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The aim of this paper is to analyze at what extent the connectivity of small localities is a determinant of their demography. Specifically, we pay attention to three factors: the evolution of the population; the distance, measured both in kilometres and travel time, to the province capital, the usual city where the largest set of services is available; and finally, the coverage of different kinds of broadband services (from ADSL or 3.5 G to the fastest ones FTTH) in rural areas. An econometric model was estimated where the dependent variable captures the increase of inhabitants along 2017–2020 of the 5955 Spanish municipalities with a population between 101 and 10,000 inhabitants (73.3 % of all municipalities). The results point out to the following facts: digital connectivity of small localities is a determinant of their demography, whatever the technology used, but physical distance remains being a significant factor on the population growth (both if it is measured of physical distance or travelling time) to explain the population growth of each locality. • Digital connectivity of small localities is a determinant of their demography. • Internet connections are a new communication channel to promote/deter depopulation in rural areas. • Internet access is positively correlated with population growth in small/medium populations. • The distance to the provincial capital continues to be a factor that slows down population growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we try to analyse the extent to which a redefinition of the monetary policy rule would help to avoid the zero-lower bound, as well as to explore the conditions needed to avoid that constraint. To that aim, we estimate the threshold values of the key variables of the policy rule: the inflation gap and the output gap. The threshold model allows us to know which are the turning points from which the relationship between the key variables and the interest rate revert. In the Eurozone countries, we have found that the inflation gap always contributes to increasing the nominal interest rate. On the contrary, the output gap works differently when it reaches values above or below the threshold value, which would favour the reduction of the interest rates towards the zero level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beach tourism in an important industry in many countries, and in the Mediterranean it supposes an extra pressure on the seawater quality. Concern about this aspect led the European Union to issue a first directive on the quality of bathing water in 1976 and modify it in 2006. This regulation establishes a mandatory control, in all European Union (EU) countries, of the proliferation of bacteria (specifically Intestinal enterococci and Escherichia coli) that can cause serious harm to public health. Meanwhile, the Blue Flag program born in 1987 as an award granted by the Foundation for Environmental Education, to which all municipalities that so wish can voluntarily participate, aimed to publicly value beaches. This award adds to the beaches that receive it a commitment to superior water quality, among other requirements, to that required by the European Union which attracts tourists. The aim of this paper is to obtain empirical evidence of beaches awarded with a Blue Flag (BF) have cleaner waters than those ones that have not in the three main tourist destinations in the Mediterranean that represents circa 5000 coastal monitoring points: Spain, France and Italy. The results point out that the BF areas have significantly cleaner waters than the monitoring points that are not in these areas. • Beyond the services that coastal locations may offer the water quality emerges as a key element •The beaches with ecological eco-labels, such as the Blue Flag, are highly committed to improving beach water quality. •In the European Western Mediterranean Basin, Blue Flag beaches have significantly cleaner waters than those that are not. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many papers related to this topic can be found in the bibliography; however, just a modest percentage of the introduced techniques are developed to a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) sufficiently high to be implementable in industrial applications. This paper is focused precisely on the review of this specific topic. The investigation on the state of the art has been carried out as a systematic review, a very rigorous and reliable standardised scientific methodology, and tries to collect the articles which are closer to a possible implementation. This selection has been carefully done with the definition of a series of rules, drawn to represent the adequate level of readiness of fault detection techniques which the various articles propose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

El artículo ofrece información sobre los atributos necesarios para el emprendedor interno además del sponsor del emprendedor. Se incluye información sobre la importancia de los rasgos personales como la integridad y las habilidades políticas, la experiencia requerida en los negocios y los riesgos involucrados en el puesto. Se discurre también sobre el papel del sponsor en actuar como un mentor, apoyar al emprendedor y asegurar la integridad del proyecto.

El artículo esboza los elementos de ser un emprendedor y el papel de la innovación en la fundación de las empresas. Se examina la idea que las emprendedores reconocen que la oportunidad no existe sino se crea, así como la idea que se necesita la suerte o la inteligencia extrema para empezar una empresa, lo cual el autor describe como una creencia falsa.

