Differential Proteomic Analysis of Mammalian Tissues Using SILAM

Differential expression of proteins between tissues underlies organ-specific functions. Under certain pathological conditions, this may also lead to tissue vulnerability. Furthermore, post-translational modifications exist between different cell types and pathological conditions. We employed SILAM (Stable Isotope Labeling in Mammals) combined with mass spectrometry to quantify the proteome between mammalian tissues. Using 15N labeled rat tissue, we quantified 3742 phosphorylated peptides in nuclear extracts from liver and brain tissue. Analysis of the phosphorylation sites revealed tissue specific kinase motifs. Although these tissues are quite different in their composition and function, more than 500 protein identifications were common to both tissues. Specifically, we identified an up-regulation in the brain of the phosphoprotein, ZFHX1B, in which a genetic deletion causes the neurological disorder Mowat–Wilson syndrome. Finally, pathway analysis revealed distinct nuclear pathways enriched in each tissue. Our findings provide a valuable resource as a starting point for further understanding of tissue specific gene regulation and demonstrate SILAM as a useful strategy for the differential proteomic analysis of mammalian tissues

Effect of Inspirational and Motivational Leadership on Creativity and Innovation in SMEs

Maladzhi, R. W., and Yan, B. (2014). "Effect of inspirational and motivational leadership on creativity and innovation in SMEs". - The definitive, peer-reviewed and edited version of this article is published in Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management (IEEM), 2014 IEEE International Conference on (pp. 1433-1437). IEEE. DOI: 10.1109/IEEM.2014.7058875The purpose of this study is to identify the effects of inspirational and motivational leadership on creativity and innovation in South African Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) within the manufacturing engineering sector. The leadership issues have been of major concern since the inception of democracy in 1994. Recent years, the spirit of creativity and innovation is suppressed and innovation culture is greatly affected among SMEs. It is critical for leaders to inspire and motivate employees to contribute new ideas and become more productive. A survey research was conducted from a group of employees (n1=366) and leaders (n2=57) within 50 SMEs in the Western Cape. A hypothetical model with the emphasis on inspirational and motivational leadership characteristics is developed. The findings indicated that the leaders did not fully show their inspirational and motivational capabilities and they disagreed with employees on empowerment, rewards for creativity, and support mechanism

The impact of innovative leadership on organisational culture within South African small and medium enterprises in the Western Cape, South Africa

Numerous studies indicated a tremendous need of a competent leadership to lead transformation process within the South African small and medium enterprises (SMEs), especially after 1994. Over the past years, a number of SMEs failed in innovation due to lack of innovative culture. Leadership has been proven as a critical factor to create an innovative culture within organisations. Thus, this paper proposes a theoretical model to emphasize the impact of innovative leadership on organisational culture. Data were collected through a semi-structured questionnaire from a group of SMEs (n = 15) within the manufacturing sector from the Western Cape. A descriptive analysis was carried out through the SPSS 19 program. Both alternative (H1) and null (H0) hypothesis were used to test the relationship between leadership characteristics and organisational culture. The results revealed that the key factors such as lack of business management skills, knowledge of leadership transition, education and training, market and technological know-how, entrepreneurial drive, and resistance of changes remained the primary determinants for leaders to manage innovation successfully in SMEs. The model provided a guideline for leaders to influence employees to be creative and innovative to ensure the success of innovation within their organisations

Activation of the Ubiquitin–Proteasome Pathway in the Diaphragm in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Rationale: Studies show that the myosin content of the diaphragm in patients with mild to moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is reduced, compromising diaphragm contractile performance. The mechanisms for reduced contractile protein content are unknown. In the present study we hypothesized that the loss of contractile protein content is associated with activation of the ubiquitin–proteasome pathway in the diaphragm of patients with mild to moderate COPD