University of Westminster

About: University of Westminster is a education organization based out in London, United Kingdom. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Politics. The organization has 2944 authors who have published 8426 publications receiving 200236 citations. The organization is also known as: Westminster University & Royal Polytechnic Institution.

Mechanical loading regulates protease production by fibroblasts in three‐dimensional collagen substrates

Abstract: Mechanical loading is important in tissue formation and remodelling, notably in wound repair. The aim of this study was to measure the effects of controlled loading on the release of extracellular matrix protease activities by fibroblasts. Fibroblast populated collagen lattices were subjected to external cyclical loads through a computer controlled unit incorporated into a culture system, a tensioning-Culture Force Monitor. Cyclical loading was compared to untensioned and statically loaded gels (tethered endogenous contraction). Overall changes in a range of protease activities were monitored (chiefly by zymography) as measures of the cyto-mechanical response to these loads. Under static load, 2.5- and 13-fold more matrix metalloproteinase-2 was produced than matrix metalloproteinase-9, at 24 and 48 hours. Total matrix metalloproteinase-9 increased 37 fold on cyclical loading. Total matrix metalloproteinase-3 and urokinase plasminogen activator activities were dramatically reduced on cyclical loading while tissue type plasminogen activator activity was increased. Comparison with cell responses on stiffer substrates (collagen sponges) identified similar matrix metalloproteinase responses to load, but at much reduced levels (4-6 fold matrix metalloproteinase-9 stimulation on loading), showing the importance of matrix compliance to this mechano-response. In conclusion, physiological mechanical loading of fibroblasts in three dimensional collagen lattices elicited complex and substantial changes in matrix modifying proteases. These changes suggest that cells switch between expression of comparable protease activities mainly influencing cell-matrix interactions associated with migration or more generalized extracellular matrix remodelling.

Age and Participation in Vocational Education and Training

Abstract: In recent years increasing attention has been paid to the problems faced by older workers in the UK labour market. In this paper we examine the issue of older workers' participation in vocational training and education, drawing upon data from the Labour Force Survey. Our initial analysis identifies how rates of participation in workrelated education and training differ between age groups. Further exploratory analysis attempts to identify possible reasons for this, analysing the type of training undertaken by various age groups as well as the incidence of self-financed training. We then estimate an ordered-probit model for males and females separately, in an attempt to isolate the extent to which this lower incidence among older workers is due to employer or employee decision making. We find that, when compared to a reference group of prime aged individuals, those aged between 40 and 49 and 50 and 59/64 are less likely to undergo training and, also, less likely to be offered training. We conclude that the ...

A twenty-first century assessment of values across the global workforce

Abstract: This article provides current Schwartz Values Survey (SVS) data from samples of business managers and professionals across 50 societies that are culturally and socioeconomically diverse. We report the society scores for SVS values dimensions for both individual- and societal-level analyses. At the individual-level, we report on the ten circumplex values sub-dimensions and two sets of values dimensions (collectivism and individualism; openness to change, conservation, self-enhancement, and self-transcendence). At the societal-level, we report on the values dimensions of embeddedness, hierarchy, mastery, affective autonomy, intellectual autonomy, egalitarianism, and harmony. For each society, we report the Cronbach’s α statistics for each values dimension scale to assess their internal consistency (reliability) as well as report interrater agreement (IRA) analyses to assess the acceptability of using aggregated individual level values scores to represent country values. We also examined whether societal development level is related to systematic variation in the measurement and importance of values. Thus, the contributions of our evaluation of the SVS values dimensions are two-fold. First, we identify the SVS dimensions that have cross-culturally internally reliable structures and within-society agreement for business professionals. Second, we report the society cultural values scores developed from the twenty-first century data that can be used as macro-level predictors in multilevel and single-level international business research.

Public transport : its planning, management, and operation

Abstract: 1 Organisation and Control of Transport in the British Isles 2 The Role of Public Transport 3 Service Quality and Marketing 4 The Technology of Bus and Coach Systems 5 Urban Railways and Rapid Transit Systems 6 Network Planning 7 Costing and Cost Allocation Methods 8 Pricing Theory and Practice 9 Rural Public Transport 10 Intercity Public Transport 11 Some Current Policy Issues