Suchergebnisse

This paper aims to explore the valuable role of Sinclair Lewis as a writer in American literature, and to study the way in which he used totalitarian regimes as inspiration for his dystopian depiction of a fascist government in the United States in It Can't Happen Here. It delves into the connections between this novel and the Nazi dictatorship in Germany, and also into how it can serve as a predictor of the most recent approaches to politics that have been developed in America by such politicians as Donald Trump.

AbstractWhile a vast amount of literature demonstrates the importance of having a board of directors (BoD) for positive firm outcomes, our empirical study based on a wide sample of family firms suggests this is not always the case, and that its impact on firm resilience is contingent on family social capital (FSC). When FSC is high, family members focus on internal governance and frequently reduce the BoD to a symbolic role. Thus, a BoD represents a cost rather than a benefit. In contrast, a BoD is very effective when a firm is poor in FSC and the family firm most resembles a non‐family firm. Consequently, the question is not whether to have a BoD but in which case it can benefit the family firm. Our analysis concludes that family members' involvement in the BoD per se does not enhance a firms' resilience as they have other informal mechanisms that play a similar role. However, executive and independent directors as key board members lead us to conclude that, together with the FSC, the composition of the board affects family firm resilience.

En España existe una amplia oferta de empresas proveedoras de Internet (ISP). Con este panorama resulta extremadamente difícil para los clientes elegir el proveedor. Por tanto, este trabajo trata de analizar los factores que contribuyen a la elección de proveedor de servicios de Internet por parte de los clientes. Para ello, se ha utilizado una muestra de jóvenes universitarios a los que se han analizado sus preferencias. Los jóvenes universitarios generalmente constituyen un grupo representativo de las tendencias en este sector. Además, para analizar el comportamiento de los clientes se utiliza por primera vez el análisis conjunto. Nuestros resultados muestran que el precio y la posibilidad de obtener un terminal móvil son los dos atributos más valorados. Por el contrario, otros atributos como la permanencia o el número de megas no son muy tenidos en cuenta por los jóvenes a la hora de seleccionar al proveedor de Internet. Estos resultados proporcionan una información muy valiosa tanto para los usuarios como para las empresas del sector ISP.

This article aims to analyse two major research questions on paddle tennis as a new type of sports tourism. Using data collected through a survey of paddle tennis tourists playing in Islantilla (Spain), motivation and satisfaction characteristics were examined: (1) to identify the socioeconomic characteristics of paddle tennis tourists; (2) to identify reasons why tourists choose paddle tennis tourism, and (3) to measure the satisfaction achieved during the experience. The analysis of paddle tennis tourism enables their behaviour to be determined and information on the profile of this type of tourist to be ascertained, thereby allowing related companies, governments, tourism agents and managers to orientate their strategies in order to achieve considerable economic benefits. ; Este artículo busca analizar dos grandes preguntas de investigación sobre el pádel como un nuevo tipo de deporte turístico. Usando los datos recolectados a través de una encuesta a los turistas de pádel que juegan en Islantilla (España), la motivación y satisfacción fueron las características examinadas. (1) identificar las características socioeconómicas de los turistas de pádel; (2) identificar las razones de porque los turistas escogen el turismo de pádel; y (3) medir el nivel de satisfacción conseguido durante la experiencia. El análisis del turismo de pádel permite determinar su comportamiento y la información sobre el perfil de este tipo de turistas, lo que permite a empresas relacionadas, gobiernos y agencias de turismo orientar sus estrategias con el fin de lograr beneficios económicos considerables.

The present work is framed within the literature on emerging leisure activities. The goals of the present work are: (1) to identify the socio-economic characteristics of paddle tennis tourism; (2) to identify the reasons why tourists choose paddle tennis tourism; (3) to segment the paddle tennis tourism market by means of paddle tennis tourists' motivation, sociodemographic variables and variables related to the event participants; (4) to measure the satisfaction achieved during the experience. The results of this study indicate the existence of four dimensions for the measurement of the motivation of paddle tennis tourists. The results also show the existence of three groups of tourists according to their satisfaction in practising paddle tennis tourism. The analysis of paddle tennis tourism enables their behaviour to be determined and information on the profile of this type of tourist to be ascertained, thereby allowing related companies, governments, tourism agents and managers to orientate their strategies so as to achieve considerable economic benefits.

