How Individual Differences and the Use of Humor Shape Relationships in Teams Over Time

Due to its ability to influence social interactions and relationships, humor can play an important role in team dynamics. The aims of this project are to examine how team member individual differences in humor styles relates to the expression of humor over time, and how humor usage shapes relationships between team members. Hypotheses were tested using data from highly interdependent teams working together over an extended period. Results have implications for the selection of team members, and the training and management of unique teams. In all, this research provides validation evidence for the HSQ measure as a predictor of humor behaviors within teams, begins to shed light on how humor training can be used to decrease aggressive humor in specific teams, and highlights the importance of unstructured, casual activities to allow for positive humor flow

The Influence of Team Cohesion and Contextual Performance on Project Team Performance Over Time

Theory and empirical research suggest that team cohesion and contextual performance relate to team performance. However, while general support exists for a team cohesion and contextual performance relationship, less is known about the how the relationship evolves over time. This study aimed to examine the extent to which team cohesion and contextual performance reciprocally relate over time. Data were collected from 245 individuals comprising 40 student project teams engaged in the Capsim business simulation over a 10-week quarter. Results supported hypothesis 1; based on a cross-lagged path model, a stronger relationship exists between contextual performance at time point 1 and cohesion at time point 2 than between cohesion at time point 1 and contextual performance at time point 2. However, hypothesis 2, which predicted the same relationship for time points 2 and 3, was not supported. Additional results reveal significant effects for control variables

Nonverbal Cues\u27 Impact on Leadership Across Cultures: A Review and Propositions

Body language is a part of everyday life and the nonverbal cues associated with body language provide important sources of interpersonal information in a variety of environments and especially in the context of cultural diversity. The intent of this thesis is to understand how certain nonverbal cues can affect leadership within different cultures. The nonverbal cues studied will be body posture, facial expressions, and distance. The cultural regions studied are represented by China, France, Brazil, and Egypt. The appropriate nonverbal cues were identified and discussed based on the cultural context. Research suggests that positive and erect body posture would be beneficial for leaders in all four regions in regards to self-perception and workers\u27 perceptions of leadership. Careful selection of specific facial expressions and direct eye contact would be favorable in all regions for self- and workers\u27 perception of leadership. Considering distance, having less distance and initiating a handshake for self- and workers\u27 perceptions of leadership would be an advantage, but friendly touching is culturally specific. Becoming aware of how certain nonverbal cues may influence the display and interpretation of body language serves to enhance the development of leadership and the promotion of positive attitudes and loyalty in business settings

Scalable early warning systems for school dropout prevention: evidence from a 4.000-school randomized controlled trial

Across many low- and middle-income countries, a sizable share of young people drop out of school before completing a full course of basic education. Early warning systems that accurately identify students at risk of dropout and support them with targeted interventions have shown results and are in widespread use in high-income contexts. This paper presents impact evaluation results from an early warning system pilot program in Guatemala, a middle-income country where nearly 40 percent of sixth graders drop out before completing ninth grade. The pilot program, which was implemented in 17 percent of Guatemala’s primary schools and largely leveraging existing government resources, reduced the dropout rate in the transition from primary to lower secondary school by 4 percent (1.3 percentage points) among schools assigned to the program, and by 9 percent (3 percentage points) among program compliers. Although the effect size is relatively modest, the low cost of the program (estimated at less than US$3 per student) and successful implementation at scale make this a promising and cost-effective approach for reducing dropout in resource-constrained contexts like Guatemala.Centro de Estudios Distributivos, Laborales y Sociale

The role of tides in bottom water export from the western Ross Sea

Approximately 25% of Antarctic Bottom Water has its origin as dense water exiting the western Ross Sea, but little is known about what controls the release of dense water plumes from the Drygalski Trough. We deployed two moorings on the slope to investigate the water properties of the bottom water exiting the region at Cape Adare. Salinity of the bottom water has increased in 2018 from the previous measurements in 2008–2010, consistent with the observed salinity increase in the Ross Sea. We find High Salinity Shelf Water from the Drygalski Trough contributes to two pulses of dense water at Cape Adare. The timing and magnitude of the pulses is largely explained by an inverse relationship with the tidal velocity in the Ross Sea. We suggest that the diurnal and low frequency tides in the western Ross Sea may control the magnitude and timing of the dense water outflow

Genome Sequence of Bradyrhizobium japonicum E109, One of the Most Agronomically Used Nitrogen-Fixing Rhizobacteria in Argentina

We present here the complete genome sequence of Bradyrhizobium japonicum strain E109, one of the most used rhizobacteria for soybean inoculation in Argentina since the 1970s. The genome consists of a 9.22-Mbp single chromosome and contains several genes related to nitrogen fixation, phytohormone biosynthesis, and a rhizospheric lifestyle.Fil: Torres, Daniela Soledad. Universidad Nacional de Rio Cuarto; ArgentinaFil: Revale, Santiago. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Rosario. Instituto de Agrobiotecnología de Rosario; ArgentinaFil: Obando, Melissa. Universidad Nacional de Rio Cuarto. Facultad de Cs.exactas Fisicoquimicas y Naturales. Departamento de Cs.naturales. Laboratorio de Fisiologia Vegetal y de la Interaccion Planta-microorganismo; ArgentinaFil: Maroniche, Guillermo Andres. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Agropecuarias. Centro de Investigación de Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Microbiología y Zoología Agrícola; ArgentinaFil: Paris, Gastón. Fundación Instituto Leloir; ArgentinaFil: Perticari, Alejandro. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Agropecuarias. Centro de Investigación de Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Microbiología y Zoología Agrícola; ArgentinaFil: Vazquez, Martin. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Rosario. Instituto de Agrobiotecnología de Rosario; ArgentinaFil: Wisniewsk Dyé, Florence. Universite Lyon 2; FranciaFil: Martínez Abarca Pastor, Francisco. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas. Estación Experimental del Zaidin; EspañaFil: Cassan, Fabricio Dario. Universidad Nacional de Rio Cuarto; Argentin

Association of myostatin, a cytokine released by muscle, with inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis

Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Fondo de Investigacion en Salud, FIS/IMSS/PROT/MD16/1565Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text Myostatin is a cytokine produced and released by myocytes that might have an outstanding role not only in muscle wasting during cachexia but also in inflammation. Herein we explore the association between myostatin levels and inflammatory parameters in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). One hundred twenty-seven women without rheumatic diseases and 84 women with a diagnosis of RA were assessed in a cross-sectional study. Outcomes reflecting the activity of the arthritis including Disease Activity Score (DAS28-ESR) and impairment in functioning by the Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index were assessed in RA. We obtained Skeletal muscle mass index (SMI), fat-free mass index (FFMI), and fat mass index using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Serum myostatin was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Myostatin levels were correlated with disease activity and parameters of muscle mass. The SMI was lower and concentration of myostatin was higher in RA patients than in controls (P = .008 and P < .001, respectively). Myostatin significantly positively correlated with C-reactive protein (rho = 0.48, P < .001), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (rho = 0.28, P = .009), and DAS28-ESR (rho = 0.22, P = .04), and negatively correlated with SMI (rho = −0.29, P = .008), (FFMI) (rho = −0.24, P = .027). In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, levels of myostatin remained associated with disease activity in RA (P = .027). In our study, myostatin was associated with disease activity in RA patients, suggesting a mechanistic link between myostatin, muscle wasting and inflammation in RA

Mathematical Modelling of Mosquito Dispersal in a Heterogeneous Environment.

Mosquito dispersal is a key behavioural factor that affects the persistence and resurgence of several vector-borne diseases. Spatial heterogeneity of mosquito resources, such as hosts and breeding sites, affects mosquito dispersal behaviour and consequently affects mosquito population structures, human exposure to vectors, and the ability to control disease transmission. In this paper, we develop and simulate a discrete-space continuous-time mathematical model to investigate the impact of dispersal and heterogeneous distribution of resources on the distribution and dynamics of mosquito populations. We build an ordinary differential equation model of the mosquito life cycle and replicate it across a hexagonal grid (multi-patch system) that represents two-dimensional space. We use the model to estimate mosquito dispersal distances and to evaluate the effect of spatial repellents as a vector control strategy. We find evidence of association between heterogeneity, dispersal, spatial distribution of resources, and mosquito population dynamics. Random distribution of repellents reduces the distance moved by mosquitoes, offering a promising strategy for disease control

The Grizzly, April 18, 2013

Curriculum Review • Relay Raises Money, Awareness • Tuition Explained • Mental Health Resources Reviewed • Collegeville Community Day April 20 • Student Art Exhibit April 24 • Ursinus College Dance Company\u27s Spring Show • Spanish Classes Popular Among UC Students • Opinion: ESPN Debate Isn\u27t Really About Sports; Autism Awareness Month is a Learning Opportunity • Hockey Not Netting Enough Attention • Senior Spotlight: Wytch Rigger, Men\u27s Lacrosse • Baseball Loses in 18 Inningshttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1882/thumbnail.jp

Paradoxical patterns of sinusoidal obstruction syndrome-like liver injury in aged female CD-1 mice triggered by cannabidiol-rich cannabis extract and acetaminophen co-administration

© 2019 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Exposure to environmental contaminants and consumption of a high, saturated fatty diet has been demonstrated to promote precursors for metabolic syndrome (hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, and hypertriglyceridemia). The purpose of this study was to determine if exposure to the most prevalent environmental persistent organic pollutants (POPs) would act as causative agents to promote metabolic syndrome independent of dietary intake. We hypothesized that POPs will activate the advanced glycated end-product (AGE)-and receptor for AGE (RAGE) signaling cascade to promote downstream signaling modulators of cardiovascular remodeling and oxidative stress in the heart. At 5-weeks of age nondiabetic (WT) and diabetic (ob/ob) mice were exposed POPs mixtures by oral gavage twice a week for 6-weeks. At the end of 6-weeks, animals were sacrificed and the hearts were taken for biochemical analysis. Increased activation of the AGE-RAGE signaling cascade via POPs exposure resulted in elevated levels of fibroblast differentiation (α-smooth muscle actin) and RAGE expression indicated maladaptive cardiac remodeling. Conversely, the observed decreased superoxide dismutase-1 and -2 (SOD-1 and SOD-2) expression may exacerbate the adverse changes occurring as a result of POPs treatment to reduce innate cardioprotective mechanisms. In comparison, ventricular collagen levels were decreased in mice exposed to POPs. In conclusion, exposure to organic environmental pollutants may intensify oxidative and inflammatory stressors to overwhelm protective mechanisms allowing for adverse cardiac remodeling