STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF THE GROUP III CHAPERONINS, A UNIQUE CLADE OF PROTEIN FOLDING NANOMACHINES

The survival and descent of cells is universally dependent on maintaining their proteins in a properly folded condition. It is widely accepted that the information for the folding of the nascent polypeptide chain into a native protein is encrypted in the amino acid sequence, and the Nobel Laureate Christian Anfinsen was the first to demonstrate that a protein could spontaneously refold after complete unfolding. However, it became clear that the observed folding rates for many proteins were much slower than rates estimated in vivo. This led to the recognition of required protein-protein interactions that promote proper folding. A unique group of proteins, the molecular chaperones, are responsible for maintaining protein homeostasis during normal growth as well as stress conditions. Chaperonins (CPNs) are ubiquitous and essential chaperones. They form ATP-dependent, hollow complexes that encapsulate polypeptides in two back-to-back stacked multisubunit rings, facilitating protein folding through highly cooperative allosteric articulation. CPNs are usually classified into Group I and Group II. Here, I report the characterization of a novel CPN belonging to a third Group, recently discovered in bacteria. Group III CPNs have close phylogenetic association to the Group II CPNs found in Archaea and Eukarya, and may be a relic of the Last Common Ancestor of the CPN family. The gene encoding the Group III CPN from Carboxydothermus hydrogenoformans and Candidatus Desulforudis audaxviator was cloned in E. coli and overexpressed in order to both characterize the protein and to demonstrate its ability to function as an ATPase chaperone. The opening and closing cycle of the Chy chaperonin was examined via site-directed mutations affecting the ATP binding site at R155. To relate the mutational analysis to the structure of the CPN, the crystal structure of both the AMP-PNP (an ATP analogue) and ADP bound forms were obtained in collaboration with Sun-Shin Cha in Seoul, South Korea. The ADP and ATP binding site substitutions resulted in frozen forms of the structures in open and closed conformations. From this, mutants were designed to validate hypotheses regarding key ATP interacting sites as well as important stabilizing interactions, and to observe the physical properties of the resulting complexes by calorimetry.

Shortcuts to adiabaticity in the double well

123 p.

Beyond human and intellectual capital: Profiling the value of knowledge, skills and experience

The concept of human capital is associated mainly with the Nobel Laureate Gary Becker and, in his usage, has a clear conceptual basis as investment in the costs of formal education. By contrast, this paper suggests that ‘intellectual capital’ is a re-branding of knowledge, skills and experience rather than re-conceptualisation of resource based learning. Becker also chose not to include informal knowledge, skills or experience within his concept of human capital, which remains limited by its constrained premises. This paper submits that both human capital and intellectual capital advocates fail to identify or measure the tacit knowledge and implicit learning which increasingly is recognised as a key to the competitive advantage of organisations. It first focuses on the conceptual basis of claims made for human capital and intellectual capital, outlines limits in their methodology, and contrasts these with insights from theories of tacit knowledge and implicit learning and the central role within them of informal or non-formal skill acquisition. It develops and illustrates instances of interfacing tacit and explicit knowledge before introducing a methodology for profiling the acquisition of knowledge, ability and skills. It does so by introducing the concepts of non-formal learningfrom- work (LfW) and informal learning-from-life (LfL), with evidence from a four country EU case study commissioned within the lifelong learning remit of the Lisbon Agenda.

Lectura y bibliotecas en la obra de José Saramago

[Español] Este ensayo presenta una revisión sobre los temas lectura y bibliotecas en la obra literaria del escritor José Saramago, premio Nobél de Literatura 1998. Reviste importancia en el sentido de que aunque son variados los temas de tipo social que trata la obra saramaguiana, hasta ahora no se habían analizado ni la lectura ni las bibliotecas. Nos daremos cuenta que Saramago fue un usuario asiduo de las bibliotecas desde el inicio de su formación como escritor hasta llegar a conformar una biblioteca personal importante que compartió con el público investigador. También promovió el hábito de la lectura a través de su participación en ferias del libro y siendo parte de organizaciones como las fundaciones “José Saramago” y “Alonso Quijano”. [Inglés] This essay presents a review on the issues of reading and libraries in the literary work of the writer José Saramago, Nobel laureate of literature in 1998. It highlights importance in the sense that although the social issues in the Saramaguian work are varied, as of today reading and libraries had not been analysed in his work. We will be aware that Saramago was a regular user of libraries since the beginning of his formation as a writer until he built an important personal library that he shared with the research public. In addition he promoted the reading habit through his participation in book fairs, and being part of fundations such as “José Saramago” and “Alonso Quijano.”

