Gene Expression and Alzheimer\u27s Disease: Evaluation of Gene Expression Patterns in Brain and Blood for an Alzheimer\u27s Disease Mouse Model

Previous studies have established a causative role for altered gene expression in development of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). These changes can be affected by methylation and miRNA regulation. In this study, expression of miRNA known to change methylation status in AD was assessed by qPCR. Genome-wide expression changes were determined by RNA-sequencing of mRNA from hippocampus and blood of control and AD mice. The qPCR data showed significantly increased expression of Mir 17 in AD, and sequencing data revealed 230 genes in hippocampus, 58 genes in blood, and 8 overlapping genes showing significant differential expression (p value ≤ 0.05). Expression data from this study revealed novel gene expression changes affecting AD and identified changing genes in blood as potential AD biomarkers

Reconceptualizing Value Creation with Limited Resources

In traditional economics and finance the notion of value creation is virtually synonymous with the net present value of cash flows. Such a characterization implies that all of the uses of resource inputs, such as raw material and energy, are known and that their value is priced into commodities markets. It also fails to allow for the opportunity cost associated with the depletion of resources which, with advancing technology, might reasonably have future uses far greater in value than can be achieved at present with current technology. Stated differently, in traditional valuation analysis the option value associated with scarce resources—when new technology or knowledge can be applied to them—is not addressed. In the present work, we define technology leverage as representative of this effect. We then address the problem of sustainability of organizations by stating four propositions and examining their implications for government policy and for firm governance.In traditional economics and finance the notion of value creation is virtually synonymous with the net present value of cash flows. Such a characterization implies that all of the uses of resource inputs, such as raw material and energy, are known and that their value is priced into commodities markets. It also fails to allow for the opportunity cost associated with the depletion of resources which, with advancing technology, might reasonably have future uses far greater in value than can be achieved at present with current technology. Stated differently, in traditional valuation analysis the option value associated with scarce resources—when new technology or knowledge can be applied to them—is not addressed. In the present work, we define technology leverage as representative of this effect. We then address the problem of sustainability of organizations by stating four propositions and examining their implications for government policy and for firm governance.In traditional economics and finance the notion of value creation is virtually synonymous with the net present value of cash flows. Such a characterization implies that all of the uses of resource inputs, such as raw material and energy, are known and that their value is priced into commodities markets. It also fails to allow for the opportunity cost associated with the depletion of resources which, with advancing technology, might reasonably have future uses far greater in value than can be achieved at present with current technology. Stated differently, in traditional valuation analysis the option value associated with scarce resources—when new technology or knowledge can be applied to them—is not addressed. In the present work, we define technology leverage as representative of this effect. We then address the problem of sustainability of organizations by stating four propositions and examining their implications for government policy and for firm governance

Analysis of Differential mRNA and miRNA Expression in an Alzheimer’s Disease Mouse Model

Research has shown that changes in gene expression play a critical role in the development of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). Our project will evaluate genome-wide RNA expression patterns from brain and blood in an AD mouse model. This analysis will provide insight regarding the mechanisms of AD pathology as well as determine a possible diagnostic tool utilizing RNA expression patterns found in the blood as biomarkers for AD

Significant Up-regulation of Mir-17 in an Alzheimer’s Disease Mouse Model

Previous work by our group has demonstrated a correlation between AD pathology and changes in epigenetic markers, including cytosine methylation of gene promoter regions. Several genes determined to have AD-related changes in methylation code for miRNA, which is known to regulate gene expression at a post-transcriptional level. Research suggests that miRNA play a key role in AD development by alteration of gene products and transcription factors, particularly in that of amyloid-ß (Aß) production and apoptosis of postmitotic neurons. This analysis shows a significant up-regulation of demonstrated epigenetically modified miR-17 in the hippocampi of transgenic AD mice when compared to that of non-AD mice. MiR-17 belongs to the polycistronic cluster miR-17-92 and is believed to be involved in normal neuronal cell proliferation and ultimately the regulation of Beclin-1, which has been shown to modulate amyloid beta accumulation in mice

Simulating the emergence of the organizing structures of work

This article is a first step toward a visualization and classification system for studying dynamic organizing structures of work. As a first step toward this research objective, this study brings together two active projects. One called "relatonics" studies work group formation and is primarily empirical and inductive. The other called "Human Interaction Dynamics (HID)" imports concepts, relationships and modeling from complexity science and is therefore primarily theoretical and deductive. The vision is to use social media, data gathering, and process simulation technologies to rigorously describe, systematically visualize, and validly model the complex dynamics of work processes of different types. This work will serve as a means to classify, study and improve the performance of work systems. We describe our progress to data and suggest further research

Value Sinks: A Process Theory of Corruption Risk during Complex Organizing

Theories and studies of corruption typically focus on individual ethics and agency problems in organizations. In this paper, we use concepts from complexity science to propose a process theory that describes how corruption risk emerges from conditions of uncertainty that are intrinsic in social systems and social interactions. We posit that our theory is valid across multiple levels of scale in social systems. We theorize that corruption involves dynamics that emerge when agents in a system take actions that exploit disequilibrium conditions of uncertainty and ethical ambiguity. Further, systemic corruption emerges when agent interactions are amplified locally in ways that create a hidden value sink which we define as a structure that extracts, or ‘drains’, resources from the system for the exclusive use of certain agents. For those participating in corruption, the presence of a value sink reduces local uncertainties about access to resources. This dynamic can attract others to join the value sink, allowing it to persist and grow as a dynamical system attractor, eventually challenging broader norms. We close by identifying four distinct types of corruption risk and suggest policy interventions to manage them. Finally, we discuss ways in which our theoretical approach could motivate future research

Age-Dependent Responses Following Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a growing health concern worldwide that affects a broad range of the population. As TBI is the leading cause of disability and mortality in children, several preclinical models have been developed using rodents at a variety of different ages; however, key brain maturation events are overlooked that leave some age groups more or less vulnerable to injury. Thus, there has been a large emphasis on producing relevant animal models to elucidate molecular pathways that could be of therapeutic potential to help limit neuronal injury and improve behavioral outcome. TBI involves a host of different biochemical events, including disruption of the cerebral vasculature and breakdown of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) that exacerbates secondary injuries. A better understanding of age-related mechanism(s) underlying brain injury will aid in establishing more effective treatment strategies aimed at improving restoration and preventing further neuronal loss. This review looks at studies that focus on modeling the adolescent population and highlights the importance of individualized aged therapeutics to TBI

Effect of Heifer Development System on Reproduction and Subsequent Gain as a Pregnant Heifer

Weaned heifers grazed corn residue, upland range, or were fed 1 of 2 drylot diets differing in energy. Heifer development diets did not impact their resulting AI or final pregnancy rates. Cost per pregnant heifer was similar among treatments. A subset of AI- pregnant heifers was placed in a Calan Broadbent individual feeding system during late gestation. As a pregnant heifer, feed efficiency was not impacted by development system. These results indicate producers may utilize their most readily available and/or cost- effective feed resources with no detriment to pregnancy rates or feed efficiency as first- calf heifers