Toward eradication of B-vitamin deficiencies : considerations for crop biofortification

'Hidden hunger' involves insufficient intake of micronutrients and is estimated to affect over two billion people on a global scale. Malnutrition of vitamins and minerals is known to cause an alarming number of casualties, even in the developed world. Many staple crops, although serving as the main dietary component for large population groups, deliver inadequate amounts of micronutrients. Biofortification, the augmentation of natural micronutrient levels in crop products through breeding or genetic engineering, is a pivotal tool in the fight against micronutrient malnutrition (MNM). Although these approaches have shown to be successful in several species, a more extensive knowledge of plant metabolism and function of these micronutrients is required to refine and improve biofortification strategies. This review focuses on the relevant B-vitamins (B1, B6, and B9). First, the role of these vitamins in plant physiology is elaborated, as well their biosynthesis. Second, the rationale behind vitamin biofortification is illustrated in view of pathophysiology and epidemiology of the deficiency. Furthermore, advances in biofortification, via metabolic engineering or breeding, are presented. Finally, considerations on B-vitamin multi-biofortified crops are raised, comprising the possible interplay of these vitamins in planta

Finding Peace in Law School

This article discusses the author\u27s law school experience and the struggle to understand the motivations behind legal education process and the shortcomings of the legal justice system. The articles explores how mindfulness and the author\u27s own spiritual awakening improved his legal education

Finding Peace in Law School

This article discusses the author\u27s law school experience and the struggle to understand the motivations behind legal education process and the shortcomings of the legal justice system. The articles explores how mindfulness and the author\u27s own spiritual awakening improved his legal education

The first comprehensive LC–MS/MS method allowing dissection of the thiamine pathway in plants

Arabidopsis thaliana serves as a model plant for genetic research, including vitamin research. When aiming at engineering the thiamine (vitamin B1) pathway in plants, the availability of tools that allow the quantitative determination of different intermediates in the biosynthesis pathway is of pivotal importance. This is a challenge, given the nature of the compounds and the minute quantities of genetically engineered material that may be available for analysis. Here, we report on the first LC–MS/MS method for the simultaneous quantification of thiamine, its mono- and diphosphate derivatives and its precursors 4-methyl-5-(2-hydroxyethyl) thiazole (HET) and 4-amino-2-methyl-5-hydroxymethylpyrimidine (HMP). This method was optimized and validated for the quantitative determination of these analytes in Arabidopsis thaliana. All analytes were chromatographically separated within less than 2.5 min during an 8 min run. No unacceptable interferences were found. The method was fully validated based on international guidelines. Accuracy (%bias) and total imprecision (%CV) were within preset acceptance criteria for all analytes in both QC and real samples. All analytes were stable in extracted samples when stored for 48 h at 4 °C (autosampler stability) and when reanalyzed after storage at −80 °C and −20 °C for 2 weeks (freeze/thaw stability). We demonstrated the start material should be stored at −80 °C to ensure stability of all analytes during short- and long-term storage (up to 3 months). The validity and applicability of the developed procedure was demonstrated via its successful application on Arabidopsis lines, genetically engineered to enhance thiamine content

Les mauvais traitements envers les enfants et les adolescents : Le point de vue d’enfants et d’adolescents victimes

Malgré l’ampleur du problème des mauvais traitements et les conséquences qui y sont associées, peu d’études portent sur le point de vue d’enfants et d’adolescents victimes. Cet article qui s’inspire d’une recherche exploratoire menée auprès d’enfants et d’adolescents exposés à la violence conjugale et victimes de mauvais traitements présente le point de vue de ces jeunes sur les mauvais traitements. Les résultats de cette étude soutiennent la nécessité pour les chercheurs et pour les professionnels dans le domaine de la maltraitance de percevoir les jeunes comme étant des acteurs sociaux en mesure d’influencer leur environnement et de considérer davantage le point de vue de ces derniers.Child abuse and neglect is an important field in social sciences. However, few studies have focused on children’s and young people’s perspectives on this problem. This paper draws on a study conducted with children and young people living in a context of family violence and presents their perspectives on abuse and neglect. The results of the study suggest that scholars and professionals in the field should recognise children and young people as social actors and pay more attention to their perspectives

The Alestle - Vol. 58 No. 7 - 09/15/2005

Vol. 58 No.

Large increase of the Curie temperature by orbital ordering control

Using first principle calculations we showed that the Curie temperature of manganites thin films can be increased by far more than an order of magnitude by applying appropriate strains. Our main breakthrough is that the control of the orbital ordering responsible for the spectacular $T_C$ increase cannot be imposed by the substrate only. Indeed, the strains, first applied by the substrate, need to be maintained over the growth direction by the alternation of the manganite layers with another appropriate material. Following these theoretical findings, we synthesized such super-lattices and verified our theoretical predictions