The moderator role of Gender in the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT): A study on users of Electronic Document Management Systems

Venkatesh et al. [1] tried to integrate predictability capabilities from the different existing models of technology acceptance. This produced the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). This comprehensive model resulted in the identification of common aspects. It proposed several constructs with a greater explanatory power and analyzed moderating drivers, such as age, Gender, experience and voluntariness of use. By doing so, UTAUT identifies three major drivers of behavioral intention: performance expectancy, effort expectancy and social influence. On the other hand, facilitating conditions and behavioral intention were identified as determinant factors of actual use [1]. In addition to previous considerations about UTAUT, empirical research has scarcely analyzed the moderating role of Gender [2]. This is why this paper particularly aims to fill this gap. Hofstede [3] describes strength, competitiveness and guidance for material success as social roles linked to male values, whilst modesty, tenderness, sensitivity and concern for the quality of life are values associated with women. With respect to UTAUT, existing studies have shown that performance expectancy positively influences behavioral intention more strongly for men (cf. [4], [5], [6] and [7]). Moreover, it has been observed that effort expectancy positively influences behavioral intention more strongly for women (cf. [4], [5] and [6]), while social influence positively affects behavioral intention more strongly for women (cf. [5], [7] and [8]). In our research, with the aim of testing the moderating effects of Gender, a sample of 2,175 users of Electronic Document Management Systems (EDMS) in Portuguese municipalities was used. Taking into account that Gender is a categorical variable, we have adopted a multi-group or multi-sample analysis [9] -dividing the sample into two groups (male = 748; female = 1,427) and estimating each group of observations separately. Before comparing the groups, an analysis of the measurement invariance was carried out to make sure that the construct measures were invariant between both groups [10]. Once the metric invariance had been assessed, we carried out a set of multi-group analyses –interpreting statistically-significant differences in path coefficients as moderating effects. On the one hand, the parametric approach considering both equal variances and different variances has been used [11, 12]. On the other hand, we have applied non-parametric approaches exemplified by the permutation test [13], and Henseler’s PLS multi-group analysis [10, 12, 14]. This study notes slight differences in the results of the aforementioned methods. As a result, the moderating effect of Gender on the relation between performance expectancy and behavioral intention showed that this relationship is stronger among men than women. Finally, a discussion on the implications of Gender as a moderator for the UTAUT model is included

Determinants of User Acceptance of a Local eGovernment Electronic Document Management System (EDMS)

On numerous occasions the significant value of the investments involved in the development of eGovernment and the expectations of governmental information systems use do not correspond to the rate of effective use. This scenario makes it difficult to justify the development of electronic government by governments and local authorities among its citizens. It is therefore important to understand the factors that influence the employees' intention of using governmental information systems. With the aim of understanding the determining factors of using an Electronic Document Management System (EDMS) in the context of Portuguese municipalities, this study develops an empirical analysis using the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model, (Venkatesh et al., 2003). This model's application for information systems research in the governmental context has a weak expression and is unique in EDMS research. This empirical research follows a realist and positivist approach. Data was collected from a survey answered by 2,175 employees of Portuguese municipalities (EDMS users). Partial Least Squares (PLS) was used to test the model proposed. The results showed that Intention to Use is positively affected by Performance Expectancy, Effort Expectancy, Social Influence and Facilitating Conditions. With respect to the EDMS Use, the results showed that it is positively influenced by Intention to Use and Facilitating Conditions. The main result indicates that EDMS users believe that the use of this information system will help them to obtain performance benefits in their work. However, the increasing use of EDMS is not very influenced by the system's perceived ease of use. In short, this study provides a contribution to the Information Systems Acceptance and Adoption literature in local eGovernmental contexts. In addition, our contribution empirically tests the model for implementation in governmental organizations and provides a better understanding of the adoption and use of an EDM

