Export of honeybee prepromelittin in Escherichia coli depends on the membrane potential but does not depend on proteins secA and secY

Honeybee prepromelittin (70 amino acid residues), the precursor of an eukaryotic secretory protein, and a hybrid protein between prepromelittin and mouse dihydrofolate reductase (257 amino acid residues) were expressed in Escherichia coli and characterized with respect to their requirements for transport across the plasma membrane. Both precursor proteins are posttranslationally processed and exported into the periplasm, and they both depend on the membrane potential for this to occur. With respect to dependence on components of the export machinery, however, the two precursor proteins show striking differences: the small precursor protein prepromelittin does not require the function of proteins secA and secY; the large precursor protein prepromelittin-dihydrofolate reductase, on the other hand, depends on both components. The implications of these observations with respect to the mechanisms of protein export in E. coli and of protein import into the endoplasmic reticulum are discussed

Complementary feeding practices and the risk of exposure to aflatoxins among infants and young children in Kongwa, Tanzania

A Thesis Submitted in Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Life Sciences of the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and TechnologyAflatoxins (AFs) are secondary fungal metabolites that commonly contaminate foods like nuts and cereals and pose major public health concerns like impaired child growth, immune system suppression, liver cancer and death. In sub-Saharan Africa, infants and young children (IYC) feed on complementary foods (CFs) containing ingredients susceptible to contamination with AFs. Although the presence of AFs in foodstuffs has been reported for over 60 years, very few studies have focused on CFs, yet children are more vulnerable due to relatively small bodyweights and underdeveloped immune systems. This study was conducted in Kongwa District, Tanzania in 2017 and 2018, to estimate the contribution of the main CF ingredients to aflatoxin exposure among IYC. The study documented the common ingredients of CFs and the intake of CFs by 35 (6-12- month-old) IYC using multiple-pass 24-h dietary recalls. The levels of AFs contamination in the collected samples were determined using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography while the exposure of IYC to AFs was estimated by a deterministic approach. The study further tested acceptability of Aflatoxin-safe maize-groundnut pre-blended flour (AFSaBF) and groundnut powder (AFSaGP). The key ingredients of CFs were milled maize, sorghum, pearl-millet, rice, and groundnuts (pre- or post-blended with cereals) prepared as thin/stiff porridge. The average per-capita daily intake of CFs flour was 89.45 g. About 82.14% of the samples had AFB1 levels ranging from 0.27–317 μg/kg, and the exposure levels ranged from 0.33-1168 ng/kg body weight (bw)/day. The Margins of Exposure were < 10 000 for all IYC, signifying a public health concern. The mothers and IYC generally accepted the improved porridge flour and groundnut powder. This is important information for future studies aiming at reducing exposure to AFs in this community. Groundnut and maize flours are the main contributors to the exposure of IYC to AFB1 in Kongwa district. Community education on mycotoxins-mitigation practices like appropriate pre and post harvest handling and complementary feeding practices may minimize aflatoxin exposure among IYC in Kongwa and other communities with similar settings. Appropriate feeding practices may entail diet diversification and substitution of groundnut or maize with other food ingredients that are less-prone to AFs contamination

