What drives strategic agility? Evidence from a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (FsQCA)

Strategic agility is a topic that has not reached maturity and is of increasing interest for companies and academics alike. Yet few studies assess what drives strategic agility in organisations. This paper aims to review how companies are currently obtaining strategic agility and to identify the individual factors and confgurations that lead to it. The study draws on a survey carried out with 40 Spanish companies in the services sector. The study then uses Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) to identify the diferent confgurations of factors that lead to strategic agility. Finally, we complement QCA analysis by performing a case study for each of the confgurations that lead to strategic agility. The study reveals that there is no necessary condition to reach strategic agility and that companies reach it in fve main ways, depending on diferent combinations of six factors: frm size, frm age, whether the frm is international, whether it competes in a turbulent environment, and whether the frm invests in i) capabilities and technologies, and ii) additional revenue models or cost-cutting mechanisms or not

El efecto de la estructura de propiedad en las participaciones en empresas de las entidades bancarias

El trabajo que se presenta analiza el efecto de la estructura de propiedad sobre la decisión de toma de participaciones permanentes en empresas por parte de las entidades bancarias, partiendo de la literatura del control corporativo. Concretamente, analiza el efecto de la distinta forma jurídica existente entre bancos y cajas de ahorros, así como la pertenencia de un banco a un grupo y el carácter doméstico o extranjero del mismo. Los resultados obtenidos para un panel de 106 entidades bancarias en el período 1996-2001, apuntan en primer lugar, que la distinta forma jurídica entre bancos y cajas incide en el volumen de participaciones mantenido por las entidades. En segundo lugar, para el colectivo de bancos, si bien la pertenencia a un grupo por si sola, no parece tener relación con esta actividad bancaria, el carácter nacional o extranjero del mismo, si presenta un efecto significativo en el volumen de participaciones.This work, after a review of the literature on corporate control, analyzes the effect of the ownership structure on the decisions of banking entities to take equity in firms. To be specific, it analyzes the effect of the banks’ and savings banks’ different forms of corporation, as well as the effect of the bank belonging to a group, and of the domestic or foreign character of the bank. The results obtained for a panel of 106 banking entities in the 1996-2001 period indicate that the different forms of corporation of the banks and savings banks has an effect on the amount of equity held by the entities. Moreover, in the case of banks, whether they belong to a group or are independent does not appear to influence the activity of holding equity, while the domestic or foreign character of the bank does have a significant effect on the amount of equity held

Empirical study of national technological innovation capability in Africa

This paper performs an analysis of the technological innovation capability in 30 African countries. Based on the literature about national innovation capability and economy of technological change, an empirical study using clusters’ analysis technique and the technological innovation indicators published in the Global Competitiveness Report 2010-2011 (WEF, 2010) has been performed in order to explore the existence of groups of countries characterized by different technological innovation levels, deepening in their characteristics and the distance that separates them. The results show the existence of four groups of countries defined by different technological innovation capabilities in three factors, which are the Governmental and business technological policy, the Technological infrastructure and human capital (Available Base) and the Protection of intellectual property and innovation results

Plan de negocio para la implementaci?n de una empresa de venta multicanal de productos tecnol?gicos inform?ticos en Piura

La propuesta surge ante la potencialidad de un sector din?mico en dos mercados identificables: personas naturales y empresas. Piura es la segunda ciudad m?s poblada; la investigaci?n de mercado revela un mercado potencial de m?s de 300,000 personas s?lo en la poblaci?n urbana de los 2 distritos m?s importantes y m?s de 10,000 Mypes en la provincia de Piura. El modelo de negocio desarrolla una propuesta de valor que se enfoca en la entrega de productos novedosos, eficientes y de calidad. La estrategia se fundamenta en la experiencia del cliente e innovaci?n de productos. Marketing se fija objetivos de crecimiento y cuota de mercado incremental a lograr con el posicionamiento de la marca, basado en variables de precio, calidad y orientaci?n/asistencia. Operaciones usa estrategia de costos y flexibilidad y gestiona el proceso de importaci?n con sus dos canales la tienda presencial y la plataforma e-commerce. Recursos humanos establece un organigrama b?sico cuyo personal incrementa progresivamente de acuerdo al crecimiento del negocio. La evaluaci?n financiera obtiene un VANF de S/. 29,761 y TIRF de 23.53% por encima de su COK de 21.7%. El negocio se muestra atractivo sin perder de vista variables sensibles que deben ser monitorizadas para lograr el ?xito

