Values and propensity to adopt new HRM web-based technologies as determinants of HR efficiency and effectiveness: a firm level resource-based analysis

"This paper explores the usefulness of analyzing a firm's performance from a combination of a web-based human resource view and strategic human resource characteristics. In addressing issues pertaining to HR efficiency and HR effectiveness, the Technology Adoption Life Cycle (TALC) model (Moore 2001) is introduced. The latter helps to classify HR practitioner's adoption behavior along the 'TALC' continuum where HR functions and the web-based HRMS are classified. This classification facilitates a better understanding of the HR information technology and strategic HR relationship. The empirical study is based on a web-based portal in which 192 SAP client-users organizations across 5 continents participated. The findings identify the configurations which add significantly to good or poor HR efficiency and HR effectiveness dimensions throughout the usage and implementation of HR technology. It seems that innovative HR technologies play a strategic and operational role in adding value to the HR department's performance. The results show that when some HR technology functionalities are absent or poorly implemented, there are noticeable consequences for the HR department." (author's abstract

The differential effect of team members' trust on team performance: The mediation role of team cohesion

This study examines team performance as affected by various trusting relationships: Trust between team members and the team's trust in their direct manager and in top management. Data for the study were collected from a survey of 690 professional elite athletes (belonging to 59 different sports clubs) playing in the regular, top professional Spanish leagues. The model was tested at the team level. Findings reveal that team member trust with respect to the different foci has both a direct and indirect effect on team performance, and that team player trust and cohesion play a mediating role. This study illustrates the dynamic relationship within teams, and, as such, trust among teammates mediates the relationship between trust in the coach as well as team cohesion in determining team performance. The implications for managing teams in other contexts are also evaluated

El absentismo laboral en el sector manufacturero: Una aproximación cualitativa

The aim of this paper is to study absenteeism in the manufacturing sector. Based on framework borrow from the management literature, we run a qualitative analysis on four distinct organizations. The case studies were carefully selected, two with a high percentage of absenteeism and two with a lower rate. In-depth interviews were conducted with managers or directors of human resource departments with the aim of understanding the policies and practices they use to control this absenteeism. The results were explained using two distinct conceptual models: Motivation for Attendance (Nicholson, 1977) and the Typology of Absence cultures (Nicholson y Johns, 1985). Our findings show that these companies only manage absenteeism partially in addressing its causes. They only use control and punishment measures which serve to manage the phenomenon over the short term but which are shown to be ineffective in reducing absentee rates over the long term. Furthermore, we also find that the organizations do not adequately assess blue-collar worker absenteeism which showed the higher rates. Our discussion is based on these findings, identifying the different key variables that determine absenteeism. We also propose incorporating a holistic approach to better understand and manage this organizational phenomenon. Lastly, some recommendations for practice are also provided.El objetivo de este trabajo es estudiar el absentismo laboral en el sector manufacturero. La revisión de la literatura del management nos ha proporcionado el marco para el análisis cualitativo de cuatro empresas manufactureras. Los estudios de caso se han seleccionado cuidadosamente; dos poseen un índice alto de absentismo y los otros dos un índice menor. Se han realizado entrevistas en profundidad a gerentes o directores del departamento de recursos humanos, para indagar cómo explican sus ratios de absentismo y qué políticas utilizan para controlarlo. Los resultados de las entrevistas se han contrastado a la luz de dos modelos conceptuales: la Motivación para la asistencia (Nicholson, 1977) y la Tipología de culturas absentistas (Nicholson y Johns, 1985). Los resultados obtenidos indican que estas empresas gestionan de manera parcial o casi nula las causas del absentismo que padecen. Tienden a imponer solo medidas de control y sanción, que si bien pueden tener un impacto a corto plazo, son muy ineficaces en la disminución de las tasas de absentismo a largo plazo. Por otro lado también se ha detectado que las empresas no acostumbran a prestar atención al colectivo de los operarios de producción, que poseen los índices de absentismo más altos. Las conclusiones contemplan las distintas variables que explican la conducta absentista del empleado y confirman que la gestión del absentismo está lejos de incorporar un enfoque integral. Finalmente, también se aportan algunas recomendaciones para la práctica

Time-Dependent Warping, Fluxes, and NCYM

We describe the supergravity solutions dual to D6-branes with both time-dependent and time-independent B-fields. These backgrounds generalize the Taub-NUT metric in two key ways: they have asymmetric warp factors and background fluxes. In the time-dependent case, the warping takes a novel form. Kaluza-Klein reduction in these backgrounds is unusual, and we explore some of the new features. In particular, we describe how a localized gauge-field emerges with an analogue of the open string metric and coupling. We also describe a gravitational analogue of the Seiberg-Witten map. This provides a framework in supergravity both for studying non-commutative gauge theories, and for constructing novel warped backgrounds.Comment: 32 pages, LaTeX, references adde