Using induced pluripotent stem cells to investigate the mechanistic link between Gaucher disease and Parkinson related synucleinopathies

Dissertação de Mestrado, Ciências Biomédicas, Departamento de Ciências Biomédicas e Medicina, Universidade do Algarve, 2015

Uma "Viagem ao Algarve" a duas vozes

Depois de ler o livro de Diego Mesa, vêm à memória desta cronista uns versos de Camões: «Transforma-se o amador na cousa amada/ por virtude do muito imaginar». Ao ler o livro de José Saramago, Viagem a Portugal (1981), o mesmo terá acontecido a Diego Mesa, escritor natural de Ayamonte e grande apaixonado pelo nosso país, que mantém um blogue intitulado http://aulajosesaramago. wordpress.com, onde divulga o trabalho que se vai fazendo em prol da disseminação da obra do Nobel da Literatura português, que o inspirou a refazer os seus passos. Escrito na terceira pessoa, Saramago designa a personagem que percorre o país de lés a lés como «o viajante». E este viajante vai ser, para Diego Mesa, «o outro viajante», já que, assumindo uma personagem equivalente, adota um estilo e retórica reconhecíveis para o leitor. Tomando como ponto de partida o último capítulo, «De Algarve e sol, pão seco e pão mole», que ocupa 18 páginas na edição da Viagem a Portugal, do Círculo de Leitores, e fazendo dele o seu guia de viagem, um novo viajante percorre esta terra, de uma ponta a outra, de carro e de comboio, revisitando os lugares ali mencionados. Naturalmente que, passados mais de 30 anos desde a 1ª edição daquela obra, muitas coisas se alteraram e é bom saber que, na sua maioria, para melhor. Os passos citados de José Saramago aparecem em itálico no texto de Diego Mesa, que muito bem os enquadra. Não se pense, porém, que este novo viajante apenas repete o que o outro visitou. É verdade que o usa como guia, mas também faz dele a sua inspiração para novos percursos, como a visita mais demorada a Portimão ou a viagem de comboio entre Vila Real de Santo António e Lagos. Além disso, a Viagem ao Algarve tem algumas breves (e úteis) notas de rodapé e, no final, uma boa bibliografia que poderá ajudar o leitor interessado em aprofundar mais o assunto. Para que fique perfeito, só falta que a próxima edição tenha uma boa revisão de texto. Precisando de selecionar alguns excertos para aqui constarem, deixou-se esta cronista levar pelo seu interesse especial por ruínas e museus, apresentando dois apontamentos sobre estes tipos de espaços.

A primeira tradução de o leão e a joia, de Wole Soyinka, para o português do Brasil : análise descritiva da oralidade

Dissertação (mestrado)—Universidade de Brasília, Instituto de Letras, Departamento de Línguas Estrangeiras e Tradução, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Estudos da Tradução, 2016.

La conciencia de lo común frente a la falsa dicotomía estado-mercado. Análisis de la perspectiva de Elinor Ostrom (1933-2012)

Cada año que pasa desde que se le concediera el premio Nobel en 2009 a Elinor Ostrom por su trabajo en la gobernanza de los bienes comunes sus análisis cobran importancia y más notoriedad. El mundo que nos rodea está cambiando de forma rápida y constante, creando nuevos retos a nivel mundial. Los resultados de las investigaciones de Elinor Ostrom (1933-2012) han levantado expectativas sobre mecanismos alternativos para movernos hacia un entorno político, social, económico y natural renovado y más sostenible. En este trabajo se explora la perspectiva de esta pensadora respecto a cuestiones como la sostenibilidad de los recursos naturales, la organización social o la iniciativa individual dejando a un lado la dicotomía estado-mercado.

Predicting the concentration of residual methanol in industrial formalin using machine learning

In this thesis, a machine learning approach was used to develop a predictive model for residual methanol concentration in industrial formalin produced at the Akzo Nobel factory in Kristinehamn, Sweden. The MATLABTM computational environment supplemented with the Statistics and Machine LearningTM toolbox from the MathWorks were used to test various machine learning algorithms on the formalin production data from Akzo Nobel. As a result, the Gaussian Process Regression algorithm was found to provide the best results and was used to create the predictive model. The model was compiled to a stand-alone application with a graphical user interface using the MATLAB CompilerTM.

