1,245 research outputs found
The Dynamic Organization of the Perinucleolar Compartment in the Cell Nucleus
The perinucleolar compartment (PNC) is a unique nuclear structure preferentially localized at the periphery of the nucleolus. Several small RNAs transcribed by RNA polymerase III (e.g., the Y RNAs, MRP RNA, and RNase P H1 RNA) and the polypyrimidine tract binding protein (PTB; hnRNP I) have thus far been identified in the PNC (Ghetti, A., S. PinolRoma, W.M. Michael, C. Morandi, and G. Dreyfuss. 1992. Nucleic Acids Res. 20:3671–3678; Matera, A.G., M.R. Frey, K. Margelot, and S.L. Wolin. 1995. J. Cell Biol. 129:1181–1193; Lee, B., A.G. Matera, D.C. Ward, and J. Craft. 1996. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 93: 11471–11476). In this report, we have further characterized this structure in both fixed and living cells. Detection of the PNC in a large number of human cancer and normal cells showed that PNCs are much more prevalent in cancer cells. Analysis through the cell cycle using immunolabeling with a monoclonal antibody, SH54, specifically recognizing PTB, demonstrated that the PNC dissociates at the beginning of mitosis and reforms at late telophase in the daughter nuclei. To visualize the PNC in living cells, a fusion protein between PTB and green fluorescent protein (GFP) was generated. Time lapse studies revealed that the size and shape of the PNC is dynamic over time. In addition, electron microscopic examination in optimally fixed cells revealed that the PNC is composed of multiple strands, each measuring ∼80–180 nm diam. Some of the strands are in direct contact with the surface of the nucleolus. Furthermore, analysis of the sequence requirement for targeting PTB to the PNC using a series of deletion mutants of the GFP–PTB fusion protein showed that at least three RRMs at either the COOH or NH2 terminus are required for the fusion protein to be targeted to the PNC. This finding suggests that RNA binding may be necessary for PTB to be localized in the PNC
Scaling of Selfavoiding Tethered Membranes: 2-Loop Renormalization Group Results
The scaling properties of selfavoiding polymerized membranes are studied
using renormalization group methods. The scaling exponent \nu is calculated for
the first time at two loop order. \nu is found to agree with the Gaussian
variational estimate for large space dimension d and to be close to the Flory
estimate for d=3.Comment: 4 pages, RevTeX + 20 .eps file
The Statistical Mechanics of Membranes
The fluctuations of two-dimensional extended objects membranes is a rich and
exciting field with many solid results and a wide range of open issues. We
review the distinct universality classes of membranes, determined by the local
order, and the associated phase diagrams. After a discussion of several
physical examples of membranes we turn to the physics of crystalline (or
polymerized) membranes in which the individual monomers are rigidly bound. We
discuss the phase diagram with particular attention to the dependence on the
degree of self-avoidance and anisotropy. In each case we review and discuss
analytic, numerical and experimental predictions of critical exponents and
other key observables. Particular emphasis is given to the results obtained
from the renormalization group epsilon-expansion. The resulting renormalization
group flows and fixed points are illustrated graphically. The full technical
details necessary to perform actual calculations are presented in the
Appendices. We then turn to a discussion of the role of topological defects
whose liberation leads to the hexatic and fluid universality classes. We finish
with conclusions and a discussion of promising open directions for the future.Comment: 75 LaTeX pages, 36 figures. To appear in Physics Reports in the
Proceedings of RG2000, Taxco, 199
Starting fresh: a mixed method study of follower job satisfaction, trust, and views of their leader’s behavior
IntroductionThe leadership literature has been dominated by the study of broad styles rather than the identification of specific key behaviors. To address this deficiency, a mixed method approach was utilized to explore how follower behavioral descriptions of their leaders would relate to potential outcomes of trust in that leader and job satisfaction.MethodsData were collected from 273 hospital direct reports of 44 managers. They were asked to first describe the leadership approach of their managers in their own words, and then complete quantitative measures of the two potential outcomes.ResultsThe qualitative responses were coded into nine leadership behavior themes listed here in order from most to least often mentioned: Kindness, Supportive, Open to Input, Allow Autonomy, Engage with Team, Transparency, Fairness, Professionalism, Hold Accountable. All behavior themes related significantly to trust of the leader, with three themes relating significantly to job satisfaction (Transparency, Fairness, and Professionalism).DiscussionThese results provide a more specific view of leader behavior than does the typical style approach
