Over the past decade, the understanding of the anatomy and function of the hip joint has continuously evolved, and surgical treatment options for the hip have significantly progressed. Originally, surgical treatment of the hip primarily involved resection of damaged tissue. Procedures that maintain and preserve proper hip anatomy, such as labral repair and femoroacetabular impingement correction, have shown superior results, in terms of pain reduction, increased function, and ability to return to activities. Labral reconstruction is a treatment option that uses a graft to reconstruct the native labrum. The technique and outcomes of labral reconstruction have been described relatively recently, and labral reconstruction is a cutting edge procedure that has shown promising early outcomes. The aim of this article is to review the current literature on hip labral reconstruction. We will review the indications for labral reconstruction, surgical technique and graft options, and surgical outcomes that have been described to date. Labral reconstruction provides an alternative treatment option for challenging intra-articular hip problems. Labral reconstruction restores the original anatomy of the hip and has the potential to preserve the longevity of the hip joint. This technique is an important tool in the orthopedic surgeon’s arsenal for hip joint treatment and preservation. Hip arthroscopy is a relatively new frontier in orthopedic surgery, with the first documented arthroscopy of the hip performed less than a century ago in 1931 . OriginaLabral pathology is one of the most common diagnoses among adolescent and adult patients who present for treatment of hip pain , 5. The Labral reconstruction was first described in 2009 and is a treatment option that uses a graft to reconstruct the native labrum  to the posterior aspect of the acetabulum . No native labral tissue is retained in the anterior quadrant of the acetabulum because it is felt that loss of connection to the circumferential labrum leads to loss of hoop strength.In preparation for graft placement, the labral defect is measured, and the graft length is overestimated to avoid the graft being too short. Anchors are placed close to the acetabular edge, without breeching the joint, roughly 11–14 mm apart. They are inserted from the distal accessory portal into the acetabular rim. The most antero-inferior anchor is placed as close to the origin of the anterior transverse acetabular ligament as possible.For this technique, an iliotibial band allograft , freeze dried or frozen, is preferred. The graft is prepared on the back table by soaking it in a 250 cc saline and 80 mg Gentamycin solution. Once thawed, the graft is measured and rolled to create a final tubularized graft measuring roughly 5–6 mm in diameter. The graft is folded into thirds and a 2-0 Vicryl suture is placed at each end of the graft using an accordion-type suture technique, where several small bites are taken across the end of the graft Figure A. When tThe cannula is placed from the distal accessory portal through the intact antero-inferior capsule. The graft is then introduced into the joint, by fixing it to the non-post end of the first suture and pulling it into the joint with the post end. The suture is then tied with alternating half hitch sutures once the graft is provisionally placed in an appropriate position along the rim of the acetabulum. Circumferential sutures are tied from the distal accessory portal working from anterior to posterior. The second to last suture is passed but not tied to allow for mobility at the end of the graft. Excess graft is removed by cutting the graft with a beaver blade from the anterolateral portal, while maintaining tension with a grasper from the distal accessory portal. The most posterior suture is passed through the end of the graft with an ElitePass  and then passed under and around the graft, creating a Mason-Allen type of suture construct. The graft is inspected after traction is taken down to ensure there is a complete, continuous seal between the graft and the femoral head Figures B,C. DynaSeveral graft options for labral reconstruction have been previously proposed. Allograft tissue provides several benefits over autograft tissue, including the ability to control graft thickness, length, and consistency and the ability to eliminate donor site morbidity. In addition, allograft tissue is aneural, providing a potential benefit in pain reduction. In contrast, native labral tissue likely remains innervated during and following the repair process, which could lead to future pain. Other proposed graft options include iliotibal band autograft , 27, locRehabilitation for labral reconstruction is similar to that for labral repair; however, patients are cautioned regarding the aneural properties of their graft. Patients begin supervised physical therapy within 1 week of surgery. The focus of rehabilitation is gaining motion, strengthening the gluteus medius, rebalancing the hip musculature, and establishing a normal gait pattern. Weight bearing is typically restricted to 30% body weight for 4 weeks or 20% body weight for 6 weeks if a concomitant microfracture procedure is performed. Advanced rehabilitation focuses on building strength and returning to sport and activity. In our experience, full recovery typically occurs approximately 6 months postoperatively.n = 12), lysis of adhesions (n = 2), iliopsoas release (n = 1), unspecified arthroscopy (n = 1), and THA (n = 3) , 2320, 2n = 113), there was significant improvement in MHHS, LEFS, and VAS for pain at rest, with ADLs, and with athletic activities (Table p < 0.0001). Overall patient-reported satisfaction was 9 on a VAS scale from 1 to 10 . Future studies will identify outcome in specific patient subsets, compare procedures, and report long-term outcome.Promising patient-reported outcomes and low revision rate have been achieved with arthroscopic labral reconstruction. The lead author has performed over 1,000 labral reconstructions to date (July 2009–March 2015) and, overall, has found superior results with reconstruction compared to repair or debridement in patients with complex intra-articular pathology. Minimum 2-year outcomes from allograft labral reconstruction by the authors are currently in press . Among 1n = 18), with one additional hip converting to resurfacing. Identified patient factors associated with conversion to THA were patient age and preoperative joint space ≤2 mm (A recent literature review identified five additional published reports of outcomes from arthroscopic labral reconstruction Table  18, 24–, 39. Thece ≤2 mm . In an aOutcomes of arthroscopic labral reconstruction with gracilis autograft have also been reported , 39. TheLabral reconstruction provides an alternative treatment option for challenging intra-articular hip problems. The primary indications for labral reconstruction are irreparable labral tears or insufficient labral tissue. Labral reconstruction provides several biomechanical advantages as a treatment option for labral pathology, including improved fluid pressurization, stabilization of the hip to distractive forces, and reduced contact pressure in the hip joint , 10, 15.Several surgical techniques and graft options have been proposed for labral reconstruction, including open surgical dislocation and arthroscopic techniques and autograft and allograft options , 33–36. Long-term outcomes are necessary to determine the longevity of this procedure, but promising early outcomes of have been achieved , 38, 39.Overall, labral reconstruction increases function, decreases pain, leads to a high level of patient satisfaction, and allows patients to return to activities of daily living and athletics. Labral reconstruction restores the original anatomy of the hip and has the potential to preserve the longevity of the hip joint. This technique is an important tool in the orthopedic surgeon’s arsenal for hip joint preservation.The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fsurg.2015.00027The Supplementary Material for this article can be found online at Click here for additional data file.Click here for additional data file.


The authors would to like to add a citation to a previously published article on a similar topic:Domokos, Gábor, and Timothy J. Healey. "Multiple helical perversions of finite, intrinsically curved rods." International Journal of Bifurcation and Chaos 15.03 (2005): 871–890.This work relates to the present paper in the following way: the authors numerically study the response of a uniform rod of finite length with intrinsic curvature and identify equilibria characterized by an arbitrary number of perversions with intermittent helical segments.


Arabidopsis have shown that starch degradation proceeds at a constant rate during the night and is set such that starch reserves are exhausted almost precisely at dawn. Intriguingly, this pattern is robust with the degradation rate being adjusted to compensate for unexpected changes in the time of darkness onset. While a fundamental role for the circadian clock is well-established, the underlying mechanisms controlling starch degradation remain poorly characterized. Here, we discuss recent quantitative models that have been proposed to explain how plants can compute the appropriate starch degradation rate, a process that requires an effective arithmetic division calculation. We review experimental confirmation of the models, and describe aspects that require further investigation. Overall, the process of night-time starch degradation necessitates a fundamental metabolic role for the circadian clock and, more generally, highlights how cells process information in order to optimally manage their resources.In order to cope with night-time darkness, plants during the day allocate part of their photosynthate for storage, often as starch. This stored reserve is then degraded at night to sustain metabolism and growth. However, night-time starch degradation must be tightly controlled, as over-rapid turnover results in premature depletion of starch before dawn, leading to starvation. Recent experiments in  Plants use photosynthesis to assimilate carbon and fuel their metabolism and growth. Atmospheric carbon dioxide is converted into organic compounds, utilizing the energy provided by sunlight. During the night, when photosynthesis is not possible, plants must rely on stored reserves of carbohydrates built up during the previous day. In many plants, this carbohydrate is stored in chloroplastic starch granules which are degraded during the night to produce sugars.Arabidopsis thaliana degrades starch at a constant rate during the night, so that about 95% of all starch is utilized by the time of expected dawn. As many studies have shown , some predictions can still be made. For instance, the model shows that the mechanism is so robust that it can accommodate perturbations even more extreme that those previously tested, such as an unexpected period of light occurring in the middle of the night. This prediction was indeed verified, as it was shown that the starch degradation rate was correctly recomputed after a night-time light period of 5 h . The models could then help to interpret these results in order to uncover the exact role of this enzyme. Conversely, GWD has been shown to have little influence over the control of flux in starch degradation, and, in particular, its redox regulation is not necessary for the computation of the appropriate starch degradation rate   ~ 1/(dayt−t), with dayt being the day length  or low  levels of starch are also important tools that can help to clarify many aspects of starch metabolism , C4 or CAM (Weise et al., Arabidopsis (like Brachypodium distachyon, see Scialdone et al., Mesembryanthemum crystallinum, a facultative CAM plant (Neuhaus and Schulte, Essentially all plants manufacture and store starch during daylight hours, breaking it down during the night, irrespective of the type of photosynthesis used: C3 (like Arabidopsis. Moreover, the use of glycogen reserves is thought to be important for the metabolism of the bacterium at night.Similar mechanisms that allow optimization of the use of limited resources could also be operating in other biological processes (Scialdone et al., The problem of starch degradation is also a prominent example of how arithmetic computations can be performed in biology in an analog fashion through chemical kinetics (Cory and Perkins, AS, MH: Drafted the work and revised it critically for important intellectual content.The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.


