168 research outputs found

    Investigating tricky nodes in the Tree of Life

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    2014 GREAT Day Program

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    SUNY Geneseo’s Eighth Annual GREAT Day.https://knightscholar.geneseo.edu/program-2007/1008/thumbnail.jp

    Towards COP27: The Water-Food-Energy Nexus in a Changing Climate in the Middle East and North Africa

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    Due to its low adaptability to climate change, the MENA region has become a "hot spot". Water scarcity, extreme heat, drought, and crop failure will worsen as the region becomes more urbanized and industrialized. Both water and food scarcity are made worse by civil wars, terrorism, and political and social unrest. It is unclear how climate change will affect the MENA water–food–energy nexus. All of these concerns need to be empirically evaluated and quantified for a full climate change assessment in the region. Policymakers in the MENA region need to be aware of this interconnection between population growth, rapid urbanization, food safety, climate change, and the global goal of lowering greenhouse gas emissions (as planned in COP27). Researchers from a wide range of disciplines have come together in this SI to investigate the connections between water, food, energy, and climate in the region. By assessing the impacts of climate change on hydrological processes, natural disasters, water supply, energy production and demand, and environmental impacts in the region, this SI will aid in implementation of sustainable solutions to these challenges across multiple spatial scales

    Unravelling the reaction mechanism of glutamate amidation in Staphylococcus aureus peptidoglycan

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    MurT-GatD is the bi-enzymatic complex responsible for catalysing the amidation of peptidoglycan in Gram-positive bacteria, ensuring the correct assembly of their cell wall. MurT-GatD is essential in antibiotic resistant human pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and therefore, constitutes a promising target for the development of new antimicrobial agents. Peptidoglycan amidation is achieved through the glutamine amidotransferase activity of the MurT-GatD complex, requiring the presence of glutamine, ATP and magnesium. The main goal of this thesis is to unravel the reaction mechanism of peptidoglycan amidation through an integrative approach that combines structural methods with functional assays, in order to characterize the structure-function relationship of the S. aureus MurT-GatD complex. The crystal structure of isolated S. aureus GatD was solved at 1.9 Å of resolution (PDB 5N9M) and provided the first structural insights into the MurT-GatD complex. GatD adopts the overall fold of glutaminase proteins and shows the nucleophilic cysteine and the polarizing histidine commonly associated with glutamine hydrolysis. 1H-NMR experiments showed that GatD C94A or H189A abolished the glutaminase activity of the complex. Similarly, GatD R128 also proved to be an essential residue for catalysis, likely by capturing glutamine to the active site. The crystal structure of S. aureus MurT-GatD was solved at 2.9 Å of resolution (PDB 7Q8E), showing a heterodimer in an extended conformation. GatD adopts the same glutaminase-like fold as in its isolated form, while MurT displays two distinct domains: the central domain containing, a cysteine-rich insertion and the ATP binding site, and the C-terminal domain that interacts with GatD. The overall structure of S. aureus MurT-GatD is very different from S. pneumoniae MurT-GatD, which adopts a compact conformation. The two complexes also adopt different conformations in solution, as observed through Small-Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) studies, and showed different in vitro enzymatic activities, suggesting that the extended conformation of S. aureus MurT-GatD is catalytically less competent. The structural data of MurT-GatD from S. aureus and S. pneumoniae were combined to identify the molecular determinants involved in the glutaminase and amidotransferase active sites of the complex, as well as, in protein-protein interactions. The work carried out in this thesis contributed to the clarification of the reaction mechanism of peptidoglycan amidation, which can be explored for the development of new drugs with antimicrobial activity.MurT-GatD é o complexo bi-enzimático que catalisa a amidação do peptidoglicano em bactérias Gram-positivas, garantindo a correta organização da sua parece celular. MurT-GatD é essencial em bactérias resistentes a antibióticos que são patogénicas a humanos, como Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae e Mycobacterium tuberculosis, e, consequentemente constitui um alvo promissor a ter em conta no desenvolvimento de novos agentes antimicrobianos. A amidação do peptidoglicano é realizada pela actividade de glutamina amidotransferase do complexo MurT-GatD, requerendo a presença de glutamina, ATP e magnésio. O principal objectivo desta tese é revelar o mecanismo reaccional da amidação do peptidoglicano através de uma abordagem integrativa que combina métodos estruturais com ensaios funcionais, de modo a caracterizar a relação estrutura-função do complexo MurT-GatD de S. aureus. A estrutura cristalina da proteína GatD de S. aureus foi resolvida a 1.9 Å de resolução (PDB 5N9M) e forneceu as primeiras evidências estruturais sobre o complexo MurT-GatD. GatD adopta uma organização 3D semelhante a glutaminases, apresentando uma cisteína nucleofílica e uma histidina polarizadora comummente associadas à hidrólise de glutamina. Experiências de 1H-NMR mostraram que os mutantes C94A ou H189A da GatD aboliram a actividade de glutaminase do complexo. De forma similar, R128 da GatD também provou ser um resíduo essencial na catálise, provavelmente por capturar glutamina para o centro activo. A estrutura cristalina do complexo MurT-GatD de S. aureus foi resolvida a 2.9 Å de resolução (PDB 7Q8E), mostrando um heterodímero numa conformação estendida. A GatD adopta a mesma organização estrutural característica de glutaminases, enquanto a MurT apresenta dois domínios distintos: o domínio central que contém uma inserção rica em cisteínas e o local de ligação ao ATP, e o domínio C-terminal que interage com a GatD. A estrutura global do complexo MurT-GatD de S. aureus é muito diferente do complexo MurT-GatD de S. pneumoniae, tendo em conta que este adopta uma conformação compacta. Os dois complexos também adoptam diferentes conformações em solução, como observado através de estudos de Dispersão de raios X a Baixo Ângulo (SAXS), tendo demonstrado diferentes actividades enzimática in vitro, sugerindo que a conformação estendida de MurT-GatD de S. aureus é cataliticamente menos competente. Os dados estruturais sobre o complexo MurT-GatD de S. aureus e S. pneumoniae foram combinados para identificar os determinantes moleculares envolvidos nos centros activos de glutaminase e de amidotransferase do complexo, assim como, nas interacções proteína-proteína. O trabalho desta tese teve uma importante contribuição para a elucidação do mecanismo reaccional da amidação do peptidoglicano, o que pode vir a ser explorado no desenvolvimento de novos fármacos com actividade antimicrobiana

