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International audience; Background: The N14(n,p)C14 reaction is of interest in neutron capture therapy, where nitrogen-related dose is the main component due to low-energy neutrons, and in astrophysics, where N14 acts as a neutron poison in the s process. Several discrepancies remain between the existing data obtained in partial energy ranges: thermal energy, keV region, and resonance region.Purpose: We aim to measure the N14(n,p)C14 cross section from thermal to the resonance region in a single measurement for the first time, including characterization of the first resonances, and provide calculations of Maxwellian averaged cross sections (MACS).Method: We apply the time-of-flight technique at Experimental Area 2 (EAR-2) of the neutron time-of-flight (n_TOF) facility at CERN. B10(n,α)Li7 and U235(n,f) reactions are used as references. Two detection systems are run simultaneously, one on beam and another off beam. Resonances are described with the R-matrix code sammy.Results: The cross section was measured from subthermal energy to 800 keV, resolving the first two resonances (at 492.7 and 644 keV). A thermal cross section was obtained (1.809±0.045 b) that is lower than the two most recent measurements by slightly more than one standard deviation, but in line with the ENDF/B-VIII.0 and JEFF-3.3 evaluations. A 1/v energy dependence of the cross section was confirmed up to tens of keV neutron energy. The low energy tail of the first resonance at 492.7 keV is lower than suggested by evaluated values, while the overall resonance strength agrees with evaluations.Conclusions: Our measurement has allowed determination of the N14(n,p) cross section over a wide energy range for the first time. We have obtained cross sections with high accuracy (2.5%) from subthermal energy to 800 keV and used these data to calculate the MACS for kT=5 to kT=100 keV.

Background: The $^{14}$N(n,p)$^{14}$C reaction is of interest in neutron capture therapy, where nitrogen-related dose is the main component due to low-energy neutrons, and in astrophysics, where 14N acts as a neutron poison in the s-process. Several discrepancies remain between the existing data obtained in partial energy ranges: thermal energy, keV region and resonance region. Purpose: Measuring the 14N(n,p)14C cross section from thermal to the resonance region in a single measurement for the first time, including characterization of the first resonances, and providing calculations of Maxwellian averaged cross sections (MACS). Method: Time-of-flight technique. Experimental Area 2 (EAR-2) of the neutron time-of-flight (n_TOF) facility at CERN. $^{10}$B(n,${\alpha}$)$^7$Li and $^{235}$U(n,f) reactions as references. Two detection systems running simultaneously, one on-beam and another off-beam. Description of the resonances with the R-matrix code sammy. Results: The cross section has been measured from sub-thermal energy to 800 keV resolving the two first resonances (at 492.7 and 644 keV). A thermal cross-section (1.809$\pm$0.045 b) lower than the two most recent measurements by slightly more than one standard deviation, but in line with the ENDF/B-VIII.0 and JEFF-3.3 evaluations has been obtained. A 1/v energy dependence of the cross section has been confirmed up to tens of keV neutron energy. The low energy tail of the first resonance at 492.7 keV is lower than suggested by evaluated values, while the overall resonance strength agrees with evaluations. Conclusions: Our measurement has allowed to determine the $^{14}$N(n,p) cross-section over a wide energy range for the first time. We have obtained cross-sections with high accuracy (2.5 %) from sub-thermal energy to 800 keV and used these data to calculate the MACS for kT = 5 to kT = 100 keV., Comment: 18 pages, 15 figures, 4 tables

The 26Al(n,p)26Mg reaction is the key reaction impacting on the abundances of the cosmic γ-ray emitter 26Al produced in massive stars and impacts on the potential pollution of the early solar system with 26Al by asymptotic giant branch stars. We performed a measurement of the 26Al(n,p)26Mg cross section at the high-flux beam line EAR-2 at the n_TOF facility (CERN). We report resonance strengths for eleven resonances, nine being measured for the first time, while there is only one previous measurement for the other two. Our resonance strengths are significantly lower than the only previous values available. Our cross-section data range to 150 keV neutron energy, which is sufficient for a reliable determination of astrophysical reactivities up to 0.5 GK stellar temperature.

