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Introduction. In light of economic and social threats and challenges such as globalization, economic crises, child labor, climate change and technological transformation, this paper presents the results, conclusions and recommendations of a study and conceptualization of the Valometer, a system of business indicators designed to facilitate management with values. Methodology. It focuses on the use of three complementary techniques. The first phase comprised the exhaustive diagnosis of four bibliographic reviews focused on inclusiveness, sustainability, technology and communication. In the second phase, theoretical intentional sampling was used to select 50 professionals-experts (scientists and professors from different academic disciplines, businesspeople, entrepreneurs, managers and advisors from different business sectors) to participate in three semi-structured discussion groups combined with qualitative in-depth interviews to jointly conceptualize the Valometer. Results The resulting tool consists of 50 criteria and indicators constructed scientifically and divided into 5 spheres: A) Identity; B) Administration and management; C) People; D) Sustainability; and E) Technology. Conclusions The data obtained from a small sample of companies that have used the tool in pilot mode suggest that the Valometer may be a useful tool for facilitating business management with values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on the 1.5 generation immigrants in Spain, i.e. those who arrived at age 12 or earlier. Using data from the Spanish Labor Force Survey (LFS), we analyze the probability of being unemployed during the economic recession period. Results suggest that the 1.5 generation has a higher risk of being unemployed, although this risk decreases when accounting for sociodemographic characteristics. As time in the labor market increases, 1.5 generation immigrants manage to reverse their initial disadvantage with respect to the first generation, and close the gap with natives. Results indicate that, compared to first generation immigrants, the 1.5 generation group requires more time to find a job, although they compensate for this initial employment disadvantage by securing better positions. Thus, unlike the first generation immigrants, they have greater returns to years in the labor market, which also result in higher employment protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this article is to present new findings regarding the impact of the characteristics of the school environment on the gender gap in education. Based on data from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), the extent to which the existing gender gap in reading comprehension scores is conditioned by different school contexts and the level of gender equality in each country is assessed. Using multi-level analysis, we find that the social composition of the school and the behaviour of students has a significant impact on the gender gap, though in a differentiated manner. The gender gap in education increases when the school climate is worse, and it decreases when the concentration of parents with low education levels is low. In societies with higher levels of gender equality, girls see their scores in reading comprehension increase more than boys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Every year, the Test Commission of the Spanish Psychological Association promotes the assessment of the test quality of several published tests. The aim of the present study is two-fold: a) to present results for the eighth review, and b) to consider the contribution of the universities in this process. Ten experts, 332 students, and seven professors participated in this edition and the standard protocol for review was aligned towards a service-learning format. For the 11 tests assessed, results showed an adequate quality (average of 3.9 points on a 1-5 rating scale) similar to previous years (r = .90). The strengths were test development and standardization, and a number of proposals for improving other sections were suggested. The service-learning approach contributed to the diversification of voices in the process with students' and experts' reports showing similar quality and an expected level of agreement (r = .67). We conclude that this project has helped to identify the opportunity to further deepen the use of shared language in order to strengthen the communication between the test publishers, the promoters of the Spanish model of test assessment, and the test users, especially in the case of beginners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biennial variations of marine palynomorph concentrations mirrored oceanographic conditions in the Magdalena Basin, Baja California Sur (Mexico), in the period from 1811 to 1907 (common era, CE), for which the sea surface temperature index (SSTI) showed predominantly negative anomalies. We analyzed 49 samples of laminated sediments taken from a core extracted at a water depth of 520 m. Changes in dinoflagellate assemblages and copepod egg abundances were compared to SSTI records and to El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) reconstructions. Copepods were the most abundant and showed a significant correlation with SSTI. Among the dinoflagellates, heterotrophs were the most abundant and did not correlate with SSTI. The lowest concentration of autotrophs showed a significant and inverse correlation with SSTI. The canonical correlation analysis also indicated that copepods and autotrophs were modulated by variations in SSTI. Dinoflagellate richness and concentrations and copepod egg concentrations were low, indicating low productivity, and these values coincided with the negative SSTI anomalies. In contrast, the increase in concentrations from 1881 to 1907 CE coincided with positive SSTI anomalies. Also, even when marine palynomorphs showed no significant correlation with either ENSO or PDO, their concentrations increased during age intervals with combined negative conditions (La Niña, negative PDO) and decreased during combined warm conditions (El Niño, positive PDO). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results of a qualitative research study based on 12 focus groups with a total of 106 people about the role of social networks in the consumption of current information are presented. We inquired about the motivation of citizens to interact with the news on social networks, and if they consider them appropriate spaces for public debate. Some findings of this study suggest that social networks are seen as an adequate space to share news and information on matters of public interest; to extend the agenda of topics that focus on the interests of users by allowing them access to topics often silenced in their usual media; and finally, social networks are viewed as more suitable for opinions, rather than public debate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of the effect of anthropogenic activity on the water quality was carried out in the western part of Lipjan (Kosovo). The software "Statistica 6.0" was used for calculations of basic statistical parameters and anomalies (extremes and outliers). The levels of some physicochemical parameters of groundwater are compared with the World Health Organization standards for drinking water. Our results show significant pollution (high values of electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids and consumption of KMnO4) of groundwaters as a result of anthropogenic activity coming from settlements, pollution of small rivers (Vodavoda and Grika) and wastewaters in the surrounding area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]