Private equity challenge - homeserve as a valuable investment opportunity

The purpose of the work project is to develop an investment thesis of Home Serve. In the common part, an overview of the company covering its business model and financials is provided, followed by a study of the market. Then, four value creation strategies are presented as well as their impact on financials. In the Capital Structure section, a breakdown of the sources and uses is presented. Lastly, a returns and exit waterfall is provided, together with a judgement on the most suitable exit option. In the individual part, the investment thesis is developed profoundly, explaining the rationale for the acquisition of Home Serve as well as the buy-and build and the expansion to new markets strategies

Traditional Midwives a Link Between Cultural Rights and Women’s Rights

Women’s rights are often perceived as existing in direct opposition to cultural rights. If we provide and protect Indigenous Peoples’ or minority groups’ collective cultural rights, it is commonly assumed that this will come at the expense of women’s rights. However, such limited definitions of culture and rights fail to understand that culture can be a means through which to localize rights. This paper argues that traditional Mayan midwives in the Yucatan Peninsula— Campeche, Yucatan, and Quintana Roo—can provide reproductive services and women’s rights visibility by protecting and maintaining their culture in their communities. Through unstructured interviews and participant observation, this author interviewed midwives, mothers, and activists in the region to provide a larger picture of the reproductive health situation in rural communities. Mayan women, who experience high levels of obstetric violence and structural oppression, are in dire need of culturally competent programs that support and validate their reproductive needs and experiences. The findings presented in this thesis suggest that midwives are crucial actors in localizing women’s and cultural rights in their communities and greater support by medical personnel can help increase reproductive safety

Respuesta del perifiton de agua dulce al glifosato grado-técnico y dos formulados comerciales

El glifosato es el herbicida más utilizado a nivel mundial. Puede llegar a los cuerpos de agua y afectar a las comunidades microbianas. Comparamos los efectos del glifosato grado técnico y dos formulados comerciales sobre una comunidad periférica de agua dulce. Se llevó a cabo un experimento de laboratorio con cuatro tratamientos: glifosato ácido grado técnico, Glifosato II Atanor, Roundup Max, a una concentración de 3 mg de ingrediente activo/L, y un Control. A los 2, 5 y 9 días posteriores a la aplicación de los herbicidas se determinaron la concentración de pigmentos, peso seco, peso seco libre de cenizas y densidad algal del perifiton. Se registró un incremento de la abundancia de Cyanobacteria y una disminución de Chlorophyta y Bacillariophyta en todos los tratamientos con herbicida. Este efecto fue mayor con la adición de Roundup Max y Glifosato II Atanor, y fue menor con glifosato grado técnico, sugiriendo que los aditivos en los formulados comerciales pueden intensificar los efectos del glifosatoGlyphosate is the most widely used herbicide worldwide. It may reach water bodies and affect microbial communities. We compared the effects of two commercial formulations and technical-grade glyphosate on a freshwater periphytic community. A laboratory bioassay was carried out with four treatments: technical-grade glyphosate acid, Glifosato II Atanor, Roundup Max, at a concentration of 3 mg active ingredient/L, and Control. At 2, 5 and 9 days after herbicide application, pigments concentration, dry weight, ash-free dry weight, and periphytic algal density were determined. An increase of Cyanobacteria and a decrease of Chlorophyta and Bacillariophyta abundances were registered in all treatments with the herbicide. This effect was greater when Roundup Max and Glifosato II Atanor® were added, and was lower with technical-grade glyphosate, suggesting that additives in the commercial formulations may enhance glyphosate effects.Fil: Gonzalez, Daniela. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución; ArgentinaFil: Juarez, Angela Beatriz. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Krug, Cecilia Pamela. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Investigación en Ingeniería Ambiental; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Santos, Marina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Industrial; ArgentinaFil: Vera, Maria Solange. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires; Argentin

Supply chain management as the key to a firm’s strategy in the global marketplace

