In silico method for selecting residue pairs for single-molecule microscopy and spectroscopy

Obtaining (dynamic) structure related information on proteins is key for understanding their function. Methods as single-molecule Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (smFRET) and Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) that measure distances between labeled residues to obtain dynamic information rely on selection of suitable residue pairs for chemical modification. Selection of pairs of amino acids, that show sufficient distance changes upon activity of the protein, can be a tedious process. Here we present an in silico approach that makes use of two or more structures (or structure models) to filter suitable residue pairs for FRET or EPR from all possible pairs within the protein. We apply the method for the study of the conformational dynamics of the substrate-binding domain of the osmoregulatory ATP-Binding Cassette transporter OpuA. This method speeds up the process of designing mutants, and because of its systematic nature, the chances of missing promising candidates are reduced

Аналіз впливу мотивуючих факторів на результати діяльності машинобудівних підприємств

У статті обґрунтовано вибір інструментарію факторного аналізу для оцінки впливу мотивуючих чинників на результативні показники діяльності машинобудівних підприємств. Розраховані коефіцієнти кореляції для досліджуваних підприємств. Встановлена ступінь зв’язку факторів з результативним показником.В статье обоснован выбор инструментария факторного анализа для оценки влияния мотивирующих факторов на результативные показатели деятельности машиностроительных предприятий. Рассчитаны коэффициенты корреляции для исследуемых предприятий. Установлена степень связи факторов с результативным показателем.In the article the choice of tool of factor analysis is grounded for the estimation of influence of explaining factors on effective performance of machine-building enterprises indicators. The coefficients of correlation are expected for the probed enterprises. The degree of connection of factors is set with an effective index

Gravitational Geons in 1+1 Dimensions

It is well known that general relativity does not admit gravitational geons that are stationary, asymptotically flat, singularity free and topologically trivial. However, it is likely that general relativity will receive corrections at large curvatures and the modified field equations may admit solutions corresponding to this type of geon. If geons are produced in the early universe and survive until today they could account for some of the dark matter that has been "observed" in galaxies and galactic clusters. In this paper I consider gravitational geons in 1+1 dimensional theories of gravity. I show that the Jackiw-Teitelboim theory with corrections proportional to $R^2$ and $\Box R$ admits gravitational geons. I also show that gravitational geons exist in a class of theories that includes Lagrangians proportional to $R^{2/3}$.Comment: 8 pages, a comment added, two references corrected, to appear in Classical and Quantum Gravit

Distinctively Christian Engineering: An Evaluation of our Civil Curriculum

AbstractAs professors in an engineering program developed with the intention of being Christ-centred and holistic, one of our responsibilities is to equip our students to serve the Lord obediently in all that they do—especially in engineering. To serve as the foundation of this preparation, we used a previous publication which set out five distinctively Christian guiding principles for engineering. Our intent is that these principles will be used to direct the development and modification of our engineering curriculum. Directing these efforts requires a grounding point. Therefore, this paper evaluates the extent to which these principles are already emphasized in the program’s civil engineering curriculum. Comparing this evaluation to benchmarks for each of the five principles revealed that the curriculum fell short. This result was expected because the curriculum does not contain a formal process to introduce, emphasize, and apply these principles. The evaluation determined that the first principle, which recognizes that the world and everything in it was created for God’s glory, fell the farthest from its benchmark. Since this principle is foundational to all the other principles, efforts to increase the emphasis of this principle should be given the highest priority.  OpsommingAs professore in ‘n ingenieursprogram wat ontwikkel is met die doel on Christo-sentries en holisties te wees, was een van ons verantwoordelikhede om ons studente toe te rus om die Here met gehoorsaamheid te dien in alles wat hulle doen – veral in ingenieurswese. As ‘n fondasie vir hierdie voorbereiding, het ons ‘n vorige publikasie gebruik waarin vyf duidelike Christelike rigtinggewende beginsels vir ingeneiurswese uiteengesit word. Ons bedoeling is dat hierdie beginsels gebruik sal word om die ontwikkeling en wysiging van ons ingenieurskurrikulum te onderlê.  Om rigting te gee aan hierdie poging moet ons die proses anker, en daarom sal hierdie artikel die omvang evalueer van die bereiking van hierdie beginsels in die program se siviele ingenieurswesekrrikulum. As mens hierdie evaluering vergelyk met doelwitte wat gestel is vir elkeen van die vyf beginsels, it is duidelik dat die kurrikulum tekortskiet.  Hierdie uitkoms was te verwagte omdat die kurrikulum nie ‘n formele proses bevat om hierdie beginsels bekend te stel, te onderstreep en toe te pas nie.  Die evaluering het bepaal dat die eerste beginsel, wat is dat alles geskep is tot die eer van God, en hierdie beginsel het die meeste tekort geskiet. Aangesien hierdie beginsel die fondasie is vir al die ander beginsels, moet pogings aangewend word om die belang van en onderstreping van hierdie beginsel die hoogste prioriteit te gee.https://doi.org/10.19108/KOERS.80.3.223

