The Sensitivity of PsbS to the Environment, Residue by Residue

Under strong sunlight, plants avoid photooxidation by quenching the excess absorbed energy. Quenching is triggered by PsbS, a membrane protein that is activated and deactivated by the light-dependent pH changes in the thylakoid lumen. The mechanism of action of this protein is unknown, but it was suggested that several glutamates act as pH sensors. However, the pK a of glutamate is several pH units below the physiological values in the lumen. Thus, how can PsbS sense the pH of the lumen, and how does it respond to it? By applying a nonstandard molecular dynamics method that treats pH explicitly, we show that the lumen-exposed glutamates of PsbS have strongly shifted pK a values and that such shifts are crucial for the pH sensitivity in physiological conditions. We also demonstrate that protonation drives a systematic unfolding of a region key for protein-protein interactions, indicating that PsbS response to pH is a functional conformational switch.publishersversionpublishe

Application of the allometric scale for the submaximal oxygen uptake in runners and rowers

Background: The aim of the current study was to determine the allometric exponents for runners and rower’s metabolic cost, while also verifying the relation of performance with and without the allometric application. Methods: Eleven runners (age: 22.3±10.4 years; height: 174±8.8 cm; body mass: 61.7±9.3 kg; maximum oxygen uptake ( •VO2max): 56.3±3.9 ml.kg[sup]-1[/sup].min[sup]-1[/sup]) and fifteen rowers (age: 24±5.4 years; height: 185.5±6.5 cm; body mass: 83.5±7.2 kg; •VO2max: 61.2±3.4 ml.kg[sup]-1[/sup].min[sup]-1[/sup]) carried out a specific progressive maximum test. The allometric exponent was determined from the logarithmic equation Log y = Log b Log x, where x is the mass, y is the VO2max (l.min[sup]-1[/sup]), a is one constant and b is the allometric exponent. The data were analyzed using descriptive and comparative statistics (independent T test of the Student), with p<0.05 (SPSS version 13.0). Results: The allometric exponent of the rowers was 0.70 and that of the runners was 1.00. Significant differences were found between the fat mass percentage, with higher value for rowers, suggesting that this variable may influence the behavior of the allometric exponent and consequently of the basal metabolic rate. Conclusions: Scaling may help in understanding variation in aerobic power and in defining the physiological limitations of work capacity

Spatial distribution of bed variables, animal welfare indicators, and milk production in a closed compost-bedded pack barn with a negative tunnel ventilation system

This research aimed to characterize, evaluate and compare the spatial distribution of the leading bed variables, animal welfare indicators, and milk production in a closed compost-bedded pack barn (CBP) with a negative tunnel ventilation system, for summer and winter periods. The study was carried out in a CBP located in the Zona da Mata region, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The geostatistical modeling technique evaluated the variables of temper ature, moisture content, and pH (on the surface and depth of 0.20m) across the length of the bed. Bed samples were characterized for carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and C:N ratio. Cows housed in the CBP were assessed for locomotion and hygiene scores and average milk production. To evaluate the thermoregulation of the cows, the respiratory rate (RR) and surface temperature (ST) were measured. Geostatistical analysis showed spatial dependence and the non-uniformity of the spatial distribution of bed variables. The worst levels of bed tem perature and moisture were found in the regions close to the evaporative cooling plate, surrounding the feeding alley, and in the region with the highest cow stocking. The C:N ratio, obtained in both climatic seasons of the year, remained outside the recommended range for ideal composting. During the summer and winter, the bed variables’ values suggest that the material was below levels for optimal composting; however, the aerated inner layer was biologically active. The high animal density significantly impacted the worsening of the bed moisture content and internal temperature. In general, dairy cows showed adequate hygiene (score of 1 and 2) and locomotion (score of 0 and 1) scores for the two climatic seasons evaluated, indicating good welfare conditions. In relation to RR and ST, the summer period presented less favorable environmental conditions. During winter, the average milk production was 28.1 ± 7.2 kg day-1, and during summer, it was 26.9 ± 6.7 kg day-1

Spike timing-dependent plasticity induces non-trivial topology in the brain.

We study the capacity of Hodgkin-Huxley neuron in a network to change temporarily or permanently their connections and behavior, the so called spike timing-dependent plasticity (STDP), as a function of their synchronous behavior. We consider STDP of excitatory and inhibitory synapses driven by Hebbian rules. We show that the final state of networks evolved by a STDP depend on the initial network configuration. Specifically, an initial all-to-all topology evolves to a complex topology. Moreover, external perturbations can induce co-existence of clusters, those whose neurons are synchronous and those whose neurons are desynchronous. This work reveals that STDP based on Hebbian rules leads to a change in the direction of the synapses between high and low frequency neurons, and therefore, Hebbian learning can be explained in terms of preferential attachment between these two diverse communities of neurons, those with low-frequency spiking neurons, and those with higher-frequency spiking neurons

Has the evolution of complexity in the amphibian papilla influenced anuran speciation rates?

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/72375/1/j.1420-9101.2006.01079.x.pd