16144 research outputs found
Sort by
Distinctions between Democratic Developments in Africa: Different Journeys for Similar Outcomes?
Get PDFDemocracy has had a tumultuous experience in sub-Saharan Africa. However, democracy has been gaining traction across the continent especially since the early 1990’s in the so-called “third wave” of democracy. This study explores democratic developments in Africa in order to determine potential factors of influence within the creation and “success” of a democracy, as reported by indices such as Freedom House Index and Transparency Index. In addition to the resulting democracy, this study examines the process of the transition of power from the previous regime of a country to the newfound democracy, and how this is a critical make or break time frame. Lastly, this study also considers the countries that have tried democratic systems, yet have shifted away from democracy in favor of more autocratic regimes and what could be factors that contribute to that shift
Hydrogen Peroxide Triggers an Increase in Cell Surface Expression of System x\u3csub\u3ec\u3c/sub\u3e\u3csup\u3e−\u3c/sup\u3e in Cultured Human Glioma Cells
Get PDFSystem xc− exchanges extracellular cystine for intracellular glutamate across the plasma membrane of many cell types. One of the physiological roles of System xc− is to provide cystine for synthesis of the antioxidant glutathione. Here we report that hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) triggers the translocation of System xc− to the plasma membrane within 10 min of the initial exposure. Specifically, we observed a three-fold increase in 35S-L-cystine uptake following a 10 min exposure to 0.3 mM H2O2. This effect was dose-dependent with an EC50 for H2O2 of 65 μM. We then used cell surface biotinylation analysis to test the hypothesis that the increase in activity is due to an increased number of transporters on the plasma membrane. We demonstrated that the amount of transporter protein, xCT, localized to the plasma membrane doubles within 10 min of H2O2 exposure as a result of an increase in its delivery rate and a reduction in its internalization rate. In addition, we demonstrated that H2O2 triggered a rapid decrease in total cellular glutathione which recovered within 2 h of the oxidative insult. The kinetics of glutathione recovery matched the time course for the recovery of xCT cell surface expression and System xc− activity following removal of the oxidative insult. Collectively, these results suggest that oxidants acutely modulate the activity of System xc− by increasing its cell surface expression, and that this process may serve as an important mechanism to increase de novo glutathione synthesis during periods of oxidative stress
Dia de los Muertos at the Kruizenga Art Museum
Get PDFA poster advertising a Dia de los Muertos event on Saturday, October 31, 2020, hosted by the Kruizenga Art Museum and Hope College Latino Student Organization (LSO). Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the event was opened only to Hope College students, faculty, and staff.https://digitalcommons.hope.edu/kam_poster/1021/thumbnail.jp
The Anchor: October 7, 2020
Get PDFThe Anchor began in 1887 and was first issued weekly in 1914. Covering national and campus news alike, Hope College’s student-run newspaper has grown over the years to encompass over two-dozen editors, reporters, and staff. For much of The Anchor\u27s history, the latest issue was distributed across campus each Wednesday throughout the academic school year (with few exceptions). In recent years The Anchor moved to monthly print issues and a more frequently updated website. The Anchor is now published in print twice per academic semester. Occasionally, the volume and/or issue numbering is irregular
Computational Chemistry in the Cloud
Get PDFComputational chemistry requires expensive computers and significant computer expertise. We are remedying these issues by using cloud computing to lower costs and by developing our Server In The Cloud (SITC) script to reduce the need for local expertise. SITC implements computational chemistry engines with the user-friendly WebMO interface on Google and Amazon cloud computers. In this way, we are making computational chemistry cheaper and more accessible to a wider range of chemistry students and researchers
A Transcriptional Regulatory System of the S. cerevisiae OLE1 Gene Responds to Fatty Acid Species and Intracellular Amount, and not Simply Membrane Status
