Integracija društveno odgovornog poslovanja u strategiju tehnološki intenzivnih poduzeća: poslovni slučaj

This paper presents a new perspective which calls for an integration of ethics and corporate social responsibility (CSR) into the company strategy as a source of competitive advantages. The research question we pose is how a company can successfully carry out this integration of CSR into its strategic management, for which a model that includes three stages – introduction, implementation and generalization of CSR – is presented. Based on an exploratory case study within a Spanish technology-intensive firm (Indra), we show the way this company has developed and implemented an explicit plan for the integration of ethical values and CSR initiatives into its corporate and business strategies. Although this company has established its own methodology in order to develop and implement CSR plans, it fits in essence to our three-stage model of CSR integration. In general, our analyses show a beneficial impact of the development and implementation of CSR plan for this technology-intensive company. In particular, it seems that the CSR plan enables companies to improve its’ internal and external (competitive) context through a better exploration and exploitation of knowledge, its stable relationships with stakeholders and the development and improvement of intangible resources such as reputation or social capital. It is also shown that there are important factors to consider in order this process can successfully carried out, such as organizational culture, human resource practices or knowledge management systems. Future research will need to engage in largerscale confirmatory as well as longitudinal studies of the impact of CSR implementation for company performance.U radu je predstavljena nova perspektiva koja integraciju etičkog i društveno odgovornog poslovanja u strategiju poduzeća smatra izvorom konkurentskih prednosti. Postavljeno je istraživačko pitanje koje nastoji utvrditi na koji način poduzeće može uspješno provesti integraciju društveno-odgovornog poslovanja u strateški menadžment i u tu svrhu predstavljen je model koji uključuje tri faze: uvod, implementaciju i generalizaciju društveno-odgovornog poslovanja. Na temelju eksplorativne analize slučaja procesa strateškog oblikovanja unutar tehnološko intenzivnog poduzeća u Španjolskoj (Indra), prikazan je eksplicitan plan integracije etičkih vrijednosti i inicijativa društveno odgovornog poslovanja u njegovu korporativnu i pripadajuće poslovne strategije. Iako je ovo poduzeće uspostavilo svoju metodologiju za provođenje i razvoj planova društveno odgovornog poslovanja, ono se u biti uklapa u naš model integracije u tri faze. Općenito, provedene analize prikazuju pozitivan utjecaj razvoja i implementacije plana društveno odgovornog poslovanja na promatrano tehnološko intenzivno poduzeće. Posebice, čini se kako plan društveno odgovornog poslovanja, kroz bolje istraživanje i iskorištavanje znanja te kroz postojanje stabilnih odnosa s interesno-utjecajnim skupinama, omogućava poduzećima unaprjeđenje njihovog unutarnjeg i vanjskog (konkurentskog) okruženja. Kako bi se to potvrdilo, u budućnosti su potrebna opsežnija konfirmativna, ali i longitudinalna istraživanja utjecaja implementacije društveno odgovornog poslovanja na uspješnost poduzeća

Transfer induced by core excitation within an extended distorted-wave Born approximation method

Background: Dynamic core-excitation effects have been found to be of importance in breakup reactions and may be of relevance when obtaining spectroscopic information from transfer reactions. Purpose: In this paper we extend the distorted-wave Born approximation (DWBA) formalism in order to allow for noncentral components in the core-core term appearing in the transition operator, which allows for dynamic core-excitation effects. Then we study these effects by applying the formalism to different (d,p) reactions. Methods: The expression of the nonlocal kernels required for the evaluation of the DWBA amplitudes has been extended so as to include noncentral parts in the core-core interaction. The DWBA scattering amplitude is then obtained by solving the corresponding inhomogeneous equation, with the new computed kernels, and the usual outgoing boundary conditions. A new DWBA code has been developed for this purpose. Results: For Be10(d,p)Be11, core-excitation effects are found to be almost negligible (<3%). The importance of this effect has been found to depend to a large extent on the excitation energy of the core. This has been confirmed in the Ne30(d,p)Ne31 case, for which the excitation energy of the first 2+ state is 0.8 MeV, and the effect of core excitation increases to ≈10%. Conclusions: We find dynamic core-excitation effects in transfer reactions to have small contributions to cross sections, in general. However, they should not be neglected, since they may modify the spectroscopic information obtained from these reactions and may become of importance in reactions with nuclei with a core with high deformation and low excitation energy.Junta de Andalucía FQM160 P07-FQM-02894Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (España) FPA-2013-47327-C02-01-RPrograma Consolider-Ingenio 2010 (España) CSD2007-00042 FPA2009- 0765

