The well-fit for the FET model : understanding training transfer factors in Spain

Learning transfer evaluation is a necessary process for practitioners to assess the effectiveness of training, and the outcomes of training produces in workers' behaviors. In this paper, we explore an alternative way to evaluate transfer: through the study of transfer facilitators and barriers. Our aim is to validate the Factors to Evaluate Transfer (FET) model in a large sample of Spanish employees using confirmatory factor analysis. We applied the Spanish version of the FET scale to a sample of 2,745 Spanish workers of public service institutions and private companies. The results show a seven-factor model as the best choice according to the adjustment indices presented in the paper. We obtained a shorter version of the instrument, with adequate construct validity as well as good reliability and internal consistency. This model is a step forward in the measurement of indirect transfer and allows keeping working on the FET model to diagnosis transfer factors and increase the probabilities of higher learning transfer levels.L'avaluació de la transferència de l'aprenentatge és un procés necessari perquè els professionals avaluïn l'eficàcia de la formació i els seus resultats en els treballadors. Aquest article explora una forma alternativa d'avaluar la transferència: a través de l'estudi de facilitadors i obstacles de la transferència. L'objectiu és validar el model FET (factors per avaluar la transferència), en una mostra de treballadors espanyols amb una anàlisi factorial confirmatòria. Es va aplicar l'escala FET en espanyol a una mostra de 2.745 treballadors espanyols de l'Administració pública i l'empresa privada. Els resultats mostren un model de set factors com la millor opció sobre la base dels índexs d'ajust presentats en l'article. Vam obtenir una versió més reduïda de l'instrument, amb una validació de constructe adequada, així com una bona fiabilitat i consistència interna. Aquest model és un pas endavant en la mesura de la transferència indirecta i permet seguir treballant en el model FET per utilitzar-lo com a diagnosi de factors de transferència i augmentar la probabilitat de nivells més alts de transferència de l'aprenentatge.La evaluación de la transferencia del aprendizaje es un proceso necesario para que los profesionales evalúen la eficacia de la formación y sus resultados en los trabajadores. Este artículo explora una forma alternativa de evaluar la transferencia: a través del estudio de facilitadores y obstáculos de la transferencia. Su objetivo es validar el modelo FET (factores para evaluar la transferencia), en una muestra de empleados españoles con un análisis factorial confirmatorio. Se aplicó la escala FET en español a una muestra de 2.745 trabajadores españoles de la Administración pública y la empresa privada. Los resultados muestran un modelo de siete factores como la mejor opción sobre la base de los índices de ajuste presentados en el artículo. Obtuvimos una versión más reducida del instrumento, con una validación de constructo adecuada, así como una buena fiabilidad y consistencia interna. Este modelo es un paso adelante en la medición de transferencia indirecta y permite seguir trabajando en el modelo FET para usarlo como diagnóstico de factores de transferencia y aumentar la probabilidad de mayores niveles de transferencia del aprendizaje

Measurement of the atmospheric muon depth intensity relation with the NEMO Phase-2 tower

The results of the analysis of the data collected with the NEMO Phase-2 tower, deployed at 3500 m depth about 80 km off-shore Capo Passero (Italy), are presented. Cherenkov photons detected with the photomultipliers tubes were used to reconstruct the tracks of atmospheric muons. Their zenith-angle distribution was measured and the results compared with Monte Carlo simulations. An evaluation of the systematic effects due to uncertainties on environmental and detector parameters is also included. The associated depth intensity relation was evaluated and compared with previous measurements and theoretical predictions. With the present analysis, the muon depth intensity relation has been measured up to 13 km of water equivalent.Comment: submitted to Astroparticle Physic

Discovery of a bipolar and highly variable mass outflow from the symbiotic binary StHa 190

A highly and rapidly variable bipolar mass outflow from StHa 190 has been discovered, the first time in a yellow symbiotic star. Permitted emission lines are flanked by symmetrical jet features and multi-component P-Cyg profiles, with velocities up to 300 km/sec. Given the high orbital inclination of the binary, if the jets leave the system nearly perpendicular to the orbital plane, the de-projected velocity equals or exceeds the escape velocity (1000 km/sec). StHa190 looks quite peculiar in many other respects: the hot component is an O-type sub-dwarf without an accretion disk or a veiling nebular continuum and the cool component is a G7 III star rotating at a spectacular 105 km/sec unseen by a large margin in field G giants.Comment: Letter to the Editor, Astron.Astrophys, in pres

