Interviews from Scratch: Individual Differences in Writing Interview Questions

Against best practice recommendations, interviewers prefer unstructured interviews where they are not beholden to regimentation. In cases where interviews are less structured, the interviewer typically generates his or her own set of interview questions. Even in structured interviews though, the initial interview content must be generated by someone. Thus, it is important to understand the different factors that influence what types of questions individuals generate in interview contexts. The current research aims to understand the types of interview questions individuals generate, factors that affect the quality of those questions, how skill in generating interview questions relates to skill in evaluating existing interview questions, and how individual traits relate to skill in generating interview questions. Results show that respondents who are skilled in evaluating existing interview questions are also skilled in writing interview questions from scratch, and these skills relate to general mental ability and social intelligence. Respondents generated questions that most commonly assessed applicant history and self-perceived applicant characteristics, whereas only 30% of questions generated were situational or behavioral

Plastic adjustments in xylem vessel traits to drought events in three Cedrela species from Peruvian Tropical Andean forests

Cedrela species occur within the Tropical montane cloud forest (TMCF) and rainforest in North America (Mexico), Central and South America. We assessed the hypothesis that functional xylem hydraulic architecture might be influenced by specific climatic variations. We investigated the effect of climate on tree-ring width and vessel traits (diameter, vessel density, vulnerability index and hydraulic diameter) of three relict-endemic and threatened Cedrela species (Cedrela fissilis, C. nebulosa and C. angustifolia) inhabiting Peruvian Tropical Andean cloud forests. All Cedrela species showed a significant reduction in radial growth and adjusted vessel trait linked with temperature, precipitation, and evapotranspiration. Ring-width and vessel traits showed adaptation within Cedrela species, crucial to understanding a rough indication of the plant’s ability to withstand drought-induced embolism or cavitation. Our results provide evidence for hydraulic mechanisms that determine specific wood anatomical functionality to climatic variation and drought responses. Therefore, changing the frequency or intensity of future drought events might exceed the adaptive limits of TMCF tree species, resulting in a substantial reduction of hydraulic functionality in Peruvian Cedrela species.Fil: Rodríguez Ramírez, Ernesto C.. Universidad Continental; PerúFil: Ferrero, Maria Eugenia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales; ArgentinaFil: Acevedo-Vega, Ingrith. Universidad Continental; PerúFil: Crispin DelaCruz, Doris B.. Universidad Continental; Perú. Universidade Federal de Pernambuco; BrasilFil: Ticse Otarola, Ginette Vilma Alicia. Universidad Continental; Perú. Asociación ANDINUS; PerúFil: Requena Rojas, Edilson Jimmy. Universidad Continental; Per

Antigenic Variation of the Dengue Virus 2 Genotypes Impacts the Neutralization Activity of Human Antibodies in Vaccinees

Martinez et al. demonstrate that dengue virus serotype 2 (DENV2) genetic variation modulates neutralizing antibody activity from infection and vaccination. This observation underlines that genotypic variation impacts dengue virus 2 evasion from humoral immunity, suggesting that intraserotype genotypic variation should be considered in designing dengue vaccines. © 2020 The Author(s); Dengue virus (DENV) infects an estimated 390 million people each year worldwide. As tetravalent DENV vaccines have variable efficacy against DENV serotype 2 (DENV2), we evaluated the role of genetic diversity within the pre-membrane (prM) and envelope (E) proteins of DENV2 on vaccine performance. We generated a recombinant DENV2 genotype variant panel with contemporary prM and E isolates that are representative of global genetic diversity. The DENV2 genotype variants differ in growth kinetics, morphology, and virion stability. Importantly, the DENV2 genotypic variants are differentially neutralized by monoclonal antibodies, polyclonal serum neutralizing antibodies from DENV2-infected human subjects, and vaccine-elicited antibody responses from the TV003 NIH DENV2 monovalent and DENV tetravalent vaccines. We conclude that DENV2 prM and E genetic diversity significantly modulates antibody neutralization activity. These findings have important implications for dengue vaccines, which are being developed under the assumption that intraserotype variation has minimal impact on neutralizing antibodies

Putovanje kroz interakcije proteinskih kinaza aktiviranih mitogenima i okratoksina A

