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Selected AbstractsLearning To Be Saints or Sinners: The Indirect Pathway From Sensation Seeking to Behavior Through Mastery OrientationJOURNAL OF PERSONALITY, Issue 4 2008Peter J. O'Connor ABSTRACT Recently, a model of learning has been proposed that argues that Sensation Seeking indirectly predicts functional and dysfunctional behaviors through Mastery Orientation. Central components of the model were tested across two studies. Study 1 tested the proposed indirect effect in the prediction of functional behavior using an objective learning task. Study 2 tested the proposed indirect effects in the prediction of functional and dysfunctional self-report behavior across two very different samples. Regression analyses in both studies generally supported the proposed model. [source] Wnt Pathway Regulation in Chronic Renal Allograft DamageAMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 10 2009C. Von Toerne The Wnt signaling pathway, linked to development, has been proposed to be recapitulated during the progressive damage associated with chronic organ failure. Chronic allograft damage following kidney transplantation is characterized by progressive fibrosis and a smoldering inflammatory infiltrate. A modified, Fischer 344 (RT1lvl) to Lewis (RT1l) rat renal allograft model that reiterates many of the major pathophysiologic processes seen in patients with chronic allograft failure was used to study the progressive disease phenotype and specific gene product expression by immunohistochemistry and transcriptomic profiling. Central components of the Tgfb, canonical Wnt and Wnt-Ca2+ signaling pathways were significantly altered with the development of chronic damage. In the canonical Wnt pathway, Wnt3, Lef1 and Tcf1 showed differential regulation. Target genes Fn1, Cd44, Mmp7 and Nos2 were upregulated and associated with the progression of renal damage. Changes in the Wnt-Ca2+ pathway were evidenced by increased expression of Wnt6, Wnt7a, protein kinase C, Cam Kinase II and Nfat transcription factors and the target gene vimentin. No evidence for alterations in the Wnt planar cell polarity (PCP) pathway was detected. Overall results suggest cross talk between the Wnt and Tgfb signaling pathways during allograft inflammatory damage and present potential targets for therapeutic intervention. [source] Mi-2 chromatin remodeling factor functions in sensory organ development through proneural gene repression in DrosophilaDEVELOPMENT GROWTH & DIFFERENTIATION, Issue 7 2006Yasutoyo Yamasaki Mi-2, the central component of the nucleosome remodeling and histone deacetylation (NuRD) complex, is known as an SNF2-type ATP-dependent nucleosome remodeling factor. No morphological mutant phenotype of Drosophila Mi-2 (dMi-2) had been reported previously; however, we found that rare escapers develop into adult flies showing an extra bristle phenotype. The dMi-2 enhanced the phenotype of acHw49c, which is a dominant gain-of-function allele of achaete (ac) and produces extra bristles. Consistent with these observations, the ac -expressing proneural clusters were expanded, and extra sensory organ precursors (SOP) were formed in the dMi-2 mutant wing discs. Immunostaining of polytene chromosomes showed that dMi-2 binds to the ac locus, and dMi-2 and acetylated hisotones distribute on polytene chromosomes in a mutually exclusive manner. The chromatin immunoprecipitation assay of the wing imaginal disc also demonstrated a binding of dMi-2 on the ac locus. These results suggest that the Drosophila Mi-2/NuRD complex functions in neuronal differentiation through the repression of proneural gene expression by chromatin remodeling and histone deacetylation. [source] Hope in psychiatry: a review of the literatureACTA PSYCHIATRICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 6 2008B. Schrank Objective:, Hope has long been considered an important therapeutic factor in medicine, nursing and mental health and recently received attention as a central component of recovery. However, conceptual clarity, applicability and the predictive value of hope remain unclear. This review aims to define hope, review current approaches to assessment, and outline research evidence linking hope with effectiveness. Method:, We conducted a comprehensive review of publications on the conceptualisation and measurement of hope, and on its use as a predictive variable specifically in mental health patients. Results:, Forty-nine definitions of hope were identified, which were grouped into seven emergent dimensions. Thirty-two measurement tools were identified, although few have been used in research involving mental health patients. Eleven studies investigated hope as a predictive variable for differing outcomes, with inconclusive results. Conclusion:, Many conceptual frameworks for hope have been proposed, but empirical evidence on its predictive power in mental health is lacking. [source] Hepatic dysfunction and insulin insensitivity in type 2 diabetes mellitus: a critical target for insulin-sensitizing agentsDIABETES OBESITY & METABOLISM, Issue 9 2008P. D. Home The liver plays an essential role in maintaining glucose homeostasis, which includes insulin-mediated processes such as hepatic glucose output (HGO) and uptake, as well as in clearance of insulin itself. In type 2 diabetes, the onset of hyperglycaemia [itself a potent inhibitor of hepatic glucose output (HGO)], alongside hyperinsulinaemia, indicates the presence of hepatic insulin insensitivity. Increased HGO is central to the onset of hyperglycaemia and highlights the need to target hepatic insulin insensitivity as a central component of glucose-lowering therapy. The mechanisms underlying the development of hepatic insulin insensitivity are not well understood, but may be influenced by factors such as fatty acid oversupply and altered adipocytokine release from dysfunctional adipose tissue and increased liver fat content. Furthermore, although the impact of insulin insensitivity as a marker of cardiovascular disease is well known, the specific role of hepatic insulin insensitivity is less