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Dawn Fisher

Publications and source records attributed to Dawn Fisher.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

Embryonic stem cell technology: applications and uses in functional genomic studies.

In this postgenomic era, the role of functional genomics is becoming increasingly important and playing a key role in this field are embryonic stem cells. These cells are capable of proliferating indefinitely in a pluripotent state and have the potential to differentiate into all somatic cell types. Through a combination of their ease of genetic manipulation and directed in vitro differentiation they have proved themselves to be an extremely valuable tool in functional genomics. Here, some of their applications in functional genomic studies are discussed.

Animals↗

The identification of sexual and violent motivations in men who assault women: implication for treatment.

A qualitative analysis of interview data with 41 rapists determined that five implicit theories (ITs) underlie rapists' offense supportive beliefs/feelings/motives: (a) dangerous world (DW)-where men have feelings of generalized anger and/or resentment toward others; (b) women are dangerous-where men hold a set of attitudes that are hostile toward women; (c) women as sexual objects (WSO)-where women are seen as primarily sexual objects; (d) male sex drive is uncontrollable-where sexual urges are seen all consuming; (e) entitlement-where men feel that they can do exactly what they want. Consideration of whether DW or WSO ITs were present or absent indicated that three main groups could be identified: Group 1: violently motivated-presence of DW and/or absence of WSO; Group 2: sexually motivated-presence of WSO and/or absence of DW; Group 3: sadistically motivated-presence of DW and WSO. These results are discussed in terms of treatment needs of rapists.

Adult↗

Sexual murderers' implicit theories.

Interviews with 28 sexual murderers were subjected to grounded theory analysis. Five implicit theories (ITs) were identified: dangerous world, male sex drive is uncontrollable, entitlement, women as sexual objects, and women as unknowable. These ITs were found to be identical to those identified in the literature as being present in rapists. The presence of dangerous world and male sex drive is uncontrollable were present, or absent, such that three groups could be identified: (a) dangerous world plus male sex drive is uncontrollable; (b) dangerous world, in the absence of male sex drive is uncontrollable; (c) male sex drive is uncontrollable in the absence of dangerous world. These three groups were found to differ in motivation: (a) were motivated by urges to rape and murder; (b) were motivated by grievance, resentment and/or anger toward women; (c) were motivated to sexually offend but were prepared to kill to avoid detection, or secure compliance.

Adult↗

A functional link between the actin cytoskeleton and lipid rafts during budding of filamentous influenza virions.

Morphogenesis of influenza virus is a poorly understood process that produces two types of enveloped virion: approximately 100-nm spheres and similar diameter filaments that reach 20 microm in length. Spherical particles assemble at plasma membrane lipid rafts in a process independent of microfilaments. The budding site of filamentous virions is hitherto uncharacterised but their formation involves the actin cytoskeleton. We confirm microfilament involvement in filamentous budding and show that after disruption of cortical actin by jasplakinolide, HA, NP, and M1 redistributed around beta-actin clusters to form novel annular membrane structures. HA in filamentous virions and jasplakinolide-induced annuli was detergent insoluble at 4 degrees C. Furthermore, in both cases HA partitioned into low buoyant density detergent-insoluble glycolipid domains, indicating that filamentous virions and annuli contain reorganised lipid rafts. We propose that the actin cytoskeleton is required to maintain the correct organisation of lipid rafts for incorporation into budding viral filaments.

Actins↗