provides a mechanism to dissipate internal energy in star-forming processes, and stabilises molecules selectively in the circumstellar medium. The consequences of an active radiative cooling channel for nanoparticle production will likewise favour special sizes in non-equilibrium formation processes. In this review, the radiative cooling of clusters is presented and illustrated with examples of experiments performed on small carbon, metal, and semiconductor clusters, and on PAH molecules. The experimental and theoretical techniques used are discussed, together with the consequences of radiative cooling on size-to-size stability patterns of clusters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The large-scale development of the Russian Arctic is today combined with problems that have accumulated over the past decades. From the federal and regional levels to that of large corporations and small businesses, the search continues for effective ways of adapting to the complex realities of the region, using new methods of territorial integration and the interaction of industry, science, and education while activating the social sphere. At the legislative level, new territorial formations are being developed—these are called support zones and use existing clusters as powerful nuclei for the future socioeconomic development of the Arctic. Despite the expediency of support zones, their development has been fraught with the bureaucratization of the administrative process, insufficient attention to the lessons of Soviet territorial planning, and weak interaction between regional research centers and their methodological applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review is dedicated to the application of the self-consistent-charge density-functional-based tight-binding (SCC-DFTB) approach to describe the structures, energetics, thermodynamic and spectral properties of water clusters, in the context of both fundamental and applied studies. We first present modifications implemented in the parametrisation of the potential that is mandatory to describe molecular aggregates as well as methods for global optimisation and determination of macroscopic properties. Then a number of applications of atmospherical and astrophysical interest, involving collaborations between theoreticians and experimentalists, are discussed to exemplify past and present contributions of SCC-DFTB to those two domains. Most applications presented in this review take advantage of the computational efficiency of SCC-DFTB to conduct extensive molecular dynamics simulations to obtain spectral and thermodynamic properties of water clusters. We also show some new results related to ongoing studies on both water clusters with impurities and liquid water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Market participants often invoke the concept of discrete state when discussing financial markets. Bull market, bear market, depression, and recession are all terms that map to discrete market states. Mental models of how markets behave in each state and transition between states are then applied to decision-making. Implicit to that approach is the assumption that states are persistent and recurrent over time. This article seeks to formalize notions of discrete market states by proposing a parsimonious and innovative approach to segmenting periods of time into discrete states. The technique is demonstrated and evaluated in a series of case studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Formation and growth of atmospheric aerosols are governed by the Gibbs energy of complex formation (). A number of hydrogen bound bimolecular complexes in the gas phase at room temperature have been detected. In this review, we illustrate how can be determined by combining gas phase infrared spectroscopy and vibrational theory. The XH-stretching (where X is a heavy atom like O) fundamental transition of the hydrogen bond donor molecule in the complex is redshifted and its intensity enhanced upon complexation. This facilitates detection of weak complexes even though the equilibrium is shifted towards the monomers at room temperature. The ratio of the measured and calculated intensity of the vibrational transition is proportional to the complex abundance, which with known monomer pressures gives the equilibrium constant and thus. This approach relies on calculated vibrational transitions in the complexes. An accurate description of the observed bound XH-stretching fundamental transition is challenging due to effects of the low-frequency intermolecular modes. We have developed reduced dimensionality vibrational models within the local mode picture to calculate accurate vibrational intensities. For complexes with an alcohol donor molecule, we find that P, O or S as the acceptor atom of the hydrogen bond results in very similar hydrogen bond strength, whereas N provides a significantly stronger bond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infrastructure is commonly conceptualized as a set of facilities that play a critical role in facilitating activities by individuals and organizations. Conventionally, infrastructure is tightly linked to publicly funded projects that facilitate access to key resources and enable diverse activities. Within entrepreneurial clusters research, infrastructure includes universities, research institutions and telecommunication technologies that facilitate entrepreneurial activities. These capital-intensive investments seek to facilitate start-ups emergence by aiding access to markets and development of ideas. Accelerators facilitate the same activities and have only recently been conceptualized as start-up infrastructure. This study builds upon this research stream by elaborating on how accelerators can play this meaningful role at the cluster level. Specifically, and