Dojrzałość procesów zarządzania zasobami ludzkimi a satysfakcja klientów wewnętrznych z pracy działów HR

Celem niniejszej pracy było rozpoznanie struktury korelacji pomiędzy dojrzałością kluczowych procesów ZZL a satysfakcją klientów wewnętrznych z pracy działów HR. Badaniem objęto łącznie 487 respondentów, przy czym z dalszych analiz usunięto 204 odpowiedzi. Respondenci byli zatrudnieni w działach HR oraz na stanowiskach kierowniczych. Wyniki wykazały silną dodatnią zależność zarówno pomiędzy poziomem dojrzałości procesowej kluczowych procesów zarządzania zasobami ludzkimi a poziomem satysfakcji klientów wewnętrznych z pracy działów HR, jak i wszystkimi kategoriami obu zmiennych

Diversity and Inclusion Practices among Different Cultures

The aim of this chapter is to analyse diversity and inclusion (D&I) practices from the perspective of different cultures and verify if approaches towards those concepts are common or contain disparities. According to a literature analysis, approaches towards D&I vary significantly depending on the culture, mostly due to a country’s location (Western vs. Eastern), and history and values by which a nation is driven. Research conducted in an international IT company, on the contrary, shows no differences in D&I practices among cultures. Lack of diversification may be a result of the necessity to adapt to a constantly changing business world and requirements imposed on all units of an organisation to follow one coherent strategy in terms of D&I. Research limitations as well as the need for a further analysis in order to fully investigate the subject are also discussed

Young musicians’ aspirations and their anchoring in family of origin

Celem pracy badawczej była odpowiedź na pytanie: Jakie składniki etosu rodzinnego młodych muzyków wpływają na ich osiągnięcia w zawodzie? Za miarę osiągnięć przyjęto wysokość aspiracji zawodowych. Przebadano 80 studentów uniwersytetów muzycznych. Metodą zbierania danych był wywiad narracyjny dotyczący rodziny. Analizy z wykorzystaniem metod mieszanych wskazały na istotną w rozwoju aspiracji rolę muzyczności rodziny, a w szczególności ojca. Badania systemu motywacji dowiodły, że osoby o wysokich aspiracjach charakteryzują się wysokim poczuciem sprawstwa, które jest głównym mechanizmem wspierającym działanie. Ponadto poddają refleksji swoje działania, a opowiadając o sobie prezentują niepewność sądów i działań. Analiza treściowa etosu rodzinnego porównująca rodziny osób o niskich i wysokich aspiracjach wykazała, że z wysokimi aspiracjami współwystępują: wsparcie w działalności muzycznej, transfer wartości związanych z pracą i intelektem, pozytywna ewaluacja członków rodziny oraz opowiadanie historii o przeszłości. Wymienione cechy powodują, że osoby wychowujące się w takich rodzinach czują się częścią grupy osób o podobnych uzdolnieniach i zainteresowaniach, rozumieją ograniczenia zawodu muzyka i nabierają umiejętności radzenia sobie z nimi. Gdy opowiadają o swoich aspiracjach, wykazują się większą ambicją, dążeniem do mistrzostwa oraz zdolnością do formułowania precyzyjnych planów. W pracy dyskutowane są także ograniczenia generalizacji otrzymanych wyników oraz ich teoretyczne i praktyczne implikacje.The main objective of this research project was to answer the question: What elements of family ethos of young musicians influence their job achievement? Achivement has been measured using professional asspirations. Data were collected through narrative interviews focused on family of origin. Analysis based on mixed methods attempt revealed that musical connections of the family, especially of the father, play a crucial role in development of job aspirations. Research on the motivation system showed that subjects who had high aspirations developed high self-efficacy which is the main driver for action Moreover, they reflected on their actions, and while talking about themselves they present uncertainty of opinions and actions. Content analysis of family ethos, comparing musicians with high and low aspirations, revealed that the following factors coexist with high aspirations: support in music activities, transfer of values connected with hard work and intelligence, positive evaluation of family members and telling stories about the past of the family. These features give the individuals who grow up in such families: the feeling of being part of a group of people who share talents and interests; understanding of the limitations inscribed in the musical profession/ in the job of a musician; and the ability to cope with them. When young musicians with high aspirations talk about them they show more ambition, striving for mastery and the ability to formulate precise plans. Limitations of generalization of achieved results as well as theoretical and practical implications are discussed

