bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
mTORC1 inhibitor rapamycin and ER stressor tunicamycin induce differential patterns of ER-mitochondria coupling
Authors: Bravo-Sagua Roberto , López-Crisosto Camila , Parra Valentina , Rodriguez-Peña Marcelo , Rothermel Beverly A. , Quest Andrew F.G. , Lavandero Sergio 
Published: November 2016

AbstractEfficient mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake takes place at contact points between the ER and mitochondria, and represents a key regulator of many cell functions. In a previous study with HeLa cells, we showed that ER-to-mitochondria Ca2+ transfer increases during the early phase of ER stress induced by tunicamycin as an adaptive response to stimulate mitochondrial bioenergetics. It remains unknown whether other types of stress signals trigger similar responses. Here we observed that rapamycin, which inhibits the nutrient-sensing complex mTORC1, increased ER-mitochondria coupling in HeLa cells to a similar extent as did tunicamycin. Interestingly, although global responses to both stressors were comparable, there were notable differences in the spatial distribution of such changes. While tunicamycin increased organelle proximity primarily in the perinuclear region, rapamycin increased organelle contacts throughout the entire cell. These differences were paralleled by dissimilar alterations in the distribution of regulatory proteins of the ER-mitochondria interface, heterogeneities in mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake, and the formation of domains within the mitochondrial network with varying mitochondrial transmembrane potential. Collectively, these data suggest that while increasing ER-mitochondria coupling appears to represent a general response to cell stress, the intracellular distribution of the associated responses needs to be tailored to meet specific cellular requirements.
Rotating lattice single crystal architecture on the surface of glass
Authors: Savytskii D. , Jain H. , Tamura N. , Dierolf V. 
Published: November 2016

AbstractDefying the requirements of translational periodicity in 3D, rotation of the lattice orientation within an otherwise single crystal provides a new form of solid. Such rotating lattice single (RLS) crystals are found, but only as spherulitic grains too small for systematic characterization or practical application. Here we report a novel approach to fabricate RLS crystal lines and 2D layers of unlimited dimensions via a recently discovered solid-to-solid conversion process using a laser to heat a glass to its crystallization temperature but keeping it below the melting temperature. The proof-of-concept including key characteristics of RLS crystals is demonstrated using the example of Sb2S3 crystals within the Sb-S-I model glass system for which the rotation rate depends on the direction of laser scanning relative to the orientation of initially formed seed. Lattice rotation in this new mode of crystal growth occurs upon crystallization through a well-organized dislocation/disclination structure introduced at the glass/crystal interface. Implications of RLS growth on biomineralization and spherulitic crystal growth are noted.
In vitro membrane protein synthesis inside Sec translocon-reconstituted cell-sized liposomes
Authors: Ohta Naoki , Kato Yasuhiko , Watanabe Hajime , Mori Hirotada , Matsuura Tomoaki 
Published: November 2016

AbstractProtein synthesis using an in vitro transcription-translation system (IVTT) inside cell-sized liposomes has become a valuable tool to study the properties of biological systems under cell-mimicking conditions. However, previous liposome systems lacked the machinery for membrane protein translocation. Here, we reconstituted the translocon consisting of SecYEG from Escherichia coli inside cell-sized liposomes. The cell-sized liposomes also carry the reconstituted IVTT, thereby providing a cell-mimicking environment for membrane protein synthesis. By using EmrE, a multidrug transporter from E. coli, as a model membrane protein, we found that both the amount and activity of EmrE synthesized inside the liposome is increased approximately three-fold by incorporating the Sec translocon. The topological change of EmrE induced by the translocon was also identified. The membrane integration of 6 out of 9 E. coli inner membrane proteins that was tested was increased by incorporation of the translocon. By introducing the Sec translocon, the membrane integration efficiency of the membrane protein of interest was increased, and enabled the integration of membrane proteins that otherwise cannot be inserted. In addition, this work represents an essential step toward the construction of an artificial cell through a bottom-up approach.
How many papillomavirus species can go undetected in papilloma lesions?
Authors: Daudt Cíntia , da Silva Flavio R. C. , Streck André F. , Weber Matheus N. , Mayer Fabiana Q. , Cibulski Samuel P. , Canal Cláudio W. 
Published: November 2016

