Comparing major burnout measures: an analysis of predictive and incremental validity

Burnout is an increasingly prominent topic both in industrial and organizational psychology and the public discourse. While the concept of burnout is well known, studies on its temporal relationships are rare and debate remains as to how to best measure it. Frequently used to assess burnout, the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) has received criticism for its dimensions, item wording, and cost relative to other measures. In response, several burnout measures have been created, notably the Shirom-Melamed Burnout Measure (SMBM), the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI), and more recently the Burnout Assessment Tool (BAT). The proposed research would be the first to examine the incremental and predictive validity of these four major burnout measures regarding person- and job-related predictors and outcomes. On the person-related side, anxiety, depression, stress, and subjective well-being are prominent correlates to the burnout construct. This research will also investigate the role of personal resources such as resilience, self-efficacy, and optimism. On the job-related side, job performance, satisfaction, organizational commitment, and job engagement will be examined. In the proposed study, 300 full-time workers will be recruited via Prolific to take the MBI, SMBM, CBI, and BAT at three time points, along with the person- and job-related variables above. Using a cross-lagged panel design, regressions will be calculated to analyze the temporal relationships between the personal and job-related predictors and outcomes with each burnout measure. Multiple regressions will be conducted to examine the predictive and incremental validities of the four measures as regards the predictors and outcomes. Pilot data suggests that among the four measures, the BAT aligns best with the burnout construct. Therefore, it is expected to have the strongest relationships with the predictors and outcomes. This research will allow for a comparison among burnout measures regarding meaningful person- and job-related variables. A major contribution of the proposed research comes from its longitudinal design, which will allow for causal inferences. Additionally, this study can offer insight into the directionality of the burnout-strain relationship. For researchers, adding temporal data to existing knowledge of burnout’s nomological network will provide guidance regarding whether conservation of resources, effort recovery, or other theoretical models best fit the way burnout unfolds. For practitioners, burnout prevention and intervention efforts can be developed, implemented, and evaluated based on a more comprehensive understanding of burnout and can therefore be more targeted and effective

Quantification of G i -Mediated Inhibition of Adenylyl Cyclase Activity Reveals That UDP Is a Potent Agonist of the Human P2Y 14 Receptor

ABSTRACT The P2Y 14 receptor was initially identified as a G protein-coupled receptor activated by UDP-glucose and other nucleotide sugars. We have developed several cell lines that stably express the human P2Y 14 receptor, allowing facile examination of its coupling to native G i family G proteins and their associated downstream signaling pathways (J Pharmacol Exp Ther 330: [162][163][164][165][166][167][168] 2009). In the current study, we examined P2Y 14 receptor-dependent inhibition of cyclic AMP accumulation in human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293, C6 glioma, and Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells stably expressing this receptor. Not only was the human P2Y 14 receptor activated by UDP-glucose, but it also was activated by UDP. The apparent efficacies of UDP and UDP-glucose were similar, and the EC 50 values (74, 33, and 29 nM) for UDP-dependent activation of the P2Y 14 receptor in HEK293, CHO, and C6 glioma cells, respectively, were similar to the EC 50 values (323, 132, and 72 nM) observed for UDP-glucose. UDP and UDP-glucose also stimulated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 phosphorylation in P2Y 14 receptor-expressing HEK293 cells but not in wild-type HEK293 cells. A series of analogs of UDP were potent P2Y 14 receptor agonists, but the naturally occurring nucleoside diphosphates, CDP, GDP, and ADP exhibited agonist potencies over 100-fold less than that observed with UDP. Two UDP analogs were identified that selectively activate the P2Y 14 receptor over the UDP-activated P2Y 6 receptor, and these molecules stimulated phosphorylation of ERK1/2 in differentiated human HL-60 promyeloleukemia cells, which natively express the P2Y 14 receptor but had no effect in wild-type HL-60 cells, which do not express the receptor. We conclude that UDP is an important cognate agonist of the human P2Y 14 receptor. The metabotropic P2Y receptors include a subgroup of five receptors, the P2Y 1 , P2Y 2 , P2Y 4 , P2Y 6 , and P2Y 11 receptors, that primarily signal through G q -activated signaling pathways and a subgroup of three receptors, the P2Y 12 , P2Y 13 , and P2Y 14 receptors, that primarily signal by activating heterotrimeric G proteins of the G i famil

