Managers’ competences in social enterprises: which specificities?

in Social Enterprise Journal (2013)

The management of an organization and the context within which this organization evolves are recognized as two important aspects of any organization. Few studies have been conducted however on the ... [more ▼]

The management of an organization and the context within which this organization evolves are recognized as two important aspects of any organization. Few studies have been conducted however on the management function within the specific context of social enterprises, organizations that mix social goals and economic imperatives (Darbus & Lazuech, 2010). This paper examines the specific competences of management in social enterprises, by constructing a competence model, the emblematic tool of competence-based management, relevant to the management of social enterprises (Colin & Grasser, 2007; Oiry & Sulzer, 2002; Retour & Rapiaux, 2006). Our hypothesis is that certain competences required of managers in social enterprises are specific, regarding the particular internal and external context of social enterprises, the governance model, etc. The methodology used is based on four main steps: a review of the literature and the conducting of exploratory interviews, the construction of a first draft of the competence model, the conducting of group interviews with managers of social enterprises in six European countries as this research takes place within the framework of a European research project on lifelong learning , and the final adaptation and validation of the competence model. [less ▲]

Zavalíaite, (Mn2+,Fe2+,Mg)3(PO4)2, a new member of the sarcopside group from the La Empleada pegmatite, San Luis Province, Argentina.

in Canadian Mineralogist (2013), 50

CNMNC guidelines for the use of suffixes and prefixes in mineral nomenclature, and for the preservation of historical names.

in European Journal of Mineralogy (2013), 25

Cartographie des Emissions annuelles de CO2 dues aux consommations énergétiques des bâtiments tertiaires en Région wallonne. Rapport de synthèse.

Report (2013)

Methodology for the Validation of Analytical Methods involved in Uniformity of Dosage Units tests

in Analytica Chimica Acta (2013), 760

Validation of analytical methods is required prior to their routine use. In addition, the current implementation of the Quality by Design (QbD) framework in the pharmaceutical industries aims at improving ... [more ▼]

Validation of analytical methods is required prior to their routine use. In addition, the current implementation of the Quality by Design (QbD) framework in the pharmaceutical industries aims at improving the quality of the end products starting from its early design stage. However, no regulatory guideline or none of the published methodologies to assess method validation propose decision methodologies that effectively take into account the final purpose of developed analytical methods. In this work a solution is proposed for the specific case of validating analytical methods involved in the assessment of the Content Uniformity or Uniformity of Dosage Units of a batch of pharmaceutical drug products as proposed in the European or US pharmacopoeias. This methodology uses statistical tolerance intervals as decision tools. Moreover it adequately defines the Analytical Target Profile of analytical methods in order to obtain analytical methods that allow to make correct decisions about Content Uniformity or Uniformity of Dosage Units with high probability. The applicability of the proposed methodology is further illustrated using an HPLC-UV assay as well as a Near Infra-Red Spectrophotometric method. [less ▲]

Effect of extraction conditions on the yied and purity of ulvan extracted from Ulva lactuca

in Food Hydrocolloids (2013)

A study of the influence of extraction conditions (pH: 1.5 and 2; temperature: 80 °C and 90 °C; extraction time: 1-3 h), on the yield, chemical composition and purity of the sulphated cell wall ... [more ▼]

A study of the influence of extraction conditions (pH: 1.5 and 2; temperature: 80 °C and 90 °C; extraction time: 1-3 h), on the yield, chemical composition and purity of the sulphated cell wall polysaccharides ulvan, extracted from the green seaweed Ulva lactuca and precipitated by alcohol is carried out. The alcohol precipitate yields varied from 21.68% to 32.67% (%dw/dw) depending on the pH. At pH 2, the alcohol precipitate yields and the uronic acid recovery from extract juice are higher than those obtained at pH 1.5. Other compounds than ulvan such as cellulose, hemicellulose, proteins and ash are solubilized from the cell walls of Ulva lactuca at both pH, and they are precipitated with alcohol. The alcohol precipitate obtained from different extraction conditions has high uronic acid (20.37%-23.60%) and neutral sugar content (20.09%-29.12%), especially when the conditions (pH, temperature) are drastic. It contains rhamnose (13.35%-15.59%), glucose (2.90%-10.97%), and xylose (2.36%-2.73%). A decrease in the molecular weight of ulvan was observed at acid pH, and for long extraction times. The presence of proteins (1.94%-2.32%) and inorganic material (33.36%-47.15%) in alcohol precipitate prove the lower purity of ulvan extracted and shows that ulvan precipitation with ethanol is not specific. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. [less ▲]

