A study of employee affective organisational commitment and retention in Pakistan:the roles of psychological contract breach and norms of reciprocity

Social exchange theory and notions of reciprocity have long been assumed to explain the relationship between psychological contract breach and important employee outcomes. To date, however, there has been no explicit testing of these assumptions. This research, therefore, explores the mediating role of negative, generalized, and balanced reciprocity, in the relationships between psychological contract breach and employees’ affective organizational commitment and turnover intentions. A survey of 247 Pakistani employees of a large public university was analyzed using structural equation modeling and bootstrapping techniques, and provided excellent support for our model. As predicted, psychological contract breach was positively related to negative reciprocity norms and negatively related to generalized and balanced reciprocity norms. Negative and generalized (but not balanced) reciprocity were negatively and positively (respectively) related to employees’ affective organizational commitment and fully mediated the relationship between psychological contract breach and affective organizational commitment. Moreover, affective organizational commitment fully mediated the relationship between generalized and negative reciprocity and employees’ turnover intentions. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.

The relationship between perceived training and development and employee retention:the mediating role of work attitudes

This paper considers how utilizing a model of job-related affect can be used to explain the processes through which perceived training and development influence employee retention. We applied Russell’s model of core affect to categorize four different forms of work attitude, and positioned these as mediators of the relationship between perceived training and development and intention to stay. Using data from 1,191 employees across seven organizations, multilevel analyses found that job satisfaction, employee engagement, and change-related anxiety were significantly associated with intention to stay, and fully mediated the relationship between perceived training and development and intention to stay. Contrary to our hypotheses, emotional exhaustion was not significantly associated with intention to stay nor acted as a mediator when the other attitudes were included. These findings show the usefulness of Russell’s model of core affect in explaining the link between training and development and employee retention. Moreover, the findings collectively suggest that studies examining employee retention should include a wider range of work attitudes that highlight pleasant forms of affect.

Efficiency of chitosan and their combination with bentonite as retention aids in papermaking

In a previous work (Nicu et al. 2013), the flocculation efficiency of three chitosans differing by molecular weight and charge density were evaluated for their potential use as wet end additives in papermaking. According to the promising results obtained, chitosan (single system) and its combination with bentonite (dual system) were evaluated as retention aids, and their efficiency was compared with poly(diallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride) (PDADMAC) and polyethylenimine (PEI). In single systems, chitosan was clearly more efficient in drainage rate than PDADMAC and PEI, especially those with the lowest molecular weights; however, retention is considerably lower. This drawback can be overcome by using dual systems with anionic bentonite microparticles, with the optimum ratio of polymer:bentonite being 1:4 (wt./wt.). In dual systems, the differences in retention were almost negligible, and the difference in drainage rate was even higher, together with better floc reversibility. The most efficient chitosan in single systems was Ch.MMW, while Ch.LMW was the most efficient in dual systems. The flocculation mechanism of chitosan was a combination of patch formation, charge neutralization, and partial bridge formation, and the predominant mechanism depended on the molecular weight and charge density of the chitosan.

MIECHV CQI Newsletter: Family Retention, June 2016

MIECHV families in Iowa face many barriers to employment, such as: inter-generational poverty, health (including mental health and substance abuse) issues and lack of access to education and job training. Not everyone is able to work, but many people (with the right support!) are able to eventually work. As the following data shows, participation in MIECHV programs in Iowa is positively correlated with employment and income gains. These gains contribute to lifelong benefits for the families’ health, happiness, and their children’s futures.

Enrolment, student retention and attrition in the tourism management program.