Sleeve anastomosis is the most common technique used to rearterialize orthotopic liver transplants (OLT). However, this technique has a number of disadvantages, including difficulty of performance of the technique visually unaided. We herein describe a novel rearterialized OLT model in the rat.Forty-six male Sprague Dawley rats (300–400 g) were used as donors and recipients. Based on Kamada’s cuff technique, the new model involved performing a modified “sleeve” anastomosis between the celiac trunk of the donor and common hepatic artery of the recipient to reconstruct blood flow to the hepatic artery. An additional ten male Sprague Dawley rats underwent liver transplantation without artery reconstruction. Liver grafts were retrieved from the two groups and histological examination was performed following surgery.Total mean operating times were ~42 minutes for the donor liver extraction and 57 minutes for the recipient transplantation. Graft preparation took an additional 15 minutes and the time to fix the arterial bracket was ~3 minutes. During transplantation, the anhepatic phase lasted 18 ± 2.5 min and the artery reconstruction only required ~3 minutes. The patency rate was 94.44% and the 4-week survival rate was 90%. Histology indicated obvious fibrosis in the liver grafts without artery reconstruction, while normal histology was observed in the arterialized graft.This new method allows for the surgical procedure to be performed visually unaided with good survival and patency rates and represents an alternative model investigating OLT in rats. Lee and colleagues  developeNonarterialized OLT has been shown to be characterized by numerous liver defects, such as high rates of biliary complications . EngermaMicrovascular sleeve anastomosis was originially described by Lauritzen  and DumiTherefore, the overall goal of the present study was to establish a novel method for anastomosis of CHA and PHA during OLT in the rat, which improves upon the current model by improving ease of the surgical procedure.Sprague Dawley rats (300–400 g), were obtained from the animal facility in the Medical College of Shantou University and were used as donors and recipients. The recipients were ~30 g heavier than the donors. Animals were housed in groups of four in temperature and humidity-controlled animal quarters and were allowed free access to food and water. All experiments were conducted under the guidelines and approval of the Medical Animal Care & Welfare Committee of Shantou University Medical College.Donor surgeries were performed with pentobarbital anesthesia and recipient surgeries were performed with ether on cone mask  was placed in a transparent jar with inhalation anesthesia. Prior to the procedure, recipients were treated with 0.1mg/kg atropine. Both surgical procedures were performed without an operating microscope and performed by a single investigator using clean, but not sterile surgical instruments. OLT was performed using a technique based on Kamada’s procedure [Following access of the abdominal cavity through a midline incision, the ligaments around the liver were dissected. The infrahepatic vena cava (IHVC) was freed before the right suprarenal vein and the right renal vein was ligated and carefully dissected. Subsequently, the bile duct was cannulated with a tube  for biliary anastomosis, the portal vein (PV) was liberated, and the pyloric vein was ligated near the PV. The artery was liberated from the PHA to the celiac axis, and branches, such as splenic artery, left gastric artery, and gastroduodenal artery (GDA) were ligated and dissected. The liver was then perfused with cold physiological saline solution (4°C) containing heparin sodium (50 U/ml) via the PV and the suprahepatic vena cava (SHVC) was transected to release the perfusate from the liver. The liver was then quickly removed to a bath containing cold saline solution (4°C).Excess fat around the liver was trimmed, and then the blood vessels, cuff connection of the PV, and IHVC were constructed. The SHVC was trimmed carefully and attached with 8–0 double needle stitches on the left corner. The celiac axis was shaved and partially incised on the anterior wall. A sterile tube  that serThe recipients were anesthetized with ether and the abdominal cavity was accessed through a midline incision. The liver was liberated and the right suprarenal vein was ligated. After the bile duct and PHA were ligated and cut close to the hilum of the liver, the GDA was ligated at the beginning and transected. The CHA and stump of PHA were then liberated. The IHVC, PV, and SHVC were clamped in succession and were transected. Recipient livers were quickly removed. The donor liver was placed orthotopically in the recipient’s abdominal cavity. First, the SHVC was reconnected with a running suture (8–0 Proline) and then the PV was anastomosed using the cuff technique. The IVC anastomosis was performed using the same technique as with the PV after the blood flow of the liver was reestablished.Reconstruction of the recipient hepatic artery was performed without the aid of an operating microscope. The recipient CHA was clamped at the beginning and transected at the end. The lumen of the vascular stump of both the donor and recipient were irrigated with saline solution. Loose adventitia of the recipient CHA was carefully removed up to the bifurcation of the celiac axis, while the adventitia of the donor celiac axis was gently removed from the first 2 mm of the stump. The vessel ends of both the donor and recipient were placed within a few millimeters. The guide suture pierced the vessel with 10–0 silk from outside to inside about 4 mm beyond the stump and about 1 mm beyond the bracket . The sutLiver tissue was collected from the animal treatment groups. Tissues were fixed in paraformaldehyde, embedded in paraffin, and sections were cut and fixed on glass slides. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was performed to check the tissue histology.In the current study, 23 cases of rearterialized OLT were performed using a novel anastomosis technique. All of the rats survived up to 4 weeks with the exception of two that died within 10 days post-transplantation. One cause of death was due to blood leakage at the hepatic artery anastomosis  and the other was due to portal vein stenosis. The survival rate at 4 weeks post-transplantation was 91.3%(21/23).Total mean operating time was ~42 minutes for donor operation and 57 minutes for recipient operation. The graft preparation time was 15 minutes and the operating time to fix the arterial bracket was ~3 minutes. During the recipient operation, the anhepatic phase lasted 18 ± 2.5 min and the arterial reconstruction only required ~3 minutes.Four weeks after OLT abdominal exploration was performed prior to the sacrifice of the animals in the arterial reconstruction group with the exception of 3 cases that were evaluated 6 months following transplantation. The hepatic artery was dissected clearly to make sure that the arterial pulsation above the site of artery anastomosis was apparent. The arterial branches near the liver hilus were then cut, and blood flowed immediately. This confirmed the patency of the reconstructed artery. We observed in only one case that the reconstructed artery was not present in the abdomen of the recipient 4 weeks following transplantation. In this case, occlusion might have occurred at the site of the artery anastomosis, making the occluded artery difficult to distinguish from the surrounding tissue because of inflammatory adhesions. The patency rate of the reconstructed artery was 94.44% (17/18), which is similar to rates reported in other studies .In the group of animals that were sacrificed 6 months after OLT, obvious liver histomorphological changes were observed in animals without arterial reconstruction such as the proliferation of the biliary system .We found that ether anesthesia is more convenient and the induction period is shorter than those of the other methods. The dosage could be adjusted according to the depth of anesthesia, when the operation is completed, and the anesthesia is disconnected, rats wake up almost immediately. Therefore, we chose ether as the anesthesia for our experiment. Due to the high survival rate following surgery, the nonrearterialized model of OLT (NOLT) in the rat is commonly utilized. However, it has been shown that NOLT models have several disadvantages: (i) a high rate of biliary complications ; (ii) laSeveral methods have been developed for liver transplantation in the rat –26, ReceDuminy introduced a new sleeve technique especially for microvascular anastomosis . As DumiIn addition, when the sleeve anastomosis is performed as described above, the guiding stitches are normally placeed outside to inside 2–3 mm beyond the stump. Even if the donor celiac axis has been chosen for the placement of the guiding stitches, the diameter is near 1 mm without blood flow, which makes the technique difficult to learn for inexperienced investigator or for a single operator to place the guiding stitches accurately in such a small vessel. Technically, the placement of the guiding stitches are the most important component of the sleeve anastomosis and technical difficulties are increased when the diameter is small.As illustrated in In the current study, anastomosis was performed between the donor celiac artery and the recipient CHA. The bracket ensures that the opening of the vessel does not collapse, facilitating the placement of a guide suture, which can be performed accurately and easily by a single operator without the use of an operating microscope. In addition, when the celiac artery is fixed with a bracket, the inside diameter of the vessel constricts to a size that is close to that of the recipient CHA, making the anastomosis between the two arteries possible despite the large difference in the diameters of the two vessels. Most importantly, nephrectomy or the complete ligation of the splenic, left gastric artery is avoided because the recipient’s renal artery or celiac axis is not required for anastomosis. Finally, when blood flow is restored, the vessel wall of the CHA is braced by the bracket, which avoids blood leakage. In the trial tests prior to the start of the current study, external diameter and internal diameter of the bracket was designed at1 mm and 0.75 mm, respectively. When performing the artery anastomosis, bleeding was often encountered at the anastomotic site. Therefore, the bracket was modified until bleeding was not found after artery anastomosis while ensuring a high patency rate.In Liu’s  and HowdDuring graft preparation, the bracket was inserted into the graft celiac artery without difficulty. Since the operation was performed in cold saline solution, the natural expansion of the stump facilitated bracket insertion. Although the bracket might cause rejection in the rat resulting in thrombosis at the site of artery anastomosis, no major issues were observed and the liver patency rate was similar to that of other reported techniques. With our modified method, the bracket was sandwiched between two layers of the vessel wall and not exposed to blood, thereby reducing the possibility of thrombosis and ensuring a high patency rate. In our experiments, 4 weeks after surgery, the hepatic artery was dissected to assure that the arterial pulsation above the site of artery anastomosis was apparent. The arterial branches near the liver hilus were then cut, and blood flowed immediately. This confirmed the patency of the reconstructed artery. Lu et al , also coIn general, the modified sleeve technique in reconstruction of the HA described here has proven to be both feasible and practical. The benefits of our approaches included rearterialization surgery without using a microscope, no need for recipient nephrectomy, and no interruption of perfusion to other abdominal organs. The patency rate of reconstructed HA was similar to other methods and was characterized by few complications during the 4 weeks follow-up period. Our method represents a significant improvement of the previous models and provides for physiological transplantation of the liver. This new, simplified surgical approach may provide an additional surgical option for scientists interested in transplantation research.


