Outsourcing labour to the cloud

Various forms of open sourcing to the online population are establishing themselves as cheap, effective methods of getting work done. These have revolutionised the traditional methods for innovation and have contributed to the enrichment of the concept of 'open innovation'. To date, the literature concerning this emerging topic has been spread across a diverse number of media, disciplines and academic journals. This paper attempts for the first time to survey the emerging phenomenon of open outsourcing of work to the internet using 'cloud computing'. The paper describes the volunteer origins and recent commercialisation of this business service. It then surveys the current platforms, applications and academic literature. Based on this, a generic classification for crowdsourcing tasks and a number of performance metrics are proposed. After discussing strengths and limitations, the paper concludes with an agenda for academic research in this new area

Caracterización química y térmica del material de construcción de nidos de siete especies de avispas del Norte de Santander - Colombia

Social wasps are insects that construct their nests using wood pulp, plant and themselves secretions for the accomplishment of their activities as a colony. Currently in Colombia, there is little knowledge about this interesting material due to its characteristics, which could be used in promising applications. In this work the chemical and thermal characterization of nests of seven species of wasps (Agelaia pallipes, Agelaia multipicta, Agelaia areata, Polybia aequatorialis, Parachartergus apicalis, Mischucytharus imitator, Brachygastra lecheguana) living in Norte de Santander, was carried out with the purpose of establishing if there are significant differences between species and provide information that could be used as a model or precursors for the synthesis in biomimetics and / or nanotechnology. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were performed using a Thermal analyser SDT-Q600 from T.A. Instruments. An infrared spectrophotometer FT-IR SHIMADZU Prestige-21 with ATR was used for infrared analysis. The fluorescence analysis (XRF) was performed using a sequential X-ray fluorescence spectrometer of dispersive wavelength of 4kW BRUKER model S8 TIGER. The thermogravimetric analysis shows three mass losses and four degradation processes related to moisture loss, degradation of hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin. The infrared analysis allowed identifying characteristic functional groups of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. Through the X-ray fluorescence analysis, some metals such as K, Ca, Al, Mg, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Se and Li were found. The analyses made of the samples allowed to establish differences and similarities in the construction material of the studied species.Las avispas sociales son insectos que construyen sus nidos utilizando pulpa de madera, secreciones de plantas y de diferentes partes de su cuerpo que requieren para la realización y ejecución de sus actividades como  colonia.  Actualmente  en  Colombia  se  tiene  poco  conocimiento  acerca  de  este  material  que  podría  aprovecharse en diferentes aplicaciones. En el presente trabajo se realizó la caracterización química y térmica de nidos de siete especies de avispas (Agelaia pallipes, Agelaia multipicta, Agelaia areata, Polybia aequatorialis,  Parachartergus  apicalis,  Mischucytharus  imitator,  Brachygastra  lecheguana)    de  Norte  de  Santander con motivos de establecer si existen diferencias significativas entre especies y proporcionar información que sea la base de otras investigaciones encaminadas hacia la utilización de estos materiales como modelos o precursores de síntesis en biomimética y/o nanotecnología. Los análisis termogravimétrico (TGA) y calorimetría diferencial de barrido (DSC)  se realizaron empleando un equipo SDT-Q600 de T.A. Instruments. Para el análisis infrarrojo se utilizó un espectrofotómetro infrarrojo FT-IR SHIMADZU Prestige-21 con ATR. El análisis de fluorescencia (XRF) se realizó empleando un espectrómetro secuencial de fluorescencia de rayos X de longitud de onda dispersiva de 4kW marca BRUKER modelo S8 TIGER. En el análisis termogravimétrico se encontraron tres pérdidas de masa y cuatro procesos de degradación relacionados con la pérdida de humedad, la degradación de hemicelulosa, celulosa y lignina. El análisis infrarrojo permitió determinar grupos funcionales característicos de celulosa, hemicelulosa y lignina. A través del análisis de fluorescencia de rayos X, se detectaron los metales K, Ca, Al, Mg, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Se y Li. Los análisis realizados permitieron establecer diferencias y similitudes en el material de construcción de las diferentes especies

