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Objectives. The causes of ovarian cancer (OC) have been confirmed to be closely related to genetic factors. Identifying sequence variants of hereditary ovarian cancer (HOC) susceptibility genes can increase clinical surveillance, facilitate early detection, and provide personalized treatment for patients. This study is aimed at investigating the variation frequency of HOC susceptibility genes in the Chinese population and providing information for the etiology and genetics of OC. Methods. 118 epithelial OC patients were recruited in this clinical study. Variants of 18-gene panel were detected in blood samples by next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology. Results. Overall, 36.44% (43/118) of patients carried at least one pathogenic variant. Among these, BRCA1 pathogenic variants were detected in 31 (26.27%) patients, and 5 (4.24%) patients carried pathogenic variants of BRCA2. Moreover, 27.12% (32/118) of patients carried variants of unknown significance (VUSs). Importantly, we detected eight variants that were not reported previously. Conclusions. Our study enlarged the spectrum of HOC-associated gene sequence variants in the Chinese population and also proved the necessity of multigene testing in epithelial OC patients. The identification of patients with HOC will allow family members to undergo cascade testing where identification of unaffected carriers can facilitate early detection, risk reduction, or prevention of OC and ultimately improve long-term outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper summarizes the concepts that underpin the way in which forces exerted on chemical systems can either accelerate their rates or induce reaction pathways that cannot be accessed thermally. This was first described in 1935 by Evans and Polanyi who showed how hydrostatic pressure could accelerate the rates of chemical reactions using a thermodynamic analysis of transition‐state theory to demonstrate that the reaction rate increased exponentially with pressure, and depends on a so‐called activation volume. This is typically ∼17 Å3/molecule and indicates that pressures on the order of GPa′s are required to accelerate the rates of chemical reactions, which commonly occur at solid‐solid interfaces such as found in a ball mill. We describe how surface mechanochemical reaction mechanisms are studied using the example of the shear‐induced decomposition of carboxylates on copper. They thermally decompose on heating to ∼650 K to evolve carbon dioxide and deposit a hydrocarbon on the surface but shear stresses accelerate the rate of this process so that it occurs at room temperature. However, it is also found that forces parallel to the COO plane induce a non‐thermal reaction pathway to evolve carbon monoxide and adsorbed oxygen on the surface. This reaction pathway can be quenched by using adsorbed benzoate species because the larger area of the aryl ring accentuates the tilt of the COO plane towards the surface to increase the rate of the thermal reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Novosphingobium sp. HR1a is a good biodegrader of PAHs and aromatic compounds, and also a good colonizer of rhizospheric environments. It was previously demonstrated that this microbe is able to co‐metabolize nutrients existing in root exudates together with the PAHs. We have revealed here that PahT, a regulator of the IclR‐family, regulates the central carbon fluxes favouring the degradation of PAHs and mono‐aromatic compounds, the ethanol and acetate metabolism and the uptake, phosphorylation and further degradation of mono‐ and oligo‐saccharides through a phosphoenolpyruvate transferase system (PTS). As final products of these fluxes, pyruvate and acetyl‐CoA are obtained. The pahT gene is located within a genomic region containing two putative transposons that carry all the genes for PAH catabolism; PahT also regulates these genes. Furthermore, encoded in this genomic region, there are genes that are involved in the recycling of phosphoenolpyruvate, from the obtained pyruvate, which is the motor molecule involved in the saccharide uptake by the PTS system. The co‐metabolism of PAHs with different carbon sources, together with the activation of the thiosulfate utilization and an alternative cytochrome oxidase system, also regulated by PahT, represents an advantage for Novosphingobium sp. HR1a to survive in rhizospheric environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To identify how frequently the neck pain associated with migraine presents with a pattern of cervical musculoskeletal dysfunction akin to cervical musculoskeletal disorders, and to determine if pain hypersensitivity impacts on cervical musculoskeletal function in persons with migraine. Background: Many persons with migraine experience neck pain and often seek local treatment. Yet neck pain may be part of migraine symptomology and not from a local cervical source. If neck pain is of cervical origin, a pattern of musculoskeletal impairments with characteristics similar to idiopathic neck pain should be present. Some individuals with migraine may have neck pain of cervical origin, whereas others may not. However, previous studies have neglected the disparity in potential origins of neck pain and treated persons with migraine as a homogenous group, which does not assist in identifying the origin of neck pain in individuals with migraine. Methods: This cross‐sectional, single‐blinded study was conducted in a research laboratory at the University of Queensland, Australia. Persons with migraine (total n = 124: episodic migraine n = 106, chronic migraine = 18), healthy controls (n = 32), and persons with idiopathic neck pain (n = 21) were assessed using a set of measures typically used in the assessment of a cervical musculoskeletal disorder, including cervical movement range and accuracy, segmental joint dysfunction, neuromuscular and sensorimotor measures. Pain hypersensitivity was assessed using pressure pain thresholds and the Allodynia Symptom Checklist. People with migraine with diagnoses of comorbid neck disorders were excluded. Cluster analysis was performed to identify how participants grouped on the basis of their performance across cervical musculoskeletal assessments. Post hoc analyses examined the effects of pain hypersensitivity on musculoskeletal function, and if any symptoms experienced during testing were related to musculoskeletal function. Results: Two distinct clusters of cervical musculoskeletal function were found: (i) neck function similar to healthy controls (n = 108) and (ii) neck dysfunction similar to persons with neck pain disorders (n = 69). Seventy‐six of the individuals with migraine (62 with neck pain and 14 without neck pain) were clustered as having normal cervical musculoskeletal function, whereas the remaining 48 with neck pain had cervical dysfunction comparable with a neck disorder. Musculoskeletal dysfunction was not related to pain hypersensitivity or symptoms experienced during testing. Conclusions: Neck pain when present with migraine does not necessarily indicate the existence of cervical musculoskeletal dysfunction. Skilled assessment without reliance only on the person reporting symptoms is needed to identify actual cervical dysfunction. Treatments suitable for neck musculoskeletal disorders would seem inappropriate for the individuals without cervical dysfunction. Future studies evaluating any potential effects of such treatments should only select participants with neck pain of cervical origin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the feasibility of three‐dimensional conformal radiation therapy for canine