1,777 research outputs found
The ethical and moral-based dimension of leadership in CSR-oriented strategies and sustainable entrepreneurship
No full textThis chapter addresses the theme of leadership and its influence on corporate social
responsibility (CSR) and sustainability-oriented strategies. Specifically, it aims to analyse,
through a deductive and literature-based approach, the relevance of the ethical and moral
leadership models with respect to the diffusion of CSR and sustainable entrepreneurship. Linking ethical and moral-based leadership to the CSR and sustainable entrepreneurship discourse allows us to point out the relevance of an authentic orientation in supporting
change and fostering sustainable entrepreneurship The theoretical construct of responsible and sustainable leadership derives from the
intersection of the moral-based leadership concepts with those of CSR and sustainable
entrepreneurship..Drawing from these premises, this chapter seeks to identify leadership models and
attributes consistent with (and necessary to develop) an authentic CSR-oriented strategy
and able to foster sustainable entrepreneurship.
Accordingly, in this chapter, we argue that leadership represents a key aspect that
warrants more research within both CSR and sustainable entrepreneurship studies. The
research questions that orients this study can be summarised as follows: Which leadership
models favour authentic CSR practices? Are moral, ethical-based and virtues-based models
of leadership effective in developing CSR and fostering sustainable entrepreneurship?
These questions guide the critical review of the different leadership approaches, bringing
attention to the models that are most coherent in regard to the actual socio-economic
context which requires managers and entrepreneurs to govern the internal and external
complexity and actively contribute to sustainability. The methodological approach is
mainly based on a literature review that surveys critical points in current literature that is
relevant to the topic.
The work is structured as follows. First, we offer an analysis of the leadership theoretical
framework in the context of the CSR debate. We begin with a brief methodological
note, followed by an analysis of the antecedents of CSR and sustainable entrepreneurship
in terms of values and virtues.
Second, a review of relevant literature on leadership approaches and models consistent
with the CSR and sustainable entrepreneurship discourse is presented, emphasising the relationship between transformational, moral and virtues-based leadership and
CSR-oriented strategies and sustainable entrepreneurship. Drawing from the analysis,
four main propositions are introduced. The final sections illustrate the propositions and
summarise the implications and limitations of the study
Quartz crystal microbalance sensors based on TiO2 nanoparticles for gas sensing
No full textIn this paper the feasibility of Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM) sensors obtained by a facile deposition of TiO2 nanoparticles is presented. The gas sensing performance of these devices are studied by means of an 'ad hoc' measurement system, through experiments with two toxic gases, CO and NO2, and with water vapor. The effect of UV irradiation on the sensor response is also studied. The sensors provide stable and repeatable measurements, a very large response to water vapor, a good sensitivity to NO2, whereas the response to CO is small. Both the response to CO an NO2 are highly dependent on the relative humidity (RH). Moreover the experimental results show that the response can't in general be explained by simple adsorption-desorption reactions. The developed device can be used as humidity sensor, especially suitable for a reliable detection of low RH values. The application to NO2 detection needs a controlled humidity environment
Self-Sufficient Sensor Node Embedding 2D Visible Light Positioning through a Solar Cell Module
No full textNowadays, indoor positioning (IP) is a relevant aspect in several scenarios within the Internet of Things (IoT) framework, e.g., Industry 4.0, Smart City and Smart Factory, in order to track, amongst others, the position of vehicles, people or goods. This paper presents the realization and testing of a low power sensor node equipped with long range wide area network (LoRaWAN) connectivity and providing 2D Visible Light Positioning (VLP) features. Three modulated LED (light emitting diodes) sources, the same as the ones commonly employed in indoor environments, are used. The localization feature is attained from the received light intensities performing optical channel estimation and lateration directly on the target to be localized, equipped with a low-power microcontroller. Moreover, the node exploits a solar cell, both as optical receiver and energy harvester, provisioning energy from the artificial lights used for positioning, thus realizing an innovative solution for self-sufficient indoor localization. The tests performed in a ~1 m(2) area reveal accurate positioning results with error lower than 5 cm and energy self-sufficiency even in case of radio transmissions every 10 min, which are compliant with quasi-real time monitoring tasks
Presurgical systemic treatment of nonmetastatic breast cancer: Facts and open questions
No full textThere are several advantages of administering primary systemic therapy (PST) instead of adjuvant therapy in the management of early breast cancer patients: (a) PST allows for a quantifiable evaluation of the sensitivity or resistance of any treated case and (b) the response assessment offers the opportunity to "cross over" to a different regimen for an individual patient, leading to more flexible, "tailored" therapies. Indeed, these advantages are tenable if one assumes that the primary tumor response serves as a surrogate marker of the efficacy of PST in terms of survival. Unfortunately, this has not yet been validated. The data that are actually available show that both clinical complete response (cCR) and pathological (p)CR have prognostic significance. pCR after chemotherapy has a greater prognostic impact than cCR; however, it is frequently observed in a subset of tumors-such as those that are estrogen receptor negative, are human epidermal growth factor receptor positive, and have elevated proliferative activity-but occurs rarely in their human epidermal growth factor receptor-2/neu counterparts. cCR is more sensitive than pCR, but its assessment presents many hindrances. cCR after chemotherapy can predict early on which tumors are destined to undergo pCR, suggesting a role for this endpoint guiding further treatment decisions early on. The pCR rate in small randomized PST studies comparing chemotherapy with chemotherapy plus trastuzumab was able to predict the difference in survival observed in large, randomized adjuvant trials with a similar study design. Conversely pCR cannot predict the outcome benefit of patients undergoing different hormonal therapies. In conclusion, pCR may be a reliable surrogate endpoint for PST efficacy in a subset of patients undergoing chemotherap
