104,937 research outputs found

    The New Corporation in Europe. Bruegel Policy Brief 2008/07, September 2008

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    This Policy Briefing examines how Europe’s corporations are changing the way they do business since the 2004 EU Enlargement. Dalia Marin argues that firms are adapting to heightening global competition by shifting decision-making processes. The author gives policy recommendations in the areas of EU neighbourhood and trade policies

    The new corporation in Europe

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    This Policy Brief examines how Europeâ??s corporations are changing the way they do business since the 2004 EU Enlargement. Dalia Marin argues that firms are adapting to heightening global competition by shifting decision-making processes. The author gives policy recommendations in the areas of EU neighbourhood and trade policies.

    FIGURE 4. Rapipontonia paragalene Marin, 2007 in A review of the pontoniine shrimp genus Rapipontonia Marin, 2007 (Decapoda: Caridea: Palaemonidae), with the description of a new species from the Indo-West Pacific

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    FIGURE 4. Rapipontonia paragalene Marin, 2007, female, ZMMU: A—carapace and rostrum, lateral view; Bantennula; C—antenna; D—major second pereiopod; E—minor second pereiopod; F—same, distal segments; G, Hgrasping mechanism of third pereiopod. Scale bar: 1 mm.Published as part of Marin, Ivan, 2009, A review of the pontoniine shrimp genus Rapipontonia Marin, 2007 (Decapoda: Caridea: Palaemonidae), with the description of a new species from the Indo-West Pacific, pp. 1-17 in Zootaxa 2289 on page 9, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.19134

    Marin, F.

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    Tests of quantum-gravity-induced nonlocality via optomechanical experiments

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    The nonrelativistic limit of nonlocal modifications to the Klein-Gordon operator is studied, and the experimental possibilities of casting stringent constraints on the nonlocality scale via planned and/or current optomechanical experiments are discussed. Details of the perturbative analysis and semianalytical simulations leading to the dynamic evolution of a quantum harmonic oscillator in the presence of nonlocality reported in [A. Belenchia, D. M. T. Benincasa, S. Liberati, F. Marin, F. Marino, and A. Ortolan, Phys. Rev. Lett. 116, 161303 (2016)PRLTAO0031-900710.1103/PhysRevLett.116.161303] are given, together with a comprehensive account of the experimental methodology with particular regard to sensitivity limitations related to thermal decoherence time and active cooling of the oscillator. Finally, a strategy for detecting nonlocality scales of the order of 10-22÷10-26 m by means of the spontaneous time-periodic squeezing of quantum-coherent states is provided

    FIGURE 2. a in Notes on morphology and ecological difference between species of pontoniine shrimp genus Crinotonia Marin (Caridea: Palaemonidae) associated with shallow-water feather stars Phanogenia spp. (Crinoidea: Comasteridae)

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    FIGURE 2. a — Crinotonia attenuatus (Bruce, 1971), ovigerous female; b — Crinotonia anastasiae Marin, 2006, nonovigerous female; c, d — feather star Phanogenia gracilis (Hartlaub, 1890), host of Crinotonia attenuatus (Bruce, 1971), 15 m; e — yellow-black feather star Phanogenia sp., host of Crinotonia anastasiae Marin, 2006, 25 m; f — black feather star Phanogenia sp. (upper) and whitish-yellow Phanogenia gracilis (lower) living in the same habitats, depth 25 m.Published as part of Marin, Ivan, 2008, Notes on morphology and ecological difference between species of pontoniine shrimp genus Crinotonia Marin (Caridea: Palaemonidae) associated with shallow-water feather stars Phanogenia spp. (Crinoidea: Comasteridae), pp. 19-24 in Zootaxa 1764 on page 22, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.18198

    Understanding sugarcane yield gap and bettering crop management through crop production efficiency.