aortic body tumours. Materials and Methods: Medical records of dogs that had undergone three‐dimensional conformal radiation therapy with presumptive diagnosis of aortic body tumour were reviewed for clinical characteristics, treatment modality and outcomes. Results: Eight dogs were diagnosed with aortic body tumour and were treated with three‐dimensional conformal radiation therapy. One dog had proliferation of a mass in the right atrium during treatment and died of respiratory distress. Another dog did not undergo follow‐up CT to evaluate the treatment response due to the increased blood urea nitrogen values. The remaining 6 dogs were included in the case series. Radiotherapy was performed using a median dose per fraction of 7 Gy (3.3‐7.14 Gy), a median of seven divided doses (7‐15) and a total median dose of 49 Gy (45‐50 Gy). The median number of CT scans during the follow‐up period was 5 (range: 3‐8 times). CT revealed acute side effects in four dogs—grade 1 effects related to the lung (n = 4) and skin (n = 2). Self‐limiting or asymptomatic late side effects (grade 1 lung‐related effect) were observed in three dogs. After therapy, one dog demonstrated a complete response, another demonstrated a partial response and the disease remained stable in four animals. The median follow‐up period was 514.5 (235‐1219) days. After three‐dimensional conformal radiation therapy, the aortic body tumour reduced gradually over time without regrowth in all these 6 dogs. Clinical Significance: In this small case series, aortic body tumours responded to three‐dimensional conformal radiation therapy. Transient and self‐limiting side effects of the treatments were common. Further controlled studies are required to prove the effectiveness and the safety of this intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to Kaplan and Norton, a fundamental tenet of the balanced scorecard (BSC) is that cause‐and‐effect relationships exist across measures within its four perspectives. However, prior research on BSCs has provided equivocal findings as to whether these relationships exist. Using a public sector BSC, we conduct a panel Granger causality analysis and find evidence of causal relationships. We highlight the importance of this finding from both a research and practice perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electron detachment from O− is important for understanding of lightning‐induced upper atmospheric discharges. Contrary to previous studies, Rayment and Moruzzi (1978) (RM78) argue that the associative detachment reaction of O− with N2 proceeds with N2 in its ground state. Here, we analyze the experimental setup in RM78 and demonstrate that vibrationally excited N2 may have in fact contaminated the results, the theoretical approach in RM78 requires corrections, and the rate calculations provided in RM78 are inconsistent. As the vibrational temperature of N2 remains relatively low in the initial stages of gas discharges in air, i.e., streamer formation, we conclude that if in fact vibrationally excited N2 is required for the O− + N2 → N2O + e reaction to proceed, the process will happen only in later stages of the discharge, e.g., during streamer to leader transition. Controlled experiments are required to reconcile the literature on the reaction of O− with ground state N2. Plain Language Summary: The development of lightning induced transient luminous events in the middle atmosphere (i.e., sprite discharges) usually proceeds on very short time scales measured in milliseconds. The modeling of these discharges requires accounting for a set of relatively fast reactions, that includes the electron impact ionization of ambient oxygen and nitrogen molecules, the dissociative attachment of electrons and the electron impact excitation of electronic states of N2 that have relatively short lifetimes and are responsible for observed visible, infrared, and ultraviolet signatures of these events detected from various (orbital and ground based) remote sensing platforms. Here we discuss the existing knowledge on the associative detachment of electrons from O− ions obtained in previous current growth laboratory experiments under steady state conditions. This detachment process has been included in several recently published models of transient luminous events. This process may be applicable to later stages of discharge development when significant quantities of vibrationally excited nitrogen molecules accumulate. This work provides evidence that it may not be applicable during initiation of these discharges. Key Points: Applicability of the associative detachment of electrons from O− ions to modeling of lightning induced transient luminous events is discussedThe detachment rate obtained in previous steady state laboratory experiments requires correctionControlled experiments are required to reconcile the literature on the detachment reaction of O− with ground state N2 and vibrationally excited N2 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our current research investigated how mentors enhance protégé self‐efficacy. Drawing from social comparison theory, we propose that the shared experience between mentors and protégés facilitates the ability of protégés to adopt the perspective of their mentors. Additionally, the perspective‐taking that a protégé engages in enables them to ascribe positive aspects of their mentor (i.e., efficacious beliefs) to themselves. Study 1 (N = 205 adults) and study 2 (N = 204 adults) adopted an experimental design (i.e., vignette study) and study 3 (N = 148 undergraduate management students) adopted a survey design with protégés in an e‐mentoring program. Results from all three studies provided evidence for the transfer of efficacy beliefs from the mentor to the protégé. The findings supported the postulation that shared experience between the protégé and mentor facilitates perspective‐taking on behalf of the protégé. Although the findings of the experimental studies showed that a protégé's perspective‐taking moderated the positive transfer of efficacy beliefs from the mentor to the protégé, the field study failed to replicate this particular finding. Our current research findings have implications for training and developing employees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID‐19) has highlighted social disparities in the United States. This article examines how preexisting racial and ethnic disparities, exacerbated by COVID‐19, have negatively affected communities of color that tend to be overrepresented in lower socioeconomic groups, have limited access to health care and education, have an undocumented status, and work in jobs considered "essential." Counselors are encouraged to use creative strategies to design and facilitate telecounseling and reduced‐ or no‐cost workshops in which attendees can participate safely. Specific cultural considerations, aspects of crisis management, and creative interventions that can be used with clients of color at an appropriate social distance are discussed. Counselors can also instill hope in their clients by promoting sociopolitical development. As the impact of COVID‐19 will be felt for years, it is crucial that counselors be prepared to address the needs of those disproportionately affected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Headache and neck pain (cervicalgia) are frequently reported among patients with joint hypermobility but the prevalence and scope of these symptoms has not been studied in the era of contemporary Ehlers‐Danlos and hypermobility disorder nosology. We performed a single‐center retrospective study on the incidence of head and neck symptoms in 140 patients with hypermobility disorders over a 