Assessing job performance using brief self-report scales: The case of the individual work performance questionnaire

Job performance is considered the “ultimate dependent variable” in human resource management, turning its assessment into a capital issue. The present study analyzes the functioning of a brief 18-item self-report scale, the Individual Work Performance Questionnaire (IWPQ), which measures the main dimensions of job performance (task performance, contextual performance, and counterproductive behaviors) in a wide variety of jobs. Participants were 368 employees who voluntarily answered a questionnaire including the IWPQ, other performance scales, and the NEO-FFI. Descriptive statistics, exploratory structural equation modeling, and correlations were performed. Results show that the IWPQ has a tridimensional structure with adequate reliability, exhibits significant associations with other measures of performance, and its association with personality traits is similar in terms of direction and strength of the correlations between other job performance measures and personality. We conclude that the IWPQ is an adequate measure of job performance but with emphasis on behaviors aimed toward organizations. El desempeño laboral es considerado la “variable dependiente definitiva” en recursos humanos, convirtiendo su evaluación en algo crucial. El presente estudio analiza el funcionamiento de una escala autoinformada breve de 18 ítems, el Individual Work Performance Questionnaire (IWPQ), que mide las principales dimensiones del desempeño laboral (desempeño de tarea, desempeño contextual y comportamientos contraproductivos en el trabajo) en una amplia variedad de trabajos. Los participantes fueron 368 empleados que voluntariamente completaron un cuestionario que incluía el IWPQ, otras escalas de desempeño y el NEO-FFI. Se llevaron a cabo estadísticos descriptivos, modelos exploratorios de ecuaciones estructurales y correlaciones. Los resultados muestran que el IWPQ tiene una estructura tridimensional con una fiabilidad adecuada, mostrando asociaciones significativas con el resto de medidas de desempeño. En cuanto a los factores de personalidad, el IWPQ muestra correlaciones similares a las de los otros instrumentos de desempeño analizados. Se concluye que el IWPQ es un instrumento adecuado para medir de manera breve y autoinformada el desempeño laboral, pero con énfasis en los comportamientos dirigidos hacia la organización

Familia Europaea

“Familia Europaea!” is an eTwinning project focused on working with the target language, Latin, to the book Lingua Latina Per Se Illustrata by H. Ørberg, and with the specifi c purpose of experimenting with various active methodologies in collaborativeand European contexts. Diff erent activities carried out within this project, working the Key Competences from a communicative approach, are commented on. The article also aims at showing that eTwinning is a good place to develop the Curriculum withinnovative proposals.“Familia Europaea!” es un proyecto eTwinning enfocado a trabajar en latín la lengua latina, sobre el manual Lingua Latina Per Se Illustrata de H. Ørberg, y con el propósito explícito de experimentar con diversas metodologías activas en contextoscolaborativos y europeos. El artículo muestra las diferentes actividades realizadas dentro de este proyecto, trabajando las competencias clave desde una perspectiva comunicativa. También quiere mostrar que eTwinning es un buen lugar para desarrollarel Curriculo con propuestas innovadoras

