Students' experience with online simulation games: From computer anxiety to satisfaction

It is currently of great importance to analyse the experience of the application of new technologies in teaching. This research paper examines the personality traits of students and their environment, which may influence the experience of college students using online simulation games. Previous literature suggests that individuals may feel anxiety when using the computer, which may vary according to their perception of being able to control the situation, their perceived importance of the activities and any prior knowledge that they have. Therefore, the first objective of this research is to analyse the relationship between computer anxiety, locus of control and perceived importance of the computer activities. The second objective is to examine whether this relationship is moderated by knowledge. The third objective is to identify user clusters to examine which factors are most important to explain user satisfaction with online simulation games. Results showed that students experience greater computer anxiety when the situation is perceived as important and the locus of control is high, being these effects moderated by their previous knowledge. Moreover, a cluster analysis threw light on the existence of cluster of users whose satisfaction mainly depends on their game score. These results have implications for both academic and research purposes

Functional barriers to the adoption of electronic banking: The moderating effect of gender

The adoption of electronic banking in Spain is lower compared to other countries. This study analyzes the barriers that prevent its adoption, with the conceptual framework of the theory of resistance to innovation. In addition, it analyzes the moderating effect of gender on these barriers. Using structural equations, through PLS and multi-group analysis, the results confirm consumer resistance to electronic banking adoption by functional barriers. It highlights the importance of the value barrier, being this aspect of particular relevance for men, while women are more affected by the complexity in the use of electronic banking. These results have implications for management in overcoming non-adopters’ resistance to the innovation. La adopción de la banca electrónica en España es menor en comparación con otros países. Este estudio analiza las barreras que impiden su adopción, con el marco conceptual de la teoría de la resistencia a la innovación. Además, analiza el efecto moderador del género sobre estas barreras. Utilizando ecuaciones estructurales, a través de PLS y análisis multi-grupo, los resultados confirman la resistencia del consumidor a la adopción de la banca electrónica por barreras funcionales. Destaca la importancia de la barrera de valor, siendo este aspecto de especial relevancia para los hombres, mientras que a las mujeres les impacta más la complejidad en el uso de la banca electrónica. Estos resultados tienen implicaciones para la gestión para superar la resistencia de los no adoptantes a la innovación

First case of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus in Spain

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The H5N1 strain of avian influenza virus has been involved in severe mortality in domestic poultry, and has also been found in different species of wildlife in Europe. The Basque Country avian influenza surveillance program began sample collection and processing the fall of 2005.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Here we report the first confirmation of the presence of highly pathogenic H5N1 strain in a Great Crested Grebe (<it>Podiceps cristatus</it>) found dead in a pond near Vitoria in the Basque Country on the North of Spain. Regarding the survey for generic influenza type A virus, we have obtained positive results in about 8% of more that 3500 birds examined.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We think that the self-limiting nature of our finding and others proves that certain regions have ecological, geographical and climatological features that make it difficult for the H5N1 virus to spread <abbrgrp><abbr bid="B1">1</abbr></abbrgrp> and cause disease at least in the large scale scenario that has been worrying human and animal health authorities during the last years.</p

Complementary IT resources for enabling technological opportunism

This study examines the use of information technologies (ITs), IT human capital, the level of IT vendor support, and their joint effects on firm''s sensing and responding to IT changes (technological opportunism). Using data from the U.S. and Spain, the results suggest that IT use and the firm''s IT human capital are the main drivers of technological opportunism (TO). The effect of IT vendor support on TO is country dependent, with a U-shaped effect in the U.S. and no effect in Spain. IT vendor support can have positive effects on TO if the firm invests in IT human capital

Ethnoichthyology of Fishing Communities in the Lower Valley of Ouémé in Benin, West Africa

Ethno-ichthyological knowledge can improve fisheries management. This study covers interactions between ecological, morphological, and sociocultural aspects pertaining to the fish of the Tovè River, which is located in the largest fishing area in the Republic of Benin (Ouémé Valley), West Africa. In particular, data were collected on fishing methods and techniques, fishing equipment, and ichthyofauna by noting vernacular names followed by identification traits, taste and dietary value, medicinal use, and related knowledge of different species. Through data related to names given locally to fish, this paper highlights the manner in which physical or behavioral traits are coded in terminology. Most of these species have a high market value, either because they are considered to be delicacies and/or for their medicinal uses. The results suggest that ethno-ichthyological information can successfully be applied to improve fish conservation and fisheries management

Plasmonic/magnetic nanocomposites: Gold nanorods-functionalized silica coated magnetic nanoparticles