A 79-year-old woman with a history of diabetes mellitus and recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) presented with acute onset left lower quadrant pain, left-sided back pain, vomiting, and dysuria. Abdominopelvic CT scan revealed left hydroureteronephrosis to the level of the left ureterovesical junction (UVJ) where a bladder mass appeared to be obstructing the left ureteral orifice. The obstruction was ultimately found to be the result of a sloughed renal papilla lodged in the distal ureter, which created an inflammatory mass at the UVJ. Her history of diabetes and frequent UTIs likely predisposed her to the development of renal papillary necrosis (RPN) that resulted in sloughing of a renal papilla, distal ureteral obstruction with subsequent bladder inflammation that mimicked a bladder mass on imaging. RPN is a condition associated with many etiologies and likely represents a common final pathway of several diseases. Although several hypotheses exist, it is primarily thought to be ischemic in nature and is related to the underlying physiology of the renal papillae. We present a case of hydroureteronephrosis and bladder mass secondary to a sloughed renal papilla from RPN. Her medical history was pertinent for type-2 diabetes mellitus and recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs). She denied any smoking history. On evaluation, the patient was found to have left-sided costovertebral angle tenderness and left lower quadrant tenderness. She had a mild leukocytosis and pyuria, but a normal creatinine, estimated glomerular filtration rate, and was afebrile with normal heart rate and blood pressure. Imaging revealed left-sided hydroureteronephrosis  is commonly used to illustrate the various causes of RPN.Renal papillary necrosis (RPN) is a condition that arises in the setting of various diseases and is characterized by diffuse ischemic necrosis of the renal medulla, particularly the papilla.3 Several animal studies, however, have demonstrated reduced vasa recta perfusion before the destruction of tubules,5 as well as platelet thrombi within the vasculature,6 helping establish ischemic events as a cause of RPN. The papillae are particularly susceptible to ischemic insults given the underlying renal vascular anatomy that supplies the renal papillae most distally through the tapering vasa recta. Indeed, even in the healthy individual, the papillae exist in a relative hypoxia because of the vascular arrangement and hypertonic environment of the renal medulla.1 Still, it is likely that several different pathways are at play depending on the underlying cause, and that RPN represents a final common pathway of multiple courses.7–9 Our patient had known diabetes that likely represented her biggest risk factor for RPN. Furthermore, her history of recurrent UTI raises the question of subclinical pyelonephritis preceding her presentation and further increasing her risk for papillary necrosis.The pathophysiology of RPN has not been fully elucidated and several competing hypotheses have been proposed. Ischemia has become the front-runner explanation of RPN despite early difficulties elucidating whether it was the cause or a result of this syndrome.7 In this case, the patient presented with some of these symptoms: general malaise, gastrointestinal complaints, irritative voiding symptoms, and renal colic; however, her imaging was highly unusual as it appeared as an obstructing bladder mass most consistent with an invasive malignancy. As her RPN progressed, the sloughed debris obstructed her left ureter that resulted in renal colic. Furthermore, the accumulated debris caused a reactive inflammatory response in the underlying bladder tissue mimicking a mass within the bladder wall. To our knowledge, this is a unique presentation of RPN. Ultimately, removal of the obstructing sloughed papilla and surgical resection of the tissue from the ureterovesical junction with subsequent stenting and antibiotics resulted in relief of obstruction for our patient.Early in its course, RPN often presents with nonspecific findings, including headaches and upper gastrointestinal symptoms. As it progresses, clinical signs may include irritative voiding symptoms, pyuria, hematuria, ureteral colic, lower back pain, and azotemia. Ultimately, these patients may develop hypertension, cardiac disease, and chronic renal failure.Our case demonstrates that in patients at risk for RPN, sloughed debris can mimic urothelial tumors of the bladder on imaging.


Am J Trop Med Hyg 92 (6 Suppl):105–112 by Yong and others, the captions for figures 2 and 3 are reversed. The journal regrets this error.In


Looking back on an excellent year for the Journal of BioPsychoSocial Medicine, with numerous exciting papers addressing topics right at core of the Journal’s interest and often tackling issues at the forefront of international research trends, we first and foremost like to congratulate the Japanese Society of Psychosomatic Medicine on the performance of its official Journal in 2014!Given the very special honor to contribute to the New Year’s Issue 2015 we would like to take the opportunity to reflect on a key paradigm of the Journal of BioPsychoSocial Medicine and the represented field of Psychosomatic Medicine: The imperative for cross-boarder dialogue and collaboration. One central aspect surely being the dialogue across the boarders of the biomedical and the psycho-social schools of thought, underpinned by the well supported hypothesis that the complex enigma of human existence can not be fully understood within the narrow boundaries of one or the other scientific community.In the following we will discuss several selected perspectives on the dialogue and collaboration paradigm. First, we would like to discuss examples of recently published research related to the “stress-pandemic”. We then turn to the health-system dimension in underlining the importance of the trans-sectoral dialogue in psychosomatic medicine and BioPsychoSocial research, presenting examples of current studies on the treatment of anorexia nervosa . Furthermore we would like to extend a very warm invitation to join us on the upcoming German Congress of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy in March 2015 in Berlin; where we look forward to discuss the topic: ‘Psycho-Somatic, Dialogue Instead of Dualism’ with more then 1000 participants from all over the globe. We conclude in paying tribute to the Japanese-German friendship in the field of psychosomatic medicine, as a distinct example of a fruitful dialogue across the boarders of nations, cultures and continents.Several manuscripts published in BioPsychoSocial Medicine in 2014 nicely illustrate the progress that was made during past decades in terms of integration of all three dimensions of the biopsychosocial model in clear-cut research designs. Kato et al. for example report in their pilot-study on healthy female nurses working in stressful environments and the association of their depressive symptoms with serum-levels of creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase  ultimately will also “…help us provide the best possible care to our patients” .On behalf of the German College of Psychosomatic Medicine and the German Society of Psychosomatic Medicine, we would like to express our deep gratitude for the enriching personal and professional encounters our delegates have made in past years when sharing our views on the field of psychosomatic medicine and psychotherapy with colleagues from Japan. May this excellent example of a cross-continental dialogue prosper in 2015 and beyond in the best interest of both sides!フローエス ノイエス ヤー 2015!


President NVMOTimes change. The Dutch Association for Medical Education (NVMO) has existed for over 40 years. During almost all this time, the NVMO has had its own journal. In the early years, most articles in the journal focused on best practices and creative ways of teaching. Examples of topics were: the weekly exercise in pharmacotherapy, anatomy in vivo, problem-based learning or whether students can give lectures. We also saw policy and quality discussions about clerkships, simulated patients, selection of students, or facts and fables of teacher training. A regular custom was publication of the annual summary report of the Association for Medical Education in Europe conference. In this way, we informed our members about what was going on in medical education outside the Netherlands. After a couple of years we saw more and more research reports in our journal: reliability of oral examination, which problems do students report to the student counsellor, attitudes of medical students, how three different faculties score on the same progress test or the relation between skills training attendance and study progress. By the year 2000, we had around 400 medical education articles in Dutch, on paper.In the beginning years, a few enthusiastic NVMO members used the duplicator to print our journal, later we had a real publisher. Especially during the last decade the organization of the journal has become more and more professional. A couple of years ago we had the ambition to move from a club journal to a fully-fledged international journal, and Perspectives on Medical Education (PME) was born. PME wants to offer quality papers that are of interest to international readers such as medical teachers, educational developers, policy makers and researchers. We have noticed that authors and readers from all over the world know how to find the journal. The journal is printed five–six times a year.www.nvmo.nl).This issue of the journal is the first not to appear in print. From now on, the issues of PME will only be available electronically. An advantage is that articles are easy to access and published faster. A disadvantage might be that, for the members of the NVMO, the journal is no longer available in print. The days of PME as the club journal are over. Club information can now only be found on our website  publishing research outcomes, commentaries and eye-openers, which can be used in practice.


