Keep It Simple: A Methodological Discussion of Wage Inequalities in the Spanish Hospitality Industry.

Human capital in hospitality has been widely addressed by applying sophisticated econometric methods. However, for the Spanish case, there was a gap in the analyses as the crucial importance of collective agreements was undervalued. This paper redesigns the conceptualisation of the variables and applies a subsequent new classification to job positions, as it deals with the outliers at different levels of rigorousness. Then, linearised and quantile regressions were run for each case, obtaining an outcome of thirty values for each variable. The analyses and comparisons show the high importance of collective agreements on salaries, the noticeable low values of human capital variables, and provides additional information for the nationality and gender gaps, the latter strikingly high in upper professional categories. Overall, this paper demonstrates the importance of a proper study design to prevent advanced econometric models from falling into bias and it minimises the differences between methods.Partial funding for open access charge: Universidad de Málag

Viral respiratory infections in very low birthweight infants at neonatal intensive care unit: prospective observational study

Background and objective: Very low birthweight (VLBW) infants are highly susceptible to respiratory infections. Information about prevalence of viral respiratory infections (VRIs) in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is scarce. Recent evidence suggests short-term and long-term impact of VRI in morbidity of VLBW infants. The goal of this study is to conduct a VRI surveillance in VLBW infants during NICU admission to address the prevalence, type of viruses and associated clinical features. Methods: Prospective observational cohort study on infants below 32 gestational weeks admitted to a tertiary NICU during a 2-year period. Respiratory virus detection (influenza, parainfluenza, rhinovirus (hRV), enterovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, metapneumovirus, coronavirus, bocavirus and adenovirus) was performed by real time multiplex PCR assays in nasopharyngeal aspirates (NPAs), within the first 72 hours after birth and weekly, until discharge. Additional samples were taken if clinically indicated. Results: 147 out of 224 eligible infants were enrolled. At least one positive NPA was found in 38% of the study cohort. Main viruses identified were hRV (58%) and adenovirus (31%). Among the 56 infants with positive NPA, 26 showed non-specific respiratory features in 58% (increased respiratory workload, tachypnoea, apnoea) or typical cold features in 38% (rhinorrhea, cough, fever), at least in one episode. Antibiotics were prescribed in 29% of cases. Positive infants showed higher rates of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), need for supplemental oxygen and mechanical ventilation, and had longer hospital stay. Cox regression analysis found BPD as an independent risk factor for viral infection (p<0.001) and symptomatic VRI (p<0.04). Conclusions: Systematic surveillance in VLBW infants reports VRI is frequent, particularly by hRV. Asymptomatic infection is highly prevalent which is critical in the face of establishing appropriate preventive strategies. Infants with BPD are especially vulnerable to such infections.This study has been funded by Instituto de Salud Carlos III through the project PI15CIII/00028 and PI18/00167 (Co-funded by European Regional Development Fund "A way to make Europe").S

Gradient induced artifacts in simultaneous EEG-fMRI: Effect of synchronization on spiral and EPI k-space trajectories

The nature of the gradient induced electroencephalography (EEG) artifact is analyzed and compared for two functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) pulse sequences with different k-space trajectories: echo planar imaging (EPI) and spiral. Furthermore, the performance of the average artifact subtraction algorithm (AAS) to remove the gradient artifact for both sequences is evaluated. The results show that the EEG gradient artifact for spiral sequences is one order of magnitude higher than for EPI sequences due to the chirping spectrum of the spiral sequence and the dB/dt of its crusher gradients. However, in the presence of accurate synchronization, the use of AAS yields the same artifact suppression efficiency for both pulse sequences below 80 Hz. The quality of EEG signal after AAS is demonstrated for phantom and human data. EEG spectrogram and visual evoked potential (VEP) are compared outside the scanner and use both EPI and spiral pulse sequences. MR related artifact residues affect the spectra over 40 Hz (less than 0.2 μV up to 120 Hz) and modify the amplitude of P1, N2 and P300 in the VEP. These modifications in the EEG signal have to be taken into account when interpreting EEG data acquired in simultaneous EEG-fMRI experiments

