Functional responses in a lizard along a 3.5-km altitudinal gradient

Aim: Physiological and metabolic performance are key mediators of the functional response of species to environmental change. Few environments offer such a multifaceted array of stressors as high-altitude habitats, which differ markedly in temperature, water availability, UV radiation and oxygen pressure compared to low-altitude habitats. Species that inhabit large altitudinal gradients are thus excellent models to study how organisms respond to environmental variation. Location: Tenerife island, Canary Islands archipelago (Spain). Taxon: Tenerife lizard (Gallotia galloti, Lacertidae). Methods: We integrated data on age structure, thermal and hydric regulatory behaviour and four metabolic and stress-related biomarkers for an insular lizard that inhabits an extreme altitudinal range (sea level to 3700 m a.s.l.), to understand how an ectotherms' age, ecophysiology and metabolism can be affected by extreme environmental variation. Results: We found marked differences in metabolic stress markers associated with altitude (particularly in the abundance of carbonyl metabolites and relative telomere length), but without a linear pattern along the altitudinal cline. Contrary to expectations, longer telomeres and lower carbonyl content were detected at the highest altitude, suggesting reduced stress in these populations. Evaporative water loss differed between populations but did not follow a linear altitudinal gradient. Lizard age structure or thermal physiological performance did not markedly change across different altitudes. Mixed signals in life-history and thermal ecology across populations and altitude suggest complex responses to variable conditions across altitude in this species. Main Conclusions: Our integrative study of multiple functional traits demonstrated that adaptation to highly divergent environmental conditions in this lizard is potentially linked to an interplay between plasticity and local adaptation variably associated with different functional traits

Does type of hospital ownership influence physicians' daily work schedules? An observational real-time study in German hospital departments

Background: During the last two decades the German hospital sector has been engaged in a constant process of transformation. One obvious sign of this is the growing amount of hospital privatization. To date, most research studies have focused on the effects of privatization regarding financial outcomes and quality of care, leaving important organizational issues unexplored. Yet little attention has been devoted to the effects of privatization on physicians' working routines. The aim of this observational real-time study is to deliver exact data about physicians' work at hospitals of different ownership. By analysing working hours, further impacts of hospital privatization can be assessed and areas of improvement identified. Methods: Observations were made by shadowing 100 physicians working in private, for-profit or non-profit as well as public hospital departments individually during whole weekday shifts in urban German settings. A total of 300 days of observations were conducted. All working activities were recorded, accurate to the second, by using a mobile personal computer. Results: Results have shown significant differences in physicians' working activities, depending on hospital ownership, concerning working hours and time spent on direct and indirect patient care. Conclusion: This is the first real-time analysis on differences in work activities depending on hospital ownership. The study provides an objective insight into physicians' daily work routines at hospitals of different ownership, with additional information on effects of hospital privatization

Over 14% efficiency on RST-ribbon solar cells

In solar cell production silicon wafer material still has a large impact on the total costs. Material losses due to slicing wafers from ingots are one of the main reasons. Ribbon technologies can avoid these problems by producing wafers directly out of the silicon melt. We focus on the Ribbon on Sacrificial Template (RST) method which uses carbon-based substrates to cast silicon wafers. RST wafers have effective minority charge carrier diffusion lengths in the range of ~120 m. Thus, the potential for good cell performances is given. A high efficiency solar cell process developed for defect-rich multicrystalline silicon materials at the University of Konstanz was applied on RST wafers. The goal was to gain insight into the material quality and properties to provide feedback for the wafer production. With over 14%, we can present the so far highest obtained solar cell efficiency for this material

The effect of ethical work climate on the organizational citizenship behavior of academic nurses

Aim This study demonstrates the effect of academic nurses' perceptions of ethical work climate on their organizational citizenship behaviour. Background Establishing healthy relationships in organizations and ensuring organizational effectiveness depend on workers' perception of organizational ethics and voluntary behaviours that improve their organizations. Methods This study was conducted with 644 academic nurses working in public institutions of higher education that offer nursing education at the undergraduate level in Turkey. The data were collected using a sociodemographic characteristics form, the Ethical Climate Scale and the Organizational Citizenship Behaviour Scale. The data were evaluated using statistical software. Approvals for the study were obtained from the institutions and their ethics committees, and the participants' consent was obtained. Results This study found there was a significant relationship between academic nurses' perception of ethical work climate and their organizational citizenship behaviour. Ethical work climate based on social responsibility had the most effect on organizational citizenship behaviour. Conclusions Academic nurses' perceptions of ethical work climate affect their organizational citizenship behaviour. Implications for Nursing Policy Academic nurses should act in accordance with the laws and both professional and personal moral codes in the work environment, take into account team and institutional interests, be aware of their social responsibilities and be efficient. In this way, they can provide an ethical work environment and be a good organizational citizen based on volunteering and courtesy, thinking about team members, acting with advanced task awareness and supporting the development of the organization

The effect of ethical work climate on the organizational citizenship behavior of academic nurses

Aim This study demonstrates the effect of academic nurses' perceptions of ethical work climate on their organizational citizenship behaviour. Background Establishing healthy relationships in organizations and ensuring organizational effectiveness depend on workers' perception of organizational ethics and voluntary behaviours that improve their organizations. Methods This study was conducted with 644 academic nurses working in public institutions of higher education that offer nursing education at the undergraduate level in Turkey. The data were collected using a sociodemographic characteristics form, the Ethical Climate Scale and the Organizational Citizenship Behaviour Scale. The data were evaluated using statistical software. Approvals for the study were obtained from the institutions and their ethics committees, and the participants' consent was obtained. Results This study found there was a significant relationship between academic nurses' perception of ethical work climate and their organizational citizenship behaviour. Ethical work climate based on social responsibility had the most effect on organizational citizenship behaviour. Conclusions Academic nurses' perceptions of ethical work climate affect their organizational citizenship behaviour. Implications for Nursing Policy Academic nurses should act in accordance with the laws and both professional and personal moral codes in the work environment, take into account team and institutional interests, be aware of their social responsibilities and be efficient. In this way, they can provide an ethical work environment and be a good organizational citizen based on volunteering and courtesy, thinking about team members, acting with advanced task awareness and supporting the development of the organization