5,511 research outputs found

    Indirect ELISA for Detection of Fascioliasis IgG Antibodies in Human Sera

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    Currently, coprological examination based on egg detection in stool samples is used as the most ideal standard for the diagnosis of human fascioliasis. However, this method has been proven not to be adequate when being employed in the acute phase of the disease, and presents a poor sensitivity during the chronic phase. Serodiagnosis has become an excellent alternative to coprological examination in efforts to combat the effects of fascioliasis on human and animal health. Human fascioliasis is usually recognized as an infection of the bile ducts and liver caused by Fasciola hepatica, known to affect over 2 million humans. In this research, Indirect Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) was performed to discern between positive and negative IgG antibody titers in sera in collaboration with a lab in Peru. A batch of approximately 325 samples of human sera of endemic Fasciola hepatica from regions in Peru was gathered and sent to the laboratory in order to be examined with the method explained in the following paragraph. In the search for a test for the diagnosis of fascioliasis on humans, indirect ELISA started to be employed in order to determine positive and negative values. In the indirect ELISA test, the sample antibody is sandwiched between the antigen coated on the plate and an enzyme-labeled, anti-species globulin conjugate. The addition of an enzyme substrate-chromogen reagent causes color to develop. This color is directly proportional to the amount of bound sample antibody. The more antibody present in the sample, the stronger the color development in the test wells. Positive samples presented a very strong optical density value, while negative samples were clear or low optical density value, measured with the aid of a spectrophotometer

    ¿Camuflaje o transformación? Estrategia profesional de las mujeres en carreras tecnológicas altamente masculinizadas

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    La escasa presencia de mujeres en los estudios y en las carreras tecnológicas y de ingeniería ha generado un volumen importante de trabajos teóricos, así como de investigaciones empíricas, que han tratado esta temática. Las políticas de atracción de talento femenino han incidido positivamente en la presencia de mujeres en dichas àreas, pero aún sigue siendo minoritaria. El presente artículo aborda el problema desde otra perspectiva, examinando la cultura del mérito y el sistema de progresión en estas carreras profesionales. La metodología adoptada es un estudio de caso sobre una escuela de ingeniería de una universidad española. Se analizan los discursos de los profesores teniendo en cuenta el clima diferente en cada departamento (entre otros factores, mayor o menor feminización). Los resultados indican que los cambios que se han producido en los últimos años han sido causados más por factores externos y estructurales, que por la transformación de la cultura masculinizada de las carreras tecnológicas y de ingenierías. Otro resultado que se obtiene es que, tras el discurso del mérito, aún se siguen justificando el statu quo y la exclusión social de las mujeres.L'escassa presència de dones en els estudis i en les carreres tecnològiques i d'enginyeria ha generat un important nombre de treballs teòrics, així com d'investigacions empíriques, que han tractat aquesta temàtica. Les polítiques d'atracció de talent femení han incidit positivament en la presència de dones en aquestes àrees, però encara continua sent minoritària. El present article aborda el problema des d'una altra perspectiva, examinant la cultura del mèrit i el sistema de progressió en aquestes carreres professionals. La metodologia adoptada és un estudi de cas sobre una escola d'enginyeria d'una universitat espanyola. S'hi analitzen els discursos dels professors tenint en compte el clima diferent en cada departament (entre altres factors, més o menys feminització). Els resultats indiquen que els canvis que s'hi han produït en els darrers anys han estat causats més per factors externs i estructurals, que no pas per la transformació de la cultura masculinitzada de les tecnologies i les enginyeries. Un altre resultat és que, tot i el discurs del mèrit, encara se segueixen justificant l'statu quo i l'exclusió social de les dones.The lack of women in technology and engineering studies and careers has yielded a high number of theoretical and empirical studies. Policies to attract female talent have had a positive influence, but women are still a minority in these areas. This paper addresses the question from other perspectives, exploring the culture of merit and the system of progression in these careers. The methodology is a case study in an engineering school at a Spanish university. The discourse of the teacher is analysed taking into account the different cultural climates that exist in different departments (among other factors, their being more or less feminised). The results indicate that the changes over recent years have been caused by external and structural factors rather than the transformation of the male culture in technology and engineering careers. Another result indicates that behind the official meritocracy lies a justification for the status quo and the consequent social exclusion of women

    Women in Scientific Careers Unleashing the Potential

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    Razones para emigrar y retornar. Trayectorias internacionales del personal directivo y emprendedor de industrias innovadoras en España

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    El presente trabajo analiza la experiencia migratoria de personas directivas y empresarias en sectores innovadores. El objetivo consiste, en primer lugar, en identificar los factores explicativos de la movilidad internacional del personal altamente cualificado. En segundo lugar, se analiza la influencia que tiene la movilidad internacional en las carreras profesionales del personal altamente cualificado. Este análisis será abordado desde una perspectiva de género, es decir, comparando las diferencias existentes entre hombres y mujeres en sus estrategias de movilidad y de desarrollo profesional. La metodología está basada en entrevistas realizadas a directivas y directivos y empresarias y empresarios nacionales y extranjeros con una experiencia internacional significativa en cuanto a su duración y a las funciones cumplidas. Los resultados demuestran que las razones de ida están relacionadas con motivaciones de mejora formativa, aunque con un propósito muy determinado hacia la internacionalización de su perfil profesional. Una vez completado este ciclo, la mayoría decide volver por razones personales y/o profesionales. El análisis de género refleja la agencia de las mujeres en las estrategias de movilidad, pero también que los factores familiares tienen mayor peso que entre los hombres.This work analyses the migration experience of managers and entrepreneurs involved in innovation sectors. The first objective is to identify explanatory factors of the international mobility of highly skilled personnel, while the second is to analyse the influence of international mobility in the professional careers of these individuals. The analysis is conducted from a gender perspective in which the differences between men and women's mobility strategies and professional development are compared. The methodology is based on interviews carried out among national and international managers and entrepreneurs with significant international experience in terms of length and functions. The results show that reasons for migrating are related to training, although there is a clear orientation towards the internationalisation of career profiles. Once the cycle is completed, most decide to return for professional and/or personal reasons. The gender analysis reflects the agency of women in mobility strategies, but reveals that women are more influenced than men by family issues

