Affect networks:a structural analysis of the relationship between work ties and job-related affect

The relationship between organizational networks and employees' affect was examined in 2 organizations. In Study 1, social network analysis of work ties and job-related affect for 259 employees showed that affect converged within work interaction groups. Similarity of affect between employees depended on the presence of work ties and structural equivalence. Affect was also related to the size and density of employees' work networks. Study 2 used a 10-week diary study of 31 employees to examine a merger of 2 organizational divisions and found that negative changes in employees' affect were related to having fewer cross-divisional ties and to experiencing greater reductions in network density. The findings suggest that affect permeates through and is shaped by organizational networks.

A post-structural analysis of perceptions and experiences of continuity and change within the UK automotive supplier base

Firms acting as suppliers to the British automotive industry have a long history of so doing, with some evidencing histories that predate even the invention of the motor car. In exploring the challenges faced by the descendants of these firms in the 1990s, a review is undertaken of the bodies of literature surrounding the changes wrought through the increased globalisation of the industry; the impact of new manufacturing technologies and techniques; the rising levels of co-operation between firms; and the growing impact of the automotive 'service sector'. Moreover, an exploration is undertaken of the perceived 'realities' of the automotive industry as constructed through discourse, including the ways in which discourse effects a continual reinterpretation and re-evaluation of the historical evolution of the industry. Attention is focused on the implications of the above for the automotive supply chain, and the means for its rationalisation proposed by the major car manufacturers and their partner-suppliers. Post-structuralist approaches are introduced as part of an attempt to establish and appropriate research methodology that can explore and deconstruct the discourses surrounding 'modernity', 'supply chain rationalisation', 'flexible specialisation' and 'globalisation' within the automotive industry. Analytical research is conducted into the small- to medium-sized business that constitute the majority of the supplier base in the United Kingdom, and the findings of this research are compared with those of a similar study conducted a quarter-century ago. In this way, the relationships of these firms with their customers, suppliers, and peers are investigated, as are their perceptions of a changing marketplace and their reactions to the impact of policies such as the 'supply chain rationalisation' pursued by the major automotive manufacturers. Authoritative discourses of industry form, function, and structure are challenged, with voice being granted to the marginalised: small suppliers, 'service sector' firms, or those only partly involved in the automotive industry.

Structural Analysis of Contours as the Sequences of the Digital Straight Segments and of the Digital Curve Arcs

Recognition of the object contours in the image as sequences of digital straight segments and/or digital curve arcs is considered in this article. The definitions of digital straight segments and of digital curve arcs are proposed. The methods and programs to recognize the object contours are represented. The algorithm to recognize the digital straight segments is formulated in terms of the growing pyramidal networks taking into account the conceptual model of memory and identification (Rabinovich [4]).

Frameworks for Systemic and Structural Analysis of Financial Innovations in Infrastructure

Financial innovations have emerged globally to close the gap between the rising global demand for infrastructures and the availability of financing sources offered by traditional financing mechanisms such as fuel taxation, tax-exempt bonds, and federal and state funds. The key to sustainable innovative financing mechanisms is effective policymaking. This paper discusses the theoretical framework of a research study whose objective is to structurally and systemically assess financial innovations in global infrastructures. The research aims to create analysis frameworks, taxonomies and constructs, and simulation models pertaining to the dynamics of the innovation process to be used in policy analysis. Structural assessment of innovative financing focuses on the typologies and loci of innovations and evaluates the performance of different types of innovative financing mechanisms. Systemic analysis of innovative financing explores the determinants of the innovation process using the System of Innovation approach. The final deliverables of the research include propositions pertaining to the constituents of System of Innovation for infrastructure finance which include the players, institutions, activities, and networks. These static constructs are used to develop a hybrid Agent-Based/System Dynamics simulation model to derive propositions regarding the emergent dynamics of the system. The initial outcomes of the research study are presented in this paper and include: (a) an archetype for mapping innovative financing mechanisms, (b) a System of Systems-based analysis framework to identify the dimensions of Systems of Innovation analyses, and (c) initial observations regarding the players, institutions, activities, and networks of the System of Innovation in the context of the U.S. transportation infrastructure financing.