2‐year period. Overall, 93 patients (66%) reported either headache or neck pain with 49 of those (53%) reporting both. Migraine (83%) was the most common headache type among those with headache disorders and cervical spondylosis (61%) the most common pathology among those with neck symptoms. Fifty‐nine percent of spondylosis patients who underwent cervical facet procedures reported significant improvement in neck and head symptoms. Of patients with both head and neck complaints, 82% had both migraine and spondylosis, which, when combined with the high response rate to injections raises the possibility of cervicogenic headache. In this large multidisciplinary retrospective study of patients with hypermobility disorders, head and neck symptoms were highly prevalent, with migraine and cervical spondylosis common, often coexisting, and frequently responsive to targeted therapy for the cervical spine suggesting that degenerative spinal pathology may cause or contribute to headache symptoms in some patients with hypermobility disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypervalent organoiodane reagents are ubiquitous in organic synthesis, both as oxidants and as electrophilic group‐transfer agents. In addition to these hallmark applications, a complementary strategy is gaining momentum that exploits the ability of λ3‐iodanes to undergo iodine‐to‐arene group transfer, for example, via iodonio‐Claisen‐type rearrangement processes. This Minireview discusses recent advances in the use of this method to access a variety of the C−H‐functionalized iodoarenes. While Section 2 is focused on the ortho C−H propargylation, allylation, and the more unusual para C−H benzylation, Section 3 is devoted to the C‐arylation of enol and phenol substrates. The accompanying discussion includes mechanistic considerations and goes into the synthetic applications of the final iodoarene cores. The Minireview concludes with further conceptual extensions of the method, including the use of non‐conventional coupling partners (for example, cyanoalkylation), improved access to λ3‐iodane building blocks, and the development of iterative approaches to polysubstituted iodoarenes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

miR156 is a conserved microRNA whose role and induction mechanisms under stress are poorly known. Strigolactones are phytohormones needed in shoots for drought acclimation. They promote stomatal closure ABA‐dependently and independently; however, downstream effectors for the former have not been identified. Linkage between miR156 and strigolactones under stress has not been reported. We compared ABA accumulation and sensitivity as well as performances of wt and miR156‐overexpressing (miR156‐oe) tomato plants during drought. We also quantified miR156 levels in wt, strigolactone‐depleted and strigolactone‐treated plants, exposed to drought stress. Under irrigated conditions, miR156 overexpression and strigolactone treatment led to lower stomatal conductance and higher ABA sensitivity. Exogenous strigolactones were sufficient for miR156 accumulation in leaves, while endogenous strigolactones were required for miR156 induction by drought. The "after‐effect" of drought, by which stomata do not completely re‐open after rewatering, was enhanced by both strigolactones and miR156. The transcript profiles of several miR156 targets were altered in strigolactone‐depleted plants. Our results show that strigolactones act as a molecular link between drought and miR156 in tomato, and identify miR156 as a mediator of ABA‐dependent effect of strigolactones on the after‐effect of drought on stomata. Thus, we provide insights into both strigolactone and miR156 action on stomata. Strigolactones are phytohormones important for effective drought responses, and miR156 is a conserved microRNA induced by environmental stress. This work identifies strigolactones as triggers of miR156 induction under drought in tomato. It also correlates miR156 with the strigolactone‐ and ABA‐dependent promotion of sustained stomatal closure after rewatering. Thus, a novel strigolactone‐miR156‐ABA module is uncovered that is important for the stomatal memory of drought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To identify assessment tools used to evaluate patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) considered to be clinically most useful by a panel of international experts in TMD physical therapy (PT). Methods: A Delphi survey method administered to a panel of international experts in TMD PT was conducted over three rounds from October 2017 to June 2018. The initial contact was made by email. Participation was voluntary. An e‐survey, according to the Checklist for Reporting Results of Internet E‐Surveys (CHERRIES), was posted using SurveyMonkey for each round. Percentages of responses were analysed for each question from each round of the Delphi survey administrations. Results: Twenty‐three experts (completion rate: 23/25) completed all three rounds of the survey for three clinical test categories: 1) questionnaires, 2) pain screening tools and 3) physical examination tests. The following was the consensus‐based decision regarding the identification of the clinically most useful assessments. (1) Four of 9 questionnaires were identified: Jaw Functional Limitation (JFL‐8), Mandibular Function Impairment Questionnaire (MFIQ), Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia for Temporomandibular disorders (TSK/TMD) and the neck disability index (NDI). (2) Three of 8 identified pain screening tests: visual analog scale (VAS), numeric pain rating scale (NRS) and pain during mandibular movements. (3) Eight of 18 identified physical examination tests: physiological temporomandibular joint (TMJ) movements, trigger point (TrP) palpation of the masticatory muscles, TrP palpation away from the masticatory system, accessory movements, articular palpation, noise detection during movement, manual screening of the cervical spine and the Neck Flexor Muscle Endurance Test. Conclusion: After three rounds in this Delphi survey, the results of the most used assessment tools by TMD PT experts were established. They proved to be founded on test construct, test psychometric properties (reliability/validity) and expert preference for test clusters. A concordance with the screening tools of the diagnostic criteria of TMD consortium was noted. Findings may be used to guide policymaking purposes and future diagnostic research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite considerable progress in understanding the adoption and practice of the Balanced Scorecard (BSC) as a performance management tool in government organisations, how a well‐designed BSC can become a sustainable organisational practice remains under explored and of central importance. Through a qualitative field study carried out within a government agency (Alpha), this paper demonstrates that Alpha's senior management implemented a BSC framework because they believed it would benefit the agency to realise its broader organisational and socio‐economic goals, namely sustainable organisational efficiency and social status. We conclude that an organisation's performance management systems can travel across internal organisational boundaries over time and could be assimilated by organisational actors to become a sustained internal control mechanism in a complex socio‐political setting. This paper traces the implementation and adaptation of the balanced scorecard (BSC) by a government agency (Alpha) from its introduction by the company's first CEO through to recent times. It offers an understanding of how the BSC has changed over time in improving organisational system efficiency