http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/services/Feed ${session.getAttribute("locale")} 5 http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:12418 Masters Research - Master of Philosophy (Medical Biochemistry) 2013-01-14T23:10:22.420Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:10824 Calcium/calmodulin-stimulated protein kinase II (CaMKII) is an important mediator of synaptic function that is regulated by multi-site phosphorylation and targeting through interactions with proteins. A new phosphorylation site at Thr253 has been identified in vivo, that does not alter CaMKII activity, but does alter CaMKII function through interactions with binding proteins. To identify these proteins, as well as to examine the specific effects following Thr253 or Thr286 phosphorylation on these interactions, we developed an in vitro overlay binding assay. We demonstrated that the interaction between CaMKII and its binding proteins was altered by the phosphorylation state of both the CaMKII and the partner, and identified a CaMKII-specific sequence that was responsible for the interaction between CaMKII and two interacting proteins. By comparing CaMKII binding profiles in tissue and cell extracts, we demonstrated that the CaMKII binding profiles varied with cell type, and also showed that overexpression of a CaMKII Thr253 phospho-mimic mutant in human neuroblastoma and breast cancer cells dramatically altered the morphology and growth rates when compared to overexpression of non-phosphorylated CaMKII. This data highlights the importance of the microenvironment in regulating CaMKII function, and describes a potentially new mechanism by which the functions of CaMKII can be regulated. 2012-05-21T06:37:30.612Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:9882 Since the mid-1980s Bangladesh has implemented a loose form of monetary targeting under two exchange-rate régimes: a pegged system until May 2003 and a ‘managed floating’ exchange-rate system. Under both régimes, broad money has been used as an intermediate target to maintain price stability, which implies as the ultimate goal a relatively low and stable rate of inflation. Inflation in this country has, however, remained moderately high and volatile, especially during the 1970s under the pegged exchange-rate system. With the apparent ineffectiveness of the monetary-targeting system in achieving price stability, even following the 2003 ‘managed float’ of the currency, there has been some suggestion that it should be replaced by, say, inflation targeting. This paper forms an element of a fuller study of the issue. It investigates the behaviour of broad money demand in Bangladesh using annual data over the period 1973–2008. Empirical results suggest that an open-economy broad money demand function has remained stable in Bangladesh since the early 2000s. Empirical results also suggest the existence of a causal relationship between money supply growth and inflation. The paper concludes that, although monetary targeting remains appropriate for Bangladesh, its implementation can be made more effective in stabilising the price level if the Bangladesh Bank enhances its control over the money supply by eschewing nominal exchange-rate stabilisation through foreign exchange market interventions. 2012-02-01T00:50:08.343Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:7995 CaMKII (calcium/calmodulin-stimulated protein kinase II) is a multifunctional protein kinase that regulates normal neuronal function. CaMKII is regulated by multi-site phosphorylation, which can alter enzyme activity, and targeting to cellular microdomains through interactions with binding proteins. These proteins integrate CaMKII into multiple signalling pathways, which lead to varied functional outcomes following CaMKII phosphorylation, depending on the identity and location of the binding partner. A new phosphorylation site on CaMKII (Thr253) has been identified in vivo. Thr253 phosphorylation controls CaMKII purely by targeting, does not effect enzyme activity, and occurs in response to physiological and pathological stimuli in vivo, but only in CaMKII molecules present in specific cellular locations. This new phosphorylation site offers a potentially novel regulatory mechanism for controlling functional responses elicited by CaMKII that are restricted to specific subcellular locations and/or certain cell types, by controlling interactions with proteins that are expressed in the cell at that location. 2011-06-30T04:00:09.310Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:6560 Fear of opportunistic customers is an important reason why firms are reluctant to implement service guarantees. This article empirically tests potential drivers of cheating. Potential material gain and repeat purchase intent were tested across three studies, whereas satisfaction, ease of invoking the guarantee, morality, shame, self-monitoring, and Machiavellianism were each tested in a subset of the three studies. The results for potential material gain and repeat purchase intent were consistent across all three studies: potential material gain had no effect on consumer cheating, but repeat purchase intent reduced that tendency. Other findings suggest that high levels of satisfaction, morality, and self-monitoring reduce cheating, whereas high levels of Machiavellianism increase cheating. Furthermore, two three-way interaction effects were encountered. Specifically, Machiavellianism interacted with gain and ease of invocation, and with gain and repeat purchase intent. In both cases, individuals with high Machiavellianism took advantage of certain situational constellations. 2010-07-27T01:00:01.466Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:3721 Culture plays an important role in defining ethics standards because dissimilar cultures socialize their people differently, according to what is acceptable behaviour. The potential significance of ethnic groups for marketing justifies inquiry into the moral judgments, standards, and rules of conduct exercised in marketing decisions and situations arising from decisions whether or not to focus on individual ethnic groups within an economy. Identifying and targeting ethnic groups for marketing purposes are tasks fraught with many ethical difficulties. In a multicultural society consisting of a dominant group and many diverse, minority groups defined by ethnicity, these problems can be expected to increase substantially. Consequently, marketers may include minority ethnic consumers in their mainstream marketing programs. In itself, this has ethical consequences. Alternatively, if marketers seek to target individual minority ethnic groups within the same economy a further set of ethical consequences needs to be considered. This paper reviews the concepts of ethnicity and ethnic groups and their relevance for marketing strategy within an economy where there is a dominant group and also significant minority ethnic groups. The ethical consequences for minority communities arising from the use of non-ethnic, mainstream marketing programs are examined. An alternative approach, ethnic marketing, is also examined and its ethical consequences in terms of other groups within the one country appraised. The ethical dilemma and tradeoffs facing marketers within advanced, culturally diverse countries are then considered. 2010-04-27T05:22:44.811Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:5674 The Mucosal Immunology Special Interest Group (SIG-MI) of the Australasian Society of Immunology was formed 14 years ago and has run regular symposia and workshops in conjunction with the Australasian Society of Immunology since that time. In December 2007 the Mucosal Immunology Special Interest Group held a 1-day satellite workshop in conjunction with the annual Australasian Society of Immunology scientific meeting in Sydney to celebrate the decade since hosting the 9th International Congress of Mucosal Immunology (9-ICMI) in 1997, which was also held in Sydney. The meeting that was attended by 65 delegates focussed on 4 session themes: reproductive immunology, respiratory immunology, mucosal immunology of the gastrointestinal tract and mucosal vaccines. 2010-04-27T04:49:55.825Z ]]>