This collective work has the aim to bring together several contributions by scholars from different Countries through the leitmotif of the analysis of work through digital platforms, also in the light of the latest proposal for a European Union directive. The first section focuses on the analysis of digital platform work, in various aspects, including issues concerning the use of artificial intelligence. The second section analyses issues related to the development of workers’ rights through digital platforms. In the third section, the authors made considerations on the intervention of the draft directive on qualification.

El uso masificado de las nuevas tecnologías y la progresiva democratización de Internet han supuesto múltiples transformaciones de la realidad social en los últimos años. Los gobiernos están intentando brindar respuestas a las nuevas formas de interacción social presentes en el panorama cotidiano. Dentro de este esfuerzo, la incorporación de estrategias tecnológicas que permitan diseñar modelos alternativos de gestión pública surgen como una necesidad.En este contexto de configuración de nuevas estrategias de gestión pública se ha producido el surgimiento de un nuevo modelo que ha despertado la atención de académicos, funcionarios públicos y sociedad civil: el Gobierno Abierto (GA). Este modelo emergente propone reinventar la forma de gobernar introduciendo elementos que combinan el uso de nuevas tecnologías y fortalecen los valores democráticos.

This book gathers contributions related to the most pressing problems and challenges that new information and communications technologies (ICT) and digital platforms introduce into the labour market, and the impact they have on the way that people work, their rights and even their health and dignity. In addition, there are also chapters studying personal data protection, which is currently a topic of maximum interest due to the New European Regulation about it. The contributors here are drawn from around the world, with several countries represented, such as Portugal, Spain, Italy, Brazil, Australia and Venezuela. The book will appeal lawyers, legal and human resources experts, economists, judges, academics and staff from trade unions, and employers’ representation. The volume features insights and contributions in different languages, with chapters in Spanish (12), English (6) and Portuguese (4).

Benchmarking has become a key tool in the water industry to promote and achieve performance targets for utilities. The use of this tool for performance improvement through systematic search and adaptation of leading practices, has expanded globally during the past decade. Many ongoing projects worldwide aim to address different needs and objectives, in varying contexts, with outstanding results and impact. Benchmarking Water Services provides valuable information to everyone interested in benchmarking in the water industry. The text is aimed at utilities considering joining a benchmarking project, experienced practitioners in charge of organizing a benchmarking exercise, consultants, regulators and researchers. The document is presented with a clear practice oriented approach and can be used as a how-to-benchmark guide presented from different perspectives (participants, organizers, supervising bodies). Readers will gain practical insight on real life benchmarking practices and will benefit from the experiences gained in some of the leading benchmarking projects of the water industry (including the IWA-WSAA benchmarking efforts, the European Benchmarking Co-operation and the several benchmarking projects carried out in Austria and Central Europe). The manual also presents the new IWA Benchmarking Framework, which aims to harmonize the terms used to describe benchmarking and performance indicators practices in the water industry, guaranteeing a more fluent and efficient communication. This Manual of Best Practice is edited by the IWA Specialist Group on Benchmarking and Performance Assessment, and co-published by AWWA and IWA Publishing. Praise for Benchmarking Water Services: "The continual trend of conceptual to specifics throughout the book provides for an educational experience each time the book is either casually perused or carefully studied." "The authors (Cabrera, Haskins and Fritiz) diligently pursue the focus of improvement." "Benchmarking Water Services is an in depth and practical ‘must have’ guide for any utility currently engaged in or planning to develop a benchmarking process" - Gregory M. Baird (2012) Benchmarking: An International Journal 19:2. More information about the book can be found on the Water Wiki in an article written by the author: http://www.iwawaterwiki.org/xwiki/bin/view/Articles/TheNewIWABenchmarkingFramework A Spanish language version of this book is available as a free eBook: http://www.iwawaterwiki.org/xwiki/bin/view/Articles/eBookTitlesfromIWAPublishingFreetoDownload-Volume2#HBenchmarkingParaServiciosdeAgua

This thesis describes a telemedicine approach to a computer-aided healthcare system. NEMESIS is the Spanish acronym of New Electrocardiographic Medical Station with Information Systems. The application is a comprehensive tool set, structured around a main navigation bar, which leads to every sub-application. Those sub-applications are window based, user-friendly tools, comprising specific health tools for physicians, telemedicine/telematics tools and general-purpose tools. The whole application is built in a highly structured and modular way, which allows adding or excluding modules quickly. Portability is guaranteed and achieved by Java programming language, bringing independent platform software. All modules comply with international standards; namely, medical modules comply with European CEN TC 251 approved standards, since telematic modules observe the ITU standards. The present application release offers a specific medical module (for cardiology), videoconference, electronic mail, remote control, electronic healthcare patient record retrieval and knowledge database access. The prototype application is running at the Cardiology Service of the Hospital Clínico Universitario of Valencia, waiting for physicians to evaluate the usability, utility and functionality of the software. Esta tesis describe una aplicación de telemedicina desarrollada en la Universidad de Valencia. NÉMESIS es el acrónimo de Nueva Estación Médica con Servicios de Información Secundarios. La aplicación, producto de un tesis doctoral, aprovecha la reciente ubicuidad de redes telmática de fácil acceso y bajo coste para ofrecer herramientas de telemedicina. Parte de una barra de herramientas que aglutina y da acceso a los demás módulos de cardiología o telemedicina existentes. La aplicación se ha desarrollado en Java, tanto por su orientación a redes como por su portabilidad, cuidando además de respetar una estricta modularidad para garantizar la versatilidad de la aplicación. Todos los módulos cumplen los estándares existentes, tanto en informática médica (CEN TC 251) como en comunicaciones (ITU). En la presente tesis se han desarrollado los módulos de cardiografía, adquisición, videoconferencia, correo electrónico, control remoto, acceso a bases de datos hospitalarias de pacientes y acceso a bases de datos de conocimiento. Un prototipo de este programa será probado en el Servicio de Cardiología del Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia, para recger información de su utilidad, usabilidad y fiabilidad.

Dual language education is a program that combines language minority and language majority students for instruction through two languages. This book provides the conceptual background for the program and discusses major implementation issues. Research findings summarize language proficiency and achievement outcomes from 8000 students at 20 schools, along with teacher and parent attitudes.