Exploration of GH94 Sequence Space for Enzyme Discovery Reveals a Novel Glucosylgalactose Phosphorylase Specificity

The substantial increase in DNA sequencing efforts has led to a rapid expansion of available sequences in glycoside hydrolase families. The ever-increasing sequence space presents considerable opportunities for the search for enzymes with novel functionalities. In this work, the sequence-function space of glycoside hydrolase family 94 (GH94) was explored in detail, using a combined approach of phylogenetic analysis and sequence similarity networks. The identification and experimental screening of unknown clusters led to the discovery of an enzyme from the soil bacterium Paenibacillus polymyxa that acts as a 4-O-β-d -glucosyl-d -galactose phosphorylase (GGalP), a specificity that has not been reported to date. Detailed characterization of GGalP revealed that its kinetic parameters were consistent with those of other known phosphorylases. Furthermore, the enzyme could be used for production of the rare disaccharides 4-O-β-d -glucosyl-d -galactose and 4-O-β-d -glucosyl-l -arabinose. Our current work highlights the power of rational sequence space exploration in the search for novel enzyme specificities, as well as the potential of phosphorylases for rare disaccharide synthesis.     

Palynological investigation of some selected species of family Fabaceae from Pakistan,using light and scanning electron microscopy techniques

Pollen morphology of 11 species of family Fabaceae that is, Trifolium alexandrinum, Trifolium resupinatum, Arachis hypogaea, Lathyrus aphaca, Medicago lupulina, Vicia sativa, Lathyrus odoratus, Pongamia pinnata, Melilotus indicus, Medicago polymorpha, Medicago sativa from Pakistan has been investigated by light and scanning electron microscopy. Pollen were generally tricolporate, radially symmetrical, isopolar, elliptic in equatorial view and triangular in polar view under LM. Results showed that pollens were per‐prolate (T. alexandrinum), prolate (T. resupinatum, V. sativa, L. odoratus, Melilotus indicus, M. polymorpha, M. sativa) and sub‐prolate (A. hypogaea, L. aphaca, M. lupulina, P. pinnata). The larger polar/equatorial (P/E) ratio was found in T. alexandrinum (2.26 μm) and the smallest was found in M. lupulina (1.21 μm). The exine of T. resupinatum was 3.00 μm in thickness while others posses smaller exine thickness. The larger pore diameter was found in P. pinnata (16.01 μm) while others have smaller. The length of colpi was larger in Arachis hypogaea (32.24) while others posses smaller. Eight types of surface ornamentation (Psilate, faintly rugulate). Perforate and rugulate to verrucate have been observed under SEM. The pollens were europalynous type. Pollen morphology proved to be useful for the specific delimitation and serve as a tool for the identification and classification of taxa at specific and generic levels and can also be used as a key for the taxonomic features. Diversity in exine sculpture is helpful indicative characters for the isolation of closely related species. Hence, it is clear that both qualitative and quantitative characters of pollen can be useful for differentiating between taxa at specific level.     

Traffic violation detection based on the implicit curves family

We propose an effective algorithm for the detection of the traffic violation vehicle by employing a set of implicit function curves which can be used to describe the different regions on the roads. When the vehicles are detected to run across different road regions, we can determine in which region that vehicle lies easily and immediately by using the set of implicit functions. According to the vehicle trajectory and the relationship among different regions described by the implicit functions, we can quickly and accurately determine whether the vehicle violates the traffic rules. In order to improve the detection efficiency and accuracy greatly, we use the piecewise linear functions to approximate the set of implicit functions in actual detection. Experimental results show that our algorithm can detect the traffic violation and display the specific violated traffic rules in real time.     

The work–family interface and turnover intentions over the course of project-oriented assignments abroad

The work–family interface is a highly relevant, yet underexposed issue in project management. When projects require family-separation, work demands are likely to conflict with family life and the consequences may be neither beneficial for (project) organizations nor for families. The aim of this study was twofold: a) to assess within-person changes over time in employees' work–family conflict experiences, relationship satisfaction, and turnover intentions and b) to examine the interrelations between these variables, over the course of a project that requires family-separation. Quantitative data were collected among military personnel before and after their four to six months assignments abroad. The results revealed that relationship satisfaction among military personnel had decreased significantly and turnover intentions had increased significantly over time. Moreover, employees who experienced higher levels of work–family conflict reported lower levels of relationship satisfaction and higher levels of turnover intentions. Understanding the interrelations may help managing projects in a way that benefits project organizations as well as employees and their families, who are critical to its performance and success.     