Predation of the invasive gecko Hemidactylus angulatus Hallowell, 1854 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) by the wandering spider Ancylometes bogotensis Keyserling, 1877 (Araneae: Ctenidae) in Tolima, Colombia

Registramos la depredación del gecko Hemidactylus angulatus por la araña Ancylometes bogotensis, en la zona de vida de Bosque Seco Tropical en el norte del departamento del Tolima (Colombia). El reporte aquí descrito constituye un aporte al conocimiento de la historia natural de las especies referenciadas y evidencia el potencial de A. bogotensis como agente de control biológico de especies invasoras de geckos, debido a que podría contribuir a disminuir las poblaciones y el ingreso de estos saurios a zonas boscosas naturales.We report the predation on the gecko Hemidactylus angulatus by the spider Ancylometes bogotensis, in the Tropical Dry Forest life zone located at Northern Tolima (Colombia). This short note is a contribution to the knowledge about the natural history of the referenced species because of the potential of A. bogotensis as a biological control agent of geckos that decreases its invasive potential. This is important due to the possibility to make populations of the gecko decline and to restrict the entry of these saurians to natural forested areas

CloudBench: an integrated evaluation of VM placement algorithms in clouds

A complex and important task in the cloud resource management is the efficient allocation of virtual machines (VMs), or containers, in physical machines (PMs). The evaluation of VM placement techniques in real-world clouds can be tedious, complex and time-consuming. This situation has motivated an increasing use of cloud simulators that facilitate this type of evaluations. However, most of the reported VM placement techniques based on simulations have been evaluated taking into account one specific cloud resource (e.g., CPU), whereas values often unrealistic are assumed for other resources (e.g., RAM, awaiting times, application workloads, etc.). This situation generates uncertainty, discouraging their implementations in real-world clouds. This paper introduces CloudBench, a methodology to facilitate the evaluation and deployment of VM placement strategies in private clouds. CloudBench considers the integration of a cloud simulator with a real-world private cloud. Two main tools were developed to support this methodology, a specialized multi-resource cloud simulator (CloudBalanSim), which is in charge of evaluating VM placement techniques, and a distributed resource manager (Balancer), which deploys and tests in a real-world private cloud the best VM placement configurations that satisfied user requirements defined in the simulator. Both tools generate feedback information, from the evaluation scenarios and their obtained results, which is used as a learning asset to carry out intelligent and faster evaluations. The experiments implemented with the CloudBench methodology showed encouraging results as a new strategy to evaluate and deploy VM placement algorithms in the cloud.This work was partially funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness under the Grant TIN2016-79637-P “Towards Unifcation of HPC and Big Data Paradigms” and by the Mexican Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT) through a Ph.D. Grant (No. 212677)

Cosmology of an Axion-Like Majoron

We propose a singlet majoron model that defines an inverse seesaw mechanism in the v sector. The majoron phi has a mass m(phi) approximate to 0.5 eV and a coupling to the tau lepton similar to the one to neutrinos. In the early universe it is initially in thermal equilibrium, then it decouples at T approximate to 500 GeV and contributes with just Delta N-eff = 0.026 during BBN. At T = 26 keV (final stages of BBN) a primordial magnetic field induces resonant gamma phi oscillations that transfer 6% of the photon energy into majorons, implying Delta N-eff = 0.55 and a 4.7% increase in the baryon to photon ratio. At T approximate to m(phi) the majoron enters in thermal contact with the heaviest neutrino and it finally decays into v (v) over bar pairs near recombination, setting Delta N-eff = 0.85. The boost in the expansion rate at later times may relax the Hubble tension (we obtain H-0 = (71.4 +/- 0.5) km/s/Mpc), while the processes v (v) over bar phi suppress the free streaming of these particles and make the model consistent with large scale structure observations. Its lifetime and the fact that it decays into neutrinos instead of photons lets this axion-like majoron avoid the strong bounds that affect other axion-like particles of similar mass and coupling to photons.We would like to thank Mar Bastero, Adrián Carmona, Mikael R. Chala, Miguel Escudero, Javier Olmedo, José Santiago and Samuel Witte for discussions. This work was partially supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (PID2019-107844GB-C21/AEI/10.13039/501100011033) and by the Junta de Andalucía (FQM 101, SOMM17/6104/UGR, P18-FR-1962, P18-FR-5057)

