OBJECTIVE: We aimed to examine whether demographic characteristics (i.e., sex, age and education) correlate with total scores of the Czech version of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), understand the factorial structure of this scale, compare our results with findings of studies conducted in other countries and provide preliminary normative data for use in clinical practice. METHODS: Data of 450 participants were analysed using correlation analysis, non-parametric tests and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). RESULTS: Women, and participants with lower education, tended to score higher than men, and participants with higher education. There was no significant relationship between age and total scores. CFA confirmed two factors: cognitive-affective and somatic. Czech participants scored lower than participants in other studies. Preliminary normative data are presented in the form of percentile values for the whole sample and stratified according to gender and education level. CONCLUSIONS: We recommend the usage of the BDI-II total score while taking into account also the cognitive-affective and somatic factor subscores. The comparison of our results with other foreign findings shows the need for the development of locally specific normative values for self-reported depression scales. KEY POINTS Women scored higher in the BDI-II than men. Participants with lower education scored higher in the BDI-II than participants with higher education. CFA confirmed two factors: cognitive-affective and somatic. Preliminary normative data for the Czech version of the BDI-II are stratified according to gender and education.

• Keywords
• Beck Depression Inventory, Depression, confirmatory factor analysis, factorial structure, normative data,
• MeSH
• Depression diagnosis   MeSH
• Depressive Disorder diagnosis   MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Factor Analysis, Statistical MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Psychiatric Status Rating Scales standards   statistics & numerical data   MeSH
• Psychometrics standards   statistics & numerical data   MeSH
• Sex Factors MeSH
• Educational Status MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Geographicals
• Czech Republic MeSH

The tuf gene coding for elongation factor Tu (EF-Tu) of Bacillus stearothermophilus was cloned and sequenced. This gene maps in the same context as the tufA gene of Escherichia coli str operon. Northern-blot analysis and primer extension experiments revealed that the transcription of the tuf gene is driven from two promoter regions. One of these is responsible for producing a 4.9-kb transcript containing all the genes of B. stearothermophilus str operon and the other, identified adjacent to the stop codon of the fus gene and designated tufp, for producing a 1.3-kb transcript of the tuf gene only. In contrast to the situation in E. coli, the ratio between the transcription products was found to be about 10:1 in favour of the tuf gene transcript. This high transcription activity from the tufp promoter might be accounted for by the presence of an extremely A+T-rich block consisting of 29 nucleotides which immediately precedes the consensus -35 region of the promoter. A very similar tuf gene transcription strategy and the same tufp promoter organization with the identical A/T block were found in Bacillus subtilis. The tuf gene specifies a protein of 395 amino acid residues with a molecular mass of 43,290 Da, including the N-terminal methionine. A computer-generated three-dimensional homology model shows that all the structural elements essential for binding guanine nucleotides and aminoacyl-tRNA are conserved. The presence of serine at position 376 and a low affinity for kirromycin determined by zone-interference gel electrophoresis (Kd approximately 8 microM) and by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under non-denaturing conditions are in agreement with the reported resistance of this EF-Tu to the antibiotic. The replacement of the highly conserved Leu211 by Met was identified as a possible cause of pulvomycin resistance.

• MeSH
• Aminoglycosides * MeSH
• Anti-Bacterial Agents pharmacology   MeSH
• Drug Resistance, Microbial MeSH
• DNA, Bacterial MeSH
• Peptide Elongation Factor Tu biosynthesis   chemistry   genetics   MeSH
• Geobacillus stearothermophilus drug effects   genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Protein Conformation MeSH
• Models, Molecular MeSH
• Molecular Sequence Data MeSH
• Pyridones pharmacology   MeSH
• Amino Acid Sequence MeSH
• Base Sequence MeSH
• Sequence Alignment MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Aminoglycosides * MeSH
• Anti-Bacterial Agents MeSH
• DNA, Bacterial MeSH
• Peptide Elongation Factor Tu MeSH
• mocimycin MeSH Browser
• pulvomycin MeSH Browser
• Pyridones MeSH

