Unraveling the impact of workforce age diversity on labor productivity: The moderating role of firm size and job security

Previous literature has suggested both positive and negative effects of age diversity on labor productivity: positive because of the potential knowledge complementarities between employees of different ages and negative because of the age‐related value differences that might reduce cohesion and cooperation, hampering firm performance. Using a Belgian sample of 5892 organizational observations (2008–2011), we unraveled these countervailing effects in two ways. First, we built on prior studies to suggest that the effect of age diversity depends on the particular shape of the age distribution: positive when it is heterogeneous (i.e., variety) and negative when it is polarized (i.e., polarization). This was supported by our findings. Second, we explored the moderating impact of two contextual contingencies, firm size and job security. As expected, the positive effect of age variety is reinforced in large firms and in firms where job security is high. Although firm size also emphasizes the negative effect of age polarization on productivity, job security, unexpectedly, does not moderate this relationship. Our study offers a valuable contribution to the literature as it reveals the boundary conditions of the competing implications of age diversity and, thus, allows one to account for the inconclusive findings reported in previous literature. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Diversity of Ontogenetic Pathways in Plant Populations

Population heterogeneity in cespitose, fibrous-rooted, brevirhizomatous, stoloniferous, and tap-rooted herbaceous and woody plants is described. This heterogeneity is caused by the multivariant character of plant ontogeny (i.e., its dimensional, morphological, rhythmological, and temporal multiversality), which is regarded as the main adaptation mechanism operating in plant populations because it provides for the diversity of ontogenetic pathways under different ecological conditions.     

EFFECTS OF TOPOGRAPHY AND SOIL PROPERTIES ON RECHARGE AT TWO SITES IN AN AGRICULTURAL FIELD1

ABSTRACT: Field experiments were conducted from 1992 to 1995 to estimate ground water recharge rates at two sites located within a 2.7‐hectare agricultural field. The field lies in a sand plain setting in central Minnesota and is cropped continuously in field corn. The sites are located at a topographically high (upland) site and a topographically low (lowland) site in an effort to quantify the effects of depression focusing of recharge. Three site‐specific methods were used to estimate recharge rates: well hydrograph analysis, chlorofluorocarbon age dating, and an unsaturated zone water balance. All three recharge methods indicated that recharge rates at the lowland site (annual average of all methods of 29 cm) exceeded those at the upland site (annual average of 18 cm). On an annual basis, estimates by the individual methods ranged from 12 to 44 percent of precipitation at the upland site and from 21 to 83 percent at the lowland site. The difference in recharge rates between the sites is primarily attributed to depression focusing of surface water runon at the lowland site. However, two other factors were also important: the presence of thin lamellae at the upland site, and coarser textured soils below a depth of 1.5 m at the lowland site.     

秦皇岛山羊寨动物群及其生存环境的研究

1981年,笔者在泰皇岛市抚宁县山羊寨村小南山发现大量动物化石,经鉴定共有32种动物,其中绝灭种7个,时代为新生代第四纪中更新世,绝对年龄为（18±2）万年至（20±2）万年,相当于北京周口店动物群后期。研究发现：其生活在低山丘陵及其河谷;当时的气候是温和湿润的温带气候,但已向凉干转化;植被为温带落叶阔叶林。     

藻源性湖泛发生过程的季节差异

藻源性湖泛在春季和夏季均有发生,但湖泛发生的完整过程在野外很难被追踪到.本文利用专利装置进行了春季与夏季藻源性湖泛的室内发生模拟,研究了湖泛发生过程中水体视觉和嗅觉两方面特征指标的变化过程.结果表明:湖泛在春季比夏季需要更长的酝酿时间方可发生,且持续时间较短;春季湖泛发生时水体真色度与悬浮固体含量均要高于夏季,且波动更显著;夏季湖泛致臭物质的变化较春季更明显,具有迅速、持久的特点;春季与夏季藻源性湖泛过程均具有嗅觉特征先于视觉效果显现的现象,即呈现先臭后黑的特点.     

