Lasting couple relationships: recent research findings

This paper reviews recent research findings into couples in long-term relationships (married and de facto) that provide insight into the couple relationship over time. This paper addresses aspects of couple relationships such as commitment, personality traits, transitioning to parenthood, health, and relationship satisfaction. The aim of this paper is to inform practitioners and other professionals working with couples in an educative or therapeutic context. Key messages Recent increases in the availability of longitudinal data, combined with developments in analytical techniques and an upturn in interest in learning from longer-lasting couple relationships, have enabled researchers to gain a deeper understanding into the complexities of couple relationships. Factors underlying the complexity of couple relationships as they evolve over extended periods of time are likely to respond to prevention and early intervention strategies targeted at couples in the early stages of their relationships. An active engagement in behaviours that are supportive of the relationship is needed to maintain relationship stability - simply wanting the relationship to continue is not enough. Similarities between partners, and viewing partners through rose-coloured glasses, appears to support marital satisfaction, although there are some differences in this between men and women. Relationship quality has an impact on health in later life therefore investing in the quality of the couple relationship can be of benefit to health promotion and intervention strategies. Studies of newlyweds cannot be used to understand couples in longer-term relationships as the salience of some personality characteristics and behaviours appears to alter over time

‘The Dragon and the Raven: Saxons, Danes and the Problem of Defining National Character in Victorian England’

This is an Author's Original Manuscript of an article submitted for consideration in the European Journal of English Studies[copyright Taylor & Francis, 2009]; European Journal of English Studies is available online at http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/1382557090322352

Assessing the sensitivity of historic micro-component household water-use to climatic drivers

Anthropogenic climate change is arguably the greatest challenge of modern times posing significant risks to natural resources and the environment. Socio-economic change, severe droughts, and environmental concerns focus attention upon sustainability of water supplies and the ability of water utilities to meet competing demands worldwide. The 2012 Climate Change Risk Assessment identified water security as one of the most significant climate threats facing the UK. It is now recognised that household water demand management could offer a low regret adaptation measure (both financially and environmentally) given large uncertainties about future climate and non-climatic pressures. This thesis uses Anglian Water Services (AWS) Golden 100 dataset to explore the climate sensitivity of historic micro-component water-use. This work contributes to a larger integrated assessment of the South-East England water system under the EPSRC Adaptation and Resilience to a Changing Climate Coordination Network (ARCC CN). The Golden 100 is a metered record of 100 households daily water consumption by basin, bath, dishwasher, external, kitchen sink, shower, WC and washing machine use. The archive also includes socio-economic information for each household, dates of the year and daily time series of observed minimum temperature, maximum temperature, sunshine hours, soil moisture deficit, concurrent, and antecedent rainfall amounts. The methodology developed within this research provides a portable approach to error trapping, formatting and mining large, complex water sector datasets, for exploring the relative sensitivities of micro-component metered water-use to weather/non-weather variables. This research recognises both the importance of the choice to use a micro-component and the volume used. As such, logistic and linear generalised regression techniques are employed to explore the relative sensitivity of these two aspects of water-use to climatic and non-climatic variables. The 2009 UK Climate Projections (UKCP09) projections and climate analogues are then used to bound a climate sensitivity analysis of the most weather-sensitive micro-components using temperature and rainfall scenarios for the 2050s and 2080s. This research provides empirical evidence that the most weather sensitive micro-components are external and shower water-use. A key contribution of this research to existing knowledge is the non-linear response of likelihood and volume of external water-use to average air temperatures. There is an abrupt increase in the likelihood of external water-use on days above ~15ºC. Climate sensitivity analysis further suggests that by the 2080s, under a hotter/drier climate, average unmetered households could be 8% more likely to use external-water and expend ~9 litres more per day during the summer. For the same parameters, high water users (defined here as the 90th percentile) could consume ~13 litres more external water per day. Importantly, this research has re-affirmed the relative importance of behavioural drivers of water-use as manifested by pronounced day of week and bank holiday signatures in both the likelihood and volume of use statistics. As such, this prompts future studies and water management efforts to consider the impact of behavioural drivers as well as climate. It must be recognised that the small sample size of the Golden 100 combined with the Hawthorn effect, self-selection and sample biases in factors such as socio-economic status, billing method and occupancy rate all limit the sample representativeness of the wider population. As such, any predictions based on the data must be treated as illustrative rather than definitive. Furthermore, the results are probably specific to the demographic and socio-economic groups comprising the sample. Nonetheless, this research sheds new light into water-use within the home thereby adding value to a dataset that was not originally collected with household-level, weather-related research in mind

Bacillus Subtilis Class Ib Ribonucleotide Reductase: High Activity and Dynamic Subunit Interactions

