Getting the right balance? : A mixed logit analysis of the relationship between UK training doctors' characteristics and their specialties using the 2013 National Training Survey

OBJECTIVE: To analyse how training doctors' demographic and socioeconomic characteristics vary according to the specialty that they are training for. DESIGN: Descriptive statistics and mixed logistic regression analysis of cross-sectional survey data to quantify evidence of systematic relationships between doctors' characteristics and their specialty. SETTING: Doctors in training in the United Kingdom in 2013. PARTICIPANTS: 27 530 doctors in training but not in their foundation year who responded to the National Training Survey 2013. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Mixed logit regression estimates and the corresponding odds ratios (calculated separately for all doctors in training and a subsample comprising those educated in the UK), relating gender, age, ethnicity, place of studies, socioeconomic background and parental education to the probability of training for a particular specialty. RESULTS: Being female and being white British increase the chances of being in general practice with respect to any other specialty, while coming from a better-off socioeconomic background and having parents with tertiary education have the opposite effect. Mixed results are found for age and place of studies. For example, the difference between men and women is greatest for surgical specialties for which a man is 12.121 times more likely to be training to a surgical specialty (relative to general practice) than a woman (p-value<0.01). Doctors who attended an independent school which is proxy for doctor's socioeconomic background are 1.789 and 1.413 times more likely to be training for surgical or medical specialties (relative to general practice) than those who attended a state school (p-value<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: There are systematic and substantial differences between specialties in respect of training doctors' gender, ethnicity, age and socioeconomic background. The persistent underrepresentation in some specialties of women, minority ethnic groups and of those coming from disadvantaged backgrounds will impact on the representativeness of the profession into the future. Further research is needed to understand how the processes of selection and the self-selection of applicants into specialties gives rise to these observed differences

Corporate Governance, Ownership Structures and IT Investments. An Institutional approach.

The research aims to highlight the relationships of traditional and new ownership structures on information technology (IT) investments for firms listed on Iberoamerican stock markets after a global crisis. The study uses a neo-institutional economic framework to show the corporate governance’s changes through institutional logic of ownership structures as well as IT investments growth in Iberoamerica. A literature review considers the relevance of concentrated ownership, top foreign ownership and common ownership of new institutional investors. The research design is a non-experimental longitudinal study with an annual panel data from 2009 to 2015, using 2,156 firm-year observations listed in stock market of Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru (MILA) and Spain (IBEX). The findings show that IT investment growth is negatively affected by concentrated ownerships and top foreign ownership, this last as unexpected situation, while it is positively affected by the new institutional investors. The contribution is to expand this research topic as continuing and permanent discussion of academics on corporate governance closer to IT approach, and vice versa

Astroturismo en Canarias: análisis, propuestas de mejora, situación en el archipiélago y especialmente en la isla de Fuerteventura

El objetivo principal de este trabajo ha sido analizar y estudiar el astroturismo en Canarias y posteriormente en la isla de Fuerteventura desde un contexto general. En primer lugar, se han abordado las primeras definiciones, para posteriormente ahondar en el tema, hablando de las fundaciones que brindan apoyo a la astronomía y por tanto al astroturismo, del catálogo de actividades que se pueden realizar y la contaminación lumínica como principal obstáculo, entre otros aspectos. Para conseguir este objetivo he establecido una serie de pasos a seguir desde la recomendación de varios profesionales de la astronomía y he ido plasmando tal información de forma progresiva.The main objective of this work has been to analyze and study the astrotourism in the Canary Islands and later on the island of Fuerteventura from a general context. First we have addressed the first definitions, and then delve into the subject, talking about the foundations that support astronomy and therefore astrotourism, the catalog of activities that can be performed, light pollution as the main obstacle, among other aspects. In order to achieve this objective, I have established a series of steps to follow from the recommendation of several astronomy professionals and I have been progressively putting such information

Effect of the viscosity ratio on the PLA/PA10.10 bioblends morphology and mechanical properties

