The influence of social capital on risk-taking propensity. A study on Chinese immigrant entrepreneurs

This paper studies the influence of social capital on immigrant entrepreneurs’ risk-taking propensity. The paper has a particular focus on Chinese immigrants and also explores the effects of the so-called “guanxi”, a specific form of social capital for Chinese communities. The empirical research is based on a survey conducted in 2012 on Chinese immigrant entrepreneurs in Andalusia (Spain). An ordinal logistic regression specification was employed to test the hypotheses. The results show that the Chinese immigrant entrepreneurs with greater structural, relational and cognitive social capital and better “guanxi” have a higher risk-taking propensity in their business activity

On the internationalization of SMEs and its contribution to Spain’s image abroad

Este artículo reivindica el papel de las PYME como actores estratégicos en la conformación de una buena imagen exterior de España. En el actual escenario de globalización, en el que la nacionalidad de las grandes corporaciones tiende a diluirse, las PYME podrían llegar a contribuir más establemente a la marca España por su vinculación más permanente y estrecha al territorio. Igualmente, en algunos contextos, como en el caso de Latinoamérica, las PYME podrían coadyuvar a una imagen más amable de España en el exterior. El trabajo presenta algunos rasgos esenciales del grado y tendencias de internacionalización de la PYME española. Desde esta perspectiva, el artículo analiza los mecanismos y condicionantes que delimitan la contribución potencial que las PYME pueden realizar a la marca España. Asimismo, se señalan algunas ventajas de asociar la imagen exterior de España a las PYME y algunas posibles iniciativas para mejorar la contribución de las PYME internacionalizadas a la marca España.This article vindicates the role of SMEs as strategic actors in shaping a good image of Spain abroad. In the current framework of globalization, the nationality of corporations tends to fade. Hence, SMEs could contribute more stably to improving the nation brand of Spain due to its more permanent and close linkage to the territory. Similarly, in some specific contexts, as in the case of Latin America, SMEs could contribute to a more friendly image of Spain abroad. The paper presents some essential characteristics and trends of the internationalization of Spanish SMEs. From this perspective, the article analyzes the mechanisms and factors which delimit the potential contribution that SMEs can make to the nation brand of Spain. Furthermore, the article points out some advantages of associating the external image of Spain with SMEs and some possible initiatives to enhance the contribution of internationalized SMEs to Spain’s national branding project

Metodología de enseñanza en padel en niveles de iniciación

El objetivo principal del presente artículo es el aportar datos relacionados con las características que presenta la enseñanza y el aprendizaje del padel en niveles de iniciación. Algunos de los resultados obtenidos nos permiten identificar la existencia de un enfoque plurimetodológico que incide en los aspectos técnicos y tácticos de esta práctica deportiva. A estas conclusiones se han llegado gracias a las informaciones aportadas por el alumnado, los entrenadoresThe main objective of this research work is to present some data related with the main characteristics of the teaching and learning of paddle tennis at beginner’s level. Some of the results obtained, shows that there is a multi methodology approach which focus on the technical and tactical aspects of this sport. These conclusions were reached thanks to the information provided by players (learners) and coache

Mexican and Spanish university students’ Internet addiction and academic procrastination: Correlation and potential factors

