37 research outputs found

    Competences of Flexible Professionals: Validation of an Invariant Instrument across Mexico, Chile, Uruguay, and Spain

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    [EN] The purpose of this study was to validate and test latent mean differences in a second-order factorial structure for self-assessed competences across four Spanish-speaking countries (Spain, Chile, Mexico, and Uruguay). Assessments of 11,802 higher education graduates about their own level of competences were examined. According to our findings, latent mean differences observed in our data lend support to earlier findings in the context of universities from these four countries. In order to compare assessments from different countries, we previously found support for metric and scalar invariance in a second-order factor structure, including innovation, cooperation, knowledge management, and communication, organizational and participative competences. These findings have serious managerial implications in regard to institutional evaluations developed by national accreditation bodies and identification of competence requirements by the labor market. In addition, our research provides a powerful tool for young students and employers, as it contains valuable information about what competences should be expected by students when finishing their studies.This research was funded by the European Commission, grant number AML/19.0902/04/16909/II-0546-A, and grant number CIT2-CT-2004-506352.Conchado Peiró, A.; Carot Sierra, JM.; Vázquez Barrachina, E. (2020). Competences of Flexible Professionals: Validation of an Invariant Instrument across Mexico, Chile, Uruguay, and Spain. Sustainability. 12(12):1-13. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12125224S1131212Le Deist, F. D., & Winterton, J. (2005). What Is Competence? Human Resource Development International, 8(1), 27-46. doi:10.1080/1367886042000338227Cseh, M. (2003). Facilitating Learning in Multicultural Teams. Advances in Developing Human Resources, 5(1), 26-40. doi:10.1177/1523422302239181McClelland, D. C. (1998). Identifying Competencies with Behavioral-Event Interviews. Psychological Science, 9(5), 331-339. doi:10.1111/1467-9280.00065Winterton, J. (2009). Competence across Europe: highest common factor or lowest common denominator? Journal of European Industrial Training, 33(8/9), 681-700. doi:10.1108/03090590910993571Shavelson, R. J. (2010). On the measurement of competency. Empirical Research in Vocational Education and Training, 2(1), 41-63. doi:10.1007/bf03546488Lozano, R., Merrill, M., Sammalisto, K., Ceulemans, K., & Lozano, F. (2017). Connecting Competences and Pedagogical Approaches for Sustainable Development in Higher Education: A Literature Review and Framework Proposal. Sustainability, 9(10), 1889. doi:10.3390/su9101889Zamora-Polo, F., Sánchez-Martín, J., Corrales-Serrano, M., & Espejo-Antúnez, L. (2019). What Do University Students Know about Sustainable Development Goals? A Realistic Approach to the Reception of this UN Program Amongst the Youth Population. Sustainability, 11(13), 3533. doi:10.3390/su11133533Mochizuki, Y., & Fadeeva, Z. (2010). Competences for sustainable development and sustainability. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 11(4), 391-403. doi:10.1108/14676371011077603Lambrechts, W., Mulà, I., Ceulemans, K., Molderez, I., & Gaeremynck, V. (2013). The integration of competences for sustainable development in higher education: an analysis of bachelor programs in management. Journal of Cleaner Production, 48, 65-73. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2011.12.034Vandenberg, R. J., & Lance, C. E. (2000). A Review and Synthesis of the Measurement Invariance Literature: Suggestions, Practices, and Recommendations for Organizational Research. Organizational Research Methods, 3(1), 4-70. doi:10.1177/109442810031002Heine, S. J., Lehman, D. R., Peng, K., & Greenholtz, J. (2002). What’s wrong with cross-cultural comparisons of subjective Likert scales?: The reference-group effect. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 82(6), 903-918. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.82.6.903Morse, B. J., Weinhardt, J. M., Griffeth, R. W., & de Oliveira, M. Z. (2014). Cross-cultural Measurement Invariance of the Employment Opportunity Index (EOI) in Mexican and Brazilian Professionals. International Journal of Selection and Assessment, 22(2), 139-148. doi:10.1111/ijsa.12064Heijke, H., Meng, C., & Ramaekers, G. (2003). An investigation into the role of human capital competences and their pay‐off. International Journal of Manpower, 24(7), 750-773. doi:10.1108/01437720310502113Semeijn, J. H., Velden, R. van der, Heijke, H., Vleuten, C. van der, & Boshuizen, H. P. A. (2006). Competence indicators in academic education and early labour market success of graduates in health sciences. Journal of Education and Work, 19(4), 383-413. doi:10.1080/13639080600867158Billing, D. (2007). Teaching for transfer of core/key skills in higher education: Cognitive skills. Higher Education, 53(4), 483-516. doi:10.1007/s10734-005-5628-5Usher, E. L., & Pajares, F. (2007). Self-Efficacy for Self-Regulated Learning. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 68(3), 443-463. doi:10.1177/0013164407308475Hernández‐March, J., Martín del Peso, M., & Leguey, S. (2009). Graduates’ Skills and Higher Education: The employers’ perspective. Tertiary Education and Management, 15(1), 1-16. doi:10.1080/13583880802699978Smits, W. (2007). Industry-specific or generic skills? Conflicting interests of firms and workers. Labour Economics, 14(3), 653-663. doi:10.1016/j.labeco.2006.09.002Garcia‐Aracil, A., Mora, J., & Vila, L. E. (2004). The rewards of human capital competences for young European higher education graduates. Tertiary Education and Management, 10(4), 287-305. doi:10.1080/13583883.2004.9967133García-Aracil, A., & Van der Velden, R. (2007). Competencies for young European higher education graduates: labor market mismatches and their payoffs. Higher Education, 55(2), 219-239. doi:10.1007/s10734-006-9050-4Conchado, A., Carot, J. M., & Bas, M. C. (2015). Competencies for knowledge management: development and validation of a scale. Journal of Knowledge Management, 19(4), 836-855. doi:10.1108/jkm-10-2014-0447Yuan, K.-H., & Bentler, P. M. (2000). 5. Three Likelihood-Based Methods for Mean and Covariance Structure Analysis with Nonnormal Missing Data. Sociological Methodology, 30(1), 165-200. doi:10.1111/0081-1750.00078Gerbing, D. W., & Anderson, J. C. (1985). The Effects of Sampling Error and Model Characteristics on Parameter Estimation for Maximum Likelihood Confirmatory Factor Analysis. Multivariate Behavioral Research, 20(3), 255-271. doi:10.1207/s15327906mbr2003_2Hu, L., & Bentler, P. M. (1999). Cutoff criteria for fit indexes in covariance structure analysis: Conventional criteria versus new alternatives. Structural Equation Modeling: A Multidisciplinary Journal, 6(1), 1-55. doi:10.1080/10705519909540118Browne, M. W., & Cudeck, R. (1992). Alternative Ways of Assessing Model Fit. Sociological Methods & Research, 21(2), 230-258. doi:10.1177/0049124192021002005Steiger, J. H. (1990). Structural Model Evaluation and Modification: An Interval Estimation Approach. Multivariate Behavioral Research, 25(2), 173-180. doi:10.1207/s15327906mbr2502_4Chen, F. F., Sousa, K. H., & West, S. G. (2005). Teacher’s Corner: Testing Measurement Invariance of Second-Order Factor Models. Structural Equation Modeling: A Multidisciplinary Journal, 12(3), 471-492. doi:10.1207/s15328007sem1203_7Cheung, G. W., & Rensvold, R. B. (2002). Evaluating Goodness-of-Fit Indexes for Testing Measurement Invariance. Structural Equation Modeling: A Multidisciplinary Journal, 9(2), 233-255. doi:10.1207/s15328007sem0902_5Hong, S., Malik, M. L., & Lee, M.-K. (2003). Testing Configural, Metric, Scalar, and Latent Mean Invariance Across Genders in Sociotropy and Autonomy Using a Non-Western Sample. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 63(4), 636-654. doi:10.1177/0013164403251332Hancock, G. R. (2001). Effect size, power, and sample size determination for structured means modeling and mimic approaches to between-groups hypothesis testing of means on a single latent construct. Psychometrika, 66(3), 373-388. doi:10.1007/bf0229444

