Studies on Shrink -Wrapping and Low-Oxygen Storage of \u27Beauregard\u27 Sweet Potatoes (Ipomoea Batatas (L.) Lam.).

The applicability of using shrink-wrap films in sweetpotato storage was investigated. \u27Beauregard\u27 sweetpotatoes were individually wrapped in either Cryovac D955, Clysar EHC50, Clysar EHC60 or Clysar EHC75 shrink-wrap film and a nonwrapped control. Roots were also overwrapped in 2.3-kg packages using Cryovac D955 or Clysar EHC75 films. Wrapped and nonwrapped roots were stored at either 7°C, 15.6°C or 22°C for five weeks followed by one week at 22°C. Shrink-wrapped roots exhibited increased sprouting. Roots wrapped in EHC75 film had less weight loss and increased sucrose compared to the other films. Shrink-wrapped roots were higher in sucrose content but were not different in reducing sugars, dry matter content or alcohol-insoluble solids than the nonwrapped controls. In another study, roots were dipped in 35, 45, 65, or 75°C water for 2, 5, 8, or 11 min to determine the effect of hot water treatment on root quality and composition. Higher water temperatures caused increased rate of respiration, weight loss, and reducing sugars (fructose and glucose), but a decreased sucrose concentration. The 55°C treatment for 5 min provided the most superior root appearance. Another study was conducted to investigate the applicability of hot water treatment to control decay in shrink-wrapped sweetpotatoes. Roots were dipped in 2,6,-dichloro-4-nitroaniline, hot water (55°C for 5 min), a combination of the two treatments, or untreated before placing in 2.3-kg consumer packages overwrapped with Clysar D955 film. Hot water and fungicide treatments reduced root decay and maintained a superior root appearance. Hot water treatment also inhibited sprouting. To investigate the effect of low-oxygen on sweetpotatoes, roots were held under 0, 1, 1.5, 2, 5, 10 or 21% O2 (balance N2) for 14 days at room temperature. Storage at 1.5, 2, 5, and 10% O2 resulted in a reduced root respiration rate compared with 0, 1, and 21% O 2. Ethanol and acetaldehyde accumulated at 0% and 1% O2, corresponding to increased alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and pyruvate decarboxylase (PDC) activities. Sucrose and total sugar concentration increased under low-oxygen while reducing sugars (fructose and glucose) and pH decreased

Service Quality in the Hospitality Industry: A Case of Merit Crystal Cove Hotel for Employees

Abstrac

Structural evidence for Arabidopsis glutathione transferase AtGSTF2 functioning as a transporter of small organic ligands

Glutathione transferases (GSTs) are involved in many processes in plant biochemistry, with their best characterised role being the detoxification of xenobiotics through their conjugation with glutathione. GSTs have also been implicated in noncatalytic roles, including the binding and transport of small heterocyclic ligands such as indole hormones, phytoalexins and flavonoids. Although evidence for ligand binding and transport has been obtained using gene deletions and ligand binding studies on purified GSTs, there has been no structural evidence for the binding of relevant ligands in noncatalytic sites. Here we provide evidence of noncatalytic ligand-binding sites in the phi class GST from the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, AtGSTF2, revealed by X-ray crystallography. Complexes of the AtGSTF2 dimer were obtained with indole-3-aldehyde, camalexin, the flavonoid quercetrin and its non-rhamnosylated analogue quercetin, at resolutions of 2.00, 2.77, 2.25 and 2.38 Å respectively. Two symmetry-equivalent-binding sites (L1) were identified at the periphery of the dimer, and one more (L2) at the dimer interface. In the complexes, indole-3-aldehyde and quercetrin were found at both L1 and L2 sites, but camalexin was found only at the L1 sites and quercetin only at the L2 site. Ligand binding at each site appeared to be largely determined through hydrophobic interactions. The crystallographic studies support previous conclusions made on ligand binding in noncatalytic sites by AtGSTF2 based on isothermal calorimetry experiments (Dixon et al. (2011) Biochem J438, 63-70) and suggest a mode of ligand binding in GSTs commensurate with a possible role in ligand transport

Immune-related pan-cancer gene expression signatures of patient survival revealed by NanoString-based analyses

The immune system plays a central role in the onset and progression of cancer. A better understanding of transcriptional changes in immune cell-related genes associated with cancer progression, and their significance in disease prognosis, is therefore needed. NanoString-based targeted gene expression profiling has advantages for deployment in a clinical setting over RNA-seq technologies. We analysed NanoString PanCancer Immune Profiling panel gene expression data encompassing 770 genes, and overall survival data, from multiple previous studies covering 10 different cancer types, including solid and blood malignancies, across 515 patients. This analysis revealed an immune gene signature comprising 39 genes that were upregulated in those patients with shorter overall survival; of these 39 genes, three (MAGEC2, SSX1 and ULBP2) were common to both solid and blood malignancies. Most of the genes identified have previously been reported as relevant in one or more cancer types. Using Cibersort, we investigated immune cell levels within individual cancer types and across groups of cancers, as well as in shorter and longer overall survival groups. Patients with shorter survival had a higher proportion of M2 macrophages and γδ T cells. Patients with longer overall survival had a higher proportion of CD8+ T cells, CD4+ T memory cells, NK cells and, unexpectedly, T regulatory cells. Using a transcriptomics platform with certain advantages for deployment in a clinical setting, our multi-cancer meta-analysis of immune gene expression and overall survival data has identified a specific transcriptional profile associated with poor overall survival