Control de calidad del seguimiento del embarazo normal en atención primaria

ObjetivosGeneral: aumentar la calidad de la atención maternoinfantil en nuestra población.Específicomejorar al menos un 10% el registro de las actividades con peor cumplimiento en la primera evaluación del ciclo de calidad.DiseñoCiclo de calidad del programa de seguimiento de embarazo normal en atención primaria (AP).Dimensión de calidad estudiadacientífico-técnica. Evaluación retrospectiva, cruzada, por iniciativa interna y sobre las historias clínicas de las gestantes. Marco temporal: primera evaluación sobre gestaciones de 1994-1995; aplicación de medidas correctoras durante 1996; segunda evaluación sobre gestaciones de 1997-1998.ÁmbitoAtención primaria.SujetosTodas las gestaciones seguidas en nuestro equipo de AP durante los períodos descritos.Mediciones y resultados principalesCriterios evaluados: actividades asistenciales del programa de seguimiento del embarazo normal del Área 10.Primera evaluación (n = 54)incumplimiento global del 11,5%; los criterios con cumplimiento inferior al 80% fueron suplemento con ácido fólico, consejos a la gestante, detección de diabetes gestacional y visita al mes posparto Segunda evaluación (n = 69) incumplimiento global del 6,3%; todas las actividades superaron el 80% excepto la exploración obstétrica en la primera visita, la visita a la semana posparto y la visita al mes posparto.ConclusionesTras la introducción de unas medidas correctoras sencillas, logramos una mejoría global superior al 40% y un aumento en el cumplimiento de la mayor parte de las actividades, excepto en las visitas posparto y la exploración obstétrica en la primera visita. Creemos que es necesario mantener un ciclo continuo de mejora de calidad para conseguir una adecuada asistencia maternoinfantil.ObjectivesGeneral: to increase the quality of mother-baby care in our population. Specific: to improve by at least 10% the record of activities with poorest compliance at the first evaluation on the quality cycle.DesignQuality cycle of the normal pregnancy monitoring programme in primary care (PC). The scientific-technical dimension of quality was the one studied. There was a retrospective, crossed evaluation, on internal initiative, about the clinical records of the pregnant women. Sequence: first evaluation of pregnancies in 1994-95; application of corrective measures in 1996; second evaluation of pregnancies in 1997-98.SettingPrimary care.PatientsAll the pregnancies monitored by our PC team during the periods described.Measurements and main resultsCriteria evaluated: care activities of the programme for monitoring normal pregnancies in Area 10. First evaluation (n = 54): 11.5% overall non-compliance. The criteria with under 80% compliance were: folic acid supplement, counselling, diagnosis of pregnancy diabetes and attendance in the month after delivery. Second evaluation (n = 69): 6.3% overall non-compliance. All activities surpassed 80% compliance except obstetric examination on the first visit, attendance a week after delivery and attendance a month after delivery.ConclusionsAfter introducing certain simple corrective measures, we achieved overall improvement of over 40% and increased compliance in most activities, except for attendance after delivery and obstetric examination on the first visit. We think a continuous cycle of quality improvement needs to be maintained in order to achieve adequate mother-baby care

La Estrategia: Un Análisis de su Evolución desde la Cienciometría

The field of study of the strategy has undergone various changes over time, specializing in different the-mes. The main objective of this article is to highlight the evolution of the field of strategy in the area of orga-nisations and administration. For this purpose, a bibliometric analysis was carried out by means of a temporal study covering ten-year periods from 1976 to 2015, with the aim of evidencing those trends and changes in the themes worked on in this field. The results show that from 1976 to 2005 there have been very few changes in the subjects studied. However, as of 2006, profound changes in traditional trends are highlighted, as well as the appearance of emerging trends.El campo de estudio de la estrategia ha sufrido distintos cambios a lo largo del tiempo, especializándose en distintas temáticas. El principal objetivo de este artículo es evidenciar la evolución del campo de la estrategia en el área de las organizaciones y la administración. Para ello se realizó un análisis bibliométrico mediante un estudio temporal, abarcando periodos de diez años desde 1976 hasta 2015, con el fin de evidenciar aquellas tendencias y cambios en las temáticas trabajadas en este campo. Los resultados muestran que desde el año 1976 hasta 2005 los cambios en las temáticas estudiadas han sido muy pocos. Sin embargo, a partir del año 2006 se resaltan cambios profundos en las tendencias tradicionales, además del surgimiento de tendencias emergentes

Evidencias de actividad tectónica contemporánea en el sector oriental de la plataforma continental y talud superior del Golfo de Cádiz (SO de la Península Ibérica)

La interpretación de una serie de registros de sísmica de muy alta resolución con ecosonda paramétrica TOPAS obtenidos en las campañas CADHYS0713, INDEMARES/CHICA1011 y ARSA 0313 en el sector oriental de la plataforma continental y talud superior del Golfo de Cádiz entre los 50 y los 400 m de profundidad, ha permitido identificar una serie de estructuras tectónicas que deforman tanto los depósitos de edad Holoceno y Pleistoceno Superior, como la superficie del fondo . Estas unidades estratigráficas se han identificado sobre la Superficie Transgresiva Posglacial, datada en 18 ka. Las principales estructuras identificadas son fallas normales y fallas inversas, cuya actividad se ha relacionado con fases de elevación de estructuras diapíricas de naturaleza salina que se extienden desde zonas emergidas hasta zonas distales del margen continental del Golfo de Cádiz.Very high resolution parametric echosounder (TOPAS) data interpretation obtained during CADHYS0713, INDEMARES/CHICA1011 and ARSA0313 cruises along the middle, external shelf and upper slope of the eastern Gulf of Cadiz between 50 and 400 m depth has allowed us the identification of several active tectonic structures acting since the Holocene. To date this activiy, it have been identified along the study area three postglacial discontinuities, Postglacial Trangressive Surface (TS) of 18 ky BP; the maximum flooding surface (MFS) of 6.5 ky; and the 3.5 ky Mid highstand deposits surface (MHS). Active normal and reverse faults have been identified whose recent activity is closely linked to the uplift episodes of salt diapirs structures from onshore to distal areas of the continental margin.Versión del edito

Influence of orthodontic treatment on temporomandibular disorders: a systematic review

Objectives: The aim of this literature systematic review was to evaluate the possible association between malocclusions, orthodontic treatment and development of temporomandibular disorders. Material and Methods: A search was carried out on PubMed-Medline database from January 2000 to August 2013 using the keywords “ orthodontics and temporomandibular disorders ”, “ orthodontics and facial pain ” and “ malocclusion and temporomandibular disorders ”. Human studies included in the study were those assessing signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorders in relation to orthodontic treatment. Results: The search strategy resulted in 61 articles. After selection according to the inclusion/exclusion criteria 9 articles qualified for the final analysis. The articles which linked orthodontics and development of temporomandibular disorders showed very discrepant results. Some indicated that orthodontic treatment could improve signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorders, but none of them obtained statistically significant dif ferences. Conclusions: According to the authors examined, there is no evidence for a cause-effect relationship between orthodontic treatment and temporomandibular disorders, or that such treatment might improve or prevent them. More longitudinal studies are needed to verify any possible interrelationshi

Quantum Confinement of Dirac Quasiparticles in Graphene Patterned with Sub‐Nanometer Precision

Quantum confinement of graphene Dirac‐like electrons in artificially crafted nanometer structures is a long sought goal that would provide a strategy to selectively tune the electronic properties of graphene, including bandgap opening or quantization of energy levels. However, creating confining structures with nanometer precision in shape, size, and location remains an experimental challenge, both for top‐down and bottom‐up approaches. Moreover, Klein tunneling, offering an escape route to graphene electrons, limits the efficiency of electrostatic confinement. Here, a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) is used to create graphene nanopatterns, with sub‐nanometer precision, by the collective manipulation of a large number of H atoms. Individual graphene nanostructures are built at selected locations, with predetermined orientations and shapes, and with dimensions going all the way from 2 nm up to 1 µm. The method permits the patterns to be erased and rebuilt at will, and it can be implemented on different graphene substrates. STM experiments demonstrate that such graphene nanostructures confine very efficiently graphene Dirac quasiparticles, both in 0D and 1D structures. In graphene quantum dots, perfectly defined energy bandgaps up to 0.8 eV are found that scale as the inverse of the dot’s linear dimension, as expected for massless Dirac fermions.This work was supported by AEI and FEDER under projects MAT2016-80907-P and MAT2016-77852-C2-2-R (AEI/FEDER, UE) by the Fundación Ramón Areces, the Comunidad de Madrid NMAT2D-CM program under grant S2018/NMT-4511, and the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, through the “María de Maeztu” Programme for Units of Excellence in R&D (CEX2018-000805-M). European Union through the FLAG-ERA program HiMagGraphene project PCIN-2015-030; No. ANR-15-GRFL-0004) and the Graphene Flagship program (Grant agreement 604391). J.L.L acknowledges financial support from the ETH Fellowship program; J.F.-R. acknowledges supported by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia grants P2020-PTDC/FIS-NAN/3668/2014 and TAPEXPL/NTec/0046/2017

