The CP12 protein family: a thioredoxin-mediated metabolic switch?

CP12 is a small, redox-sensitive protein, representatives of which are found in most photosynthetic organisms, including cyanobacteria, diatoms, red and green algae, and higher plants. The only clearly defined function for CP12 in any organism is in the thioredoxin-mediated regulation of the Calvin-Benson cycle. CP12 mediates the formation of a complex between glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) and phosphoribulokinase (PRK) in response to changes in light intensity. Under low light, the formation of the GAPDH/PRK/CP12 complex results in a reduction in the activity of both PRK and GAPDH and, under high light conditions, thioredoxin mediates the disassociation of the complex resulting in an increase in both GAPDH and PRK activity. Although the role of CP12 in the redox-mediated formation of the GAPDH/PRK/CP12 multiprotein complex has been clearly demonstrated, a number of studies now provide evidence that the CP12 proteins may play a wider role. In Arabidopsis thaliana CP12 is expressed in a range of tissue including roots, flowers, and seeds and antisense suppression of tobacco CP12 disrupts metabolism and impacts on growth and development. Furthermore, in addition to the higher plant genomes which encode up to three forms of CP12, analysis of cyanobacterial genomes has revealed that, not only are there multiple forms of the CP12 protein, but that in these organisms CP12 is also found fused to cystathionine-β-synthase domain containing proteins. In this review we present the latest information on the CP12 protein family and explore the possibility that CP12 proteins form part of a redox-mediated metabolic switch, allowing organisms to respond to rapid changes in the external environment. © 2014 López-Calcagno, Howard and Raines

Feeding the world: improving photosynthetic efficiency for sustainable crop production

A number of recent studies have provided strong support demonstrating that improving the photosynthetic processes through genetic engineering can provide an avenue to improve yield potential. The major focus of this review is on improvement of the Calvin–Benson cycle and electron transport. Consideration is also given to how altering regulatory process may provide an additional route to increase photosynthetic efficiency. Here we summarize some of the recent successes that have been observed through genetic manipulation of photosynthesis, showing that, in both the glasshouse and the field, yield can be increased by >40%. These results provide a clear demonstration of the potential for increasing yield through improvements in photosynthesis. In the final section, we consider the need to stack improvement in photosynthetic traits with traits that target the yield gap in order to provide robust germplasm for different crops across the globe

Disintegrability under composting conditions of plasticized PLA-PHB blends

The disintegration under composting conditions of films based on poly(lactic acid) poly(hydroxybutyrate) (PLA-PHB) blends and intended for food packaging was studied. Two different plasticizers, poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and acetyl-tri-n-butyl citrate (ATBC), were used to limit the inherent brittleness of both biopolymers. Neat PLA, plasticized PLA and PLA-PHB films were processed by melt-blending and compression molding and they were further treated under composting conditions in a laboratory-scale test at 58 +/- 2 degrees C. Disintegration levels were evaluated by monitoring their weight loss at different times: 0, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days. Morphological changes in all formulations were followed by optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The influence of plasticizers on the disintegration of PLA and PLA-PHB blends was studied by evaluating their thermal and nanomechanical properties by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and the nanoindentation technique, respectively. Meanwhile, structural changes were followed by Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The ability of PHB to act as nucleating agent in PLA-PHB blends slowed down the PLA disintegration, while plasticizers speeded it up. The relationship between the mesolactide to lactide forms of PLA was calculated with a Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry device (Py-GC/MS), revealing that the mesolactide form increased during composting. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Authors thank Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness by financial support (MAT2011-28468-C02-01 and MAT2011-28468-C02-02). M.P. Arrieta thanks Generalitat Valenciana for Santiago Grisolia Fellowship (2011/007). Authors gratefully acknowledge Prof. Ma Dolores Salvador (Polytechnic University of Valencia) for her assistance with nanomechanical and optical microscope analysis.Arrieta, MP.; López Martínez, J.; Rayón Encinas, E.; Jiménez, A. (2014). Disintegrability under composting conditions of plasticized PLA-PHB blends. Polymer Degradation and Stability. 108:307-318. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2014.01.034S30731810