The main objective of this study was to assess the factor structure and psychometric properties of the Czech translation of the Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire (BMQ-CZ). It was hypothesized that the 4-factor structure of the BMQ-CZ would be confirmed and that psychometric properties would be verified by using positive or negative correlations with self-reported adherence, illness perceptions, and medication statements. A total of 627 people were approached, and 467 agreed to participate. The sample included chronically ill patients as well as patients seeking allopathic and homeopathic care. As a measure of criterion-related validity, the BMQ-CZ was administered along with the translated Czech versions of the Medication Adherence Report Scale (MARS-CZ) and the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (Brief IPQ-CZ) and additional assertions. The factor structure, reliability, and validity of the BMQ-CZ were evaluated. The internal consistency of the BMQ-CZ was satisfactory (Cronbach α = .69-.85). A factor analysis supported the BMQ-CZ's 4-factor structure, and the concurrrent validity of the BMQ-CZ was supported by positive correlations with self-reported measures of adherence and beliefs about medicines and disease. The BMQ-CZ demonstrated sufficient psychometric performance as a self-reported measure of medication beliefs among patients with hypertension, diabetes, and rheumatic disease.

• Keywords
• Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire, chronic illnesses, factor structure, medication adherence, psychometric properties,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

Bacterial RNA polymerase (RNAP) requires σ factors to recognize promoter sequences. Domain 1.1 of primary σ factors (σ1.1) prevents their binding to promoter DNA in the absence of RNAP, and when in complex with RNAP, it occupies the DNA-binding channel of RNAP. Currently, two 3D structures of σ1.1 are available: from Escherichia coli in complex with RNAP and from T. maritima solved free in solution. However, these two structures significantly differ, and it is unclear whether this difference is due to an altered conformation upon RNAP binding or to differences in intrinsic properties between the proteins from these two distantly related species. Here, we report the solution structure of σ1.1 from the Gram-positive bacterium Bacillus subtilis We found that B. subtilis σ1.1 is highly compact because of additional stabilization not present in σ1.1 from the other two species and that it is more similar to E. coli σ1.1. Moreover, modeling studies suggested that B. subtilis σ1.1 requires minimal conformational changes for accommodating RNAP in the DNA channel, whereas T. maritima σ1.1 must be rearranged to fit therein. Thus, the mesophilic species B. subtilis and E. coli share the same σ1.1 fold, whereas the fold of σ1.1 from the thermophile T. maritima is distinctly different. Finally, we describe an intriguing similarity between σ1.1 and δ, an RNAP-associated protein in B. subtilis, bearing implications for the so-far unknown binding site of δ on RNAP. In conclusion, our results shed light on the conformational changes of σ1.1 required for its accommodation within bacterial RNAP.

• Keywords
• Bacillus, RNA polymerase, molecular modeling, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), protein structure, transcription initiation factor,
• MeSH
• Bacillus subtilis metabolism   MeSH
• Bacterial Proteins chemistry   genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• DNA, Bacterial chemistry   metabolism   MeSH
• DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases chemistry   genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs MeSH
• Nitrogen Isotopes MeSH
• Carbon Isotopes MeSH
• Nucleic Acid Conformation MeSH
• Protein Conformation MeSH
• Conserved Sequence MeSH
• Models, Molecular * MeSH
• Peptide Fragments chemistry   genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Protein Subunits MeSH
• Recombinant Proteins chemistry   metabolism   MeSH
• Protein Folding MeSH
• Amino Acid Sequence MeSH
• Sequence Alignment MeSH
• Sigma Factor chemistry   genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Protein Stability MeSH
• Structural Homology, Protein MeSH
• Thermotoga maritima enzymology   MeSH
• Binding Sites MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Comparative Study MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Bacterial Proteins MeSH
• DNA, Bacterial MeSH
• DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases MeSH
• Nitrogen Isotopes MeSH
• Carbon Isotopes MeSH
• Peptide Fragments MeSH
• Protein Subunits MeSH
• Recombinant Proteins MeSH
• Sigma Factor MeSH

SDF-1, a novel cytokine from alpha-chemokine family, plays a key role in regulation of haematopoiesis. It exists in two forms (alpha and beta) that originate from alternative splicing. Its high expression in the bone marrow microenvironment accounts for the release of progenitor cells in the circulation and represents a prevention of uncontrolled leak of CD34+ cells. Notably significant is its stimulation of proliferation of B-lineage progenitors, in other haematopoietic lineages it functions as a facilitating factor of other cytokines. Ability of induction of platelet aggregation reveals the role of SDF-1 in thrombogenesis and vascular lumen obliteration in vessels affected by atherosclerosis. The only receptor for SDF-1 is CXCR4, whose presence was proved in great numbers of tissues and organs. Their presence was also verified in brain tumours, whereas degree of their expression raises with grading, angiogenesis and occurrence of necrotic changes in tumour. Thanks to this feature it will probably be possible to estimate the prognosis of the patients. SDF-1 is also a suppressor of immune response via its facilitating activity on the interaction of the macrophages and CD8+ T lymphocytes. Affinity of the T-lymphocytotropic HIV to CXCR4 holds out hopes for a possible modulation of the infection with SDF-1. The significance of SDF-1 and its receptor CXCR4 is supported by morphological and functional abnormalities of new-born mice in their absence, especially disorders in haematopoiesis, angiogenesis and development of cardiac and nervous tissues.