Research on sex differences in empathy has revealed mixed findings. Whereas experimental and neuropsychological measures show no consistent sex effect, self-report data consistently indicates greater empathy in women. However, available results mainly come from separate populations with relatively small samples, which may inflate effect sizes and hinder comparability between both empirical corpora. To elucidate the issue, we conducted two large-scale studies. First, we examined whether sex differences emerge in a large population-based sample (n = 10,802) when empathy is measured with an experimental empathy-for-pain paradigm. Moreover, we investigated the relationship between empathy and moral judgment. In the second study, a subsample (n = 334) completed a self-report empathy questionnaire. Results showed some sex differences in the experimental paradigm, but with minuscule effect sizes. Conversely, women did portray themselves as more empathic through self-reports. In addition, utilitarian responses to moral dilemmas were less frequent in women, although these differences also had small effect sizes. These findings suggest that sex differences in empathy are highly driven by the assessment measure. In particular, self-reports may induce biases leading individuals to assume gender-role stereotypes. Awareness of the role of measurement instruments in this field may hone our understanding of the links between empathy, sex differences, and gender roles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) has been employed to carry out the determination of both major anions and cations in water samples. The anion quantification has been performed by means of a new automatic accessory. In this device chloride has been determined by continuously adding a silver nitrate solution. As a result solid silver chloride particles are formed and retained on a nylon filter inserted in the line. The emission intensity is read at a silver characteristic wavelength. By plotting the drop in silver signal versus the chloride concentration, a straight line is obtained. As regards bicarbonate, this anion has been on-line transformed into carbon dioxide with the help of a 2.0 mol L−1nitric acid stream. Carbon signal is linearly related with bicarbonate concentration. Finally, information about sulfate concentration has been achieved by means of the measurement of sulfur emission intensity. All the steps have been simultaneously and automatically performed. With this setup detection limits have been 1.0, 0.4 and 0.09 mg L−1for chloride, bicarbonate and sulfate, respectively. Furthermore, it affords good precision with RSD below 6 %. Cation (Ca, Mg, Na and K) concentration, in turn, has been obtained by simultaneously reading the emission intensity at characteristic wavelengths. The obtained limits of detection have been 8 × 10−3, 2 × 10−3, 8 × 10−4and 10−2 mg L−1for sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium, respectively. As regards sample throughput, about 30  samples h−1can be analysed. Validation results have revealed that the obtained concentrations for these anions are not significantly different as compared to the data provided by conventional methods. Finally, by considering the data for anions and cations, precise ion balances have been obtained for well and mineral water samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To estimate the influence of clinical and demographical information in the understanding of cataract surgery informed consent, identifying less understandable areas. To assess informed consent document concept. Methods: Multiple-choice questionnaire was designed to collect information and to evaluate the understanding of cataract surgery and informed consent. An ordinary regression model was adjusted to express the effect of clinical and demographic variables to the questionnaire score. Results: The study comprised 180 patients. Sex (female, p=0.404), non-ophthalmologist source of information (p=0.397), previous surgical history (p=0.571), not having a companion (p=0.396) nor the days since the signing of informed consent form (p=0.535) had no influence in the understanding of cataract surgery informed consent. Age (r=-0.083, p<0.001) and educational level (secondary studies r=1.845, p<0.001; tertiary studies r=4.289, p<0.001) showed statistical significance with greater strength of association educational level (OR secondary studies = 6.33, OR tertiary studies = 72.86) than age had (OR = 0.92). Conclusion: Patient's knowledge about cataract informed consent is influenced by age and educational level. The purpose and the risks, consequences of not performing surgery and postoperative indications are the least understood topics. Informed consent is seen as a forced legal obligation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, Brushless DC (BLDC) motors have been gaining popularity as a solution for providing mechanical power, starting from low cost mobility solutions like the electric bikes, to high performance and high reliability aeronautical Electro-Mechanical Actuator (EMA). In this framework, the availability of fault detection tools suited to these types of machines appears necessary. There is already a vast literature on this topic, but only a small percentage of the proposed techniques have been developed to a sufficiently high Technology Readiness Level (TRL) to be implementable in industrial applications. The investigation on the state of the art carried out during the first phase of the present work, tried to collect the techniques