Influence of Body Composition on Arterial Stiffness in Middle-Aged Adults: Healthy UAL Cross-Sectional Study

Background and objectives: Several anthropometric and body composition parameters have been linked to arterial stiffness (AS) as a biomarker of cardiovascular disease. However, little is known about which of these closely related factors is more strongly associated with AS. The aim of the present study was to analyze the relationship of different anthropometric and body composition parameters with AS in middle-aged adults. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 186 middle-aged participants (85 women, 101 men; age = 42.8 ± 12.6 years) evaluated as part of the Healthy UAL study, a population study conducted at the University of Almería with the main purpose of analyzing the etiology and risk factors associated with cardio-metabolic diseases. Anthropometric measures included neck, waist, and hip circumferences, as well as the waist-to-height ratio (WHtr). Bioimpedance-derived parameters included fat-free mass index (FFMI), fat mass index (FMI), and percent of body fat (%BF). AS was measured by pulse wave velocity (PWV). The relationships of interest were examined through stepwise regression analyses in which age and sex were also introduced as potential confounders. Results: Neck circumference (in the anthropometric model; R2: 0.889; β: age = 0.855, neck = 0.204) and FFMI (in the bio-impedance model; R2: 0.891; β: age = 0.906, FFMI = 0.199) emerged as significant cross-sectional predictors of AS. When all parameters were included together (both anthropometry and bio-impedance), both neck circumference and FFMI appeared again as being significantly associated with AS (R2: 0.894; β: age = 0.882, FFMI = 0.126, neck = 0.093). Conclusion: It was concluded that FFMI and neck circumference are correlated with AS regardless of potential confounders and other anthropometric and bioimpedance-derived parameters in middle-aged adults

Diseño de la carretera tramo Jaén – las Naranjas, distrito y Provincia de Jaén, Cajamarca 2018

La presente Investigación titulada: “Diseño de la carretera tramo Jaén – las Naranjas, provincia y distrito de Jaén, Cajamarca – 2018”, se desarrolló en el Distrito de Jaén, Provincia de Jaén, Departamento de Cajamarca, la Investigación se sustenta en el desarrollo del diseño de la infraestructura vial para Mejorar la accesibilidad del camino existente el cual no reúne las condiciones de diseños adecuados; de esta manera solucionar las condiciones deficientes de Transitabilidad vehicular que se viene dando en la zona del proyecto para lo cual nos valdremos de la normativa establecida por el ministerio de transportes y comunicaciones. El proyecto se encuentra ubicado en un terreno accidentado, ondulado e irregular, con pendientes pronunciadas en la mayoría de sus tramos, presenta considerables de abismos, por lo general el tipo de terreno son arcillas gravosas de baja plasticidad, con gran presencia de vegetación como: arbustos, árboles y presenta escorrentías pronunciadas por épocas del año a lo largo de la franja del proyecto. Para llegar a dar con el objetivo de esta investigación se ha realizado los estudios correspondientes: Estudio Topográfico, que sirvió para representar topográficamente el terreno, el Estudio de Mecánica de Suelos, para cuantificar las propiedades geomecánicas del suelo, tales como CBR, densidad máxima y humedad optima (Proctor), y clasificación de suelos, el Diseño Geométrico de la Carretera (DG-2018), para poder realizar un trazo adecuado para el alineamiento horizontal y vertical de la carretera, el Estudio de Hidrología y drenaje, el cual nos permite manejar en forma adecuada el agua que proviene de las precipitaciones o en otros casos de afloramientos, el Estudio de Impacto Ambiental, que facilitó determinar los impactos negativos y positivos que produce la ejecución de una obra sobre el medio ambiente, Análisis de costos y Presupuestos que son calculados en función a los metrados. Cabe mencionar que para el diseño de la carretera se consideró la estructura del pavimento sub base granular 20 cm, base granular 20 cm y carpeta asfáltica de 2.5 cm Las variables nombradas que permitieron culminar la investigación se hicieron posible, aplicando conocimientos técnicos de ingeniería y la normativa vigente del ministerio de transportes y comunicaciones

Transgenerational innovation capability in family firms

Purpose Based on the theory of dynamic capabilities, the purpose of this study is to examine how generation influences the effect of innovation capability on family business performance. To achieve this purpose, a moderation model is tested using the generational level as the moderating variable. Design/methodology/approach This study used a sample of 106 family businesses CEOs who were surveyed by mail using the Limesurvey 2.5 platform. The results obtained were analyzed using the second-generation partial least squares (PLS) structural equation model. The MICOM (Measurement Invariance of Composite Models) approach was used to analyze the moderating effect. Findings This research sheds lights on the innovation capacity to influence the family businesses performance, and on the generational level moderating this effect. As a result, the influence of the innovation capacity in second generation family businesses performance is higher than in the first generation. Research limitations/implications This study reveals the influence that the generational level has on the effect of innovation capacity on the family business performance. A greater dispersion of ownership, more participatory decision-making, and greater CEOs commitment to leadership in second- and later-generation family businesses, are the main key drivers of this result. Originality/value In comparison to previous studies, this research provides insights into the moderating effect of the generational level on the influence of innovation capacity on the family businesses performance through the MICOM approach (Measurement Invariance of Composite Models)

Factores que desmotivan la participación en clase de los alumnos de inglés como lengua extranjera en una escuela de idiomas

The goal of this qualitative study was to discover the nature of the factors that may demotivate university EFL students from participating in class. While previous studies conducted have focused on factors that affect classroom participation in general, this study involved in-depth interviews and observations in order to gain a comprehensive overview of the demotivating factors that impact EFL student participation levels. The study focuses on the participants’ participation habits and their perceptions of the factors that may inhibit it, that discourage learners from participating fully in class, and that effect learning negatively. The findings suggest that students’ perceptions of participation and their self-esteem and confidence affect their level of participation. They also indicate that the teacher’s role is an important variable in why students decide to remain silent.El objetivo de este estudio de corte cualitativo fue descubrir la naturaleza de los factores que pudieran desalentar la participación, dentro del salón de clases, de estudiantes de una licenciatura en inglés como lengua extranjera.  Mientras que estudios previos se han enfocado en los factores que afectan la participación en clase en general, este estudio involucró entrevistas a profundidad y observaciones para obtener una visión amplia de los factores que impactan los niveles de participación de estudiantes de inglés. Este estudio se enfoca en los hábitos de participación de los estudiantes y sus percepciones de los factores que pudieran inhibirla, que desmotivan a los participantes para participar ampliamente en clase así como sus posibles efectos negativos en el aprendizaje. Los datos sugieren que la percepción de participación de los entrevistados y su nivel de autoestima y de confianza afectan su nivel de participación. Los resultados también indican que el papel de los profesores es una variable importante por la cual los estudiantes deciden permanecer en silencio

TEC forecasting based on manifold trajectories

In this paper, we present a method for forecasting the ionospheric Total Electron Content (TEC) distribution from the International GNSS Service’s Global Ionospheric Maps. The forecasting system gives an estimation of the value of the TEC distribution based on linear combination of previous TEC maps (i.e., a set of 2D arrays indexed by time), and the computation of a tangent subspace in a manifold associated to each map. The use of the tangent space to each map is justified because it allows modeling the possible distortions from one observation to the next as a trajectory on the tangent manifold of the map. The coefficients of the linear combination of the last observations along with the tangent space are estimated at each time stamp to minimize the mean square forecasting error with a regularization term. The estimation is made at each time stamp to adapt the forecast to short-term variations in solar activity.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version