The developmental sequence of communication strategies

Die vorliegende Arbeit beschäftigt sich mit Unterschieden, die in Bezug auf die Verwendung von Kommunikationsstrategien (communication strategies) zwischen Lernergruppen, die sich an verschiedenen Stadien ihrer Fremdsprachenentwicklung befinden, auftreten. Um die Sprachproduktion in einem möglichst natürlichen Umfeld zu beobachten, wurde Unterrichtsdiskurse in CLIL (content and language integrated learning) bzw. EaA (Englisch als Arbeitssprache) Lernumgebungen aufgezeichnet und analysiert. Die Arbeit umfasst einen theoretischen, sowie einen empirischen Teil. Der theoretische Teil beschäftigt sich mit verschiedenen theoretischen Konzeptionen und Definitionen sowie verschiedenen Arten von Strategien, insbesondere Kommunikationsstrategien und vergleicht diese miteinander. Im Laufe des empirischen Teils wird der Frage nachgegangen, inwiefern sich Anfänger und fortgeschrittene Lernende in Bezug auf die Verwendung von Kommunikationsstrategien unterscheiden. Die im Rahmen der Studie erzielten Ergebnisse lassen darauf schließen, dass Lernende die sich an verschiedenen Stadien ihrer Fremdsprachentwicklung befinden nicht nur in Bezug auf die Quantität und Qualität der verwendeten Kommunikationsstrategien variieren sondern auch teils, ähnliche Strategien für unterschiedliche Zwecke verwenden.The paper at hand addresses what Elaine Bialystok (1990: vii) referred to as “a very simple problem” which is: How do foreign language learners of English manage to communicate in spite of their not fully developed language competence. The answer to this question is relatively simple on first glance – they use a certain set of strategies. These strategies are usually referred to as communication strategies and as such defined as those strategies of language use which assist the individual in solving various problems he or she might experience in foreign language production. Recent research on the topic in question has shown that learners at different proficiency levels use those strategies differently. The present study investigates how Austrian foreign language learners use communication strategies in their everyday classroom interactions. To render a comprehensive picture on the subject matter, language production by two learner groups who are at different stages in their interlanguage development have been investigated and the findings analysed with regard to a framework based on Faerch and Kasper’s (1983) and Elaine Bialystok’s (1983) work. The results of the study were similar to findings previously obtained. Communication strategy use by high and low proficiency learners differs with regard to quality and quantity, i.e. beginning learners display a tendency to use a higher number and a different type of communication strategies then more advanced learners. Furthermore, the data also indicates that when it comes to the use of individual communication strategies, beginning and advanced learners appear to use the particular strategies for different reasons

Smart Energy Supply Conception for the urban development area of aspern Seestadt (Vienna)

The paper describes the Smart Energy Supply Conception for the northern part of the urban development area aspern Seestadt in Vienna. It illustrates concrete options and potentials by different scenarios for the actual implementation of a future innovative energy system. The final conception was elaborated in the framework of a research project (Transform+) in cooperation with local key stakeholders and experts in the field of planning and energy research, public administration, including Vienna´s energy supply company and the responsible development agency. With the transformation of the former airfield of Aspern, the city of Vienna aims for a new quality in urban development, providing a new urban area with major central functions which is supposed to stimulate neighbouring quarters as much as the way urban development is being done in general. One of the main priorities in this context is the strive for high quality of life for future residents, combined with the important aspect of affordability. The masterplan foresees the development of a multifunctional area with a mix of residential, office, scientific, research and educational uses. By 2030, the area of aspern Seestadt (223 ha) shall be developed for 26,000 residents and offer 23,000 jobs. The masterplan for aspern Seestadt as well as the activities and measures set by the development agency Wien 3420 Aspern Development AG have been guided by the vision of an ecological, resource-friendly and climate neutral city from the beginning. This aim is also in accordance with the ‘Smart City Framework Strategy of Vienna’ passed in 2014 after the start of the implementation of aspern Seestadt (first phase). Within the context of the project Transform+, different options for a smart energy supply have been elaborated for the second implementation phase of urban development, named aspern Seestadt North. Here, in an area designed for 7,000 new apartments and 14,000 jobs, it was the main challenge to take the step from research on innovative future energy systems to a complete roll-out in an urban area to be developed in near future. In order to estimate future energy consumption (heating, cooling, electricity) and different options of energy supply and local renewable energy production, several ‘smart city’ scenarios were elaborated and compared against a ‘business as usual’ scenario. An important component in all ‘smart city’ scenarios is the share of renewable energy, for which a quanti¬tative target has been defined in the Smart City Framework Strategy for the city of Vienna (50% until 2050). To contribute to Vienna´s Smart City aims, aspern Seestadt North should strive to gain a high share of its energy from locally available renewable energy sources and also offer high flexibility to make use of additional sources (e.g. from potential future waste heat) in a later phase of implementation. In addition, total energy consumption and according CO2 emissions were critical factors for defining the final energy system configuration of the ‘smart city’ scenarios. As result, the elaborated ‘smart city’ scenarios show considerable potential for reducing energy consumption and significantly higher shares of renewable energy use compared to the ‘business as usual’ scenario, and therefore greatly reduced overall CO2 emissions. By implementing the ‘smart city’ scenarios, total energy consumption could be reduced by 39% against technical standards as in the ‘busines as usual’ scenario. Due to a higher use of local renewable energy supply the best ‘smart city’ scenario shows an overall CO2 emission reduction potential of up to 75%. Through the intensive cooperation process of the research team and the key stakeholders responsible for the development of the area, the Smart Energy Supply Conception laid a solid foundation for the relization of innovative future energy systems in aspern Seestadt

