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Effect of innovative finishing operations on the tribological performance of steel 27MnCr5
Full text linkTransmission shafts used in the automotive sector must have a good tribological performance, and therefore an enhanced surface integrity. This paper aims to study the effect of eco-friendly innovative finishing operations (belt finishing, cryogenic grinding and dry grinding) on the surface integrity and tribological performance of steel grade 27MnCr5, and compare to the behavior of components produced by conventional wet grinding process. For that purpose, a total of seven finishing conditions were analysed: wet grinding as reference, two dry grinding conditions, two cryogenic grinding conditions and two hard turning+belt finishing conditions. The surface integrity (roughness, residual stresses, hardness and microstructural defects) of samples was assessed. Finally, the step-loading test method was used to determine the scuffing resistance of the samples. Tested innovative finishing operations led to higher scuffing resistance than conventional wet grinding. Results demonstrate that higher surface hardness and roughness leads to higher scuffing resistance, while the effect of surface residual stresses is not significant
Entrepreneurial self-efficacy among first-year undergraduates: Gender, creative self-efficacy, leadership self-efficacy, and field of study
Full text linkObjective: To contribute to a better understanding of the factors that influence university students’ confidence in their ability to engage in entrepreneurial behaviours.
Research Design & Methods: Participants were 1741 first-year students (792 women, 949 men) from two Spanish universities (Mage = 18.76, SD = 1.82). They were enrolled in degree programmes in two broad fields: engineering and architecture, and social sciences and law. Using a quantitative cross-sectional design, we obtained measures of creative self-efficacy, leadership self-efficacy, and entrepreneurial self-efficacy.
Findings: Results showed that both leadership self-efficacy and creative self-efficacy predicted entrepreneurial self-efficacy, although creative self-efficacy was the variable that contributed most to the expected change in entrepreneurial self-efficacy. There were also differences in entrepreneurial self-efficacy according to gender and field of study, with students enrolled in a technical field and men in general scoring higher. Mediation-moderation analysis showed that creative self-efficacy mediated the relationship between gender and entrepreneurial self-efficacy, and also that the field of study buffered the effect of gender on entrepreneurial self-efficacy.
Implications & Recommendations: The results of this study showed that entrepreneurial self-efficacy is predicted by creative self-efficacy and leadership self-efficacy, and hence both these variables should be addressed by training initiatives aimed at promoting entrepreneurship among undergraduates, particularly among young women. Moreover, our results highlighted the importance of taking into consideration individuals’ educational backgrounds when analysing students’ entrepreneurial self-efficacy.
Contribution & Value Added: This research contributes to the literature on entrepreneurship by identifying factors that influence the entrepreneurial self-efficacy of university students. The findings highlight the importance of considering creative self-efficacy when analysing students’ entrepreneurial development. Furthermore, we show that creative self-efficacy has a mediating effect on the association between gender and entrepreneurial self-efficacy, and also that this relationship is moderated by students’ fields of study. Overall, these results suggest that reinforcing the creative self-efficacy of women could help to close the gender gap in entrepreneurial self-efficacy. It might also be useful to design specific training initiatives for undergraduates enrolled in social sciences, the aim of which would be to foster an entrepreneurial culture and encourage them to recognize their potential role as entrepreneurs
Diferencia en las percepciones sobre las prácticas de gestión de personas entre mano de obra directa e indirecta. Estudio de caso de una cooperativa de MONDRAGON
Full text linkEl principal objetivo de la presente investigación es analizar, basándose en la teoría AMO, las diferencias en las percepciones de las personas trabajadoras de mano de obra directa e indirecta con respecto a las prácticas de gestión de personas implantadas en una cooperativa de MONDRAGON. La literatura académica haprestado poca atención a cómo perciben las personas trabajadoras las prácticas de gestión de personas en las cooperativas teniendo en cuenta la variable del tipo de mano de obra (directa e indirecta). El análisis se ha realizado mediante un estudio de caso, combinando el enfoque cuantitativo y cualitativo. Los resultados de la investigación muestran que, en el seno de una misma cooperativa y en lo que a las prácticas de gestión de personas se refiere, existen diferencias significativas en las percepciones de las personas trabajadoras de mano de obra directa e indirecta. Ello se debe a las diferentes características, trabajos y/o tareas que desarrollan ambos colectivos, lo que se traduce en comportamientos y percepciones diferentes. El presente estudio pretende servir a las organizaciones, y sobre todo a los departamentos de gestión de personas de las mismas, como input de reflexión sobre cómo se aproximan a las personas trabajadoras y cómo tienen diseñados sus procesos de gestión de personas, animándolas a personalizar las mismas según el tipo de mano de obra
Towards Human-Scale Competitiveness: Priority Challenges for Triple Helix towards 2030
Full text linkThe future of regions must be built on human-scale competitiveness based on quality employment, sustainability (climate, digital, and demographic), knowledge and skills, new business projects focused on people, and equality between women and men. The achievement of this competitiveness requires cooperation among the Triple Helix, i.e., cooperation between companies, universities, and administration. However, as extant studies indicate, cooperation levels between universities and companies remain low. Therefore, the development of research projects and tools to foster this cooperation is necessary. As can be seen in the United Nations Sustainable Development 2030 Agenda, the challenges that the Triple Helix must face in the runup to 2030 are manifold. Given these multiple challenges and the limitation of existing resources, the identification of priorities is crucial in order to optimise resources, focus policies, and develop an agenda to guide cooperation. To this end, by conducting an exhaustive review of the literature, four focus group sessions with 24 participants and a quantitative questionnaire answered by 90 institutions, this study identifies the challenges that the Triple Helix of the Basque Country (Northern Spain) considers to be a priority for 2030 in order to ensure regional human-scale competitiveness. In accordance with the results of the study, eradicating gender-based violence, favouring the establishment of companies in the territory (incentives, legal measures, recognition, etc.), and developing alternative energy sources are some of the main priority challenges
