Communication Curriculum Reform, Liberal Arts Components and Administrative Organization

This article investigates the substance and level of importance placed on liberal arts as elements within the communication curriculum and whether the definition and significance of these liberal arts elements change according to the emphasis of different communication programs. To explore the nature and extent of the curriculum, the article reviewed communication programs through a survey of the membership of two organizations, the Association of Communication Administrators and the Association of Schools of Journalism and Mass Communication. Prior to the analysis of the findings, academic literature are reviewed to provide a discussion of the history surrounding the organization, curricula, and proposed future of liberal studies within communication programs

Oxidative Stress Response to Short Duration Bout of Submaximal Aerobic Exercise in Healthy Young Adults

The purpose of this study was to investigate the oxidative stress response to a short duration bout of submaximal exercise in a cohort of healthy young adults. 15 apparently healthy college age males and females completed a modified Bruce-protocol treadmill test to 75–80% of their heart rate reserve. Blood samples collected immediately before (pre-exercise), immediately after, 30, 60 and 120 minutes post-exercise were assayed for total antioxidant capacity (TAC), superoxide disumutase (SOD), thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), and protein carbonyls (PC). SOD activity was significantly increased from pre-exercise levels at 30 minutes (77%), 60 minutes (33%), and 120 minutes (37%) post-exercise. TAC levels were also significantly increased from pre-exercise levels at 60 minutes (30%) and 120 minutes (33%) post-exercise. There were no significant changes in biomarkers for reactive oxygen/nitrogen species (RONS) mediated damage (TBARS and PC) across all post-exercise time points. In a cohort of healthy young adults, a short duration bout of submaximal aerobic exercise elicited increases in antioxidant activity/concentration, but did not evoke changes in oxidative stress-induced damage. These results may suggest that: (1) short duration bouts of submaximal aerobic exercise are sufficient to induce RONS generation; and (2) the antioxidant defense system is capable of protecting against enhanced RONS production induced by a short duration, submaximal exercise bout in healthy young adults

Sialic Acid Mutarotation Is Catalyzed by the Escherichia coli β-Propeller Protein YjhT

The acquisition of host-derived sialic acid is an important virulence factor for some bacterial pathogens, but in vivo this sugar acid is sequestered in sialoconjugates as the {alpha}-anomer. In solution, however, sialic acid is present mainly as the β-anomer, formed by a slow spontaneous mutarotation. We studied the Escherichia coli protein YjhT as a member of a family of uncharacterized proteins present in many sialic acid-utilizing pathogens. This protein is able to accelerate the equilibration of the {alpha}- and β-anomers of the sialic acid N-acetylneuraminic acid, thus describing a novel sialic acid mutarotase activity. The structure of this periplasmic protein, solved to 1.5Å resolution, reveals a dimeric 6-bladed unclosed β-propeller, the first of a bacterial Kelch domain protein. Mutagenesis of conserved residues in YjhT demonstrated an important role for Glu-209 and Arg-215 in mutarotase activity. We also present data suggesting that the ability to utilize {alpha}-N-acetylneuraminic acid released from complex sialoconjugates in vivo provides a physiological advantage to bacteria containing YjhT