The class Ib ribonucleotide reductase (RNR) isolated from Bacillus subtilis was recently purified as a 1:1 ratio of NrdE (α) and NrdF (β) subunits and determined to have a dimanganic-tyrosyl radical (Mn[superscript III][subscript 2]-Y·) cofactor. The activity of this RNR and the one reconstituted from recombinantly expressed NrdE and reconstituted Mn[superscript III][subscript 2]-Y· NrdF using dithiothreitol as the reductant, however, was low (160 nmol min[superscript –1] mg[superscript –1]). The apparent tight affinity between the two subunits, distinct from all class Ia RNRs, suggested that B. subtilis RNR might be the protein that yields to the elusive X-ray crystallographic characterization of an “active” RNR complex. We now report our efforts to optimize the activity of B. subtilis RNR by (1) isolation of NrdF with a homogeneous cofactor, and (2) identification and purification of the endogenous reductant(s). Goal one was achieved using anion exchange chromatography to separate apo-/mismetalated-NrdFs from Mn[superscript III][subscript 2]-Y· NrdF, yielding enzyme containing 4 Mn and 1 Y·[over β [subscript 2]]. Goal two was achieved by cloning, expressing, and purifying TrxA (thioredoxin), YosR (a glutaredoxin-like thioredoxin), and TrxB (thioredoxin reductase). The success of both goals increased the specific activity to ~1250 nmol min[superscript –1] mg[superscript –1] using a 1:1 mixture of NrdE:Mn[superscript III][subscript 2]-Y· NrdF and either TrxA or YosR and TrxB. The quaternary structures of NrdE, NrdF, and NrdE:NrdF (1:1) were characterized by size exclusion chromatography and analytical ultracentrifugation. At physiological concentrations (~1 μM), NrdE is a monomer (α) and Mn[superscript III][subscript 2]-Y· NrdF is a dimer (β[subscript 2]). A 1:1 mixture of NrdE:NrdF, however, is composed of a complex mixture of structures in contrast to expectations.Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Biophysical Instrumentation Facility (NSF-007031

Hypothalamic mechanisms mediating inhibition of prolactin secretion following stress in early pregnant mice

In early pregnancy prolonged exposure to stress is known to have profound adverse effects on reproduction and is associated with suppressed progesterone secretion and consequent disturbance of the pregnancy-protective cytokine milieu, thus threatening early pregnancy maintenance. Maternal neuroendocrine responses to stress in early pregnancy are poorly understood. Therefore, we designed experiments to (1) study the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis responses to stress in early pregnant mice, to discover whether and how responses change and (2) to determine the effect of stress in early gestation on pregnancy hormones, with a particular focus on the secretion and regulation of prolactin. To establish the effects of stress in early pregnancy (day 5.5) two different ethologically relevant stressors were used: lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or 24h fast stress, to mimic situations that may potentially arise during pregnancy in women: infection or hunger. HPA axis secretory responses to immune stress in early-mid pregnancy were robust and comparable to that in virgins. Vasopressin rather than the usual CRH neurone responses play a key role in maintaining this. However, the mode of action of glucocorticoids in mediating pregnancy complications is not yet established. Prolactin, and its hypothalamic control mechanisms, is a key candidate to mediate brain-to-body responses to stress. Prolactin has important roles in progesterone secretion, pregnancy establishment and immune regulation. We hypothesised that stress would negatively affect prolactin and its neuroendocrine control systems. Prolactin is mainly under the inhibitory control of dopamine, released predominantly from the tuberoinfundibular dopamine (TIDA) neurones. Prolactin also negatively feeds back on itself via prolactin receptors on the TIDA neurones and janus kinase (JAK)2/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)5 signalling. Both immune and fasting stressors strongly inhibited basal prolactin secretion in early pregnancy, accompanied by a mild increase in activation of TIDA as shown by elevated Fos expression, compared to virgins. In addition, pregnancy attenuated LPS-induced recruitment of parvocellular paraventricular nucleus neurones and increased activation of brainstem noradrenergic nuclei which could potentially contribute to altered control of the dopamine-prolactin system. Following either immune or fast stress in early pregnancy ovine prolactin was able to drive enhanced expression of phosphorylated (p)STAT5. However, stress alone did not alter pSTAT5 implying it is not exclusively responsible for the stress-reduced prolactin observed in early pregnancy and another stress-induced stimulus must be activating TIDA neurones in these mice. LPS did not alter dopamine activity the median eminence (DOPAC: dopamine ratio) suggesting dopamine does not underlie stress-reduced prolactin secretion and other mechanisms must be considered. Direct effects of LPS, or its associated cytokines, on pituitary lactotrophs to inhibit prolactin secretion is a possible candidate. To investigate the effect of proinflammatory cytokines on the prolactin system in early pregnancy, d5.5 mice were administered TNF-alpha (a) or interleukin (IL)-6. Both cytokines increased TIDA activation, however, only TNF-a decreased plasma prolactin and progesterone, suggesting additional TNF-alpha action at the pituitary. As prolactin is anxiolytic we further proposed that stress would have a more profound effect on elevated plus maze performance in pregnant mice. However, early pregnant mice were generally more anxious vs. virgins regardless of LPS treatment. Taken together data show that stress in early pregnancy reduces prolactin and progesterone secretion, contributing to pregnancy complications/failure, but the neuroendocrine stress-related mechanism behind this suppression is yet to be determined

Assessing the impact of sustained professional development on middle school mathematics teachers

The study reported in this paper examines the impact of the Ohio Statewide Systemic Initiative (SSI) on participating mathematics teachers. Quantitative data from 90 SSI-trained teachers and 400 teachers without training, along with qualitative data collected from seven SSI teachers who were visited in their classrooms are presented. Analysis of the quantitative data showed that SSI and Non-SSI teachers reported significantly different frequencies of reformed teaching practices and held significantly different views about the nature and pedagogy of mathematics. Qualitative data from the interviews highlighted that the SSI professional development experience, the ability to find creative ways to overcome lack of resources, and the teacher support networks formed as a result of their participation in the SSI were three major factors which enabled the SSI teachers to make significant changes to their teaching practices, and to sustain those changes

Assessing the impact of sustained professional development on middle school mathematics teachers

The study reported in this paper examines the impact of the Ohio Statewide Systemic Initiative (SSI) on participating mathematics teachers. Quantitative data from 90 SSI-trained teachers and 400 teachers without training, along with qualitative data collected from seven SSI teachers who were visited in their classrooms are presented. Analysis of the quantitative data showed that SSI and Non-SSI teachers reported significantly different frequencies of reformed teaching practices and held significantly different views about the nature and pedagogy of mathematics. Qualitative data from the interviews highlighted that the SSI professional development experience, the ability to find creative ways to overcome lack of resources, and the teacher support networks formed as a result of their participation in the SSI were three major factors which enabled the SSI teachers to make significant changes to their teaching practices, and to sustain those changes

Mechanistic analysis of PCNA poly-ubiquitylation by the ubiquitin protein ligases Rad18 and Rad5

Poly-ubiquitylation is a common post-translational modification that can impart various functions to a target protein. Several distinct mechanisms have been reported for the assembly of poly-ubiquitin chains, involving either stepwise transfer of ubiquitin monomers or attachment of a preformed poly-ubiquitin chain and requiring either a single pair of ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme (E2) and ubiquitin ligase (E3), or alternatively combinations of different E2s and E3s. We have analysed the mechanism of poly-ubiquitylation of the replication clamp PCNA by two cooperating E2–E3 pairs, Rad6–Rad18 and Ubc13–Mms2–Rad5. We find that the two complexes act sequentially and independently in chain initiation and stepwise elongation, respectively. While loading of PCNA onto DNA is essential for recognition by Rad6–Rad18, chain extension by Ubc13–Mms2–Rad5 is only slightly enhanced by loading. Moreover, in contrast to initiation, chain extension is tolerant to variations in the attachment site of the proximal ubiquitin moiety. Our results provide information about a unique conjugation mechanism that appears to be specialised for a regulatable pattern of dual modification

Structural basis for substrate specificity and regulation of nucleotide sugar transporters in the lipid bilayer

Nucleotide sugars are the activated form of monosaccharides used by glycosyltransferases during glycosylation. In eukaryotes the SLC35 family of solute carriers are responsible for their selective uptake into the Endoplasmic Reticulum or Golgi apparatus. The structure of the yeast GDP-mannose transporter, Vrg4, revealed a requirement for short chain lipids and a marked difference in transport rate between the nucleotide sugar and nucleoside monophosphate, suggesting a complex network of regulatory elements control transport into these organelles. Here we report the crystal structure of the GMP bound complex of Vrg4, revealing the molecular basis for GMP recognition and transport. Molecular dynamics, combined with biochemical analysis, reveal a lipid mediated dimer interface and mechanism for coordinating structural rearrangements during transport. Together these results provide further insight into how SLC35 family transporters function within the secretory pathway and sheds light onto the role that membrane lipids play in regulating transport across the membrane

Contributions of ubiquitin- and PCNA-binding domains to the activity of Polymerase η in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Bypassing of DNA lesions by damage-tolerant DNA polymerases depends on the interaction of these enzymes with the monoubiquitylated form of the replicative clamp protein, PCNA. We have analyzed the contributions of ubiquitin and PCNA binding to damage bypass and damage-induced mutagenesis in Polymerase η (encoded by RAD30) from the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We report here that a ubiquitin-binding domain provides enhanced affinity for the ubiquitylated form of PCNA and is essential for in vivo function of the polymerase, but only in conjunction with a basal affinity for the unmodified clamp, mediated by a conserved PCNA interaction motif. We show that enhancement of the interaction and function in damage tolerance does not depend on the ubiquitin attachment site within PCNA. Like its mammalian homolog, budding yeast Polymerase η itself is ubiquitylated in a manner dependent on its ubiquitin-binding domain