The Evolving Role of the Chief Information Officer

The role of the CIO has undergone a complex transformation over the past three decades, evolving from a function which purely consisted of technical support and administration towards a high-level position of senior executive responsibility and business management. A considerable body of research exists on the role of the CIO as well as desired leadership capabilities and the CIO relationship with superiors and peers. However, much of this research has contributed to a state of confusion and ambiguity surrounding the CIO role and has subsequently resulted in uncertainty about the expectations, behaviors and consequences associated with the CIO role. Due to this lack of clarity, this thesis aims to empirically explore the role of the CIO from the perspective of the CIOs themselves and how they perceive their role as opposed to how observers perceive it. In order to achieve this, a comprehensive literature review has been conducted which led to the establishment of a theoretical framework used in six in-depth semi-structured interviews with CIOs from Sweden

Desinternacionalização das PMEs em Portugal

Mestrado em GestãoEste trabalho visa acrescentar evidência empírica sobre o fenómeno da desinternacionalização das PMEs em Portugal. O grande intuito deste trabalho, com base na literatura existente sobre o fenómeno, e utilizando uma abordagem complementar entre as teorias que abordam o tópico da desinternacionalização, é testar os modelos explicativos do comportamento do processo de desinternacionalização de uma empresa portuguesa. O resultado desta dissertação complementa modelos anteriores, nomeadamente os propostos por Welch e Welch (2009) e Crick (2004).This dissertation aims to add empirical evidence on the phenomenon of the de-internationalization of SMEs in Portugal. The main focus of this work, based on existing literature and using a complementary approach among the main theories address the de-internationalization phenomenon, is to test explanatory models on the de-internationalization process on a Portuguese firm. The result of this dissertation compliments previous models, namely those proposed by Welch and Welch (2009) and Crick (2004)

Membranas à base de celulose bacteriana para pilhas de combustível

Mestrado em Engenharia de MateriaisO presente trabalho visa o desenvolvimento de uma nova geração de eletrólitos poliméricos de origem renovável baseados em celulose bacteriana com funcionalização ácida, para aplicação em pilhas de combustível. Mantas de celulose produzidas em laboratório pela bactéria Gluconacetobacter sacchari, são utilizadas para no seu seio polimerizar o ácido poli (4-estireno sulfónico) na sua forma ácida, deste modo conferindo elevada condução protónica à membrana. O polímero é estabilizado na nanoestrutura celulósica por reticulação. As propriedades físico-químicas desta nova geração de membranas foram avaliadas por várias técnicas, nomeadamente a análise termogravimétrica, a difração de raios-X, a espetroscopia de infravermelho por transformada de Fourier, tendo também sido medidas as capacidades de troca iónica e de absorção de água. A microestrutura foi analisada por microscopia eletrónica de varrimento. Finalmente, a condutividade protónica dos eletrólitos foi avaliada por espectroscopia de impedância eletroquímica em diferentes condições de temperatura e de humidade relativa. Os resultados mostram que estas membranas são termicamente estáveis até 165 °C, mantendo uma concentração de grupos ácido que varia de 1,8 a 2,3 mmol[H+]g-1, dependendo da quantidade de agente reticulante incorporado (entre 10 e 40% da massa de monómero). Estes valores são claramente superiores aos referenciados para os polímeros comerciais Nafion® (1 mmol[H+].g-1) e Aquivion® (1,2 mmol[H+].g-1). A condutividade protónica a 94 °C varia entre 1,410-3 S.cm-1 para uma humidade relativa de 30% e 1,110-1 S.cm-1 a 98%, valores comparáveis ou mesmo superiores aos obtidos com os materiais comerciais de referência, sendo uma indicação clara do potencial das membranas desenvolvidas neste trabalho para aplicação como eletrólitos em pilhas de combustível.This study aims to develop a new generation of renewable polymeric electrolytes based on bacterial cellulose with acid functionalization, for application in fuel cells. The selected bacterial cellulose is produced by bacteria in laboratory Gluconacetobacter sacchari, within which poly (4-styrene sulfonic acid) is polymerized in its acid form, thus giving a high proton conducting membrane. The polymer is stabilized by crosslinking inside the cellulose nanostructure. The physicochemical properties of this new generation membranes were evaluated by various techniques, including thermo-gravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, and also by measurements of the ion exchange capacity and water absorption capacity. The microstructure was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. Finally, the proton conductivity of the electrolyte was evaluated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy at different conditions of temperature and relative humidity. The results show that these membranes are thermally stable up to 165 °C, maintaining a concentration of acid ranging from 1.8 to 2.3 mmol [H+].g-1 depending on the amount of crosslinking agent incorporated (between 10 and 40% of the mass of monomer used). These values are substantially higher than those cited for the commercial polymers Nafion® (1 mmol [H+].g-1) and Aquivion ® (1.2 mmol [H+].g-1). The proton conductivity at 94 °C ranges between 1.410-3 S.cm-1 at a relative humidity of 30% and 1.110-1 S.cm-1 at 98%, values comparable or even higher than those obtained with the mentioned commercial references, being a clear indication of the potential of the membranes developed here for use as electrolytes in fuel cells

