Technology push and demand pull perspectives in innovation studies: Current findings and future research directions

This study updates the debate on the sources of innovation. Using techniques like factor analysis, multidimensional scaling, and pathfinder analysis, we examine the most influential articles that have dealt with the topic. Our analysis provides three main findings. The first more precisely highlights the role of demand as a source of innovation. The second illustrates how competences enable firms to match technology with demand and capitalize on technology and demand as sources of innovation. The third unveils a distinction between external and internal sources of innovations. The sources of innovation can be purely external or internally generated competences that enable the firm to integrate external knowledge within its boundaries. Our work contributes to the classic debate by providing a more granular understanding of how technology and demand interact. In discussing our findings, we link our framework to strategy, innovation and entrepreneurship studies that expressly call for a better understanding of technology and demand factors in value creation and capture.     

Physiological intensity profile,exercise load and performance predictors of a 65-km mountain ultra-marathon

The aims of the study were to describe the physiological profile of a 65-km (4000-m cumulative elevation gain) running mountain ultra-marathon (MUM) and to identify predictors of MUM performance. Twenty-three amateur trail-runners performed anthropometric evaluations and an uphill graded exercise test (GXT) for VO_2max, ventilatory thresholds (VTs), power outputs (PMax, PVTs) and heart rate response (HRmax, HR@VTs). Heart rate (HR) was monitored during the race and intensity was expressed as: Zone I (VT2) for exercise load calculation (training impulse, TRIMP). Mean race intensity was 77.1%±4.4% of HRmax distributed as: 85.7%±19.4% Zone I, 13.9%±18.6% Zone II, 0.4%±0.9% Zone III. Exercise load was 766±110 TRIMP units. Race time (11.8±1.6h) was negatively correlated with VO_2max (r = ?0.66, P <0.001) and PMax (r = ?0.73, P <0.001), resulting these variables determinant in predicting MUM performance, whereas exercise thresholds did not improve performance prediction. Laboratory variables explained only 59% of race time variance, underlining the multi-factorial character of MUM performance. Our results support the idea that VT1 represents a boundary of tolerable intensity in this kind of events, where exercise load is extremely high. This information can be helpful in identifying optimal pacing strategies to complete such extremely demanding MUMs.     

Habla espontánea en resolución de problemas

Resumen

Estudiamos el valor funcional de los contenidos del habla espontánea en la resolución de problemas y su cambio evolutivo. Ciento veintisiete preescolares (de 3;0 a 5;11 años de edad) deben encajar dos puzzles iguales, algunas de cuyas piezas fueron intercambiadas. Para evaluar los posibles efectos diferenciales del contexto social de la actividad en las emisiones, creamos dos condiciones experimentales: con y sin interacción conversacional previa con el investigador. Toda el habla espontánea fue registrada y su contenido analizado a partir de cinco categorías (habla irrelevante, acompañamiento verbal, habla orientada al problema, preguntas y solicitudes de ayuda). Los resultados indican que el habla orientada al problema aumenta con la edad y, paralelamente, disminuye el habla irrelevante. En la condición conversacional aparece más habla orientada al problema y menos habla irrelevante que en la condición no conversacional. El habla orientada al problema y las preguntas son los contenidos más relacionados con el éxito en la tarea.     

Some Light on the Jumping Event in the Ancient Olympic Games: Suggestions Provided by the Purchena Games of 1569

In 1569 in the Spanish village of Purchena, a games was held in which a contingent of Turkish soldiers took part – many of them natives from the area that in antiquity was called Greece. These Turks celebrated several events in these games typical of the land of their birth. One of these events was the triple jump.

In this article we study the possibility that the jump celebrated by those Turks of the sixteenth century was the same jump that was practised in that part of the eastern Mediterranean during the time of the ancient Olympic games.

Eclairages sur les rencontres de sauts dans les Jeux Olympiques Antiques: suggestions fournies par les Jeux Purchena de 1569

En 1569 dans le village espagnol de Purchena, des jeux ont été tenus dans lesquels un contingent de soldats turcs a participé, dont beaucoup provenant d'une région que l'on appelait dans l'Antiquité la Grèce. Ces Turcs ont célébré plusieurs épreuves dans ces jeux typiques de leur terre d'origine. L'un était le triple-saut.

