The moderating role of gender on entrepreneurial intentions: a TPB perspective

Purpose: To disentangle the ways in which social norms shape entrepreneurial intentions of university students and to analyse the moderating effect of gender that may arise. Design/methodology/approach: We have used the entrepreneurial intention model based on Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) literature and moderated by students’ gender affecting this intention. We tested some hypotheses using data from undergraduate business students in Spain and their entrepreneurial intentions. Findings: Our results suggest that perceived behavioural control and attitudes affect the entrepreneurial intentions of university students towards entrepreneurship while subjective norms do not. Furthermore, our findings reveal that the moderating effect of gender has a positive influence for women in the relationship between those subjective norms and the perceived behavioural control. However, as to some research done so far, the moderating role of gender does not seem to have a particular effect on predicting entrepreneurial intentions when moderating TPB dimensions. Practical implications: Given the socio-economic benefits attributed to entrepreneurship, the results allow the design of more effective education initiatives and policies. Originality/value: This research provides support for the application of the TPB, allowing for a better understanding of gender differences in entrepreneurial intentions

Physical interpretation of NUT solution

We show that the well-known NUT solution can be correctly interpreted as describing the exterior field of two counter-rotating semi-infinite sources possessing negative masses and infinite angular momenta which are attached to the poles of a static finite rod of positive mass.Comment: 7 pages, 1 figure, submitted to Classical and Quantum Gravit

Air-steam gasification of char derived from sewage sludge pyrolysis. Comparison with the gasification of sewage sludge

Air-steam gasification of char derived from fast pyrolysis of sewage sludge has been experimentally evaluated in a fluidized bed as a route towards a full recovery of energy from sewage sludge. The results have been compared with those obtained from the direct gasification of sewage sludge in order to evaluate how the previous pyrolysis stage affects the subsequent gasification process. The fixed carbon content in the solid increased after the pyrolysis stage so that heterogeneous reactions of carbon with steam or CO2 assumed greater importance during char gasification than during sewage sludge gasification. Furthermore, char gasification led to an improvement in the gas yield -calculated on a dry and ash-free basis (daf)- due to the increased concentration of carbon in the organic fraction of the solid after the pyrolysis step, with an increase in the average CO yield of about 70% -in terms of g/kg solid daf-. The reduction in the fraction of carbon which forms tar is another advantage of char gasification over the direct gasification of sewage sludge, with an average decrease of about 45%. Regarding the influence of the operating conditions, the response variables were mainly controlled by the same factors in both processes

Singular sources in the Demianski-Newman spacetimes

The analysis of singular regions in the NUT solutions carried out in the recent paper (Manko and Ruiz, 2005 Class. Quantum Grav. 22, p.3555) is now extended to the Demianski-Newman vacuum and electrovacuum spacetimes. We show that the effect which produces the NUT parameter in a more general situation remains essentially the same as in the purely NUT solutions: it introduces the semi-infinite singularities of infinite angular momenta and positive or negative masses depending on the interrelations between the parameters; the presence of the electromagnetic field additionally endows the singularities with electric and magnetic charges. The exact formulae describing the mass, charges and angular momentum distributions in the Demianski-Newman solutions are obtained and concise general expressions P_n=(m+i\nu)(ia)^n, Q_n=(q+ib)(ia)^n for the entire set of the respective Beig-Simon multipole moments are derived. These moments correspond to a unique choice of the integration constant in the expression of the metric function \omega which is different from the original choice made by Demianski and Newman.Comment: 22 pages, 5 figures; submitted to Classical and Quantum Gravit

On interrelations between Sibgatullin's and Alekseev's approaches to the construction of exact solutions of the Einstein-Maxwell equations

The integral equations involved in Alekseev's "monodromy transform" technique are shown to be simple combinations of Sibgatullin's integral equations and normalizing conditions. An additional complex conjugation introduced by Alekseev in the integrands makes his scheme mathematically inconsistent; besides, in the electrovac case all Alekseev's principal value integrals contain an intrinsic error which has never been identified before. We also explain how operates a non-trivial double-step algorithm devised by Alekseev for rewriting, by purely algebraic manipulations and in a different (more complicated) parameter set, any particular specialization of the known analytically extended N-soliton electrovac solution obtained in 1995 with the aid of Sibgatullin's method.Comment: 7 pages, no figures, section II extende

Interpretación de anisotropías petrográficas en granitos ornamentales basada en la medida de la velocidad de las ondas P

The existence of a possible anisotropy, determined by the orientation of any mineral or by micro­crack network in granite rock, isn´t easily detected by the naked eye. Five granitic rocks from Galicia (Spain), namely Albero, Gris Alba, Gris Mondariz, Rosa Porriño and Traspielas, were characterized petrographically by means of textural and mineralogical studies, using optical polarizing microscopy, and fractographic studies were carried out under scanning electron microscopy. Longitudinal wave propagation velocity was measured in three orthogonal directions on cubic samples, oriented according to rift surface (known in quarry works like the preferential partition surface visible in the blocks). Vp was measured on dry and water saturated samples. All the dry samples showed an anisotropic behaviour of Vp. Models of microcrack network distribution and possible mineral grain orientation were developed based on the obtained data.La existencia de una posible anisotropía originada por orientación de minerales y/o redes de microfisuración en rocas graníticas no es fácilmente detectable a simple vista. Cinco rocas graníticas de Galicia, denominadas comercialmente Albero, gris Alba, gris Mondariz, rosa Porriño y Traspielas, se car­acterizaron petrográficamente, mediante estudios texturales y mineralógicos utilizando microscopía óptica de polarización, realizándose también estudios fractográficos bajo microscopía electrónica de barrido. Se midieron las velocidades de propagación de las ondas longitudinales (Vp) en tres direcciones ortogonales en muestras cúbicas orientadas según el rift (denominado así en cantería como la superficie preferente de partición). Vp se midió en muestras secas y saturadas. Todas las muestras secas mostraron un comportamiento anisótropo de Vp. A partir de los datos obtenidos se han interpretado las redes de distribución de microfisuras y la orientación de minerales