Electronic trade or e-trade is a resource that is increasingly gaining prevalence worldwide today. Organizations may see this technological resource either as an opportunity or as a threat. The purpose of this research is to determine the level of use of electronic commerce on the part of medium-sized business owners in Palmira, Valle. It is also aimed at determining the advantages, potential, and disadvantages of this trading instrument. This paper provides a review of existing documentation regarding the development of e-trade in the global, Latin American, and Colombian arena. A descriptive quantitative methodology was used and applied to a sample of medium-sized business owners in Palmira. The respondents in this study completed an on-line survey that allowed systemizing answers and showing information regarding business connectivity and the most frequent uses of the internet not only for making their organizations, sales, and potential more dynamic, but also for overcoming their barriers. The survey revealed that, although the companies that participated in the study have hardware resources and connectivity, they do not have specialized e-trade platforms in place, and this is the reason that their on-line sales are so poor. The primary reason for this poor performance is that they are not aware of the potential of this technological resource and have a perception that e-trade is insecure. Consequently, a recommendation is made here for government agencies and economic guilds to disseminate, assist, and train business owners from Palmira for them to make best use of the potential of e-trade for their own benefit. ; está imponiendo en el mundo de hoy. Las organizaciones tienen la posibilidad de ver este recurso tecnológico como oportunidad o como amenaza. Esta investigación trata de establecer la utilización del comercio electrónico por parte de los medianos empresarios de Palmira Colombia, las ventajas o las desventajas que pueden encontrar en este medio de comercialización, como también sus potencialidades. Se estudia la documentación existente sobre el desarrollo que tiene el comercio electrónico en el ámbito mundial, latinoamericano y colombiano. Se adoptó la metodología descriptiva – cuantitativa, aplicada a la población de los medianos empresarios de la ciudad de Palmira, para los cuales se dispuso una encuesta en línea que permitió sistematizar las respuestas y mostrar información relacionada con la conectividad de las empresas, el uso más frecuente que hacen del internet para dinamizar sus organizaciones, ventas, barreras y potencialidades. Se encontró que las empresas objeto de estudio, aunque cuentan con recursos de hardware y de conectividad, no poseen plataformas especializadas de comercio electrónico, razón por la cual sus ventas por internet son ínfimas. Lo principal es que desconocen el potencial de este recurso tecnológico y perciben como inseguro el comercio electrónico. Como recomendación, se propone que el gobierno y los gremios económicos divulguen, apoyen y capaciten a los empresarios palmiranos para que capitalicen todo el potencial del comercio electrónico a su favor.

Electronic trade or e-trade is a resource that is increasingly gaining prevalence worldwide today. Organizations may see this technological resource either as an opportunity or as a threat. The purpose of this research is to determine the level of use of electronic commerce on the part of medium-sized business owners in Palmira, Valle. It is also aimed at determining the advantages, potential, and disadvantages of this trading instrument. This paper provides a review of existing documentation regarding the development of e-trade in the global, Latin American, and Colombian arena. A descriptive quantitative methodology was used and applied to a sample of medium-sized business owners in Palmira. The respondents in this study completed an on-line survey that allowed systemizing answers and showing information regarding business connectivity and the most frequent uses of the internet not only for making their organizations, sales, and potential more dynamic, but also for overcoming their barriers. The survey revealed that, although the companies that participated in the study have hardware resources and connectivity, they do not have specialized e-trade platforms in place, and this is the reason that their on-line sales are so poor. The primary reason for this poor performance is that they are not aware of the potential of this technological resource and have a perception that e-trade is insecure. Consequently, a recommendation is made here for government agencies and economic guilds to disseminate, assist, and train business owners from Palmira for them to make best use of the potential of e-trade for their own benefit. ; está imponiendo en el mundo de hoy. Las organizaciones tienen la posibilidad de ver este recurso tecnológico como oportunidad o como amenaza. Esta investigación trata de establecer la utilización del comercio electrónico por parte de los medianos empresarios de Palmira – Colombia, las ventajas o las desventajas que pueden encontrar en este medio de comercialización, como también sus potencialidades. Se estudia la documentación existente sobre el desarrollo que tiene el comercio electrónico en el ámbito mundial, latinoamericano y colombiano. Se adoptó la metodología descriptiva – cuantitativa, aplicada a la población de los medianos empresarios de la ciudad de Palmira, para los cuales se dispuso una encuesta en línea que permitió sistematizar las respuestas y mostrar información relacionada con la conectividad de las empresas, el uso más frecuente que hacen del internet para dinamizar sus organizaciones, ventas, barreras y potencialidades. Se encontró que las empresas objeto de estudio, aunque cuentan con recursos de hardware y de conectividad, no poseen plataformas especializadas de comercio electrónico, razón por la cual sus ventas por internet son ínfimas. Lo principal es que desconocen el potencial de este recurso tecnológico y perciben como inseguro el comercio electrónico. Como recomendación, se propone que el gobierno y los gremios económicos divulguen, apoyen y capaciten a los empresarios palmiranos para que capitalicen todo el potencial del comercio electrónico a su favor.

