Examining desorptive capacity in supply chains: the role of organizational ambidexterity

Abstract Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explain how a buying organization’s desorptive capacity relative to its supply network enhances the organization’s supply chain competence. The research also analyzes the contingent role of the balanced and combined dimensions of ambidexterity in this relationship. Design/methodology/approach – Empirical results are obtained through analysis of survey data from a sample of 270 European firms. Hierarchical regression analysis is used to test the hypotheses. Findings – The results confirm, first, the positive and significant relationship between the buying organization’s desorptive capacity and supply chain competence; and, second, the key moderating role of organizational ambidexterity, especially in its combined dimension, in this relationship. Practical implications – The study suggests that desorptive capacity is key to the organization’s contribution to supply chain competitiveness. The authors also provide practitioners with better understanding of the extent to which they should attempt to balance exploration and exploitation or/and to maximize both simultaneously when seeking greater benefit from desorptive capacity. Originality/value – This study extends desorptive capacity research to supply chain management. It responds to calls in the desorptive capacity literature for deeper understanding of the benefits of desorptive capacity and of the role organizational ambidexterity plays in the success of desorptive capacity. By analyzing the independent effects of the combined and balanced dimensions of ambidexterity, the authors advance conceptual and operational understanding of the role of ambidexterity needed in the literatur

ln vivo prediction of body composition from the dilution space of the deuterium oxide in two lactating Spanish dairy breed ewes

Thirteen Churra (5 forty days and 8 seventy,days after lambing) and twelve Latxa (6 forty days and 6 a hundred and twenty days after lambing) lactating dairy ewes were used to obtain predicting equations of body fat, protein and energy from the live weight and the dilution space of deuterium oxide (SD20). Ewes were injected with 0.6 gD 20/kgo f live weight in the jugular vein and blood samples were collec5te, d7, 29 and 31 hours after infusion. The D20 content of blood water was determined by infrared spectrometry, and SDZO was calculated as the ratio between the weight of the injected D20 and its predicted concentration at zero time. After the last bleeding ewes were sheared and slaughtered and the body water, fat, protein, ash and energy were chemically determined. The Churra ewes presented 2% more water and 1.7% less protein in the fat free empty body 40 days than 70 days after lambing and fat free empty body water content decreased linearly (R=-0.60) with empty body fat content. There was however a close negative relationship (R2=0.97) between the fat and water content of the fleece free body weight. Neither the breed nor the stage of lactation significantly affect this relationship. Body water was predicted from SD20 with a residual standard deviation (RSD) of approximately kg when a pool equation was considered, though for a same SD20, the Latxa ewes presented 1.76 kg more water than the Churra ewes. Body fat and energy were predicted from the live weight and measured body water with a RSD of 0.437 kg and 6.85 Mcal, respectively, when a pool equation was considered. The adjusted means of body energy differed significantly between breeds and when this effect was taken into account the RSD diminished to 3.10 Mcal. When SDZO was substituted for measured body water, the resulting RSD were 0.980 kg and 6.85 Mcal, respectively. The intercept of the prediction equation of body fat differed significantly between breeds and when this effect was taken in account the RSD decreased to 0.703 kg. The accuracy of the body protein prediction from the ewes sheared body weight (RSD=0.56k9g from the pool equation and 0.282 kg for equation taking into account the breed effect) was not improved by the inclusion of SD20 as a second predictive variable. The stage of lactation did not significantly affect any of the equations studied

References data on the growth and population parameters of brown trout in siliceous rivers of Galicia (NW Spain)