Índices de seguridad de voltaje calculados con datos de unidades fasoriales de medida

Las unidades de medida fasorial son un recurso tecnológico que permite observar con gran precisión el estado dinámico del sistema eléctrico de potencia. Su aplicación permite, entre muchas otras cosas, implementar índices para evaluar en tiempo real la seguridad de voltaje. Este artículo presenta una breve historia del desarrollo de estos índices y una propuesta inicial de escalas semánticas - gráficas para tres de ellos, con el fin de expresar en forma cualitativa al operador del centro de control el estado de la seguridad de voltaje del sistema

Heterogeneous multi-robot system for mapping environmental variables of greenhouses

The productivity of greenhouses highly depends on the environmental conditions of crops, such as temperature and humidity. The control and monitoring might need large sensor networks, and as a consequence, mobile sensory systems might be a more suitable solution. This paper describes the application of a heterogeneous robot team to monitor environmental variables of greenhouses. The multi-robot system includes both ground and aerial vehicles, looking to provide flexibility and improve performance. The multi-robot sensory system measures the temperature, humidity, luminosity and carbon dioxide concentration in the ground and at different heights. Nevertheless, these measurements can be complemented with other ones (e.g., the concentration of various gases or images of crops) without a considerable effort. Additionally, this work addresses some relevant challenges of multi-robot sensory systems, such as the mission planning and task allocation, the guidance, navigation and control of robots in greenhouses and the coordination among ground and aerial vehicles. This work has an eminently practical approach, and therefore, the system has been extensively tested both in simulations and field experiments.The research leading to these results has received funding from the RoboCity2030-III-CM project (Robótica aplicada a la mejora de la calidad de vida de los ciudadanos. fase III; S2013/MIT-2748), funded by Programas de Actividades I+ D en la Comunidad de Madrid and co-funded by Structural Funds of the EU, and from the DPI2014-56985-Rproject (Protección robotizada de infraestructuras críticas) funded by the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad of Gobierno de España. This work is framed on the SAVIER (Situational Awareness Virtual EnviRonment) Project, which is both supported and funded by Airbus Defence & Space. The experiments were performed in an educational greenhouse of the E.T.S.I.Agrónomos of Technical University of Madrid.Peer Reviewe

