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Any mathematical model underlying a system of the complex reality (for example, in ecology, socioeconomy, etc.) defines a text written in a given language which belongs to a literature. A text‐model based language, L(M_T) is developed, which focuses on its syntax. Three generative grammars are built for its alphabet (lexic unities). Further, the linguistic entropy of this language is analyzed from the Vakar’s point of view. Finally, this theory is applied to a particular ecological model, as an example of a text written in L(M_T).

The purpose of this paper is to study a theory of systems and their models on the basis of studying the information channels between their elements, meaning that it is a continuation of those studies already carried out on the theory of systems and their models applied to environmental systems.

The model information transmission system (MITS) can be defined as the theoretical structure that makes it possible to describe the way information is stored and transmitted in a modelling process, and which will be completed in future studies. The basis for a taxonomy of languages is also presented.

The theoretical structure described will lead to the study of a theory of information from the point of view of the analysis of text systems and models, but analysed within the theoretical structure presented, which includes the study of an information source and an information channel.

These theoretical findings will improve the information channels used up to now for the study and modelling of systems and which are largely described using several computer programmes, as the information generated and transmitted will be studied and analysed in different ways. In this way, the text models and families of text models generated can be analysed by studying and transforming models, particularly by focusing attention on everything inherent to the information contained in the same.

The authors continue developing a Linguistic Theory of the Ecological Systems, but in terms of the Semantics. Each symbol (transformed function) is syntactically a lexeme, carrying an associate sememe or atomic semantic unit. Each sememe can be decomposed in semes or quantic semantic unities. They are studied and semantic systems, associated with the syntactic, that serve them as suprastructure, in terms of two levels: the quantic and the atomic. Also, it is demonstrated that for all models of the complex reality, there will always exist a most complex model from the syntactic and semantic point of view.

It is known that a mathematical ecological model and, in general, a particular methodology of modelling, can be considered a literary text written in a formal mathematical language. In this context, stylometric mathematical laws such as Zipf’s (range‐frequency and number‐frequency) can be applied to obtain information parameters in different semantic levels within the same model. Adapts several of these laws and introduces new elements, lexic units, operating and separating units, to carry out several statistical analyses upon two models or texts. The estimated slopes in the regression equations obtained in the present work are compared with the results of previous papers where Mandelbrot’s law was applied and comparisons between them are shown.

All models have in common that they encode experience and always involve signs, signals, syntax, semantics and an ability to decode and derive meaning from what is encoded. Therefore, an ecological model can be considered a text T, written in a formal (mathematical) language defined by the authors as L(M_T).

The language chosen is a regular language generated by regular grammars which in turn are generated by finite automaton.

A text results from a union of some finite automata defining a textual grammar. Recognoscitive and generative grammars of words, defining the basis of the L(M_T) language are developed.

A mathematical modelling of ecological systems is developed in parts I and II of this research project.

A language for ecological systems modelling has been defined and its implementation discussed.

Extant literature has looked at the effect of alliance capability and organizational culture on alliance portfolio performance, but the relationship between the two has not been explored. The purpose of this paper is to explore the hypothesis that an alliance supportive culture is not only fostered by a firm’s alliance capabilities, but that it mediates the relationship between capabilities and performance.

Survey responses from 190 alliance managers, collected using a two-stage process, were analyzed to investigate the interrelationship of firm-level alliance capability, alliance supportive culture and portfolio performance.

Alliance supportive culture was found to mediate the relationship between alliance capability and alliance portfolio performance. This finding suggests that in order to effectively manage a firm’s portfolio of alliances, the benefits of alliance capability must be transferred broadly into the organization’s cultural orientation toward alliances.

Further research may extend this analysis to explore the effect of subcomponents of alliance capability and alliance culture to better understand fine-grained influences on alliance performance. The findings of this study also may be extended to inform how supportive culture orientation affects partner selection, negotiation and time to performance.

Managers should utilize culture-building actions as a way of extending the value of their firms’ alliance capabilities in order to improve their effectiveness across the portfolio.

Extant studies have considered the discrete effects of capability and cultural orientation on alliance portfolio success, but the mediation effect has not previously been investigated. The findings also identify a boundary condition for the benefit of alliance capabilities on portfolio performance.

A systematic study of a lotus's leaf area is described through the genetic improvement of Lotus glaber, an induced tetraploid population known as, Leonel, was obtained. Initial assessment showed an increase in dry material in comparison with a diploid population. The aim was to evaluate whether the increased production of forage found in the tetraploid population Leonel was due to increased foliolae sizes.

Three populations were studied L. glaber: diploid cytotype: seeds from a naturalised population of La Pampa Deprimida (Azul, Argentina); Tetraploid cytotype C1 seeds from the Leonel population, and Lotus corniculatus (Italia) seeds from Italy. Analysis of variance was carried out with a random design using a single factor, for the variables of area, length and width of the central foliolae. Linear and non‐linear model families were determined to estimate the area of the central foliolae. The selection criteria applied were: the best R², good efficiency, the greatest simplicity of the model and its stability.

The widths of the L. glaber diploid foliolae were less than those of L. corniculatus tetraploide and these were longer. The areas of the L. glaber foliolae were greater than those of the tetraploid L. corniculatus, and the areas of the foliolae of the diploid cytotype were slightly superior to the induced tetraploid cytotype L. Leoner. The best model was that which estimated the area of the central foliolae according to their width.

Non‐destructive estimates of foliar area were obtained for different species of the Lotus genus. The methodology chose provides a useful example of a systemic approach.

The variables studied are significant morphophysiological characteristics that can be used in programmes for the genetic improvement of L. glaber and L. corniculatus.

Studies have found that founders of start-up companies are similar to students in certain psychological characteristics. Confirming this similarity would have methodological and phenomenological implications. Phenomenologically, students are a main source for recruitment in start-up companies. Methodologically, students are a more convenient sample to study than start-up founders. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

The resemblance between students and start-up founders is tested by analyses of variance of the responses of 1,509 students and 53 start-up founders to a questionnaire survey.

The results indicate that, as a population, students are not entirely similar to start-up founders, though similarities were found to exist. The closest resemblance between students and founders was found for managerial, armed forces/police and medicine students; agricultural, humanities and natural science students had the least resemblance.

Although student samples are commonly used in the study of management phenomena, the validity of this approach has not hitherto been tested, which indicates that the use of student subjects as stand-ins for start-up founders may be a practice without a solid foundation.

Within the fields of feminist media and cultural studies, questions around authenticity and gender have become increasingly pronounced in recent years. This chapter outlines the scope of this work by not only examining the extent to which digital media culture increasingly trades in ideas of ‘realness’ and of ‘being yourself’ but also the consequences of this for particular marginal groups, including women, queer and feminised people. Three significant avenues for research around authenticity are also discussed: masculinity, authenticity and victimhood; feminism, trauma and ‘authentic voice’; and feminism, transphobia and ‘authentic womanhood’.