In this paper, a stiffness match method is proposed to reduce the vibration sensitivity of micromachined tuning fork gyroscopes. Taking advantage of the coordinate transformation method, a theoretical model is established to analyze the anti-phase vibration output caused by the stiffness mismatch due to the fabrication imperfections. The analytical solutions demonstrate that the stiffness mismatch is proportional to the output induced by the external linear vibration from the sense direction in the anti-phase mode frequency. In order to verify the proposed stiffness match method, a tuning fork gyroscope (TFG) with the stiffness match electrodes is designed and implemented using the micromachining technology and the experimental study is carried out. The experimental tests illustrate that the vibration output can be reduced by 73.8% through the stiffness match method than the structure without the stiffness match. Therefore, the proposed stiffness match method is experimentally validated to be applicable to vibration sensitivity reduction in the Micro-Electro-Mechanical-Systems (MEMS) tuning fork gyroscopes without sacrificing the scale factor. MEMS vibrational gyroscopes are a kind of inertial sensor for measuring angular rate or angle, based on an energy transfer of two vibrational modes with the Coriolis effects . MicromaA MEMS tuning fork gyroscope is a very common type to cancel the external linear vibration output using two identical masses that vibrate in anti-phase ,12,13,14This paper proposes a stiffness match method to reduce the vibration sensitivity using the stiffness match electrodes. A theoretical model of the stiffness match method is established and the vibration output of the non-ideal TFG is analyzed in The non-ideal TFG model with the match stiffness is shown in Left tine:Right tine:Subtracting Equation (2) from Equation (1):Adding Equations (1) and (2):To obtain the anti-phase vibration output, a coordinate transformation is used as follows:Substituting Equation (5) into Equations (3) and (4):Thus, Equation (6) can be written as a matrix representation:By using the characteristic equation, the natural frequency can be obtained:The modal superposition method is used to solve Equation (7), and the steady-state response is obtained:When Considering that Substituting Equation (11) into Equation (10):x axis) is The stiffness mismatch can be reduced using the stiffness match electrodes with the negative electrostatic spring effect . The stiThus, the electrostatic force in the left part of the left mass is:N denotes the total number of the stiffness match electrodes.Similarly, the electrostatic force in the right part of the left mass is:Therefore, the total electrostatic force is:The direction of the electrostatic force is opposite with the direction of the stiffness spring. According to Hooke’s law, the match stiffness Therefore, substituting Equation (17) into Equation (12), one obtains:From Equation (18), it is figured out that the anti-phase vibration output can be rejected by reducing the stiffness mismatch through the stiffness match method.In order to verify the stiffness match method we proposed, a dual-mass micromachined tuning fork gyroscope is designed and fabricated. The architecture in the sense axis direction  consists of two identical tines and a coupling spring, as shown in The fabrication is implemented using Silicon-on-Glass (SOG) technology. Finally, the fabricated MEMS tuning fork gyroscope is shown in In order to further analyze the anti-phase vibration output caused by the linear vibration due to the stiffness mismatch, the experimental study is carried out. The experimental setup is shown in First, the electrical frequency sweep is carried out using the control circuit. Specifically, the movable mass is imposed using a sinusoidal carrier signal of 5 V, and a dc bias voltage of 5 V and an ac voltage of 0.1 V with a frequency sweep range from 3000 to 4000 Hz is applied on the fixed electrodes. To change the degree of the stiffness match, the voltage of the stiffness match 2). The output voltage of the differential sense capacitance without the stiffness match is shown in Then, the mechanical frequency sweep is carried out using a vibration shaker. The printed circuit board is only powered by the DC power supply without the other electrical signals. The excitation acceleration signal with a frequency sweep range from 3000 to 4000 Hz is sinusoidal, and its amplitude is 1 g , the vibration output displacement difference can be expressed as:Finally, the theoretical output voltage of the differential sense capacitance in the anti-phase mode frequency is obtained under the different voltage Comparisons of the experimental and theoretical values are displayed in According to Equation (18), it is concluded that the anti-phase vibration output of the MEMS tuning fork gyroscope is proportional to the stiffness mismatch and inversely proportional to the coupling stiffness. Based on the theoretical analysis, it can be seen that there are two ways to effectively eliminate the anti-phase vibration output without sacrificing the scale factor. One way is to design a structure to increase the coupling stiffness by using the anchored coupling mechanism according to the previous study , which tHowever, the anti-phase vibration output is still not completely eliminated. The possible reasons are that there are also mismatch between the mass and damping of the left and right tines and the other possible causes such as the asymmetric electrostatic forces and the capacitance nonlinearity, which will induce the anti-phase vibration output. Because other complicated factors can affect the anti-phase vibration output, how to better reduce the anti-phase vibration output needs to be further studied in the future.This paper proposes a stiffness match method to reduce the vibration sensitivity of micromachined tuning fork gyroscopes. Making use of the coordinate transformation method, a theoretical model is set up to investigate the anti-phase vibration output caused by the stiffness mismatch due to the fabrication imperfections. The analytical results reveal that the stiffness mismatch is proportional to the output induced by the linear vibration from the sense direction in the anti-phase mode frequency. In order to verify the proposed stiffness match method, the TFG including the stiffness match electrodes are designed and implemented using micromachining technology and the experimental study is carried out. The experimental tests demonstrate that the linear vibration output can be reduced by 73.8% through the stiffness match method with stiffness match electrodes compared to the structure without the stiffness match. Therefore, the proposed stiffness match method is experimentally validated to be applicable to the vibration sensitivity reduction in the tuning fork gyroscopes without sacrificing the sensitivity.


Dear Friends and Colleagues,The official 2013 impact factor for the Journal of Epidemiology is 2.862. Our journal placed 29th among 162 journals in the category of Public, Environmental & Occupational Health, and top in the Asia-Pacific region. The proportion of self-citation was only 4%, indicating that ours is a sound and promising journal. The 10 most frequently cited papers in 2011 and 2012 are listed below.I sincerely thank all editorial team members and reviewers for their outstanding effort in achieving this excellent result. I would particularly like to acknowledge the enormous contribution by our international associate editors from the Asia and Oceania regions, who first joined us in 2014.Our editorial team looks forward to receiving new high-quality submissions from around the world in a broad range of topics in epidemiology. In this way, our journal can continue to advance research in basic and clinical science, public health science, and health policy.Manami Inoue, MD, PhDEditor-in-ChiefJournal of EpidemiologyProject ProfessorAXA Department of Health and Human SecurityGraduate School of MedicineThe University of Tokyo


Synaptogenic adhesion molecules play critical roles in synapse formation. SALM5/Lrfn5, a SALM/Lrfn family adhesion molecule implicated in autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and schizophrenia, induces presynaptic differentiation in contacting axons, but its presynaptic ligand remains unknown. We found that SALM5 interacts with the Ig domains of LAR family receptor protein tyrosine phosphatases . These interactions are strongly inhibited by the splice insert B in the Ig domain region of LAR-RPTPs, and mediate SALM5-dependent presynaptic differentiation in contacting axons. In addition, SALM5 regulates AMPA receptor-mediated synaptic transmission through mechanisms involving the interaction of postsynaptic SALM5 with presynaptic LAR-RPTPs. These results suggest that postsynaptic SALM5 promotes synapse development by trans-synaptically interacting with presynaptic LAR-RPTPs and is important for the regulation of excitatory synaptic strength. Synaptic adhesion molecules with synaptogenic activity play important roles in several steps of synapse development, including the initial contact between axons and dendrites, and formation and maturation of early synapses123456789101112The SALM  family of adhesion molecules contains five known members: SALM1/Lrfn2, SALM2/Lrfn1, SALM3/Lrfn4, SALM4/Lrfn3, and SALM5/Lrfn5131415SALM5/Lrfn5 has been associated with severe progressive autism in which expression levels of SALM5 are markedly reduced (by ~90%) due to a balanced chromosomal translocation1920212224LAR (for leukocyte common antigen-related) is a family of receptor protein tyrosine phosphatases (LAR-RPTPs) with three known members: LAR/PTPRF, PTPδ/PTPRD, and PTPσ/PTPRS. Early studies on Drosophila LAR implicated the protein in the regulation of axon guidance and synaptic development262830313233343536373840424344454647484951525354Here, we identified LAR-RPTPs as novel and splicing-dependent presynaptic ligands for SALM5, and demonstrate that they mediate SALM5-dependent presynaptic differentiation. In addition, we found that SALM5 maintains AMPA receptor (AMPAR)-mediated excitatory synaptic transmission through mechanisms involving the interaction of SALM5 with LAR-RPTPs.In order to identify a presynaptic ligand for SALM5, we performed cell aggregation assays in which one group of L cells expressing SALM5 was mixed with another group of L cells expressing candidate adhesion molecules . We founOther SALMs  did not interact with LAR in cell aggregation assays . Solubled value of the SALM5-LAR interaction calculated by Scatchard analysis was 8.96 ± 0.92 nM  interacted with SALM5 in cell aggregation assays . In cont30The deletion variants of SALM5 expressed in heterologous cells exhibited the predicted sizes and showed comparable surface expression, although some variants (ΔIg and ΔFNIII) displayed lowered expression levels, likely due to protein degradation . When teTo obtain biochemical evidence for the interaction, we tried coimmunoprecipitation using soluble LAR fusion proteins (LAR-Ecto-Fc and LAR-Ig-FN14 [Ig + first four FNIII domains]) and soluble SALM5-Ecto, and found positive