Análisis estructural y antígenico de las inmunoglobulinas de la trucha arcoiris, "Oncorhynchus mykiss"

Tesis Universidad Complutense de Madrid 1992Depto. de Biología CelularFac. de Ciencias BiológicasTRUEpu

Influence of Cardiorespiratory Clinical Placements on the Specialty Interest of Physiotherapy Students

Clinical placements are an important part of health students’ training. Whilst much value is placed on the clinical environment as a place to learn, there is a paucity of direct evidence about its effectiveness. The aim of this study was to compare the competence, importance, and interest in cardiorespiratory physiotherapy of students before and after one month of clinical practice. A preand post-placement questionnaire about students’ interest in different physiotherapy subspecialties was used. The students with a cardiorespiratory clinical placement showed a significant change in their perception about the importance of the cardiorespiratory specialty (0.348 1.01; p < 0.001), while no significant change was observed in the students without cardiorespiratory placement (-0.014 0.825; p = 0.883). The presence or absence of clinical placements seems to have a definitive impact on students’ choice of a specialty. This implies the need for developing a set of clinical placements in all the subareas of physiotherapy in order to give undergraduate students the opportunity to make a better decision

Impact of Previous Physical Activity Levels on Symptomatology, Functionality, and Strength during an Acute Exacerbation in COPD Patients

The main objective of this study is to determine the relationship between physical activity (PA) level prior to hospitalization and the pulmonary symptomatology, functionality, exercise capacity, and strength of acute exacerbated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. In this observational study, all data were taken during the patient’s first day in hospital. Patients were divided into two groups (a PA group, and a physical inactivity (PI) group), according to the PA level evaluated by the Baecke questionnaire. Cough status was evaluated by the Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ), and dyspnea was assessed using the modified Medical Research Council dyspnea scale (mMRC). Functionality was measured by the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) and the London Chest Activity of Daily Living scale (LCADL). Exercise capacity was evaluated by the two-minute step-in-place (2MSP) test, and strength assessed by dynamometry. A total of 151 patients were included in this observational study. Patients in the PI group obtained worse results compared to the PA group, and significant differences (p < 0.05) were found in all of the variables. Those COPD patients who regularly perform PA have less dyspnea and cough, as well as better functionality, exercise capacity and strength during an exacerbation, without relationship to the severity of the pathology.The author JRT has received financial support through a FPU (“Formación Profesorado Universitario”) grant (FPU:16/01531) of the Spanish Ministry of Education. The author LLL has received financial support through a FPU grant (FPU: 17/00408) of the Spanish Ministry of Education (Spain)

Trastorno límite de personalidad según el MCMI-II en la anorexia y bulimia nerviosas

El objetivo del presente trabajo es estudiar los rasgos de personalidad y el posible diagnóstico de Trastorno Límite de la Personalidad (TLP) según el MCMI-II en diferentes grupos de mujeres. 93 pacientes: 31 con anorexia nerviosa restrictiva (ANr), 31 con anorexia nerviosa compulsiva/purgativa (ANp) y 31 con bulimia nerviosa purgativa (BNp); 31 mujeres en riesgo de desarrollar un trastorno de la conducta alimentaria o grupo control sintomático (GC-S) y 31 sin patología conocida o grupo control no sintomático (GC-NS) completaron la versión española del MCMI-II. Los resultados muestran: (1) rasgos de personalidad límite clínicamente significativa [74>tasa base (TB)84), 29% ANr, 41.9% ANp y 29% BNp. Se concluye que, a partir del MCMI-II, las mujeres con BNp mostraron más rasgos de TLP que posibles diagnósticos (aunque cuando los presentaron éstos fueron más severos). Sin embargo, la probabilidad de un posible trastorno fue mayor en las mujeres con ANp (más trastornos que rasgos).The aim of the present study is to explore the MCMI-II personality style and MCMI-II possible disorder of borderline personality (BPD) in various groups of women. 93 patients-31 anorexia nervosa restricting subtype (ANr), 31 anorexia nervosa binge-eating/purging subtype (ANp), and 31 bulimia nervosa purging subtype (BNp); 31 women at high risk for eating disorder or symptomatic control group (S-CG) and 31 without known pathology or not symptomatic control group (NS-CG)-completed the Spanish version of the MCMI-II. The results revealed: (1) clinically significant borderline personality traits [74>Base Rate (BR) 84): 29% ANr, 41.9% ANp and 29% BNp. According to the MCM-II, women with BNp displayed more BPD traits than possible disorder (though these were more severe). However, the probability of a possible disorder was higher in ANp (more disorders than traits)

Insatisfacción corporal y conductas concurrentes. Estudio comparativo entre mujeres adolescentes y jóvenes de población general, adolescentes y con diagnóstico de TCA.