by relying on the analysis of empirical evidence from three distinct studies, we uncover how accelerators provide tangible and intangible dimensions of start-up infrastructure to form a positively reinforcing cycle of entrepreneurial activities. Additionally, our findings allow us to push further the idea that start-up infrastructure development can be an endogenous process involving multiple actors within the cluster. Our empirical findings and the theoretical insights derived from them have meaningful implications for the aforementioned literature, as well as start-up practitioners and policymakers linked to the funding of entrepreneurial clusters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study, utilizes an innovative methodological approach, fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA), investigating the drivers of heterogeneous geographies characterizing English Local Economic Partnerships (LEPs). The fsQCA technique offers a novel configurational alternative to regression-based approaches investigating the effects of clustering in conjunction with firm-level innovation, university third-sector activity (TSA) and entrepreneurship, on LEPs innovation performance. The findings, offer contributions to the theories of industrial clusters and innovation, regional innovation systems, knowledge spillovers and entrepreneurial university innovation within LEPs. First, supporting fsQCAs, no individual variable generates either a positive/negative innovation outcome. Second, while all positive innovation recipes include presence of the cluster variable, for negative innovation recipes, only one does not identify absence of clustering as relevant. Given that the cluster variable does not appear in any recipes without at least one of the other variables suggests activity concentration does not exist in isolation to generate innovation outcomes without other localized conditions existing, e.g. firm-level innovation. Third, there is evidence for the non-cluster-based aspects of knowledge spillover theory of entrepreneurship with respect to university activity and the entrepreneurial university concept. Instead, roles of entrepreneurship and university TSA, while important, appear to be more peripheral and geographically context specific. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Researchers and theorist have put great effort into defining and examining entrepreneurial ecosystems and how business clusters develop in certain regions. Favourable entrepreneurship ecosystems are thought to drive business and innovation. However, a commonly accepted measure of entrepreneurial ecosystem favourableness has yet to be developed. The purpose of the present research is to contribute to ecosystems research by taking a two-study approach to developing and validating a perceptual measure of entrepreneurial ecosystems. The perceptual measure is based upon prior conceptual frameworks that outline ecosystems. In developing this measure, we are able to further unpack and illuminate the factor structure of ecosystems, the results of which have direct scholarly and practitioner uses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study assesses the composition of micro-level behaviours embedded within innovation clusters. Drawing on network theory of innovation, we examine the relational complexities of a specific university-business form of clustered exchange to characterise the actor level behaviours that influence the breadth and spread of network involvement. Whilst some current research posits behavioural attributes of clustered networks, there have been few studies that have focused on the extent of influence that individuals have on the development of value creating relationships, the roles individuals play and the various factors that have the potential to impact their effectiveness. This conceptual development study provides insights into the actor-level behavioural features that play a central role in promoting the innovation effectiveness of these regions. The findings of this three year long ethnographic study suggest that in the face of resource constraints individuals act as agents in creating and sourcing external input for the benefit of their projects. This has implications for policy-makers as well, as our findings suggests that policies should be shaped to provide enabling factors for boundary-spanning, thus allowing relationships to be equipped with the ability to manage complex partner contexts to access the benefits of diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The literature on clusters is based on the seminal writings of Marshall, followed by Becattini's rediscovery of the concept of the 'industrial district' and the analyses promoted during the 1980s by Porter, who highlighted the importance of geographically interconnected firms and institutions specialized in a particular field and clustered in a limited space. Although the cluster model is often described as being static and locally self-contained, various empirical studies and our analysis have pointed out the increasing involvement of cluster firms in the process of change, renewal and internationalization. In this context, several modalities may be studied within the cluster life cycle -- which proceeds from the process of multinational enterprise (MNE) entry to the development of global value chains and to the emergence of homegrown MNEs -- in addition to possible alliances between cluster firms and external MNEs. The recent entry of MNEs in clusters, as well as the phenomenon of homegrown MNEs, do not necessarily require a questioning of the cluster model per se, but they do contribute to showing how complex and interwoven the evolution of local economies is. A rich number of empirical cases will be presented in this