An index of political support for decentralization: the Spanish case.

This paper presents a method to make measurable what was not: the discourses of politicians regarding decentralization. For this purpose, we develop a “matrix of arguments” and a set of indexes, and apply them to provide a snapshot of the politicians’ views on the “General Law of Budgetary Stability”, a landmark for the process of decentralization in Spain.political party, matrix of decentralization, arguments, index of decentralization.

Variation in body size and metamorphic traits of Iberian spadefoot toads over a short geographic distance

Determinants of geographic variation in body size are often poorly understood, especially in organisms with complex life cycles. We examined patterns of adult body size and metamorphic traits variation in Iberian spadefoot toad (Pelobates cultripes) populations, which exhibit an extreme reduction in adult body size, 71.6% reduction in body mass, within just about 30 km at south-western Spain. We hypothesized that size at and time to metamorphosis would be predictive of the spatial pattern observed in adult body size. Larvae from eight populations were raised in a common garden experiment at two different larval densities that allow to differentiate whether population divergence was genetically based or was simply a reflection of environmental variation and, in addition, whether this population divergence was modulated by differing crowding larval environments. Larger adult size populations had higher larval growth rates, attaining larger sizes at metamorphosis, and exhibited higher survival than smaller-sized populations at both densities, although accentuated at a low larval density. These population differences appeared to be consistent once embryo size variation was controlled for, suggesting that this phenotypic divergence is not due to maternal effects. Our results suggest considerable genetic differentiation in metamorphic traits that parallels and may be a causal determinant of geographic variation in adult body size. © 2008 The Authors.Peer Reviewe

Satisfacción laboral y su relación con variables socio demográficas y laborales y con parámetros de riesgo cardiovascular en trabajadores de Baleares

Se realiza un estudio transversal en 1016 trabajadores de Baleares de distintos sectores de actividad. Se analizan variables socio demográficas, laborales y de riesgo cardiovascular y se valora su relación con satisfacción laboral empleando análisis univariante y multivariante. Observamos que se relacionan directamente con el nivel de estudios e inversamente con la estabilidad laboral. No se han encontrado relaciones entre satisfacción laboral y los parámetros de salud estudiados. En base a los resultados, consideramos que la medicina del trabajo podría tener un papel fundamental en la prevención de factores psicosociales con la ayuda de programas de promoción de la salud encaminados a mejorar la satisfacción laboral.We performed a cross-sectional study in 1016 balearic workers from different sociodemographic sectors. Occupational and cardiovascular risk variables and its relationship with job satisfaction were analyzed, using univariate and multivariate analysis. We observed a direct relationship of our findings with the educational level and an inverse relationship with job stability. No relationships were found between job satisfaction and health parameters. Based on the results, we believe that occupational medicine could have a role in the prevention of psychosocial factors with the help of programs of health promotion aimed at improving job satisfaction

Differential morphology and jumping performance of newly metamorphosed frogs of the hybridogenetic Rana esculenta complex

Closely related clonal and sexual populations may coexist in spite of the theorized lower potential for the evolution of clonal genotypes. Water frogs of the Rana esculenta complex have hemiclonal inheritance but most populations coexist with one of the recombinant parental species. We examine whether hemiclonal lineages may counterbalance their limitations of genetic variability by the adoption of one or more non-exclusive mechanisms: the general-purpose genotype or the frozen niche-variation model. Three coexisting hemiclones of the hybrid R. esculenta (GUT1, GUT2, GUT3) and both parental species (syntopic R. lessonae and allopatric R. ridibunda) were raised at two larval densities to examine morphological traits affecting jumping performance at the time of metamorphosis and size-independent jumping ability tested at three temperatures. Hind leg length and body mass at metamorphosis, traits that explain most of the variance in jumping performance, differed across hemiclones of R. esculenta. Metamorphs of hemiclone GUT1 had the longest hindlimbs and were bigger than metamorphs of the other hemiclones at low larval density but not at high density. Size adjusted jumping performance exhibited a significant genotype by larval density interaction. Metamorphs of GUT1 showed maximal jumping performance when raised at low larval density but at high density metamorphs of GUT2 were the best jumpers. In addition, within particular traits, differences were found between hemiclones across densities. These results appear to be consistent with both frozen niche-variation model and the general-purpose genotype model. Comparison with parental species revealed syntopic R. lessonae was smaller than hemiclones at metamorphosis but conversely exhibited better size-adjusted jumping performance when raised at low larval density. Temperature affected size-adjusted jumping performance only for frogs raised at low larval density but not for those raised at high larval densities. There was no significant temperature by hemiclone interaction.Peer Reviewe

Convergencia real en Europa Central y del Este: un análisis del período 1950-2008

