Betalain production is possible in anthocyanin-producing plant species given the presence of DOPA-dioxygenase and L-DOPA

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Carotenoids and anthocyanins are the predominant non-chlorophyll pigments in plants. However, certain families within the order Caryophyllales produce another class of pigments, the betalains, instead of anthocyanins. The occurrence of betalains and anthocyanins is mutually exclusive. Betalains are divided into two classes, the betaxanthins and betacyanins, which produce yellow to orange or violet colours, respectively. In this article we show betalain production in species that normally produce anthocyanins, through a combination of genetic modification and substrate feeding.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The biolistic introduction of DNA constructs for transient overexpression of two different dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) dioxygenases (DODs), and feeding of DOD substrate (L-DOPA), was sufficient to induce betalain production in cell cultures of <it>Solanum tuberosum </it>(potato) and petals of <it>Antirrhinum majus</it>. HPLC analysis showed both betaxanthins and betacyanins were produced. Multi-cell foci with yellow, orange and/or red colours occurred, with either a fungal DOD (from <it>Amanita muscaria</it>) or a plant DOD (from <it>Portulaca grandiflora</it>), and the yellow/orange foci showed green autofluorescence characteristic of betaxanthins. Stably transformed <it>Arabidopsis thaliana </it>(arabidopsis) lines containing <it>35S: AmDOD </it>produced yellow colouration in flowers and orange-red colouration in seedlings when fed L-DOPA. These tissues also showed green autofluorescence. HPLC analysis of the transgenic seedlings fed L-DOPA confirmed betaxanthin production.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The fact that the introduction of DOD along with a supply of its substrate (L-DOPA) was sufficient to induce betacyanin production reveals the presence of a background enzyme, possibly a tyrosinase, that can convert L-DOPA to <it>cyclo</it>-DOPA (or dopaxanthin to betacyanin) in at least some anthocyanin-producing plants. The plants also demonstrate that betalains can accumulate in anthocyanin-producing species. Thus, introduction of a DOD and an enzyme capable of converting tyrosine to L-DOPA should be sufficient to confer both betaxanthin and betacyanin production to anthocyanin-producing species. The requirement for few novel biosynthetic steps may have assisted in the evolution of the betalain biosynthetic pathway in the Caryophyllales, and facilitated multiple origins of the pathway in this order and in fungi. The stably transformed <it>35S: AmDOD </it>arabidopsis plants provide material to study, for the first time, the physiological effects of having both betalains and anthocyanins in the same plant tissues.</p

Para sa Guimarasaonon

On August 11, 2006, a tragic oil spill hit the small seafaring community of Guimaras. The unfortunate incident yielded detrimental long-term effects to the livelihood, health and welfare of the affected inhabitants of the island, inevitably changing their lives. Para Sa Guimarasaonons captured the everyday life of the people of Guimaras as they experienced the aftermath of the unfortunate oil spill. It focuses on the depressing effects of the spill on their environment and their fishing harvest, their primary source of livelihood. The project manifests how the people of Guimaras, true to the resilient spirit of Filipinos, were able to recover and go on with their daily lives despite the tragic event

Factors that contribute to the success of agricultural multi-purpose cooperatives in the first district of Bulacan

The study attempted to determine the degree of success of the chosen agricultural multi-purpose cooperatives in the first district of Bulacan based on the dependent variables of financial stability, membership participation and volume and growth of services. It was also aimed at determining which of the hypothesized factors (recognized necessity, cooperative values, leadership, good record keeping, cooperative policies, financial management, and education and training) derived from the review related literature are correlated with the success of agricultural multi-purpose cooperatives. There were 30 cooperatives selected based on the criteria of being agriculturally based, dormant to active status, and at least two years of existence. A survey type method was utilized in deriving perceptual ratings and objective responses. A representative from the members and the leaders as well as the assigned technicians of each of the respective cooperatives served as the respondents of the study. The findings of the study showed that members, leaders and technicians perceived the selected cooperatives to be relatively successful based on the mean scores of financial stability, membership participation and volume and growth of services. The findings also revealed that the independent variables were specifically correlated with one or two but not all of the measures for cooperative success. Finally, the findings disclosed that there were independent variables which were moderately-to-highly correlated with the item on overall success but this relationship was not manifested in the three measures of cooperative success. This would imply that there are other measures for cooperative success, correlation must be done with the measures of cooperative success rather than on the item on overall success and the enumeration of independent variables having significant relationships must take place according to each measure of cooperative success and not based on the item of overall success