    Necesidades de la vida cotidiana: alojamiento y gastos básicos

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    Conchado Peiró, A.; Carot Sierra, JM. (2014). Necesidades de la vida cotidiana: alojamiento y gastos básicos. En Desigualdad y universidad. La encuesta de condiciones de vida y de participación de los estudiantes universitarios en España. 201-228. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/60800S20122

    Strong and weak points in competence - based training according to Spanish Higher Education graduates

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    [EN] The objective of this study is to analyze from a descriptive point of view the competences considered by higher Education graduates as strengths or weaknesses in their studies. This objective arises from the growing importance that competences have acquired during the preceding years due to the adaptation process of university degrees to the European Higher Education Area. With this aim in mind some specific results, based on a sample of 5,474 Spanish university graduates and thirteen study programs, are described. Data were obtained from the research project REFLEX «The Flexible Professional in the Knowledge Society: New Demands on Higher Education in Europe». Universities from fourteen European countries and Japan participated in the project, and one of the aims was the analysis of competencies in Higher Education. Results describe how graduates point out to competences related to traditional teaching methods as strengths of their studies, such as knowledge of the field of study, ability to analyze and learn and teamwork, whereas competences related to information and communication technology, and also leadership and ability to speak foreign languages, are revealed as weaknesses of university studies. Besides, several peculiarities have been identified according to the following fields of study: Humanities, Sciences, Engineering, Architecture and Economy and finally Fine Arts.[ES] El objetivo del trabajo es el análisis exploratorio descriptivo de las competencias que los titulados universitarios consideran puntos fuertes o débiles en sus estudios. Este objetivo se plantea a raíz de la creciente importancia que las competencias han cobrado en los últimos años debido al proceso de adaptación de las titulaciones universitarias al Espacio Europeo de Educación Superior. Para ello se describen los resultados obtenidos en base a una muestra de 5.474 graduados universitarios españoles y trece titulaciones universitarias. Dichos datos proceden del proyecto de investigación REFLEX «El Profesional Flexible en la Sociedad del Conocimiento: Nuevas exigencias en la Educación Superior en Europa» en el que participaron universidades de catorce países europeos y Japón, entre cuyos objetivos se encontraba el estudio de las competencias en el ámbito universitario. Los resultados muestran que los graduados universitarios señalan como puntos fuertes de sus estudios las competencias relacionadas con las metodologías docentes tradicionales como los conocimientos, la capacidad de análisis y aprendizaje o el trabajo en equipo. Por el contrario, las competencias relacionadas con la gestión de las tecnologías de la información y las comunicaciones así como las habilidades de liderazgo y comunicación en idiomas extranjeros se revelan como puntos débiles de los estudios universitarios. Asimismo se han identificado determinadas particularidades de la formación en competencias en función de las siguientes áreas de estudio: Humanidades, Ciencias, Ingeniería, Arquitectura y Economía y finalmente Bellas Artes.Conchado Peiró, A.; Carot Sierra, JM. (2013). Puntos fuertes y débiles en la formación por competencias según los graduados universitarios españoles. REDU. Revista de Docencia Universitaria. 11(1):429-446. https://doi.org/10.4995/redu.2013.5608S42944611

    Proposal of a composite indicator for measuring social media presence in the wine market

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    [EN] Cybermetrics field is attracting considerable interest due to its utility as a data-oriented technique for research, though it may provide misleading information when used in complex systems. This paper outlines a new approach to market research analysis through the definition of composite indicators for cybermetrics, applied to the Spanish wine market. Our findings show that the majority of cellars were present in only one or two social media networks: Facebook, Twitter or both. Besides, the presence on the Web can be summarized into three principal components: website quality, presence on Facebook, and presence on Twitter. Three groups of cellars were identified according to their position in these components: cellars with a high number of errors in their website with complete absence of information in social media, cellars with strong presence in social media, and cellars in an intermediate position. Our results constitute an excellent initial step towards the definition of a methodology for building composite indicators in cybermetrics. From a practical approach, these indicators may encourage cellar managers to make better decisions towards their transition to the digital market.This work was carried out within the framework of a Spanish research project ‘eMarketwine: diseño de un método y una herramienta de online information intelligence orientada a la recomendación geolocalizada para el mercado del vino’ (Ref. CSO2016-78775-R), founded by the Ministerio de Economía y Competitivad (Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness).Conchado Peiró, A.; Carot Sierra, JM.; Vázquez Barrachina, E.; Orduña Malea, E. (2020). Proposal of a composite indicator for measuring social media presence in the wine market. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 279-288. https://doi.org/10.4995/CARMA2020.2020.11647OCS27928

    Computer learner corpora: analysing interlanguage errors in synchronous and asynchronous communication