: We report here on the fabrication of a new example of nano-object that combines magnetic and plasmonic properties. The strategy is based on the electrostatic assembly of negatively charged gold nanorods (NIR-resonant) on positively charged silica-coated iron oxide nanoparticles. Silica coating of magnetic nanoparticles prevented iron oxide nanoparticles irreversible aggregation in water environment. Finally the stability of the nanocomposite in biological medium has been improved through a protein coating (BSA, bovine serum albumin). Morphological, optical and magnetic properties of the hybrid nanomaterials have been evaluated as well as its ability to be manipulated by an external magnetic field. Furthermore, temperature characterization upon NIR laser excitation has been performed in order to assess nanocomposite capability of increasing local environmental temperature. This nanomaterial could be used as a smart tool for photothermal treatment of cancerous lesions in order to maximize precision and efficacy of tissue heating upon laser stimulation by magnetically accumulating nanoparticles nearby the cancerous lesion, avoiding dispersion of the nanomaterial

Evaluation of the response of a Bonner Sphere Spectrometer with a (LiI)-Li-6 detector using 3D meshed MCNP6.1.1 models

[EN] In order to undertake further studies on neutron spectra deconvolution in radiotherapy LinAc bunkers after using high megavolts treatment beams, it has been calculated the theoretical Response Function for a widespread neutron Bonner Sphere Spectrometer (BSS) exposed to arbitrary neutron sources. The neutron response function of the Bonner spectrometer is of essential importance for its neutron spectrum unfolding procedure and is directly related to the quality of the unfolded spectrum. Response detector curves from 10 keV to 20 MeV have been obtained by Monte Carlo (MC) simulation with MCNP6.1.1, where the use of unstructured mesh geometries is introduced as a novelty. In order to validate the accuracy of the MCNP6 simulation, we have used the detector model to measure an 241Am-Be neutron source, and the obtained neutron counts of the spectrometer and simulated counts are found to be very consistent, with a relative error below 10%. This comparison shows that the estimation of the Bonner sphere neutron response by MCNP6 is highly precise.Morató-Rafet, S.; Juste Vidal, BJ.; Miró Herrero, R.; Verdú Martín, GJ.; Guàrdia, V. (2019). Evaluation of the response of a Bonner Sphere Spectrometer with a (LiI)-Li-6 detector using 3D meshed MCNP6.1.1 models. Radiation Physics and Chemistry. 155:221-224. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radphyschem.2018.05.027S22122415

Comparative analysis of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis isolates from cattle, sheep and goats by short sequence repeat and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis typing

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Mycobacterium avium </it>subsp. <it>paratuberculosis </it>(Map) causes the chronic enteritis called paratuberculosis mainly in cattle, sheep and goats. Evidences that point out an association between Map and Crohn's Disease in humans are increasing. Strain differentiation among Map isolates has proved to be difficult and has limited the study of the molecular epidemiology of paratuberculosis. In order to asses the usefulness of the PCR based short sequence repeat (SSR) analysis of locus 1 and locus 8 in the epidemiological tracing of paratuberculosis strains we here compare for the first time the results of SSR and <it>Sna</it>BI-<it>Spe</it>I pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) typing methods in a set of 268 Map isolates from different hosts (cattle, sheep, goats, bison, deer and wild boar).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of nineteen different multi-locus SSR (SSR1_SSR8) types were identified amongst the 268 isolates compared to the 37 multiplex profiles differentiated by the <it>Sna</it>BI-<it>Spe</it>I PFGE. SSR type 7_4 was the predominant genotype (51.2% of all isolates and 54.3% of cattle isolates), but combined with PFGE results the abundance of the most prevalent genotype (7_4&{2-1}) dropped down to 37.7%. SSR types 7_3 and 14_3 were significantly spread amongst isolates recovered from small ruminants. The comparison of SSR1_SSR8 and <it>Sna</it>BI-<it>Spe</it>I PFGE typing of these isolates has shown that both methods perform at similar discriminatory level. These were 0.691 and 0.693, respectively for SSR and PFGE as indicated Simpson's Index of Diversity, and 0.82 when calculated for combined SSR and PFGE genotypes. Overall, SSR1_SSR8 analysis seemed to detect higher levels of within-farm strain diversity and seemed to give higher year-related information. Combination of both typing methods revealed 20 multi-type farms out of the 33 bovine farms studied with more than one isolate.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The particular SSR and PFGE typing approaches described here are in general agreement but they showed some discrepancies that might reflect differing evolutionary processes of Map strains. Both methods are able to reciprocally complement their results and neither should be replaced with the other if sufficient material and time is available. Overall, the results of our comparative analyses suggest that, based on current methodologies available, a combined approach that includes SSR and PFGE seems to provide the highest level of discrimination for Map strain typing with meaningful epidemiological information.</p