results .d values in the micromolar range  but no binding to LAR-FN12 . SALM5-Ecto (containing the LRR + Ig domains but missing the following FNIII domain) displayed weak bindings to LAR-Ig-FN12 and LAR-Ig with the KLAR-FN12 . These bThe interaction of neurexins with neuroligins, LRRTM2, and Cbln1 + GluRδ2 are regulated by short peptide inserts in neurexins generated by alternative splicing575859606162333536We found that a splice insert of LAR from the first mini exon  in the Ig domains had no additive effect on the interaction of LAR with SALM5 in cell aggregation assays using Ig domain-only LAR . The secNext, we used full-length LAR-RPTP proteins (not Ig domain only). We obtained similar results, as compared with those from Ig domain-only LAR-RPTPs, including that the meB insert strongly inhibits the interactions between SALM5 and LAR-RPTPs . HoweverIf LAR is a presynaptic ligand involved in SALM5-induced presynaptic differentiation, soluble LAR (LAR-Ecto-Fc), which would compete with endogenous LAR for SALM5 binding, should be able to inhibit SALM5-dependent presynaptic induction. Indeed, LAR-Ecto-Fc (meB-negative) added to SALM5-expressing HEK293T cells cocultured with hippocampal neurons was able to reduce SALM5-induced presynaptic protein (synapsin I) clustering in contacting axons, whereas Fc alone (a negative control) had no effect . In contAs an independent way to test the role of LAR in SALM5-dependent presynaptic differentiation, we attempted to generate a mutant SALM5 that lacked LAR binding, which would be unable to induce presynaptic differentiation. In alanine-scanning mutagenesis of the residues that are uniquely present in the ectodomain of SALM5 but not in other SALMs, we found that a double-alanine mutation of Ser329 and Ser360 (S329/360A) in the Ig domains of SALM5 significantly decreased SALM5 binding to LAR-Ecto-Fc . A similImportantly, SALM5-S329/360A, but not wild-type (WT) SALM5, failed to induce synapsin I clustering in contacting axons in coculture assays . These rWe reasoned that SALM5-S329/360A, which lacks LAR binding but retains other domains intact, may exert a dominant-negative effect when overexpressed in neurons. Indeed, SALM5-S329/360A overexpressed in cultured hippocampal neurons reduced the density of synapsin I clusters along the dendrites .Lastly, when SALM5-expressing HEK293T cells were cocultured with hippocampal neurons infected with lentivirus carrying one of the three LAR-RPTP knockdown constructsTo explore the role of SALM5 in the regulation of synaptic function, we reduced the expression of SALM5 using shRNA transfection in organotypic hippocampal slice cultures (at DIV 3–4), followed by the measurement of excitatory synaptic transmission at Schaffer collateral (SC)-CA1 pyramidal synapses (at DIV 6–8).AMPA) relative to neighboring untransfected cells, although there was a strong tendency for a decrease of NMDA receptor (NMDAR)-mediated EPSCs (EPSCNMDA) (p = 0.052)  .AMPA  that lacks LAR binding was used in the rescue experiment, it failed to rescue EPSCAMPA  and miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents (mIPSCs) . These rIn the present study, we identified LAR-RPTPs as novel ligands of SALM5 that mediates SALM5-dependent presynaptic differentiation in a splicing-dependent manner.Our data indicate that SALM5 interacts with all three known LAR-RPTPs—LAR, PTPδ, and PTPσ . mRNAs f14Pre- or postsynaptic localization of SALM5 and LAR at the ultrastructural level has not been determined due to the lack of suitable antibodies1730323334353637The Ig domains of LAR-RPTPs mediate SALM5 binding. This is similar to the reported Ig domain-dependent interactions of LAR-RPTPs with TrkC, IL1RAPL1, IL1RAcP, Slitrks, and SALM33334353630The meB splice insert strongly inhibits the interactions between LAR-RPTPs and SALM5 . This is39The meA splice had mixed influences on LAR-RPTP–SALM5 interactions, not affecting the LAR interaction, suppressing the PTPδ interaction, and both enhancing and suppressing the PTPσ interaction in a context-dependent manner. The positive regulation is reminiscent of meA-dependent interaction of PTPδ with IL1RAPL1 or IL1RAcP35605859Our data implicate SALM5 in the regulation of AMPAR-mediated synaptic transmission. The AMPA-EPSC data suggest that SALM5 regulates AMPAR transmission through mechanisms involving the interaction of SALM5 with LAR-RPTPs. In addition, the mEPSC data, together with the known synaptogenic activities of SALM52Lastly, SALM5/Lrfn5 has been implicated in ASDs and schizophrenia19202122245152535455In conclusion, we have identified LAR-RPTPs as novel and splicing-dependent ligands that mediate SALM5-dependent presynaptic differentiation. In addition, SALM5 regulates AMPAR-mediated synaptic transmission through mechanisms involving the interaction with LAR-RPTPs. These results suggest that SALM5 contributes to synapse development and maintenance.−B+ and LAR-Ig- A+B+ (aa 30–318), human PTPδ-Ig (aa 21–309), human PTPσ-Ig (aa 30–318). For LAR-Ig-Fc, the signal peptide of Ig-kappa and the Ig domains of LAR were subcloned into pFc-N1. Myc-SALM5 deletion variants were subcloned region into GW1: Myc-SALM5-ΔLRR (Δaa 20–285), Myc-SALM5-ΔIg (Δaa 299–364), Myc-SALM5-ΔFNIII (Δaa 408–495). Splice variants of the Ig domains of LAR-RPTPs were subcloned into pDisplay. Full-length mouse PTPσ, PTPδ, and LAR have been previously described: PTPσ-A−B−-CFP, PTPσ-A+B−-CFP, PTPσ-A−B+-CFP, PTPσ-A+B+-CFP−B−, PTPδ-A+B−, PTPδ-A−B+, PTPδ-A+B+, LAR- A−B−, LAR- A+B−, LAR- A−B+, and LAR- A+B+ in pcDNA3 vector−B−-pDis, LAR-Ig-A+B−-pDisFor Myc tagging of SALMs, the epitope was inserted between aa 16 and 17 of mouse SALM3 and aa 19 and 20 of mouse SALM5, respectively, in pGW1 (British Biotechnology). The Myc epitope of SALM5-Ecto-pDis was replaced with stop codon to generate N-terminally HA-tagged soluble SALM5-Ecto. For LAR-IgFN14-Fc, Ig1-3 + FN1-4 of LAR (aa 1-699) were subcloned into pFc-N1 (modified pEGFP-N1 in which EGFP was replaced with human Fc). The following LAR-RPTP deletion variants were subcloned into pDisplay (Invitrogen): human LAR-Ig aa 17–308), human LAR-Ig-A8, human Cell aggregation assays were performed as described−B−-Fc (10 μg/ml) was added to SALM-expressing live HEK293T cells and incubated for 2 hours. Without permeabilization, cells were fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde/4% sucrose and incubated with antibodies. For quantitative LAR-binding assays, SALM5-expressing HEK293T cells were transferred to 96-well plates and grown for 24 hours. After fixation in 4% paraformaldehyde/4% sucrose, cells were incubated with increasing concentrations of LAR-Ecto-Fc for 1 hour, followed by incubation with HRP-conjugated anti-human-Fc antibodies (Sigma) and color reaction with 3,3′,5,5′-Tetramethylbenzidine (Sigma). Integrated intensities of bound proteins in a field of view were normalized by those of the proteins expressed in the cells.Purified soluble LAR-Ecto-A+B+ (aa 30D-318L), and FN12 (aa 312Q–510G) of human LAR were cloned into pAcGP67 (BD Bioscience), modified for C-terminal protein-A tagging. Since human SALM5 was hardly expressed in High Five insect cells (Invitrogen), hybrid LRR techniques were used to generate a chimeric hySALM5 proteinsThe Ig1-3-FNIII12 domain (aa 27A–513A), Ig1-3-A−B− (Ig1-3)-Fc, LAR-FN12 (FNIII1-2)-Fc, or hySALM5-Ecto (LRR + Ig-A−B−)-Fc was immobilized to the equilibrated sensors for 120 s. After dissociation, the primed biosensors were used to analyse the interaction between immobilized proteins and analytes. Three different analyte concentrations were used with the same primed biosensors. For LAR-Ig-FN12, which could not be purified, hySALM5-Ecto-Fc was pre-bounded to the equilibrated sensors. At the end of each association-dissociation steps, a high salt buffer  was used to wash off analytes from the primed biosensors. Affinity constants were determined using the global fitting function in the advanced kinetic program of BLItz.For in vitro binding assays using the BLItz system (ForteBio), purified proteins were prepared in low salt buffer . Prior to the assay, protein A biosensors were hydrated in MilliQ for 10 min, followed by equilibration in a low salt buffer for 60 s. 10 μM of LAR-Ig-A−B−-Fc, or LAR-Ig-A+B+-Fc (10 μg/ml), were added to neuron-HEK293T cocultures for 3 days (DIV 9/10–12/13). Mixed-culture assays under lentiviral knockdown conditions were performed with as describedMixed-culture assays were performed as described−B−, PAX2, and pMD2G—using FuGENE-6 (Roche), as previously describedTo generate the recombinant lentiviruses, human embryonic kidney 293T cells were transfected with three plasmids—L-309 vectors , or L-313 PTPσ-ACultured hippocampal neurons were transfected using mammalian transfection kit (Clontech), or lipofectamine LTX and PlusTM Reagent (Invitrogen), fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde/4% sucrose, and permeabilized with 0.2% Triton x-100 in phosphate buffered saline, followed by incubation with primary antibodies and Cy3-, Cy5-, or FITC-conjugated secondary antibodies (Jackson ImmunoResearch).All z-stacked images were randomly acquired by confocal microscopy . For quantification of cell aggregation and Fc-binding assays, each field of view was counted as n of 1. For coculture assays and electrophysiology experiments, each cell or neuron was counted as n of 1. The results presented in all figures are from one set of experiments, although essentially the same conclusions were obtained from additional independent experiments (mostly once or twice more) with the exception of electrophysiology  for whicm HEPES, 10 mM D-glucose, 26 mM NaHCO3, 2 mM CaCl2, 2 mM MgSO4, 0.0048% 25% Ascorbic Acid, 0.1% 1 mg/ml Insulin, pH 7.3, 320–330 mOsm). Slices were cultured for DIV 6–8 with changes of media without antibiotics every 2 days. Neurons were transfected using a biolistic gene gun (Helios Gene-gun system) at DIV3–4 . Electrophysiological recordings were performed at 3–4 days after transfection.Hippocampal slices  were cultured on semipermeable membrane inserts (Millipore) in a six-well plate containing culture medium . EPSCAMPA was estimated as the peak EPSC amplitude at a holding potential of −70 mV, and EPSCNMDA was estimated at a holding potential of +40 mV measured 80−90 msec after the peak EPSCAMPA. Only cells that had an initial Rs (series resistance) <20 MΩ with <20% changes during recording were included in data analysis. mEPSCs were recorded in the presence of 20 μM picrotoxin, 1 μM bicuculline (Tocris) and 0.5 μM tetrodotoxin (Abcam). mIPSCs were recorded in the presence of 10 μM CNQX (HelloBio), 50 μM AP5 (HelloBio), and 0.5 μM tetrodotoxin. mEPSCs  and mIPSCs  were analyzed by Mini Analysis Software (Synaptosoft), with minimum event detection threshold values of 15 pA and 20 pA for mEPSCs and mIPSCs, respectively.For whole-cell patch recordings, cultures were superfused with a warmed (28°–29°C) recording solution which comprised: (mM) NaCl, 119; KCl, 2.5; NaHCOHow to cite this article: Choi, Y. et al. SALM5 trans-synaptically interacts with LAR-RPTPs in a splicing-dependent manner to regulate synapse development. Sci. Rep.6, 26676; doi: 10.1038/srep26676 (2016).