Physiological Effects of Electronic Cigarette: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Importance: Electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) are widely used devices that were initially created to aid in smoking cessation. However, their acute physiological effects are unclear and there have been a number of e-cig and vaping acute lung injury (EVALI) events recently reported. Objective: To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies assessing the immediate physiological effects, i.e., cardiovascular, respiratory or blood-based responses, of acute e-cig usage in humans. Data Sources: PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane and Scopus databases were searched for published articles until 20th May 2020. Study Selection: English or French peer-reviewed articles measuring at least one physiological parameter before and after using an e-cig. Data extraction and synthesis: The study followed PRISMA guidelines and assessed article quality using the Downs and Black checklist. Independent extraction was conducted by two reviewers. Data were pooled using random effect models. Sensitivity analysis and meta-regression was performed to explore heterogeneity. Main outcomes: Systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, augmentation index (AIx75), fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), and spirometry were the most frequently assessed parameters and were, therefore, chosen for meta-analyses. Results: Of 17102 articles screened, 37 articles were included for the qualitative synthesis, and 23 articles (800 patients) were included in the meta-analysis. Acute use of nicotine e-cig was associated with increased heart rate (SMD=0.51; 95%CI 0.34-0.68), systolic blood pressure (SMD=0.33; 95%CI 0.13 -0.52), diastolic blood pressure (SMD=0.50; 95%CI 0.26-0.73), and augmentation index AIx75 (SMD=0.580; 95%CI 0.220- 0.941), along with a decrease in FeNO (SMD=-0.327; 95%CI -0.599 – -0.055). E-cig exposure wasn't associated with significant changes in any spirometry measure. Conclusions and Relevance: Acute use of nicotine e-cigs was associated with significant cardiovascular and respiratory responses. Despite being considered safe, these devices have a physiological impact that needs to be further explored especially in term of its long-term consequences

The Highly Eccentric Pre-Main Sequence Spectroscopic Binary RX J0529.3+1210

The young system RX J0529.3+1210 was initially identified as a single-lined spectroscopic binary. Using high-resolution infrared spectra, acquired with NIRSPEC on Keck II, we measured radial velocities for the secondary. The method of using the infrared regime to convert single-lined spectra into double-lined spectra, and derive the mass ratio for the binary system, has been successfully used for a number of young, low-mass binaries. For RX J0529.3+1210, a long- period(462 days) and highly eccentric(0.88) binary system, we determine the mass ratio to be 0.78+/-0.05 using the infrared double-lined velocity data alone, and 0.73+/-0.23 combining visible light and infrared data in a full orbital solution. The large uncertainty in the latter is the result of the sparse sampling in the infrared and the high eccentricity: the stars do not have a large velocity separation during most of their ~1.3 year orbit. A mass ratio close to unity, consistent with the high end of the one sigma uncertainty for this mass ratio value, is inconsistent with the lack of a visible light detection of the secondary component. We outline several scenarios for a color difference in the two stars, such as one heavily spotted component, higher order multiplicity, or a unique evolutionary stage, favoring detection of only the primary star in visible light, even in a mass ratio ~1 system. However, the evidence points to a lower ratio. Although RX J0529.3+1210 exhibits no excess at near-infrared wavelengths, a small 24 micron excess is detected, consistent with circumbinary dust. The properties of this binary and its membership in Lambda Ori versus a new nearby stellar moving group at ~90 pc are discussed. We speculate on the origin of this unusual system and on the impact of such high eccentricity on the potential for planet formation.Comment: 4 Figure

On the Classical Stability of Orientifold Cosmologies

We analyze the classical stability of string cosmologies driven by the dynamics of orientifold planes. These models are related to time-dependent orbifolds, and resolve the orbifold singularities which are otherwise problematic by introducing orientifold planes. In particular, we show that the instability discussed by Horowitz and Polchinski for pure orbifold models is resolved by the presence of the orientifolds. Moreover, we discuss the issue of stability of the cosmological Cauchy horizon, and we show that it is stable to small perturbations due to in-falling matter.Comment: 40 pages, 13 figures. Reference and conclusion added. Published versio

Perturbation Theory with a Variational Basis: the Generalized Gaussian Effective Potential

