Search

Recent advances in social hierarchy research highlight that power and status are two prevalent but distinct bases of hierarchy. However, these distinctions have yet to be thoroughly explored in contexts where power and status coexist and can covary. This is, in part, due to the lack of an appropriate measure capable of capturing power and status as distinct constructs. In order to advance research on social hierarchy and bridge the empirical findings from social psychology research to organizational research, this paper outlines the development of a 12-item bipartite measure of perceived power and perceived status. Using seven samples, we develop a psychometrically sound measure and provide evidence of construct validity. Our results not only support the importance of distinguishing between these two prevalent bases of social hierarchy, but also highlight the potential dangers of capturing one base of hierarchy without accounting for the other.

In this paper, we seek to encourage scholars to consider how reliance on technology-mediated communications can bring both promises and perils to team-based work structures. Specifically, we argue that a team's core characteristics (including skill differentiation, temporal stability, and authority differentiation) will differentially affect the challenges and opportunities presented by the team's reliance on virtual means of communication. First, we will discuss how varying degrees of each core characteristic can affect outcomes when teams rely on virtual communication. We then propose how configurations of the three characteristics and virtuality can enhance understanding in both research and practice. We advance propositions that we hope will serve as a starting point for scholarly discussion about how the literature on virtual teams can leverage the existing theories and knowledge on team structure and interdependencies.

Background Quality improvement (QI) education is a requirement at all stages of medical education training. Pediatric training programs are required to assess their trainees on quality improvement reflection and knowledge as part of the Pediatric Milestones. However, there is currently no validated tool for use in pediatrics to assess reflection on quality improvement opportunities. The Mayo Evaluation of Reflection on Improvement Tool (MERIT) has been previously published with validity evidence for use in internal medicine programs, but it has not been studied for use in pediatric training programs. Objective To validate the MERIT assessment tool for use in pediatric residency programs to aid in quality improvement milestone evaluation. Design/Methods All University of Texas Southwestern (UTSW) pediatric residents completed annual improvement reflections between 2015-2017. De-identified reflections were assessed by five independent reviewers. Reviewers were oriented to the MERIT tool and compared 10 initial evaluations to ensure consistency. Completed MERIT evaluation scores were compared. Inter-rater reliability for each item on the tool was compared with intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) using a mean-rating, absolute-agreement, 2-way mixed effects model. Internal consistency for each section and the overall tool was evaluated with Cronbach's alpha and inter-item correlations. All calculations were done with SPSS statistical package version 25. Results 150 resident reflections were evaluated yielding 749 evaluation forms for study. Item mean scores were highest for the Problem of Merit section (3.19) and lowest for the Reflection on System Characteristics of Quality Improvement (1.94). Inter-rater reliability was good for all 18 items on the MERIT tool (ICC range: 0.78 - 0.90). Inter-rater reliability was good to excellent for 13 of the 18 items on the tool when 95% CI was used. Internal consistency was excellent (Cronbach's alpha 0.93 overall and 0.94 - 0.95 for each section). The Cronbach's alpha did not improve if any single item was removed. Inter-item correlations were high for all three sections, but highest for the Problem of Merit section (0.67 - 0.92). Conclusion(s) Validity evidence supports the use of the MERIT in pediatric residency programs to assess resident reflections on quality improvement. The pediatric validity evidence is consistent with the previously published validation study in an Internal Medicine residency program.

The development of a polymer membrane-based electrode to measure the anionic drug suramin in buffered saline and biological samples is described. A large non-equilibrium, steady state EMF response is observed toward suramin, and judicious choice of the polymer membrane components allows for adjustment of the dynamic range of the electrode. The optimized membrane for use in the toxic suramin range consists of 25 wt% tridodecylmethyl ammonium chloride, 55 wt% bis-2-ethylhexyl sebacate, and 20 wt% Pellethane. Although this electrode can be used to directly quantify suramin in human plasma, determination of suramin that is not affected by the background concentration of small anions is best achieved by simple potentiometric titrations with polycationic protamine monitored with a protamine-sensitive electrode.

A series of amino phosphites having phosphorus or/and nitrogen atoms, which are included in a six-membered cycle, has been synthesized. The presence of such cycles in these P,N-bidentate ligands has been shown to strongly influence the ways of their coordination with Rh(I) and Pd(II) atoms. The resulting chelate complexes have been found to be less stable when the six-membered chelate metalacycle formed and the initial cycle of the ligand molecule comprise a bicyclic system with the phosphorus or nitrogen atom being as a spiro atom.

Complexation of (4S,9S)-4,9-diethyl-2,11-dioxa-5,8-diaza-1l 5 -phosphatricyclo[6.3.0.0 1.5 ]undecane (1) and 3,3,8,8-tetramethyl1,6-dioxa-4,9-diaza-5l 5 -phosphaspiro[4,4]nonane (2) with [Rh(CO)2Cl]2; 2,3,7,8-dibenzo-1,6-dioxa-4,9-diaza-5l 5 -phosphaspiro[4,4]nonane (3) with [Rh(CO)2Cl]2 and [MCl2(COD)] (M Pd, Pt); (2S,7S)-2,7-dimethyl-1,4,6,9-tetraoxa-5l 5 -phosphaspiro[4,4]nonane (4) with [Rh(CO)2Cl]2 and [PdCl2(COD)] has been studied. The products have been characterized by 1 H-, 2 H-, 13 C-, 31 P-NMR, IR spectroscopy, laser desorption mass spectrometry and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. A possible mechanism for hydrophosphoranes complexation is discussed. A correlation between Lewis basicity and coordination activity has been found for ligands 1‐3. Phosphorane 4 was shown to coordinate by means of the P(III)-tautomer. © 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Tissue type transglutaminase (TGII, also known as G(h)) has been considered a multifunctional protein, with both transglutaminase and GTPase activity. The role of the latter function, which is proposed as a coupling mechanism between alpha(1)-adrenergic receptors and phospholipase C (PLC), is not well defined. TGII was overexpressed in transgenic mice in a cardiac specific manner to delineated relevant signaling pathways and their consequences in the heart. Cardiac transglutaminase activity in the highest expressing line was approximately 37-fold greater than in nontransgenic lines. However, in vivo signaling to PLC, as assessed by inositol phosphate turnover in [(3)H]myoinositol organ bath atrial preparations, was not increased in the TGII mice at base line or in response to alpha(1)-adrenergic receptor stimulation; nor was protein kinase Calpha (PKCalpha) or PKCepsilon activity enhanced in the TGII transgenic mice. This is in contrast to mice moderately (approximately 5-fold) overexpressing G(alphaq), where inositol phosphate turnover and PKC activity were found to be clearly enhanced. TGII overexpression resulted in a remodeling of the heart with mild hypertrophy, elevated expression of beta-myosin heavy chain and alpha-skeletal actin genes, and diffuse interstitial fibrosis. Resting ventricular function was depressed, but responsiveness to beta-agonist was not impaired. This set of pathophysiologic findings is distinct from that evoked by overexpression of G(alphaq). We conclude that TGII acts in the heart primarily as a transglutaminase, and modulation of this function results in unique pathologic sequelae. Evidence for TGII acting as a G-protein-like transducer of receptor signaling to PLC in the heart is not supported by these studies.

The growing face of LiIO 3 crystal was studied by means of ellipsometry and interferometry in situ. Two phenomena were observed: the existence of solution boundary layer adjacent to the growing face and the formation of zonar defect structure of the crystal. The thickness of the boundary layer is estimated to be about 50 nm. The concentration of the solution in this layer is 3–7% higher than in the bulk, revealing modification of the state of the solution in the boundary layer. The oscillations of the ellipsometric parameters with time and angle of incidence were observed. A model for the formation of zonar structure of the crystal was put forward. In the framework of this model, the oscillations are associated with the spontaneous inclusions of quasi-two-dimensional layers in the crystal parallel to the growing face. Mean distance between these inclusions was estimated to be 10 μm.