35 research outputs found
Sustainability evaluation of graduate courses in an university of the South of Brazil
The Auditing Instrument for Sustainability in Higher Education (AISHE) is an assessment instrument developed specifically for higher education. The AISHE had been applied in many institutions in its first version (AISHE 1.0) and has a new version the AISHE 2.0, with new elements for evaluation (ROORDA, 2008). This paper shows the results of AISHE 1.0 application at Passo Fundo (UPF) university, located in the south of Brazil. The objective is to evaluate sustainability on the graduate courses. The AISHE method is based on the PDCA circle (PLAN-DO-CHECK-ACT). Within the first three categories are criteria available in accordance with the five stages (sustainability level): stage 1: activity; stage 2: process; stage 3: system; stage 4: chain; stage 5: society (AISHE, 2001). The results show significant differences between the courses, indicating lack of strategic vision and university management, which is a common feature in all courses. The ideal would be that the results achieved stage 5, \u91society\u92, which means: long-term strategy, the policy aims at constant improvement; contacts are maintained, not only with direct customers but also with other stakeholders. The organization fulfils a prominent role in society. The sustainability evaluation is important because it points out the weaknesses and strengths of each cours
Role of Modular Polyketide Synthases in the Production of Polyether Ladder Compounds in Ciguatoxin-Producing Gambierdiscus polynesiensis and G. excentricus (Dinophyceae).
Gambierdiscus, a benthic dinoflagellate, produces ciguatoxins that cause the
human illness Ciguatera. Ciguatoxins are polyether ladder compounds that
have a polyketide origin, indicating that polyketide synthases (PKS) are
involved in their production. We sequenced transcriptomes of Gambierdiscus
excentricus and Gambierdiscus polynesiensis and found 264 contigs encoding
single domain ketoacyl synthases (KS; G. excentricus: 106, G. polynesiensis:
143) and ketoreductases (KR; G. excentricus: 7, G. polynesiensis: 8) with
sequence similarity to type I PKSs, as reported in other dinoflagellates. In addition,
24 contigs (G. excentricus: 3, G. polynesiensis: 21) encoding multiple
PKS domains (forming typical type I PKSs modules) were found. The proposed
structure produced by one of these megasynthases resembles a partial carbon
backbone of a polyether ladder compound. Seventeen contigs encoding single
domain KS, KR, s-malonyltransacylase, dehydratase and enoyl reductase with
sequence similarity to type II fatty acid synthases (FAS) in plants were found.
Type I PKS and type II FAS genes were distinguished based on the arrangement
of domains on the contigs and their sequence similarity and phylogenetic
clustering with known PKS/FAS genes in other organisms. This differentiation
of PKS and FAS pathways in Gambierdiscus is important, as it will facilitate
approaches to investigating toxin biosynthesis pathways in dinoflagellates.Versión del edito