Impacts of occupant behaviours on residential heating consumption for detached houses in a temperate climate of the northern part of Europe

in Energy & Buildings (2013), 57

The occupants' behaviour has a great influence on the energy demand, management and consumption of a building. This paper investigates the influence of three parameters related to human behaviour through ... [more ▼]

The occupants' behaviour has a great influence on the energy demand, management and consumption of a building. This paper investigates the influence of three parameters related to human behaviour through their modes of occupations (based on family size, management of the heating system and management of the heated area) on the housing heating loads of a standard dwelling in Belgium. Seven levels of insulation were tested: no insulation, two intermediate levels corresponding to 3 and 6 cm of insulation, the current standard for new buildings in Belgium, the low energy standard, the very low energy standard and the passive house standard. Multi-zone simulations were performed with a dynamic thermal simulation software. The impact of occupants' lifestyle and the interactions between occupation modes and insulation levels are highlighted. These results prove that the more the building is insulated, the more the lifestyle proportionally influences the heating loads. One important strategy for reducing heating consumption during the whole life cycle of the building is adapting the size of the house and its occupation modes to the evolution of family size. However, insulation is paramount, and increasing the insulation of the house provides generally better results than merely adapting the occupation mode. [less ▲]

Symmetries in multi-Higgs-doublet models

in AIP Conference Proceedings (2013)

We report the recent progress in understanding of symmetries which can be implemented in the scalar sector of electroweak symmetry breaking models with several Higgs doublets. In particular we present the ... [more ▼]

We report the recent progress in understanding of symmetries which can be implemented in the scalar sector of electroweak symmetry breaking models with several Higgs doublets. In particular we present the list of finite reparametrization symmetry groups which can appear in the three-Higgs-doublet models. [less ▲]

Synthesis of poly(vinyl acetate)-b-poly(vinyl chloride) block copolymers by cobalt-mediated radical polymerization (CMRP)

in Polymer Chemistry (2013), 4(5), 1685-1693

The synthesis of poly(vinyl acetate)-b-poly(vinyl chloride) (PVAc-b-PVC) block copolymers by Cobalt-Mediated Radical Polymerization (CMRP) is investigated for the first time in this paper. A PVAc–Co(acac ... [more ▼]

The synthesis of poly(vinyl acetate)-b-poly(vinyl chloride) (PVAc-b-PVC) block copolymers by Cobalt-Mediated Radical Polymerization (CMRP) is investigated for the first time in this paper. A PVAc–Co(acac)2 macroinitiator is prepared by CMRP using the V-70/Co(acac)2 binary system or a preformed alkylcobalt(III) compound. Then, the block copolymerization occurs in the bulk at 40 °C by the addition of VC. The addition of water to the polymerization medium or the slow generation of alkyl radicals during the whole polymerization is beneficial to the process by consuming part of the excess of deactivator (Co(acac)2) that blocks the polymer chains into the dormant form. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements and AFM analyses evidence that the PVAc-b-PVC forms core–shell micelles in a selective solvent of the PVAc block, i.e. methanol, evidencing the blocky structure of the copolymer. PVAc-b-P(VC-co-VAc) copolymers are also successfully prepared by initiating the radical copolymerization of VC and VAc at 40 °C from a PVAc–Co(acac)2 macroinitiator. [less ▲]

Two-Parameter Kinematic Theory for Shear Behavior of Deep Beams

in ACI Structural Journal (2013), 110(3), 447-455

This paper presents a kinematic model for deep beams capable of describing the deformed shape of such members in terms of just two primary parameters. The kinematic model is combined with equilibrium ... [more ▼]

This paper presents a kinematic model for deep beams capable of describing the deformed shape of such members in terms of just two primary parameters. The kinematic model is combined with equilibrium equations and stress-strain relationships to form a theory to predict the shear strength and deformations patterns of deep beams at shear failure. These deformation patterns include crack widths, maximum deflections, and the complete displacement field for the beam. The kinematic theory predicts the components of shear strength of deep beams and how they vary with a/d ratio. These components indicate a significant size effect for the shear strength of deep beams even for members with transverse reinforcement. The theory has been validated against a large number of experimental results. [less ▲]