Improving Software Quality Through the Use of Statistics: An Initial Approach

Information systems development is a very important activity that is performed continuously in Information Systems departments. We can say that quality is a complex measurement of a product or service that people demands. However, quality is a measurement that is composed by a set of aspects. Quality measurement can be performed in concrete or abstract form. Software quality is a very important issue that developers must address properly, but a lot has to do with abstract aspects of it nonetheless. We proposed an approach that could reduce the abstractness of software quality measurement. In order to prove it, we conducted a study with encouraging results. We found that end-user participation in the evaluation IS quality can be improved

Microstructural development of Powder Metallurgy Cobalt-based superalloys processed by Field Assisted Sintering Techniques (FAST)

This study reports the microstructural evolution, physical and mechanical properties of cobalt-based superalloys processed from mechanical alloyed powders and consolidated by field-assisted sintering techniques (FAST). After an initial thermodynamic simulation of the ternary diagram by Thermocalc (R) to determine the composition, a sequential milling process was carried out at room temperature up to 40 h milling of two different alloying systems: CO-12Al-10W (at%) and Co-12Al-10W-2Ti-2Ta (at%). Characterization of the powders was performed by using X-Ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and particle-size analyzer. Consolidated samples were also characterized in terms of density, microhardness and hardness. In order to promote the dual gamma/gamma microstructure, both alloys were aged after solution annealing heat treatment, improving a new route of consolidation with a new level of performance.Project funded by the Madrid Region under the program S2013/MIT-277

Preparation of reference materials for frit chemical analysis

A study was undertaken on how to prepare frit reference materials in which the following elements are analysed: Si, Al, Fe, Ca, Mg, N, K, Ti , Zr, Ba, Pb, Zn, Hf, P, B and Li . The following analytical techniques were used: X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF), inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) and titrimetry. Boron and lithium were analysed by ICP OES, sodium and lithium by AAS, and boron by titrimetry, while the remaining frit elements and sodium were analysed by XRF. The results found by the different methods were compared and each method was validated by means of reference materials. A procedure was established for preparing frit reference materials for calibrating and validating working methods on an industrial scale

Store brand evaluative process in an international context

This author accepted manuscript is deposited under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC) licence. This means that anyone may distribute, adapt, and build upon the work for non-commercial purposes, subject to full attribution. If you wish to use this manuscript for commercial purposes, please contact [email protected] study was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Education (ECO2012-31517) and by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (ECO2015-69103-R)

The thrill of a smart purchase: Does country matter?

This is the accepted version of the following article: Quinones, M, Gómez-Suárez, M, Yagüe, M J(2021), The thrill of a smart purchase: Does country matter?. Int J Consum Stud. 2022; 46: 295–308, which has been published in final form at http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/ijcs.1267. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with the Wiley Self-Archiving Policy authorservices.wiley.com/author-resources/Journal-Authors/licensing/self-archiving.htmlThe purpose of this article is to investigate the relationship of Schwartz's theory of basic individual values to smart shoppers' predisposition to purchase store brands, considering the mediating role of the smart shopper self-concept and the moderating role of the country of origin. After an initial qualitative analysis, survey data were collected from a sample of 868 shoppers in four western countries (Spain, France, Germany and the United States). Then, a series of statistical estimations was developed through structural equation modelling. The results of these sequential models showed metric equivalence, providing a basis for generating valid comparisons among the four countries. The final findings corroborate the idea that the individual's value structure has a direct and positive effect on the smart shopper self-concept and that this effect in turn influences the shopper's attitude towards store brands. The results also show that although the dimensions of the buyers' value structures are cross-country invariant, the set of values that best define smart shoppers differs significantly by country. Mixed results are found when the relationship between the smart shopper self-concept and the attitude towards store brands is analysed for each individual country. These outcomes offer international retail managers guidance on how to best stimulate smart shoppers' positive responses towards store brands.This research benefited from the Professorship Excellence Program in accordance with the multi-year agreement signed by the Government of Madrid and the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid-UAM (Line #3

How individual value structures shape smart shopping experience and brand choices: an international perspective

This study explores the extent to which smart shopping, and particularly its effect on consumer attitudes towards store brands and national brands, is influenced by consumers' cultural values. Our conceptual model, based on Schwartz's value framework, was tested with a survey that sampled 1272 shoppers from six different countries (USA, UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain). According to the results, the values that individuals acquire in their cultural environment significantly influenced their smart-shopper self-concept. Additionally, there were cross-country differences in consumers' value frameworks. As expected, smart shoppers' self-concept influenced their attitude towards both store brands and national brands, but was less influential in the former's case. These results have important implications for international marketing scholars and practitioners, especially regarding strategic aspects such as segmentation, positioning, and major communication strategies

Impact of rapid antigen detection testing on antibiotic prescription in acute pharyngitis in adults: FARINGOCAT STUDY: a multicentric randomized controlled trial

