An amphitropic cAMP-binding protein in yeast mitochondria

ABSTRACT: We describe the first example of a mitochondrial protein with a covalently attached phos-phatidylinositol moiety acting as a membrane anchor. The protein can be metabolically labeled with both stearic acid and inositol. The stearic acid label is removed by phospholipase D whereupon the protein with the retained inositol label is released from the membrane. This protein is a cAMP receptor of the yeast Saccharomyces cereuisiae and tightly associated with the inner mitochondrial membrane. However, it is converted into a soluble form during incubation of isolated mitochondria with Ca2+ and phospholipid (or lipid derivatives). This transition requires the action of a proteinaceous, N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive component of the intermembrane space and is accompanied by a decrease in the lipophilicity of the cAMP receptor. We propose that the component of the intermembrane space triggers the amphitropic behavior of the mitochondrial lipid-modified CAMP-binding protein through a phospholipase activity. Only in recent years specific fatty acids have been recog-nized to play important roles in the association of proteins with membranes. Both noncovalent and covalent interactions be-tween fatty acids and proteins have been reported. Among the latter are GTP-binding proteins (Molenaar et al., 1988)

Development of a Carbonated Guyabano Juice

Soda is said to have “empty calories.” Thus, a healthier carbonated beverage was produced using guyabano, which is rich in vitamins, minerals, and flavonoids. Guyabano syrup was prepared with sugar, water, guyabano juice, and calamansi juice. To optimize the final product, guyabano syrup was mixed with carbonated water in three ratios, namely, 2:17, 3:17, and 4:17. From a preference ranking test, formulations with 3:17 and 4:17 ratio were not significantly different, but the latter was chosen for the succeeding tests based on its low rank sum. A consumer acceptability test showed that panelists “moderately liked” the appearance, taste, and sweetness of the product. On the other hand, aroma, carbonation, and the overall acceptability were “liked very much.” Physicochemical properties of guyabano juice, guyabano syrup, and carbonated guyabano juice were determined. The pure guyabano juice had 4.21 pH, 0.94% malic acid, and 15 °Bx while the guyabano syrup had a pH of 3.97, 0.69% malic acid, and 46.26 °Bx. The pH, TTA (total titratable acidity), and TSS (total soluble solids) of the finished product were 3.80, 0.21%, and 10.37 °Bx, respectively. An antioxidant capacity assay showed that the carbonated guyabano juice had 0.131 mg ascorbic acid equivalent-mL-1. There was no significant change in pH and TTA after one week storage at ambient temperature. However, yeast and mold count significantly increased and TSS significantly decreased. Thus, it is recommended that the developed carbonated guyabano juice be stored at refrigerated temperature or added with a suitable preservative

USING SOCIAL MEDIA AS A MARKETING TOOL FOR TRAVELLERS

This research assessed the influence of social media in the information search and decision-making processes of local leisure travelers working in the BPO (Business Process Outsourcing) industry in Metro Manila. It synthesized existing researches, concepts and theories to understand how social media applications influence local travelers. It also presented a snapshot of how consumers gather information and make decisions regarding their travel purchases in this rapidly increasing, commercialized field. Specifically, the paper described the socio-demographic profile of the travelers. It determined the social media sites most frequently used by travelers, the factors and elements that help in making their travel decisions, and the problems and issues they encountered. A profile comparison between social media and non-social media users was also made to determine if there was a significant difference between the two sets of respondents

A cAMP-binding ectoprotein in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

tides 10, 593-595

Central Philippine University students in boarding houses: Their economic status, living condition, peer relationship problems and coping strategies

