University of Bedfordshire

About: University of Bedfordshire is a education organization based out in Luton, Bedford, United Kingdom. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Context (language use). The organization has 3860 authors who have published 6079 publications receiving 143448 citations. The organization is also known as: University of Luton.

Localization of GerAA and GerAC Germination Proteins in the Bacillus subtilis Spore

Abstract: A spore germination response requires the interaction of the germinant with a specific receptor on the spore (17). The gerA operon of Bacillus subtilis, required for germination in l-alanine (19, 33, 34), was the first characterized of a family of operons that is present in all spore formers so far examined; multiple family members are present in each genome. B. subtilis also contains the gerB (6) and gerK (10) operons required for germination in the alternative germinative combination of an amino acid, such as l-alanine or l-asparagine, in combination with sugars. Both gerA and gerB operons have been shown to be expressed in the developing forespore under the control of sigma G-associated RNA polymerase (5, 7). The gerA operon encodes three proteins: GerAA, which is predicted to comprise both hydrophobic and hydrophilic domains; GerAB, which is predicted to be an integral membrane protein and is a member of the single-component amino acid/polyamine/organocation transporter superfamily (11); and GerAC, a predicted lipoprotein. Spores of triple mutants in the gerA, gerB, and gerK operons will not germinate on nutrient media (22). Two other homologous operons in the B. subtilis genome (12) presumably encode components that respond to as-yet-unidentified germinants. In addition to the five operons in B. subtilis, there are homologues of demonstrated importance to inosine germination in B. cereus (4) and to germination in macrophages, encoded in the virulence cluster of plasmid pXO1 of B. anthracis (8). The levels of expression from gerA-lacZ fusions are very low and are only detectable by using fluorogenic substrates for β-galactosidase (7). If the Ger proteins are expressed only at a low level during sporulation, it is not likely to be practicable to detect the location of these proteins in spores by immunogold labeling. Fractionation of spores provides an alternative approach to defining their position(s) in the spore. The definition of the location of these proteins in the spore is of crucial importance to our formulation of models for the mechanism of spore germination.

Perfectionism and athlete burnout in junior elite athletes: the mediating role of coping tendencies.

Abstract: Recent research indicates that some dimensions of perfectionism are positively related to athlete burnout, whereas others are negatively related to athlete burnout. The divergent relationship between these dimensions of perfectionism and athlete burnout may be explained by different coping tendencies. The present investigation examined whether different coping tendencies mediate the relationship between self-oriented and socially prescribed perfectionism and burnout. Two-hundred and six junior elite athletes (M age=15.15 years, SD=1.88 years, range=11-22 years) completed measures of self-oriented and socially prescribed perfectionism, coping tendencies, and athlete burnout. Structural equation modeling indicated that the relationship between dimensions of perfectionism and athlete burnout was mediated by different coping tendencies. Higher levels of socially prescribed perfectionism was related to higher levels of avoidant coping which, in turn, was related to higher levels of athlete burnout. In contrast, higher levels of self-oriented perfectionism was related to higher levels of problem-focused coping and lower levels of avoidant coping which, in turn, was related to lower levels of athlete burnout. The findings suggest that different coping tendencies may underpin the divergent relationship between self-oriented and socially prescribed dimensions of perfectionism and athlete burnout.

Performance of supply chain collaboration - A simulation study

Abstract: In the past few decades several supply chain management initiatives such as Vendor Managed Inventory, Continuous Replenishment and Collaborative Planning Forecasting and Replenishment (CPFR) have been proposed in literature to improve the performance of supply chains. But, identifying the benefits of collaboration is still a big challenge for many supply chains. Confusion around the optimum number of partners, investment in collaboration and duration of partnership are some of the barriers of healthy collaborative arrangements. To evolve competitive supply chain collaboration (SCC), all SC processes need to be assessed from time to time for evaluating the performance. In a growing field, performance measurement is highly indispensable in order to make continuous improvement; in a new field, it is equally important to check the performance to test conduciveness of SCC. In this research, collaborative performance measurement will act as a testing tool to identify conducive environment to collaborate, by the way of pinpointing areas requiring improvements before initializing collaboration. We use actual industrial data and simulation to help managerial decision-making on the number of collaborating partners, the level of investments and the involvement in supply chain processes. This approach will help the supply chains to obtain maximum benefit of collaborative relationships. The use of simulation for understanding the performance of SCC is relatively a new approach and this can be used by companies that are interested in collaboration without having to invest a huge sum of money in establishing the actual collaboration.

A Novel Birefrigent Photonic Crystal Fiber Surface Plasmon Resonance Biosensor

Abstract: A numerical analysis of a novel birefringent photonic crystal fiber (PCF) biosensor constructed on the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) model is presented in this paper. This biosensor configuration utilizes circular air holes to introduce birefringence into the structure. This PCF biosensor model shows promise in the area of multiple detection using HE x 11 and HE y 11 modes to sense more than one analyte. A numerical study of the biosensor is performed in two interrogation modes: amplitude and wavelength. Sensor resolution values with spectral interrogation yielded 5 × 10 -5 RIU (refractive index units) for HE x 11 modes and 6 × 10 -5 RIU for HE y 11 modes, whereas 3 × 10 -5 RIU for HE x 11 modes and 4 × 10 -5 RIU for HE y 11 modes are demonstrated for the amplitude interrogation.