International human resources management : a new challenge

One of the greatest challenges facing international organizations lies in their capacity to adapt their human resources management to the norms and values of different cultures. Organizations often confuse international human resources management and expatriate management. In doing so, they involuntarily block out scores of employees who are also active in the organizations. Country of origin, locations of recruitment and work, and geographical mobility constitute the fundamental elements of a complete managerial system. In essence, the communication and exchange capacities between the various groups some of which are more sedentary and others mobile are main considerations of international human resources as described by Huault (1998). This article proposes the review of four pillars to global human resources management for international organizations

L'engagement organisationnel des cadres en contexte de rationalisation d'effectifs

Thèse numérisée par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal

Does life satisfaction reduce risk of incident hypertension and stroke? Evidence from the Whitehall II cohort

Background: Previous studies showed life satisfaction is related to reduced risk of coronary heart disease and diabetes, but its association with other cardiometabolic endpoints including hypertension and stroke remains unexplored. This study examined life satisfaction's prospective association with incident hypertension and stroke in middle-aged adults. Methods: At baseline (1985–1988), 6225 healthy British civil servants aged 35–55 from the Whitehall II cohort completed the validated Satisfaction with Life Scale and provided information regarding sociodemographics, a range of health-related factors, and psychological distress. Incident hypertension was ascertained according to clinic-derived measures of systolic or diastolic blood pressure of ≥140/90 mmHg, respectively, or self-reports of either physician-diagnosed hypertension or hypertensive medication use. Incident stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA) were ascertained by self-reported physician diagnosis. Follow-up assessments occurred every 2–5 years through 2017. Cox proportional hazards regression models estimated hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of hypertension and stroke/TIA risk separately. Results: Over a 31-year follow-up, 2703 cases of hypertension and 370 cases of stroke/TIA occurred. Life satisfaction was not related to risk of developing hypertension but was associated with 12% decreased risk of stroke/TIA after controlling for sociodemographics, health status, and health behaviors (HRper 1-SD = 0.88; 95%CI = 0.79–0.98). However, the association was attenuated after adjustment for psychological distress. Conclusions: No robust associations were found between life satisfaction and incident hypertension and stroke/TIA, respectively, after accounting for well-established risk factors and psychological distress. More research is needed to understand why associations of life satisfaction with cardiometabolic health seem to vary across endpoints

Acute and Chronic Effects of 12 Weeks of Combined Exercise Training on Plasma IL-6 in Post-Menopausal Women

Post-menopausal women exhibit higher levels of IL-6, a pro-inflammatory cytokine and anti-inflammatory myokine, and up-regulation of cellular receptors and cofactors for IL-6. Exercise is associated with an acute elevation of IL-6, but consistent exercise training diminishes this response. PURPOSE: to analyze the acute and chronic effects of 12 weeks of combined resistance and aerobic exercise training on plasma IL-6 in overweight or obese, post-menopausal women (55-75 years). METHODS: Forty-three women were randomly assigned to an exercise (EX, n=22) or an education (ED, n=21) group. EX completed resistance training (2 sets of 8 resistance exercises at 80% of 1RM) followed by aerobic training (25-minute treadmill walk at 70-80% of HRR) three times per week for 12 weeks. ED attended classes and activities two times per week for 12 weeks to control for seasonal variation and social interaction. Blood samples were collected a total of 8 times: 4 times before training (BT) (before the acute exercise bout (PRE), immediately after exercise (PO), 1 hour after exercise (1HR), and 2 hours after exercise (2HR)) and 4 times after training (AT). Lean, post-menopausal, and age-matched women were recruited for collection of one resting blood sample to serve as healthy controls (LN, n=11). Plasma IL-6 was determined using an ELISA kit according to manufacturer instructions. RESULTS: Baseline IL-6 concentration was significantly lower in the LN group compared to the EX (LN BT PRE: 1.0 ± 0.5; EX BT PRE: 2.8 ± 1.3 pg/mL; p\u3c0.001) and ED (LN BT PRE: 1.0 ± 0.5; ED BT PRE: 3.8 ± 1.7 pg/mL; p\u3c0.001) groups. No statistically significant BT/AT x group interaction was observed (p\u3e0.05) when the BT and AT PRE time points of the EX and ED groups were compared. In the EX group, PO was significantly higher than PRE (PRE 2.6 ± 1.2; PO 4.3 ± 1.8 pg/mL; p\u3c0.001), and PO was significantly higher than 1 HR (PO 4.3 ± 1.8; 1HR 3.4 ± 1.2 pg/mL; p=0.038) and 2HR (PO 4.3 ± 1.8; 2 HR 3.9 ± 1.6 pg/mL; p=0.005). No statistically significant differences were observed when corresponding time points before and after the intervention within a group were compared (i.e., EX BT PRE to EX AT PRE) (p\u3e0.05). CONCLUSION:The training intervention may not have been long enough and/or intense enough to observe a chronic effect of combined exercise training on plasma IL-6. Significant elevation of IL-6 immediately post-exercise was observed in the EX group, but this response was not blunted by consistent exercise training