This work was partially supported with funds from the FEDER Projects /Ministry for Science and Innovation, ECO2017-89452-R, and PGC2018-095786-B-I00, Spain. ; Introduction: The active commuting can be defined as the action of displacement to the educa-tional or work centre by way of any non-motorised means of transport, usually by walking or cycling. The aim of this study is to identify and evaluate cognitive and environmental factors for the active commuting. Methods: In order to propose a set of beliefs and attitudes that explain the main possible moti-vations for an individual to carry out the active commuting, a model based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour, health and environment is developed. To compute the results, a structural equations model is proposed instead of another standard regression technique, due to the use of multiple indicators for each latent construct. The proposed model permits to evaluate each of the aspects and to quantify their contribution to the global behavioural intention. Results: The computation of the structural equations model concludes that, for the intention to practise active commuting, the most influential variable is attitude, followed by health and environmental awareness. It is interesting to see that perceived behavioural control exerts a negative influence on the intention, while the subjective norm has no significant effect. Conclusions: From the results of this study can be induced that the perceived behavioural control, health, and environmental awareness exert a significant influence on attitude and intention to practice active commuting. Furthermore, the results also show that attitude influences as a pre-cursor to the intention of practicing and permit to rank the relative weight of each aspect: atti-tude, health and environmental awareness. Hence, political measures that publicise the benefits of active commuting in these particular aspects should have significant results in the promotion of this activity. ; Universidad Pablo de Olavide

This research would not have been achieved without the selfless collaboration of the donors who took part in the study. The authors gratefully acknowledge editorial assistance from Richard Davies and the support of the "UNETE research unit" of the Centro de Investigacion Biomedica (University of Granada). This research was funded in part by grants from the European Union Commission (The European Human Biomonitoring Initiative H2020-EJP-HBM4EU), Biomedical Research Networking Center-CIBER de Epidemiologia y Salud Publica (CIBERESP), and the Carlos III Institute of Health (ISCIII) (PI16/01820, PI16/01812, PI16/01858, PI17/01743, and PI17/01526). The authors are also grateful to the ISCIII and the "Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional" (ISCIII/FEDER) for the predoctoral research contract granted to L.M. Iribarne-Duran (FI17/00316), the Sara Borrell postdoctoral research contract granted to F. Vela-Soria (grant no. CD17/00212), the Jose Maria Segovia de Arana contract granted to N. Olea (INT18/00060) and the Miguel Servet Type I Program granted to C. Freire (grant no. MS16/00085). This paper is part of the PhD thesis developed by Laura Serrano in the context of the "Clinical Medicine and Public Health Program" of the University of Granada. The funders had no role in the study design, data collection or analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Funding for open access charge: University of Granada/CBUA. ; Background: Breast milk is considered to offer the best nutrition to infants; however, it may be a source of exposure to environmental chemicals such as perfluoroalkyl compounds (PFAS) for breastfeeding infants. PFAS are a complex group of synthetic chemicals whose high stability has led to their ubiquitous contamination of the environment. Objective: To assess the concentrations and profiles of PFAS in breast milk from donors to a human milk bank and explore factors potentially related to this exposure. Methods: Pooled milk samples were collected from 82 donors to the Human Milk Bank of the Virgen de las Nieves University Hospital (Granada, Spain). Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) was applied to determine milk concentrations of 11 PFAS, including long-chain and short-chain compounds. A questionnaire was used to collect information on donors' socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle, diet, and use of personal care products (PCPs). Factors related to individual and total PFAS concentrations were evaluated by multivariate regression analysis. Results: PFAS were detected in 24–100% of breast milk samples. PFHpA was detected in 100% of samples, followed by PFOA (84%), PFNA (71%), PFHxA (66%), and PFTrDA (62%). Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) was detected in only 34% of donors. The median concentrations ranged from <0.66 ng/dL (perfluorohexane sulfonic acid [PFHxS]) to 19.39 ng/L (PFHpA). The median of the sum of PFAS concentrations was 87.67 ng/L and was higher for short-chain than long-chain PFAS. Factors most frequently associated with increased PFAS concentrations included intake of creatin animal food items and use of PCPs such as skin care and makeup products. Conclusions: Several PFAS, including short-chain compounds, are detected in pooled donor milk samples. Breast milk may be an important pathway for the PFAS exposure of breastfed infants, including preterm infants in NICUs. Despite the reduced sample size, these data suggest that various lifestyle factors influence PFAS concentrations, highlighting the use of PCPs. ; "UNETE research unit" of the Centro de Investigacion Biomedica (University of Granada) ; European Union Commission (The European Human Biomonitoring Initiative H2020-EJP-HBM4EU) ; Biomedical Research Networking Center-CIBER de Epidemiologia y Salud Publica (CIBERESP) ; Instituto de Salud Carlos III PI16/01820 PI16/01812 PI16/01858 PI17/01743 PI17/01526 FI17/00316 CD17/00212 INT18/00060 MS16/00085 ; "Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional" (ISCIII/FEDER) FI17/00316 CD17/00212 INT18/00060 MS16/00085 ; University of Granada/CBUA

