A Social Semiotic Analysis of Instructional Images across Academic Disciplines

Framed in theories of social semiotics, this descriptive multiple case study examined the images used by six middle-school teachers during one school year as they each taught two different subject areas: earth science, language arts, mathematics, and/or social studies. Using Kress and Van Leeuwen’s visual grammar to analyze these images, this study identified discipline-specific patterns in how 1,132 images realized assumptions in regards to the ideational and interpersonal metafunctions of communication. A content analysis suggested discipline-specific differences in the presumed social distance between the content of the images and the students, as well as discipline-specific differences in assumptions about the subjectivity of knowledge. Instructional implications are suggested, such as encouraging students to critique the assumptions in images and selecting a wider array of image types in each discipline

IMWA insight: Understanding public perceptions of a new pit lake in As Pontes, Spain

© 2020, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature. The introduction of coal mining in the 1940’s transformed the landscape and economy of As Pontes, Spain. Industrialisation created successive waves of economic and population booms, but when the mining slowed in the 1990s, the region experienced economic depression. Real and perceived social divisions and environmental abuses on the part of the mining company remained entrenched in people’s memories. This paper provides an overview of the factors that likely affected community acceptance of the new pit lake in As Pontes, Spain. Pit lakes are often attractive closure options for companies, and community opinion of pit lakes can influence pit end use. Community perceptions of the pit lake before, during, and after filling were assessed using case studies, interviews, and focus groups, and by tracking news events and analysing internet forums. The results broadly indicated high community acceptance of the pit lake by people residing in the town. However, interviews revealed that acceptance of the pit lake was influenced by previous experiences with the mining company; company employees and local politicians were more likely to be positive about the benefits of the lake, whereas those not directly affiliated with the lake (long-term residents, remote villagers, school teachers) were more likely to have a negative view of it. Thus, technical success is not the only factor that influences community acceptance of pit lakes and company closure plans. Unresolved social issues can also influence the way certain people perceive the new landscape, regardless of ecological and aesthetic impacts

Propuesta para mejorar la satisfacción laboral en los colaboradores de la empresa Paredes, Cano y Asociados en el año 2023

La presente investigación se planteó con la finalidad de mejorar la satisfacción laboral de los colaboradores la empresa Paredes, Cano y Asociados, encargada de brindar servicios profesionales en Lima, (Perú), realizando un diagnóstico al Informe de Clima Organizacional realizado por solicitud del investigador, en el cual se exponen los factores que componen dicha satisfacción. Este informe fue realizado en base a un Cuestionario de clima organizacional que consta de 57 items o preguntas valoradas por la escala Likert, que puntúa el valor 1 (mínima satisfacción) al valor 5 (máxima satisfacción); y en el cual participaron 92 colaboradores, los cuales representan el 80% del total de los mismos. Con dicha información se procedió a realizar el diagnóstico y se identificaron los factores que inciden negativamente en la satisfacción laboral, los cuales son la remuneración, las relaciones humanas, la comunicación y desarrollo profesional. Es por ello que se propone mejorar la satisfacción laboral a través de la aplicación de un modelo integral que comprende entre otras herramientas, la elaboración de un informe de escala salarial, programas de capacitación, asesorías psicológicas que permitan identificar las habilidades y el conocimiento de los colaboradores, un manual de reconocimiento al mérito y talleres de relaciones humanas

Health implications of an immigration raid: findings from a Latino community in the midwestern United States.

Immigration raids exemplify the reach of immigration law enforcement into the lives of Latino community members, yet little research characterizes the health effects of these raids. We examined the health implications of an immigration raid that resulted in multiple arrests and deportations and occurred midway through a community survey of a Latino population. We used linear regression following principal axis factoring to examine the influence of raid timing on immigration enforcement stress and self-rated health. We controlled for age, sex, relationship status, years in the county in which the raid occurred, children in the home, and nativity. 325 participants completed the survey before the raid and 151 after. Completing the survey after the raid was associated with higher levels of immigration enforcement stress and lower self-rated health scores. Findings indicate the negative impact of immigration raids on Latino communities. Immigration discussions should include holistic assessments of health.UL1 TR000433 - NCATS NIH HH

Complementary network-based approaches for exploring genetic structure and functional connectivity in two vulnerable, endemic ground squirrels

The persistence of small populations is influenced by genetic structure and functional connectivity. We used two network-based approaches to understand the persistence of the northern Idaho ground squirrel (Urocitellus brunneus) and the southern Idaho ground squirrel (U. endemicus), two congeners of conservation concern. These graph theoretic approaches are conventionally applied to social or transportation networks, but here are used to study population persistence and connectivity. Population graph analyses revealed that local extinction rapidly reduced connectivity for the southern species, while connectivity for the northern species could be maintained following local extinction. Results from gravity models complemented those of population graph analyses, and indicated that potential vegetation productivity and topography drove connectivity in the northern species. For the southern species, development (roads) and small-scale topography reduced connectivity, while greater potential vegetation productivity increased connectivity. Taken together, the results of the two network-based methods (population graph analyses and gravity models) suggest the need for increased conservation action for the southern species, and that management efforts have been effective at maintaining habitat quality throughout the current range of the northern species. To prevent further declines, we encourage the continuation of management efforts for the northern species, whereas conservation of the southern species requires active management and additional measures to curtail habitat fragmentation. Our combination of population graph analyses and gravity models can inform conservation strategies of other species exhibiting patchy distributions