Horizontal target strength-size conversion equations for sea bass and gilt-head bream

[EN] Horizontal hydroacoustics is a technique of remote fish detection that has proved to efficiently determine fish density and biomass in shallow or superficial waters. This non-intrusive technique could render better results than those obtained by conventional sampling when monitoring shallow waters. To apply this technique, we need equations that relate the amount of sound returned by fish, known as target strength (TS in dB), with their length (mm) or weight (g). This study presents horizontal conversion equations for the species gilt-head bream (Sparus aurata) and sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax), two of the most important species bred in aquaculture. Moreover, this study presents a new formula to calculate a mixed equation adjusted to the percentage of distribution of those species in case of mixed populations. The results in this research have been obtained by applying a simple setup that allows for high-quality acoustic data. These new equations will enable the application of this technique in order to estimate these species' density and biomass in shallow aquatic systems such as aquaculture ponds with semi-intensive production densities.This study's authors would like to thank the Superintendent of Economy and Knowledge (Andalusian Government) for the funding provided as part of the project (PI_57052) developed in collaboration with CTAQUA. We would like to thank the researchers Carlos Orduna Marin and Juan Ramon Cid Quintero for their selfless work to obtain the field data and to the company PIMSA for generously allowing us to use their facilities and fish. We would also like to thank the veterinarian JR Rodriguez for being kind enough to perform X-rays on the studied fish and Cristina Ocana for her careful proofreading of the English text.Rodríguez-Sánchez, V.; Rodríguez-Ruiz, A.; Pérez Arjona, I.; Encina-Encina, L. (2018). Horizontal target strength-size conversion equations for sea bass and gilt-head bream. Aquaculture. 490:178-184. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2018.02.034S17818449

El virus de la lengua azul como modelo para el estudio de los orbivirus

Al género Orbivirus pertenecen tres virus transmitidos a través de vector, que afectan al ganado domestico y a animales de vida libre (Lengua Azul, Peste Equina Africana y Enfermedad Hemorrágica Epizoótica de los Ciervos), y que han causado en las dos últimas décadas, especialmente el virus de la Lengua Azul (vLA), pérdidas económicas cuantiosas en prácticamente toda Europa y en los países del sur y el este del Mediterráneo. Es importante, por tanto, profundizar en el conocimiento sobre los mecanismos de actuación de estos virus, tomando como base al vLA considerado como el virus modelo para el estudio de este género, y en los mecanismos que modulan la respuesta inmunológica del hospedador para poder mejorar el control de la enfermedad mediante vacunas más eficaces. Hasta el momento se desconocen aspectos tan importantes como la duración de la viremia en animales infectados, el papel de la inmunidad celular desencadenada en el hospedador o los mecanismos de “hibernación” que permitan al vLA “reaparecer” tras un periodo de ausencia del vector. Además, el hecho de que los tres compartan los mismos vectores, hace necesario analizar el riesgo de entrada de los virus de la Peste Equina Africana y dela Enfermedad Hemorrágica Epizoótica de los Ciervos en España, -que actualmente se detectan en los países del África Subsahariana y en el sur y este del Mediterráneo, respectivamente-. Por último, se considera también imprescindible mejorar las técnicas de diagnóstico para el virus de la Enfermedad Hemorrágica Epizoótica de los Ciervos y el virus de la Peste Equina Africana y desarrollar nuevos ensayos basados en las cepas circulantes por el área mediterránea

¿Son el bajo nivel de condición física y la obesidad dos características del adolescente con síndrome de Down?

Introduction: “Obesity” is considered a feature of youth with DS but whether “low physical fitness” is also a feature is unknown. Objective: The aim of this case-control study was to compare the levels of fatness and fitness in adolescents with and without DS. Methods: Participants included 17 (5 girls) adolescents with DS aged 12-18 years and a control group of 94 (45 girls) adolescents without DS aged 12-16 years. The ALPHA health-related fitness test battery for children and adolescents was selected to assess fatness and fitness in both groups. Results: There were no differences in levels of fatness between groups (all P > 0.27). Adolescents with DS had lower levels of fitness in all the tests than adolescents without DS (all P < 0.001). Conclusion: Adolescents with DS have similar levels of fatness and lower levels of fitness than their peers without DSIntroducción: La obesidad es considerada una característica de los jóvenes con SD, sin embargo se desconoce si la “baja condición física” también lo es. Objetivo: Comparar los niveles de obesidad y condición física en adolescentes con y sin SD. Métodos: Participaron 17 adolescentes (5 niñas) con SD de 12 a 18 años y un grupo control de 94 (45 niñas) adolescentes sin SD de 12-16 años de edad. La batería de condición física ALPHA relacionada con la salud para niños y adolescentes fue seleccionada para evaluar la obesidad y la condición física en ambos grupos. Resultados: No se encontraron diferencias en los niveles de obesidad entre grupos (P > 0,27). Los adolescentes con SD tuvieron niveles más bajos de condición física en todos los test en comparación con los adolescentes sin SD (P < 0,001). Conclusión: Los adolescentes con SD tienen niveles similares de obesidad y menores de condición física que sus compañeros sin SD.The UP&DOWN study was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (DEP 2010-21662-C04). JRR was supported by a contract from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (RYC-2010-05957