Estudio de disruptores endocrinos en el medio ambiente

[Resumen] En los últimos años los disruptores endocrinos (EDCs) están en el punto de mira de estudios ambientales y ecotoxicológicos. Entre ellos destacan los alquilfenoles y el bisfenol A, tanto por su amplio uso industrial y doméstico como por su elevada actividad estrogénica demostrando efectos adversos a niveles traza. Se descargan a las aguas a través de efluentes industriales y de estaciones depuradoras de aguas residuales afectando principalmente al medio acuático. Por ello se necesitan programas de monitorización ambiental que controlen la presencia de estos contaminantes en el medio ambiente, para garantizar su protección y la de la salud pública. A lo largo de esta memoria se propone metodología analítica que permiten determinar estos compuestos a niveles traza en agua, sedimento y biota. Se trata de métodos novedosos, sensibles, selectivos, que cumplen con los principios de la Química Verde y que mejoran los propuestos previamente en la bibliografía. Aplicando la metodología desarrollada se llevan a cabo los primeros estudios ambientales para evaluar la distribución espacio-temporal de estos contaminantes en Galicia y su comportamiento dentro de un mismo ecosistema (partición aguasedimento- biota). Además, se realizan dos estancias de investigación en las que se desarrollan métodos para el análisis de otros EDCs y compuestos emergentes en distintas matrices, como particulado atmosférico o alga.[Resumo] Nos últimos anos os disruptores endocrinos (EDCs) atópanse no punto de mira de estudos ambientais e ecotoxicolóxicos. Entre eles destacan os alquilfenois e o bisfenol A, ben polo seu amplo uso industrial e doméstico, ben pola súa gran actividade estroxénica, mostrando efectos adversos a niveis traza. Descárganse ás augas por medio de efluentes industriais e de estacións depuradoras de augas residuais afectando principalmente ó medio acuático. Por este motivo, requírense programas de monitorización ambiental que controlen a presenza destes compostos no medio ambiente para garantir a súa protección e a da saúde pública. Ao longo desta memoria desenrólase metodoloxía analítica para determina-los compostos a niveis de traza en auga, sedimento e biota. Trátase de métodos novos, sensibles, selectivos, que cumpren cos principios da Química Verde e melloran as propostas atopadas na bibliografía. Aplicando os métodos expostos, realízanse os primeiros estudos ambientais en Galicia para avalia-la distribución espazo-temporal destes contaminantes e o seu comportamento dentro dun mesmo ecosistema (partición auga-sedimento-biota). Ademais, lévanse a cabo dúas estancias de investigación nas que se propón métodos para a análise doutros EDCs e contaminantes emerxentes en distintas matrices ambientais, como partículas atmosféricas ou algas.[Abstract] Endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) have taken part in environmental and ecotoxicological studies in the last years. Alkylphenols and bisphenol A stand out among all of them because of their widely use and their high estrogenic activity (adverse effects at trace levels). These compounds enter into the environment through industrial and wastewater treatment plants effluents affecting the aquatic ecosystem. Consequently, monitoring programs that control the occurrence of these pollutants are needed in order to preserve the aquatic environment and protect human health. This Thesis describes different analytical methodologies to determine alkylphenols and bisphenol A in water, sediment and biota samples at trace levels. Novelty, sensitivity, selectivity and compliance with the Green Chemistry principles are the main advantages of these methods which improve the previous methodologies found in the literature. Primary environmental studies in Galicia are carried out applying the proposed methods, and the spatial-temporal distribution of these compounds and their behaviour into the same ecosystem (water-sediment-biota partition) are also evaluated. Furthermore, two short-stays based on the development of new methodology for the analysis of EDCs and emerging compounds in different matrices such as atmospheric particles or algae were performed

Assessment, Design and Implementation of a Private Cloud for MapReduce Applications

[Abstract] Scientific computation and data intensive analyses are ever more frequent. On the one hand, the MapReduce programming model has gained a lot of attention for its applicability in large parallel data analyses and Big Data applications. On the other hand, Cloud computing seems to be increasingly attractive in solving these computing problems that demand a lot of resources. This paper explores the potential symbiosis between MapReduce and Cloud Computing, in order to create a robust and scalable environment to execute MapReduce workflows regardless of the underlaying infrastructure. The main goal of this work is to provide an easy-to-install interface, so as non-expert scientists can deploy a suitable testbed for their MapReduce experiments on local resources of their institution. Testing cases were performed in order to evaluate the required time for the whole executing process on a real cluster

