Absorptive capacity and relationship learning mechanisms as complementary drivers of green innovation performance

This paper aims to explore in depth how internal and external knowledge-based drivers actually affect the firms\u2019 green innovation performance. Subsequently, this study analyzes the relationships between absorptive capacity (internal knowledge-based driver), relationship learning (external knowledge-based driver) and green innovation performance. This study relies on a sample of 112 firms belonging to the Spanish automotive components manufacturing sector (ACMS) and uses partial least squares path modeling to test the hypotheses proposed. The empirical results show that both absorptive capacity and relationship learning exert a significant positive effect on the dependent variable and that relationship learning moderates the link between absorptive capacity and green innovation performance. This paper presents some limitations with respect to the particular sector (i.e. the ACMS) and geographical context (Spain). For this reason, researchers must be thoughtful while generalizing these results to distinct scenarios. Managers should devote more time and resources to reinforce their absorptive capacity as an important strategic tool to generate new knowledge and hence foster green innovation performance in manufacturing industries. The paper shows the importance of encouraging decision-makers to cultivate and rely on relationship learning mechanisms with their main stakeholders and to acquire the necessary information and knowledge that might be valuable in the maturity of green innovations. This study proposes that relationship learning plays a moderating role in the relationship between absorptive capacity and green innovation performance

Quantification of whey proteins by reversed phase-HPLC and effectiveness of mid-infrared spectroscopy for their rapid prediction in sweet whey

In the dairy industry, membrane filtration, is used to reduce the amount of whey waste and, simultaneously, to recover whey proteins (WP). The composition of WP can strongly affect the filtration treatment of whey, and rapid determination of WP fractions would be of interest for dairy producers to monitor WP recovery. This study aimed to develop mid-infrared spectroscopy (MIRS) prediction models for the rapid quantification of protein in sweet whey, using a validated rapid reversed phase (RP)-HPLC as a reference method. Quantified WP included alpha-lactalbumin (alpha-LA), beta-lactoglobulin (beta-LG) A and B, bovine serum albumin, caseinomacropeptides, and proteose peptone. Validation of RP-HPLC was performed by calculating the relative standard deviation (RSD) in repeatability and reproducibility tests for WP retention time and peak areas. Samples of liquid whey (n = 187) were analyzed by RP-HPLC and scanned through MIRS to collect spectral information (900 to 4,000 cm(-1)); statistical analysis was carried out through partial least squares regression and random cross-validation procedure. Retention times in RP-HPLC method were stable (RSD between 0.03 and 0.80%), whereas the RSD of peak area (from 0.25 to 8.48%) was affected by WP relative abundance. Higher coefficients of determination in validation for MIRS model were obtained for protein fractions present in Whey in large amounts, such as beta-Lc (0.58), total identified WP (0.58), and alpha-LA (0.56). Results of this study suggest that MIRS is an easy method for rapid quantification of detail protein in sweet whey, even if better resolution was achieved with the method based on RP-HPLC. The prediction of WP in sweet whey by MIRS might be used for screening and for classifying sweet whey according to its total and individual WP contents

morphomap : An R package for long bone landmarking, cortical thickness, and cross-sectional geometry mapping

OBJECTIVES: This study describes and demonstrates the functionalities and application of a new R package, morphomap, designed to extract shape information as semilandmarks in multiple sections, build cortical thickness maps, and calculate biomechanical parameters on long bones. METHODS: morphomap creates, from a single input (an oriented 3D mesh representing the long bone surface), multiple evenly spaced virtual sections. morphomap then directly and rapidly computes morphometric and biomechanical parameters on each of these sections. The R package comprises three modules: (a) to place semilandmarks on the inner and outer outlines of each section, (b) to extract cortical thicknesses for 2D and 3D morphometric mapping, and (c) to compute cross-sectional geometry. RESULTS: In this article, we apply morphomap to femora from Homo sapiens and Pan troglodytes to demonstrate its utility and show its typical outputs. morphomap greatly facilitates rapid analysis and functional interpretation of long bone form and should prove a valuable addition to the osteoarcheological analysis software toolkit. CONCLUSIONS: Long bone loading history is commonly retrodicted by calculating biomechanical parameters such as area moments of inertia, analyzing external shape and measuring cortical thickness. morphomap is a software written in the open source R environment, it integrates the main methodological approaches (geometric morphometrics, cortical morphometric maps, and cross-sectional geometry) used to parametrize long bones

Gerenciamento de processos de negócios : Business Process Management (BPM)

Orientador : Simone Cristina RamosArtigo (especialização) - Universidade Federal do Paraná, Setor de Ciências Sociais Aplicadas, Curso de Especialização MBA Gestão EstratégicaInclui referênciasResumo : Business Process Management – BPM - é uma disciplina gerencial que protagoniza os processos da empresa como aliados do sucesso e competitividade. Como se faz e o valor da entrega estão em questão, seja na concepção de um novo modelo de negócio, construção de um produto ou serviço ou mesmo para qualquer rotina operacional com fim de levar algo para o consumo do cliente. Cada vez mais difundido entre as técnicas de gestão empresarial, a principal metodologia BPM ainda tem muito a agregar no mundo corporativo. Entre artigos, estudos de caso, livros sobre o assunto e a prática de aplicação da metodologia na empresa Snowman Labs, abordados neste artigo, está também, a comprovação da importância e relevância deste assunto e os resultados que o trabalho focado em processos traz. O levantamento, análise e listagem do que deve ser melhorado não é um fim, ou seja, é possível que o trabalho esteja só começando. O processo ideal é aquele que está eficiente, sempre controlado, revisado, analisado e melhorado

