Leading the Challenge: Leader Support Modifies the Effect of Role Ambiguity on Engagement and Extra-Role Behaviors in Public Employees

The assumption of new challenges and services to provide, and the evolution of new technologies in public administration, give employees an important perception of ambiguity when carrying out their work. Role ambiguity has been conceptualized as one of the main impeding demands at work with negative consequences. The objective of the present study is to analyze the moderating effect of the support by the department head in the negative influence of the role ambiguity on the engagement and the extra-role performance behaviors of the employees. The hypothesis is proposed that the support of the department head will mean the transformation of role ambiguity into a challenging job demand with positive results. A total of 315 public employees with administrative staff have participated in this study. Results confirmed that the support of the leader moderates the effects of role ambiguity. The inclusion of this variable as a moderator transforms the influence of role ambiguity on the employees’ engagement into a positive one and reduces their negative effect on extra-role performance behaviors. These results reinforce the role of leader support as a protective element against job demands in public administrations. Theoretical and practical implications and future lines of research are discussed at the end of the work

Are Job Demands Necessary in the Influence of a Transformational Leader? The Moderating Effect of Role Conflict

(1) Background: The objective of this manuscript is to propose the necessity of job demands to ensure the positive influence of policies in stimulating employees’ engagement and performance. If the policies related to the intellectual stimulation of employees implemented by team leaders are to have positive effects on employee performance, they must induce emotional engagement in the employees. Furthermore, to achieve this positive influence on emotions, the organization must offer an environment that challenges the employees in the organization. Here, we analyze a moderate mediation model to examine the moderating, positive effect of role conflict on the intellectual engagement and performance of employees. (2) Methods: This study involved 705 employees of a multinational private company based in Spain. (3) Results: We confirm the positive moderating effect of role conflict between the intellectual stimulation of employees and intellectual engagement, and the mediating effect of intellectual engagement between leadership behavior and employee performance. (4) Conclusions: Organizational leader stimulation practices necessitate an environment of moderate job demands in order to improve the intellectual engagement of employees, thereby increasing their performance. The implications of the findings in terms of theory, research and practice are discussed

La investigación biomédica en España (II). Evaluación del Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria (FIS) a través de los proyectos de investigación financiados en el período 1988-1995 a centros de investigación, facultades y escuelas

En un trabajo previo, publicado en esta misma revista, los autores han estudiado los resultados generados por los proyectos de investigación financiados por el Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria (FIS) a las Instituciones Sanitarias Asistenciales (hospitales) y los procedentes de los cuestionarios de encuestas remitidos a los investigadores responsables de tales proyectos y a los directores gerentes de los hospitales en los que se realizaron los mismos. En el presente trabajo, se continúa el proceso de evaluación del FIS, centrándose la atención en la distribución de los proyectos de investigación concedidos a los centros de investigación, facultades y escuelas, y en los resultados obtenidos a través de los cuestionarios de encuesta cumplimentados por los investigadores principales pertenecientes a estas instituciones o entidades.La realización de este trabajo ha sido posible gracias a la financiación otorgada por el FIS al proyecto de investigación 96/1803.Peer reviewe

Confirmatory and Exploratory Analysis of the Questionnaire to Evaluate the Disposition towards Organizational Change (CEDCO)

This article shows the results of two processes that corresponded to exploratory and confirmatory analyses of the Questionnaire to Evaluate the Disposition towards Organizational Change (CEDCO). The overall sample consisted of 1554 people. The first process considered 489 participants, and provided evidence of the multidimensionality of the test on three levels. The second process involved a sample of 1065 people, and provided evidence for appropriate fit values for the model that were consistent with the initial proposal for the test on three levels of evaluation: individual, group, and organizational. The results suggest the need to evaluate the practice using other mathematical models to address the biases that exist in some item distributions

Isoreticular two-dimensional magnetic coordination polymers prepared through pre-synthetic ligand functionalization

Chemical functionalization is a powerful approach to tailor the physical and chemical properties of two-dimensional materials, increase their processability and stability, tune their functionalities and, even, create new 2D materials. This is typically achieved through post-synthetic functionalization by anchoring molecules on the surface of an exfoliated 2D crystal, but it inevitably alters the long-range structural order of the material. Here we present a pre-synthetic approach that allows the isolation of crystalline, robust, and magnetic functionalized monolayers of coordination polymers. A series of five isoreticular layered magnetic coordination polymers based on Fe(II) centres and different benzimidazole derivatives (bearing a Cl, H, CH3, Br or NH2 side group) were first prepared. On mechanical exfoliation, 2D materials are obtained that retain their long-range structural order and exhibit good mechanical and magnetic properties. This combination, together with the possibility to functionalize their surface at will, makes them good candidates to explore magnetism in the 2D limit and to fabricate mechanical resonators for selective gas sensing

Usefulness of bone turnover markers as predictors of mortality risk, disease progression and skeletal-related events appearance in patients with prostate cancer with bone metastases following treatment with zoledronic acid: TUGAMO study

