329 research outputs found
A meeting of mind(sets). Integrating the pedagogy and andragogy of mindsets for leadership development
This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Elsevier via the DOI in this recordIn this paper we explore two contrasting approaches to understanding and employing mindsets in education and training: the growth and fixed mindset used in formal educational settings, and the mindsets typically used for leadership development for adults. These different bodies of work (here termed pedagogical and andragogical respectively) have largely remained distinct bodies of work. The paper sets out their respective contributions, similarities and differences. It demonstrates that the pedagogical mindsets are implied in the andragogical mindsets and argues that the andragogical approaches – that typically require experienced participants, such as those on MBA programmes - are also of value for the younger (less experienced) learner. The paper also explores current developments in leadership theory that stress the need for a shift from competency and skill development, to mindset approaches in order to tackle the complexity of leadership challenges. Taken together, it argues that mindset approaches are highly relevant for tackling some of the managerial and leadership challenges we face and should be integrated into all levels of leadership development and not be reserved for the mature, experienced learner.Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC
Trans men doing gender at work
This is the final version. Available on open access from Wiley via the DOI in this record. Data availability statement:
This data was collected with the assurance to participants that it would not be shared with third parties. It is therefore not possible to share this data set even in an anonymized form.In this article we explore the practices of trans men in England, undertaken to accomplish gender in the workplace, recognizing the importance of a ‘situated’ analysis incorporating context and life history. We find trans men simultaneously to conform and challenge masculinity, informed both by preference and necessity in order to survive and progress at work, which in turn impacts the potential for any male advantage that may be enjoyed. We note that the more coherently masculine a trans man is, the less ‘trouble’ is caused by his gender (trans masculinity). We demonstrate that they often have to adjust their gender practices and/or workplace to secure or progress at work but also retain a capacity to trouble the gender binary (trans masculinity). We consider the implications for trans men at work.Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC
Gene expression identifies metabolic and functional differences between intramuscular and subcutaneous adipocytes in cattle
Background
This study used a genome-wide screen of gene expression to better understand the metabolic and functional differences between commercially valuable intramuscular fat (IMF) and commercially wasteful subcutaneous (SC) fat depots in Bos taurus beef cattle.
Results
We confirmed many findings previously made at the biochemical level and made new discoveries. The fundamental lipogenic machinery, such as ACACA and FASN encoding the rate limiting Acetyl CoA carboxylase and Fatty Acid synthase were expressed at 1.6–1.8 fold lower levels in IMF, consistent with previous findings. The FA elongation pathway including the rate limiting ELOVL6 was also coordinately downregulated in IMF compared to SC as expected. A 2-fold lower expression in IMF of ACSS2 encoding Acetyl Coenzyme A synthetase is consistent with utilisation of less acetate for lipogenesis in IMF compared to SC as previously determined using radioisotope incorporation. Reduced saturation of fat in the SC depot is reflected by 2.4 fold higher expression of the SCD gene encoding the Δ9 desaturase enzyme. Surprisingly, CH25H encoding the cholesterol 25 hydroxylase enzyme was ~ 36 fold upregulated in IMF compared to SC. Moreover, its expression in whole muscle tissue appears representative of the proportional representation of bovine marbling adipocytes. This suite of observations prompted quantification of a set of oxysterols (oxidised forms of cholesterol) in the plasma of 8 cattle exhibiting varying IMF. Using Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) we found the levels of several oxysterols were significantly associated with multiple marbling measurements across the musculature, but (with just one exception) no other carcass phenotypes.
Conclusions
These data build on our molecular understanding of ruminant fat depot biology and suggest oxysterols represent a promising circulating biomarker for cattle marbling
Where’s the ‘Evidence’? Reflecting on Monitoring and Evaluation within Sport-for-Development
Expat agencies: Expatriation and exploitation in the creative industries in the UK and the Netherlands
Nppa and Nppb act redundantly during zebrafish cardiac development to confine AVC marker expression and reduce cardiac jelly volume
() and () form a gene cluster with expression in the chambers of the developing heart. Despite restricted expression, a function in cardiac development has not been demonstrated by mutant analysis. This is attributed to functional redundancy however their genomic location has impeded formal analysis. Using genome-editing, we generated mutants for and and found single mutants indistinguishable from wildtype whereas / double mutants display heart morphogenesis defects and pericardial oedema. Analysis of atrioventricular canal (AVC) markers show expansion of , and expression into the atrium of double mutants. This expanded expression correlates with increased extracellular matrix in the atrium. Using a biosensor for Hyaluronic acid to measure the cardiac jelly (cardiac extracellular matrix), we confirm cardiac jelly expansion in / double mutants. Finally, knockdown rescues the expansion of expression and cardiac jelly in double mutants. This definitively shows that and function redundantly during cardiac development to restrict gene expression to the AVC, preventing excessive cardiac jelly synthesis in the atrial chamber
Spatially organizing future genders: an artistic intervention in the creation of a hir-toilet
Toilets, a neglected facility in the study of human relations at work and beyond, have become increasingly important in discussions about future experiences of gender diversity. To further investigate the spatial production of gender and its potential expressions, we transformed a unisex single-occupancy toilet at Uppsala University into an all-gender or ‘hir-toilet’.1 With the aim to disrupt and expose the dominant spatial organization of the two binary genders, we inaugurated the hir-toilet with the help of a performance artist. We describe and analyse internal and external responses thereto, using Lefebvre’s work on dialectics and space. Focusing on how space is variously lived, conceived and perceived, our analysis questions the very rationale of gender categorizations. The results contribute to a renewed critique of binary thinking in the organization of workplaces by extending our understanding of how space and human relations mutually constitute each other
Influence of surface geometry on the culture of human cell lines: a comparative study using flat, round-bottom and v-shaped 96 well plates
© 2017 Shafaie et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.In vitro cell based models have been invaluable tools for studying cell behaviour and for investigating drug disposition, toxicity and potential adverse effects of administered drugs. Within this drug discovery pipeline, the ability to assess and prioritise candidate compounds as soon as possible offers a distinct advantage. However, the ability to apply this approach to a cell culture study is limited by the need to provide an accurate, in vitro-like, microenvironment in conjunction with a low cost and high-throughput screening (HTS) methodology. Although the geometry and/or alignment of cells has been reported to have a profound influence on cell growth and differentiation, only a handful of studies have directly compared the growth of a single cell line on different shaped multiwell plates the most commonly used substrate for HTS, in vitro, studies. Herein, the impact of various surface geometries (flat, round and v-shaped 96 well plates), as well as fixed volume growth media and fixed growth surface area have been investigated on the characteristics of three commonly used human cell lines in biopharmaceutical research and development, namely ARPE-19 (retinal epithelial), A549 (alveolar epithelial) and Malme-3M (dermal fibroblastic) cells. The effect of the surface curvature on cells was characterised using a combination of a metabolic activity assay (CellTiter AQ/MTS), LDH release profiles (CytoTox ONE) and absolute cell counts (Guava ViaCount), respectively. In addition, cell differentiation and expression of specific marker proteins were determined using flow cytometry. These in vitro results confirmed that surface topography had a significant effect (p < 0.05) on cell activity and morphology. However, although specific marker proteins were expressed on day 1 and 5 of the experiment, no significant differences were seen between the different plate geometries (p < 0.05) at the later time point. Accordingly, these results highlight the impact of substrate geometry on the culture of a cell line and the influence it has on the cells' correct growth and differentiation characteristics. As such, these results provide important implications in many aspects of cell biology the development of a HTS, in vitro, cell based systems to further investigate different aspects of toxicity testing and drug delivery.Peer reviewedFinal Published versio
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