Goal importance, self-focus and the goal setting process

In this study we examine the role played by perceived goal importance and self-focus in the goal-setting process. More specifically, this study tests the interactive hypotheses that (a) task performance is a function of goal level, self-focus, and perceived goal importance; (b) goal level is a function of perceptions of past performance, self-focus, and perceived goal importance; and (c) perceptions of past performance are a function of actual past performance, self-focus, and perceived goal importance. Hierarchical regression analysis, using a sample of 88 retail salespersons, revealed empirical support for the first two hypotheses. Specifically, the variables described by control theory account for an increment of 6 and 8% of the variance explained in task performance and self-set goal level, respectively. Finally, implications for theory, practice, and future research are discussed

Turnover functionality versus turnover frequency: A note on work attitudes and organizational effectiveness

Tested whether work attitudes, widely praised as predictors of turnover frequency (i.e., the number of separations), are also useful predictors of turnover functionality (i.e., the nature of separations). Measures on job satisfaction, organizational commitment, job involvement, motivation to turnover, and turnover frequency and functionality were obtained from 112 retail salespersons. Results indicate that (a) the traditional measure of turnover frequency overstates the detrimental effects of turnover on organizational effectiveness, in that 53% of the turnover was functional and (b) turnover functionality, which emphasizes the performance levels of stayers and leavers, is unrelated to work attitudes. Findings suggest that organizations should not devote resources to programs designed to improve employee attitudes, based solely on the expectation that decreasing turnover frequency will result in beneficial consequences

ILR Impact Brief - Knowledge, Skills, and Performance: Getting the Most From Team Training

Teams are an integral feature of the American workplace; indeed, more than 80% of the Fortune 500 companies make extensive use of work teams. Action teams, pulled together to carry out a particular time-limited function that requires the specialized expertise of its members, are becoming increasingly common. Researchers have noted that the success of these teams is often thwarted by their lack of information about teamwork in general and their insufficient mastery of basic team competencies. Most organizations train team members for the particular job at hand, so the question arises as to the utility of generic team training. In other words, would imparting knowledge and skills that could be applied in, and adapted to, any number of situations improve outcomes, and if so, what is the mechanism that facilitates this result

The Impact of Task- and Team-Generic Teamwork Skills Training on Team Effectiveness

This study examined the effects of training team members in three task- and teamgeneric teamwork skills: planning and task coordination, collaborative problem solving, and communication. We first examined the degree to which task- and team-generic teamwork skills training impacted team performance on a task unrelated to the content of the training program.We then examined whether the effects of task- and team-generic teamwork skills training on team performance were due to the transfer of skills directly related to planning and task coordination, collaborative problem solving, and communication. Results from 65 four-person project teams indicated that task- and team-generic teamwork skills training led to significantly higher levels of team performance. Results also indicated that the effects of task- and teamgeneric teamwork skills training on team performance were mediated by planning and task coordination and collaborative problem solving behavior. Although communication was positively affected by the task- and team-generic teamwork skills training, it did not mediate the relationship between task- and team-generic teamwork skills training and team performance.Theoretical and practical implications of these results are discussed, as well as possible limitations and directions for future research

Residential water conservation computer program

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1986 H64Master of ScienceCivil Engineerin

Ozone effects on blood biomarkers of systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, endothelial function, and thrombosis: The Multicenter Ozone Study in oldEr Subjects (MOSES).

The evidence that exposure to ozone air pollution causes acute cardiovascular effects is mixed. We postulated that exposure to ambient levels of ozone would increase blood markers of systemic inflammation, prothrombotic state, oxidative stress, and vascular dysfunction in healthy older subjects, and that absence of the glutathione S-transferase Mu 1 (GSTM1) gene would confer increased susceptibility. This double-blind, randomized, crossover study of 87 healthy volunteers 55-70 years of age was conducted at three sites using a common protocol. Subjects were exposed for 3 h in random order to 0 parts per billion (ppb) (filtered air), 70 ppb, and 120 ppb ozone, alternating 15 min of moderate exercise and rest. Blood was obtained the day before, approximately 4 h after, and approximately 22 h after each exposure. Linear mixed effect and logistic regression models evaluated the impact of exposure to ozone on pre-specified primary and secondary outcomes. The definition of statistical significance was p<0.01. There were no effects of ozone on the three primary markers of systemic inflammation and a prothrombotic state: C-reactive protein, monocyte-platelet conjugates, and microparticle-associated tissue factor activity. However, among the secondary endpoints, endothelin-1, a potent vasoconstrictor, increased from pre- to post-exposure with ozone concentration (120 vs 0 ppb: 0.07 pg/mL, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.01, 0.14; 70 vs 0 ppb: -0.03 pg/mL, CI -0.09, 0.04; p = 0.008). Nitrotyrosine, a marker of oxidative and nitrosative stress, decreased with increasing ozone concentrations, with marginal significance (120 vs 0 ppb: -41.5, CI -70.1, -12.8; 70 vs 0 ppb: -14.2, CI -42.7, 14.2; p = 0.017). GSTM1 status did not modify the effect of ozone exposure on any of the outcomes. These findings from healthy older adults fail to identify any mechanistic basis for the epidemiologically described cardiovascular effects of exposure to ozone. The findings, however, may not be applicable to adults with cardiovascular disease