Quartz-crystal microbalance gas sensors based on TiO2 nanoparticles
No full textQuartz-crystal microbalance (QCM) sensors obtained by a facile deposition of TiO2 nanoparticles have been manufactured and tested. Their gas sensing performance is discussed from a theoretical point of view and then verified by means of “ad hoc” measurement systems, through experiments with two toxic gases, CO and NO2, and water vapor. The influence of UV irradiation on the sensor response has also been studied. Results show stable and repeatable responses, characterized by a very high sensitivity to water vapor, a good sensitivity to NO2, and only a fairly low response to CO. Both CO and NO2 responses depend strongly on the relative humidity (RH). So, NO2 sensing should be performed in a controlled humidity environment. Devices proved to be reliable detectors of low RH values. Advantages as low cost, facile preparation, RT operation, good stability, and high/moderate sensitivity, make these devices attractive as an alternative to mostly used gas sensors
Multi-Junction Solar Module and Supercapacitor Self-Powering Miniaturized Environmental Wireless Sensor Nodes
No full textA novel prototype based on the combination of a multi-junction, high-efficiency photovoltaic (PV) module and a supercapacitor (SC) able to self-power a wireless sensor node (WSN) for outdoor air quality monitoring has been developed and tested. A PV module with about an 8 cm2 active area made of eight GaAs-based triple-junction solar cells with a nominal 29% efficiency was assembled and characterized under terrestrial clear-sky conditions. Energy is stored in a 4000 F/4.2 V supercapacitor with high energy capacity and a virtually infinite lifetime (104 cycles). The node power consumption was tailored to the typical power consumption of miniaturized, low-consumption NDIR CO2 sensors relying on an LED as the IR source. The charge/discharge cycles of the supercapacitor connected to the triple-junction PV module were measured under illumination with a Sun Simulator device at selected radiation intensities and different node duty cycles. Tests of the miniaturized prototype in different illumination conditions outdoors were carried out. A model was developed from the test outcomes to predict the maximum number of sensor samplings and data transmissions tolerated by the node, thus optimizing the WSN operating conditions to ensure its self-powering for years of outdoor deployment. The results show the self-powering ability of the WSN node over different insolation periods throughout the year, demonstrating its operation for a virtually unlimited lifetime without the need for battery substitution
Raymond Queneau’s Œuvres complètes de Sally Mara
No full textThis chapter follows the development of Raymond Queneau’s works published under the pseudonym (or auteur supposé) of Sally Mara, including her journal intime, at a time when diary-writing and the writing subject itself were out of favour with the literary avant-garde. A novel published in 1947 attributed to Sally Mara, followed by her Journal intime (1950) and her Œuvres complètes (1962), draw on Gide’s experiments with diary-writing, but comically expose the formal processes by which an author-figure and literary œuvre are constructed. This is often done by creating conflict between the several authorial figures involved (Queneau, Mara, and the fictional editor Michel Presle), and by processes of metalepsis (the transgresssion of boundaries in a narrative framework). Yet the works do not reduce the author-figure to an entirely textual, discursive phenomenon, disconnected from reality, and they tend to endorse a reader’s curiosity about the ‘real’ author.</p
Epitaxial silicon devices for dosimetry applications
No full textA straightforward improvement of the efficiency and long term stability of silicon dosimeters has been obtained with a n+/p junction surrounded by a guard-ring structure implanted on an epitaxial p-type Si layer grown on a Czochralski substrate. The sensitivity of devices made on 50um-thick epitaxial Si degrades by only 7% after an irradiation with 6 MeV electrons up to 1.5 kGy, and shows no significant further decay up to 10 kGy. These results prove the enhanced radiation tolerance and stability of epitaxial diodes as compared to present state-of-the-art Si devices
A study on fire evacuation awareness at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) / Norshafiqah Elina Mohd Mustafa
No full textThis thesis is about fire evacuation awareness at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM). In this study, there are three campus of Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) which from branch Shah Alam, Selangor, Puncak Alam, Selangor and Seri Iskandar, Perak. Respondents from the 3 branch of Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) are the key to succeed this study where the questionnaire are distributed to the staff and students who are occupied in that building, and there has an interview session between the author and the person who is in charge in this studies. The issues that are arise in the Campus of Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) branch Shah Alam, Selangor is there are no assembly point because this campus are crowded with buildings. Because of the issues, it brings to the making of this study. The author decided to study about the fire evacuation on the campus with different situation, which are the old campus are longer, new campus, and small capacity campus. This study was conducted to study about fire evacuation system in all the different campuses. Not all the campuses are using the same system. They used conventional system, full addressable system and semi addressable system. By studying the system, the author know what are the problems on the buildings that the fire drill are not conducted for their building occupants. Fire drill is important to increase the level of awareness of building occupants. The study also highlight suggestions from the Facility Department to improve their current system, as well as suggestions from the respondents to improve their self-awareness
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