Syngas/H2 production from bioethanol in a continuous Chemical-Looping Reforming prototype

Chemical-looping reforming (CLR) allows H2 production without CO2 emissions into the atmosphere. The use of a renewable fuel, bioethanol, in an auto-thermal CLR process has the advantage to produce H2 with negative CO2 emissions. This work presents the experimental results obtained in a continuously operating CLR unit (1 kWth) using ethanol as fuel. Two NiO-based oxygen carriers were used during more than 50 h of operation. The influence of variables such as temperature, water-to-fuel and oxygen-to-fuel molar ratios was analysed. Full conversion of ethanol was accomplished and carbon formation was easily avoided. A syngas composed of ≈ 61 vol.% H2, ≈ 32 vol.% CO, ≈ 5 vol.% CO2 and ≈ 2 vol.% CH4 was reached at auto-thermal conditions for both materials. Gas composition was closed to the given by the thermodynamic equilibrium. These results demonstrate the technical viability of H2/syngas production by using bioethanol in an auto-thermal CLR process.This work is partially supported by the Spanish Ministry for Science and Innovation (MICINN project ENE2011-26354) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), and by CTGAS-ER (project OTT20130989). A. Serrano also thanks the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness for the F.P.I. fellowshipPeer reviewe

In vivo expansion of a CD9+ decidual-like NK cell subset following autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (autoHSCT) is a treatment option for hematological disorders and pediatric solid tumors. After an autoHSCT, natural killer (NK) cells are the first lymphocyte subset returning to normal levels. To uncover global changes during NK cell reconstitution after autoHSCT, we performed RNA-sequencing on NK cells before and after autoHSCT. Results showed profound changes in the gene expression profile of NK cells immediately after autoHSCT. Several biological processes including cell cycle, DNA replication and the mevalonate pathway were enriched. Significantly, we observed that following autoHSCT, NK cells acquired a decidual-like gene expression profile, including the expression of CD9. By using multiparametric flow cytometry, we confirmed the expansion of NK cells expressing CD9 immediately after autoHSCT, which exhibited higher granzyme B and perforin expression levels than CD9- NK cells. These results provide insights into the physiopathology of NK cells during their reconstitution after autoHSCT.Supported by the following grants: AECC-Spanish Association Against Cancer (PROYE16074- BORR) and Health Department, Basque Government (2021333006). GA-P is the recipient of a predoctoral contract funded by AECC-Spanish Association Against Cancer (PRDVZ21440ASTA). DP-A is a recipient of a fellowship from the AECC-Spanish Association Against Cancer (PPLAB212164POLA), AA-I and GA-P are recipient of a fellowship from the Jesús de Gangoiti Barrera Foundation (FJGB20/007, FJGB21/001 and FJBG21/005). IT is recipient of a predoctoral contract funded by the Department of Education, Basque Government (PRE_2021_2_0215). OZ is the recipient of a postdoctoral contract funded by ‘‘Instituto de Salud Carlos III-Contratos Sara Borrell 2017 (CD17/00128)’’ and the European Social Fund (ESF)-The ESF invests in your future. FB is an Ikerbasque Research Professor, Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science.S

MICa/b-dependent activation of natural killer cells by CD64+ inflammatory type 2 dendritic cells contributes to autoimmunity

Artículo escrito por un elevado número de autores, solo se referencian el que aparece en primer lugar, el nombre del grupo de colaboración, si le hubiere, y los autores pertenecientes a la UAMPrimary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is an inflammatory autoimmune disorder largely mediated by type I and II interferon (IFN). The potential contribution of innate immune cells, such as natural killer (NK) cells and dendritic cells (DC), to the pSS pathology remains understudied. Here, we identified an enriched CD16+ CD56hi NK cell subset associated with higher cytotoxic function, as well as elevated proportions of inflammatory CD64+ conventional dendritic cell (cDC2) subtype that expresses increased levels of MICa/b, the ligand for the activating receptor NKG2D, in pSS individuals. Circulating cDC2 from pSS patients efficiently induced activation of cytotoxic NK cells ex vivo and were found in proximity to CD56+ NK cells in salivary glands (SG) from pSS patients. Interestingly, transcriptional activation of IFN signatures associated with the RIG-I/DDX60 pathway, IFN I receptor, and its target genes regulate the expression of NKG2D ligands on cDC2 from pSS patients. Finally, increased proportions of CD64hi RAE-1+ cDC2 and NKG2D+CD11b+CD27+ NK cells were present in vivo in the SG after poly I:C injection. Our study provides novel insight into the contribution and interplay of NK and cDC2 in pSS pathology and identifies new potential therapy targetsRTI2018-097485-A-I00, PID2021-127899OB-I0

MICa/b-dependent activation of natural killer cells by CD64+ inflammatory type 2 dendritic cells contributes to autoimmunity.

Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is an inflammatory autoimmune disorder largely mediated by type I and II interferon (IFN). The potential contribution of innate immune cells, such as natural killer (NK) cells and dendritic cells (DC), to the pSS pathology remains understudied. Here, we identified an enriched CD16+ CD56hi NK cell subset associated with higher cytotoxic function, as well as elevated proportions of inflammatory CD64+ conventional dendritic cell (cDC2) subtype that expresses increased levels of MICa/b, the ligand for the activating receptor NKG2D, in pSS individuals. Circulating cDC2 from pSS patients efficiently induced activation of cytotoxic NK cells ex vivo and were found in proximity to CD56+ NK cells in salivary glands (SG) from pSS patients. Interestingly, transcriptional activation of IFN signatures associated with the RIG-I/DDX60 pathway, IFN I receptor, and its target genes regulate the expression of NKG2D ligands on cDC2 from pSS patients. Finally, increased proportions of CD64hi RAE-1+ cDC2 and NKG2D+ CD11b+ CD27+ NK cells were present in vivo in the SG after poly I:C injection. Our study provides novel insight into the contribution and interplay of NK and cDC2 in pSS pathology and identifies new potential therapy targets.S

A Large Multicenter Prospective Study of Community-Onset Healthcare Associated Bacteremic Urinary Tract Infections in the Era of Multidrug Resistance: Even Worse than Hospital Acquired Infections?

Introduction: Healthcare-associated (HCA) infections represent a growing public health problem. The aim of this study was to compare community-onset healthcare associated (CO-HCA) bacteremic urinary tract infections (BUTI) and hospital-acquired (HA)-BUTI with special focus on multidrug resistances (MDR) and outcomes. Methods: ITUBRAS-project is a prospective multicenter cohort study of patients with HCA-BUTI. All consecutive hospitalized adult patients with CO-HCA-BUTI or HA-BUTI episode were included in the study. Exclusion criteria were: patients \ 18 years old, non-hospitalized patients, bacteremia from another source or primary bacteremia, non-healthcare related infections and infections caused by unusual pathogens of the urinary tract. Th main outcome variable was 30-day all-cause mortality with day 1 as the first day of positive blood culture. Logistic regression was used to analyze factors associated with clinical cure at hospital discharge and with receiving inappropriate initial antibiotic treatment. Cox regression was used to evaluate 30-day all-cause mortality. Results: Four hundred forty-three episodes were included, 223 CO-HCA-BUTI. Patients with CO-HCA-BUTI were older (p \ 0.001) and had more underlying diseases (p = 0.029) than those with HA-BUTI. The severity of the acute illness (Pitt score) was also higher in CO-HCABUTI (p = 0.026). Overall, a very high rate of MDR profiles (271/443, 61.2%) was observed, with no statistical differences between groups. In multivariable analysis, inadequate empirical treatment was associated with MDR profile (aOR 3.35; 95% CI 1.77?6.35), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (aOR 2.86; 95% CI 1.27?6.44) and Charlson index (aOR 1.11; 95% CI 1.01?1.23). Mortality was not associated with the site of acquisition of the infection or the presence of MDR profile. However, in the logistic regression analyses patients with CO-HCA-BUTI (aOR 0.61; 95% CI 0.40?0.93) were less likely to present clinical cure. Conclusion: The rate of MDR infections was worryingly high in our study. No differences in MDR rates were found between CO-HCA-BUTI and HA-BUTI, in the probability of receiving inappropriate empirical treatment or in 30-day mortality. However, CO-HCA-BUTIs were associated with worse clinical cure.Funding. This study and the journal’s Rapid Service Fee are sponsored and funded by MSD Spain. The study was also supported by Plan Nacional de I+D+i 2013–2016 and Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Subdirección General de Redes y Centros de Investigación Cooperativa, Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad, Spanish Network for Research in Infectious Diseases (REIPI RD16/0016/0004, RD16/ 0016/0005, RD16/0016/0007, RD16/0016/0010, RD16/0016/0011 and RD16/0016/0015), co-financed by the European Development Regional Fund ‘A way to achieve Europe’ (ERDF), Operative program Intelligent Growth 2014–2020