The cerium oxide material for this measurement was provided by T. Katabuchi of the Tokyo Institute of Technology., An accurate measurement of the 140Ce(n,g) energy-dependent cross-section was performed at the n_TOF facility at CERN. This cross-section is of great importance because it represents a bottleneck for the s-process nucleosynthesis and determines to a large extent the cerium abundance in stars. The measurement was motivated by the significant difference between the cerium abundance measured in globular clusters and the value predicted by theoretical stellar models. This discrepancy can be ascribed to an overestimation of the 140Ce capture cross-section due to a lack of accurate nuclear data. For this measurement, we used a sample of cerium oxide enriched in 140Ce to 99.4%. The experimental apparatus consisted of four deuterated benzene liquid scintillator detectors, which allowed us to overcome the difficulties present in the previous measurements, thanks to their very low neutron sensitivity. The accurate analysis of the p-wave resonances and the calculation of their average parameters are fundamental to improve the evaluation of the 140Ce Maxwellian-averaged cross-section.

The purpose of this report is to provide the necessary information and tools for the n_TOF Collaboration on how to correctly account for the neutron resolution function in the experimental areas (EAR1 and EAR2) for different n_TOF operation periods. The n_TOF target as well as the cooling/moderation system was designed to optimize the performances of the neutron beam for EAR1. Additionally, EAR1 is located underground 200 m away, in nearly the same direction as the incoming proton beam, from the spallation target. On the contrary, EAR2 was an extension of the existing facility. It is located above the ground at 20 m from the spallation target in the perpendicular direction with respect to the incoming proton beam. Even though the energy resolution is worse due to the shorter flightpath, the main issue with the resolution function comes from the geometry of the cooling/moderation system and the shape of the spallation target. Experimental data acquired in any of the experimental areas has embedded the effect of the resolution function. Therefore, when treating these data there are two options. Either deconvolute them from the resolution function or convolve the reference data, for instance evaluated cross sections, with the resolution function to be able to compare both sets of data in the same conditions. Usually, the second method is adopted for simplicity. In both cases the explicit distribution of the resolution function should be available. Even more, to perform the resonance analysis with SAMMY or REFIT this information must be known. The question here is: how to obtain the resolution function.

An accurate measurement of the Ce-140(n,gamma) energy-dependent cross-section was performed at the n_TOF facility at CERN. This cross-section is of great importance because it represents a bottleneck for the s-process nucleosynthesis and determines to a large extent the cerium abundance in stars. The measurement was motivated by the significant difference between the cerium abundance measured in globular clusters and the value predicted by theoretical stellar models. This discrepancy can be ascribed to an overestimation of the Ce-140 capture cross-section due to a lack of accurate nuclear data. For this measurement, we used a sample of cerium oxide enriched in Ce-140 to 99.4%. The experimental apparatus consisted of four deuterated benzene liquid scintillator detectors, which allowed us to overcome the difficulties present in the previous measurements, thanks to their very low neutron sensitivity. The accurate analysis of the p-wave resonances and the calculation of their average parameters are fundamental to improve the evaluation of the Ce-140 Maxwellian-averaged cross-section.

El objetivo del presente trabajo de investigación es desarrollar el plan estratégico para la transformación del afamado restaurante español elBulli. Empleando como base el caso de estudio de Harvard sobre este restaurante, se definirá su situación al momento de la decisión de su cierre en diciembre de 2009 y, a partir de ello, se desarrollarán las propuestas para su crecimiento sostenible. Las circunstancias que enfrentaba elBulli desde algunos años antes del 2010, año en que se anunció su cierre, hacían prever que elBulli era un negocio inviable financieramente en los años subsiguientes. elBulli y su chef, Ferran Adrià, representan el caso de un restaurante innovador y disruptivo, que fueron considerados como el mejor restaurante y el mejor chef del mundo durante varios años hasta el momento del cierre, y le dieron a cada uno de sus comensales la oportunidad de tener una experiencia singular e irrepetible en sus vidas. Cabe señalar que, para ser considerados, tanto elBulli como Ferrán Adriá, los mejores del mundo, no se escatimaron horas de trabajo ni recursos financieros, lo que llevó al negocio a que sea uno de muy baja rentabilidad y de inviable operatividad en el corto plazo. Por otro lado, desde la última década del siglo XX a la fecha, la innovación tecnológica viene revolucionando los negocios y la forma de implantación de estrategias para hacerlos financieramente atractivos. En consecuencia, el estudio de un negocio como elBulli toma importancia en el contexto actual. ElBulli es un ícono de los nuevos modelos de negocio del siglo XXI en entornos cambiantes y, sobre todo, representa un modelo de negocio tomando como pilares los cambios tecnológicos surgidos tanto de la III como de la IV Revolución Industrial, como son el internet, la informática y el uso de los dispositivos móviles de comunicación en la vida cotidiana de la gente.

