The mediating effect of psychological empowerment on inclusive leadership and innovative work behaviour: A research in hotels

Managers and academics frequently emphasize the importance of innovation and the innovative business behaviours of employees in organizations for achieving long-term success and a sustainable competitive advantage. In this research, a conceptual model including inclusive leadership, innovative work behaviour and psychological empowerment is proposed to further the understanding of the premises of innovative work behaviour and to expand the literature. The questionnaire that was prepared for the purposes of the research was administered to 5-star hotel staff in the northern part of Cyprus (N = 457). The results were analysed using SPSS and AMOS software. The findings show that inclusive leadership in innovative work affects behaviour in a significant and positive way, where psychological empowerment plays a mediating role in this relationship. The research offers practical implications for practitioners while expanding the literature on innovative work behaviou

Morphological Changes in the Tibial Tunnel After ACL Reconstruction With the Outside-In Technique and Adjustable Suspensory Fixation

Background:Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) using the complete tibial tunnel technique and adjustable-loop cortical suspensory fixation is known to leave a "dead space" that holds the loop device in the tibial tunnel. The consequence of the dead space and its effect on graft healing are still uncertain. Purpose:To investigate morphological changes in the tibial tunnel and their effect on graft healing, and to identify factors affecting bone healing in the tibial loop tunnel after ACLR with a quadrupled semitendinosus tendon autograft using adjustable suspensory fixation. Study Design:Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods:Included were 48 patients (34 male, 14 female; mean age, 25.2 +/- 5.6 years) who underwent ACLR with a quadrupled semitendinosus tendon autograft using adjustable suspensory fixation. To evaluate tibial tunnel morphology, computed tomography was performed at 1 day and 6 months postoperatively. At 1 year postoperatively, graft healing was assessed on magnetic resonance imaging using the graft signal-to-noise quotient (SNQ). Multivariate regression and correlation analyses were performed to determine any associations between volumetric changes in bone healing and operative variables. Results:At 6 months after ACLR, a mean of 63.2% of the tibial loop tunnel was filled by bone. Multivariate regression analysis showed that remnant preservation was significantly associated with the loop tunnel filling rate (P < .001). At 1 year after ACLR, the tibial loop tunnel was almost completely closed (98.5%). There were no correlations between loop tunnel volume and graft integration or graft SNQ. A significant but weak correlation was found between graft tunnel volume and intratunnel graft SNQ (P = .10) as well as integration grade in the tibial tunnel (P = .30). Conclusion:Excellent bone filling in the tibial loop tunnel was seen at 1 year after ACLR. Remnant preservation was significantly associated with the loop tunnel filling rate. A weak correlation was found between graft tunnel volume and intratunnel graft SNQ as well as integration grade in the tibial tunnel

Manganese and Zinc Spinel Ferrites Blended with Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes as Microwave Absorbing Materials

Magnetic and dielectric materials can be blended to enhance absorption properties at microwave frequencies, although the materials may have relatively weak attenuation capabilities by themselves. The specific goal of this work is to enhance microwave absorption properties of materials with interesting dielectric behavior by blending them with magnetic materials based on transition metals. The synthesized Mn1−xZnxFe2O4 (x = 0.0 and 1.0) spinel ferrite nanoparticles (MZF NPs) were blended with commercial multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in various proportions with a binder matrix of paraffin. This simple and efficient process did not cause a significant variation in the energy states of MWCNTs. MZF NPs were synthesized with a citric acid assisted sol–gel method. Their electromagnetic characteristics and microwave absorption properties were investigated. These properties were derived from the microwave scattering parameters measured via the transmission line technique by using a vector network analyzer (VNA) in conjunction with an X band waveguide system. The return loss (RL) values of the samples were obtained from the electromagnetic constitutive parameters (permittivity and permeability). The results indicate that the minimum RL value and the bandwidth change significantly with the amount of ferrite material in the blend. These results encourage further development of MWCNTs blended with ferrite nanoparticles for broadband microwave applications

Preparation of I-131-Pyrimethamine and evaluation for scintigraphy of experimentally Toxoplasma gondii-infected rats

WOS: 000314475400006PubMed ID: 23113799We aimed to assess the ability of I-131-Pyrimethamine scintigraphy to detect the lesions of Toxoplasma gondii infection. An experimental model of toxoplasmosis was developed. The presence of toxoplasmosis was confirmed 60 days after implantation. Pyrimethamine was radioiodinated with I-131. The radioligand was validated by the requisite quality control tests to check its radiolabeling efficiency, in vitro stability and radiochemical purity etc. I-131-Pyrimethamine (specific activity: 7.08 MBq/mu mol) was injected intravenously into the tail vein of the control and infected rats. Static whole body images of the rats were acquired under the gamma camera at 5 min, 45 min, 2 h, 6 h, and 24 h following the intravenous administration of the radioactivity (3.7 MBq/rat). Then the scintigraphic data were analyzed both visually and semiquantitatively. Regions of interest (ROIs) were drawn over the organs (thyroid, stomach, liver, bladder, and soft tissues) to calculate the ratios of the radiotracer in infected vs. control rats. The mean ratio of radiotracer in infected/control rats in the liver and diaphragm was over 1 at 45 min which persisted till 24 h. In conclusion, I-131-Pyrimethamine may be useful agent for diagnosis toxoplasmosis especially involving liver and diaphragm, needs further preclinical validation before being extended for use in clinical applications

Stepwise Reversal of Immune Dysregulation Due to STAT1 Gain-of-Function Mutation Following Ruxolitinib Bridge Therapy and Transplantation

Purpose Patients with heterozygous gain-of-function (GOF) mutations in STAT1 frequently exhibit chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis (CMC), immunodeficiency and autoimmune manifestations. Several treatment options including targeted therapies and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) are available for STAT1 GOF patients but modalities and outcomes are not well established. Herein, we aimed to unravel the effect of ruxolitinib as a bridge therapy in a patient with sporadic STAT1 T385M mutation to manage infections and other disease manifestations. Methods Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated from the patient prior to, during ruxolitinib treatment and 6 months after HSCT. IFN-beta-induced STAT1 phosphorylation/dephosphorylation levels and PMA/ionomycin-stimulated intracellular IL-17A/IFN-gamma production in CD4(+) T cells were evaluated. Differentially expressed genes between healthy controls and the patient prior to, during ruxolitinib treatment and post-transplantation were investigated using Nanostring nCounter Profiling Panel. Results Ruxolitinib provided favorable responses by controlling candidiasis and autoimmune hemolytic anemia in the patient. Dysregulation in STAT1 phosphorylation kinetics improved with ruxolitinib treatment and was completely normalized after transplantation. T(H)17 deficiency persisted after ruxolitinib treatment, but normalized following HSCT. Consistent with the impairment in JAK/STAT signaling, multiple immune related pathways were found to be dysregulated in the patient. At baseline, genes related to type I IFN-related pathways, antigen processing, T-cell and B-cell functions were upregulated, while NK-cell function and cytotoxicity related genes were downregulated. Dysregulated gene expression was partially improved with ruxolitinib treatment and normalized after transplantation. Conclusion Our findings suggest that improved disease management and immune dysregulatory profile can be achieved with ruxolitinib treatment before transplantation and this would be beneficial to reduce the risk of adverse outcome of HSCT

Low Density Granulocytes and Dysregulated Neutrophils Driving Autoinflammatory Manifestations in NEMO Deficiency

NF-kappa B essential modulator (NEMO, IKK-gamma) deficiency is a rare combined immunodeficiency caused by mutations in the IKBKG gene. Conventionally, patients are afflicted with life threatening recurrent microbial infections. Paradoxically, the spectrum of clinical manifestations includes severe inflammatory disorders. The mechanisms leading to autoinflammation in NEMO deficiency are currently unknown. Herein, we sought to investigate the underlying mechanisms of clinical autoinflammatory manifestations in a 12-years old male NEMO deficiency (EDA-ID, OMIM #300,291) patient by comparing the immune profile of the patient before and after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Response to NF-kB activators were measured by cytokine ELISA. Neutrophil and low-density granulocyte (LDG) populations were analyzed by flow cytometry. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) transcriptome before and after HSCT and transcriptome of sorted normal-density neutrophils and LDGs were determined using the NanoString nCounter gene expression panels. ISG15 expression and protein ISGylation was based on Immunoblotting. Consistent with the immune deficiency, PBMCs of the patient were unresponsive to toll-like and T cell receptor-activators. Paradoxically, LDGs comprised 35% of patient PBMCs and elevated expression of genes such as MMP9, LTF, and LCN2 in the granulocytic lineage, high levels of IP-10 in the patient's plasma, spontaneous ISG15 expression and protein ISGylation indicative of a spontaneous type I interferon (IFN) signature were observed, all of which normalized after HSCT. Collectively, our results suggest that type I IFN signature observed in the patient, dysregulated LDGs and spontaneously activated neutrophils, potentially contribute to tissue damage in NEMO deficiency

Expanding the clinical and immunological phenotypes and natural history of MALT1 deficiency

