Moral Hazard and the Internal Organization of Joint Research

Revised 2006-06

Gestión del riesgo operativo en las entidades de crédito: un camino sin retorno

[ES] Este trabajo presenta la problemática de la gestión del riesgo operativo en las entidades de crédito en el ámbito europeo. Aprobado el texto definitivo del denominado Comité de Supervisión Bancaria (Basilea II), con especial y novedosa regulación del riesgo operativo, amanece como inminente su integración e la regulación bancaria de la UE, y, por tanto, su pronta implantación y supervisión por las autoridades monetarias y financieras. Esta nueva normativa, de carácter flexible y profesional, introduce en el seno del gobierno corporativo de las entidades de crédito nuevos elementos que afectarán a su cultura interna (cultura de gestión de los riesgos), afectando a las decisiones estratégicas y a la organización de las entidades, incentivando a la mejora de la calidad de sus procesos, servicios y operaciones. Todo lo cual supone una acicate para perseguir la eficiencia continua a nivel individual y a nivel del sistema financiero, con visos de adquirir dimensión estratégica. De esta manera, se abre un espacio para la investigación y creatividad en la aplicación y desarrollo de los postulados científicos de la Economía de la Empresa, con posibilidades de incorporarlos a otros sectores empresariales de similar afectación por los riesgos operativos.

Dinámica de las Redes Virtuales de Fabricación Global en la Industria Aeronáutica

[ES] Las redes virtuales de fabricación global (RVFGs) están formadas por empresas independientes las cuales establecen entre sí relaciones de tipo horizontal y vertical, pudiendo incluso ser competidores, donde no es necesario mantener internamente grandes recursos fabriles sino gestionar y compartir eficientemente los recursos de la red.

Role of G protein coupled inwardly rectifier K+ channels (GIRK) on the neurobiology depression

353 págs.

Viability Conditions for a Compartmentalized Protometabolic System: A Semi-Empirical Approach

In this work we attempt to find out the extent to which realistic prebiotic compartments, such as fatty acid vesicles, would constrain the chemical network dynamics that could have sustained a minimal form of metabolism. We combine experimental and simulation results to establish the conditions under which a reaction network with a catalytically closed organization (more specifically, an (M, R)-system) would overcome the potential problem of self-suffocation that arises from the limited accessibility of nutrients to its internal reaction domain. The relationship between the permeability of the membrane, the lifetime of the key catalysts and their efficiency (reaction rate enhancement) turns out to be critical. In particular, we show how permeability values constrain the characteristic time scale of the bounded protometabolic processes. From this concrete and illustrative example we finally extend the discussion to a wider evolutionary context.

Global Self-Organization of the Cellular Metabolic Structure

Background: Over many years, it has been assumed that enzymes work either in an isolated way, or organized in small catalytic groups. Several studies performed using "metabolic networks models'' are helping to understand the degree of functional complexity that characterizes enzymatic dynamic systems. In a previous work, we used "dissipative metabolic networks'' (DMNs) to show that enzymes can present a self-organized global functional structure, in which several sets of enzymes are always in an active state, whereas the rest of molecular catalytic sets exhibit dynamics of on-off changing states. We suggested that this kind of global metabolic dynamics might be a genuine and universal functional configuration of the cellular metabolic structure, common to all living cells. Later, a different group has shown experimentally that this kind of functional structure does, indeed, exist in several microorganisms. Methodology/Principal Findings: Here we have analyzed around 2.500.000 different DMNs in order to investigate the underlying mechanism of this dynamic global configuration. The numerical analyses that we have performed show that this global configuration is an emergent property inherent to the cellular metabolic dynamics. Concretely, we have found that the existence of a high number of enzymatic subsystems belonging to the DMNs is the fundamental element for the spontaneous emergence of a functional reactive structure characterized by a metabolic core formed by several sets of enzymes always in an active state. Conclusions/Significance: This self-organized dynamic structure seems to be an intrinsic characteristic of metabolism, common to all living cellular organisms. To better understand cellular functionality, it will be crucial to structurally characterize these enzymatic self-organized global structures.

Pertsonen-kudeaketaren kasu-azterketa: Burdiñola, S.Coop.

LABURPENA: Lan honetan Burdinola S.Coop.-ko pertsonen kudeaketa aztertuko da, giza baliabideen zuzendaritzaren ikuspuntutik, alegia. Horrela, organizazioetan giza baliabideek zenbaterainoko garrantzia daukaten erakutsi nahi da. Izan ere, alor horretan ezarritako helburu nahiz estrategiek erakundeko helburu orokorrak lortzea errazten dute. Hasteko lanean murgiltzeko balio duen sarrera labur bat, helburuak eta erabilitako metodologiaren zehaztapena egingo da. Ondoren, Burdinola kooperatiba aurkeztuko da eta segidan giza baliabideen ikuspuntutik kanpo zein barne analisia burutuko dira, azkenean AMIA matrize batean ideiak islatuz. Ildo beretik, giza baliabideen helburuak eta estrategiak diseinatuko dira, estrategien ikuskaritza eta ebaluazioa dakartenak loturik. Amaitzeko ondorio nagusienak planteatuko dira, erreferentzi bibliografiko eta eranskinez gain.