The spent fuel of current nuclear reactors contains fissile plutonium isotopes that can be combined with uranium to make mixed oxide (MOX) fuel. In this way the Pu from spent fuel is used in a new reactor cycle, contributing to the long-term sustainability of nuclear energy. However, an extensive use of MOX fuels, in particular in fast reactors, requires more accurate capture and fission cross sections for some Pu isotopes. In the case of 242Pu there are sizable discrepancies among the existing capture cross-section measurements included in the evaluations (all from the 1970s) resulting in an uncertainty as high as 35% in the fast energy region. Moreover, postirradiation experiments evaluated with JEFF-3.1 indicate an overestimation of 14% in the capture cross section in the fast neutron energy region. In this context, the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) requested an accuracy of 8% in this cross section in the energy region between 500 meV and 500 keV. This paper presents a new time-of-flight capture measurement on 242Pu carried out at n_TOF-EAR1 (CERN), focusing on the analysis and statistical properties of the resonance region, below 4 keV. The 242Pu(n,γ ) reaction on a sample containing 95(4) mg enriched to 99.959% was measured with an array of four C6D6 detectors and applying the total energy detection technique. The high neutron energy resolution of n_TOF-EAR1 and the good statistics accumulated have allowed us to extend the resonance analysis up to 4 keV, obtaining new individual and average resonance parameters from a capture cross section featuring a systematic uncertainty of 5%, fulfilling the request of the NEA. European Union, FP7 Programme-NEUTANDALUS (334315) European Union, FP7 Programme-CHANDA (605203) Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness-FPA2013- 45083-P, FPA2014-53290-C2-2-P, FPA2016-77689-C2- 1-R Ministerio de Educación e Investigación (BMBF)-03NUK13A V Plan Propio de Investigación Programme from the University of Sevilla

Con el fin de seguir contribuyendo a la generación de nuevo conocimiento en el campo de la administración y las organizaciones, como Director de la Maestría en Administración y Director de Extensión y Promoción Institucional de la Universidad Tecnológica de Bolívar, presento ante la comunidad académica la serie de estudios sobre estrategias empresariales. Estos libros resultado de investigación hacen parte de una serie de estudios sobre estrategias empresariales realizados conjuntamente por estudiantes y profesores de la Maestría en Administración. Se enmarcan dentro de la línea de investigación en estrategia y gestión adscrita al Instituto de Estudios para el Desarrollo –IDE-, de la Facultad de Economía y Negocios de la Universidad Tecnológica de Bolívar, clasificado por Colciencias en categoría B. Mediante la metodología de casos de enseñanza del método Harvard se elaboraron cada uno de los capítulos los cuales analizan de manera particular las situaciones o problemas reales de aquellas empresas que constituyeron la materia prima de estos casos, resaltando desde un punto de vista teórico las acciones estratégicas que se emplearon para el direccionamiento de las empresas. Estos casos de enseñanza se presentan desde tres sectores los cuales componen esta serie de estudios: Sector Servicios, Sector Salud y Sector Industrial Estrategia y toma de decisiones en empresas nacientes: caso CONSTRUCERT Generación de valor a través de la responsabilidad social empresarial: caso PROPILCO Estrategia y gestión en entornos cambiantes: caso SODIMAC – HOMECENTER Estrategia de servicios encaminada a empresas logística: caso Frigorífico Metropolitano Gestión gerencial en la industria del plástico: caso PLACECOL Estrategia y gestión en la industria camaronera: caso OCEANOS

The radiative capture cross section of a highly pure (99.999%), 6.125(2) grams and 9.56(5)× 10−4 atoms/barn areal density 238U sample has been measured with the Total Absorption Calorimeter (TAC) in the 185 m flight path at the CERN neutron time-of-flight facility n_TOF. This measurement is in response to the NEA High Priority Request list, which demands an accuracy in this cross section of less than 3% below 25 keV. These data have undergone careful background subtraction, with special care being given to the background originating from neutrons scattered by the 238U sample. Pileup and dead-time effects have been corrected for. The measured cross section covers an energy range between 0.2 eV and 80 keV, with an accuracy that varies with neutron energy, being better than 4% below 25 keV and reaching at most 6% at higher energies. Ministerio de Innovación y Ciencia FPA2005-06918-C03-01

