NTRC Plays a Crucial Role in Starch Metabolism, Redox Balance, and Tomato Fruit Growth

NADPH-thioredoxin reductase C (NTRC) forms a separate thiol-reduction cascade in plastids, combining both NADPHthioredoxin reductase and thioredoxin activities on a single polypeptide. While NTRC is an important regulator of photosynthetic processes in leaves, its function in heterotrophic tissues remains unclear. Here, we focus on the role of NTRC in developing tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) fruits representing heterotrophic storage organs important for agriculture and human diet. We used a fruit-specific promoter to decrease NTRC expression by RNA interference in developing tomato fruits by 60% to 80% compared to the wild type. This led to a decrease in fruit growth, resulting in smaller and lighter fully ripe fruits containing less dry matter and more water. In immature fruits, NTRC downregulation decreased transient starch accumulation, which led to a subsequent decrease in soluble sugars in ripe fruits. The inhibition of starch synthesis was associated with a decrease in the redox-activation state of ADP-Glc pyrophosphorylase and soluble starch synthase, which catalyze the first committed and final polymerizing steps, respectively, of starch biosynthesis. This was accompanied by a decrease in the level of ADP-Glc. NTRC downregulation also led to a strong increase in the reductive states of NAD(H) and NADP(H) redox systems. Metabolite profiling of NTRC-RNA interference lines revealed increased organic and amino acid levels, but reduced sugar levels, implying that NTRC regulates the osmotic balance of developing fruits. These results indicate that NTRC acts as a central hub in regulating carbon metabolism and redox balance in heterotrophic tomato fruits, affecting fruit development as well as final fruit size and qualit

Use of Juror Depositions to Bar Collateral Estoppel: A Necessary Safeguard or Dangerous Precedent?

This Note initially discusses the doctrine of collateral estoppel and its policy justifications. Next, it describes the mutuality requirement for the use of collateral estoppel, tracing the abandonment of the mutuality rule by an increasing number of courts and presenting the policy arguments for and against such abandonment. Then the Note turns to the three corollaries of the collateral estoppel theory and explores the different methods that parties may use to establish each one. The Note also discusses the possibility that those methods may conflict with the basic policy of preserving the privacy and inviolability of the jury system. Finally,the Note considers the various problems posed by Katz, including the relationship of those problems to the judicial abrogation of the mutuality requirement

Addressing the needs of traumatic brain injury with clinical proteomics.

BackgroundNeurotrauma or injuries to the central nervous system (CNS) are a serious public health problem worldwide. Approximately 75% of all traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are concussions or other mild TBI (mTBI) forms. Evaluation of concussion injury today is limited to an assessment of behavioral symptoms, often with delay and subject to motivation. Hence, there is an urgent need for an accurate chemical measure in biofluids to serve as a diagnostic tool for invisible brain wounds, to monitor severe patient trajectories, and to predict survival chances. Although a number of neurotrauma marker candidates have been reported, the broad spectrum of TBI limits the significance of small cohort studies. Specificity and sensitivity issues compound the development of a conclusive diagnostic assay, especially for concussion patients. Thus, the neurotrauma field currently has no diagnostic biofluid test in clinical use.ContentWe discuss the challenges of discovering new and validating identified neurotrauma marker candidates using proteomics-based strategies, including targeting, selection strategies and the application of mass spectrometry (MS) technologies and their potential impact to the neurotrauma field.SummaryMany studies use TBI marker candidates based on literature reports, yet progress in genomics and proteomics have started to provide neurotrauma protein profiles. Choosing meaningful marker candidates from such 'long lists' is still pending, as only few can be taken through the process of preclinical verification and large scale translational validation. Quantitative mass spectrometry targeting specific molecules rather than random sampling of the whole proteome, e.g., multiple reaction monitoring (MRM), offers an efficient and effective means to multiplex the measurement of several candidates in patient samples, thereby omitting the need for antibodies prior to clinical assay design. Sample preparation challenges specific to TBI are addressed. A tailored selection strategy combined with a multiplex screening approach is helping to arrive at diagnostically suitable candidates for clinical assay development. A surrogate marker test will be instrumental for critical decisions of TBI patient care and protection of concussion victims from repeated exposures that could result in lasting neurological deficits