Hypophosphorylated SR splicing factors transiently localize around active nucleolar organizing regions in telophase daughter nuclei
Upon completion of mitosis, daughter nuclei assemble all of the organelles necessary for the implementation of nuclear functions. We found that upon entry into daughter nuclei, snRNPs and SR proteins do not immediately colocalize in nuclear speckles. SR proteins accumulated in patches around active nucleolar organizing regions (NORs) that we refer to as NOR-associated patches (NAPs), whereas snRNPs were enriched at other nuclear regions. NAPs formed transiently, persisting for 15–20 min before dissipating as nuclear speckles began to form in G1. In the absence of RNA polymerase II transcription, NAPs increased in size and persisted for at least 2 h, with delayed localization of SR proteins to nuclear speckles. In addition, SR proteins in NAPs are hypophosphorylated, and the SR protein kinase Clk/STY colocalizes with SR proteins in NAPs, suggesting that phosphorylation releases SR proteins from NAPs and their initial target is transcription sites. This work demonstrates a previously unrecognized role of NAPs in splicing factor trafficking and nuclear speckle biogenesis
Universal Negative Poisson Ratio of Self Avoiding Fixed Connectivity Membranes
We determine the Poisson ratio of self-avoiding fixed-connectivity membranes,
modeled as impenetrable plaquettes, to be sigma=-0.37(6), in statistical
agreement with the Poisson ratio of phantom fixed-connectivity membranes
sigma=-0.32(4). Together with the equality of critical exponents, this result
implies a unique universality class for fixed-connectivity membranes. Our
findings thus establish that physical fixed-connectivity membranes provide a
wide class of auxetic (negative Poisson ratio) materials with significant
potential applications in materials science.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, LaTeX (revtex) Published version - title changed,
one figure improved and one reference change
Attitudes and Performance: An Analysis of Russian Workers
This paper investigates the relationship between locus of control and performance among Russian employees, using survey data collected at 28 workplaces in 2002 in Taganrog and at 47 workplaces in 2003 in Ekaterinburg. We develop a measure that allows us to categorize the Russian employees participating in our survey as exhibiting an internal or external locus of control. We then assess the extent to which there are significant differences between “internals” and “externals” in work-related attitudes that may affect performance. In particular, we focus on (1) attitudes about outcomes associated with hard work, (2) level of job satisfaction, (3) expectation of receiving a desired reward, and (4) loyalty to and involvement with one’s organization. In each case we identify where gender and generational differences emerge. Our main objective is to determine whether Russian employees who exhibit an internal locus of control perform better than employees with an external locus of control. Our performance measures include earnings, expected promotions, and assessments of the quantity and quality of work in comparison to others at the same organization doing a similar job. Controlling for a variety of worker characteristics, we find that (1) individuals who exhibit an internal locus of control perform better, but this result is not always statistically significant; (2) even among “internals,” women earn significantly less than men and have a much lower expectation of promotion; (3) even among “internals,” experience with unemployment has a negative influence on performance.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/40144/3/wp758.pd
Nonlinear Measures for Characterizing Rough Surface Morphologies
We develop a new approach to characterizing the morphology of rough surfaces
based on the analysis of the scaling properties of contour loops, i.e. loops of
constant height. Given a height profile of the surface we perform independent
measurements of the fractal dimension of contour loops, and the exponent that
characterizes their size distribution. Scaling formulas are derived and used to
relate these two geometrical exponents to the roughness exponent of a
self-affine surface, thus providing independent measurements of this important
quantity. Furthermore, we define the scale dependent curvature and demonstrate
that by measuring its third moment departures of the height fluctuations from
Gaussian behavior can be ascertained. These nonlinear measures are used to
characterize the morphology of computer generated Gaussian rough surfaces,
surfaces obtained in numerical simulations of a simple growth model, and
surfaces observed by scanning-tunneling-microscopes. For experimentally
realized surfaces the self-affine scaling is cut off by a correlation length,
and we generalize our theory of contour loops to take this into account.Comment: 39 pages and 18 figures included; comments to
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