clear. The pharmacological tools available to improve insulin sensitivity include the biguanides (metformin) and thiazolidinediones (rosiglitazone and pioglitazone). Data from a number of sources indicate that thiazolidinediones, in particular, can improve multiple aspects of hepatic dysfunction, including reducing HGO, insulin insensitivity and liver fat content, as well as improving other markers of liver function and the levels of mediators with potential involvement in hepatic function, including fatty acids and adipocytokines. The current review addresses this topic from the perspective of the role of the liver in maintaining glucose homeostasis, its key involvement in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes and the tools currently available to reduce hepatic insulin insensitivity. [source] The Knot of Contracts: The Corporate Geography of Legacy CostsECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY, Issue 2 2008Ashby H. B. Monk Abstract Burdensome past commitments are threatening a concentrated group of industries and communities, predominantly in the U.S. Midwest. Beginning with the bankruptcy of Delphi Corporation, this article documents the crisis for "old-economy firms" with significant legacy costs. To understand the root causes of this legacy crisis, the analysis builds on previous research in economic geography and the results of a widely subscribed and unique "expert opinion" survey highlighting the corporate impacts of defined benefit pensions in the private sector. The result is a conceptual framework that describes the corporate geography of legacy costs: the "knot of contracts." Specifically, the knot of contracts conceptualizes the role of intergenerational commitments in restricting corporate evolution and innovation, while underscoring time as a central component of the nature of the firm. Developing this framework requires linking microeconomic theories of the firm with the institutional aspects of firms' geographies. While referring to specific cases and proprietary data throughout, the article is principally concerned with understanding legacy costs. In addition, the intent is to uncover managerial and governmental behavior that tightened this knot of contracts and to expose the current managers' attempts to manage their firms through the adverse affects of the knot of contracts. The explanations in this article serve as a useful bridge between the realities faced by firms and their surrounding communities and the more abstract notions of the firm and competitiveness in the context of globalization. [source] Membrane binding of SRP pathway components in the halophilic archaea Haloferax volcaniiFEBS JOURNAL, Issue 7 2004Tovit Lichi Across evolution, the signal recognition particle pathway targets extra-cytoplasmic proteins to membranous translocation sites. Whereas the pathway has been extensively studied in Eukarya and Bacteria, little is known of this system in Archaea. In the following, membrane association of FtsY, the prokaryal signal recognition particle receptor, and SRP54, a central component of the signal recognition particle, was addressed in the halophilic archaea Haloferax volcanii. Purified H. volcanii FtsY, the FtsY C-terminal GTP-binding domain (NG domain) or SRP54, were combined separately or in different combinations with H. volcanii inverted membrane vesicles and examined by gradient floatation to differentiate between soluble and membrane-bound protein. Such studies revealed that both FtsY and the FtsY NG domain bound to H. volcanii vesicles in a manner unaffected by proteolytic pretreatment of the membranes, implying that in Archaea, FtsY association is mediated through the membrane lipids. Indeed, membrane association of FtsY was also detected in intact H. volcanii cells. The contribution of the NG domain to FtsY binding in halophilic archaea may be considerable, given the low number of basic charges found at the start of the N-terminal acidic domain of haloarchaeal FtsY proteins (the region of the protein thought to mediate FtsY,membrane association in Bacteria). Moreover, FtsY, but not the NG domain, was shown to mediate membrane association of H. volcanii SRP54, a protein that did not otherwise interact with the membrane. [source] Molecular interactions of fission yeast Skp1 and its role in the DNA damage checkpointGENES TO CELLS, Issue 5 2004Anna Lehmann Skp1 is a central component of the E3 ubiquitin ligase SCF (Skp1-Cullin-1- F -box). It forms an adapter bridge between Cullin-1 and the substrate-determining component, the F-box protein. In order to establish the role of Skp1, a temperature sensitive (ts) screen was carried out using mutagenic PCR (polymerase chain reaction) and 9 independent ts mutants were isolated. Mapping the mutated residues on the 3-D structure of human Skp1 suggested that the mutants would be compromised in binding to F-box proteins but not Cullin-1 (Pcu1). In order to assess the binding properties of ts Skp1, 12 F-box proteins and Pcu1 were epitope-tagged, and co-immunoprecipitation performed. This systematic analysis showed that ts Skp1 retains binding to Pcu1. However, binding to three specific F-box proteins, essential Pof1, Pof3 involved in maintaining genome integrity, and nonessential Pof10, was reduced. skp1ts cells exhibit a G2 cell cycle delay, which is attributable to activation of the DNA damage checkpoint. Intriguingly, contrary to pof3 mutants, in which this checkpoint is required for survival, checkpoint abrogation in skp1ts suppresses a G2 delay and furthermore almost rescues the ts phenotype. The activation mechanism of the DNA damage checkpoint therefore differs between pof3, and skp1ts, implicating a novel role for Skp1 in the checkpoint-signalling cascade. [source] Justice Expectations and Applicant PerceptionsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SELECTION AND ASSESSMENT, Issue 1-2 2004Bradford S. Bell Expectations, which are beliefs about a future state of affairs, constitute a basic psychological mechanism that underlies virtually all human behavior. Although expectations serve as a central component in many theories of organizational behavior, they have received limited attention in the organizational justice literature. The goal of this paper is to introduce the concept of justice expectations and explore its implications for understanding applicant perceptions. To conceptualize justice expectations, we draw on research on expectations conducted in multiple disciplines. We discuss the three sources of expectations , direct experience, indirect influences, and other beliefs , and use this typology to identify the likely antecedents of justice expectations in selection contexts. We also discuss the impact of expectations on attitudes, cognitions, and behaviors, focusing specifically on outcomes tied to selection environments. Finally, we explore the theoretical implications of incorporating expectations into research on applicant perceptions and discuss the practical significance of justice expectations in selection contexts. [source] World Commission on Dams: implications for food and irrigation1,IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE, Issue 2 2001Chris Perry barrages; l'irrigation; securité d'alimentation Abstract The World Commission on Dams has now published its report. Insights into the workings and conclusions of the Commission were published in the last edition of this Journal. While the WCD report brings together a number of important existing and new recommendations on ameliorating the negative impacts of large dams, it pays inadequate attention to the impacts in the major area (food production and security) for which dams have been built. Consideration of data presented by the WCD would suggest a more positive impact, and a brief review of national and world trends in food production suggests that irrigation , of which large dams are an intrinsic and central component , has underlain if not dominated the vast improvement in food availability that occurred in the second half of the last century. With water in crisis in many countries, planners, policymakers and politicians will continue to face challenging decisions on the allocation of limited freshwater supplies, and demands to increase the level of water resources development. Some guidance from the WCD is helpful, and some is flawed. Most importantly, much is missing, and to be useful, guidance must reflect rational and balanced, expert and rigorous assessment of all the impacts of the available options. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. La Commission Globale des Barrages a maintenant publiée son rapport. Quelques apercus sur les méthodes et les conclusions de la commission ont été données dans la dernière edition de ce journal. Quant le rapport CGB a se rassemblé quelques recommendations nouveaux et actuels pour amèliorer les impacts négatifs des grands barrages, il n'y a pas d'attention suffisante donnés aux impacts sur les questions importantes (comme le production et la sécurité d'alimentation) pour qui les barrages ont étés construits. Penser aux donnés du CGB suggère un impact plus positif et un critique des tendances nationale et globale du production d'alimentation denote que l'irrigation (dont les grands barrages sont un composant central et intrinsèque) a soutienne si non dominée l'immense amélioration de la disponibililité d'alimentation dans la dernière partie du XXe siècle. Avec la crise actuèlle de l'eau en beaucoup de pays, les planificateurs, les dirigants de politique et les politiciens se continuent de faire face aux decisions difficile sur les questions d'allocation d'eau limitée et les demands pour une augmentation de développement des resources en eau. Quelques conseils du CGB sont util mais quelques uns sont en défaut. Les plus importantes problèmes sont que le rapport manque beaucoup de choses et que, pour être utile, les conseils doivent réfléchir les impactes de tous les choix dans une façon rationale et équilibrée avec une évaluation experte et rigoureuse. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Development and validation of a learning needs assessment scale: a continuing professional education tool for multiple sclerosis specialist nursesJOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 6 2007Alison While BSc Aim., To develop and validate a learning needs assessment scale. Background., Learning needs analysis is a central component of continuing professional development but there is a lack of psychometrically developed learning needs assessment tools. Self-assessment questionnaires are emerging as a key method. The development of a learning needs analysis scale for multiple sclerosis specialist nurses is described. Design., A psychometric approach comprising the three phases of the development and testing of the scale are outlined. Method., Phase 1: Item identification using a literature review; postal survey of stakeholders (n = 320), 20 nurse interviews; four nurse focus groups; five telephone interviews with people with MS. Phase 2: Refinement of draft scale and establishing face and content validity testing using an expert panel. Phase 3: Testing of draft scale using data from a postal survey (n = 47 MS specialist nurses) to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of scale, internal consistency and construct validity. Test,retest reliability was assessed using data from 17 MS specialist nurse respondents to calculate intra-class correlation coefficients. Results., The data from the different study phases informed scale refinement. The validity and reliability of the scale was confirmed through testing. Conclusion., The study provides an example of how a robust learning needs assessment scale may be developed for a specialist area of nursing practice to be used in conjunction with more subjective approaches. Relevance to clinical practice., High quality nursing care depends upon a competent nursing workforce that engages in continuing professional development. This study provides an example of a psychometrically developed learning needs assessment scale to inform continuing professional development needs of nurses working in a specialist area of practice. [source] Can phosphorus limitation