AbstractA co-infection comprising to at least seven papillomavirus (PV) types was detected by next generation sequencing (NGS) of randomly primed rolling circle amplification (RCA) products of a bovine (Bos taurus) papilloma lesion from the Brazilian Amazon region. Six putative new PV types that could not be detected by commonly used PCR protocols were identified. Their overall L1 nucleotide identities were less than 90% compared to described PV species and types. L1 nucleotide BLAST sequence hits showed that each new type was related to Beta, Gamma, Dyokappa, Dyoeta, and Xipapillomavirus, as well as two likely new unclassified genera. Our results show that the employment of NGS is relevant to the detection and characterization of distantly related PV and is of major importance in co-infection studies. This knowledge will help us understand the biology and pathogenesis of PV, as well as contribute to disease control. Moreover, we can also conclude that there are many unknown circulating PVs.
Few Ramachandran Angle Changes Provide Interaction Strength Increase in Aβ42 versus Aβ40 Amyloid Fibrils
Authors: Bastidas Oscar H. , Green Benjamin , Sprague Mary , Peters Michael H. 
Published: November 2016

AbstractThe pathology of Alzheimer’s disease can ultimately be traced to the increased aggregation stability of Aβ42 peptides which possess two extra residues (Ile 41 & Ala 42) that the non-pathological strain (Aβ40) lacks. We have found Aβ42 fibrils to exhibit stronger energies in inter-chain interactions and we have also identified the cause for this increase to be the result of different Ramachandran angle values in certain residues of the Aβ42 strain compared to Aβ40. These unique angle configurations result in the peptide planes in the fibril structures to be more vertical along the fibril axis for Aβ42 which thus reduces the inter-atomic distance between interacting atoms on vicinal peptide chains thereby increasing the electrostatic interaction energies. We lastly postulate that these different Ramachandran angle values could possibly be traced to the unique conformational folding avenues sampled by the Aβ42 peptide owing to the presence of its two extra residues.
The Effectiveness and Safety of Exoskeletons as Assistive and Rehabilitation Devices in the Treatment of Neurologic Gait Disorders in Patients with Spinal Cord Injury: A Systematic Review
Authors: Fisahn Christian , Aach Mirko , Jansen Oliver , Moisi Marc , Mayadev Angeli , Pagarigan Krystle T. , Dettori Joseph R. , Schildhauer Thomas A. 
Published: November 2016

Study Design Systematic review. Clinical Questions (1) When used as an assistive device, do wearable exoskeletons improve lower extremity function or gait compared with knee-ankle-foot orthoses (KAFOs) in patients with complete or incomplete spinal cord injury? (2) When used as a rehabilitation device, do wearable exoskeletons improve lower extremity function or gait compared with other rehabilitation strategies in patients with complete or incomplete spinal cord injury? (3) When used as an assistive or rehabilitation device, are wearable exoskeletons safe compared with KAFO for assistance or other rehabilitation strategies for rehabilitation in patients with complete or incomplete spinal cord injury? Methods PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase databases and reference lists of key articles were searched from database inception to May 2, 2016, to identify studies evaluating the effectiveness of wearable exoskeletons used as assistive or rehabilitative devices in patients with incomplete or complete spinal cord injury. Results No comparison studies were found evaluating exoskeletons as an assistive device. Nine comparison studies (11 publications) evaluated the use of exoskeletons as a rehabilitative device. The 10-meter walk test velocity and Spinal Cord Independence Measure scores showed no difference in change from baseline among patients undergoing exoskeleton training compared with various comparator therapies. The remaining primary outcome measures of 6-minute walk test distance and Walking Index for Spinal Cord Injury I and II and Functional Independence Measure–Locomotor scores showed mixed results, with some studies indicating no difference in change from baseline between exoskeleton training and comparator therapies, some indicating benefit of exoskeleton over comparator therapies, and some indicating benefit of comparator therapies over exoskeleton. Conclusion There is no data to compare locomotion assistance with exoskeleton versus conventional KAFOs. There is no consistent benefit from rehabilitation using an exoskeleton versus a variety of conventional methods in patients with chronic spinal cord injury. Trials comparing later-generation exoskeletons are needed.
Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) an Medizinischen Fakultäten in Deutschland – eine Bestandsaufnahme
Authors: Müller S. , Dahmen U. , Settmacher U. 
Published: November 2016