Melhoramento da resposta sísmica de edifícios com recurso a TLDs

Mestrado em Engenharia CivilSismos ocorridos recentemente têm demonstrado, de forma dramática, que a investigação na área da engenharia sísmica deve ser direccionada para a avaliação da vulnerabilidade das construções, geralmente desprovidas de adequadas características resistentes. O seu esforço deve ser realizado reduzindo a sua vulnerabilidade e, consequentemente, o risco para níveis aceitáveis. O estudo e desenvolvimento de novas técnicas e de materiais de reforço têm um papel fundamental no sentido de evitar perdas económicas e vidas humanas. O trabalho desenvolvido nesta dissertação de mestrado centra-se no estudo de um sistema de protecção sísmica de edifícios, Tuned Liquid Damperes(TLDs), que reduzem as vibrações induzidas pelas acções dinâmicas através de fenómenos de oscilação da superfície livre do fluido (sloshing). Este trabalho foi estruturado em duas partes. Na primeira, estudou-se o comportamento de um Tuned Liquid Damper (TLD) isolado quando sujeito a uma excitação sinusoidal na sua base, com diferentes amplitudes de deslocamento. Na segunda parte deste trabalho avaliou-se a eficiência dos TLDs na melhoria da resposta sísmica de um edifício, com base em análises dinâmicas lineares. O edifício estudado é representativo da arquitectura moderna, localizado em Lisboa. ABSTRACT: Recent earthquakes have dramatically revealed that research in the area of earthquake engineering should be directed towards the evaluation of construction vulnerabilities, which are generally devoid of adequate resistance characteristics. Its reinforcement should be made with a view to reducing its vulnerabilities and consequently, the risk to acceptable levels. The study and development of new reinforcement techniques and/or the improvement of seismic performance is fundamental so as to avoid significant economic losses as well as human lives in future events. The work done in this Master's dissertation is centered on the study of an earthquake protection system, the Tuned Liquid Dampers (TLDs), which can reduce the motions induced by the earthquake's effect on buildings, taking into account the oscillation of the fluid free surface (sloshing). This work was divided into two parts. In the first part, the behavior of an isolated Tuned Liquid Damper (TLD), subjected to a sinusoidal excitation at its base, with different displacement amplitudes was studied. In the second part of this work, the efficiency of the TLDs in improving the seismic response of an existing building was evaluated based on linear dynamic analyses. The building in the study is representative of modern architecture and located in Lisbon

Företags syn på anställdas dator- och Internetanvändning

Den kraftiga utvecklingen av Internet, sociala medier och BYOD har påverkat företags syn på anställdas privata och yrkesverksamma dator- och Internetanvändning. Företag måste idag anpassa verksamheten för att på bästa sätt utnyttja de positiva aspekterna, men samtidigt också undvika de risker och hot som kan skapas. Syftet med studien är att belysa hur företag påverkas av anställdas dator- och Internetanvändning, både på arbetsplatsen och på fritiden. För att besvara detta har semistrukturerade telefonintervjuer och besöksintervjuer genomförts med två större och två mindre företag. Genom analysen av dessa intervjuer framgår det att större och mindre företag inte påverkas på samma sätt. Undersökningen visar att större företag är mer försiktiga och medvetna i frågan, medan mindre företag är mer positivt inställda och inte känner ett behov av att anpassa verksamheten efter anställdas privata och yrkesverksamma dator- och Internetanvändning

