Investigation of factors controlling the expression of molecules involved in neurite outgrowth

Nerve growth factor (NGF) induced morphological differentiation of the pheochromocytoma PC12 cell line is accompanied by cell surface modulation of the expression of specific cell surface recognition molecules. Changes in the relative expression of the Thy-1 glycoprotein, the neural cell adhesion molecule (N-CAM) and the LI antigen correlate with the onset of neuritic outgrowth indicating a role for these molecules in the neuritogenic process. NGF induced modulation of cell surface glycoprotein expression is, initially brought about by transcription dependent mechanisms, suggesting that the PC12 cell may be a suitable model for the investigation of primary signal transduction events. Studies utilising activators of adenylate cyclase and protein kinase C demonstrate that NGF induced differentiation events are mediated by a variety of independently acting transduction routes. Morphological and biochemical responses to NGF are sensitive to secondary cellular signals. Activators of adenylate cyclase acted synergistically with NGF to promote an accelerated phase of neuritic outgrowth while concomitantly causing differential modulation of NGF induced glycoprotein expression. Analysis of the morphological and biochemical status of PC12 cells grown on monolayer cultures of non-neuronal cells provided further evidence that responses to NGF are not immutable. While growth on myotubes and glioma cells provided permissible substrates for differentiation, PC12 cells grown on monolayers of skin fibroblasts failed to respond morphologically to NGF and in addition, NGF induced increases in the expression of neurofilament protein and the Thy-1 antigen were suppressed. The ability of primed PC12 cells to differentiate on fibroblast monolayers indicates that the inhibitory effects of fibroblast contact are directed at a component of primary, transcription dependent NGF-induced gene activation. Finally, the basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) was able to reproduce morphological and biochemical responses associated with NGF induced differentiation. A kinase inhibitor, K252a, was used to discriminate between responses induced by the two growth factors since its effects are specific for NGF

Fibrogenic signalling in hepatic stellate cells

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Developing Emotional Intelligence In MBA Students: A Case Study Of One Programs Success

Over the past two decades an escalating interest in the construct of emotional intelligence (EI) has made its way into the popular press, professional press, and peer reviewed journals.Not surprisingly, an interest in EI is also gaining ground in academic settings (Parker, Duffy, Wood, Bond & Hogan, 2002; Parker, Hogan, Eastabrook, Oke & Wood, 2006; Parker, Saklofske, Wood & Eastabrook, 2005). Several major longitudinal studies have laid a sound theoretical foundation supporting the development of EI competencies as a component of the MBA curriculum (Boyatzis, Stubbs & Taylor, 2002; Boyatzis & Saatcioglu, 2008). This paper will describe why and how one MBA program took theory to practice and piloted the integration of content designed to develop competencies related to emotional intelligence into its curriculum.It will also review the results of an applied multi-year study that measured the results of the curriculum pilot.The study was conducted using one of the most widely used instruments for measuring emotional intelligence, the Bar-On Emotional Quotient Inventory (Bar-On, 1997), to identify significant changes between the beginning and the end of the program in the aggregate measures of emotional intelligence competencies

A physically motivated and empirically calibrated method to measure effective temperature, metallicity, and Ti abundance of M dwarfs

The ability to perform detailed chemical analysis of Sun-like F-, G-, and K-type stars is a powerful tool with many applications including studying the chemical evolution of the Galaxy and constraining planet formation theories. Unfortunately, complications in modeling cooler stellar atmospheres hinders similar analysis of M-dwarf stars. Empirically-calibrated methods to measure M dwarf metallicity from moderate-resolution spectra are currently limited to measuring overall metallicity and rely on astrophysical abundance correlations in stellar populations. We present a new, empirical calibration of synthetic M dwarf spectra that can be used to infer effective temperature, Fe abundance, and Ti abundance. We obtained high-resolution (R~25,000), Y-band (~1 micron) spectra of 29 M dwarfs with NIRSPEC on Keck II. Using the PHOENIX stellar atmosphere modeling code (version 15.5), we generated a grid of synthetic spectra covering a range of temperatures, metallicities, and alpha-enhancements. From our observed and synthetic spectra, we measured the equivalent widths of multiple Fe I and Ti I lines and a temperature-sensitive index based on the FeH bandhead. We used abundances measured from widely-separated solar-type companions to empirically calibrate transformations to the observed indices and equivalent widths that force agreement with the models. Our calibration achieves precisions in Teff, [Fe/H], and [Ti/Fe] of 60 K, 0.1 dex, and 0.05 dex, respectively and is calibrated for 3200 K < Teff < 4100 K, -0.7 < [Fe/H] < +0.3, and -0.05 < [Ti/Fe] < +0.3. This work is a step toward detailed chemical analysis of M dwarfs at a similar precision achieved for FGK stars.Comment: accepted for publication in ApJ, all synthetic spectra available at http://people.bu.edu/mveyette/phoenix