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    [EN] This study focuses on the computer-aided analysis of interlanguage errors made by the participants in the telematic simulation IDEELS (Intercultural Dynamics in European Education through on-Line Simulation). The synchronous and asynchronous communication analysed was part of the MiLC Corpus, a multilingual learner corpus of texts written by language learners from different language backgrounds. The main research questions centred on the differences in the amount and types of errors found in both the synchronous and asynchronous modes of communication, and whether different L1 groups committed certain errors more than their counterparts from other mother tongue backgrounds. As we hypothesised, more errors were found in the synchronous mode of communication than in the asynchronous; however, when examining the exact types of errors, some categories were more frequent in the synchronous mode (the formal and grammatical errors, among others), while in the asynchronous, errors of style and lexis occurred more frequently. A analysis of the data revealed that the frequency of error types varied with each different L1 group participating in the simulation, this same analysis also showed that highly relevant associations could be established the participants’ L1 and specific error types.Penny MacDonald would like to acknowledge the research grant awarded by the Research and Development Support Programme (PAID-00-10) of the Universidad Politécnica de Valencia in 2010Mac Donald, P.; García Carbonell, A.; Carot Sierra, JM. (2013). Computer learner corpora: analysing interlanguage errors in synchronous and asynchronous communication. Language Learning & Technology. 17(2):36-56. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/65848S365617

    Are Water User Associations Prepared for a Second-Generation Modernization? The Case of the Valencian Community (Spain)

