Fast and stable contour integration for high order divided differences via elliptic functions

In this paper, we will present a new method for evaluating high order divided differences for certain classes of analytic, possibly, operator valued functions. This is a classical problem in numerical mathematics but also arises in new applications such as, e.g., the use of generalized convolution quadrature to solve retarded potential integral equations. The functions which we will consider are allowed to grow exponentially to the left complex half plane, polynomially to the right half plane and have an oscillatory behaviour with increasing imaginary part. The interpolation points are scattered in a large real interval. Our approach is based on the representation of divided differences as contour integral and we will employ a subtle parameterization of the contour in combination with a quadrature approximation by the trapezoidal rule

Equisingularity classes of birational projections of normal singularities to a plane

Given a birational normal extension S of a two-dimensional local regular ring R, we describe all the equisingularity types of the complete ideals J in R whose blowing-up has some point at which the local ring is analytically isomorphic to S. The problem of classifying the germs of such normal surface singularities was already posed by Spivakovsky (Ann. of Math. 1990). This problem has two parts: discrete and continous. The continous part is to some extent equivalent to the problem of the moduli of plane curve singularities, while the main result of this paper solves completely the discrete part.Comment: 22 pages, 3 figures. To appear in Advances in Mathematic

Welfare Measures and Mandatory Regulation for Transgenic Food in the European Union: A Theoretical Framework for the Analysis

This paper presents an analytical framework for studying the impact of mandatory labelling regulation for transgenic food. We compare Genetically Modified (GM) and conventional crop markets and identify gains for food processors prior to mandatory labelling and losses after this measure for the GM market. Nevertheless, food processors could obtain gains for conventional products after market disgregation. Finally, consumers will be worse off both for conventional and GM foods unless qualities other than changes to prices are considered.welfare, mandatory labelling, transgenic, genetically modified organism, European Union policy, Agricultural and Food Policy, Q18, K32, D62,

The Contemporary Human Resources Function

Abstract Current companies encounter important challenges day to day. Many factors such as the economic globalization, the change in the way of working, the Internet boom, and the importance that the service sector is experiencing nowadays influence the new society in which persons and businesses actually cope. Each of these contingencies obligates the Human Resource function to adapt to new organizational goals moulding their strategies and tactics to the in fashion topics. In this work we present the classical functions integrated in the Human Resources department constituting its base of performance. We also deal equally with the high performance practices and the importance that is acquiring the binomial human resources management strategies – business performance such as new tendencies applicable in this area.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED: AN ANALYSIS OF PIONEER AND FOLLOWER FIRMS' MARKET AND NONMARKET ACTIONS IN THE EUROPEAN MOBILE TELEPHONE INDUSTRY

This study examines the relationship between erosion of the first-mover’s market share and the differences in competitive behaviour of pioneer firms and followers. Particularly, we pay particular attention to market actions related to innovation, pricing and promotion, and to non-market actions related to judicial issues. The empirical study has been carried out with companies that are present in a dynamic context, such as the European mobile telephone industry. Our results show that when followers take more non-market actions than pioneers the negative effect on the firstentrant’s advantage is more significant. On the contrary, we have not found a significant impact of innovating and pricing actions.

Chagas Disease Diagnostic Applications: Present Knowledge and Future Steps

Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, is a lifelong and debilitating illness of major significance throughout Latin America and an emergent threat to global public health. Being a neglected disease, the vast majority of Chagasic patients have limited access to proper diagnosis and treatment, and there is only a marginal investment into R&D for drug and vaccine development. In this context, identification of novel biomarkers able to transcend the current limits of diagnostic methods surfaces as a main priority in Chagas disease applied research. The expectation is that these novel biomarkers will provide reliable, reproducible and accurate results irrespective of the genetic background, infecting parasite strain, stage of disease, and clinical-associated features of Chagasic populations. In addition, they should be able to address other still unmet diagnostic needs, including early detection of congenital T. cruzi transmission, rapid assessment of treatment efficiency or failure, indication/prediction of disease progression and direct parasite typification in clinical samples. The lack of access of poor and neglected populations to essential diagnostics also stresses the necessity of developing new methods operational in point-of-care settings. In summary, emergent diagnostic tests integrating these novel and tailored tools should provide a significant impact on the effectiveness of current intervention schemes and on the clinical management of Chagasic patients. In this chapter, we discuss the present knowledge and possible future steps in Chagas disease diagnostic applications, as well as the opportunity provided by recent advances in high-throughput methods for biomarker discovery.Fil: Balouz, Virginia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas "Dr. Raúl Alfonsín" (sede Chascomús). Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas "Dr. Raúl Alfonsín" (sede Chascomús); ArgentinaFil: Fernandez Aguero, Maria Jose. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas "Dr. Raúl Alfonsín" (sede Chascomús). Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas "Dr. Raúl Alfonsín" (sede Chascomús); ArgentinaFil: Buscaglia, Carlos Andres. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas "Dr. Raúl Alfonsín" (sede Chascomús). Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas "Dr. Raúl Alfonsín" (sede Chascomús); Argentin

Emotional intelligence and satisfaction at work in teachers: Testing affectivity as potential mediator.

Introduction: Although previous research has highlighted the role of emotional intelligence on satisfaction at work, the underlying processes accounting for this association remain relatively unexplored. Objectives: To address this gap, this study examined the role of positive and negative affect as potential mediators in this link controlling for classic and well-known personality traits. Method: A sample of 124 Spanish secondary teachers completed an emotional intelligence scale, the positive and negative affective scale, the Big-Five questionnaire and the overall job satisfaction. Results: As expected, results showed that teachers´ EI was positively related to positive affect and negatively related to negative affect. Similarly, EI was positively associated to satisfaction at work. Besides, multiple mediation analysis revealed that EI showed a significant indirect effect (through positive affect) on satisfaction at work even when controlling for known confounding effects of gender, age, years of experience and personality traits. Conclusion: Our study contributes to understanding of mediating processes involved in increasing positive attitudes at work in teachers and suggests the implementation of intervention program in teachers designed to bolster EI abilities as a way of enhancing affect, which might increase job satisfaction.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech