Manchester Metropolitan University

About: Manchester Metropolitan University is a education organization based out in Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Context (language use). The organization has 5435 authors who have published 16202 publications receiving 442561 citations. The organization is also known as: Manchester Polytechnic & MMU.

Reduced plantarflexor specific torque in the elderly is associated with a lower activation capacity

Abstract: Previous studies have reported a decrease in muscle torque per cross-sectional area in old age. This investigation aimed at determining the influence of agonists muscle activation and antagonists co-activation on the specific torque of the plantarflexors (PF) in recreationally active elderly males (EM) and, for comparison, in young men (YM). Twenty-one EM, aged 70-82 years, and 14 YM, aged 19-35 years, performed isometric maximum voluntary contractions (MVC). Activation was assessed by comparing the amplitude of interpolated supramaximal twitch doublets at MVC, with post-tetanic doublet peak torque. Co-activation of the tibialis anterior (TA) was evaluated as the ratio of TA-integrated EMG (IEMG) activity during PF MVC compared to TA IEMG during maximal voluntary dorsiflexion. Triceps surae muscle volume (VOL) was assessed using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and PF peak torque was normalised to VOL (PT/VOL) since the later approximates physiological cross-sectional area (CSA) more closely than anatomical CSA. Also, physical activity level, assessed by accelerometry, was significantly lower (21%) in the elderly males. In comparison to the YM group, a greater difference in PT (39%) than VOL (19%) was found in the EM group. PT/VOL and activation capacity were respectively lower by 25% and 21% in EM compared to YM, whereas co-activation was not significantly different. In EM PT/VOL correlated with activation (R(2)=0.31, P<0.01). In conclusion, a reduction in activation capacity may contribute significantly to the decline in specific torque in the plantar flexors of elderly males. The hypothesis is put forward that reduced physical activity is partialy responsible for the reduced activation capacity in the elderly.

Explaining Men's Entry into Female- Concentrated Occupations: Issues of Masculinity and Social Class

Abstract: This article seeks to add to an understanding of why some men enter female-concentrated occupations (and why the majority do not). Drawing on the results of in-depth interviews with 27 men in a range of occupations, I illustrate and interpret the complex and often contradictory ways in which men approach the notion of working in female-concentrated occupations and examine the impact that this has on their occupational outcomes. The data suggest that different attitudes to female-concentrated work cannot in themselves explain men's presence there. Consequently I explore, with particular reference to social class, the context in which attitudes around gender, work and occupational destinations, are framed. I conclude that men's entry to female-concentrated occupations may best be approached, not as an issue of ‘masculinity’ but as one of social mobility operating within a gendered labour market.

Temperature effect on the rates of isometric force development and relaxation in the fresh and fatigued human adductor pollicis muscle

Abstract: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of temperature on the rates of isometric force development and relaxation in electrically activated fresh and fatigued human adductor pollicis muscle. Following immersion of the lower arm for 20 min in water baths of four different temperatures, muscle temperatures were approximately 37, 31, 25 and 22 C. Maximal isometric force was reduced by 16.8 +/- 1.5 % at 22 C. The stimulation frequency-force and -rate of force development relationships were shifted to the left at lower temperatures. Q10 values for the maximal rates of force development and relaxation, and the times for 100 to 50 % and 50 to 25 % force relaxation, were about 2.0 between 37 and 25 C and about 3.8 between 25 and 22 C. However, the time for 50 to 25 % force relaxation had a relatively high Q10 value between 25 and 22 C (6.9) and this parameter also appeared to be more sensitive to fatigue compared to the other indices of relaxation. Nevertheless, the effect of fatigue on all parameters decreased with cooling over the entire (37-22 C) temperature range.

Managing brand presence through social media: the case of UK football clubs

Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to contribute knowledge on the issues and benefits associated with managing brand presence and relationships through social media. UK football clubs are big businesses, with committed communities of fans, so are an ideal context from which to develop an understanding of the issues and challenges facing organisations as they seek to protect and promote their brand online. Design/methodology/approach – Due to the emergent nature of social media, and the criticality of the relationships between clubs and their fans, an exploratory study using a multiple case study approach was used to gather rich insights into the phenomenon. Findings – Clubs agreed that further development of social media strategies had potential to deliver interaction and engagement, community growth and belonging, traffic flow to official web sites and commercial gain. However, in developing their social media strategies they had two key concerns. The first concern was the control of the brand presen...

CD105 prevents apoptosis in hypoxic endothelial cells.

Abstract: CD105, a marker of endothelial cells, is abundantly expressed in tissues undergoing angiogenesis and is a receptor for transforming growth factorbeta. The pivotal role of CD105 in the vascular system was demonstrated by the severe vascular defects that occur in CD105-knockout mice, but the exact mechanisms for CD105 regulation of vascular development have not been fully elucidated. In light of the function of CD105 and the importance of hypoxia in neovascularisation, we speculated that CD105 is involved in hypoxia-initiated angiogenesis. Using tissue-cultured human microvascular endothelial cells, we have investigated the effects of hypoxic stress on CD105 gene expression. Hypoxia induced a significant increase in membrane-bound and secreted CD105 protein levels. CD105 mRNA and promoter activity were also markedly elevated, the latter returning to the basal level after 16 hours of hypoxic stress. Hypoxia induced cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phases and massive cell apoptosis after 24 hours through a reduction in the Bcl-2 to Bax ratio, downregulation of Bcl-XL and Mcl-1, and upregulation of caspase-3 and caspase-8. The consequence of CD105 upregulation was revealed using an antisense approach and a TUNEL assay. Suppression of CD105 increased cell apoptosis under hypoxic stress in the absence of TGFbeta1. Furthermore, hypoxia and TGFbeta1 synergistically induced apoptosis in the CD105-deficient cells but not in the control cells. We conclude that hypoxia is a potent stimulus for CD105 gene expression in vascular endothelial cells, which in turn attenuates cell apoptosis and thus contributes to angiogenesis.