A TSC22-like motif defines a novel antiapoptotic protein family

The apoptotic programme is evolutionarily conserved between yeast and metazoan organisms. We have previously identified a number of mammalian cDNAs capable of suppressing the deleterious effects of Bax expression in yeast. We herein report that one such suppressor, named Tsc22(86), represents the C-terminal 86 amino acids of the previously characterized leucine zipper (LZ) motif-containing transcriptional regulator Tsc22. Employing a genome-wide two-hybrid screen, functional genomics, and deletion mutagenesis approaches, we conclude that Tsc22(86)-mediated antiapoptosis is independent of the LZ motif and is likely independent of effects on gene transcription. Rather, a 16-residue sequence within the conserved 56-residue TSC22 domain is necessary for antiapoptosis. The presence of a similar sequence was used to predict an antiapoptotic role for two yeast proteins, Sno1p and Fyv10p. Overexpression and knock-out experiments were used to validate this prediction. These findings demonstrate the potential of studying heterologous proteins in yeast to uncover novel biological insights into the regulation of apoptosis

Genomes of cryptic chimpanzee Plasmodium species reveal key evolutionary events leading to human malaria

African apes harbour at least six Plasmodium species of the subgenus Laverania, one of which gave rise to human Plasmodium falciparum. Here we use a selective amplification strategy to sequence the genome of chimpanzee parasites classified as Plasmodium reichenowi and Plasmodium gaboni based on the subgenomic fragments. Genome-wide analyses show that these parasites indeed represent distinct species, with no evidence of cross-species mating. Both P. reichenowi and P. gaboni are 10-fold more diverse than P. falciparum, indicating a very recent origin of the human parasite. We also find a remarkable Laverania-specific expansion of a multigene family involved in erythrocyte remodelling, and show that a short region on chromosome 4, which encodes two essential invasion genes, was horizontally transferred into a recent P. falciparum ancestor. Our results validate the selective amplification strategy for characterizing cryptic pathogen species, and reveal evolutionary events that likely predisposed the precursor of P. falciparum to colonize humans

Fruit quality and composition, growth, water relations and postharvest performance of "Braeburn" apples (Malus domestica Borkh.) under reduced irrigation : a thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Horticultural Science at Massey University

Benefits of reduced irrigation in apple production include decreased costs, control of vegetative growth, possible improvement in fruit quality, and reduced leaching of nutrients and pesticides into ground water. This study was on the effects of withholding irrigation at different times of the growing season on water relations, photosynthesis, growth, fruit quality and composition, and postharvest performance of 'Braeburn' apples (Malus domestica Borkh.). Seven-year-old trees on MM. 106 rootstock were subjected to four irrigation treatments in a randomized complete block design. The treatments were: fully watered control (C); early withholding (EW) of irrigation from full bloom until 104 days after full bloom (DAFB); late withholding (LW) of irrigation from 104 DAFB up to final harvest at 194 DAFB; and nonirrigated (NI), where trees were not irrigated during the entire growing season. Trees not receiving irrigation at any stage developed a lower predawn and midday leaf water potential relative to the well-watered control. For LW and NI trees towards the end of the growing season, water stress caused a reduction in the rale of photosynthesis (Pn), stomatal conductance (gs), and the rate of transpiration. The reduction in Pn was caused by non-stomatal factors in addition to a reduction in gs. Withholding irrigation caused an increase in canopy temperature and canopy-air temperature difference in LW and NI possibly due to the reduction in the rate of transpiration. Fruit growth and fruit growth rate measured from 42 DAFB up to harvest were not affected by the treatments although shoot growth and increase in trunk circumference were significantly reduced by withholding irrigation during the early and entire season. Mean fruit weight at harvest and return bloom were reduced in EW and NI relative to C and LW. The treatments had no effect on total yield per tree, crop density or yield efficiency. At final harvest, total soluble solids, soluble sugars (fructose, sucrose, and sorbitol), flesh firmness, and red skin colour intensity were higher in NI and LW than in C. The concentration of glucose and minerals (N, P, Ca2+, Mg2+, and K+) in the fruit was not affected by the treatments. Withholding irrigation during the late and entire growing season resulted in more advanced fruit maturity as indicated by an earlier ethylene climacteric, more yellow background skin colour, and increased total soluble solids concentration. Firmness remained higher in LW and NI than in EW and C during a 12-week storage period at 1 °C. Weight loss was higher in C than in the reduced irrigation treatments. Skin permeance to water vapour was higher in C relative to EW and NI. This study showed that withholding irrigation late in the season may be used in apple production with improved fruit quality in terms of increased total soluble solids, firmness, soluble sugars, and intensified red skin colour without adverse effects on fruit size and yield. For the control of vegetative growth, withholding irrigation early in the season is best but this treatment may adversely affect fruit size. Reduced irrigation is also potentially beneficial in terms of reduced weight loss and increased firmness in storage