A critical evaluation of the ubiquitin–proteasome system in Parkinson's disease

AbstractThe evidence for impairment in the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) in Parkinson's disease (PD) is mounting and becoming increasingly more convincing. However, it is presently unclear whether UPS dysfunction is a cause or result of PD pathology, a crucial distinction which impedes both the understanding of disease pathogenesis and the development of effectual therapeutic approaches. Recent findings discussed within this review offer new insight and provide direction for future research to conclusively resolve this debate

Academic performance & student engagement in level 1 physics undergraduates

At the beginning of academic year 2007-08, staff in the Department of Physics & Astronomy at the University of Glasgow started to implement a number of substantial changes to the administration of the level 1 physics undergraduate class. The main aims were to improve the academic performance and progression statistics. With this in mind, a comprehensive system of learning support was introduced, the main remit being the provision of an improved personal contact and academic monitoring and support strategy for all students at level 1. The effects of low engagement with compulsory continuous assessment components had already been observed to have a significant effect for students sitting in the middle of the grade curve. Analysis of data from the 2007-08 class showed that even some nominally high-achieving students achieved lowered grades due to the effects of low engagement. Nonetheless, academic and other support measures put in place during 2007-08 played a part in raising the passrate for the level 1 physics class by approximately 8% as well as raising the progression rate by approximately 10%.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figure

Remarkable Male Bias in a Population of Midland Painted Turtles (Chrysemys picta marginata) in Ontario, Canada

We report on male sex bias in a population of Midland Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta marginata) at a wetland near Brampton, Ontario, Canada. The wetland is bisected by a major arterial road and characterized by high traffic volume and substantial wildlife-vehicle collisions. Road mortality surveys conducted in 2011, 2013, and 2015 documented 217 dead turtles, of which 118 could positively be identified as Midland Painted Turtle. From 2014–2015, we conducted a mark-recapture survey and captured 34 individual Midland Painted Turtles. The male:female sex ratio of 21:4 is one of the most skewed sex ratios for this species on record. We attribute this skew to sex-specific road mortality amongst other possible factors such as predation and nesting conditions. This study adds to the general body of work that has found a male sex ratio bias in areas of high road mortality

A novel low-temperature mashing schedule for brewing with unmalted sorghum: optimisation

Laboratory mashing experiments were used to investigate and optimise protocols for mashing with unmalted sorghum using a novel low-temperature (Tmax = 78 °C) enzyme blend and mash schedule. Results are compared with equivalent data for a traditional high-temperature mash schedule (Tmax = 95 °C). An experimental design approach was used to model wort quality (Extract, FAN content, filtration rate, fermentable sugars contents, colour and turbidity) produced by each mash schedule across a full factorial design space. The factors varied were 1. Mash-in pH (5.5 ± 0.25) 2. Calcium chloride addition (2 g/kg ± 1) 3. Potassium metabisulphite (KMS) addition (1 g/kg ± 1) and 4. The amount of enzyme blend added to each system (recommended dosage ± 50%). Wort quality was particularly sensitive to mash-in pH with best results achieved close to pH 5.5 (hence selected as the design centre point). At pH values below 5.5 wort extract decreased with either schedule, whereas the impacts of elevated pH at mash-in were slightly higher wort FAN levels, but increased wort turbidity and colour and reduced filterability of the laboratory wort. The novel low temperature mash schedule was able to produce wort of comparable quality with that from the high-temperature schedule. Design space models for the high- and low-temperature mash systems were used to suggest optimal conditions for each varied factor, with the objective of maximising wort extract and FAN, whilst minimising enzyme addition rates (hence cost). Optimised extracts of 10.6 and 10.8 °P were achieved for the low and high-temperature mash systems, with FAN levels of 60 and 57.2 mg/L respectively. Optimal conditions required a mash-in pH of 5.75 and around 2 g/kg KMS in each case. The high-temperature system required around 3 g/kg CaCl2 addition for optimal performance whereas the low-temperature mash performed well with just 1 g/kg added CaCl2. Use of the novel low-temperature mash schedule should facilitate substantial energy savings in the brewery, because it operates at lower maximum temperatures for a shorter overall process time and also because the mash schedule features only increases in process temperatures with time. This saves on the energy required to cool the mash in the traditional process from 95 °C (for starch gelatinisation) to the saccharification enzyme stand (60 °C)

Measurement of a Model of Implementation for Health Care: Toward a Testable Theory

Greenhalgh et al. used a considerable evidence-base to develop a comprehensive model of implementation of innovations in healthcare organizations [1]. However, these authors did not fully operationalize their model, making it difficult to test formally. The present paper represents a first step in operationalizing Greenhalgh et al.\u27s model by providing background, rationale, working definitions, and measurement of key constructs.A systematic review of the literature was conducted for key words representing 53 separate sub-constructs from six of the model\u27s broad constructs. Using an iterative process, we reviewed existing measures and utilized or adapted items. Where no one measure was deemed appropriate, we developed other items to measure the constructs through consensus