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- ItemOrganizational Commitment and Burnout During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Comparative Analysis in the United States and New Zealand(Taylor and Francis Group on behalf of the World Communication Association, 2024-06-17) Croucher SM; Rocker K; Singh R; Feekery A; Ashwell D; Green M; Murray N; Anderson KThis study examined the link between organizational commitment (OC) and burnout during COVID-19 in New Zealand and the United States. Results revealed OC and burnout differed between the U.S. and New Zealand. In addition, the correlations between OC and the dimensions of burnout differed between the nations, particularly on issues linked with emotional exhaustion and personal accomplishment. These results point to the influence of lockdowns and other physical limitations on burnout and commitment in organizations. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed, as well as areas for future research.
- ItemThe Impact of Supervisory Communication Apprehension on Subordinates’ Job Performance: An Empirical Study in Pakistan(Korea Distribution Science Association, 2022-02-28) Asad M; Aizaz Zafar M; Sajjad AThe impact of supervisory communication apprehension (SCA) on subordinates' job performance was investigated in this study. We also examined the impact of task-related uncertainty in mediating the relationship between SCA and subordinate work performance, as well as the role of information-seeking behavior in moderating the relationship between task-related uncertainty and subordinate job performance. A sample of subordinates and their supervisors from public and private sector enterprises in Pakistan were used in the study. The concept of communication apprehension is not limited to a single organization or industry, and the conditions suggest that apprehensive supervisors are likely to exist in different organizations and industries in Pakistan, including banks, telecommunications, and development sector organizations. Company directors and leaders of human resources departments were contacted to reach out to possible respondents. SmartPLS software was used to evaluate the data using a structural equation modeling technique which is commonly used in explanatory studies (Atta et al., 2021). We found evidence to support ideas predicting the association between SCA and subordinate job performance, as well as the mediating role of task-related ambiguity in the relationship. Furthermore, the findings show that information-seeking activity has a moderating effect on the link between task-related ambiguity and subordinate job performance. This is one of the first studies to look at major mediating and moderating mechanisms in the link between SCA and subordinate job performance.
- ItemHosting and the normative presence of Christmas in older people’s lives(John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 2024-04-24) Mansvelt JDespite the economic and cultural significance of Christmas in many nations, there has been relatively little geographical research on how it shapes people’s socialities, spatialities, and subjectivities. In this paper, practice theory was used to reflect on the materials, meanings, and competencies associated with older people who host the celebration at home, and thematic analysis of qualitative interviews with 20 individuals aged 65+ explored participants’ experiences of doing so. Findings reveal that homes’ material forms affect older people’s ability to host, while the ‘stuff’ of Christmas such as decorations, special foods, or gifts shape those homes as festive and welcoming places. Food sourcing and preparation were critical competencies for female participants, and shifting capacities to be a host influenced participants’ sense of autonomy and identity. Regardless of the extent to which participants celebrated Christmas, the meanings of hosting centred on social connection, contribution, and shoring up family. Choosing not to host or being unable to contribute in expected ways at Christmas could signify failure, exclusion, or incapability as an older person, parent, or citizen. Examining these issues in the case study, based in Aotearoa/New Zealand, reveals the existence and effects of the social expectations, norms, and obligations that typify Christmas. More broadly, the study highlights the need for geographers to attend to the ways in which celebrations shape and are shaped by diverse practices, places, and peoples and are assembled, reproduced, and resisted.
- ItemThe impact of environmental policy on renewable energy innovation: A systematic literature review and research directions(ERP Environment and John Wiley and Sons Ltd, 2024-01-03) Rastegar H; Eweje G; Sajjad ARenewable energy innovations are imperative to tackle the climate change crisis. However, there is a gap in the literature regarding the effectiveness of environmental policies in promoting renewable energy innovations. To bridge this gap, we have adopted a systematic literature review process covering the period from 2005 to 2023. We identified and analysed 29 articles in our final sample. Further, we employ two levels of analysis (individual-policy and policy-mix levels) for analysing the extant research. Our findings show that fiscal incentives and emissions trading policies such as the European Union (EU) Emissions Trading System (ETS) consistently promote renewable energy innovations. In contrast, the effectiveness of feed-in tariffs and quotas in supporting renewable energy innovations varies, reflecting diverse impacts across distinct regions and renewable energy technologies. Our analysis also suggests that combinations of various policy types can enhance innovation more effectively than individual policies. We contribute to the extant literature by developing a classificatory analysis of the effect of environmental policies on renewable energy innovations. Our review also provides research directions for future scholarship.