An integrated marketing communications campaign for Boysen KnoxOut

Since 1960, Pacific Paint has been contributing innovations in the paint industry. These continuous innovations helped Pacific Paint become the leading paint manufacturer in the Philippines today. In 2009, they launched a revolutionary product, which is a first of its kind. Boysen KNOxOUT is considered a break-through in the industry, making it the first ever air-cleaning paint. It has no direct competitors but treats all other kinds of paint as competition. The campaign\u27s main objective is to raise brand awareness and create preference over other brands. Taking into consideration that the product is an unsought good, it focused on the brands ability to make a difference. The campaign highlighted its unique selling proposition of being the first paint that can lessen air pollution, which led to the big idea, paint a difference. Consumers nowadays think that the only purpose of wall paints is to beautify surfaces. Using the idea, the campaign wants to change this perception that paint can go beyond its sole purpose. Boysen KNOxOUT can cover surfaces and at the same time serve as an air-cleaning paint that helps the environment. The target market of the campaign is homeowners from the classes AB aged 30 40 years old who are considered the end-users. Professionals directly involved in the design industry, Architects, Interior Designers, Civil Engineers and Building Administrators, are also tapped by the campaign. Communicating the message to these target market can help the campaign reach its objective. The campaign will run for six months, January June 2012. Having a budget of Php 25 Million. The media mix is composed of an equal share of above-the-line and below-the-line efforts, to be able to utilize the allocated budget. The campaign\u27s central strategy is an event. This event will be promoted through traditional advertisements including print, out of home and television. Non-traditional efforts include ambient, digital, public relations and in store activation. Promotional efforts for the event are heavy while digital efforts will continue from start until the end of the campaign. The effectiveness of this campaign will be measured through the number of attendees in the event and involvement of the market in digital efforts

Predictors of PrEP awareness, PrEP discussion and interest in long‐acting injectable PrEP among Filipina transfeminine adults

Abstract Introduction Transfeminine adults are impacted by the HIV epidemic in the Philippines, and newly approved modalities of pre‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), including long‐acting injectable (LAI‐PrEP), could be beneficial for this group. To inform implementation, we analysed PrEP awareness, discussion and interest in taking LAI‐PrEP among Filipina transfeminine adults. Methods We utilized secondary data from the #ParaSaAtin survey that sampled Filipina transfeminine adults (n = 139) and conducted a series of multivariable logistic regressions with lasso selection to explore factors independently associated with PrEP outcomes, including awareness, discussion with trans friends and interest in LAI‐PrEP. Results Overall, 53% of Filipina transfeminine respondents were aware of PrEP, 39% had discussed PrEP with their trans friends and 73% were interested in LAI‐PrEP. PrEP awareness was associated with being non‐Catholic (p = 0.017), having previously been HIV tested (p = 0.023), discussing HIV services with a provider (p<0.001) and having high HIV knowledge (p = 0.021). Discussing PrEP with friends was associated with older age (p = 0.040), having experienced healthcare discrimination due to transgender identity (p = 0.044), having HIV tested (p = 0.001) and having discussed HIV services with a provider (p < 0.001). Very interested in LAI‐PrEP was associated with living in Central Visayas (p = 0.045), having discussed HIV services with a provider (p = 0.001) and having discussed HIV services with a sexual partner (p = 0.008). Conclusions Implementing LAI‐PrEP in the Philippines requires addressing systemic improvements across personal, interpersonal, social and structural levels in healthcare access, including efforts to create healthcare settings and environments with providers who are trained and competent in transgender health and can address the social and structural drivers of trans health inequities, including HIV and barriers to LAI‐PrEP

International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium report, data summary of 50 countries for 2010-2015: Device-associated module

•We report INICC device-associated module data of 50 countries from 2010-2015.•We collected prospective data from 861,284 patients in 703 ICUs for 3,506,562 days.•DA-HAI rates and bacterial resistance were higher in the INICC ICUs than in CDC-NHSN's.•Device utilization ratio in the INICC ICUs was similar to CDC-NHSN's. Background: We report the results of International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) surveillance study from January 2010-December 2015 in 703 intensive care units (ICUs) in Latin America, Europe, Eastern Mediterranean, Southeast Asia, and Western Pacific. Methods: During the 6-year study period, using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Healthcare Safety Network (CDC-NHSN) definitions for device-associated health care-associated infection (DA-HAI), we collected prospective data from 861,284 patients hospitalized in INICC hospital ICUs for an aggregate of 3,506,562 days. Results: Although device use in INICC ICUs was similar to that reported from CDC-NHSN ICUs, DA-HAI rates were higher in the INICC ICUs: in the INICC medical-surgical ICUs, the pooled rate of central line-associated bloodstream infection, 4.1 per 1,000 central line-days, was nearly 5-fold higher than the 0.8 per 1,000 central line-days reported from comparable US ICUs, the overall rate of ventilator-associated pneumonia was also higher, 13.1 versus 0.9 per 1,000 ventilator-days, as was the rate of catheter-associated urinary tract infection, 5.07 versus 1.7 per 1,000 catheter-days. From blood cultures samples, frequencies of resistance of Pseudomonas isolates to amikacin (29.87% vs 10%) and to imipenem (44.3% vs 26.1%), and of Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates to ceftazidime (73.2% vs 28.8%) and to imipenem (43.27% vs 12.8%) were also higher in the INICC ICUs compared with CDC-NHSN ICUs. Conclusions: Although DA-HAIs in INICC ICU patients continue to be higher than the rates reported in CDC-NSHN ICUs representing the developed world, we have observed a significant trend toward the reduction of DA-HAI rates in INICC ICUs as shown in each international report. It is INICC's main goal to continue facilitating education, training, and basic and cost-effective tools and resources, such as standardized forms and an online platform, to tackle this problem effectively and systematically