Assessing regional patterns of juvenile salmon growth in the Salish Sea

Early marine juvenile growth in Pacific salmon is generally positively correlated with overall survival to reproductive age. In this study, regional patterns of juvenile salmon growth are being analyzed over a two-year period (2012-2013) in the Salish Sea and surrounding waters to better assess juvenile productivity, via growth, in the Salish Sea and surrounding waters to provide us insight into possible mechanisms regulating survival. Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), a hormone used to assess instantaneous growth in fishes, including juvenile salmon, was measured in late June and early July of 2012 and 2013 in the Strait of Georgia, Johnstone Strait, Queen Charlotte Strait, and Puget Sound. Juvenile sockeye (Oncorhynchus nerka) and pink salmon (O. gorbuscha) were collected in 2012, whereas juvenile coho (O. kisutch), Chinook (O. tshawytscha), and chum salmon (O. keta) where obtained in both years. In 2012 IGF-1 levels were highest in pink salmon from the Gulf Islands and Puget Sound; this was a unique pattern among the 5 species of juvenile salmon sampled. Coho salmon IGF-1 levels were highest in samples from the Northern Strait of Georgia. Chinook salmon IGF-1 levels were significantly higher in the Strait of Georgia than Puget Sound. The only regions where IGF-1 values were consistently low for three of the four species were Queen Charlotte Strait and Johnstone Strait. Analyses of 2013 IGF-1 levels (juvenile coho, Chinook, chum and a low number of sockeye) are underway and scheduled plans to obtain samples in late June to early July of 2014 are in place

L’IMPLANTATION D’UN NOUVEAU PROGRAMME CADRE EN ÉDUCATION PHYSIQUE ET SANTÉ: L’EXPÉRIENCE DES ENSEIGNANTS EN MILIEUX FRANCOPHONES ONTARIENS

Le but de la présente étude était de mieux comprendre l’expérience des enseignants d’éducation physique impliqués dans la mise en place du nouveau programme cadre « éducation physique et santé », depuis son lancement en septembre 1999. Le modèle de compréhension pour l’amélioration de la classe et de l’école développé par Fullan, Bennett, et Rolheiser‐Bennett (1990) a été utilisé afin de rendre compte de la complexité du processus d’implantation, dans quatre écoles secondaires francophones de l’Ontario. L’ensemble de nos résultats s’apparente aux conclusions d’autres études effectuées au cours de la dernière décennie au Canada et en Angleterre. Il est démontré que des changements essentiels doivent être apportés si les ministères de l’éducation provinciaux souhaitent pouvoir agir efficacement sur l’engagement et l’apprentissage des élèves. Mots‐clés : Réforme curriculaire ; Processus d’implantation ; Éducation physique et santé; expérience des enseignants The purpose of this study was to better understand the experiences of physical education teachers in implementing the new Physical Education and Health curriculum, since its launch in September 1999. The Comprehensive Framework for Classroom and School Improvement, developed by Fullan, Bennett, & Rolheiser‐ Bennett (1990), has been used to present the complex process of implementation in four francophone high schools in eastern Ontario. Results are showing similar conclusions to other studies done in Canada and UK during the last decade. It has been shown that essential changes, not related to teaching, need to be address if provincial ministries of education whish to have an impact on students’ engagement and learning. Key words : educational reform ; implementation process ; physical education and health curriculum ; teacher experience Le but de la présente étude était de mieux comprendre l’expérience des enseignants d’éducation physique impliqués dans la mise en place du nouveau programme cadre « éducation physique et santé », depuis son lancement en septembre 1999. Le modèle de compréhension pour l’amélioration de la classe et de l’école développé par Fullan, Bennett, et Rolheiser‐Bennett (1990) a été utilisé afin de rendre compte de la complexité du processus d’implantation, dans quatre écoles secondaires francophones de l’Ontario. L’ensemble de nos résultats s’apparente aux conclusions d’autres études effectuées au cours de la dernière décennie au Canada et en Angleterre. Il est démontré que des changements essentiels doivent être apportés si les ministères de l’éducation provinciaux souhaitent pouvoir agir efficacement sur l’engagement et l’apprentissage des élèves. Mots‐clés : Réforme curriculaire ; Processus d’implantation ; Éducation physique et santé; expérience des enseignants The purpose of this study was to better understand the experiences of physical education teachers in implementing the new Physical Education and Health curriculum, since its launch in September 1999. The Comprehensive Framework for Classroom and School Improvement, developed by Fullan, Bennett, & Rolheiser‐ Bennett (1990), has been used to present the complex process of implementation in four francophone high schools in eastern Ontario. Results are showing similar conclusions to other studies done in Canada and UK during the last decade. It has been shown that essential changes, not related to teaching, need to be address if provincial ministries of education whish to have an impact on students’ engagement and learning. Key words : educational reform ; implementation process ; physical education and health curriculum ; teacher experience