- ItemThe Mid-Diaphysis Is a Poor Predictor of Humeral Fracture Risk Indicating That Predisposing Factors Are Recent(MDPI (Basel, Switzerland), 2021-09) Gibson M; Dittmer K; Hickson R; Back P; Wehrle-Martinez A; Rogers C; Bonanno AThe incidence of spontaneous humeral fractures in first-lactation dairy heifers in New Zealand has emphasised the need to understand the thoracic limb bone growth of dairy heifers. Previous research has indicated that a predisposing factor to spontaneous humeral fracture is nutrition. In addition, it has been hypothesised that liver copper concentration affects bone strength and may be a potential factor associated with humeral fracture risk. The aim of this study was to compare bone morphology in the mid-diaphysis of the metacarpus and humerus of heifers affected and unaffected by spontaneous humeral fractures, and determine the effect of copper status at death on bone morphology. The metacarpus and humerus were collected from heifers affected and unaffected by humeral fractures, and scanned using peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT). The mid-diaphysis of the humerus of the affected group had reduced cortical bone mineral density and a trend for reduced cortical content and total bone content, which contributed to a reduced stress–strain index. The trend for reduced bone length in affected humeri provides additional support for the hypothesis of inhibited humeral growth. Heifers with low copper liver concentrations had reduced humerus lengths and reduced cortical bone mineral densities. These data support the hypothesis that the developmental window for humeral fracture is recent, and possibly associated with periods of inadequate nutrition.
- ItemGlobal patterns in small-scale cannabis growers' distribution practices: Exploring the grower-distributor nexus.(Elsevier B.V., 2024-06-03) Søgaard TF; Brummer JE; Wilkins C; Sznitman SR; Sevigny EL; Frank VA; Potter G; Hakkarainen P; Barratt MJ; Werse B; Grigg J; Fortin D; Bear D; Lenton S; Jauffret-Roustide M; Kirtadze IBACKGROUND: While the supply of cannabis is commonly assumed to be dominated by criminal gangs, a sizable share of the domestic cannabis supply is provided by small-scale growers. This article examines the nature and scope of small-scale growers' distribution practices, with a particular focus on cross-country differences and variations between different types of grower-distributors, i.e., "non-suppliers", "exclusive social suppliers", "sharers and sellers" and "exclusive sellers". METHODS: Based on a large convenience web survey sample of predominantly small-scale cannabis growers from 18 countries, this article draws on data from two subsamples. The first subsample includes past-year growers in all 18 countries who answered questions regarding their market participation (n = 8,812). The second subsample includes past-year growers in 13 countries, who answered additional questions about their supply practices (n = 2,296). RESULTS: The majority of the cannabis growers engaged in distribution of surplus products, making them in effect "grower-distributors". Importantly, many did so as a secondary consequence of growing, and social supply (e.g., sharing and gifting) is much more common than selling. While growers who both shared and sold ("sharers and sellers"), and especially those who only sold ("exclusive sellers"), grew a higher number of plants and were most likely to grow due to a wish to sell for profits, the majority of these are best described as small-scale sellers. That is, the profit motive for growing was often secondary to non-financial motives and most sold to a limited number of persons in their close social network. CONCLUSION: We discuss the implications of the findings on the structural process of import-substitution in low-end cannabis markets, including a growing normalization of cannabis supply.
- ItemIncreased Dietary Protein to Energy Ratio in Pre-Weaning Lambs Increases Average Daily Gain and Cortical Bone Thickness in the Tibia(MDPI (Basel, Switzerland), 2022-12) Gibson MJ; Adams BR; Back PJ; Dittmer KE; Herath HMGP; Pain SJ; Kenyon PR; Morel PCH; Blair HT; Rogers CWThe objective of this study was to examine if diets differing in crude protein (CP) to metabolizable energy (ME) ratio (CP:ME) pre-weaning altered peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) measures of bone mass and strength in lambs. The left hind leg of lambs were available at the completion of a trial designed to examine the effect that altering the CP:ME ratio in milk replacer had on growth and body composition of pre-weaned lambs reared artificially. Treatments consisted of either normal commercial milk replacer (CMR, n = 10) containing 240 g/kg CP and 21.89 MJ/kg ME, high protein milk replacer (HPM, n = 9) containing CMR with additional milk protein concentrate to reach 478.7 g/kg CP and 19.15 MJ/kg ME or a mix of normal milk replacer and milk protein concentrate adjusted twice-weekly to match optimal CP:ME requirements (MB, n = 8) based on maintenance plus 300 g/d liveweight gain. At 22 kg live weight, lambs were euthanized and the tibia including the surrounding muscle was collected and scanned using pQCT at the mid-diaphysis. Lambs on the HPM and MB diets had a greater average daily gain (p < 0.01). There were limited differences in bone morphology and muscle mass, though notably the higher protein diets (MB and HPM) were associated with greater cortical thickness (p < 0.05) and, therefore, potentially greater peak bone mass at maturity This finding demonstrates that pre-weaning diets, and the protein content in particular, may influence the developmental potential of long bones and attainment of peak bone mass at maturity.
