Are multinationals engaged in sustainability? An analysis based on their home-country progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS)

The SDGs provide a comprehensive framework for global sustainability, adopted by both UN member states and MNEs. This study examines how MNEs engage with the SDGs, focusing on the impact of their home countries\u27 SDG performance. Using institutional theory, we test mimetic isomorphism and liability of origin by analyzing sustainability reports from 150 MNEs across 23 countries. Our results suggest that MNEs based in home countries with lower SDG progress engage more with the SDGs, indicating a liability of origin effect. However, at the individual SDG level, the picture is more complex, hence showing different patterns

Hybrid Business Models and the Public Science–Private Industry Interface

We draw on recent research in business models calling for a broader conceptualiztion of value creation and "hybrid" organizations to propose a novel model for bridging the "logics" that often conflict as science-based technologies are commercialized. Our model helps explain puzzling findings from past research and offer testable propositions

Learning from prior national and international collaborations and eco-innovation : the moderating role of alliance portfolio diversity

Altres ajuts: acords transformatius de la UABEco-innovations integrate complex and diverse knowledge sources. For this reason, firms engage in worldwide collaborations that promote learning from different partners that, in turn, promote environmental innovations. This study analyzes how the learning experience of previous collaborations at the national and international levels impacts the likelihood of eco-innovation development by small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This work also examines whether such linkages between prior collaboration experience and eco-innovation are influenced by alliance portfolio diversity (APD), which can broaden the number of knowledge sources but also increase coordination costs. The results of longitudinal analysis, based on a dataset of Spanish SMEs, suggest that the learning acquired from prior domestic openness is more useful for enhancing eco-innovation activities. Moreover, the results confirm the negative moderating role of APD, as SMEs with greater prior experience in national and international openness are more likely to eco-innovate than those with less prior experience, but these relationships weaken with increased diversity in collaboration portfolios

PROBLEMS OF FOSTER F AMILIES: CASE OF DENİzLİ PROVINCE

Korunmaya muhtaç çocuğun her alanda sağlıklı gelişimi için en iyi bakırnın öz aile yanında yapılan bakım olduğu pek çok çalışma ile ortaya konmaktadır. Ancak çocuğun ailesinin yanında sağlıklı gelişiminin mümkün olmadığı durumlar yaşanabilmektedir. çocuğun öz ailesi yanında kalmasının sorun oluşturacağı durumlarda devlet koruması söz konusu olmaktadır. Korunmaya muhtaç çocuk için devlet farklı bakım hizmetleri sunmaktadır. Bu bakım hizmetlerinden birini oluşturan Koruyucu Aile Hizmeti, çeşitli sebeplerle öz ailesi yanında bakılamayan ve evlat edindirme hizmetinden yararlanamayan korunmaya muhtaç çocuğun bakım ve korunmasının, devlet denetimi altında, uzun veya kısa süreliğine, ebeveyn rolü üstlenen kişi veya aile tarafindan yerine getirildiği bir hizmet türüdür. Koruyucu Aile Yönetmeliği ile düzenlenen hizmetle, çocuğun sorunlu döneminin en az zararla ve normal hayatını olağan biçimde geçirmesini sağlamak amaçlanmaktadır. Bu çalışmanın amacı, koruyucu aile hizmetinden yararlanan koruyucu ailelerin yaşadıkları sorunları tespit etmek ve öneriler sunmaktır. Bu kapsamda derinlemesine bilgi edinmeyi mümkün kılan nitel araştırma yöntemi tercih edilerek, Denizli ilinde yaşayan 35 koruyucu aile ile görüşmeler gerçekleştirilmiştir. Görüşmelerden elde edilen veriler, içeriz analizi ile değerlendirilmiştir. Araştırma sonucunda koruyucu aile hizmetinden yararlanan ailelerin, bürokratik, toplumsal, sosyal yardım ve sosyal hizmete yönelik sorunlar yaşadıkları bulgusuna ulaşılmıştır.Many studies have demonstrated that the best care for healthy development of the ehild in need of protection_x000D_ in every field is the care taken by his own family. However, it is possible that healthy development of ehild is_x000D_ not possible besides their families. In eases where it is a problem for the ehild to stay with his / her own family,_x000D_ there is state protection. The state provides different care serviees for the ehild in need of protection. The Foster_x000D_ Family Service, whieh eonstitutes one of these care services, is a type of service in whieh the care and protection_x000D_ of a ehild in need of proteetion, who cannot be eared for and who cannot benefit from the adoption service for_x000D_ various reasons, is earried out by the person or family who takes the role of a parent under state controlfor a_x000D_ long or short term. With the service organized by the Foster Family Regulation, it is aimed to ensure that the_x000D_ ehild's problematic period is spent with the least harm and normallife. The purpose of this study is to identify_x000D_ the problems experieneed by foster families benefiting from foster family service and to provide suggestions._x000D_ In this context, qualitative researeh method, whieh makes it possible to obtain in-depth information, was_x000D_ preferred and interviews were eondueted with 35 foster families living in Denizli. The data obtained from the_x000D_ interviews were evaluated by eontent analysis. As a result of the research, it was found that families benefiting_x000D_ fromfoster family service experience bureaucratic, social, social assistanee and social service problems.Many studies have demonstrated that the best care for healthy development of the ehild in need of protection in every field is the care taken by his own family. However, it is possible that healthy development of ehild is not possible besides their families. In eases where it is a problem for the ehild to stay with his / her own family, there is state protection. The state provides different care serviees for the ehild in need of protection. The Foster Family Service, whieh eonstitutes one of these care services, is a type of service in whieh the care and protection of a ehild in need of proteetion, who cannot be eared for and who cannot benefit from the adoption service for various reasons, is earried out by the person or family who takes the role of a parent under state controlfor a long or short term. With the service organized by the Foster Family Regulation, it is aimed to ensure that the ehild's problematic period is spent with the least harm and normallife. The purpose of this study is to identify the problems experieneed by foster families benefiting from foster family service and to provide suggestions. In this context, qualitative researeh method, whieh makes it possible to obtain in-depth information, was preferred and interviews were eondueted with 35 foster families living in Denizli. The data obtained from the interviews were evaluated by eontent analysis. As a result of the research, it was found that families benefiting fromfoster family service experience bureaucratic, social, social assistanee and social service problems

