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Salinization reduces the osmotic potential of soil solutions and promotes the accumulation of toxic ions (Na+ and Cl-) in plants, causing nutritional imbalance and yield reductions. Thus, the objective of the present study was to evaluate foliar concentrations of nutrients and Na+ and stalk yields in sugarcane RB92579 under different electrical conductivities of irrigation water and leaching fractions (LF). The experiment was conducted in drainage lysimeters in a 5 × 2 factorial scheme with five electrical conductivities of irrigation water - ECw (0.5, 2.0, 4.0, 6.0, and 8.0 dS m-1) without (LF1 = 0) or with a leaching fraction (LF2 = 0.17), and four replicates. Increased ECw decreased the concentrations of N, P, K, Mg, S, Fe, Mn, Cu, and Zn and increased those of Ca, Cl, and Na, reducing the biomass production in two cycles (plant-cane and first ratoon). The use of a leaching fraction of 0.17 mitigated the deleterious effects of salinity on nutrient concentration and yield.

PurposeAs a Quality Management (QM) framework, the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) Excellence Model has stakeholder management at its core. In EFQM (2012), based on which assessments were made until 2021, “creating a sustainable future” was a fundamental principle, but how it translated to a Sustainability Orientation and delivered to stakeholders remains questionable. This study aims to investigates the Sustainability Orientation within EFQM (2012) and its associations with Results for stakeholders.Design/methodology/approachLongitudinal assessments of recognized-for-excellence organizations by a partner of EFQM are considered. Using factor analysis, scores on the sub-criteria that defined “creating a sustainable future” are investigated, and a Sustainability Orientation is inferred. Panel regressions and structural equation modeling assess the correlations between Sustainability Orientation and Results. A qualitative analysis follows, where sustainability reports from role-models within this population are text mined to examine whether and how they reflected the guidance in EFQM (2012) concerning “creating a sustainable future”.FindingsDirect and indirect positive associations between the Sustainability Orientation implied by EFQM (2012) and stakeholder-performance are confirmed. Yet, inferences from text mining of reported priorities of role-models of excellence illustrate that EFQM (2012) might have driven different strategies towards sustainability.Originality/valueDespite conceptualizations that the EFQM model embeds a Sustainability Orientation, to the best of the researchers’ knowledge, its existence and likely impact remain to be examined. By combining longitudinal statistical analysis, structural equation models and text mining, consistent insights on the link between Sustainability Orientation and organizational performance are obtained.

The use of brackish water to cultivate lettuce can cause nutritional imbalances, impairing production. In this context, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of salinity on the accumulation of dry matter of the aerial part and macronutrients K, Ca and Mg and their relations with Na in lettuce cultivars grown in a low-cost hydroponic system. The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design, in a 6 × 2 factorial scheme, with four replicates. The treatments consisted of six electrical conductivities of the nutrient solution (1.5, 2.5, 3.5, 4.5, 5.5 and 6.5 dS m-1) and two lettuce cultivars, Betty [iceberg] and Mimosa [green-leaf]. Regardless of the evaluated cultivar, the increase in the electrical conductivity of the nutrient solution reduced the accumulation of dry matter in the aerial part. In both cultivars, the increase in the electrical conductivity of the nutrient solution reduced the accumulations of K and Mg and increased Na/K, Na/Ca and Na/Mg ratios. The green-leaf cv. Mimosa showed Ca and Mg accumulations higher than that in the iceberg cv. Betty, regardless of electrical conductivity. The increase in electrical conductivity reduced the accumulation of K, in both cultivars evaluated. The decreasing order in the accumulation of macronutrients and sodium in both cultivars was: K > Na > Ca > Mg.

OBJETIVO: identificar os fatores relacionados às terapias renais substitutivas que interferem na qualidade de vida de pacientes renais crônicos terminais. METODOLOGIA: trata-se de uma revisão integrativa utilizando os descritores “Insuficiência renal crônica”, “Transplante de rim”, “Diálise renal”, “Qualidade de vida” e “Readmissão de paciente”, aplicados e combinados de formas diferentes na Biblioteca Virtual de Saúde (BVS) e periódicos CAPES. RESULTADOS: foram encontradas 96 publicações e 16 foram selecionadas, entre 2015 e 2019, de acordo com os critérios estabelecidos. Conforme a predominância do assunto abordado, foram nomeadas categorias temáticas: Sentimentos vivenciados de acordo com a escolha da terapia renal substitutiva; Expectativas relacionadas ao transplante; Transplante renal e a função do enxerto; Fatores que interferem na qualidade de vida durante a terapia renal substitutiva. Foram identificados sentimentos, expectativas, facilidades e dificuldades após o transplante renal para o funcionamento do enxerto, além de fatores físicos, psicológicos e assistenciais relacionados à terapia renal substitutiva e como estes interferem na qualidade de vida de pessoas com doença renal terminal. CONCLUSÃO: Impactos físicos e psicológicos, além da qualidade da assistência na terapia renal substitutiva interferem na qualidade de vida da pessoa com doença renal crônica em estágio terminal.

