A Framework to Evaluate Software Developer’s Productivity The VALORTIA Project

Currently, there is a lack in companies developing software in relation to assessing their staff’s productivity before executing software projects, with the aim of improving effectiveness and efficiency. QuEF (Quality Evaluation Framework) is a framework that allows defining quality management tasks based on a model. The main purpose of this framework is twofold: improve an entity’s continuous quality, and given a context, decide between a set of entity’s instances on the most appropriate one. Thus, the aim of this paper is to make this framework available to evaluate productivity of professionals along software development and select the most appropriate experts to implement the suggested project. For this goal, Valortia platform, capable of carrying out this task by following the QuEF framework guidelines, is designed. Valortia is a platform to certify users' knowledge on a specific area and centralize all certification management in its model by means of providing protocols and methods for a suitable management, improving efficiency and effectiveness, reducing cost and ensuring continuous quality.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación TIN2013-46928-C3-3-

Olfactory Dysfunction in Patients with Chronic Rhinosinusitis

Objectives. To measure the prevalence of and identify the clinical characteristics associated with olfactory decline in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis. Methods and Materials. There is analytical, prospective, and observational study in adult patients with a diagnosis of chronic rhinosinusitis. The olfactory test used was the Connecticut Chemosensory Clinical Research Center (CCCRC). Results. They are 33 patients total. Within the group of patients aged 18 to 39, 9% had normosmia, 73% hyposmia, and 18% anosmia (P<0.001). Between 40 and 64 years old, there was no patient with normosmia, 63% hyposmia, and 37% anosmia (P<0.001). Of patients older than 65 years old, 33% showed mild hyposmia, 34% severe hyposmia, and 33% anosmia (P<0.001). 52% were females, and 48% were males. Conclusion. Nasal polyposis, asthma, septal deviation, turbinate hypertrophy, tobacco, and allergic rhinitis are predicting factors of olfactory dysfunction. Antecedents of previous endoscopic surgeries, age, and gender would not be associated with olfactory loss

Coriolano Alberini y Waldo Frank

Fil: Musso de Cavallaro, María E..Fil: Sánchez, Norma Isabel

Milk intake and incident stroke and CHD in populations of European descent: a Mendelian randomisation study

