What role does corporate governance play in the intention to use cloud computing technology?

This paper aims to investigate the factors which promote the adoption of cloud-based technology. It strives for a better understanding of the impact of corporate governance on the adoption of this technology. This study concentrated on executives in companies where the use of cloud computing may give a competitive advantage. The main contribution of this work is to propose a model for the influence of corporate governance and other factors that determine the adoption of this technology. A questionnaire was prepared after taking into consideration the reviewed literature. The sample consisted of 164 technology companies from Southern Spain that already use the new economic models for digital solutions. The methodology used to analyze the structural model was the Structural Equation Model (SEM). The results of the survey showed the influence of Corporate Governance and the procedures and practices of the organization on the adoption of cloud computing and the associated business model. This study aims to point out the importance of corporate support and Knowledge Management for the correct and successful adoption of this technology and to show the effects on the new business model of billing for the use of available resources. View Full-Tex

Visitas a las páginas de una web docente universitaria

El trabajo estudia las visitas recibidas durante un año y medio por las diferentes páginas de una web utilizada como herramienta complementaria para la docencia de una materia en una universidad presencial. Encuentra que dicho número es mayor, aunque de mThe paper studies the visits received over a year and a half by different web-sites used as complementary tools for the teaching of a non-distance university course. The number of visits is greater, although not significantly, to sites containing theoret

Phenomenological based model of hydrogen production using an alkaline self-pressurized electrolyzer

© 2019 IEEE. Personal use of this material is permitted. Permission from IEEE must be obtained for all other uses, in any current or future media, including reprinting/republishing this material for advertising or promotional purposes, creating new collective works, for resale or redistribution to servers or lists, or reuse of any copyrighted component of this work in other works.The aim of this work is to develop the phenomenological based modeling of a self-pressurized alkaline electrolyser with the objective of predicting the cross-contamination of the gases produced. A proposed model, built in Matlab®, represents the dynamical evolution in real electrolysers, and anticipates operational variables: level, pressure and all concentrations. Dynamic responses in the concentrations of the electrolytic cell, and variations in both level and pressure at the chamber due to the change in current and diffusivity, are reported. The equations by which the variables can be computed are also presented. The proposed model is ready for the corresponding adjustment of parameters based on experimental measurements taken from an available prototype and through a suitable identification process.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

How regional integration and transnational energy networks have boosted FDI in Turkey (and may cease to do so): A case study, how geo-political alliances and regional networks matter

Turkey has historically struggled to attract foreign investors. This paper argues that not only macroeconomic and political stability, but also regional integration explains the upsurge in foreign direct investment observed since 2005. The analysis draws from a qualitative framework. It discusses how, contrary to the Customs Union Treaty for industrial products with the European Union, the official start of the European Union’s accession to negotiations in 2005 encompassed a wide set of reforms in several chapters directly or indirectly affecting the business climate. The reforms helped to enhance foreign direct investment attraction in Turkey. However, it seems that the global economic slowdown starting in 2009 and increasing Euro-skepticism have already started to erode this effect. Only large foreign investment in the energy sector observed in 2009–13, explained by the energy security strategy of the European Union and the privatization agenda, has prevented the collapse of foreign direct investment inflows to Turke

Design and analysis of helium Brayton power cycles for HiPER reactor

Helium Brayton cycles have been studied as power cycles for both fission and fusion reactors obtaining high thermal efficiency. This paper studies several technological schemes of helium Brayton cycles applied for the HiPER reactor proposal. Since HiPER integrates technologies available at short term, its working conditions results in a very low maximum temperature of the energy sources, something that limits the thermal performance of the cycle. The aim of this work is to analyze the potential of the helium Brayton cycles as power cycles for HiPER. Several helium Brayton cycle configurations have been investigated with the purpose of raising the cycle thermal efficiency under the working conditions of HiPER. The effects of inter-cooling and reheating have specifically been studied. Sensitivity analyses of the key cycle parameters and component performances on the maximum thermal efficiency have also been carried out. The addition of several inter-cooling stages in a helium Brayton cycle has allowed obtaining a maximum thermal efficiency of over 36%, and the inclusion of a reheating process may also yield an added increase of nearly 1 percentage point to reach 37%. These results confirm that helium Brayton cycles are to be considered among the power cycle candidates for HiPER

Performance and durability of non-stick coatings applied to stainless steel: Subtractive vs additive manufacturing.

