Regulation of anti-inflammatory gene expression in vascular endothelial cells by EPAC1

Suppressor of cytokine signalling 3 (SOCS3) is a potent inhibitor of pro-inflammatory pathways involved in atherogenesis and the development of neo-intimal hyperplasia (NIH), which contributes to the in-stent re-stenosis responsible for the failure of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedures. We have shown that cyclic AMP sensor EPAC1 triggers induction of the SOCS3 gene in vascular endothelial cells (VECs), thereby attenuating interleukin 6 (IL-6)-mediated pro-inflammatory signalling. We propose that EPAC1 localisation to the nuclear pore controls cyclic AMP-mediated activation of a C/EBPβ/c-Jun transcriptional complex, leading to SOCS3 induction and suppression of pro-inflammatory signalling. Future work in this area will involve an integrated approach to determine the wider significance of the EPAC1-C/EBPβ/c-Jun pathway in controlling human VEC function and identify new therapeutic targets for management of chronic inflammation in vascular settings

Edge-region grouping in figure-ground organization and depth perception.

Edge-region grouping (ERG) is proposed as a unifying and previously unrecognized class of relational information that influences figure-ground organization and perceived depth across an edge. ERG occurs when the edge between two regions is differentially grouped with one region based on classic principles of similarity grouping. The ERG hypothesis predicts that the grouped side will tend to be perceived as the closer, figural region. Six experiments are reported that test the predictions of the ERG hypothesis for 6 similarity-based factors: common fate, blur similarity, color similarity, orientation similarity, proximity, and flicker synchrony. All 6 factors produce the predicted effects, although to different degrees. In a 7th experiment, the strengths of these figural/depth effects were found to correlate highly with the strength of explicit grouping ratings of the same visual displays. The relations of ERG to prior results in the literature are discussed, and possible reasons for ERG-based figural/depth effects are considered. We argue that grouping processes mediate at least some of the effects we report here, although ecological explanations are also likely to be relevant in the majority of cases

Changing quantum reference frames

We consider the process of changing reference frames in the case where the reference frames are quantum systems. We find that, as part of this process, decoherence is necessarily induced on any quantum system described relative to these frames. We explore this process with examples involving reference frames for phase and orientation. Quantifying the effect of changing quantum reference frames serves as a first step in developing a relativity principle for theories in which all objects including reference frames are necessarily quantum.Comment: 21 pages, 6 figures, comments welcome; v2 added some references; v3 published versio

Using hypnosis in coaching psychology practice to enhance performance, reduce anxiety and increase self-efficacy

Traditionally, hypnosis techniques have been applied within hypnotherapy and psychotherapy as a therapeutic intervention. This paper focuses on using hypnosis as a technique to enhance performance, reduce anxiety and increase self-efficacy in coaching and coaching psychology settings. A hypnosis script is included that can be adapted by practitioners to tackle presenting performance-related problems

Dependent on trust and improved by transparency

Ole Michael Spaten interviews Professor Stephen Palmer on the coaching relationship, newer findings and future research. In this interview, Palmer stated that there is no consensus in the precise definition of the coaching relationship. However, Palmer mentions his previous definition of the coaching relationship: ‘a unique, co-created, evolving relationship comprising the coaching alliance plus additional client and coach contributions.’ Likewise, Palmer pointed out that a fruitful coaching relationship is essential for coachees to accomplish their goals. According to Palmer, some of his key findings is that coaching relationship is dependent on trust and is improved by transparency. Additionally, Palmer declares that striving towards goals and enhancing performance are essential factors in coaching. Moreover, he acknowledged that the phenomena of virtual coaching that we encounter would benefit from further research

