TASK DEFINITION: In this task, you are given a passage which has a question and the context. You have to generate an answer to the question based on the information present in the context.
PROBLEM: Context: Classical conditioning of the eyeblink reflex is a simple form of motor learning which depends on the integrity of the cerebellum. Acquisition of conditioned eyeblink responses is markedly reduced in patients with cerebellar disorders. Noninvasive transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been reported to modify the excitability of the cerebellar cortex.', 'The aim of the study was to assess whether acquisition of conditioned eyeblink responses (CR) is altered by cerebellar tDCS.', 'A standard delay conditioning paradigm with a 540 ms tone as conditioned stimulus (CS) coterminating with a 100 ms air puff as unconditioned stimulus (US) was used in a total of 30 healthy subjects (18 female, 12 male, mean age 23.4 ± 1.9 years). One hundred paired CS-US trials and 30 extinction CS alone trials were given. tDCS (2 mA intensity, ramp like onset) was applied over the right cerebellar hemisphere ipsilaterally to the US during the acquisition phase. Subjects were randomly assigned to three groups (n = 10) using anodal, cathodal or sham stimulation. The investigator as well as the participants was blinded to the stimulation modality.', 'CR acquisition was significantly enhanced by anodal tDCS (mean total CR incidence 73.4 ± 25.2%) and significantly reduced by cathodal stimulation (12.6 ± 17.2%) compared to sham stimulation (43.8 ± 24.1%). During anodal tDCS CR onset occurred significantly earlier, that is mean onset of responses was shifted closer to CS onset.\Question: Is acquisition of conditioned eyeblink responses modulated by cerebellar tDCS?

SOLUTION: Acquisition and timing of conditioned eyeblink responses is modified by cerebellar tDCS in a polarity dependent manner.

PROBLEM: Context: Apicomplexan parasites actively release transmembrane (TM) adhesive proteins involved in host cell attachment and invasion. Rhomboids, a family of intramembrane serine proteases, cleave these secreted adhesive proteins within their TM domains as an essential step in completing the invasion process. In Cryptosporidium parvum, the activity of rhomboids in cleaving microneme proteins (MICs) has not been reported. In the present study, the interaction between C. parvum rhomboids (CpROM1 and CpROM4) and C. parvum microneme proteins (CpGP900 and CpTRAP-C1) was investigated using yeast two-hybrid assay and co-immunoprecipitation assays.', 'Our study demonstrated that CpROM1 protein could interact with CpGP900 protein in co-transformed AH109 yeasts. Analysis of these proteins in co-transfected mammalian cells showed that the cleavage product of the CpGP900 protein was detected in the co-transfected cells. As control, CpGP900 only was transfected into cells and no cleavage was observed. The results suggested that CpGP900 protein was the substrate of CpROM1. Moreover, CpROM1 and CpROM4 could not cleave CpTRAP-C1 protein, which is the substrate of T. gondii rhomboid 2.\Question: Does cryptosporidium parvum rhomboid1 have an activity in microneme protein CpGP900 cleavage?

SOLUTION: Our results showed that CpROM1 is an active protease that is involved in microneme protein CpGP900 cleavage, which lay the foundation for further research on the mechanisms of C. parvum invasion.

PROBLEM: Context: Most knee joint biomechanics studies have involved knees with an isolated anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. However, a large portion of patients with injured ACLs have accompanied meniscus tearing. In this study, the in vivo alteration of knee biomechanics after tearing the ACL with or without combined medial or lateral meniscus tear was investigated during stair-ascending activity.', 'The kinematic behavior of ACL-deficient knees changes with a combined medial or lateral meniscus tear.', 'Controlled laboratory study.', 'Twenty-one patients with injured ACLs (contralateral side intact) were recruited before undergoing ACL reconstruction. Among these patients, 5 had isolated ACL injuries (group I), 8 had combined ACL and medial meniscus injuries (group II), and 8 had combined ACL and lateral meniscus injuries (group III). Bilateral magnetic resonance scans were obtained on each patient to construct 3-dimensional anatomic knee models. Both knees were then scanned during stair-climbing activity using a dual fluoroscopic imaging system. The knee kinematics during stair climbing were reproduced using a bone model image matching method. Anteroposterior and mediolateral translations and axial tibial rotation of the knee during stair ascent were then compared between the injured and intact contralateral knees of the patients.', 'On average, injured knees in groups I and III showed more than 2 mm increased anterior tibial translation close to full knee extension. In group II, no statistically significant difference was observed between the injured and contralateral side in anteroposterior translation. Near full extension, in groups I and III, injured knees had less than 1 mm of increased medial tibial translation compared with the contralateral side, whereas in group II, a 1.0-mm increase in lateral tibial shift was observed in the injured knees. With regard to axial tibial rotation, group I showed an increased external tibial rotation (approximately 5°), group II had little variation, whereas group III had increased internal tibial rotation (approximately 3°).\Question: Do meniscus Injuries Alter the Kinematics of Knees With Anterior Cruciate Ligament Deficiency?

SOLUTION:
The results of this study demonstrate that a combined ACL/meniscus injury could alter the kinematics of ACL-injured knees in a different way compared with knees with isolated ACL tears, depending on the pattern of the meniscus tear. Considering the varying effect of meniscus injuries on knee joint kinematics, future studies might focus on specific treatment of patients with combined ACL and meniscus injuries to protect the joint from abnormal kinematics and subsequent postoperative cartilage degeneration.