Spectroscopic and structural analysis of somatic and N-domain angiotensin I-converting enzyme isoforms from mesangial cells from Wistar and spontaneously hypertensive rats

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS OF RIBOSOME BINDING ELEMENTS OF THE 3´ UTR IN TWO POSITIVE-STRAND PLANT RNA VIRUSES

Turnip crinkle virus (TCV) and Pea enation mosaic virus (PEMV) are two positive (+)-strand RNA viruses that are used to investigate the regulation of translation and replication due to their small size and simple genomes. Both viruses contain cap-independent translation elements (CITEs) within their 3´ untranslated regions (UTRs) that fold into tRNA-shaped structures (TSS) according to nuclear magnetic resonance and small angle x-ray scattering analysis (TCV) and computational prediction (PEMV). Specifically, the TCV TSS can directly associate with ribosomes and participates in RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) binding. The PEMV kissing-loop TSS (kl-TSS) can simultaneously bind to ribosomes and associate with the 5´ UTR of the viral genome. Mutational analysis and chemical structure probing methods provide great insight into the function and secondary structure of the two 3´ CITEs. However, lack of 3-D structural information has limited our understanding of their functional dynamics. Here, I report the folding dynamics for the TCV TSS using optical tweezers (OT), a single molecule technique. My study of the unfolding/folding pathways for the TCV TSS has provided an unexpected unfolding pathway, confirmed the presence of Ψ3 and hairpin elements, and suggested an interconnection between the hairpins and pseudoknots. In addition, this study has demonstrated the importance of the adjacent upstream adenylate-rich sequence for the formation of H4a/Ψ3 along with the contribution of magnesium to the stability of the TCV TSS. In my second project, I report on the structural analysis of the PEMV kl-TSS using NMR and SAXS. This study has re-confirmed the base-pair pattern for the PEMV kl-TSS and the proposed interaction of the PEMV kl-TSS with its interacting partner, hairpin 5H2. The molecular envelope of the kl-TSS built from SAXS analysis suggests the kl-TSS has two functional conformations, one of which has a different shape from the previously predicted tRNA-shaped form. Along with applying biophysical methods to study the structural folding dynamics of RNAs, I have also developed a technique that improves the production of large quantities of recombinant RNAs in vivo for NMR study. In this project, I report using the wild-type and mutant E.coli strains to produce cost-effective, site-specific labeled, recombinant RNAs. This technique was validated with four representative RNAs of different sizes and complexity to produce milligram amounts of RNAs. The benefit of using site-specific labeled RNAs made from E.coli was demonstrated with several NMR techniques.

Graph-based structural analysis of planar mechanisms.

Kinematic structure of planar mechanisms addresses the study of attributes determined exclusively by the joining pattern among the links forming a mechanism. The system group classification is central to the kinematic structure and consists of determining a sequence of kinematically and statically independent-simple chains which represent a modular basis for the kinematics and force analysis of the mechanism. This article presents a novel graph-based algorithm for structural analysis of planar mechanisms with closed-loop kinematic structure which determines a sequence of modules (Assur groups) representing the topology of the mechanism. The computational complexity analysis and proof of correctness of the implemented algorithm are provided. A case study is presented to illustrate the results of the devised method.

Definición de una estrategia de servicio para los adultos mayores en la modalidad de club: Club para Adultos Mayores de Bogotá "Porque tienes más de 60 razones para empezar a disfrutar"