and effectiveness. This study will add to the body of knowledge for the public sector by providing an example of successful BSC adoption and the functionality and sustainability of the model in public sector entities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alopecia areata (AA) is a highly prevalent autoimmune disease that attacks the hair follicle and leads to hair loss that can range from small patches to complete loss of scalp and body hair. Our previous linkage and genome‐wide association studies (GWAS) generated strong evidence for aetiological contributions from inherited genetic variants at different population frequencies, including both rare mutations and common polymorphisms. Additionally, we conducted gene expression (GE) studies on scalp biopsies of 96 patients and controls to establish signatures of active disease. In this study, we performed an integrative analysis on these two datasets to test the hypothesis that rare CNVs in patients with AA could be leveraged to identify drivers of disease in our AA GE signatures. We analysed copy number variants (CNVs) in a case‐control cohort of 673 patients with AA and 16 311 controls independent of the case‐control cohort of 96 research participants used in our GE study. Using an integrative computational analysis, we identified 14 genes whose expression levels were altered by CNVs in a consistent direction of effect, corresponding to gene expression changes in lesional skin of patients. Four of these genes were affected by CNVs in three or more unrelated patients with AA, including ATG4B and SMARCA2, which are involved in autophagy and chromatin remodelling, respectively. Our findings identified new classes of genes with potential contributions to AA pathogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To develop an algorithm for optimization of rate‐adaptive pacing settings in heart failure patients with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and permanent cardiac pacing. Methods: This is a prospective randomized controlled study. A total of 54 patients with HFpEF, permanent atrial fibrillation (AF), and VVIR pacing were randomized to an intervention group with optimization of rate‐adaptation parameters by using cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) and pacemaker stress echocardiography (PASE), and to a control group with conventional programming. CPET, 6‐min walk test (6‐mwt), echocardiography (echo), Duke Activity Status Index (DASI), and Minnesota questionnaire (MLHFQ) were performed at baseline and after 3 months. PASE was used to exclude exercise‐induced ischemia and to determine safe upper sensor rate. Pacing parameters were corrected to achieve optimal heart rate increments of 3‐6 bpm for 1 mL/min/kg of VO2 (oxygen uptake). Results: After 3 months, the intervention group demonstrated significant improvement of VO2 peak by 1.64 ± 1.6 mL/min/kg, anaerobic threshold by 1.33 ± 1.3 mL/min/kg, exercise time by 170 ± 98 s, 6‐mwt distance by 75 ± 63 m (P <.0001 for all), DASI by 5.23 points (P =.009), MLHFQ‐score (reduction by 9 points, P <.0001), and echo parameters (decrease in LA volume from 108 (84; 132) to 95 (85; 130) mL, P =.026; E/e' from 11.7 ± 3.2 to 10.4 ± 2.9, P =.025; systolic pulmonary artery pressure (SPAP) from 44 ± 14 to 39 ± 12 mm Hg, P =.001) compared to the control group. Conclusion: An algorithm incorporating CPET and PASE for optimal programming of rate‐adaptation parameters is a valuable tool to improve exercise capacity in HFpEF patients with permanent AF and VVIR pacing who remain exercise intolerant after conventional programming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adolescent ballet dancers have a higher incidence of injury than adult professional dancers. It is unclear which factors, including biomechanical changes related to intense dance training and/or the growth process itself, contribute to increased injury risk in this population.Objective: To assess changes in strength, flexibility, and functional performance in adolescent ballet dancers during a summer intensive dance program.Design: Prospective cohort study.Setting: Performing arts school in a suburb of Massachusetts.Participants: A convenience sample of 58 male and female ballet dancers, 12 to 17 years old, was enrolled. One dancer did not have functional testing due to injury, but strength and range of motion results were included.Methods: Paired sample t-test was used to evaluate changes in (1) strength: lower abdominal muscle strength evaluated by the Kendall double leg lowering test; (2) flexibility: passive range of motion in hip extensibility, hip internal rotation, hip external rotation, hip turnout, and ankle dorsiflexion; and (3) functional athletic and dance assessment: the star excursion balance test (SEBT), vertical jump test, and dance technique performing demi-plié and passé dance positions.Main Outcome Measurements: Change in strength, flexibility, and functional dance measurements pre- and postsummer intensive dance training.Results: Lower abdominal strength testing improved 11° on the Kendall test (P < .001); lower extremity passive flexibility was reduced in all tested ranges bilaterally. Dance technique, in performing demi-plié and passé dance positions, improved. More dancers demonstrated correct knee alignment during demi-plié (P < .001-.002) and hip alignment during plié (P = .01-.04). Dancers also had greater active hip turnout in first position passé of 2 to 3° (P = .02-.05). No significant change was found in functional athletic performance as measured by the SEBT and vertical jump test.Conclusion: Adolescent dancers in this study cohort who participated in a summer intensive dance program improved lower abdominal muscle strength as well as functional dance technique in demonstrating correct alignment performing demi-plié and passé dance positions despite a decrease in passive lower extremity range of motion. Further research is needed to clarify the role of these findings in training for young dancers in order to move forward injury prevention efforts.Level Of Evidence: II. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 PG is a cyanobacterial strain capable of synthesizing 1,2‐propanediol from carbon dioxide (CO2) via a heterologous three‐step pathway and a methylglyoxal synthase (MGS) originating from Escherichia coli as an initial enzyme. The production window is restricted to the late growth and stationary phase and is apparently coupled to glycogen turnover. To understand the underlying principle of the carbon partitioning between the Calvin‐Benson‐Bassham (CBB) cycle and glycogen in the context of 1,2‐propanediol production, experiments utilizing 13C labeled CO2 have been conducted. Carbon fluxes and partitioning between biomass, storage compounds, and product have been monitored under permanent illumination as well as under dark conditions. About one‐quarter of the carbon incorporated into 1,2‐propanediol originated from glycogen, while the rest was derived from CO2 fixed in the CBB cycle during product formation. Furthermore, 1,2‐propanediol synthesis was depending on the availability of photosynthetic active radiation and glycogen catabolism. We postulate that the regulation of the MGS from E. coli conflicts with the heterologous reactions leading to 1,2‐propanediol in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 PG. Additionally, homology comparison of the genomic sequence to genes encoding for the methylglyoxal bypass in E. coli suggested the existence of such a pathway also in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. These findings are critical for all heterologous pathways coupled to the CBB cycle intermediate dihydroxyacetone phosphate via a MGS and reveal possible engineering targets for rational strain optimization. 