Examining Levels of Automation in the Wood Processing Industry - A case study

Companies operating in the wood processing industry need to increase their productivity by implementing automation technologies in their production systems. An increasing global competition and rising raw material prizes challenge their competitiveness. Yet, too extensive automation brings risks such as a deterioration in situation awareness and operator deskilling. The concept of Levels of Automation is generally seen as means to achieve a balanced task allocation between the operators’ skills and competences and the need for automation technology relieving the humans from repetitive or hazardous work activities. The aim of this thesis was to examine to what extent existing methods for assessing Levels of Automation in production processes are applicable in the wood processing industry when focusing on an improved competitiveness of production systems. This was done by answering the following research questions (RQ): RQ1: What method is most appropriate to be applied with measuring Levels of Automation in the wood processing industry? RQ2: How can the measurement of Levels of Automation contribute to an improved competitiveness of the wood processing industry’s production processes? Literature reviews were used to identify the main characteristics of the wood processing industry affecting its automation potential and appropriate assessment methods for Levels of Automation in order to answer RQ1. When selecting the most suitable method, factors like the relevance to the target industry, application complexity or operational level the method is penetrating were important. The DYNAMO++ method, which covers both a rather quantitative technical-physical and a more qualitative social-cognitive dimension, was seen as most appropriate when taking into account these factors. To answer RQ 2, a case study was undertaken at a major Swedish manufacturer of interior wood products to point out paths how the measurement of Levels of Automation contributes to an improved competitiveness of the wood processing industry. The focus was on the task level on shop floor and concrete improvement suggestions were elaborated after applying the measurement method for Levels of Automation. Main aspects considered for generalization were enhancements regarding ergonomics in process design and cognitive support tools for shop-floor personnel through task standardization. Furthermore, difficulties regarding the automation of grading and sorting processes due to the heterogeneous material properties of wood argue for a suitable arrangement of human intervention options in terms of work task allocation.  The application of a modified version of DYNAMO++ reveals its pros and cons during a case study which covers a high operator involvement in the improvement process and the distinct predisposition of DYNAMO++ to be applied in an assembly system.

Espiritualidad y política: una propuesta tibetana para la transformación del orden mundial

La Revolución Espiritual promovida por el Dalai Lama plantea una unión entre espiritualidad y política. El proyecto de una ética universal, que se inscribe dentro de dicha Revolución, busca impactar la manera en que las relaciones internacionales se desarrollan, dándole prevalencia a los valores humanos. Sin embargo, esa proposición se encuentra ligada al contexto de exilio en el marco del conflicto sino-tibetano que afecta al continente asiático. Por esto, en la presente monografía, haciendo uso de los conceptos de marco de acción colectiva e identidad inscritos en la corriente de los movimientos sociales en la disciplina de las Relaciones Internacionales, se pretende determinar la relación entre identidad tibetana, marco de acción colectiva y la propuesta de una ética universal. Para ello se recurre, metodológicamente, a textos y a trabajo de campo en Bogotá. Así, se pretende establecer la relación entre espiritualidad y política como propuesta tibetana atravesada por el conflicto sino-tibetano.

Retos en la implementación de las normas internacionales al interior de los estados. estudio de caso: la región del Mekong y el protocolo de Palermo contra la trata de personas. (2007-2014)

El presente estudio de caso tiene como principal objetivo el de analizar la manera como las características sociopolíticas de los Estados del Mekong, específicamente en el caso de Camboya y Myanmar, dificultan la implementación de las normas enunciadas en el Protocolo de las Naciones Unidas para Prevenir, Reprimir y Sancionar la Trata de Personas, Especialmente Mujeres y Niños, también conocido como el Protocolo de Palermo. En este sentido, se parte de las características principales del Protocolo y de la manera como el tráfico de personas se presenta en el Mekong para posteriormente analizar la forma como la corrupción, la impunidad y la desigualdad de género representan retos sociopolíticos que obstruyen la implementación de los mandatos internacionales enmarcados en este instrumento

Impact of Information Technology Investments on Firm Productivity in Peripherals Countries: The Case of Portugal

IS/IT investments are seen has having an enormous potential impact on the competitive position of the firm, on its performance, and demand an active and motivated participation of several stakeholder groups. The shortfall of evidence concerning the productivity of IT became known as the ‘productivity paradox’. As Robert Solow, the Nobel laureate economist stated “we see computers everywhere except in the productivity statistics”. An important stream of research conducted all over the world has tried to understand these phenomena, called in the literature as «IS business value» field. However, there is a gap in the literature, addressing the Portuguese situation. No empirical work has been done to date in order to understand the impact of Information Technology adoption on the productivity of those firms. Using data from two surveys conducted by the Portuguese National Institute of Statistics (INE), Inquiry to the use of IT by Portuguese companies (IUTIC) and the Inquiry Harmonized to (Portuguese) companies (accounting data), this study relates (using regression analysis) the amounts spent on IT with the financial performance indicator Returns on Equity, as a proxy of firm productivity, of Portuguese companies with more than 250 employees. The aim of this paper is to shed light on the Portuguese situation concerning the impact of IS/IT on the productivity of Portuguese top companies. Empirically, we test the impact of IT expenditure on firm productivity of a sample of Portuguese large companies. Our results, based on firm-level data on Information Technology expenditure and firm productivity as measured by return on equity (1186 observations) for the years of 2003 and 2004, exhibit a negative impact of IT expenditure on firm productivity, in line with “productivity paradox” claimants.