Gerenciamento de processos de negócios : Business Process Management (BPM)

Orientador : Simone Cristina RamosArtigo (especialização) - Universidade Federal do Paraná, Setor de Ciências Sociais Aplicadas, Curso de Especialização MBA Gestão EstratégicaInclui referênciasResumo : Business Process Management – BPM - é uma disciplina gerencial que protagoniza os processos da empresa como aliados do sucesso e competitividade. Como se faz e o valor da entrega estão em questão, seja na concepção de um novo modelo de negócio, construção de um produto ou serviço ou mesmo para qualquer rotina operacional com fim de levar algo para o consumo do cliente. Cada vez mais difundido entre as técnicas de gestão empresarial, a principal metodologia BPM ainda tem muito a agregar no mundo corporativo. Entre artigos, estudos de caso, livros sobre o assunto e a prática de aplicação da metodologia na empresa Snowman Labs, abordados neste artigo, está também, a comprovação da importância e relevância deste assunto e os resultados que o trabalho focado em processos traz. O levantamento, análise e listagem do que deve ser melhorado não é um fim, ou seja, é possível que o trabalho esteja só começando. O processo ideal é aquele que está eficiente, sempre controlado, revisado, analisado e melhorado

Quercetin can act either as an inhibitor or an inducer of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore: A demonstration of the ambivalent redox character of polyphenols

AbstractThe Ca2+- and oxidative stress-induced mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) plays an important role in phenomena ranging from tissue damage upon infarction to muscle wasting in some forms of dystrophy. The process is due to the activation of a large pore in the inner mitochondrial membrane. Anti-oxidants are considered a preventive and remedial tool, and mitochondria-targeted redox-active compounds have been developed. Plant polyphenols are generally considered as anti-oxidants, and thus candidates to the role of mitochondria-protecting agents. In patch-clamp experiments, easily oxidizable polyphenols induced closure of the MPT channel. In swelling experiments with suspensions of mitochondria, high (20–50 μM) concentrations of quercetin, the most efficient inhibitor, promoted instead the onset of the MPT. Chelators of Fe2+/3+ and Cu+/2+ ions counteracted this effect. Fluorescent indicators of superoxide production confirmed that quercetin potentiates O2− generation by isolated mitochondria and cultured cells. Since this was not affected by chelating Fe and Cu ions, the MPT-inducing effect can be ascribed to a “secondary”, metal ion-catalyzed production of ROS. These results are a direct demonstration of the ambivalent redox character of polyphenols. Their mode of action in vivo cannot be taken for granted, but needs to be experimentally verified

Nesting Biology, Sexual Dimorphism, and Populational Morphometric Variation in Podium denticulatum F. Smith, 1856 (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae)

Podium denticulatum occurs from Mexico to southern Brazil, including northeastern Argentina. Females use pre-existing cavities to build nests, consisting of cells separated by walls of mud and resin and massively provisioned with paralyzed cockroaches. Trap nests were disposed in three localities in the state of São Paulo, Brazil (Araras, São Carlos, Rifaina), resulting in the collection of 201 nests from December/2003 to June/2007. The founding nests were brought to the laboratory, opened and the pupae transferred to identified vials until the emergence of the adults, when they were then weighed, sexed and stored at -20ºC. The nesting activity was seasonal, with a higher number of nests in the warm and rainy season of the year. The number of constructed cells ranged from one to nine per nest. The emergence rate of adults in the 716 brood cells was 74%, with homogeneous distribution of mortality by egg, larva and pupa stages. This mortality was partly due to parasitism observed in 39% of nests, predominantly by Melittobia sp. and rarely by Diptera (Tachinidae). A 1:1 sex ratio was observed among the newly emerged adults of each locality analyzed. Strong sexual dimorphism was characterized by linear measurements of wings and body mass, with females and males showing a mass between 27-116 mg and 14-70 mg, respectively. The geometric morphometry confirmed this dimorphism and revealed significant variation of wing size and shape among individuals of the analyzed populations, a result that deserves subsequent studies to point out the factors that account for this differentiation

Endothelial Progenitor Cells in Mixed Cryoglobulinemia

Objective.Endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) are a rare population of circulating cells involved in vascular homeostasis. Our aim was to analyze EPC in patients with mixed cryoglobulinemia (MC).Methods.EPC were evaluated by cytometry according to guidelines of the International Society for Hematotherapy and Graft Engineering in 17 patients with MC and 36 controls.Results.Numbers of EPC were significantly increased in MC compared to controls and correlated with cryocrit, but not with clinical manifestations of the disease.Conclusion.The high number of EPC might indicate an intact vascular repair ability. Alternatively, EPC might be defective in homing ability and their increase may represent the attempt to restore vascular integrity