Lista de Peces de la provincia de San Luis

Fil: Nadalin, Diego Oscar. División Zoología Vertebrados. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Garelis, Patricia A.. Facultad de Química. Bioquímica y Farmacia. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. San Luis; ArgentinaFil: Fernández, Luis A.. Fundación Miguel Lillo.Tucumán; ArgentinaFil: Bustamente, Gustavo J.. Facultad de Química. Bioquímica y Farmacia. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. San Luis; ArgentinaFil: López, Hugo Luis. División Zoología Vertebrados. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; Argentin

In vitro establishment of Salvia hispanica L. plants and callus

El presente trabajo describe la optimización para el establecimiento y mantenimiento de plantas y callos deSalvia hispanica L. (Chia). El establecimiento de los cultivos in vitro se realizó a partir de secciones de tallos.Tanto el AIA como ANA indujeron el desarrollo de raíces adventicias utilizadas a diferentes concentracionessolas o en combinación con citoquininas en condiciones de luz u oscuridad. En oscuridad, la adición de 2,4-D (2.25 μM) indujo el desarrollo de tejido embriogénico, y en iluminación fue promovida la iniciación y elestablecimiento de callos con una alta tasa de crecimiento, los cuales, al principio, fueron verdes pero a lolargo del tiempo fueron perdiendo friabilidad. Por el contrario, cuando se subcultivaron en medio de cultivo MScon las combinaciones de reguladores de crecimiento NAA: kin (0.54 μM:0.46 μM) o Picloram (1.72 μM, 3.43μM) indujeron la formación de callos y mantuvieron su condición de friables por más de dos años. Fue posibledetectar la presencia de aceites esenciales en los callos pero los valores registrados fueron significativamentemenores que en las semillas.Fil: Marconi, Patricia L. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología Dr. César Milstein (CONICET); ArgentinaFil: López, María C. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Industrial. INTI-Agroalimentos; ArgentinaFil: De Meester, Jürgen. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología Dr. César Milstein (CONICET); ArgentinaFil: Bovjin, Celia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología Dr. César Milstein (CONICET); ArgentinaFil: Alvarez, María A. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología Dr. César Milstein (CONICET); Argentin

Rules of engagement: The role of mistreatment from patients in the nurse, physician and advanced practice provider experience

The objective of this study is to examine the incidence of reported stress due to mistreatment by patients toward clinicians and the role of mistreatment from patients along with organizational factors in clinician distress. A survey of clinicians was conducted at a large academic medical center, resulting in a final analytic sample of 1,682 physicians, nurses, advanced practice providers and clinical support staff. Nurses reported the greatest incidence of mistreatment by patients as a major stressor (18.69%), followed by Advanced Practice Providers (11.26%), Clinical Support Staff (10.36%), and Physicians (7.69%). Logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine the relationship of individual- and organization-level characteristics with the odds of reporting mistreatment from patients as a major stressor. Overall findings indicate that nurses and those who work in the ER and ambulatory or outpatient clinics were more likely to be stressed from mistreatment by patients than other clinicians. Stress due to mistreatment by patients was also associated with higher Well-Being Index (WBI) distress scores, rapid changes in workflows or policies, ongoing care of COVID-19 patients, under-staffing, and low perceived organizational support. Gender or sexual minorities (not identifying as male or female) and younger (18-34 years of age) healthcare workers were also more likely to experience stress from mistreatment by patients. Individual resilience was not statistically significantly associated with reported stress from mistreatment by patients. Organizations must examine expectations for patient and visitor behavior in tandem with service standards for clinicians toward patients. Experience Framework This article is associated with the Staff & Provider Engagement lens of The Beryl Institute Experience Framework (https://www.theberylinstitute.org/ExperienceFramework). Access other PXJ articles related to this lens. Access other resources related to this lens

Graphene materials with different structures prepared from the same graphite by the Hummers and Brodie methods