Newborns in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) are in contact with a variety of medical products whose production might include synthetic chemicals with hormonal activity. BPA was found in three-fifths and PBs in four-fifths of tested NICU items, and ∼25% and ∼10% of extracts evidenced estrogenic and anti-androgenic activity, respectively. The highest BPA content was found in the three-way stopcock (>7.000 ng/g), followed by patterned transparent film dressing, gastro-duodenal feeding tubes, sterile gloves, single-lumen umbilical catheters, and intravenous (IV) infusion extension sets (concentrations ranged from 100 to 700 ng/g BPA). A total PB concentration (∑PBs) >100 ng/g was observed in several items, including light therapy protection glasses, patterned transparent film dressing, winged IV catheters, IV infusion extension sets, and textile tape. The highest estrogenic activity [>450 pM estradiol equivalent (E2eq)] was found in small dummy nipples, three-way stopcocks, and patterned transparent film dressing and the highest anti-androgenic activity [>5 mM procymidone equivalent units per gram (Proceq/g)] in small dummy nipples and three-way stopcocks. According to these findings, neonates might be exposed to multiple sources of BPA and PBs in NICUs via inhalation, dermal, oral, and IV/parenteral routes. There is a need to address the future health implications for these extremely vulnerable patients and to adopt precautionary preventive measures as a matter of urgency. ; This research was funded in part by grants from the European Union Commission (The European Human Biomonitoring Initiative H2020-EJP-HBM4EU), the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, Institute of Health Carlos III - FEDER (PI16/01820, PI16/01812, PI16/01858, PI17/01743, and PI17/01526), the Andalusia Regional Government (PI-0538-2017), and the Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP). The authors are also grateful to the Carlos III Institute of Health (ISCIII) for the predoctoral research contract (FI17/00316) granted to L.M.I.-D., the postdoctoral research contract granted to C.F. (Miguel Servet-FEDER fund MS16/00085), and the José María Segovia de Arana contract granted to N.O. (INT18/00060).