Modified carbon fabric electrodes: preparation and electrochemical behavior toward amaranth electrolysis

The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10800-014-0769-9The electrochemical behavior of non-modified, Pt-modified, and Pt/polyaniline-modified carbon fiber textile electrodes was studied through a series of electrolyses, under potentiostatic conditions, on an amaranth/sulfuric solution in the presence or absence of chloride ion. The morphology of the dispersed Pt, PANI, and PANI/Pt coatings was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. Scanning electrochemical microscopy confirmed that the textile surface was effectively modified by the electrocatalytic material. Color removal reached values above 90 % in both electroreduction and electrooxidation processes. The amaranth electroreductions carried out with the non-modified electrode showed better charge efficiency than those with the Pt-modified textile electrode. The electrooxidations with Pt-modified textile electrodes showed a significant reduction in electrolysis time. Ultraviolet-visible and Fourier transform infrared with attenuated total reflection spectra enabled the electrochemical behavior of the non-modified and Pt/PANI-modified electrodes to be distinguished.The authors wish to acknowledge to the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion (contract CTM2011-23583) and Universitat Politecnica de Valencia (Vicerrectorado de Investigacion PAID-06-10 contract 003-233) for the financial support; and as well as Carbongen S. A. (Cocentaina, Spain), who kindly donated the activated carbon fabric. J. Molina is grateful to the Conselleria d'Educacio, Formacio i Ocupacio (Generalitat Valenciana) for the Programa VALi+D Postdoctoral Fellowship. A.I. del Rio is grateful to the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnologia for the FPI fellowship.Fernández Sáez, J.; Del Río García, AI.; Molina Puerto, J.; Bonastre Cano, JA.; Cases Iborra, FJ. (2015). Modified carbon fabric electrodes: preparation and electrochemical behavior toward amaranth electrolysis. Journal of Applied Electrochemistry. 45(3):263-272. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10800-014-0769-9S263272453Marsh H, Reinoso FR (2000) Sciences of carbon materials. Universidad de Alicante, AlicanteKinoshita K (1998) Carbon: electrochemical and physicochemical properties. Wiley, New York, pp 293–387Burchell TD (1999) Carbon materials for advances technologies. Pergamon, AmsterdamDomínguez SD, Pardilla JA, Murcia AB, Morallón E, Amorós DC (2008) Electrochemical deposition of Pt nanoparticles on different carbon supports and conducting polymers. J Appl Electrochem 38:259–268Kezhong W, Xu M, Xindong W, Jingling L (2005) Pt–Polyaniline-modified carbon fiber electrode for the electrooxidation of methanol. Rare Met 24:33–36Wu G, Li L, Li JH, Xu BQ (2006) Methanol electrooxidation on Pt particles dispersed into PANI/SWNT composite films. J Power Sources 155:118–127Singh RN, Awasthi R, Tiwari SK (2010) Electro-catalytic activities of binary nano-composites of Pt and nano-carbon/multiwall carbon nanotube for methanol electro-electrooxidation. Open Catal J 3:50–57Zhiani M, Rezaei B, Jalili J (2010) Methanol electro-electrooxidation on Pt/C modified by polyaniline nanofibers for DMFC applications. Int J Hydrogen Energ 35:9298–9305Laborde H, Léger J-M, Lamy C (1994) Electrocatalytic electrooxidation of methanol and C1 molecules on highly dispersed electrodes. Part 1: Pt in polyaniline. J Appl Electrochem 24:219–226Niu L, Li Q, Wei F, Wu S, Liu P, Cao X (2005) Electrocatalytic behaviour of Pt-modified polyaniline electrode for methanol electrooxidation: effect of Pt deposition modes. J Electroanal Chem 578:331–337Huang LM, Tang WR, Wen TCh (2007) Spatially electrodeposited Pt in polyaniline doped with poly(styrene sulfonic acid) for methanol electrooxidation. 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A Device for Scheduling Irrigation in Fruit Tree Orchards from Sap Flow Readings

