Estudio cualitativo sobre el impacto del alineamiento de la estrategia entre diferentes niveles de la organización en la función y rendimiento de compras: estudio de un caso

El proyecto desarrolla una investigación según la metodología de estudio de caso de Yin sobre la función de compras y estrategia implementadas en la empresa de estudio. La investigación se inicia con el marco teórico, una de las partes más importantes, que condensa la literatura existente referente a la función de compras y estrategia. Este proceso conlleva emplear mucho esfuerzo y dedicación que posteriormente define una línea de investigación correcta y detallada. A continuación interviene la parte empírica del estudio, donde la realización de las once entrevistas semiestructuradas a diferentes cargos de la organización dota al proyecto de gran cantidad de información relevante. Las entrevistas fueron grabadas con una duración media de una hora y posteriormente fueron transcritas para facilitar la captación de toda la información posible. Con toda la información recopilada, tanto teórica como empírica, se procedió a sintetizarla según la línea de investigación diseñada anteriormente. Esta disposición de la información permitió un análisis a través de matrices que contrastaban los datos claramente. El análisis minucioso fue otro de los puntos clave de la investigación que proporcionó respuestas a las preguntas de la investigación planteadas. El estudio concluye afirmando que la estrategia de compras está influenciada por la estrategia corporativa y categórica, y por la cadena de suministro, proveedores y clientes. La influencia de la estrategia corporativa implica un alineamiento de estrategias de los niveles superiores hasta el nivel de unidad de negocio donde las particularidades de éstas implican estrategias distintas. El alineamiento categórico tiene mayor o menor importancia dependiendo de la categoría (servicios/componentes) y del mercado atendido (proyectos/productos). La dedicación de esfuerzos para el alineamiento categórico es conveniente sólo en los casos significativos. Por otro lado, es fundamental definir los objetivos y mediciones de acuerdo a las mejores estrategias categóricas para analizar cómo obtener la máxima productividad y eficiencia categórica y estudiar si es necesario asignar más recursos a una categoría dada. En la cadena de valor, las relaciones con los proveedores a largo plazo implican el alineamiento con la estrategia corporativa para integrarse en el proceso y así obtener ventajas de ella. Al final, se trata de mejorar la flexibilidad y agilidad en la empresa para lograr una ventaja competitiva a través de la función de compras

Volcanic eruption of Cumbre Vieja, La Palma, Spain: A first insight to the particulate matter injected in the troposphere

The volcanic eruption of Cumbre Vieja (La Palma Island, Spain), started on 19 September 2021 and was declared terminated on 25 December 2021. A complete set of aerosol measurements were deployed around the volcano within the first month of the eruptive activity. This paper describes the results of the observations made at Tazacorte on the west bank of the island where a polarized micro-pulse lidar was deployed. The analyzed two-and-a-half months (16 October–31 December) reveal that the peak height of the lowermost and strongest volcanic plume did not exceed 3 km (the mean of the hourly values is 1.43 ± 0.45 km over the whole period) and was highly variable. The peak height of the lowermost volcanic plume steadily increased until week 11 after the eruption started (and 3 weeks before its end) and started decreasing afterward. The ash mass concentration was assessed with a method based on the polarization capability of the instrument. Two days with a high ash load were selected: The ash backscatter coefficient, aerosol optical depth, and the volume and particle depolarization ratios were, respectively, 3.6 (2.4) Mm−1sr−1, 0.52 (0.19), 0.13 (0.07) and 0.23 (0.13) on 18 October (15 November). Considering the limitation of current remote sensing techniques to detect large-to-giant particles, the ash mass concentration on the day with the highest ash load (18 October) was estimated to have peaked in the range of 800–3200 μg m−3 in the lowermost layer below 2.5 km.This research was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (PID2020- 118793GA-I00, PID2019-104205GB-C21, EQC2018-004686-P and PID2019-103886RB-I00), the H2020 program from the European Union (GA no. 19ENV04, 654109, 778349, 871115 and 101008004), and the Unit of Excellence “María de Maeztu” (MDM-2017-0737) financed by the Spanish State Research Agency (AEI). The authors wish to thank ACTRIS, AEROSPAIN and Junta de Castilla y León (ref: VA227P20) for supporting the calibration of the AERONET sun photometers used in this publication, and also to Ayuntamiento de Tazacorte, Ayuntamiento de Fuencaliente and Cabildo Insular de La Palma for their help in terms of infrastructure and logistics. M.-Á.L.-C. and C.V.C.-P. are supported by the INTA predoctoral contract program. E.J.W. is funded by the NASA Radiation Sciences Program and Earth Observing System.Peer ReviewedArticle signat per 16 autors/es: Michaël Sicard (1,2), Carmen Córdoba-Jabonero (3), Africa Barreto (4), Ellsworth J. Welton (5), Cristina Gil-Díaz (1),Clara V. Carvajal-Pérez (3), Adolfo Comerón (1), Omaira García (4), Rosa García (6), María-Ángeles López-Cayuela (3),Constantino Muñoz-Porcar (1), Natalia Prats (4), Ramón Ramos (4), Alejandro Rodríguez-Gómez (1), Carlos Toledano (7), Carlos Torres (4) // (1) CommSensLab, Department of Signal Theory and Communications, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, 08034 Barcelona, Spain; (2) Ciències i Tecnologies de l’Espai-Centre de Recerca de l’Aeronàutica i de l’Espai/Institut d’Estudis Espacials de Catalunya (CTE-CRAE/IEEC), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, 08034 Barcelona, Spain; (3) Atmospheric Research and Instrumentation Branch, Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial (INTA), 28850 Torrejon de Ardoz, Spain; (4) Izaña Atmospheric Research Center, State Meteorological Agency of Spain (AEMET), 38001 Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain: (5) Code 612, Goddard Space Flight Center, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA; (6) TRAGSATEC, 28006 Madrid, Spain; (7) Group of Atmospheric Optics, Universidad de Valladolid, 47011 Valladolid, SpainPostprint (published version