Defining and characterising structural uncertainty in decision analytic models

An inappropriate structure for a decision analytic model can potentially invalidate estimates of cost-effectiveness and estimates of the value of further research. However, there are often a number of alternative and credible structural assumptions which can be made. Although it is common practice to acknowledge potential limitations in model structure, there is a lack of clarity about methods to characterize the uncertainty surrounding alternative structural assumptions and their contribution to decision uncertainty. A review of decision models commissioned by the NHS Health Technology Programme was undertaken to identify the types of model uncertainties described in the literature. A second review was undertaken to identify approaches to characterise these uncertainties. The assessment of structural uncertainty has received little attention in the health economics literature. A common method to characterise structural uncertainty is to compute results for each alternative model specification, and to present alternative results as scenario analyses. It is then left to decision maker to assess the credibility of the alternative structures in interpreting the range of results. The review of methods to explicitly characterise structural uncertainty identified two methods: 1) model averaging, where alternative models, with different specifications, are built, and their results averaged, using explicit prior distributions often based on expert opinion and 2) Model selection on the basis of prediction performance or goodness of fit. For a number of reasons these methods are neither appropriate nor desirable methods to characterize structural uncertainty in decision analytic models. When faced with a choice between multiple models, another method can be employed which allows structural uncertainty to be explicitly considered and does not ignore potentially relevant model structures. Uncertainty can be directly characterised (or parameterised) in the model itself. This method is analogous to model averaging on individual or sets of model inputs, but also allows the value of information associated with structural uncertainties to be resolved.

What has been the preliminary impact of federal programs to promote the adoption of electronic health records?

textThe objective of this study is to assess the preliminary impact of federal programs established to promote the adoption of EHRs on the patterns, rates, and levels of EHR adoption. Statewide surveys of physicians and hospitals in Texas fielded between 2010 and 2012 are supplemented with other data, and then analyzed with logistic regression modeling, technology diffusion models, and regression discontinuity designs, supplemented with key informant interviews. The models did not consistently yield large or significant effect estimates. The logit models did not show any significant changes in the patterns of EHR adoption. The technology diffusion models showed a small, significant effect on adoption rates. The regression discontinuity (RD) design models showed a moderate, insignificant effect of the programs on adoption levels. Overall, the data and methods used in this study do not support the claim that the federal EHR promotion programs had a significant effect.Public Polic

The optical properties of automatically darkening welding filters based on liquid crystal technology

This thesis addresses the problem of the poor optical angular properties displayed by the majority of automatically darkening welding filters currently on the market that are based on liquid crystal technology. It is shown that by reducing the twist-angle present in the liquid crystal cell to below that of 90 together with employment of a novel polariser arrangement, an optical shutter design based on a double-cell construction is obtained that boasts a reduced angular transmittance variation when in the activated phase. This gives an optical filter possessing a wide central viewing cone whilst maintaining the remaining optical parameters at a high level. The only point of compromise comes from the voltage increase requirement upon reduction of the twist- angle in order to maintain cell contrast. Although this inflates the power consumption of the system, beneficial effects upon the total light scattering provoked by the device are also observed. The final sections deal with a new mode of operation for a twisted-nematic liquid crystal cell when placed between crossed polarisers together with an interference filter possessing a high optical transmittance over the central part of the visible spectrum. This mode of operation means that the cell is in a dark state when inactivated. Application of a small stimulating voltage transmutes the unit into the light state, where upon further increment of the driving electronics beyond this point reverts the system back into a low transmittance phase. Such a mode of operation for a twisted-nematic cell offers several advantages over that of the normally white mode when considering the optical lens of an automatically darkening welding filter. In particular, a dark, fail-safe state is provided should the controlling electronics malfunction preventing the unit from holding in a potentially hazardous light phase, a property usually associated with the normally black mode of operation, whilst the fast switching speed from the light to the dark state associated with the normally white mode of operation is maintained. It is shown that there are only two cell types that display this phenomenon and the optical properties of these two systems are analysed in some detail with the view of developing an automatically darkening welding filter based on this technology. This thesis is submitted to the University of Durham for the degree of Master of Science. All work contained within this thesis was carried out by the author at Hornell Innovation AB in Sweden. No material contained within has been submitted for a previous degree and the copyright of this thesis rests with the author. No quotation from it should be published without his prior written consent and information derived from it should be acknowledged