scholarly journals The impact of intra-specific diversity in the rhizobia-legume symbiosis

Microbiology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 167 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bryden Fields ◽  
Emma K. Moffat ◽  
Ville-Petri Friman ◽  
Ellie Harrison
Keyword(s):  
Rhizobium Leguminosarum ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Individual Performance ◽  
Positive Contribution ◽  
Local Conditions ◽  
High Performing ◽  
Legume Symbiosis ◽  
Function Relationship ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Impact

Rhizobia - nitrogen-fixing, root-nodulating bacteria - play a critical role in both plant ecosystems and sustainable agriculture. Rhizobia form intracellular infections within legumes roots where they produce plant accessible nitrogen from atmospheric nitrogen and thus reduce the reliance on industrial inputs. The rhizobia-legume symbiosis is often treated as a pairwise relationship between single genotypes, both in research and in the production of rhizobial inoculants. However in nature individual plants are infected by a high diversity of rhizobia symbionts. How this diversity affects productivity within the symbiosis is unclear. Here, we use a powerful statistical approach to assess the impact of diversity within the Rhizobium leguminosarum - clover symbiosis using a biodiversity-ecosystem function framework. Statistically, we found no significant impact of rhizobium diversity. However this relationship was weakly positive - rather than negative - indicating that there is no significant cost to increasing inoculant diversity. Productivity was influenced by the identity of the strains within an inoculant; strains with the highest individual performance showed a significant positive contribution within mixed inoculants. Overall, inoculant effectiveness was best predicted by the individual performance of the best inoculant member, and only weakly predicted by the worst performing member. Collectively, our data suggest that the Rhizobium leguminosarum - clover symbiosis displays a weak diversity-function relationship, but that inoculant performance can be improved through the inclusion of high performing strains. Given the wide environmental dependence of rhizobial inoculant quality, multi-strain inoculants could be highly successful as they increase the likelihood of including a strain well adapted to local conditions across different environments.

scholarly journals ADAPTASI MODEL DELONE DAN MCLEAN YANG DIMODIFIKASI GUNA MENGUJI KEBERHASILAN IMPLEMENTASI APLIKASI OPERASIONAL BAITUL MAAL WAT TAMWIL (BMT) BAGI INDIVIDU PENGGUNA (Studi Empiris Pada BMT di Kota Semarang)

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 123
Author(s):  
Novita Anugrah Listiyana ◽  
Dedi Rusdi
Keyword(s):  
Path Analysis ◽  
User Satisfaction ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Individual Performance ◽  
Quality System ◽  
Quality Of Information ◽  
Positive Direction ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Impact

This study analyzed the relationship between humans as users of the system and application software as object an inseparable relationship. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of variable quality system to the perception of the quality system, the effect of perceived quality system and quality of information on the intensity of use and user satisfaction, and the influence of the intensity of use and user satisfaction of the impact of individual performance. This research is an empirical study using purposive sampling technique in data collection. Data were collected through  questionnaires to 39 BMT’s operational employees. Then, performed an analysis of the data obtained used path analysis. This included: testing hypotheses through path analysis. The results of tests performed using path analysis to get the results that each variable in the model of equation 4 had a coefficient with a positive direction. This means that the improvement of the quality of the system will be able to improve the quality of information for the individual impact of the use and satisfaction of employees through the use of the system.

scholarly journals Contradictory yet Coherent? Inconsistency in Performance Feedback and R&D Investment Change

2015 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 658-681 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerardus J. M. Lucas ◽  
Joris Knoben ◽  
Marius T. H. Meeus
Keyword(s):  
Selective Attention ◽  
Performance Feedback ◽  
Peer Group ◽  
Individual Performance ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Feedback Signal ◽  
Opposite Case ◽  
Theoretical Mechanism ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Impact

In this paper, we study to what extent inconsistent feedback signals about performance affect firm adaptive behavior in terms of changes made to research-and-development (R&D) investments. We argue that inconsistency in performance feedback—based on discrepancies between two distinct performance signals—affects the degree to which such investments will be changed. Our aim is to show that accounting for inconsistent performance feedback is necessary as predictions for the direction of change in R&D investments based on the individual performance feedback signals are contradictory. Furthermore, we contribute by proposing a holistic consideration mechanism as an alternative to the selective attention mechanism previously applied to inconsistent performance feedback. Our findings show that the impact of inconsistency depends on the exact configuration of the underlying performance feedback signal discrepancies. While consistently negative performance feedback signals would amplify their impact in stimulating increased R&D investments, inconsistent performance feedback signals created more nuanced effects. Having lower performance compared to an industry-based peer group—despite doing well compared to the previous year—made firms decrease their R&D investments. For the opposite case of inconsistent performance feedback, we did not find an effect on change in R&D investments. These findings support to a degree our contention that explaining the effects of inconsistent performance feedback requires a holistic consideration theoretical mechanism instead of one involving selective attention. In sum, these findings suggest future research should take into account the differences between distinct instances of inconsistent performance feedback.

scholarly journals Development of an individual-based model for polioviruses: implications of the selection of network type and outcome metrics

