Perceptions of the value of training, extent of involvement in corporate university programs, level of organizational commitment, and the accountability of a corporate university program as viewed by managers in China

This study seeks to understand the relationships among managers’ perceptions of the value of training, extent of involvement in corporate university programs, level of organizational commitment, and the accountability of a corporate university program. Program accountability in human resource development (HRD) refers to perceptions among stakeholders about the extent to which an HRD program achieved its stated goals, addressed performance issues of importance in the organization, and made a demonstrable impact to improve the outcomes of the organization. Research has shown that corporate universities require substantial investments in both financial and human resources. Whether organizations are realizing value in return, especially from the perspective of a particular group of stakeholders, business managers, remains uncertain. As a group, managers have the opportunity to participate in programs offered through their corporate universities as well as to decide whether to send their employees to these programs. In addition, managers often serve on advisory committees that help set policy for their corporate university. Hence, it is expected that most managers have had frequent contact with and involvement in their corporate university. Growing literature has focused on the results of individual HRD programs, such as the return on investment of particular management training programs offered through traditional training departments. However, the literature provides less information when considering the impact of the programs offered through corporate universities, which are strategically different from training departments. This understanding could seemingly be based more on the overall views of stakeholders. Business managers with these views may be affected by their perceptions of the value of training, their extent of involvement in corporate university programs, and their level of organizational commitment. To explore such relationships, this study was conducted using mixed-methods research methodology, composed of a written survey and individual interviews. The survey was sent to 204 managers in a Chinese public institution that had an established corporate university. The 204 managers were selected according to predetermined criteria from among 205 managers that attended a management competency training program offered by the corporate university in 2015 and 2016. Individual interviews were conducted with seven volunteered managers among 87 who completed the survey effectively. The data were analyzed with the statistical software packages SPSS and qualitative analysis software Nvivo. Primarily, the quantitative results of this study address the research questions involving the four identified variables and their interrelationships. First: a) the managers’ perceptions about the value of training were largely positive, b) the managers were involved to a limit-to-moderate extent in the training college programs, c) the accountability of the management competency training program was deemed high, and d) the managers committed to their organization to a moderate-to-high extent. Second, the managers’ perceptions about the value of training and the extent of their involvement in the training college programs, as well as the interaction of the two, explained the accountability of the management competency training program. Third, the managers’ level of organizational commitment did not have a moderating or mediating role in the relationship between the value variable and the involvement variable and the program accountability. Fourth, the relationship between the level of organizational commitment of the managers and the program accountability was fully mediated by the extent of the managers’ involvement in the corporate university programs. Complementarily, the qualitative results of the study provided support for understanding the above survey findings. For instance, the interviews revealed that most of the managers identified some relationship between their own perceptions of the value of training and how they viewed the accountability of the focused program. Essential quotes from the interviewees coded in themes are included in the results chapters. The interview results provided richer information to mostly support the survey findings. Three main interpretations conclude this study. First of all, the accountability of the management competency training program was high from the managers’ viewpoints. Second, when the managers’ extent of involvement in their training college programs was low, their more positive perceptions about the value of training would lead to higher rated accountability of the program; conversely, when their extent of involvement in their training college programs was limited or higher-than-limited, their more positive perceptions led to lower rated accountability. Lastly, the managers’ level of organizational commitment predicted their perceptions about the value of training. In the end, the study provides implications to HRD theory, research, and practice. Each aspect is discussed. Three limitations of the study are also recognized

Identification of seed proteins associated with resistance to pre-harvested aflatoxin contamination in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Pre-harvest infection of peanuts by <it>Aspergillus flavus </it>and subsequent aflatoxin contamination is one of the food safety factors that most severely impair peanut productivity and human and animal health, especially in arid and semi-arid tropical areas. Some peanut cultivars with natural pre-harvest resistance to aflatoxin contamination have been identified through field screening. However, little is known about the resistance mechanism, which has slowed the incorporation of resistance into cultivars with commercially acceptable genetic background. Therefore, it is necessary to identify resistance-associated proteins, and then to recognize candidate resistance genes potentially underlying the resistance mechanism.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The objective of this study was to identify resistance-associated proteins in response to <it>A. flavus </it>infection under drought stress using two-dimensional electrophoresis with mass spectrometry. To identify proteins involved in the resistance to pre-harvest aflatoxin contamination, we compared the differential expression profiles of seed proteins between a resistant cultivar (YJ-1) and a susceptible cultivar (Yueyou 7) under well-watered condition, drought stress, and <it>A. flavus </it>infection with drought stress. A total of 29 spots showed differential expression between resistant and susceptible cultivars in response to <it>A. flavus </it>attack under drought stress. Among these spots, 12 protein spots that consistently exhibited an altered expression were screened by Image Master 5.0 software and successfully identified by MALDI-TOF MS. Five protein spots, including Oso7g0179400, PII protein, CDK1, Oxalate oxidase, SAP domain-containing protein, were uniquely expressed in the resistant cultivar. Six protein spots including low molecular weight heat shock protein precursor, RIO kinase, L-ascorbate peroxidase, iso-Ara h3, 50 S ribosomal protein L22 and putative 30 S ribosomal S9 were significantly up-regulated in the resistant cultivar challenged by <it>A. flavus </it>under drought stress. A significant decrease or down regulation of trypsin inhibitor caused by <it>A. flavus </it>in the resistant cultivar was also observed. In addition, variations in protein expression patterns for resistant and susceptible cultivars were further validated by real time RT-PCR analysis.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In summary, this study provides new insights into understanding of the molecular mechanism of resistance to pre-harvest aflatoxin contamination in peanut, and will help to develop peanut varieties with resistance to pre-harvested aflatoxin contamination.</p

Imaging calcium microdomains within entire astrocyte territories and endfeet with GCaMPs expressed using adeno-associated viruses.

Intracellular Ca(2+) transients are considered a primary signal by which astrocytes interact with neurons and blood vessels. With existing commonly used methods, Ca(2+) has been studied only within astrocyte somata and thick branches, leaving the distal fine branchlets and endfeet that are most proximate to neuronal synapses and blood vessels largely unexplored. Here, using cytosolic and membrane-tethered forms of genetically encoded Ca(2+) indicators (GECIs; cyto-GCaMP3 and Lck-GCaMP3), we report well-characterized approaches that overcome these limitations. We used in vivo microinjections of adeno-associated viruses to express GECIs in astrocytes and studied Ca(2+) signals in acute hippocampal slices in vitro from adult mice (aged ∼P80) two weeks after infection. Our data reveal a sparkling panorama of unexpectedly numerous, frequent, equivalently scaled, and highly localized Ca(2+) microdomains within entire astrocyte territories in situ within acute hippocampal slices, consistent with the distribution of perisynaptic branchlets described using electron microscopy. Signals from endfeet were revealed with particular clarity. The tools and experimental approaches we describe in detail allow for the systematic study of Ca(2+) signals within entire astrocytes, including within fine perisynaptic branchlets and vessel-associated endfeet, permitting rigorous evaluation of how astrocytes contribute to brain function

Genome-wide cloning and sequence analysis of leucine-rich repeat receptor-like protein kinase genes in Arabidopsis thaliana

Abstract Background Transmembrane receptor kinases play critical roles in both animal and plant signaling pathways regulating growth, development, differentiation, cell death, and pathogenic defense responses. In Arabidopsis thaliana, there are at least 223 Leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinases (LRR-RLKs), representing one of the largest protein families. Although functional roles for a handful of LRR-RLKs have been revealed, the functions of the majority of members in this protein family have not been elucidated. Results As a resource for the in-depth analysis of this important protein family, the complementary DNA sequences (cDNAs) of 194 LRR-RLKs were cloned into the GatewayR donor vector pDONR/ZeoR and analyzed by DNA sequencing. Among them, 157 clones showed sequences identical to the predictions in the Arabidopsis sequence resource, TAIR8. The other 37 cDNAs showed gene structures distinct from the predictions of TAIR8, which was mainly caused by alternative splicing of pre-mRNA. Most of the genes have been further cloned into GatewayR destination vectors with GFP or FLAG epitope tags and have been transformed into Arabidopsis for in planta functional analysis. All clones from this study have been submitted to the Arabidopsis Biological Resource Center (ABRC) at Ohio State University for full accessibility by the Arabidopsis research community. Conclusions Most of the Arabidopsis LRR-RLK genes have been isolated and the sequence analysis showed a number of alternatively spliced variants. The generated resources, including cDNA entry clones, expression constructs and transgenic plants, will facilitate further functional analysis of the members of this important gene family

Mean velocity and temperature profiles in turbulent Rayleigh-Bénard convection at low Prandtl numbers

We report a direct numerical simulation (DNS) study of the mean velocity and temperature profiles in turbulent Rayleigh-Bénard convection (RBC) at low Prandtl numbers (Pr). The numerical study is conducted in a vertical thin disk with Pr varied in the range 0.17 ≤ Pr ≤ 4.4 and the Rayleigh number (Ra) varied in the range 5 × 10^8 ≤ Ra ≤ 1 × 10^10. By varying Pr from 4.4 to 0.17, we find a sharp change of flow patterns for the large-scale circulation (LSC) from a rigid-body rotation to a near-wall turbulent jet. We numerically examine the mean velocity equation in the bulk region and find that the mean horizontal velocity profile u(z) can be determined by a balance equation between the mean convection and turbulent diffusion with a constant turbulent viscosity νt. This balance equation admits a self-similarity jet solution, which fits the DNS data well. In the boundary-layer region, we find that both the mean temperature profile T(z) and u(z) can be determined by a balance equation between the molecular diffusion and turbulent diffusion. Within the viscous boundary layer, both u(z) and T(z) can be solved analytically and the analytical results agree well with the DNS data. Our careful characterisation of the mean velocity and temperature profiles in low-Pr RBC provides a further understanding of the intricate interplay between the LSC, plume emission and boundary-layer dynamics, and pinpoints the physical mechanism for the emergence of a pronounced LSC in low-Pr RBC

High level soluble expression, one-step purification and characterization of HIV-1 p24 protein

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>P24 protein is the major core protein of HIV virus particle and has been suggested as a specific target for antiviral strategies. Recombinant p24 protein with natural antigenic activity would be useful for various studies, such as diagnostic reagents and multi-component HIV vaccine development. The aim of this study was to express and purify the p24 protein in soluble form in <it>E.coli</it>.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>According to the sequence of the p24 gene, a pair of primers was designed, and the target sequence of 700 bp was amplified using PCR. The PCR product was cloned into pQE30 vector, generating the recombinant plasmid pQE30-p24. SDS-PAGE analysis showed that the His-tagged recombinant p24 protein was highly expressed in soluble form after induction in <it>E. coli </it>strain BL21. The recombinant protein was purified by nickel affinity chromatography and used to react with HIV infected sera. The results showed that the recombinant p24 protein could specifically react with the HIV infected sera. To study the immunogenicity of this soluble recombinant p24 protein, it was used to immunize mice for the preparation of polyclonal antibody. Subsequent ELISA and Western-Blot analysis demonstrated that the p24 protein had proper immunogenicity in inducing mice to produce HIV p24 specific antibodies.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In this work, we report the high level soluble expression of HIV-1 p24 protein in <it>E. coli</it>. This soluble recombinant p24 protein specifically react with HIV infected sera and elicit HIV p24 specific antibodies in mice, indicating this soluble recombinant p24 protein could be a promising reagent for HIV diagnosis.</p

Alternatives to antibiotics for treatment of mastitis in dairy cows

Mastitis is considered the costliest disease on dairy farms and also adversely affects animal welfare. As treatment (and to a lesser extent prevention) of mastitis rely heavily on antibiotics, there are increasing concerns in veterinary and human medicine regarding development of antimicrobial resistance. Furthermore, with genes conferring resistance being capable of transfer to heterologous strains, reducing resistance in strains of animal origin should have positive impacts on humans. This article briefly reviews potential roles of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), herbal medicines, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), bacteriophages and their lytic enzymes, vaccination and other emerging therapies for prevention and treatment of mastitis in dairy cows. Although many of these approaches currently lack proven therapeutic efficacy, at least some may gradually replace antibiotics, especially as drug-resistant bacteria are proliferating globally

Functional identification of PGM1 in the regulating development and depositing of inosine monophosphate specific for myoblasts

BackgroundInosine monophosphate (IMP) is naturally present in poultry muscle and plays a key role in improving meat flavour. However, IMP deposition is regulated by numerous genes and complex molecular networks. In order to excavate key candidate genes that may regulate IMP synthesis, we performed proteome and metabolome analyses on the leg muscle, compared to the breast muscle control of 180-day-old Jingyuan chickens (hens), which had different IMP content. The key candidate genes identified by a differential analysis were verified to be associated with regulation of IMP-specific deposition.ResultsThe results showed that the differentially expressed (DE) proteins and metabolites jointly involve 14 metabolic pathways, among which the purine metabolic pathway closely related to IMP synthesis and metabolism is enriched with four DE proteins downregulated (with higher expression in breast muscles than in leg muscles), including adenylate kinase 1 (AK1), adenosine monophosphate deaminase 1 (AMPD1), pyruvate kinase muscle isoenzyme 2 (PKM2) and phosphoglucomutase 1 (PGM1), six DE metabolites, Hypoxanthine, Guanosine, L-Glutamine, AICAR, AMP and Adenylsuccinic acid. Analysis of PGM1 gene showed that the high expression of PGM1 promoted the proliferation and differentiation of myoblasts and inhibited the apoptosis of myoblasts. ELISA tests have shown that PGM1 reduced adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and IMP and uric acid (UA), while enhancing the biosynthesis of hypoxanthine (HX). In addition, up-regulation of PGM1 inhibited the expression of purine metabolism pathway related genes, and promoted the IMP de novo and salvage synthesis pathways.ConclusionThis study preliminarily explored the mechanism of action of PGM1 in regulating the growth and development of myoblasts and specific IMP deposition in Jingyuan chickens, which provided certain theoretical basis for the development and utilization of excellent traits in Jingyuan chickens