中国能源可持续发展区域差异及其因素分析

该文在明晰中国能源可持续发展内涵的基础上,从能源足量、可持续、合理供给;能源与水、土地、森林等资源配套能力;国家可持续能源政策与地区规划的融合,减缓环境资源的损耗;环境可持续性四个目标出发,构建了区域能源可持续发展指标体系。从定量的角度刻画中国能源可持续发展的区域差异,解析影响中国能源可持续发展的主要因素。研究结果表明,可持续能源政策与环境的可持续性是制约能源可持续发展的关键环节;能源与森林、土地资源的配套能力是重要基础;能源供应能力是核心所在;从中国东、中、西部来看,西部地区是中国能源可持续性最强的地区,中部次之,东部能源可持续性最弱;从中国八大区域来看,能源可持续性沿海地区最弱,东北和长江中游地区次之,大西北、西南和黄河中游地区最强。本文作者最后认为多元化发展,提升能源供应能力;建立健全环境税收制度,增强环境可持续性;因地制宜,是促进中国区域能源可持续发展的必然选择。     

Differences in Evaporation Between a Floating Pan and Class A Pan on Land1

Abstract: Research was conducted to develop a method for obtaining floating pan evaporation rates in a small (less than 10,000 m²) wetland, lagoon, or pond. Floating pan and land pan evaporation data were collected from March 1 to August 31, 2005, at a small natural wetland located in the alluvium of the Canadian River near Norman, Oklahoma, at the U.S. Geological Survey Norman Landfill Toxic Substances Hydrology Research Site. Floating pan evaporation rates were compared with evaporation rates from a nearby standard Class A evaporation pan on land. Floating pan evaporation rates were significantly less than land pan evaporation rates for the entire period and on a monthly basis. Results indicated that the use of a floating evaporation pan in a small free‐water surface better simulates actual physical conditions on the water surface that control evaporation. Floating pan to land pan ratios were 0.82 for March, 0.87 for April, 0.85 for May, 0.85 for June, 0.79 for July, and 0.69 for August.     

Roadside dusts and soils contamination in Cincinnati,Ohio, USA

Roadside dusts and soils were collected from various nonindustrial districts in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, and analyzed for lead and copper contents. Results showed that the recent lead phase-down action has reduced the level of lead, but the concentrations of both metals are still higher than the background levels for normal soil. Elevated concentrations of copper in heavily traveled highways were noted, suggesting that much of the copper pollutants is probably of automotive origin. The concentration of lead was found to vary with housing age, and higher levels of contamination in the older neighborhoods were observed. This result is probably ascribable to the accumulation of residues from leaded gasoline and lead-based paint in the past and the use of coal fire for space heating in older houses.     

不同退耕年限条件下菜子湖湿地土壤理化性质变化

退耕还湖是我国长江中下游地区湿地生态恢复的重要举措.土壤理化性质指标是评价湿地生态恢复状况的重要组成部分.选取菜子湖区不同退耕年限(2、5、8、10和20 a)湿地为研究对象,通过与相邻仍耕作油菜地和原始湿地土壤理化性质的比较,揭示了退耕还湖后湿地土壤生态特征变化规律.结果表明,随着退耕年限的增加,不同土壤理化性质指标变化趋势存在差异;土壤有机质含量逐年增加;土壤全氮和碱解氮含量在退耕5 a时显著升高,而后期变化平缓;土壤全磷和有效磷含量均呈先降低后升高趋势;土壤黏粒含量逐渐增加;土壤容重呈先升高后降低趋势;土壤含水量不断增加;土壤pH值缓慢降低.退耕2 a湿地土壤生态特征仍与油菜地相似,退耕2 a后土壤生态特征开始向原始湿地方向演化.退耕20 a期间湿地表层土壤理化性质变化强烈,而亚表层变化相对平缓.回归分析表明,除土壤pH和氮素含量的回归曲线拟合不显著外,退耕湿地表层土壤黏粒含量、容重、含水量、有机质含量、全磷含量和有效磷含量恢复到原始湿地水平所需时间分别为19、23、31、26、27和22 a,快于亚表层土壤的20、31、51、40、30和23 a.