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a ubiquitous mycotoxin with potential nephrotoxic, carcinogenic, and cytotoxic action. It has been proposed that OTA might be involved in the development of Balkan endemic nephropathy, which is associated with an increased risk of urinary tract tumours, and of other forms of interstitial nephritis. Cell susceptibility to OTA mainly depends on mycotoxin concentrations, duration of exposure, and intracellular molecular and genetic context. OTA can affect a cell by stimulating or inhibiting certain signalling pathways such as mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). Three major mammalian MAPKs have been described: extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38 MAPK. All MAPKs regulate diverse cellular programmes, but in most cases ERKs have been linked to cell survival, while JNKs, and p38 MAPKs have been implicated in cell death by apoptosis. This review looks into OTA-mediated MAPK activation and its effects.Okratoksin A (OTA) posvuda je prisutan mikotoksin za koji se smatra da je potencijalno nefrotoksičan i karcinogen, a može uzrokovati i smrt stanice. OTA se smatra mogućim uzročnikom balkanske endemske nefropatije koju karakterizira povećani rizik od razvoja tumora mokraćnog sustava te različitih drugih vrsta intersticijskog nefritisa. Osjetljivost stanice naspram OTA ovisi ponajprije o koncentraciji mikotoksina, vremenu izloženosti i o unutarstaničnome molekularnom i genskom sklopu. OTA može djelovati na stanicu tako što potiče ili inhibira određene signalne putove u stanici poput puta proteinskih kinaza aktiviranih mitogenima (MAPK). Tri glavne MAPK u sisavaca su proteinska kinaza regulirana izvanstaničnim signalima (ERK), kinaza koja fosforilira N-kraj transkripcijskog faktora c-Jun (JNK) i p38 MAPK. Svi članovi porodice MAPK reguliraju različite stanične programe, s time da ERK najčešće stimuliraju preživljavanje stanica, dok JNK i p38 MAPK najčešće uzrokuju umiranje stanica apoptozom. U ovome smo preglednom članku prikazali na koji način stanice odgovaraju na aktivaciju MAPK koju potiče OTA

Pre-service teachers' perceptions of co-teaching of professional development school teachers and university faculty

Co-teaching in teacher preparation is viewed as a promising practice for fostering collaborative skills, increasing student participation, improving classroom instruction, and professional growth for all participants. Using focus group interviews as a unit of analysis, this article explores pre-service teachers' perceptions of co-teaching used in their urban education option cohort during fall 2010. The co-teaching was conducted by University professor's and professional development school teachers who taught college courses at a professional development school. Findings revealed that co-teaching was positively received although challenges also existed. The article discusses how challenges identified by pre-service teachers could be addressed and recommends additional co-teaching strategies.

Assessing dendrochronological potential of Escallonia myrtilloides in the high Andes of Peru

There is a significant dendrochronological gap in the Puna of the central Andes of Peru, which motivates research on new species. In this study, we present the first tree-ring chronologies of Escallonia myrtilloides. We collected samples at San Pedro Saño and Sapallanga in Peru, analyzed the anatomical characteristics that delimit the annual growth rings, and developed two tree-ring chronologies through conventional dendrochronological techniques. The tree-ring chronologies cover the period 1940-2015 (76 years) for San Pedro Saño and 1960-2015 (56 years) for Sapallanga. The E. myrtilloides chronologies presented similar values of mean sensitivity, Rbar and EPS to those recorded for Polylepis tarapacana, Polylepis pepei, and Polylepis rugulosa in the Puna region. The analysis of the climate-growth relationships indicated positive correlations with precipitation and negative correlations with temperature in particular months of the current growing season (October-April). This precipitation/temperature-sensitive record highlights the high value of E. myrtilloides for future studies on the influence of climate on tree growth in the central Andes. ©Fil: Requena Rojas, Edilson Jimmy. Universidad Continental; PerúFil: Amoroso, Mariano Martin. Universidad Nacional de Río Negro. Sede Andina. Instituto de Investigaciones en Recursos Naturales, Agroecología y Desarrollo Rural; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigaciones en Recursos Naturales, Agroecología y Desarrollo Rural. - Universidad Nacional de Rio Negro. Instituto de Investigaciones en Recursos Naturales, Agroecología y Desarrollo Rural; ArgentinaFil: Ticse Otarola, Ginette. Universidad Continental; PerúFil: Crispin Delacruz, Doris B.. Universidad Continental; Per