review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors used a clustering technique to analyze business course choices made by students who completed an individualized degree in a large, urban, public university. They looked for patterns to answer the research question, “What can we learn from students' choices to inform the curricular redesign process in business programs?” The authors found five well-defined clusters; two clusters (marketing-management and marketing-management economics) did not correspond to academic paths in the university's business school. These clusters illuminate trends to be considered in business curricular design. This is the first known study to data mine students' courses choices for curricular design purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individuals with trypophobia have an aversion towards clusters of roughly circular shapes, such as those on a sponge or the bubbles on a cup of coffee. It is unclear why the condition exists, given the harmless nature of typical eliciting stimuli. We suggest that aversion to clusters is an evolutionarily prepared response towards a class of stimuli that resemble cues to the presence of parasites and infectious disease. Trypophobia may be an exaggerated and overgeneralised version of this normally adaptive response. Consistent with this explanation, individuals with trypophobia, as well as comparison individuals, reported aversion towards disease-relevant cluster stimuli, but only the trypophobic group reported aversion towards objectively harmless cluster stimuli that had no relevance to disease. For both groups the level of aversion reported was predicted uniquely by a measure of disgust sensitivity. Scaled emotion ratings and open-ended responses revealed that the aversive response was predominantly based on the disease avoidance emotion, disgust. Many open-ended responses also described skin sensations (e.g. skin itching or skin crawling). These findings support the proposal that individuals with trypophobia primarily perceive cluster stimuli as cues to ectoparasites and skin-transmitted pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calix[4]arenes are extremely versatile ligands that are capable of supporting the formation of a wide variety of polymetallic clusters of paramagnetic metal ions. One can exert influence over cluster formation through alteration of the calix[4]arene framework and subsequent ‘expansion’ of the lower-rim polyphenolic binding site. The present contribution investigates cluster formation with calix[4]arenes substituted at all four methylene bridge positions with furan moieties. Two known cluster types have been isolated with this ligand, the structures of which lend insight into factors that may ultimately preclude the formation of mixed-metal species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this research is to examine in depth the brokerage roles that supporting institutions play in conducting local business and applying technical knowledge inside clusters. We identify three main roles: a coordination role, characterized by the efforts that organizations play in internally coordinating themselves and establishing a shared institutional framework; an interconnector role, where organizations foster communication along the value chain of the industry; and a gatekeeper role that allows organizations to connect cluster members with external networks. Results obtained in the Toy Valley cluster provide evidence that each kind of supporting organization tends to specialize in specific roles, since universities are best for a coordination role with regard to technical knowledge while private organizations are key for vertical communication and coordination. Similar results were obtained when analysing the extra-cluster contacts that these organizations develop as gatekeepers, as they tend to establish specific communication conduits with similar alters in external networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study takes a valuation perspective to study how and where products and innovations are gaining ‘economic significance’ in the contemporary economy. Building on a recent research stream in economic geography and urban and regional studies, it highlights that the economic value of many products is not formed within production systems alone, but relies on co-constructed connections between production and consumption systems, playing out across multiple geographies. It distinguishes between three types of economic valuation pathways – namely technical, experiential and identity-based – which although analytically distinct may actually build and reinforce one another. This approach is empirically illustrated with the case of the surf-related economy in the city of San Sebastian (Basque Country, Spain), which is used to make a broader point about the growing relevance of a valuation approach to understand competitive advantage and economic renewal in localized production systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditionally, risk management has been focused on the control of hazards. However, this field of research is now more aimed at reducing vulnerability. Methodology for gaining accurate knowledge of territorial vulnerability is proposed here. It is available for all types of hazard and applicable to any territory. It is based on a census of elements at risk and uses expert weighting to define vulnerability, relying on semi-structured interviews with local stakeholders. Finally, spatial statistics are used to highlight key areas of a town with clusters of higher vulnerability. This method is applied in this article to Greater Lyon urban area, in France. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon segregation in Cr8Mo2SiV tool steel after common heat treatment (CHT) and deep cryogenic treatment (DCT) has been investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) extraction replica and three-dimensional atom probe (3DAP) tests. The XRD results show that most of the retained austenite transformed to martensite after DCT. The TEM results confirm the transformation of blocky retained austenite to twin martensite during DCT. The 3DAP results reveal the segregation of carbon atoms and the maximum carbon fraction in carbon-rich regions increases after DCT. The peak carbon concentration in carbon-rich regions of SDC99 steel after CHT and DCT are 8 at. % and 15 at. %, respectively. The segregated carbon atoms grew into nuclei for nanoscale carbides precipitation on subsequent tempering. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Copyright of Bulletin of Indonesian Economic Studies is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The pig industry is struggling with negative attitudes of people toward sow husbandry. To be able to respond to these attitudes, the pig industry first has to understand people’s attitudes. The first objective of this study was to determine the attitudes of Dutch people toward sow husbandry with regard to animals, humans, and the environment. The second objective was to group people based on their attitudes toward sow husbandry and determine and compare the socio-demographic characteristics of these groups. An online survey was conducted in the Netherlands and there were 1,607 respondents. On average, respondents had negative attitudes toward all issues defined in this study. The most negative attitudes were toward the effect on both animals and consumers of the use of antibiotics, the number of animals kept per square meter, the possibility for animals to go outside, food safety risks, public health risks, and environmental waste. The findings indicate the importance of considering all the issues identified in this study during the process of developing measures to improve people’s attitudes toward sow husbandry. Respondents could be divided into four clusters; each cluster represented different attitudes toward sow husbandry and had different socio-demographic characteristics. This makes it possible for the pig industry to assign people with specific socio-demographic characteristics to one of the clusters and predict their attitudes toward sow husbandry. Knowledge of these attitudes enables the pig industry to predict how different groups of people will respond to different animal welfare measures. Results of this study are therefore useful for the pig industry to help improve people’s attitudes toward sow husbandry. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The entrepreneurial ecosystem (EE) literature has attracted much attention, especially in policy circles. However, the concept suffers from a number of shortcomings: (1) it lacks a clear analytical framework that makes explicit what is cause and what is effect in an EE; (2) while being a systemic concept, the EE has not yet fully exploited insights from network theory, and it is not always clear in what way the proposed elements are connected in an EE; (3) it remains a challenge what institutions (and at what spatial scale) impact on the structure and performance of EE; (4) studies have often focused on the EE in single regions or clusters, but lack a comparative and multi-scalar perspective and (5) the EE literature tends to provide a static framework taking a snapshot of EE without considering systematically their evolution over time. For each of these shortcomings, we make a number of suggestions to take up in future research on EE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The existing models to predict the thermal conductivity of nanofluids are based on single particle diameter, whereas, in actual solutions, nanoparticles mostly exist in a cluster form. Experiments are carried out to observe the effects of various surfactants on stability, nanocluster formation, and thermal conductivity of Al2O3–H2O nanofluid, which is found to be improved considerably with SDS surfactant. The prolonged sonication was not adequate to break the clusters of Al2O3nanoparticles, into an average size of less than 163 nm, indicating the tendency of Al2O3nanoparticles to remain in the form of clusters instead of individual nanoparticles of primary size of 20 nm. Response surface methodology has been employed to design and optimize the experimental strategy by taking volumetric concentration, temperature, and surfactant amount as the contributing factors. The developed model has been validated against the experimental data and the existing models with an accuracy level of ± 8% in the former case. Analysis reveals about the formation of nanoclusters and enhancement in thermal conductivity. The results confirmed that the model can predict thermal conductivity enhancement with an accuracy level of R square value of the order of 0.9766. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The performance of the New Zealand (NZ) economy is something of an enigma. Although ranked one (of 144 countries) for four important ‘growth fundamentals’ NZ is ‘middle of the pack’ when it comes to economic growth, productivity and process innovation. Using four iterations (2005, 2007, 2009 and 2011) of theBusiness Operations Survey, this research seeks to shed some new light on this conundrum by using a multivariate probit regression (mvprobit) approach applied to pooled samples in excess of 22,000 unit record observations of NZ firms. The results suggest that factors including firm size, high perceived quality, investment/research and development (R&D) capability, major technology change, application of formal IP protection and new export markets are systematically and positively related to innovation; while many external issues, such as those related to geography, market structure, business environment, have little influence. At the firm level, innovations in NZ are highly dependent on the firms’ internal ability to develop new technologies and market demand. The (very small) size of firms does matter in NZ, which lacks a major ‘home market’ or a major trade block on its doorstep, such that ultimately, government may need to be involved to maintain a viable scale for domestic R&D. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The viscoelasticity of shear thickening fluid (STF), a crucial property in the protective composite applications, with different silica nanoparticle concentrations in ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methylimidizolium tetrafluoroborate ([C4min]BF4), was studied at different temperatures and with shear frequencies through oscillatory shear, respectively. All STFs present strain thickening behavior. With increasing silica nanoparticle concentration, the critical shear strain for the onset of strain thickening decreased, while the complex viscosity, storage modulus, and loss modulus increased significantly. The critical shear strain increased with an increase of temperature, while the complex viscosity, storage modulus, and loss modulus decreased notably. The critical shear strain was constant with increasing the frequency of strain, while the complex viscosity decreases slightly. The storage modulus and loss modulus were independent with frequency in the strain thickening region. Nanoparticle clusters leading to strain thickening were demonstrated. The viscoelastic response of STFs to varying silica nanoparticle content, temperature, and frequency investigated here will help to design the specific application of STFs in soft protective composites and damping devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We evaluate the grand potential of a cluster of two molecular species, equivalent to its free energy of formation from a binary vapour phase, using a non-equilibrium molecular dynamics technique where guide particles, each tethered to a molecule by a harmonic force, move apart to disassemble a cluster into its components. The mechanical work performed in an ensemble of trajectories is analysed using the Jarzynski equality to obtain a free energy of disassembly, a contribution to the cluster grand potential. We study clusters of sulphuric acid and water at 300 K, using a classical interaction scheme, and contrast two modes of guided disassembly. In one, the cluster is broken apart through simple pulling by the guide particles, but we find the trajectories tend to be mechanically irreversible. In the second approach, the guide motion and strength of tethering are modified in a way that prises the cluster apart, a procedure that seems more reversible. We construct a surface representing the cluster grand potential, and identify a critical cluster for droplet nucleation under given vapour conditions. We compare the equilibrium populations of clusters with calculations reported by Henschel et al. [J. Phys. Chem. A 2014;118:2599] based on optimised quantum chemical structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors bring together two theoretical and empirical strands in economic geography – established work on clusters and nascent research on ‘fictive place’ – in order to introduce the concept of ‘fictive clusters’. To explore this concept, they examine the New Zealand craft beer sector, which has evolved from non-existence since the year 2000. This growth has precipitated the rise of a dynamic and innovative cluster at the local scale in Wellington. The fictive cluster is explored through the Wellington case study, and the authors pose various questions for future work based on this discursive geographical device. The construction and complicit reproduction of what they term a ‘fictive cluster’ has been central to the evolving strategies of the involved agents. Through the use of this term, the evolution of Wellington place-based brands that are increasingly territorially specific are seen as building competitive advantage based on constructed histories, environments, and other geographic characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Smoothed Gehan rank estimation methods are widely used in accelerated failure time (AFT) models with/without clusters. However, most methods are sensitive to outliers in the covariates. In order to solve this problem, we propose robust approaches based on the smoothed Gehan rank estimation methods for the AFT model, allowing for clusters by employing two different weight functions. Simulation studies show that the proposed methods outperform existing smoothed rank estimation methods regarding their biases and standard deviations when there are outliers in the covariates. The proposed methods are also applied to a real dataset from the “Major cardiovascular interventions” study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Regional Studies is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The literature on the high-resolution spectroscopic investigation of molecular complexes containing small polyatomic species excited in their vibrational overtones is reviewed. They turn out to be complexes containing acetylene, ammonia and water, mainly excited in their 2CH, 2NH and 2OH vibrations, respectively. The majority of results published on these systems was obtained using an instrumental set-up based on cw-cavity ring-down spectroscopy, built in the ‘Laboratoire de Chimie quantique et Photophysique’ at the ‘Université libre de Bruxelles’ (CQP/ULB) and named FANTASIO+, which is described. It allowed retrieving upper state vibrational predissociation lifetimes, which are highlighted together with more results. The sequence of experiments at CQP/ULB prior and along the line of those supporting the investigation of molecular complexes is briefly illustrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyzes co-authorship and co-citation networks in the agricultural economics literature on Central and Eastern Europe written during the last twenty-five years. It highlights the principal researchers in the field, together with their authorship and citation networks, on the basis of 238 articles written between 1990 and 2013. Most of the articles were written by a small number of researchers, indicating that clusters and central authors play an important role in scientific progress. Contrary to expectations, it turns out that number of articles and central role in network are not related. Finally, clusters are found to cite themselves more than the average, thereby boosting scientific progress for their members. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Covering the knowledge economy scenario, this article attempts to illustrate the analysis of the employment of knowledge transmission channels in the EuroClusTex, cross-border textile and clothing cluster between northern Portugal and Galicia. Therefore, an exploratory research was conducted. Primary data were obtained through participation in events, from interviews with key informants (entrepreneurs, leaders of cluster support institutions and government representatives). The secondary data were provided by the cluster support institutions, international organizations and the literature review. The results showed that EuroClusTex contributes to the competitiveness of regions, boosting trade relations between Galicia and northern Portugal. The most effective knowledge transmission channels in EuroClusTex were identified as: imitation, relationship with suppliers, public policy and human resources training. Experiences similar to EuroClusTex can be considered and served as examples for the development of clustering policies in other countries. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study uses county-level surveillance data to systematically analyze geographic variation and clustering of persons living with diagnosed HIV (PLWH) in the southern United States in 2011. Clusters corresponding to large metropolitan areas – including Miami, Atlanta, and Baltimore – had HIV prevalence rates higher (p < .001) than the regional rate. Regression analysis within the counties included in these clusters determined that race was a significant indicator for PLWH. These results provide a general picture of the distribution of PLWH in the southern United States at the county level and provide insights for identifying local geographic areas with a high number of PLWH, as well as subpopulations that may have an increased risk of infection. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The experimental realization of pentagonal prismatic structures for M@(M = Co, Fe) containing interstitial transition metal atoms makes of interest the chemistry of corresponding manganese derivatives Mn@. The neutral Mn@Ge10may be regarded as a complex of a polyhedralligand with an interstitial Mn in the +2 oxidation state. However, the lowest energy Mn@Ge10structure with the expected sextet spin state for high-spin d5Mn(II) lies ~23 kcal mol−1in energy above the lowest energy isomer thereby suggesting that such germanium polyhedra function as strong field ligands for encapsulated transition metals. The lowest energy structures for the Mn@anions (z = −1 to −5) are all centered pentagonal prisms. Higher energy Mn@structures have outer Ge10polyhedra based on the tetracapped trigonal prism similar to the lowest energy Co@structure and on the bicapped square antiprism similar to the B10deltahedron. Other Mn@structures have outer Ge10polyhedra with four or five quadrilateral faces as well as six or eight triangular faces, respectively. Bioctahedral (Ge5)2Mn5−structures were also found for the pentaanion with a manganese vertex common to two MnGe5octahedra. The cationic species Mn@was found to have a more complicated potential surface than the anions. Tetracapped trigonal prismatic and bicapped square antiprismatic structures as well as a variety of more open structures were found for Mn@. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research provides insight on the mechanisms through which knowledge acquired through promotional events and through spatial co-location simultaneously sustains firm's innovation. Applying the concept of temporary clusters to promotional events, we simultaneously test how internal resources' mediating effect and promotional events' moderating role affect innovation in clusters. Regression analyses with nonparametric bootstrapping and a large sample of Spanish clusters confirm the synergies derived from the combination of internal resources, local relationships, and complementary foreign events. Although extra-cluster linkages increase this effect, synergies creation requires attendance to international exhibitions or conventions. Valuable implications for practitioners and policy makers are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The knowledge-based economy has created new opportunities for marginal regions, even though some areas in advanced economies still show unbalanced development patterns. This article uses the Italian partnerships created within the nanotechnology projects funded under the European Union's Sixth (FP6) and Seventh (FP7) Framework Programmes to assess the spatial relationships and verify the impact of innovation dynamics on regional re-industrialization processes in the country. It shows the presence of centralized networks that have reinforced the polarization in innovation activities in the traditionally most advanced areas of the country and reveals how new high-technology industries - such as nanotechnology - are hardly a means for marginal regions to break away from their development