Corporate Social Responsibility and Crowdfunding: The Experience of the Colectual Platform in Empowering Economic and Sustainable Projects

We would like to thank Colectual platform for illustrating us on its activity and for the database provided.In recent years, sustainable crowdfunding has been one of the key elements in the search for new sources of financing. This has involved eliminating financial barriers and intermediaries, bringing entrepreneurs’ projects closer to fund providers, and thus instigating changes in traditional investment and profitability parameters. Among these indicators, the sustainable business return and its relationship with Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) could be a relevant factor to improve the cost of funding, to explain the return on assets (ROA), and, consequently, impacting on the return on equity (ROE). In this context, this paper takes as a reference 101 projects that are part of Colectual’s lending. We analyze factors such as sustainability—the application of CSR across a social responsibility index; the financial characteristics of the company—liquidity, leverage, and solvency; and the characteristics of the loans related to crowdfunding—amount, maturity, and charge rate of the loan. Our study provides empirical evidence that, besides financial characteristics, the commitment to CSR can improve collective lending and the management of resources, as well as enhance the capital wealth of companies, by improving shareholder profitability or ROE. Investors consider not only financial risk but also sustainability factors

Presence of institutional feminism on YouTube: information dissemination strategy and, Citizenship Mobilization?

Introducción. En la sociedad actual el fácil acceso a la información online es una necesidad creciente. Objetivos. Sobre esta evidencia, y dada la escasez de investigaciones acerca de la información pública sobre igualdad de género dentro del espacio virtual, en el presente estudio abordamos el análisis de los canales de Youtube de los institutos de la mujer españoles. Metodología. Así, y habiendo comprobado cuáles son las comunidades autónomas que cuentan con organismos de este tipo con canal propio, se confeccionó una ficha de análisis que, a través de una batería de indicadores, arrojó datos sobre la disposición, el uso y la gestión de la información, así como el tipo de contenido, la interacción y el engagement generado. Fijamos el intervalo de estudio entre abril de 2018 y el primer trimestre del 2020. Resultados. Los resultados muestran que, a pesar del importante trabajo realizado por estos organismos en el terreno de la igualdad de oportunidades entre mujeres y hombres, estos no están valorando en su justa medida las posibilidades que ofrece YouTube para consolidar su labor, ya que no suelen usar este medio con una intención comunicativa bidireccional ni interactiva con sus followers. Conclusiones y discusión. De este diagnóstico se deriva una conclusión general: afianzar las políticas de igualdad requiere de la construcción de redes online que sean vehículo de información veraz y diálogo constante con la ciudadanía. De ello depende en gran medida el nivel de liderazgo de las instituciones que tratamos en nuevos entornos comunicativos, susceptibles de ser poderosos instrumentos para la lucha contra el sexismo y para el avance de la equiparación entre géneros.Introduction. Easy access to online information in today’s society is a rising need. Objectives. On this evidence, and given the scarcity of research about public information on gender equality within the virtual space, we address in this study the analysis of the Youtube channels of the Spanish women’s institutes. Methodology. In this way, and after verifying which are the autonomous Communities having this type of agencies with their own channel, an analysis sheet was drawn up that, through a battery of indicators, yielded data on the placing, use and management of the information, as well as the type of content, interaction and engagement generated. We set the study interval between April 2018 and the first quarter of 2020. Results. The results show that, despite the important work done by these agencies in the field of equal opportunities for men and women, they are not fully evaluating the possibilities offered by Youtube to consolidate their work, since they do not usually use this tool both with a bidirectional communicative intention nor interactive with their followers. Conclusions and discussion. Therefore, a general conclusión is obtained: strengthening equality policies requires the construction of online networks that are a vehicle of truthful information and constant dialogue with citizenship. The level of leadership of the institutions we deal with in new communicative environments, which can be powerful instruments in the fight against sexism and advancement of gender equality, depends to a large extent on this

Scale-invariant avalanche dynamics in the temperature-driven martensitic transition of a Cu-Al-Be single crystal