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    The comparison among farming systems and regions would improve the understanding of how and what driving factors explains the crop yield variability over time and space. Very often, however, farm managers and policy makers fall in difficult to establish reliable indexes to compare farming systems plots and regions. Having a quantitate index, we could derive relationships regarding climate, soil and socioeconomic, as well as to determine which factors contribute or hinder the development in a given region and time. Monteith (1977) suggested agroecosystems as machines that utilize solar energy to maintain composition and organization. From a thermodynamic standpoint, the efficiency of any process can be expressed as the ratio of energy output to energy input. Since the 1970s, this concept has been applied to analyze the energy flow in agroecosystems, as well as to analyze the relation between biomass chemical energy and incident solar radiation. We could apply this approach to understand the regional agricultural development and crop yield gap, once it could elucidate biophysical factors, such as the pedoclimatic conditions, affecting crop yields at a local scale. However, for a broader evaluation, one should also include structural components, corresponding to the agricultural systems and management practices adopted; institutional effects, involving governmental actions affecting price, credit, commercialization, and incentives; and research and development, related to innovations to increase yield and solve problems that restrict agricultural-related activities (Carvalho, 2009). Also, to make this approach useful in an operational way, one could assume crop efficiency such as a quantitative indicator, helping to compare and evaluate in time and space, the farming development level. The efficiency of crop production can be assumed as the ratio between observed and attainable crop yield (Marin et al., 2008). In order to evaluate the effectiveness of this tool, the concept of crop efficiency was applied to study the sugarcane performance in the State of São Paulo, Brazil, the main region of this crop production, representing approximately 60% of the total Country's sugarcane production (IBGE, 2002)

    Rapipontonia paragalene Marin 2007

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    <i>Rapipontonia paragalene</i> Marin, 2007 <p>(Fig. 4)</p> <p> <i>Rapipontonia paragalene</i> Marin, 2007: 777 [partim], figs. 1, 5 [type locality – Vietnam].</p> <p> <b>Material.</b> 1 ovigerous Ƥ pcl 2.5 mm (holotype, MNHN-Na16395), 1 3 pcl 1.8 mm (allotype, MNHN-Na 16396), Pacific Ocean, <b>Vietnam</b>, Nhatrang Bay, on pile under pier of Marine Military Academy (MMA), depth 2 m, on hydroid <i>Lytocarpia</i> sp., 17 July 2006, coll. Marin; 2 ovigerous ƤƤ (pcl 2.3, 2.6), 1 3 (pcl 1.7 mm) (ZMMU), Nhatrang Bay, on pile under pier of MMA, depth 2 m, on hydroid <i>Lytocarpia</i> sp., 23 July 2006, coll. Marin.</p> <p> <b>Diagnosis.</b> Epigastric tooth clearly divided from carapace by a suture. Rostrum (Fig. 4 A) slender, rostral formula 1+6–7/0; proximal rostral crest with 4–5 large teeth, distal part of rostrum slender with dorsal tooth separated from subapical tooth with a distinct gap. Antenna (Fig. 4 B) with distolateral margin of basal segment bearing sharp distolateral tooth and rounded median lobe. First pereiopod slender, fingers with spoon-like tips. Second pereiopods unequal in size in females and equal in males. In females, major second pereiopod (Fig. 6 C) overreaching distal margin of antennular peduncle by twice of its length, with merus about 11 times longer than wide, carpus about 4.5 times longer than maximal width, flaring distally, palm (Fig. 4 D) about 4.5 times longer than wide, ratio of merus: carpus: propodus: dactylus is 4: 2.5: 2.5: 1; minor second pereiopod (Fig. 4 E) with merus about 9.5 times longer than wide, carpus about 5 times longer than maximal width, flaring distally, palm (Fig. 6 F) about 3 times longer than wide, ratio of merus: carpus: propodus: dactylus is 3: 2: 1.3: 1. In males, second pereiopods equal in size and shape, reaching to the distal margin of antennular peduncle, slender, with merus about 10 times longer than wide, carpus about 8 times longer than maximal width, flaring distally, palm about 4 times longer than wide, ratio of merus: carpus: propodus: dactylus is 4.5: 3: 2.8: 1. Third pereiopod with distoventral margin of propodus bearing 2–3 long unpaired and a pair of long distoventral spines (Fig. 4 G); third proximal spine, if present, about half of the length of the next ventral spine (Fig. 4 H).</p> <p> <b>Remarks.</b> <i>Rapipontonia paragalene</i> is clearly separated from <i>R. platalea</i> geographically and by a longer rostrum reaching to distal margin of antennular peduncle. The species can be clearly distinguished from the Indo-West Pacific <i>R. galene</i> by the unequal second pereiopods in females and the different proportions of distal segments of the second pereiopods in males (see present paper and original description in Marin, 2007); for differences from <i>R. hydra</i> <b>n. sp.</b> see below.</p> <p> <b>Coloration.</b> Body, appendages and eyestalks translucent, with numerous white chromatophores along dorsal margin of the body, telson and uropods; long reddish-brown thin line crossing through all ventral surface of the body from distal margins of antenna to telson; second to fourth abdominal pleurae with oblique red thin lines; fingers of major second pereiopod in female reddish. Gonads and eggs white (see Hoover, 2006). The coloration is similar to the new species, <i>R hydra</i> <b>n. sp.</b> (see below).</p> <p> <b>Hosts and distribution.</b> The species has been recorded only from the type locality, Nhatrang Bay, Vietnam; photo of Mike Roberts with ovigerous female of <i>Rapipontonia aff. paragalene</i> is published in WWW (http://www.flickr.com/photos/reeflections/53258899/). Associated with hydroid <i>Lytocarpia</i> sp. (Cnidaria. Hydroidea) (Marin, 2007); in Hawaii was photographed (Hoover, 2006) on the introduced hydroid <i>Pennaria disticha</i> (Goldfuss, 1820) (Cnidaria, Hydroidea, Thecaphora).</p>Published as part of <i>Marin, Ivan, 2009, A review of the pontoniine shrimp genus Rapipontonia Marin, 2007 (Decapoda: Caridea: Palaemonidae), with the description of a new species from the Indo-West Pacific, pp. 1-17 in Zootaxa 2289</i> on page 8, DOI: <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/191344">10.5281/zenodo.191344</a&gt