Study of the structure directing effect of the chiral cation (1S,2S)-2-hydroxymethyl-1-benzyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium in aluminosilicate preparations in the presence of co-structure directing agents

We explore the structure directing role of the chiral cation (1S,2S)-2-hydroxymethyl-1-benzyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium (SS-bmpm) in the synthesis of Al-containing zeolite materials in the presence of co-structure directing agents (co-SDAs). Three different co-SDAs are studied: tetramethylammonium (TMA), quinuclidine and sodium. Synthesis with TMA as co-SDA yields a ferrierite related phase and a material from the MWW family, where the SS-bmpm and the TMA cations are incorporated intact within the samples. Quinuclidine produces instead amorphous solids, while the use of Na⁺ leads to crystalline phases that crystallized as a result of the degradation of the SS-bmpm cation. A subsequent computational study based on molecular mechanics was performed in an attempt to unravel the location of TMA and SS-bmpm cations within the void space of the complex MWW structure. The results suggest that the sinusoidal channels are exclusively filled by TMA, while the bulky SS-bmpm cations can only be accommodated within the MWW super-cages, thus providing a new example of cooperative structure-directing effects of small and bulky cations in the synthesis of complex zeolite structures.     

Product family formation and selection for reconfigurability using analytical network process

The paper develops a conceptual framework for product family formation towards reconfigurability through proposing a product-process reconfiguration link. Different decisive factors affecting product family formation and selection such as manufacturing requirements, market requirements, manufacturing cost and process reconfiguration are investigated. An analytical network process (ANP) model is proposed to incorporate all the outlined decisive factors and major criteria and elements influencing the product family formation and selection. As a consequence of the interactive nature of the product family selection problem, most of the children's’ elements within the same cluster and/ or different clusters are associated with each other. As a result, all the clusters are connected to each other (outer dependencies) as well as their connections to themselves (inner dependencies). The proposed ANP model is examined through a case study in a manufacturing company for validation. Synthesis judgments and sensitivity analysis are carried out for selecting the most appropriate product family along with analysing the influence of the selected critical elements.     

Common fixed points of a countable family of multivalued quasi-nonexpansive mappings in uniformly convex Banach spaces

In this paper, we introduce a one-step iterative scheme for finding a common fixed point of a countable family of multivalued quasi-nonexpansive mappings in a real uniformly convex Banach space. We establish weak and strong convergence theorems of the proposed iterative scheme under some control conditions.     

基于Pro/E族表的传动滚筒参数化建模

主要介绍了使用Pro/E的族表实现传动滚筒的参数化建模方法。首先,对其各零部件进行建模,产生通用零件,然后把各零部件的控制参数建成族表,最后建立装配族表,完成滚筒的系列化。当组件参数族表化实现后,进入该组件,只需选取相应名称便可得到该参数下的实体模型,从而有效地提高了实体建模速度,缩短了设计周期,具有较高的实用价值。     

经济欠发达地区农村居民对家庭便携式药包的需求分析

目的分析经济欠发达地区农村居民对家庭便携式药包的需求,为科学设计适合农村居民使用的家庭便携式药包提供依据。方法对经济欠发达地区的江西省永新县芦溪乡卫生院、河北省平山县西柏坡镇卫生院、甘肃省临洮县新添镇中心卫生院的3个基本型卫生院辖区内的139户农村居民对家庭便携式药包的需求采用随机抽样与整群抽样相结合的方法及农村居民常用药品与药械问卷调查表进行调查。结果139户农村居民中,84．2％（117／139）的家庭期望拥有家庭便携式药包。芦溪乡、西柏坡镇、新添镇农村居民对家庭便携式药包需求率分别为：89．6％（43／48）、93．2％（41／44）、70．2％（33／47）,芦溪乡、西柏坡镇农民居民对家庭便携式药包需求率均明显高于新添镇（P〈O．05）。117户农村居民期望在家庭便携式药包中能放置的药品分别为：感冒药（84．6％）、创口贴（63．2％）、风油精（51．3％）、清凉油（47．0％）、高血压用药（32．5％）、碘酊（31．6％）、其他用药（25．6％）、糖尿病用药（5．1％）;农村居民期望便携式药包的大小为：长（25．84±7．51）cm,宽（18．25±7．18）cm,高（16．38±7．26）cm;农村居民期望家庭便携式药包的功能特点分别为：轻便（52．1％）、安全（50．4％）、适用（46．2％）、防水（45．3％）、经济（39．3％）、简单（36．8％）、防晒（28．2％）、防腐蚀（22．2％）、抗压（22．2％）;农村居民期望家庭便携式药包的价格在≥10～〈15元（29．9％）;在材质要求方面,86．3％农村居民倾向于硬材料,硬材料选择铝合金、塑料者分别占35．0％、34．2％;只有13．7％农村居民选择软材料,选择软材料者以帆布材料居多（6．8％）。结论基本型卫生院辖区内农村居民对家庭便携式药包的需求率较高。只有充分满足多数农村居民的需求,才能保证家庭便携式药包推广使用,从而减少农村居民的不合理用药。