The Occurrence of Insects and Fungi, and Aflatoxin B Contamination of Stored Sorghum in Demak and Wonogiri Regencies, Central Java

The objectives of this study were to collect informations on the method of postharvesthandling of sorghum and to investigate the moisture contents, insects infestation, fungalinfection, and aflatoxin B contents of stored sorghum grains collected from various stagesof the delivery chain in Demak and Wonogiri regencies, Central Java. In Demak regencysorghum cultivation was monoculture, variety cultivated was UPC-S1. In Wonogiri regencysorghum cultivation was intercropping with secondary crop and cassava. Sorghum varietiescultivated were Kawali, Numbu, ZH30, Mandau and Hibrida hybrids. There was a differencebetween the method of postharvest handling of sorghum at farmer and collector levels inDemak andWonogiri regencies. In general the method of postharvest handling of sorghum inDemak regency was more appropriate and more advance compared to that in Wonogiriregency. The moisture contents of sorghum at farmer as well as at collector level in Demakregency (13.0%) and Wonogiri regency (12.9%) were still lower that that of normal (safe)moisture content of sorghum. The number of insect species associated with sorghum invarious distribution level in Demak andWonogiri regencies was 10 and 17 species, respectively.The dominant insects species were and . The number offungal species found in sorghum at various distribution level in Demak andWonogiri regencieswas 23 species, respectively. In general, the dominant fungal species were ,and . In Demak regency aflatoxin B contents of sorghum atfarmer and collector levels were 22.50 and 15.45 ppb, respectively, while in Wonogiri regency2.27 and 10.28 ppb, respectively.insects, fungi, aflatoxin B , stored sorghum, Demak and Wonogiri regencies,Central Jav

Dietary Exposure Assessment for Aflatoxin B From Processed Peanut Products in Municipality of Bogor 1

A research on dietary exposure assessment for aflatoxin B (AFB1) fromprocessed peanutproducts in Municipality of Bogor was carried out. The objectives of this study were todetermine the contents of AFB1 in processed peanut products at retail levels, and to obtaininformation whether there is a risk to public health caused by the consumption of processedpeanut products contaminated by AFB1. Survey of processed peanut product consumptionwas carried out by interviewing each respondent using a questionnaire of weekly processedpeanut product consumption. Sampling of processed peanut products was conducted at thelocations where the respondents obtained processed peanut products. The number of roastedpeanuts with skin pods, flour-coated peanuts and or sauces samples was 33,respectively, while the number of and sauces samples was 18 and 12, respectively.The total number of processed peanut product sampleswas 129.AFB1contentwas determinedusingThin LayerChromatographymethod.Estimation of the dietary exposure assessmentwasdetermined using the actual survey data consisting of AFB1 content, consumption data andbody weight. The highest contaminated sample percentage and mean of AFB1 content wasfound in roasted peanuts with skin pods i.e. 42% of 33 samples and 43.2 μg/kg, respectively,followed by flour-coated peanuts (30% of 33 samples and 34.3 μg/kg), and or(21%of 33 samples and 17.1 μg/kg).Mean of estimated dietary exposure for AFB1 found inchildren was 15.2 ng kg bw day and 95 percentile exposure was 38.9 ng kg bw day , while inadults 9.0 ng kg bw day and 95 percentile exposure was 27.0 ng kg bw day . The excesscancer risk of AFB1 exposure in Bogor fromthis study on children and adults was calculated as193 and 115 cancers/year, respectively-1 -1 th -1 -1-1 -1 th -1 -1pecel gado-gadosiomay sataipecel gado-gado1

Pengaruh Intrapreneurship Terhadap Kinerja Perusahaan Manufaktur Di Tangerang

This study aims to investigate the influence of intrapreneurship on theperformance of manufacturing companies in Tangerang. The population was managerof a manufacturing company in the province of Banten. This study developed andtested a theoretical model where the variable intrapreneurship shaped by factors ofinnovation, risk / uncertainty, risks / challenges, competitive energy, proactive andautonomy, and performance on financial performance variables, variables and variableproductivity growth and repair. Based on the questionnaire, which is selected usingpurposive sampling method of data obtained from a sample of 25 medium-sizedcompanies manufacturing in Tangerang. This study uses confirmatory analysis basedon structural equation modeling (SEM). This research model using AMOS 21.0. Theresults of this study revealed that intrapreneurship has a multidimensional structure.Innovation factors, risks / challenges, competitive and proactive energy can explainwell intrapreneurship. This model proved its effect on the growth and repair.Intrapreneurship affect the growth and repair. This study contributes to theoryhighlights the importance of intrapreneurship-forming factors and their effects in themodel. This is helpful for researchers looking for appropriate performance measuresand intrapreneurs aims to support their decisions and evaluate their performance

