The present of active and inactive B Corps

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyze the current state of certified and decertified B Corps in order to have a better understanding of why firms decide to abandon the B Corp certificate as well as to reveal decertification trends. Design/Methodology/Approach – The research is based on secondary data published by B Lab itself. Basic statistical methods such as t-tests and linear regressions were used to have a better overview of the state of active and inactive B Corps. Findings – The findings show that there is a general decrease in the decertification rates of B Corps. While the U.S. accounts for the highest and the United Kingdom accounts for the lowest decertification rates. Most of the B Corps are small sized and larger B Corps are less likely to decertify. Research Limitations – The main limitation of this paper is the restricted access to the B Lab data. In the publicly available dataset, information regarding reasons of decertification are not mentioned and thus conclusions are based on literature review and intuition. Practical Implications – From the results, B Lab can identify some of it its weaknesses in some regions, size categories and sectors. B Lab must focus on improving their assessment test to decrease the decertification rates. While also working closely with the government to achieve the best possible outcomes. Social Implications – From the results, consumers will have a better overview of the current B Corp state which will decrease the information asymmetry and improve the decision-making process. Originality – To the author's knowledge, this is the first paper that examines the relationship between B Corp certification counts and the GDP of a country.Objetivo – O objetivo deste artigo é analisar o estado atual das Empresas B certificadas e descertificadas, a fim de entender melhor por que as empresas decidem abandonar o certificado da Empresa B, bem como revelar tendências de descertificação. Desenho/Metodologia/Abordagem – A pesquisa é baseada em dados secundários publicados pelo próprio B Lab. Métodos estatísticos básicos, como testes t e regressões lineares, foram usados para ter uma melhor visão geral do estado das Empresas B ativas e inativas. Resultados – Os resultados mostram que há uma diminuição geral nas taxas de descertificação das Empresas B. Os EUA representam as maiores taxas de descertificação, enquanto o Reino Unido representa as mais baixas. A maioria das Corporações B é bastante pequena em tamanho e as Corporações B maiores são menos propensas a perder a certificação. Limitações da pesquisa – A principal limitação deste trabalho é o acesso restrito aos dados do B Lab. No conjunto de dados disponível publicamente, as informações sobre os motivos da descertificação não são mencionadas e, portanto, as conclusões são baseadas na revisão da literatura e na intuição. Implicações – A partir dos resultados, o B Lab pode identificar alguns de seus pontos fracos em algumas regiões, categorias de tamanho e setores. O B Lab deve focar em melhorar seu teste de avaliação para diminuir as taxas de descertificação. Enquanto o B Lab também deve trabalhar em estreita colaboração com o governo para alcançar os melhores resultados possíveis. Originalidade – Até onde o autor sabe, este é o primeiro artigo que examina a relação entre as contagens de certificação de empresas B e o PIB de um país

Adaptive matched filters for contrast imaging

2010 IEEE. Reprinted, with permission, from Sébastien Ménigot, Iulian Voicu, Anthony Novell, Melouka Elkateb Hachemi Amar and Jean-Marc Girault,Adaptive matched filters for contrast imaging, 2010 IEEE International Ultrasonics Symposium (IUS), 11---14 Oct. 2010. This material is posted here with permission of the IEEE. Such permission of the IEEE does not in any way imply IEEE endorsement of any of the Université François Rabelais de Tours' products or services. Internal or personal use of this material is permitted. However, permission to reprint/republish this material for advertising or promotional purposes or for creating new collective works for resale or redistribution must be obtained from the IEEE by writing to [email protected] audienceThe ultrasound (US) contrast imaging is a promising technique. Currently the scientific community of this field seeks US excitations which should make possible the optimization of the acoustic contrast. Two matched filters (MF) techniques are used to improve the image contrast. The first technique is an adaptive MF technique and the second is a RLS technique derived from identification theory. The system proposed is a close loop system which optimizes the power backscattered by microbubbles. After having transmit a first signal, the backscattered power is optimized by transmitting the matched filtered signal at each iteration. This process is iterated until convergence. Simulations are carried out for encapsulated microbubbles of 2 microns by considering the modified Rayleigh-Plesset equation for a 2.25 MHz transmitted frequency and for various pressure levels (20 kPa up to 420 kPa). In vitro, experiments are carried out by using two transducers a transducers which were placed perpendicularly. The signal was transmitted through a 2.25 MHz transducer. Responses of a 1/2000 diluted solution of SonoVue were measured by a 3.5 MHz transducer. Each experiment has been realized with three pressure levels (127, 244 and 370 kPa). We show through simulations and through in vitro experiments that our adaptive imaging technique gives in case of simulations a gain which can reach 12 dB compared to the traditional technique and for in vitro experiments, the MF gives a gain which can reach 4.5 dB whereas the MF derived from identification theory can reach 6 dB

