Environmental operations strategies: European approaches and research challenges

Since the environment has very recently emerged as a strategic issue, work has only begun to investigate the conceptual linkages between strategic management and the environment. A thoroughly revision of both academic and professional literature evidences that such scarcity of research doubles, or even trebles, when the scenery of the European Operations Management Strategies is considered. The main objective of this paper is, therefore, to discuss the impact of the design of the environmental management strategy on the formulation of the Operations Strategy and its implementation. Since the majority of the literature has neglected to focus the European approaches to such formulation, we will try to overcome this gap by analysing a sample of 2882 European companies

An integrated typology of green manufacturing profiles

This article proposes a typology to classify the Environmental Operations Strategies that the European Companies develop in order to adapt themselves to the requests of their green stakeholders. First, main research lines in Environmental Operations Management are analyzed; second, a typology based on the coherency of different variables that have been considered separately by other authors is presented and validated for a sample of 3051 European manufacturing companies. The results show that European manufacturers have not achieved yet similar levels of integration of the environmental concern into all managerial functions with the aim of reaching a sustainable balance between economic and ecological performance of the firm. Consequently, conventional typologies looking at different environmental criteria in a piecemeal fashion seem to be no longer valid for explanatory and/or decision making purposes

Phytochemical and functional characterization of phenolic compounds from cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (l.) walp.) obtained by green extraction technologies

This work presents a green, downstream process, from extraction to phytochemical characterization and bioactivity testing, to obtain and evaluate the functional properties of phenolic compounds from cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) seeds and pods. Phenolic-rich extracts were obtained by pressurized liquid extraction (PLE). The main factors affecting the extraction conditions (temperature and solvent) were optimized in order to attain extracts with the highest extraction yield, antioxidant capacity, and total phenolic content. The optimal extraction conditions were 1:1 ethanol:water at 170◦C with one extraction cycle for seeds and three extraction cycles for pods. Phenolic compounds of optimal extract were analyzed by UHPLC-q-TOF-MS/MS (quadrupole-time of flight tandem MS). The obtained PLE-extracts exhibited higher phenolic content and antioxidant activity compared to conventional extraction procedures. The in vitro anti-neurodegenerative potential of extracts was measured through Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition assay. The results revealed the higher bioactivity observed in cowpea pod samples compared to seed extracts, which might be related to higher levels of quercetin and quercetin glycosides, kaempferol diglucoside, and other tetrahydroxylated flavones and flavonols identified in these samples. These results also provide an added-value benefit to the cultivation of this legume, considering the high potential of cowpea phenolic extracts as nutraceutical and functional ingredients in food formulations.Fil: Avanza, María Victoria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Química Básica y Aplicada del Nordeste Argentino. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Naturales y Agrimensura. Instituto de Química Básica y Aplicada del Nordeste Argentino; ArgentinaFil: Álvarez Rivera, Gerardo. Institute of Food Science Research; EspañaFil: Cifuentes, Alejandro. Institute of Food Science Research; EspañaFil: Mendiola, José A.. Institute of Food Science Research; EspañaFil: Ibáñez, Elena. Institute of Food Science Research; Españ

Characteristics and Behavior of Di erent Catalysts Used for Water Decontamination in Photooxidation and Ozonation Processes

The objective of this study was to summarize the results obtained in a wide research project carried out for more than 15 years on the catalytic activity of di erent catalysts (activated carbon, metal–carbon xerogels/aerogels, iron-doped silica xerogels, ruthenium metal complexes, reduced graphene oxide-metal oxide composites, and zeolites) in the photooxidation (by using UV or solar radiation) and ozonation of water pollutants, including herbicides, naphthalenesulfonic acids, sodium para-chlorobenzoate, nitroimidazoles, tetracyclines, parabens, sulfamethazine, sodium diatrizoate, cytarabine, and surfactants. All catalysts were synthesized and then texturally, chemically, and electronically characterized using numerous experimental techniques, including N2 and CO2 adsorption, mercury porosimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray di raction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, di use reflectance UV–vis spectroscopy, photoluminescence analysis, and transmission electron microscopy. The behavior of these materials as photocatalysts and ozonation catalysts was related to their characteristics, and the catalytic mechanisms in these advanced oxidation processes were explored. Investigations were conducted into the e ects on pollutant degradation, total organic carbon reduction, and water toxicity of operational variables and the presence of di erent chemical species in ultrapure, surface, ground, and wastewaters. Finally, a review is provided of the most recent and relevant published studies on photocatalysis and catalyzed ozonation in water treatments using similar catalysts to those examined in our project.Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness CTQ2016-80978-C2-1-REuropean Union (EU) CTQ2016-80978-C2-1-RJunta de Andalucía P18-RT-419

Atlas Biogeoquímico de Castilla-La Mancha. Primeros resultados comparativos en los sinclinales de Guadalmez y Almadén (Ciudad Real)

Depto. de Mineralogía y PetrologíaFac. de Ciencias GeológicasTRUEpu

Strain driven migration of In during the growth of InAs/GaAs quantum posts

Using the mechano-optical stress sensor technique, we observe a counter-intuitive reduction of the compressive stress when InAs is deposited on GaAs (001) during the growth of quantum posts. Through modelling of the strain fields, we find that such anomalous behaviour can be related to the strain-driven detachment of In atoms from the crystal and their surface diffusion towards the self-assembled nanostructures.We acknowledge the financial support by Spanish MINECO through Grant Nos. ENE2012-37804-C02-02 and TEC2011-29120-C05-04, and by Spanish CAM through Grant Nos. S2009/ESP-1503 and S2009/ENE-1477.Peer Reviewe

Anticuerpos contra Leptospira spp en caprinos lecheros en Guanajuato, México

The study aimed to determine the serological profile of antibodies against leptospirosis in two dairy goat units in Apaseo el Alto, Guanajuato, Mexico in 2014. Saanen, Alpine, Nubian and Toggenburg goats were classified according to age for random sampling. The microscopic agglutination test (MAT) with live antigen proposed by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and the World Health Organization (WHO) were used for detecting anti-Leptospira antibodies. Twelve serovars of Leptospira spp were used and animals with equal or higher titres of 1:100 were considered positive. Results showed that 68.3% (41/60) of samples of Unit «A» were positive, with titres from 1:100 to 1: 1600, while 72.4% (97/134) of samples of Unit «B» were positive, with titres between 1:100 to 1:800. Frequencies of positive animals according to age ranged from 20% in kids and 100% in adults. It is concluded that the anti-Leptospira antibodies were high and were generated by an infectious process since the animals were never vaccinated against the disease.El estudio tuvo como objetivo determinar el perfil serológico de anticuerpos contra leptospirosis en dos unidades caprinas de producción lechera en Apaseo el Alto, municipio de Guanajuato, México en 2014. Se trabajó con animales de las razas Saanen, Alpina, Nubia y Toggenburg categorizados por edad para el muestreo aleatorio. Para la detección de anticuerpos contra Leptospira se utilizó la prueba de micro-aglutinación microscópica (MAT) con antígeno vivo propuesta por la Organización Mundial de Sanidad Animal (OIE) y la Organización Mundial de la Salud (WHO). Se utilizaron 12 serovariedades de Leptospira spp, y se consideró como positivo títulos iguales o mayores a 1:100. El 68.3% (41/60) de las muestras de la Unidad «A» resultaron positivas, con títulos desde 1:100 a 1:1600, en tanto que el 72.4% (97/134) de las muestras de la Unidad «B» resultaron positivas, con títulos entre 1:100 a 1:800. Las frecuencias de animales positivos por edad variaron entre 20% en el caso de cabritos a 100% en animales adultos. Se concluye que los anticuerpos anti-Leptospira fueron altos y se generaron por un proceso infeccioso dado que los animales nunca fueron vacunados contra la enfermedad

Las salvaguardias, la recaudación fiscal y las importaciones en Ecuador, año 2013 – 2015.

En el presente documento se analizó el impacto de las salvaguardias en la República del Ecuador con respecto a la Recaudación Fiscal y a las Importaciones tomando los datos de las variables mencionadas según los años 2013 al 2015. Para realizar el análisis se contextualizó varios conceptos relativos al tema central, posteriormente se realizaron tablas y gráficos para interpretar el comportamiento de las variables mencionadas y revisar el efecto de las Salvaguardias en el proceder de la recaudación del Estado y sus importaciones. Además, se realizó un modelo econométrico para observar la relación entre las variables, obteniendo un análisis comparativo de los datos en los periodos mencionados con un modelo de regresión simple en el software Gretl. El Estado Ecuatoriano implementa las salvaguardias como tema de proteccionismo en la producción local y remplazar a la demanda de ciertos productos importados, en cierta forma tomando un efecto positivo para las arcas del Estado

Transferencia suelo-planta de elementos potencialmente tóxicos en el sector SO de la provincia de Ciudad Real

Depto. de Mineralogía y PetrologíaFac. de Ciencias GeológicasTRUEpu

Geochemical Assessment of Mineral Resource Potential in a Hg-Sb-Pb-Zn Mining Area: The Almadén and Guadalmez Synclines (South-Central Spain)

The geochemical data from surface soils are often neglected or questioned when prospecting for ore deposits within active mining districts due to the “background noise” produced by anthropogenic pollution derived from mining activity. Large datasets on a national and international scale offer interesting possibilities to discover prospective zones. In the present work, data from the Geochemical Atlas of Castilla–La Mancha were treated in an area with an intense history of mining Hg, Pb, Zn, and Sb: the Almadén and Guadalmez synclines and the Alcudia Valley. The sampling grid was densified to adapt it to the scale of the main geological formations, and a cluster analysis was carried out to establish the relationships between the variables and a factor analysis to distinguish between geogenic and metallogenic factors. The results showed very high concentrations of some elements of prospective interest in local background areas: Hg (51 mg kg−1), Pb (1190 mg kg−1), and Sb (45 mg kg−1), with high variation coefficients. Cluster analysis unveiled a relationship between most of the local ore-forming metals (As, Sb, Hg, Pb, and Ag) with a clear correlation between Hg and organic matter, suggesting a notable contribution of Hg in soil. The factor analysis highlighted five factors, three geogenic and two ore-forming elements. Despite Hg being the main candidate to form a separate factor, its aerial deposition and a large number of outliers in the Almadén syncline contributed to integrating the element into a geogenic factor. Instead, factors F4 (Pb and Zn) and F5 (As and Sb) delimited the prospective areas in both synclines far from the known and the exploited mines. Some of these areas coincided with discovered mineralized zones, specifically in the area SE of a derelict Sb mine, confirming the usefulness of these datasets and statistical tools in areas with recent mining activity