2,612 research outputs found
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An Internal Perspective of Business Model Innovation in Manufacturing Companies
Business model innovation is increasingly being used as a concept in different academic fields, although it is still missing a ground theoretical conceptualization. This work aims at advancing the understanding of business model innovation from an internal perspective in manufacturing companies. It builds on a literature review regarding two main concepts – business model and business architecture – and proposes a set of key areas for internally-driven business model innovation. Six main areas have been identified: i) strategy & business goals; ii) organizational culture; iii) product and service management; iv) technology management; v) operations management; vi) performance management systems. Further research will analyze the innovation processes within each area, based on existing theoretical foundations and empirical studies. Moreover, new empirical studies will be performed to further investigate different potential pathways for business model innovation.This work builds on research initially undertaken on SustainValue project which received funding from the European Community´s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under grant agreement n°262931. Further review and analysis leading to these results was supported by the EPSRC Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Industrial Sustainability (grant n° EP/I033351/1).This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from IEEE via http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/CBI.2015.4
A Model to Define an eHealth Technological Ecosystem for Caregivers
The ageing of world population has a direct impact on the health and care systems, as it means an increase in the number of people needing care which leads to higher care costs and the need for more resources. In this context, informal caregivers play an important role as they enable dependent persons to stay at home and thus reduce care costs. However, long-term continuous care provision has also an impact in the physical and mental health of the caregivers. Moreover, geographical barriers make it difficult for caregivers to accessing psychoeducation as a way to alleviate their problems. To support caregivers in their needs and provide specialized training, technology plays a fundamental role. The present work provides the theoretical basis for the development of a technological ecosystem focused on learning and knowledge management processes to develop and enhance the caregiving competences of formal and informal caregivers, both at home and in care environments. In particular, a platform-specific model to
support the definition of the ecosystem based on Open Source software components is presented, along with a Business Model Canvas to define the business structure as part of the human elements of the technological ecosystem
The IACOB project. V. Spectroscopic parameters of the O-type stars in the modern grid of standards for spectral classification
The IACOB and OWN surveys are two ambitious complementary observational
projects which have made available a large multi-epoch spectroscopic database
of optical high resolution spectra of Galactic massive O-type stars. As a first
step in the study of the full sample of (more than 350) O stars surveyed by the
IACOB/OWN projects, we have performed the quantitative spectroscopic analysis
of a subsample of 128 stars included in the modern grid of O-type standards for
spectral classification. We use semi-automatized tools to determine the set of
spectroscopic parameters that can be obtained from the optical spectrum of
O-type stars. We also benefit from the multi-epoch character of the surveys to
perform a spectroscopic variability study of the sample, accounting for
spectroscopic binarity and variability of the main wind diagnostic lines. We
provide a general overview of the stellar and wind parameters of this reference
sample, and updated recipes for the SpT\,--\,Teff/log g calibrations for
Galactic O-type stars. We evaluate our semi-automatized analysis strategy with
40 stars from the literature, and find a good agreement. The agreement
between the synthetic spectra associated with fastwind best fitting models and
the observed spectra is good for most targets, but 46 stars present a
particular behavior of the wind diagnostic lines that cannot be reproduced by
our grid of spherically symmetric unclumped models. These are potential targets
of interest for more detailed investigations of clumpy winds and/or the
existence of additional circumstellar components. Last, our variability study
has led to the detection of signatures of spectroscopic binarity in 27\% of the
stars and small amplitude radial velocity variations in the photospheric lines
of another 30\%. Additionally, 31\% of the investigated stars show variability
in the wind diagnostic lines.Comment: 20 pages, 18 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy &
Astrophysic
The IACOB project. VI. On the elusive detection of massive O-type stars close to the ZAMS
The apparent lack of massive O-type stars near the zero-age main sequence (at
ages < 2 Myr) is a topic widely discussed. Different explanations for this
elusive detection have been proposed, but no firm conclusions have been reached
yet. We reassess this empirical result benefiting from the high-quality
spectroscopic observations of >400 Galactic O-type stars gathered by the IACOB
and OWN surveys. We used temperatures and gravities from a iacob-gbat/fastwind
spectroscopic analysis to locate our sample in the Kiel and spectroscopic HR
diagrams. We evaluated the completeness of our sample of stars, observational
biases using information from the Galactic O star catalog (GOSC), systematics
of our methodology, and compare with other recent studies using smaller samples
of Galactic O-type stars. We base our discussion on the spectroscopic HR
diagram to avoid the use of uncertain distances. We performed a detailed study
of the young cluster Trumpler-14 as an example of how Gaia cluster distances
can help to construct the associated classical HR diagram. The apparent lack of
massive O-type stars near the ZAMS with masses between 30 and 70 Msol persist
even when spectroscopic results from a large, non-biased sample of stars are
used. We do not find correlation between the dearth of stars and observational
biases, limitations of our methodology, or the use of spectroscopic HR diagram
instead of the classical one. Investigating the efficiency of mass accretion
during the formation process we conclude that an adjustment of the accretion
rate towards lower values could reconcile the hotter boundary of detected
O-type stars and the theoretical birthline. Last, we discuss that the presence
of a small sample of O2-O3.5 stars found closer to the ZAMS might be explained
taking into account non-standard star evolution (e.g. binary interaction,
mergers, or homogeneous evolution).Comment: 20 pages, 15 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy &
Astrophysic
Strategies to introduce gender perspective in Engineering studies: a proposal based on selfdiagnosis.