Dans cet article nous étudions la possibilité que le saut célébré par ces Turcs du 16ème siècle fut le même que celui qui a été pratiqué dans cette partie de la Méditerranée orientale pendant le temps des jeux Olympiques antiques.

Algunos datos sobre el salto de longitud en los Juegos Olímpicos de la Antigüedad: pistas proporcionadas por los Juegos de Purchena de 1569

En 1569 tuvieron lugar unos juegos deportivos en la ciudad española de Purchena. En ellos tomó parte un contingente de soldados turcos, muchos de ellos originarios de la región denominada Grecia en la Antigüedad. En los mencionados juegos estos turcos celebraron varias competiciones típicas de su tierra. Una de estas competiciones fue el triple salto.

En este artículo estudiamos la posibilidad de que la competición de salto celebrada por aquellos turcos del siglo XVI fuera la misma que se practicaba en esa parte del mediterráneo oriental en los tiempos de los Juegos Olímpicos de la antigüedad.

Neues zum Sprung bei den antiken Olympischen Spielen: Anregungen von den Spielen von Purchena im Jahr 1569

1569 wurden im spanischen Dorf Purchena Spiele veranstaltet, an denen ein Aufgebot von türkischen Soldaten teilnahm, von denen viele ursprünglich aus der Gegend kamen, die in der Antike Griechenland genannt wurde. Diese Türken veranstalteten verschiedene Wettbewerbe bei diesen Spielen, die für ihr Geburtsland typisch waren. Einer dieser Wettbewerbe war der Dreisprung.

In diesem Artikel wird die Möglichkeit erörtert, ob der von den Türken veranstaltete Sprungwettbewerb des 16. Jahrhunderts der gleiche war wie der, der in diesem Teil des östlichen Mittelmeerraums zur Zeit der antiken Olympischen Spiele stattfand.

     

Is there life beyond neoliberalism? Critical socio-educational alternatives for civic construction

How far does the neoliberal system pervade social and educational fields in its attempt to colonise the world of life? Neoliberalism is increasingly penetrating every aspect of human existence. From this context, this paper presents a set of alternative socio-educational experiences which are subtly constructing new latent revolutionary subjectivities. Critical educators, as transformative intellectuals, should use this crisis as an opportunity to social transformation by joining theory and praxis. Many people are now building ways of dialogic learning, new social relationships, commitment and collaborative ventures. This makes citizens more aware and critical, proving them with experiences of empowerment and cooperative work.     

Evolution of the Retiarius Fighting Technique: Abandoning the Net?

In the representations of retiarii, the net appears very rarely, especially in the later times of gladiatura (third, fourth, and fifth centuries). Traditionally, this scarce presence has been explained by the argument that most artists avoided representing the net, an object supposedly difficult to depict, or because the net was not used in the scene depicted. Yet there is evidence that suggests that, actually, some retiarii fought without the net, above all in the late empire, if not always, at least in some combats. In this paper, we study that evidence.     

Nordic walking practice might improve plantar pressure distribution

Nordic walking (NW), characterized by the use of two walking poles, is becoming increasingly popular (Morgulec-Adamowicz, Marszalek, & Jagustyn, 2011). We studied walking pressure patterns of 20 experienced and 30 beginner Nordic walkers. Plantar pressures from nine foot zones were measured during trials performed at two walking speeds (preferred and 20% faster), and under two walking conditions (NW vs. normal walking). In comparison to normal walking, NW experience led to a significant (p < .05) pressure reduction of about 50% on the central metatarsals. No significant increases were detected in other foot regions. The differences between experienced and beginners during normal walking including a 40% pressure reduction on the metatarsal area, suggests that regular NW practice might also have a beneficial effect on plantar pressure when walking without poles.     

Leadership,an essential requirement for effecting change in media companies: An analysis of the Spanish market

Abstract

As afield of study, company leadership can be examined from many angles. In this paper our aim is to study leadership in the way it effects change. The qualitative value of the information compiled is considerable since it helps to understand the grounds on which the success of the directors who effected change of the Spanish media market was based. The interviews afford us a closer look at the minds of the leading players in action.

The cases analysed show that, in media companies, radical transformations do not come about without the existence of one or several leaders, capable of mobilising the organisation where they work.

Through the literature review, the companies'internal documentation and interviews with the directors we have been able to demonstrate that our hypotheses on leadership are not only reasonable but also help to explain, to a great extent, the profound transformations which the Spanish media market has undergone in the last 25 years.