A Cold Gas Micro-Propulsion System for CubeSats

Potential civilian and government users have expressed a strong interest in CubeSat class satellites for military, scientific and commercial purposes. The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratories (AFRL), using DARPA funding, have contracted with The Aerospace Corporation in El Segundo, California to develop a CubeSat class spacecraft called the MEMS PicoSat Inspector (MEPSI). In turn, AFRL and Aerospace Corporation selected VACCO to provide a Micro-Propulsion System (MiPS) for MEPSI. This paper describes the resulting system design and its capabilities. Related micro-propulsion activities will also be reviewed including work with AeroAstro Inc. to develop an advanced MiPS using decomposing nitrous oxide as the propellant. The VACCO Micro-Propulsion System is an advanced subsystem based on our proprietary Chemically Etched Micro Systems (ChEMS) integrated fluidic circuit technology (patent #6,334,301). Extremely flexible and easily expanded, MiPS can be adapted to a wide range of small spacecraft. The current isobutane unit can deliver 34 Newton-seconds of total impulse with over 61,000 minimum impulse bit firings. MiPS brings true propulsion capabilities to micro-spacecraft for formation flying, attitude control and velocity change (delta-V). Reliability features such as all-welded titanium construction and redundant soft-seat microvalves compliment the simple selfpressurizing design. Instead of simply creating a miniature version of a conventional system, VACCO has taken a highly integrated system level approach that eliminates all tubing connections in favor of a single ChEMS manifold. When combined with our system-in-a-tank packaging design, the resulting propulsion system is a significant advancement over published alternatives. VACCO’s ChEMS Micro-Propulsion System is a titanium weldment about half the size of a VHS videocassette. Four ChEMS 55 mN Micro-Thrusters are located around the periphery of the module tilting 15o toward the mounting plane. A single axial 55 mN Micro-Thruster is located in the center of the XY plane. The axial Micro-Thruster nozzle doubles as a fill/vent port for the system. Two sets of connector pins protrude from the Tank through glass headers to retain pressure while making electrical connections to the host MEPSI spacecraft. One flight MiPS unit has been designed, built and tested at both VACCO and Aerospace Corporation. This paper will describe the MiPS in sufficient detail for potential users to perform a preliminary assessment against their requirements. Performance test data will be presented and conclusions drawn. Lessons learned and future development plans will also be delineated. VACCO will also outline a plan for making MiPS available for University CubeSat projects. The idea is to build a number of sets of MiPS parts less the core assembly. The core assembly controls all component interconnections and tangential thruster geometry. These critical features could be designed by the student team in order to customize MiPS for their purposes. By stocking the machined parts, lead times can be reduced to less than four months. In this way, students can gain valuable skills and experience while keeping the entire project to less than one-year in duration. In addition to providing a learning experience, students would benefit from the enhanced capability and flexibility propulsion would bring to their CubeSat design

Privatization Initiatives: A Source for Engineering Economy Case Studies

A case study method which reviews the basic structure of the circular A-76 privatization decision model is discussed. It highlights the possibilities for development of case studies that can challenge student teams to apply engineering economy tools while developing skills in a range of circular areas that are important to undergraduate engineering education and career success in engineering practice. Beyond building quantitative and qualitative business analysis skills, engineering economy cases can enhance student skills in other topical areas such as technical presentations, and report writing. The privatization initiatives and related decision models can also enhance human relations oriented skills in a team based learning environment

Anti-mycobacterial assessment and characterization of 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid methyl ester and rutin from Pavetta crassipes

Pavetta crassipes leaf (Fam. Rubiaceae) is used as part of a combination herbal remedy for the treatment of tuberculosis (TB) and other respiratory infections in Nigerian ethno medicine. However, little scientific data is available to support the use in ethnomedical therapy so the objective of the study was to assess the antitubercular property and to identify the bioactive components. The dried powdered leaf was sequentially extracted with solvents to obtain hexane, dichloromethane, methanol and water extracts. Following which, the extracts were then screened against Mycobacterium aurum, a rapidly growing saprophytic mycobacterium species for activity. The methanol extract exhibited inhibitory activity at an MIC value of 250 µg/mL against M. aurum and two known polyphenolic compounds were isolated as 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid methyl ester and quercetin-3-rutinoside (rutin). Reversed phase semi-preparative HPLC, mass spectrometry and 1H and 13C NMR techniques were utilized in isolating and characterizing the two components. The assignments of the structures were consistent with data from the literature. The study has shown that the methanol extract has some activity and hyphenation of LC-MS can be used for the isolation of polyphenols from the methanol fraction without a rigorous purification process

BA11 FKBP5 expression levels correlate with dendritic spine density in postmortem PTSD and controls

AbstractGenetic variants of the immunophilin FKBP5 have been implicated in susceptibility to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other stress-related disorders. We examined the relationship between mushroom, stubby, thin and filopodial spine densities measured with Golgi staining and FKBP5 gene expression in the medial orbitofrontal cortex (BA11) in individuals diagnosed with PTSD and normal controls (n = 8/8). ANCOVA revealed PTSD cases had a significantly elevated density of stubby spines (29%, P < 0.037) and a trend for a reduction in mushroom spine density (25%, p < 0.082). Levels of FKBP5 mRNA were marginally elevated in the PTSD cases (z = 1.94, p = 0.053) and levels correlated inversely with mushroom (Spearman's rho = −0.83, p < 0.001) and overall spine density (rho = −0.75, p < 0.002) and directly with stubby spine density (rho = 0.55, p < 0.027). These data suggest that FKBP5 may participate in a cellular pathway modulating neuronal spine density changes in the brain, and that this pathway may be dysregulated in PTSD