contribute to the maintenance of sex?JOURNAL OF EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY, Issue 6 2009A test of a key assumption Abstract Why sex is so common remains unclear; what is certain is that the predominance of sex despite its profound costs means that it must confer major advantages. Here, we use elemental and nucleic acid assays to evaluate a key element of a novel, integrative hypothesis considering whether sex might be favoured because of differences in body composition between sexuals and asexuals. We found that asexual Potamopyrgus antipodarum, a New Zealand snail, have markedly higher bodily phosphorus and nucleic acid content per unit mass than sexual counterparts. These differences coincide with and are almost certainly linked to the higher ploidy of the asexuals. Our results are the first documented body composition differences between sexual and asexual organisms, and the first detected phenotypic difference between sexual and asexual P. antipodarum, an important natural model system for the study of the maintenance of sex. These findings also verify a central component of our hypothesis that competition between diploid sexuals and polyploid asexuals could be influenced by phosphorus availability. [source] Testing alternative mechanisms of evolutionary divergence in an African rain forest passerine birdJOURNAL OF EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY, Issue 2 2005T. B. Smith Abstract Models of speciation in African rain forests have stressed either the role of isolation or ecological gradients. Here we contrast patterns of morphological and genetic divergence in parapatric and allopatric populations of the Little Greenbul, Andropadus virens, within different and similar habitats. We sampled 263 individuals from 18 sites and four different habitat types in Upper and Lower Guinea. We show that despite relatively high rates of gene flow among populations, A. virens has undergone significant morphological divergence across the savanna,forest ecotone and mountain,forest boundaries. These data support a central component of the divergence-with-gene-flow model of speciation by suggesting that despite large amounts of gene flow, selection is sufficiently intense to cause morphological divergence. Despite evidence of isolation based on neutral genetic markers, we find little evidence of morphological divergence in fitness-related traits between hypothesized refugial areas. Although genetic evidence suggests populations in Upper and Lower Guinea have been isolated for over 2 million years, morphological divergence appears to be driven more by habitat differences than geographic isolation and suggests that selection in parapatry may be more important than geographic isolation in causing adaptive divergence in morphology. [source] Control and legacy as functions of perceived criticality in major incidentsJOURNAL OF INVESTIGATIVE PSYCHOLOGY AND OFFENDER PROFILING, Issue 3 2004Jonathan Crego Abstract This paper outlines a model that captures the experiences of 28 Senior Officers who have managed some of the most significant police incidents in the UK in the past 5 years. The process for capturing the model rests on ,pragmatic psychology' (Fishman, 1999; Alison, West & Goodwill, 2003), a paradigm that recognizes practitioners' experiences as a central component of research and policy development. We utilized a set of connected electronic notebooks to enable each critical incident manager to log their experiences and views of the case that they managed. As each individual logs this information, it is simultaneously distributed to all participants. Thus, information is rapidly shared, stimulating further thought and discussion. Following the initial knowledge-sharing phase, participants reorder the material into themed categories that can then be scored against specific criteria (in this case ,impact' and ,ease'). This session revealed that senior officers consider a combination of two co-occurring issues as most significant in defining the ,criticality' of the incident: (i) how direct an impact the facet has on the enquiry at hand; and (ii) whether that issue will influence how the service will be judged (by the community, the victims and the media). These issues were perceived as the most complex and difficult to deal with. We argue that this perception is a joint function of perceived lack of control alongside the belief that judgment and blame regarding the incident will ultimately reside with them as managers. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Insight Into the Relationship Between Impulsivity and Substance Abuse From Studies Using Animal ModelsALCOHOLISM, Issue 8 2010Catharine A. Winstanley Drug use disorders are often accompanied by deficits in the capacity to efficiently process reward-related information and to monitor, suppress, or override reward-controlled behavior when goals are in conflict with aversive or immediate outcomes. This emerging deficit in behavioral flexibility and impulse control may be a central component of the progression to addiction, as behavior becomes increasingly driven by drugs and drug-associated cues at the expense of more advantageous activities. Understanding how neural mechanisms implicated in impulse control are affected by addictive drugs may therefore prove a useful strategy in the search for new treatment options. Animal models of impulsivity and addiction could make a significant contribution to this endeavor. Here, some of the more common behavioral paradigms used to measure different aspects of impulsivity across species are outlined, and the importance of the response to reward-paired cues in such paradigms is discussed. Naturally occurring differences in forms of impulsivity have been found to be predictive of future drug self-administration, but drug exposure can also increase impulsive responding. Such data are in keeping with the suggestion that impulsivity may contribute to multiple stages within the spiral of addiction. From a neurobiological perspective, converging evidence from rat, monkey, and human studies suggest that compromised