The secreted triose phosphate isomerase of Brugia malayi is required to sustain microfilaria production in vivo

Human lymphatic filariasis is a major tropical disease transmitted through mosquito vectors which take up microfilarial larvae from the blood of infected subjects. Microfilariae are produced by long-lived adult parasites, which also release a suite of excretory-secretory products that have recently been subject to in-depth proteomic analysis. Surprisingly, the most abundant secreted protein of adult Brugia malayi is triose phosphate isomerase (TPI), a glycolytic enzyme usually associated with the cytosol. We now show that while TPI is a prominent target of the antibody response to infection, there is little antibody-mediated inhibition of catalytic activity by polyclonal sera. We generated a panel of twenty-three anti-TPI monoclonal antibodies and found only two were able to block TPI enzymatic activity. Immunisation of jirds with B. malayi TPI, or mice with the homologous protein from the rodent filaria Litomosoides sigmodontis, failed to induce neutralising antibodies or protective immunity. In contrast, passive transfer of neutralising monoclonal antibody to mice prior to implantation with adult B. malayi resulted in 60–70% reductions in microfilarial levels in vivo and both oocyte and microfilarial production by individual adult females. The loss of fecundity was accompanied by reduced IFNγ expression by CD4+ T cells and a higher proportion of macrophages at the site of infection. Thus, enzymatically active TPI plays an important role in the transmission cycle of B. malayi filarial parasites and is identified as a potential target for immunological and pharmacological intervention against filarial infections

Results from the centers for disease control and prevention's predict the 2013-2014 Influenza Season Challenge

Background: Early insights into the timing of the start, peak, and intensity of the influenza season could be useful in planning influenza prevention and control activities. To encourage development and innovation in influenza forecasting, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) organized a challenge to predict the 2013-14 Unites States influenza season. Methods: Challenge contestants were asked to forecast the start, peak, and intensity of the 2013-2014 influenza season at the national level and at any or all Health and Human Services (HHS) region level(s). The challenge ran from December 1, 2013-March 27, 2014; contestants were required to submit 9 biweekly forecasts at the national level to be eligible. The selection of the winner was based on expert evaluation of the methodology used to make the prediction and the accuracy of the prediction as judged against the U.S. Outpatient Influenza-like Illness Surveillance Network (ILINet). Results: Nine teams submitted 13 forecasts for all required milestones. The first forecast was due on December 2, 2013; 3/13 forecasts received correctly predicted the start of the influenza season within one week, 1/13 predicted the peak within 1 week, 3/13 predicted the peak ILINet percentage within 1 %, and 4/13 predicted the season duration within 1 week. For the prediction due on December 19, 2013, the number of forecasts that correctly forecasted the peak week increased to 2/13, the peak percentage to 6/13, and the duration of the season to 6/13. As the season progressed, the forecasts became more stable and were closer to the season milestones. Conclusion: Forecasting has become technically feasible, but further efforts are needed to improve forecast accuracy so that policy makers can reliably use these predictions. CDC and challenge contestants plan to build upon the methods developed during this contest to improve the accuracy of influenza forecasts. © 2016 The Author(s)

Radio Astronomy

Contains table of contents for Section 4 and reports on seven research projects.National Science Foundation Grant AST 92-24191MIT Class of 1948/Career Development ChairNational Science Foundation Presidential Young Investigator AwardDavid and Lucile Packard FellowshipMIT Lincoln Laboratory Agreement BX-4975National Aeronautics and Space Administration/Goddard Space Flight Center Grant NAS5-31276National Aeronautics and Space Administration/Goddard Space Flight Center Grant NAG5-10MIT Leaders for Manufacturing Progra