El cuestionario como medio de evaluación en la implementación de nuevos procesos de enseñanza/aprendizaje en la Electrónica de Potencia

Las Nuevas Tecnologías de la Información y la Comunicación (NTIC) invaden los medios educacionales, comunicacionales y empresariales. Y eso hace que, al mundo que conocemos tradicionalmente ("real"), se sumen los entornos "virtuales" y de comunicaciones. Aplicadas al entorno educativo, las NTIC favorecen estilos docentes más flexibles y personalizados, fomentan la participación y el trabajo en equipo, estimulan el interés y motivación, facilitan el aprendizaje autónomo y mejoran el rendimiento académico de los estudiantes, produciéndose diversos cambios y modificaciones en los procesos de enseñanza/aprendizaje, que son analizados y estudiados en este trabajo.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Lung function, allergic sensitization and asthma in school-aged children after viral-coinfection bronchiolitis

Our main objective was to compare the lung function, the rate of allergic sensitization and the prevalence of asthma at 7-9 years in children hospitalized for bronchiolitis with viral coinfection versus single viral infection. Observational study in children with previous bronchiolitis and current age 7-9 years. Clinical data were collected. Fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) determination, spirometry and skin prick test for common aeroallergens were performed. A total of 181 children hospitalized for bronchiolitis (40 coinfections and 141 single infections), with median age of 8.3 years (IQR:7.5-9.1) were included. Single-HRV-infections showed lower basal FEV1(%) than coinfections (p = 0.04) and lower z-score FEV1 than single-RSV-infections (p = 0.04) or coinfections (p = 0.02). Also, single-HRV-infections had lower post-bronchodilator FEV1(%) and z-score FEV1 values than coinfections (p = 0.03 and p = 0.03). Single-HRV-bronchiolitis was an independent risk factor for FEV1  25 ppb was detected in 21(12.5%) cases, without differences between viral groups (p = 0.768). The prevalence of allergic sensitization was similar in coinfections (31.4%) versus single infections (38.7%), (p = 0.428). The highest frequency of allergic rhinitis was observed in single-HRV patients (p = 0.004). The respiratory morbidity at 7-9 years of coinfected patients was similar to the single-HRV ones. In contrast, the likelihood of current asthma was up to 5 times higher in RSV/HRV coinfections than in the single-RSV-infections ones (p = 0.012). The respiratory morbidity at 7-9 years of age after severe bronchiolitis is significantly higher in single-HRV or viral coinfection patients that in single-RSV ones. Single-HRV-bronchiolitis is independently associated with lower lung function at school-age.This study has been partially supported by Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias –Spanish Health Research Fund Grant PI12/0129 and Grant from IX Convocatoria Proyectos de Investigación de la Fundación Universidad Alfonso X El Sabio. There was no additional external funding received for this study. The funder had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.S

El diseño como técnica para la docencia de microprocesadores

La formación en hardware de microprocesadores es una materia con una dificultad particular para muchos estudiantes. Una de las razones de ello es la utilización de dispositivos comerciales como elementos docentes. Esta metodología permite que los estudiantes aprendan a utilizar los dispositivos. Sin embargo la docencia en Ingeniería Electrónica, no puede ser que los estudiantes aprendan a usar los dispositivos. Utilizando dispositivos comerciales exclusivamente para la docencia, los estudiantes no ven los esquemas de las distintas partes del :P puesto que los fabricantes no lo suministran. En este trabajo se describe cómo la técnica de diseño es útil para que los estudiantes puedan realizar su propio :P. Con ello se logra que tengan un conocimiento profundo del funcionamiento y la arquitectura del mismo. Este método se utiliza en la EPS de la Universidad de Málaga hace años y los resultados son excelentes.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Técnica “Hazlo Tú Mismo” para la creación de un entorno personal de aprendizaje en el estudio de los microprocesadores

El aprendizaje de la arquitectura hardware de los dispositivos microprocesadores no suele ser una tarea grata para muchos estudiantes. En muchas ocasiones, los estudiantes no son capaces de enlazar los conocimientos que ya han adquirido en otras asignaturas con las explicaciones que el profesor desarrolla. La técnica DIY (Do It Yourself: Hazlo Tú Mismo, HTM) se utiliza exitosamente en la docencia de microprocesadores para evitar descripciones de partes que resultan poco ilustradas, aburridas y difíciles de entender por parte de muchos estudiantes y que, sin embargo, ya conocen. Por medio de esta técnica los estudiantes construyen su microprocesador, entendiendo la funcionalidad de cada una de las partes electrónicas que lo componen. Esta técnica presenta dos características importantes: logra una interactividad sinérgica elevada y permite la utilización de las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación (TIC).Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Propuesta de diseño de un sistema de gestión de calidad en la empresa Soluciones Check Engine según la norma ISO 9001:2015

La empresa Soluciones Check Engine, cuenta con más de 8 años en el mercado de mantenimiento y comercialización automotriz constituyéndose en una de las mejores opciones al momento de pensar en un proveedor y/o empresa de servicios del rubro en la región La Libertad. Sin embargo, no cuenta con la certificación ISO 9001:2015, lo cual limita su acceso al mercado y participación en el mismo. En esta investigación se realiza el diagnóstico de la empresa, identificando los puntos que son sujetos a mejora para alcanzar la certificación ISO 9001:2015, especialmente en los aspectos de planificación, evaluación del desempeño y mejora continua, entre otros, proponiendo un diseño para la implementación de un sistema de gestión de calidad. Así mismo se realiza la evaluación económica del proyecto de implementación de la norma, calculando un Valor Actual Neto (VAN) de S/ 543,132.37 para un escenario real, S/ 510,826.63 en un escenario pesimista y S/ 664,952.58 en un escenario optimista. De igual manera, se obtiene la Tasa Interna de Retorno (TIR) de 306%, 303% y 368% para los escenarios real, pesimista y optimista, respectivamente, por lo cual se recomienda la implementación del proyecto

Simulations on distribution of phase retardation through liquid crystal lenses

[Poster of]: 24th International Liquid Crystal Conference (ILCC 2012), Mainz, Germany, 19th-24th August 2012.For this research work, a simulation programa for simulate liquid crystal lens electrooptical behaviour, based on Frank-Oseen's free energy formulation, has been developed and the results have been compared to previous experimental data...This work was supported in part by the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación of Spain (grant nº TEC2009-13991-C02-01) and Comunidad de Madrid (grant nº S2009/ESP-1781)

Exploring the antigenic relatedness of influenza virus haemagglutinins with strain-specific polyclonal antibodies

Alternative methods to the standard haemagglutination inhibition (HI) and neutralization tests to probe the antigenic properties of the influenza virus haemagglutinin (HA) were developed in this study. Vaccinia virus recombinants expressing reference HAs were used to immunize rabbits from which polyclonal antibodies were obtained. These antibodies were subtype specific but showed limited intra-subtype strain specificity in ELISA. The discriminatory capacity of these antibodies was, however, markedly increased after adsorption to cells infected with heterologous influenza viruses, revealing antigenic differences that were otherwise undistinguishable by standard HI and neutralization tests. Furthermore, the unadsorbed antibodies could be used to select escape mutants of the reference strain, which after sequencing unveiled amino acid changes responsible of the noted antigenic differences. These procedures therefore provide alternative methods for the antigenic characterization of influenza HA and might be useful in studies of HA antigenic evolution.This work was supported by grants (JAM) GR09/0039, (IC) GR09/0040 and (JAM) SAF2012-31217.S