This paper develops a new ensemble-based approach to point and interval forecasting, and focus on total electricity supply. The proposed approach combines Bootstrap Aggregation (Bagging), time series methods and a novel pruning routine that performs feature selection before the aggregation of forecasts. Monthly time series of the total electricity supplied between January 2000 and September 2020 in 16 countries are considered. Forecasting performance in different horizons is examined. As the data includes the COVID-19 pandemic that affected countries in different ways, with some visible changes in electricity demand, the likely impact of unusual observations on this proposal is also examined. A comparative, multi-step-ahead forecasting with out-of-sample evaluation is conducted using several forecasting accuracy metrics and detailed robustness checks. The results endorse the strength and resilience of the proposed approach in delivering not only accurate point forecasts, but also reliable prediction intervals under different economic settings. Moreover, the methodology presented herein is flexible, in the sense that it can be used to generate reliable point and interval forecasts for any time series in short and medium horizons.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to address potential effects of the control element in quality management. First, behavioural theories on how elements of performance management can affect organisational performance are examined. Second, theoretical models on how perceptions of work conditions may impact well-being and performance are considered. Direct and indirect pathways from performance management to productivity/quality are inferred.Design/methodology/approachMatched employee-workplace data from an economy-wide survey in Britain and two-level structural equation models are used to test the hypothesised associations.FindingsThe use of practices in workplaces is inconsistent with a unified performance management approach. Distinct outcomes are expected from separate components in performance management and some may be contingent on workplace size. For example, within quality planning, strategy dissemination is positively associated with workplace productivity; targets are negatively associated with perceptions of job demands and positively correlated with job satisfaction, which in turn can increase workplace productivity. With respect to information and analysis: keeping and analysing records, or monitoring employee performance via appraisals that assess training needs, are positively associated with workplace productivity and quality.Originality/valueThis paper illustrates how control in quality management can be effective. Although the merits of performance management are subject to ongoing debate, arguments in the literature have tended to focus on performance appraisal. Analyses of economy-wide data linking performance management practices, within quality management, to employee perceptions of work conditions, well-being and aggregate performance are rare.

In the context of a wider trend to individualize HRM, this paper examines the relationship between flexible working arrangements and individual performance. Drawing on a range of theories, it examines potential indirect effects on employee performance via job satisfaction and organizational commitment and analyses whether these relationships vary according to whether the arrangement was set up through a formal process, or negotiated informally between the employee and their line manager. Extant research has tended to focus on formal arrangements, however, informal arrangements are widespread and may better accommodate work-life preferences, thereby potentially fostering more positive attitudes from employees. Survey data from 2617 employees in four large organizations with well-established flexible working policies are analysed. Results from structural equation models show average positive indirect effects from informal, but also negative direct effects, from formal flexible working. When two forms of flexible working amenable to being set up by both formal and informal means are examined separately: formal arrangements for flexibility over working hours are found to be negatively associated with performance, but also a source of greater job satisfaction; informal remote working arrangements have positive indirect effects via organizational commitment and job satisfaction on worker performance.

Following the development of natural gas trading hubs in Europe, forward products have become a response to the higher exposure to price risk faced by energy companies. Yet, a significant share of trade occurs over-the-counter (OTC), where inter-dealer brokers act as intermediaries and deals may be customized. Hence, there are concerns about transparency and market quality, of which liquidity is a main indicator. This study investigates liquidity in the largest one-month-ahead European forward market for natural gas in the period from May 2010 to December 2014, using asynchronous high-frequency data and time-varying measures of spread and price impact from the financial market microstructure literature. The usefulness of these measures in the seasonal and evolving National Balancing Point (NBP) is assessed and different aspects of liquidity and transaction costs are unveiled.

