An Appraisal of Traceability Systems for Food Supply Chains in Colombia

Traceability systems have improved significantly in the last few years in relation to safeguarding food safety and quality. Although traceability is considered to be an effective tool in supporting quality control, the adoption of different traceability systems along the supply chain can bring the drawback of information asymmetry, which affects inventory management. This paper explores adoption alternatives that may facilitate the blend of traceability technologies in the food industry of developing countries. The analysis is based on a simulation model that represents the behaviour of inventory and food quality in the case of the mango supply chain in Colombia. The results show the asymmetries between traceability systems along the supply chain as well as their effects on inventory and food quality

Dynamics performance of the wind-power supply chain with transmission capacity constraints

Previous studies have shown that poor performance of energy supply chains arises from incorrectly interpret feedback information and time delays between decisions and actions in energy policy. This paper assesses alternatives to improve performance of wind-power supply chain with transmission constraints that contribute to enhance response capacity of the wind industry to changes of energy policy. In order to test these alternatives, this paper used a simulation model with system dynamics (SD), taking as case study Brazil. The simulation model represents the main time lags and fluctuations that exist in the wind-power supply chain. Four simulation scenarios were proposed to evaluate changes in auction-based policy in wind industry of Brazil. The results are related to operational capacity, inventory levels and response capacity. This paper provides an analysis of different scenarios that contribute with synchronization of auctions policy, including transmission capacity constraints

Comparación de técnicas de modelamiento para el control de procesos: un enfoque de aprendizaje con dinámica de sistemas

El modelamiento por medio de la dinámica de sistemas para procesos físicos se puede utilizar para generar estrategias de control. Se presenta una aplicación con Simulink y Vensim para analizar el comportamiento de un sistema y generar estrategias para mantener un punto deseado. Este artículo muestra cómo utilizar la definición obtenida desde la dinámica de sistemas para modelar procesos físicos, sin un alto grado de la matemática formal y como apoyo a los procesos de aprendizaje. Se plantea un contraste entre la aplicación de técnicas de control y la simulación con dinámica de sistemas, y una discusión sobre la contribución a los procesos de aprendizaje en el modelamiento de sistemas de control

Barreras a la innovación: una revisión sistemática de la literatura

There are multiple barriers for firms to effectively carry out innovation processes. According to the Oslo Manual, these barriers can be financial, knowledge-, and market-related. However, recent literature has shown that, in addition, there are other barriers that also prevent companies from achieving successful innovations. This paper presents a systematic literature review of publications on this topic indexed in Scopus and published between 2019 and 2022. Its main objective was to describe the trends in the literature on barriers to innovation published in recent years, especially in English. Our results show that the traditional definition of barriers to innovation is evolving—from the logic of the Oslo Manual towards another more comprehensive notion of said barriers that considers that they affect not only technological innovation but also environmental and social innovations. Additionally, we found that small and young companies, as well as those operating in developing countries, have a greater perception of facing barriers to innovation. This paper contributes especially to decision makers and researchers who seek to propose solutions for companies to overcome barriers to innovation.Existen múltiples barreras para que las empresas realicen efectivamente procesos de innovación. Estas barreras, según el Manual de Oslo, se agrupan en financieras, de conocimiento y de mercado. Sin embargo, en años recientes la literatura ha mostrado que, además de estas tipologías de barreras, existen otras que también impiden a las compañías alcanzar innovaciones exitosas. En este documento se realizó una revisión sistemática de la literatura para publicaciones en Scopus entre 2019 y 2022, y que tuvo como principal objetivo entender cuáles son las tendencias en investigación frente a las barreras en innovación en los últimos años, especialmente para la literatura en inglés. Los resultados mostraron que la visión tradicional de las barreras a la innovación está evolucionando desde la lógica del Manual de Oslo hacia otra en donde se genera una forma más incluyente de dichas barreras y en la que se demuestra que no solo la innovación tecnológica, sino también las innovaciones ambientales y sociales, se ven afectadas por dichas barreras. Adicionalmente, se encontró que las pequeñas y jóvenes empresas, así como las que operan en países en vía de desarrollo, son las que tienen una mayor percepción de enfrentar barreras a la innovación. Este artículo contribuye especialmente a los tomadores de decisiones y a los investigadores que buscan plantear soluciones para que las empresas se sobrepongan a las barreras a la innovación

Previsão de curto prazo do índice de preços ao consumidor: Análise do custo da eletricidade na costa caribenha da Colômbia

The Colombian Caribbean Coast is characterized by its favorable conditions for the generation of solar energy. However, they have not yet been exploited in such a way as to allow an adequate energy transition in the country. In this context, the article presents an evaluation of solar energy consumption from two aspects: first, it investigates the profitability of the use of renewable energies applied to the Caribbean region in Colombia. Second, it evaluates through an econometric model the relationship between the implementation of solar energy at the level of consumption demanded by this region, with respect to the per capita income of the Caribbean population. The results show through an econometric model that the payment of this public service will fall on the socioeconomically less favored population. Therefore, this article contributes to understanding the effects of solar energy policies in the Caribbean region of Colombia, which includes a discussion on the limitations of electricity infrastructure in this area of ​​the country.La Costa Caribe colombiana se caracteriza por sus condiciones favorables para la generación de energía solar. Sin embargo, aún no han sido explotadas de manera tal que permitan una adecuada transición energética en el país. En este contexto, el artículo presenta una evaluación del consumo de energía solar desde dos aspectos: primero, investiga sobre la rentabilidad del uso de energías renovables aplicadas a la región del caribe en Colombia. Segundo, evalúa por medio de un modelo econométrico la relación entre la implementación de energía solar a nivel del consumo demandado por esta región, con respecto al ingreso per cápita de la población del caribe. Los resultados muestran a través de un modelo econométrico que el pago de este servicio publico recaerá en la población socioeconómicamente menos favorecida. Por lo tanto, este artículo contribuye a entender los efectos de las políticas de la energía solar en la región Caribe de Colombia, que incluye una discusión sobre las limitaciones de infraestructura de electricidad en esta zona del país.A costa caribenha colombiana se caracteriza por suas condições favoráveis ​​à geração de energia solar. No entanto, ainda não foram explorados de forma a permitir uma transição energética adequada no país. Nesse contexto, o artigo apresenta uma avaliação do consumo de energia solar sob dois aspetos: primeiro, investiga a rentabilidade do uso de energias renováveis ​​aplicadas à região do Caribe na Colômbia. Em segundo lugar, avalia por meio de um modelo econométrico a relação entre a implementação da energia solar no nível de consumo exigido por esta região, com relação à renda per capita da população caribenha. Os resultados mostram por meio de um modelo econométrico que a remuneração desse serviço público recairá sobre a população socioeconomicamente menos favorecida. Portanto, este artigo contribui para a compreensão dos efeitos das políticas de energia solar na região caribenha da Colômbia, o que inclui uma discussão sobre as limitações da infraestrutura elétrica nesta área do país

Identificación de las prácticas porcinas en granjas de la región Andina central de Colombia

The Colombian Swine Industry (CSI) has high pork carcass imports from the US due to the Free Trade Agreements (FTA) signed. The CSI is aimed at supplying domestic demand because not all departments are free of swine fever. In fact, pig farmers are focused on controlling the feeding costs and biosafety, and increasing the birth rate. The problem of the CSI is the search to increase profitability and eliminate intermediaries to be able to reach the consumer directly. This study is descriptive, and aims to identify the state-of-the-art of worldwide practices compared to the central Andean region of Colombia (CARC). For this, a measurement instrument was designed to identify the CSI practices, and the results were used to identify the improvement points for the CARC region. This instrument was validated with ten experts in terms of content, and these were not considered in the sampling. The results were obtained through a probabilistic sampling for a finite population comprised of pig farms located in the departments of Cundinamarca, Boyacá, Tolima, and Huila. The identified population was 191 pig farmers located in the CARC, and the sample calculated to be surveyed, was 50 pig farmers; however, the response rate was higher, and the measurement instrument was applied to 53 pig farmers. As a result, pig farmers want to create new business lines, but there is no trust with competitors. Besides, there is a deficit in technology, infrastructure, public policies, and economic incentives.La industria porcina colombiana (IPC) presenta altos niveles de importaciones de carne de cerdo en canal desde EE. UU. debido a los tratados de libre comercio, y está orientada a abastecer la demanda interna, ya que no todos los departamentos están libres de fiebre porcina. Los porcicultores se enfocan en controlar los costos de la alimentación y la bioseguridad y en aumentar la tasa de natalidad. El problema de la porcicultura colombiana radica en la búsqueda por aumentar la rentabilidad y eliminar los intermediarios para llegar directamente al consumidor final. El objetivo de este estudio descriptivo fue identificar la aplicación de las prácticas globales respecto a las de la región Andina central de Colombia (RACC). Para esto, se diseñó un instrumento de medición a fin de determinar las prácticas de la IPC y los resultados se utilizaron para definir estrategias de mejora. El contenido del instrumento se validó con siete expertos no considerados en el muestreo. Los resultados se obtuvieron mediante una muestra probabilística con población finita para las fincas porcinas localizadas en los departamentos de Cundinamarca, Boyacá, Tolima y Huila. La población identificada en la RACC fue de 191 porcicultores, y la muestra calculada para la entrevista fue de 50 fincas. No obstante, la tasa de respuesta fue más alta y se logró aplicar el instrumento de medición en 53 fincas porcinas. Se encontró que los porcicultores desean crear nuevas líneas de negocio, pero no tienen confianza en la competencia y existe un déficit en tecnología, infraestructura, políticas públicas e incentivos económicos