We have combined high sensitivity, extra-low differential temperature scanning rate calorimetry, and acoustic emission (AE) measurements to study avalanches during the cubic ↔ 18R martensitic transition of a Cu-Al-Be single crystalline shape memory alloy. Both AE and calorimetry corroborate a good power-law behavior for cooling with an exponent ε 1.6. For heating, a slope is observed in the maximum likelihood curves, which confirms that our data are affected by an exponential cutoff. An effective energy exponent, ε ∼ 1.85, and a cutoff, λ −1 = 0.115(38)E-3 aJ, were determined by fits of power-laws with exponential damping. The long tail observed in the low-temperature region by calorimetric measurements suggests the existence of significant elastic effects that constrain the progress of the transformation at low temperatures. While thermodynamic features such as transformation enthalpy and entropy are those expected for Cu-based shape-memory alloys undergoing a cubic ↔ 18R transition, the critical behavior deviates from the corresponding behavior expected from this symmetry change. These deviations are a consequence of the elastic hardening induced by the interplay of the transformation with dislocation jamming, which has the effect of effectively reducing the number of pathways connecting the parent and martensitic phaseMinisterio de Ciencia,Innovación y Universidades (MAT2016-75823-R)Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/P024904/1

Variaciones estacionales de tensioactivos aniónicos en sedimentos estuáricos del río Guadalete (Cádiz, España)

The presence and longitudinal and temporal distributions of the two main anionic surfactants, linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS) and alkyl ethoxysulfates (AES), were monitored in surface sediments from the Guadalete estuary, located in the north of the Bay of Cadiz (SW of Spain). Seasonal samplings were performed for two years at three different stations; one of them located up-stream near the discharge outlet of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). A control station was also sampled in a tidal channel within the boundaries of a natural park adjacent to the estuary. LAS and AES concentration values ranged from 196 to 2864 ng g-1 and from 147 to 557 ng g-1, respectively, the lowest values corresponding to the control station and the highest ones found near the WWTP outlet. A general decrease in the concentrations of both surfactants was found in summer, when degradation processes are faster, whereas the highest concentrations were detected during the wet months, when temperature decreases and rainwater exceeds the WWTP capacity, so untreated wastewater is discharged directly into the river. Due to differential sorption and degradation processes, the relative distribution of LAS homologues in sediments showed higher percentages for those having longer alkyl chains, whereas AES homologues with an even carbon unit number in the alkyl chain and AES ethoxymers with fewer ethylene groups were predominant. No hazard for aquatic organisms was foreseen at the concentrations found for both surfactants along the estuary.Se ha realizado un seguimiento de la presencia y las distribuciones temporal y longitudinal de los dos tensioactivos aniónicos más usados -sulfonato de alquilbenceno lineal (LAS) y alquil etoxisulfatos (AES)- en sedimentos superficiales del estuario del río Guadalete, localizado al norte de la Bahía de Cádiz (SO de España). Para ello se llevaron a cabo muestreos estacionales durante dos años en tres estaciones diferentes, una de ellas localizada río arriba y en las inmediaciones de la zona de descarga de una estación depuradora de aguas residuales (EDAR). También se muestreó una estación control en un caño mareal situado dentro de los límites de un parque natural cercano al estuario. El rango de concentraciones de LAS y AES encontrado estuvo comprendido entre 196 y 2864 ng g-1 y entre 147 y 557 ng g-1 respectivamente, correspondiendo los valores más bajos a la estación control y los más altos a aquella situada cerca de la descarga de la EDAR. En términos generales, se detectó un descenso en las concentraciones de ambos tensioactivos durante el verano, cuando los procesos degradativos alcanzan mayor velocidad, mientras que las concentraciones más altas correspondieron a los meses con mayores precipitaciones, cuando se registra un descenso en la temperatura y tienen lugar descargas de agua residual sin tratar a causa de la saturación de la EDAR. Debido a procesos de adsorción y degradación diferencial, la distribución relativa de homólogos de LAS en el sedimento mostró un porcentaje mayor para aquellos con mayor longitud de cadena alquílica, mientras que los homólogos de AES con número par de carbonos en dicha cadena y los etoxímeros con menor número de grupo etoxilados fueron predominantes. No se detectó ningún riesgo para los organismos acuáticos teniendo en cuenta las concentraciones encontradas en el estuario para ambos tensioactivos

