Psychological ownership: linking employee past and future in an organization to employee outcomes

Modern day management has placed increasing importance on creating organic and substantive relationships between employees and employers as in knowledge based economies, organizational efficiency and effectiveness depends much on employees’ initiatives and extra-ordinary efforts. In the present study, we focus on psychological ownership, described by Pierce (2003) as a cognitive-affective state that reflects employees’ awareness, thoughts, and beliefs that the target of ownership (e.g. the organization) is theirs, as a form of such relationships. We adopt a temporal perspective in conceptualizing how psychological ownership may be cultivated and how psychological ownership, in turn, would lead to ...postprin

End-to-End Learning of Video Super-Resolution with Motion Compensation

Learning approaches have shown great success in the task of super-resolving an image given a low resolution input. Video super-resolution aims for exploiting additionally the information from multiple images. Typically, the images are related via optical flow and consecutive image warping. In this paper, we provide an end-to-end video super-resolution network that, in contrast to previous works, includes the estimation of optical flow in the overall network architecture. We analyze the usage of optical flow for video super-resolution and find that common off-the-shelf image warping does not allow video super-resolution to benefit much from optical flow. We rather propose an operation for motion compensation that performs warping from low to high resolution directly. We show that with this network configuration, video super-resolution can benefit from optical flow and we obtain state-of-the-art results on the popular test sets. We also show that the processing of whole images rather than independent patches is responsible for a large increase in accuracy.Comment: Accepted to GCPR201

Trophic strategy of diverse methanogens across a river-to-sea gradient

Methanogens are an important biogenic source of methane, especially in estuarine waters across a river-to-sea gradient. However, the diversity and trophic strategy of methanogens in this gradient are not clear. In this study, the diversity and trophic strategy of methanogens in sediments across the Yellow River (YR) to the Bohai Sea (BS) gradient were investigated by high-throughput sequencing based on the 16S rRNA gene. The results showed that the diversity of methanogens in sediments varied from multitrophic communities in YR samples to specific methylotrophic communities in BS samples. The methanogenic community in YR samples was dominated by Methanosarcina, while that of BS samples was dominated by methylotrophic Methanococcoides. The distinct methanogens suggested that the methanogenic community of BS sediments did not originate from YR sediment input. High-throughput sequencing of the mcrA gene revealed that active Methanococcoides dominated in the BS enrichment cultures with trimethylamine as the substrate, and methylotrophic Methanolobus dominated in the YR enrichment cultures, as detected to a limited amount in in situ sediment samples. Methanosarcina were also detected in this gradient sample. Furthermore, the same species of Methanosarcina mazei, which was widely distributed, was isolated from the area across a river-to-sea gradient by the culture-dependent method. In summary, our results showed that a distribution of diverse methanogens across a river-to-sea gradient may shed light on adaption strategies and survival mechanisms in methanogens

Regional difference of the start time of the recent warming in Eastern China: prompted by a 165-year temperature record deduced from tree rings in the Dabie Mountains

Tree-ring studies from tropical to subtropical regions are rarer than that from extratropical regions, which greatly limit our understanding of some critical climate change issues. Based on the tree-ring-width chronology of samples collected from the Dabie Mountains, we reconstructed the April-June mean temperature for this region with an explained variance of 46.8%. Five cold (1861-1869, 1889-1899, 1913-1920, 1936-1942 and 1952-1990) and three warm (1870-1888, 1922-1934 and 2000-2005) periods were identified in the reconstruction. The reconstruction not only agreed well with the instrumental records in and around the study area, but also showed good resemblance to previous temperature reconstructions from nearby regions, indicating its spatial and temporal representativeness of the temperature variation in the central part of eastern China. Although no secular warming trend was found, the warming trend since 1970 was unambiguous in the Dabie Mountains (0.064 A degrees C/year). Further temperature comparison indicated that the start time of the recent warming in eastern China was regional different. It delayed gradually from north to south, starting at least around 1940 AD in the north part, around 1970 AD in the central part and around 1980s in the south part. This work enriches the high-resolution temperature reconstructions in eastern China. We expect that climate warming in the future would promote the radial growth of alpine Pinus taiwanensis in the subtropical areas of China, therefore promote the carbon capture and carbon storage in the Pinus taiwanensis forest. It also helps to clarify the regional characteristic of recent warming in eastern China.</p

