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Multiple studies in Saccharomyces cerevisiae have measured the levels of gene silencing by inserting the URA3 gene at various loci and selecting against URA3-expressing cells by 5-flouroorotic acid (5-FOA). However, 5-FOA affects the cellular pools of dNTPs and can produce side effects. To circumvent this issue, we and others have introduced drug-free techniques to detect silent and active gene states. In this study, we compared three drug-free methods based on the expression of fluorescent reporters in the VIIL telomere of S. cerevisiae. Our results point out that only one of these methods is suitable for large-scale drug-free analyses of gene silencing. Key words: 5-flouroorotic acid (5-FOA), yEGFP, gene silencing, Introduction Gene silencing at the subtelomeric, rRNA gene or mating type loci of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is an extensively studied phenomenon and serves as a paradigm for gene repression and silencing [...]

Authentic assessment is revered to support student learning, but it is typically described within the context of work-integrated learning and professional schools, leaving one to question whether a classroom-based curriculum can offer authentic assessments. This study documented the prevalence of authentic assessments throughout a complete health science undergraduate curriculum in accordance with the four core dimensions of authentic assessment: realism, cognitive challenge, evaluative judgement criteria and feedback. Using a literature-informed authentic assessment tool and institutionally standardized course syllabi, 455 assessments in 62 courses were classified as low, moderate or high on core authentic assessment dimensions. Results show that few assessments scored high across all core dimensions (<1% of all assessments), as there was considerable variability across dimensions. Feedback had the weakest dimensional authenticity score. Authentic assessments were more prevalent within upper-year, small capstone courses, although they were not precluded from early-year, large classrooms. Assignments were significantly more authentic than tests, though tests were more dominant in the curriculum (63% marks from tests versus 37% from assignments). This work serves as a model for others seeking to review assessments in their curriculum and provides evidence from a large, representative BSc program to make practical recommendations to promote authenticity of assessments.

Western Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) migrate from inland breeding ranges to coastal overwintering grounds in California. Given that migratory individuals may make multi-scale habitat selection decisions, we considered a multi-scale species distribution model (SDM) using range-wide climatic and local landscape-level predictors of migratory and overwintering habitat and community-science presence data. The range-wide model output was included as a predictor in the local-scale model, generating multi-scale habitat suitability. The top range-wide predictor was the minimum temperature in December, contributing 83.7% to the model, and was positively associated with presence. At the local scale, the strongest predictors of presence were the range-wide output and percent coverage of low and medium levels of development, contributing > 95%, with 61–63% from the range-wide output, with local-scale suitability coinciding with the California coastal zones. Development's positive association with overwintering monarch presence was counterintuitive. It is likely that our local-scale model is overfit to these development zones, but it is unclear whether this overfitting resulted from modeler choices, monarchs overwintering close to human development, biased detection near human development, or a combination of these factors. Therefore, alternative approaches to collecting local-scale attribute data are suggested while recognizing the primacy of climate in restricting overwinter sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple myeloma(MM) is an incurable plasma cell malignancy. Despite an improvement in OS over the past 2 decades, most patients do experience disease relapse. A subset of patients who experience an early disease relapse within 1‐2 years posttransplant, and considered functional high‐risk. Recent findings implicated high‐risk cytogenetic features and minimal residual disease as negative prognostic factors, each independently associated with early relapse among autologous stem cell transplant recipients(ASCT). The spectrum of disease relapse could range from asymptomatic/biochemical to more aggressive forms such as plasma cell leukemia. Hence, it is imperative that therapy be tailored based on these patterns of relapse upon presentation. The past few years have witnessed an explosion in the armamentarium of second‐line agents for the treatment of relapsed MM. Accordingly, choosing the optimal regimen has become quite challenging for the practicing clinician. In this review, we outline the approach for therapy selection, which takes into account underlying comorbid conditions, duration of response, presence of high‐risk features, etc Due to a better understanding of disease biology coupled with the advances in molecular techniques, the treatment landscape of relapsed MM (posttransplant) will most likely continue to evolve. Novel agents with distinct modes of action, such as immune therapies and novel oral agents are undergoing investigation in the relapsed setting. Once approved, these agents could potentially alter the course of the disease and possibly challenge the role of ASCT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The overall survival (OS) in multiple myeloma (MM) has almost quadrupled over the past 2 decades. This improvement could be attributed to the introduction of novel agents in the schema of therapy which includes the following phases: induction, high dose melphalan/stem cell transplant, optional posttransplant consolidation and maintenance (Barlogie Total‐Therapy schema). Because disease relapse is inevitable, additional treatment is generally needed to achieve remission. Emerging evidence suggests that assessment of minimal residual disease status following induction or autologous stem cell transplant could be predictive of duration of progression‐free survival as well as OS. In an effort to prolong duration of first remission, various drug combinations are being evaluated in the front‐line setting. The purpose of this paper is to provide a succint review of the current treatment paradigm of newly diagnosed MM and highlight the preliminary findings from some of the ongoing clinical trials which are likely to change current practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chemical-induced post-translational modifications (PTMs) on the protein resulting from reaction with 1,4-benzoquinone (BQ) and 2-(N-acetylcystein-S-yl)benzoquinone (NAC-BQ) is characterized by employing cytochrome c as a model protein. The findings confirm that electrophile-protein adducts produce structural alterations that influence biological function.

Short-tailed Shearwater Ardenna tenuirostris is an abundant species of the Pacific Ocean. We reviewed records for the Indian and Atlantic Oceans and suggest that a regular pattern of movement in these oceans is hitherto unrecognised. It follows that the vagrancy potential of Short-tailed Shearwater to the North Atlantic probably is greater than suggested by the few documented records. Short-tailed may have been overlooked or confused with the similar-looking Sooty Shearwater A. grisea and, in the northeast Atlantic, dark-plumaged Balearic Shearwater Puffinus mauretanicus. Criteria for the separation of these three species at sea are presented in a bid to establish a clearer picture of the status of Short-tailed Shearwater in the North Atlantic. Separation of Short-tailed from Sooty Shearwater builds on existing criteria; characters for separation from dark-plumaged Balearic Shearwater are new. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On 12th Octob er 2017, an Orphean Warbler Sylvia hortensisl S. crassiros tris was discovered on St Agnes, Isles of Scilly. Present until 20th October, the warbler was not easy to observe and confirming its identification to species level proved difficult. Eventually, after much effort in the field, and examination of crucial photographs showing the tail pattern and the markings of the undertail-coverts, the bird was identified as an Eastern Orphean Warbler S. crassirostris and it has been accepted as the first British record. This paper combines the account of the finders, written by Neil Wright, and that of Ashley Fisher and Robert Flood, who were instrumental in the bird's correct identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]