A comparison of programmes and services on Mental Fitness for seniors in Austria and Spain

Developing age-friendly programmes and services focused in Seniors’ Mental Fitness are relevant actions oriented to elder well-being. This paper explores the purposes and methodologies of such implemented programmes and services in Austria and Spain nowadays. The research investigates them in relation to the several aims, namely: 1. What kind of programmes exist which promote active ageing in the light of maintaining and improving mental fitness? 2. What goals are pursued by means of such actions? 3. What methodologies are normally used in them? 4. In which way can they be improved in the light of the previous aims? Using a qualitative case-study design, a representative sample of these actions are analysed by Atlas.ti software from an inductive approach. A constructivist grounded theory approach was used to analyse the data. The information was collected by templates designed ad hoc. Additionally, structured in-depth interviews were held with outstanding providers from some of these actions in order to complement the general information obtained in the former step. These interviews explore aspects of the positive and negative features, as well as improvement proposals for such actions. The results obtained can be applied in the framework of the progress of such programmes and services implementation.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Identidades digitales en WhatsApp : la representación del género entre la población universitaria

Proyecto I+D+i FEM2017-83302-C3-2-P 2018-2021, financiado por Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad, 2018-2022.El medio digital se presenta como un nuevo entorno en el que se produce una interacción social liderada por la cultura de la imagen y la apariencia. El objetivo general de este trabajo consiste en describir, desde una perspectiva de género, el modo en que los y las jóvenes construyen sus identidades a través de su perfil de WhatsApp, para lo cual hemos contado con una muestra de 320 estudiantes de las universidades de Málaga y Sevilla. El resultado fundamental es que los sujetos estudiados, independientemente del sexo, definen su imagen entendiendo que la participación implica reconocimiento mediante la identificación fotográfica. Se concluye, además, que chicas y chicos construyen su identidad digital de un modo real y natural puesto que se dirigen a un grupo cercano y conocido de personas y, aunque se observan ciertos matices diferenciales, se confirma solo parcialmente que las representaciones son estereotipadas según el género del sujeto.The digital medium is presented as a new environment in which a social interaction is produced led by the culture of image and appearance. The overall objective of this article is to describe, from a gender perspective, how young people build their identities through their WhatsApp profile, for which a sample of 320 students from the universities of Malaga and Seville was used. The subjects studied, regardless of sex, define their image in the understanding that participation implies recognition by photographic identification. We also concluded that females and males construct their digital identity in a real and natural way since they address a close and well-known group of people and, although certain differential nuances are observed, it is partially confirmed that the representations are stereotyped according to the gender of the subjects.El mitjà digital es presenta com un nou entorn en el qual es produeix una interacció social liderada per la cultura de la imatge i l'aparença. L'objectiu general d'aquest treball consisteix a descriure, des d'una perspectiva de gènere, la manera en què els i les joves construeixen les seves identitats a través del seu perfil de WhatsApp, per a la qual cosa hem disposat d'una mostra de 320 estudiants de les universitats de Màlaga i Sevilla. El resultat fonamental és que els subjectes estudiats, independentment del sexe, defineixen la seva imatge entenent que la participació implica reconeixement mitjançant la identificació fotogràfica. Es conclou, a més, que noies i nois construeixen la seva identitat digital d'una manera real i natural atès que s'adrecen a un grup proper i conegut de persones i, encara que s'observen certs matisos diferencials, es confirma només parcialment que les representacions són estereotipades segons el gènere del subjecte

A longitudinal view of flourishing and family relations during emerging adulthood in Spain