Abstract The aim of this work was to design and test a controller (CRP) able to calculate the irrigation dose automatically, suitable for high frequency irrigation in fruit tree orchards. The device consisted of three (replicates) measuring units (MU), a control unit (CU) and a pump and electrovalve controller (PEC). The MUs collected information on the transpiration (E p ) dynamics within the orchard, with the compensation heat-pulse method. Each MU made sap flow readings in one normally-irrigated (NI) tree and in one over-irrigated (OI) tree used for reference. The time course of the E pNI /E pOI ratio was used by the CU for calculating the irrigation dose (ID) daily. The system was programmed to apply a deficit irrigation in which the trees were bound to use part of the readily available water in the soil. Laboratory tests showed a high performance of the CRP for amplifying and filtering output signals from the sap flow probes. The field test showed the CRP was able to collect and handle sap flow data, to calculate ID according to the design algorithm, and to control the pump and electrovalve for supplying the desired ID to the experimental plot. Whether the use of the CRP means an improvement on irrigation scheduling, as compared to standard methods, was not evaluated in this work

Environmental characterization of seamounts in the Alboran Sea using an approach based on sediments and benthic foraminiferal assemblages

Los estudios sobre los montes submarinos de los Bancos Djibouti (Mar de Alborán) son muy escasos. El interés especial de estos montes es su ubicación entre las masas de agua atlántica y mediterránea, su peculiar hidrodinámica y características físico-químicas y sedimentológicas. Los análisis granulométricos y geoquímicos así como las asociaciones de foraminíferos bentónicos en los sedimentos de los montes submarinos Herradura y Avempace (recogidos durante el proyecto DEEPER-IEO), han permitido caracterizar sus cumbres. En general, presentan condiciones ambientales similares de bajo hidrodinamismo y sedimentos de tipo fango a arena arcillosa, con gran proporción de partículas biogénicas y, probablemente, y finos procedentes de áreas costeras y polvo sahariano. Las asociaciones de foraminíferos bentónicos son también muy similares, dominando las especies de las familias Uvigerinidae, Cibicidae y Textulariidae. El enfoque interdisciplinar de este estudio es aconsejable para el análisis eficaz de los hábitats con especies amenazadas de alto valor ecológico y económicoStudies on seamounts from the Djibouti Banks (Alboran Sea) are very scarce. The special interest of these seamounts is their location between Atlantic and Mediterranean water masses and the peculiar hydrodynamic, physicochemical and sedimentological characteristics. The granulometric and geochemical analyses as well as the benthic foraminiferal assemblages of sediments from Herradura and Avempace seamounts (collected during the project DEEPER–IEO) have allowed characterizing the environment of these seamounts summits. In general, both seamounts show similar environmental conditions of low hydrodynamism and muddy to clayey sand sediments with large proportion of biogenic and, probably, fine-sized particles from coastal areas and Saharan dust. Benthic foraminiferal assemblages are also very similar in both seamounts and dominated by species of families Uvigerinidae, Cibicidae and Textulariidae. The interdisciplinary approach of this study is reliable for effective analysis of habitats with threatened species of high ecological and economical valu