The provision of port services is an important link in international logistics. Historically, ports have constituted a bottleneck in maritime transport. Moreover, the quality of port services has been compromised by the complex internal port organisation and the considerable number of bodies that participate in the transfer of goods between ships and inland transport vehicles. The efficiency of port services affects not only the port authorities, service providers and customers, but also the port hinterland through the multiplier effect on the regional economy. The problems of port organisation are explained using principal‐agent concepts. The authors then explore the concept of quality in relation to port services, and discuss certification of service providers as a means of signalling quality to their customers. Finally, the accreditation system of the port of Valencia, Spain, is presented as a model, one that is superior to the accepted ISO standards, whereby port service quality and efficiency may be enhanced.

We have developed a parametric model to quantify the Key Quality Indicators which affect video-based Tele-operated Driving (ToD) over a mobile network, as well as their relationship with the network Key Performance Indicators. This model can be easily used to specify Quality of Service policies (e.g. through network slicing) that guarantee the required conditions for remote driving on specific areas. We have used our model to validate the feasibility of deploying remote-assisted driving in different real networks, both from current 4G deployments and from pre-commercial and commercial 5G pilots. Our results show that some ToD services (supervision and, up to some point, parking) may be feasible with high-end existing 5G networks. However, full remote driving requires some improvements in the system, particularly to reduce end-to-end latency, increase uplink performance, and minimize service losses. Both the model and its results will be used in the framework of European Union H2020 project 5G-MOBIX to deploy a ToD proof-of-concept in the cross-border corridor between Spain and Portugal.

<p>The different evolution of wine production and consumption in Spain in recent decades has pushed the sector into a model which is highly dependent on international markets. In these circumstances, the variable that determines the viability of many enterprises is the performance of exports. This article evaluates the performance of Spanish wine exports using a set of indicators that measure their diversification, adaptation and competitiveness in target markets. The results show a positive export performance in three dimensions, which contributes to determine the keys to their success, especially in volume, and to guide future strategies.</p>

The aim of this work is to determine to what extent Robert Parker has lost his influence as a prescriber in the world of wine through a webometric analysis based on a comparative analysis of Parker's web influence and that of a competitor who represents an anthitetical vision of the world of wine (Alice Feiring). To do this, we carried out a comparative analysis for Parker's (@wine_advocate) and Alice Feiring's (@alicefeiring) official Twitter accounts, including a broad set of metrics (productivity, age, Social Activity, number of followees, etc.), paying special attention to specific followers' features (age, gender, location, and bios text). The results show that Parker's twitter profile exhibits an overall higher impact, which denotes not only a different online strategy but also a high level of engagement and popularity. The low level of shared followers by Parker and Feiring (1,898 users) offer prima facie evidence of an online gap between these followers, which can indicate the existence of a divided group of supporters corresponding with the visions that Parker and Feiring represent. Finally, special features are notice for Feiring in gender (more women followers), language (more English-speaking followers) and country (more followers from the United States).

Las empresas agroalimentarias recurren cada vez más a subcontratar los servicios logísticos que requieren para entregar sus productos a los clientes. Las transacciones entre ellas y sus proveedores requieren a menudo la inversión en activos específicos. Estos activos son de diversa naturaleza, su incidencia es especialmente significativa en el caso de productos perecederos y su intensidad varía de unas empresas a otras. Todo ello explica la existencia en la práctica de distintos arreglos organizativos y diversos acuerdos contractuales. Aunque no tiene en cuenta suficientemente los problemas de adaptación, la economía neoinstitucional es la más idónea para analizar la relación entre los costes generados por las transacciones y las decisiones de las empresas para minimizarlos. Así, se comprueba que la respuesta a la existencia de altas especificidades de los activos es la integración vertical y la constitución de operadores logísticos en régimen de empresa-mixta.