13C labeling revealed that the storage compound glycogen is essential for 1,2‐propanediol production via an methylglyoxalsynthase induced reaction pathway in Synechocystis sp. PCC6803. We hypothesize that this is due to the phosphate controlled regulation of this enzyme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Background: Studies exploring interventions targeting the cervical spine to improve symptoms in patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are limited. Objectives: To determine whether mobilisation of the upper cervical region and craniocervical flexor training decreased orofacial pain, increased mandibular function and pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) of the masticatory muscles and decreased headache impact in women with TMD when compared to no intervention. Methods: In a single‐blind randomised controlled trial, 61 women with TMD were randomised into an intervention group (IG) and a control group (CG). The IG received upper cervical mobilisations and neck motor control and stabilisation exercises for 5 weeks. The CG received no treatment. Outcomes were collected by a blind rater at baseline and 5‐week follow‐up. Orofacial pain intensity was collected once a week. A mixed ANOVA and Cohen's d were used to determine differences within/between groups and effect sizes. Results: Pain intensity showed significant time‐by‐group interaction (P < 0.05), with significant between‐group differences at four and five weeks (P < 0.05), with large effect sizes (d > 0.8). The decrease in orofacial pain over time was clinically relevant only in the IG. Change in headache impact was significantly different between groups, and the IG showed a clinically relevant decrease after the treatment. No effects were found for PPT or mandibular function. Conclusion: Women with TMD reported a significant decrease in orofacial pain and headache impact after 5 weeks of treatment aimed at the upper cervical spine compared to a CG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite evidence of internal audit's expanding role in sustainability matters, there is limited understanding of factors associated with the extent of internal audit's involvement in these areas. This study examines the impact of governance factors, internal audit function characteristics, and organizational sustainability practices on the extent of internal audit's involvement in environmental and social assurance and consulting. The results suggest that management support and external reporting of sustainability information are key factors associated with internal audit's involvement in environmental and social assurance and consulting activities. The results also indicate that the extent of internal audit's involvement in assurance and consulting are not necessarily driven by a homogeneous set of factors. Future research could take a more nuanced approach to investigating different aspects of internal audit's roles both within the sustainability context and more broadly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As early as 1991 Ochiai et al. reported that an acid‐activated form of phenyliodine diacetate, PhI(OAc)2, undergoes a reaction with propargyl‐silanes, germanes and stannanes to give the ortho‐propargyl iodobenzene. This formal C−H alkylation was proposed to take place through an unusual (even to date) iodonio‐based [3,3] rearrangement of an intermediate allenylsilane. Although this mechanistic principle has been invoked in related iodane‐directed C−H coupling reaction, some underlying principles have remained unaddressed, and the reaction rarely employed. Herein, DFT evidence for a mechanism best described as iodine‐guided electrophilic aromatic substitution is presented. Using a newly optimized reaction protocol that significantly reduces the undesired reduction process, the potency of the method is showcased through the synthesis of >40 structurally diverse ortho‐iodo propargyl (or allenyl) arenes. Going hypervalent: Although the formation of ortho‐propargyliodobenzene through a reaction of the hypervalent iodine species PhI(OAc)2 with propargylsilanes has been known since early 1990s, this reaction has been largely overlooked synthetically. Presented herein is a revised protocol for this transformation, demonstrating an efficient formation of >40 diverse ortho‐propargyliodoarene cores. DFT evidence is also given for a low‐energy asynchronous cyclic transition state differing from that for a classical Claisen rearrangement process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This study traces the development of the management accountant (MA) role at the Swedish Social Insurance Agency (SIA). In 2012, the agency began a reformation by implementing the Lean management system in hopes of increasing customer trust. The results of this study show that the authority of the MA rests on decentralization and the proximity of MAs to managers, as previous research has shown, and more specifically on a definitional and a moral prerogative that may or may not be awarded to MAs enabling them to act as de facto managers. The study shows how the role of the SIA's operative level MAs changed into a helpdesk function with the role of assisting other groups to help themselves, in this case operative‐level teams that had begun performing management accounting tasks. Thus, this study bears witness not to the expansion and hybridization of existing MA roles, but to the reduction in authority and de‐hybridization of the MA role, from business partner to a pedagogical role on a consultative basis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of knee taping on perceived pain, difficulty and stability during functional activities (squat, step-down, and stair up and down) in older adults with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Methods: A total of 50 older participants with knee OA participated in this study. The experimental group received non-elastic taping (NET) and the control group received sham taping. Perceived knee pain on an 11-point scale (0 = no pain, 10 = worst pain), and difficulty (1 = no difficulty, 5 = extreme difficulty) and stability (1 = no unstable, 5 = extreme unstable) on a 5-point scale during functional tests (squat, step-down test, and stair up and down) were reported at baseline and post-taping application. Results: At post-taping, pain intensity, difficulty and stability during squat, step-down test, and stair up and down were significantly improved in the NET group. In the control group, there was significant decreased pain intensity during squat and stair up and down; however, there were no significant change of other variables. Compared with the control group, the NET significantly improved perceived pain, difficulty and stability during all tasks after the taping application. Conclusions: The present study showed that NET application can improve perceived pain intensity, difficulty and stability during functional tests in older adults with knee OA. NET can be recommended to improve pain, stability and difficulty during squat, step-down, and stair up and down in older adults with OA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Breast, ovarian, and uterine corpus cancers are common female cancers and categorized as hormone‐related diseases. Previous studies reported a unidirectional relationship for each cancer, but few studied the reciprocal association in the same cohort. A population‐based study was carried out in Taiwan to test the hypothesis that there are pairwise bidirectional associations among these cancers. Using the same cohort of 110,112 cases with