This paper examines the factors motivating students to enrol in the Tourism Management program at Champlain College, St-Lambert and why a large number of students abandon the program before obtaining their DEC. There is a great deal of literature on student attrition, however there is little consensus on why students withdraw from college programs and the results cannot be easily generalized to this particular set of students at this time. Understanding the factors that influenced the students to choose Tourism Management at Champlain, St-Lambert and why they then leave before completing the six semesters will help with student success and with the marketing of the program.||Résumé : Ce travail s'intéresse aux facteurs qui motivent les étudiants à s'inscrire au programme de tourisme offert au Collège Champlain de St-Lambert. Il cherche à établir les raisons qui font en sorte qu'un si grand nombre d'étudiants abandonnent le programme avant d'obtenir leur DEC. Plusieurs recherches ont été effectuées sur l'abandon scolaire, mais il n'y a pas de consensus quant aux raisons pour lesquelles les étudiants se retirent du programme collégial. Actuellement, il est difficile d'établir des liens entre les résultats de ces recherches et ce groupe d'étudiants. La compréhension des facteurs qui influencent les étudiants à choisir le tourisme au Collège Champlain et les raisons qui font en sorte qu'ils quittent avant d'avoir complété leur formation, nous permettront d'améliorer le taux de rétention des étudiants dans ce programme. De plus, cela favorisera le marketing du programme.

Sugarcane herbicide leaching risk evaluation in Guarany Aquifer.

he region of Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo State, Brazil, is located over recharge area of the Guarany aquifer, the most important source of groundwater in the South Central region of the country. This region is also the most important sugarcane producing area of the country which produces a large amount of the ethanol. This study was conducted to determine the potential risk of herbicide groundwater contamination. The leaching risk potential of herbicides to groundwater was conducted using the weather simulator ?Weather Generator? (WGEN) coupled with the model ?Chemical Movement Trough Layered Soils? (CMLS94). The following herbicides were evaluated in clayey and sandy soils (Typic Haplorthox and Typic Quartzipsamment soils) found in the region: ametryn (N-ethyl-N\'-(1- methylethyl)-6-(methylthio)-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine), atrazine (6-chloro-N-ethyl-N\'-(1-methylethyl)-1,3,5-triazine- 2,4-diamine), clomazone (2-[(2-chlorophenyl)methyl]-4,4-dimethyl-3-isoxazolidinone), diuron (3,4-dichlorophenyl)- N,N-dimethylurea), halosulfuron (3-chloro-5-[(4,6-dimethoxy-2-pyrimidinyl)amino]carbonyl], hexazinone (3- cyclohexyl-6-(dimethylamino)-1-methyl-1,3,5-triazine-2,4 (1H,3H)-dione), imazapic ((±)-2-[4,5-dihydro-4-methyl-4- (1-methylethyl)-5-oxo-1H-imidazol-2-yl]-5-methyl-3-pyridinecarboxylic acid), imazapyr ((±)-2-[4,5-dihydro-4-methyl- 4-(1-methylethyl)-5-oxo-1H-imidazol-2-yl]-3-pyridinecarboxylic acid), MCPA (4-chloro-2-methylphenoxy)acetic acid), metribuzin (4-amino-6-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-3-(methylthio)-1,2,4-triazin-5(4H)-one), MSMA (Amonosodium salt of MAA), paraquat (1,1\'-dimethyl-4,4\'-bipyridinium ion), pendimethalin (N-(1-ethylpropyl)-3,4-dimethyl-2,6- dinitrobenzenamine), picloram (4-amino-3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinecarboxylic acid), simazine (6-chloro-N,N\'-diethyl- 1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine), sulfentrazone [N-[2,4-dichloro-5-[4-(difluoromethyl)-4,5-dihydro-3-methyl-5-oxo-1H- 1,2,4-triazol-1-yl]phenyl]methanesulfonamide], and tebuthiuron [N-[5-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl]-N,N\'- dimethylurea]. Results obtained by our simulation study have shown that the herbicides picloram, tebuthiuron, and metribuzin have the highest leaching potential, in either sandy or clayey soils, with picloram reaching the root zone of sugarcane at 0.6m in less than 150 days.

Decomposition of organic matter in the presence of the herbicide clomazone.