Assessment, Design and Implementation of a Private Cloud for MapReduce Applications

Scientific computation and data intensive analyses are ever more frequent. On the one hand, the MapReduce programming model has gained a lot of attention for its applicability in large parallel data analyses and Big Data applications. On the other hand, Cloud computing seems to be increasingly attractive in solving these computing problems that demand a lot of resources. This paper explores the potential symbiosis between MapReduce and Cloud Computing, in order to create a robust and scalable environment to execute MapReduce workflows regardless of the underlaying infrastructure. The main goal of this work is to provide an easy-to-install interface, so as non-expert scientists can deploy a suitable testbed for their MapReduce experiments on local resources of their institution. Testing cases were performed in order to evaluate the required time for the whole executing process on a real clusterS

Pancreatic echinococcosis in a 5-year-old girl

Pancreatic echinococcosis accounts for 0.2–0.6% of cases, with the pediatric population being at a higher risk. Most commonly, pancreatic lesions occur in the head of the pancreas (50–58%); and in the body and tail in 24–34% and 19% of cases, respectively. Given the potential complications, surgery is usually performed. Albendazole is recommended before and after the surgery due to the risks for rupture and dissemination of protoscolices. Here we describe the case of a 5-year-old girl with progressive abdominal pain and cystic lesion in the pancreas compatible with echinococcosis in the ultrasound. The computed tomography showed bile duct compression. Indirect hemagglutination was negative. She had elevated total bilirubin, with a clear predominance of direct bilirubin, and high liver enzymes. Exploratory laparotomy, cholecystectomy, and unroofing of the cyst were performed. The patient had a favorable course and continued with albendazole for 3 months after the surgery.Fil: Moscatelli, Guillermo. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones en Patologías Pediátricas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones en Patologías Pediátricas; ArgentinaFil: Salgueiro, Fabián. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Niños "Ricardo Gutiérrez"; ArgentinaFil: Moroni, Samanta. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones en Patologías Pediátricas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones en Patologías Pediátricas; ArgentinaFil: González, Nicolás. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Niños "Ricardo Gutiérrez"; ArgentinaFil: Lascano, María Fernanda. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones en Patologías Pediátricas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones en Patologías Pediátricas; ArgentinaFil: Altcheh, Jaime Marcelo. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones en Patologías Pediátricas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones en Patologías Pediátricas; Argentin

Flexible high resolution-mass spectrometry approach for screening new psychoactive substances in urban wastewater

The number of new psychoactive substances (NPS) on the recreational drug market has increased rapidly in the last years, creating serious challenges for public health agencies and law enforcement authorities. Epidemiological surveys and forensic analyses to monitor the consumption of these substances face some limitations for investigating their use on a large scale in a shifting market. The aim of this work was to develop a comprehensive and flexible screening approach for assessing the presence of NPS in urban wastewater by liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS). Almost 200 substances were selected as “priority NPS” among those most frequently and recently reported by the Early Warning Systems (EWS) of different agencies and were included in the screening. Wastewater samples were collected from several cities all over Europe in 2016 and 2017, extracted using different solid-phase cartridges and analysed by LC-HRMS. The screening workflow comprised two successive analytical steps and compounds were identified and confirmed following specific criteria from the current guidelines. Thirteen NPS were identified at different confidence levels by using analytical standards or information from libraries and literature, and about half of them were phenethylamines. As far as we know, this is the first time that four of them (i.e. 3,4-dimethoxy-α-pyrrolidinovalerophenone, para-methoxyamphetamine, 2-phenethylamine and α – methyltryptamine) have been found in urban wastewater. The proposed screening approach was successfully applied in the largest NPS European wastewater monitoring, providing an innovative and easily adapted procedure for investigating NPS. In the light of current challenges and specific future research issues, this approach may complement epidemiological information and help in establishing measures for public health protection