Zusammenfassung
Einleitung: Der Gesetzgeber hat im Jahre 2002 mit Novellierung der Approbationsordnung für Ärzte (ÄApprO) die systematische Bewertung von „Fähigkeiten und Fertigkeiten“ im Medizinstudium verlangt. Daraus resultierte eine sukzessive Einführung von Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) an den Medizinischen Fakultäten. Die vorliegende Arbeit liefert eine detaillierte Bestandsaufnahme zum derzeitigen Einsatz der OSCE-Prüfungsmethode im Medizinstudium der Bundesrepublik Deutschland. Durch die Erkenntnisse kann der allgemeine sowie fachspezifische Implementierungsbedarf der Prüfungsmethode evaluiert werden.
Methodik: Im Zeitraum von Juni bis September 2015 wurden alle 36 deutschen Medizinischen Fakultäten befragt. Die semistrukturierten Telefoninterviews und Emailkorrespondenzen beinhalteten folgende Themenbereiche zu OSCE: Implementierung, die Anzahl und Art der zu erwerbenden Leistungsnachweise nach ÄApprO bzw. die Angabe der beteiligten Fachgebiete. Die erhobenen Daten wurden quantitativ und qualitativ analysiert.
Ergebnisse: Alle Medizinischen Fakultäten (100%) nahmen an der Befragung teil. Fast jede Fakultät (94%) hat OSCE in ihrem Prüfungsportfolio, allerdings in unterschiedlichem Ausmaß. Bundesweit bilden die Ergebnisse aus OSCE-Prüfungen pro Standort zwischen 0 und 18 (M=4,7) Leistungsnachweise des klinischen Studienabschnitts für die Zulassung zum zweiten Staatsexamen gemäß ÄApprO. Die Implementierung umfasst praktisch alle klinischen Fachgebiete. Dennoch fließt über die Hälfte (51,4%) der OSCE-Prüfungsergebnisse in Leistungsnachweise für die Fächer Chirurgie, Innere Medizin, Notfallmedizin, Anästhesiologie und Orthopädie.
Schlussfolgerung: Die Ergebnisse dieser Studie bestätigen einen fast flächendeckenden und zugleich in der klinischen Breite verankerten Einsatz der OSCE-Prüfungsmethode. Im Vergleich zwischen den Fakultäten sowie in Bezug auf den Umfang, in welchem einzelne Fachgebiete beteiligt sind, ergibt sich hingegen ein heterogenes Bild. Zur Sicherstellung und dem Nachweis einer umfangreichen klinischen Kompetenz zukünftiger Ärzte sollte der Einsatz von OSCE ausgebaut werden. Hierfür bedarf es noch weiterer Information und Überzeugungsarbeit bei den Lehrverantwortlichen der Fakultäten.
Acceptability of alcohol supply to children – associations with adults’ own age of initiation and social norms
Authors: Gilligan Conor , Ward Bernadette , Kippen Rebecca , Buykx Penny , Chapman Kathy 
Published: November 2016

Issue addressedThe aim of this study was to investigate predictors of adults’ perceived acceptability of introducing alcohol to children less than 18 years of age.MethodsAn online survey. Logistic regression analyses were used to examine the association between demographic characteristics, alcohol consumption, and social norms and adults’ own age of initiation.ResultsAlcohol consumption, age of initiation and perception of the acceptability of drunkenness were all correlated with the acceptability of introducing children to alcohol. The strongest predictor was adults’ own age of initiation.ConclusionsAdults who began drinking before the age of 18, and those who drink more heavily, are more likely to perceive the provision of alcohol to children as acceptable.So what?Policy and research should continue to focus on and monitor efforts to delay adolescent alcohol initiation and reduce consumption levels among adults. A shift in awareness and perceptions about alcohol use among adults has the potential to influence initiation and heavy drinking among adolescents.
The correlations and sequence of plant stomatal, hydraulic, and wilting responses to drought
Authors: Bartlett Megan K. , Klein Tamir , Jansen Steven , Choat Brendan , Sack Lawren 
Published: November 2016

