Developmental regulation of canonical and small ORF translation from mRNAs

Background: Ribosomal profiling has revealed the translation of thousands of sequences outside annotated protein-coding genes, including small open reading frames of less than 100 codons, and the translational regulation of many genes. Here we present an improved version of Poly-Ribo-Seq and apply it to Drosophila melanogaster embryos to extend the catalog of in vivo translated small ORFs, and to reveal the translational regulation of both small and canonical ORFs from mRNAs across embryogenesis. Results: We obtain highly correlated samples across five embryonic stages, with nearly 500 million putative ribosomal footprints mapped to mRNAs, and compare them to existing Ribo-Seq and proteomic data. Our analysis reveals, for the first time in Drosophila, footprints mapping to codons in a phased pattern, the hallmark of productive translation. We propose a simple binomial probability metric to ascertain translation probability. Our results also reveal reproducible ribosomal binding apparently not resulting in productive translation. This non-productive ribosomal binding seems to be especially prevalent amongst upstream short ORFs located in the 5′ mRNA leaders, and amongst canonical ORFs during the activation of the zygotic translatome at the maternal-to zygotic transition. Conclusions: We suggest that this non-productive ribosomal binding might be due to cis-regulatory ribosomal binding and to defective ribosomal scanning of ORFs outside periods of productive translation. Our results are compatible with the main function of upstream short ORFs being to buffer the translation of canonical canonical ORFs; and show that, in general, small ORFs in mRNAs display markers compatible with an evolutionary transitory state towards full coding function

Teachers Attitude towards and Actual Use of Gamification

[EN] Gamification represents an innovative and engaging methodology to motivate students and enhance their learning process. Nevertheless despite an increasing academic interest in gamification over the last years, teachers’ attitude towards gamification and actual use of gamification remains a neglected research area. This exploratory study aims to gain a better knowledge of teachers’ serving in higher education institutions attitude towards gamification. Actual use of gamification is also explored. Main findings suggest only a small percentage of teachers (11.30%) use gamification on a regular basis in their courses although teachers’ attitude towards gamification is positive and high. Results show no differences in use of gamification by age, gender or type of institution (public or private). Nevertheless there is a significant more positive attitude towards gamification for teachers serving in private universities than in public universities. Results revealed no age dissimilarities in use or attitude towards gamification. Results also suggest an attitude-use gap.This work was supported by Laureate International Universities through the David A. Wilson Award for Excellence in Teaching and Learning under Grant LIU-WIL2015.Martí Parreño, J.; Seguí Mas, DM.; Seguí Mas, E. (2016). Teachers Attitude towards and Actual Use of Gamification. Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences. 228:682-688. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2016.07.104S68268822

Low-frequency sounds induce acoustic trauma in cephalopods

There is currently relatively little information on how marine organisms process and analyze sound, making assessments about the impacts of artificial sound sources in the marine environment difficult. However, such assessments have become a priority because noise is now considered as a source of pollution that increasingly affects the natural balance of marine ecosystems. We present the first morphological and ultrastructural evidence of massive acoustic trauma, not compatible with life, in four cephalopod species subjected to low-frequency controlled-exposure experiments. Exposure to low-frequency sounds resulted in permanent and substantial alterations of the sensory hair cells of the statocysts, the structures responsible for the animals' sense of balance and position. These results indicate a need for further environmental regulation of human activities that introduce high-intensity, low-frequency sounds in the world's oceans.Peer reviewe