Structural empowerment, personal initiative, and job satisfaction in service employees: Exploring the mediating role of psychological empowerment.

INTRODUCTION: This study explores how empowering human resource management (HRM) practices based on structural empowerment (access to opportunities, resources, support, and information) affect both personal initiative and job satisfaction of service employees through individual-level factors (psychological empowerment). METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey study and collected 439 valid responses from service employees in Spain. The hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling (SEM) with confidence intervals based on 10,000 resamples (i.e., bootstrapping technique). RESULTS: Our results showed that psychological empowerment partially mediated the relationship between structural empowerment and job satisfaction. It also fully mediated the relationship between structural empowerment and personal initiative at work. CONCLUSION: These findings emphasize the importance of HRM practices that can empower employees as key determinants of job satisfaction and personal initiative at service companies. Furthermore, a structural empowerment approach is a valid theoretical framework for studying and understanding employees' affective evaluations of work and, more specifically, their personal initiative.

Shifting summer holidays in Spain as an adaptation measure to climate change.

This paper assesses whether moving summer holidays to the warmest period of the year in Spain could be a useful climate change adaptation strategy. While the most popular period for Spanish summer holidays has traditionally been August, we illustrate that the second half of July is the hottest period of the year and when the negative effects of high temperatures are most pronounced. If the holiday period in the second fortnight of August was moved to the second fortnight of July, some of the associated impacts would be mitigated due to the reduced anthropogenic activity during non-working days. In particular, we find a significant reduction in the annual peak of labour productivity loss (~25 %) and, to a lesser extent, of electricity demand and near-surface ozone concentrations (~3-4 %). Finally, we also show that global warming could lead to enhanced differences between both fortnights (even with no change in the seasonal cycle of temperature) because of the non-linear relationships between temperature and its impacts. Therefore, the positive effect of shifting holidays would be even larger in the coming future.

Development and validation of a software application to analyze thermal and kinematic multimodels of Stirling engines.

The work developed presents, for the first time, a tool to analyze all the thermodynamic models used in the study and development of Stirling engines: isothermal, ideal adiabatic and adiabatic with losses, combined adiabatic thermodynamic with finite speed (CAFS), thermodynamic with finite speed (FST), ideal polytropic and polytropic with losses (PSVL), allowing a comparative study of them. This software (ASCE-UMA), designed and implemented in a Matlab GUI® allows to obtain the operating parameters of these engines, calculating the thermodynamic parameters, power output and efficiency. Additionally, the thermodynamic models can be evaluated with different mechanical configurations, for which different drive mechanisms are implemented: Sinusoidal, Alfa Ross yoke types, Alfa Ross V yoke, Beta rhombic type and free piston Stirling engine (FPSE). Thermoacoustic and other, models could be analyzed by virtue of their similarity of movement with some of the implemented models. In the same way, ASCE-UMA allows the study of various exchanger configurations, as well as various regenerator models. The versatility of ASCE-UMA allows the development analysis of all the fundamental elements of a new prototype as well as the analysis of experimental data by performing a customized and detailed calculation. To test the effectiveness of ASCE-UMA, its performance is verified by analyzing Ross Yoke D-90 models and a GM GPU-3 engine. This is a tool that allows to analyze and comparing the different models and the different existing mechanisms for the multiple configurations of Stirling engines in an easy and intuitive application with a high-quality graphical interface.

Human genetics influences microbiome composition involved in asthma exacerbations despite inhaled corticosteroid treatment.

BACKGROUND: The upper-airway microbiome is involved in asthma exacerbations despite inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) treatment. Although human genetics regulates microbiome composition, its influence on asthma-related airway bacteria remains unknown. OBJECTIVE: We sought to identify genes and biological pathways regulating airway-microbiome traits involved in asthma exacerbations and ICS response. METHODS: Saliva, nasal, and pharyngeal samples from 257 European patients with asthma were analyzed. The association of 6,296,951 genetic variants with exacerbation-related microbiome traits despite ICS treatment was tested through microbiome genome-wide association studies. Variants with 1 × 10-4 

Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency and Pi*S and Pi*Z SERPINA1 variants are associated with asthma exacerbations.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways. Asthma patients may experience potentially life-threatening episodic flare-ups, known as exacerbations, which may significantly contribute to the asthma burden. The Pi*S and Pi*Z variants of the SERPINA1 gene, which usually involve alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency, had previously been associated with asthma. The link between AAT deficiency and asthma might be represented by the elastase/antielastase imbalance. However, their role in asthma exacerbations remains unknown. Our objective was to assess whether SERPINA1 genetic variants and reduced AAT protein levels are associated with asthma exacerbations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the discovery analysis, SERPINA1 Pi*S and Pi*Z variants and serum AAT levels were analyzed in 369 subjects from La Palma (Canary Islands, Spain). As replication, genomic data from two studies focused on 525 Spaniards and publicly available data from UK Biobank, FinnGen, and GWAS Catalog (Open Targets Genetics) were analyzed. The associations between SERPINA1 Pi*S and Pi*Z variants and AAT deficiency with asthma exacerbations were analyzed with logistic regression models, including age, sex, and genotype principal components as covariates. RESULTS: In the discovery, a significant association with asthma exacerbations was found for both Pi*S (odds ratio [OR]=2.38, 95% confidence interval [CI]= 1.40-4.04, p-value=0.001) and Pi*Z (OR=3.49, 95%CI=1.55-7.85, p-value=0.003)Likewise, AAT deficiency was associated with a higher risk for asthma exacerbations (OR=5.18, 95%CI=1.58-16.92, p-value=0.007) as well as AAT protein levels (OR= 0.72, 95%CI=0.57-0.91, p-value=0.005). The Pi*Z association with exacerbations was replicated in samples from Spaniards with two generations of Canary Islander origin (OR=3.79, p-value=0.028), and a significant association with asthma hospitalizations was found in the Finnish population (OR=1.12, p-value=0.007). CONCLUSIONS: AAT deficiency could be a potential therapeutic target for asthma exacerbations in specific populations.

Harmonious Passion at Work: Personal Resource for Coping with the Negative Relationship between Burnout and Intrinsic Job Satisfaction in Service Employees.

Research about harmonious passion as a personal resource that can have a protective effect in situations of stress and burnout is scarce but growing. Considering the job demands-resources (JD-R) model, the present study aims to address the above gaps by exploring the moderating role of harmonious passion at work in the relationship between burnout (physical fatigue, cognitive weariness, and emotional exhaustion) and intrinsic job satisfaction. The study sample consisted of 748 workers from service organizations (front-line employees) in southern Spain (Mage = 35.51, SD = 10.06, 52% women). Using statistical program R (R Core Team, 2022), the results of the regression models showed the moderating role of harmonious passion on the negative relationships between physical fatigue and intrinsic job satisfaction. In particular, at high levels of physical fatigue, employees with high scores on harmonious passion at work presented higher levels of intrinsic satisfaction compared with employees with low passion at work. That is, although service employees have high levels of physical fatigue, when they are passionate, they still possess satisfaction with their work. Therefore, our findings extend the JD-R theory by considering harmonious passion as a motivational resource that reduce feelings of burnout in service employees. Hence, it shows the importance of promoting the autonomous internalization of work, (through, i.e., job enrichment), which allows the development of harmonious passion at work and, therefore, increasing intrinsic job satisfaction.

The upper-airway microbiome as a biomarker of asthma exacerbations despite inhaled corticosteroid treatment.

BACKGROUND: The response to inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) in asthma is affected by the interplay of several factors. Among these, the role of the upper-airway microbiome has been scarcely investigated. We aimed to evaluate the association between the salivary, pharyngeal, and nasal microbiome with asthma exacerbations despite receipt of ICS. METHODS: Samples from 250 asthma patients from the Genomics and Metagenomics of Asthma Severity (GEMAS) study treated with ICS were analyzed. Control/case subjects were defined by the absence/presence of asthma exacerbations in the past 6 months despite being treated with ICS. The bacterial microbiota was profiled by sequencing the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene. Differences between groups were assessed by PERMANOVA and regression models adjusted for potential confounders. A false discovery rate (FDR) of 5% was used to correct for multiple comparisons. Classification models of asthma exacerbations despite ICS treatment were built with machine learning approaches based on clinical, genetic, and microbiome data. RESULTS: In nasal and saliva samples, case subjects had lower bacterial diversity (Richness, Shannon, and Faith indices) than control subjects (.007 ≤ P ≤ .037). Asthma exacerbations accounted for 8% to 9% of the interindividual variation of the salivary and nasal microbiomes (.003 ≤ P ≤ .046). Three, 4, and 11 bacterial genera from the salivary, pharyngeal, and nasal microbiomes were differentially abundant between groups (4.09 × 10-12 ≤ FDR ≤ 0.047). Integrating clinical, genetic, and microbiome data showed good discrimination for the development of asthma exacerbations despite receipt of ICS (AUCtraining: 0.82 and AUCvalidation: 0.77). CONCLUSION: The diversity and composition of the upper-airway microbiome are associated with asthma exacerbations despite ICS treatment. The salivary microbiome has a potential application as a biomarker of asthma exacerbations despite receipt of ICS.

