Project description:This paper shows how the Rao-Stirling diversity index may be extensively used for positioning and comparing institutions interdisciplinary practices. Two decompositions of this index make it possible to explore different components of the diversity of the cited references in a corpus of publications. The paper aims at demonstrating how these bibliometric tools can be used for comparing institutions in a research field by highlighting collaboration orientations and institutions strategies. To make the method available and easy to use for indicator users, this paper first recalls a previous result on the decomposition of the Rao-Stirling index into multidisciplinarity and interdisciplinarity components, then proposes a new decomposition to further explore the profile of research collaborations and finally presents an application to Neuroscience research in French universities.
Project description:Colloidal heat engines are paradigmatic models to understand the conversion of heat into work in a noisy environment - a domain where biological and synthetic nano/micro machines function. While the operation of these engines across thermal baths is well-understood, how they function across baths with noise statistics that is non-Gaussian and also lacks memory, the simplest departure from the thermal case, remains unclear. Here we quantified the performance of a colloidal Stirling engine operating between an engineered memoryless non-Gaussian bath and a Gaussian one. In the quasistatic limit, the non-Gaussian engine functioned like a thermal one as predicted by theory. On increasing the operating speed, due to the nature of noise statistics, the onset of irreversibility for the non-Gaussian engine preceded its thermal counterpart and thus shifted the operating speed at which power is maximum. The performance of nano/micro machines can be tuned by altering only the nature of reservoir noise statistics.
Project description:BackgroundDepression and anxiety disorders are highly comorbid, and share significant symptom overlap. Whereas depression has been consistently associated with excess mortality, the association between anxiety and mortality is less clear. Our aim was to identify constellations of anxious and depressive symptoms and examine their associations with mortality.MethodThis study considers respondents from the 1970 (n = 1203) and 1992 (n = 1402) cohorts of the Stirling County study. Symptoms of depression and anxiety were assessed using structured at-home interviews. Vital status of participants through 2011 was determined using probabilistic linkages to the Canadian Mortality Database.ResultsExploratory factor analysis yielded three correlated factors in each cohort. Items loading on each factor varied slightly between cohorts, but roughly corresponded to (1) depressive symptoms, (2) anxious symptoms, and (3) somatic symptoms. The depressive factor was associated with increased risk of mortality in both the 1970 (HR: 1.35, 95% CI: 1.12, 1.62) and 1992 (HR: 1.25, 95% CI: 1.05, 1.48) cohorts. Anxious symptoms were associated with a reduced risk of mortality in the 1992 sample (HR: 0.72; 95% CI: 0.53, 0.90). Somatic symptoms were associated with a reduced risk of mortality in the 1970 sample (HR: 0.83, 95% CI: 0.69, 0.99), but an elevated risk of mortality in the 1992 sample (HR: 1.29; 95% CI: 1.11, 1.51).ConclusionsThis study provides evidence that symptoms of depression and anxiety may have differential associations with early mortality. Somatic symptoms such as upset stomach and loss of appetite may be protective against mortality, perhaps through increased use of health care services. Conversely, symptoms such as weakness and cold sweats may be indicative of failing health.
Project description:Recently, the influence of leader's personality traits on employee behavior has become an emerging research area. Leaders play a crucial role in any organization because team members look up to them for policy and behavioral guidelines. Based on the social exchange theory, this study is focused on the relationship of employee-perceived leader narcissism and employee voice behavior. Through the analysis of 239 questionnaires, we find that leader narcissism has a significant influence on the motivation of leadership impression management. The narcissistic leader uses impression management that is more likely to have self- serving purpose rather than pro-social motivation. This motivation impacts leader-member exchange (LMX) quality which influences employee voice behavior. This study has significant theoretical and practical implications as it is the first study that empirically verifies the stated relationship in this under-researched area.