Dolor de garganta; Otitis media aguda; Prescripción de antibióticosSore throat; Acute otitis medium; Antibiotic prescriptionMal de gola; Otitis mitjana aguda; Prescripció d'antibiòticsBackground: Acute pharyngitis is one of the most frequent consultations to the general practitioner and in most of the cases an antibiotic is prescribed in primary care in Spain. Bacterial etiology, mainly by group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus (GABHS), accounts for 10-20% of all these infections in adults. The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of rapid antigen detection testing (RADT) to identify GABHS in acute pharyngitis on the utilization of antibiotics in primary care. Methods/design: Multicentric randomized controlled trial in which antibiotic prescription between two groups of patients with acute pharyngitis will be compared. The trial will include two arms, a control and an intervention group in which RADT will be performed. The primary outcome measure will be the proportion of inappropriate antibiotic prescription in each group. Two hundred seventy-six patients are required to detect a reduction in antibiotic prescription from 85% in the control group to 75% in the intervention group with a power of 90% and a level of significance of 5%. Secondary outcome measures will be specific antibiotic treatment, antibiotic resistance rates, secondary effects, days without working, medical visits during the first month and patient satisfaction. Discussion: The implementation of RADT would allow a more rational use of antibiotics and would prevent adverse effects of antibiotics, emergence of antibiotic resistance and the growth of inefficient health expenses.The study is funded by the Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias, theUniversity and Innovation Department of Spain (Reference number:PI061782), and from the Catalan Society of Family Medicin

Determinación de carbono orgánico en materias primas cerámicas en presencia de siderita, FeCO3

La materia orgánica es una de las impurezas presentes en las materias primas utilizadas en la fabricación de pavimentos y revestimientos cerámicos. Durante el proceso de cocción, el carbono orgánico (Corgánico) puede producir la aparición de un núcleo negro conocido como “corazón negro”, que puede causar defectos en el producto final. Las materias primas cerámicas contienen Corgánico a nivel de mg·kg-1 (procedente de la materia orgánica) y carbono inorgánico (Cinorgánico) a nivel de porcentaje (procedente de siderita (FeCO3), calcita (CaCO3) y dolomita (CaMg(CO3)2), principalmente). La presencia de siderita puede interferir en la determinación de Corgánico puesto que su temperatura de descomposición difiere muy poco de la temperatura de determinación del Corgánico, no ocurriendo lo mismo con la calcita y la dolomita, cuyas temperaturas de descomposición son superiores. Existen diversos métodos para la determinación de Corgánico en muestras sólidas, aunque no se han encontrado estudios cuantitativos sobre dicha determinación en presencia de siderita. En este trabajo se han desarrollado dos métodos para determinar Corgánico en materias primas y composiciones cerámicas mediante análisis elemental, en presencia de siderita, que pueden ser utilizados en el control de la aparición de corazón negro en baldosas cerámicas. La metodología desarrollada presenta bajos límites de cuantificación e incertidumbres, siendo un método rápido y preciso.Organic material is one of the impurities present in the raw materials used in the manufacture of ceramic floor and wall tiles. During the firing process, organic carbon (Corganic) can give rise to the appearance of what is known as "black core" inside the material, which can produce defects in the final product. Ceramic raw materials contain Corganic in the order of mg•kg-1 (from organic material) and inorganic carbon (Cinorganic) in the order of a percentage (mainly from siderite – FeCO3, calcite – CaCO3, and dolomite – CaMg(CO3)2). The presence of siderite can interfere in the determination of Corganic, since its decomposition temperature differs only slightly from the determination temperature of Corganic; this is not the case of calcite and dolomite, which decompose at higher temperatures. There are several different methods for determining Corganic in solid samples, although no quantitative studies on such determination in the presence of siderite were found. In this study two methods were developed for determining Corganic in raw materials and ceramic compositions by means of elemental analysis, in the presence of siderite, which can be used to control the appearance of black core in ceramic floor tiles. The method developed here offers low limits of quantification and uncertainties, while at the same time it is fast and precise

Underwater noise studies in the Gulf of Lions region. Anthropogenic contributions to underwater noise due to maritime traffic and offshore windfarm operation

En el marco del proyecto MSPMED se ha llevado a cabo un caso de estudio transfronterizo entre España y Francia en relación al estado de los ecosistemas, el desarrollo de la eólica marina y el ruido submarino,. Este deliverable analiza cómo podría ser el impacto del ruido submarino producido por el tráfico marítimo y la eólica marina en el componente pelágico

MSP Plans in MSPMED; main facts

El objetivo de este informe es la creación de fichas comparativas de los planes nacionales de ordenación del espacio marítimo de los países socios de MSPMED con el fin de detectar los puntos comunes y las principales diferencias entre ellos