The Mediating Effect of Motivation and Job Satisfaction Between Work Environment and the Performance of Judges and Court Clerks in Riau Islands Province

This purpose of this research is to identify the effect of work environment on the performance of judges and court clerks in the Riau Islands Province of Indonesia, and the impact of motivation and job satisfaction as intervening variables in influencing the model. A census questionnaire was developed and validated using a pilot data. A total of 109 questionnaires were distributed to judges and court clerks in Riau Island Province and all questionnaires were returned and validated. Regression was used to predict and estimate the relationships; thus, the results statistically suggest that there are a significant and positive influence in the model. The mediation test indicates that motivation and job satisfaction act as mediating variables (partial mediation) and mediate the relationship between the work environment and the performance of the judges and court clerks. This research connotes that a good working atmosphere results in a better motivation and job satisfaction that boosts the working performance. Judges and court clerks enjoy considerable benefits if the determinant were being addressed. This study has extended the existing literature by identifying the mediating role of motivation and job satisfaction on determinants affecting work performance of judges and court clerks, specifically in the Indonesian context

Big data architecture for pervasive healthcare: a literature review

Pervasive healthcare aims to deliver deinstitutionalised healthcare services to patients anytime and anywhere. Pervasive healthcare involves remote data collection through mobile devices and sensor network which the data is usually in large volume, varied formats and high frequency. The nature of big data such as volume, variety, velocity and veracity, together with its analytical capabilities com-plements the delivery of pervasive healthcare. However, there is limited research in intertwining these two domains. Most research focus mainly on the technical context of big data application in the healthcare sector. Little attention has been paid to a strategic role of big data which impacts the quality of healthcare services provision at the organisational level. Therefore, this paper delivers a conceptual view of big data architecture for pervasive healthcare via an intensive literature review to address the aforementioned research problems. This paper provides three major contributions: 1) identifies the research themes of big data and pervasive healthcare, 2) establishes the relationship between research themes, which later composes the big data architecture for pervasive healthcare, and 3) sheds a light on future research, such as semiosis and sense-making, and enables practitioners to implement big data in the pervasive healthcare through the proposed architecture

Reconstruction and analysis of a genome-scale metabolic model for Scheffersomyces stipitis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Fermentation of xylose, the major component in hemicellulose, is essential for economic conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to fuels and chemicals. The yeast <it>Scheffersomyces stipitis </it>(formerly known as <it>Pichia stipitis</it>) has the highest known native capacity for xylose fermentation and possesses several genes for lignocellulose bioconversion in its genome. Understanding the metabolism of this yeast at a global scale, by reconstructing the genome scale metabolic model, is essential for manipulating its metabolic capabilities and for successful transfer of its capabilities to other industrial microbes.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We present a genome-scale metabolic model for <it>Scheffersomyces stipitis</it>, a native xylose utilizing yeast. The model was reconstructed based on genome sequence annotation, detailed experimental investigation and known yeast physiology. Macromolecular composition of <it>Scheffersomyces stipitis </it>biomass was estimated experimentally and its ability to grow on different carbon, nitrogen, sulphur and phosphorus sources was determined by phenotype microarrays. The compartmentalized model, developed based on an iterative procedure, accounted for 814 genes, 1371 reactions, and 971 metabolites. In silico computed growth rates were compared with high-throughput phenotyping data and the model could predict the qualitative outcomes in 74% of substrates investigated. Model simulations were used to identify the biosynthetic requirements for anaerobic growth of <it>Scheffersomyces stipitis </it>on glucose and the results were validated with published literature. The bottlenecks in <it>Scheffersomyces stipitis </it>metabolic network for xylose uptake and nucleotide cofactor recycling were identified by in silico flux variability analysis. The scope of the model in enhancing the mechanistic understanding of microbial metabolism is demonstrated by identifying a mechanism for mitochondrial respiration and oxidative phosphorylation.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The genome-scale metabolic model developed for <it>Scheffersomyces stipitis </it>successfully predicted substrate utilization and anaerobic growth requirements. Useful insights were drawn on xylose metabolism, cofactor recycling and mechanism of mitochondrial respiration from model simulations. These insights can be applied for efficient xylose utilization and cofactor recycling in other industrial microorganisms. The developed model forms a basis for rational analysis and design of <it>Scheffersomyces stipitis </it>metabolic network for the production of fuels and chemicals from lignocellulosic biomass.</p

Isolation of DNA Microsatellite Markers in the Green-lipped Mussel, Perna viridis

A total of 21 DNA microsatellites were isolated from Perna viridis lJy using a 5' anchored polymerase chain reaction technique. Primers were designed for seven microsatellite loci and the peR amplifications of these seven microsatellite loci showed that five were polymorphic with the number ofalleles per locus rangingfrom 2 to 4. These are the first set of microsatellite markers developed for this species. These markers are useful as tools for more detailed studies of the genetic backgrounds of the green-lipped musse~ P. viridis, in our country as this species is being cultured as a cheap source of protein for human consumption and has been identified as a potential biomonitoring agent for heavy metal pollution in the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia

HbA2 levels in β-thalassaemia carriers with the Filipino β0-deletion: are the levels higher than what is found with non-deletional forms of β0-thalassaemia?

AIMS: Classical carriers of β-thalassaemia are identified by a raised HbA2 level. Earlier studies indicated that the Filipino β-deletion has high raised HbA2 levels. The introduction of automated high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for thalassaemia screening is an important advance in technology for haematology laboratories. The BioRad Variant II Hb analyser is a common instrument used to quantify HbA2 levels in thalassaemia screening. This study aimed to determine HbA2 levels in carriers of Filipino β-mutation using the BioRad Variant II Hb analyser. METHODS: The Filipino β-deletion was identified using gap-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the parents of transfusion dependent β-thalassaemia patients who were homozygous for the Filipino β-deletion in the indigenous population of Sabah, Malaysia. Hb subtypes were quantified on the BioRad Variant II Hb analyser. Concurrent α-thalassaemia was identified by multiplex gap-PCR for deletions and amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS)-PCR for non-deletional mutations. RESULTS: The mean HbA2 level for Filipino β-thalassaemia trait was 5.9 ± 0.47 and with coinheritance of α-thalassaemia was 6.3 ± 0.44 (-α heterozygous) and 6.7 ± 0.36 (-α homozygous). The HbA2 levels were all >4% in keeping with the findings of classical β-thalassaemia trait and significantly higher than levels seen in non-deletional forms of β-thalassaemia. CONCLUSION: The HbA2 level measured on the BioRad Variant II Hb analyser was lower than the level in the first description of the Filipino β-thalassaemia. β-thalassaemia trait with coinheritance of α-thalassaemia (-α) is associated with significantly higher HbA2 level

Chloride channels regulate differentiation and barrier functions of the mammalian airway.

The conducting airway forms a protective mucosal barrier and is the primary target of airway disorders. The molecular events required for the formation and function of the airway mucosal barrier, as well as the mechanisms by which barrier dysfunction leads to early onset airway diseases, remain unclear. In this study, we systematically characterized the developmental landscape of the mouse airway using single-cell RNA sequencing and identified remarkably conserved cellular programs operating during human fetal development. We demonstrated that in mouse, genetic inactivation of chloride channel Ano1/Tmem16a compromises airway barrier function, results in early signs of inflammation, and alters the airway cellular landscape by depleting epithelial progenitors. Mouse Ano1-/-mutants exhibited mucus obstruction and abnormal mucociliary clearance that resemble the airway defects associated with cystic fibrosis. The data reveal critical and non-redundant roles for Ano1 in organogenesis, and show that chloride channels are essential for mammalian airway formation and function

Monoclonal antibodies targeting surface exposed epitopes of Candida albicans cell wall proteins confer in vivo protection in an infection model

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS We gratefully acknowledge Kevin McKenzie and Lucy Wight from the University of Aberdeen Microscopy and Histology Facility for training and access to fluorescence microscopy and for their support and assistance in this work. We also gratefully acknowledge David Stead from Aberdeen Proteomics for his support and assistance with the Candida proteome analysis and the staff of the University of Aberdeen Medical Research Facility for their support and assistance with the mouse studies. This work was supported by the following research grants: the High Throughput and Fragment Screening Fund, Scottish Universities Life Sciences Alliance (SULSA); a seed corn award from the University of Aberdeen Wellcome Trust Institutional Strategic Support Fund; an M.Res. studentship by the Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology at the University of Aberdeen (grant number MR/P501955/1); a Ph.D. studentship from the Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen; a Ph.D. studentship from Taibah University and a Saudi Government scholarship; and a Ph.D. studentship by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement number H2020-MSCA-ITN-2014-642095 (OPATHY). C.A.M., S.P., and A.J.P. contributed to the concept and study design. C.A.M. and S.P. developed the methodology. S.A.A. and L.F. performed recombinant antibody generation and ELISAs. L.F. and M.M. completed IgG reformatting and the production of mAbs for animal studies. M.M., T.H.T., and L.A.W. performed ELISAs and immunofluorescence staining. M.M. performed macrophage assays, and D.M.M. planned, conducted, and analyzed animal studies. C.A.M., S.P., and A.J.P. contributed to funding acquisition and project administration, and C.A.M., S.P., and L.A.W. contributed to the supervision and training of M.Res. and Ph.D. students. S.P. wrote the original draft, and C.A.M., D.M.M., and A.J.P. completed review and editing. All authors had full access to the data and approved the manuscript before it was submitted by the corresponding author(s). S.P., A.J.P., and C.A.M. are inventors on a patent related to the development of antifungal antibodies to surface-exposed epitopes of fungal pathogens owned by the University of Aberdeen. All other authors declare that they have no competing interests.Peer reviewedPublisher PD