Managerial appraisal and compensation: The case of Spain

This paper explores some fundamental tasks associated with corporate governance: manager appraisal and compensation. Most of the empirical research in this area has been centered on Anglo-Saxon countries. Some European countries, such as Spain, have a very different governance tradition. Given this context, the work presented here has two objectives: 1.- To describe existing appraisal and compensation practices in Spain, comparing them with those used in the USA. 2.- To study the determinants of CEO compensation, and the relationship between CEO compensation and certain Board practices, using agency theoryAppraisal; compensation; agency

The Chandra Dust Scattering Halo of Galactic Center transient Swift J174540.7-290015

We report the detection of a dust scattering halo around a recently discovered X-ray transient, Swift J174540.7-290015, which in early February of 2016 underwent one of the brightest outbursts (F_X ~ 5e-10 erg/cm^2/s) observed from a compact object in the Galactic Center field. We analyze four Chandra images that were taken as follow-up observations to Swift discoveries of new Galactic Center transients. After adjusting our spectral extraction for the effects of detector pileup, we construct a point spread function for each observation and compare it to the GC field before the outburst. We find residual surface brightness around Swift J174540.7-290015, which has a shape and temporal evolution consistent with the behavior expected from X-rays scattered by foreground dust. We examine the spectral properties of the source, which shows evidence that the object transitioned from a soft to hard spectral state as it faded below L_X ~ 1e36 erg/s. This behavior is consistent with the hypothesis that the object is a low mass X-ray binary in the Galactic Center.Comment: Accepted for publication in Ap

A gradient-forming MipZ protein mediating the control of cell division in the magnetotactic bacterium Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense

Cell division needs to be tightly regulated and closely coordinated with other cellular processes to ensure the generation of fully viable offspring. Here, we investigate division site placement by the cell division regulator MipZ in the alphaproteobacterium Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense, a species that forms linear chains of magnetosomes to navigate within the geomagnetic field. We show that M. gryphiswaldense contains two MipZ homologs, termed MipZ1 and MipZ2. MipZ2 localizes to the division site, but its absence does not cause any obvious phenotype. MipZ1, by contrast, forms a dynamic bipolar gradient, and its deletion or overproduction cause cell filamentation, suggesting an important role in cell division. The monomeric form of MipZ1 interacts with the chromosome partitioning protein ParB, whereas its ATP-dependent dimeric form shows non-specific DNA-binding activity. Notably, both the dimeric and, to a lesser extent, the monomeric form inhibit FtsZ polymerization in vitro. MipZ1 thus represents a canonical gradient-forming MipZ homolog that critically contributes to the spatiotemporal control of FtsZ ring formation. Collectively, our findings add to the view that the regulatory role of MipZ proteins in cell division is conserved among many alphaproteobacteria. However, their number and biochemical properties may have adapted to the specific needs of the host organism

CYGNUS X-3: ITS LITTLE FRIEND’S COUNTERPART, THE DISTANCE TO CYGNUS X-3, AND OUTFLOWS/JETS

Chandra observations have revealed a feature within 16'' of Cygnus X-3 that varied in phase with Cygnus X-3. This feature was shown to be a Bok globule that is along the line of sight to Cygnus X-3. We report on observations made with the Submillimeter Array to search for molecular emission from this globule, also known as Cygnus X-3's "Little Friend." We have found a counterpart in both [superscript 12]CO (2-1) and [superscript 13]CO (2-1) emission. From the velocity shift of the molecular lines we are able to find two probable distances based on the Bayesian model of Milky Way kinematics of Reid et al. For the LF velocity of −47.5 km s[superscript −1], we find distances of 6.1 ± 0.6 kpc (62% probability) and 7.8 ± 0.6 kpc (38% probability). This yields distances to Cyg X-3 of 7.4 ± 1.1 kpc and 10.2 ± 1.2 kpc, respectively. Based on the probabilities entailed, we take 7.4 ± 1.1 kpc as the preferred distance to Cyg X-3. We also report the discovery of bipolar molecular outflow, suggesting that there is active star formation occurring within the Little Friend

Contribuições do núcleo interinstitucional de agroecologia de Jaguariúna/SP em processos participativos de desenvolvimento rural sustentável.

Resumo: Neste relato apresentamos a experiência da construção de conhecimento agroecológico, desenvolvida na Embrapa Meio Ambiente, Jaguariúna-SP, realizada a partir de 2008. O trabalho contempla a criação e o desenvolvimento de um Núcleo de Agroecologia, interinstitucional e transdiciplinar, composto por pesquisadores, técnicos e agricultores. O objetivo do núcleo é promover, de forma participativa, ações para a evolução do processo de transição agroecológica regional e a construção do conhecimento agroecológico, a partir da identificação das questões limitantes do processo e da integração entre agentes de desenvolvimento regional e agricultores. Os membros do núcleo interinstitucional gerenciam uma área demonstrativa, denominada Sítio Agroecológico, utilizada para demonstrar concretamente conceitos e conhecimentos dos processos ecológicos nos sistemas produtivos, pela implantação, manutenção e monitoramento de unidades de observação. O Sítio configura-se como um elemento integrador do núcleo inteinstitucional, já que ao promover a troca de experiências entre os membros a partir do exercício prático e presencial de atividades em campo

