Based on goal setting theory, this study explores the positive effect and influencing process of authoritarian leadership on employee performance, as well as the moderating role of individual power distance in this process. Data from 211 supervisor-subordinate dyads in Chinese organizations indicates that authoritarian leadership is positively associated with employee performance, and learning goal orientation mediates this relationship. Furthermore, power distance moderates the effect of authoritarian leadership on learning goal orientation, such that the effect was stronger when individual power distance was higher. The indirect effect of authoritarian leadership on employee performance via learning goal orientation is also moderated by power distance. Theoretical and managerial implications and future directions are also discussed.
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are key regulators in the development and progression of human cancers; however their roles in breast tumorigenesis are not yet well understood. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the expression profiles and potential modulatory effects of circRNAs on breast carcinogenesis. A human circRNA microarray analysis was performed to screen for abnormally expressed circRNAs in breast cancer tissue and circRNA-000911 was identified as a circRNA which was significantly downregulated in breast cancer cells. Mechanistic investigations suggested that the enhanced expression of circRNA-000911 suppressed cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and promoted the apoptosis of breast cancer cells. By using a biotin-labeled circRNA-000911 probe to perform RNA precipitation in breast cancer cells, we identified miR-449a as the circRNA-000911-associated microRNA. Gain- and loss-of-function assays indicated that miR-449a antagonized circRNA-000911 to regulate breast cancer progression. Subsequently, Notch1 was identified as the functional target of miR-449a, and the overexpression of circRNA-000911 in breast cancer elevated Notch1 expression. Furthermore, Cignal Signal Transduction Reporter Array and western blot analysis identified nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling as a functional target of the circRNA-000911/miR-449a pathway. On the whole, our findings indicate that circRNA-000911 plays an anti-oncogenic role in breast cancer and may thus serve as a promising therapeutic target for patients with breast cancer. Therefore, the overexpression of circRNA-000911 may provide a future direction which may aid in the development of a novel treatment strategy for breast cancer.
Static magnetic fields (SMFs) can affect cell proliferation in a cell-type and intensity-dependent way but the mechanism remains unclear. At the same time, although the diamagnetic anisotropy of proteins has been proposed decades ago, the behavior of isolated proteins in magnetic fields has not been directly observed. Here we show that SMFs can affect isolated proteins at the single molecular level in an intensity-dependent manner. We found that Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR), a protein that is overexpressed and highly activated in multiple cancers, can be directly inhibited by SMFs. Using Liquid-phase Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM) to examine pure EGFR kinase domain proteins at the single molecule level in solution, we observed orientation changes of these proteins in response to SMFs. This may interrupt inter-molecular interactions between EGFR monomers, which are critical for their activation. In molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, 1-9T SMFs caused increased probability of EGFR in parallel with the magnetic field direction in an intensity-dependent manner. A superconducting ultrastrong 9T magnet reduced proliferation of CHO-EGFR cells (Chinese Hamster Ovary cells with EGFR overexpression) and EGFR-expressing cancer cell lines by ~35%, but minimally affected CHO cells. We predict that similar effects of magnetic fields can also be applied to some other proteins such as ion channels. Our paper will help clarify some dilemmas in this field and encourage further investigations in order to achieve a better understanding of the biological effects of SMFs.
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