Indirect effects of Daily Self-Control Demands on Subjective Vitality via Ego Depletion - How Daily Psychological Detachment Pays Off

The present study uses a within‐person approach to provide insights into day‐specific dynamics in the relation between self‐control demands at work and well‐being. Integrating arguments derived from the Limited Strength Model of Self‐Control and research on spillover processes, we develop and test a theoretical model of how the adverse effects of day‐specific self‐control demands at work may spill over to the home domain. Specifically, we propose ego depletion at home (an indicator of regulatory resource depletion) as a mediator linking self‐control demands on a given working day to reduced subjective vitality at home (an indicator of well‐being)

Genetic relationships within and among Iberian fescues (Festuca L.) based on PCR-amplified markers

The genus Festuca comprises approximately 450 species and is widely distributed around the world. The Iberian Penninsula, with more than 100 taxa colonizing very diverse habitats, is one of its main centers of diversification. This study was conducted to assess molecular genetic variation and genetic relatedness among 91 populations of 31 taxa of Iberian fescues, based on several molecular markers (random amplified polymorphic DNA, amplified fragment length polymorphisms, and trnL sequences). The analyses showed the paraphyletic origin of the broad-leaved (subgenus Festuca, sections Scariosae and Subbulbosae, and subgenus Schedonorus) and the fine-leaved fescues (subgenus Festuca, sections Aulaxyper, Eskia, and Festuca). Schedonorus showed a weak relationship with Lolium rigidum and appeared to be the most recent of the broad-leaved clade. Section Eskia was the most ancient and Festuca the most recent of the fine-leaved clade. Festuca and Aulaxyper were the most related sections, in concordance with their taxonomic affinities. All taxa grouped into their sections, except F. ampla and F. capillifolia (section Festuca), which appeared to be more closely related to Aulaxyper and to a new independent section, respectively. Most populations clustered at the species level, but some subspecies and varieties mixed their populations. This study demonstrated the value in combining different molecular markers to uncover hidden genetic relationships between populations of Festuca

The impact of a large-scale quality improvement programme on work engagement: preliminary results from a national cross-sectional-survey of the 'Productive Ward'

Background: Quality improvement (QI) Programmes, like the Productive Ward: Releasing-time-to-care initiative, aim to 'engage' and 'empower' ward teams to actively participate, innovate and lead quality improvement at the front line. However, little is known about the relationship and impact that QI work has on the 'engagement' of the clinical teams who participate and vice-versa. Objective: This paper explores and examines the impact of a large-scale QI programme, the Productive Ward, on the 'work engagement' of the nurses and ward teams involved. Design/methods: Using the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES), we surveyed, measured and analysed work engagement in a representative test group of hospital-based ward teams who had recently commenced the latest phase of the national 'Productive Ward' initiative in Ireland and compared them to a control group of similar size and matched (as far as is possible) on variables such as ward size, employment grade and clinical specialty area. Results: 338 individual datasets were recorded, n=. 180 (53.6) from the Productive Ward group, and n=. 158 (46.4) from the control group; the overall response rate was 67, and did not differ significantly between the Productive Ward and control groups. The work engagement mean score (±standard deviation) in the Productive group was 4.33(±0.88), and 4.07(±1.06) in the control group, representing a modest but statistically significant between-group difference (. p=. 0.013, independent samples t-test). Similarly modest differences were observed in all three dimensions of the work engagement construct. Employment grade and the clinical specialty area were also significantly related to the work engagement score (. p<. 0.001, general linear model) and (for the most part), to its components, with both clerical and nurse manager grades, and the elderly specialist areas, exhibiting substantially higher scores. Conclusions: The findings demonstrate how QI activities, like those integral to the Productive Ward programme, appear to positively impact on the work engagement (the vigour, absorption and dedication) of ward-based teams. The use and suitability of the UWES as an appropriate measure of 'engagement' in QI interventions was confirmed. The engagement of nurses and front-line clinical teams is a major component of creating, developing and sustaining a culture of improvement. © 2014 The Authors

A Review of Caribbean Ecosytems and Fishery Resources Using ECOPATH Models

This paper provides a review of ecosystems modelling within the Caribbean using the Ecopath approach and software tools. The review is not intended to provide a direct comparison of the modelled ecosystems attributes and performance, as this would require having access to the models and the data sets used to build the models. Rather, a general comparison is made of the outputs of the models and the various authors’ descriptions of ecosystem attributes

A Review of Caribbean Ecosytems and Fishery Resources Using ECOPATH Models

This paper provides a review of ecosystems modelling within the Caribbean using the Ecopath approach and software tools. The review is not intended to provide a direct comparison of the modelled ecosystems attributes and performance, as this would require having access to the models and the data sets used to build the models. Rather, a general comparison is made of the outputs of the models and the various authors’ descriptions of ecosystem attributes.L’article présente une revue des écosystèmes marins et des ressources halieutiques de la zone Caraïbe en utilisant l’approche Ecopath pour la modélisation des interactions au sein des écosystèmes. En dépit des nombreuses recherches déjà réalisées, la modélisation des écosystèmes marins de la Caraïbe est parcellaire et nécessite des investigations conséquentes

Lost in translation: exploring the link between HRM and performance in healthcare

Using data collected in 2004 from 132 Victorian (Australia) public healthcare providers, comprising metropolitan and regional hospital networks, rural hospitals and community health centres, we investigated the perceptions of HRM from the experiences of chief executive officers, HR directors and other senior managers. We found some evidence that managers in healthcare organisations reported different perceptions of strategic HRM and a limited focus on collection and linking of HR performance data with organisational performance management processes. Using multiple moderator regression and multivariate analysis of variance, significant differences were found in perceptions of strategic HRM and HR priorities between chief executive officers, HR directors and other senior managers in the large organisations. This suggested that the strategic human management paradigm is lost in translation, particularly in large organisations, and consequently opportunities to understand and develop the link between people management practices and improved organisational outcomes may be missed. There is some support for the relationship between strategic HRM and improved organisational outcomes. Implications of these findings are drawn for managerial practice