We thank all EPIC participants and staff for their contribution to the study. We also thank staff from the EPIC-CVD coordinating centres for sample preparation and data handling. This research has been conducted using the UK Biobank Resource (application number 29916). Data on coronary artery disease have been contributed by CARDIoGRAMplusC4D investigators and have been downloaded from www.CARDIOGRAMPLUSC4D.ORG.I Sluijswas supported by a personal Dr. Dekker postdoctoral grant (2015T019) from the Netherlands Heart Foundation. NGF and FI acknowledge core Medical Research Council Epidemiology Unit support (MC_UU_12015/5) and NGF acknowledges NIHR Biomedical Research Centre Cambridge: Nutrition, Diet, and Lifestyle Research Theme (IS-BRC-1215-20014). The InterAct project was funded by the EU FP6 programme (grant number LSHM_CT_2006_037197) and provided the biomarker data in the sub-cohort that was used in the current study. These analyses were supported by Cancer Research UK (C8221/A19170). The coordination of EPIC is financially supported by the European Commission (DG-SANCO) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer. The national cohorts are supported by Danish Cancer Society (Denmark); German Cancer Aid, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), Deutsche Krebshilfe, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum and Federal Ministry of Education and Research (Germany); Associazione Italiana per la Ricerca sul Cancro-AIRC-Italy and National Research Council (Italy); Dutch Ministry of Public Health, Welfare and Sports (VWS), Netherlands Cancer Registry (NKR), LK Research Funds, Dutch Prevention Funds, Dutch ZON (Zorg Onderzoek Nederland), World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF), Statistics Netherlands (The Netherlands); Health Research Fund (FIS) PI13/00061 (EPIC-Granada) and PI13/01162 (EPIC-Murcia), Regional Governments of Andalucia, Asturias, Basque Country, Murcia and Navarra, ISCIII Health Research Funds RD12/0036/0018 (cofounded by FEDER funds/European Regional Development Fund ERDF) (Spain); Swedish Cancer Society, Swedish Research Council and County Councils of Skane and Vasterbotten (Sweden); Cancer Research UK (14136 to EPIC-Norfolk; C570/A16491 and C8221/A19170 for EPIC-Oxford), Medical Research Council (1000143 to EPIC-Norfolk, MR/M012190/1 to EPIC-Oxford) (UK). EPIC-CVD has been supported by the European Commission Framework Programme 7 (HEALTH-F2-2012-279233), the European Research Council (268834), the UK Medical Research Council (MR/L003120/1), the British Heart Foundation (RG13/13/30194 and RG/18/13/33946) and the National Institute for Health Research (Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre at the Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust). The MEGASTROKE project received funding from sources specified at http://www.megastroke.org/acknowledgments.html. L.E.T.V.analysed the data and drafted the manuscript. L. E. T. V., I. S. and Y. T. vdS. had access to all data for this study. L. E. T. V., I. S., Y. T. vdS., S. B., N. G. F., H. F., F. I., T. K. N., F. R., E. W., K. A., C. D., A. P. C., M. B. S., T. Y. N. T. and A. S. B. contributed to study conception, design and interpretation of data. All authors contributed to critical revision of the manuscript and approval of version to be published.Higher milk intake has been associated with a lower stroke risk, but not with risk of CHD. Residual confounding or reverse causation cannot be excluded. Therefore, we estimated the causal association of milk consumption with stroke and CHD risk through instrumental variable (IV) and gene-outcome analyses. IV analysis included 29 328 participants (4611 stroke; 9828 CHD) of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC)-CVD (eight European countries) and European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition-Netherlands (EPIC-NL) case-cohort studies. rs4988235, a lactase persistence (LP) SNP which enables digestion of lactose in adulthood was used as genetic instrument. Intake of milk was first regressed on rs4988235 in a linear regression model. Next, associations of genetically predicted milk consumption with stroke and CHD were estimated using Prentice-weighted Cox regression. Gene-outcome analysis included 777 024 participants (50 804 cases) from MEGASTROKE (including EPIC-CVD), UK Biobank and EPIC-NL for stroke, and 483 966 participants (61 612 cases) from CARDIoGRAM, UK Biobank, EPIC-CVD and EPIC-NL for CHD. In IV analyses, each additional LP allele was associated with a higher intake of milk in EPIC-CVD (beta = 13 center dot 7 g/d; 95 % CI 8 center dot 4, 19 center dot 1) and EPIC-NL (36 center dot 8 g/d; 95 % CI 20 center dot 0, 53 center dot 5). Genetically predicted milk intake was not associated with stroke (HR per 25 g/d 1 center dot 05; 95 % CI 0 center dot 94, 1 center dot 16) or CHD (1 center dot 02; 95 % CI 0 center dot 96, 1 center dot 08). In gene-outcome analyses, there was no association of rs4988235 with risk of stroke (OR 1 center dot 02; 95 % CI 0 center dot 99, 1 center dot 05) or CHD (OR 0 center dot 99; 95 % CI 0 center dot 95, 1 center dot 03). Current Mendelian randomisation analysis does not provide evidence for a causal inverse relationship between milk consumption and stroke or CHD risk.Netherlands Heart Foundation 2015T019UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) Medical Research Council UK (MRC)European Commission MC_UU_12015/5NIHR Biomedical Research Centre Cambridge: Nutrition, Diet, and Lifestyle Research Theme IS-BRC-1215-20014European Commission LSHM_CT_2006_037197Cancer Research UK C8221/A19170European Commission European Commission Joint Research CentreInternational Agency for Research on CancerDanish Cancer SocietyDeutsche Krebshilfe German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) (Germany)Federal Ministry of Education & Research (BMBF)Deutsche Krebshilfe Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (Germany)Federal Ministry of Education & Research (BMBF)Fondazione AIRC per la ricerca sul cancro Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR)Netherlands Government Netherlands GovernmentWorld Cancer Research Fund International (WCRF)Netherlands GovernmentInstituto de Salud Carlos III PI13/00061 PI13/01162Junta de Andalucia Regional Government of Asturias (Spain) Regional Government of Basque Country (Spain) Regional Government of Murcia (Spain) Regional Government of Navarra (Spain)ISCIII Health Research Funds (FEDER funds/European Regional Development Fund ERDF) (Spain) RD12/0036/0018Swedish Cancer Society Swedish Research Council County Council of Skane (Sweden) County Council of Vasterbotten (Sweden)European Commission Framework Programme 7 HEALTH-F2-2012-279233 European Research Council (ERC) European Commission 268834UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) Medical Research Council UK (MRC) MR/L003120/1 British Heart Foundation RG13/13/30194 RG/18/13/33946 National Institute for Health Research (Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre at the Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust) UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) Medical Research Council UK (MRC) 1000143 MR/M012190/1 Cancer Research UK C8221/A19170 14136 C570/A1649

