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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 to 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 to 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
-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
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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
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
Quantum simulation of electron-phonon interactions in strongly deformable materials
We propose an approach for quantum simulation of electron-phonon interactions
using Rydberg states of cold atoms and ions. We show how systems of cold atoms
and ions can be mapped onto electron-phonon systems of the Su-Schrieffer-Heeger
type. We discuss how properties of the simulated Hamiltonian can be tuned and
how to read physically relevant properties from the simulator. In particular,
use of painted spot potentials offers a high level of tunability, enabling all
physically relevant regimes of the electron-phonon Hamiltonian to be accessed.Comment: To appear in New Journal of Physic
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