    Hamopontonia nhatrangensis Marin, 2014, sp. nov.

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    Hamopontonia nhatrangensis sp. nov. (Figs. 1 –4, 5 d–f) Hamopontonia fungicola.— Marin, 2012 a: 348, Pl. 53 C, D. Material examined. Holotype, ovigerous female—Pacific Ocean, South China Sea, Vietnam, Nhatrang Bay, south-east part of Tre Island, 12 ° 11 ’ 26.15 ” N 109 ° 19 ′ 51.99 ″E, on coral Euphyllia glabrescens, depth 7 meters, collected by I. Marin, SCUBA, 22 March 2014 (ZMMU). Paratypes: Pacific Ocean, South China Sea, Vietnam, Nhatrang Bay— 1 ovigerous female, 1 male—Mun Island, south-eastern bay, on coral Euphyllia glabrescens, depth 10 meters, collected by I. Marin, SCUBA, 15 November 2010 (LEMMI); 1 ovigerous female, 1 male—Mun Island, north side, on coral Euphyllia glabrescens, depth 5 meters, collected by I. Marin, SCUBA, 15 October 2012 (LEMMI); 1 ovigerous female—same locality, 21 October 2012 (LEMMI); 1 ovigerous female, 1 male—Tre Island, south-east side, Light house, on coral Euphyllia glabrescens, depth 12 meters, collected by I. Marin, SCUBA, 0 3 April 2013 (LEMMI); 1 ovigerous female, 1 male—Tre Island, south-east part near Dam Bay, on coral Euphyllia glabrescens, depth 8 meters, collected by I. Marin, SCUBA, 25 March 2014 (LEMMI). Description. Medium-sized pontoniine shrimp with cylindrical slightly depressed body. Carapace swollen in medial part, smooth, with large antennal tooth, without hepatic or supraorbital teeth (Figs. 2 a – d ). Rostrum compressed, pointing distally, straight, reaching to distal margin of basal antennular segment; rostral formula 1 – 3 + 4 – 5 /0 (Fig. 2 a – c ); dorsal rostral carina well developed, reaching to 1 / 3 of carapace length, with well marked small dorsal teeth; ventral rostral carina poorly developed, unarmed; proximal lateral rostral lamina feebly developed (Fig. 2 a, b, d). Orbit well developed, deep, unarmed; inferior orbital angle bluntly produced distally. Pterygostomial angle produced, bluntly rounded distally. Abdominal somites smooth; pleura of abdominal somites I–V rounded (Fig. 1). Telson (Fig. 2 g, h) relatively stout, about 3 times as long as proximal width, narrow distally, distal margin of telson armed with two hook-like projections (teeth) turned downward (Fig. 2 i) and distinct notch medially (Fig. 2 g), with 3 pairs of medium dorsal submarginal spines at 0.6, 0.8 and 0.95 of telson length, with paired most distal tiny dorsal spines in some specimen (Fig. 2 i). Eyes well developed, large; eyestalk smooth, cylindrical, about 1.5 times as long as wide; cornea well developed, medium, subovate (Fig. 2 a – d ). Antennula (Fig. 2 e) well developed; basal segment stout, about 1.8 times longer than wide, with well developed slender acute stylocerite, with distolateral angle bearing large acute triangular tooth and small rounded medial projection; ventromesial tooth small; intermediate segment stout, about as long as wide; distal segment stout, as long as wide, equal to previous segment; proximal part of upper antennular flagellum with 8–9 separate segments, shorter ramus with more than 15 segments; about 9 or 10 groups of aesthetascs present. Antenna (Fig. 2 f) well developed, basicerite about 1.5 times longer than wide, smooth, without distoventral tooth; scaphocerite wide, about 1.5 times longer than maximal width, overreaching the distal margin of antennular peduncle (Fig. 2 d), distolateral tooth well developed, acute, small, not reaching to distal margin of blade. Mouthparts characteristic for the genus and previously described species. Maxilliped III with slender unarmed segments; ischiomeral segment about 5 times longer than wide; antepenultimate segment about 3 times longer than wide; penultimate segment tapering distally, about 2.5 times longer than wide. Pereiopod I (Fig. 3 a) with relatively slender unarmed segments, without specific features; coxal segment as long as wide, with distoventral lobe; basis as long as wide; ischium about twice longer than wide; merus slender, about 4.5 times as long as wide; carpus about 6 times as long as wide, subequal to merus; propodus about 3 times longer than wide, cylindrical, slightly flaring distally, fingers simple and slender, about 4 times as long as wide, with straight, smooth cutting margins and simple tips. Pereiopods II similar in shape and dissimilar in size (Figs. 1, 3 b, d); with robust and smooth segments; coxal segment as long as wide, with small distoventral lobe; basis as long as wide; ischium about 3 – 4 times longer than wide; merus robust, about 3.5 – 4 times longer than wide, with straight lateral margins; carpus triangular in