The goal of combined endurance and strength training--increasing both aerobic capacity and maximal strength simultaneously--was only achieved by some of the older subjects. New means are needed to personalize endurance, strength, and especially combined endurance and strength training programs for optimal individual adaptations.

In the recent literature on workplace innovations, two competing views stand out. One strand of literature emphasizes positive outcomes for employees in the form of increased discretion, improved job security, and enhanced job satisfaction. In turn, critics argue that workplace innovations lead to increased job intensity and mental strain, and compromise job security. We address these issues by using a representative data set on individual employees from Finland. Our results indicate that workplace innovations are mainly associated with beneficial outcomes for employees. They are consistent with the view that institutional features of the Finnish labor market may mediate the outcomes.

Both strength and endurance training have several positive effects on aging muscle and physical performance of middle-aged and older adults, but their combination may compromise optimal adaptation. This study examined the possible interference of combined strength and endurance training on neuromuscular performance and skeletal muscle hypertrophy in previously untrained 40-67-year-old men. Maximal strength and muscle activation in the upper and lower extremities, maximal concentric power, aerobic capacity and muscle fiber size and distribution in the vastus lateralis muscle were measured before and after a 21-week training period. Ninety-six men [mean age 56 (SD 7) years] completed high-intensity strength training (S) twice a week, endurance training (E) twice a week, combined training (SE) four times per week or served as controls (C). SE and S led to similar gains in one repetition maximum strength of the lower extremities [22 (9)% and 21 (8)%, P<0.001], whereas E and C showed minor changes. Cross-sectional area of type II muscle fibers only increased in S [26 (22)%, P=0.002], while SE showed an inconsistent, non-significant change [8 (35)%, P=0.73]. Combined training may interfere with muscle hypertrophy in aging men, despite similar gains in maximal strength between the strength and the combined training groups.

By assembling and analyzing new panel data, we investigate the impact of innovative human resource management (HRM) practices on performance for a retail firm. Monthly financial and performance data for 2001-2003, for all (47) units, are combined with information for crucial aspects of HRM environments obtained from employee surveys and multiple case visits. Our rich data include measures of the operating environment, important dimensions of core inputs and output is measured as value added. Augmented production functions, including specifications with both establishment and manager fixed effects, are estimated. We find that when employees have opportunities to participate, receive appropriate information and pertinent rewards, productivity is enhanced. Thus even in settings where employees do simple tasks and employees are relatively low-skilled our findings provide more solid support than many earlier studies for retailing and service firms that novel HRM practices can improve business performance. visits. Our rich data include measures of the operating environment, important dimensions of core inputs and output is measured as value added. Augmented production functions, including specifications with both establishment and manager fixed effects, are estimated. We find that when employees have opportunities to participate, receive appropriate information and pertinent rewards, productivity is enhanced. Thus even in settings where employees do simple tasks and employees are relatively low-skilled our findings provide more solid support than many earlier studies for retailing and service firms that novel HRM practices can improve business performance.

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