PLA bio-blends with a predominantly biosourced PA10.10 in the composition range 10-50wt.% were prepared by melt blending in order to overcome the advanced brittleness of PLA. Due to the inherent immiscibility of the blends, 30 wt.% of PA was needed to achieve a brittle-to-ductile transition and a co-continuous morphology was predicted at 58 wt.% of PA. The initial enhancement of the PLA rheological behaviour through the environmentally friendly reactive extrusion process yielded a finer and more homogeneous microstructure and hence enhanced the mechanical properties of the bio-blends at much lower PA contents. The brittle-to-ductile transition could be achieved with only 10 wt.% and co-continuity was observed already at 44 wt.% of PA. Results indicate the significant potential of modifying PLA flow behaviour as a promising green manufacturing method toward expanding PLA-based bio-blends applications.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

PLA/PA bio-blends: induced morphology by extrusion

The effect of processing conditions on the final morphology of Poly(Lactic Acid) (PLA) with bio-based Polyamide 10.10 (PA) 70/30 blends is analyzed in this paper. Two types of PLA were used: Commercial (neat PLA) and a rheologically modified PLA (PLAREx), with higher melt elasticity produced by reactive extrusion. To evaluate the ability of in situ micro-fibrillation (µf) of PA phase during blend compounding by twin-screw extrusion, two processing parameters were varied: (i) Screw speed rotation (rpm); and (ii) take-up velocity, to induce a hot stretching with different Draw Ratios (DR). The potential ability of PA-µf in both bio-blends was evaluated by the viscosity (p) and elasticity (k’) ratios determined from the rheological tests of pristine polymers. When PLAREx was used, the requirements for PA-µf was fulfilled in the shear rate range observed at the extrusion die. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations revealed that, unlike neat PLA, PLAREx promoted PA-µf without hot stretching and the aspect ratio increased as DR increased. For neat PLA-based blends, PA-µf was promoted during the hot stretching stage. DMTA analysis revealed that the use of PLAREx PLAREx resulted in a better mechanical performance in the rubbery region (T > Tg PLA-phase) due to the PA-µf morphology obtained.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Productivity of the English National Health Service : 2017/18 update

This report updates the Centre for Health Economics’ time-series of National Health Service (NHS) productivity growth for the period 2016/17 to 2017/18. NHS productivity growth is measured by comparing the growth in outputs produced by the NHS to the growth in inputs used to produce them. NHS outputs include all the activities undertaken for NHS patients wherever they are treated in England. It also accounts for changes in the quality of care provided to those patients. NHS inputs include the number of doctors, nurses and support staff providing care, the equipment and clinical supplies used, and the facilities of hospitals and other premises where care is provided

Persistence of discrimination factors, product of sexualorientation: Towards a material guarantee of the right to equality

El presente artículo de investigación se propone analizar el “principio de igualdad y no discriminación” ya no en los libros, si no en la práctica, en los hechos, a efecto de entrar a determinar como a pesar de existir un amplio desarrollo internacional y nacional de los derechos de la población LGTBI, cuando se lleva al campo aplicado, encontramos la persistencia de factores de discriminación implícitos y explícitos, con origen en una orientación sexual diversa. Para ello analizaremos los resultados en la aplicación de una encuesta como herramienta utilizada para la recolección de datos, los cuales se encuentran traducidos en veintiocho gráficos que ilustran los resultados recabados de una muestra de 1446 estudiantes universitarios, divididos en dos segmentos poblacionales en atención a la manifestación de su orientación sexual LGTBI o heterosexual. Con ello buscamos determinar cómo pese a existir un andamiaje jurídico de protección formal y jurídica del principio de igualdad y no discriminación, en el contorno social en el cual nos desarrollamos, se mantiene persistentemente factores de discriminación que atentan contra el principio de la igualdad material. Para ello realizamos un análisis crítico y reflexivo partiendo del conocimiento de la norma internacional y constitucional, para desembocar en el contraste existente entre lo regulado y la realidad, apoyados en el derecho internacional y constitucional, así como en las evidencias obtenidas.This research article proposes to analyze the "principle of equality and non-discrimination” not only in the books, but in practice, in the facts, with the effect of entering to determine how, despite there being a broad international and national development of the rights of the LGTBI population, when it is taken to the applied field, we find the persistence of implicit and explicit discrimination factors, originating in a diverse sexual orientation. With this we seek to determine how despite the existence of a legal scaffolding of formal and legal protection of the principle of equality and non-discrimination, in the social environment in which we develop, persistent factors of discrimination persist that undermine the principle of material equality. To do this, we carry out a critical and reflexive analysis starting from the knowledge of the international and constitutional norm, in order to lead to the contrast existing between the regulated and the reality, supported by evidences obtained.&nbsp