shape, stout, flaring distally, slightly overlapping carpo-propodal articulation, with smooth distal margin (Fig. 3 c, e); palm (Fig. 3 c, e) smooth, cylindrical, about 3.5 – 4 times as long as wide, slightly narrowing medially; fingers relatively slender, about twice shorter than palm, about 3 times as long as wide; fixed finger (pollex) compressed, about 3 times longer than wide, with two medial teeth situated in proximal 1 / 3 of length, with simple sharp curved tip, with small medial depression opposite to tooth on movable finger; movable finger (dactylus) slender, compressed, with large tooth situated in proximal 1 / 3 of cutting margin, with simple curved tip. Pereiopod III (Fig. 3 f) with smooth slender unarmed segments; coxal segment as long as wide, unarmed; basis as long as wide; ischium robust, about twice longer than wide; merus slender, about 4 times as long as wide; carpus about twice longer than wide, about half shorter than propodus and merus; propodus relatively stout, about 4.5–5 times as long as proximal its width, with smooth unarmed parallel margins, without ventral or distoventral teeth (Fig. 3 g); dactylus (Fig. 3 g) simple, with basal part about 1.5 times as long as wide, with simple slender and curved unguis. Pereiopods III–V similar. Pleopods normal, without specific features. Uropods slender, not exceeding telson; distolateral margin of uropodal exopod (Fig. 2 j) with small movable distolateral spine, fixed tooth absent. Males morphologically similar to females, but smaller in size, with more developed strongly dissimilar pereiopods II (Fig. 1, 2 c). Measurements. Medium-sized pontoniine shrimp. The largest studied ovigerous female has pcl. 21 mm, tl. 35 mm; the largest studied male has pcl. 18 mm, tl. 28 mm. Coloration. Coloration of the new species clearly imitates the coloration of tentacles of host coral Euphyllia glabrescens (Chamisso & Eysenhardt, 1821) (Hexacorallia, Scleractinia, Caryophyllidae (Fig. 5 d–f). Females. Body and appendages generally transparent, covered with tiny red dots; cornea black, eyestalk transparent, covered with tiny dots; almost all dorsal surface of carapace and dorsal half of its lateral margins covered with uniformly white or white-pinky patch; dorsal surface and dorsal half of pleurae of abdominal somite II with large semicircular white-pinky patch, dorsal surface and dorsal half of pleurae of abdominal somite III with large circular white-pinky patch, dorsal surface of abdominal somite V mostly covered with small semicircular or oval white-pinky spot, sometimes this spot absent, especially in smaller specimens (Fig. 4). Males. General coloration similar to females, with less number of dorsal patches. Body and appendages transparent, covered with tiny red dots; cornea black, eyestalk transparent, covered with tiny dots; dorsal surface of carapace covered with medium uniformly white or white-pinky patch; with uniformly white or white-pinky oval dorsal patch on abdominal somite III (Fig. 4). Host. The species was found in association with the caryophyllid coral Euphyllia glabrescens (Chamisso & Eysenhardt, 1821). The coral-associated pontoniine shrimp Vir euphyllius Marin & Anker, 2005 (Crustacea, Decapoda, Palaemonidae, Pontoniinae) is the other pontoniine species living on colonies of E. glabrescens in Nhatrang Bay, Vietnam (Marin & Anker, 2005; Marin, 2007 a). At the same time, both species have been never observed on the same coral colony, possibly showing a competitive pair of pontoniine shrimp species (see remarks of similar competitive pair Philarius condi Marin, 2012 — Harpilius consobrinus De Man, 1902 (Marin, 2012 b)). Distribution. The species is presently known exclusively from its type locality, Nhatrang Bay, Vietnam. Differential diagnosis. The new species can be easily differentiated from congeners by specific coloration and occupied host (following Bruce, 1986; Marin, 2012 a). Moreover, Hamopontonia nhatrangensis sp. nov. can be separated: - from H. essingtoni by absence of specific blunt median process between hook-like distolateral processes on telson. - from H. corallicola by swollen carapace, more slender and shorter rostrum, shorter dorsal spines on telson and stouter segments of ambulatory pereiopods, especially propodus. - from H. physogyra by slender rostrum, shorter dorsal spines on telson and stouter ambulatory pereiopods without distoventral spines. - rom H. fungicola by shorter rostrum, shorter dorsal spines on telson, smaller and dissimilar in size pereiopods II and stouter ambulatory pereiopods. The new species is morphologically most similar to H. physogyra and H. fungicola, resembling