When does quality of relationships with coworkers predict burnout over time? The moderating role of work motivation

The present prospective study examines the interplay between the quality of relationships with coworkers and work motivation in predicting burnout. Considering self-determined motivation at work as a potential moderator, we investigated whether relationships with coworkers are equally important to all employees in preventing burnout. A total of 533 college employees participated in this study. Data were collected at two time points, two years apart. Results from structural equation modeling indicated negative main effects for high-quality relationships and self-determined motivation on burnout. A significant interaction effect between these two factors on burnout was also revealed, suggesting that high-quality relationships with coworkers is crucial for those employees who exhibit less self-determined work motivation. Implications for burnout research and management practices are discussed (Deci & Ryan, 1985 ). Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Growth and lipid class composition of the Arctic pelagic amphipod <Emphasis Type="Italic">Themisto libellula</Emphasis>

Carnivorous zooplankton is a key element to the energy transfer through the arctic food web, linking lipid rich herbivores to the top predators. We investigated the growth and lipid dynamic of the Arctic pelagic amphipod Themisto libellula in Kongsfjorden (Svalbard, 79°N) from May to October 2007. Additional samplings were performed in spring and summer 2006 and further north in Rijpfjorden (80°N), in September 2006 and 2007. In Kongsfjorden, the first free-swimming stages (3 mm) appeared early May and reached their adult length (25 mm), in October. During their first year, they grew according to a Von Bertalanffy model and most probably constituted a single cohort. Juveniles had the highest growth rate (0.19 mm day⁻¹) and revealed relatively low total lipid (TL) content (about 2.5% wet weight (WW)) with phospholipids as the major lipid class. Sub-adults showed a distinct decrease of growth rates which coincided with the increase of neutral lipid storage, reflecting a switch in energy allocation, from somatic growth to lipid storage. Indeed wax esters (WE) increased up to 48.5% TL on average in adults in 2006 while triacylglycerols (TAG) remained almost constant below 25.2% TL. The absence of lipid accumulation (in disproportion of the weight) in 2007 could be explained by a higher metabolism of T. libellula or preys of lower quality. In Rijpfjorden, adults in their second year continued accumulating lipid (up to 10% WW) with high and similar proportions of both lipid classes, WE and TAG. We highlighted that T. libellula exhibited a variable lipid metabolism along its life cycle depending on its physiological needs and environmental conditions.     

Insecticides biomarker responses on a freshwater fish Corydoras paleatus (Pisces: Callichthyidae)

This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of sublethal concentration of three different classes of insecticides (carbamate, organophosphate, and pyrethroid compounds) on the freshwater fish Corydoras paleatus. For this purpose, fish were exposed for 96 hours to commercial pesticides. Different biomarkers were analyzed as levels of lipid peroxidation (LPO), piscine micronucleus test, and enzymatic activities of catalase (CAT), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and acetylcholinesterase (AChE). The brain AChE was inhibited with carbaryl and methyl parathion, but no inhibition was observed with deltamethrin. The insecticides did not cause oxidative stress or genotoxic effects at the tested concentrations. Further studies are needed to elucidate the biotransformation of Corydoras paleatus insecticides and a possible resistance mechanism.     

The critical re-action: Learning from accidents

How do organizations react and learn from accidents? The current paper deals with the justified necessity of acting upon, and learning from accidents. The aim is to discuss organizational dynamics and interplay, evoked and put into (re)action ‘after the fact’.The paper is part of an interview study that was designed to invite individuals to reflect back, and search for patterns in terms of how they interpret the learning impact of an accident, not just in terms of changes within their own organization that can be traced back to accidents, but for the sector as a whole. A presumption for this study was the importance to look at organizational interaction, i.e. how organizations act, affect, and speak with each other. In all 30 people from the rail and marine sector were interviewed with regard to (1) revealed changes in the aftermath of the accident, and (2) conditions for learning from accidents. Thematically, the interviews had two major accidents in Norway as a background theme: The high-speed craft MS Sleipner-accident (1999) and the railway accident at Åsta (2000).The paper reports and discusses key findings from the study, with a specific focus on the interplay between actors and parallel processes in the aftermaths of an accident.     

Secondary metabolites of the leaf surface affected by sulphur fertilisation and perceived by the cabbage root fly

Summary. Surrogate leaves treated with methanolic leaf surface extracts of Brassica napus L. (cv Express) plants that received three different sulphur fertilisation treatments showed even more marked differences by the oviposition choice of Delia radicum L. than the potted plants. This confirms that the oviposition preference of D. radicum is mediated by chemical compounds on the leaf surface and that the quality of host-plants in terms of their nutrition status can be perceived by the female insect.The oviposition data were positively correlated with the content of fractionated surface extracts containing either CIF (cabbage identification factor; 1,2-dehydro-3-thia- 4,10,10b-triaza-cyclopenta[.a.]fluorine-1-carboxylic acid) or glucosinolates. Electrophysiological recordings from the tarsal chemoreceptor sensilla C₅ and D_3,4 showed that receptor neurons react to glucosinolate- and CIF-fractions. We found that the chemosensory activity of specific glucosinolate- and CIF-receptor neurons corresponded with the respective behavioural activity in the oviposition choice assays. The responses of D. radicum to glucosinolates in the electrophysiological recordings studies corresponded to the observed oviposition preference on plants or artificial leaves characterised with an higher amount of glucosinolates on leave surfaces. The presented data suggested that CIF and glucosinolates are involved in host-plant preference of D. radicum and are perceived by tarsal chemoreceptors.     

Continuous-flow fractionation of trace metals in environmental solids using rotating coiled columns. Some kinetic aspects and applicability of three-step BCR leaching schemes

The applicability of the three-step BCR leaching scheme to the continuous-flow fractionation of trace metals (TM) using rotating coiled columns (RCC) has been investigated taking soil and sediment reference samples (SRM-2710, CRM-601, BCR-701) as examples. A particulate sample was retained in the rotating column as the stationary phase under the action of centrifugal forces while different eluents, used according to the original and optimised BCR protocols, were continuously pumped through. The whole procedure required 3-4 h instead of at least 50 h needed for the traditional sequential extraction. It has been shown that in comparison with batch sequential extraction procedures (SEP), the recoveries of Cd, Zn, Cu, and Pb at the first stage (most mobile and potentially dangerous acid soluble forms) are somewhat higher, if a dynamic extraction in RCC is used. Nevertheless, the distribution patterns for TM in the first two leachable fractions (acid soluble and reducible forms) are similar in most cases. Since no heating is used in RCC, the recoveries of TM at the third stage (when hydrogen peroxide is applied to oxidize the organic matter) may be incomplete and matrix-dependent. The effect of eluent volume and flow rate on the recovery of TM in different forms has been investigated. It has been shown that the kinetics of heavy metal leaching vary significantly with samples. Hence, investigating the elution profiles can provide additional important information for risk assessment of TM mobilization.