The 21st-century problem of Internet addiction is increasing globally, but especially among university students. Not surprisingly, then, problematic Internet use is associated with university students’ academic procrastination. Because studies are scarce in Mexico and Spain has one of the highest rates of Internet addiction in Europe, this paper (i) analyzed the presence and degree of Internet addiction among university students in Mexico and Spain, (ii) determined potential sociodemographic factors influencing Internet addiction, and (iii) established the type of correlation between Internet addiction and academic procrastination. The cross-sectional study design used an online questionnaire to measure problematic Internet use and academic procrastination through convenience sampling at one university in Mexico and one in Spain. The questionnaire contained three sections: participants’ sociodemographic data, the Internet Addiction Test, and the Academic Procrastination Scale. The final sample comprised 758 university students, 387 from Mexico, and 371 from Spain, aged from 18 to 35 (M = 20.08, SD = 3.16). Results revealed similar prevalence rates of problematic and daily Internet use for leisure, potentially influencing Internet addiction in all three models (i.e., Mexico, Spain, and Total). Additionally, significant positive correlation was revealed between problematic Internet use and academic procrastination (p < .001). Finally, findings showed relevant data on Internet addiction’s prevalence in Mexican and Spanish university contexts, along with its influential sociodemographic factors.Aznar-DíazI, Romero-Rodríguez J-M, García-González A, Ramírez-Montoya M-S (2020) Mexican and Spanish university students’ Internet addiction and academic procrastination: Correlation and potential factors. PLoS ONE 15(5): e0233655. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal. pone.023365

Purification of Starch Granules from Arabidopsis Leaves and Determination of Granule-Bound Starch Synthase Activity

Starch constitutes the most important carbon reserve in plants and is composed of branched amylopectin and linear amylose. The latter is synthesized exclusively by the Granule-Bound Starch Synthase (GBSS, EC 2.4.1.21). Here we report a readily reproducible, specific and highly sensitive protocol, which includes the isolation of intact starch granules from Arabidopsis thaliana leaves and the subsequent determination of GBSS activity. We have applied this method to study GBSS activity in diurnal cycles in vegetative growth and during the photoperiodic transition to flowering in Arabidopsis (Tenorio et al., 2003; Ortiz-Marchena et al., 2014).España,MINECO CSD2007-00057, BIO2008-02292, and BIO2011-28847-C02-00España, Junta de Andalucía P06-CVI-01450 and P08-AGR-0358

Representación del conocimiento experto de un tutor e-learning a través del mapa conceptual: Un modelo de buenas prácticas docentes

El presente proyecto de investigación versa sobre la captura y representación del conocimiento experto a través del mapa conceptual de un tutor e-learning, agente de buenas prácticas docentes. La metodología de trabajo es mixta, combina tanto instrumentos cuantitativos: cuestionario cerrado tipo Likert, como cualitativos: entrevista semiestructurada. El cuestionario fue elaborado ad hoc en base a las funciones y competencias del buen tutor e-learning recogidas por Yot y Marcelo (2013), aplicándose a una muestra de 13 tutores e-learning pertenecientes al departamento de tutorización de una Escuela de Negocios de Granada, donde se imparten enseñanzas de Educación Superior. Tras el análisis de los datos, se determinó a un e-tutor como agente de buenas prácticas en base a las respuestas satisfactorias y los criterios establecidos, al cual posteriormente se le realizó la entrevista para poder realizar una aproximación a su conocimiento experto sobre la tutorización e-learning. Los datos obtenidos del cuestionario se analizaron a través de la hoja de Excel, mientras que los de la entrevista mediante el software cualitativo Atlas.ti. Finalmente fueron representados en dos mapas conceptuales, uno referente a su experiencia docente y otro donde se recogen pautas de actuación sobre buenas prácticas docentes en tutorización e-learning. Además, el mapa de conocimiento generado sirve como modelo para el perfeccionamiento y formación inicial de nuevos formadores.Universidad de Granada. Facultad de Ciencias de la Educación. Grado en Pedagogí

Determination of Soluble Sugars in Arabidopsis thaliana Leaves by Anion Exchange Chromatography

Determination of soluble sugars is basic for the study of carbon metabolism in plants. Soluble sugar quantitation can be achieved by enzymatic methods implying different coupled reactions. Here we describe a simple method that allows rapid determination of the most abundant soluble sugars (glucose, fructose and sucrose) in Arabidopsis leaves by anion exchange chromatography. We have applied this method to study the levels of soluble sugars during the photoperiodic transition to flowering (Ortiz-Marchena et al., 2014).España, MINECO projects CSD2007-00057, BIO2008-02292, and BIO2011-28847-C02-00España, Junta de Andalucía P06-CVI-01450 and P08-AGR-0358