TRANSFORM – Governing the Smart City by Projects

With the recent ascendance of a sociology of public policy instruments (Le Gales & Lascoumes 2007), particular interest has been devoted towards understanding the emergence of the project as broadly indicative of wider transformations in strategic urban policy making (Pinson 2007, 2009, Beal 2010). Many Smart Cities are governed by research projects, and these are practically marked by an inherent tension. On one hand, the Smart City research project has the purpose of shaping consensus around acceptable “smart” urban futures, instituting new pluralist political spaces, in which scientific targets are always practically reversible if they do not fit consensus. On the other, the Smart city research project aims to scientifically evaluate what “right” choices have to be made to lead the city towards effective Smart City development in line with supranational targets and climate wisdoms. How can the Smart City research project shape consensus among a multiplicity of institutions, actors and groups while not compromising the scientific validity of the set targets and strategies? Drawing on the experiences of the project TRANSFORM in monitoring and shaping the transition strategies of six European cities, the aim of this paper is to elucidate some of the logics of strategic urban policy processes in their peculiar pathways towards the Smart City. In the course of the paper we would like to show how some of the tensions inherent in the role of Smart city research projects are practically addressed in the local framework of the project TRANSFORM and give a first tentative evaluation whether this has been successful so far. In the context of stagnant growth prospects and increased territorial competition, the urban project has become a primary vehicle for the promotion of local development. Newly build urban districts, such as Hamburg Hafencity or Aspern Seestadt in Vienna, mega events like the London Olympics, large scale revamps of urban public spaces such as the pedestrianization of Times Square, or the proliferation of cultural venues from the London Megadome to the old butcheries of Casablanca are prominent examples for the spread of the project form in urban policy making. Yet, while the urban project has become a preferred instrument of contemporary urban policy, it cannot be conceived of as a mere effect of the strategies it is embedded in but should be seen as a marker of the very advent of a project-based polis (Boltansky 1999) in which urban governance assumes the logic of the project itself. As has been argued elsewhere((Pinson 2005;2006; Brake 2000) it is a form of metropolitan governance whose primary purpose it is to shape consenus to scientificically elaborated urban development goals by substantively linking urban strategy and its implementation through the social mobilization of different actor constellations, thereby flexibly adjusting the strategic environment to changing external and internal circumstances, and monitoring the actions of local actors and their interests where they are generally segregated. Smart Cities are governed by research projects, and these are marked by an inherent tension. On one hand, the Smart City research project has the purpose of shaping consensus around an acceptable “smart” urban future instituting new pluralist political spaces, in which scientific targets are always practically reversible if they do not fit consensus. On the other, the Smart city research project aims to scientifically evaluate what “right” choices have to be made to lead the city towards effective Smart City development in line with supranational targets and climate wisdoms. How can the Smart City research project shape consensus among a multiplicity of institutions, actors and groups while not compromising the scientific validity of the set targets and strategies? Drawing on the experiences of the project TRANSFORM in monitoring and shaping the low-carbon transfromation strategies of six European cities, the aim of this paper is to elucidate some of the logics of strategic urban policy processes in their peculiar pathways towards the Smart City. Drawing on the experiences from the TRANSFORM cities in general and particularly from Vienna in formulating and experimenting their Smart City strategy, we would like to show how some of the tensions inherent in the role of Smart city research projects are practically addressed in the framework of the project TRANSFORM. In the first part we will provide a general theoretical background to the sociological analysis of the urban project, with particular focus on the challenges on the governance of local climate affairs. In the second part, we shall illustrate this by looking at the TRANSFORM project, first form a European perspective, then from the viewpoint of Vienna