The Impact of Oil Factor on Azerbaijan Economy

The paper examines the role of oil in the world economy and its impact on Azerbaijan economy. The reciprocal relations between factors in research were carried out by differential model of time series and times series have been checked whether they are unit root (Augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF), Phillips-Perron (PP) and Kwiatkowski-Phillips-Schmidt-Shin (KPSS) as a methodology of the research. The research focused on the econometric analysis through traditional methods and statistics like EVIEWS 9, GRETL, PASW Statistics. The results confirm that the formation of demand and supply didn't happen in the world market during 15-20 years. The relationships between oil prices and demand and supply prove the novelty of the research. The impact of oil price fluctuations on “economic concept” was high in 2007-2009 and 2014-2016. The practical importance of the article is the employment of the income ‒ generated from “the contract of the century” ‒ for the human development. Keywords: Economic Development, Oil Prices, Econometric Analysis, Functional Dependence, Macroeconomic Indicators JEL Classifications: E31, F31, Q41 DOI: https://doi.org/10.32479/ijeep.800

Active tectonics in the Zagros Mountains, Iran.

Imperial Users onl

Analysis of the Main Social Macroeconomic Indicators of the Population During The oil Boom in Azerbaijan

Indicators directly related to the economies of oil−exporting countries, and especially the socio−economic well−being of the population, depend on the resource potential and prices for resources of these countries. The income of the population, their average monthly salary, the average amount of monthly pensions, the average amount of old−age pensions, the average amount of disability pensions, the amount of pensions for the loss of the head of the family form the basis of the state of financial well−being. Taking them as a basis, we completed the goal of our research by constructing models that determine the dependence of the main indicators of the socio−economic and, of course, material well−being of the population of Azerbaijan on world oil prices. The study covers the years 1997−2022. The  and  models are adapted to determine long−term and short−term levels of these indicators, taking into account world oil prices. According to the results, a high level of co−integration relationship with world oil prices and socio−economic indicators of the population is noted. This has also been proven in the short term. Thus, the alternative , , , and models used to validate these results further demonstrated the importance of these interactions. Moreover, the study also conducted a combined Bayer−Hank co−integration test. But the results turned out to be somewhat different. The results of this study can be taken into account to one degree or another in the socio−economic policy of the state in Azerbaijan

Synthesis of diazo dyes using the cellulose sulfuric acid at room temperature

This article, describes a new method for synthesis of diazo dyes. In this protocol, cellulose sulfuric acid has been used as a proton source for producing diazonium salts. The resulting anion, in the presence of diazonium salt (ArN2+-O3SO-Cellulose), causes high stability of this salt at room temperature, and also results avoidance the use of harmful acids. This procedure for the preparation of diazonium salt was carried out under solvent free condition. The mixtur of amine, sodium nitrite and cellulose sulfuric acid, was grinded in a mortar and by grinding futher, coupling reaction was carried out. So by using cellulose sulfuric acid, diazo dyes with different derivatives were prepared in good to excellent yields and short reaction time, in one pot under ambient condition

How Oil Price Changes Affect Inflation in an Oil-Exporting Country: Evidence from Azerbaijan

This research study aims to explore the inflationary effects of oil price rises in the case of Azerbaijan. The study covers 1997–2021 yearly data to estimate long- and short-term impacts while considering “oil price—money supply” interactions. Autoregressive Distributed Lag Bounds testing (ARDLBT), Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares (FMOLS), and Canonical Cointegration Regression (CCR) cointegration methods are applied simultaneously. The research findings are: (1) oil price is a significant long-term determinant of inflation in Azerbaijan, affecting overall prices directly and indirectly via the money supply; (2) the effect is statistically significant in the short-term and happens indirectly, moderated by the money supply; and (3) oil price moderates the impact of the money supply over inflation in the short-term. A major limitation of the current study is that it omits the possible moderation impact of oil prices over inflation in Azerbaijan through the resulting inflationary pressure due to oil price rises in trade-partner countries and the government’s fiscal policy. Research findings require the Central Bank to consider indirect effects of oil price changes, especially due to money supply changes, when targeting inflation and addressing policy sustainability in Azerbaijan