Brown trout is an important angling species worldwide, and its morphology, population structure and genetics can be highly variable from one location to another. In this study, we provide data for the establishment of reference range values for several population and growth parameters of brown trout in the Cantabrian-Atlantic siliceous rivers of Galicia (NW Spain). Additionally, this study tests the hypothesis that the population and growth parameters differ among sections of rivers with different exploitation statuses (unexploited, exploited-regulated and exploited-open sections). Our study revealed that such population parameters as biomass and production were higher in unexploited sections, but the differences in growth among the sections with different angling regulations were not consistent. The findings of this study are discussed in light of the present knowledge on the status of trout fisheries, as it is essential for the development of management plans. Additional studies are needed to clarify whether the differences in growth can be correlated to the angling regulations.La trucha común es una especie muy apreciada por los pescadores deportivos en todo el mundo, y su morfología, estructura poblacional y características genéticas pueden variar considerablemente entre áreas geográficas próximas. En este estudio proporcionamos datos para el establecimiento de categorías de referencia de varios parámetros poblacionales y de crecimiento de la trucha común en ríos silíceos Cantábrico-Atlánticos de Galicia (NO España). Además, con la realización de este estudio se pretende verificar la hipótesis de que los parámetros poblacionales y el crecimiento pueden variar entre tramos de ríos con diferente tipo de regulación de pesca deportiva (tramos vedados o inexplotados, tramos de pesca acotados y tramos de pesca libre). Así, nuestro estudio reveló que algunos parámetros poblacionales como la biomasa y la producción fueron más elevados en los tramos vedados, pero las diferencias en el crecimiento entre tramos con diferente regulación de pesca deportiva no fueron consistentes. Los resultados de este trabajo se discuten teniendo en cuenta el conocimiento actual sobre el estado de las poblaciones de trucha común, pues son esenciales para el desarrollo de planes de gestión. No obstante, se requieren de más estudios para aclarar si las diferencias en crecimiento se pueden relacionar con el tipo de regulación de pesca deportiva

La enseñanza universitaria apoyada en plataformas virtuales. Cambios en las prácticas docentes: el caso de la Universidad de Sevilla

El estudio de los usos de las plataformas virtuales en la enseñanza universitaria constituye hoy un referente de interés para la docencia. El objetivo de esta investigación es explorar los usos pedagógicos de estas herramientas, con la finalidad de identificar factores condicionantes y sus variables asociadas. Esta investigación, que analiza el caso de la Universidad de Sevilla, se basa en un estudio descriptivo, tipo encuesta. Los resultados obtenidos permiten establecer como conclusiones relevantes que las prácticas de enseñanza online están mediadas por las concepciones y creencias pedagógicas del profesorado; pero a su vez los usos tecnológicos influyen y transforman dichas concepcione

Alcohol Protective Behavioral Strategies in Young Spanish Adults in the Community: A Prospective Study of Perceived Effi cacy and Social Norms

Background: Protective behavioral strategies (PBS) have been shown to be useful for reducing excessive alcohol use and alcohol-related problems. However, research on the explanatory factors of PBS is limited. This paper prospectively examines the contribution of perceived effi cacy of PBS in reducing alcohol-related consequences and perceived descriptive norms of close peers´ PBS use in young adults. The mediating role of perceived effi cacy of PBS between descriptive norms of PBS use and personal PBS use is also examined. Method: Targeted sampling was used to recruit a community-based sample of 339 young Spanish adults aged 18-25 years, who completed baseline and two-month follow-up questionnaires. Three types of PBS (serious harm reduction-SHR, manner of drinking-MOD, and stopping/limiting drinking-SLD) were measured. Results: Both perceived effi cacy and descriptive norms at baseline were positively associated with personal PBS use (SHR, MOD and SLD) at follow-up. A partial mediation effect of perceived effi cacy between descriptive norms and personal PBS use was found for the three PBS subscales. Conclusions: Our fi ndings support the usefulness of correcting misperceptions of PBS use by peers in interventions aimed at reducing excessive drinking and alcohol-related consequences in young adults in the community. Moreover, PBS perceived effi cacy should be included as a component of these interventions.Antecedentes: las estrategias conductuales de protección (ECP) han mostrado utilidad para reducir el consumo excesivo de alcohol y sus problemas asociados, aunque la investigación sobre sus factores explicativos es escasa. Este trabajo examina la contribución de la efi cacia percibida de las ECP para reducir las consecuencias negativas del alcohol, y la norma descriptiva percibida del uso de PBS de los iguales, en adultos jóvenes. Además, analiza el papel mediador de la efi cacia percibida entre norma descriptiva y ECP. Método: mediante muestreo dirigido a poblaciones diana, 339 jóvenes españoles (18-25 años) comunitarios cumplimentaron cuestionarios basal y de seguimiento (dos meses), midiéndose tres tipos de ECP (reducción de daños-RR, forma de beber-FB, parar/limitar el consumo- PLC). Resultados: efi cacia y norma se asociaron positivamente con el uso de ECP (RR/FB/PLC) en el seguimiento. Para los tres tipos de ECP se detectó un efecto de mediación parcial de la efi cacia percibida entre la norma y el uso de ECP. Conclusiones: corregir percepciones erróneas del uso de ECP de los iguales puede ser útil en las intervenciones dirigidas a reducir el uso excesivo de alcohol y sus consecuencias en adultos jóvenes comunitarios, al igual que la inclusión de la efi cacia percibida como uno de sus componentes

