Bidirectional Assessment of Stress, job satisfaction and work ability of Educators in day care centres: a real-time observation study - the study protocol (BASE)

Background: Occupational demands of educators are not very well researched. Nevertheless their work is subject to several requirements. Whether these demands have an effect on the work ability and the health status of employees has also not been examined. Furthermore it is unclear if the ownership type of day care centres have an influence on job satisfaction and work ability of the pedagogical staff and what kind of resources do exist. Previous studies were mainly based on questionnaire data. Objective data does not exist. Therefore the aim of this investigation is to collect precise data relating to work of educators. Methods: Effects of different types of ownership of day care centres on job satisfaction and work ability of educators will be assessed with the help of objective real time studies in combination with multi-level psycho diagnostic measurements. Discussion: The present study is the first of its kind. Up to now there are no computer-based real time studies on workflow of pedagogical staff with regard to assess their work-related stress. Following an exhaustive documentation of educators work processes the day-to-day task can be estimated and approaches for prevention can be developed. This can substantially contribute to an overall improvement of child care in Germany

Allele-specific endogenous tagging and quantitative analysis of β-catenin in colorectal cancer cells

Wnt signaling plays important roles in development, homeostasis, and tumorigenesis. Mutations in β-catenin that activate Wnt signaling have been found in colorectal and hepatocellular carcinomas. However, the dynamics of wild-type and mutant forms of β-catenin are not fully understood. Here, we genome-engineered fluorescently tagged alleles of endogenous β-catenin in a colorectal cancer cell line. Wild-type and oncogenic mutant alleles were tagged with different fluorescent proteins, enabling the analysis of both variants in the same cell. We analyzed the properties of both β-catenin alleles using immunoprecipitation, immunofluorescence, and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy approaches, revealing distinctly different biophysical properties. In addition, activation of Wnt signaling by treatment with a GSK3β inhibitor or a truncating APC mutation modulated the wild-type allele to mimic the properties of the mutant β-catenin allele. The one-step tagging strategy demonstrates how genome engineering can be employed for the parallel functional analysis of different genetic variants

Cytoplasmic Transport Machinery of the SPF27 Homologue Num1 in Ustilago maydis

In the phytopathogenic basidiomycete Ustilago maydis, the Num1 protein has a pivotal function in hyphal morphogenesis. Num1 functions as a core component of the spliceosome-associated Prp19/CDC5 complex (NTC). The interaction of Num1 with the kinesin motor Kin1 suggests a connection between a component of the splicing machinery and cytoplasmic trafficking processes. Previously it was shown that Num1 localizes predominantly in the nucleus; however, due to the diffraction-limited spatial resolution of conventional optical microscopy, it was not possible to attribute the localization to specific structures within the cytoplasm. We have now employed super-resolution localization microscopy to visualize Num1 in the cytoplasm by fusing it to a tandem dimeric Eos fluorescent protein (tdEosFP). The Num1 protein is localized within the cytoplasm with an enhanced density in the vicinity of microtubules. Num1 movement is found predominantly close to the nucleus. Movement is dependent on its interaction partner Kin1, but independent of Kin3. Our results provide strong evidence that, in addition to its involvement in splicing in the nucleus, Num1 has an additional functional role in the cytosol connected to the Kin1 motor protein

Development and evaluation of a computer-based medical work assessment programme

Background: There are several ways to conduct a job task analysis in medical work environments including pencil-paper observations, interviews and questionnaires. However these methods implicate bias problems such as high inter-individual deviations and risks of misjudgement. Computer-based observation helps to reduce these problems. The aim of this paper is to give an overview of the development process of a computer-based job task analysis instrument for real-time observations to quantify the job tasks performed by physicians working in different medical settings. In addition reliability and validity data of this instrument will be demonstrated. Methods: This instrument was developed in consequential steps. First, lists comprising tasks performed by physicians in different care settings were classified. Afterwards content validity of task lists was proved. After establishing the final task categories, computer software was programmed and implemented in a mobile personal computer. At least inter-observer reliability was evaluated. Two trained observers recorded simultaneously tasks of the same physician. Results: Content validity of the task lists was confirmed by observations and experienced specialists of each medical area. Development process of the job task analysis instrument was completed successfully. Simultaneous records showed adequate interrater reliability. Conclusion: Initial results of this analysis supported the validity and reliability of this developed method for assessing physicians' working routines as well as organizational context factors. Based on results using this method, possible improvements for health professionals' work organisation can be identified

The Potential of Regional Integration Agreements (RIAs) in Enhancing the Credibility of Reform: The Case of the Syrian-European Association Agreement