2010 ◽  
Vol 139 (6) ◽  
pp. 836-848 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. RAHMANDAD ◽  
K. HU ◽  
R. J. DUINTJER TEBBENS ◽  
K. M. THOMPSON
Keyword(s):  
Network Structure ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
State Transitions ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Support Policy ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Potential Use ◽  
Selection Of ◽  
Outcome Metrics

SUMMARYWe developed an individual-based (IB) model to explore the stochastic attributes of state transitions, the heterogeneity of the individual interactions, and the impact of different network structure choices on the poliovirus transmission process in the context of understanding the dynamics of outbreaks. We used a previously published differential equation-based model to develop the IB model and inputs. To explore the impact of different types of networks, we implemented a total of 26 variations of six different network structures in the IB model. We found that the choice of network structure plays a critical role in the model estimates of cases and the dynamics of outbreaks. This study provides insights about the potential use of an IB model to support policy analyses related to managing the risks of polioviruses and shows the importance of assumptions about network structure.

scholarly journals The standalone and resource-bundling effects of government and nongovernment institutional support on early internationalizing firms’ performance

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anisur R. Faroque ◽  
Hafiza Sultana ◽  
Jashim Uddin Ahmed ◽  
Farhad Uddin Ahmed ◽  
Mahabubur Rahman
Keyword(s):  
Institutional Environment ◽  
Export Performance ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Institutional Support ◽  
Joint Effect ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Exporting Firms ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Impact

Purpose This study aims to analyze the individual and joint effects of institutional support by government and nongovernment institutions on early internationalizing firms’ (EIFs) performance. It also investigated the moderating impact of firm age and size on the institutional support-firms’ export performance relationships. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from 705 EIFs in the apparel industry of Bangladesh and analyzed with hierarchical regression. Findings The positive influence of institutional support on exporting firms’ financial performance is stronger for the joint effect of government and nongovernment assistance than the individual impact. Firms’ size positively moderates the impact of individual government and nongovernment assistance, while age positively moderates their resource-bundling effect. Research limitations/implications The findings suggest the necessity of integrating resources from diverse but complementary sources of institutional support for superior export performance. The findings also show the presence of the liability of smallness and liability of newness in the standalone and joint influence of institutional support, respectively. Practical implications Firms need to bundle resources obtained from the government (unrequited) and nongovernment (reciprocal) institutional support to overcome the liability of smallness they might encounter while availing of support from only one source. Originality/value Distinguishing between government and nongovernment institutional support, this paper sheds light on exporting firms’ resource-bundling mechanism for these two sources of support in the backdrop of an emerging economy. It also offers fresh insights into the critical role of the liabilities of newness and smallness in early internationalization, especially with regard to the home-country institutional environment.

scholarly journals The Impact of Family Setting and Local Opportunities on Leaving Home and Migration Destinations of Rural Youths, The Netherlands 1860-1940

2015 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 43-65
Author(s):  
Bastian Mönkediek ◽  
Jan Kok ◽  
Kees Mandemakers
Keyword(s):  
The Netherlands ◽  
Leaving Home ◽  
Local Conditions ◽  
Rural Workers ◽  
Family Economy ◽  
Historical Sample ◽  
And Migration ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Family Setting ◽  
The Impact

In this article we aim to study how Dutch children’s individual destinies result from the complex interplay of family setting and local conditions in a rural environment. We focus on their final move from the parental home, and we will analyse not only timing and incidence of leaving, but also the destinations. To do this, we propose a multi-level competing risk analysis of migration destinations. We focus on two groups: the children of farmers and those of rural workers. Dutch farmers and workers differ in the type of family economy in which children were integrated, and contrasting them will allow us to explain the speed, the directions, and the individual and family backgrounds of the process of leaving agriculture. We make use of the Historical Sample of the Netherlands to analyse last migrations of 8,338 children of farmers and rural workers. As we cover the entire country, we can study the full impact of regional differences on type of agriculture and inheritance, in combination with the family composition. Our results indicate significant effects of specialised versus traditional, mixed farming on the migration behaviour of farmers’ and rural workers’ children, as well as the importance of the number of siblings of the same sex and birth order. The variations in the effects of the sibship among regions with different agricultural systems demonstrate the importance of gender-specific divisions of labour on leaving home.

scholarly journals When COVID-19 Is the Invader and Internal Communication Is the Hero: Understanding the Influence of Internal Communication on Individual Performance and Evaluating the Mediating Role of Perceived Support

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 136
Author(s):  
Daniel Roque Gomes ◽  
Patricia Lourenço ◽  
Neuza Ribeiro
Keyword(s):  
Individual Performance ◽  
Internal Communication ◽  
Mediation Effect ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Perceived Organisational Support ◽  
Improved Performance ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Impact

