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Selected AbstractsWorldwide mitochondrial DNA diversity and phylogeography of pilot whales (Globicephala spp.)BIOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY, Issue 4 2009MARC OREMUS Pilot whales (Globicephala spp.) provide an interesting example of recently diverged oceanic species with a complex evolutionary history. The two species have wide but largely non-overlapping ranges. Globicephala melas (long-finned pilot whale; LFPW) has an antitropical distribution and is found in the cold-temperate waters of the North Atlantic and Southern Hemisphere, whereas Globicephala macrorhynchus (short-finned pilot whale; SFPW) has a circumglobal distribution and is found mainly in the tropics and subtropics. To investigate pilot whale evolution and biogeography, we analysed worldwide population structure using mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region sequences (up to 620 bp) from a variety of sources (LFPW = 643; SFPW = 150), including strandings in New Zealand and Tasmania, and whale-meat products purchased on the markets of Japan and Korea. Phylogenetic reconstructions failed to support a reciprocal monophyly of the two species, despite six diagnostic substitutions, possibly because of incomplete lineage sorting or inadequate phylogenetic information. Both species had low haplotype and nucleotide diversity compared to other abundant widespread cetaceans (LFPW, , = 0.35%; SFPW, , = 0.87%) but showed strong mtDNA differentiation between oceanic basins. Strong levels of structuring were also found at the regional level. In LFPW, phylogeographic patterns were suggestive either of a recent demographic expansion or selective sweep acting on the mtDNA. For SFPW, the waters around Japan appear to represent a centre of diversity, with two genetically-distinct forms, as well as a third population of unknown origin. The presence of multiple unique haplotypes among SFPW from South Japan, together with previously documented morphological and ecological differences, suggests that the southern form represents a distinct subspecies and/or evolutionary significant unit. © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2009, 98, 729,744. [source] Differential expression of transcriptional repressor snail gene at implantation site in mouse uterusMOLECULAR REPRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT, Issue 2 2006Xing-Hong Ma Abstract The snail superfamily of zinc-finger transcription factors is involved in pronounced cell movements during both embryonic development and tumor progression. This study was to examine snail expression in mouse uterus during early pregnancy and its regulation under pseudopregnancy, delayed implantation, steroid hormone treatment, and artificial decidualization by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. There was a low level of snail mRNA signal and immunostaining in mouse uteri on day 1,4 of pregnancy. When embryo implanted on day 5, both snail mRNA signal and immunostaining were strongly detected in the subluminal stroma immediately surrounding the implanting blastocyst, but not detected in the inter-implantation sites. Under delayed implantation, there was no detectable snail expression. After delayed implantation was terminated by estrogen treatment and embryo implanted, there was a strong level of snail mRNA and immunostaining in the subluminal stroma surrounding the implanting blastocyst, which was similar to that on day 5 of pregnancy. Furthermore, there was no detectable snail expression in mouse uterus on day 5 of pseudopregnancy. From day 6,8 of pregnancy, both snail mRNA signal and immunostaining were detected in the decidua. Our data suggest that snail may play an important role during mouse embryo implantation. Mol. Reprod. Dev. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Differential expression and activation of Stat3 during mouse embryo implantation and decidualizationMOLECULAR REPRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT, Issue 1 2004Chun-Bo Teng Abstract Signal transducer and activator of transcription (STATs) can be activated by many cytokines and growth factors. Stat3, a member of STAT family, is essential for embryonic development. Stat3 is specifically activated during mouse embryo implantation. This study was to investigate the expression, activation, and regulation of Stat3 in mouse uterus during early pregnancy, pseudopregnancy, delayed implantation, artificial decidualization, and hormonal treatments using in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. There was a strong level of Stat3 phosphorylation in the luminal epithelium only at the midnight of day 4 pregnancy, which coincides with attachment reaction between the blastocyst and luminal epithelium. However, there was no detectable Stat3 phosphorylation at the corresponding period during pseudopregnancy. On day 5 of pregnancy, Stat3 phosphorylation was strongly observed in the luminal epithelium and the stroma surrounding the implanting blastocyst at implantation sites, but not at the inter-implantation sites. Stat3 phosphorylation was also not detected on day 5 of pseudopregnancy. Stat3 phosphorylation was at a high level in the decidual cells on days 6,8 of pregnancy. Under artificial decidualization, Stat3 was also phosphorylated in the decidual cells. In the ovariectomized mice, there was no Stat3 expression and activation in the uterus. Progesterone had no obvious effects. However, Stat3 mRNA expression and phosphorylation were significantly stimulated by estrogen treatment. Our data suggest that Stat3 phosphorylation may be important for mouse embryo implantation and decidualization, and may also be regulated by maternal estrogen. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 69: 1,10, 2004. © Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta expression and regulation in mouse uterus during embryo implantation and decidualizationMOLECULAR REPRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT, Issue 3 2003Nai-Zheng Ding Abstract The aim of this study was to examine the expression and regulation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) PPAR, gene in mouse uterus during early pregnancy by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. PPAR, expression under pseudopregnancy, delayed implantation, hormonal treatment, and artificial decidualization was also investigated. There was a very low level of PPAR, expression on days 1,4 of pregnancy. On day 5 when embryo implanted, PPAR, expression was exclusively observed in the subluminal stroma surrounding the implanting blastocyst. No corresponding signals were seen in the uterus on day 5 of pregnancy. There was no detectable PPAR, signal under delayed implantation. Once delayed implantation was terminated by estrogen treatment and embryo implanted, a strong level of PPAR, expression was induced in the subluminal stroma surrounding the implanting blastocyst. Estrogen treatment induced a moderate level of PPAR, expression in the glandular epithelium, while progesterone treatment had no effects in the ovariectomized mice. A strong level of PPAR, expression was seen in the decidua on days 6,8 of pregnancy. PPAR, expression was also induced under artificial decidualization. These data suggest that PPAR, expression at implantation sites require the presence of an active blastocyst and may play an essential role for blastocyst implantation. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 66: 218,224, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Levels of empathy in undergraduate occupational therapy studentsOCCUPATIONAL THERAPY INTERNATIONAL, Issue 3 2010Ted Brown Abstract Empathy is an important attribute for occupational therapists in establishing rapport and in better understanding their clients. However, empathy can be compromised by high workloads, personal stressors and pressures to demonstrate efficacy. Occupational therapists also work with patients from a variety of diagnostic groups. The objective of this study was to determine the extent of empathy and attitudes towards clients amongst undergraduate occupational therapy students at one Australian University. A cross-sectional study was undertaken using a written survey of the Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy (JSPE) and the Medical Condition Regard Scale. Overall, a strong level of empathy was reported amongst students. Four medical conditions that occupational therapists work with (stroke, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury and depression) were held in high regard. Substance abuse, however, was held in comparatively low regard. Overall, the year of study appeared to have no significant impact on the students' empathy. Despite having a lower reported empathy level than found in health professions from other studies using the JSPE, occupational therapy students were found to have a good level of empathy. Of concern, however, was the bias reported against the medical condition of substance abuse, highlighting that the there may be a need to reinforce that patients from this diagnostic group are equally deserving of quality care irrespective of their clinical condition. Recommendations for future research include completing a longitudinal study of occupational therapy students' empathy levels and investigating the empathy levels of occupational therapists working with different client groups. Limitations of the study include the convenience sampling of occupational therapy students enrolled at one university which limits the generalizability of the results to groups of participants with similar characteristics. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] The meaning of work and performance-focused work attitudes among midlevel managers in the United States and BrazilPERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT QUARTERLY, Issue 3 2010K. Peter Kuchinke PhD This survey-based study investigated work meaning and performance-focused work attitudes of some 315 midlevel managers in diverse industries in the United States and Brazil to determine similarities, differences, and relationships among absolute and relative meaning of work, work role identification, desired work outcomes, and job satisfaction, career fulfillment, and organizational commitment. The study found strong levels of absolute work centrality in both countries and similar rank orderings for nonwork-related domains of life. Work role identification patterns differed, and so did the levels of intrinsic and extrinsic work values. A small number of demographic and work meaning dimensions predicted job satisfaction, career fulfillment, and organizational commitment, but this pattern was different for the samples from each country. The article concludes with a discussion of these patterns of similarities and differences for the research and application of performance theory and improvement in cross-cultural settings. [source] | ||||||||||