The impact of information and communication technology and internal market orientation blending on organisational performance in small and medium enterprises

Purpose: The present study examines the concept of internal market orientation (IMO) and its effects on organisational performance comprising job satisfaction and employees’ loyalty in the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) research context. Rooted in administrative theory, human relations theory, conventional theories of IMO, and internal marketing, this study develops a novel iIMO theoretical framework which evinces the proliferation of ICTs in SMEs. Design/methodology/approach: The proposed concept was empirically investigated by means of surveying 316 SME employees with the application of a multi-stage sampling procedure. Findings: Research findings confirmed the viability of the ICT-supported iIMO framework, its positive effects on SMEs’ organisational performance, and exhibited ample empirical evidence for the proficiency of the iIMO concept and its suitability for operationalisation by SMEs. Originality/value: This study introduces ICTs as a novel IMO dimension which considers the undergoing holistic digitalisation of businesses. In addition, the present research posits the plausibility and confirms the benefits that arise following iIMO implementation in SMEs

LRD spectral analysis of multifractional functional time series on manifolds

This paper introduces the statistical analysis of Jacobi frequency varying Long Range Dependence (LRD) functional time series in connected and compact two-point homogeneous spaces. The convergence to zero, in the Hilbert-Schmidt operator norm, of the integrated bias of the periodogram operator is proved under alternative conditions to the ones considered in Ruiz-Medina (2022). Under this setting of conditions, weak-consistency of the minimum contrast parameter estimator of the LRD operator holds. The case where the projected manifold process can display Short Range Dependence (SRD) and LRD at different manifold scales is also analyzed. The estimation of the spectral density operator is addressed in this case. The performance of both estimation procedures is illustrated in the simulation study undertaken within the families of multifractionally integrated spherical functional autoregressive-moving average (SPHARMA) processes.Comment: 34 pages; 19 Figure

1–42 b -Amyloid peptide requires PDK1/nPKC/Rac 1 pathway to induce neuronal death

1–42 b -Amyloid peptide requires PDK1/nPKC/Rac 1 pathway to induce neuronal death L Manterola 1,12 , M Hernando-Rodr ı ́ guez 2,12 , A Ruiz 3,4 , A Apraiz 5 , O Arrizabalaga 5 , L Vello ́ n 6 , E Alberdi 3,4 , F Cavaliere 3,4 , HM Lacerda 7 , S Jimenez 8,9 , LA Parada 10 , C Matute 3,4 and JL Zugaza 4,5,11 1–42 b -Amyloid (A b 1–42 ) peptide is a key molecule involved in the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Some of its effects are manifested at the neuronal morphological level. These morphological changes involve loss of neurites due to cytoskeleton alterations. However, the mechanism of A b 1–42 peptide activation of the neurodegenerative program is still poorly understood. Here, A b 1–42 peptide-induced transduction of cellular death signals through the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/ phosphoinositol-dependent kinase (PDK)/novel protein kinase C (nPKC)/Rac 1 axis is described. Furthermore, pharmacological inhibition of PDK1 and nPKC activities blocks Rac 1 activation and neuronal cell death. Our results provide insights into an unsuspected connection between PDK1, nPKCs and Rac 1 in the same signal-transduction pathway and points out nPKCs and Rac 1 as potential therapeutic targets to block the toxic effects of A b 1–42 peptide in neurons

Monitoring changes of the tibialis anterior during dorsiflexion with electromyography, sonomyography, dynamometry and kinematic signals

Dorsiflexion (DF) of the foot plays an essential role in both controlling balance and human gait. Electromyography and Sonomyography can provide information on several aspects of muscle function. The aim was to describe a new method for real-time monitoring of muscular activity, as measured using EMG, muscular architecture, as measured using SMG, force, as measured using dynamometry, and kinematic parameters, as measured using IS during isometric and isotonic contractions of the foot DF. The present methodology may be clinically relevant because it involves a reproducible procedure which allows the function and structure of the foot DF to be monitored.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech. Seville; Spain; 25 September 2013 through 28 September 2013; Code 10172

A scheduling theory framework for GPU tasks efficient execution

Concurrent execution of tasks in GPUs can reduce the computation time of a workload by overlapping data transfer and execution commands. However it is difficult to implement an efficient run- time scheduler that minimizes the workload makespan as many execution orderings should be evaluated. In this paper, we employ scheduling theory to build a model that takes into account the device capabili- ties, workload characteristics, constraints and objec- tive functions. In our model, GPU tasks schedul- ing is reformulated as a flow shop scheduling prob- lem, which allow us to apply and compare well known methods already developed in the operations research field. In addition we develop a new heuristic, specif- ically focused on executing GPU commands, that achieves better scheduling results than previous tech- niques. Finally, a comprehensive evaluation, showing the suitability and robustness of this new approach, is conducted in three different NVIDIA architectures (Kepler, Maxwell and Pascal).Proyecto TIN2016- 0920R, Universidad de Málaga (Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech) y programa de donación de NVIDIA Corporation