functioning within the orbitofrontal cortex may critically contribute to the cognitive sequelae of drug abuse. Changes in gene transcription and protein expression within this region may provide insight into the mechanism underlying drug-induced cortical hypofunction, reflecting new molecular targets for the treatment of uncontrolled drug-seeking and drug-taking behavior. [source] Substantive-level theory of highly regarded secondary biology teachers' science teaching orientationsJOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN SCIENCE TEACHING, Issue 2 2005Patricia Meis Friedrichsen Science teaching orientations, defined as teachers' knowledge and beliefs about the purposes and goals for teaching science, have been identified as a critical component within the proposed pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) model for science teaching. Because of the scarcity of empirical studies in this area, this case study examined the nature and sources of science teaching orientations held by four highly regarded secondary biology teachers. Data sources consisted of transcripts from four interviews, a card-sorting task, and classroom observations. Using a grounded theory framework, inductive data analysis led to the construction of a substantive-level theory for this group of participants. In regard to the nature of science teaching orientations, the use of central and peripheral goals, as well as the means of achieving these goals, was used to represent the complex nature of participants' science teaching orientations. The participants' science teaching orientations included goals related to general schooling, the affective domain, and subject matter, although the latter was not always a central component. In regard to the sources of teaching orientations, participants were strongly influenced by the classroom context and their beliefs about learners and learning; additional influences included prior work experiences, professional development, and time constraints. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 42: 218,244, 2005 [source] Instream Flow Science For Sustainable River Management,JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN WATER RESOURCES ASSOCIATION, Issue 5 2009Geoffrey E Petts Abstract:, Concerns for water resources have inspired research developments to determine the ecological effects of water withdrawals from rivers and flow regulation below dams, and to advance tools for determining the flows required to sustain healthy riverine ecosystems. This paper reviews the advances of this environmental flows science over the past 30 years since the introduction of the Instream Flow Incremental Methodology. Its central component, Physical HABitat SIMulation, has had a global impact, internationalizing the e-flows agenda and promoting new science. A global imperative to set e-flows, including an emerging trend to set standards at the regional scale, has led to developments of hydrological and hydraulic approaches but expert judgment remains a critical element of the complex decision-making process around water allocations. It is widely accepted that river ecosystems are dependent upon the natural variability of flow (the flow regime) that is typical of each hydro-climatic region and upon the range of habitats found within each channel type within each region. But as the sophistication of physical (hydrological and hydraulic) models has advanced emerging biological evidence to support those assumptions has been limited. Empirical studies have been important to validate instream flow recommendations but they have not generated transferable relationships because of the complex nature of biological responses to hydrological change that must be evaluated over decadal time-scales. New models are needed to incorporate our evolving knowledge of climate cycles and morphological sequences of channel development but most importantly we need long-term research involving both physical scientists and biologists to develop new models of population dynamics that will advance the biological basis for 21st Century e-flow science. [source] Review article: pain and chronic pancreatitisALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 7 2009J. G. LIEB II Summary Background, Pain in chronic pancreatitis chronic pancreatitis is a frustrating and challenging symptom for both the patient and clinician. It is the most frequent and most significant symptom. Many patients fail the currently available conservative options and require opiates or endoscopic/surgical therapy. Aim, To highlight the pathophysiology and management of chronic pancreatitis pain, with an emphasis on recent developments and future directions. Methods, Expert review, utilizing in addition a comprehensive search of PubMed utilizing the search terms chronic pancreatitis and pain, treatment or management and a manual search of recent conference abstracts for articles describing pain and chronic pancreatitis. Results, Pancreatic pain is heterogenous in its manifestations and pathophysiology. First-line medical options include abstinence from alcohol and tobacco, pancreatic enzymes, adjunctive agents, antioxidants, and non-opiate or low potency opiate analgesics. Failure of these options is not unusual. More potent opiates, neurolysis and endoscopic and surgical options can be considered in selected patients, but this requires appropriate expertise. New and better options are needed. Future options could include new types of pancreatic enzymes, novel antinociceptive agents nerve growth factors, mast cell-directed therapy, treatments to limit fibrinogenesis and therapies directed at the central component of pain. Conclusions, Chronic pancreatitis pain remains difficult to treat. An approach utilizing conservative medical therapies is appropriate, with more invasive therapies reserved for failure of this conservative approach. Treatment options will continue to improve with new and novel therapies on the horizon. [source] Opening Up Ownership: Community Belonging, Belongings, and the Productive Life of PropertyLAW & SOCIAL INQUIRY, Issue 3 2007Davina Cooper