The perturbation theory with a variational basis is constructed and analyzed.The generalized Gaussian effective potential is introduced and evaluated up to the second order for selfinteracting scalar fields in one and two spatial dimensions. The problem of the renormalization of the mass is discussed in details. Thermal corrections are incorporated. The comparison between the finite temperature generalized Gaussian effective potential and the finite temperature effective potential is critically analyzed. The phenomenon of the restoration at high temperature of the symmetry broken at zero temperature is discussed.Comment: RevTex, 49 pages, 16 eps figure

The XMM-Newton Extended Survey of the Taurus Molecular Cloud (XEST)

(abridged:) The XMM-Newton Extended Survey of the Taurus Molecular Cloud (XEST) surveys the most populated ~5 square degrees of the Taurus star formation region, using the XMM-Newton X-ray observatory to study the thermal structure, variability, and long-term evolution of hot plasma, to investigate the magnetic dynamo, and to search for new potential members of the association. Many targets are also studied in the optical, and high-resolution X-ray grating spectroscopy has been obtained for selected bright sources. The X-ray spectra have been coherently analyzed with two different thermal models (2-component thermal model, and a continuous emission measure distribution model). We present overall correlations with fundamental stellar parameters that were derived from the previous literature. A few detections from Chandra observations have been added. The present overview paper introduces the project and provides the basic results from the X-ray analysis of all sources detected in the XEST survey.Comprehensive tables summarize the stellar properties of all targets surveyed. The survey goes deeper than previous X-ray surveys of Taurus by about an order of magnitude and for the first time systematically accesses very faint and strongly absorbed TMC objects. We find a detection rate of 85% and 98% for classical and weak-line T Tau stars (CTTS resp. WTTS), and identify about half of the surveyed protostars and brown dwarfs. Overall, 136 out of 169 surveyed stellar systems are detected. We describe an X-ray luminosity vs. mass correlation, discuss the distribution of X-ray-to-bolometric luminosity ratios, and show evidence for lower X-ray luminosities in CTTS compared to WTTS. Detailed analysis (e.g., variability, rotation-activity relations, influence of accretion on X-rays) will be discussed in a series of accompanying papers.Comment: 75 pg, 77 figs. Accepted by A&A, to appear in a special section/issue dedicated to the XMM-Newton Extended Survey of the Taurus Molecular Cloud (XEST). V2: ASCII Table 14 added. Version with higher resolution figures at http://www.issibern.ch/teams/Taurus/papers.html or http://www.astro.phys.ethz.ch/papers/guedel/guedel_p_nf.htm

Use of low-dose oral theophylline as an adjunct to inhaled corticosteroids in preventing exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with high morbidity, mortality, and health-care costs. An incomplete response to the anti-inflammatory effects of inhaled corticosteroids is present in COPD. Preclinical work indicates that 'low dose' theophylline improves steroid responsiveness. The Theophylline With Inhaled Corticosteroids (TWICS) trial investigates whether the addition of 'low dose' theophylline to inhaled corticosteroids has clinical and cost-effective benefits in COPD. METHOD/DESIGN: TWICS is a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial conducted in primary and secondary care sites in the UK. The inclusion criteria are the following: an established predominant respiratory diagnosis of COPD (post-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in first second/forced vital capacity [FEV1/FVC] of less than 0.7), age of at least 40 years, smoking history of at least 10 pack-years, current inhaled corticosteroid use, and history of at least two exacerbations requiring treatment with antibiotics or oral corticosteroids in the previous year. A computerised randomisation system will stratify 1424 participants by region and recruitment setting (primary and secondary) and then randomly assign with equal probability to intervention or control arms. Participants will receive either 'low dose' theophylline (Uniphyllin MR 200 mg tablets) or placebo for 52 weeks. Dosing is based on pharmacokinetic modelling to achieve a steady-state serum theophylline of 1-5 mg/l. A dose of theophylline MR 200 mg once daily (or placebo once daily) will be taken by participants who do not smoke or participants who smoke but have an ideal body weight (IBW) of not more than 60 kg. A dose of theophylline MR 200 mg twice daily (or placebo twice daily) will be taken by participants who smoke and have an IBW of more than 60 kg. Participants will be reviewed at recruitment and after 6 and 12 months. The primary outcome is the total number of participant-reported COPD exacerbations requiring oral corticosteroids or antibiotics during the 52-week treatment period. DISCUSSION: The demonstration that 'low dose' theophylline increases the efficacy of inhaled corticosteroids in COPD by reducing the incidence of exacerbations is relevant not only to patients and clinicians but also to health-care providers, both in the UK and globally. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN27066620 was registered on Sept. 19, 2013, and the first subject was randomly assigned on Feb. 6, 2014