Trends in the Treatment of Adults with Ureteropelvic Junction Obstruction

Background and Purpose: Minimally invasive pyeloplasty is an effective treatment for patients with ureteropelvic junction obstruction that offers quicker convalescence than open pyeloplasty. Technical challenges, however, may have limited its dissemination. We examined population trends and determinants of surgical options for ureteropelvic junction obstruction. Patients and Methods: Using the State Inpatient and Ambulatory Surgery Databases for Florida, we identified adults who underwent ureteropelvic junction obstruction repair between 2001 and 2009. After determining the surgical approach (minimally invasive pyeloplasty, open pyeloplasty, or endopyelotomy), we estimated annual utilization rates and the effects of patient, surgeon, and hospital predictors on surgery type, using multilevel multinomial logistic regression. Results: Rates of minimally invasive pyeloplasty increased 360% (P for monotonic trendPeer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/140371/1/end.2012.0017.pd

2014 dDocent: a RADseq, variantcalling pipeline designed for population genomics of non-model organisms

ABSTRACT 14 Restriction-site associated DNA sequencing (RADseq) has become a powerful and useful 15 approach for population genomics. Currently, no software exists that utilizes both paired-end 16 reads from RADseq data to efficiently produce population-informative variant calls, 17 especially for organisms with large effective population sizes and high levels of genetic 18 polymorphism but for which no genomic resources exist. dDocent is an analysis pipeline with 19 a user-friendly, command-line interface designed to process individually barcoded RADseq 20 data (with double cut sites) into informative SNPs/INDELs for population-level analyses. The 21 pipeline, written in BASH, uses data reduction techniques and other stand-alone software 22 packages to perform quality trimming and adapter removal, de novo assembly of RAD loci, 23 read mapping, SNP and INDEL calling, and baseline data filtering. Double-digest RAD data 24 from population pairings of three different marine fishes were used to compare dDocent with 25 Stacks, the first generally available, widely used pipeline for analysis of RADseq data. 26 dDocent consistently identified more SNPs shared across greater numbers of individuals and 27 with higher levels of coverage. This is most likely due to the fact that dDocent quality trims 28 instead of filtering and incorporates both forward and reverse reads in assembly, mapping, 29 and SNP calling, thus enabling use of reads with INDEL polymorphisms. The pipeline and a 30 comprehensive user guide can be found at (http://dDocent.wordpress.com). 31 32 PeerJ PrePrints | http://dx.doi.org/10.7287/peerj.preprints.314v1 | CC-BY 4.

Statin Use and Risk of Sepsis After Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy

Purpose: To examine the association between statin medication use and sepsis risk after percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). Materials and Methods: Using medical claims data, we identified working-age adults with urinary stone disease who were treated with PCNL. Among this cohort, we determined which patients had a prescription fill for a statin agent that encompassed their surgery date. We then fitted logistic regression models to examine for differences in rates of postoperative sepsis between statin users and nonusers. In addition, we evaluated the frequency of nonfebrile urinary tract infections (UTIs) and intensive care unit (ICU) services utilization and hospital length of stay (LOS) as a function of statin use. Results: During the study period, at total of 2046 patients underwent PCNL, 382 (18.7%) of whom had a prescription fill for a statin agent preceding their surgery. The overall rate of sepsis in this population was 3.8%. After adjusting for patient health status and sociodemographic factors, the rate of postoperative sepsis was comparable between statin users and nonusers (5.3% vs 3.5%, respectively; P=0.105). In addition, UTI and ICU utilization rates did not relate to statin use (P>0.05 for all associations). Adjusted hospital LOS was shorter among statin users, but the difference was clinically trivial (3.6 vs 4.1 days; P=0.007). Conclusions: Statin use is not associated with reductions in postoperative sepsis, nonfebrile UTIs, ICU utilization, or hospital LOS after PCNL. To increase the safety of PCNL, urologists will have to consider other processes of care (e.g., clinical care pathways).Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/140081/1/end.2015.0042.pd