Long-run dynamics of electricity prices are expected to reflect fuel price developments, since fuels generally account for a large share in the cost of generation. As an integrated European market for electricity develops, wholesale electricity prices should be converging as a result of market coupling and increased interconnectivity. Electricity mixes are also changing, spurred by a drive to significantly increase the share of renewables. Consequently, the electricity wholesale price dynamics are evolving, and the fuel–electricity price nexus that has been described in the literature is likely to reflect this evolution. This study investigates associations between spot prices from the British, French and Nordpool markets with those in connected electricity markets and fuel input prices, from December 2005 to October 2013. In order to assess the time-varying dynamics of electricity spot price series, localized autocorrelation functions are used. Electricity spot prices in the three markets are found to have stationary and non-stationary periods. When a trend in spot prices is observed, it is likely to reflect the trend in fuel prices. Cointegration analysis is then used to assess co-movement between electricity spot prices and fuel inputs to generation. The results show that British electricity spot prices are associated with fuel prices and not with price developments in connected markets, while the opposite is observed in the French and Nordpool day-ahead markets.

This study extends existing literature on the assessment of electricity market integration in Europe, by developing and testing hypotheses on the convergence of electricity wholesale prices, and adopting a time-varying fractional cointegration analysis. In addition, the potential impacts of some special events that may affect system capacity (new interconnection, market coupling, increase in share of intermittent generation) on spot and forward markets are considered and evaluated. Daily spot prices from February 2000 to March 2013 of nine European electricity spot markets (APX-UK, APX-NL, Belpex, EPEX-FR, EPEX-DE, IPEX, Nordpool, Omel and OTE) and month-ahead prices in four markets (French, British, German and Dutch) from November 2007 to December 2012 are investigated. Results show that unit root tests, which are generally used in the literature to test market integration, are inadequate for assessing electricity spot market convergence, because spot prices are found to be fractionally integrated and mean-reverting time series. Furthermore, spot price behaviour and their association with different markets change over time, reflecting changes in the EU electrical system. One-month-ahead prices, by contrast, were found to have become more resilient to shocks and to follow more stable trends.

Workplace flexibility is ubiquitous in the 21st century. Research over the past 20 years has informed us that workplace flexibility such as telework, flextime, and reduced-load work are of increasi...

Introduction The clinical and polysomnographic meaning of the Alternating Leg Muscle Activation (ALMA) and Hypnagogic Foot Tremor (HFT) patterns in children is not known. Methods A descriptive study was carried out to identify the prevalence and polysomnographic characteristics of ALMA and HFT sequences in a sample of 122 children sequentially admitted in the sleep laboratory, with the analysis of clinical and demographic characteristics of the ALMA/HFT group in relation to a comparison group without this condition, paired by age and gender. Results Sample prevalence was 14.8% for any HFT/ALMA event, 13.1% for ALMA and 10.7% for HFT. In the HFT/ALMA group, the mean age was 8 years old (2-12 years old), 66.7% of males. Obstructive Sleep Apnea was observed in 75% of children, but HFT / ALMA sequences only occasionally occurred in association with respiratory events. The use of medications with monoaminergic activity was associated with the occurrence of HFT/ALMA, p=0,019. There was higher N1 sleep content in the HFT / ALMA group, p=0,0301. There was no significant difference between both groups regarding the other clinical-demographic or polysomnographic parameters analyzed. Autonomic activation represented by heart rate fluctuations often occurred in association with the HFT / ALMA sequences, irrespective of the occurrence of arousals, awakenings, other motor or respiratory events. Conclusion HFT / ALMA is a frequent condition in children that are referred to the sleep lab.The stereotypy of the HFT / ALMA series suggests that their origin might be motor central pattern generators, which are potentially influenced by substances with monoaminergic effect. The finding of higher superficial sleep content in children with HFT / ALMA may indicate greater susceptibility to alteration of pediatric sleep architecture by such subtle motor events. The possibility of clinical consequences and cardiovascular diseases should be considered in relation to the association of HFT / ALMA with observed autonomic activation. Support None.

