Disentangling diatom species complexes: does morphometry suffice?

[EN] Accurate taxonomic resolution in light microscopy analyses of microalgae is essential to achieve high quality, comparable results in both floristic analyses and biomonitoring studies. A number of closely related diatom taxa have been detected to date co-occurring within benthic diatom assemblages, sharing many morphological, morphometrical and ecological characteristics. In this contribution, we analysed the hypothesis that, where a large sample size (number of individuals) is available, common morphometrical parameters (valve length, width and stria density) are sufficient to achieve a correct identification to the species level. We focused on some common diatom taxa belonging to the genus Gomphonema. More than 400 valves and frustules were photographed in valve view and measured using Fiji software. Several statistical tools (mixture and discriminant analysis, k-means clustering, classification trees, etc.) were explored to test whether mere morphometry, independently of other valve features, leads to correct identifications, when compared to identifications made by experts. In view of the results obtained, morphometry-based determination in diatom taxonomy is discouragedSIThis work was supported by the Spanish Government under the Aqualitas-retos project (grant number CTM2014-51907-C2-2-R-MINECO

Los padres/madres de las Escuelas Deportivas Municipales ante la práctica deportiva de sus hijos/as

Es incuestionable el importante papel que los padres y madres desempeñan en la adquisición de hábitos deportivos. Es en el seno de la vida familiar donde los escolares aprenden a interiorizar un estilo de vida saludable y vinculada a la práctica deportiva. En este sentido, consideramos muy importante conocer, qué actitudes adoptan los padres y madres de los niños que actualmente se inician en el deporte dentro del contexto del Programa de Escuelas Deportivas que desarrolla el Instituto Municipal de Deportes del Ayto. de Sevilla., el papel de los padres en el Deporte en edad escolar. Estudio que se ha llevado a cabo durante el desarrollo del Proyecto de investigación “Escuela de Padres y Madres”. Grupo de investigación E.F., Salud y Deport

Automated Diatom Classification (Part B): A Deep Learning Approach

Diatoms, a kind of algae microorganisms with several species, are quite useful for water quality determination, one of the hottest topics in applied biology nowadays. At the same time, deep learning and convolutional neural networks (CNN) are becoming an extensively used technique for image classification in a variety of problems. This paper approaches diatom classification with this technique, in order to demonstrate whether it is suitable for solving the classification problem. An extensive dataset was specifically collected (80 types, 100 samples/type) for this study. The dataset covers different illumination conditions and it was computationally augmented to more than 160,000 samples. After that, CNNs were applied over datasets pre-processed with different image processing techniques. An overall accuracy of 99% is obtained for the 80-class problem and different kinds of images (brightfield, normalized). Results were compared to previous presented classification techniques with different number of samples. As far as the authors know, this is the first time that CNNs are applied to diatom classification.We acknowledge support by the CSIC Open Access Publication Initiative through its Unit of Information Resources for Research (URICI).The authors acknowledge financial support of the Spanish Government under the Aqualitas-retos project (Ref. CTM2014-51907-C2-2-R-MINECO) http://aqualitas-retos.es/en/

Adaptación al español del cuestionario de Condiciones de Efectividad en el Trabajo (CWEQ-II)

El objetivo de este estudio es adaptar al español el Cuestionario de Condiciones para la Efectividad en el Trabajo (Conditions of Work Effectiveness Questionnaire [CWEQII]) desarrollado por Laschinger, Finegan, Shamian y Wilk (2001). Se llevó a cabo un proceso de traducción y retrotraducción de los ítems que lo componen y se exploraron sus propiedades psicométricas, en una muestra de 346 empleados de una universidad pública española. Se investigó la fiabilidad de la escala y su estructura factorial (análisis factorial confirmatorio) y las relaciones entre el empowerment estructural, el empowerment general y el empowerment psicológico en el trabajo. Los resultados revelaron una estructura multidimensional de cuatro factores (acceso a las oportunidades, a la información, al apoyo y a los recursos) conforme a la escala original, y relaciones positivas entre el empowerment estructural, general y psicológico en el trabajo. Se incluyen interpretaciones y sugerencias para futuros estudios.The objective of this study is to adapt and translate into Spanish the Conditions for Work Effectiveness Questionnaire –CWEQ II- (Laschinger, Finegan, Shamian & Wilk, 2001). A process of translation and reversetranslation was applied to the scale’s items, whose psychometric properties were then examined using a sample of 346 employees from a Spanish public university. Reliability, factor structure (confirmatory factor analysis) of the scale and relationships between structural, general and psychological empowerment are investigated. Results showed a multidimensional scale of four first-order factors (access to opportunities, information, support and resources) as the original one, and positive relations between structural, general and psychological empowerment in the workplace. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed and suggestions to further research are made