Assessing dendrochronological potential of escallonia myrtilloides in the high Andes of Peru

There is a significant dendrochronological gap in the Puna of the central Andes of Peru, which motivates research on new species. In this study, we present the first tree-ring chronologies of Escallonia myrtilloides. We collected samples at San Pedro Saño and Sapallanga in Peru, analyzed the anatomical characteristics that delimit the annual growth rings, and developed two tree-ring chronologies through conventional dendrochronological techniques. The tree-ring chronologies cover the period 1940–2015 (76 years) for San Pedro Saño and 1960–2015 (56 years) for Sapallanga. The E. myrtilloides chronologies presented similar values of mean sensitivity, Rbar and EPS to those recorded for Polylepis tarapacana, Polylepis pepei, and Polylepis rugulosa in the Puna region. The analysis of the climate-growth relationships indicated positive correlations with precipitation and negative correlations with temperature in particular months of the current growing season (October–April). This precipitation/temperature-sensitive record highlights the high value of E. myrtilloides for future studies on the influence of climate on tree growth in the central Andes

Assessing the Hydric Deficit on Two <i>Polylepis</i> Species from the Peruvian Andean Mountains: Xylem Vessel Anatomic Adjusting

The impact of drought on vessel architecture and function has been broadly assessed for a variety of tree species in the last decades, but the hydraulic plasticity under temperature increase has scarcely been studied. The effect of drought on tree-ring width and specific hydraulic conductivity depends on relict-tree species resilience to climatic adaptability and its wood anatomical responses to climatic oscillations. We assessed the vessel architecture adaptation of two threatened Peruvian Andean Polylepis species (P. rodolfo-vasquezii and P. tarapacana). We found that historical Peruvian drought years differentially affected Polylepis species, where P. rodolfo-vasquezii showed vessel anatomical features significantly sensitive to drought events when contrasted with P. tarapacana. The drought effect influenced the capacity of Polylepis species to adjust the tree-ring width and vessel anatomical traits of their hydraulic system. Our results suggest that drought events influence Polylepis species’ adaptability and resilience to dry periods and could also restrict them from remaining as a part of the Peruvian Andean puna and mountain ecosystems

Assessing the Hydric Deficit on Two Polylepis Species from the Peruvian Andean Mountains: Xylem Vessel Anatomic Adjusting

The impact of drought on vessel architecture and function has been broadly assessed for a variety of tree species in the last decades, but the hydraulic plasticity under temperature increase has scarcely been studied. The effect of drought on tree-ring width and specific hydraulic conductivity depends on relict-tree species resilience to climatic adaptability and its wood anatomical responses to climatic oscillations. We assessed the vessel architecture adaptation of two threatened Peruvian Andean Polylepis species (P. rodolfo-vasquezii and P. tarapacana). We found that historical Peruvian drought years differentially affected Polylepis species, where P. rodolfo-vasquezii showed vessel anatomical features significantly sensitive to drought events when contrasted with P. tarapacana. The drought effect influenced the capacity of Polylepis species to adjust the tree-ring width and vessel anatomical traits of their hydraulic system. Our results suggest that drought events influence Polylepis species&rsquo; adaptability and resilience to dry periods and could also restrict them from remaining as a part of the Peruvian Andean puna and mountain ecosystems

Fusion pores with low conductance are cation selective

Many neurotransmitters are organic ions that carry a net charge, and their release from secretory vesicles is therefore an electrodiffusion process. The selectivity of early exocytotic fusion pores is investigated by combining electrodiffusion theory, measurements of amperometric foot signals from chromaffin cells with anion substitution, and molecular dynamics simulation. The results reveal that very narrow fusion pores are cation selective, but more dilated fusion pores become anion permeable. The transition occurs around a fusion pore conductance of ∼300 pS. The cation selectivity of a narrow fusion pore accelerates the release of positively charged transmitters such as dopamine, noradrenaline, adrenaline, serotonin, and acetylcholine, while glutamate release may require a more dilated fusion pore