The Effect of Superiors\u27 Mentoring on Subordinates\u27 Organizational Identification and Workplace Outcomes

This dissertation investigated the relationships between subordinates\u27 perceptions of the mentoring they receive from their superiors and their reports of organizational identification and workplace experiences. Specifically, the relationships between (1) career development and psychosocial mentoring functions and organizational identification, (2) organizational identification and job satisfaction, communication satisfaction, and organizational commitment, (3) and career development and psychosocial mentoring functions and job satisfaction, communication satisfaction and organizational commitment were examined. Furthermore, the indirect effect of mentoring functions on job satisfaction, communication satisfaction, and organizational commitment through organizational identification was examined. Paid, fully-employed adults completed an online survey measuring their perceptions of mentoring from their direct superior, organizational identification, job satisfaction, communication satisfaction with their superior, and organizational commitment. Results showed significant positive relationships between (1) the career development and psychosocial mentoring functions and organizational identification, (2) organizational identification and job satisfaction, communication satisfaction, and organizational commitment, and (3) mentoring functions and job satisfaction, communication satisfaction, and organizational commitment. Results also indicated evidence of an indirect effect of mentoring functions on subordinates\u27 job satisfaction, communication satisfaction, and organizational commitment through subordinates\u27 increased organizational identification. These results suggest that organizational identification is an important factor in enhancing employees\u27 workplace experiences and that organizational leaders may consider fostering workplace environments in which employees are likely to identify with the organization

FACE THREAT, FACE SUPPORT, AND ADVICE EFFECTIVENESS FOLLOWING INFIDELITY

This study examined advice interactions following infidelity. Participants (N = 213) completed a survey concerning an instance on infidelity and a subsequent advice interaction. Injured party perceptions of advice interactions were measured by examining advice messages, perceived face threat, and perceived face support, in addition to perceived effectiveness of the advice message. Results from this study showed no significant differences in perceived face threat, perceived face support, or advice effectiveness between different advice messages. Results also indicated both positive and negative face threat as negative predictors of advice effectiveness. While negative face support was a positive predictor of advice effectiveness, positive face support was a negative predictor. When controlling for relational closeness, negative face support was the only significant predictor of advice effectiveness

PCP-ML: Protein Characterization Package For Machine Learning

Background: Machine Learning (ML) has a number of demonstrated applications in protein prediction tasks such as protein structure prediction. To speed further development of machine learning based tools and their release to the community, we have developed a package which characterizes several aspects of a protein commonly used for protein prediction tasks with machine learning. Findings: A number of software libraries and modules exist for handling protein related data. The package we present in this work, PCP-ML, is unique in its small footprint and emphasis on machine learning. Its primary focus is on characterizing various aspects of a protein through sets of numerical data. The generated data can then be used with machine learning tools and/or techniques. PCP-ML is very flexible in how the generated data is formatted and as a result is compatible with a variety of existing machine learning packages. Given its small size, it can be directly packaged and distributed with community developed tools for protein prediction tasks. Conclusions: Source code and example programs are available under a BSD license at http://mlid.cps.cmich.edu/eickh1jl/tools/PCPML/. The package is implemented in C++ and accessible as a Python module

DoBo: Protein domain boundary prediction by integrating evolutionary signals and machine learning

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Accurate identification of protein domain boundaries is useful for protein structure determination and prediction. However, predicting protein domain boundaries from a sequence is still very challenging and largely unsolved.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We developed a new method to integrate the classification power of machine learning with evolutionary signals embedded in protein families in order to improve protein domain boundary prediction. The method first extracts putative domain boundary signals from a multiple sequence alignment between a query sequence and its homologs. The putative sites are then classified and scored by support vector machines in conjunction with input features such as sequence profiles, secondary structures, solvent accessibilities around the sites and their positions. The method was evaluated on a domain benchmark by 10-fold cross-validation and 60% of true domain boundaries can be recalled at a precision of 60%. The trade-off between the precision and recall can be adjusted according to specific needs by using different decision thresholds on the domain boundary scores assigned by the support vector machines.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The good prediction accuracy and the flexibility of selecting domain boundary sites at different precision and recall values make our method a useful tool for protein structure determination and modelling. The method is available at <url>http://sysbio.rnet.missouri.edu/dobo/</url>.</p

EBA in Practice: Facilitating Evidence-Driven E-Book Programs in Both Consortium and Individual Library Settings

The University of South Florida (USF) Library maintains multiple DDA and EBA e-book programs as the basis for its collection management strategy in an effort to provide the scope of monographic material required by a large metropolitan research university in the most cost-effective manner. A patron-driven acquisitions program replaced the traditional print approval plan. Leveraging this usage data, several evidence-based acquisition programs were established with providers such as Wiley, Project Muse, and Elsevier. The process began with profiling the DDA and was developed combining factors that satisfied our programmatic requirements. Successful implementation at this scale requires collaborative effort from a community of librarians and staff with diverse skill sets. The Orbis Cascade Alliance piloted an Evidenced-Based Acquisition Approach with Wiley in 2016–2017. Upon completion of the pilot, the alliance’s Ebook Working Group made content selection decisions to benefit almost 40 distinct institutions using a three-pronged approach focusing on individual institution usage, broadly used, and overall highly used titles. The alliance’s e-book strategies for 2017–2018 include setting up a second EBA pilot, while continuing the first; integrating with GOBI Library Solutions to benefit alliance members; and other plans for cooperative e-book management for the group of member institutions; all while keeping in mind goals for a broad range of content, stable costs, and making titles accessible both to patrons as well as from a technical services perspective. These two viewpoints provide a comprehensive perspective of managing multiple e-book acquisition models in both consortium and individual institutions

Important shapeshifter: mechanisms allowing astrocytes to respond to the changing nervous system during development, injury and disease

Astrocytes are the most prevalent glial cells in the brain. Historically considered as "merely supporting" neurons, recent research has shown that astrocytes actively participate in a large variety of central nervous system (CNS) functions including synaptogenesis, neuronal transmission and synaptic plasticity. During disease and injury, astrocytes efficiently protect neurons by various means, notably by sealing them off from neurotoxic factors and repairing the blood-brain barrier. Their ramified morphology allows them to perform diverse tasks by interacting with synapses, blood vessels and other glial cells. In this review article, we provide an overview of how astrocytes acquire their complex morphology during development. We then move from the developing to the mature brain, and review current research on perisynaptic astrocytic processes, with a particular focus on how astrocytes engage synapses and modulate their formation and activity. Comprehensive changes have been reported in astrocyte cell shape in many CNS pathologies. Factors influencing these morphological changes are summarized in the context of brain pathologies, such as traumatic injury and degenerative conditions. We provide insight into the molecular, cellular and cytoskeletal machinery behind these shape changes which drive the dynamic remodeling in astrocyte morphology during injury and the development of pathologies

Non-medical Services for Caregivers of Children Experiencing Amputation

Children who experience amputation and their families often need extra support services because amputation is a traumatic event. While children who have experienced amputation and their families typically receive extensive medical care with regards to amputation, non-medical care may be less available. This research is exploratory in nature and is intended to assess the non-medical needs and services received by families of children experiencing amputation. Parents and/or caregivers of children who have experienced amputation were asked to fill out an online questionnaire assessing the non-medical services the children were offered after amputation, the services they received, and any barriers they encountered in getting the services. Follow up telephone interviews were also conducted for participants who indicated their willingness to be interviewed on the questionnaire. The recruitment method only yielded a total of two responses from caregivers. Both caregivers reported that their child acquired amputation through accidental means. Each caregiver reports being offered different services and information after their child experienced amputation. The only service both were offered was that of mental health services for the family. Both families indicated that they were unable to utilize offered services after hospitalization due to the distance from their home residence to the services. It is difficult to draw meaningful conclusions as the response rate was limited; however the following conclusions may be made: Amputations due to disease or cancer appear to be on the decline due to medical advancements; there appears to be a lack of follow up support in rural areas and services may need to be embedded in already existing ones to meet the needs of children and their families; communication among medical and non-medical care providers needs to be improved to offer the best recommendations for these children and their families.No embargoAcademic Major: Social Wor