Gestión del Clima Organizacional y su impacto en la productividad de los colaboradores de una empresa comercializadora de productos dentales de Lima Metropolitana

El presente trabajo aborda la problemática de la empresa Business Group Success S.A.C sobre la falta de planificación en la gestión del clima organizacional y el impacto en la productividad de los colaboradores. El enfoque metodológico aplicado es cualitativo, debido a que nos basamos en modelos teóricos del clima organizacional, prevaleciendo el modelo de las nueve dimensiones de Litwin y Stringer (1968). El objeto de estudio fueron los colaboradores de todas las áreas de la empresa. En cuanto a los hallazgos basados en los resultados de la encuesta para hallar la problemática se encontró que los colaboradores no se sienten totalmente satisfechos porque no reciben incentivos económicos, ningún reconocimiento por su desempeño. Finalmente, se recomienda que la empresa ejecute un plan del clima organizacional en el que se realicen una serie de actividades como reconocimientos al personal, incentivos económicos, talleres de integración y elaboración de un flujograma para fomentar la buena comunicación.The current research developt the problem of Business Group Success S.A.C, regarding the lack of planning in the management of the organizational enviroment and the impact on the productivity of employees. The methodological approach applied is qualitative, because we are based on theoretical models of the organizational enviroment, highlighting the model of the nine dimensions of Litwin & Stringer (1968). On the other hand, the subject of study were workers from all areas of the company. In terms of the findings based on the results of the survey to find the problem, it was found that employees do not feel completely satisfied because they do not receive economic incentives, any recognition for their performance. Finally, it is recommended that the company execute an organizational enviroment plan in which a series of activities are carried out such as employee recognition, economic incentives, integration workshops and the development of a flow chart to promote good communication.Trabajo de Suficiencia Profesiona

Nivel de satisfacción de los usuarios atendidos en consultorio externo del servicio de gineco-obstetricia en una institución privada nivel II-1 de Juliaca, 2021

En la actualidad el resultado de la calidad de atención se mide en términos de percepción del usuario de acuerdo a la atención brindada, y cumpliendo las expectativas, aliviando su bienestar físico y mental alcanzando la satisfacción, es que se realizó el presente estudio que tuvo como Objetivo: Determinar el nivel de satisfacción de los usuarios atendidos en consultorio externo del servicio de Gineco-Obstetricia en una institución privada nivel II-1 de Juliaca, 2021. Metodología descriptivo, observacional, cualitativo y transversal, se utilizó como instrumento de recolección la encuesta SERVQUAL, con una muestra de 375 personas que incluyó usuarios y acompañantes. Resultados fueron que del 56% de encuestados se muestra una diferencia entre percepción- expectativa ≤ -1 y un 44% muestra una diferencia precepción-expectativa ≥0, siendo la dimensión de Aspectos Tangibles la que más resultado positivos obtuvo de esta diferencia de P-E, con un 67,67% y la dimensión de Seguridad la que más resultados de carácter negativo obtuvo de P-E, encontrándose este en un 50,53% de encuestados. Conclusión: La diferencia de P-E con resultado ≥0 de los encuestados en la institución privada II-1 de Juliaca representa a un 56% y con resultados de ≤-1 corresponde al 44% de los mismos, al encontrarse este último entre 40-60%, representa un nivel de satisfacción de moderadamente satisfecho y la calidad de atención de esta institución está en proceso según la encuesta SERVQUAL.LIMAEscuela Profesional de Medicina HumanaÉtica y Gestión en Salu

Proteomic analysis of the postsynaptic density implicates synaptic function and energy pathways in bipolar disorder.

The postsynaptic density (PSD) contains a complex set of proteins of known relevance to neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. We enriched for this anatomical structure in the anterior cingulate cortex of 16 bipolar disorder samples and 20 controls from the Stanley Medical Research Institute. Unbiased shotgun proteomics incorporating label-free quantitation was used to identify differentially expressed proteins. Quantitative investigation of the PSD identified 2033 proteins, among which 288 were found to be differentially expressed. Validation of expression changes of DNM1, DTNA, NDUFV2, SEPT11 and SSBP was performed by western blotting. Bioinformatics analysis of the differentially expressed proteins implicated metabolic pathways including mitochondrial function, the tricarboxylic acid cycle, oxidative phosphorylation, protein translation and calcium signaling. The data implicate PSD-associated proteins, and specifically mitochondrial function in bipolar disorder. They relate synaptic function in bipolar disorder and the energy pathways that underpin it. Overall, our findings add to a growing literature linking the PSD and mitochondrial function in psychiatric disorders generally, and suggest that mitochondrial function associated with the PSD is particularly important in bipolar disorder