Knowledge economy : urban - regional perspectives

El conocimiento y su aplicación en la economía, ha sido siempre un factor importante del desarrollo socio-económico. El conocimiento toma relevancia en la economía contemporánea al invertirse la jerarquización de los factores del desarrollo, cobrando mayor importancia los factores intangibles, como el conocimiento, el cual se convierte en el recurso fundamental para los procesos productivos. En este contexto, surgieron los estudios relacionados con la Economía Regional del Conocimiento (ERC) así como los estudios relativos al Desarrollo basado en el Conocimiento (DBC). Ambas perspectivas teóricas han establecido indicadores para explicar el fenómeno de la economía del conocimiento desde su base territorial, sea a nivel regional (ERC) o desde la ciudad (DBC). A manera exploratoria consideramos que los indicadores de los sistemas regionales de innovación pueden complementarse con los indicadores del desarrollo basado en el conocimiento, sobre todo por la dimensión meta-cultural a la que hacen referencia estos estudios.The knowledge and its application in the economy has always been an important factor for the socioeconomic development. The knowledge takes relevance in the contemporary economy whenthe ranking of the development factors is inverted. When it happens, the intangible factors such as knowledge, are crucial for the productive process. In this context, the Regional Knowledge Economy (RKE) and the Knowledge- based Development (KBD) studies came up. Both RKE and KBD as theoretical perspectives, have stablished indicators to explain the territorial base of knowledge economy in a regional and urban level. The indicators of the regional innovation systems could be complemented with the indicators of the knowledge based development becuase of the metacultural dimension that this studies include.Fil: Marquina Sánchez, María de Lourdes. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoFil: Rozga Luter, Ryszard E.. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Méxic

Confirmation of symmetrical distributions of clinical attachment loss and tooth loss in a homogeneous Mexican adult male population

Background/purpose To ascertain whether or not clinical attachment loss and tooth loss are present with similar severity and prevalence across the two sides of the mouth in a homogeneous sample of urban male adults. Materials and methods A cross-sectional study was carried out on 161 policemen (a largely homogeneous group in terms of ethnic background, socioeconomic status, sex, occupation, and medical/dental insurance) in Campeche, Mexico. Periodontal examinations were undertaken using the Florida Probe System in a dental chair by one trained and standardized examiner (kappa ≥ 0.60) to determine clinical attachment loss and tooth loss. We examined six sites in all teeth present in the mouth (a maximum of 168 sites, no third molars). Because of correlated data between observations, McNemar (for tooth loss) and Wilcoxon (for attachment loss) signed-rank tests were used to compare right and left sites within the same patient. Results The mean age was 38.4 ± 11.0 years. The mean number of teeth present was 24.4 ± 4.6; the mean number of periodontal sites/person was 146.7 ± 27.8. All P values were ≥ 0.05 (except for attachment loss in the upper first premolars), suggesting that there were no statistically significant differences between the right and left sides for the frequency of presentation of these two conditions. Conclusion Tooth loss and attachment loss measurements largely resemble each other on both sides of the mouth

Estilos de trabajo e inteligencias múltiples

El objetivo del trabajo es determinarla validez yflabilidad del modelo dejos estilos de trabajo, fundamentado en la teoría de las Inteligencias Múltiples (IM). Primero, se analizan los componentes de dicha teoría y su incidencia en el curriculum escolar. En segundo lugar, se estudia el procedimiento de evaluación. Además, se presentan los resultados del estudio empírico realizado con una muestra de 237 alumnos pertenecientes a Educación Infantil y Primaria, escolarizados en centros públicos y privados de la Región de Murcia. Del estudio realizado se desprende que los estilos están asociados a las diferentes inteligencias; además, el inventario de estilos de trabajo arroja una validez y fiabilidad altamente consistente.________________________________ The objective of this work is to determinate the validity and reliability of the model of work styles, as set out In the theory of Multiple Intelligences (MI). First, we analyze the components of this theory and their Incidence in the school curriculum. Second, we study the evaluation procedure. Additionally, we present the results of an empirical study carried out with a sample of 237 students in public and private nursery and primary schools in the province of Murcia, Spain. The study carried out reveals that the styles are associated with the different Intelligences. Furthermore, the inventory of styles shows a highly consistent validity and reliability

Grassland and shrubland grasshopper community composition in northern La Pampa province, Argentina

Fil: Wysiecki, María Laura de. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Centro de Estudios en Parasitología y Vectores; ArgentinaFil: Sánchez, Norma Elba. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Centro de Estudios en Parasitología y Vectores; ArgentinaFil: Ricci, Susana E.. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Humanas. Departamento de Sistemas Naturales y Ambiente; Argentin

Seasonal concentration of nitrates in a loamy silt soil of the Upper Río Negro Valley.