HERITABILITY AND RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DROUGHT TOLERANCE TRAITS AND YIELD IN GROUNDNUTS (ARACHIS HYPOGAEA L.) UNDER DIFFERENT WATERING REGIMES

A research article article was submitted to Asian J Agri Biol, 2016, volume 4Improvement of groundnuts for drought tolerance could increase production in drought prone areas.This study aimed at determining the heritability estimates and relationship of HI and SCMR with yield and yield components using 30 groundnut genotypes planted under different watering regimes, so as to speed up the selection and breeding of groundnut genotypes tolerant to drought. A completely randomized design arranged in a split plot experiment with four replications was conducted in screen house in Morogoro, Tanzania. Data collection was done on plant height, number of pod/plant and pod yield/plant. Drought tolerant traits measured included, harvest index (HI), SCMR at 40, 60 and 80 DAS. Broad-sense heritability was calculated for HI, pod yield, number of pod/plant and SCMR. Results showed that number of pods/plant, SCMR at 60 DAS and HI were significantly related to pod yield in all watering condition. Heritability of the traits ranged from 0.22 to 0.59 with HI having highest value and number of pods lowest in WW while in WS condition heritability was generally lower from 0.04 to 0.45. Due to SCMR at 60 DAS, number of pods/plant and HI having moderate heritability and significant correlation with pod yield under water stress condition, these could be useful criteria in drought tolerance selection

Childhood dietary exposure of aflatoxins and fumonisins in Tanzania: A review

This research article published by Taylor & Francis Online, 2020Aflatoxins (AFs) and Fumonisins (FBs) are common contaminants of maize, from secondary metabolites of fungi. Presence of AFs and FBs in maize-based complimentary food is evident in various studies conducted in Tanzania and elsewhere. Consequently, Infant and Young children (IYC) aged between 6 and 24 months in Tanzania who consume monotonous maize-based foods are at a high risk of exposure to these toxins. The AF or FB exposures have been linked to low awareness and inadequate knowledge or limited skills of IYC feeding practices among mothers and caregivers. This review reveals that more researches are needed to identify appropriate feeding practices in Tanzania to improve child growth. Meanwhile, stakeholders should direct efforts on education to subsistence farmers including mothers and caregivers on interventions to minimize mycotoxin contamination of cereal and nut-based complementary foods in the country

Activation of bee venom phospholipase A2 through a peptide-enzyme complex

Phospholipase A2 activation by membrane‐bound peptides was investigated in order to understand the role of the membrane‐induced conformation on activation, and to examine the occurrence of a peptide‐enzyme complex at the lipid/water interface. For the peptides studies, bee venom phospholipase A2 was stimulated regardless of the membrane‐bound conformation (α‐helix, β‐sheet or random coil). Using antisera raised against melittin, we were able to demonstrate the occurrence of a calcium‐dependent complex involving the enzyme, phospholipid substrate, and peptide

Effect of glucocorticoids on the synthesis of antimicrobial peptides in amphibian skin

AbstractGene-encoded peptide antibiotics are widespread in insects, plants and vertebrates and confer protection against bacterial and fungal infections. NF-κB is an important transcription factor for many immunity-related mammalian proteins and also for insect immune genes. The activity of NF-κB is regulated by the interaction with an inhibitor, IκB. It was recently demonstrated that glucocorticoids induce the synthesis of IκB in human cell lines. So far, all genes for peptide antibiotics have promoter motifs with NF-κB binding sites, but its actual function in peptide regulation has been studied only in insects. Here we show that glucocorticoid treatment of the frog Rana esculenta inhibits the transcription of all genes encoding antibacterial peptides by inducing the synthesis of IκBα. These results suggest that also in vertebrates peptide-mediated innate immunity is controlled by NF-κB-regulated transcription