primary female cancers including uterine corpus cancer (11,146 cases), ovarian cancer (12,139 cases), or breast cancer (86,827 cases) from the Taiwan Cancer Registry from 1979 to 2008, the pairwise risks of second cancer among uterine corpus, ovary, and breast cancer cases were evaluated by standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to quantify the excess of second malignancies. A reciprocal relationship was found for these three female cancers, particularly most prominent between uterine and ovarian cancers, followed by breast and uterine cancers as well as breast and ovarian cancers. The overall risk of second cancers was highest within the first 5 years after the diagnosis of primary cancer. The bidirectional relationships suggest common risk factors among these three female cancers. This is the largest cohort study to focus on the bidirectional associations among hormone‐related cancers in Asian women, and these results could aid in the development of early prevention strategies and follow‐up surveillance programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT: Sedentary broadcast‐spawning marine invertebrates, which release both eggs and sperm into the water for fertilization, are of special interest for sexual selection studies. They provide unique insight into the early stages of the evolutionary succession leading to the often‐intense operation of both pre‐ and post‐mating sexual selection in mobile gonochorists. Since they are sessile or only weakly mobile, adults can interact only to a limited extent with other adults and with their own fertilized offspring. They are consequently subject mainly to selection on gamete production and gamete success, and so high gonad expenditure is expected in both sexes. We review literature on gonadosomatic index (GSI; the proportion of body tissue devoted to gamete production) of gonochoristic broadcast spawners, which we use as a proxy for gonad expenditure. We show that such taxa most often have a high GSI that is approximately equal in both sexes. When GSI is asymmetric, female GSI usually exceeds male GSI, at least in echinoderms (the majority of species recorded). Intriguingly, though, higher male GSI also occurs in some species and appears more common than female‐biased GSI in certain orders of gastropod molluscs. Our limited data also suggest that higher male GSI may be the prevalent pattern in sperm casters (where only males release gametes). We explore how selection might have shaped these patterns using game theoretic models for gonad expenditure that consider possible trade‐offs with (i) somatic maintenance or (ii) growth, while also considering sperm competition, sperm limitation, and polyspermy. Our models of the trade‐off between somatic tissue (which increases survival) and gonad (which increases reproductive success) predict that GSI should be equal for the two sexes when sperm competition is intense, as is probably common in broadcast spawners due to synchronous spawning in aggregations. Higher female GSI occurs under low sperm competition. Sperm limitation appears unlikely to alter these conclusions qualitatively, but can also act as a force to keep male GSI high, and close to that of females. Polyspermy can act to reduce male GSI. Higher male than female GSI is predicted to be less common (as observed in the data), but can occur when ova/ovaries are sufficiently more resource‐intensive to produce than sperm/testes, for which some evidence exists. We also show that sex‐specific trade‐offs between gonads and growth can generate different life‐history strategies for males and females, with males beginning reproduction earlier. This could lead to apparently higher male GSI in empirical studies if immature females are included in calculations of mean GSI. The existence of higher male GSI nonetheless remains somewhat problematic and requires further investigation. When sperm limitation is low, we suggest that the natural logarithm of the male/female GSI ratio may be a suitable index for sperm competition level in broadcast spawners, and that this may also be considered as an index for internally fertilizing taxa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The prevalence of germ line mutations in non‐BRCA1/2 genes associated with hereditary breast cancer (BC) is low, and the role of some of these genes in BC predisposition and pathogenesis is conflicting. In this study, 5589 consecutive BC index patients negative for pathogenic BRCA1/2 mutations and 2189 female controls were screened for germ line mutations in eight cancer predisposition genes (ATM, CDH1, CHEK2, NBN, PALB2, RAD51C, RAD51D, and TP53). All patients met the inclusion criteria of the German Consortium for Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer for germ line testing. The highest mutation prevalence was observed in the CHEK2 gene (2.5%), followed by ATM (1.5%) and PALB2 (1.2%). The mutation prevalence in each of the remaining genes was 0.3% or lower. Using Exome Aggregation Consortium control data, we confirm significant associations of heterozygous germ line mutations with BC for ATM (OR: 3.63, 95%CI: 2.67–4.94), CDH1 (OR: 17.04, 95%CI: 3.54–82), CHEK2 (OR: 2.93, 95%CI: 2.29–3.75), PALB2 (OR: 9.53, 95%CI: 6.25–14.51), and TP53 (OR: 7.30, 95%CI: 1.22–43.68). NBN germ line mutations were not significantly associated with BC risk (OR:1.39, 95%CI: 0.73–2.64). Due to their low mutation prevalence, the RAD51C and RAD51D genes require further investigation. Compared with control datasets, predicted damaging rare missense variants were significantly more prevalent in CHEK2 and TP53 in BC index patients. Compared with the overall sample, only TP53 mutation carriers show a significantly younger age at first BC diagnosis. We demonstrate a significant association of deleterious variants in the CHEK2, PALB2, and TP53 genes with bilateral BC. Both, ATM and CHEK2, were negatively associated with triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC) and estrogen receptor (ER)‐negative tumor phenotypes. A particularly high CHEK2 mutation prevalence (5.2%) was observed in patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)‐positive tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: There are no known porphyry copper deposits in Japan. Attempts were made in the past to explain this paradox as the Japanese islands sit above a subduction zone of the type widely accepted to give rise to porphyry‐type deposits within subvolcanic magmatic–hydrothermal systems. Is it possible that porphyry copper systems are incompatible with the volcanoplutonic setting of the Japanese islands? In other words, is the established model for the genesis of porphyry copper systems not completely correct, or is it that the elusive Japanese porphyry deposit has not yet been found? We argue that, until proven otherwise, the answer lies in the latter option. In this article, we focus on Akita Prefecture and the surrounding areas and consider the potential for the existence of porphyry copper deposits mainly from an empirical and practical point of view, in contrast with the obviously important petrogenetic and/or tectonic perspectives. We argue that this region is representative of the Tōhoku province of northern Honshu and that it serves as a proxy for Japan in general. Akita is rich in mineralization styles and deposits, including two main magmatic‐hydrothermal deposit types of Neogene age: (i) middle Miocene submarine stratiform volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) deposits (Kuroko) and (ii) late Miocene to Pleistocene Ag–Au‐bearing polymetallic epithermal/subepithermal veins. In particular the Au–Ag‐bearing polymetallic veins, which are comparable to