How strength asymmetries shape multi-sided conflicts

Governments and multilateral organisations often attempt to influence multi-sided violent conflicts by supporting or undermining one of the conflicting parties. We investigate the (intended and unintended) consequences of strengthening or weakening an agent in a multi-sided conflict. Using a conflict network based on Franke and Öztürk (J Public Econ 126:104–113, 2015), we study how changing the strength of otherwise symmetric agents creates knock-on effects throughout the network. Increasing or decreasing an agent’s strength has the same unintended consequences. Changes in the strength of an agent induce a relocation of conflict investments: Distant conflicts are carried out more fiercely. In line with previous results, asymmetry reduces aggregate conflict investments. In the case of bipartite networks, with two conflicting tacit groups with aligned interests, agents in the group of the (now) strong or weak agent face more intense conflicts. Furthermore, in conflicts where the (now strong or weak) agent is not involved, the probabilities of winning remain unchanged compared to the symmetric case.</p

The VoiceApp System: Speech Technologies to Access the Semantic Web

Proceedings of: 14th Conference of the Spanish Association for Artificial Intelligence, CAEPIA 2011, La Laguna, Spain, November 7-11, 2011Maximizing accessibility is not always the main objective in the design of web applications, specially if it is concerned with facilitating access for disabled people. In this paper we present the VoiceApp multimodal dialog system, which enables to access and browse Internet by means of speech. The system consists of several modules that provide different user experiences on the web. Voice Dictionary allows the multimodal access to the Wikipedia encyclopedia, Voice Pronunciations has been developed to facilitate the learning of new languages by means of games with words and images, whereas Voice Browser provides a fast and effective multimodal interface to the Google web search engine. All the applications in the system can be accessed multimodally using traditional graphic user interfaces such as keyboard and mouse, and/or by means of voice commands. Thus, the results are accessible also for motorhandicapped and visually impaired users and are easier to access by any user in small hand-held devices where graphical interfaces are in some cases difficult to employ.Research funded by projects CICYT TIN 2008-06742-C02-02/TSI, CICYT TEC 2008-06732-C02-02/TEC, CAM CONTEXTS (S2009/TIC-1485), and DPS 2008-07029-C02-02.Publicad

"Terra sigillata hispánica" de los talleres malagueños en el Teatro Romano de Málaga

El presente trabajo se ha centrado en el análisis de la terra sigillata hispánica elaborada en los talleres malagueños, documentada en las excavaciones realizadas en el Teatro romano de Málaga y su entorno. La identificación de las pastas de los materiales analizados han permitido aproximarnos a los distintos puntos de origen de la sigillata hispánica hallada en el principal edificio público de época romana excavado en la ciudad de Málaga, con un significativo porcentaje de las producciones elaboradas en los talleres de T.S.H. malagueñosThis article is based on terra sigillata hispanica analysis which taken place at Málaga workshops and it has been researched on Málaga Roman Theatre and its surroundings. Thanks to the identification of the pastes of the materials analysed, we have been able to come closer to SH points of origin which were found in the main public building, belonging to the Roman period, excavated in the city of malaga. We emphasize the high percentage of pieces made in Málaga T.S.H workshop

Utilización de las tecnologías del habla para facilitar el acceso a la web

Actas de: VI Jornada de Innovación Pedagógica. Proyecto ADA-Madrid: Aplicación de la web social a la formación on-line: Social-learning. Madrid, 29 abril 2011En el diseño de aplicaciones para la web no siempre suele tenerse en cuenta el objetivo fundamental de maximizar la accesibilidad, especialmente para facilitar el acceso a personas con discapacidades. En este artículo presentamos un sistema de diálogo multimodal desarrollado como demostración del potencial que ofrece la tecnología XHTML+Voice para el acceso oral a la información en la red. El sistema integra diferentes módulos para el acceso a aplicaciones representativas de la red, centrándonos en esta comunicación en tres de ellas. Voice Dictionary permite realizar búsquedas de contenidos en la enciclopedia Wikipedia. Voice Pronunciations se ha diseñado para el aprendizaje de idiomas a través de divertidos juegos de palabras e imágenes. Voice Google es un completo interfaz multimodal al motor de búsqueda de Google. Todos los módulos de la aplicación permiten la interacción a través del teclado y ratón, o mediante la voz, mostrando también los resultados de forma multimodal.The main objective of maximizing accessibility is not always taken into account in the design of web applications, specifically to facilitate access for disabled people. In this paper we present a multimodal dialogue system to demonstrate the potential of the XHTML+Voice standard for oral access to the Internet. The system consists of several modules to access web information. This contribution is focused on three of them. Voice Dictionary allows users to access Wikipedia. Voice Pronunciations has been designed to facilitate language learning by means of games with words and images. Voice Google is a complete, fast and effective web search engine. All the modules of the web application can be accessed using the keyboard and mouse, or through the users' speech, also using multimodal ways to present the results.Publicad