Drawing on empirical data and property theory, this article explores the property structure of a "free school" and the work property performs there. At Summerhill, we can see a tension between two property registers. On the one hand, the founder and present members stress the importance of individual ownership; at the same time the school's property regime involves property-limitation rules, a dispersal of rights, collective forms of property, and cross-cutting, pluralized sites of institutional recognition. In exploring how this tension is manifested through property's work, the article focuses on property's contribution to a variegated social life at the school, analyzed in terms of personal, civic, and boundary relations. With belonging treated as the central component of property rather than exclusion or control, ways of understanding what constitutes property and how it works shift. [source] The Aspergillus nidulans sldIRAD50 gene interacts with bimEAPC1, a homologue of an anaphase-promoting complex subunitMOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 1 2005Iran Malavazi Summary The Mre11,Rad50,Nbs1 protein complex has emerged as a central component in the human cellular DNA damage response, and recent observations suggest that these proteins are at least partially responsible for the linking of DNA damage detection to DNA repair and cell cycle checkpoint functions. We have identified Aspergillus nidulans sldI1444D mutant in a screen for dynein synthetic lethals. The sldIRAD50 gene was cloned by complementation of the sporulation deficiency phenotype of this mutant. A transversion G,C at the position 2509 (Ala-692-Pro amino acid change) in the sldI1444D mutant causes sensitivity to several DNA-damaging agents. The mutation sldI1 occurs at the CXXC hinge domain of Rad50. We have deleted part of the coiled-coil and few amino acids of the Rad50,Mre11 interaction region and assessed several phenotypic traits in this deletion strain. Besides sensitivity to a number of DNA-damaging agents, this deletion strain is also impaired in the DNA replication checkpoint response, and in ascospore viability. There is no delay of the S-phase when germlings of both sldI RAD50 and mreAMRE11 inactivation strains were exposed to the DNA damage caused by bleomycin. Transformation experiments and Southern blot analysis indicate homologous recombination is dependent on scaANBS1 function in the Mre11 complex. There are epistatic and synergistic interactions between sldI RAD50 and bimEAPC1 at S-phase checkpoints and response to hydroxyurea and UV light. Our results suggest a possible novel feature of the Mre11 complex in A. nidulans, i.e. a relationship with bimE,APC1. [source] The Atatürk Dam project in south-east Turkey: Changes in objectives and planning over timeNATURAL RESOURCES FORUM, Issue 2 2002Anna Brismar The Atatürk Dam was constructed on the Euphrates River in Turkey in the 1980s as the central component of a large-scale regional development project for the South-eastern Anatolia region, known as GAP. Since the first development plan for the region was presented in 1970, the objectives for regional development have changed significantly. This article aims to analyze how the functions, design, and capacities of the Atatürk Dam project have been modified since 1970, paralleling changes in the regional development objectives and ambitions, and to identify accomplishments and constraints in the realization of the dam project. Since 1970, ambitions to develop the region have grown significantly, resulting in major changes to the original project plans. The most important change occurred in 1978, when the design for the Middle Karababa Dam, recommended in 1970, was abandoned and the Atatürk Dam design was adopted. This change considerably increased the storage and power generation capacities of the dam. Yet, the sparse rainfall throughout the catchment in recent years has hampered full utilization of the dam's storage and generation capacities and increased the need for tradeoffs between conflicting demands for water use. [source] Effectiveness of Monetary Incentives in Modifying Dietary Behavior: A Review of Randomized, Controlled TrialsNUTRITION REVIEWS, Issue 12 2006FAFPHM, Joanne Wall MBChB To review research evidence on the effectiveness of monetary incentives in modifying dietary behavior, we conducted a systematic review of randomized, controlled trials (RCTs) identified from electronic bibliographic databases and reference lists of retrieved relevant articles. Studies eligible for inclusion met the following criteria: RCT comparing a form of monetary incentive with a comparative intervention or control; incentives were a central component of the study intervention and their effect was able to be disaggregated from other intervention components; study participants were community-based; and outcome variables included anthropometric or dietary assessment measures. Data were extracted on study populations, setting, interventions, outcome variables, trial duration, and follow-up. Appraisal of trial methodological quality was undertaken based on comparability of baseline characteristics, randomization method, allocation concealment, blinding, follow-up, and use of intention-to-treat analysis. Four RCTs were identified as meeting the inclusion criteria. All four trials demonstrated a positive effect of monetary incentives on food purchases, food consumption, or weight loss. However, the trials had some methodological limitations including small sample sizes and short durations. In addition, no studies to date have assessed effects according to socioeconomic or ethnic group or measured the cost-effectiveness of such schemes. Monetary incentives are a promising strategy to modify dietary behavior, but more research is needed to address the gaps in evidence. In particular, larger, long-term RCTs are needed with population groups at high risk of nutrition-related diseases [source] When Does Religion Influence Fertility?POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT REVIEW, Issue 1 2004Kevin McQuillan Religious affiliation as a determinant