Przeciwdziałanie agresji i przemocy w szkole

Poradnik dla dyrektorów szkół, nauczycieli i edukatoró

Putative neuroprotective role of visfatin against cognitive dysfunction in obese patients

Objectives: Visfatin (adipokine) is thought to have neuroprotective properties. The aims of to determine the type and extent of prefrontal cortical dysfunction and to evaluate the potential neuroprotective role of visfatin. Methods: Sixty-one obese patients were included. A diagnosis of primary obesity was made on the basis of a BMI > 30. Visfatin serum levels were determined by enzyme immunoassay. The Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) was used to assess prefrontal cortex-mediated cognitive function. Results: Visfatin levels were not correlated with age or BMI. However, patients with higher visfatin levels tended to show an overall improvement in WCST scores. Nonetheless, a significant positive correlation (P = 0.032) was found only between high serum visfatin levels and the number of correctly completed categories in the WCST. Discussion: The results described herein indicate a possible neuroprotective effect of visfatin against obesity-related cognition dysfunction, particularly in regard to the categorizing capacity associated with executive function

The polymorphisms in serotonin-related genes (5-HT2A and SERT) and the prevalence of depressive symptoms in obese patients.

As overweight and obesity are a growing problem in industrialized societies, they become a main focus of many studies. The aim of this study was to determine whether there is an association between the occurrence of polymorphisms in serotonin-related genes and the prevalence of depressive symptoms in obese patients. Two polymorphisms were tested: a 44-bp insertion/deletion in the serotonin transporter (SERT) gene and a single-nucleotide variation (1438G/A) in the serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT2A) gene. The study involved 180 patients (41 men; 139 women) previously diagnosed as obese. All patients were subjected to clinical, biochemical, and neuropsychological evaluation and genotyping. Amplification of the gene fragments was obtained by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. Products of the genotyping were separated via electrophoresis. The intensity of depressive symptoms was measured using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM-D). Clinically relevant depressive symptoms were diagnosed in 39% of subjects. The lowest intensities of depressive symptoms were ascertained in the group with the least advanced obesity, but this trend was statistically insignificant. Small differences were observed in obesity indicators among three groups of patients with various genotypes of the SERT gene, but these differences were also statistically insignificant. Furthermore, in the context of the intensity of depressive symptoms, no significant associations were observed in these two groups. Furthermore, no statistically significant differences were observed among specific obesity parameters and intensity of depressive symptoms as a function of the 5-HT2A gene polymorphism. To conclude, depressive symptoms were prevalent in obese participants: 39% of subjects experienced symptoms of clinical relevance. However, no significant associations were observed between 5-HT2A and SERT gene polymorphisms and depressive symptoms in this study group

Molecular tracking of interactions between progenitor and endothelial cells via Raman and FTIR spectroscopy imaging : a proof of concept of a new analytical strategy for in vitro research

International audienceAbstract Circulating endothelial cell progenitors originating from the bone marrow are considered to be a powerful tool in the repair of endothelium damage. Due to their unique properties, endothelial progenitors are now broadly investigated to assess their clinical significance in diseases e.g., associated with brain endothelial dysfunction. However, their distinction in terms of the expression of specific markers remains ambiguous. Additionally, endothelial progenitor cells may change their repertoire of markers depending on the microenvironment of the tissue in which they are currently located. Here, we applied the label-free Raman and FTIR imaging to discriminate mice brain endothelium and endothelial progenitors. Cells cultured separately showed distinctly different spectral signatures extracted from the whole cellular interior as well as the detected intracellular compartments (nucleus, cytoplasm, perinuclear area, and lipid droplets). Then, we used these spectroscopic signals to examine the cells co-cultured for 24 h. Principal cluster analysis showed their grouping with the progenitor cells and segregation from brain endothelium at a level of the entire cell machinery (in FTIR images) which resulted from biochemical alternations in the cytoplasm and lipid droplets (in Raman images). The models included in partial least square regression indicated that lipid droplets are the key element for the classification of endothelial progenitor-brain endothelial cells interactions

Short and long-term effects of high-intensity interval training applied alone or with whole-body cryostimulation on glucose homeostasis and myokine levels in overweight to obese subjects.