intermediate‐sulfidation epithermal deposits commonly associated with porphyry copper systems, were discovered and mined for several centuries before the first Kuroko deposits were found in the late 1800s. Osarizawa, the last active vein mine, closed in 1978. Kuroko deposits, the main source of metal production in Akita in the 20th century, had peak of production in the 1970s, followed by a rapid decline during the 1980s and complete cessation of all mining by 1995. Not surprisingly, the end of mining in Akita, combined with a series of strategic decisions made by the Government and the Japanese metal mining industry, coincided with a cessation of mineral exploration, both in Akita and throughout Japan, with the exception of VMS deposits offshore and limited exploration for bonanza‐grade, low‐sulfidation epithermal gold deposits in Hokkaido. Our analysis of post‐1945 regional exploration in northern Tōhoku indicates that Kuroko deposits were by far the dominant target and that the number of drill holes in the 1990s accounted for less than 4% of the total completed from the early 1960s to 1995. These data indicate that essentially no mineral exploration has been conducted in Tōhoku for Au–Ag‐bearing polymetallic vein deposits during the past 30+ years. We conclude that exploration stopped too early and certainly before it could have benefited from the significant applicable metallogenic and technological breakthroughs of the last few decades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Lithocaps consist of vuggy residual quartz and advanced argillic alteration formed at shallow depths and potentially related to porphyry copper‐bearing intrusions at depth, meaning that, conceptually, porphyry copper deposits may exist beneath the lithocap‐hosted Nansatsu‐type gold deposits. The Kasuga lithocap extends for about 5 km NE–SW by 2 km width; beyond the northeastern edge of this lithocap, there are contemporaneous epithermal gold‐quartz veins. A 1200‐m hole was drilled in 1999 beneath the main orebody at Kasuga but did not intersect porphyry copper mineralization. On the basis of detailed examination of the alteration pattern and paleothermal environment of the Kasuga area, a paleo high‐temperature zone appears to lie in a NE‐ward direction from the deep drilling site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the theoretical and experimental investigations of the hydraulic conductivity variation of the soil mixture that contains two distinct particle size distributions, coarse and fine soils. A new model for the hydraulic conductivity is introduced that focuses on the relationship between the coarse-fine soil mixing ratio and the hydraulic conductivity of the mixture. For the model verification, permeability tests were conducted. The glass beads and quality-controlled standard sand and soils obtained from fields were used for the specimen. The experiment results showed that the hydraulic conductivity of the soil mixture strongly depends on the mixing ratio. As the amount of the coarse soil contained in the fine soil increased, the hydraulic conductivity of the mixture decreased from that for the fine soil until the critical mixing ratio. This ratio is defined as the fine soils perfectly fill the voids between the coarse soils without remains. When the ratio is greater than the critical mixing ratio, the hydraulic conductivity is drastically increased with the mixing ratio up to that of the coarse soil. The comparison between the computed values and the test results shows that the introduced model successfully describes the measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We utilized a photoautotrophic organism to synthesize 1,2-propanediol from carbon dioxide and water fueled by light. A synthetic pathway comprising mgsA (methylglyoxal synthase), yqhD (aldehyde reductase), and adh (alcohol dehydrogenase) was inserted into Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 to convert dihydroxyacetone phosphate to methylglyoxal, which is subsequently reduced to acetol and then to 1,2-propanediol. 1,2-propanediol could be successfully produced by Synechocystis, at an approximate rate of 55 μmol h−1 gCDW−1. Surprisingly, maximal productivity was observed in the stationary phase. The production of 1,2-propanediol was clearly coupled to the turn-over of intracellular glycogen. Upon depletion of the glycogen pool, product formation stopped. Reducing the carbon flux to glycogen significantly decreased final product titers. Optimization of cultivation conditions allowed final product titers of almost 1 g L−1 (12 mM), which belongs to the highest values published so far for photoautotrophic production of this compound. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combined effects of stocking density (0.2, 0.5, 1, 2, 4 and 8 inds/ml) and dietary microalgal ration (20,000 and 40,000 cells/ml) and the sole effect of temperature (10, 12, 14, 16, 18 and 22°C) on the specific growth rate ( SGR), per cent survival and per cent metamorphosis of auricularia larvae of the California sea cucumber, Parastichopus californicus, were evaluated in two separate experiments. The SGR was not significantly affected by stocking densities in the range of 0.2 to 4 inds/ml, but was significantly reduced at 8 inds/ml. The SGR of larvae fed 20,000 cells/ml was significantly reduced in comparison to those fed 40,000 cells/ml. Larvae had significantly higher per cent survival and per cent metamorphosis when reared at densities of 0.2 and 0.5 inds/ml compared with those reared at 2-8 inds/ml. Microalgal ration level did not significantly impact survival or metamorphosis. Larvae reared at 16 and 18°C had significantly higher SGRs and per cent metamorphosis than those held at all other temperatures, while per cent survival was highest at 16°C. Based on these results, we recommend rearing auricularia larvae of P. californicus at a stocking density at or below 0.5 inds/ml, a dietary ration of 40,000 cells/ml, and a temperature of 16°C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context To date, despite the relevance of manual skills laboratories in physiotherapy education, evidence on the effectiveness of different teaching methods is limited. Objectives Peyton's four-step and the 'See one, do one' approaches were compared for their effectiveness in teaching manual skills. Methods A cluster randomised controlled trial was performed among final-year, right-handed physiotherapy students, without prior experience in manual therapy or skills laboratories. The manual technique of C1-C2 passive right rotation was taught by different experienced physiotherapist using Peyton's four-step approach (intervention group) and the 'See one, do one' approach (control group). Participants, teachers and assessors were blinded to the aims of the study. Primary outcomes were quality of performance at the end of the skills laboratories, and after 1 week and 1 month. Secondary outcomes were time required to teach, time required to perform the procedure and student satisfaction. Results A total of 39 students were included in the study (21 in the intervention group and 18 in the control group). Their main characteristics were homogeneous at baseline. The intervention group showed better quality of performance in the short, medium and long terms ( F1,111 = 35.91, p < 0.001). Both groups demonstrated decreased quality of performance over time ( F2,111 = 12.91, p < 0.001). The intervention group reported significantly greater mean ± standard deviation satisfaction (4.31 ± 1.23) than the control group (4.03 ± 1.31) (p < 0.001). Although there was no significant difference between the two methods in the time required for teaching, the time