A broad distribution of the alternative oxidase in microsporidian parasites

Microsporidia are a group of obligate intracellular parasitic eukaryotes that were considered to be amitochondriate until the recent discovery of highly reduced mitochondrial organelles called mitosomes. Analysis of the complete genome of Encephalitozoon cuniculi revealed a highly reduced set of proteins in the organelle, mostly related to the assembly of ironsulphur clusters. Oxidative phosphorylation and the Krebs cycle proteins were absent, in keeping with the notion that the microsporidia and their mitosomes are anaerobic, as is the case for other mitosome bearing eukaryotes, such as Giardia. Here we provide evidence opening the possibility that mitosomes in a number of microsporidian lineages are not completely anaerobic. Specifically, we have identified and characterized a gene encoding the alternative oxidase (AOX), a typically mitochondrial terminal oxidase in eukaryotes, in the genomes of several distantly related microsporidian species, even though this gene is absent from the complete genome of E. cuniculi. In order to confirm that these genes encode functional proteins, AOX genes from both A. locustae and T. hominis were over-expressed in E. coli and AOX activity measured spectrophotometrically using ubiquinol-1 (UQ-1) as substrate. Both A. locustae and T. hominis AOX proteins reduced UQ-1 in a cyanide and antimycin-resistant manner that was sensitive to ascofuranone, a potent inhibitor of the trypanosomal AOX. The physiological role of AOX microsporidia may be to reoxidise reducing equivalents produced by glycolysis, in a manner comparable to that observed in trypanosome

An exploratory study into everyday problem solving in the design process of medical devices

We investigated accounts of how individuals in public and private organisations operating in the medical device industry use different forms of capital (social e.g. networks and cultural e.g. knowledge) to solve design based problems. We define capital as resources embedded in social networks, knowledge or economic wealth (Bourdieu, 1986). Data were collected from interviews and written diaries from individuals involved in the design process of medical devices using interpretative analysis. Inferences made from our analyses suggested that individuals working in organisations who successfully solve problems may do so by using both social and cultural capital and so may be more likely to engage in innovative activity than others. These exploratory findings suggest workers in large organisations may have the capability to use a greater level of in-house social and cultural capital, whereas those in smaller organisations may be more reliant on high levels of social capital in order to ‘tap into’ cultural capital beyond organisational boundaries

The Effects of an Exercise Program on Cardiovascular Risk Factors at a Faith Based University

Physical inactivity is a significant risk factor for heart disease, hypertension, stroke, diabetes, and certain types of cancer according to the World Health Organization (WHO, 2013). A simple form of physical activity that improves health and also has a high adherence rate is walking (Dishman, 1994). Walking has been shown to lower fasting blood glucose, decrease total cholesterol, and reduce hypertension when introduced to college faculty and staff as part of a comprehensive wellness program (Haines, 2007). PURPOSE: To determine if a walking program would lower cardiovascular risk factors for faculty and staff who adhere to a faith based values lifestyle. METHODS: Forty seven non-smoking, non-drinking faculty and staff participated in this 12 week study (31 females, 16 males; mean age= 49). Measurements taken at the beginning and end of the program included the 1 mile Rockport walking test, waist circumference, resting blood pressure, fasting blood glucose and cholesterol blood tests. Participants were required to walk for 30 minutes on at least 4 days of the week and log their exercise in a web based system. A Repeated Measures ANOVA was used to determine changes in the biometric measurements. RESULTS: While results trended toward improved biometric measurements, statistically significant improvement was only found in reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure (p \u3e .05). The number of participants who showed improvements in systolic blood pressure was 91%, in diastolic blood pressure: 95%, in total cholesterol: 71%, in waist circumference: 80%, and in fasting blood glucose: 72%. CONCLUSION: While a 4 day a week walking program did show improvements in biometric risk factor measurements, it showed limited statistically significant changes in this group of participants. Results may be due to the faith based values lifestyle of the participants or the short length of the study

Diseases of Old Age in Two Paintings by Rembrandt

Two paintings of older men by Rembrandt (1609–1669) are examined to demonstrate that historical attitudes toward diseases of old age and the ageing person’s response to illness can be investigated in paintings. The works selected are of different genres and date from different stages of Rembrandt’s own life, one from his youth and one from his old age. Both paintings show figures who have joint pathologies typically associated with the ageing process, the first involving the subject’s foot and the second involving the subject’s hand. Despite the sometimes painful nature of these conditions, the subjects are shown accommodating their illnesses while maintaining both their intellectual and social engagement and their emotional composure. Although the seventeenth century offered older people very little effective medical treatment in comparison with what is presently available, these paintings nevertheless present a view of illness as a subsidiary rather than a dominant feature of old age