Weak interactions of supersymmetric staus at high energies

Neutrino telescopes may have the potential to detect the quasi-stable staus predicted by supersymmetric models. Detection depends on stau electromagnetic energy loss and weak interactions. We present results for the weak interaction contribution to the energy loss of high energy staus as they pass through rock. We show that the neutral current weak interaction contribution to the energy loss increases with energy, but it is much smaller than the photonuclear energy loss, however, the charged current contribution may become the dominant process above the energy of $\sim 10^9$ GeV, depending on the parameters of the model. As a consequence, the stau range may be reduced above $\sim 10^9$ GeV as compared to the range neglecting weak interactions. We contrast this with the tau range which is barely changed with the inclusion of charged current interactions.Comment: 7 pages, 8 figures, version to be publishe

Targeting determinants of dosage compensation in Drosophila

The dosage compensation complex (DCC) in Drosophila melanogaster is responsible for up-regulating transcription from the single male X chromosome to equal the transcription from the two X chromosomes in females. Visualization of the DCC, a large ribonucleoprotein complex, on male larval polytene chromosomes reveals that the complex binds selectively to many interbands on the X chromosome. The targeting of the DCC is thought to be in part determined by DNA sequences that are enriched on the X. So far, lack of knowledge about DCC binding sites has prevented the identification of sequence determinants. Only three binding sites have been identified to date, but analysis of their DNA sequence did not allow the prediction of further binding sites. We have used chromatin immunoprecipitation to identify a number of new DCC binding fragments and characterized them in vivo by visualizing DCC binding to autosomal insertions of these fragments, and we have demonstrated that they possess a wide range of potential to recruit the DCC. By varying the in vivo concentration of the DCC, we provide evidence that this range of recruitment potential is due to differences in affinity of the complex to these sites. We were also able to establish that DCC binding to ectopic high-affinity sites can allow nearby low-affinity sites to recruit the complex. Using the sequences of the newly identified and previously characterized binding fragments, we have uncovered a number of short sequence motifs, which in combination may contribute to DCC recruitment. Our findings suggest that the DCC is recruited to the X via a number of binding sites of decreasing affinities, and that the presence of high-and moderate-affinity sites on the X may ensure that lower-affinity sites are occupied in a context-dependent manner. Our bioinformatics analysis suggests that DCC binding sites may be composed of variable combinations of degenerate motifs

Discharge Teaching to Improve Discharge Readiness for Patients Post Hip Surgery

The condition of returning home unpreparedness post hip surgery has an impact on the patient's ability after returning home. This unpreparedness is caused by the inability of patients to manage their own needs and care needs after returning home in carrying out daily tasks, caring for themselves, and the ability to do health care. So that a nursing strategy is needed in preparing the patient's discharge planning in the form of discharge teaching. Four data bases namely Cochrane, EBSCO, Google Scholar, and Scopus were used to explain the effect of discharge teaching to improve patient readiness post hip surgery. Educational needs expected by patients post hip surgery are related to complications, operating procedures, rehabilitation programs, prosthesis, and pain management. Patients hope to get knowledge related to all dimensions, but in reality they only get from the functional dimension. Patients get more knowledge only during treatment than when they are going home. Discharge teaching must also pay attention to the content of information and delivery methods and must be given in all stages of treatment and repetition of important items. So nurses are required to have competence and knowledge in carrying out discharge teaching with the aim of increasing patient readiness.   Keywords: discharge teaching, discharge readiness, post hip surger

Interference of composite bosons

We investigate multi-boson interference. A Hamiltonian is presented that treats pairs of bosons as a single composite boson. This Hamiltonian allows two pairs of bosons to interact as if they were two single composite bosons. We show that this leads to the composite bosons exhibiting novel interference effects such as Hong-Ou-Mandel interference. We then investigate generalizations of the formalism to the case of interference between two general composite bosons. Finally, we show how one can realize interference between composite bosons in the two atom Dicke model