SignificanceMany plant species face increasing drought under climate change, making plant drought tolerance integral to predicting species and ecosystem responses. Many physiology traits interact to determine overall drought tolerance, but trait relationships have not been assessed for general patterns across global plant diversity. We analyzed stomatal, hydraulic, and mesophyll drought tolerance traits for 310 species from ecosystems worldwide. We evaluated the sequence of drought responses for plants under increasing water stress, and showed that coselection with environmental water stress drives most trait correlations across species, with functional coordination additionally important for some relationships. These results provide insight into how variation in multiple traits should be represented within plants and across species in models of plant responses to drought.
Practice improves peri-saccadic shape judgment but does not diminish target mislocalization
Authors: Porat Yuval , Zohary Ehud 
Published: November 2016

Significance
Visual sensitivity is markedly reduced during saccades, and peri-saccadic stimuli are misperceived as being closer to the saccade target. We show here that peri-saccadic shape discrimination improves significantly with practice. Unlike classical training paradigms that lead to better performance despite external masking, this perceptual learning occurs in the presence of natural, self-induced masking due to the eye movement (i.e., saccadic suppression). Improvement is generalized across saccade direction and stimulus location but is specific to the stimulus type and task. In contrast, stimulus mislocalization remains as pronounced. Thus, the representation of stimulus position probably involves an obligatory process triggered by the upcoming saccade. The results point to a dissociation between shape and location representations of peri-saccadic stimuli.
FEF inactivation with improved optogenetic methods
Authors: Acker Leah , Pino Erica N. , Boyden Edward S. , Desimone Robert 
Published: November 2016

Significance
The frontal eye field (FEF) is critical for making eye movements to remembered locations. FEF neurons increase their firing rate in response to seeing a target, to remembering the target location during a delay period, and to planning eye movements to the location. Conventional tools do not allow us to determine what aspects of FEF neuronal activity (i.e., visual, delay, motor) are critical for memory-guided eye movements, so we developed optogenetic tools to inactivate FEF neurons during each task epoch individually. We found that all aspects of FEF firing contribute to behavior. Further, we present tools that inactivate large enough brain volumes for optogenetics to be widely used in primate neuroscience and, potentially, human medicine.
SNARE-mediated membrane fusion trajectories derived from force-clamp experiments
Authors: Oelkers Marieelen , Witt Hannes , Halder Partho , Jahn Reinhard , Janshoff Andreas 
Published: November 2016

Significance
Fusion of membranes plays an important role in many biological processes such as vesicle trafficking and viral infection. However, without assistance from specialized proteins such as SNAREs the energy barriers associated with merging of two bilayers are too high to achieve fast kinetics as required for the release of neurotransmitters. We devised a method based on colloidal probe microscopy that allows monitoring the distance of two membranes at a defined contact pressure, providing access to the lifetime of intermediate states of fusion. Changing the contact pressure gives access to the energy landscape and kinetic rates of fusion in the presence of neuronal SNARE proteins. This allows one to explore fusion pathways as a function of molecular composition and environmental cues.
Predicting item difficulty of science national curriculum tests: the case of key stage 2 assessments
Authors: El Masri Yasmine H. , Ferrara Steve , Foltz Peter W. , Baird Jo-Anne 
Published: November 2016