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    [EN] This work focuses on the situation of the technological transition to new technologies in drip irrigation in the Valencian Community (Spain). The study covers the last decade with data from interviews to managers of Irrigation Communities in 2010 and 2018. We analyze the main technological problems in seven topics: (i) Catchment & Pumping; (ii) Storage & Regulation; (iii) Treatment & Filtering; (iv) Transport & Distribution; (v) Maneuver, Regulation & Protection; (vi) Automation; (vii) Theft and Vandalism. We also have researched the influence of the performance of the Automation system, the presence of a technician in the Irrigation Community and the use of sensors or climatic data. Results show that problems related to technological maintenance of filtering systems or automation are very common and important and they are more important in large Irrigation Communities. We have also observed that mostly large ICs are using sensors or climatic data for their irrigation schedule. We can conclude that their current situation is focused in the daily maintenance of technological problems, inherited from the first modernization processes at the beginning of 21st century. Hence, they are far away from a second stage of modernization or the smart irrigation pushed by the new advances on technology.González-Pavón, C.; Arviza Valverde, J.; Balbastre Peralta, I.; Carot Sierra, JM.; Palau-Salvador, G. (2020). Are Water User Associations Prepared for a Second-Generation Modernization? The Case of the Valencian Community (Spain). Water. 12(8):1-17. https://doi.org/10.3390/w12082136S117128Swyngedouw, E. (2007). Technonatural revolutions: the scalar politics of Franco’s hydro-social dream for Spain, 1939?1975. Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers, 32(1), 9-28. doi:10.1111/j.1475-5661.2007.00233.xVan der Kooij, S., Zwarteveen, M., & Kuper, M. (2015). The material of the social: the mutual shaping of institutions by irrigation technology and society in Seguia Khrichfa, Morocco. International Journal of the Commons, 9(1), 129. doi:10.18352/ijc.539García-Mollá, M., Ortega-Reig, M., Boelens, R., & Sanchis-Ibor, C. (2020). Hybridizing the commons. Privatizing and outsourcing collective irrigation management after technological change in Spain. World Development, 132, 104983. doi:10.1016/j.worlddev.2020.104983Lopez-Gunn, E., Zorrilla, P., Prieto, F., & Llamas, M. R. (2012). Lost in translation? Water efficiency in Spanish agriculture. Agricultural Water Management, 108, 83-95. doi:10.1016/j.agwat.2012.01.005Sanchis Ibor, C., García Mollá, M., & Avellà Reus, L. (2016). Las políticas de implantación del riego localizado. Efectos en las entidades de riego de la Comunidad Valenciana. Boletín de la Asociación de Geógrafos Españoles, (72). doi:10.21138/bage.2330Allan, T. (1999). Productive efficiency and allocative efficiency: why better water management may not solve the problem. Agricultural Water Management, 40(1), 71-75. doi:10.1016/s0378-3774(98)00106-1Lecina, S., Isidoro, D., Playán, E., & Aragüés, R. (2010). Irrigation modernization and water conservation in Spain: The case of Riegos del Alto Aragón. Agricultural Water Management, 97(10), 1663-1675. doi:10.1016/j.agwat.2010.05.023Playán, E., & Mateos, L. (2006). Modernization and optimization of irrigation systems to increase water productivity. Agricultural Water Management, 80(1-3), 100-116. doi:10.1016/j.agwat.2005.07.007Garb, Y., & Friedlander, L. (2014). From transfer to translation: Using systemic understandings of technology to understand drip irrigation uptake. Agricultural Systems, 128, 13-24. doi:10.1016/j.agsy.2014.04.003Friedlander, L., Tal, A., & Lazarovitch, N. (2013). Technical considerations affecting adoption of drip irrigation in sub-Saharan Africa. Agricultural Water Management, 126, 125-132. doi:10.1016/j.agwat.2013.04.014Ahmad, A., & Khan, S. (2016). Water and Energy Scarcity for Agriculture: Is Irrigation Modernization the Answer? Irrigation and Drainage, 66(1), 34-44. doi:10.1002/ird.2021Plusquellec, H. (2009). Modernization of large-scale irrigation systems: is it an achievable objective or a lost cause. Irrigation and Drainage, 58(S1), S104-S120. doi:10.1002/ird.488Masseroni, D., Ricart, S., de Cartagena, F., Monserrat, J., Gonçalves, J., de Lima, I., … Gandolfi, C. (2017). Prospects for Improving Gravity-Fed Surface Irrigation Systems in Mediterranean European Contexts. Water, 9(1), 20. doi:10.3390/w9010020De Bont, C., & Veldwisch, G. J. (2020). State Engagement with Farmer-led Irrigation Development: Symbolic Irrigation Modernisation and Disturbed Development Trajectories in Tanzania. The Journal of Development Studies, 56(12), 2154-2168. doi:10.1080/00220388.2020.1746278Koech, R., & Langat, P. (2018). Improving Irrigation Water Use Efficiency: A Review of Advances, Challenges and Opportunities in the Australian Context. Water, 10(12), 1771. doi:10.3390/w10121771Egea, G., Fernández, J. E., & Alcon, F. (2017). Financial assessment of adopting irrigation technology for plant-based regulated deficit irrigation scheduling in super high-density olive orchards. Agricultural Water Management, 187, 47-56. doi:10.1016/j.agwat.2017.03.008Alcon, F., de Miguel, M. D., & Burton, M. (2011). Duration analysis of adoption of drip irrigation technology in southeastern Spain. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 78(6), 991-1001. doi:10.1016/j.techfore.2011.02.001Hu, X., Qu, F., Jiang, J., Xu, J., & Liu, T. (2019). Drip irrigation and fertilization improve yield, uptake of nitrogen, and water-nitrogen use efficiency in cucumbers grown in substrate bags. Plant, Soil and Environment, 65(No. 6), 328-335. doi:10.17221/186/2019-pseJiang, G., & Wang, Z. (2019). Scale Effects of Ecological Safety of Water-Saving Irrigation: A Case Study in the Arid Inland River Basin of Northwest China. Water, 11(9), 1886. doi:10.3390/w11091886Ortega-Reig, M., Sanchis-Ibor, C., Palau-Salvador, G., García-Mollá, M., & Avellá-Reus, L. (2017). Institutional and management implications of drip irrigation introduction in collective irrigation systems in Spain. Agricultural Water Management, 187, 164-172. doi:10.1016/j.agwat.2017.03.009Sanchis-Ibor, C., Boelens, R., & García-Mollá, M. (2017). Collective irrigation reloaded. Re-collection and re-moralization of water management after privatization in Spain. Geoforum, 87, 38-47. doi:10.1016/j.geoforum.2017.10.002Soto-García, M., Martínez-Alvarez, V., García-Bastida, P. A., Alcon, F., & Martin-Gorriz, B. (2013). Effect of water scarcity and modernisation on the performance of irrigation districts in south-eastern Spain. Agricultural Water Management, 124, 11-19. doi:10.1016/j.agwat.2013.03.019Alcon, F., García-Bastida, P. A., Soto-García, M., Martínez-Alvarez, V., Martin-Gorriz, B., & Baille, A. (2017). Explaining the performance of irrigation communities in a water-scarce region. Irrigation Science, 35(3), 193-203. doi:10.1007/s00271-016-0531-7Zhang, X., & Khachatryan, H. (2019). Investigating Homeowners’ Preferences for Smart Irrigation Technology Features. Water, 11(10), 1996. doi:10.3390/w11101996Krishnan, R. S., Julie, E. G., Robinson, Y. H., Raja, S., Kumar, R., Thong, P. H., & Son, L. H. (2020). Fuzzy Logic based Smart Irrigation System using Internet of Things. Journal of Cleaner Production, 252, 119902. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.119902Roth, D., Boelens, R., & Zwarteveen, M. (2015). Property, legal pluralism, and water rights: the critical analysis of water governance and the politics of recognizing «local» rights. The Journal of Legal Pluralism and Unofficial Law, 47(3), 456-475. doi:10.1080/07329113.2015.1111502Experiencias Cooperativas de Servicios de Aplicación de Plaguicidashttp://www.agro-alimentarias.coop/ficheros/doc/02163.pdfValencian Government Informe de Sector Agrario Valenciano (ISAV)http://www.agroambient.gva.es/va/estadisticas1Balbastre Peralta, I. (s. f.). Análisis, caracterización y diseño de Hidrantes multiusuario para riego. doi:10.4995/thesis/10251/62214Sanchis-Ibor, C., García-Mollá, M., & Avellà-Reus, L. (2016). Effects of drip irrigation promotion policies on water use and irrigation costs in Valencia, Spain. Water Policy, 19(1), 165-180. doi:10.2166/wp.2016.025Delos Reyes, M. L. F., & Schultz, B. (2018). Modernization of National Irrigation Systems in the Philippines: Linking Design, Operation and Water Supply. Irrigation and Drainage, 68(1), 59-66. doi:10.1002/ird.2260Andriyani, I., Jourdain, D., Shivakoti, G., Lidon, B., & Kartiwa, B. (2017). Can Uplanders and Lowlanders Share Land and Water Services? (A Case Study in Central Java Indonesia). Redefining Diversity & Dynamics of Natural Resources Management in Asia, Volume 1, 321-330. doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-805454-3.00017-7Morén-Alegret, R., Fatorić, S., Wladyka, D., Mas-Palacios, A., & Fonseca, M. L. (2018). Challenges in achieving sustainability in Iberian rural areas and small towns: Exploring immigrant stakeholders’ perceptions in Alentejo, Portugal, and Empordà, Spain. Journal of Rural Studies, 64, 253-266. doi:10.1016/j.jrurstud.2018.05.005Maluleke, W., Mokwena, R. J., & Motsepa, L. L. (2016). Rural farmers’ perspectives on stock theft: police crime statistics. South African Journal of Agricultural Extension (SAJAE), 44(2). doi:10.17159/2413-3221/2016/v44n2a393Robb, P., Coupe, T., & Ariel, B. (2014). ‘Solvability’ and Detection of Metal Theft on Railway Property. 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    Competencies of Recent University Graduates: What University Supply Them and What the Jobs Require From Them

