Guard cell endomembrane Ca2+-ATPases underpin a ‘carbon memory’ of photosynthetic assimilation that impacts on water-use efficiency

Stomata of most plants close to preserve water when the demand for CO2 by photosynthesis is reduced. Stomatal responses are slow compared with photosynthesis, and this kinetic difference erodes assimilation and water-use efficiency under fluctuating light. Despite a deep knowledge of guard cells that regulate the stoma, efforts to enhance stomatal kinetics are limited by our understanding of its control by foliar CO2. Guided by mechanistic modelling that incorporates foliar CO2 diffusion and mesophyll photosynthesis, here we uncover a central role for endomembrane Ca2+ stores in guard cell responsiveness to fluctuating light and CO2. Modelling predicted and experiments demonstrated a delay in Ca2+ cycling that was enhanced by endomembrane Ca2+-ATPase mutants, altering stomatal conductance and reducing assimilation and water-use efficiency. Our findings illustrate the power of modelling to bridge the gap from the guard cell to whole-plant photosynthesis, and they demonstrate an unforeseen latency, or ‘carbon memory’, of guard cells that affects stomatal dynamics, photosynthesis and water-use efficiency

Farmers’ Choice of Marketing Strategy: A Study of New Zealand Lamb Producers

The red meat industry is of utmost importance to New Zealand’s economy, generating $2.8 billion in export earnings, accounting for 6.5% of the total merchandise export value in 2010 - 2011. However, sheep numbers fell substantially from 70 million in 1982 to 31 million in 2012. This has led to large-scale rationalization within the processing industry, causing major processing companies to now focus on in-house performance, including external relationships with suppliers and downstream customers. Yet, there are still openly adversarial relationships between processing companies and farmer suppliers with a prevalence of spot market relationships between many producers and processors. As the industry attempts to determine how to improve performance, a clearer understanding of producers’ selling behaviors and the drivers behind such behaviors is needed in New Zealand to effectively move towards a more comprehensive and sustainable procurement strategy for the industry. This research provides insights into why, and what influences why individual farmers chose various selling channels within the lamb meat supply chain

Collaborative Tools in the Semantic Grid

The CoAKTinG project aims to advance the state of the art in collaborative mediated spaces for distributed e-Science. The project is integrating several knowledge based and hypertext tools into existing collaborative environments, and through use of a shared ontology to exchange structure, promotes enhanced process tracking and navigation of resources before, after, and while a meeting occurs. This paper provides an overview of the CoAKTinG tools, the ontology that connects them, and current research activities

Collaboration in the Semantic Grid: a Basis for e-Learning

Abstract. The CoAKTinG project aims to advance the state of the art in collaborative mediated spaces for the Semantic Grid. This paper presents an overview of the hypertext and knowledge based tools which have been deployed to augment existing collaborative environments, and the ontology which is used to exchange structure, promote enhanced process tracking, and aid navigation of resources before, after, and while a collaboration occurs. While the primary focus of the project has been supporting e-science, this paper also explores the similarities and application of CoAKTinG technologies as part of a human centred design approach to e-Learning.

Collaborative Tools in the Semantic Grid

Abstract. The CoAKTinG project aims to advance the state of the art in collaborative mediated spaces for distributed e-Science. The project is integrating several knowledge based and hypertext tools into existing collaborative environments, and through use of a shared ontology to exchange structure, promotes enhanced process tracking and navigation of resources before, after, and while a meeting occurs. This paper provides an overview of the CoAKTinG tools, the ontology that connects them, and current research activities.

Chain ReAKTing: Collaborative Advanced Knowledge Technologies in the Combechem Grid

The CoAKTinG (Collaborative Advanced Knowledge Technologies in the Grid) project has developed a set of integrated tools to enhance collaboration between e-Scientists. As one of three case studies, these tools are being applied within the Combechem e-Science pilot project. Two levels of integration are being explored: straightforward deployment of generic CoAKTinG tools, and a “deep ” integration between these tools and the Combechem grid. The deeper integration supports the publication at source research objective of Combechem, in which a digital record is maintained through the information processing chain that starts in the laboratory, supporting retrospective use in the e-Science process. In this paper we provide an overview of the tools and we focus in particular on the adaptation of one of the tools for the Combechem application.

SARS-CoV-2 vaccination modelling for safe surgery to save lives: data from an international prospective cohort study

Background Preoperative SARS-CoV-2 vaccination could support safer elective surgery. Vaccine numbers are limited so this study aimed to inform their prioritization by modelling. Methods The primary outcome was the number needed to vaccinate (NNV) to prevent one COVID-19-related death in 1 year. NNVs were based on postoperative SARS-CoV-2 rates and mortality in an international cohort study (surgical patients), and community SARS-CoV-2 incidence and case fatality data (general population). NNV estimates were stratified by age (18-49, 50-69, 70 or more years) and type of surgery. Best- and worst-case scenarios were used to describe uncertainty. Results NNVs were more favourable in surgical patients than the general population. The most favourable NNVs were in patients aged 70 years or more needing cancer surgery (351; best case 196, worst case 816) or non-cancer surgery (733; best case 407, worst case 1664). Both exceeded the NNV in the general population (1840; best case 1196, worst case 3066). NNVs for surgical patients remained favourable at a range of SARS-CoV-2 incidence rates in sensitivity analysis modelling. Globally, prioritizing preoperative vaccination of patients needing elective surgery ahead of the general population could prevent an additional 58 687 (best case 115 007, worst case 20 177) COVID-19-related deaths in 1 year. Conclusion As global roll out of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination proceeds, patients needing elective surgery should be prioritized ahead of the general population.The aim of this study was to inform vaccination prioritization by modelling the impact of vaccination on elective inpatient surgery. The study found that patients aged at least 70 years needing elective surgery should be prioritized alongside other high-risk groups during early vaccination programmes. Once vaccines are rolled out to younger populations, prioritizing surgical patients is advantageous