Estudio de modelado de perifericos para habilitar emulaciones de firmware embebido
Full text linkLos sistemas embebidos aumentan cada vez más en número y con ello también lo hacen los ataques dirigidos a estos. Uno de los factores clave para reducir la superficie de ataque es descubrir y corregir vulnerabilidades en el firmware embebido. El análisis dinámico es uno de los métodos más empleados para estos fines. Escalar el análisis dinámico es necesario para acelerar este proceso, lo que conlleva crear emulaciones del firmware que permitan prescindir del coste de compra de hardware. Identificamos el modelado de periféricos como problema central para habilitar dichas emulaciones. Listamos las características deseables de un proceso de modelado de periféricos, los retos a tener en cuenta y los diferentes procesos que se han utilizado para resolverlos en diferentes escenarios
A Case Study of Entrepreneurial Intent Among Students of the Primary Education Degree in the Basque Country and the Performance of Education Faculties
Full text linkEntrepreneurship is a key competence for anyone intending to be an active citizen and obtain employment. Entrepreneurial education is therefore essential at all levels of education and in every field, not only in business and/or engineering. The aims of this study are: to assess the entrepreneurial intent of students in the final years of the Primary Education degree in the Basque Country; to analyze the factors that influence and hinder these students’ development of entrepreneurial intent in their faculties; and to identify actions for improvement. An online questionnaire consisting of 31 questions was used. The participating sample consisted of students in the final years of the Primary Education degree in the Basque Country, Spain. A total of 168 subjects responded to the questionnaire. After conducting reliability and validity tests, the data indicated that the average intention to start a business after completing their studies was 3.47/10. The majority focused on taking a civil-service examination for a job, becoming employees and/or continuing their education, as a sign of their vocation for children, lack of training in entrepreneurial skills and their aspiration to have better working conditions, among others. Faculties of education often fail to encourage entrepreneurship among their students, highlighting these the lack of internationalization, absence of information about entrepreneurship public and private programs and infrastructures, and nonparticipation in entrepreneurship extra-curricular programs and research. However, faculties of education excel in active methodologies, social engagement, and the use of educational resources
Evolution of Servitization: New Business Model Opportunities
Full text linkThe concept of Servitization has been constantly developing since its outset, but in the last decade due to the irruption of Industry 4.0, the complexity of the concept and its typologies of value propositions have evolved considerably, opening up endless opportunities. In this sense, the main objective of this research is to show a summary review of the evolution of Servitization since its beginnings and the new typologies that are emerging due to the digitalization that arises through Industry 4.0. For this purpose, a systematic review of the leading databases in the field of services has been conducted. The results of the literature review show the potential of Servitization and the need to understand each reality in order to adapt to new capabilities that help the companies who become service-oriented benefit from major advantages. Ultimately, it can be concluded that, in the short term, Industry 4.0 and its new business models are the key, however, Servitization will continue to evolve to a point where all organizations will need to adapt to new trends
An integrated inverse numerical–experimental approach to determine the dynamic Mode-I interlaminar fracture toughness of fibre composites
Full text linkA combined numerical–experimental methodology is presented to determine the dynamic Mode-I fracture properties of Fibre-Reinforced Polymer (FRP) composites. The experimental aspect consists of a modified Wedge-Double cantilever Beam (WDCB) test using a Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) set-up followed by a numerical inverse modelling strategy using cohesive-zone approach. The proposed method is inherently robust due to the use of three independent comparison metrics namely, the strain–displacement response, the crack length history and the crack opening history to uniquely determine the delamination properties. More importantly, the complexity of dealing with the frictional effects between the wedge and the DCB specimen is effectively circumvented by utilising appropriate acquisition techniques. The proposed methodology is applied to extract the high-rate interlaminar fracture properties of a carbon fibre reinforced composite, IM7/8552 and it is further shown that a high level of confidence in the calibrated data can be established by adopting the proposed methodology
A Cost-Effective Directional Millimeter-Wave Channel Sounder for 60 GHz Industrial Wireless Communications
Full text linkThe millimeter-wave (mmWave) bands contain some properties that can be key enablers for future wireless communications in industrial scenarios, but, despite the potential this new medium presents, very few efforts have been carried out to characterize such environments. This paper presents a cost-effective and flexible channel sounder that aims to measure indoor industrial setups in order to develop models that will assist in the development of future protocols and standards. The complete design and selected hardware (HW) of the sounder are discussed, and three preliminary tests carried out in laboratory and machining workshop scenarios are also presented, where the performance of the sounder is validated
Estado del arte de la energía minieólica analizando diferentes controles
Full text linkExisten dos topologías de aerogeneradores según el eje de giro: eje horizontal, "Horizontal Axis Wind turbines" (HAWT) y de eje vertical, "Vertical Axis Wind Turbines" (VAWT) [2]. Las turbinas HAWT son empleadas para generación de alta potencia ya que tienen una mayor eficiencia de conversión de energía [2]. Sin embargo, las VAWT se utilizan en aplicaciones de mini eólica debido a que no necesitan ser orientadas al viento predominante y tienen menor coste de instalació