Classroom seating : applying Johnson's decision making inventory

The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file.Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on October 10, 2007)Thesis (Ph. D.) University of Missouri-Columbia 2007.Over a period of three weeks students in an introductory Parks and Recreation course were studied to determine their decision making styles, seating choice and movement. Data were collected on the first day of class to determine student decision making styles using Johnson, Coscarelli and Johnson's (2007) Decision Making Inventory (n=145). Over the next eight class periods student seat choice was also collected (n=129). Evidence was provided that decision making styles are not significantly correlated with seat choice when compared on the first day of class, but did correlate three weeks later on the last day of data collection. Gender and DMI styles do not correlate but significant differences are present between males and females with regard to style. That was evidenced by interactions that occur between gender and style categories. Decision making styles were predominately systematic/internal for males and systematic/external for females. Movement data suggested over a three week period students stabilize their seat choice. Overall by the eighth data collection period student movement diminished, gender became relevant to style and seat choice became consistently characterized by females in the forward rows and males in rear of the classroom.Includes bibliographical reference

Eph receptors in breast cancer: roles in tumor promotion and tumor suppression

Eph receptor tyrosine kinase signaling regulates cancer initiation and metastatic progression through multiple mechanisms. Studies of tumor-cell-autonomous effects of Eph receptors demonstrate their dual roles in tumor suppression and tumor promotion. In addition, Eph molecules function in the tumor microenvironment, such as in vascular endothelial cells, influencing the ability of these molecules to promote carcinoma progression and metastasis. The complex nature of Eph receptor signaling and crosstalk with other receptor tyrosine kinases presents a unique challenge and an opportunity to develop therapeutic intervention strategies for targeting breast cancer

Genetic effects on gene expression across human tissues

Characterization of the molecular function of the human genome and its variation across individuals is essential for identifying the cellular mechanisms that underlie human genetic traits and diseases. The Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) project aims to characterize variation in gene expression levels across individuals and diverse tissues of the human body, many of which are not easily accessible. Here we describe genetic effects on gene expression levels across 44 human tissues. We find that local genetic variation affects gene expression levels for the majority of genes, and we further identify inter-chromosomal genetic effects for 93 genes and 112 loci. On the basis of the identified genetic effects, we characterize patterns of tissue specificity, compare local and distal effects, and evaluate the functional properties of the genetic effects. We also demonstrate that multi-tissue, multi-individual data can be used to identify genes and pathways affected by human disease-associated variation, enabling a mechanistic interpretation of gene regulation and the genetic basis of diseas

Genetic effects on gene expression across human tissues

Characterization of the molecular function of the human genome and its variation across individuals is essential for identifying the cellular mechanisms that underlie human genetic traits and diseases. The Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) project aims to characterize variation in gene expression levels across individuals and diverse tissues of the human body, many of which are not easily accessible. Here we describe genetic effects on gene expression levels across 44 human tissues. We find that local genetic variation affects gene expression levels for the majority of genes, and we further identify inter-chromosomal genetic effects for 93 genes and 112 loci. On the basis of the identified genetic effects, we characterize patterns of tissue specificity, compare local and distal effects, and evaluate the functional properties of the genetic effects. We also demonstrate that multi-tissue, multi-individual data can be used to identify genes and pathways affected by human disease-associated variation, enabling a mechanistic interpretation of gene regulation and the genetic basis of disease

Inhibition of DNA methyltransferase 1 expression in bovine fibroblast cells used for nuclear transfer

The aberrant expression of DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) in cloned embryos has been implicated as a possible factor in the improper donor genome reprogramming during nuclear transfer. DNMT1 is responsible for maintaining DNA methylation and the subsequent differentiation status of somatic cells. The presence of DNMT1 transcript in the donor cell may contribute to perpetuation of the highly methylated status of the somatic nuclei in cloned embryos. The objective of the present study was to determine the methylation pattern of cloned embryos reconstructed with cells treated with DNMT1-specific small interfering RNA (siRNA). Bovine fibroblasts were transfected with a DNMT1-specific siRNA under optimised conditions. The expression patterns of DNMT1 were characterised by Q-PCR using the CT method. The level of DNMT1 was successfully decreased in bovine fibroblast cells using a DNMT1-specific siRNA. Additionally, reduction in the expression of DNMT1 mRNA and DNMT1 protein led to a moderate hypomethylation pattern in the siRNA-treated cells. The use of siRNA-treated cells as donor nuclei during nuclear transplantation induced a reduction in methylation levels compared with controls but did not reduce methylation levels to that of IVF embryos. Further studies are required to determine if this level of reduced methylation is sufficient to improve subsequent development. © 2009 CSIRO

The use of bi-layer silk fibroin scaffolds and small intestinal submucosa matrices to support bladder tissue regeneration in a rat model of spinal cord injury

Adverse side-effects associated with enterocystoplasty for neurogenic bladder reconstruction have spawned the need for the development of alternative graft substitutes. Bi-layer silk fibroin (SF) scaffolds and small intestinal submucosa (SIS) matrices were investigated for their ability to support bladder tissue regeneration and function in a rat model of spinal cord injury (SCI). Bladder augmentation was performed with each scaffold configuration in SCI animals for 10 wk of implantation and compared to non-augmented control groups (normal and SCI alone). Animals subjected to SCI alone exhibited a 72% survival rate (13/18) while SCI rats receiving SIS and bi-layer SF scaffolds displayed respective survival rates of 83% (10/12) and 75% (9/12) over the course of the study period. Histological (Masson’s trichrome analysis) and immunohistochemical (IHC) evaluations demonstrated both implant groups supported de novo formation of smooth muscle layers with contractile protein expression [α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and SM22α] as well as maturation of multi-layer urothelia expressing cytokeratin (CK) and uroplakin 3A proteins. Histomorphometric analysis revealed bi-layer SF and SIS scaffolds respectively reconstituted 64% and 56% of the level of α-SMA+ smooth muscle bundles present in SCI-alone controls, while similar degrees of CK+ urothelium across all experimental groups were detected. Parallel evaluations showed similar degrees of vascular area and synaptophysin+ boutons in all regenerated tissues compared to SCI-alone controls. In addition, improvements in certain urodynamic parameters in SCI animals, such as decreased peak intravesical pressure, following implantation with both matrix configurations were also observed. The data presented in this study detail the ability of acellular SIS and bi-layer SF scaffolds to support formation of innervated, vascularized smooth muscle and urothelial tissues in a neurogenic bladder model