which are closest to possible implementation. To fill a gap identified in the current techniques, a partial demagnetisation detection method is proposed in this paper. This technique takes advantage of the asymmetries generated in the current by the missing magnetic flux to detect the failure. Simulations and laboratory experiments have been carried out to validate the idea, showing the potential and the easy implementation of the method. The results have been examined in detail and satisfactory conclusions have been drawn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Until now, air navigation systems have mainly relied on global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) on the worldwide spread global positioning system. However, the so-called GNSS-denied environments open a new research line which pursues the development of alternative technologies which will cover this gap in positioning systems’ services.Design/methodology/approach This paper presents the possibility of using positioning systems based on global system for mobile communications (GSM) signal. This approach developed in a standalone device will provide real-time information. The presented algorithm pursues a new methodology for providing useful information.Findings Among all the different technologies aimed at giving a navigation solution in the absence of any kind of GNSS in which this paper is based, it advocates for the use of the signals of opportunity, particularly the usage of GSM.Practical implications Technology is currently immersed in an era of continuous progress and expansion of navigation systems. These are evolving toward high performance systems, offering precise, efficient and safe air navigation. In addition, the growing demand for unmanned aerial vehicles increases the level of exigency on this activity even more. Therefore, in the context of the development of unmanned navigation technologies, the aim is to implement positioning systems that will allow high precision even in though environments.Originality/value Referencing the SIMless concept, a SIM-free system is described in this paper. The SIM-free system is supported by open data bases and permits the positioning based on the information sniffed from the signals broadcast by a set of several nearby base station of the GSM network. Hence, it provides same and in some cases even better accuracies than the already developed techniques, not being necessary to synchronize the link between the mobile terminal and the base station transceiver (BTS). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. Determine the frequency of assaults on health workers and characterize aspects that deepen understanding and development of prevention strategies. Methods. A voluntary and confidential electronic survey was conducted through the IntraMed website, a social network of health professionals. Frequency of verbal and physical assaults was analyzed along with their association with demographic variables, occupation, career, specialty, potential consequences, perception of insecurity in the workplace, and proposals to reduce them. Results. A total of 19 967 surveys were analyzed, of which 13 323 (66.7%) described assaults. Assaults were physical in 11.3% of cases, and 73.4% occurred in public institutions, mainly in emergency areas. Delay in care and lack of resources were the most frequent triggers. Alcohol or drug intoxication was reported in 13.8% of aggressors, altered mental status from another cause or psychiatric illness in 13.9%, and no detected impairment of mental faculties in 63%. Of professionals attacked, 16.9% reported sequelae, 7.9% of which were physical, and 28% were temporarily unable to work. Insecurity in the workplace was described by 46.6% of respondents, who suggested various measures to reduce it, chief among them, community education Conclusions. Verbal and physical violence toward health workers was frequent, resulting in work-related, mental, and even physical sequelae. This study contributes information that could be used to develop strategies aimed at prevention and control of assaults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DC-DC isolated converters allowing a bidirectional flow of energy between High-Voltage DC and Low-Voltage DC networks have been proposed to be integrated in future on board power distribution systems. These converters must meet the specially stringent efficiency and power density requirements that are typical of the aeronautic industry. This makes it specially challenging to determine which converter topology is best suited for each particular application. This work presents a thorough review of several topologies of bidirectional DC-DC power converters that are considered good candidates to meet certain important aeronautic requirements, as those related with high efficiency and high power density. We perform simulations on virtual prototypes, constructed by using detailed component models, and optimized following design criteria that are in accordance with those typically imposed by aeronautic requirements. This comparative analysis is aimed to clearly identify the advantages and drawbacks of each topology, and to relate them with the required voltage and power levels. As an outcome, we point out the topologies that, for the required power level at the chosen switching frequencies, yield higher efficiency in the whole range of required operation points and that are expected to allow more important weight reductions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]