Paisajes y flora forestal de al-Andalus: una reconstrucción a partir de documentación histórica textual

The translation and interpretation of works by Andalusi botanists and agronomists provide an increasingly sharp image of the species and forest landscapes in al-Andalus (Iberian area under Muslim rule in the Middle Ages). Regarding agriculture, it is known that domestication processes and the introduction of new species and singular forms of use were carried out, thus changing agricultural landscapes. Consequently, new life styles and consumption habits developed. A lot less is known about forestry management, especially when referring to forest landscapes and tree species in the Iberian Peninsula. The authors of this work have been studying agricultural and forest flora in al-Andalus for many years. In addition to numerous miscellaneous contributions, their first approximation on the trees and shrubs cultivated there was published in 2004, and the first volume of Flora Agrícola y Forestal de Al-Andalus covering 80 species of monocotyledons appeared in 2012. In anticipation of the volume devoted to woody dicotyledons to be published in 2019 (including over 150 species, 100 genera and 50 families), a synthesis of the forest landscapes and the most unique species in the Arabic texts is presented in this work. Among the taxa identified are Iberian endemics such as Flueggea tinctoria and Corema album, rare taxa or highly localized ones like Rhododendron ponticum subsp. baeticum, Tetraclinis articulata and Zizyphus lotus with species of peculiar forestry interest such as Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Taxus baccata, Buxus sempervirens, Ilex aquifolium, Laurus nobilis and Vitex agnus-castus, and archaeophytes like Celtis australis or Anagyris foetida.La traducción e interpretación de las obras de botánicos y geóponos andalusíes permite vislumbrar, de forma cada vez más nítida, las especies y paisajes forestales de al-Andalus (área ibérica bajo dominación musulmana en la Edad Media). En el ámbito agrícola es conocido que se desarrollaron procesos de domesticación e introducción de nuevas especies y formas singulares de uso que cambiaron los paisajes agrícolas y, en consecuencia, también las formas de vida y alimentación, pero es mucho menos conocido lo concerniente al ámbito forestal, especialmente si nos referimos a los paisajes y especies forestales ibéricas. Los autores estudian la Flora Agrícola y Forestal en al-Andalus. Además de numerosas contribuciones misceláneas, una primera aproximación sobre los árboles y arbustos cultivados fue publicada en 2004, y un primer volumen de la citada Flora en 2012, abarcando 80 especies de monocotiledóneas. Como adelanto al volumen dedicado a las dicotiledóneas leñosas, que será publicado en 2019 (con más de 150 especies de 100 géneros y 50 familias), se presenta ahora una síntesis de los paisajes forestales y de las especies más singulares identificadas en los textos estudiados. Entre ellas hay endemismos ibéricos como Fluggea tinctoria y Corema album, taxones raros o muy localizados como Rhododendron ponticum subsp. baeticum, Tetraclinis articulata o Zizyphus lotus, junto a especies de singular interés forestal como Arctostaphilos uva-ursi, Taxus baccata, Buxus sempervirens, Ilex aquifolium, Laurus nobilis o Vitex agnus-castus, y arqueófitos como Celtis australis o Anagyris foetida

Growth and yield models in Spain: historical overview, contemporary examples and perspectives

Producción CientíficaIn this paper we present a review of forest models developed in Spain in recent years for both timber and non timber production and forest dynamics (regeneration, mortality,..). Models developed are whole stand, size (diameter) class and individual-tree. The models developed to date have been developed using data from permanent plots, experimental sites and the National Forest Inventory. In this paper we show the different sub-models developed so far and the friendly use software. Main perspectives of forest modelling in Spain are presented

