Quantitative research in practice: applying a differential scale questionnaire to literature

Literary scholarship has traditionally relied on interpretative studies. Grounded on the theoretical bases of the Empirical Study of Literature, this paper moves away from such tradition by adopting an empirical perspective. Its purpose is to report on the design of a questionnaire and how semantic differentials were created so as to elicit responses from readers from two different cultures, namely, Ukraine and Brazil. The study described in this paper enables researchers to look into readers‟ reactions to a given poem from a collective viewpoint

Structural basis for the catalytic mechanism of ethylenediamine-N,N′-disuccinic acid lyase, a carbon-nitrogen bond-forming enzyme with broad substrate scope

The natural aminocarboxylic acid product ethylenediamine-N,N′-disuccinic acid [(S,S)-EDDS] is able to form a stable complex with metal ions, making it an attractive biodegradable alternative for the synthetic metal chelator ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), which is currently used at large scale in numerous applications. Previous studies have demonstrated that biodegradation of (S,S)-EDDS may be initiated by an EDDS lyase, converting (S,S)-EDDS via the intermediate N-(2-aminoethyl)aspartic acid (AEAA) into ethylenediamine and two molecules of fumarate. However, current knowledge of this enzyme is limited due to the absence of structural data. Here, we describe the identification and characterization of an EDDS lyase from Chelativorans sp. BNC1, which has a broad substrate scope, accepting various mono- and diamines for addition to fumarate. We report crystal structures of the enzyme in an unliganded state and in complex with formate, succinate, fumarate, AEAA and (S,S)-EDDS. The structures reveal a tertiary and quaternary fold that is characteristic of the aspartase/fumarase superfamily and support a mechanism that involves general base-catalyzed, sequential two-step deamination of (S,S)-EDDS. This work broadens our understanding of mechanistic diversity within the aspartase/fumarase superfamily and will aid in the optimization of EDDS lyase for asymmetric synthesis of valuable (metal-chelating) aminocarboxylic acids

The Five-Factor Perceived Shared Mental Model Scale:A Consolidation of Items Across the Contemporary Literature

Literature on Shared Mental Models (SMMs) has been burgeoning in recent years and this has provided increasingly detailed insight and evidence into the importance of SMMs within specific contexts. However, because past research predominantly focused on SMM structure as measured by diverse, context-dependent measures, a consolidated multi-dimensional measure of perceived SMMs that can be used across diverse team contexts is currently lacking. Furthermore, different conceptualizations of the dimensionality of SMMs exist, which further impedes the comparison between studies. These key limitations might hinder future development in the SMM literature. We argue that the field of SMMs has now matured enough that it is possible to take a deductive approach and evaluate the prior studies in order to refine the key SMMs dimensions, operationalizations, and measurement. Hence, we take a three-stage approach to consolidate existing literature scale-based measures of SMMs, using four samples. Ultimately, this leads to a 20-item five-dimensional scale (i.e., equipment, execution, interaction, composition, and temporal SMMs) – the Five Factor Perceived Shared Mental Model Scale (5-PSMMS). Our scale provides scholars with a tool which enables the measurement, and comparison, of SMMs across diverse team contexts. It offers practitioners the option to more straightforwardly assess perceived SMMs in their teams, allowing the identification of challenges in their teams and facilitating the design of appropriate interventions

Chemoenzymatic Synthesis of ortho-, meta-, and para-Substituted Derivatives of L-threo-3-Benzyloxyaspartate, An Important Glutamate Transporter Blocker

A simple, three-step chemoenzymatic synthesis of L-threo-3-benzyloxyaspartate (L-TBOA), as well as L-TBOA derivatives with F, CF3, and CH3 substituents at the aromatic ring, starting from dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate was investigated. These chiral amino acids, which are extremely difficult to prepare by chemical synthesis, form an important class of inhibitors of excitatory amino acid transporters involved in the regulation of glutamatergic neurotransmission. In addition, a new chemical procedure for the synthesis of racemic mixtures of TBOA and its derivatives was explored. These chemically prepared racemates are valuable reference compounds in chiral-phase HPLC to establish the enantiopurities of the corresponding chemoenzymatically prepared amino acids

Catalytic Mechanisms and Biocatalytic Applications of Aspartate and Methylaspartate Ammonia Lyases

Ammonia lyases catalyze the formation of alpha-beta-unsaturated bonds by the elimination of ammonia from their substrates. This conceptually straightforward reaction has been the emphasis of many studies, with the main focus on the catalytic mechanism of these enzymes and/or the use of these enzymes as catalysts for the synthesis of enantiomerically pure a-amino acids. In this Review aspartate ammonia lyase and 3-methylaspartate ammonia lyase, which represent two different enzyme superfamilies, are discussed in detail. In the past few years, the three-dimensional structures of these lyases in complex with their natural substrates have revealed the details of two elegant catalytic strategies. These strategies exploit similar deamination mechanisms that involve general-base catalyzed formation of an enzyme-stabilized enolate anion (aci-carboxylate) intermediate. Recent progress in the engineering and application of these enzymes to prepare enantiopure L-aspartic acid derivatives, which are highly valuable as tools for biological research and as chiral building blocks for pharmaceuticals and food additives, is also discussed

Telehealth curriculum in health care higher education: An International eDelphi study

Identify the core competencies and skills in telehealth needed in the curriculum at higher educatio

Development of a Pain Training Program via the Internet (TED-On) for physical therapists: Protocol of a Mixed Method Trial

We aim to verify the effectiveness of an online teaching program on pain for physical therapists and to investigate the professionals' perceptions about the change in their knowledge and attitudes towards the management patients' pain