The effect of 'locking-in' economic reform and enhancing its credibility is generally regarded as one of the most important potential effects of regional integration. Based on a detailed review of the theoretical debate, this paper develops a general framework for assessment to evaluate the ability of RIAs to serve as effective mechanisms for 'commitment' and 'signalling'. In the second part, this assessment framework is applied to the case of the Syrian-European Association Agreement (AA). Syria initialled an AA with the European Union in October 2004, but two and a half years later, this agreement is still pending formal signature. The empirical findings of this study show that despite several shortcomings, the Syrian-European AA, if it were to come into force, should be able to deliver an appropriate mechanism for signalling and commitment and thus to improve the credibility of the Syrian process of reform at home and abroad. A major loophole of the agreement, however, is represented by its lack of incentives to increase the 'rewards for good policy'.Der Effekt der Verankerung von Reformen und die Erhöhung ihrer Glaubwürdigkeit (Lock-in-Effekt) gilt allgemein als einer der wichtigsten Effekte der regionalen Integration. Aufbauend auf einer detaillierten Betrachtung der theoretischen Debatte zum 'Lock-in-Effekt' wird in diesem Papier ein allgemeiner Analyserahmen entworfen, der dazu dient, die Fähigkeit von RIA als Mechanismen der Signalisierung und Selbstbindung zu bewerten. Im anschließenden zweiten Teil wird dieser Analyserahmen auf das Beispiel des Syrisch-Europäischen Assoziierungsabkommens angewendet. Syrien initialisierte im Oktober 2004 ein Assoziierungsabkommen mit der Europäischen Union. Zweieinhalb Jahre später ist dieses Abkommen noch immer nicht formell unterzeichnet. Die Ergebnisse dieser Studie zeigen, dass das Syrisch-Europäische Assoziierungsabkommen - sollte es in Kraft treten - trotz einiger Mängel einen adäquaten Mechanismus der Signalisierung und Selbstbindung liefern und dazu beitragen kann, die Glaubwürdigkeit des syrischen Reformprozesses in - und außerhalb des Landes zu verbessern. Eine wesentliche Schwäche des Abkommensentwurfs liegt allerdings in mangelnden Anreizen für eine 'Belohnung der guten Politik'

Concerted action of zinc and ProSAP/Shank in synaptogenesis and synapse maturation

ProSAP/Shank are scaffolding proteins that localize to the postsynaptic density (PSD). This study shows that Zn2+ ions directly regulate the localization and recruitment of Shank/ProSAP1/2 to PSDs to facilitate synapse formation and maturation

Molecular Mechanism of a Green-Shifted, pH-Dependent Red Fluorescent Protein mKate Variant

Fluorescent proteins that can switch between distinct colors have contributed significantly to modern biomedical imaging technologies and molecular cell biology. Here we report the identification and biochemical analysis of a green-shifted red fluorescent protein variant GmKate, produced by the introduction of two mutations into mKate. Although the mutations decrease the overall brightness of the protein, GmKate is subject to pH-dependent, reversible green-to-red color conversion. At physiological pH, GmKate absorbs blue light (445 nm) and emits green fluorescence (525 nm). At pH above 9.0, GmKate absorbs 598 nm light and emits 646 nm, far-red fluorescence, similar to its sequence homolog mNeptune. Based on optical spectra and crystal structures of GmKate in its green and red states, the reversible color transition is attributed to the different protonation states of the cis-chromophore, an interpretation that was confirmed by quantum chemical calculations. Crystal structures reveal potential hydrogen bond networks around the chromophore that may facilitate the protonation switch, and indicate a molecular basis for the unusual bathochromic shift observed at high pH. This study provides mechanistic insights into the color tuning of mKate variants, which may aid the development of green-to-red color-convertible fluorescent sensors, and suggests GmKate as a prototype of genetically encoded pH sensors for biological studies

Kulturen des Entscheidens

Der Band thematisiert Entscheiden als eine soziale Praxis, die keineswegs selbstverständlich sondern in hohem Maße voraussetzungsvoll ist und die mit unterschiedlichen Zumutungen einhergeht. Entscheiden nimmt je nach sozialen Umständen ganz unterschiedliche Formen an und unterliegt demnach dem historischen Wandel. Die Beiträge des Bandes gehen anhand ausgewählter Fallbeispiele, die vom mittelalterlichen Europa bis hin zum gegenwärtigen Indien reichen, unterschiedlichen Aspekten von Kulturen des Entscheidens nach. Sie nehmen Narrative und Praktiken des Entscheidens ebenso in den Blick wie den Einsatz von Ressourcen in Prozessen des Entscheidens und diskutieren Ansätze, Entscheiden in einer geistes- und kulturwissenschaftlichen Perspektive zu analysieren. Der Band zeigt so die vielfältigen Möglichkeiten auf, wie Entscheiden untersucht werden kann, wenn dieses als eine historisch wandelbare soziale Praxis und als kulturell diverses Phänomen begriffen wird