Automated Diatom Classification (Part B): A Deep Learning Approach

This article belongs to the Special Issue Automated Analysis and Identification of Phytoplankton Images[EN] Diatoms, a kind of algae microorganisms with several species, are quite useful for water quality determination, one of the hottest topics in applied biology nowadays. At the same time, deep learning and convolutional neural networks (CNN) are becoming an extensively used technique for image classification in a variety of problems. This paper approaches diatom classification with this technique, in order to demonstrate whether it is suitable for solving the classification problem. An extensive dataset was specifically collected (80 types, 100 samples/type) for this study. The dataset covers different illumination conditions and it was computationally augmented to more than 160,000 samples. After that, CNNs were applied over datasets pre-processed with different image processing techniques. An overall accuracy of 99% is obtained for the 80-class problem and different kinds of images (brightfield, normalized). Results were compared to previous presented classification techniques with different number of samples. As far as the authors know, this is the first time that CNNs are applied to diatom classificationSIThe authors acknowledge financial support of the Spanish Government under the Aqualitas-retos project (Ref. CTM2014-51907-C2-2-R-MINECO) http://aqualitas-retos.es/en

Epiphytic Diatom-Based Biomonitoring in Mediterranean Ponds: Traditional Microscopy versus Metabarcoding Approaches

[EN] Benthic diatoms have traditionally been used as bioindicators of aquatic ecosystems. Because diatom-based monitoring of water quality is required by European legislation, molecular-based methods had emerged as useful alternatives to classical methods based on morphological identification using light microscopy. The aim of this study was to test the reliability of DNA metabarcoding combined with High-Throughput Sequencing (HTS) techniques in the bioassessment of the trophic status of 22 Mediterranean shallow ponds in NW Spain. For each pond, the Trophic Diatom Index (TDI) was calculated from inventories obtained by identification using light microscopy (LM) followed by high-throughput sequencing (HTS) at the molecular level. Ponds were subsequently classified into five water quality classes. The results showed a good correspondence between both methods, especially after applying a correction factor that depended on the biovolume of the cells. This correspondence led to the assignment to the same quality class in 59% of the ponds. The determination and quantification of valves or DNA sequences was one of the main pitfalls, which mainly included those related to the variability in the relative abundances of some species. Accordingly, ponds with similar relative abundances for the dominant species were assigned to the same quality class. Moreover, other difficulties leading the discrepancies were the misidentification of some species due to the presence of semi-cryptic taxa, the incompleteness of the reference database and the bioinformatic protocol. Thus, the validation of DNA-based methods for the identification of freshwater diatoms represents an important goal, as an alternative to using traditional methods in Mediterranean shallow pondsSIThis research was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Industry, project CGL2017-84176R (METAPONDS) and Fundación Biodiversidad, Ministerio para la Transición Ecológica y el Reto Demográfico project BT-201

Role stress and work engagement as antecedents of job satisfaction in Spanish workers

Purpose: According to the Job Demands-Resources (JDR) model, engagement and job satisfaction may be produce by two types of working conditions: job demands (i.e. role stress) and job resources (i.e. self-efficacy). This study examines the role of role stress and work engagement as antecedents of job satisfaction in a sample of Spanish workers. Design/methodology/approach: This study comprised a sample of 435 Spanish workers. A cross sectional study was used to examine the relationship between role stress, work engagement and job satisfaction. Data were gathered based on personal administered questionnaires. Findings and Originality/value: Hierarchical multiple regression models have revealed that job satisfaction was significantly predicted by role stress and work engagement. Results support JDR model by showing that positive outcomes, such as job satisfaction can be predicted by motivational process and job demands. Research limitations/implications: The cross-sectional design cannot evidence of causal relationships. This study relies on self-reports, which might increase the risk of common method variance. Practical implications: On a practical level, the JDR model provides a framework for understanding motivating workplaces and engaged and satisfied employees. Originality/value: The JDR model could be useful in designing strategies for which engaged employees may be advantageous to improving the quality of services, while at the same time increasing employees’ job satisfaction and well-being

Level of anxiety versus self-care in the preoperative and postoperative periods of total laryngectomy patients

