European farmers' intentions to invest in 2014-2020: survey results

The present study aims to analyse farmers’ intentions to invest in the period 2014-2020, focussing on investments in land, buildings, machinery and equipment, training, and quotas and production rights. It provides up-to-date information on EU farm investment patterns that is not otherwise available in traditional agricultural statistics (such as Farm Accountancy Data Network or the Eurostat Farm Structure Survey). Use of the data in this study contributes to the general understanding of the determinants of investment decisions and farmers’ reaction to EU Agricultural policy.JRC.J.4-Agriculture and Life Sciences in the Econom

Forage silica and water content control dental surface texture in guinea pigs and provide implications for dietary reconstruction

Recent studies have shown that phytoliths are softer than dental enamel but still act as abrasive agents. Thus, phytolith content should be reflected in dental wear. Because native phytoliths show lower indentation hardness than phytoliths extracted by dry ashing, we propose that the hydration state of plant tissue will also affect dental abrasion. To assess this, we performed a controlled feeding experiment with 36 adult guinea pigs, fed exclusively with three different natural forages: lucerne, timothy grass, and bamboo with distinct phytolith/silica contents (lucerne < grass < bamboo). Each forage was fed in fresh or dried state for 3 weeks. We then performed 3D surface texture analysis (3DST) on the upper fourth premolar. Generally, enamel surface roughness increased with higher forage phytolith/silica content. Additionally, fresh and dry grass feeders displayed differences in wear patterns, with those of fresh grass feeders being similar to fresh and dry lucerne (phytolith-poor) feeders, supporting previous reports that "fresh grass grazers" show less abrasion than unspecialized grazers. Our results demonstrate that not only phytolith content but also properties such as water content can significantly affect plant abrasiveness, even to such an extent that wear patterns characteristic for dietary traits (browser-grazer differences) become indistinguishable

Development and Validation of an Instrument to Measure Work-Related Learning

This paper describes the development and validation of an instrument for measuring work-related learning, which can be applied in different occupational contexts. Based on a comprehensive literature review and group discussions among the authors, the instrument was carefully constructed and examined among a heterogeneous sample of Flemish employees (N = 3232). The dataset was randomly divided into two subsets. An exploratory factor analysis was conducted on the first dataset (n = 1616) to provide insight into the underlying structure of the instrument. The second subset of the data (n = 1616) was used to validate the retrieved structure by means of a confirmatory factor analysis and to investigate the internal consistencies, convergent and discriminant validity, and the measurement invariance across different groups. After six months, the instrument was retested among the same respondents to examine longitudinal measurement invariance and predictive validity. The results showed that three factors could be distinguished and confirmed, namely informal learning activities using personal sources, informal learning activities using environmental sources, and formal learning activities. The results regarding the reliability and validity of the instrument were satisfactory

Microwear textures associated with experimental near-natural diets suggest that seeds and hard insect body parts cause high enamel surface complexity in small mammals

In mammals, complex dental microwear textures (DMT) representing differently sized and shaped enamel lesions overlaying each other have traditionally been associated with the seeds and kernels in frugivorous diets, as well as with sclerotized insect cuticles. Recently, this notion has been challenged by field observations as well as in vitro experimental data. It remains unclear to what extent each food item contributes to the complexity level and is reflected by the surface texture of the respective tooth position along the molar tooth row. To clarify the potential of seeds and other abrasive dietary items to cause complex microwear textures, we conducted a controlled feeding experiment with rats. Six individual rats each received either a vegetable mix, a fruit mix, a seed mix, whole crickets, whole black soldier fly larvae, or whole day-old-chicks. These diets were subjected to material testing to obtain mechanical properties, such as Young’s modulus, yield strength, and food hardness (as indicated by texture profile analysis [TPA] tests). Seeds and crickets caused the highest surface complexity. The fruit mix, seed mix, and crickets caused the deepest wear features. Moreover, several diets resulted in an increasing wear gradient from the first to the second molar, suggesting that increasing bite force along the tooth row affects dental wear in rats on these diets. Mechanical properties of the diets showed different correlations with DMT obtained for the first and second molars. The first molar wear was mostly correlated with maximum TPA hardness, while the second molar wear was strongly correlated with maximum yield stress, mean TPA hardness, and maximum TPA hardness. This indicates a complex relationship between chewing mechanics, food mechanical properties, and observed DMT. Our results show that, in rats, seeds are the main cause of complex microwear textures but that hard insect body parts can also cause high complexity. However, the similarity in parameter values of surface textures resulting from seed and cricket consumption did not allow differentiation between these two diets in our experimental approach