This study compares subtractive manufacturing (SM) and additive manufacturing (AM) techniques in the production of stainless-steel parts with non-stick coatings. While subtractive manufacturing involves the machining of rolled products, additive manufacturing employs the FFF (fused filament fabrication) technique with metal filament and sintering. The applied non-stick coatings are commercially available and are manually sprayed with a spray gun, followed by a curing process. They are an FEP (fluorinated ethylene propylene)-based coating and a sol–gel ceramic coating. Key properties such as surface roughness, water droplet sliding angle, adhesion to the substrate and wear resistance were examined using abrasive blasting techniques. In the additive manufacturing process, a higher roughness of the samples was detected. In terms of sliding angle, variations were observed in the FEP-based coatings and no variations were observed in the ceramic coatings, with a slight increase for FEP in AM. In terms of adhesion to the substrate, the ceramic coatings applied in the additive process showed a superior behavior to that of subtractive manufacturing. On the other hand, FEP coatings showed comparable results for both techniques. In the wear resistance test, ceramic coatings outperformed FEP coatings for both techniques. In summary, additive manufacturing of non-stick coatings on stainless steel showed remarkable advantages in terms of roughness, adhesion and wear resistance compared to the conventional manufacturing approach. These results are of relevance in fields such as medicine, food industry, chemical industry and marine applications.Partial funding for open access charge: Universidad de Málaga

Architectura et societas: reflexiones sobre composición, ornato y estética

En el ámbito arquitectónico, la composición el ornato y la estética son factores determinantes y correlativos, al menos desde la Antigüedad clásica. Y lo son, entre otras razones, porque lo compuesto difiere de lo impuesto, como lo natural y hábil difiere de lo torpe y lo artificial. La composición, el ornato y la estética comparecen en la labor del arquitecto cuando lo que se persigue es algo natural y no artificial. Estética viene a ser entonces, no solo una ciencia de lo bello, sino la síntesis de naturaleza y libertad, de regla y creación.Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura y Edificación de la Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena; Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena; Departamento de Arquitectura y Tecnología de la Edificació

Fabrication of cutting inserts with chromium-molybdenum steel for turning operations using material extrusion technology.

In this study, cutting inserts for turning were produced using metal 3D printing’s material extrusion technology. The primary focus was on optimizing cutting parameters. An experimental plan was devised involving rounds of cutting tests based on a design of experiments and analysis of variance. Inserts were manufactured by printing bound metal powder filament, a combination of chromium-molybdenum tool steel with a polymeric binder. After printing, green parts underwent debinding to eliminate the binder, eventually resulting in full metal parts via sintering. These inserts underwent machining tests on aluminum-copper EN AW-2030 alloy specimens. Results indicated that the inserts could function within cutting speeds (Vc) ranging from 40 to 260 m/min, feed rates (f) from 0.05 to 0.25 mm/r, and radial pass depths (ap) from 0.1 to 2.4 mm. Optimal technological conditions were determined as Vc = 160–200 m/min, f = 0.20–0.25 mm/r, and ap = 1.2 mm. Analysis revealed that cutting speed was less significant than feed rate or depth of cut on tool wear. Feed rate minimized wear within the 0.15–0.25 mm/r range, while pass depth proved most influential on wear, with optimal values between 0.8 and 1.2 mm. Surface finish, assessed through mean roughness Ra, showed high dependence on pass depth, improving for low ap values and relatively high Vc values. These findings demonstrate that inserts fabricated via material extrusion can operate within a technological range like commercial inserts, presenting an advanced approach for customizing design and manufacturing while surpassing conventional insert limitations