of demographic behavior is receiving renewed attention in demography. Interest in the role of cultural factors in affecting fertility and a specific concern with the role of Islam in many developing countries have helped re-invigorate research on the role of religion. This article reviews theoretical and empirical work on that relationship, with special attention to a number of cases in which religion has been identified as an important determinant of fertility patterns. The article concludes that religion plays an influential role when three conditions are satisfied: first, the religion articulates behavioral norms with a bearing on fertility behavior; second, the religion holds the means to communicate these values and promote compliance; and, third, religion forms a central component of the social identity of its followers. [source] Obama on the Stump: Features and Determinants of a Rhetorical ApproachPRESIDENTIAL STUDIES QUARTERLY, Issue 3 2010KEVIN COE From the moment Barack Obama entered the national political scene in 2004, his formidable rhetorical skills were a central component of his public persona and his political success. Not surprisingly, a growing body of research has examined Obama's rhetorical techniques. Thus far, however, these studies have consisted almost entirely of qualitative analyses of single speeches, making it difficult to generalize about the broader features of Obama's rhetorical approach and impossible to understand the determinants of his rhetorical choices. This study fills these gaps in the literature by systematically tracking Obama's rhetoric over the course of campaign 2008 and testing competing explanations for the variation that occurs during this period. Using a unique computer-assisted content analysis procedure that draws coding categories directly from the more than 11,500 distinct words that Obama used during his campaign, the authors analyze 183 speeches and debates from his announcement of candidacy in February 2007 to his victory speech in November 2008. Obama's campaign rhetoric varied by speaking context, geography, and poll position, indicating a twofold rhetorical approach of emphasizing policy and thematic appeals while downplaying more contentious issues. [source] MicroRNAs as Immune Regulators: Implications for TransplantationAMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 4 2010A. Harris The explosion of genetic information from recent advances in sequencing technologies, bioinformatics and genomics highlights the importance of understanding mechanisms involved in gene expression and regulation. Over the last decade, it has become clear that small ribonucleic acids (RNAs) are a central component of the cellular gene regulatory network. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a family of endogenous, small, noncoding single-stranded RNA of ,22 nucleotides in length that act as posttranscriptional gene regulatory elements. MicroRNAs can inhibit de novo protein synthesis by blocking translation through base-pairing with complementary messenger RNA (mRNA) and also suppress translation by promoting degradation of target mRNA. MicroRNAs are intimately involved in a variety of biologic processes including development, hematopoietic cell differentiation, apoptosis and proliferation. To date, over 800 human miRNAs have been identified, though the biologic function of only a fraction of miRNAs has been elucidated. Here, we discuss how miRNAs are produced, identified and quantitated, and focus on several key miRNAs that govern expression of genes relevant to allograft rejection, tolerance induction and posttransplant infection. Finally, we discuss potential ways in which the miRNA network can be modulated that ultimately may offer new strategies to promote long-term graft survival. [source] Purification and crystallization of a multimodular heterotrimeric complex containing both type I and type II cohesin,dockerin interactions from the cellulosome of Clostridium thermocellumACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION F (ELECTRONIC), Issue 3 2010Mark A. Currie The multimodular scaffoldin subunit CipA is the central component of the cellulosome, a multienzyme plant cell-wall-degrading complex, from Clostridium thermocellum. It captures secreted cellulases and hemicellulases and anchors the entire complex to the cell surface via high-affinity calcium-dependent interactions between cohesin and dockerin modules termed type I and type II interactions. The crystallization of a heterotrimeric complex comprising the type II cohesin module from the cell-surface protein SdbA, a trimodular C-terminal fragment of the scaffoldin CipA and the type I dockerin module from the CelD cellulase is reported. The crystals belonged to space group P212121, with unit-cell parameters a = 119.37, b = 186.31, c = 191.17,Å. The crystals diffracted to 2.7,Å resolution with four or eight molecules of the ternary protein complex in the asymmetric unit. [source] Involvement of a novel ADP-ribosylation factor GTPase-activating protein, SMAP, in membrane trafficking: Implications in cancer cell biologyCANCER SCIENCE, Issue 9 2006Kenji Tanabe The endocytosis of cell membrane proteins is initiated by the binding of activated Arf6, a member of Ras-related GTPases, to the PM. A GAP specific for Arf6 triggers the budding of endocytotic vesicles from the PM by inactivating GTP-bound Arf6. We recently identified the SMAP gene that encodes an ArfGAP and is involved in the endocytosis of TfnR and possibly E-cadherin. In this review, we summarize the process of intracellular membrane trafficking, highlighting the roles played by the SMAP gene. Progression of cancer to malignancy occurs in parallel with the disappearance of E-cadherin, a central component of the adherens junction in epithelial cells. Therefore, elucidation of the molecular mechanism of E-cadherin endocytosis should be one of the key elements in tumor cell biology. (Cancer Sci 2006; 97: 801,806) [source] UK consensus statement on the content of communication curricula in undergraduate medical educationMEDICAL EDUCATION, Issue 11 2008Martin Von