them in coloration (see Marin, 2012 a). At the same time, the coloration of the new species clearly differs from H. physogy by being generally translucent with tiny small dots on the body and appendages as well as having uniformly white or pinky-white colored dorsal patches on carapace and abdomen (vs. body and appendages covered with numerous white and blue dots as well as dorsal patches consisting of white spots in the centre of the patch fringed with broad white or creamy band in H. physogyra (see Marin, 2012 a: 55, fig. 13)). The new species also can be clearly separated by coloration from H. fungicola by having smaller dorsal spots on the carapace, not covering almost all dorsal surface, as well as a different pattern and smaller dorsal spots on abdominal somites II and III not almost covering the abdominal pleurae (see Marin, 2012 a: fig. 7; present paper, fig. 4). Renewed key to the species of the genus Hamopontonia Bruce, 1970 (after Marin, 2012 a) 1. Distal margin of telson with small blunt median process between hook-like distolateral processes. Small species; with translucent body and appendages covered with numerous tiny red dots. Without large bright colored spots or patches on dorsal surface of carapace and abdominal somites. Associated with Stylophora pistillata (Pocilloporidae)....... H. essingtoni Bruce, 1986 - Distal margin of telson without blunt median process between hook-like distolateral processes. Large bright colored spots or patches present on dorsal surface of carapace and abdomen.................................................... 2 2. Pereiopods II large, longer than carapace length, equal in size. Almost all dorsal and lateral surface of carapace and pleura of abdominal somites II–III covered with large white or creamy colored patches. Associated with fungiid corals, mainly with Heliofungia actiniformis (Fungidae).................................................. H. fungicola Marin, 2012 - Pereiopods II equal or smaller than carapace length, unequal in size. Carapace and abdominal somites with only dorsal and upper half of lateral margin covered with brightly colored patches............................................... 3 3. Rostrum relatively short, reaching to distal margin of basal antennular segment. Associated with Euphyllia glabrescens (Euphyllidae).................................................................... H. nhatrangensis sp. nov. - Rostrum long, significantly overreaching the distal margin of basal antennular segment reaching to distal margin of antennula peduncle........................................................................................... 4 4. Rostrum with well developed deep dorsal carina. Single large dorsal circle patch presents on dorsal surface of abdominal somite III. Associated with caryophyllid coral Physogyra lichtensteini (Caryophyllidae)................... H. physogyra - Rostrum with shallow dorsal carina. Dorsal surface of abdominal somites I–IV covered with brightly colored patches. Associated with poritid coral Goniopora spp (Poritidae)................................................. H. corallicola Remarks. The Torch coral Euphyllia glabrescens belongs to the family Euphyllidae, not the Fungiidae, but the colonies of E. glabrescens and Heliofungia actiniformis (Quoy & Gaimard, 1833) (Hexacorallia, Scleractinia, Fungidae) are greatly similar (see Fig. 5 a–c; Veron, 2000). The coloration of the tentacles of E. glabrescens bears a striking resemblance to the coloration of tentacles of H. actiniformis. At the same time, a multi-year survey (2005–2014 years) of coral reef communities in Nhatrang Bay revealed the absence of Heliofungia actiniformis in the Bay and adjacent localitites (Latypov, 2006; Yu. Latypov, I. Marin, pers. observ.) as well as two specialized associated pontoniine shrimp species, H. fungicola and Cuapetes kororensis (Bruce, 1977), specific to H. actiniformis, have never been observed in the Bay. This record increase the number of scleractinian coral-associated pontoniine shrimp species known from Nhatrang Bay, Vietnam up to 31, while H. fungicola should be excluded from the list (Marin & Anker, 2005; Marin, 2007 b, 2008; reviews in Marin & Savinkin, 2007 and Marin, 2013).Published as part of Marin, Ivan, 2014, A new species of the pontoniine shrimp genus Hamopontonia Bruce, 1970 associated with caryophyllid coral Euphyllia glabrescens (Chamisso & Eysenhardt 1821) in Nhatrang Bay, Vietnam, pp. 131-140 in Zootaxa 3815 (1) on pages 132-139, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3815.1.9, http://zenodo.org/record/23007
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