Volcanic eruption of Cumbre Vieja, La Palma, Spain: a first insight to the particulate matter injected in the troposphere

The volcanic eruption of Cumbre Vieja (La Palma Island, Spain), started on 19 September 2021 and was declared terminated on 25 December 2021. A complete set of aerosol measurements were deployed around the volcano within the first month of the eruptive activity. This paper describes the results of the observations made at Tazacorte on the west bank of the island where a polarized micro-pulse lidar was deployed. The analyzed two-and-a-half months (16 October–31 December) reveal that the peak height of the lowermost and strongest volcanic plume did not exceed 3 km (the mean of the hourly values is 1.43 0.45 km over the whole period) and was highly variable. The peak height of the lowermost volcanic plume steadily increased until week 11 after the eruption started (and 3 weeks before its end) and started decreasing afterward. The ash mass concentration was assessed with a method based on the polarization capability of the instrument. Two days with a high ash load were selected: The ash backscatter coefficient, aerosol optical depth, and the volume and particle depolarization ratios were, respectively, 3.6 (2.4) Mm. 1 sr. 1 , 0.52 (0.19), 0.13 (0.07) and 0.23 (0.13) on 18 October (15 November). Considering the limitation of current remote sensing techniques to detect large-to-giant particles, the ash mass concentration on the day with the highest ash load (18 October) was estimated to have peaked in the range of 800–3200 g m. 3 in the lowermost layer below 2.5 km.This research was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (PID2020- 118793GA-I00, PID2019-104205GB-C21, EQC2018-004686-P and PID2019-103886RB-I00), the H2020 program from the European Union (GA no. 19ENV04, 654109, 778349, 871115 and 101008004), and the Unit of Excellence “María de Maeztu” (MDM-2017-0737) financed by the Spanish State Research Agency (AEI)

Characterization of Tajogaite volcanic plumes detected over the Iberian Peninsula from a set of satellite and ground-based remote sensing instrumentation

Three volcanic plumes were detected during the Tajogaite volcano eruptive activity (Canary Islands, Spain, September–December 2021) over the Iberian Peninsula. The spatiotemporal evolution of these events is characterised by combining passive satellite remote sensing and ground-based lidar and sun-photometer systems. The inversion algorithm GRASP is used with a suite of ground-based remote sensing instruments such as lidar/ ceilometer and sun-photometer from eight sites at different locations throughout the Iberian Peninsula. Satellite observations showed that the volcanic ash plumes remained nearby the Canary Islands covering a mean area of 120 ± 202 km2 during the whole period of eruptive activity and that sulphur dioxide plumes reached the Iberian Peninsula