El desarrollo de este trabajo busca la definición y presentación de la mejor estrategia de servicio en la modalidad de club exclusivo y de esparcimiento para a adultos mayores de la ciudad de Bogotá y potencialmente la de todo el país. Con el propósito de definir la mejor estrategia para logar un proyecto exitoso, y de esta manera cumplir con el objetivo propuesto, el trabajo fue estructurado de la siguiente manera: primero definió, conceptualizo y caracterizo la población objetivo; segundo, formuló una estrategia de servicio para esta población en orden de brindar una solución al problema de: “escasez de instituciones integrales y diferentes a casas u hogares geriátricos y que cumplan con los parámetros legales e instituidos para el cuidado y la distracción de los adultos mayores” guiada por la teoría de la estrategia competitiva, enfoque y posición estratégica de Michael Porter, tercero intentó validar dicha estrategia a través de la aplicación de dos herramientas: panorama competitivo y análisis de fuerzas del mercado pertenecientes a la teoría de análisis estructurales de sectores estratégicos, cuarto presentó y evaluó como posible barrera de entrada un marco legal para el proyecto, y por ultimo realizo una proyección financiera para el mismo, mostrando su viabilidad y reafirmando que la estrategia presentada realmente puede hacer de este proyecto una empresa perdurable y rentable.

Análisis estructural del sector estratégico de casinos en la ciudad de Bogotá

El análisis estructural de sectores estratégicos es una metodología que facilita obtener una mejor percepción del entorno, a partir de cuatro herramientas propuestas por los autores de la metodología Restrepo y Rivera; las cuales consisten inicialmente en un análisis de hacinamiento, seguido de un levantamiento del panorama competitivo, continuando con un análisis de las fuerzas del mercado y finalizando con un estudio de competidores. El presente trabajo se apoyó en la anterior metodología, evaluando el sector estratégico de casinos, obteniendo información tanto cualitativa como cuantitativa, reflexionando sobre ella y proponiendo algunas recomendaciones para su mejoramiento.

Analisis Estructural del Sector Estrategico de plasticos

El análisis estructural de sectores estratégicos es una metodología que facilita obtener una mejor percepción del entorno, a partir de cuatro herramientas propuestas por los autores de la metodología Restrepo y Rivera; las cuales consisten inicialmente en un análisis de hacinamiento, seguido de un levantamiento del panorama competitivo, continuando con un análisis de las fuerzas del mercado y finalizando con un estudio de competidores. El presente trabajo se apoyó en la anterior metodología, evaluando el sector estratégico de los plásticos, obteniendo información tanto cualitativa como cuantitativa, reflexionando sobre ella y proponiendo algunas recomendaciones para su mejoramiento. Para enterar al lector con el sector de los plásticos se inició con un relato de los antecedentes históricos de este mercado, así como mostrar al lector las diferentes clases de materiales utilizados en la inyección de plásticos y las empresas que están a la vanguardia de este mercado. Adicionalmente, se realizó la identificación del sector estratégico con las empresas que pertenecen al mismo y se establecieron características del marketing mix del servicio. Este trabajo contó con un proceso de investigación en el cual se hizo necesaria la búsqueda de información a través de consulta empresarial y académica presentes en la ciudad de Bogotá D.C (Colombia). Como resultado; el análisis permitió ampliar la realidad del sector, explicando lo mejor posible del entorno que lo rodea y a las empresas que lo componen.

Modelamiento estratégico de una empresa del sector de plásticos a partir de la aplicación de la herramienta de análisis estructural de sectores estratégicos

Este estudio pretende aplicar la herramienta descrita en el libro “Análisis estructural de sectores estratégicos” con el objeto de determinar los niveles de hacinamiento, convergencia y morbilidad del sector industrial al que pertenece la empresa Intraplas Ltda., ubicada en la ciudad de Bogotá y dedicada al transformación de resina de PVC en perfilería utilizada en la fabricación de muebles RTA. Luego, aprovechado las conclusiones que de este estudio se deriven, se procederá a diseñar un modelo estratégico soportado en las teorías de Michael Porter, que le deberá permitir a la empresa estudiada reenfocar sus esfuerzos hacia sectores del mercado poco o nada hacinados a través de un adecuado encaje entre su posición estratégica, sus ventajas competitivas y una cadena de valor pertinentemente configurada, entregándole de esta forma a dicha empresa, una herramienta estructurada que eleve sus posibilidades de perdurar de manera rentable en el tiempo. PALABRAS CLAVE: hacinamiento, convergencia, plástico, cubrecanto, sector estratégico, estrategia.