Get PDFWe examined the effects of unsaturated fatty acid (UFA) species and their concentration on the expression of OLE1, which encodes the stearoyl CoA desaturase, in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We controlled the amount of UFA taken up by the cell by varying the concentration of tergitol in the medium. When cultured with 1 mM fatty acid in 0.1% tergitol, cells took up much more fatty acid than when cultured with the same concentration of fatty acid at 1% tergitol, although the amount incorporated was dependent on UFA species. For each fatty acid tested, we found that the higher uptake (0.1% tergitol condition) had a stronger impact on OLE1 regulation. A principal product of the desaturase 16:1Δ9, and the nonnative UFA 18:2Δ9,12, most strongly repressed the reporter construct OLE1-lacZ transcription, while the other major product of the desaturase, 18:1Δ9, and the nonnative UFA 17:1Δ10 caused a more diminished response. Based on these results, our initial hypothesis was that OLE1 was regulated in response to membrane fluidity; however, subsequent work does not support that idea; we have found that conditions that affect membrane fluidity such as growth temperature and growth with saturated or trans fatty acid supplementation, do not regulate OLE1 in the direction predicted by fluidity changes. We conclude that at least one signal that regulates OLE1 transcriptional expression is most likely based on the fatty acids themselves
News from Hope College, Volume 51.3: Spring, 2020
Get PDFhttps://digitalcommons.hope.edu/news_from_hope_college/1252/thumbnail.jp
Development of Paper-based Screen-printed Carbon-paste Electrode for Sensing Glucose for Diabetics
Get PDFIn recent years there have been many interests in developing paper based electrodes.[1] The purpose of this project is to develop a working paper-based electrode that can detect glucose via an enzyme and redox mediator (Tris(5-amino-1, 10-phenanthroline) Iron(II)). In the process of developing a paper-based electrode, cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were used as primary methods. The redox mediator was electropolymerized onto glassy carbon (GC) and carbon-paste electrodes (CPE) and their subsequent charge-transfer properties were characterized using CV and EIS. Cyclic voltammetry characterization studies of the electropolymerized films revealed excellent charge transfer properties with ΔEp ~0 mV. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy showed that the charge transfer properties of the carbon paste vary with carbon:binder mass ratio (1:1, 1:2, 1:3). Carbon paste formulation was successfully placed onto a wax-coated Whatman filter paper. Initial attempts to prepare films on carbon-paste based-paper electrodes have been successful.
[1] ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2016, 8, 32, 20501-20515. Publication Date: July 27, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.6b0485
The Anchor, Volume 136.01: January 22, 2020
Get PDFThe Anchor began in 1887 and was first issued weekly in 1914. Covering national and campus news alike, Hope College’s student-run newspaper has grown over the years to encompass over two-dozen editors, reporters, and staff. For much of The Anchor\u27s history, the latest issue was distributed across campus each Wednesday throughout the academic school year (with few exceptions). In recent years The Anchor moved to monthly print issues and a more frequently updated website. The Anchor is now published in print twice per academic semester. Occasionally, the volume and/or issue numbering is irregular
Apology and Restitution: The Psychophysiology of Forgiveness After Accountable Relational Repair Responses
Get PDFApology and restitution each represents wrongdoers’ accountable repair responses that have promoted victims’ self-reported empathy and forgiveness in crime scenario research. The current study measured emotional and stress-related dependent variables including physiological measures, to illuminate the links between predictors of forgiveness and health-relevant side effects. Specifically, we tested the independent and interactive effects of apology and restitution on forgiveness, emotion self-reports, and facial responses, as well as cardiac measures associated with stress in 32 males and 29 females. Apology and restitution each independently increased empathy, forgiveness, gratitude, and positive emotions, while reducing unforgiveness, negative emotion, and muscle activity above the brow (corrugator supercilii, CS). The presence of a thorough apology—regardless of whether restitution was present—also calmed heart rate, reduced rate pressure products indicative of cardiac stress, and decreased muscle activity under the eye (orbicularis oculi, OO). Interactions pointed to the more potent effects of restitution compared to apology for reducing unforgiveness and anger, while elevating positivity and gratitude. The findings point to distinctive impacts of apology and restitution as factors that foster forgiveness, along with emotional and embodied changes relevant to health