Engineering As A Social Activity: Preparing Engineers To Thrive In The Changing World Of Work

Key macro-trends are combining to create a new work context for the practice of engineering. Telecommuting and virtual teams create myriad possibilities and challenges related to managing work and workers. Social network technology tools allow for unprecedented global, 24/7 collaboration. Globalization has created hyper-diverse organizations, magnifying the possibility for both generative creativity and destructive conflict. A growing body of research makes it clear that effectiveness in the changing world of work requires thinking differently and working differently. There is an emerging consensus that socio-cultural competence is an essential addition to the technical competence that has traditionally been identified as critical for engineers. Related to this, the value added to the work of engineering by the development of emotional intelligence (EI) competencies is gaining attention in the professional and the educational engineering literature. This paper describes a program for integrating emotional intelligence content into the curriculum in order to better prepare graduates to add value to their organizations and experience personal success working in the new normal. It also discusses the findings from a multi-year research study that measured the results of the program.

N-Cadherin cleavage during activated hepatic stellate cell apoptosis is inhibited by tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1. [In supplement: 11th International Symposium on the Cells of the Hepatic Sinusoid and their Relation to Other Cells]

Apoptosis of hepatic stellate cells (HSC) has previously been shown to occur during spontaneous resolution of experimental liver fibrosis. TIMP-1 has also been shown to have a key role because of its ability to inhibit apoptosis of HSC via matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibition. This has led to further study of novel substrates for MMPs that might impact on HSC survival. N-Cadherin is known to mediate cell-cell contacts in fibroblasts. In this study we demonstrate that N-Cadherin is expressed by activated rat HSC. Furthermore, during apoptosis of HSC, the N-Cadherin is cleaved into smaller fragments. Apoptosis of HSC may be inhibited by TIMP-1. This is associated with reduced fragmentation of N-Cadherin. N-Cadherin may have an important role in supporting HSC survival while N-Cadherin cleavage may play a part in promoting HSC apoptosis in recovery from liver fibrosis

Quiet Eye: The efficiency paradox – comment on Vickers

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Modified perceptual training in sport:A new classification framework

Objectives: To overview a framework that provides a theoretically-grounded approach to predicting the types of modified perceptual training tasks that will stimulate transfer of improved perceptual skills to sport performance environments. Modified perceptual training (MPT) collectively describes on- or off-field sports training tasks that are specifically designed to develop visual and perceptual-cognitive skill. Traditional training approaches in sport include sports vision training and perceptual-cognitive training, while recently, new technologies have enabled a broad range of additional MPT tools to become available to coaches and athletes. Design: Short literature review and opinion article. Methods: Literature in the fields of sports vision training and perceptual-cognitive training are summarised and contrasted. A selection of emerging MPT technologies are then overviewed. This leads to the identification of three interacting factors of MPT task design that may influence the task's capacity to transfer improved training performance to actual competition: (i) the targeted perceptual function, (ii) stimulus correspondence, and (iii) response correspondence, which are assimilated with key tenets of representative learning design. Results: These three theoretically-grounded differences are adopted to support and justify the structure of the Modified Perceptual Training Framework which sets out predictions for future research to test in order to clarify the transfer effect of MPT tools. Conclusions: The application of the Modified Perceptual Training Framework may assist in future testing, design and selection of beneficial training tools in sport and as such, is predicted to have significant impact in empirical and practical settings

Joint stiffness is heritable and associated with fibrotic conditions and joint replacement

ObjectiveJoint stiffness is a common, debilitating, age-related symptom, which may be seen after total joint replacement (TJR). Stiffness also occurs in fibrotic conditions such as shoulder capsulitis and Dupuytren's contracture. We speculated that the two traits (TJR and fibrotic disease) are linked pathogenically.MethodsUsing the TwinsUK NIHR BRC BioResource we tested the hypotheses that 1) joint (hip and knee) stiffness, TJR (hip and knee), and fibrotic conditions are associated and 2) genetic factors contribute to them.ResultsParticipating twins (n = 9718) had completed self-reported questionnaires on the traits of interest. All three traits were significantly associated with increasing age and body mass index (BMI), as well as female sex, on univariate analysis. Multivariable logistic regression analyses showed a significant association between TJR and joint stiffness (OR = 3.96, 95% confidence interval, CI 2.77-5.68) and between fibrotic conditions and joint stiffness (OR = 2.39, 1.74-3.29), adjusting for age, sex, BMI and twin relatedness. Monozygotic versus dizygotic intraclass correlations gave heritability estimates for TJR = 46% and joint stiffness = 32%.ConclusionThat fibrotic conditions, joint stiffness and TJR are significantly associated suggests a common disease process, possibly fibrosis, which is genetically mediated