Global Antifungal Profile Optimization of Chlorophenyl Derivatives against Botrytis cinerea and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides

Twenty-two aromatic derivatives bearing a chlorine atom and a different chain in the para or meta position were prepared and evaluated for their in vitro antifungal activity against the phytopathogenic fungi Botrytis cinerea and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. The results showed that maximum inhibition of the growth of these fungi was exhibited for enantiomers S and R of 1-(40-chlorophenyl)- 2-phenylethanol (3 and 4). Furthermore, their antifungal activity showed a clear structure-activity relationship (SAR) trend confirming the importance of the benzyl hydroxyl group in the inhibitory mechanism of the compounds studied. Additionally, a multiobjective optimization study of the global antifungal profile of chlorophenyl derivatives was conducted in order to establish a rational strategy for the filtering of new fungicide candidates from combinatorial libraries. The MOOPDESIRE methodology was used for this purpose providing reliable ranking models that can be used later

Transport operations optimisation through lean implementation – a case study

Lean has benefited industries, however, the research regarding its implementation in the transportation sector is limited. Therefore, there is huge potential for the implementation of Lean in the transportation sector. With the growing population and production, traffic congestion is no surprise, placing constraints on transport operations. This research utilises two extensions of the Lean tools of Transportation Value Stream Mapping (TVSM) and Transportation Overall Vehicle Effectiveness (TOVE). This research presents a case study of company XYZ based in Thailand, to optimise their transport operations through utilisation of Lean and its extensions mentioned earlier. As a result, the TOVE index is projected to improve from 17% to 31% and TVSM from 51% – 70%. The empirical study presented in this research paves the way for further research and adoption of Lean in transportation operations.N/

Terpenoid biotransformations by Mucor species

Terpenoids are natural products of great interest due to their widespread use in agrochemicals, drugs, fragrances, flavouring and pigments. Biocatalysts are increasingly being used in the search for new derivatives with improved properties especially to obtain structurally novel leads for new drugs which are difficult to obtain using conventional organic chemical methods. This review, covering up to the end of 2012, reports on the application of Mucor species as catalysts in terpenoid biotransformation to obtain new drug targets, enhance pharmacological activity or decrease the unwanted effects of starting material

X chromosome inactivation does not necessarily determine the severity of the phenotype in Rett syndrome patients

Rett syndrome (RTT) is a severe neurological disorder usually caused by mutations in the MECP2 gene. Since the MECP2 gene is located on the X chromosome, X chromosome inactivation (XCI) could play a role in the wide range of phenotypic variation of RTT patients; however, classical methylation-based protocols to evaluate XCI could not determine whether the preferentially inactivated X chromosome carried the mutant or the wild-type allele. Therefore, we developed an allele-specific methylation-based assay to evaluate methylation at the loci of several recurrent MECP2 mutations. We analyzed the XCI patterns in the blood of 174 RTT patients, but we did not find a clear correlation between XCI and the clinical presentation. We also compared XCI in blood and brain cortex samples of two patients and found differences between XCI patterns in these tissues. However, RTT mainly being a neurological disease complicates the establishment of a correlation between the XCI in blood and the clinical presentation of the patients. Furthermore, we analyzed MECP2 transcript levels and found differences from the expected levels according to XCI. Many factors other than XCI could affect the RTT phenotype, which in combination could influence the clinical presentation of RTT patients to a greater extent than slight variations in the XCI pattern

Coffi n-Lowry syndrome: Report of a case and diagnostic-evolutive anticipatory guidances

Dismorfología y Genética ClínicaCoffi n-Lowry syndrome (CLS) is a syndromic form of X-linked mental retardation, which is characterized in male patients by psychomotor delay and growth retardation, large soft hands with distally tapering fi ngers, and other skeletal anomalies. Characteristic features change and become more marked with age but are already apparent by the second year of life. About 20% of patients have paroxysmal drop attacks in response to unexpected noises or tactile stimuli. Sensorineural deafness has been reported, rarely with late onset. Female heterozygotes commonly express the condition to a less severe degree, but psychotic behaviour may also be an occasional manifestation. CLS is caused by mutations in RSK2 gene, located at Xp22.2, which encodes a growth factor-regulated serine-threonine protein kinase in the RASMAPK signalling pathway. Mutations are extremely heterogeneous, and a high rate of new mutations and germinal mosaicism are also reported. Gene expression and protein synthesis, mediated by the transcription factor CREB, play an important role in memory and learning. RSK2 actives CREB by phosphorylation and is also required for osteoblasts differentiation and function, mediated by phosphorylation ATF4. This suggests that loss of RSK2 function may contribute to the cognitive defi cits and skeletal anomalies in CLS patients. A 10-year-old patient with typical phenotype is described here. He and his mother have a new mutation (c.407C>T) not previously described. We review clinical, etiologic, diagnostic and molecular aspects of CLS.N

Strategic planning for repurposing kitchen equipment production operations during COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the worldwide economy, affecting businesses’ productivity and market demand. As a result of this negative impact, several organisations decided to repurpose their manufacturing processes to first fabricate necessary equipment (e.g. ventilators, masks), whereas others decided to penetrate in a new market and elaborate new products with the same available processes. Therefore, the purpose of this project was to develop a repurposing strategic plan considering scenario analyses for possible yet uncertain post-pandemic futures in a kitchen equipment manufacturing company (KEMC). To address this aim, the authors conducted an action research using the innovative DMADV (define–measure–analyse–design–verify) problem-solving methodology and business strategy tools (SWOT/PESTLE and Hoshin Kanri) to achieve this goal. As a result, the authors identified four different products to repurposing KEMC manufacturing operations: Ghost Kitchen, Touchless Style Design Products, Ventless Hood Systems and Touch-Free Style Beverage and Ice Machines. The product opportunity evaluation matrix showed Ghost Kitchen as the best business alternative; therefore, organisation leaders elaborated a strategic plan to introduce Ghost Kitchen products to KEM portfolio. However, after analysing this proposal, the organisation’s headquarters considered a different facility to implement the Ghost Kitchen project. From a theoretical perspective, this paper support previous research work showing evidence that customer needs changes during crisis time creating new business opportunities. On the other hand, the originality and paper practical contribution of this paper is found in the integration methodologies and tools from two different fields, such a continuous improvement and strategic planning