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Diverse responses of common vole (Microtus arvalis) populations to Late Glacial and Early Holocene climate changes – Evidence from ancient DNA
No full textThe harsh climatic conditions during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) period have been considered the cause of local extinctions and major faunal reorganizations that took place at the end of the Pleistocene. Recent studies have shown, however, that in addition many of these ecological events were associated with abrupt climate changes during the so-called Late Glacial and the Pleistocene/Holocene transition. Here we used ancient DNA to investigate the impact of those changes on European populations of temperate vole species (Microtus arvalis). The genetic diversity of modern populations and the fossil record suggests that the species may have survived cold episodes, like LGM, not only in the traditional Mediterranean glacial refugia but also at higher latitudes in cryptic northern refugia located in Central France, the northern Alps as well as the Carpathians. However, the details of the post-glacial recolonization and the impact of the Late Glacial and Early Holocene climate changes on the evolutionary history of the common vole remains unclear. To address this issue, we analysed mtDNA cytochrome b sequences from more than one hundred common vole specimens from 36 paleontological and archaeological sites scattered across Europe. Our data suggest that populations from the European mid- and high latitudes suffered a local population extinction and contraction as a result of Late Glacial and Early Holocene climate and environmental changes. The recolonization of earlier abandoned areas took place in the Mid- to Late Holocene. In contrast, at low latitudes, in Northern Spain there was a continuity of common vole populations. This indicates different responses of common vole populations to climate and environmental changes across Europe and corroborates the hypothesis that abrupt changes, like those associated with Younger Dryas and the Pleistocene/Holocene transition, had a significant impact on populations at the mid- and high latitudes of Europe
From Autocracy to Empowerment: Teams with Shared Leadership Perceive their Coaches to be Better Leaders
No full textSports coaches often fear that empowering the players in their team would undermine their own leadership status. To investigate the legitimacy of this perception, we mapped the leadership structure within 64 sports teams (N = 840). The results highlight that the perceived leadership quality of the coaches is positively related to the density of their team's leadership networks (i.e., the average leadership qualities of all players). This finding held for task, motivational, social, and external leadership. The best coaches are thus the ones who adopt a shared leadership approach and who strengthen the leadership quality of their players.Lay SummarySports coaches often feel that empowering the players in their teams undermines their own leadership status. This study investigates the legitimacy of this perception within 64 sports teams. Our findings provide evidence for the opposite view; by creating and developing leaders in their teams, coaches are perceived as better leaders themselves
On the Origin of Student Fellows: Reflections on the Evolution of Partnership from Theory to Practice
Get PDFStudent engagement at the University of Winchester has thrived in an higher education environment that has been hospitable to the growth of diverse initiatives. Winchester’s flagship initiative is the Student Fellows Scheme, a student engagement opportunity that enables students and staff to work in partnership on an educationally purposeful or student experience enhancing project. This chapter will follow the evolution of the Student Fellows Scheme, exploring its development amidst a changing environment of institutional needs and the higher education landscape more widely. Further to this, it will critically discuss the limitations to partnership working and explore the hostile environments that could inhibit further evolutionary development
Factors influencing the incidence of peristomal skin complications: evidence from a multinational survey on living with a stoma.
No full textLeakage of stomal effluents underneath the baseplate or inappropriate removal of stoma appliances can cause peristomal skin complications (PSCs), which are known to have many negative implications for people with a stoma. While numerous studies have examined the causes of PSCs, less is known about what drives the risk of a PSC developing. To address this gap in knowledge, the largest multinational survey to date was conducted, including 4235 people with a stoma on four continents and in 13 countries. The survey revealed that, besides leakage, other factors, such as age, gender, time since surgery and type of stoma, also drive the risk of PSCs. The survey also revealed that having a PSC resulted in greater use of stoma accessories and more frequent contact with health professionals, increasing overall healthcare costs. Collectively, the survey results reveal a need for more awareness on the risk factors for PSCs, which subsequently could have a positive effect on healthcare spending
Talent management and the HR function in cross-cultural mergers and acquisitions: The role and impact of bi-cultural identity
Get PDFThis paper examines bi-cultural talent in relation to human resource management (HRM) practices in cross-cultural merger and acquisitions (M&A). The intersection of HRM, bi-cultural talent management and cross-cultural M&A literature proposes a conceptual framework to capture the complexity of bi-cultural talent management and reveals the dominant macro-characterization of the extant HRM literature focussing on a more micro-orientated perspective. The paper develops a matrix by underlining spatial dimensions (spanning micro-aspects of the individual employee through to the macro-entity of firm and its location in the macro-national cultural context) and temporal dimensions (consisting of pre-merger, during merger and post-merger phases). This provides a template which examines the multi-level dynamics of bi-cultural talent management. The argument identifies ways in which extant cross-cultural lenses require deeper understanding of bi-cultural talent management in M&A settings. Future research directions and agendas are identified
National populists: right-wing celebrity politicians in contemporary Europe
No full textIntroduction to the Special Issu
Spirituality in Childhood Studies:Encounters with imaginary friends and angels
Get PDFMany children appear to move seamlessly between the daily, material world and invisible worlds where they encounter imaginary friends, deceased people and pets and ethereal or divine beings. Often deemed to be routine elements of children’s play, adults regularly dismiss them as imagination. Yet for many children, these are a fundamental part of their spiritual and/or religious life but the broader literature on childhood makes little mention of them. Instead, they focus more on social constructions or psychological development when exploring definitions of childhood(s). This paper draws on primary and secondary research to argue that for many children these spiritual experiences are not only a fundamental part of childhood but can be particularly meaningful. Therefore, academic works exploring the nature of childhood(s) would benefit from venturing into these unseen worlds