- ItemA comparison of the relationship between extraversion and argumentativeness in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand(Taylor and Francis Group on behalf of the Eastern Communication Association, 2024-03-12) Croucher SM; Yotes T; Ashwell D; Condon SMThe association between argumentativeness and extraversion, while well established in the United States, has not been examined cross-culturally. Therefore, this study conducts a cross-cultural comparison of this association with nationally representative samples from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States. The results confirm previous research in the U.S. and showed U.S. participants scored highest on tendency to approach arguments and extraversion, and lowest on tendency to avoid arguments, while New Zealanders scored the lowest on tendency to approach arguments and extraversion. These results expand our understanding of argumentativeness, illustrating the positive association between argumentativeness and extraversion is not a uniquely U.S. phenomenon, and expanding our understanding of argumentativeness to the Canadian context. The differences found between countries suggest future research explore how other factors might explain these differences.
- ItemNurturing partnerships to support data access for impact forecasts and warnings: Theoretical integration and synthesis(Elsevier B.V., 2024-04-15) Harrison SE; Potter SH; Prasanna R; Doyle EEH; Johnston DThis paper presents a synthesis and theoretical integration of findings from a research project that explored the data needs and sources for implementing impact forecasts and warnings for hydrometeorological hazards. Impact forecasts and warnings (IFW) have received global attention in recent years as they offer a novel way of improving the communication of hazards and risks. The fundamental idea behind IFWs is to enable warning services to meaningfully communicate the anticipated outcomes, consequences, or impacts of the hazard interacting with society or the environment by incorporating knowledge about the underlying and dynamic exposure and vulnerability of people and assets. One key question for IFW implementation is about data needs and sources to inform IFWs.Using the Grounded Theory Methodology, we address the question “How can partnerships and collaboration better facilitate the collection, creation, and access to hazard, impact, vulnerability, and exposure data for IFWs?” Our findings point to partnerships and collaboration as a necessary strategy for implementing IFWs. Implementation requires accessing various types and sources of hazard, impact, vulnerability, and exposure data to assess and communicate the potential impacts of hydrometeorological hazards. Partnerships and collaboration facilitate the sharing of and access to required data and knowledge. Based on our findings, we provide recommendations to increase interagency communication and partnerships for IFWs and disaster risk reduction, such as making cohabitation arrangements between agencies, running joint training scenarios, and encouraging meteorological services and emergency responders to co-define tailored warning thresholds.
- ItemA multidomain intervention against cognitive decline in an at-risk-population in Germany: Results from the cluster-randomized AgeWell.de trial.(John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 2024-01-01) Zülke AE; Pabst A; Luppa M; Roehr S; Seidling H; Oey A; Cardona MI; Blotenberg I; Bauer A; Weise S; Zöllinger I; Sanftenberg L; Brettschneider C; Döhring J; Lunden L; Czock D; Haefeli WE; Wiese B; Hoffmann W; Frese T; Gensichen J; König H-H; Kaduszkiewicz H; Thyrian JR; Riedel-Heller SGINTRODUCTION: We investigated the effectiveness of a multidomain intervention to preserve cognitive function in older adults at risk for dementia in Germany in a cluster-randomized trial. METHODS: Individuals with a Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging, and Dementia (CAIDE) risk score ≥ 9 aged 60 to 77 years were recruited. After randomization of their general practitioner (GP), patients received a multidomain intervention (including optimization of nutrition and medication, and physical, social, and cognitive activity) or general health advice and GP treatment as usual over 24 months. Primary outcome was global cognitive performance (composite z score, based on domain-specific neuropsychological tests). RESULTS: Of 1030 participants at baseline, n = 819 completed the 24-month follow-up assessment. No differences regarding global cognitive performance (average marginal effect = 0.010, 95% confidence interval: -0.113, 0.133) were found between groups at follow-up. Perceived restrictions in intervention conduct by the COVID-19 pandemic did not impact intervention effectiveness. DISCUSSION: The intervention did not improve global cognitive performance. HIGHLIGHTS: Overall, no intervention effects on global cognitive performance were detected. The multidomain intervention improved health-related quality of life in the total sample. In women, the multidomain intervention reduced depressive symptoms. The intervention was completed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