required by the intervention group to perform the procedure was significantly lower immediately after the skills laboratories and over time (p < 0.001). Conclusions Peyton's four-step approach is more effective than the 'See one, do one' approach in skills laboratories aimed at developing physiotherapy student competence in C1-C2 passive mobilisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Phosphate-binding proteins (PBPs) are key proteins that belong to the bacterial ABC-type phosphate transporters. PBPs are periplasmic (or membrane-anchored) proteins that capture phosphate anions from the environment and release them to the transmembrane transporter. Recent work has suggested that PBPs have evolved for high affinity as well as high selectivity. In particular, a short, unique hydrogen bond between the phosphate anion and an aspartate residue has been shown to be critical for selectivity, yet is not strictly conserved in PBPs. Here, the PBP from Polaromonas JS666 is focused on. Interestingly, this PBP is predicted to harbor different phosphate-binding residues to currently known PBPs. Here, it is shown that the PBP from Polaromonas JS666 is capable of binding phosphate, with a maximal binding activity at pH 8. Its structure is expected to reveal its binding-cleft configuration as well as its phosphate-binding mode. Here, the expression, purification, characterization, crystallization and X-ray diffraction data collection to 1.35 Å resolution of the PBP from Polaromonas JS666 are reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aims of the present study were to assess the validity and reliability of a novel simple test [Five Seconds Power Test (W5″ Test)] for estimating the mean power output during the bench press exercise at different loads, and its sensitivity to detect training-induced changes. Thirty trained young men completed as many repetitions as possible in a time of ≈5 s at 25%, 45%, 65% and 85% of one-repetition maximum (1RM) in two test sessions separated by four days. The number of repetitions, linear displacement of the bar and time needed to complete the test were recorded by two independent testers, and a linear encoder was used as the criterion measure. For each load, the mean power output was calculated in the W5″ Test as mechanical work per time unit and compared with that obtained from the linear encoder. Subsequently, 20 additional subjects (10 training group vs. 10 control group) were assessed before and after completing a seven-week training programme designed to improve maximal power. Results showed that both assessment methods correlated highly in estimating mean power output at different loads (rrange: 0.86–0.94;p < .01) and detecting training-induced changes (R2: 0.78). Good to excellent intra-tester (intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) range: 0.81–0.97) and excellent inter-tester (ICC range: 0.96–0.99; coefficient of variation range: 2.4–4.1%) reliability was found for all loads. The W5″ Test was shown to be a valid, reliable and sensitive method for measuring mean power output during the bench press exercise in subjects who have previous resistance training experience. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

During the past decade, the authors have collected a few X-ray diffraction data sets from protein crystals that appeared to be easy cases of molecular replacement but failed to yield structures even after extensive trials. Here, the use of a large-scale molecular replacement method that explores all structurally characterized domains as phasing models to determine the structure corresponding to two data sets collected at 1.9 and 2.3 Å resolution is reported. These two structures were of the same protein independently crystallized in 2007 and 2011. The structures derived are virtually identical and were found to consist of two compact globular domains connected by a hinge. The high resolution of one of these data sets enabled inference of the amino-acid sequence from the electron-density map. The deduced sequence is nearly identical to that of a protein from the multidrug-resistant bacterium Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. Although the structure of this protein has not been determined previously, it is homologous to the well studied DING proteins which mediate the cellular uptake of phosphate ions. The final electron-density maps from both of the data sets revealed a large density at the interface of the two globular domains that is likely to represent a phosphate ion. Thus, the structure is likely to be that of a phosphate-binding protein encoded by the S. maltophilia genome ( SmPBP; PDB entry ). The nature of the phosphate-binding site of SmPBP closely resembles that of Pseudomonas fluorescens DING ( PfluDING), which displays remarkable discrimination between the closely similar phosphate and arsenate ions. The results presented here illustrate that routine crystallization trials may occasionally lead to the serendipitous crystallization of a protein of unknown identity and brute-force molecular replacement through `fold space' might allow the identification of the unknown protein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During efforts to crystallize the enzyme 2,4-dihydroxyacetophenone dioxygenase (DAD) from Alcaligenes sp. 4HAP, a small number of strongly diffracting protein crystals were obtained after two years of crystal growth in one condition. The crystals diffracted synchrotron radiation to almost 1.0 Å resolution and were, until recently, assumed to be formed by the DAD protein. However, when another crystal form of this enzyme was eventually solved at lower resolution, molecular replacement using this new structure as the search model did not give a convincing solution with the original atomic resolution data set. Hence, it was considered that these crystals might have arisen from a protein impurity, although molecular replacement using the structures of common crystallization contaminants as search models again failed. A script to perform molecular replacement using MOLREP in which the first chain of every structure in the PDB was used as a search model was run on a multi-core cluster. This identified a number of prokaryotic phosphate-binding proteins as scoring highly in the MOLREP peak lists. Calculation of an electron-density map at 1.1 Å resolution based on the solution obtained with PDB entry allowed most of the amino acids to be identified visually and built into the model. A BLAST search then indicated that the molecule was most probably a phosphate-binding protein from Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (UniProt ID B4SL31; gene ID Smal_2208), and fitting of the corresponding sequence to the atomic resolution map fully corroborated this. Proteins in this family have been linked to the virulence of antibiotic-resistant strains of pathogenic bacteria and with biofilm formation. The structure of the S. maltophilia protein has been refined to an R factor of 10.15% and an Rfree of 12.46% at 1.1 Å resolution. The molecule adopts the type II periplasmic binding protein (PBP) fold with a number of extensively elaborated loop regions. A fully dehydrated phosphate anion is bound tightly between the two domains of the protein and interacts with conserved residues and a number of helix dipoles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

3-(2,4-Dichlorophenyl)-7-[(2,4-dichlorophenyl)methylidene]-11-methyl-4-phenyl-4,5,11-triazatricyclo[6.2.1.0*2,6*]undec-5-ene ( 3) was synthesized in a manner. Single crystal X-ray study of 3 revealed that the structure belongs to the triclinic system with space group [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]