Purpose: This research aims to analyze the intersection of two literature streams: that of strategy and supply chain management (SCM). This review should create a better understanding of “strategic SCM” by focusing on relevant theories in the strategic management field and their intersection with SCM to develop a joint research agenda. Design/Methodology/Approach: We conducted a correspondence analysis on the content of 3,402 articles from the top SCM journals. This analysis provides a map of the intellectual structure of content in this field to date. The key trends and changes were identified in strategic SCM research from 1990-2014 as well as the intersection with the key schools of strategic management. Findings: The results suggest that SCM is key to a successful deployment of strategy for competing in the global marketplace. The main theoretical foundations for research in this field were identified and discussed. Gaps were detected and combinations of theoretical foundations of strategic management and SCM suggest four poles for future research: agents and focal firm; distributions and logistics strategic models; SCM competitive requirements; SCM relational governance. Research limitations/implications: Scholars in both the strategy and the SCM fields continue to search for competitive advantages. Much recent research indicates that strategic SCM can be a critical source for that advantage. One of the limitations of our research is that the analysis does not include every journal that published an article mentioning SCM. However, the 34 journals selected are reputed to be the most influential on SCM and focused primarily on SCM. Practical implications: The map of the intellectual structure of research to strategic SCM highlights the need to combine different theoretical approaches to the complex phenomenon of SCM. Practitioners should consider the supply chain as an informal organization and should devote time and resources to build a shared advantage across the supply chain. They should also consider the inherent benefits and risks that sharing Originality/value: The paper demonstrates that strategic SCM needs a balanced and rigorous combination of theoretical approaches to deliver more theory-driven evidences. Our research combines both a qualitative analysis and a quantitative methodology that summarizes gaps and then outlines future research from a large sample of articles. This methodology is an original contribution to this field and offers some assistance for enlarging the sample of future literature reviews

A panoramic VISTA of the stellar halo of NGC 253

Outskirts of large galaxies contain important information about the galaxy formation and assembly process, and resolved star count studies can probe the extremely low surface brightness of the outer halos. We use images obtained with the VISTA telescope to construct spatially resolved J vs Z-J colour-magnitude diagrams (CMDs) of NGC 253, a nearly edge-on disk galaxy in the Sculptor group. The very deep photometry, down to J ~ 23.5, and the wide area covered allows us to trace the red giant branch (RGB) and asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars that belong to the outer disk and the halo of NGC 253, out to 50 kpc along the galaxy minor axis. We confirm the existence of an extra planar stellar component of the disk, with a very prominent southern shelf and a symmetrical feature on the north side. The only additional visible sub-structure is an overdensity in the north-west part of the halo at about 28 kpc from the plane and extending over ~ 20 kpc parallel with the disk of the galaxy. From the stellar count profile along the major axis we measure the transition from the disk to the halo at a radial distance of about 25 kpc, where a clear break appears in the number density profile. The isodensity contours show that the inner halo is a flattened structure that blends with a more extended, diffuse, rounder outer halo. Such external structure can be traced to the very edge of our image out to 50 kpc from the disk plane. The number density profile of the stars in the stellar halo follows a power law with index -1.6, as function of radius. The CMD shows a very homogeneous stellar population across the whole field; by comparison with theoretical isochrones we conclude that the RGB stars are ~ 8 Gyr old or more, while the AGB stars trace a population of about 2 x 10^8 Mo, formed from ~ 0.5 to a few Gyr ago. Surprisingly, part of this latter population appears scattered over a wide area.Comment: To appear on Astronomy and Astrophysic

Evaluación de riesgos laborales existentes en el Beneficio Don Esteban en el municipio de Matagalpa, departamento de Matagalpa durante el segundo semestre del año 2016

Los riesgos laborales o condiciones de trabajo poco seguras, pueden provocar enfermedades y lesiones temporales o permanentes e incluso causar la muerte. También ocasionan una reducción en la eficiencia y productividad de cada trabajador. La mayoría de los beneficios de café no le dan la importancia al tema de Higiene y Seguridad ocupacional, viendo la aplicación de las medidas que se deben de tomar como un costo más para la empresa, cuando realmente es una inversión que mejora el rendimiento de los trabajadores e incrementa su motivación por la actividad laboral en la que se desempeñan. El presente trabajo investigativo denominado Evaluación de riesgos laborales empresariales, se realizó en el Beneficio Don Esteban ubicado en Quebrada Honda, departamento de Matagalpa en el kilómetro 117 de la carretera de Sébaco-Matagalpa durante el segundo semestre del año 2016, el cual tiene como objetivo evaluar los efectos producidos por los riesgos laborales existentes en el beneficio, la investigación se completa con el análisis de la existencia y consecuencias de dichos riesgos, con el propósito de brindar posibles soluciones orientadas a la disminución de la ocurrencia de accidentes laborales dentro de la empresa. A través de esta investigación se logró conocer el proceso productivo del beneficiado del café, determinando así los tipos de riesgos con sus efectos existentes, identificando las principales causas y consecuencias. Entre las principales recomendaciones están la exigencia del uso de protección personal por parte de los trabajadores, mantener el orden y limpieza en todo el beneficio, realizar el mantenimiento debido a la maquinaria, una redistribución de planta, la utilización de métodos mecanizados para el traslado de carga y la implementación de la metodología de las “5 S” y TP