The purpose of this report is to describe the experimental procedure used to perform a preliminary study to characterise the metabolic competence of in vitro cellular systems. As a first study, the metabolic competence was assessed by monitoring the presence of four specific enzymes by using selected probe substrates. Each probe substrate can be metabolised by only one enzyme and therefore the formation over time of metabolites is indicative for the presence of a certain enzyme. The concentrations of each metabolite over-time were measured by using liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The method developed to monitor the presence of the four enzymes was then used to compare the metabolic competence between two cellular systems: HepaRG (human liver cells known to be metabolically competent) and AR-CALUX (human osteoblastic osteosarcoma U2-OS cells having low or none metabolic activity). The results and experience achieved will serve to ultimately support the planned work of Directorate F3 focused on developing an EURL ECVAM recommendation, which will be followed by an OECD Guidance Document, with the objective to characterise and describe in vitro hepatic metabolic clearance methods in order to facilitate their regulatory uptake and use to support chemical risk assessment., JRC.F.3-Chemicals Safety and Alternative Methods

There is increasing demand from in vitro method developers, validation bodies, in vitro method end-users as well as receiving authorities and OECD to integrate kinetics information in toxicity testing in order to improve chemical risk assessment. A strategic way to do this is detailed in the "EURL ECVAM strategy for achieving 3Rs impact in the assessment of toxicokinetics and systemic toxicity" (Bessems J et al. 2015). One of the strategic aims of this report urges for the development and applied use of in vitro kinetic methods for absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion to be used in the future risk assessment approaches using new advanced methodologies (NAMs). Information on metabolism has been identified as a critical piece of information in integrated test strategies based on non-animal methods. Therefore, the purpose of this report is to describe the preliminary experimental work towards a representative in vitro human hepatic metabolic clearance method that can be ultimately used in future defined approaches for toxicological risk assessment. The proposed method is a result of the efforts of the EURL ECVAM laboratory team combined with knowledge gathered during (1) a literature search on in vitro human hepatic metabolic clearance methods, (2) an EURL ECVAM call for procedures detailing in vitro human hepatic metabolic clearance methods and (3) an expert meeting to establish the elements critical for in vitro methods that predict human hepatic metabolic clearance. The representative in vitro human hepatic metabolic clearance method was used to assess the in vitro intrinsic clearance of the following three chemicals: Acetaminophen, Diclofenac and Verapamil. Each chemical was added at one concentration to cryopreserved primary human hepatocytes (pooled from 10 donors) and the cells were exposed at different incubation time-points up to 2 h. The concentrations of each chemical over-time were measured by using Ultra-Performance Liquid-Chromatography (UPLC) coupled with (Quadrupole Time-of-Flight) Q-Tof mass spectrometer. The results obtained show good within-laboratory reproducibility (e.g. between different runs on different days), of the calculated in vitro intrinsic clearance. The results and experience gained with this experimental in-house effort by Directorate F – Health, Consumers and Reference Materials, F.3 Chemicals Safety and Alternative Methods will support the definition of an EURL ECVAM recommendation on human hepatic metabolic clearance and the subsequent drafting of a proposal for an OECD Guidance Document with the objective to characterise and describe in vitro hepatic metabolic clearance methods in order to facilitate their regulatory uptake and use to support chemical risk assessment., JRC.F.3-Chemicals Safety and Alternative Methods

E2C 2013 – 3rd European Energy Conference The study of neutron-induced reactions is of high relevance in a wide variety of fields, ranging from stellar nucleosynthesis and fundamental nuclear physics to applications of nuclear technology. In nuclear energy, high accuracy neutron data are needed for the development of Generation IV fast reactors and accelerator driven systems, these last aimed specifically at nuclear waste incineration, as well as for research on innovative fuel cycles. In this context, a high luminosity Neutron Time Of Flight facility, n_TOF, is operating at CERN since more than a decade, with the aim of providing new, high accuracy and high resolution neutron cross-sections. Thanks to the features of the neutron beam, a rich experimental program relevant to nuclear technology has been carried out so far. The program will be further expanded in the near future, thanks in particular to a new high-flux experimental area, now under construction