Is entrepreneurship a key factor in the development of European countries? A proposal for an innovation readiness environment (IRE) index.

This study investigates the complex interplay among innovation, research and development (R&D), and entrepreneurship within the context of European nations. The focus of the study is also on the contributory role of tertiary educational institutions in nurturing entrepreneurial activities. To deepen the understanding of these multifaceted relationships and their subsequent impact on regional economies, the research introduces a novel metric termed the Innovation Readiness Environment (IRE) index.

Excited state dynamics of normal dithienylethene molecules either isolated or deposited on an argon cluster.

Real-time dynamics of the electronically excited open-ring isomer of 1,2-bis(2-methylbenzo[]thiophen-3-yl)perfluorocyclopentene (BTF6) and 1,2-bis(2,4-dimethyl-5-phenyl-3-thienyl)perfluorocyclopentene (PTF6) molecules was investigated using a set-up that associates a molecular beam, femtosecond lasers and velocity map imaging. The molecules were either free in the gas phase or bound to an argon cluster. DFT and TDDFT calculations were performed on BTF6.

Self-trapping relaxation decay investigated by time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy.

The present work combines time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy on isolated species with high-level data processing to address an issue which usually pertains to materials science: the electronic relaxation dynamics towards the formation of a self-trapped exciton (STE). Such excitons are common excited states in ionic crystals, silica and rare gas matrices. They are associated with a strong local deformation of the matrix.

Chirality-dependent structuration of protonated or sodiated polyphenylalanines: IRMPD and ion mobility studies.

Ion mobility experiments are combined with Infra-Red Multiple Photon Dissociation (IRMPD) spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations for assessing the role of chirality in the structure of protonated and sodiated di- or tetra-peptides. Sodiated systems show a strong chirality dependence of the competition between Na(+)O and Na(+)π interactions. Chirality effects are more subtle in protonated systems and manifest themselves by differences in the secondary interactions such hydrogen bonds between neutral groups or those involving the aromatic rings.

Ultrafast Excited-State Dynamics of a Cyano-Substituted "Proton Sponge".

The dynamics of a substituted proton sponge-the 1,8-bis(dimethylamino)-4-cyanonaphthalene (DMAN-CN) molecule-was investigated after excitation in the S1 state. Experimental and theoretical information are reported. The former includes absorption, fluorescence, and time-resolved transient absorption spectra, which were recorded in solution.