To compare the three-dimensional changes occurring in the maxillary arch during the use of modified pre-surgical nasoalveolar moulding (PNAM) and Hotz's plate. A clinical trial including 32 children with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP), 16 treated with Hotz's plate and 16 with PNAM, was performed. Impressions of the maxillary arches were taken: A. prior to pre-surgical orthopaedics, B. before cheiloplasty and C. after cheiloplasty. Models were digitised using a stereophotogrammetric instrument, and geodesic distances were calculated: anterior, canine and posterior widths of the arch, and lengths and cleft depths of the larger and shorter segments. The time and treatment effects were assessed by two-factor anova. A significant effect of treatment was found for cleft depth at the larger segment: children treated with Hotz's plate had significantly deeper cleft than children treated with PNAM. All distances significantly changed during time: the anterior and canine widths decreased, while the posterior width, the lengths and depths of the cleft segments increased. Significant treatment per time interactions was found. The anterior and canine widths reduced more with PNAM between time points A and B while Hotz's treatment was more effective between B and C. The shorter segment depth increased more between B and C with PNAM, and between A and B with Hotz's plate. During pre-surgical orthopaedics, therapy with PNAM obtained the best results in reducing the width at the anterior segment of the cleft. This treatment gave a lower increase in cleft depth than treatment with Hotz's plate.

Forecasts combinations normally use point forecasts that were obtained from different models or sources ([1], [2], [3]). This paper explores the incorporation of internal structure parameters of feed-forward neural network (NN) models as an approach to combine their forecasts via ensembles. First, the generated NN models that could be part of the ensembles are subject to a clustering algorithm that uses the structure parameters and, from each of the clusters obtained, a small set of models is selected and their forecasts are combined in a two-stage procedure. Secondly, in an alternative and simpler implementation, a subset of the generated NN models is selected by using several reference points in the model structure parameter space. The choice of the reference points is optimised through a genetic algorithm and the models selected are averaged. Hourly electricity demand time series is used to assess multi-step ahead forecasting performance for up to a 12 hours horizon. Results are compared against several statistical benchmarks, the average of the individual forecasts and the best models in the ensembles. Results show that the clusterbased (CB) structural combinations do better than the genetic algorithm (GA) structural combinations in outperforming the average forecast, which is the traditional point forecast from an ensemble.

Morphological changes in three-dimensional (3D) dentolabial relationships during ageing were assessed in healthy individuals. 38 subjects with healthy dentition were analysed. They were divided into a youthful group (21-34 years, mean 26 years, SD 4) and an older group (45-65 years, mean 53 years, SD 5). Stone labial and dental models were made, digitized and 3D virtual reproductions of dentolabial morphology were obtained. From the digital reconstructions, the relative positions of the labial commissure and of the maxillary dental clinical crowns in the vertical direction were obtained. Sex and age effects were compared using two-way analysis of variance. Lip position relative to the teeth was significantly different in youthful and older subjects (P0.01). No statistically significant effects of sex in dentolabial relationship were demonstrated, but a sex×age effect was found in the anterior labial segments (P0.05). The perioral soft tissues drop down in older subjects and the soft tissue descends on the entire labial arch. These differences may help the clinician when estimating, planning and evaluating surgical, orthodontic and prosthetic treatments.

This empirical paper compares the accuracy of six univariate methods for short-term electricity demand forecasting for lead times up to a day ahead. The very short lead times are of particular interest as univariate methods are often replaced by multivariate methods for prediction beyond about six hours ahead. The methods considered include the recently proposed exponential smoothing method for double seasonality and a new method based on principal component analysis (PCA). The methods are compared using a time series of hourly demand for Rio de Janeiro and a series of half-hourly demand for England and Wales. The PCA method performed well, but, overall, the best results were achieved with the exponential smoothing method, leading us to conclude that simpler and more robust methods, which require little domain knowledge, can outperform more complex alternatives.

Liquidity in the National Balancing Point (NBP) forward market during 2010-14 is examined using liquidity measures adopted from the financial literature. Since the sample period includes the date when the EU Regulation on Market Integrity and Transparency (REMIT) became in force, the question of whether changes in these measures reflect REMIT is also investigated. There is evidence of increased market transparency and competition, but no significant differences in the level of liquidity in the NBP one-month-ahead market appear to have followed the introduction of REMIT.

Purpose By contrasting a contingency with a universal approach to business excellence models (BEMs), the purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of size on the use of the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) model by organizations that were officially “Recognized for Excellence” in Spain. It considers the potential differences between large organizations and SMEs on the level of adoption of EFQM criteria and on the impact that enablers-criteria may have on key performance measures. Design/methodology/approach This study uses actual sub-criteria and criteria scores attained by organizations in their assessment for EFQM recognition. Scores of a population of 216 organizations are analyzed via analysis of variance, factor and structural equations models. Findings Although there are some criteria in the EFQM model that appear to be universally adopted irrespective of size, the empirical analyses indicate that size may shape the adoption of other criteria and the impact that enablers can have on results, thus supporting a contingency perspective. Moreover, the findings call for the revision of the relationships embedded in the EFQM model. Originality/value In contrast to most previous research, which relied on surveys of managers’ perceptions, this study uses the actual scores achieved by organizations in their assessment for EFQM recognition. It addresses the effect of size on the whole model, which so far has been neglected in the literature. All in all this study contributes to the literature on contingency approaches to best practices, and more specifically to BEMs. To the practitioner, it provides guidelines for addressing perceived performance gaps in their pursuit of recognition for excellence.

Diversos resíduos orgânicos são utilizados na agricultura sem o adequado conhecimento da sua dinâmica de mineralização. Avaliou-se a mineralização de esterco de ovinos e sua influência na produção de alface. Utilizou-se o delineamento experimental de blocos ao acaso com três repetições. Foram utilizadas 25 t ha-1 como dose de esterco para cada um dos seguintes tratamentos: 1) esterco de ovinos que se alimentaram de feno de mandioca (PAM); 2) esterco de ovinos que se alimentaram de subproduto de ervilha (ERV); 3) esterco de ovinos que se alimentaram de feno de capim coast-cross (FCC); 4) esterco de ovinos que se alimentaram de subproduto de saccharina (SAC) e 5) solo sem aplicação de esterco (testemunha). Foi determinada semanalmente a respiração basal do solo, utilizada como indicador de mineralização da matéria orgânica. A massa fresca de alface foi avaliada como medida de produção. Os tratamentos ERV, FCC e SAC apresentaram ganhos de massa fresca na ordem de 68, 65 e 62% em relação à testemunha e de 43, 39 e 33% em relação ao PAM, respectivamente. A produção menor promovida pelo PAM, em relação às demais, pode ser explicada pela forma de mineralização da matéria orgânica que apresentou elevada respiração microbiana cinco dias após o transplantio, com acentuado declínio, nas medições subseqüentes, ao longo do ciclo da cultura. Os demais tratamentos apresentaram mineralização sincronizada com conseqüente aumento na produção de massa fresca.Several organic wastes are used in agriculture with no precise knowledge about the mineralization dynamics of these materials. In this study the sheep manure mineralization and its influence on the lettuce production was evaluated. A randomized block design with three replications was used. Five treatments were studied using 25 t ha-1 as dose of manure: 1) sheep manure obtained from animals fed with cassava straw (PAM); 2) sheep manure obtained from animals fed with residue of pea crop (ERV); 3) sheep manure obtained from animals fed with Coast-Cross hay (FCC), 4) sheep manure obtained from animals fed with saccharin residue (SAC) and 5) soil without application of manure (control). Weekly the basal respiration was determined and used as an indicator of organic matter mineralization. Lettuce fresh mass was evaluated as a measure of production. Treatments ERV, FCC and SAC showed superior weight gains of 68, 65 and 62% compared to the control and 43, 39 and 33% compared to MAP, respectively. Lower production promoted by the MAP in relation to the other treatments can be explained by organic matter mineralization that showed a high microbial respiration five days after transplanting, with marked decline in subsequent measurements during the crop cycle. The other systems showed mineralization synchronized with the production increase of lettuce fresh mass.

This paper investigates whether there is a specific approach to the adoption of best management practices embedded in the EFQM Excellence Model, which characterizes leading “Recognized for Excellence” organizations in Spain. In addition, it studies which practices within EFQM's enablers predict high performance. In contrast to most previous research that used surveys of managers' perceptions, this study uses the actual criteria and sub-criteria scores attained by organizations in their assessment for EFQM recognition. Scores of a population of 216 organizations, which were assessed in the period from March 2011 to March 2013, are analyzed via ANOVA, factor and regression analyses. The findings show that Spanish organizations adopt the best practices encompassing the EFQM model in a similar fashion: organizations on average follow parallel trends in the scores received per criterion, and there are no significant differences in the importance attributed to enablers. Either role models are being followed, or most organizations know what is expected by the assessors and try to fulfill these expectations. Consequently, an imitative process disseminates and legitimizes the EFQM model in Spain. In addition, it is found that the People criterion makes a difference in attaining high performance, thus emphasizing the relative importance of the softer dimension in Quality Management. This study contributes to the management literature on best practices, by highlighting a consistent trend in the use of the EFQM model, and also provides insights to managers on how to better allocate resources within Business Excellence Models. The authors appreciate the financial support for this research from the Universitat Jaume I (Ref. P1.1B2013-26), from the Generalitat Valenciana (Ref. AICO/2015/029) and from the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación of Spain (Ref. ECO2011-25809).