This article examines the real convergence hypothesis for the period 1950-2008 in some Central and Eastern European countries using time series techniques and allowing for structural breaks. We find convergence within the countries when applying unit root tests on per capita GNP differences, but not when per capita GNP differences are defined with respect to Germany, the point of reference for the EU. However, when we allow for the existence of structural breaks in the convergence process, we find evidence of some countries (Albania, Bulgaria, former Czechoslovakia) catching-up with the German economy since the nineties. This suggests that the changes taking place since then in those countries have had a positive impact on convergence.Este trabajo contrasta la hipótesis de convergencia en PIB per capita durante el período 1950-2008 para una muestra de países de Europa Central y del Este, utilizando técnicas de series temporales. La aplicación de los contrastes de raíces unitarias indica que ha habido convergencia real entre los países de la región, aunque no cuando definimos la convergencia respecto a Alemania, país de referencia de la Unión Europea. Sin embargo, cuando permitimos la existencia de cambios estructurales, se observa un proceso de acercamiento de algunos países (Albania, Bulgaria y la antigua Checoslovaquia) respecto a Alemania desde los años 90, sugiriendo que los cambios ocurridos en estos países desde esa década han afectado positivamente a la convergencia

Transparencia, Responsabilidad Social y Gobierno Corporativo: el Capital Humano de las empresas

[EN] Companies develop their activity in an environment characterized by knowledge-based economies, with qualified and highly skilled workers. Human Capital is one of the most important intangible resources that companies have to generate sustainable wealth. The main objective of this paper is to analyse the Human Capital information provided by companies in the field of Corporate Social Responsibility and Corporate Governance. Using the methodology of content analysis, this paper analyses the Human Capital disclosure contained in social responsibility reports of Spanish companies belonging to the IBEX 35. In addition, it identifies factors related to Corporate Governance (characteristics of the Board of Directors, and ownership structure of companies) with greatest impact on information provision. Balanced panel data are used to test our hypotheses. Empirical evidence shows a quadratic U-shaped relationship among the size of the board, independence, and the ownership concentration with Human Capital disclosure; and an inverted U-shaped relationship between managers’ ownership of shares and Human Capital disclosure. In addition, it has been found that companies with greater gender diversity on their Board, as well as with greater board activity, tend to disclose more information related to Human Capital.[ES] Las empresas desarrollan su actividad en un entorno caracterizado por economías basadas en el conocimiento, con mano de obra competente y altamente cualificada. El Capital Humano es uno de los recursos de naturaleza intangible más importantes que poseen las empresas para generar riqueza de manera sostenible. El principal objetivo de este trabajo es analizar la información del Capital Humano suministrada por las empresas dentro del ámbito de la Responsabilidad Social Empresarial y del Gobierno Corporativo. Mediante la metodología del análisis de contenido, se analiza la información relativa al Capital Humano contenida en las memorias de responsabilidad social de las empresas españolas pertenecientes al IBEX 35. Además, se determinan aquellos factores relativos al Gobierno Corporativo (características del Consejo de Administración y estructura de la propiedad de la empresa) que mayor incidencia tienen en el suministro de información. Se emplea un panel de datos balanceado para testar nuestras hipótesis. La evidencia empírica obtenida muestra una relación cuadrática en forma de “U” entre el tamaño del consejo, la independencia y la concentración accionarial con la revelación de Capital Humano; y una relación en forma de “U” invertida entre el control accionarial de gestores y la información de Capital Humano. Además, se ha encontrado que aquellas empresas con mayor diversidad de género entre sus consejeros, así como con una mayor actividad del consejo, tienden a revelar más información relativa al Capital Humano.This study was conducted at the Research Centre in Political Science (UID/CPO/00758/2013), University of Minho, and was funded by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, and by the Portuguese Ministry of Education and Science through national funds

Influencia del medio ambiente laboral en los valores de diferentes parámetros relacionados con el riesgo cardiovascular

Introducción: El efecto de los contaminantes medioambientales sobre la salud es conocido desde hace mucho tiempo, tanto a nivel pulmonar como cardiovascular. En este trabajo se intenta valorar la relación entre ambientes laborales potencialmente tóxicos y el riesgo de padecer alguna enfermedad cardiovascular en un periodo determinado. Material y métodos: Se estudian 3000 personas que trabajan en ambientes laborales potencialmente nocivos para la salud o no. Los parámetros de riesgo cardiovascular analizados son: índices aterogénicos (colesterol total/HDL y LDL/HDL), riesgo cardiovascular mediante los modelos REGICOR, DORICA y SCORE, edad del corazón, síndrome metabólico según los modelos ATPIII modificado e IDF y riesgo de diabetes tipo 2 mediante el modelo Qdscore. Resultados: Las personas que trabajan en ambientes laborales potencialmente tóxicos presentan valores de riesgo cardiovascular superiores en casi todos los parámetros analizados. Discusión: Según estos resultados se deberían plantear actividades de promoción de la salud cardiovascular, principalmente en el colectivo de trabajadores del sector industrial.Introduction: The effect of environmental pollutants on health has been known for a long time, both lungs and cardiovascular. This paper attempts to assess the relationship between potentially toxic work environments and the risk of cardiovascular disease in a given period. Material and methods: 3000 people were studied who work in potentially hazardous work environments in health or not. The cardiovascular risk parameters analyzed are: atherogenic index (total / HDL cholesterol and LDL/HDL), cardiovascular risk through REGICOR, DORICA and SCORE models, age of the heart, metabolic syndrome according to ATPIII and IDF the modified models and risk of diabetes type 2 by Qdscore model. Results: People who work in potentially toxic work environments have higher values for cardiovascular risk in almost all analyzed parameters. Discussion: According to these results, promotion activities should be raised about cardiovascular health, mainly in the group of workers in the industrial sector