CAV-2 Vector Development and Gene Transfer in the Central and Peripheral Nervous Systems

The options available for genetic modification of cells of the central nervous system (CNS) have greatly increased in the last decade. The current panoply of viral and nonviral vectors provides multifunctional platforms to deliver expression cassettes to many structures and nuclei. These cassettes can replace defective genes, modify a given pathway perturbed by diseases, or express proteins that can be selectively activated by drugs or light to extinguish or excite neurons. This review focuses on the use of canine adenovirus type 2 (CAV-2) vectors for gene transfer to neurons in the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nervous system. We discuss (1) recent advances in vector production, (2) why CAV-2 vectors preferentially transduce neurons, (3) the mechanism underlying their widespread distribution via retrograde axonal transport, (4) how CAV-2 vectors have been used to address structure/function, and (5) their therapeutic applications

Denitrifying Attached Growth Bioreactor

The Brookfield Zoo (BZ) has been experiencing algal growth in the Great Bear Wilderness exhibit pools. BZ employees currently drain, scrub, and refill the pools every six weeks, which wastes water. A design that increases water conservation would better fulfill BZ’s mission of environmental sustainability. We propose a denitrifying attached growth bioreactor for BZ’s current wastewater system. The high ratio of surface area in the bioreactor compared to the pool walls will encourage biofilm to grow within the reactor at a higher rate than in the pools and the biofilm growing inside will uptake nutrients that the algae feeds on

Análisis del populismo punitivo. Causas, impedimentos y alternativas.

This work addresses the analysis of punitive populism starting with the causes that promote its appearance or strengthening, continuing with its clearest manifestations and ending with its ability to fit in our legal system, especially with our rights included in the Constitution. Thus, focusing on the person sentenced or potentially sentenced to prison, who is the subject to whom the demands of punitive populism are ultimately directed, we will also analyze the operation of prisons and the possible alternatives to their traditional operation, trying to be as close as possible to the reintegration of the prisonerEste trabajo aborda el análisis del populismo punitivo empezando por las causas que propician su aparición o fortalecimiento, siguiendo por sus manifestaciones más claras y terminando por su capacidad de encaje en nuestro ordenamiento jurídico, especialmente con nuestros derechos recogidos en la Constitución. Así, centrándonos en la persona condenada o potencialmente condenada a prisión, la cual es el sujeto al que van dirigidas en última instancia las demandas del populismo punitivo, analizaremos también el funcionamiento de las cárceles y las posibles alternativas al funcionamiento tradicional de éstas, acercándose lo más posible a la reinserción del penado

Programa de intervención centrado en la adherencia al tratamiento de un TMG (Transtorno Mental Grave) desde un enfoque de trabajo social: Factores facilitadores y desfaborables

Treball Final de Màster Universitari en Rehabilitació Psicosocial en Salut Mental Comunitària. Codi: SAX013. Curs acadèmic: 2021-2022Serious Mental Disorder not only requires pharmacological treatment, but psychosocial intervention is also necessary to complement the rehabilitation process. Sometimes, due to lack of resources in the field of Mental Health, among others, the therapeutic part of the treatment is not developed, which makes it difficult to continue due to lack of adherence, and that is what this program aims to do, assume that part, creating adhesion. Adherence is a very broad concept that, depending on the author who defines it, assumes one interpretation or another, but it does define the ability to continue a treatment in order to achieve the goal of rehabilitation. In addition, achieving adherence to SMI treatment means working with many aspects and factors that influence the person's situation, and there are facilitating and unfavorable factors, which is why it is important to work with them, to create the necessary tools to being able to benefit from them (facilitators) or, on the contrary, knowing how to deal with them without influencing us in the rehabilitation process and, therefore, in adherence