Quintessential Phenomena in Higher Dimensional Space Time

The higher dimensional cosmology provides a natural setting to treat, at a classical level, the cosmological effects of vacuum energy. Here we discuss two situations where starting with an ordinary matter field without any equation of state we end up with a Chaplygin type of gas apparently as a consequence of extra dimensions. In the second case we study the quintessential phenomena in higher dimensional spacetime with the help of a Chaplygin type of matter field. The first case suffers from the disqualification that no dimensional reduction occurs, which is, however, rectified in the second case. Both the models show the sought after feature of occurrence of \emph{flip} in the rate of expansion. It is observed that with the increase of dimensions the occurrence of \emph{flip} is delayed for both the models, more in line with current observational demands. Interestingly we see that depending on some initial conditions our model admits QCDM, $\Lambda$CDM and also Phantom like evolution within a unified framework. Our solutions are general in nature in the sense that when the extra dimensions are switched off the known 4D model is recovered.Comment: 17 Pages, 7 figure

Casimir energy in spherical cavities

We calculate the Casimir energy at spherical cavities within a host made up of an arbitrary material described by a possibly dispersive and lossy dielectric response. To that end, we add to the coherent optical response a contribution that takes account of the incoherent radiation emitted by the host in order to guarantee the detailed balance required to keep the system at thermodynamic equilibrium in the presence of dissipation. The resulting boundary conditions allow a conventional quantum mechanical treatment of the radiation within the cavity from which we obtain the contribution of the cavity walls to the density of states, and from it, the thermodynamic properties of the system. The contribution of the cavity to the energy diverges as it incorporates the interaction energy between neighbor atoms in a continuum description. The change in the energy of an atom situated at the center of the cavity due to its interaction with the fluctuating cavity field is however finite. We evaluate the latter for a simple case.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures, Proceedings of QFEXT07. To be published in J. Phys.

Potential interventions for the prevention of childhood pneumonia in developing countries: a meta-analysis of data from field trials to assess the impact of vitamin A supplementation on pneumonia morbidity and mortality. The Vitamin A and Pneumonia Working Group.

Reported are the results of a meta-analysis (12 large-scale field trials in seven countries) of the impact of vitamin A supplementation on pneumonia morbidity and mortality, undertaken as part of a wider review process of a range of possible potential interventions for the prevention of childhood pneumonia. The summary estimate of the relative risk for the impact of vitamin A supplementation on pneumonia incidence was 0.95 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.89, 1.01), and for pneumonia mortality, 0.98 (95% CI = 0.75, 1.28). This is in marked contrast to the substantial impact of vitamin A supplementation on all-cause mortality (combined rate ratio (RR) = 0.77, 95% CI = 0.71, 0.84), and on diarrhoea-specific and measles-specific mortality. There was no evidence for a differential impact on pneumonia mortality by age. Since the majority of pneumonia deaths occur in the first year of life, we complemented the paucity of data on pneumonia-specific mortality among this age group with a detailed examination of all-cause mortality among infants. The mortality reduction in the 6-11 month age group was consistent with that observed for older age groups (RR = 0.69; 95% CI = 0.54, 0.90), but there was no reduction for 0-5 month-olds (RR = 0.97; 95% CI = 0.73, 1.29)