A Study on the Relationship between Servant Leadership, Organizational Culture, and Job Satisfaction in Fitness Clubs

In the fi eld of organizational behavior theory, the infl uence of servant leadership and organizational culture on the job satisfaction of organization members has been actively studied to eff ectively achieve the goals set by the organization. However, there is a severe lack of studies on the relationship between servant leadership, organizational culture, and job satisfaction in the sport industry. Therefore, this study empirically analyzed the causal relationships among the three variables by surveying 320 employees in fi tness clubs located in Pusan, Korea. Surveys were conducted using the convenience sampling method, and a total of 300 surveys were used in the analysis. Data analysis methods included descriptive statistics analysis, exploratory factor analysis, reliability analysis, correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis using SPSS 19.0. Key results from this study were as follows. First, servant leadership in fi tness clubs had a positive infl uence on organizational culture. Second, servant leadership in fi tness clubs had a positive infl uence on the job satisfaction of their employees. Third, the organizational culture of fi tness clubs had a positive infl uence on the job satisfaction of employees. The results of this study can contribute to establishing strategies to advance the organizational performance and eff ective human resource management of fi tness clubs

Peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerase Pin1 interacts with hepatitis B virus core particle, but not with HBc protein, to promote HBV replication

Here, we demonstrate that the peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerase Pin1 interacts noncovalently with the hepatitis B virus (HBV) core particle through phosphorylated serine/threonine-proline (pS/TP) motifs in the carboxyl-terminal domain (CTD) but not with particle-defective, dimer-positive mutants of HBc. This suggests that neither dimers nor monomers of HBc are Pin1-binding partners. The 162TP, 164SP, and 172SP motifs within the HBc CTD are important for the Pin1/core particle interaction. Although Pin1 dissociated from core particle upon heat treatment, it was detected as an opened-up core particle, demonstrating that Pin1 binds both to the outside and the inside of the core particle. Although the amino-terminal domain S/TP motifs of HBc are not involved in the interaction, 49SP contributes to core particle stability, and 128TP might be involved in core particle assembly, as shown by the decreased core particle level of S49A mutant through repeated freeze and thaw and low-level assembly of the T128A mutant, respectively. Overexpression of Pin1 increased core particle stability through their interactions, HBV DNA synthesis, and virion secretion without concomitant increases in HBV RNA levels, indicating that Pin1 may be involved in core particle assembly and maturation, thereby promoting the later stages of the HBV life cycle. By contrast, parvulin inhibitors and PIN1 knockdown reduced HBV replication. Since more Pin1 proteins bound to immature core particles than to mature core particles, the interaction appears to depend on the stage of virus replication. Taken together, the data suggest that physical association between Pin1 and phosphorylated core particles may induce structural alterations through isomerization by Pin1, induce dephosphorylation by unidentified host phosphatases, and promote completion of virus life cycle

Intracellular Antibody Fragment Against Hepatitis B Virus X Protein Does Not Inhibit Viral Replication

Replication of the hepatitis B virus is suppressed by deficiency of the X protein. Although several molecules that block cellular targets of X protein reduce the production of hepatitis B virus progeny, the effect of a specific inhibitor of X protein on viral replication has not been investigated. To block X protein specifically, we adopted an intracellular expression approach using H7 single chain variable fragment (H7scFv), an antibody fragment against X protein. We previously demonstrated that cytoplasmic expression of H7scFv inhibits X protein-induced tumorigenicity and transactivation. In this study, intracellular H7scFv expression inhibits reporter gene transactivation but not viral replication determined by endogenous hepatitis B virus polymerase activity assay and real-time PCR. Our findings imply that intracellular expression of antibody fragment against X protein may not be an alternative therapeutic modality for inhibition of hepatitis B virus replication