A lab in the field: applications of real-time, in situ metagenomic sequencing

High-throughput metagenomic sequencing is considered one of the main technologies fostering the development of microbial ecology. Widely used second-generation sequencers have enabled the analysis of extremely diverse microbial communities, the discovery of novel gene functions, and the comprehension of the metabolic interconnections established among microbial consortia. However, the high cost of the sequencers and the complexity of library preparation and sequencing protocols still hamper the application of metagenomic sequencing in a vast range of real-life applications. In this context, the emergence of portable, third-generation sequencers is becoming a popular alternative for the rapid analysis of microbial communities in particular scenarios, due to their low cost, simplicity of operation, and rapid yield of results. This review discusses the main applications of real-time, in situ metagenomic sequencing developed to date, highlighting the relevance of this technology in current challenges (such as the management of global pathogen outbreaks) and in the next future of industry and clinical diagnosis.Adriel Latorre is a recipient of a Doctorado Industrial fellowship from the Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovacion y Universidades (reference DI-17-09613).Peer reviewe

Thermoelectric heat exchange and growth regulation in a continuous yeast culture

We have designed a thermoelectric heat exchanger (TEHE) for microbial fermentations that is able to produce electric power from a microbial continuous culture using the intrinsic heat generated by microbial growth. While the TEHE was connected, the system proved able to stably self-maintain both the temperature and the optical density of the culture. This paves the way toward a more sustainable operation of microbial fermentations, in which energy could be saved by converting part of the metabolic heat into usable electric power.This work was funded by the “Valoritza i Transfereix” program (CPI-13-128) from the University of Valencia.Peer reviewe

Chemically stressed bacterial communities in anaerobic digesters exhibit resilience and ecological flexibility

Anaerobic digestion is a technology known for its potential in terms of methane production. During the digestion process, multiple metabolites of high value are synthesized. However, recent works have demonstrated the high robustness and resilience of the involved microbiomes; these attributes make it difficult to manipulate them in such a way that a specific metabolite is predominantly produced. Therefore, an exact understanding of the manipulability of anaerobic microbiomes may open up a treasure box for bio-based industries. In the present work, the effect of nalidixic acid, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and sodium phosphate on the microbiome of digested sewage sludge from a water treatment plant fed with glucose was investigated. Despite of the induced process perturbations, high stability was observed at the phylum level. However, strong variations were observed at the genus level, especially for the genera Trichococcus, Candidatus Caldatribacterium, and Phascolarctobacterium. Ecological interactions were analyzed based on the Lotka–Volterra model for Trichococcus, Rikenellaceae DMER64, Sedimentibacter, Candidatus Cloacimonas, Smithella, Cloacimonadaceae W5 and Longilinea. These genera dynamically shifted among positive, negative or no correlation, depending on the applied stressor, which indicates a surprisingly dynamic behavior. Globally, the presented work suggests a massive resilience and stability of the methanogenic communities coupled with a surprising flexibility of the particular microbial key players involved in the process.We are grateful for funding of the work by the German Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy (grant numbers 16KN070128 and 16KN070126). Moreover, we thank the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities for funding the Ph.D. of Adriel Latorre-Pérrez (Doctorado Industrial Fellowship, reference DI-17-09613). Finally, we are grateful for open access funding by the publication fund of the TU Dresden and for funding by the European Union through the BioRoboost project, H2020-NMBP-TR-IND-2018-2020/BIOTEC-01-2018 (CSA), Project ID 210491758.Peer reviewe

A round trip to the desert: In situ nanopore sequencing informs targeted bioprospecting