Helmets for preventing injury in motorcycle riders

Background: Motorcycle crash victims form a high proportion of those killed or injured in road traffic accidents. Injuries to the head, following motorcycle crashes, are a common cause of severe morbidity and mortality. It seems intuitive that helmets should protect against head injuries but it has been argued that motorcycle helmet use decreases rider vision and increases neck injuries. This review will collate the \u27current available evidence on helmets and their impact on mortality, and head, face and neck injuries following motorcycle crashes.Objectives: To quantify the effectiveness of wearing a motorcycle helmet in reducing mortality and head and neck injury following motorcycle crashes.Search strategy: Databases including the Cochrane Injuries Group Specialised Register, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (The Cochrane Library issue 1,2003), MEDLINE (January 1966 to February 2003), EMBASE (January 1985 to February 2003), CINAHL (January 1982 to February 2003), IRRD (International Road Research Documentation), TRANSDOC, TRIS (Transport Research Information Service), ATRI (Australian Transport Index) (1976 to Feb 2003), Science Citation Index were searched for relevant articles. Web sites of traffic and road accident research bodies including government agencies were also searched. Reference lists from topic reviews, identified studies and bibliographies were examined for relevant articles.Selection criteria: We considered for inclusion studies that investigated a population of motorcycle riders who had crashed, examining helmet use as an intervention and with outcomes that included one or more of the following: death, head, neck or facial injury. Studies included any that compared an intervention and control group and, therefore, included any randomised controlled trials, non-randomised controlled trials, cohort, case-control and cross-sectional studies. Ecological and case series studies were excluded.Data collection and analysis: Two reviewers independently screened reference lists for eligible articles. Two reviewers independently assessed articles for inclusion criteria. Data were abstracted by two independent reviewers using a standard abstraction form.Main results: Fifty-three observational studies were identified of varying quality. Despite methodological differences there was a remarkable consistency in results, particularly for mortality and head injury outcomes. Motorcycle helmets appear to reduce the risk of mortality although, due to heterogeneity in study design, an overall estimate of effect was not calculated. There was some evidence that the effect of helmets on mortality is modified by speed. Motorcycle helmets were found to reduce the risk of head injury and from five well-conducted studies the risk reduction is estimated to be 72% (OR 0.28, 95%CI 0.23,0.35). Insufficient evidence was found to estimate the effect of motorcycle helmets compared with no helmet on facial or neck injuries. However, studies of poorer quality suggest that helmets have no effect on the risk of neck injuries and are protective for facial injury. There was insufficient evidence to demonstrate whether differences in helmet type confer more or less advantage in injury reduction.Conclusions: Motorcycle helmets reduce the risk of mortality and head injury in motorcycle riders who crash, although the former effect may be modified by other crash factors such as speed. Further well-conducted research is required to determine the effects of helmets and different helmet types on mortalIty, head, neck and facial injuries. However, the findings suggest that global efforts to reduce road traffic injuries may be facilitated by increasing helmet use by motorcyclists.<br /

Control over phase separation and nucleation using a laser-tweezing potential

Control over the nucleation of new phases is highly desirable but elusive. Even though there is a long history of crystallization engineering by varying physicochemical parameters, controlling which polymorph crystallizes or whether a molecule crystallizes or forms an amorphous precipitate is still a poorly understood practice. Although there are now numerous examples of control using laser-induced nucleation, the absence of physical understanding is preventing progress. Here we show that the proximity of a liquid–liquid critical point or the corresponding binodal line can be used by a laser-tweezing potential to induce concentration gradients. A simple theoretical model shows that the stored electromagnetic energy of the laser beam produces a free-energy potential that forces phase separation or triggers the nucleation of a new phase. Experiments in a liquid mixture using a low-power laser diode confirm the effect. Phase separation and nucleation using a laser-tweezing potential explains the physics behind non-photochemical laser-induced nucleation and suggests new ways of manipulating matter

Caspase 3/ROCK1 pathway mediates high glucose-induced platelet microparticles shedding

Background: Platelet microparticles (PMPs) are closely associated with diabetic macrovascular complications. This study aimed to explore the underlying mechanisms of high glucose-induced PMPs generation. Methods: Washed platelets, obtained from the plasma of healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats, were incubated with high glucose. PMPs were isolated using gradient centrifugation and counted by flow cytometry. Expression and activity of ROCK1 and caspase3 were evaluated by real-time PCR, Western blotting, and activity assay kit. Results: High glucose enhanced PMPs shedding in the presence of collagen. The mRNA and protein levels of ROCK1, but not ROCK2, were increased in platelets incubated with high glucose. Y-27632, an inhibitor of ROCK, blocked the increased PMPs shedding induced by high glucose. Expression and activity of caspase3 were elevated in platelets under the high glucose conditions. Z-DVED-FMK, a caspase3 inhibitor, inhibited ROCK1 activity and decreased the PMPs generation under high glucose. Conclusion: High glucose increased PMPs shedding via caspase3-ROCK1 signal pathway

Highly stretchable and sensitive self-powered sensors based on the N-Type thermoelectric effect of polyurethane/Na_{x}(Ni-ett)_{n}/graphene oxide composites

The development of stretchable organic thermoelectric materials is prompted by fast evolving application fields like flexible electronic devices, soft robotics, health monitoring and internet-of-things. Stretchability in thermoelectric materials is usually obtained by using an insulating elastomer, either as a substrate or as a matrix in a blend or composite, which, unfortunately, leads to a compromise in thermoelectric performance. Herein, a potential solution is reported exploiting the addition of graphene oxide as a secondary (nano)filler in a polyurethane/poly nickel-ethenetetrathiolates film. Compared with traditional binary blends, our ternary composite shows an increased electrical conductivity (4 times), air-stability (∼20 times after 3 months), and stretchability (38% increase in strain at break). With a gauge factor (GF) of ∼58, this new composite film shows high sensitivity to tensile strain. Thanks to its Seebeck coefficient of ∼ −40 μV K^{−1}, the composite film can generate a thermopower of ∼0.25 pW when subjected to a small temperature difference (30 °C), which could be exploited by self-powered strain sensors. Therefore, the ternary polyurethane/poly nickel-ethenetetrathiolates/graphene oxide composite film can work as a stretchable strain sensor, providing a strategy to reconcile the compromise between thermoelectric performance and stretchability

Cadmium Induces the Expression of Grp78, an Endoplasmic Reticulum Molecular Chaperone, in LLC-PK1 Renal Epithelial Cells

To reveal the effects of cadmium exposure on the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response, we examined the expression and function of 78-kDa glucose-regulated protein (Grp78), an ER-resident molecular chaperone, in LLC-PK1 cells. In cells treated with 10 μM cadmium chloride, Grp78 protein levels increased after 6 hr and remained elevated at 24 hr. When cells were incubated with 1–20 μM CdCl(2) for 6 hr, Grp78 increased in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, Grp78 mRNA levels were elevated in response to CdCl(2) exposure. After exposure to 10 μM CdCl(2), the levels of activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) were increased at 2 hr, with a further enhancement after that; this accumulation followed the transient but marked phosphorylation of the α subunit of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 (eIF2α) on serine 51. Although ATF4 mRNA levels increased mildly by CdCl(2) exposure, treatment with actinomycin D did not suppress CdCl(2)-induced accumulation of ATF4 protein, suggesting the involvement of posttranscriptional and, in part, transcriptional mechanisms. Compared with other heavy-metal compounds such as manganese chloride, zinc chloride, mercuric chloride, and lead chloride, CdCl(2) could increase the levels of Grp78, ATF4, and the phosphorylated form of eIF2α more markedly without definite cellular damage. The silencing of Grp78 expression using short-interference RNA enhanced CdCl(2)-induced cellular damage. These results show that cadmium induces the expression of Grp78 probably via phosphorylation of eIF2α and resultant translation of ATF4, and this ER stress response plays a role in protection against cadmium cytotoxicity in this renal epithelial cell