• MeSH
• B-Lymphocytes metabolism   MeSH
• Stromal Cells metabolism   MeSH
• Chemokine CXCL12 MeSH
• Chemokines, CXC chemistry   physiology   MeSH
• Hematopoiesis physiology   MeSH
• Hemostasis physiology   MeSH
• HIV Infections virology   MeSH
• Stem Cells metabolism   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Receptors, CXCR4 physiology   MeSH
• T-Lymphocytes immunology   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• English Abstract MeSH
• Journal Article MeSH
• Review MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Chemokine CXCL12 MeSH
• Chemokines, CXC MeSH
• CXCL12 protein, human MeSH Browser
• Receptors, CXCR4 MeSH

INTRODUCTION: Social emotional competence is fundamental to the positive development of children and youth. Accurately understanding and assessing children's social emotional competencies, using psychometrically sound instruments, are essential to global efforts to support children's social emotional learning, academic achievements, and health. This study examined the psychometric properties of a teacher-reported measure of young children's social emotional competence, the Social Competence Scale - Teacher edition (SCS-T), in two samples of children growing up with varied economic resources/conditions, cultural norms, and educational experiences, namely Pakistan (N = 396) and Sweden (N = 309). METHODS: Participants were aged 4-6 years old. The study design was cross-sectional. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Using structural equation modelling, bi-factor confirmatory factor analysis models implying shared variance, among all items and domain-specific shared variance, among the prosocial items, emotion regulation items, and academic skills items resulted in good fitting models in each respective sample. Invariance testing across samples revealed a subset of items from each factor structure with partial scalar invariance, whereby five items had equal thresholds and could be comparable across the two samples. Thus, results provided partial support for hypotheses 1, 2, and 3, in that the posited three factor model (H1) was not clearly supported and a bi-factor model evidenced the best fit, among tested models, for both samples. Further, partial scalar invariance (H3) was found for five items out of 25 items, concerning social competence and academic skills. In regards, to the posited research question, the results of Z-tests showed significant (p < 0.001) latent mean differences between the samples. Compared to the Swedish sample, the Pakistani sample was 1.80 units lower on social competence (z = -6.41, p < 0.001) and 1.86 units lower on academic skills (z = -7.87, p < 0.001). The implications of these findings in light of efforts to promote positive child development in diverse parts of the world are considered.

• Keywords
• Pakistan, Social Competence Scale, Sweden, child development, factor structure, social emotional competence,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

Most of the available crystal structures of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) kinase domain, bound to drug inhibitors, originated from ligand-based drug design studies. Here, we used variations in 110 crystal structures to assemble eight distinct families highlighting the C-helix orientation in the N-lobe of the EGFR kinase domain. The families shared similar mutational profiles and similarity in the ligand R-groups (chemical composition, geometry, and charge) facing the C-helix, mutation sites, and DFG domain. For structure-based drug design, we recommend a systematic decision-making process for choice of template, guided by appropriate pairwise fitting and clustering before the molecular docking step. Alternatively, the binding site shape/volume can be used to filter and select the compound libraries.

• MeSH
• ErbB Receptors antagonists & inhibitors   chemistry   genetics   MeSH
• Protein Kinase Inhibitors pharmacology   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Ligands MeSH
• Mutation MeSH
• Drug Design methods   MeSH
• Decision Making MeSH
• Molecular Docking Simulation MeSH
• Binding Sites MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Review MeSH
• Names of Substances
• EGFR protein, human MeSH Browser
• ErbB Receptors MeSH
• Protein Kinase Inhibitors MeSH
• Ligands MeSH