Aspergillus niger for screening biological variations in starch molecular structure using high throughput carbohydrate microarray technology. Defined linear, branched and phosphorylated maltooligosaccharides, pure starch samples including a variety of different structures with variations in the amylopectin branching pattern, amylose content and phosphate content, enzymatically modified starches and glycogen were included. Using this technique, different important structures, including amylose content and branching degrees could be differentiated in a high throughput fashion. The screening method was validated using transgenic barley grain analysed during development and subjected to germination. Typically, extreme branching or linearity were detected less than normal starch structures. The method offers the potential for rapidly analysing resistant and slowly digested dietary starches.In this study we introduce the starch-recognising carbohydrate binding module family 20 (CBM20) from  Starch is the principal storage polymer in the majority of plants. It accumulates as a complex granular structure made of the glucan homopolymers amylose and amylopectin, organised into large, distinctly shaped insoluble granules. Amylose typically makes up 25–30% of the starch granule, it is an essentially linear molecule that possesses an α-1,4 linkage backbone structure but can be sparsely branched by α-1,6 linkages. Amylose is mostly amorphous in the starch granule. Amylopectin is a highly branched molecule, typically comprises 70–75% of the starch granule, is more than 100-fold larger than amylose, contains clustered α-1,6 linkages which promotes crystalline lamellae to be formed in the granuleHigh throughput (HTP) screening of polysaccharide structures is becoming increasingly important, especially in the field of plant breeding to permit fast evaluation of, for example, mutant collections. Since the discovery that starch binds tri- and polyiodide and forms a strong complex with amylose, this method was used as “amylose indicator”, to quantify amylose content in starch. Amylose in the presence of the iodide ligand, changes conformation to left-handed single helix V-amylose which cavity provides space for iodide and results in a bright blue complex2478More exact structural information in polysaccharides may be obtained by using the very specific recognition conferred by monoclonal antibodies (mAb) and carbohydrate binding modules (CBMs). Potential starch-binding CBMs are already known, but as often with molecular probes, determining their binding specificity can be a challenging process. However, a HTP method for characterising probes was published recentlyIn this study we further developed carbohydrate microarray analysis by creating microarrays populated with various starch samples including oligo- and polysaccharides, and cereal grain samples transgenically modified to generate specific starch molecular structures. These arrays were used to determine in detail the recognition profile of CBM20, a known starch-recognising protein module. CBM20 is the first assigned and best described family present in starch-active glycoside hydrolases including glycoamylases, α-amylases, β-amylases, cyclodextrin glucanotransferases and starch-interacting non-amylolytic enzymes like glucan water dikinases15Aspergillus niger G1  contains currently the best characterised CBM20. Glycoamylase consists of two functional domains: N-terminal catalytic domain  and a C-terminal CBM 20 , which are connected by a heavily O-glycosylated serine/threonine-rich linker. It has defined conserved residues crucial for two sites: binding site 1 contains Trp543 and Trp590; while Tyr527 and Tyr556 are assigned to the binding site 21512161819Glycoamylase from This paper introduces CBM20 as a specific HTP probe for starch and α-glucan recognition in carbohydrate microarray technology. The potentially different specificities for linear, branched and phosphorylated maltooligosaccharides were evaluated and specificity assessed in comparison with other polysaccharides using specific antibodies as probes and validated using complex transgenic plant samples.We tested the oligosaccharide and starch microarrays for CBM screening by probing microarrays with CBM20 and four mAb: BS-400-2, BS-400-3, LM6, LM10 and LM11. BS-400-2 and BS-400-3 bind to the β-glucan epitopes, (1–3)-β-glucan and (1–3)(1–4)-β-glucan, respectivelyThermoanaerobacter pseudoethanolicus13CBM20 did not bind to maltooligosaccharides smaller than maltopentaose . It had CBM20 was used to probe starch samples prepared from different botanical sources and of known amylose content. The binding of CBM20  was not 1326To validate the microarray method using more complex polymeric samples, CBM20 screening was performed using CoMPP arrays populated with extracts from developing and germinating barley grain28per se but to specific molecular structures in the grain. -beta-glucan from the mature grain samples. The samples sequentially extracted with NaOH contained also other types of more recalcitrant polysaccharides, including starch. CBM20 interaction was strongest to the mature starch from the normal barley and HP from grain at the very beginning of imbibition  followedOur data provides valuable insight into the specificity of CBM20 and its use as a specific probe for starch. Based on its differential recognition, CBM20 presents a promising probe for discriminating specific starch structures, preferably chain-lengths found in normal starch types. For starch quantification, the method requires a combination with non-discriminating data for different starch structures and such probes are yet to be developed. In that case, CBM20 can serve as valuable probe for detecting aberrant structures of starches that resists degradation, so called resistant starch including high amylose and highly branched starches.Curcuma zedoaria . Starches modified with branching enzyme were from301H- and 13C-NMR and exceeded 97%. No additional sugar structures could be identified. For the commercial glycans, purity was higher than 95% and mainly contaminated with hydrolysis products as assessed by HPAEC-PAD analysis. Purity of native starches was higher than 95% slightly contaminated with trace cell wall residue and protein.Maltooligosaccharides, pure potato amylose and amylopectin were purchased for Sigma. Branched and phosphorylated maltooligosaccharides were synthesised3233343537The apparent amylose content in purified starch was determined by iodide colorimetry as described37Defined and extracted glycan microarrays were printed as described10Aspergillus niger (327 bp)Escherichia coli strain DH5α (F– Φ80lacZΔM15 Δ(lacZYA-argF) U169 recA1 endA1 hsdR17  phoA supE44 λ– thi-1 gyrA96 relA1)E. coli BL21(DE3)  gal dcm (DE3)) in LB medium; containing 50 μg/ml kanamycin, at 37 °C, at 250 rpm, to OD600 = 0.6. Expression was induced by adding isopropyl β-D-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) to 1 μl/ml, followed by incubation at 20 °C for 20 h. The CBM20 probe was purified using a combined HisTrap and β-cyclodextrin chromatography procedure -β-glucan and (1–3)(1–4)-β-glucan, respectivelyHow to cite this article: Tanackovic, V. et al. High throughput screening of starch structures using carbohydrate microarrays. Sci. Rep.6, 30551; doi: 10.1038/srep30551 (2016).


Callithrix are specialized in the consumption of tree exudates to obtain essential nutritional resource by boring holes into bark with teeth. However, marmoset preferences for particular tree species, location, type, and other suitable factors that aid in exudate acquisition need further research. In the current study, the intensity of exudate use from Anadenanthera peregrina var. peregrina trees by hybrid marmosets Callithrix spp. groups was studied in five forest fragments in Viçosa, in the state of Minas, Brazil. Thirty-nine A. peregrina var. peregrina trees were examined and 8,765 active and non-active holes were analyzed. The trunk of A. peregrina var. peregrina had a lower number of holes than the canopy: 11% were found on the trunk and 89% were found on the canopy. The upper canopy was the preferred area by Callithrix spp. for obtaining exudates. The intensity of tree exploitation by marmosets showed a moderate-to-weak correlation with diameter at breast height (DBH) and total tree height. The overall results indicate that Anadenanthera peregrina var. peregrina provides food resources for hybrid marmosets  and these animals prefer to explore this resource on the apical parts of the plant, where the thickness, location, and age of the branches are the main features involved in the acquisition of exudates.Marmosets of the genus  Callithrix spp. Erxleben, 1777 (Cebidae); Mico Lesson, 1840 (Cebidae); Cebuella pygmaea Spix, 1823 (Cebidae); Phaner Gray, 1870 ; Euoticus Gray, 1863  and slow lorises Nycticebus spp. É. Geoffroy, 1812 (Lorisidae) Vegetable exudates, such as saps and gums, are constitutive or induced compounds, which are essential components of the diet of many primates Callithrix, Cebuella, and Mico are specialized in the acquisition of this nutritional resource. During specific seasons, exudates can comprise up to 70% of the diet of Callithrix spp. Callithrix species have evolved functional characteristics that enable them to extract exudates from plants Within the Primates order, members of the New World subfamily Callitrichinae perhaps consume the largest amount of exudates The use of exudates as a food has implications for the ecology and social organization of primates Callithrix species often extract exudates from trees of the genus Anadenanthera (Fabaceae) especially Anadenanthera peregrina var. peregrina (L.) Speg. Anadenanthera are widely distributed in the phytogeographical areas of the Caatinga, Cerrado (Brazilian savannah), and Atlantic Forests in the Northeast, Midwest, and Southeast regions of Brazil Exudates are significant sources of complex carbohydrates, proteins and certain minerals, especially calcium Anadenanthera spp. by marmosets is surprising because this plant can produce tannin, dyes, timber, medicinal, and psychoactive products Anadenantgera spp. is sometimes covered with prickles, and high tannin levels Callithrix species in obtaining exudate a from this plant. Such species include C. penicillata É Geoffroy, 1812 Callithrix jacchus L., 1758 Callithrix flaviceps Thomas, 1903 (Primates: Cebidae) Callithrix species are well known for consuming exudates from plants, but their exploitation of gum produced by trees, in particular, is poorly studied. However, this information is important for understanding the relationships between the behavioral and ecological traits of marmosets and their target tree species.The exploitation of A. peregrina var. peregrina by Callithrix spp. in forest fragments of the Atlantic Forest in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. We also determine the preferred foraging location on the tree and the number of holes made to obtain exudates, and link this information to dendrometric data  of Anadenanthera peregrina var. peregrina.The study of plant–animal interactions has a key role in ecological theories and in the understanding issues related to the conservation of biodiversity. This is the first study to describe the ecological relationships between marmosets and their target trees and this work contributes to a better understanding of the exudativory pressure exerted by these primates. Here we specifically evaluate the intensity of exploitation of exudates from C. penicillata × C. jacchus and C. penicillata × Callithrix geoffroyi. The study of tree orifices gouged by hybrid marmosets is complementary to previous studies of the behavioral ecology of these animals The study was conducted in areas used by five marmosets groups, each with six to twelve hybrid individuals with intermediate characteristics of Our study areas referred to as Fragments 1 ; 2 ; 3 ; 4 , and 5   were locThe region studied has montane seasonal semideciduous forest Anadenanthera peregrina var. peregrina was selected as the focal study tree because it is the only tree species exploited by the groups of Callithrix spp. present within the study area.A. peregrina var. peregrina trees exploited by marmosets were sampled  of four voucher specimens were collected in the field, herborized with floristic methodology, and sent to relevant experts for identification. This material was incorporated into the collection of the Herbarium of the Universidade Federal de Viçosa with the numbers VIC, 38241; 38240; 38239; and 38615.A. peregrine var. peregrina were divided into two ecological zones: the trunk and the canopy Individuals of A. peregrina var. peregrina plant excudates was assessed by: (1) the number of active and non-active holes, and (2) height, width, and depth of the active holes.Gouged tree holes were classified as inactive, characterized by presence of scar tissue and as active, without presence of scar tissue. The size of holes was measured with a digital caliper and their height , width , and depth (deepest portion in the hole) recorded. These parameters were obtained for active holes only, because these were assumed to be currently exploited by the marmosets. All the holes were counted, including those with scar tissue and those that were not being used by the animals. The intensity of marmoset exploitation of post hoc Tukey test was used to assess whether the average diameter of the branches of each canopy segment and the dimensions of the active holes differed between these segments. Differences between the volumes of active holes in the trunk versus those in the canopy were evaluated with Student’s t-test. All analyses were carried out using the computer program R 3.0.1. The relation between the total number of gouged holes and the trunk diameter at 1.3 m from the soil (DBH) and tree height was analyzed by using the Pearson correlation test. The chi-square test was applied to determine whether the number of active and non-active holes differed between the three canopy segments. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and A. peregrinavar. peregrina and Callithrix spp. in Brazil. The field studies did not involve endangered or protected species.No specific permits were required for to study A. peregrina var. peregrina trees recorded ranges of DBH and total height of 6.8–64.9 cm and 6.9–35.5 m, respectively. We counted a total of 8,765 gouged holes, with 970 (11%) of holes located in the trunk and 7,795 (89%) holes located in the canopy. The total number of holes per tree ranged from 8 to 2288.Measurements from 39 A. peregrina var. peregrina. The upper canopy showed the higher number  of both active and inactive holes (48%) followed by middle (30%) and lower canopy (22%).Hybrid marmosets preferrentially obtained exudates from branches in the canopy of A separate analysis of active gouge holes showed the same type of variation in the three regions of the tree canopy , showed Of the 915 active holes recorded, 810 (89%) were in the canopy and 105 (11%) were in the trunk . The low2 = 0.530) and total height . These correlations suggest a positive relationship between concentration of gouged holes and their location in the canopy and that marmoset preferably obtain exudates from canopy branches in the canopy of A. peregrina var. peregrina.The total number of gouged holes showed weak to moderate correlation with the DBH , Cebuella pygmaea in Northeastern Ecuador C. pygmaea in Iquitos, Peru Callithrix penicillata used 14 gum tree species Callithrix jacchus in the Caatinga C. jacchus explores mainly exudates from Anadenathera peregrinaA. peregrina in different habitats are necessary to explain patterns of marmoset preference for gum trees.The use of exclusive trees by A. peregrina var. peregrina, despite the fact that the study areas were inhabited by other plant gum trees, e.g., Tapirina guianensis Aubl. used for C. jacchusCallithrix kuhlii Coimbra Filho, 1985 C. penicillataMico melanurus  Piptadenia gonoacantha (Mart.) J.F. Macbr. used for C. flavicepsAstronium fraxinifolium Schott. used for C. jacchusA. peregrina var. peregrina.The marmosets evaluated in this study fed only exudates of A. peregrina var. peregrina plants is similar to the pattern for other plant gums as Vochysia pyramidalis Mart., Callisthene major Mart. & Zucc. and Tapirina guianensis Aubl. used by C. penicillataAnacardium occidentale L. Anadenhantera peregrina (L.) Speg., Astronium fraxinifolium Schott, Enterolobium contortisiliquum (Vell.) Morong, and Coccoloba sp. by C. jacchusThe absence of scarification on some The preference for certain trees of the same species can be explained by differences between the trees, such as increased production and nutritional quality of exudates, smaller amount of secondary metabolites, such as tannins, and greater protection from predators A. peregrina found in this study, might be related to the presence of thinner branches in this region, which are preferred by marmosets to exploit this resource. This preference also might be the result of physical and mechanical factors, such as a thicker bark, and properties that facilitate scarification by these animals Callithrix spp. (C. jacchus and C. penicillata) use both the trunk and canopy of gum trees C. jacchus and C. penicillata might be affected by environmental conditions Nycticebus spp. pygmaeus Bonhote, 1907 (Primates: Lorisidae) made more use of the trunk than of the canopy for exudate feeding in a mixed deciduous forest in the Seima Protection Forest, Eastern Cambodia The preference of the animals for the canopy, as shown by the number and dimensions of the holes between the ecological zones of the tree (trunk and canopy) in C. penicillata and C. jacchus have a bimodal pattern of exudate exploitation, with peaks in the morning and late afternoon The increased preference of marmosets for the apical segments of the canopy, with a higher percentage of exudates and larger scarified holes, agrees with observations made between canopy segments. The increased branch use in the external parts of the canopy, where younger branches are found, reflects a preference for plant parts that are less thick, facilitating scarification. The preference of marmosets for tree segments with flatter branches horizontally and thinner bark reduces the energy used for foraging and effort in obtaining exudates. Marmoset species such as The forest fragments used by marmosets are inside an anthropogenic matrix, surrounded by urbanized areas and/or through-ways for humans, which could have a negative impact on the animals C. penicillata and C. jacchus on Qualea parviflora Mart Astronium fraxinifolium; Enterolobium contortisiliquum, and Anadenanthera peregrinaCallithrix, and this choice is related to the ability of these animals to climb trees and the larger area available for scarification. However, the low correlation between the number of holes and DBH and tree height indicates that this preference is not determined by tree size, but by other factors, such as bark thickness and the chemical composition of the exudates The positive relation between the number of scarified holes and the dendrometric data of trees  agrees with results observed previously for Callithrix sp. for A. peregrina var. peregrina exudates in the Atlantic Forest differs from the pattern for these animals in the Caatinga and Cerrado forests, where primates, in general, exploit many species of gum trees The preference of A. peregrina var. peregrina as a source of exudates for Callithrix spp. These results contribute to understanding of the selective pressures exerted by marmosets on certain tree species and individuals to obtain this valuable resource.The high number of scarifications highlights the importance of


The aim of the present study was to compare executive attention of top soccer referees and assistant referees at different levels of professional attainment. The sample consisted of 53 subjects  – 30 referees and 23 assistant referees. Executive attention of assistant referees was significantly better than the referees’ (p<0.01). Furthermore, extraclass and international referees demonstrated better executive attention than the first-league referees (p<0.01). The research results have proved that referees’ executive attention differs depending on their function and professional level, as well as indicated that the quality of abilities may influence the number and correctness of decisions made during a game. This elementary cognitive process may be strongly shaped by individual’s experience and age. This finding may be instrumental in screening referees and developing criteria for recruiting future referees. The large number of stimuli likely to affect referee’s decisions requires increased concentration as well as the reception and processing of information coming from many sources, while maintaining the necessary speed and precision of reactions. To measure up to the standards, referees must have special skills . Having A level of concentration expressed by a limited range of objects selected to receive attention.A range of attention understood as the number of objects or object’s characteristics that can be included in the range of attention and be perceived at the same time.Divisibility of attention, which is the ability to divide attention between two or more activities.Alternation of attention, which allows the focus of attention to be quickly switched between objects or people.Sustainability of attention, i.e. the ability to maintain attention on an object or activity for a longer time.An integral element of perception is attention that in some situations may be treated as a perceptual process in its own right. Attention is a tool that allows the referee to select the received information. It is characterised by:Expert soccer referees must have good visual skills to make good decisions quickly and accurately in different situations . Such skThe study involved 30 referees and 23 assistant referees combining a sample of 53 subjects. Thirteen of them were international FIFA referees (6 referees and 7 assistant referees), 29 were Extraclass referees (13 referees and 16 assistant referees) and 11 represented the first-league level (only referees). The referees were aged 32.7 years ± 3.7 years, their mean body height was 182.6 ± 4.6 cm and mean body mass 80 ± 15.6 kg. The respective characteristics of assistant referees were as follows: age 34.9 ± 3.5 years, body height 181.8 ± 5.7 cm, body mass 81.1 ± 7.7 kg. By the level of professional achievement, the descriptive statistics were the following: international referees – mean age 36.6 ± 4.2 years, mean body height 180 ± 4.2 cm, mean body mass 79 ± 13.3 kg; Extraclass referees – mean age 33.6 ± 2.5 years, mean body height 181 ± 5.5cm, mean body mass 81 ± 8 kg; first-league referees – mean age 31 ± 3.3 years, mean body height 183 ± 6.3 cm, mean body mass 81 ± 13 kg. All participants were informed about the research procedures and purpose of the study and were tested under identical circumstances. This project was approved by the Bioethics Committee for Scientific Research at the Academy of Physical Education in Katowice.The Toulouse-Pieron test is a classical attention test. The instructions are very simple, so that the participant’s concentration of energy and resistance to disturbances can be tested without interference from factors such as the level of intelligence, reading speed, etc. The participant is asked to mark on the test form, as fast and accurately as possible, symbols corresponding to the model. The testing procedure employed in this study used squares with a line attached to one of their corners. The participants were instructed to examine the symbols line by line from left to right and to mark those matching two model symbols within 5 minutes. The test produced three indicators – the speed of performance (SP) measured by the total number of squares reviewed and marked within 5 minutes, both correct and incorrect; the number of errors (NE) represented by the number of incorrectly marked symbols or correct symbols missed; the correct answers (CA), i.e. the number of correctly marked symbols. With this information, the main parameter called the Precision Index (PI) was calculated as a percentage rate using the following formula PI = (CA – NE) × 100 / CA. The test, informally known as „Spiky Squares‟, has been used in a variety of studies and emerges as both valid and reliable for the specific samples used in these studies . The parThe referees and assistant referee data were compared using an unpaired t-test with Bonferoni corrections. The one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to test referees and assistant referees for statistically significant differences. Then the first-league referees, the Extraclass referees and the international referees were tested to find out if they were significantly different. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05 for all statistical tests. A Tuckey’s post-hoc procedure was used to make further evaluations of any significant results obtained from ANOVA. Correlation coefficients were determined and tested for significance using the Pearson’s regression test. All statistical analyses were performed with the STATISTICA package, version 10.0 . The data are presented as means ± standard deviation, unless otherwise stated.A one-way ANOVA was performed to reveal whether the differences between the values of the examined variables obtained for all participants  were statistically significant. The first-league, Extraclass and international referees were found to differ with regard to the Precision Index . In analysing the results of the post-hoc tests statistically significant differences were observed between the first-league referees and the Extraclass referees  and between the first-league referees and the international referees , threfore the Extraclass referees and the international referees were not significantly different .The ‘Number of errors’ was another variable to reveal differences . The results of the applied post-hoc tests indicated significant differences between the first-league referees and the Extraclass referees  and between the first-league referees and the international referees . The Extraclass referees and the international referees were not found to differ from each other . The Extraclass referees ranked first both regarding the Precision Index and the number of errors, while the international referees and the first-league referees took second and third position, respectively.Significant differences were also found for such variables as age , experience , and years of officiating in the Extraclass league . Taking into account age, only the first-league referees and the international referees who were the oldest were found to differ from each other . These two groups were significantly different again with respect to another variable, i.e. ‘experience’ , likewise the Extraclass referees and international referees . The results of analysis are presented in The next step in the research involved the same variables, but this time only referees without assistant referees were considered. The variance analysis revealed significant differences in the Precision Index  and its results were confirmed by post-hoc tests. Significant differences related to the Precision Index  were only found between the first-league referees (86.97±4.15) and the Extraclass referees (92.02±3.91). The results of the Extraclass referees and the international referees  and the first-league and the international referees  were not significantly different. This means that the weakest results were obtained by the first-league referees, who were outperformed by international referees and Extraclass referees who won the test. Another variable to reveal differences between its mean values after the one-way ANOVA was applied was age .However, differences were only found between the first-league referees (31.09±3.3) and the international referees . As expected, the variance analysis applied to referees’ experience displayed differences too , but only between the first-league referees (11.45±2.94) and the international referees .In the next step, correlations between the anthropometric parameters, experience and the perception test results were estimated. Weak, positive, and significant correlations were only found between age and the Precision Index , and between age and the ‘number of errors’ .The results provided by this study clearly show that referees’ executive attention vary depending on their function and the level of professional attainment, and that the quality of perception may influence the number and precision of decisions. They also demonstrate that referees’ experience and age may strongly determine their executive attention. This knowledge may be instrumental in screening referees and developing criteria for recruiting future referees. The aim of the study was to test and compare the executive attention of the top soccer referees and assistant referees and to find out whether relationships between the selected indicators can explain their values. The study’s results confirmed earlier conjectures that assistant referees have much better executive attention (PI = 94.13±3.85) than referees . This difference may be explained in terms of function-specific requirements. The study subjects were only different in the range of the tasks they were expected to fulfil (referee / assistant). Assistant referees frequently have to monitor many elements of the game to be able to assess the situation, such as foul play, the offside line, or kick-offs. This process requires full concentration and divisible attention . MoreoveThe variety of textbooks dealing with cognitive psychology proves that cognitive processes can be listed, classified and described from many angles, but this study concentrated on perception as a fundamental cognitive process. Given the complexity and variability of referees’ tasks, it is quite obvious that their actions demand full concentration . RefereeRegarding the Precision Index, the first-league referees turned out to be definitely inferior to the Extraclass referees . They were also statistically less efficient than the international referees . The Extraclass referees and the international referees were not statistically different from each other. The same pattern was found for the number of errors made in the test. The first-league referees were, again, less efficient than the Extraclass referees  and the international referees , but the Extraclass referees and the international referees were not different. Interestingly, the Extraclass-league referees ranked the highest for both the variables, whereas international referees were only second. The amount of information available at this stage of research was not sufficient to provide a reliable explanation to this ranking.When referees were analysed alone, the number of statistically significant differences was definitely lower. It is interesting, though, that the Extraclass referees had the best results for the Precision Index again, but the first-league referees and the international referees were not different any more. That age-related  and experience-related  differences were found between the first-league referees and the international referees and that the first-league referees, the Extraclass referees and the international referees were also different for the Precision Index clearly shows that training and experience have a great impact on the development and improvement of some perceptual skills. In other words, long-term training may considerably correct perceptual deficiencies which affect referees in the first period of their careers, thus improving their performance. This means that age may positively contribute to the quality and adequacy of referees’ decisions. Similar conclusions have been drawn by researchers focusing on the impact of age on the physical preparation of English Premier League referees . It was The results of this study support role specificity in association football refereeing. Referees and assistant referees have a common goal: application of the Laws of the Game in a uniform and consistent way. However, even closely related roles such as those of referees and assistant referees require specific skills and abilities. The research results have proved that referees’ executive attention differs depending on their function and professional level, as well as indicated that the quality of the abilities may influence the number and correctness of decisions made during a game. Sport scientists and football governing bodies should acknowledge this when they produce development programmes for referees and assistant referees at different levels of professional attainment. This finding may be also instrumental in screening referees and developing criteria for recruiting future referees.


IUCrJ is a fully open-access journal that aims to publish high-quality structural science papers. It has been launched for the International Year of Crystallography (IYCr2014). Acta Crystallographica Sections A-F, Journal of Applied Crystallography and Journal of Synchrotron Radiation) for the coming decades of crystallography-based science and for capturing developments in enabling technologies and methods.The year 2014 has been declared by the United Nations as the International Year of Crystallography (IYCr2014) to celebrate 100 years of success following the first Nobel prize related to crystallography, awarded in 1914 to Max von Laue. The International Union of Crystallography (IUCr), working with UNESCO, is proud to be the custodian of the IYCr2014 and has set up plans for major initiatives during the year. The Union has been working hard to prepare its journals  and the American Chemical Society (ACS).The year coincides with the launch of a fully open-access journal with the objective of attracting high quality science papers of broad scientific significance from across all the scientific communities that use results obtained from diffraction methods. The journal is simply called Acta Crystallographica, and worked to establish the IUCr as a member of the International Council for Science (ICSU). He was elected by the General Assembly of the first IUCr congress in 1948 as the first President with Max von Laue as the Honorary President. Paul Peter Ewald, who had also played a major role in the establishment of the IUCr, became the founding editor of Acta Crystallographica and remained its Editor until 1959. In the tradition established by Bragg, Laue and Ewald, we are pleased that many of the leaders of our hugely expanded and successful field have volunteered to serve on the editorial and advisory boards of IUCrJ, bringing together all of the expertise that only the Union can call upon. The journal has five main editors, three of whom are either current (Gautam Desiraju) or former (Ted Baker and Sine Larsen) Presidents of the Union.Lawrence Bragg, who established the basis of X-ray crystallography, shared the Nobel Prize with his father William Bragg in 1915 at the age of 25. This second Nobel Prize related to crystallography was quickly followed a third, awarded to Charles Glover Barkla in 1917, who had established that the X-rays have the properties of light so that interference and diffraction processes should occur, as for light from a grating. Lawrence Bragg helped create the first international journal dedicated to crystallography, IUCrJ. Major scientific advances require multidisciplinary research and very often these breakthrough papers report results covering a wide range of methods and technologies. Our aim is to capture a fair share of high profile papers on all aspects of the sciences, technologies and methods supported by the IUCr through its commissions, including emerging fields such as three-dimensional structures from ‘single molecules’ using free-electron lasers (FELs). Many of the spectacular structural science results that are published in high profile journals appear first in presentations at IUCr congresses, and at AsCA, ECM and ACA meetings. The goal for 2014 will be to publish 100 articles  in IUCrJ covering as many aspects of structural methods development and applications as possible. IUCrJ should become the natural home for reporting breakthroughs and ‘full’ science reports rather than simply a structure or how it was determined.Biologists, chemists, physicists and material scientists are encouraged to report the best of their structural studies in IUCrJ will cover advances in technologies and methods. Sections on Synchrotron and Neutron Sources, led by Sine Larsen, and on Physics and FEL Science, led by John Spence, are aimed at capturing these advancing technologies as well as the frontier science that utilizes these advanced sources.In addition to the sciences, In keeping with our aims of securing a high impact for the journal, submissions undergo preliminary screening by a panel consisting of the five Main Editors  and the Editor-in-chief (Samar Hasnain). Three votes in favour will make a manuscript eligible for refereeing, and it will be immediately assigned to a Co-editor. This rigor at the submission stage is expected to provide a rapid and efficient review process benefiting both authors and reviewers.IUCrJ features papers from many of the areas we intend to cover including biology, chemistry, crystal engineering, materials, physics and FELs. We are grateful to these authors for submitting outstanding work that could have been published in many of the well established high-ranking journals. We look forward to receiving many of your papers that have wider scientific appeal. IUCrJ will publish original research articles in two forms with Papers extending to 7000 words and Letters limited to 4000 words. Both categories are designed to provide full accounts in a concise manner. The journal also welcomes Topical Reviews on any of the scientific areas that are covered by the Union.The first issue of