Detection of Leishmania DNA in wild foxes and associated ticks in Patagonia, Argentina, 2000 km south of its known distribution area

Indexación: Web of Science; PubMedBackground: Zoonotic Visceral Leishmaniasis (ZVL) is a vector-borne disease affecting humans and other mammals and caused by the protozoan parasite Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum (syn. L. chagasi), belonging to the L. donovani complex. The regions in Northern Argentina (above 32 degrees S) are its southern distribution limit in South America. Results: We detected Leishmania sp. DNA (most likely belonging to the L. donovani complex) in 37.5 % of 32 grey foxes (Pseudalopex griseus) captured in Argentinean Patagonia (48 degrees S and 50 degrees S). Eleven monosexual pools of Amblyomma tigrinum ticks from eight different foxes (six grey foxes and two culpeo foxes P. culpaeus) were also positive. The southernmost known distribution limit for L. infantum, and the southernmost reported capture of a phlebotominae, had previously been 2000 and 750 km north of our study area, respectively. Conclusions: This finding is significant because it markedly extends the distribution area of leishmaniasis; supports the existence of a sylvatic cycle in the absence of dogs; and has implications in transmission, indicating that either sand fly distribution is broader than currently thought or non-sand fly Leishmania maintenance is possible. Additional molecular, parasitological, epidemiological and entomological studies are still needed.http://parasitesandvectors.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13071-016-1515-

Financial illiteracy in Spain: a structural problem

Financial education in Spain has been traditionally a forgotten subject. Nevertheless, recent economic problems, as the economic crisis, have put into focus the lack of financial literacy that Spanish population presents. In this context, the current research intends to analyse this issue and, using the rich financial education data provided by PISA 2015 for secondary education students, study whether or not the financial education that students are receiving in Spain would be useful for their development of this competence. Our results show that financial education in Spain is in its seminal stage and that this education is not homogenously accessible by all the Spanish population. In this sense, due to its optative nature, students with low socioeconomic status and low academic achievement would auto-select into taking this education. In addition, in Spain, some modalities of financial education implementation have a negative effect, while others are not significant.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech. MINECO (ECO2017-88883-P

Short-term periodicities observed in neutron monitor counting rates

The main objective is to check whether the periodicities observed in the cosmic rays in the interval 2013-2018 are affected by the magnetic rigidity or the height at which the neutron monitors are placed. A Global Neutron Monitor (GNM) has been defined as representative of the neutron monitor global network. The Morlet wave - let analysis is applied to the GNM and the selected solar activity parameters to find out common periodicities. Short-term periodicities of 13.5, 27, 48, 92, 132 and 298 days have been observed in cosmic ray intensity. A clear inverse relationship between rigidity and spectral power has been obtained for the 13.5, 48, 92, 132-day periods. A not so clear but still observed direct relationship between the height of the neutron monitors and the spectral power for the 48, 92, 132-day periods has been also found. The periodicity of 92 days is the one which shows the highest dependence with rigidity cutoff and height. As far as we know, this is the first time that these dependencies are reported. We think that these observations could be explained by assuming some cosmic ray intensity energy dependence in such periodicities and a competitive effect between rigidity and height

Validación de instrumentos psicométricos en ciencias sociales y de la salud: una guía práctica

In recent years,there has been a significant rise in the number of psychometric studies, together with crucial statistical advances for validity and reliability measures. Given the importance of providingaccurate procedures both in methodology and score interpretationof tests and/or measurement scales, the editors-in-chiefof the journal Annals of Psychology have draftedthis guide to address the most relevant issues in the field of applied psychometry. To this end, the present manuscript analyses the main topics under the Classical Test Theory framework (e.g., exploratory/confirmatory factor analysis; reliability, bias, etc.) aimingto synthesizeand clarifythe best practical applications;and improve publication standards.Recientemente se ha incrementado significativamente el número de estudios psicométricos junto a avances estadísticos cruciales para evaluar las evidencias de fiabilidad y validez de los tests y escalas de medida. Dada la importancia de proporcionar procedimientos más exactos tanto en la metodología como en la interpretación de las puntuaciones, los editores de la revista Anales de Psicología proponen esta guía para abordar los tópicos más relevantes en el campo de la psicometría aplicada. Con esta finalidad, el presente manuscrito analiza los tópicos principales de la Teoría Clásica de Tests (e.g., análisis factorial exploratorio/confirmatorio, fiabilidad, validez, sesgo, etc.) con vistas a sintetizar y clarificarlas aplicaciones prácticas, y mejorar los estándares de publicación de estos trabajos