Admixture mapping of severe asthma exacerbations in Hispanic/Latino children and youth.

BACKGROUND: In the USA, genetically admixed populations have the highest asthma prevalence and severe asthma exacerbations rates. This could be explained not only by environmental factors but also by genetic variants that exert ethnic-specific effects. However, no admixture mapping has been performed for severe asthma exacerbations. OBJECTIVE: We sought to identify genetic variants associated with severe asthma exacerbations in Hispanic/Latino subgroups by means of admixture mapping analyses and fine mapping, and to assess their transferability to other populations and potential functional roles. METHODS: We performed an admixture mapping in 1124 Puerto Rican and 625 Mexican American children with asthma. Fine-mapping of the significant peaks was performed via allelic testing of common and rare variants. We performed replication across Hispanic/Latino subgroups, and the transferability to non-Hispanic/Latino populations was assessed in 1001 African Americans, 1250 Singaporeans and 941 Europeans with asthma. The effects of the variants on gene expression and DNA methylation from whole blood were also evaluated in participants with asthma and in silico with data obtained through public databases. RESULTS: Genomewide significant associations of Indigenous American ancestry with severe asthma exacerbations were found at 5q32 in Mexican Americans as well as at 13q13-q13.2 and 3p13 in Puerto Ricans. The single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs1144986 (C5orf46) showed consistent effects for severe asthma exacerbations across Hispanic/Latino subgroups, but it was not validated in non-Hispanics/Latinos. This SNP was associated with DPYSL3 DNA methylation and SCGB3A2 gene expression levels. CONCLUSIONS: Admixture mapping study of asthma exacerbations revealed a novel locus that exhibited Hispanic/Latino-specific effects and regulated DPYSL3 and SCGB3A2.

Molecular characterization of PI * S hangzhou , a SERPINA1 allele from continental China encoding a defective alpha-1-antitrypsin.

Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) is a heritable condition that predisposes to respiratory and hepatic complications. Screenings in East Asia human populations for the AATD alleles most commonly found among Caucasians have yielded poor outcomes. Serum alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT) levels, AAT phenotypes, and sequences of SERPINA1 gene were examined in a Chinese child with a moderate deficit of serum AAT, who had suffered several episodes of liver disease, as well as in his first-order relatives. Results allowed the identification of PI * S hangzhou , a novel SERPINA1 defective allele, which has been characterized by a L276R substitution, found in a SERPINA1-M3 genetic background. Moreover, potential effects of PI * S hangzhou mutation over the AAT structure were studied by 3D homology modeling. The presence of an arginine residue at position 276 could destabilize the tertiary structure of AAT, since it occurs at a highly conserved hydrophobic cavity in the protein surface, and very close to two positively-charged lysine residues. Attending to the frequency of R276 variant reported in databases for individuals of East Asian ancestry, the PI * S hangzhou allele may explain the global prevalence of the PiS phenotype observed in China.

Personal Beliefs about Illness Questionnaire-Revised (PBIQ-R): Spanish adaptation in a clinical sample with psychotic disorders.