Innovating for Good in Opportunistic Contexts: The Case for Firms’ Environmental Divergence

This research work is partially funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness and the European Regional Development Funds (Grant No. ECO2016-7509-P), the Spanish State Research Agency (Grant No. PID2019-106725GB-100; doi 10.13039/501100011033), Montpellier Research in Management (Grant No. EA 4557), and LabEx Entrepreneurship (Grant No. ANR-10-Labex-11-01).Opportunistic behaviors are considered ethically and strategically troublesome since they disrupt otherwise mutually beneficial relationships. Previous literature has shown that firms attempt to protect their investments from opportunism by generating a large amount of patented marginal innovations in domains central to their industry. However, this approach may generate some ethical dilemmas by preventing firms and societies from more radical, collaborative, and much-needed environmental progress. We extend the environmental innovation literature using strategic and ethical lenses to analyze the potential of an alternative, divergent way to provide financial opportunities for a focal firm without aiming to prevent innovative opportunities for competitors. Our longitudinal analysis of 6768 environmental patents from 59 large companies worldwide in the electrical components and equipment industry shows that high levels of innovation intensity, environmental scope, bargaining power, and environmental expertise increase the incidence of patented environmental innovations related to domains in which industry competitors are less focused (i.e., technological divergence). We also show a positive relationship between this divergence and market-based firm performance. Our results suggest that pursuing innovative divergence to avoid opportunism may make ethical and market sense and we also identify the organizational factors that can support these efforts.Spanish Ministry of Economy and CompetitivenessEuropean Regional Development Funds ECO2016-7509-PSpanish State Research Agency PID2019-106725GB-100; doi 10.13039/501100011033Montpellier Research in Management EA 4557LabEx Entrepreneurship ANR-10-Labex-11-0

Advanced, High Power, Next Scale, Wave Energy Conversion Device

The project conducted under DOE contract DE‐EE0002649 is defined as the Advanced, High Power, Next Scale, Wave Energy Converter. The overall project is split into a seven‐stage, gated development program. The work conducted under the DOE contract is OPT Stage Gate III work and a portion of Stage Gate IV work of the seven stage product development process. The project effort includes Full Concept Design & Prototype Assembly Testing building on our existing PowerBuoy� technology to deliver a device with much increased power delivery. Scaling‐up from 150kW to 500kW power generating capacity required changes in the PowerBuoy design that addressed cost reduction and mass manufacturing by implementing a Design for Manufacturing (DFM) approach. The design changes also focused on reducing PowerBuoy Installation, Operation and Maintenance (IO&M) costs which are essential to reducing the overall cost of energy. In this design, changes to the core PowerBuoy technology were implemented to increase capability and reduce both CAPEX and OPEX costs. OPT conceptually envisaged moving from a floating structure to a seabed structure. The design change from a floating structure to seabed structure would provide the implementation of stroke‐ unlimited Power Take‐Off (PTO) which has a potential to provide significant power delivery improvement and transform the wave energy industry if proven feasible

Too good to be true: The inverted U-shaped relationship between home-country digitalisation and environmental performance

The current pandemic era has increased the need for a better understanding of the pros and cons of digital transformation. Digitalisation has been seen in the past as a panacea, as it was argued that higher digitalisation would translate into better environmental performance. As the process of digitalisation advances, however, we realise that it may have some environmental drawbacks that need addressing. We thus explore the inverted U-shaped relationship between home country digitalisation and environmental performance. More particularly, we hypothesise that, in the first stage, home country digitalisation has a positive impact on environmental performance (e.g., enhanced energy efficiency and resource management), but then it reaches a tipping point where an excessive level of digitalisation causes a “rebound effect”, hence increasing the use of resources and resulting in higher pollution. Our panel data of 5,015 firms from 47 countries in 10 sectors for the period 2014-2019 confirms our predictions. The panel smooth transition regression model (PSTR) confirms the moderating effect of a country’s institutional framework level on this relationship between digital transformation and environmental performance. More particularly, our results show that countries with stronger institutional frameworks flatten the inverted U-shaped curve

Anti-GQ1b-negative Miller Fisher syndrome presented with one-sided horizontal gaze palsy

Miller Fisher syndrome classically presents with ophthalmoplegia, ataxia and areflexia. The syndrome may present rarely with atypical clinical features. Whether the central or peripheral nervous system is primarily involved remains controversial. Miller Fisher syndrome usually follows an infection, the most likely being Campylobacter jejuni. Mycoplasma pneumoniae has been reported rarely as the antecedent infectious agent in some patients. Herein, we report a 13-year-old girl with positive mycoplasma immunoglobulin (Ig)M and IgG serology who presented with one-sided horizontal gaze palsy, ataxia, areflexia, and bulbar palsy. Her cranial magnetic resonance imaging was normal and blood serum was negative for anti-GQ1b IgG antibodies