University of Stirling

About: University of Stirling is a education organization based out in Stirling, Stirling, United Kingdom. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Polyunsaturated fatty acid. The organization has 7722 authors who have published 20549 publications receiving 732940 citations. The organization is also known as: Stirling University.

The lipid biochemistry of calanoid copepods

Abstract: Calanus species, particularly those in high latitudes, can accumulate large oil reserves consisting predominantly of wax esters. These wax esters consist predominantly of 16:0, 20:1 (n−9) and 22:1 (n−11) fatty alcohols, mainly formed de novo by the animals from non-lipid dietary precursors, esterified with various fatty acids that are often polyunsaturated fatty acids and largely of dietary, phytoplanktonic origin. Wax ester formation is maximal in copepodite stages IV and V. The lipids are elaborated not primarily for buoyancy regulation but as a source of metabolic energy during overwintering, particularly for reproduction. Large quantities of wax esters are utilised for gonadal development when stage V copepodites mature to females. Development of stage V copepodites to males is not accompanied by wax ester utilisation but males consume large amounts of these lipids in physical activity during reproduction. The role of wax esters in the life history of calanoids is illustrated with particular reference to a comparison of Calanus finmarchicus and Metridia longa in Balsfjord, northern Norway.

Burnout in psychiatric nursing

Abstract: Burnout in psychiatric nursing Introduction. Burnout in nursing is of both individual and organizational concern with ramifications for well-being, job performance, absenteeism and turnover. Burnout is rarely assessed as part of a comprehensive model of occupational stress, a short-coming which this paper attempts to redress. Method. A randomly selected sample of 510 psychiatric nurses from one Scottish Trust completed a questionnaire based on a psychological model of occupational stress which included the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) as the dependent variable. Findings. The respondents reported average, low and average levels of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and personal accomplishment, respectively. The study sample had significantly lower scores on emotional exhaustion and depersonalization than normative data but also significantly lower levels of personal accomplishment than a normative group of physicians and nurses. Only 2·0% of the study sample could be categorized as having high burnout overall (i.e. high emotional exhaustion, high depersonalization, low personal accomplishment) and they differed significantly from the rest only in terms of males being over-represented. Hierarchical regression analysis revealed that selected explanatory variables accounted for 41·9% of emotional exhaustion, 16·4% of depersonalization and 25·6% of personal accomplishment in the study sample. Implications. The paper discusses the implications of the findings in terms of a comprehensive approach to intervention aimed at minimizing the risk of burnout in psychiatric nurses. Such an approach will involve interventions at the organizational and individual level.

A nutrient budget of some intensive marine shrimp ponds in Thailand

Abstract: . A mass balance was constructed for nutrient flow through intensive marine shrimp ponds in which budgets for nitrogen and phosphorus were determined for a series of ponds in southern Thailand over two or three culture cycles. Ninety-five per cent of the nitrogen and 71% of the phosphorus applied to the ponds was in the form of feed and fertilizers. Of the feed input (at a food conversion ratio of 2) only 24% of the nitrogen and 13% of the phosphorus was incorporated into the shrimp harvested, whilst the remainder was retained in the pond and ultimately exported to the surrounding environment. The effluent water contained 35% of the nitrogen and 10% of the phosphorus discharged. Of the N and P exported in this effluent, 63–67% occurred during routine water exchange and the remainder during drainage on harvest. A major portion of the nitrogen (31%) and most of the phosphorus (84%) was retained in the sediments, emphasizing the importance of the correct removal and disposal of sediments between crops. Pond age (between two and six production cycles) did not markedly affect nutrient flows, whilst increasing stocking density increased the quantity of nutrients, but not their relative proportions. The results derived from the nutrient budget provide data which may help define effective management techniques for reducing potentially harmful nutrient levels within intensive shrimp ponds, and for reducing the discharge of nutrients to the local environment. The data may also assist in determining the carrying capacity of an area for shrimp farming, and the potential impact of its development on the environment.

Financial literacy and its consequences: Evidence from Russia during the financial crisis

Abstract: The ability of consumers to make informed financial decisions improves their ability to develop sound personal finance. This paper uses a panel data set from Russia, an economy in which household debt has grown at an astounding rate, to examine the importance of financial literacy and its effects on behavior. The paper studies both the financial and real consequences of financial illiteracy. Even though consumer borrowing increased very rapidly in Russia, only 41% of respondents demonstrate an understanding of interest compounding and only 46% can answer a simple question about inflation. Financial literacy is positively related to participation in financial markets and negatively related to the use of informal sources of borrowing. Moreover, individuals with higher financial literacy are significantly less likely to report experiencing a negative income shock during 2009 and have greater availability of unspent income and higher spending capacity. The relationship between financial literacy and availability of unspent income is higher in 2009, suggesting that financial literacy may better equip individuals to deal with macroeconomic shocks.

For art's sake! Artistic and economic logics in creative production

Abstract: In creative or cultural production, work practices are shaped by both artistic and economic logics of practice. We apply a practice theory-framework to qualitative research in German theatres and analyse (i) the nature of the relationship between artistic and economic logics of practice and (ii) how art and business as reference points influence creative production. Exploring logics of practice in theatre reveals a central paradox of creative production: economic logics tend to crowd out artistic logics, and thus endanger the resources vital to creative production. Consequently theatre actors and theatres, as organisations, have to develop means of safeguarding artistic logics of practice in order to delimit the influence of economic logics. The article shows that despite of this need, no respective organizational routines have emerged. Rather, human resource management practices in theatres are highly personalized and theatre artists have to find their own, idiosyncratic ways of dealing with the tension between artistic and economic logics. We argue that the central paradox in creative production, which is caused by the necessity to manage and market habitually incorporated non-economic norms and values, is also of crucial relevance for other, especially knowledge-intensive industries. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.