An experimental analysis of assessor specific bias in a programming assessment in multi-assessor scenarios utilizing an eye tracker

It has been experienced and reported by academic institutions around the globe that marking of most subject’s assessment scripts vary when different assessors are utilized for a given subject. To understand the difference, we capture and analysis pattern while they are marking the scripts. For this, a Java programming assessment from a real life university examination is marked by independent assessors. The assessors marked the scanned assessment scripts on a computer screen in front of an Eye tracker machine and their eye gaze data were recorded real time. Data indicate that different assessors marked the same answer script differently and their visual pattern are also varied although they were given the exact same instructions which demonstrates bias to a degree. For quality marking, several findings including the number of assessors needed are also presented in this manuscript

Genome-Wide Analysis Unveils DNA Helicase RECQ1 as a Regulator of Estrogen Response Pathway in Breast Cancer Cells

Susceptibility to breast cancer is significantly increased in individuals with germ line mutations in RECQ1 (also known as RECQL or RECQL1), a gene encoding a DNA helicase essential for genome maintenance. We previously reported that RECQ1 expression predicts clinical outcomes for sporadic breast cancer patients stratified by estrogen receptor (ER) status. Here, we utilized an unbiased integrative genomics approach to delineate a cross talk between RECQ1 and ERα, a known master regulatory transcription factor in breast cancer. We found that expression of ESR1, the gene encoding ERα, is directly activated by RECQ1. More than 35% of RECQ1 binding sites were cobound by ERα genome-wide. Mechanistically, RECQ1 cooperates with FOXA1, the pioneer transcription factor for ERα, to enhance chromatin accessibility at the ESR1 regulatory regions in a helicase activity-dependent manner. In clinical ERα-positive breast cancers treated with endocrine therapy, high RECQ1 and high FOXA1 coexpressing tumors were associated with better survival. Collectively, these results identify RECQ1 as a novel cofactor for ERα and uncover a previously unknown mechanism by which RECQ1 regulates disease-driving gene expression in ER-positive breast cancer cells

DEAR1 Is a Dominant Regulator of Acinar Morphogenesis and an Independent Predictor of Local Recurrence-Free Survival in Early-Onset Breast Cancer

Ann Killary and colleagues describe a new gene that is genetically altered in breast tumors, and that may provide a new breast cancer prognostic marker

Some Newly Defined Sequence Spaces Using Regular Matrix of Fibonacci Numbers

The main purpose of this paper is to introduce the new sequence spaces (F), c(F) and (F) based on the newly defined regular matrix F of Fibonacci numbers. We study some basic topological and algebraic properties of these spaces. Also we investigate the relations related to these spaces

A Study OF Mechanism of Transcription

The transcription is the process by which all forms of cellular RNA are synthesized by RNA polymerases that take instruction from DNA templates. The regulation of transcription depends upon specific protein-nucleic acid and protein-protein interactions. So elucidation of the structural basis of these interactions is of prime importance. In this thesis we have investigated these interactions using two different model systems- the bacterial promoter-RNA polymerase interaction and the human PC4-p53 interaction. The transcription is mainly divided into three steps, initiation, elongation and termination. In the initiation step, RNA polymerase binds to the DNA molecule at a particular site called promoters, which are specific sequences of about 40 base-pairs. The most crucial interactions for positioning of E.coli RNA polymerase at a promoter occur at two shortsequence patches on the DNA. In case of -10/-35 class promoters-------- the -10 hexamer and the -35 hexamer, which are located 10 and 35 base pairs (bp) upstream from the transcription start site, respectively, are important for recognition by RNA polymerase. Extended -10 promoters are somewhat different in architecture. Extended -10 class promoters contain a single -10 consensus element and the -35 region is not critical for promoter activity. In this thesis we have studied the interactions of E.coli RNA polymerase with a -10/-35 class promoter, lambda PR and an extended -10 class promoter, galP1, to elucidate the base positions that are important for RNA polymerasen recognition of -10/-35 class promoter and extended -10 class promoter. We have shown that the initial recognition of the promoter by RNA polymerase is very weakly basespecific and the base positions which are important for recognition by RNA polymerase to galP1 promoter at the initial stage are not similar in case of lambda PR promoter i.e. ecognition pattern of RNA polymerase to galP1 and lambda PR promoter are different. The p53 protein acts as a transcriptional activator of genes containing p53 binding sites and activates transcription of a number of genes which encode for proteins involved in cell cycle arrest, apoptosis and DNA repair in response to DNA damage and other genotoxic insult. The multifunctional human transcriptional coactivator PC4 interacts with p53 and activates several p53-dependent genes. PC4 interacts mainly with the Cterminal negative regulatory domain of p53 through its DNA binding C-terminal half. In this thesis we have investigated which residues in the p53 (364-393) primarily involved in the interaction with PC4 and vice versa. We have shown that amino acids 380-386 of p53 are crucial for interaction with PC4 and serine 73 of PC4 is an important residue for recognition of p53. Intermolecular Nuclear Overhauser Effect placed aspartate 76 of PC4 in the vicinity of lysine 381 of p53, indicating that the region around residues 73–76 of PC4 is important for p53 recognition. We have also studied the binding pattern of PC4 with differently acetylated p53 (380-386) peptides and shown that acetylation of Lys-381 and Lys-382 enhanced the binding by about an order of magnitude

RECQ1 helicase in genomic stability and cancer

RECQ1 (also known as RECQL or RECQL1) belongs to the RecQ family of DNA helicases, members of which are linked with rare genetic diseases of cancer predisposition in humans. RECQ1 is implicated in several cellular processes, including DNA repair, cell cycle and growth, telomere maintenance, and transcription. Earlier studies have demonstrated a unique requirement of RECQ1 in ensuring chromosomal stability and suggested its potential involvement in tumorigenesis. Recent reports have suggested that RECQ1 is a potential breast cancer susceptibility gene, and missense mutations in this gene contribute to familial breast cancer development. Here, we provide a framework for understanding how the genetic or functional loss of RECQ1 might contribute to genomic instability and cancer

Peptide-Protein Interactions Suggest That Acetylation of Lysines 381 and 382 of p53 Is Important for Positive Coactivator 4-p53 Interaction.

The human transcriptional positive coactivator 4 (PC4) activates several p53-dependent genes. It has been demonstrated that this is a consequence of direct interaction with p53. Previously,we have concluded that PC4 interacts mainly with the C-terminal negative regulatory domain of p53 through its DNA binding C-terminal half.NMRchemical shift perturbation studies with peptide fragments indicated that amino acids 380–386of p53 are crucial for interaction with PC4. This was verified by fluorescence anisotropy and sedimentation velocity studies. peptide consisting of p53-(380–386) sequence, when attached to a cell penetration tag and nuclear localization signal, localizes to the nucleus and inhibits luciferase gene expression from a transfected plasmid carrying a Luc gene under a p53-dependent promoter. Acetylation of lysine 382/381 enhanced the binding of this peptide to PC4 by about an order of magnitude.NMRand mutagenesis studies indicated that serine 73 of PC4 is an important residue for recognition of p53. Intermolecular nuclear Overhauser effect placed aspartate 76 in the vicinity of lysine381, indicating that the region around residues 73–76 of PC4 is important for p53 recognition. We conclude that the 380–386 region of p53 interacts with the region around residues 73–76 of PC4, and acetylation of lysine 382/381 of p53 may play an important role in modulating p53-PC4 interaction and as a consequence PC4 mediated activation of p53 target genes

An experimental analysis of assessor specific bias in a programming assessment in multi-assessor scenarios utilizing an eye tracker

It has been experienced and reported by academic institutions around the globe that marking of most subject’s assessment scripts vary when different assessors are utilized for a given subject. To understand the difference, we capture and analysis cognitive response of assessors through the visual pattern while they are marking the scripts. For this, a Java programming assessment from a real life university examination is marked by independent assessors. The assessors marked the scanned assessment scripts on a computer screen in front of an Eye tracker machine and their eye gaze data were recorded real time. Data indicate that different assessors marked the same answer script differently and their visual pattern are also varied although they were given the exact same instructions which demonstrates bias to a degree. For quality marking, several findings including the number of assessors needed are also presented in this manuscript