Well rounded Postdoctoral Researchers with initiative, who are not always “tied to the bench” are more successful academically

This article reports the development, application and results of a baseline investigation of contract research staff in 2007 in the Medical School at the University of Sheffield which was carried out in order to develop a specifically tailored training and career development programme and allow for future impact evaluation of the scheme. Postdoctoral researchers reported on their perceived skill levels, academic achievements, career motivations and the current research environment. Results indicated that transferable skills related to communication and awareness of the process of research (i.e. the process of acquisition of funding, commercialisation of research outputs) were lacking. Furthermore, these skills were associated with higher publication outputs, and improved with mobility between institutions at postdoctoral level. This paper also describes how the findings from the baseline evaluation were used to develop a programme to address the lower ranking skills and evaluate the impact of the programme

Complex genetic association of 6q23 with autoimmune rheumatic conditions

In the paper by Dieguez-Gonzalez and colleagues in the present issue of Arthritis Research & Therapy, the results of a detailed genetic investigation of the recently identified rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus susceptibility region at 6q23 containing the TNFAIP3 gene are reported. Their data confirm the complex nature of the association involving both the TNFAIP3 locus and a region >150 kb upstream that does not encode any known gene. These data are consistent with recent studies of systemic lupus erythematosus susceptibility confirming the presence of several independent genetic contributions to autoimmune rheumatic diseases arising from 6q23

Introduction

What is this book? This is a practical handbook which intends to inspire innovative teaching and provide support for readers seeking to apply active learning tools and strategies in a variety of teaching and learning contexts. Although many of the contributing authors work in higher education, this is not intended to be a traditional academic publication, but more of a practical reference book which could be used to inform the design of adult learning in any context (e.g. higher education, further education, work-based learning and development, etc), but also in other phases of education (e.g. secondary, primary, etc)

Analysis of engagement metrics and student attainment using multiple sources across physical and virtual spaces: A case study

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Age-related loss of CpG methylation in the tumour necrosis factor promoter

Background: Dysregulated production of TNF has been implicated in the pathogenesis and severity of inflammatory rheumatic diseases, many of which show age-related increased incidence. Ageing is also associated with changes in the immune system including higher systemic levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Methylation of DNA is an important regulator of gene expression and changes with age. Objective: In this study we investigated whether the DNA methylation status of the TNF promoter changed with age in peripheral blood leucocytes and macrophages. Methods and results: Using pyrosequencing assays we detected age-related demethylation of CpG motifs (-304, -245 and -239) in the TNF promoter in human peripheral blood cells from 312 healthy controls (0.8% per decade, confidence interval (CI) = 0.44-1.13%, p = 1 x 10(-5)) and primary monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM) from a separate population of 78 healthy controls (1.4% per decade, CI = 0.79-2.13%, p = 7 x 10(-5)). Methylation a TNF promoter fragment (-345-+154) resulted in 78% reduction of reporter gene activity compared with the unmethylated promoter construct. Conclusions: These data suggest a potential role of accrued changes in DNA methylation in the development of age-related inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and polymyalgia rheumatica, in which TNF is a pivotal mediator. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved