Weight matrix based identification of terpene synthases conserved motifs in Arabidopsis thaliana proteome

Terpenes comprise the most diverse collection of natural products. Out of more than 30,000 individual terpenoids identified, at least half are synthesized by plants. A relatively small, but quantitatively significant, number of terpenoids are involved in primary plant metabolism. However, the vast majorities are classified as secondary metabolites; compounds not required for plant growth and development but presumed to have an ecological function in communication or defense and are widely used in industrial applications. Terpene hydrocarbon scaffolds are generated by the action of the mechanistically intriguing family of mono-, sesqui-, and diterpene synthases collectively termed as terpene synthases, that catalyze multistep reactions with diphosphorylated substrates of 10 (geranyl diphosphate), 15 (farnesyl diphosphate) or 20 (geranylgeranyl diphosphate) carbons. In the studied work, we performed a computational study on proteome wide identification of terpene synthase motifs in Arabidopsis thaliana proteome on the basis of weight matrix approach. We have developed an optimal weight matrix for the identification of terpene synthase motifs in the plant’s proteome. Weight matrix was constructed by aligning orthologous sequences of known terpene synthases originated from diverse plant species viz., Abies grandis, Nicotiana tobaccum etc. Sequences of detected domains & motifs were retrieved through SwissProtKB/NCBI on the basis of specific conservation IDs of Prosite, Pfam, Interpro, Prodom, COG, TIGR databases, while position specific scoring matrices were made through MEME, MotifSampler, PossuMsearch tools. Weight matrix based search of conserved motifs in the proteome of A. thaliana was done through ESA, Lahead and Simple algorithm based search tools of PossuMsearch biosuite in Linux system. Prediction was first validated by using positive control data set and optimized the method to reach prediction accuracy upto >90%. After tool performance evaluation, prediction was made on whole proteome at specific threshold/score value. Significant results were found in A. thaliana with motif similarity ranges from 80% to 100%. This proteome wide search model paves the path to identify more terpene synthases genes in A. thaliana, as well as in other plant systems

The Potential Impact of implementing Project Management strategies in Real Estate SMEs of Pakistan: a Case Study of Sahir Associates Pvt Ltd.

2013 dissertation for MSc in Project Management. Selected by academic staff as a good example of a masters level dissertation. Project Management demand has increased rapidly in today’s world. This phenomenon enables companies to achieve the need of cost effective, fast and quality oriented project deliveries. Many academics have published their work in the field of project management but most of the work is based on large organizations. This research is an attempt to evaluate project management implementation in Small and Medium entities (SMEs) in real estate sector of Pakistan. The research is based on a case study on Sahir Associates Pvt Ltd, a real estate company based in Lahore. In order to collect data from the company a series of semi-structured interviews (qualitative method) has been conducted with the company CEO and selected employees. The data collected from these interviews and a review on literature, a potential model for implementing project management in real estate SMEs of Pakistan has been established. The model shows how three basic objectives of project management which are time, cost and quality can be achieved by structural changes in the company. These changes include cost management, quality criteria, use of technology and use of modern Project Management principle PRINCE2.Similarly the study attempt to answer all research questions raised in the 1st chapter of the study with all the limitation and challenges during the research. Finally using the model, the research highlights on further recommendations for Sahir Associates Pvt Ltd and for the industry overall

Effects of Innovations on Margins of International Trade: Evidence with Firm Level Data of Selected South Asian Countries

In an increasingly globalized world, firms and countries are continuously striving for export competitiveness to increase their export shares in international markets. This study investigates the effects of different types of innovations on extensive and intensive margins of exports by using data of manufacturing firms operating in four South Asian countries. We use the probit, and fractional response model as estimation techniques. The results of the study reveal that process, management, and marketing innovations have positive and statistically significant effects on both extensive and intensive margins of exports. These results suggest that South Asian countries should facilitate firms to engage in innovative activities which provide a sustainable, competitive advantage for firms in international market

Effects of Innovations on Margins of International Trade: Evidence with Firm Level Data of Selected South Asian Countries

In an increasingly globalized world, firms and countries are continuously striving for export competitiveness to increase their export shares in international markets. This study investigates the effects of different types of innovations on extensive and intensive margins of exports by using data of manufacturing firms operating in four South Asian countries. We use the probit, and fractional response model as estimation techniques. The results of the study reveal that process, management, and marketing innovations have positive and statistically significant effects on both extensive and intensive margins of exports. These results suggest that South Asian countries should facilitate firms to engage in innovative activities which provide a sustainable, competitive advantage for firms in international market

ICT, FINANCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC GROWTH IN BRICS COUNTRIES

The development and transformation of advanced technologies are considered vital for maintaining competitive economic growth and to have treasure and capacity of more efficient energy in the region. This has attracted many researchers and policy makers to explore the impact of ICT and other digital technologies to check their contribution in the country’s economic growth and sustainability. In lieu of these connections, the study aims to explore the impact of ICT and financial development on economic growth of BRICS countries. We analyzed the data of these countries from 2000 to 2018. The data was checked for the penal protocol procedures and hypothesis were tasted using Quantile Regression. The outcomes of the study revealed that all dimensions of ICT i.e. ICT-Tel, ICT-Mob and ICT-Net have positive significant effect of the GDP of BRICS countries. The results also highlight the impact of financial development on economic growth and reported positive significant impact of financial development on the economic growth of this region. The results are expected to be very meaningful for the relevant regulatory bodies and specially the economic think tank of these countries. &nbsp

Polymer Hydrogels for Wastewater Treatment

The pollution of water resources turns into a worldwide problem because of the indiscriminate disposal of pollutants both organic and inorganic in nature. It stays hard to manner or control the purification of wastewater before it flows to water reservoirs. The growing interest in the improvement and application of novel hydrogels in wastewater remedy is due to its particular chemical characteristics along with hydrophilicity, sensitivity, and functionality. Hydrogels exhibit superior overall performance inside the adsorptive removal of a wide variety of aqueous pollutants along with heavy metals, nutrients, and toxic dyes. In this chapter, we are focusing on the behavior and importance of the hydrogels used so far for the removal of both organic and inorganic pollutants from wastewater. With this contribution, we will be able to elaborate the answer for why these hydrogels are superior than other materials used for the same purpose. More attention is given to the removal of heavy metal ions from wastewater using different hydrogel systems

動物培養細胞を用いた超高純度鉄の生体適合性に関する研究

Tohoku University東谷篤志課

Passivity-based Rieman Liouville fractional order sliding mode control of three phase inverter in a grid-connected photovoltaic system

Photovoltaic (PV) system parameters are always non-linear due to variable environmental conditions. The Maximum power point tracking (MPPT) is difficult under multiple uncertainties, disruptions and the occurrence of time-varying stochastic conditions. Therefore, Passivity based Fractional order Sliding-Mode controller (PBSMC) is proposed to examine and develop a storage function in error tracking for PV power and direct voltage in this research work. A unique sliding surface for Fractional Order Sliding Mode Control (FOSMC) framework is proposed and its stability and finite time convergence is proved by implementing Lyapunov stability method. An additional input of sliding mode control (SMC) is also added to a passive system to boost the controller performance by removing the rapid uncertainties and disturbances. Therefore, PBSMC, along with globally consistent control efficiency under varying operating conditions is implemented with enhanced system damping and substantial robustness. The novelty of the proposed technique lies in a unique sliding surface for FOSMC framework based on Riemann Liouville (R-L) fractional calculus. Results have shown that the proposed control technique reduces the tracking error in PV output power, under variable irradiance conditions, by 81%, compared to fractional order proportional integral derivative (FOPID) controller. It is reduced by 39%, when compared to passivity based control (PBC) and 28%, when compared to passivity based FOPID (EPBFOPID). The proposed technique led to the least total harmonic distortion in the grid side voltage and current. The tracking time of PV output power is 0.025 seconds in PBSMC under varying solar irradiance, however FOPID, PBC, EPBFOPID, have failed to converge fully. Similarly the dc link voltage has tracked the reference voltage in 0.05 seconds however the rest of the methods either could not converge, or converged after significant amount of time. During solar irradiance and temperature change, the photovoltaic output power has converged in 0.018 seconds using PBSMC, however remaining methods failed to converge or track fully and the dc link voltage has minimum tracking error due to PBSMC as compared to the other methods. Furthermore, the photovoltaic output power converges to the reference power in 0.1 seconds in power grid voltage drop, whereas other methods failed to converge fully. In addition power is also injected from the PV inverter into the grid at unity power factor

ROLE OF SPORTS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF SELECTED MOOD PROFILE: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF ATHLETES HAVING DIFFERENT DEMOGRAPHIC ATTRIBUTES

Background: Role of sports in the development of mood states or association between sports participation and different mood state is a topic debate for decades (Vitale, La Torre, Baldassarre, Piacentini, & Bonato, 2017). The main purpose of the study was role of sports in the development of selected mood profile: a comparative study of athletes having different demographic attributes. The hypotheses of the study were there is significant gender wise difference of athletes in selected mood profile, there is significant coaching style wise difference of athletes in selected mood profile, there is significant playing environment wise difference of athletes in selected mood profile and there is significant individual vs. team sports difference in selected mood profile of athletes. Methods: Total 1430 elite athletes were entertained using available sampling technique. Modified version of profile of mood states (POMs) was used as an instrument. Results: The researcher found that female score significantly better than male athletes in tension, depression anger, fatigue and confusion but not in vigor as well as athletes having supportive coach score better in total mood disturbance than athletes having controlling coach. Conclusions: The researcher concluded that the athlete who practicing in hot environment score better in total mood disturbance than athletes who played in cool environment. As well as the athletes from individual sports score better in total mood disturbance than team sports participant. The researcher recommended that the athletes should get special attention from the coach with special reference to psychological management of the athletes. The athletes should participate in individual sports to avoid tension depression and other psychological problems.  

ROLE OF SPORTS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF SELECTED MOOD PROFILE: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF ATHLETES HAVING DIFFERENT DEMOGRAPHIC ATTRIBUTES

Background: Role of sports in the development of mood states or association between sports participation and different mood state is a topic debate for decades (Vitale, La Torre, Baldassarre, Piacentini, & Bonato, 2017). The main purpose of the study was role of sports in the development of selected mood profile: a comparative study of athletes having different demographic attributes. The hypotheses of the study were there is significant gender wise difference of athletes in selected mood profile, there is significant coaching style wise difference of athletes in selected mood profile, there is significant playing environment wise difference of athletes in selected mood profile and there is significant individual vs. team sports difference in selected mood profile of athletes. Methods: Total 1430 elite athletes were entertained using available sampling technique. Modified version of profile of mood states (POMs) was used as an instrument. Results: The researcher found that female score significantly better than male athletes in tension, depression anger, fatigue and confusion but not in vigor as well as athletes having supportive coach score better in total mood disturbance than athletes having controlling coach. Conclusions: The researcher concluded that the athlete who practicing in hot environment score better in total mood disturbance than athletes who played in cool environment. As well as the athletes from individual sports score better in total mood disturbance than team sports participant. The researcher recommended that the athletes should get special attention from the coach with special reference to psychological management of the athletes. The athletes should participate in individual sports to avoid tension depression and other psychological problems.  Â