La abundancia y bajo costo del recurso hídrico en el Alto Valle de Río Negro combinados con un manejo ineficiente del mismo, principalmente durante la primera parte de la primavera, época en la que los productores riegan con mayor frecuencia para luchar pasivamente contra las probables heladas tardías, permiten inferir que los nitratos presentes en el suelo, así como el aportado por los fertilizantes nitrogenados, están sujetos al lixiviado durante una gran parte del ciclo productivo. En la actualidad no existen estudios regionales que ilustren la variación estacional de la concentración de nitratos en la zona de exploración radical de frutales, por lo que se inició el presente trabajo con el propósito de: a) medir la concentración de los nitratos en el perfil del suelo cultivado con manzanos, desde el período de floración hasta el inicio de caída de hojas, con fertilización nitrogenada en dos dosis y sin fertilización a distintas profundidades de extracción; b) determinar la eficiencia del riego a manto de dicho monte. Se ensayaron dos concentraciones de nitrógeno, adicionado como nitrato de amonio en dos oportunidades: el 50% a la caída de los pétalos y el 50% restante cercano a la cosecha, correspondiendo a dosis de 100 kg ha-1 (N1), 200 kg ha-1 (N2) y un testigo sin agregado de N (N0), durante el período 2004-2005 y 2005-2006. Para determinar los niveles de N en el suelo, expresado como nitratos, se extrajeron muestras del mismo a tres profundidades 0-30; 30-60; 60-90 cm, al inicio de floración, antes del primer riego y después de cada riego. La lámina de agua empleada para el riego a manto osciló entre 1712 y 2400 mm, con un aprovechamiento a campo del 30%. La concentración de nitratos fue baja cuando no se fertilizó, manteniéndose alrededor de 22 mg kg-1 en superficie y reduciéndose a la mitad a la profundidad de 30-60 cm, durante el período de muestreo. En ambas dosis empleadas, el contenido de nitratos del suelo fue mayor llegando a 175 y 300 mg kg-1, respectivamente. Estos valores se igualan a los del testigo a los 30 días en el caso de N1 y a los 60 días para N2. Los resultados permiten inferir que la concentración de nitratos fue efímera en el perfil del suelo y mejoró la eficiencia de riego, principalmente durante la primavera con el fin de minimizar pérdidas de nitrógeno.The abundance and the low cost of the irrigation water in the Upper Río Negro Valley entail to the inefficient use of the resource, mainly during the first part of the spring when the growers irrigate frequently for passive frost control. Such situation allows us to infer that nitrates derived from either the soil or the fertilizer is prone to be leached from the soil profile during most part of the growing season. Actuality there are no local studies to show the variation seasonal concentration of soil nitrates in the rooting zone of the fruit trees, therefore we initiated a study with the aims of: a) to measure the concentration of nitrate in the soil profile occupied with roots from the stage of flowering to the beginning of leaf fall, with nitrogen fertilization in two equal doses and without nitrogen, a different profundity the extraction; b) to determine the efficiency of irrigation of the orchard irrigated by flooding. Two concentrations of nitrogen were experimented, applied as ammonium nitrate in two opportunities, 50% at petal fall and the rest at harvest and a control treatment without N (N0), corresponding a dose the 100 Kg ha-1 (N1) and 200 kg ha-1 (N2), period 2004-2005 and 2005-2006. Soil samples at three soil depths (0-30, 30-60 and 60-90 cm) were taken in the beginning of flowering and previous any irrigation and then from October to April after each irrigation. The concentration of nitrates along the season remained in 22 mg kg-1 in the top soil and decreased 50% in the 30-60 cm soil depth. In N1 and N2 the concentration increased sharply after the application of the fertilizer and reached concentrations in the 0-30 cm of 175 mg kg-1 and 300 mg kg-1 in N1 and N2, respectively. However 30 days after the application of N1 and 60 days after the application of N2 the concentrations of nitrates were similar to N0. The volume of water applied per hectare was 1712-2400 mm with a 30% efficiency. The results showed that the effect of the fertilizer application lasted a short period of time and the irrigation efficiency should be improved in order to avoid nitrate leaching.Fil: Aruani, María Cristina.Fil: Sánchez, Enrique E..Fil: Reeb, Pablo.Fil: Aun, Elizabeth