Bioprospecting expeditions are often performed in remote locations, in order to access previously unexplored samples. Nevertheless, the actual potential of those samples is only assessed once scientists are back in the laboratory, where a time-consuming screening must take place. This work evaluates the suitability of using Nanopore sequencing during a journey to the Tabernas Desert (Spain) for forecasting the potential of specific samples in terms of bacterial diversity and prevalence of radiation- and desiccation-resistant taxa, which were the target of the bioprospecting activities. Samples collected during the first day were analyzed through 16S rRNA gene sequencing using a mobile laboratory. Results enabled the identification of locations showing the greatest and the least potential, and a second, informed sampling was performed focusing on those sites. After finishing the expedition, a culture collection of 166 strains belonging to 50 different genera was established. Overall, Nanopore and culturing data correlated well, since samples holding a greater potential at the microbiome level also yielded a more interesting set of microbial isolates, whereas samples showing less biodiversity resulted in a reduced (and redundant) set of culturable bacteria. Thus, we anticipate that portable sequencers hold potential as key, easy-to-use tools for in situ-informed bioprospecting strategies.Financial support from the Spanish Government grant SETH (ref: RTI2018-095584-B-C41-42-43-44) is acknowledged. AL-P is a recipient of a Doctorado Industrial fellowship from the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (reference DI-17-09613).Peer reviewe

Shedding light on biogas: Phototrophic biofilms in anaerobic digesters hold potential for improved biogas production

Conventional anaerobic digesters intended for the production of biogas usually operate in complete darkness. Therefore, little is known about the effect of light on their microbial communities. In the present work, 16S rRNA gene amplicon Nanopore sequencing and shotgun metagenomic sequencing were used to study the taxonomic and functional structure of the microbial community forming a biofilm on the inner wall of a laboratory-scale transparent anaerobic biodigester illuminated with natural sunlight. The biofilm was composed of microorganisms involved in the four metabolic processes needed for biogas production, and it was surprisingly rich in Rhodopseudomonas faecalis, a versatile bacterium able to carry out photoautotrophic metabolism when grown under anaerobic conditions. The results suggested that this bacterium, which is able to fix carbon dioxide, could be considered for use in transparent biogas fermenters in order to contribute to the production of optimized biogas with a higher CH4:CO2 ratio than the biogas produced in regular, opaque digesters. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study characterising the phototrophic biofilm associated with illuminated bioreactors.We are thankful for the funding received from the German Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy (grant nos. 16KN070128, 16KN070126). We are also grateful for funding by the European Union through the BioRoboost project, H2020-NMBP-TR-IND-2018-2020/ BIOTEC-01-2018 (CSA), Project ID 210491758. Adriel Latorre is a recipient of a Doctorado Industrial fellowship from the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (reference DI-17-09613).Peer reviewe

Extremophilic microbial communities on photovoltaic panel surfaces: a two‐year study

Solar panel surfaces can be colonized by microorganisms adapted to desiccation, temperature fluctuations and solar radiation. Although the taxonomic and functional composition of these communities has been studied, the microbial colonization process remains unclear. In the present work, we have monitored this microbial colonization process during 24 months by performing weekly measurements of the photovoltaic efficiency, carrying out 16S rRNA gene high‐throughput sequencing, and studying the effect of antimicrobial compounds on the composition of the microbial biocenosis. This is the first time a long‐term study of the colonization process of solar panels has been performed, and our results reveal that species richness and biodiversity exhibit seasonal fluctuations and that there is a trend towards an increase or decrease of specialist (solar panel‐adapted) and generalist taxa, respectively. On the former, extremophilic bacterial genera Deinococcus, Hymenobacter and Roseomonas and fungal Neocatenulostroma, Symmetrospora and Sporobolomyces tended to dominate the biocenosis; whereas Lactobacillus sp or Stemphyllium exhibited a decreasing trend. This profile was deeply altered by washing the panels with chemical agents (Virkon), but this did not lead to an increase of the solar panels efficiency. Our results show that solar panels are extreme environments that force the selection of a particular microbial community.Financial support from the Spanish Government (grant Helios. reference: BIO2015‐66960‐C3‐1‐R co‐financed by FEDER funds and Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad) and from the European CSA on biological standardization BIOROBOOST (EU grant number 820699) are acknowledged. KT is a recipient of a Doctorado Industrial fellowship from the Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (Spain), with reference DI‐16‐08976. AL is a recipient of a Doctorado Industrial fellowship from the Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (Spain), with reference DI‐17‐09613. EMM is funded with a Formación de Profesorado Universitario (FPU) grant from the Spanish Government (Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades), with reference FPU17/04184. AVV is funded with a Formación de Profesorado Universitario (FPU) grant from the Spanish Government (Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades), with reference FPU18/02578. CV is a recipient of a Torres Quevedo fellowship from the Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (Spain), with reference PTQ‐16‐08227.Peer reviewe