Oxidative stress response to short duration bout of submaximal aerobic exercise in healthy young adults

The purpose of this study was to investigate the oxidative stress response to a short duration bout of submaximal exercise in a cohort of healthy young adults. 15 apparently healthy college age males and females completed a modified Bruce-protocol treadmill test to 75-80% of their heart rate reserve. Blood samples collected immediately before (pre-exercise), immediately after, 30, 60 and 120 minutes post-exercise were assayed for total antioxidant capacity (TAC), superoxide disumutase (SOD), thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), and protein carbonyls (PC). SOD activity was significantly increased from pre-exercise levels at 30 minutes (77%), 60 minutes (33%), and 120 minutes (37%) post-exercise. TAC levels were also significantly increased from pre-exercise levels at 60 minutes (30%) and 120 minutes (33%) post-exercise. There were no significant changes in biomarkers for reactive oxygen/nitrogen species (RONS) mediated damage (TBARS and PC) across all post-exercise time points. In a cohort of healthy young adults, a short duration bout of submaximal aerobic exercise elicited increases in antioxidant activity/concentration, but did not evoke changes in oxidative stress-induced damage. These results may suggest that: (1) short duration bouts of submaximal aerobic exercise are sufficient to induce RONS generation; and (2) the antioxidant defense system is capable of protecting against enhanced RONS production induced by a short duration, submaximal exercise bout in healthy young adults

Regulating for ILO ‘Decent Work’ and Family-Friendly Employment : The Joint Staffordshire University/APIIT Sri Lanka Project (2017-2019)

The presentation outlined the cross-disciplinary research being undertaken by the project team. The project is concerned with work-life balance and flexible working schemes which enable groups like parents, carers, and parents adopting children to take leave from work and return to work, and to be re-integrated into their employment. Such re-integration, and their effectiveness in achieving work-life balance, equalities, and other objectives, depends on effective arrangements being put in place and maintained. Among other things, schemes need to give effect to International Labour Organisation Decent Work standards and factor in best practice in human resource management standards. There are eight members of the project team (details below). The team has particular expertise in aspects like Labour Law and International Labour Law, Family Law, Equalities, Family Studies, Regulation, Human Resource Management, and Employee Relations. As well as examining current models of flexible working in operation the world, a further dimension of the project is looking at the role played by the law in providing effective regulatory and enforcement mechanisms. Phase 1 of the project is concerned with: a literature review; analysis of current world schemes having regard to legal frameworks and HR practice, including schemes that have been collectively bargained and operate under collective arrangements (albeit within national regulatory frameworks); research into the application of ILO Decent Work, Conventions, and other standards; and identification of key features and attributes of an effective model for countries currently without legal regulatory frameworks. Phase 2 is focused in Sri Lanka, a country which adopts ILO Decent Work and other standards but which currently does not have legal provision on a number of specific aspects of flexible working arrangements - particularly as it assists labour market returnees. Factoring in current arrangements and good practice in Sri Lanka and national models, the project team will survey consultees' views and preferences on flexible work schemes, and options for the various forms of regulation. This stage of the research will encompass organisations representing employers, trade unions, the Institute of Personnel Management, Sri Lanka, and others. The focus will be on the scope and form of a possible Sri Lanka regulatory framework to address aspects like the operation of flexible working arrangements aimed at facilitating the retention of staff after periods of leave. This phase of the project will entail, in particular: consultation and data gathering by questionnaire, and follow-up face-to-face meetings with consultees; and data processing and evaluation of responses. Expected outputs will include conference papers, articles, and support for teaching and learning (including material for the Labour Law, International Labour Law, and Family Law programmes delivered by Staffordshire University and APIIT. It is also anticipated that work-in-progress and project findings and recommendations will inform public engagement events. Project Team Dr Keith Puttick - Labour Law, International Labour Law, and ILO Standards SU Dr Kushanthi S. Harasgama - Family, Labour Law, Public Law Asia Pacific Institute of Technology, Colombo, Sri Lanka APIIT Dr Peter Beszter - HR and Employee Relations SU Prof David Williamson - Regulation, Compliance and Enforcement SU Shashini Vidanapthirana Abeysinghe - Sri Lankan and South Asian Labour Law, and ILO Standards APIIT Farhana Raheem - Sri Lankan and South Asian Labour Law, and ILO Standards APII