The relative abundance of wheat Rubisco activase isoforms is post‑transcriptionally regulated

Diurnal rhythms and light availability affect transcription–translation feedback loops that regulate the synthesis of photosynthetic proteins. The CO2-fixing enzyme Rubisco is the most abundant protein in the leaves of major crop species and its activity depends on interaction with the molecular chaperone Rubisco activase (Rca). In Triticum aestivum L. (wheat), three Rca isoforms are present that differ in their regulatory properties. Here, we tested the hypothesis that the relative abundance of the redox-sensitive and redox-insensitive Rca isoforms could be differentially regulated throughout light–dark diel cycle in wheat. While TaRca1-β expression was consistently negligible throughout the day, transcript levels of both TaRca2-β and TaRca2-α were higher and increased at the start of the day, with peak levels occurring at the middle of the photoperiod. Abundance of TaRca-β protein was maximal 1.5 h after the peak in TaRca2-β expression, but the abundance of TaRca-α remained constant during the entire photoperiod. The redox-sensitive TaRca-α isoform was less abundant, representing 85% of the redox-insensitive TaRca-β at the transcript level and 12.5% at the protein level. Expression of Rubisco large and small subunit genes did not show a consistent pattern throughout the diel cycle, but the abundance of Rubisco decreased by up to 20% during the dark period in fully expanded wheat leaves. These results, combined with a lack of correlation between transcript and protein abundance for both Rca isoforms and Rubisco throughout the entire diel cycle, suggest that the abundance of these photosynthetic enzymes is post-transcriptionally regulated

Emotional labor in healthcare: the role of work perceptions and personality traits

Using the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) model as the theoretical framework, this study investigates how the perception of the work environment predicts the emotional labor strategies, and the moderating effect of personality traits on this relationship. Data were collected through the Portuguese Nurses Council, yielding 180 valid questionnaires. The perceptions of the work environment were measured through the Practice Environment Scale for Nurse Working Index (PES-NWI). Emotional labor strategies and the personality traits, in turn, were measured through the Emotional Labor Scale (ELS) and the Big Five Inventory Scale (BFIS) respectively. The hypothesized model was tested through a hierarchical multiple regression and bias-corrected bootstrap analyses (using 1000 bootstrap samples) with the PROCESS macros. The results reveal a negative relationship between perception of the work environment and the adoption of a deep acting strategy. This relationship happens when individuals score high in consciousness and openness and when individuals score low in extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. When healthcare institutions offer a good work environment, nurses try to do their utmost to make their emotions correspond with what is expected of them. Thus, healthcare managers need to better understand how organizational policies and practices are translated into the work environment.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Ethnobotany and Indigenous Traditional Knowledge in Brazil: Contributions to Research in Ecopsychology

This paper is the result of an investigation of the flora and traditional knowledge in the conception of Javaé indigenous people from the Txuiri village located on Bananal Island, Brazil. The objective is to investigate the plants used by these indigenous people, their diverse uses and to understand how traditional knowledge is passed on to new generations. This is a qualitative, descriptive and interdisciplinary survey, whose data collection strategies included the application of semi-structured questionnaires and collection of plants for cataloguing according to Angiosperm Phylogeny Group or APG III (2009). We identified 26 plant species, used for various purposes such as medicinal use, food, construction, craft and cultural, which were deposited in the Herbarium of the Federal University of Tocantins. Roots, stem and leaf are the plant parts most used by the community. The plants mentioned were most frequently found on the banks of the Javaés River and in the backyard of the residences. Significant traditional knowledge of these people about the plants are transmitted to new generations, through visual, orality and experimentation. Ethnobotanical studies strengthen research in ecopsychology while allowing research into the interactions between human populations and plants

Meningoencefalites de origem desconhecida em cães

Trabalho de Conclusão de Curso (graduação)—Universidade de Brasília, Faculdade de Agronomia e Medicina Veterinária, 2017.As meningoencefalites de origem desconhecida são doenças inflamatórias, não infecciosas e idiopáticas do sistema nervoso central (SNC) de cães. Sua origem e patogênese ainda não foram elucidadas. Acometem principalmente cães fêmeas de raças “toy” como pug e yorkshire entre 3 e 7 anos de idade. São classificadas em meningoencefalite granulomatosa (MEG) e meningoencefalites necrosantes (EN), sendo estas meningoencefalite necrosante (MEN) e leucoencefalite necrosante (LEN). Os sinais neurológicos são variáveis e vão depender da localização da lesão no SNC. O diagnóstico definitivo é realizado por meio de análise histopatológica, sendo o diagnóstico antemortem presuntivo por meio dos sinais clínicos, exames de imagem e análise do líquor. O prognóstico é reservado e ainda não existem protocolos de tratamento consensuais. O tempo de sobrevida varia de acordo com o quadro do animal e tratamento de escolha.Meningoencephalitis of unknown origin are inflammatory, non-infectious and idiopathic diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) of dogs. Its origin and pathogenesis have not yet been elucidated. It mainly breed female dogs of toy breeds like pug and yorkshire between 3 and 7 years of age. It can be classified as granulomatous meningoencephalitis (GME) and necrotizing meningoencephalitis (NE), being necrotizing meningoencephalitis (NEM) and necrotizing leukoencephalitis (NLE). Neurological signs are variable and will depend on the location of the CNS lesion. The definitive diagnosis was made through histopathological analysis, and the presumptive antemortem diagnosis was made through clinical trials, imaging tests and money analysis. The prognosis is reserved and there are no consensual treatment protocols yet. The survival time varies according to the clinical signs of the animal and treatment of choice

Rubisco catalytic properties of wild and domesticated relatives provide scope for improving wheat photosynthesis

