Expression of the Ets transcription factor Erm is regulated through a conventional PKC signaling pathway in the Molt4 lymphoblastic cell line.

Erm, a member of the PEA3 group within the Ets family of transcription factors, is expressed in murine and human lymphocytes. Here, we show that in the human Molt4 lymphoblastic cell line, the erm gene expression is regulated by the conventional PKC (cPKC) pathway. To better characterize the molecular mechanism by which cPKC regulates Erm transcription in Molt4 cells, we tested proximal promoter deletions of the human gene, and identified a specific cPKC-regulated region between positions -420 and -115 upstream of the first exon.

Through the portal – improving the flow of information on non-native marine species in Great Britain.

Abstract: The UK Government funded, GB Non-Native Species Information Portal (GBNNSIP) collects and collates data on non-native species in Great Britain making information available online. Resources include a comprehensive register of non-native species and detailed fact sheets for a sub-set, significant to humans or the environment. Reporting of species records are linked to risk analyses, rapid responses and horizon scanning to support the early recognition of threats (Figure 12). The portal has improved flow of new and existing distributional data to the National Biodiversity Network (NBN) to generate distribution maps for the portal. The project is led by the Biological Records Centre and the Marine Biological Association is responsible for marine non-native species within this scheme. The INTERREG IV funded project Marinexus has included professional research and citizen science work, which has fed directly into the portal. The portal outputs and the work of Marinexus have a range of marine governance applications, including supporting work towards MSFD compliance.

Analysis of the Steady Flow Characteristics Through a Poppet Valve

This paper describes the flow characteristics in the near throat region of a poppet valve under steady flow conditions. An experimental and theoretical procedure was undertaken to determine the total pressure at the assumed throat region of the valve, and also at a downstream location. Experiments of this type can be used to accurately determine the flow performance of a particular induction system. The static pressure recovery was calculated from the near throat region of the valve to the downstream location and was shown to be dependant on valve lift. Total pressure profiles suggest that for this particular induction system, the majority of pressure loss occurs downstream of the valve for lift/diameter ratios up to 0.1, and upstream of the valve for lift/diameter ratios greater than 0.1. Negligible pressure recovery was shown to exist from the cylindrical periphery of the valve head to the downstream location for all valve lifts, indicating that the flow had probably separated completely from the trailing edge of the valve seating face. The calculated discharge coefficients, based on the geometric throat static pressure measurements on the seating face, were in general less than those determined using the downstream static pressure, by as much as 12% in some instances towards the valves lower mass flow rate range.

Modelling the flow of congestive heart failure patients through a hospital system

The number of hospital admissions in England due to heart failure is projected to increase by over 50% during the next 25 years. This will incur greater pressures on hospital managers to allocate resources in an effective manner. A reliable indicator for measuring the quantity of resources consumed by hospital patients is their length of stay (LOS) in care. This paper proposes modelling the length of time heart failure patients spend in hospital using a special type of Markov model, where the flow of patients through hospital can be thought of as consisting of three stages of care—short-, medium- and longer-term care. If it is assumed that new admissions into the ward are replacements for discharges, such a model may be used to investigate the case-mix of patients in hospital and the expected patient turnover during some specified period of time. An example is illustrated by considering hospital admissions to a Belfast hospital in Northern Ireland, between 2000 and 2004.

PTEN regulates colorectal epithelial apoptosis through Cdc42 signalling.

BACKGROUND:
Phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) regulation of the Rho-like GTPase Cdc42 has a central role in epithelial polarised growth, but effects of this molecular network on apoptosis remain unclear.

METHODS:
To investigate the role of Cdc42 in PTEN-dependent cell death, we used flow cytometry, in vitro pull-down assays, poly(ADP ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage and other immunoblots in isogenic PTEN-expressing and -deficient colorectal cells (HCT116PTEN(+/+), HCT116PTEN(-/-), Caco2 and Caco2 ShPTEN cells) after transfection or treatment strategies.

RESULTS:
The PTEN knockout or suppression by short hairpin RNA or small interfering RNA (siRNA) inhibited Cdc42 activity, PARP cleavage and/or apoptosis in flow cytometry assays. Transfection of cells with wild-type or constitutively active Cdc42 enhanced PARP cleavage, whereas siRNA silencing of Cdc42 inhibited PARP cleavage and/or apoptosis. Pharmacological upregulation of PTEN by sodium butyrate (NaBt) treatment enhanced Cdc42 activity, PARP cleavage and apoptosis, whereas Cdc42 siRNA suppressed NaBt-induced PARP cleavage. Cdc42-dependent signals can suppress glycogen synthase kinase-ß (GSK3ß) activity. Pharmacological inhibition of GSK3ß by lithium chloride treatment mimicked effects of Cdc42 in promotion of PARP cleavage and/or apoptosis.

CONCLUSION:
Phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10 may influence apoptosis in colorectal epithelium through Cdc42 signalling, thus providing a regulatory framework for both polarised growth and programmed cell death.