Perspective Chapter: Rethink CSR Strategies in the Era of COVID-19

A growing call for green initiatives made companies implement corporate social responsibility (CSR) into their business activities ethically or strategically to gain legitimacy and present an environmentally responsible public image. In this regard, the problem of greenwashing has emerged even during the pandemic: companies disclose positive communication to ensure business legitimacy even when they are applying irresponsible business practices. Their CSR strategy is responsive: businesses have implemented CSR activities to comply with environmental and social legislation and the stakeholders’ pressure. In the other hand, other companies have undertaken more strategic CSR models to achieve long-term competitive advantages combining the ethical and business orientations. They consider CSR as a differentiation process. They reviewed their CSR strategies, as a core of the corporate strategy, to align social commitments and business objectives. For instance, the pandemic has driven many businesses to rethink the founder lines of their CSR strategies, in order to avoid social crisis and create strategic benefits. Within this framework, this chapter aims to shed light on the effect of strategic CSR on corporate performance and businesses practices during the pandemic. It assesses the key factors that can improve the implementation of socially and eco-friendly sustainable practices to be more resilient toward potential crisis

Application of shear wave propagation to elasticity imaging of biological tissues

Dynamic elastography using ultrasound radiation force is an imaging technique of biological tissues elastic properties. In a mechanical point of view, biological tissues are supposed isotropic, so their properties are independent of the reference axis. In these mediums, the tensor of elastic constants can be expressed as a function of two independent constants : the elastic bulk modulus K (which is linked to the compression wave propagation ) and the elastic shear modulus μ (which is linked to the shear wave propagation). The development of some cancers can result in weak variations of the bulk elastic modulus, but can considerably modify the shear elastic modulus. Measurement of m can then help for the diagnosis of this type of tissue pathology. A judicious mean to measure this parameter is the use of a non-linear effect called ultrasound radiation force. This force is proportional to the attenuation and the intensity of the ultrasound beam emitted by the imaging system. This stress source essentially generates a shear wave that propagates with a velocity proportional to the shear modulus and with a purely transverse polarisation in the far-field (far from the stress source ). Measurement of the medium displacements induced by shear wave propagation can allow to calculate the shear modulus of the medium (inverse problem resolution). We performed these measurements from the radio-frequency (RF) lines obtained with an imaging ultrasound transducer. This work describes precisely the signal processing realized on the RF lines. This processing is based on the use of a delay estimation method to measure temporal delays between RF lines during the shear wave propagation. Influence of different parameters (length of the analyse window, Signal to Noise Ratio of RF lines, sampling frequency, ultrasound transducer characteristics...) on the measurement precision has been studied. We present displacement curves as a function of time obtained after optimisation of processing parameters. Experimental results have been favourably compared to a physical model and allowed us to calculate the shear modulus of the medium.L'élastographie dynamique par force de radiation ultrasonore est une technique d'imagerie des propriétés élastiques des tissus biologiques. D'un point de vue mécanique, nous supposons que ces milieux sont isotropes c'est-à-dire que leurs propriétés sont indépendantes du choix des axes de référence. Le tenseur élastique qui définit les constantes physiques de ce milieu s'exprime en fonction de deux constantes indépendantes, le module d'élasticité volumique K (qui intervient lors de la propagation des ondes de compression), et le module d'élasticité de cisaillement μ (qui intervient lors de la propagation des ondes de cisaillement). L'apparition de certains type de cancers entraîne de faibles variations du module d'élasticité volumique K, mais peut modifier considérablement le module d'élasticité de cisaillement μ. La mesure de ce paramètre μ peut ainsi aider au diagnostic de ce type de pathologie des tissus. Un moyen judicieux de mesurer ce paramètre est d'utiliser un effet non linéaire de force de radiation ultrasonore. Cette force est proportionnelle à l'atténuation et à l'intensité des ultrasons émis dans le tissu par le système d'imagerie. Cette source de contrainte génère principalement une onde de cisaillement qui se propage avec une vitesse de phase proportionnelle au module de cisaillement et une polarisation purement transversale en champ lointain (loin de la source de contrainte). La mesure des déplacements du milieu, induits par la propagation de cette onde, peut permettre par résolution du problème inverse de remonter au module de cisaillement. Nous avons réalisé ces mesures à partir des lignes radiofréquences (RF) obtenues par un transducteur d'imagerie ultrasonore. Ce travail décrit précisément le traitement que nous avons réalisé sur les lignes RF. Ce traitement est basé sur l'utilisation d'une méthode d'estimation des retards temporels entre les lignes radiofréquences obtenues pendant la propagation de l'onde de cisaillement. L'influence de différents paramètres (taille de la fenêtre glissante d'analyse, rapport signal sur bruit des lignes RF, fréquence d'échantillonnage, caractéristiques du transducteur ultrasonore...) sur la précision de mesure des déplacements a été étudiée. Nous présentons les courbes des déplacements en fonction du temps obtenus après optimisation des paramètres de traitement. Ces résultats expérimentaux ont été favorablement comparés à un modèle physique et nous ont permis de remonter au module de cisaillement du milieu

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International audienceNotre système de question-réponse MUSCLEF, qui a participé à l’évaluation CLEF en 2004, a été conçu pour fournir des réponses en anglais à des questions posées en français. Il est fondé sur notre système pour l’anglais, QALC, qui a participé à TREC, et y a obtenu de bons résultats quand nous avons combiné plusieurs stratégies. QALC recherchait des réponses dans la collection donnée et sur le WEB. Nous avons gardé ces deux stratégies pour CLEF, à partir des questions traduites. Nous avons aussi géré le multilinguisme en traduisant les termes significatifs tirés des questions et en adaptant QALC pour construire le système MUSQAT. Nous avons combiné les résultats de ces trois recherches pour produire le résultat final et nous montrons l’apport de cette combinaison par rapport aux résultats de chacune des stratégies seules