Heterodimer Formation of the Homodimeric ABC Transporter OpuA

Many proteins have a multimeric structure and are composed of two or more identical subunits. While this can be advantageous for the host organism, it can be a challenge when targeting specific residues in biochemical analyses. In vitro splitting and re-dimerization to circumvent this problem is a tedious process that requires stable proteins. We present an in vivo approach to transform homodimeric proteins into apparent heterodimers, which then can be purified using two-step affinity-tag purification. This opens the door to both practical applications such as smFRET to probe the conformational dynamics of homooligomeric proteins and fundamental research into the mechanism of protein multimerization, which is largely unexplored for membrane proteins. We show that expression conditions are key for the formation of heterodimers and that the order of the differential purification and reconstitution of the protein into nanodiscs is important for a functional ABC-transporter complex

A market inventory of construction wood for residential building in Europe – in the light of the Green Deal and new circular economy ambitions

Wood is an energy efficient, low carbon construction material that if carefully managed can contribute significantly to European climate policy goals in urban environments. The aim of this study is to assess the current construction wood use intensity  the ratio of apparent national consumption of wood for construction (in m3) to the useful floor area of newly finished dwellings (in m2)  and to identify when and where additional policy measures are required. Results show that Cyprus/Malta have the smallest use with a ratio of 0.01, Estonia/Romania the greatest use with a ratio of 0.32. The need for additional policy measures, was assessed using the Boston Consultancy Group (BCG) matrix with four product development phases, based on the aforementioned ratio versus future growth. Six, twelve, eight and two countries are in the “Introduction“, “Growth”, ”Maturity” and “Decline” phases, respectively. At the EU level, the European Commission should consider introducing a Renewable Material Directive, in which a Non-biogenic Material Comparator shows the average GHG substitution effect of using wood for construction. At the international level, a new harvested wood product (HWP) category in the IPCC Guidelines is recommended for construction wood with a longer lifespan than the current HWP categories

Contractional Cornucopia on Offshore Angola

Three main contractional tectonic regimes are recognized: (1) Late Cretaceous gravity spreading, (2) Mid-Tertiary uplift, and (3) Neogene transpression. Tilting of the young continental margin created the first tectonic regime, the ultimate cause of this was thermal subsidence after continental breakup. The second regime was the direct cause of the uplift of the Angolan coast, mostly in the Oligo-Miocene but continuing into the Plio- Pleistocene, while the late tectonic regime was probably the differential movement of reactivated crustal blocks, whose slip directions depended on their orientation

Korte maaistoppel goed voor witte klaver

Gedurende drie jaren is op proefbedrijf Aver Heino de invloed van de stoppelhoogte op de klaveropbrengst gemeten. De klaveropbrengst was hoger bij een kortere stoppelhoogte. De grasopbrengst werd nauwelijks beonvloed door de stoppelhoogte. Onder praktijkomstandigheden, met afwisselend weiden en maaien, was het klaveraandeel bij kort maaien gemiddeld 4 tot 8 % hoge

Contractional Cornucopia on Offshore Angola

Three main contractional tectonic regimes are recognized: (1) Late Cretaceous gravity spreading, (2) Mid-Tertiary uplift, and (3) Neogene transpression. Tilting of the young continental margin created the first tectonic regime, the ultimate cause of this was thermal subsidence after continental breakup. The second regime was the direct cause of the uplift of the Angolan coast, mostly in the Oligo-Miocene but continuing into the Plio- Pleistocene, while the late tectonic regime was probably the differential movement of reactivated crustal blocks, whose slip directions depended on their orientation