[EN] Graphene materials containing different functional groups were prepared from a natural graphite, by means of two different oxidation methods (Hummers and Brodie). It was observed that the differences in the structure of the resultant graphite oxides (GOs) greatly affect the structure of the graphenes resulting from their thermal exfoliation/reduction. Although the oxidation of the graphite was more effective with the modified Hummers method than with Brodie’s method (C/O of 1.8 vs 2.9, as determined by XPS), the former generated a lower residual oxygen content after thermal exfoliation/reduction and a better reconstruction of the 2D graphene structure (with fewer defects). This is explained by the presence of conjugated epoxy and hydroxyl groups in the GO obtained by Brodie’s method, which upon thermal treatment, lead to the incorporation of oxygen into the carbon lattice preventing its complete restoration. Additionally, graphene materials obtained with Brodie’s method exhibit, in general, smaller sheet size and larger surface area.The authors thank MICINN and European Union (CONSOLIDER INGENIO 2010, Ref. CSD2009-00050, MAT2010-16194) for their financial support. Dr. Patricia Alvarez thanks MICINN for her Ramon y Cajal contract.Peer reviewe

Applicability of Clinical Decision Support in Management among Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery in Intensive Care Unit: A Systematic Review

[Abstract] The advances achieved in recent decades regarding cardiac surgery have led to a new risk that goes beyond surgeons’ dexterity; postoperative hours are crucial for cardiac surgery patients and are usually spent in intensive care units (ICUs), where the patients need to be continuously monitored to adjust their treatment. Clinical decision support systems (CDSSs) have been developed to take this real-time information and provide clinical suggestions to physicians in order to reduce medical errors and to improve patient recovery. In this review, an initial total of 499 papers were considered after identification using PubMed, Web of Science, and CINAHL. Twenty-two studies were included after filtering, which included the deletion of duplications and the exclusion of titles or abstracts that were not of real interest. A review of these papers concluded the applicability and advances that CDSSs offer for both doctors and patients. Better prognosis and recovery rates are achieved by using this technology, which has also received high acceptance among most physicians. However, despite the evidence that well-designed CDSSs are effective, they still need to be refined to offer the best assistance possible, which may still take time, despite the promising models that have already been applied in real ICUs.Xunta de Galicia; ED431C 2018/4

Diversidad y estructura de un robledal en la reserva biológica Cachalú, Encino (Santander­Colombia)