Project description:Prompt and clear code team leader identification is vital in effective cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and pediatric trainees often have limited experience in these scenarios. This project sought to develop a tangible object that provided clear leader identification and assisted in code team management and simulated team training. A Code Team Leader Card (CTLC) was designed to provide clear leader identification while simultaneously providing a cognitive aid via integration of pediatric advanced life support (PALS) algorithms. Additionally, CTLC served to occupy the leader's hands to limit their ability to intervene on procedural tasks. The CTLC was incorporated into pediatric resident simulation training, and pre- and postintervention survey data were analyzed. Analysis particularly focused on whether "a leader was clearly identified by all team members." The relationship between CTLC implementation and consistent leader recognition was evaluated using chi-squared test, and secondary qualitative data were obtained via debriefing sessions. Pediatric residents completed 131 surveys prior to CTLC implementation and 41 surveys after implementation. Consistent code team leader recognition increased significantly from 61.8% (81 of 131) pre-CTLC to 80.5% (33 of 41) after introduction of CTLC (P=0.027). Participants commented on the benefits of CTLC during debriefing sessions. Use of a CTLC significantly improved leader recognition during simulated CPR. Inclusion of PALS algorithms led to normalization and increased utilization of these adjunct materials. The CTLC provided a secondary benefit of occupying the leader's hands, thereby allowing that person to focus on overseeing the team rather than assisting with procedural tasks.
Project description:Regioselective modification of amino acids within the context of a peptide is common to a number of biosynthetic pathways, and many of the resulting products have potential as therapeutics. The ATP-dependent enzyme LynD heterocyclizes multiple cysteine residues to thiazolines within a peptide substrate. The enzyme requires the substrate to have a conserved N-terminal leader for full activity. Catalysis is almost insensitive to immediately flanking residues in the substrate, suggesting that recognition occurs distant from the active site. Nucleotide and peptide substrate co-complex structures of LynD reveal that the substrate leader peptide binds to and extends the β-sheet of a conserved domain of LynD, whereas catalysis is accomplished in another conserved domain. The spatial segregation of catalysis from recognition combines seemingly contradictory properties of regioselectivity and promiscuity, and it appears to be a conserved strategy in other peptide-modifying enzymes. A variant of LynD that efficiently processes substrates without a leader peptide has been engineered.
Project description:IntroductionEthical voice is a valuable ethical behavior that enables organizations to promptly recognize and rectify unethical issues and practices, thus preventing severe dilemmas and crises. Despite its importance, the extant literature has yet to fully explore the impact of a leader's ethical voice on subordinate outcomes. This study bridges this gap by integrating social identity theory and social exchange theory to scrutinize the process by which a leader's ethical voice affects subordinate task performance.MethodsWe employ a serial mediation model to explore the mechanisms by which a leader's ethical voice enhances subordinates' task performance. Our theoretical framework is empirically validated using a dataset that includes 449 subordinate-leader pairings from Chinese enterprises.ResultsThe survey results demonstrate that a leader's ethical voice has a significant positive impact on subordinate task performance. Subordinate identification with leader and leader-member exchange not only individually mediate the effects of a leader's ethical voice on subordinate task behavior but also jointly serve as a chain-mediated mechanism in the influence of a leader's ethical voice on subordinate task behavior.DiscussionThese findings illuminate the substantial effects that ethical leadership behaviors exert on employee performance and offer fresh perspectives on the intricate dynamics that govern this influence.
Project description:The avalanche of genomic information in the past decade has revealed that natural product biosynthesis using the ribosomal machinery is much more widespread than originally anticipated. Nearly all of these compounds are crafted through post-translational modifications of a larger precursor peptide that often contains the marching orders for the biosynthetic enzymes. We review here the available information for how the peptide sequences in the precursors govern the post-translational tailoring processes for several classes of natural products. In addition, we highlight the great potential these leader peptide-directed biosynthetic systems offer for engineering conformationally restrained and pharmacophore-rich products with structural diversity that greatly expands the proteinogenic repertoire.
Project description:Population explosion, industrialization, and urbanization have accelerated energy requirements across the globe. This has led to the human quest to find simple and cost-effective energy solutions. A promising solution is the revival of the Stirling engine with the addition of Shape Memory Alloy NiTiNOL in it. The experimental results reveal that the addition of a NiTiNOL spring at the base plate of the Stirling engine enhances the overall efficiency of the engine, demonstrating some impact of the shape memory alloy toward the performance output of the Stirling engine. The newly modified engine has been named the STIRNOL ENGINE. The comparative study of Stirling and Stirnol engines reveals a minuscule efficiency improvement, yet there is a furtherance that opens a window for future researchers to get a lead and venture into this new field. We are confident that with more complex designs and better Stirling and NiTiNOL combinations, more efficient engines can be invented in the future. This research focuses on changing the material of the base plate of the Stirnol engine and ascertaining its performance differential through the integration of the NiTiNOL spring. A minimum of four types of materials are utilized for experimentation.