Owing to the limited validity of clinical data on the treatment of prostate cancer (PCa) and bone metastases, biochemical markers are a promising tool for predicting survival, disease progression and skeletal-related events (SREs) in these patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive capacity of biochemical markers of bone turnover for mortality risk, disease progression and SREs in patients with PCa and bone metastases undergoing treatment with zoledronic acid (ZA). Methods: This was an observational, prospective and multicenter study in which ninety-eight patients were included. Patients were treated with ZA (4mg every 4 weeks for 18 months). Data were collected at baseline and 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18 months after the beginning of treatment. Serum levels of bone alkaline phosphtase (BALP), aminoterminal propeptide of procollagen type I (P1NP) and beta-isomer of carboxiterminal telopeptide of collagen I (b-CTX) were analysed at all points in the study. Data on disease progression, SREs development and survival were recorded. Results: Cox regression models with clinical data and bone markers showed that the levels of the three markers studied were predictive of survival time, with b-CTX being especially powerful, in which a lack of normalisation in visit 1 (3 months after the beginning of treatment) showed a 6.3-times more risk for death than in normalised patients. Levels of these markers were also predictive for SREs, although in this case BALP and P1NP proved to be better predictors. We did not find any relationship between bone markers and disease progression. Conclusion: In patients with PCa and bone metastases treated with ZA, b-CTX and P1NP can be considered suitable predictors for mortality risk, while BALP and P1NP are appropriate for SREs. The levels of these biomarkers 3 months after the beginning of treatment are especially importantThis study was supported by Novartis Oncology Spai

Corrigendum to "European contribution to the study of ROS:A summary of the findings and prospects for the future from the COST action BM1203 (EU-ROS)" [Redox Biol. 13 (2017) 94-162]

The European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) provides an ideal framework to establish multi-disciplinary research networks. COST Action BM1203 (EU-ROS) represents a consortium of researchers from different disciplines who are dedicated to providing new insights and tools for better understanding redox biology and medicine and, in the long run, to finding new therapeutic strategies to target dysregulated redox processes in various diseases. This report highlights the major achievements of EU-ROS as well as research updates and new perspectives arising from its members. The EU-ROS consortium comprised more than 140 active members who worked together for four years on the topics briefly described below. The formation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) is an established hallmark of our aerobic environment and metabolism but RONS also act as messengers via redox regulation of essential cellular processes. The fact that many diseases have been found to be associated with oxidative stress established the theory of oxidative stress as a trigger of diseases that can be corrected by antioxidant therapy. However, while experimental studies support this thesis, clinical studies still generate controversial results, due to complex pathophysiology of oxidative stress in humans. For future improvement of antioxidant therapy and better understanding of redox-associated disease progression detailed knowledge on the sources and targets of RONS formation and discrimination of their detrimental or beneficial roles is required. In order to advance this important area of biology and medicine, highly synergistic approaches combining a variety of diverse and contrasting disciplines are needed

Are Job Demands Necessary in the Influence of a Transformational Leader? The Moderating Effect of Role Conflict

(1) Background: The objective of this manuscript is to propose the necessity of job demands to ensure the positive influence of policies in stimulating employees’ engagement and performance. If the policies related to the intellectual stimulation of employees implemented by team leaders are to have positive effects on employee performance, they must induce emotional engagement in the employees. Furthermore, to achieve this positive influence on emotions, the organization must offer an environment that challenges the employees in the organization. Here, we analyze a moderate mediation model to examine the moderating, positive effect of role conflict on the intellectual engagement and performance of employees. (2) Methods: This study involved 705 employees of a multinational private company based in Spain. (3) Results: We confirm the positive moderating effect of role conflict between the intellectual stimulation of employees and intellectual engagement, and the mediating effect of intellectual engagement between leadership behavior and employee performance. (4) Conclusions: Organizational leader stimulation practices necessitate an environment of moderate job demands in order to improve the intellectual engagement of employees, thereby increasing their performance. The implications of the findings in terms of theory, research and practice are discussed

Clima y satisfacción laboral en el contexto universitario

El objetivo del estudio es comprobar la relación del clima y la satisfacción laboral en el contexto de una universidad pública. Los datos fueron recogidos de 318 empleados públicos del personal de administración y servicios. Se realizaron análisis multinivel para comprobar los efectos transnivel del clima, operacionalizado a nivel de las áreas administrativas, y la satisfacción laboral individual. El modelo de Kopelman, Brief y Guzzo (1990) sirve de marco teórico para mostrar las relaciones entre el clima y los estados cognitivos y afectivos, como la satisfacción laboral. Los resultados muestran que el clima de las áreas tiene una relación positiva y significativa con la satisfacción laboral, lo que tiene implicaciones para el desarrollo de prácticas innovadoras de recursos humanos que fomenten el bienestar y el compromiso de los empleados, en la construcción de una organización saludable y responsable socialmente

Clima y satisfacción laboral en el contexto universitario

El objetivo del estudio es comprobar la relación del clima y la satisfacción laboral en el contexto de una universidad pública. Los datos fueron recogidos de 318 empleados públicos del personal de administración y servicios. Se realizaron análisis multinivel para comprobar los efectos transnivel del clima, operacionalizado a nivel de las áreas administrativas, y la satisfacción laboral individual. El modelo de Kopelman, Brief y Guzzo (1990) sirve de marco teórico para mostrar las relaciones entre el clima y los estados cognitivos y afectivos, como la satisfacción laboral. Los resultados muestran que el clima de las áreas tiene una relación positiva y significativa con la satisfacción laboral, lo que tiene implicaciones para el desarrollo de prácticas innovadoras de recursos humanos que fomenten el bienestar y el compromiso de los empleados, en la construcción de una organización saludable y responsable socialmente