PPIases Par14/Par17 Affect HBV Replication in Multiple Ways

Human parvulin 14 (Par14) and parvulin 17 (Par17) are peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerases that upregulate hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication by binding to the conserved 133Arg-Pro134 (RP) motif of HBc and core particles, and 19RP20-28RP29 motifs of HBx. In the absence of HBx, Par14/Par17 have no effect on HBV replication. Interaction with Par14/Par17 enhances the stability of HBx, core particles, and HBc. Par14/Par17 binds outside and inside core particles and is involved in HBc dimer–dimer interaction to facilitate core particle assembly. Although HBc RP motif is important for HBV replication, R133 residue is solely important for its interaction with Par14/Par17. Interaction of Par14 and Par17 with HBx involves two substrate-binding residues, Glu46/Asp74 (E46/D74) and E71/D99, respectively, and promotes HBx translocation to the nucleus and mitochondria. In the presence of HBx, Par14/Par17 are efficiently recruited to cccDNA and promote transcriptional activation via specific DNA-binding residues Ser19/44 (S19/44). S19 and E46/D74 of Par14, and S44 and E71/D99 of Par17, are also involved in the recruitment of HBc onto cccDNA. Par14/Par17 upregulate HBV replication via various effects that are mediated in part through the HBx–Par14/Par17–cccDNA complex and triple HBc, Par14/Par17, and cccDNA interactions in the nucleus, as well as via core particle-Par14/Par17 interactions in the cytoplasm

PPIases Par14/Par17 Affect HBV Replication in Multiple Ways

Human parvulin 14 (Par14) and parvulin 17 (Par17) are peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerases that upregulate hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication by binding to the conserved 133Arg-Pro134 (RP) motif of HBc and core particles, and 19RP20-28RP29 motifs of HBx. In the absence of HBx, Par14/Par17 have no effect on HBV replication. Interaction with Par14/Par17 enhances the stability of HBx, core particles, and HBc. Par14/Par17 binds outside and inside core particles and is involved in HBc dimer–dimer interaction to facilitate core particle assembly. Although HBc RP motif is important for HBV replication, R133 residue is solely important for its interaction with Par14/Par17. Interaction of Par14 and Par17 with HBx involves two substrate-binding residues, Glu46/Asp74 (E46/D74) and E71/D99, respectively, and promotes HBx translocation to the nucleus and mitochondria. In the presence of HBx, Par14/Par17 are efficiently recruited to cccDNA and promote transcriptional activation via specific DNA-binding residues Ser19/44 (S19/44). S19 and E46/D74 of Par14, and S44 and E71/D99 of Par17, are also involved in the recruitment of HBc onto cccDNA. Par14/Par17 upregulate HBV replication via various effects that are mediated in part through the HBx–Par14/Par17–cccDNA complex and triple HBc, Par14/Par17, and cccDNA interactions in the nucleus, as well as via core particle-Par14/Par17 interactions in the cytoplasm

Influence of the Characteristics of Sports Sharing Economy Services on Intention of Use: The Mediating Effect of Consumer Attitude and Trust

This study empirically investigated the effectiveness of the characteristics of sports sharing economy services that has been highlighted recently. The study used consumers’ attitude and trust as parameters of the association between the characteristics and use intention of consumers. There are three research questions in the study. The first question is whether the characteristics of sports sharing economy services affect the consumers’ use intention. The second question is whether the characteristics of sports sharing economy services affect the attitude of consumers and the trust level in sports sharing economy services. The third question is whether the attitude and trust level of consumers mediate sports sharing economy services and use intention. A survey was conducted among college students using a convenient sampling method. We found that: (1) service characteristics such as usefulness, bonding, and consistency had a positive influence on use intention, and risk factor had a negative influence; (2) the service characteristics significantly influenced consumer attitudes and trust of the sharing economy services; usefulness, bonding, and consistency had a positive influence, and risk factor had a negative influence; and (3) the attitude and trust of consumers toward sharing economy services affected use intention; usefulness, bonding, and sustainability had a positive influence, while risk factor had a negative influence. Thus, it was confirmed that the attitude and trust level of consumers mediated sports sharing economy services and use intention. This study also suggested academic and practical implications to establish a more effective sports sharing economy service marketing strategy and develop quality content in relation to the service characteristics and consumers