Characterisation of ERK distribution and activity in rat pheochromocytoma cells : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Molecular Biology at Massey University

Nerve growth factor (NGF) binds to the NGF receptor, TrkA, at the tips of nerve cell axons, sending a signal that prevents programmed cell death and causes survival, growth, and differentiation of the nerve cell. Both NGF and TrkA have been demonstrated to be retrogradely transported from axon tips to nerve cell bodies, however the mechanism of this transport, and its function, is strongly debated. Using a recently developed cell fractionation protocol in conjunction with in vitro reactions using an ATP regenerating system, our lab has isolated small vesicles containing NGF bound to activated TrkA. These vesicles may provide a vehicle for retrograde transport of the NGF signal and initiation of signal transduction in the cell body. ERK1 is a serine/threonine kinase that is activated by NGF-activated TrkA. Prolonged ERK1 activity is characteristic of cells stimulated by NGF. The purpose of the experiments in this thesis was to characterise the intracellular distribution and activity of ERK1 before and after NGF stimulation, in rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells, which are a good model for nerve cells. We have found that ERK1 activity is redistributed between cell compartments after NGF stimulation of PC12 cells. ERK1 activity increased in sedimentable fractions that emerged from mechanically permeabilised cells after NGF treatment and in vitro reactions with ATP. Importantly, the results from glycerol velocity gradient experiments showed that ERK1 was not associated with membranes. Instead ERK1 was found in a rapidly sedimenting particle whose sedimentation was not affected by detergent solubilisation. These results suggest that ERK1 is recruited into a protein complex, after activation, which may be an important step in signal transduction. Formation of this complex is likely to be downstream of signalling vesicles containing NGF bound TrkA

Evaluated Experimental Isobaric Analogue States from T=1/2T = 1/2 to T=3T = 3 and associated IMME coefficients

Isobaric multiplets can be used to provide reliable mass predictions through the Isobaric Multiplet Mass Equation (IMME). Isobaric analogue states (IAS) for isospin multiplets from $T=1/2$ to $T=3$ have been studied within the 2012 Atomic Mass Evaluation (Ame2012). Each IAS established from published experimental reaction data has been expressed in the form of a primary reaction $Q$-value, and if necessary, has been recalibrated. The evaluated IAS masses are provided here along with the associated IMME coefficients. Quadratic and higher order forms of the IMME have been considered, and global trends have been extracted. Particular nuclides, requiring experimental investigation, have been identified and discussed. This dataset is the most precise and extensive set of evaluated IAS to date.Comment: 44 pages, 7 figures, 11 tables. Accepted for publication in Nuclear Physics

The Nature of Rights

The twentieth century saw a vigorous debate over the nature of rights. Will theorists argued that the function of rights is to allocate domains of freedom. Interest theorists portrayed rights as defenders of well-being. Each side declared its conceptual analysis to be closer to an ordinary understanding of what rights there are, and to an ordinary understanding of what rights do for rightholders. Neither side could win a decisive victory, and the debate ended in a standoff. This article offers a new analysis of rights. The first half of the article sets out an analytical framework adequate for explicating all assertions of rights. This framework is an elaboration of Hohfeld’s, designed around a template for displaying the often complex internal structures of rights. Those unfamiliar with Hohfeld’s work should find that the exposition here presumes no prior knowledge of it. Those who know Hohfeld will find innovations in how the system is defined and presented. Any theorist wishing to specify precisely what is at stake within a controversy over some particular right may find this framework useful. The analytical framework is then deployed in the second half of the article to resolve the dispute between the will and interest theories. Despite the appeal of freedom and well-being as organizing ideas, each of these theories is clearly too narrow. We accept rights, which do not (as the will theory holds) define domains of freedom; and we affirm rights whose aim is not (as the interest theory claims) to further the interests of the rightholder. A third theory, introduced here, is superior in describing the functions of rights as they are commonly understood

Sexual and gender minorities educational content within obstetric anesthesia fellowship programs: a survey.

PurposeImproved patient-provider relationships can positively influence patient outcomes. Sexual and gender minorities (SGM) represent a wide variety of marginalized populations. There is an absence of studies examining the inclusion of SGM-related health education within postgraduate training in anesthesia. This study's objective was to perform an environmental scan of the educational content of North American obstetric anesthesia fellowship programs.MethodsAn online survey was developed based on a review of the existing literature assessing the presence of SGM content within other healthcare-provider curricula. The survey instrument was distributed electronically to 50 program directors of North American obstetric anesthesia fellowship programs. Survey responses were summarized using descriptive statistics.ResultsSurvey responses were received from 30 of the 50 program directors (60%). Of these, 54% (14/26) felt their curriculum adequately prepares fellows to care for SGM patients, yet only 19% (5/26) of participants stated that SGM content was part of their curriculum and 31% (8/26) would like to see more incorporated in the future. Perceived lack of need was chosen as the biggest barrier to curricular inclusion of SGM education (46%; 12/26), followed by lack of available/interested faculty (19%; 5/26) and time (19%; 5/26).ConclusionsOur results suggest that, although curriculum leaders appreciate that SGM patients are encountered within the practice of obstetric anesthesia, most fellowship programs do not explicitly include SGM curricular content. Nevertheless, there appears to be interest in developing SGM curricular content for obstetric anesthesia fellowship training. Future steps should include perspectives of trainees and patients to inform curricular content

Adaptive reflection and focusing of Bose-Einstein condensates

We report adjustable magnetic `bouncing' and focusing of a dilute $^{87}$Rb Bose gas. Both the condensate production and manipulation are realised using a particularly straight-forward apparatus. The bouncing region is comprised of approximately concentric ellipsoidal magnetic equipotentials with a centre that can be adjusted vertically. We extend, and discuss the limitations of, simple Thomas-Fermi and Monte-Carlo theoretical models for the bouncing, which at present find close agreement with the condensate's evolution. Very strong focusing has been inferred and the observation of atomic matter-wave diffraction should be possible. Prospects look bright for applications in matter-wave atom-optics, due to the very smooth nature of the mirror