Background: COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the problem of physical inactivity and weight gain. Consequently, new strategies to counteract weight gain are being sought. Because of their accessibility, interval training and cold therapy are the most popular such strategies. We here aimed to examine the effect of 6 units of high-intensity interval training (HIIT), applied alone or in combination with 10 sessions of whole-body cryotherapy (WBC; 3 min at -110 ∘C per session) on incretins, myokines, and adipokines levels. Materials and methods: The study involved 65 subjects (body mass index of approximately 30 kg•m-2). The subjects were randomly divided into training group (TR; n = 27) and training supported by WBC group (TR-WBC; n = 38). Blood samples were collected before, immediately following, and 4 weeks after the intervention. Results: Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) levels significantly increased (p = 0.03) and adiponectin levels increased in the TR group (p = 0.05) compared with those recorded in TR-WBC group 24 h after the end of experimental protocol. Beneficial changes in the lipid profile (p = 0.07), a significant drop in visfatin levels (p < 0.05), and the improvement in β-cell function (HOMA-B; p = 0.02) were also observed in the TR group in the same time point of study. While TR-WBC did not induce similar changes, it ameliorated blood glucose levels (p = 0.03). Changes induced by both interventions were only sustained for 4 weeks after treatment. Conclusion: Collectively, HIIT, alone and in combination with WBC, positively affects metabolic indicators, albeit, most likely, different mechanisms drive the beneficial effects of different treatments

Does epidural analgesia modify the risk of complications after gastrectomy?

Introduction. The surgical treatment of Gastric Cancer is associated with overall complication rates as high as 50%. The intent of this study was to assess the impact of epidural analgesia (EA) on postoperative complication rates among patients undergoing gastric resections. Materials and methods. Of the 617 gastric cancer patients who between 2002 and 2010 had undergone stomach resection, 246 (39.8%) were administered EA. Groups with and without EA were compared. Results. The general rate of complications was lower in the EA group in the univariable analysis – 38.5% vs. 54.2% (odds ratio [OR]: 0.47, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.34–0.66, p &lt; 0.001), intra-abdominal abscess (OR 0,28, 95% CI: 0.14–0.59, p = 0.001), pneumonia (OR 0,39, 95% CI: 0.24–0.63, p &lt; 0.001), temperature &gt; 38°C (OR 0.53, 95% CI: 0.37–0.74, p &lt; 0.001) and re-operation (OR 0.53, 95% CI: 0.28–1.00, p = 0.049). These relationships were confirmed in a multivariable analysis for the general number of complications (OR 0.53, 95% CI: 0.37–0.75, p &lt; 0.001), intra-abdominal abscess (OR 0.36, 95% CI: 0.16–0.77, p = 0.009), temperature &gt; 38°C (OR 0.56, 95% CI: 0.39–0.82, p = 0.009), pneumonia (OR 0.42, 95% CI: 0.25–0.71, p = 0.001). Conclusions. Our findings indicate that postoperative treatment with EA for patients undergoing stomach resection is safe and contributes to a reduction in the number of postoperative complications

Effect of the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism on affective temperament, depression and body mass index in obesity

Background and aim: Many studies show high prevalence of affective disorders in obese patients. Affective temperament is a subclinical manifestation of such conditions. The 5-HTT gene encoding the serotonin transporter may be involved in both mood and eating dysregulation. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of a polymorphism in the 5-HTT gene on affective temperament types, depressive symptoms and Body Mass Index (BMI) in obese patients. Methods: This study involved 390 patients (237 females, and 153 males) with obesity. The TEMPS-A questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) were used to evaluate affective temperaments and prevalence of depression. DNA was obtained for serotonin transporter gene-linked polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) genotyping. Results: In obese patients S/S genotype was associated with depressive and L/L with cyclothymic temperament. Subjects with L/L genotype presented significantly higher BMI and greater intensity of depressive symptoms in BDI and HDRS. Females scored higher in anxious and depressive, while males in hyperthymic, cyclothymic and irritable temperaments. Females scored higher in BDI (subjective depression) while males in HDRS (objective depression). Limitations: TEMPS-A, BDI and HDRS are frequently used in studies on affective disorders. However, these methods do not examine all dimensions of mood and personality. Conclusions: In obese patients S allele of 5-HTTLPR was associated with development of depressive temperament while L allele corresponded with greater obesity and prevalence of depression. Different mechanisms may be involved in manifestation of depression in males and females with obesity