Determinants of methotrexate adherence in rheumatoid arthritis patients

Abstract: In rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, weekly intake of methotrexate (MTX) is the basic drug treatment. This observational study aims to investigate how many RA patients are adherent in terms of MTX intake and to identify determinants of non-adherence. Intake of MTX (orally or via injection) was recorded in 129 RA patients with an electronic monitoring system (MEMS\uae) during 16 weeks. In addition, two adherence questionnaires, the Medication Adherence Report Scale (MARS-5) and the Compliance-Questionnaire-Rheumatology (CQR) as well as a visual analogue scale (VAS) measuring MTX adherence, were administered to these patients. As possible determinants of adherence, data on demographics, disease and treatment characteristics, depression, illness cognitions, motivation, and social support were collected. Of all participants, 58 % were fully adherent and 75 % skipped at most one dose during 16 weeks. A better mental health status and suffering from comorbidities had a positive effect on adherence, while living alone had a negative effect. These three predictors explained 30 % of the variance in MTX adherence. Of the three self-report medication adherence measures, the VAS correlated the highest with the results of the electronic monitoring system (r\u2009=\u20090.552, p\u2009=\u20090.01). A relatively high adherence rate was observed in RA patients treated with MTX. The determinants identified by this study could be used to screen patients at risk for non-adherence. A simple VAS scale seems to be an acceptable way for a preliminary screening of MTX adherence

The nonlinear relation between perceived employability and emotional exhaustion

Perceived employability concerns the individual’s perception of the possibility of getting a new job either in the current organization (perceived internal employability) or with another employer (perceived external employability). Previous studies have advanced perceived employability as a resource that promotes well-being and reduces ill-being, which has been demonstrated in some cases. However, relationships between perceived employability and well-being are, if significant, weak to moderate. We hypothesize that perceived internal employability will show a negative, linear relation with emotional exhaustion, because internal employability can serve as a job resource and will consequently lower burnout. Employees who perceive more internal career opportunities, will thus experience less emotional exhaustion. The relationship between perceived external employability and emotional exhaustion, on the other hand, may be nonlinear, so that less employable but also highly employable workers are more prone to emotional exhaustion. An employee who perceives less external opportunities, will feel locked in his or her position. This can relate to higher emotional exhaustion. When an employee perceives too many job opportunities on the labour market, (s)he might question whether (s)he would be better off doing another job, implying decision stress, or (s)he might feel pressured to act upon this perception, which also relates to higher emotional exhaustion. The aim of this research is twofold: (1) to test nonlinear relations in order to question the assumption of linearity, and (2) to compare the relation between perceived internal employability and emotional exhaustion with the relationship between perceived external employability and emotional exhaustion. Results based on a sample of 339 respondents supported our hypotheses. In order to realize the first aim, hypotheses were tested by means of curve estimations. A negative linear relation was found between perceived internal employability and emotional exhaustion. The relation between perceived external employability and emotional exhaustion showed no linear relation, but a quadratic (nonlinear) relation. The study suggests that higher perceived internal employability relates to lower emotional exhaustion, whereas too high and too low perceived external employability relates to higher emotional exhaustion. This stresses the importance of distinguishing internal and external perceived employability. We conclude that nonlinear relations add to the understanding of these relations.status: publishe