Tuberculosis Hospital in Aguas de Busot : a personal experience

El artículo trata tanto de un análisis sobre un lugar concreto, con gran bagaje histórico, como una reflexión sobre la evolución de la profesión enfermera. Un ánimo al estudio y cuidado de nuestro pasado, para mejorar el presente y crear un futuro mejor.A special site with an important historical background is analised, considered here as a reflection of the evolution of the nursing profession with the aim of studying and caring for our past, to improve our present and to create a better future

総説

Background National estimates on per capita alcohol consumption are provided regularly by various sources and may have validity problems, so corrections are needed for monitoring and assessment purposes. Our objectives were to compare different alcohol availability estimates for Spain, to build the best estimate (actual consumption), characterize its time trend during 2001–2011, and quantify the extent to which other estimates (coverage) approximated actual consumption. Methods Estimates were: alcohol availability from the Spanish Tax Agency (Tax Agency availability), World Health Organization (WHO availability) and other international agencies, self-reported purchases from the Spanish Food Consumption Panel, and self-reported consumption from population surveys. Analyses included calculating: between-agency discrepancy in availability, multisource availability (correcting Tax Agency availability by underestimation of wine and cider), actual consumption (adjusting multisource availability by unrecorded alcohol consumption/purchases and alcohol losses), and coverage of selected estimates. Sensitivity analyses were undertaken. Time trends were characterized by joinpoint regression. Results Between-agency discrepancy in alcohol availability remained high in 2011, mainly because of wine and spirits, although some decrease was observed during the study period. The actual consumption was 9.5 l of pure alcohol/person-year in 2011, decreasing 2.3 % annually, mainly due to wine and spirits. 2011 coverage of WHO availability, Tax Agency availability, self-reported purchases, and self-reported consumption was 99.5, 99.5, 66.3, and 28.0 %, respectively, generally with downward trends (last three estimates, especially self-reported consumption). The multisource availability overestimated actual consumption by 12.3 %, mainly due to tourism imbalance. Conclusions Spanish estimates of per capita alcohol consumption show considerable weaknesses. Using uncorrected estimates, especially self-reported consumption, for monitoring or other purposes is misleading. To obtain conservative estimates of alcohol-attributable disease burden or heavy drinking prevalence, self-reported consumption should be shifted upwards by more than 85 % (91 % in 2011) of Tax Agency or WHO availability figures. The weaknesses identified can probably also be found worldwide, thus much empirical work remains to be done to improve estimates of per capita alcohol consumption.The authors are grateful to Kathy Fitch for translation. This work was supported by Spanish Health Research and Development Strategy (PI13/00183; PI15CIII/00022), National Plan on Drugs (2015I040). Writing of the paper was also partially supported by a grant of the National Plan on Drugs (Res. 8-7-15. Secretaría de Estado de Servicios Sociales e Igualdad) to the Alcohol Work Group of the Spanish Society of Epidemiology.S

Age-Mediated Transcriptomic Changes in Adult Mouse Substantia Nigra

Substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) is highly sensitive to normal aging and selectively degenerates in Parkinson's disease (PD). Until now, molecular mechanisms behind SNpc aging have not been fully investigated using high throughput techniques. Here, we show early signs of aging in SNpc, which are more evident than in ventral tegmental area (VTA), a region adjacent to SNpc but less affected in PD. Aging-associated early changes in transcriptome were investigated comparing late middle-aged (18 months old) to young (2 months old) mice in both SNpc and VTA. A meta-analysis of published microarray studies allowed us to generate a common >transcriptional signature> of the aged (≥ 24 months old) mouse brain. SNpc of late-middle aged mice shared characteristics with the transcriptional signature, suggesting an accelerated aging in SNpc. Age-dependent changes in gene expression specific to SNpc were also observed, which were related to neuronal functions and inflammation. Future studies could greatly help determine the contribution of these changes to SNpc aging. These data help understand the processes underlying SNpc aging and their potential contribution to age-related disorders like PD. © 2013 Gao et al.This work was funded by Spanish Ministry of Science and Education, Andalusian Government, and “Marcelino Botín” Foundation. “CIBERNED” (Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas) was funded by the Spanish “Carlos III” Institute of Health. LME was supported by the Spanish “Carlos III” Institute of Health. Support from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Education for MHF (“FPI” predoctoral fellowship) is also acknowledged.Peer Reviewe