ABSTRACTPredicting item difficulty is highly important in education for both teachers and item writers. Despite identifying a large number of explanatory variables, predicting item difficulty remains a challenge in educational assessment with empirical attempts rarely exceeding 25% of variance explained.This paper analyses 216 science items of key stage 2 tests which are national sampling assessments administered to 11 year olds in England. Potential predictors (topic, subtopic, concept, question type, nature of stimulus, depth of knowledge and linguistic variables) were considered in the analysis. Coding frameworks employed in similar studies were adapted and employed by two coders to independently rate items. Linguistic demands were gauged using a computational linguistic facility. The stepwise regression models predicted 23% of the variance with extended constructed questions and photos being the main predictors of item difficulty.While a substantial part of unexplained variance could be attributed to the unpredictable interaction of variables, we argue that progress in this area requires improvement in the theories and the methods employed. Future research needs to be centred on improving coding frameworks as well as developing systematic training protocols for coders. These technical advances would pave the way to improved task design and reduced development costs of assessments.
Fidelity to and satisfaction with prescribed curriculum in an Arab educational context: ESL teachers' perspective
Authors: Ellili-Cherif Maha , Hadba Hala Mohamed 
Published: November 2016

AbstractEducational institutions in the Arab Gulf are requiring rapid changes to enhance English language learning to keep up with globalization and economic growth. This urges the need for investigating policy changes such as effectiveness in curriculum orientations and their impact on the actual process of teaching in order to gauge how educational institutions are performing. This paper reports the findings of a survey study on curriculum enactment in the English Language Foundation Program of a higher education institution in the Arab Gulf region. Data collection methods included a survey and interview with teachers investigating their opinions about the curriculum, how much support it offers teachers to reach the objectives of the course, and whether/to what extent as well as the reasons why they feel they need to modify the curriculum at the implementation level. Results showed that most teachers exercised discretion in using the prescribed curriculum materials due to individual contextual factors. Results also indicated that either when implementing the prescribed or modified materials, most participants highlighted the importance of using reliable quality resource materials that can help teachers as well as students to enhance the learning process. Findings have implications for English as a second language curriculum design in Arab higher educational contexts.
Power–duration relationship: Physiology, fatigue, and the limits of human performance
Authors: Burnley Mark , Jones Andrew M. 
Published: November 2016

AbstractThe duration that exercise can be maintained decreases as the power requirements increase. In this review, we describe the power–duration (PD) relationship across the full range of attainable power outputs in humans. We show that a remarkably small range of power outputs is sustainable (power outputs below the critical power, CP). We also show that the origin of neuromuscular fatigue differs considerably depending on the exercise intensity domain in which exercise is performed. In the moderate domain (below the lactate threshold, LT), fatigue develops slowly and is predominantly of central origin (residing in the central nervous system). In the heavy domain (above LT but below CP), both central and peripheral (muscle) fatigue are observed. In this domain, fatigue is frequently correlated with the depletion of muscle glycogen. Severe‐intensity exercise (above the CP) is associated with progressive derangements of muscle metabolic homeostasis and consequent peripheral fatigue. To counter these effects, muscle activity increases progressively, as does pulmonary oxygen uptake (), with task failure being associated with the attainment of max. Although the loss of homeostasis and thus fatigue develop more rapidly the higher the power output is above CP, the metabolic disturbance and the degree of peripheral fatigue reach similar values at task failure. We provide evidence that the failure to continue severe‐intensity exercise is a physiological phenomenon involving multiple interacting mechanisms which indicate a mismatch between neuromuscular power demand and instantaneous power supply. Valid integrative models of fatigue must account for the PD relationship and its physiological basis.
Negative ion extraction via particle simulation for fusion: critical assessment of recent contributions
Authors: Garrigues L. , Fubiani G. , Boeuf J.P. 
Published: November 2016

Abstract
Particle-in-cell (PIC) models have been extensively used in the last few years to describe negative ion extraction for neutral beam injection applications. We show that some of these models have been employed in conditions far from the requirements of particle simulations and that questionable conclusions about negative ion extraction, not supported by experimental evidence, have been obtained. We present a critical analysis of the method that has led to these conclusions and propose directions toward a more accurate and realistic description of negative ion extraction. We show in particular that, as expected in PIC simulations, mesh convergence is reached only if the grid spacing is on the order of or smaller than the minimum Debye length in the simulation domain, and that strong aberrations in the extracted beam are observed if this constraint is not respected. The method of injection of charged particles in the simulated plasma is also discussed, and we show that some injection methods used in the literature lead to unphysical results.