Chemo-Archaeological Downsizing in a Hierarchical Universe: Impact of a Top Heavy IGIMF

We make use of a semi-analytical model of galaxy formation to investigate the origin of the observed correlation between [a/Fe] abundance ratios and stellar mass in elliptical galaxies. We implement a new galaxy-wide stellar initial mass function (Top Heavy Integrated Galaxy Initial Mass Function, TH-IGIMF) in the semi-analytic model SAG and evaluate its impact on the chemical evolution of galaxies. The SFR-dependence of the slope of the TH-IGIMF is found to be key to reproducing the correct [a/Fe]-stellar mass relation. Massive galaxies reach higher [a/Fe] abundance ratios because they are characterized by more top-heavy IMFs as a result of their higher SFR. As a consequence of our analysis, the value of the minimum embedded star cluster mass and of the slope of the embedded cluster mass function, which are free parameters involved in the TH-IGIMF theory, are found to be as low as 5 solar masses and 2, respectively. A mild downsizing trend is present for galaxies generated assuming either a universal IMF or a variable TH-IGIMF. We find that, regardless of galaxy mass, older galaxies (with formation redshifts > 2) are formed in shorter time-scales (< 2 Gyr), thus achieving larger [a/Fe] values. Hence, the time-scale of galaxy formation alone cannot explain the slope of the [a/Fe]-galaxy mass relation, but is responsible for the big dispersion of [a/Fe] abundance ratios at fixed stellar mass.We further test the hyphothesis of a TH-IGIMF in elliptical galaxies by looking into mass-to-light ratios, and luminosity functions. Models with a TH-IGIMF are also favoured by these constraints. In particular, mass-to-light ratios agree with observed values for massive galaxies while being overpredicted for less massive ones; this overprediction is present regardless of the IMF considered.Comment: 24 pages, 15 figures, 2 tables. (Comments most welcome). Summited to MNRA

Culicoides species communities associated with wild ruminant ecosystems in Spain: Tracking the way to determine potential bridge vectors for arboviruses

The genus Culicoides Latreille 1809 is a well-known vector for protozoa, filarial worms and, above all, numerous viruses. The Bluetongue virus (BTV) and the recently emerged Schmallenberg virus (SBV) are responsible for important infectious, non-contagious, insect-borne viral diseases found in domestic ruminants and transmitted by Culicoides spp. Both of these diseases have been detected in wild ruminants, but their role as reservoirs during the vector-free season still remains relatively unknown. In fact, we tend to ignore the possibility of wild ruminants acting as a source of disease (BTV, SBV) and permitting its reintroduction to domestic ruminants during the following vector season. In this context, a knowledge of the composition of the Culicoides species communities that inhabit areas where there are wild ruminants is of major importance as the presence of a vector species is a prerequisite for disease transmission. In this study, samplings were conducted in areas inhabited by different wild ruminant species; samples were taken in both 2009 and 2010, on a monthly basis, during the peak season for midge activity (in summer and autumn). A total of 102, 693 specimens of 40 different species of the genus Culicoides were trapped; these included major BTV and SBV vector species. The most abundant vector species were C. imicola and species of the Obsoletus group, which represented 15% and 11% of total numbers of specimens, respectively. At the local scale, the presence of major BTV and SBV vector species in areas with wild ruminants coincided with that of the nearest sentinel farms included in the Spanish Bluetongue Entomological Surveillance Programme, although their relative abundance varied. The data suggest that such species do not exhibit strong host specificity towards either domestic or wild ruminants and that they could consequently play a prominent role as bridge vectors for different pathogens between both types of ruminants. This finding would support the hypothesis that wild ruminants could act as reservoirs for such pathogens, and subsequently be involved in the reintroduction of disease to livestock on neighbouring farms

Is there an association between sleep disorders and diabetic foot? A scoping review

Diabetic foot is associated with a low quality of life since physical disabilities, mood disturbances and psychological disorders are frequent. One of the most important biological processes to ensure quality of life is sleep. Sleep disorders can impair glycemic control in patients with diabetes mellitus or even cause long-term type 2 diabetes mellitus. The aim of this study is to carry out a scoping review about the association between sleep cycle disorders and diabetic foot. PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, PEDro, Cochrane Library, SCIELO and EMBASE databases were chosen for the search and the following terms were used: “diabetic foot”,“sleep*”,“rest-activity”,“mood” and“behavior”. All the studies should include outcome variables about sleep and diabetic foot. Finally, 12 articles were selected, all of whichwere observational. The most frequent variables were those regarding diabetic foot ulcer aspects and diabetic neuropathy on one side, and obstructive sleep apnea, sleep duration and sleep quality on the other side. The results suggest that there is a possible association between obstructive sleep apnea and the presence or history of diabetic foot ulcers. No direct associations between sleep quality or sleep duration and diabetic foot or diabetic foot ulcer variables have been found