paths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Geographic variation in the prevalence of isolated cleft lip with or without cleft palate may be due to exogenous environmental factors or genetic variation. In this study, we aim to evaluate the prevalence of isolated cleft lip with or without cleft palate in Polish urban and rural environments in order to identify geographic areas with high prevalence (defect clusters). Methods: We use all cases of congenital malformations reported to the Polish Registry of Congenital Malformations in the years 1998–2008 from the total population of 2,362,502 births. Results: We detect a strong signal of increased prevalence of isolated cleft lip with or without cleft palate in a single region of Poland, the Dolnośląskie voivodeship. Furthermore, we demonstrate a statistically significant prevalence differences between the urban and rural areas within this region. Through our comprehensive spatiotemporal analysis, we precisely define the cluster of the highest risk that comprises the eastern part of this voivodeship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interaction of CO2with negative charge is of high importance in many natural and industrial processes, since reductive activation is one of the most common and convenient ways to chemically unlock this robust molecule. While free CO2does not form stable anions, the accessibility of low-lying molecular orbitals is critical for its chemical versatility and allows CO2to act as solvent as well as a reaction partner for negative ions. Experiments on mass selected cluster ions are highly suitable for the study of the fundamental properties of CO2and its interaction with excess electrons and anions, since they circumvent many problems associated with experiments in the condensed phase. The combination of mass spectrometry, laser spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations results in a powerful tool set to address questions of reactivity, ion speciation and solvation, and they can provide key information to understanding the ion chemistry of CO2. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

It has been well known since the 1960s that developing countries need to improve their capacity to use science and technology and that more efforts must be put into R&D that would benefit poor countries and people. Serious efforts to accomplish this exist but they are still too few and small in relation to the size of the problem. Whilst the supply of knowledge and competent people slowly has been growing, there is still a continued lack of demand for domestic knowledge. Foreign consultants dominate knowledge supply to government, industry and aid donors. Small firms and farms are not used to articulate their demand for knowledge. Such weak demand and timid articulation are typical signs of emerging innovations systems. Despite this, there are signs of a fragmented domestic creative potential that could be mobilised to increase innovation for inclusive development. In this article, practical experiences in Uganda and Tanzania illuminate possibilities to articulate and address the knowledge demand from firms and farms through cluster formation. In this type of cluster formations, universities have key roles as knowledge providers and as intermediaries that assist in building the ties and linkages necessary to move the innovation system to a higher state. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This research describes the spatial layout of convention facilities in Beijing through the application of ArcGIS analysis software. The minimum distance points index, kernel density estimation, and radius of gyration methods were used to visualize the distributions and relationships of convention facilities, tourism scenic spots, and commercial and service facilities. Convention facilities were found to have a spatial agglomeration pattern and an uneven distribution within Beijing. Convention facilities and tourism scenic spots were closely spatially related. Most of the distances between convention facilities and tourism scenic spots were within a half-an-hour walking distance or 20 minutes by public transport. Beijing's convention venues and commercial and service facilities were even more closely clustered; most within less than 10 minutes on foot. This research contributes by applying geographic research methods to planning and problem solving in convention tourism. The spatial description of 192 convention facilities is also a contribution to learning about the general development situation in one of the world's top convention destinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We build on recent literature to highlight the distinction between knowledge-diffusionand knowledge-creationbenefits of technology clustering and argue that firms located in technology clusters will have differential access to the latter. To explain the antecedents of such differential access, we first argue that clustering gives rise to three knowledge-creation benefits: easier identification of potential knowledge partners with complementary knowledge, easier initiation of knowledge partnerships and increased effectiveness of knowledge partnerships. Subsequently, we develop a conceptual model and propositions that focus on a cluster firm's awareness of knowledge assets inside the cluster, attractiveness as a knowledge partner and ability to benefit from knowledge partnerships to explain differential access by firms to these three knowledge-creation benefits that clustering provides. This study highlights the theoretical significance of distinguishing externality-type benefits of technology clustering from benefits that firms need to actively pursue, and discusses implications for firms' location decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]