La insatisfacción corporal en la adolescencia es uno de los factores predisponentes para el desarrollo de Trastornos de la Conducta Alimentaria (TCA). Las bailarinas conforman un grupo de riesgo por diferentes motivos, entre otros, por la aspiración de “dominar el cuerpo” convirtiéndolo así en un instrumento de trabajo a la vez que en un medio de expresión artística. Objetivo: Analizar el grado de insatisfacción corporal y las posibles conductas concurrentes asociadas en chicas adolescentes y jóvenes: estudiantes de la población general, bailarinas y chicas con diagnóstico de TCA. Método: Se administró el Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ ) a 566 chicas estudiantes: 247 de la población general, 175 bailarinas y 143 con diagnóstico de algún TCA. Se realizaron análisis descriptivos y comparativos. Resultados y conclusiones: La preocupación por la imagen corporal (IC) fue de moderada a extrema en el 19,8% - 6,1% de las estudiantes de población general y de 17,7% - 9,7% en las de danza. En las bailarinas, la preocupación e insatisfacción con la IC parece incrementarse con la edad alcanzando un grado de preocupación clínicamente significativo, sin que ello se derive de un alto IMCBody dissatisfaction in adolescence is one of the factors predisposing to the development of eating disorders (ED). The dancers are a risk group for ideal physical characteristics and aspiration of “dominating her body" turning the body into a working tool and a midst of artistic expression. Objetive: To analyze the degree of body dissatisfaction and possible conditions associated behaviors in adolescent and young girls, comparing three groups: students (general population), dancer students and girls diagnosed with ED. Methods: We administered the Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ ) to 566 female students: 247 of the general population, 175 were professional dancer students and 143 with a ED diagnosis. Descriptive and comparative analyses were performed. Results and conclusions: The concern for the body image was moderate to extreme in 19.8% - 6.1% of the general population students and 17.7% - 9.7% in dancers. In the dance students, concern and dissatisfaction with their own body image can be increased reaching a clinically significant degree of concern, but are not derived from a high BMI

Origen y distribución de los hidrocarburos policíclicos aromáticos en sedimentos actuales de la Laguna de El Hito (España central)

Se llevó a cabo la evaluación ambiental y el estudio del estado actual de la cuenca de la Laguna de El Hito referido a 18 hidrocarburos policíclicos aromáticos (PAHs) de 2 a 6 anillos bencénicos. Se determinó su origen a partir de diversos índices (%naftaleno, Fen/Ant y Flu/Pir), interpretándose tanto fuentes no antropogénicas (petrogénica) como antropogénicas (pirogénica). Se obtuvieron los mapas de distribución de las concentraciones de PAHs y de sus índices para localizar los puntos de concentraciones más elevadas. Ningún PAH superó las concentraciones marcadas por los Niveles Genéricos de Referencia (NGR) para la salud humana en los distintos usos del suelo del R.D.09/2005. Los PAHs con las mayores concentraciones fueron el naftaleno y el fenantreno.Environmental evaluation and analysis of the current state of El Hito Lake Basin referred to 18 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) with 2 to 6 benzene rings was carried out. Different indexes were used to determine the source of PAHs (% naftalene, Phe/Ant and Flu/Pyr). Both non anthropogenic (petrogenic) and anthropogenic (pyrogenic) sources were interpreted. Distribution maps for PAHs and indexes were plotted to locate the position of the higher concentrations and, therefore, their possible sources. None of these compounds showed concentrations above the Soil Screening Levels (SSL) for human health in the different uses of soil as is established in R.D.09/2005. The ones that reached the highest concentrations were naphthalene and phenanthrene