Johannes Kepler University of Linz

About: Johannes Kepler University of Linz is a education organization based out in Linz, Oberösterreich, Austria. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Thin film & Quantum dot. The organization has 6605 authors who have published 19243 publications receiving 385667 citations.

The shadow economies of the asia-pacific

Abstract: . Despite continuous government attempts to increase taxpayer compliance, the shadow economy continues to offer a way for taxpayers to evade their taxpaying obligations. The consequences are clear: policy-makers have increasingly imperfect knowledge about the state of economic affairs as shadow economy activity expands. We provide the first known estimates of the shadow economy for 17 Asia-Pacific countries. We show that, not only have these activities grown over the last ten years, but countries with relatively thin taxpayer compliance initiatives experience the greatest shadow economy activity.

Polyolefin composites with natural fibers and wood-modification of the fiber/filler–matrix interaction

Abstract: Numerous strategies to improve the fiber–matrix interaction in natural fiber composites (NFCs) and wood polymer composites (WPCs) have been proposed and investigated. We have reviewed literature on polyolefin-based NFCs and WPCs to get an overview of the current state of the art of compatibilization methods. Those are classified in two categories here, namely fiber-based strategies and matrix-based strategies. Although this issue has been covered by several reviews before, as yet no work exists that is focused on polyolefin-based NFCs and WPCs. Furthermore, a ranking of the compatibilization methods based on their effects on material properties such as tensile/flexural strength and modulus, impact strength and water absorption, allows for an assessment of the efficiency of the various methods. As to the fiber-based strategies, silanes, maleated polyolefins (MA-POs), mercerization and acetylation are most thoroughly investigated. Silanes are most effective judged by achievable material property improvements, allowing for increases in tensile and flexural strength of more than 100%. Among the matrix-based strategies, MA-POs and isocyanates are most prominent in the literature. The first class enables the more significant material improvements, with reported increases of tensile and flexural strength of 132% and 85%, respectively. While strengths can be enhanced by many compatibilization methods, moduli, and impact strength (notched in particular) are in most cases improved to a lesser degree or even reduced. Especially, the last point calls for further attention, because impact strength is still a weak point of NFCs and WPCs. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2013

Influence of bulk and interface properties on the electric transport in ABO3 perovskites

Abstract: The temperature dependence of the impedance at frequencies between 100 Hz and 5 MHz and of the dc resistance of SrTiO3 and BaTiO3 single crystals are investigated in the temperature range between 300 and 1300 K. An anomalous behaviour of the capacitance can be explained phenom-enologically as due to the combined effects of bulk and surface properties. The analysis of the results yields strong evidence that the electric transport in this temperature range is mainly electronic, while ionic contributions play only a minor role. The results seem to be typical for oxidic perovskites and are expected to yield a better understanding of these systems, especially of their transport properties. Die Temperaturabhangigkeit der Impedanz im Frequenzbereich zwischen 100 Hz und 5 MHz und des Gleichstromwiderstandes von SrTiO3- und BaTiO3-Einkristallen wird fur Temperaturen zwischen 300 und 1300 K untersucht. Ein anomales Verhalten der Kapazitat kann phanomeno-logisch durch kombinierte Einflusse von Volumen- und Grenzschichteigenschaften erklart werden. Die Analyse der Ergebnisse liefert starke Hinweise dafur, das der elektrische Transportmechanismus in diesem Temperaturbereich im wesentlichen elektronischer Natur ist und ionische Beitrage nur von untergeordneter Bedeutung sind. Die Ergebnisse scheinen beispielhaft fur alle oxidischen Perovskite zu sein und lassen ein besseres Verstandnis dieser Systeme, insbesondere ihrer Trans-porteigenschaften, erwarten.

The Socio-Economic Determinants of Terrorism and Political Violence in Western Europe (1994-2007)

Abstract: The main objective of this paper is to empirically investigate the socio-economic causes of terrorism and political violence in a sample of 12 countries in Western Europe. Results are mixed. First, we show that in western European countries the classical economic argument of opportunity cost can be confirmed. That is, the larger is the set of economic opportunities for an individual the lower is the likelihood or the willingness for him to be involved in a terrorist activity. Second and, however, in line with modernization theory, expected future economic growth seems to be associated with an increase in current terrorist activities. Eventually, our results also show that terrorist brutality (measured in people killed) is explained following the productivity argument. That is, the number of terrorist casualties is positively associated with real GDP per capita.