Objective: The main objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of internal communication (IC) of organisations on the quality of the individual–organisation relationship, specifically with regard to the effects generated with respect to individual performance (IP) in a pandemic framework. In this sense, the study intends to evaluate the effects of IC on the employee’s IP, having as a mediator perceived organisational support (POS). Methodology: To achieve the aforementioned objectives, a cross-sectional quantitative study was prepared, data for which were collected during a period of confinement that took place between 9 February and 15 March 2021. A total of 340 individuals of both sexes participated in the study. Genders were 67.6% female and 32.4% male, with ages ranging from 25 years to over 61 years, from all districts of Portugal and the Islands. Results: The main results obtained showed that IC was positively and significantly correlated with POS and also with IP, and that there was also a total mediation effect of POS in the relationship between IC and IP. Practical implications: These results seem to support the need for organisations to invest in their internal communication practices as a way of stimulating strong and fruitful relationships between workers and the organisation. Internal communication seems to be a relevant indicator for the management of proximity relationships with workers, especially in adverse contexts, like the ones experienced during the pandemic crisis. Well-developed internal communication supports and practices seem to be a valid path towards developing bonds leading to improved performance.

scholarly journals The impact of penalties for wrong answers on the gender gap in test scores

2020 ◽  
Vol 117 (16) ◽  
pp. 8794-8803 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine B. Coffman ◽  
David Klinowski
Keyword(s):  
Policy Change ◽  
Gender Gap ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
High Stakes ◽  
University Admissions ◽  
High Performing ◽  
College Entry ◽  
The World ◽  
The Impact

Multiple-choice examinations play a critical role in university admissions across the world. A key question is whether imposing penalties for wrong answers on these examinations deters guessing from women more than men, disadvantaging female test-takers. We consider data from a large-scale, high-stakes policy change that removed penalties for wrong answers on the national college entry examination in Chile. The policy change reduced a large gender gap in questions skipped. It also narrowed gender gaps in performance, primarily among high-performing test-takers, and in the fields of math, social science, and chemistry.

The impact of a spiritual environment on performance mediated by job resourcefulness

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 267-286 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Joelle ◽  
Arnaldo Coelho
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Affective Commitment ◽  
Individual Performance ◽  
Management Tool ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Confirmatory Factor ◽  
Spirituality At Work ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore and present the process of management as viewed through the lens of spirituality at work, and to identify the influence of a spiritual environment on individual performance, mediated by job resourcefulness and moderate by affective commitment. Structural equation modeling was used. Design/methodology/approach The sample size consisted of 273 individuals from Portugal. The methodological design is quantitative. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis were used to assess construct validity based on AMOS 21. Findings The results show that with the implementation of a spirituality culture, this fact increases the presence of spirituality at work and the individual performance, mediated by job resourcefulness. Research limitations/implications There are methodological limitations, because the work is based on “perceptions.” Another limitation is about spirituality at work conceptualization, considering it is still subject to different perspectives and definitions. Originality/value The findings can provide fundamental guidance for managers and academics to implement a set of practices that promote the presence of spirituality at work as a new management tool to run a company.

scholarly journals The Relative Age Effect on Competition Performance of Spanish International Handball Players: A Longitudinal Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alfonso de la Rubia ◽  
Alberto Lorenzo ◽  
Christian Thue Bjørndal ◽  
Adam Leigh Kelly ◽  
Abraham García-Aliaga ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Goodness Of Fit ◽  
Individual Performance ◽  
Unintended Consequences ◽  
Statistical Parameters ◽  
Goodness Of Fit Test ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Relative Age ◽  
Performance Trends ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Impact

Background: Competitive success is the ultimate objective of elite professional sport organisations. Relative age effects (RAE) impact athlete selection processes in the short and long-term performance. The aims of this study were: (i) examine the presence of RAE by gender, competitive level, and playing position, as well as evaluate the impact of RAE on individual (goals, percentage of effectiveness in shots, saves; percentage of effectiveness in saves, assists, turnovers, steals, blocked shots, penalties, minutes played, and minutes played per match) and collective competition performance (final team position); and (ii) analyse the impact of RAE on the evolutionary trends of individual performance in international competitions throughout 16 seasons in Spanish handball (2005–2020).Methods: The sample included 631 Spanish handball players (male: n = 359; female: n = 272). A Chi-square goodness-of-fit test was used to assess whether a skewed birthdate distribution occurred. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) of independent measures was used to examine the individual and collective statistical parameters by birth quartiles. A linear regression in a Hopkins sheet were performed to compare individual performance trends.Results: The results revealed RAE in the male formative categories (p < 0.001), as well as the male and female senior categories (p < 0.05). By position, RAE especially affected the “centre-back” in the male formative (p < 0.01) and senior categories (p < 0.05). No significant relationship between RAE and individual performance was found in male formative categories, while an impact of RAE on the “minutes played” was detected in the female senior category (p < 0.05). With regard to collective performance, a higher number of relatively older handball players was observed in the best ranked teams in the male formative categories and in the quarter-final teams in the female formative categories (p < 0.05). Among the male players, relatively older players spent more minutes on the court than relatively younger players, although this advantage dissipated over time and did not lead to better performance. Among the female players, relatively younger players were found to perform better as the level of competitive handball increased.Discussion: These findings are important for talent identification and development policies in sport federations and other elite sport institutions by demonstrating the many unintended consequences of selections to international competitions at the youth level.

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