Flourishing is when an individual perceives that their life is going smoothly. It encompasses the hedonic and eudaimonic aspects of well-being: feeling good and functioning well (Huppert & So, 2013; Keyes & Annas, 2009). The correlation of the construct with indicators of adjustment and positive development makes it an attractive concept to assess well-being (Huta & Ryan, 2010; Keyes, 2007; Keyes et al., 2012). Emerging adulthood is a developmental stage that has arisen in western countries as a result of social and economic changes in recent decades. It describes a period that begins in late adolescence and lasts well into the third decade of life (Arnett, 2000). Studies focused on this stage, considered crucial in the determination of people's health and well-being pathways (Chen et al., 2019), have found an association between the adjustment of emerging adults and positive family relationships. It seems that family continues to have a major influence on young people's development (Fingerman & Yahirun, 2016) during emerging adulthood as well. Specifically, positive family relationships are associated with high levels of psychological well-being during the third decade of life (Zupančič et al, 2014). The main objective of this study is to examine the association between flourishing and family variables during emerging adulthood from a gender perspective and using longitudinal analysis. Therefore, this work has two specific goals: first, to examine the stability of the flourishing of emerging adults throughout the initial years (Wave 1) and intermediate years (Wave 2) of emerging adulthood, and second, to analyze whether family relationships were associated with the flourishing of emerging adults. A longitudinal study was carried out at two time points: wave 1 (Mean: 20.31; SD: 2.04) and (three years later) wave 2 (Mean: 23.66; SD: 2.08). The sample comprised 400 emerging adults (268 women) from the Transition to Adulthood in Spain research project (TAE) who completed a questionnaire assessing their perceptions of the quality of their family relationships (parental social support, parental involvement, parental warmth, parental autonomy support, and behavioral and psychological control) and their level of flourishing. The results show the stability of the flourishing between W1 and W2. They also show a statistically significant relationship between flourishing and family variables and interesting gender differences. The crucial role that family also has during emerging adulthood is highly reflected in the results

Anxiety and parenting behaviors during emerging adulthood: a longitudinal analysis

Emerging adulthood is characterized by changes in close relationships, education, and work. Regarding parent-child relationships, research shows the importance of positive family relationships during emerging adulthood and the role they play in preventing emerging adults’ psychological distress. However, there is a lack of studies focuses on family context using longitudinal analysis. This study examined the stability in emerging adults’ perceptions of parenting behaviors and whether these relationships were associated with emerging adults’ anxiety. A longitudinal study was carried out in Spain: wave 1 (Mean: 20.31; SD: 2.04), wave 2 (Mean: 23.66; SD: 2.08). A total of 400 emerging adults from the Transition to Adulthood in Spain research project completed a survey assessing their perceptions of the quality of their family relationships (parental social support, parental involvement, parental warmth, parental autonomy support and behavioral and psychological control) and their level of anxiety. Results showed that family social support, parental warmth, psychological and behavioral control decrease meanwhile parental involvement and parental autonomy support don’t change over time. Both psychological and behavioral control in W1 were positively associated with emerging adults’ anxiety in W2. The relationship between the rest of parenting behaviors in W1 and emerging adults' anxiety in W2 was negative. These findings suggest the need of developing intervention programs that help parents to adapt their parental behaviors to their children’s needs during this stage. Moreover, this work suggests that longitudinal studies on family functioning are needed to gain a more complete understanding of the impact of the quality of family relationships on emerging adults’ distress

Longitudinal analysis about flourishing and its predictors during emerging adults from a gender perspective

Flourishing is defined as a combination of hedonic and eudaimonic well-being. The objective of this work was to analyze with a longitudinal design and from a gender perspective, which variables are related to flourishing in a sample of emerging adults. The sample was comprised of 400 emerging adults (67% women) who were interviewed at two different points in time: when they were 20.3 years old on average (DT=2.04), and three years later, at the average age of 23.7 (DT= 2,08). The variables studied were: perceived family income; resolution of core developmental tasks (having a job and living independently); The Inventory of the Dimensions of Emerging Adulthood; educational variables (academic commitment and perceived University performance) and social support (from friends, family, and partner). Results showed the differences in the variables which predict flourishing in males and females. Flourishing in males in Wave 2 is related to two W1 variables: the perception of emerging adulthood as an experimentation stage and the priority which youngsters give to their studies. For females, flourishing in W2 is related to two W1 variables: the consideration of this stage as a self-focused stage, and family support. These results vouch for the importance of analyzing gender differences throughout emerging adulthood. Results also highlight the role that educational context and social support provide to well-being during emerging adulthood. More research is needed from a gender perspective to explains the variables related to well-being throughout emerging adulthood, to generate evidence-based intervention programs that facilitate the transition into adult life