BACKGROUND: The way people with psychosis psychologically adapt and manage the diagnosis of such a mental disorder has been considered a key factor that contributes to the emergence and aggravation of emotional problems. These beliefs about illness can be very important due to their possible association with stigma and its implications in terms of loss of roles and social status. Given the importance of these personal beliefs about the specific diagnosis of psychosis, the Personal Beliefs about Illness Questionnaire (PBIQ) and PBIQ-R have been developed. AIMS: The present study aims to explore the psychometric characteristics of the Spanish version of the PBIQ-R in a sample of patients with a diagnosis of psychosis-related disorders. METHOD: Participants were 155 patients (54.8% male) of the Public Health Service in Andalusia (Spain). Those who consented to participate filled in the PBIQ-R, the Social Comparison Scale, and the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 to measure emotional symptoms. RESULTS: All dimensions showed adequate internal consistency values: Cronbach's alpha extends between .81 and .88; and McDonald's omega ranges between .87 and .92. The temporal reliability for an interval of 3-4 weeks was high. The correlations between the PBIQ-R dimensions and the other variables included in the study were significant and in the expected direction. The factor analysis of the principal components of the PBIQ-R dimensions revealed a single factor in each of the dimensions that explained 64-74%. CONCLUSIONS: The results support the reliability and validity of the Spanish version of the PBIQ-R.

Multi-ancestry genome-wide association study of asthma exacerbations.

BACKGROUND: Asthma exacerbations are a serious public health concern due to high healthcare resource utilization, work/school productivity loss, impact on quality of life, and risk of mortality. The genetic basis of asthma exacerbations has been studied in several populations, but no prior study has performed a multi-ancestry meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies (meta-GWAS) for this trait. We aimed to identify common genetic loci associated with asthma exacerbations across diverse populations and to assess their functional role in regulating DNA methylation and gene expression. METHODS: A meta-GWAS of asthma exacerbations in 4989 Europeans, 2181 Hispanics/Latinos, 1250 Singaporean Chinese, and 972 African Americans analyzed 9.6 million genetic variants. Suggestively associated variants (p ≤ 5 × 10-5 ) were assessed for replication in 36,477 European and 1078 non-European asthma patients. Functional effects on DNA methylation were assessed in 595 Hispanic/Latino and African American asthma patients and in publicly available databases. The effect on gene expression was evaluated in silico. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty-six independent variants were suggestively associated with asthma exacerbations in the discovery phase. Two variants independently replicated: rs12091010 located at vascular cell adhesion molecule-1/exostosin like glycosyltransferase-2 (VCAM1/EXTL2) (discovery: odds ratio (ORT allele ) = 0.82, p = 9.05 × 10-6 and replication: ORT allele  = 0.89, p = 5.35 × 10-3 ) and rs943126 from pantothenate kinase 1 (PANK1) (discovery: ORC allele  = 0.85, p = 3.10 × 10-5 and replication: ORC allele  = 0.89, p = 1.30 × 10-2 ). Both variants regulate gene expression of genes where they locate and DNA methylation levels of nearby genes in whole blood. CONCLUSIONS: This multi-ancestry study revealed novel suggestive regulatory loci for asthma exacerbations located in genomic regions participating in inflammation and host defense.

Workplace Bullying, Emotional Exhaustion, and Partner Social Undermining: A Weekly Diary Study.

Workplace bullying is one of the most relevant social stressors at work. Although previous research has shown its negative consequences for health and well-being, scarce evidence about the short-term consequences of workplace bullying and its crossover effects on the home domain is available. Thus, we conducted a multisource weekly diary study. A sample of 124 employees and their spouses filled a general survey (baseline measures) and a weekly online survey for four consecutive weeks (number of occasions = 992). Multilevel analyses showed that workplace bullying is associated with emotional exhaustion (γ = 0.643, SE = 0.215, t = 2.99, p < .05) and behaviors of social undermining toward the partner (γ = 0.751, SE = 0.187, t = 4.01, p < .01). Furthermore, rumination mediated the relationship between workplace bullying and its potential detrimental consequences for both employees' well-being (i.e., emotional exhaustion) and interpersonal connections (i.e., partner social undermining). These results shed some light on the mechanisms that can explain both the short-term effects of workplace bullying on employees' well-being and how such effects go beyond the work setting and can impact the home domain. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.

Effectiveness of a Humor-Based Training for Reducing Employees' Distress.

An increasing number of studies have demonstrated that humor can impact interpersonal relationships in organizations and employee well-being. However, there is little evidence coming from intervention studies in organizational settings. In response, we developed a training following the principles of positive psychology that aims at improving employees' adaptive use of humor as a successful mechanism to deal with stress. In this study, we assess the effectiveness of such training and its impact on employee well-being. Results from this one-group intervention study in an emergency ambulance service (N = 58) revealed that the participants reported higher levels of cheerfulness (Z = -3.93; p < 0.001) and lower levels of seriousness (Z = -3.32; p < 0.001) after being exposed to the training. Indeed, the participants reported lower scores on psychological distress after the training (Z = -3.35; p < 0.001). The effect size of the training was medium (r = 0.31 to 0.36), suggesting that interventions to improve adaptive humor at work can be a useful resource to deal with workplace stress and foster employee well-being. These results may have interesting implications for designing and implementing positive interventions as well as for developing healthy organizations.