Abstract onlyThis descriptive-qualitative investigation attempted to determine the economic status, living condition, peer relationship, problems, and coping strategies of CPU students staying boarding houses. Data for this investigation were gathered from 360 randomly selected students of the University using three data-gathering instruments: the Interview Schedule, Focus Group Discussion (FGD) Guide and Interview Guide. The Interview Schedule was face and content validated and revised. The data were presented in frequency distribution tables and substantiated by FGD result and interview of key informants. Result of the investigation revealed the respondents were mostly 17 years old and above, female, not work students and come from rural areas of the province of Iloilo. The greater majority of the students’ fathers are farmers and government employees while most of their mothers are teachers and housewives. Most of the respondents have their own house built in their own lot, get their drinking water mostly from deep well and mineral water and use water sealed or flush toilets. Most of the respondents rent a bed space in the boarding house, paid for their stay on a monthly basis, use either charcoal or liquefied petroleum gas for cooking and buy purified or mineral water to drink. Most boarding houses where the respondents stay have separate flush toilets and bathrooms for male and female boarders. The number and dimension of bedrooms and boarders per room varies, however the average student per space ratio is 25.59 square feet per person. Electric fans are the most common appliance used while television is allowed to be used by many owners. Electricity is commonly used for ironing clothes and most students wash their own clothes. The respondents encountered numerous problems at home, in the boarding house and in relating to others where they employed various coping strategies to solve or face the problems. The respondents find it cheaper to stay in the boarding house than in the dormitories of the University.Includes bibliographical reference

Abstract TMP39: Paucity of Evidence-Based Patent Foramen Ovale Severity Ratings in Transesophageal Echocardiogram Clinical Reports

Introduction: The presence of a large physiologic shunt, defined as >20 left atrial microbubbles within 3 cardiac cycles on transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), is a key, randomized controlled trial-validated, indication for patent foramen ovale (PFO) with a closure device in patients with otherwise cryptogenic ischemic stroke. The frequency with which this information is available to treating physicians from clinical TEE reports has not been well delineated. Methods: Among consecutive ischemic stroke patients admitted to an academic medical center undergoing TEE between January-June 2023, TEE reports were reviewed to determine frequency with which formal, clinical-trial definition-adherent characterization of PFO shunt size was provided, frequency of informal PFO shunt size descriptions, and correlations with transcranial Doppler (TCD) formal shunt grades (Spencer Grades 1-5). Results: Among the 50 patients, median age was 64 (IQR 58-74.5), and 20 (40%) were female. On TEE, shunt presence was assessed by bubble study in 38 (76%), direct Doppler alone in 6 (12%), and neither in 6 (12%). Among patients with bubble study, a right-to-left shunt (RLS) potentially due to PFO was present 15 (39%). RLS severity was quantified in 27% (4/15) of PFO patients, all with formally small (<20) shunts. For the remaining 11, reports informally characterized shunt severity with various descriptive terms, including “mild” (7 cases), “mild/trace” (1), “moderate” (2), and “large” (1). TCD bubble studies were performed in 67% (10/15) of the TEE RLS PFO patients. Shunt severity correlation between TEE and TCD was 100% (3/3) for the formally quantified TEE shunts, but poor for the 7 informally assessed TEE shunts, with 60% (3/5) of shunts deemed “mild” on TEE quantified as intermediate-large on TCD, 1/1 deemed “moderate” on TEE quantified as intermediate on TCD, and 1/1 deemed “large” on TEE quantified as miniscule on TCD. Conclusions: Quantified, evidence-based ratings of PFO shunt severity were present in less than 3 of every 10 TEE reports, and unquantified, informal size estimates correlated poorly with TCD quantification of shunt severity. Patient management would be aided by inclusion of formal PFO shunt size quantification in all clinical stroke patient TEE reports

Quantification of patent foramen ovale shunt severity by transesophageal echocardiogram and transcranial doppler in routine clinical practice