Gender inequality in STEM careers is a global
problem and avoid bias in education can be a solution. This
paper presents a framework for inclusion of gender perspective
in engineering courses. The methodology followed in its design
was divided into two phases: the developed of different
educational innovation projects and a co-creation workshop.
Several instruments have been created and validated, such as
questionnaires, canvas model and rubrics. The framework
includes elements such as the self-diagnosis and redefinition of
curriculum, contents and practices, specific learning outcomes
and gender and sex balanced methods and learning
environments for equity
Entomological fauna associated with Aguaribay : Mendoza (Argentina)
En los relevamientos de especias dañinas
y benéficas presentes en el aguaribay
(Schinus molle L. var. Areira), para inventariar
su entomofauna se efectuaron observaciones
en distintas zonas de Mendoza (Argentina)
en 1988/91 y 1994/96, confirmando
y actualizando la bibliografía.
Se recolectó material a campo para su
identificación sistemática. Se evaluaron daños
y se los documentó fotográficamente. En
el laboratorio se conservaron muestras con
parasitoides hasta la aparición de adultos
para su clasificación, registrándose 8 especies
de Homoptera, 7 de Hymenoptera, 7 de
Coleoptera, 5 de Lepidoptera, 4 de Diptera,
4 de Thysanoptera, 2 de Hemiptera y 2 de
Neuroptera.
Las principales especies que afectan al
Aguaribay son Calophya sp. (Homoptera -
Psyllidae), Ceroplastes grandis (Homoptera
- Coccidae) y Aphis schinifoliae (Homoptera
- Aphididae). También cuenta con una importante
fauna benéfica: coccinélidos,
parasitoides, sírfidos y crisópidos.Pest and beneficial species present in
Schinus molle L. var. Areira were monitoring
in order to obtain an inventory of its entomological
fauna. It was made observations in
different zones of Mendoza from 1988 to 1991,
and then, between 1994 and 1996, it was
confirmed further observations and it was
brought up to day bibliographical revisions. It
was collected material in field in order to made
its systematic identification. Damages were
evaluated and documented photographically.
Samples with parasitoids were stored in
laboratory until the appearance of adults for
their classification. It was registered: 8 species of
Homoptera, 7 of Hymenoptera, 7 of Coleop-tera,
5 of Lepidoptera, 4 of Diptera, 4 of Thysanoptera,
2 of Hemiptera and 2 of Neuroptera.
The main pest are: Calophya sp.
(Homoptera - Psyllidae), Ceroplastes grandis
(Homoptera - Coccidae) and Aphis schinifoliae
(Homoptera - Aphididade). Also, there is an
important beneficial fauna: Coccinellidae,
parasitoids, Syrphidae and Chrysopidae.Fil: Sáez, César C..
Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Departamento de Ciencias BiológicasFil: Mácola, Guido S..
Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Departamento de Ciencias BiológicasFil: Holgado, Miriam G..
Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Departamento de Ciencias BiológicasFil: García Sáez, José G..
Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Departamento de Ciencias Biológica
Modelling the business structure of a digital health ecosystem
[EN]The current trend in digital solutions for the health sector is to move from fragmented services to progressively more integrated services provided by multiple stakeholders through technological ecosystem platforms. However, the business model is scarcely taken into account at the early stages of development of this type of ecosystems specially in the health sector. In the present paper a general approach towards the exploitation of a technological ecosystem focused on caregivers is presented. It follows the Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) in order to develop different ecosystem’s exploitation alternatives, taking into account the ecosystem stakeholders and their main value propositions. This serves as a starting data model in the software development process from which different business exploitation alternatives can be elaborated
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Exploring the scope of industrial symbiosis: Implications for practitioners
Industrial Symbiosis can help improve the overall efficiency of the industrial system. The positive impact of implementing symbiotic exchanges between companies would benefit their host region through increased job creation and reduced environmental stress, whilst the entities engaged could benefit from a combination of additional revenue streams and reduced costs. However, in spite of the potential benefits of IS, there remains an implementation gap, with practitioners failing to fully exploit the possibilities of IS. The objective of this article is to provide a review of the current state of IS research in order to unlock current gaps of knowledge and practice, and identify research opportunities which will help close the implementation gap. The final aim is to explore and understand the areas practitioners willing to engage with IS need to consider in order to operationalize IS in their network.This work was supported by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program (grant n° 680570) and the EPSRC Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Industrial Sustainability (grant n° EP/I033351/1).This is the author accepted manuscript. It is currently under an indefinite embargo pending publication by Springer
Mobilizing Greater Crop and Land Potentials with Conservation Agriculture
The engine that supplies food and agricultural products is the way we farm. The current dominant engine of conventional tillage farming based on the Green Revolution agriculture mind-set is faltering and needs to be replaced to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the future food and agricultural demands by consumers and society. This chapter elaborates on the alternate no-till Conservation Agriculture (CA) paradigm (involving no-till seeding in soils with mulch cover and in diversified cropping systems). This new paradigm of CA is able to raise productivity sustainably and
efficiently, reduce inputs, regenerate degraded land, minimize soil erosion, and harness the flow of ecosystem services. CA is an ecosystems approach to regenerative farming which is capable of enhancing
the economic and environmental performance of crop production and land management that can
contribute to achieving several SDGs. The new CA paradigm also promotes a mind-set change of producing ‘more from less’ inputs, the key attitude needed to move towards sustainable production based on agro-ecological intensification of output. CA is spreading globally in all continents at an annual rate of around 10 M ha of cropland. The current (in 2015/16) spread of CA is approximately 180 M ha, of which 48% is located in the Global South. CA not only provides the possibility of increased crop yields and profit for the low input smallholder farmer, it also provides a pro-poor rural and
agricultural development model to support sustainable agricultural intensification in low income countries in an affordable manner for poverty alleviation, food security and economic development. However, for SDGs to contribute real lasting value to the quality of human life and to nature, the current and future human and ethical consequences of the uncontrolled consumer demands and pressures placed upon agricultural production by the food and agriculture system as a whole must be addressed
Identifying predictors of suicide in severe mental illness : a feasibility study of a clinical prediction rule (Oxford Mental Illness and Suicide tool or OxMIS)
Background: Oxford Mental Illness and Suicide tool (OxMIS) is a brief, scalable, freely available, structured risk assessment tool to assess suicide risk in patients with severe mental illness (schizophrenia-spectrum disorders or bipolar disorder). OxMIS requires further external validation, but a lack of large-scale cohorts with relevant variables makes this challenging. Electronic health records provide possible data sources for external validation of risk prediction tools. However, they contain large amounts of information within free-text that is not readily extractable. In this study, we examined the feasibility of identifying suicide predictors needed to validate OxMIS in routinely collected electronic health records.
Methods: In study 1, we manually reviewed electronic health records of 57 patients with severe mental illness to calculate OxMIS risk scores. In study 2, we examined the feasibility of using natural language processing to scale up this process. We used anonymized free-text documents from the Clinical Record Interactive Search database to train a named entity recognition model, a machine learning technique which recognizes concepts in free-text. The model identified eight concepts relevant for suicide risk assessment: medication (antidepressant/antipsychotic treatment), violence, education, self-harm, benefits receipt, drug/alcohol use disorder, suicide, and psychiatric admission. We assessed model performance in terms of precision (similar to positive predictive value), recall (similar to sensitivity) and F1 statistic (an overall performance measure).
Results: In study 1, we estimated suicide risk for all patients using the OxMIS calculator, giving a range of 12 month risk estimates from 0.1-3.4%. For 13 out of 17 predictors, there was no missing information in electronic health records. For the remaining 4 predictors missingness ranged from 7-26%; to account for these missing variables, it was possible for OxMIS to estimate suicide risk using a range of scores. In study 2, the named entity recognition model had an overall precision of 0.77, recall of 0.90 and F1 score of 0.83. The concept with the best precision and recall was medication (precision 0.84, recall 0.96) and the weakest were suicide (precision 0.37), and drug/alcohol use disorder (recall 0.61).
Conclusions: It is feasible to estimate suicide risk with the OxMIS tool using predictors identified in routine clinical records. Predictors could be extracted using natural language processing. However, electronic health records differ from other data sources, particularly for family history variables, which creates methodological challenges
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