    International mobility of women in science and technology careers: shaping plans for personal and professional purposes

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    International mobility has become a key requirement in science and technology (S&T) professional career progression. On the one hand, the increasing mobility of women suggests that this may be a way for them to avoid or get away from women-unfriendly working environments. On the other hand, international mobility can present problems for women as they, particularly, have to plan their lives around their professional goals and personal lives. This article addresses the international mobility strategies of women regarding their personal and professional choices. We analyse their motivations to move, the way they manage their lives abroad and the effects of mobility on their lives. The analysis is based on 24 in-depth interviews of highly skilled women working in Spanish S&T sectors. Our main findings show that mobility is a new challenge which may improve women's family lives and professional careers. However, they have to plan carefully their lives on a long-term as well as a daily basis. In this sense, they need strong personal determination and the ability to balance their professional and personal goals. Moreover, their personal decisions depend not only on them as individuals, but also on their partners and families, on wider social values, on the institutional support they enjoy, and on the general public policies which they are affected by

    Beyond the work-life balance: family and international mobility of the highly skilled

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    International mobility of the highly skilled has become one of the cornerstones of development in the current knowledge society. Correspondingly, highly skilled personnel are impelled to move abroad in order to improve their competences and build influential professional networks. Mobility implies some advantages involving personal, social and family opportunities when movers experience handicaps in their country of origin. For movers, mobility becomes a new challenge beyond the work-family balance, particularly for women who usually take on the lion's share of childcare and domestic tasks within the family. The literature exploring the gender dimension in relation to international mobility points to complex outcomes. Firstly, women are taking on a more active role in international mobility processes, even when they have family. Secondly, family and international mobility are interrelated both for men and for women, although family could become a hindrance, particularly for women. Thirdly, international mobility and women's career development may interfere with family formation or modify traditional family values. Finally, families moving abroad constitute a challenge for public policy, since they present a new area of problems. We aim to analyse the relationship between international mobility and family based on in-depth interviews from a purposive sample of highly skilled personnel in science and technology. The results of our research suggest that international mobility of the highly skilled has effects on the family and vice versa; however, while international mobility and family are compatible, measures and policies to reconcile them are still insufficient

    Validation and Adaptation of the Prosocial and Antisocial Behavior in Sport Scale to the Spanish context of Physical Education

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    Physical education (PE), by its own characteristics, is a subject where social communication is especially promoted. However, it is necessary to have tools that evaluate the social behaviour of students during PE classes. For this reason, we propose to validate and adapt the Prosocial and Antisocial Behavior in Sport Scale to the Spanish context of PE classes. The study involved 1081 students aged 12 to 18 (M = 14.83; SD = 1.27). The psychometric properties of the Prosocial Behavior Scale were analyzed through several statistical analyses. The results of the confirmatory factorial analysis and the exploratory factorial analysis supported the internal structure of the questionnaire. In addition, the scale was invariant to gender. Cronbach’s alpha values were higher than 0.70 in the factors and sub-factors, finally showing adequate levels of temporal stability. Taking into account the results achieved in the present study, PE teachers have an effective tool to assess the social and antisocial behaviour of their students’ students during PE classes

    Provenance does matter: links between winter trophic segregation and the migratory origins of European robins

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    Amongst migratory species, it is common to find individuals from different populations or geographical origins sharing staging or wintering areas. Given their differing life histories, ecological theory would predict that the different groups of individuals should exhibit some level of niche segregation. This has rarely been investigated because of the difficulty in assigning migrating individuals to breeding areas. Here, we start by documenting a broad geographical gradient of hydrogen isotopes (δ2H) in robin Erithacus rubecula feathers across Europe. We then use δ2H, as well as wing-tip shape, as surrogates for broad migratory origin of birds wintering in Iberia, to investigate the ecological segregation of populations. Wintering robins of different sexes, ages and body sizes are known to segregate between habitats in Iberia. This has been attributed to the despotic exclusion of inferior competitors from the best patches by dominant individuals. We find no segregation between habitats in relation to δ2H in feathers, or to wing-tip shape, which suggests that no major asymmetries in competitive ability exist between migrant robins of different origins. Trophic level (inferred from nitrogen isotopes in blood) correlated both with δ2H in feathers and with wing-tip shape, showing that individuals from different geographic origins display a degree of ecological segregation in shared winter quarters. Isotopic mixing models indicate that wintering birds originating from more northerly populations consume more invertebrates. Our multi-scale study suggests that trophic-niche segregation may result from specializations (arising in the population-specific breeding areas) that are transported by the migrants into the shared wintering grounds
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