Purpose MALT1 deficiency is a combined immune deficiency characterized by recurrent infections, eczema, chronic diarrhea, and failure to thrive. Clinical and immunological characterizations of the disease have not been previously reported in large cohorts. We sought to determine the clinical, immunological, genetic features, and the natural history of MALT-1 deficiency. Methods The clinical findings and treatment outcomes were evaluated in nine new MALT1-deficient patients. Peripheral lymphocyte subset analyses, cytokine secretion, and proliferation assays were performed. We also analyzed ten previously reported patients to comprehensively evaluate genotype/phenotype correlation. Results The mean age of patients and disease onset were 33 +/- 17 and 1.6 +/- 0.7 months, respectively. The main clinical findings of the disease were recurrent infections (100%), skin involvement (100%), failure to thrive (100%), oral lesions (67%), chronic diarrhea (56%), and autoimmunity (44%). Eosinophilia and high IgE were observed in six (67%) and two (22%) patients, respectively. The majority of patients had normal T and NK cells, while eight (89%) exhibited reduced B cells. Immunoglobulin replacement and antibiotics prophylaxis were mostly ineffective in reducing the frequency of infections and other complications. One patient received hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and five patients died as a complication of life-threatening infections. Analyzing this cohort with reported patients revealed overall survival in 58% (11/19), which was higher in patients who underwent HSCT (P = 0.03). Conclusion This cohort provides the largest analysis for clinical and immunological features of MALT1 deficiency. HSCT should be offered as a curative therapeutic option for all patients at the early stage of life

Expanding the Clinical and Immunological Phenotypes and Natural History of MALT1 Deficiency

Purpose MALT1 deficiency is a combined immune deficiency characterized by recurrent infections, eczema, chronic diarrhea, and failure to thrive. Clinical and immunological characterizations of the disease have not been previously reported in large cohorts. We sought to determine the clinical, immunological, genetic features, and the natural history of MALT-1 deficiency. Methods The clinical findings and treatment outcomes were evaluated in nine new MALT1-deficient patients. Peripheral lymphocyte subset analyses, cytokine secretion, and proliferation assays were performed. We also analyzed ten previously reported patients to comprehensively evaluate genotype/phenotype correlation. Results The mean age of patients and disease onset were 33 +/- 17 and 1.6 +/- 0.7 months, respectively. The main clinical findings of the disease were recurrent infections (100%), skin involvement (100%), failure to thrive (100%), oral lesions (67%), chronic diarrhea (56%), and autoimmunity (44%). Eosinophilia and high IgE were observed in six (67%) and two (22%) patients, respectively. The majority of patients had normal T and NK cells, while eight (89%) exhibited reduced B cells. Immunoglobulin replacement and antibiotics prophylaxis were mostly ineffective in reducing the frequency of infections and other complications. One patient received hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and five patients died as a complication of life-threatening infections. Analyzing this cohort with reported patients revealed overall survival in 58% (11/19), which was higher in patients who underwent HSCT (P = 0.03). Conclusion This cohort provides the largest analysis for clinical and immunological features of MALT1 deficiency. HSCT should be offered as a curative therapeutic option for all patients at the early stage of life

Expanding the Clinical and Immunological Phenotypes and Natural History of MALT1 Deficiency

Purpose MALT1 deficiency is a combined immune deficiency characterized by recurrent infections, eczema, chronic diarrhea, and failure to thrive. Clinical and immunological characterizations of the disease have not been previously reported in large cohorts. We sought to determine the clinical, immunological, genetic features, and the natural history of MALT-1 deficiency. Methods The clinical findings and treatment outcomes were evaluated in nine new MALT1-deficient patients. Peripheral lymphocyte subset analyses, cytokine secretion, and proliferation assays were performed. We also analyzed ten previously reported patients to comprehensively evaluate genotype/phenotype correlation. Results The mean age of patients and disease onset were 33 +/- 17 and 1.6 +/- 0.7 months, respectively. The main clinical findings of the disease were recurrent infections (100%), skin involvement (100%), failure to thrive (100%), oral lesions (67%), chronic diarrhea (56%), and autoimmunity (44%). Eosinophilia and high IgE were observed in six (67%) and two (22%) patients, respectively. The majority of patients had normal T and NK cells, while eight (89%) exhibited reduced B cells. Immunoglobulin replacement and antibiotics prophylaxis were mostly ineffective in reducing the frequency of infections and other complications. One patient received hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and five patients died as a complication of life-threatening infections. Analyzing this cohort with reported patients revealed overall survival in 58% (11/19), which was higher in patients who underwent HSCT (P = 0.03). Conclusion This cohort provides the largest analysis for clinical and immunological features of MALT1 deficiency. HSCT should be offered as a curative therapeutic option for all patients at the early stage of life