The ‘CheA’ and ‘CheY’ domains of Myxococcus xanthus FrzE function independently in vitro as an autokinase and a phosphate acceptor, respectively

AbstractFrzE is a chemotaxis protein in Myxococcus xanthus which has sequence homology to two different chemotaxis proteins of enteric bacteria, CheA (autokinase) and CheY (phosphate acceptor) [Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 87 (1990) 5898–5902]. It was also shown that a recombinant FrzE protein was autophosphorylated when incubated in the presence of ATP and Mn2+ [J. Bacteriol. 172 (1990) 6661–6668]. In this study, we further investigated the biochemical properties of FrzE. Two recombinant proteins were produced: one containing only the ‘CheA’ domain of FrzE and the second only the ‘CheY’ domain. The CheA domain polypeptide contained the autokinase activity which was absent from the CheY domain polypeptide. The phosphorylated CheA domain polypeptide as well as the intact FrzE protein were able to transfer phosphate groups to the CheY domain peptide. These results indicate that FrzE has structural as well as functional homologies to CheA and CheY in a single polypeptide

Clinical trial update: National Cancer Institute of Canada

The Breast Cancer Site Group (BCSG) of the National Cancer Institute of Canada (NCIC) Clinical Trials Group (CTG) has conducted a wide variety of clinical trials focussing on large phase III trials of adjuvant chemotherapy, adjuvant hormonal therapy, and optimal delivery of adjuvant radiation therapy. The Group has also fostered, together with the NCIC CTG Investigational New Drug (IND) Program, a series of phase II and phase I/II studies which will be carried through if possible, into the phase III setting

Prior history of feeding–swallowing difficulties in children with language impairment

Purpose This study updated and extended our previous investigation (Malas et al., 2015) of feeding–swallowing difficulties and concerns (FSCs) in children with language impairments (LI) by using more stringent inclusion criteria and targeting children earlier in the care delivery pathway. Method Retrospective analyses were performed on the clinical files of 29 children (average age: 60 months, SD = 9.0) diagnosed as having LI using standardized testing, nonstandardized testing and final speech-language pathologist judgment. The files of children born prematurely or with a history of anatomical, structural, neurodevelopmental, cognitive, sensory, motor, or speech disorders were excluded. Literature-based indicators were used to determine the prevalence of difficulties in sucking, food transition, food selectivity, and salivary control. Values were compared with the general population estimate of Lindberg et al. (1992). Results A significantly higher percentage of histories of FSCs (48%) were found in the files of children with LI when compared with the population estimate (χ2 = 13.741, df = 1, p < .001). Difficulties in food transition (31%) and food selectivity (14%) were the most frequent. Data confirm and extend our previous findings and suggest that a previous history of FSCs may characterize children with LI early in their care delivery pathway

The US Program in Ground-Based Gravitational Wave Science: Contribution from the LIGO Laboratory

Recent gravitational-wave observations from the LIGO and Virgo observatories have brought a sense of great excitement to scientists and citizens the world over. Since September 2015,10 binary black hole coalescences and one binary neutron star coalescence have been observed. They have provided remarkable, revolutionary insight into the "gravitational Universe" and have greatly extended the field of multi-messenger astronomy. At present, Advanced LIGO can see binary black hole coalescences out to redshift 0.6 and binary neutron star coalescences to redshift 0.05. This probes only a very small fraction of the volume of the observable Universe. However, current technologies can be extended to construct "3rd Generation" (3G) gravitational-wave observatories that would extend our reach to the very edge of the observable Universe. The event rates over such a large volume would be in the hundreds of thousands per year (i.e. tens per hour). Such 3G detectors would have a 10-fold improvement in strain sensitivity over the current generation of instruments, yielding signal-to-noise ratios of 1000 for events like those already seen. Several concepts are being studied for which engineering studies and reliable cost estimates will be developed in the next 5 years

Clinical Trial of a Home Safety Toolkit for Alzheimer’s Disease

This randomized clinical trial tested a new self-directed educational intervention to improve caregiver competence to create a safer home environment for persons with dementia living in the community. The sample included 108 patient/caregiver dyads: the intervention group (n=60) received the Home Safety Toolkit (HST), including a new booklet based on health literacy principles, and sample safety items to enhance self-efficacy to make home safety modifications. The control group (n=48) received customary care. Participants completed measures at baseline and at twelve-week follow-up. Multivariate Analysis of Covariance (MANCOVA) was used to test for significant group differences. All caregiver outcome variables improved in the intervention group more than in the control. Home safety was significant at P≤0.001, caregiver strain at P≤0.001, and caregiver self-efficacy at P=0.002. Similarly, the care receiver outcome of risky behaviors and accidents was lower in the intervention group (P≤0.001). The self-directed use of this Home Safety Toolkit activated the primary family caregiver to make the home safer for the person with dementia of Alzheimer's type (DAT) or related disorder. Improving the competence of informal caregivers is especially important for patients with DAT in light of all stakeholders reliance on their unpaid care

Barriers and strategies for recruiting study participants in clinical settings

Recruiting participants for research studies is often a challenging task. Recruitment requires careful planning, collaboration, and flexibility on the part of researchers and health care providers at the recruitment sites. This article describes six major barriers to recruiting study participants as identified from a review of the literature and from the coauthors\u27 research experiences. These barriers include challenges related to regulations of the Health Insurance Portabililty and Accountability Act (HIPAA), health care providers\u27 work burden, providers\u27 financial disincentives, competition, health care provider concerns regarding research, and provider protection of patients. Each barrier is described, and specific strategies are suggested based on the empirical literature. In some instances, the coauthors\u27 experiences are also shared