    Gas, Water and Solid Waste Treatment Technology

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    This book introduces a variety of treatment technologies, such as physical, chemical, and biological methods for the treatment of gas emissions, wastewater, and solid waste. It provides a useful source of information for engineers and specialists, as well as for undergraduate and postgraduate students, in the areas of environmental science and engineering

    Data Science-Based Full-Lifespan Management of Lithium-Ion Battery

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    This open access book comprehensively consolidates studies in the rapidly emerging field of battery management. The primary focus is to overview the new and emerging data science technologies for full-lifespan management of Li-ion batteries, which are categorized into three groups, namely (i) battery manufacturing management, (ii) battery operation management, and (iii) battery reutilization management. The key challenges, future trends as well as promising data-science technologies to further improve this research field are discussed. As battery full-lifespan (manufacturing, operation, and reutilization) management is a hot research topic in both energy and AI fields and none specific book has focused on systematically describing this particular from a data science perspective before, this book can attract the attention of academics, scientists, engineers, and practitioners. It is useful as a reference book for students and graduates working in related fields. Specifically, the audience could not only get the basics of battery manufacturing, operation, and reutilization but also the information of related data-science technologies. The step-by-step guidance, comprehensive introduction, and case studies to the topic make it accessible to audiences of different levels, from graduates to experienced engineers

    INTER-ENG 2020

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    These proceedings contain research papers that were accepted for presentation at the 14th International Conference Inter-Eng 2020 ,Interdisciplinarity in Engineering, which was held on 8–9 October 2020, in Târgu Mureș, Romania. It is a leading international professional and scientific forum for engineers and scientists to present research works, contributions, and recent developments, as well as current practices in engineering, which is falling into a tradition of important scientific events occurring at Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology in the George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy Science, and Technology of Târgu Mures, Romania. The Inter-Eng conference started from the observation that in the 21st century, the era of high technology, without new approaches in research, we cannot speak of a harmonious society. The theme of the conference, proposing a new approach related to Industry 4.0, was the development of a new generation of smart factories based on the manufacturing and assembly process digitalization, related to advanced manufacturing technology, lean manufacturing, sustainable manufacturing, additive manufacturing, and manufacturing tools and equipment. The conference slogan was “Europe’s future is digital: a broad vision of the Industry 4.0 concept beyond direct manufacturing in the company”

    Scientific Advances in STEM: From Professor to Students

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    This book collects the publications of the special Topic Scientific advances in STEM: from Professor to students. The aim is to contribute to the advancement of the Science and Engineering fields and their impact on the industrial sector, which requires a multidisciplinary approach. University generates and transmits knowledge to serve society. Social demands continuously evolve, mainly because of cultural, scientific, and technological development. Researchers must contextualize the subjects they investigate to their application to the local industry and community organizations, frequently using a multidisciplinary point of view, to enhance the progress in a wide variety of fields (aeronautics, automotive, biomedical, electrical and renewable energy, communications, environmental, electronic components, etc.). Most investigations in the fields of science and engineering require the work of multidisciplinary teams, representing a stockpile of research projects in different stages (final year projects, master’s or doctoral studies). In this context, this Topic offers a framework for integrating interdisciplinary research, drawing together experimental and theoretical contributions in a wide variety of fields

    Stable Isotopes in Tree Rings

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    This Open Access volume highlights how tree ring stable isotopes have been used to address a range of environmental issues from paleoclimatology to forest management, and anthropogenic impacts on forest growth. It will further evaluate weaknesses and strengths of isotope applications in tree rings. In contrast to older tree ring studies, which predominantly applied a pure statistical approach this book will focus on physiological mechanisms that influence isotopic signals and reflect environmental impacts. Focusing on connections between physiological responses and drivers of isotope variation will also clarify why environmental impacts are not linearly reflected in isotope ratios and tree ring widths. This volume will be of interest to any researcher and educator who uses tree rings (and other organic matter proxies) to reconstruct paleoclimate as well as to understand contemporary functional processes and anthropogenic influences on native ecosystems. The use of stable isotopes in biogeochemical studies has expanded greatly in recent years, making this volume a valuable resource to a growing and vibrant community of researchers
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