Statistical theory indicates that hierarchical clustering by interviewers or raters needs to be considered to avoid incorrect inferences when performing any analyses including regression, factor analysis (FA) or item response theory (IRT) modelling of binary or ordinal data. We use simulated Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) data to show the consequences (in terms of bias, variance and mean square error) of using an analysis ignoring clustering on confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) estimates. Our investigation includes the performance of different estimators, such as maximum likelihood, weighted least squares and Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC). Our simulation results suggest that ignoring clustering may lead to serious bias of the estimated factor loadings, item thresholds, and corresponding standard errors in CFAs for ordinal item response data typical of that commonly encountered in psychiatric research. In addition, fit indices tend to show a poor fit for the hypothesized structural model. MCMC estimation may be more robust against clustering than maximum likelihood and weighted least squares approaches but further investigation of these issues is warranted in future simulation studies of other datasets. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

• Keywords
• PANSS, factor analysis, hierarchical modelling, simulation,
• MeSH
• Factor Analysis, Statistical * MeSH
• Data Interpretation, Statistical * MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Computer Simulation MeSH
• Psychiatric Status Rating Scales statistics & numerical data   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH

The limited information available on the structure of complexes involving transcription factors and cognate DNA response elements represents a major obstacle in the quest to understand their mechanism of action at the molecular level. We implemented a concerted structural proteomics approach, which combined hydrogen-deuterium exchange (HDX), quantitative protein-protein and protein-nucleic acid cross-linking (XL), and homology analysis, to model the structure of the complex between the full-length DNA binding domain (DBD) of Forkhead box protein O4 (FOXO4) and its DNA binding element (DBE). The results confirmed that FOXO4-DBD assumes the characteristic forkhead topology shared by these types of transcription factors, but its binding mode differs significantly from those of other members of the family. The results showed that the binding interaction stabilized regions that were rather flexible and disordered in the unbound form. Surprisingly, the conformational effects were not limited only to the interface between bound components, but extended also to distal regions that may be essential to recruiting additional factors to the transcription machinery. In addition to providing valuable new insights into the binding mechanism, this project provided an excellent evaluation of the merits of structural proteomics approaches in the investigation of systems that are not directly amenable to traditional high-resolution techniques.

• Keywords
• DNA, FOXO4, cross-linking, molecular modeling, protein, protein-nucleic acid cross-linking, trans-dichlorodiamineplatinum(II), hydrogen-deuterium exchange, transcription factor, transplatin,
• MeSH
• DNA-Binding Proteins chemistry   metabolism   MeSH
• DNA chemistry   metabolism   MeSH
• Mass Spectrometry MeSH
• Molecular Structure MeSH
• Response Elements MeSH
• Transcription Factors chemistry   metabolism   MeSH
• Deuterium Exchange Measurement MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural MeSH
• Names of Substances
• DNA-Binding Proteins MeSH
• DNA MeSH
• Transcription Factors MeSH

BACKGROUND: One of the most significant human qualities is the ability to develop, implement, and flexibly maintain planned behaviour in order to achieve one's goals. Self-regulation has become a relatively well-researched area in the field of psychology and pedagogy. However, empirically valid and reliable instrument is still missing across European context. The primary goal of this research was to analyze the psychometric properties of the Czech version of the Self-Regulation Questionnaire (SRQ-CZ) among adult learners from Poland, Serbia, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to examine the factor structure and psychometric properties of the SRQ-CZ validated in the Czech educational context in a multi-cultural sample. METHODS: A total of 1711 adult learners from European countries including Poland, Serbia, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic completed the SRQ-CZ. The first step to reviewing the validity of the SRQ-CZ included testing face validity. Furthermore, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was performed on half the sample and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) on the other half. Measurement invariance was conducted across gender, age, and country followed by the evaluation of the reliability of the final instrument. RESULTS: EFA showed that a three-factor structure best fit the data. The originally proposed Impulse Control and Self-Direction are merged into one distinct factor, while Decision Making and Goal Orientation comprise the other two. Goodness-of-fit statistics yielded from CFA showed a good fit for the model, introducing a reliable and measurement invariant instrument. CONCLUSION: The present study used a diverse multi-cultural sample to explore the factorial structure and psychometric properties of the SRQ-CZ. A three-factor model was obtained as the result of the exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. Further analysis aiming at measurement invariance, comparing the sample according to gender, age, and country, led to satisfactory results. The only exception was a lack of model fit in the case of Serbia. Although further psychometric evaluation of the SRQ-CZ is still needed, the presented results constitute significant findings, confirming instrument validity and utility as a measure of generalized self-regulation capacity across adult learners in European educational context.

• Keywords
• Adult learners, Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), Exploratory factor analysis (EFA), Measurement invariance, Self-regulation,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH