Confidence-Based Learning in Investment Analysis

The aim of this study is to determine the effectiveness of using multiple choice tests in subjects related to the administration and business management. To this end we used a multiple-choice test with specific questions to verify the extent of knowledge gained and the confidence and trust in the answers. The tests were performed in a group of 200 students at the bachelor's degree in Business Administration and Management. The analysis made have been implemented in one subject of the scope of investment analysis and measured the level of knowledge gained and the degree of trust and security in the responses at two different times of the course. The measurements have been taken into account different levels of difficulty in the questions asked and the time spent by students to complete the test. The results confirm that students are generally able to obtain more knowledge along the way and get increases in the degree of trust and confidence in the answers. It is confirmed as the difficulty level of the questions set a priori by the heads of the subjects are related to levels of security and confidence in the answers. It is estimated that the improvement in the skills learned is viewed favourably by businesses and are especially important for job placement of students

Cognitive impairment acceleration after late-life depression in a model of Alzheimer´s disease

Background: Clinical studies suggest that depressive symptoms could be considered an important risk factor for the future development of cognitive impairment and even Alzheimer's disease (AD). In fact, there is a strong association between depression in later life and AD. The age of onset of AD has been shown to be accelerated in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) with a history of depression, and women appear to be particularly more vulnerable to this condition. In addition, individuals with MCI who present with depressive symptoms have an elevated burden of amyloid-beta (Aβ), the main toxic protein associated with Alzheimer's pathology, and a higher risk of developing AD compared to non-depressed MCI patients. However, it is unknown whether depression can be considered a risk factor for the development of AD. Although it has been described that some transgenic models of AD can develop signs similar to depression in advanced stages, the induction of Alzheimer's pathology due to a depressive process has not been studied under experimental conditions to emulate late-life depression as a risk factor for AD. Method: In this study, we induced chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) in P301S tau transgenic mice to determine whether depression is a cause, rather than a consequence, of the development of AD. Result: The results of our study indicate that the induction of CUMS in transgenic animals of the disease give rise to changes in depressive state of the animals. Conclusion: The findings generated in this project could provide evidence of depression as a risk factor for AD, its mechanisms of action, use as early biomarkers, as well as the discovery of new therapies for AD.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech. Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación Brain and Behavior Research Foundation Fondos FEDER y Universidad de Málag

Invarianza factorial de la TEOSQ en jóvenes deportistas mexicanos y españoles

ESPAÑOL: Dentro de la teoría de las metas de logro (Nicholls, 1989), Duda y Nicholls (ver Duda, 1989; Duda & Whitehead, 1998) desarrollaron el cuestionario de Orientación al Ego y a la tarea en el deporte (teosq) para evaluar las diferencias individuales en las orientaciones de metas de logro. Este estudio ofrece apoyo a la validez factorial y fiabilidad del teosq en jóvenes deportistas españoles (n = 563) y mexicanos (n = 553). Los resultados muestran que la estructura factorial, las cargas factoriales y los interceptos se consideran invariantes en las dos poblaciones. Sin embargo, existen diferencias entre las medias latentes en la orientación al ego, siendo la media más alta en la población mexicana. Por último, los resultados muestran una alta consistencia interna del cuestionario en las versiones española y mexicana. ENGLISH: Within the Achievement Goal Theory (Nicholls, 1989), Duda and Nicholls (see Duda, 1989; Duda & Whitehead, 1998), the Task and Ego Orientation in Sport Questionnaire (teosq) assesses individual differences in achievement goal orientations. This study examines factorial validity and reliability of teosq in the case of Spanish (n = 563) and Mexican (n = 553) junior athletes. The factor structure, factor loadings and intercepts of the instrument can be considered invariant across groups. However, the latent means observed for the ego orientation subscale differ, the highest emerging from the Mexican population. Finally, results show high internal consistency of both Spanish and Mexican versions of teosq

Cross-cultural validation of TEOSQ in mexican and spanish junior athletes

Dentro de la teoría de las metas de logro (Nicholls, 1989), Duda y Nicholls (ver Duda, 1989; Duda & Whitehead, 1998) desarrollaron el cuestionario de Orientación al Ego y a la Tarea en el Deporte (teosq) para evaluar las diferencias individuales en las orientaciones de metas de logro. Este estudio ofrece apoyo a la validez factorial y fiabilidad del teosq en jóvenes deportistas españoles (n = 563) y mexicanos (n = 553). Los resultados muestran que la estructura factorial, las cargas factoriales y los interceptos se consideran invariantes en las dos poblaciones. Sin embargo, existen diferencias entre las medias latentes en la orientación al ego, siendo la media más alta en la población mexicana. Por último, los resultados muestran una alta consistencia interna del cuestionario en las versiones española y mexicana

Efectos de los videojuegos en las marcas emplazadas: la transmisión de imagen a través de las emociones

Due to that traditional media are saturated, firms try to find new commutation alternatives. The product placement in videogames is one of them. For this, the present paper focuses in three objectives. First, to develop an emotions scale adapted to the present research. Second, to analyse the consequences of introduce a brand in a videogame. And third, to study the differences between two kind of product placement (visual and use). In this last case, diverse simulations have been done. All the implications haven been got from a quali-quantitative approach: the concept mapping. Debido a que los medios tradicionales están siendo saturados con mensajes publicitarios, las organizaciones buscan nuevos formatos de comunicación. Uno de ellos es el product placement en videojuegos. Por ello, en el presente trabajo se desarrolla con tres objetivos. Primero, desarrollar una escala de emociones adaptada al tema que ocupa esta investigación. Segundo, analizar las consecuencias de emplazar una marca en esta forma de ocio electrónico estudiando la asociación entre categorías de videojuegos, marcas y emociones. Tercero, analiza las diferencias entre dos tipos de product placement (visual y de uso) en términos de transferencia de imagen videojuego-marca. En este último caso se han simulado situaciones reales de videojuegos concretos con marcas emplazadas en los mismos (marcas que sólo se ven mientras se juega versus marcas que se usan en el juego). Todas las implicaciones se han extraído mediante la aplicación de la técnica cuali-cuantitativa el concept mapping, que permite obtener datos con soporte estadístico a partir de un análisis cualitativo.product placement, emociones, videojuegos, concept mapping. product placement, emotions, videogames, concept mapping

Mobile Application Development Skills Set Aligned with the E-Cf Framework and Industry Needs

The number of mobile apps is continuously growing but development organisations are not sure of the good alignment of the skills of application developers with what the industry needs. A precise definition of the professional profile of the Mobile Application Developer (MAD) can help to better understand the needs of software development teams. This cooperation of several European organisations for analysing professional profile of MAD has led to a study of skills and competences resulting in a conceptual model with relevant characteristics: a) based on literature review, b) framed within the European standard e-Competence Framework, e-CF (EN16234) and the ESCO official labour classification and c) empirically validated with qualitative and quantitative data from many stakeholders in the field. This analysis might help to add homogeneity to talent management overcoming possible barriers for international mobility within EU as the concepts are taken from the EU reference models

Breeding ecology of the southern shrike (Lanius meridionalis) in an agrosystem of south-eastern Spain: The surprisingly excellent breeding success in a declining population

The southern shrike (Lanius meridionalis) is declining at the Spanish and European level. One cause of this decline could be low reproductive success due to low availability of prey in agricultural environments. To investigate this possibility we analysed the breeding ecology of a population of southern shrike in an agrosystem in Lomas de Padul (SE Spain). Our results suggestthe population is declining in this area. However, contrary to expectations, the population showed the highest reproductive success (% nests in which at least one egg produces a fledgling) reported for this species to date (83.3%), with a productivity of 4.04 fledglings per nest. Reproductive success varied throughout the years, ranging from 75% in the worst year to 92.9% in the best year. Similarly, productivity ranged from 3.25 to 5.0 fledglings per nest depending on the year. Other aspects of reproductive biology, such as clutch size, brood size, and nestling diet, were similar to those reported in other studies. Based on these results, we hypothesise that the determinant of population decline acts on the juvenile fraction, drastically reducing the recruitment rate, or affecting the dispersion of adults and recruits. Nevertheless, the exact factor or factors are unknown. This study shows that a high reproductive success does not guarantee good health status of the population.Peer Reviewe

Development and validation of the coach's task presentation scale: A quantitative self-report instrument

Objective: A major concern for coaches is the transmission of effective information in the moments before sport practice, when they communicate to players what they are supposed to do and how (Rink, 1994). The present study's main objective was to cover a gap in the sport psychology measurement field and to develop and validate a quantitative self-report instrument to measure the effectiveness of coaches' task presentation for athletes. The resulting instrument was the Escala de Presentacion de las Tareas por Parte del Entrenador (EPTE) [Coach's Task Presentation Scale]. Design: The two studies developed to validate the EPTE used a cross-sectional research design. Method: Participants in Study 1 included 830 college athletes aged between 18 and 27, who completed the EPTE. Participants in Study 2 included 677 college athletes aged between 17 and 29, who completed the EPTE and other questionnaires measuring coach's interpersonal style (autonomy support and controlling style) and basic psychological needs satisfaction/thwarting. Study 1 comprised translation, item formulation and examination of the reliability and factorial structure of the EPTE. Study 2 provided evidence of factorial validity and evidence of validity based on relationships with other variables in the context of the Self Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan, 2000). Results: The results of reliability analysis and the different sources of validity provided, demonstrated the instrument's adequacy in terms of psychometric properties. Conclusions: The EPTE is a valid, reliable scale that can be used to measure the effectiveness of task presentation by coaches, according to the perception of athletes