The global financial crisis and developing countries

When the global financial crisis broke out in earnest in September 2008, it quickly became clear that developing countries would also be affected, but that the impacts would vary markedly. The Overseas Development Institute (ODI) coordinated a multi-country study over January-March 2009 involving developing country teams in 10 countries. This showed that, while the transmission mechanisms were similar in each (trade, private capital flows, remittances, aid), the effects varied by country, and much was not yet visible. As such, further country-specific monitoring was required. Most findings suggested that, as a result of time lags, the worst effects were yet to come. This synthesis of the effects of the global financial crisis on developing countries updates the description of the economic and social situation during the course of the crisis in 11 countries

SPANX-B and SPANX-C (Xq27 region) gene dosage analysis in Down's syndrome subjects with undescended testes

Down’s syndrome (DS) is one of the most common numer- ical chromosomal aberrations, usually caused by trisomy of chromosome 21, and is frequently complicated with congen- ital heart defects, duodenal obs truction and other conditions including undescended testis (UDT) (Fonkalsrud 1970). The incidence of undescended testes in DS was reported to be 6.52% (Chew and Hutson 2004) while the incidence of UDT in the first year is approximately 0.2%–0.8% in the nor- mal population (Benson et al . 1991; Ichiyanagi et al . 1998). Rapley et al . (2000) provided evidence for a testicular germ- cell tumours (TGCT) predisposition locus at Xq27; the au- thors obtained an hlod score of 4.7 from families with at least one bilateral case, corresponding to a genome-wide signifi- cance level of P = 0 . 034. The proportion of families with undescended testis linked to this locus was 74%. SPANX (sperm protein associated with the nucleus in the X chro- mosome) gene family maps in the same chromosomal region and seven highly homologous genes belonging to this fam- ily have been described ( SPANX-A1, SPANX-A2, SPANX-B1, SPANX-B2, SPANX-C, SPANX-D and SPANX-E ) according to the human genome database build 36.2. These genes, made up of two exons separated by a small intron of ≈ 650 bp, are expressed in sperm cells (Westbrook et al . 2000) and in many tumours (Wang et al . 2003; Zendman et al . 2003; Westbrook et al . 2004). Moreover, expression of SPANX genes has been demonstrated in TGCT (Salemi et al . 2006). The function of SPANX gene-encoded proteins is currently unknown, and it is also not known if all the members or some of them are normally expressed in the testis (West- brook et al . 2000). Evidence suggests that CTp11 ,which is 100% homologous to SPANX-C , is expressed in tumours such as melanoma (Zendman et al . 2003), and SPANX-B in myeloma and other haematological malignancies (Wang et al . 2003; Zendman et al . 2003). SPANX-C mRNA was found expressed in normal tissues and in embryonal carcinomas of the testis (Salemi et al . 2006). Further, it is very di ffi cult to design primers adequate for gene-specific PCR amplification within the SPANX locus. For this reason, we decided to fo- cus our study on SPANX-C and SPANX-B genes. The aim of this study is to evaluate the genetic variability of SPANX-B and SPANX-C in D.UDT (Down’s syndrom patients a ff ected by undescended testis) compared with D (Down’s syndrom patients without undescended testis) and Nm (normal popu- lation)

PAH deficiency in Italy: correlation of genotype with phenotype in the Sicilian population

The results of the neonatal screening for phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) deficiency in Sicily show that its incidence is higher than previously reported for mainland Italians and that non-PKU HPA is in excess of classical and mild PKU. The latter finding suggests that a high number of non-PKU HPA mutations would occur in the Sicilian population compared to populations with an inverted PKU/non-PKU HPA ratio. Previous studies have identified 40 mutations accounting for the majority (98%) of mutant alleles underlying PAH deficiency in Sicily. In order to study the molecular basis of the distribution of PAH deficiency phenotypes in the Sicilian population, we have correlated 31 of those mutations with clinical and metabolic phenotypes in 12 mentally retarded patients, 14 treated patients with classic or mild PKU, and 13 subjects presenting the non-PKU HPA phenotype. The present study proposes a tentative classification for a large number (26) of PAH gene mutations which may represent an additional tool for establishing a differential diagnosis for PAH deficiency in the Sicilian population