Fragstein Context, The teaching and assessment of clinical communication have become central components of undergraduate medical education in the UK. This paper recommends the key content for an undergraduate communication curriculum. Designed by UK educationalists with UK schools in mind, the recommendations are equally applicable to communication curricula throughout the world. Objectives, This paper is intended to assist curriculum planners in the design, implementation and review of medical communication curricula. The document will also be useful in the education of other health care professionals. Designed for undergraduate education, the consensus statement also provides a baseline for further professional development. Methods, The consensus statement, based on strong theoretical and research evidence, was developed by an iterative process of discussion between communication skills leads from all 33 UK medical schools conducted under the auspices of the UK Council of Clinical Communication Skills Teaching in Undergraduate Medical Education. Discussion, How this framework is used will inevitably be at the discretion of each medical school and its implementation will be determined by different course designs. Although we believe students should be exposed to all the areas described, it would be impractical to set inflexible competency levels as these may be attained at different stages which are highly school-dependent. However, the framework will enable all schools to consider where different elements are addressed, where gaps exist and how to generate novel combinations of domains within the communication curriculum. It is hoped that this consensus statement will support the development and integration of teaching, learning and assessment of clinical communication. [source] The Neurospora circadian clock regulates a transcription factor that controls rhythmic expression of the output eas(ccg-2) geneMOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 4 2001Deborah Bell-Pedersen The circadian clock provides a link between an organism's environment and its behaviour, temporally phasing the expression of genes in anticipation of daily environmental changes. Input pathways sense environmental information and interact with the clock to synchronize it to external cycles, and output pathways read out from the clock to impart temporal control on downstream targets. Very little is known about the regulation of outputs from the clock. In Neurospora crassa, the circadian clock transcriptionally regulates expression of the clock-controlled genes, including the well-characterized eas(ccg-2) gene. Dissection of the eas(ccg-2) gene promoter previously localized a 68 bp sequence containing an activating clock element (ACE) that is both necessary and sufficient for rhythmic activation of transcription by the circadian clock. Using electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs), we have identified light-regulated nuclear protein factors that bind specifically to the ACE in a time-of-day-dependent fashion, consistent with their role in circadian regulation of expression of eas(ccg-2). Nucleotides in the ACE that interact with the protein factors were determined using interference binding assays, and deletion of the core interacting sequences affected, but did not completely eliminate, rhythmic accumulation of eas(ccg-2) mRNA in vivo, whereas deletion of the entire ACE abolished the rhythm. These data indicate that redundant binding sites for the protein factors that promote eas(ccg-2) rhythms exist within the 68 bp ACE. The ACE binding complexes formed using protein extracts from cells with lesions in central components of the Neurospora circadian clock were identical to those formed with extracts from wild-type cells, indicating that other proteins directly control eas(ccg-2) rhythmic expression. These data suggest that the Neurospora crassa circadian clock regulates an unknown transcription factor, which in turn activates the expression of eas(ccg-2) at specific times of the day. [source] The pathophysiology of tremorMUSCLE AND NERVE, Issue 6 2001Günther Deuschl MD Abstract Tremor is defined as rhythmic oscillatory activity of body parts. Four physiological basic mechanisms for such oscillatory activity have been described: mechanical oscillations; oscillations based on reflexes; oscillations due to central neuronal pacemakers; and oscillations because of disturbed feedforward or feedback loops. New methodological approaches with animal models, positron emission tomography, and mathematical analysis of electromyographic and electroencephalographic signals have provided new insights into the mechanisms underlying specific forms of tremor. Physiological tremor is due to mechanical and central components. Psychogenic tremor is considered to depend on a clonus mechanism and is thus believed to be mediated by reflex mechanisms. Symptomatic palatal tremor is most likely due to rhythmic activity of the inferior olive, and there is much evidence that essential tremor is also generated within the olivocerebellar circuits. Orthostatic tremor is likely to originate in hitherto unidentified brainstem nuclei. Rest tremor of Parkinson's disease is probably generated in the basal ganglia loop, and dystonic tremor may also originate within the basal ganglia. Cerebellar tremor is at least in part caused by a disturbance of the cerebellar feedforward control of voluntary movements, and Holmes' tremor is due to the combination of the mechanisms producing parkinsonian and cerebellar tremor. Neuropathic tremor is believed to be caused by abnormally functioning reflex pathways and a wide variety of causes underlies toxic and drug-induced tremors. The understanding of the pathophysiology of tremor has made significant progress but many hypotheses are not yet based on sufficient data. Modern neurology needs to develop and test such hypotheses, because this is the only way to develop rational medical and surgical therapies. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Muscle Nerve 24: 716,735, 2001 [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||