“Geraware”, een digitale awarenesstool voor docenten verpleegkunde

Docenten in de bacheloropleiding verpleegkunde kunnen een impact hebben op het tekort aan geriatrisch verpleegkundigen. Het uitdragen van een positieve beeldvorming ten aanzien van ouderenzorg kan immers een positief effect hebben op de attitude van studenten, wat kan resulteren in het maken van een bewuste keuze voor een geriatrische werksetting. Docenten verpleegkunde lijken echter weinig interesse te tonen voor geriatrische zorg gezien de lage opkomst bij opleidingsinitiatieven. De digitale awarenesstool GERaware wil daarom op een uitnodigende manier het inzicht vergroten in het eigen functioneren met betrekking tot de verpleegkundige zorg aan kwetsbare ouderen. Het “leren van morgen” wordt in deze workshop concreet gemaakt door zelf te ervaren hoe deze awarenesstool de uitdagingen van ouderenzorg in beeld brengt en of het mogelijk is om docenten langs deze weg te motiveren en een positievere attitude bij te brengen. Er wordt daarnaast ook stilgestaan bij de evidence based strategieën ingebouwd in GERaware en de resultaten van een tussentijdse evaluatie 3 van de tool bij 28 docenten verpleegkunde. Dit alles vormt de basis om reacties, tekortkomingen en ideeën met betrekking tot het “awareness”-concept uit te wisselen.status: publishe

Too employable to feel well?: Curvilinear relationship between perceived employability and employee optimal functioning

status: publishe

The Reciprocal Relationship Between Perceived Employability and Work-related Learning

In my research project, I aim to explore the relationship between perceived employability (PE; i.e. the belief about the likelihood of obtaining and maintaining employment) and work-related learning (WRL). The importance of WRL and PE comes to the fore for both organisations and individuals. For example, WRL is crucial for the maintenance of organizational competitiveness in today’s economy. Also for employees, WRL can be seen as a way to secure employment within and across organizations. This project seeks to enhance insight into this relationship by achieving three aims. First, next to exploring the influence of WRL on PE, we will also take the reciprocal relationship into account. Although the relationship between WRL and PE seems obvious, research about this relationship and its directionality is scarce and theories are conflicting. On the one hand, in line with the Conservation of Resources Theory (Hobfoll, 1989), graduates experiencing high PE might want to invest more in their PE by participating in WRL, which may, in turn, increase their PE. On the other hand, Powers’ Control Theory (1973) predicts the opposite effect. High PE graduates might feel employable enough, so they invest less in WRL, potentially leading to a reduction of their PE. A low PE might, in turn, lead to more participation in WRL in order to restore their PE. Second, we conduct this research among vocational and technical graduates. Particularly lower educated individuals may benefit from investing in WRL as they already hold a vulnerable position in today’s knowledge-based economy. Third, we will contribute to the PE and WRL literature by sharpening these concepts.status: publishe

The Only Constant Is Change?:Movement Capital and Perceived Employability

This study examines to what extent the four aspects of movement capital (i.e., human capital, adaptability, self-awareness, and social capital) contribute to individuals’ perceived employability. Building on the model of career mobility, we expected positive effects of all movement capital aspects on perceived employability over time. Hypotheses were tested by means of longitudinal structural equation models in two samples of Belgian respondents from the private (N = 409, 6 months between measurements) and the public (N = 718, 8 months between measurements) sector. We established a reciprocal relationship between self-awareness and perceived employability. The other associations of human capital, adaptability, and social capital were surprisingly small and inconsistent. There appears to be a disconnect between conceptualizations and measurements of employability; whereas conceptualizations of perceived employability focus on obtaining and retaining employment, measurements only tap into the former. At the same time, movement capital conceptualizations focus on obtaining employment, whereas their measurements tap into obtaining and retaining employment