Alvaro Moreno and Matteo Mossio. 2015. Biological autonomy: a philosophical and theoretical enquiry

Review of Alvaro Moreno and Matteo Mossio. 2015. Biological autonomy: a philosophical and theoretical enquir

Dark Lancaster

In this position paper we'll outline a few ongoing and planned projects at Lancaster that are not all sweetness and light. In some we are interested in some of the darker aspects of human nature: frustration when things go wrong in order to design games with the right emotional impact; and anger of those seeking jobs in order to help train those who need to defuse fraught situations. In others we deliberately seek to design ‘bad’ situations; obviously this is necessary to study issues like frustration, but also we design bad things in order to understand what is good! Finally, there are times when good is dark and the bright light of day needs to be shrouded just a little

The level of BMP4 signaling is critical for the regulation of distinct T-box gene expression domains and growth along the dorso-ventral axis of the optic cup

BACKGROUND: Polarised gene expression is thought to lead to the graded distribution of signaling molecules providing a patterning mechanism across the embryonic eye. Bone morphogenetic protein 4 (Bmp4) is expressed in the dorsal optic vesicle as it transforms into the optic cup. Bmp4 deletions in human and mouse result in failure of eye development, but little attempt has been made to investigate mammalian targets of BMP4 signaling. In chick, retroviral gene overexpression studies indicate that Bmp4 activates the dorsally expressed Tbx5 gene, which represses ventrally expressed cVax. It is not known whether the Tbx5 related genes, Tbx2 and Tbx3, are BMP4 targets in the mammalian retina and whether BMP4 acts at a distance from its site of expression. Although it is established that Drosophila Dpp (homologue of vertebrate Bmp4) acts as a morphogen, there is little evidence that BMP4 gradients are interpreted to create domains of BMP4 target gene expression in the mouse. RESULTS: Our data show that the level of BMP4 signaling is critical for the regulation of distinct Tbx2, Tbx3, Tbx5 and Vax2 gene expression domains along the dorso-ventral axis of the mouse optic cup. BMP4 signaling gradients were manipulated in whole mouse embryo cultures during optic cup development, by implantation of beads soaked in BMP4, or the BMP antagonist Noggin, to provide a local signaling source. Tbx2, Tbx3 and Tbx5, showed a differential response to alterations in the level of BMP4 along the entire dorso-ventral axis of the optic cup, suggesting that BMP4 acts across a distance. Increased levels of BMP4 caused expansion of Tbx2 and Tbx3, but not Tbx5, into the ventral retina and repression of the ventral marker Vax2. Conversely, Noggin abolished Tbx5 expression but only shifted Tbx2 expression dorsally. Increased levels of BMP4 signaling caused decreased proliferation, reduced retinal volume and altered the shape of the optic cup. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest the existence of a dorsal-high, ventral-low BMP4 signaling gradient across which distinct domains of Tbx2, Tbx3, Tbx5 and Vax2 transcription factor gene expression are set up. Furthermore we show that the correct level of BMP4 signaling is critical for normal growth of the mammalian embryonic eye

Figures of speech : an exploration of the use of idiomatic phrases in conversation.

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre- DSC:DX94364 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

A simple method for equine kinematic gait event detection

Background Previous studies have validated methods for determining kinematic gait events using threshold-based methods, however a simple method is yet to be identified that can be successfully applied to walk, trot and canter. Objectives To develop a simple kinematic method to identify the timing of hoof-on, peak vertical force and hoof-off, which can be applied to walk, trot and canter. Study design In-vivo method authentication study. Methods The horses (n = 3) were ridden in walk, trot and canter down a runway with four force plates arranged linearly. Three-dimensional forces were recorded at a sampling rate of 960 Hz and were synchronised with a ten-camera motion analysis system sampling at 120 Hz. Events identified from the vertical ground reaction force (GRFz) data were hoof-on (GRFz>50N), peak vertical force (GRFzpeak) and hoof-off (GRFz<50N). Kinematic identification of hoof-on and hoof-off events was based on sagittal planar angles of the fore and hindlimbs. Peak metacarpophalangeal/metatarsophalangeal (MCP/MTP) joint extension was used to assess the time of GRFzpeak. The accuracy (mean) and precision (s.d.) of the time difference between the kinetic and kinematic events were calculated for the fore and hindlimbs at each gait. Results Hoof-off was determined with better accuracy (range: -3.94 to 8.33 ms) and precision (5.43 to 11.39 ms) than hoof-on across all gaits. Peak MCP angle (5.83 to 19.65 ms) was a more precise representation of GRFzpeak than peak MTP angle (11.49 to 67.75 ms). Main limitations The sample size was small and, therefore, further validation is required. The proposed method was tested on one surface. Conclusions A simple kinematic method of detecting hoof-on, hoof-off and GRFzpeak is here proposed for walk, trot and canter. Further work should focus on validating the methodology in a larger number of horses and extending the method for use on surfaces with varying compliance

Using bookmarks: an approach to support ethical decision making in play therapy

Play therapy can be an effective intervention mode with children and families in counseling. As with any counseling intervention, ethical issues arise. This article examines 7 common ethical issues found in counseling that are particularly relevant to play therapy, presents a bookmark as a way to succinctly identify a decision-making model, and then applies the information to a hypothetical case