5,143 research outputs found
I look at you to learn: Effects of the owner's sex on social learning in domestic dogs
Dogs have been shown to be able to learn from a human demonstrator. However, to date, there have been no studies investigating the effect of the demonstrator?s sex on such learning. The aim of our study was to evaluate this effect by comparing an experimental condition in which dogs received a demonstration from their owner on how to manipulate one of two possible containers to obtain food and a control condition without any human demonstration. Each of these conditions was divided into two groups: male-owned and female-owned dogs.Overall, the dogs performed better in the experimental condition compared to the control condition. This was evidentbased ona higher frequency of correct choices and opening the correct container, as well as a higher frequency of contact and gaze towards the demonstration. The female-owned group benefited from the demonstration by choosing the correct container more frequentlyin the experimental condition compared to the control. Conversely, male-owned dogs chose the correct container more often and looked more frequently at the demonstration than female-owned dogs, without differences between conditions. This could indicate a higher capacity for problem-solvingin this group of dogs beyond the human demonstration, and therefore would not reflect a modulatory effect of the owner?s sex over social learning in particular. In conclusion, the sex of the demonstrator seems to have an effect on social learning in dogs when the demonstrator is a female owner. This might have an impact on several applied settings as well as sampling criteria in canine social cognition research.Fil: Dzik, Marina Victoria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Gutierrez Torres, J. S.. Universidad Central; ColombiaFil: Berdugo Lattke, M. L.. Universidad Central; ColombiaFil: Bentosela, Mariana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas; Argentin
The knowledge transfer process in Six Sigma subsidiary firms
Although the operative benefits of Six Sigma methodology in the business world are well accepted, the long-term benefits of the initiative are currently under discussion. This paper aims to analyze how Six Sigma methodology is related to the knowledge transfer process, a source of competitive advantage. For this purpose, we observe how team management in Six Sigma firms differs statistically from team management proposed by other quality management initiatives, and how Six Sigma team management is related to the knowledge integration and knowledge transfer processes. An ANOVA analysis and Partial Least Squares (PLS) approach were used to analyze data from 53 European Six Sigma firms, confirming the hypotheses developed. The results confirm that Six Sigma methodology offers new possibilities to companies and that implementation of Six Sigma has a positive effect on variables that influence long-term organizational performance, such as knowledge management. Relevant academic contributions and implications for practitioners are included.This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (Projects ECO2010-15885; ECO2013-47027P), Junta de Andalucia (P11-SEJ-7294) and the European Union (European Regional Development Funds)
A New Look At Carbon Abundances In Planetary Nebulae. IV. Implications For Stellar Nucleosynthesis
This paper is the fourth and final report on a project designed to study
carbon abundances in a sample of planetary nebulae representing a broad range
in progenitor mass and metallicity. We present newly acquired optical
spectrophotometric data for three Galactic planetary nebulae IC 418, NGC 2392,
and NGC 3242 and combine them with UV data from the IUE Final Archive for
identical positions in each nebula to determine accurate abundances of He, C,
N, O, and Ne at one or more locations in each object. We then collect
abundances of these elements for the entire sample and compare them with
theoretical predictions of planetary nebula abundances from a grid of
intermediate mass star models. We find some consistency between observations
and theory, lending modest support to our current understanding of
nucleosynthesis in stars below 8 M_o in birth mass. Overall, we believe that
observed abundances agree with theoretical predictions to well within an order
of magnitude but probably not better than within a factor of 2 or 3. But even
this level of consistency between observation and theory enhances the validity
of published intermediate-mass stellar yields of carbon and nitrogen in the
study of the abundance evolution of these elements.Comment: 41 pages, 11 figures. Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical
Journa
Sustainable sugarcane vinasse biorefinement for trans-aconitic acid-based biopolymer synthesis and bioenergy generation
This study aimed at developing a multiproduct biorefinery scheme for vinase valorization. It involved the extraction of trans-aconitic acid, its transformation into biopolymers using microwave irradiation and the use of the raffinated-vinasse for biogas production. Each technology was assessed individually, followed by a process integration at bench scale, from which a mass balance was calculated, supporting the feasibility of the approach. As a renewable source derived from a residue, these bioproducts can replace crude-oil-based materials in various chemical industrial processes; however, a detailed techno-economic and life-cycle analysis are required to defined the sustainability of the process
Predicting the onset and persistence of episodes of depression in primary health care. The predictD-Spain study: Methodology
Background:
The effects of putative risk factors on the onset and/or persistence of depression remain unclear. We aim to develop comprehensive models to predict the onset and persistence of episodes of depression in primary care. Here we explain the general methodology of the predictD-Spain study and evaluate the reliability of the questionnaires used.
Methods:
This is a prospective cohort study. A systematic random sample of general practice attendees aged 18 to 75 has been recruited in seven Spanish provinces. Depression is being measured with the CIDI at baseline, and at 6, 12, 24 and 36 months. A set of individual, environmental, genetic, professional and organizational risk factors are to be assessed at each follow-up point. In a separate reliability study, a proportional random sample of 401 participants completed the test-retest (251 researcher-administered and 150 self-administered) between October 2005 and February 2006. We have also checked 118,398 items for data entry from a random sample of 480 patients stratified by province.
Results:
All items and questionnaires had good test-retest reliability for both methods of administration, except for the use of recreational drugs over the previous six months. Cronbach's alphas were good and their factorial analyses coherent for the three scales evaluated (social support from family and friends, dissatisfaction with paid work, and dissatisfaction with unpaid work). There were 191 (0.16%) data entry errors.
Conclusion:
The items and questionnaires were reliable and data quality control was excellent. When we eventually obtain our risk index for the onset and persistence of depression, we will be able to determine the individual risk of each patient evaluated in primary health car
In planta expression of human polyQ-expanded huntingtin fragment reveals mechanisms to prevent disease-related protein aggregation
In humans, aggregation of polyglutamine repeat (polyQ) proteins causes disorders such as Huntington’s disease. Although plants express hundreds of polyQ-containing proteins, no pathologies arising from polyQ aggregation have been reported. To investigate this phenomenon, we expressed an aggregation-prone fragment of human huntingtin (HTT) with an expanded polyQ stretch (Q69) in Arabidopsis thaliana plants. In contrast to animal models, we find that Arabidopsis sp. suppresses Q69 aggregation through chloroplast proteostasis. Inhibition of chloroplast proteostasis diminishes the capacity of plants to prevent cytosolic Q69 aggregation. Moreover, endogenous polyQ-containing proteins also aggregate on chloroplast dysfunction. We find tha
Sulfur, Chlorine, and Argon Abundances in Planetary Nebulae. IV: Synthesis and the Sulfur Anomaly
We have compiled a large sample of O, Ne, S, Cl, and Ar abundances which have
been determined for 85 galactic planetary nebulae in a consistent and
homogeneous manner using spectra extending from 3600-9600 Angstroms. Sulfur
abundances have been computed using the near IR lines of [S III] 9069,9532
along with [S III] temperatures. We find average values, expressed
logarithmically with a standard deviation, of log(S/O)=-1.91(+/-.24),
log(Cl/O)=-3.52(+/-.16), and log(Ar/O)=-2.29(+/-.18), numbers consistent with
previous studies of both planetary nebulae and H II regions. We also find a
strong correlation between [O III] and [S III] temperatures among planetary
nebulae. In analyzing abundances of Ne, S, Cl, and Ar with respect to O, we
find a tight correlation for Ne-O, and loose correlations for Cl-O and Ar-O.
All three trends appear to be colinear with observed correlations for H II
regions. S and O also show a correlation but there is a definite offset from
the behavior exhibited by H II regions and stars. We suggest that this S
anomaly is most easily explained by the existence of S^+3, whose abundance must
be inferred indirectly when only optical spectra are available, in amounts in
excess of what is predicted by model-derived ionization correction factors.
Finally for the disk PNe, abundances of O, Ne, S, Cl, and Ar all show gradients
when plotted against galactocentric distance. The slopes are statistically
indistinguishable from one another, a result which is consistent with the
notion that the cosmic abundances of these elements evolve in lockstep.Comment: 43 pages, including 11 figures. Accepted for publication in the
Astronomical Journal. See also astro-ph/0106213 for Northern sample results,
astro-ph/0109161 and astro-ph/0108336 for the data and abundance information
for the Southern sample, and astro-ph/020954
Green function techniques in the treatment of quantum transport at the molecular scale
The theoretical investigation of charge (and spin) transport at nanometer
length scales requires the use of advanced and powerful techniques able to deal
with the dynamical properties of the relevant physical systems, to explicitly
include out-of-equilibrium situations typical for electrical/heat transport as
well as to take into account interaction effects in a systematic way.
Equilibrium Green function techniques and their extension to non-equilibrium
situations via the Keldysh formalism build one of the pillars of current
state-of-the-art approaches to quantum transport which have been implemented in
both model Hamiltonian formulations and first-principle methodologies. We offer
a tutorial overview of the applications of Green functions to deal with some
fundamental aspects of charge transport at the nanoscale, mainly focusing on
applications to model Hamiltonian formulations.Comment: Tutorial review, LaTeX, 129 pages, 41 figures, 300 references,
submitted to Springer series "Lecture Notes in Physics
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