BackgroundThe presence of a large physiologic shunt, defined as >20 left atrial microbubbles within 3 cardiac cycles on transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), is a randomized trial-validated indication for patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure in patients with otherwise cryptogenic ischemic stroke. The frequency with which this information is available to treating physicians from clinical TEE reports has not been well-delineated.MethodsAmong consecutive ischemic stroke patients, clinical TEE report shunt size characterizations were abstracted and compared to transcranial Doppler (TCD) formal shunt grades in the same patients and to central Core Lab TEE quantified assessments.ResultsAmong 77 patients, median age was 64 (IQR 56-73), and 33 (43 %) female. On TEE, shunt presence was assessed by bubble study in 60 (78 %), direct Doppler alone in 5 (7 %), and neither in 12 (16 %). Among bubble study patient, a right-to-left shunt (RLS) potentially due to PFO was present in 25 (42 %). RLS severity was quantified on the clinical report in 4 (16 %) patients and only with informal descriptive terms in 21 (84 %) - "small/mild/trace" (13 cases), "moderate/medium" (6), and "large" (1). In the 19 patients also undergoing TCD, RLS severity was quantified in all clinical reports. Shunt severity agreement between clinical TEE reports and TCD quantification was 100 % (3/3) for formally quantified TEE shunts but poor (3/15, 20 %) for the15 TEE reports using informal descriptions. For presence of a large shunt, an indication for PFO closure, clinical TEE with informal descriptions and TCD were incongruent in 5/15 (33 %) of patients.ConclusionsQuantified, evidence-based ratings of PFO shunt severity were present in <1 of every 6 TEE reports, and unquantified, informal size estimates correlated poorly with TCD quantification of shunt severity. Patient management would be aided by inclusion of formal PFO shunt size quantification in all clinical stroke patient TEE reports

Lighting up the last mile: An impact study of the micro hydro projects of CPU-AREC in three mountain settlements of San Remigio, Antique

Journal articleThis study investigated the impact of the three micro hydro projects in three respective mountain settlements of San Remigio Antique. Specifically it measured the changes in the quality of life and in several socioeconomic indicators including house structures, average income per month, sources of income, livelihood, cost of energy, and appliances, gadgets or machineries among the beneficiaries. It utilized a mixed methodology by giving a survey instrument to all 45 beneficiaries of Bunacan Micro Hydro Project, 51 beneficiaries of Culabao Micro Hydro Project and 72 beneficiaries of Maruray Micro Hydro Project, and by conducting focused group discussions in the three settlements. Using descriptive analysis of the quantitative data, findings revealed improvements in the house structures, average income per month, and in the acquisition of appliances, gadgets or machineries among the beneficiaries. There is a significant reduction in energy cost despite increase in the utilization. The cheaper cost of electricity from the micro hydro power plant compared to the cost of using kerosene resulted to a big cut on energy expenditures among the beneficiaries while enjoying the opportunity to consume more energy. Farming is retained as the main livelihood and source of income augmented by the presence of irrigation system and farm machineries. Thematic analysis of the qualitative data yielded three main themes across the categories. The impact of the micro hydro projects into the quality of life of their beneficiaries are happiness, empowerment and the perpetration of a cultural practice called “dagyaw.”Central Philippine Universit

A LiDAR-based flood modelling approach for mapping rice cultivation areas in Apalit, Pampanga

Majority of rice cultivation areas in the Philippines are susceptible to excessive flooding owing to intense rainfall events. The study introduces the use of fine scale flood inundation modelling to map cultivation areas in Apalit, a rice-producing municipality located in the province of Pampanga in the Philippines. The study used a LiDAR-based digital elevation model (DEM), river discharge and rainfall data to generate flood inundation maps using LISFLOOD-FP. By applying spatial analysis, rice cultivation zone maps were derived and four cultivation zones are proposed. In areas where both depth and duration exceed threshold values set in this study, varieties tolerant to stagnant flooding and submergence are highly recommended in Zone 1, where flood conditions are least favorable for any existing traditional lowland irrigation varieties. The study emphasizes that a decline in yield is likely as increasing flood extents and longer submergence periods may cause cultivation areas for traditional irrigated lowland varieties to decrease over time. This decrease in yield may be prevented by using varieties most suitable to the flooding conditions as prescribed in the rice zone classification. The method introduced in this study could facilitate appropriate rice cultivation in flood-prone areas