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    [ENG] On these last years an intense research work has been developed in the field of “competencies based education”. This interest come from the need for European universities to adapt to the new European Space for Higher Education but also from the compromise for Higher Education Institutions to improve the quality of its services, this is “education”. Up to now there is not a thorough consensus about the meaning of “competencies”. Only and as a product of the progressive implementation of Bologna process has been a bigger stress on the concept of “learning outcomes”. Such concept is directly related to the former but there are some aspects related to different agents involved in both processes that make some difference. At the beginning the concept of “competency” was restricted to the set of manual or instrumental capabilities needed to the correct performance of the tasks required in the job position. Or either to the capability to accumulate knowledge related to a certain subject. Fortunately during these last years new ideas have been introduced that allow to surpass the simple consideration of manual or practical skills adding new dimensions to the conpt of “competency”. The Project is based on a survey on university graduates that engaged on work five years previous to the moment of the study

    Assessment of vine-shoots in a model wines as enological additives

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    [EN] For the first time, the possibility of using vine-shoots as enological additives, similar to oak chips, is proposed. Their volatile and phenolic compounds contribution to a model wine was studied. Variables such as vine-shoot vinifera (Airen and Cencibel), size (chip and granule), toasting (toasted and non-toasted), dosage (4 and 12 g/L) and maceration time (1, 7, 21, 35 and 120 days) were tested. Results showed an important transference of high-value enological compounds after 35 days of maceration with 12 g/L of toasted vine-shoots. Vanillin or guaiacol were found in concentrations always higher than their wine odor thresholds, depending on the variety and vine-shoot formats used. Moreover, trans-resveratrol and ellagic acid stand out for their high concentrations. This transference rate shows the enological aptitude of vine-shoots with a possibly positive contribution in real wines, both at sensory and functional level, although future studies in real wines must be carried out.Many thanks for the financial support given by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness-FEDER of the Spanish Government to the Project AGL2015-65133-C2-1-R. Thanks to Katty Walsh for proofreading the English manuscript.Cebrián-Tarancón, C.; Sánchez-Gómez, R.; Carot Sierra, JM.; Zalacaín, A.; Alonso, GL.; Salinas, MR. (2019). Assessment of vine-shoots in a model wines as enological additives. Food Chemistry. 288:86-95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2019.02.075869528

    A practical solution to estimate the sample size required for clinical prediction models generated from observational research on data

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    [EN] Background Estimating the required sample size is crucial when developing and validating clinical prediction models. However, there is no consensus about how to determine the sample size in such a setting. Here, the goal was to compare available methods to define a practical solution to sample size estimation for clinical predictive models, as applied to Horizon 2020 PRIMAGE as a case study. Methods Three different methods (Riley's; "rule of thumb" with 10 and 5 events per predictor) were employed to calculate the sample size required to develop predictive models to analyse the variation in sample size as a function of different parameters. Subsequently, the sample size for model validation was also estimated. Results To develop reliable predictive models, 1397 neuroblastoma patients are required, 1060 high-risk neuroblastoma patients and 1345 diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) patients. This sample size can be lowered by reducing the number of variables included in the model, by including direct measures of the outcome to be predicted and/or by increasing the follow-up period. For model validation, the estimated sample size resulted to be 326 patients for neuroblastoma, 246 for high-risk neuroblastoma, and 592 for DIPG. Conclusions Given the variability of the different sample sizes obtained, we recommend using methods based on epidemiological data and the nature of the results, as the results are tailored to the specific clinical problem. In addition, sample size can be reduced by lowering the number of parameter predictors, by including direct measures of the outcome of interest.This work is funded by the HORIZON2020 PRIMAGE project (RIA, topic SC1DTH 07-2018), from the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation of the European Commission.Baeza-Delgado, C.; Cerdá Alberich, L.; Carot Sierra, JM.; Veiga-Canuto, D.; Martinez De Las Heras, B.; Raza, B.; Marti-Bonmati, L. (2022). A practical solution to estimate the sample size required for clinical prediction models generated from observational research on data. European Radiology Experimental. 6(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s41747-022-00276-y6

    Glioblastoma versus solitary brain metastasis: MRI differentiation using the edema perfusion gradient

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    [EN] Background and Purpose: Differentiation between glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and solitary brain metastasis (SBM) remains a challenge in neuroradiology with up to 40% of the cases to be incorrectly classified using only conventional MRI. The inclusion of perfusion MRI parameters provides characteristic features that could support the distinction of these pathological entities. On these grounds, we aim to use a perfusion gradient in the peritumoral edema. Methods: Twenty-four patients with GBM or an SBM underwent conventional and perfusion MR imaging sequences before tumors' surgical resection. After postprocessing of the images, quantification of dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC) perfusion parameters was made. Three concentric areas around the tumor were defined in each case. The monocompartimental and pharmacokinetics parameters of perfusion MRI were analyzed in both series. Results: DSC perfusion MRI models can provide useful information for the differentiation between GBM and SBM. It can be observed that most of the perfusion MR parameters (relative cerebral blood volume, relative cerebral blood flow, relative Ktrans, and relative volume fraction of the interstitial space) clearly show higher gradient for GBM than SBM. GBM also demonstrates higher heterogeneity in the peritumoral edema and most of the perfusion parameters demonstrate higher gradients in the area closest to the enhancing tumor. Conclusion: Our results show that there is a difference in the perfusion parameters of the edema between GBM and SBM demonstrating a vascularization gradient. This could help not only for the diagnosis, but also for planning surgical or radiotherapy treatments delineating the real extension of the tumor.This studywas partially funded by SERAM (Spanish Society of Medical Radiology) Grant Becas Seram-Industria 2014.Aparici-Robles, F.; Davidhi, A.; Carot Sierra, JM.; Perez-Girbes, A.; Carreres-Polo, J.; Mazón-Momparler, M.; Juan-Albarracín, J.... (2022). Glioblastoma versus solitary brain metastasis: MRI differentiation using the edema perfusion gradient. Journal of Neuroimaging. 32(1):127-133. https://doi.org/10.1111/jon.1292012713332
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