Inotropes in postoperative cardiovascular surgery: cross-sectional study

Introducción Los inotrópicos, fármacos de uso frecuente en la unidad de cuidado intensivo, se emplean con el fin de mantener la perfusión tisular en los diferentes estados de choque mientras se resuelve la etiología del mismo. Los pacientes programados para cirugía cardiovascular son un subgrupo que con frecuencia requiere tratamiento con estos fármacos en el postoperatorio. Objetivo Describir la frecuencia y el tipo de fármacos usados para el soporte hemodinámico de pacientes en el postoperatorio de cirugía cardiovascular electiva en la Clínica Fundadores, Bogotá, DC. Métodos Estudio de corte trasversal, en el que se incluyeron todos los pacientes que ingresaron en la unidad de cuidado intensivo sin requerimiento de soporte hemodinámico farmacológico entre octubre de 2010 y diciembre de 2011 en postoperatorio de cirugía cardiaca. Se extrajeron de las historias clínicas electrónicas la edad, el sexo, el puntaje EuroSCORE, el diagnóstico prequirúrgico, el uso de circulación extracorpórea, el uso de fármacos vasoactivos, los días de estancia en la unidad de cuidado intensivo y la mortalidad. Resultados Se encontraron 150 registros de cirugía cardiovascular con una edad media de 62,8 años (DE 10,5), de los cuales 97 (64,6%) eran hombres. Se encontraron 22 (15%) casos con EuroSCORE en riesgo alto, 93 (62%) en riesgo moderado y 35 (23%) en riesgo bajo. Los diagnósticos prequirúrgicos incluyeron enfermedad coronaria en 105 (70%) pacientes, valvulopatías en 29 (19%), cardiopatía isquémica y valvular en 9 (6%) y comunicación interauricular en 6 (4%). En 57 (38%) casos se empleó circulación extracorpórea con un tiempo medio (RIQ) de 92 (73-114) minutos, de quienes 55 se operaron con clamp aórtico, con un tiempo medio (RIQ) de 75 (52-90) minutos. En 78 (52%) pacientes se utilizó uno o más fármacos vasoactivos, siendo la adrenalina el de mayor frecuencia en 41 (27%) casos. Los pacientes que necesitaron inodilatadores fueron 22 (15%) y recibieron dobutamina. La mediana (RIQ) de estancia en la unidad de cuidados intensivos fue de 3 (2-4) días y murieron 6 (4,7%) pacientes. Conclusión En casi la mitad de los pacientes en postoperatorio de cirugía cardiovascular se utilizó un agente inotrópico, de los cuales la adrenalina fue la más frecuente, seguida de la norepinefrina; el inodilatador utilizado fue la dobutamina. No se utilizaron inotrópicos sensibilizadores del calcio y en baja frecuencia inhibidores de la fosfodiesterasa III con resultados similares en cuanto a estancia en la unidad de cuidados intensivos y mortalidad respecto a estudios en otras poblaciones.Background Inotropes are frequently used in the intensive care unit to maintain tissue perfusion in case of shock while the cause is resolved. Patients who undergo cardiovascular surgery will frequently require treatment with these drugs during postoperative care. Aim To describe the frequency and type of drugs used for the hemodynamic support of patients during the postoperative period of elective cardiovascular surgery at Clínica Fundadores, Bogotá D.C. Methods Cross-sectional study. All patients in the postoperative period of cardiovascular surgery admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) without pharmacologic hemodynamic support between October and December 2011 were included. The following variables were obtained from the electronic medical records: age, sex, EuroSCORE, pre-surgical diagnosis, use of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), use of vasoactive drugs, days of ICU stay and mortality. Results One-hundred fifty cases of cardiovascular surgery were found. Patients had a mean age of 62.8 years (SD 10.5), of whom 97 (64.6%) were men. Risk according to Euro SCORE was high in 22 (15%) cases, moderate in 93 (62%) and low in 35 (23%) cases. Pre-surgical diagnoses included coronary artery disease in 105 (70%) patients, valvular disease in 29 (19%) patients, ischemic and valvular cardiomyopathy in 9 patients (6%) and atrial septal defect in 6 (4%) patients. CPB was used in 57 (38%) cases with a median (IQR) time of 92 (73-114) minutes, of whom 55 (52%) patients were operated with aortic clamp, with a median (IQR) time of 75 (52-90) minutes. In 78 (52%) patients one or more vasoactive drugs were used, where adrenaline was used most often (41 patients, 27%). In 22 (15%) patients inodilators were required. These patients received dobutamine. Median (IQR) ICU stay was 3 (2-4) days and 6 (4.7%) patients died. Conclusion In almost half of patients in the postoperative period of cardiovascular surgery an inotrope was used; the most frequently being adrenaline followed by norepinephrine. The inodilator used in these patients was dobutamine. No calcium sensitizer inotropes were used and in few cases phosphodiesterase III inhibitors were used with comparable ICU stay and mortality to research in other populations

Credibility to attract, trust to stay: the mediating role of trust in improving brand congruence in sports services

This research aims to demonstrate the mediating role of brand trust in the relationship between credibility and users' congruence with a sports services brand. The analysis was carried out using EQS 6.3 to perform the four required steps of the analysis (and the Sobel test was conducted for a public sports service and a private sports service. The results confirm the full mediation effect of brand trust in the case of the private service and a partial mediation for the public service. Therefore, this study confirms that credibility, in the presence of trust, ceases to have an influence on the congruence of users with the brand, which suggests that credibility is important at an initial stage to attract the user, but at more advanced stages, trust must be developed to ensure that users are more congruent with the brand and can, therefore, be identified with it and be more loyal