This paper is part of the PhD thesis developed by L.M.I.-D. in the context of the"Clinical Medicineand Public Health Program"of the University of Granada. ; BACKGROUND:Newborns in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) are in contact with a variety of medical products whose production might includesynthetic chemicals with hormonal activity.OBJECTIVES:Our aim was to assess the content of bisphenol A (BPA) and parabens (PBs) and the hormone-like activities of a subset of medical prod-ucts commonly used in NICUs in prolonged intimate contact with NICU newborns.METHODS:Fifty-two NICU items were analyzed, determining the concentrations of BPA and PBs [methyl- (MeP), ethyl- (EtP), propyl- (PrP), andbutylparaben (BuP)] and using the E-Screen and PALM-luciferase assays to measure thein vitro(anti-)estrogenic and (anti-)androgenic activity,respectively, of the extracts. Items found to have elevated BPA/PB content or hormone-like activities were further extracted using leachingmethodologies.RESULTS:BPA was found in three-fifths and PBs in four-fifths of tested NICU items, and∼25%and∼10%of extracts evidenced estrogenic andanti-androgenic activity, respectively. The highest BPA content was found in the three-way stopcock (>7:000 ng=g), followed by patterned transpar-entfilm dressing, gastro-duodenal feeding tubes, sterile gloves, single-lumen umbilical catheters, and intravenous (IV) infusion extension sets (con-centrations ranged from 100 to 700 ng=g BPA). A total PB concentration (PPBs) >100 ng=g was observed in several items, including light therapyprotection glasses, patterned transparentfilm dressing, winged IV catheters, IV infusion extension sets, and textile tape. The highest estrogenic activ-ity [>450 pM estradiol equivalent (E2eq)] was found in small dummy nipples, three-way stopcocks, and patterned transparentfilm dressing and thehighest anti-androgenic activity [>5 mM procymidone equivalent units per gram (Proceq=g)] in small dummy nipples and three-way stopcocks ; This research was funded in part by grants from the European Union Commission (The European Human Biomonitoring Initiative H2020-EJP-HBM4EU), the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, Institute of Health Carlos III - FEDER (PI16/01820, PI16/01812, PI16/01858, PI17/01743, and PI17/01526), the Andalusia Regional Government (PI-0538-2017), and the Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health(CIBERESP). The authors are also grateful to the Carlos IIIInstitute of Health (ISCIII) for the predoctoral research contract(FI17/00316) granted to L.M.I.-D., the postdoctoral researchcontract granted to C.F. (Miguel Servet-FEDER fund MS16/00085), and the José María Segovia de Arana contract granted to N.O. (INT18/00060).

Capítulos en libros ; ¿A qué nos referimos cuando hablamos de pobreza energética? El concepto de pobreza energética fue creado por la investigadora Brenda Boardman a principios de los años 90 en Reino Unido. A pesar de que es una idea sobre cuya definición no hay unanimidad, se viene utilizando de forma cada vez más generalizada, e indudablemente pone el foco sobre un problema grave, presente en un número amplio de hogares en España, y también en muchos otros países. El problema se ha agravado cuando la crisis económica ha coincidido con subidas en los costes de la energía. La preocupación por los problemas de un gran número de personas para el acceso en condiciones adecuadas a los servicios que requieren el uso de energía, y que actualmente son básicos para la integración de los ciudadanos en la sociedad, se ha puesto de manifiesto por parte de la administración en la Unión Europea, a través de la creación en 2018 de un observatorio de la pobreza energética, EU Energy Poverty Observatory (EPOV). Además, en nuestro país, en 2019 se ha publicado una Estrategia Nacional contra la Pobreza Energética, que centra el trabajo para mitigar este problema. Este capítulo presenta el panorama actual en España sobre la pobreza energética: las claves para entender el problema y su situación actual, los retos que plantea tanto a corto como a largo plazo y algunas propuestas para avanzar en la superación de estos retos. ; What do we mean by energy poverty? The concept of energy poverty was created by researcher Brenda Boardman in the early 1990s in the UK. Although it is an idea, the definition of which is not unanimous, has been used as a basis for more and more generalized way, and undoubtedly puts the focus on the a serious problem, present in a large number of households in Spain, and also in many other countries. The problem has worsened when the economic crisis has coincided with increases in energy costs. Concern for the problems of large numbers of people for access under appropriate conditions to the services they require the use of energy, and which are currently basic for the integration of the citizens in society, it has been demonstrated by the administration in the European Union, through the creation in 2018 of an energy poverty observatory, EU Energy Poverty Observatory (EPOV). In addition, in our country, in 2019 a National Strategy against Energy Poverty has been published, which focuses work on mitigating the effects of climate change. This chapter presents the current scenario of energy poverty in Spain: the keys to understanding the problem and its current situation, the challenges in both the short and the long term and some proposals to make progress in overcoming these challenges. ; info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion