Why do dominant personalities attain influence in face-to-face groups? The competence-signaling effects of trait dominance.

Individuals high in the personality trait dominance consistently attain high levels of influence in groups. Why they do is unclear, however, because most group theories assert that people cannot attain influence simply by behaving assertively and forcefully; rather, they need to possess superior task abilities and leadership skills. In the present research, the authors proposed that individuals high in trait dominance attain influence because they behave in ways that make them appear competent--even when they actually lack competence. Two studies examined task groups using a social relations analysis of peer perceptions (D. A. Kenny & L. LaVoie, 1984). The authors found that individuals higher in trait dominance were rated as more competent by fellow group members, outside peer observers, and research staff members, even after controlling for individuals' actual abilities. Furthermore, frequency counts of discrete behaviors showed that dominance predicts the enactment of competence-signaling behaviors, which in turn predicts peer ratings of competence. These findings extend researchers' understanding of trait dominance, hierarchies in groups, and perceptions of competence and abilities. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Getting off on the right foot: Subjective value versus economic value in predicting longitudinal job outcomes from job offer negotiations.

Although negotiation experiences can affect a negotiator's ensuing attitudes and behavior, little is known about their long-term consequences. Using a longitudinal survey design, the authors tested the degree to which economic and subjective value achieved in job offer negotiations predicts employees' subsequent job attitudes and intentions concerning turnover. Results indicate that subjective value predicts greater compensation satisfaction and job satisfaction and lower turnover intention measured 1 year later. Surprisingly, the economic outcomes that negotiators achieved had no apparent effects on these factors. Implications, limitations, and future directions are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Using fluorescence-based human androgen receptor gene assay to analyze the clonality of microdissected dendritic cell tumors

The AGT1 permease is a alpha-glucoside-H+ symporter responsible for the active transport of maltose, trehalose, maltotriose, alpha-methylglucoside, melezitose and sucrose. In wild-type as well as in MAL constitutive strains, alpha-methylglucoside seemed to be the best inducer of transport activity, while trehalose had no inducing effect. Based on the initial rates of transport it seems that the sugar preferentially transported by this permease is trehalose, followed by sucrose.     

cDNA fingerprinting of osteoprogenitor cells to isolate differentiation stage-specific genes

A cDNA fingerprinting strategy was developed to identify genes based on their differential expression pattern during osteoblast development. Preliminary biological and molecular staging of cDNA pools prepared by global amplification PCR allowed discrim-inating choices to be made in selection of expressed sequence tags (ESTs) to be isolated. Sequencing of selected ESTs confirmed that both known and novel genes can be isolated from any developmental stage of interest, e.g. from primitive progenitors, intermediate precursors or mature osteoblasts. EST expression provides insight into possible interrelated physiological functions and putative interacting molecules during differentiation. This method offers a functional genomics approach to isolate differentiation stage-specific genes in samples as small as a single cell.     

Green fluorescent protein as a reporter to monitor gene expression and food colonization by Aspergillus flavus

Transformants of Aspergillus flavus containing the Aequorea victoria gfp gene fused to a viral promoter or the promoter region and 483 bp of the coding region of A. flavus aflR expressed green fluorescence detectable without a microscope or filters. Expression of green fluorescent protein fluorescence was correlated with resistance to aflatoxin accumulation in five corn genotypes inoculated with these transformants.     

Specific recognition of HLA-E, but not classical, HLA class I molecules by soluble CD94/NKG2A and NK cells

The CD94/NKG2 receptors expressed by subpopulations of NK cells and T cells have been implicated as receptors for a broad range of both classical and nonclassical HLA class I molecules. To examine the ligand specificity of CD94/NKG2 proteins, a soluble heterodimeric form of the receptor was produced and used in direct binding studies with cells expressing defined HLA class I/peptide complexes. We confirm that CD94/NKG2A specifically interacts with HLA-E and demonstrate that this interaction is dependent on the association of HLA-E with peptide. Moreover, no interaction between CD94/NKG2A and classical HLA class I molecules was observed, as assayed by direct binding of the soluble receptor or by functional assays using CD94/NKG2A+ NK cells. The role of the peptide associated with HLA-E in the interaction between HLA-E and CD94/NKG2A was also assessed. All class I leader sequence peptides tested bound to HLA-E and were recognized by CD94/NKG2A. However, amino acid variations in class I leader sequences affected the stability of HLA-E. Additionally, not all HLA-E/peptide complexes examined were recognized by CD94/NKG2A. Thus CD94/NKG2A recognition of HLA-E is controlled by peptide at two levels; first, peptide must stabilize HLA-E and promote cell surface expression, and second, the HLA-E/peptide complex must form the ligand for CD94/NKG2A.