Objetivo: estimar la prevalencia de ansiedad del paciente laringectomizado, en el preoperatorio y postoperatorio y su relación con el nivel de autocuidados. Método: investigación observacional de 40 pacientes con cáncer de laringe estadio IV. Se realizaron 3 observaciones: en el preoperatorio, a los 7 y 14 días del postoperatorio; en el periodo junio 2010 a diciembre de 2012. Se definieron dos niveles de autocuidados: autosuficientes y necesitar ayuda para las actividades de la vida diaria y derivadas del tratamiento; para evaluar la ansiedad se utilizó la escala de ansiedad hospitalaria de Zigmond (1983). Resultados: en el preoperatorio y postoperatorio los pacientes presentaron niveles elevados de ansiedad. En relación a los autocuidados, los pacientes autosuficientes presentaron en media niveles más bajos de ansiedad que los pacientes que necesitaban ayuda para realizar las actividades de la vida diaria y las derivadas de la cirugía, sin llegar a ser significativas estas diferencias Conclusión: la ansiedad está presente en todo momento en el paciente con laringectomia y la disminución del déficit de autocuidados parece disminuirla sin terminar definitivamente con ella.Objetivo: estimar a prevalência de ansiedade do paciente laringectomizado no pré-operatório e pós-operatório e sua relação com o nível de autocuidado. Método: pesquisa observacional de 40 pacientes com câncer da laringe estágio IV. Foram realizadas 3 observações: no pré-operatório, a 7 e 14 dias pós-operatório, no período de junho de 2010 a dezembro de 2012. Dois níveis de autocuidado foram definidos: autossuficientes e precisar ajuda para as atividades da vida diária e relacionadas ao tratamento. Para avaliar a ansiedade, foi utilizada a escala de ansiedade hospitalar de Zigmond (1983). Resultados: no pré-operatório e pós-operatório, os pacientes apresentaram níveis elevados de ansiedade. Com relação ao autocuidado, os pacientes autossuficientes apresentaram na média níveis inferiores de ansiedades que os pacientes que precisavam de ajuda para realizar as atividades da vida diária y as derivadas da cirurgia, sem chegar a ser significativas estas diferenças. Conclusão: a ansiedade está presente a todo momento no paciente laringectomizado e a diminuição do déficit de autocuidados parece diminuí-la sem acabar definitivamente com ela.Objective: estimate the prevalence of anxiety in laryngectomy patients in the pre and postoperative periods and its relation with the self-care level. Method: observational research of 40 patients with stage IV laryngeal cancer. Three observations took place: in the preoperative phase, at seven and at 14 days after the surgery; between June 2010 and December 2012. Two self-care levels were defined: self-sufficient and needing help for activities of daily living and treatment-related activities. To assess the anxiety levels, Zigmond's hospital anxiety scale (1983) was used. Results: in the preoperative and postoperative phases, the patients presented high levels of anxiety. Concerning self-care, on average, self-sufficient patients presented lower levels of anxiety than patients who needed help to accomplish activities of daily living and activities deriving from the surgery, without significant differences. Conclusion: anxiety is present at all times in laryngectomy patients and the reduction of the self-care deficit seems to decrease it, without putting a permanent end to it

Self-Adaptative Troubleshooting for to Guide Resolution of Malfunctions in Aircraft Manufacturing

The increasing complexity of systems and the heterogeneous origin of the possible malfunctions bring about the necessity of rede ning the troubleshooting processes. Troubleshooting comprises the set of steps for the systematic analysis of the symptoms after the detection of a malfunction. The complexity of certain systems, such as aircraft, means the origin of that malfunction can be any of several reasons, where diagnosis techniques support engineers in determining the reason for the unexpected behaviour. However, derived from the high number of components involved in an aircraft, the list of possible fault origins can be extremely long, and the analysis of every element on the list, until the element responsible is found, can be very time-consuming and error-prone. As an alternative, certain input/output signals can be read to prevent the substitution of a correctly functioning component, by validating its behaviour in an indirect way. In order to optimise the actions to perform, we have identi ed the relevant parts of the model to propose a troubleshooting process to ascertain the signals to read and the components to substitute, while striving to minimise the action cost in accordance with a combination of structural analysis, the probability of malfunction associated to the components, and the cost associated to each extra signal read and component substituted. The proposal has been validated in a system taken from a real scenario obtained in collaboration with the Airbus Defence and Space company. A statistical analysis of the degree of improvement of the troubleshooting process has also been included.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación RTI2018-094283-B-C3