Expanding borders of communication and collaboration through the network: digital competence as a means to promote academic interculturality

Las Tecnologías de la Información y la Comunicación han permitido el establecimiento de espacios virtuales que modifican el modo de interacción social. En este trabajo se analiza la percepción de los futuros docentes del grado de Educación Infantil sobre el uso de redes digitales para fomentar la interculturalidad académica. Se ha utilizado una metodología cuantitativa, basada en la aplicación de un cuestionario construido ad hoc. Entre los resultados se resalta principalmente el uso social que los estudiantes hacen de las redes digitales por encima del académico para la comunicación y colaboración entre iguales. Finalmente se constata que el uso de las redes digitales en la actividad docente favorece la interculturalidadInformation and Communication Technologies allow the establishment of virtual spaces that modify the way people interacts between themselves. This paper analyzes the perception of future teachers who are studying Preschool Education on the use of digital networks to promote academic interculturality. For this, we carry out a quantitative methodology by applying an ad hoc questionnaire. Among the results, it is highlighted the social use that students make of digital networks over academic use for communication and collaboration among equals. Finally, we found that the use of digital networks in teaching bring on interculturalit

New pixellation scheme for CT algebraic reconstruction to exploit matrix symmetries

In this article we propose a new pixellation scheme which makes it possible to speed up the time of reconstruction. This proposal consists in splitting the field of view of the scanner into as many circular sectors as rotation positions of the detector. The sectors are pixellated using circular pixels whose size is always smaller than the resolution needed. The geometry of the pixels and the arrangement on circular sectors make it possible to compute the entire matrix from only one position of the scanner. Therefore, the size of the matrix decreases as many times as the number of rotations. This results in a significant reduction of the system matrix which allows algebraic methods to be applied within a reasonable time of reconstruction and speeds up the time of matrix generation. The new model is studied by means of analytical CT simulations which are reconstructed using the Maximum Likelihood Emission Maximization algorithm for transmission tomography and is compared to the cartesian pixellation model. Therefore, two different grids of pixels were developed for the same scanner geometry: one that employs circular pixels within a cartesian grid and another that divides the field of view into a polar grid which is composed by identical sectors, with circular pixels too. The results of both models are that polar matrix is built in a few seconds and the cartesian one needs several hours, the size of the matrix is significantly smaller than the circular one, and the time of reconstruction per iteration using the same iterative method is less in the polar pixel model than in the square pixel model. Several figures of merit have been computed in order to compare the original phantom with the reconstructed images. Finally, we can conclude that both reconstructions have been proved to have enough quality but, the polar pixel model is more efficient than the square pixel model. © 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Mora Mora, MTC.; Rodríguez Álvarez, MJ.; Romero Bauset, JV. (2008). New pixellation scheme for CT algebraic reconstruction to exploit matrix symmetries. Computers and Mathematics with Applications. 56(3):717-726. doi:10.1016/j.camwa.2008.02.019S71772656

Atom Transfer Radical Reactions as a Tool for Olefin Functionalization : On the Way to Practical Applications

Transition-metal-catalyzed atom transfer radical reactions of halogenated compounds with olefins constitute a versatile tool in organic synthesis within the area of C–C bond forming transformations. The inter- or intramolecular versions, atom transfer radical addition (ATRA) or cyclization (ATRC), respectively, lead to the atom-economic, useful synthesis of compounds that can be further functionalized. This contribution summarizes the recent developments in this area in terms of catalyst design as well as the applicability of this methodology in sequential, domino, or tandem reactions.We thank the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion (grants CTQ2008-00042BQU and CTQ2008-06866-CO2-02/BQU), Consolider Ingenio 2010 (CSD2006-0003), and the Junta de Andalucia (Grant P07-FQM-02794) for financial support