The effects of perceived control on supportive message use: An analysis of social support interactions with distressed friends

This study examined the extent to which persons\u27 perceptions of control predicted their use of different types of supportive message strategies. Specifically, perceptions of control were measured in two ways: (1) as supporters\u27 perceptions of the controllability of distressing situations involving friends and (2) as the individual differences in supporters\u27 control orientations. It was hypothesized that persons with internal control orientations and who perceived the distressing situation as high in controllability would use more message strategies directed towards the provision of instrumental social support. Likewise, it was hypothesized that persons with external control orientations and who perceived the distressing situation as low in controllability would use more message strategies directed towards the provision of emotional social support. Results from the use of Hierarchical Multiple Regression procedures indicated that persons\u27 internal control orientation scores predicted their use of advice-giving supportive message strategies. However, no additional hypotheses were confirmed. Limitations of the research are discussed along with implications for future research

An Alternative Approach to Understanding Conflict Management: Exploring the Mutation from Cognitive to Affective Conflict

To a large extent, project success depends on human behavior - particularly the behavior of the team leader. Project management training most often focuses on mastering the tools and applications of project management, such as operational performance, planning and budget management. Good leadership skills enable a project manager to harness the energy and capabilities of a project team in such a way that the performance of the team is greater than the sum of its parts. Often referred to as the human side of project management or people skills, leadership is widely accepted as the critical factor in determining the ultimate success or failure of a project. The Human Side of Project Leadership is a collection of academic studies related to the human side of project management. Taken as a group, these three studies illuminate the ways in which leadership, project spirit and conflict management skills impact project success. Table of Contents I. Introduction II. Transformational Leadership and Hypotheses III. Method IV. Results V. Discussion VI. Introduction VII. Conceptual Background VIII. Spirit-Building Activites IX. Expression Components of Spirit X. Research Design XI. Findings and Analysis XII. Conclusions XIII. Introduction XIV. Theoretical Development XV. Hypotheses Development XVI. How to Avoid the Mutation from Cognitive to Affective Conflict XVII. Research Methods XVIII. Research Reults XIX. Discussion and Analysi

Quantitative high-throughput screening assays for the discovery and development of SIRPα-CD47 interaction inhibitors.

CD47 is an immune checkpoint molecule that downregulates key aspects of both the innate and adaptive anti-tumor immune response via its counter receptor SIRPα, and it is expressed at high levels in a wide variety of tumor types. This has led to the development of biologics that inhibit SIRPα engagement including humanized CD47 antibodies and a soluble SIRPα decoy receptor that are currently undergoing clinical trials. Unfortunately, toxicological issues, including anemia related to on-target mechanisms, are barriers to their clinical advancement. Another potential issue with large biologics that bind CD47 is perturbation of CD47 signaling through its high-affinity interaction with the matricellular protein thrombospondin-1 (TSP1). One approach to avoid these shortcomings is to identify and develop small molecule molecular probes and pretherapeutic agents that would (1) selectively target SIRPα or TSP1 interactions with CD47, (2) provide a route to optimize pharmacokinetics, reduce on-target toxicity and maximize tissue penetration, and (3) allow more flexible routes of administration. As the first step toward this goal, we report the development of an automated quantitative high-throughput screening (qHTS) assay platform capable of screening large diverse drug-like chemical libraries to discover novel small molecules that inhibit CD47-SIRPα interaction. Using time-resolved Förster resonance energy transfer (TR-FRET) and bead-based luminescent oxygen channeling assay formats (AlphaScreen), we developed biochemical assays, optimized their performance, and individually tested them in small-molecule library screening. Based on performance and low false positive rate, the LANCE TR-FRET assay was employed in a ~90,000 compound library qHTS, while the AlphaScreen oxygen channeling assay served as a cross-validation orthogonal assay for follow-up characterization. With this multi-assay strategy, we successfully eliminated compounds that interfered with the assays and identified five compounds that inhibit the CD47-SIRPα interaction; these compounds will be further characterized and later disclosed. Importantly, our results validate the large library qHTS for antagonists of CD47-SIRPα interaction and suggest broad applicability of this approach to screen chemical libraries for other protein-protein interaction modulators

Illuminating a cross-cultural leadership challenge: When identity groups collide

When societal conflicts between social identity groups spill over into organizations, leaders face the formidable challenge of attempting to bridge differences and manage the conflict in order to accomplish work. After reviewing the literature on intergroup conflict, workplace diversity and social identity theory, we examine four potential leadership strategies for managing identity-based conflicts. The four leadership strategies are decategorization, recategorization, subcategorization and crosscutting. Examples drawn from an interview-based study are used to illustrate theoretical constructs found in the literature. We then consider each of these strategies in cross-cultural contexts and generate propositions to reflect differences in the effectiveness of the strategies in collectivist versus individualist cultures