An upper echelons perspective on information technology business value

This paper argues that information technology (IT) outcomes are more valuable to companies when their top management team (TMT) moves from flirting with IT to marriage. Previous research has demonstrated an association between top management support (TMS) and IT value. We extend the concept of TMS with the imbrication metaphor to define the construct of TMT-IT imbrication, which allows us to account for a tighter and continuous entwining of the TMT and IT to create IT value. Our definition of the TMT-IT imbrication construct embraces four dimensions: involvement, participation, attention, and use. In addition, with the support of upper echelons (UE) theory, we explore certain managerial traits, competences, and team processes that may be antecedents of this imbrication. As a result, our work provides a variance model and various propositions rooted in the logic of UE that contribute to research on IT business value

Soccer kick kinematic differences between experienced and non-experienced soccer players

Purpose: to examine kinematic differences of instep soccer kick between experienced and non-experienced soccer players. Subjects: 17 men between 17 and 21 years old. Methodology: a 3D film system with 4 cameras was used. Maximum power instep kicks were executed. It was analyzed feet velocity in the impact, maximum hip extension, maximum knee flexion and kick phases duration. Results: were found significant differences in feet velocity with non-dominant leg in the impact moment (m/s) (Experienced: 14.5±.52, Non-experienced: 12.5±.5; p<.001) and maximum hip extension (degrees) (Experienced: 39.2 ± 1.3, Non-experienced: 34.28±3.2; p<.001). Also were significant differences in the second phase duration in both legs (p<.05). Conclusions: Maximum instep soccer kick show significant differences between groups of different level only in non-dominant leg

Effect of labour flexibility on productivity in the andalusian hotel industry

In this work, we analyze the effect of labour flexibility on productivity in the Andalusian hotel industry. For this purpose, we use the data obtained by the Quality, Productivity and Competitiveness in the Hospitality Industry for Andalusia project (PO7/SEJ-02889). Using a expanded version of the Cobb-Douglas production function, the model distinguishes two employment shares: full-time permanent (standard work) and temporary plus part-time employees (non-standard work). Our results indicate that productivity in Andalusian hotels is lower the higher the percentage of temporary and part-time workers. Furthermore, there are no statistically significant differences between the negative impact on productivity of both types of labour contract. However, since the costs associated with both temporary and part-time workers are lower than those of workers with full-time permanent contracts, future studies should analyze the differential impact of all the types of contracts discussed on the mean cost per employee in hotels.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

An interpretive study on the role of top managers in enterprise resource planning (ERP) business value creation

This paper contributes to the growing body of literature on enterprise resource planning (ERP) business value by investigating organizational ERP development in view of the active involvement, vision, and direction of top management teams (TMTs). A top-down approach to ERP adoption and implementation was adopted with socio-material and social construction assumptions about the mechanisms that generate ERP business value. A single ERP case study was analyzed in an industrial setting by interpretive means, thus providing theoretically based, detailed and interesting insights. Our research suggests that ERP benefits emerge during the TMT’s encounters with the ERP system through pragmatic action and situated improvisations. Our findings suggest that ERP adoption is strongly influenced by TMT characteristics and social processes, while complementary process-change needs are perceived by the executive participation during implementation. We also suggest that when the ERP system goes live, a synergistic relationship termed TMT-IT imbrication will create the technological infrastructure perceived as ERP value. At this post-implementation stage, various TMT characteristics and processes are proposed that greatly influence top managers’ patterns of imbrication behavior. Several propositions are developed and summarized in a framework to enhance the current understanding of managerial agency in achieving business benefits from ERP systems. The paper concludes with implications for top managers and future research directions

VHDL-AMS modeling of self-organizing neural systems

This paper presents VHDL-AMS models and simulation results for a complex, self-organizing neural system based on the adaptive resonance theory. Such neural systems exhibit both discrete and continuous dynamic behavior and consist of a large number of analog equations, a digital controller with analog and digital feedback paths resulting in the complexity that would prohibit analysis with conventional mixed-signal simulation tools

Executives\u27 role in digital transformation

This conceptual paper revisits and updates the concept of top management support (TMS), which has been the long-established rationale for explaining the role of top managers in digitalization activities. In our view, the concept of TMS is grounded in technological determinism, accounts for attitudinal and behavioral aspects that appear to be little more than exhortation and accepts the occasional responsibility of top managers in technology management. We consider both the crucial role that top managers may play in the digitalization process and the fact that digital technologies have become pervasive in today’s organizations. Then, we develop a model by which top managers and digital technologies are cooperatively involved for digitalization. For that, we have looked through the theoretical lens of imbrication and attention perspectives to reconstruct the role of top managers in the digital transformation process. In our view, each imbrication layer can be viewed as a process where top managers form beliefs to act on digital opportunities for strategic action. Specifically, our model provides insights into how executives’ characteristics and social processes impact the likelihood of forming either beliefs about radical or incremental opportunities requiring strategic action. Additionally, we offer several hypotheses that enrich our knowledge of the relationship between top managers and the digitalization process