Evaluation of a Faculty Fellows Program in Science Communication.

Introduction: Science communication plays a crucial role in tackling pressing regional, national, and global health issues. Effective communication with various audiences is integral to dissemination of science findings.

Purpose: This study evaluates changes in self-efficacy and attitudes toward science communication skills over time and also assesses program outcomes and satisfaction with a Faculty Fellows in Science Communication (FFSC) program among faculty (N = 30) with interest in environmental health science and/or education in Appalachia Kentucky.

Glucocorticoid inhibition of 235-1 rat pituitary tumor cell cycle progression.

Control of the cell cycle is accomplished by sequentially activated cyclin-dependent kinases and the action of inhibitory proteins. We have shown that exposure of 235-1 rat pituitary tumor cells to dexamethasone (DEX) leads to a 50% reduction in growth rate. We examined the mechanism by which DEX affects 235-1 cell proliferation by determining the expression levels of proteins involved in cell-cycle progression.

Co-regulation of pituitary tumor cell adhesion and prolactin gene expression by glucocorticoid.

Rat 235-1 pituitary tumor cells are lactotrophs producing high levels of prolactin (PRL). Dexamethasone (Dex, 100 nM) inhibits PRL gene expression in 235-1 cells by 50%, while simultaneously decreasing cell replication and cell-cell aggregation. To determine the time course of Dex action, we used a quantitative assay for cell-cell interaction, based on the number of single cells present before and after re-aggregation of dispersed cells.

Molecular cloning of PCR fragments with cohesive ends.

Use of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) provides a convenient means of generating DNA fragments for insertion into plasmids. Large quantities of the desired insert, bounded by convenient restriction sites, may be synthesized. The primers are chosen to span a known region of interest, and extended at their 5'-ends to include the desired restriction sites.