Towards a standard methodology to evaluate internal cluster validity indices

The evaluation and comparison of internal cluster validity indices is a critical problem in the clustering area. The methodology used in most of the evaluations assumes that the clustering algorithms work correctly. We propose an alternative methodology that does not make this often false assumption. We compared 7 internal cluster validity indices with both methodologies and concluded that the results obtained with the proposed methodology are more representative of the actual capabilities of the compared indices.

Spinal circuits can accommodate interaction torques during multijoint limb movements

The dynamic interaction of limb segments during movements that involve multiple joints creates torques in one joint due to motion about another. Evidence shows that such interaction torques are taken into account during the planning or control of movement in humans. Two alternative hypotheses could explain the compensation of these dynamic torques. One involves the use of internal models to centrally compute predicted interaction torques and their explicit compensation through anticipatory adjustment of descending motor commands. The alternative, based on the equilibrium-point hypothesis, claims that descending signals can be simple and related to the desired movement kinematics only, while spinal feedback mechanisms are responsible for the appropriate creation and coordination of dynamic muscle forces. Partial supporting evidence exists in each case. However, until now no model has explicitly shown, in the case of the second hypothesis, whether peripheral feedback is really sufficient on its own for coordinating the motion of several joints while at the same time accommodating intersegmental interaction torques. Here we propose a minimal computational model to examine this question. Using a biomechanics simulation of a two-joint arm controlled by spinal neural circuitry, we show for the first time that it is indeed possible for the neuromusculoskeletal system to transform simple descending control signals into muscle activation patterns that accommodate interaction forces depending on their direction and magnitude. This is achieved without the aid of any central predictive signal. Even though the model makes various simplifications and abstractions compared to the complexities involved in the control of human arm movements, the finding lends plausibility to the hypothesis that some multijoint movements can in principle be controlled even in the absence of internal models of intersegmental dynamics or learned compensatory motor signals.

Self-Organized Criticality, Plasticity and Sensorimotor Coupling. Explorations with a Neurorobotic Model in a Behavioural Preference Task

During the last two decades, analysis of 1/f noise in cognitive science has led to a considerable progress in the way we understand the organization of our mental life. However, there is still a lack of specific models providing explanations of how 1/f noise is generated in coupled brain-body-environment systems, since existing models and experiments typically target either externally observable behaviour or isolated neuronal systems but do not address the interplay between neuronal mechanisms and sensorimotor dynamics. We present a conceptual model of a minimal neurorobotic agent solving a behavioural task that makes it possible to relate mechanistic (neurodynamic) and behavioural levels of description. The model consists of a simulated robot controlled by a network of Kuramoto oscillators with homeostatic plasticity and the ability to develop behavioural preferences mediated by sensorimotor patterns. With only three oscillators, this simple model displays self-organized criticality in the form of robust 1/f noise and a wide multifractal spectrum. We show that the emergence of self-organized criticality and 1/f noise in our model is the result of three simultaneous conditions: a) non-linear interaction dynamics capable of generating stable collective patterns, b) internal plastic mechanisms modulating the sensorimotor flows, and c) strong sensorimotor coupling with the environment that induces transient metastable neurodynamic regimes. We carry out a number of experiments to show that both synaptic plasticity and strong sensorimotor coupling play a necessary role, as constituents of self-organized criticality, in the generation of 1/f noise. The experiments also shown to be useful to test the robustness of 1/f scaling comparing the results of different techniques. We finally discuss the role of conceptual models as mediators between nomothetic and mechanistic models and how they can inform future experimental research where self-organized critically includes sensorimotor coupling among the essential interaction-dominant process giving rise to 1/f noise.

Analisis de la dirección estratégica de los Recursos Humanos en una burocracia profesional. Escuela de Musica Andres Isasi.

[ES] En las últimas décadas la importancia de los Recursos Humanos en las empresas se ha ido incrementando, llegado al punto que si se dan las condiciones, hasta la Dirección de Recursos Humanos se puede considerar Estratégica. Esto permite a las empresas mediante una Dirección adecuada generar ventaja competitiva sostenible a través de las personas. Hay que añadir el punto de interés que supone una burocracia profesional, donde las características diferentes de los profesionales influyen en la Dirección de Recursos Humanos. Mediante un adecuado análisis, tanto externo como interno, desde la perspectiva de los Recursos Humanos, se podrán plantear objetivos y estrategias acordes con la organización de estudio, la Escuela de Música Andrés Isasi, que le permitirán mejorar en esta área.