Emerging Issues in Occupational Health Psychology.

The world of work is changing dramatically due to continuous technological advancements and globalization (the so-called industry 4 [...].

Aromatic Dimer Dehydrogenases from Novosphingobium aromaticivorans Reduce Monoaromatic Diketones.

Lignin is a potential source of valuable chemicals, but its chemical depolymerization results in a heterogeneous mixture of aromatics and other products. Microbes could valorize depolymerized lignin by converting multiple substrates into one or a small number of products. In this study, we describe the ability of Novosphingobium aromaticivorans to metabolize 1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)propane-1,2-dione (G-diketone), an aromatic Hibbert diketone that is produced during formic acid-catalyzed lignin depolymerization. By assaying genome-wide transcript levels from N. aromaticivorans during growth on G-diketone and other chemically-related aromatics, we hypothesized that the Lig dehydrogenases, previously characterized as oxidizing ß-O-4 linkages in aromatic dimers, were involved in G-diketone metabolism by N. aromaticivorans. Using purified N. aromaticivorans Lig dehydrogenases, we found that LigL, LigN, and LigD each reduced the Cα ketone of G-diketone in vitro but with different substrate specificities and rates. Furthermore, LigL, but not LigN or LigD, also reduced the Cα ketone of 2-hydroxy-1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)propan-1-one (GP-1) in vitro, a derivative of G-diketone with the Cß ketone reduced, when GP-1 was provided as a substrate. The newly identified activity of these Lig dehydrogenases expands the potential range of substrates utilized by N. aromaticivorans beyond what has been previously recognized. This is beneficial both for metabolizing a wide range of natural and non-native depolymerized lignin substrates and for engineering microbes and enzymes that are active with a broader range of aromatic compounds. IMPORTANCE Lignin is a major plant polymer composed of aromatic units that have value as chemicals. However, the structure and composition of lignin have made it difficult to use this polymer as a renewable source of industrial chemicals. Bacteria like Novosphingobium aromaticivorans have the potential to make chemicals from lignin not only because of their natural ability to metabolize a variety of aromatics but also because there are established protocols to engineer N. aromaticivorans strains to funnel lignin-derived aromatics into valuable products. In this work, we report a newly discovered activity of previously characterized dehydrogenase enzymes with a chemically modified by-product of lignin depolymerization. We propose that the activity of N. aromaticivorans enzymes with both native lignin aromatics and those produced by chemical depolymerization will expand opportunities for producing industrial chemicals from the heterogenous components of this abundant plant polymer.

Resilience, Coping Strategies and Posttraumatic Growth in the Workplace Following COVID-19: A Narrative Review on the Positive Aspects of Trauma.

The COVID-19 pandemic represents a traumatic event that has profoundly changed working conditions with detrimental consequences for workers' health, in particular for the healthcare population directly involved in addressing the emergency. Nevertheless, previous research has demonstrated that traumatic experiences can also lead to positive reactions, stimulating resilience and feelings of growth. The aim of this narrative review is to investigate the positive aspects associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and the possible health prevention and promotion strategies by analyzing the available scientific evidence. In particular, we focus on the constructs of resilience, coping strategies and posttraumatic growth (PTG). A literature search was performed on the PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar and Psycinfo databases. Forty-six articles were included in the literature synthesis. Psychological resilience is a fundamental variable for reducing and preventing the negative psychological effects of the pandemic and is associated with lower levels of depression, anxiety and burnout. At the individual and organizational level, resilience plays a crucial role in enhancing wellbeing in healthcare and non-healthcare workers. Connected to resilience, adaptive coping strategies are essential for managing the emergency and work-related stress. Several positive factors influencing resilience have been highlighted in the development of PTG. At the same time, high levels of resilience and positive coping strategies can enhance personal growth. Considering the possible long-term coexistence and consequences of COVID-19, organizational interventions should aim to improve workers' adaptive coping skills, resilience and PTG in order to promote wellbeing.