Clomazone (2-(2-chlorophenyl) methyl-4.4-dimethyl-3-isoxazolidinone) is a post emergence herbicide widely used in rice fields in Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil) with high activity against Gramineae at the recommended application rate of 700 g/ha. The presence of this chemical in the water may affect microorganisms responsible for the decomposition of organic matter. Thus, a disturbe in the trophic chain sustained by the decompositors could happen. In the present work the decomposition rate of organic matter (Typha latifolia) exposed to several concentrations of a clomazone formulation: 0 (control), 25.0, 62.0, 156.0, 390.0 and 976.0mg/L on the basis of the active ingredient was evaluated. Five litter bags containing about 3.0g of pieces of T. latifolia leaves wereplaced in aquariums with 15 of reconstituted water. In cach aquarium were added 500g of sediment from the same place of the plant collection, as a source of decompositors microorganisms. The results relative tothe control, showed that the decomposition rate in the highest and lowest dose was reduced in 50.05 and 1,28%, respectively, after 80 days.

Toxicity of the herbicide clomazone on duckweed Lemna valdiviana.

The duckweed Lemna valdiviana is commonly founded colonizing small shallow waters (lakes on the lowland in south Brazil. This organism may have been affected by herbicide input into lakes from aerial application and/or drainage office paddy fields. Clomazone (2- (2-chlorophenyl) methyl-4.4-dimethyl-3-isoxazolidinone) is one of the herbicides more fiequentely used as post-emergence in rice paddies. For this work assays were carried as EC50(96h) semi-statics with aseptic culture. The sterile fronds were abtained from material harvest on the paddy fields, and the concentration of Clomazone ranged from 14.0 to 229.0 mg/l. two procedures were considered: diluted in water and sprayed applicated Clomazone. The observed phytotoxic effects were evaluated by growth rate (kt), duplication time (Td), frond yield, plant yield, mortality, chlorophyll a and b and protochlorophyll concentration. The EC50 values obtained to sprayed Clomazone (Kt=31.7; Td=31.9) were significantly small than to diluted Clomazone (Kt=46.4; td=47.3). These dadta suggest that aerial route is more hazardous than diluted procedure. Presence of chlorotic, necrotic, abnormal and died frond were common at the 114.0 and 229.0 mg/l treatment. Recuperation test corroborated the evidence that the sprayed procedure were more deleterious and L. valdiviana doesn't recovery his reproductive ability at the 114.0 and 229.0 mg/l treatment.

Risk assessment of the herbicide clomazone in the aquatic life.

Clomazone (2-(2-chlorophenyl)methyl-4.4-dimethyl-3-isoxazolidinone) is a post emergence herbicide widely used in rice fields in Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil) with high activity against Gramineae at the recommended application rate(AR).of 700g/ha. The herbicide input into the aquatic ecosystem may occur by aerial application or water drainage. The presence of this chemical in the water may affect non-target organisms leading to impairments in the aquatic food chain. Studies were conducted in this work to evaluate the risk of Clomazone using the estimated mean affective concentration (EC50) for the microalgae Selenastrum capricornutum(96h), the duckweed Lemna valdiviana(96h) and the crustacean Daphnia similis(48h). The EC50 values were 11.2; 31.7 and 13.8 mg/l, respectively. According to the obtained data, and considering a direct input of the herbicide in a 10cm column water, the estimated maximum application rate that doesn't cause acute effects is 5.3 AR for S. capricornutum, 6.5 AR for D. similis and 15.0 AR for L. valdiviana. The estimated maximum application rate that doesn't cause chronic effects is 2.0 AR for D. similis, 1.6 AR for S. capricornutum and 4.5 AR for L. valviana.

Investigation of the mechanism of resistance to glyphosate herbicide in hairy fleaban.

The resistance of weeds to herbicides is a consequence of one or more mechanisms in the plant, responsible for not allowing the herbicide to act properly at the active site.

Resistance characterization of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) biotypes to clethodim herbicide.

2016

Geographic distribution of ryegrass resistent to the clethodim herbicide in Rio Grande do Sul.

2016

Monitoring of glyphosate residues in herbicide tolerant soybeans from eight production areas of Brazil - 2005/2006 and 2006/2007 harvest seasons.

2008

Sugarcane herbicide leaching risk evaluation in Guarany Aquifer.

2008

Tebuthiuron herbicide bioconcentration in sugarcane plants.

2008