We analyzed diversity, structure and preliminary plant dynamics features (mortality and recruitment) of a one ha permanent plot in an oak forest, at the Reserva Biológica Cachalú, at an altitude of between 2100 and 2200 m. The plot was established in 2007, when all plant individuals with dbh 10 cm (irst category) were tagged, measured and plotted. All individuals 1 and 10 cm dbh (second category) were sampled in an area of 0.2 ha within the plot. In the last census (July 2009), we found 453 individuals, 23 families, 26 genera and 34 species from the irst Category and 624 individuals, 34 families, 60 genera and 80 species from the second. The species-area curve showed a value of R2= 0.97. According to the structure analysis, most of the individuals, mainly treelets, were accumulated in the irst diameter, showing an up-turned "J" distribution, which illustrates early forest stages. Between the plot establishment and the irst census (1.5 yr) the basal area of the irst category decreased 1.61% while the second increased 36.6%. The most important species according to IVI were Quercus humboldtii, Clusia schomburgkiana and Blakea cuatrecasii. Mortality and recruitment rates for the irst category were 0.96% y 1%, respectively and in the second category these values were 2.8% y 12.2% respectively. During 1.5 yr new gaps appeared within the plot, which is associated with the decrease in total basal area. Despite high similarity in species composition compared with other neotropical montane forests, the dynamics and structure of the community in the present study appear to be distinct.Se analiza la diversidad, la estructura y los aspectos relacionados con la dinámica (datos preliminares de mortalidad y de reclutamiento) de un robledal, provenientes de una parcela permanente de 1 ha, en la Reserva Biológica Cachalú, entre 2100 y 2200 m de altitud. Durante el establecimiento en el 2007 se marcaron, midieron y mapearon los individuos con DAP10 cm (primera categoría), y en 0.2 ha con 1 DAP 10 cm (segunda categoría). Durante el primer censo (julio de 2009) se encontraron 453 individuos, 34 especies, 26 géneros y 23 familias en la primera categoría y 624 individuos, 80 especies, 60 géneros y 34 familias en la segunda. La curva especies-área mostró un valor R2=0.97. En estructura, la distribución de diámetros tuvo una evidente acumulación de individuos en las primeras clases de tamaño que en su mayoría corresponden a arbolitos, mostrando una distribución de "J" invertida, lo cual evidencia los estados tempranos de crecimiento del bosque. Entre el establecimiento y el primer censo realizado (1.5 años) se encontró que el área basal disminuyó 1.61% (13.99 m2ha-1 a 13.76 m2ha-1) en la primera categoría y aumentó 36.96% (0.51 a 0.70 m2) en la segunda. Las especies más importantes de acuerdo al IVI fueron Quercus humboldtii, Clusia schomburgkiana y Blakea cuatrecasii. Las tasas de mortalidad y reclutamiento fueron de 0.96% y 1%, en la primera categoría y de 2.80% y 12.20% en la segunda. Durante este periodo de tiempo se presentaron nuevos claros en la parcela, lo cual se releja en la disminución del área basal total. A pesar de la similitud lorística del robledal estudiado con otros bosques montanos neotropicales, diieren algunas características estructura y de dinámica

AGREE-S: AGREE II extension for surgical interventions – United European Gastroenterology and European Association for Endoscopic Surgery methodological guide

Evidence; Guidelines; QualityEvidencia; Pautas; CalidadEvidència; Pautes; QualitatBackground The Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE) II instrument has been developed to inform the methodology, reporting and appraisal of clinical practice guidelines. Evidence suggests that the quality of surgical guidelines can be improved, and the structure and content of AGREE II can be modified to help enhance the quality of guidelines of surgical interventions. Objective To develop an extension of AGREE II specifically designed for guidelines of surgical interventions. Methods In the tripartite Guideline Assessment Project (GAP) funded by United European Gastroenterology and the European Association for Endoscopic Surgery, (i) we assessed the quality of surgical guidelines and we identified factors associated with higher quality (GAP I); (ii) we applied correlation analysis, factor analysis and the item response theory to inform an adaption of AGREE II for the purposes of surgical guidelines (GAP II); and (iii) we developed an AGREE II extension for surgical interventions, informed by the results of GAP I, GAP II, and a Delphi process of stakeholders, including representation from interventional and surgical disciplines; the Guideline International Network (GIN); the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) Working Group; the Enhancing the QUAlity and Transparency Of health Research (EQUATOR) initiative; and representation of surgical journal editors and patient/public. Results We developed AGREE-S, an AGREE II extension for surgical interventions, which comprises 24 items organized in 6 domains; Scope and purpose, Stakeholders, Evidence synthesis, Development of recommendations, Editorial independence, and Implementation and update. The panel of stakeholders proposed 3 additional items: development of a guideline protocol, consideration of practice variability and surgical/interventional expertise in different settings, and specification of infrastructures required to implement the recommendations. Three of the existing items were amended, 7 items were rearranged among the domains, and one item was removed. The domain Rigour of Development was divided into domains on Evidence Synthesis and Development of Recommendations. The new domain Development of Recommendations incorporates items from the original AGREE II domain Clarity of Presentation. Conclusion AGREE-S is an evidence-based and stakeholder-informed extension of the AGREE II instrument, that can be used as a guide for the development and adaption of guidelines on surgical interventions.The Guideline Assessment Project (GAP) III received financial support from the United European Gastroenterology (UEG) and the European Association for Endoscopic Surgery and Other Interventional Techniques (EAES), both non-profit organizations. The funders had no role in the design or development of this project