Rubisco is a major target for improving crop photosynthesis and yield, yet natural diversity in catalytic properties of this enzyme is poorly understood. Rubisco from 25 genotypes of the Triticeae tribe, including wild relatives of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum), were surveyed to identify superior enzymes for improving photosynthesis in this crop. In vitro Rubisco carboxylation velocity (V c), Michaelis–Menten constants for CO2 (K c) and O2 (K o) and specificity factor (S c/o) were measured at 25 and 35 °C. V c and K c correlated positively, while V c and S c/o were inversely related. Rubisco large subunit genes (rbcL) were sequenced, and predicted corresponding amino acid differences analysed in relation to the corresponding catalytic properties. The effect of replacing native wheat Rubisco with counterparts from closely related species was analysed by modelling the response of photosynthesis to varying CO2 concentrations. The model predicted that two Rubisco enzymes would increase photosynthetic performance at 25 °C while only one of these also increased photosynthesis at 35 °C. Thus, under otherwise identical conditions, catalytic variation in the Rubiscos analysed is predicted to improve photosynthetic rates at physiological CO2 concentrations. Naturally occurring Rubiscos with superior properties amongst the Triticeae tribe can be exploited to improve wheat photosynthesis and crop productivity

Otimização do Processo de Filtração e Diluição de Cerveja

O processo de produção de cerveja é já uma arte antiga que vem sendo melhorada e adaptada para um competitivo mundo industrial. Aqui, as empresas pretendem fornecer um produto com a qualidade desejada pelo consumidor enquanto lutam por vantagens competitivas sobre os seus competidores. É então do total interesse de qualquer cervejeira a aplicação de princípios de engenharia para a otimização do processo, visando a redução de recursos despendidos e a minimização de erros e falhas. Esta dissertação de mestrado foi desenvolvida na área de Filtração da Sociedade Central de Cervejas e Bebidas, com a finalidade de otimizar o consumo de kieselguhr utilizado na filtração de cerveja (sem consequências negativas para a produção) e o processo de diluição através da elaboração de um estudo aos sistemas carboblenders, construindo as bases para a modernização da área e para uma independência para com o laboratório. Para atingir estes objetivos foi formada uma equipa de melhoria contínua para o estudo da situação atual e que desenvolveu diversos ensaios para análise e implementou ferramentas TPM como a elaboração de matrizes QA, elaboração de diagramas e fluxogramas, análises 5 porquês e análises FMECA, entre outras. Quanto à otimização da filtração de cerveja, os estudos e ensaios efetuados nas três linhas existentes na área, culminaram numa redução média de 20 g/hl de kieselguhr adicionados durante o ciclo de filtra-ção e um aumento de 15 % no possível volume de cerveja filtrada por ciclo, o que representa uma redução significativa no custo e na quantidade de recursos utilizados. No que diz respeito à otimização do processo de diluição, a execução das atividades descritas na Rota de Implementação de controlo in-line da Heineken, permitiu o estudo do funcionamento dos carboblen-ders e das metodologias associadas ao mesmo, sendo identificados os principais obstáculos a um con-trolo automatizado sem interferência humana. Estes foram analisados e soluções foram criadas e pro-postas, resultando num aumento de 70 % na diluição automática de cerveja (nos três sistemas presentes) que contribuiu para um First Time Right – Batch acima do objetivo, com o valor de 95 %.The process of beer production is an ancient art that has been improved and adapted over time to meet the needs of the industrialized world. While delivering a product that meets the consumer’s need, companies also compete between each other in order to get additional advantages in the market. Thus, is in the best interest of any brewery to apply the principles of engineering to try and optimise the process in order to reduce costs and production errors and flaws. This master’s dissertation was developed in the Filtration Department at Sociedade Central de Cer-vejas e Bebidas and it aimed to the optimization of kieselguhr consumption, in the process of filtrating beer, without compromising the quality of the product. It also aimed towards the optimisation of the dilution process through the elaboration of a study concerning the carboblender systems, building the basis to the area’s modernisation and laboratory independence. In order to fulfil these goals a team dedicated to continuous improvement was formed, to study the current situation, develop several trials for analysis and implement TPM tools like the elaboration of QA matrixes, diagrams and flux grams, 5 why’s analysis, FMECA analysis, etc. Relatively to the optimisation of the filtration process, the studies and trials performed on the three lines allowed the company to reduce an average of 20 g/hl of kieselguhr and the increase of 15% of beer volume per cycle. When it comes to the optimisation of the dilution process, the execution of the tasks described on Heineken’s implementation route of in-line control allowed the understanding of how carboblenders worked and respective methodologies, which led to the identification of the main obstacles to a total automated control. These were analysed and the solutions proposed resulted in an increase of 70% on the automatic beer dilution which contributed to a First Time Right – Batch over the goal, with a value of 95%

Surveying Rubisco diversity and temperature response to improve crop photosynthetic efficiency.

The threat to global food security of stagnating yields and population growth makes increasing crop productivity a critical goal over the coming decades. One key target for improving crop productivity and yields is increasing the efficiency of photosynthesis. Central to photosynthesis is ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase, Rubisco, which is a critical but often rate-limiting component. Here we present full Rubisco catalytic properties measured at three temperatures for 75 plants species representing both crops and undomesticated plants from diverse climates. Some newly characterised Rubiscos were naturally 'better' compared to crop enzymes and have the potential to improve crop photosynthetic efficiency. The temperature response of the various catalytic parameters was largely consistent across the diverse range of species, though absolute values showed significant variation in Rubisco catalysis, even between closely related species. An analysis of residue differences amongst the species characterised identified a number of candidate amino acid substitutions that will aid in advancing engineering of improved Rubisco in crop systems. This study provides new insights on the range of Rubisco catalysis and temperature response present in nature, and provides new information to include in models from leaf to canopy and ecosystem scale