An online knowledge base on the alternate conformations adopted by main-chain and side-chain atoms in protein structures solved by X-ray crystallography is described.

A single-chain, tailless Xenopus laevis H2A/H2B dimer construct (scH2BH2A) was engineered by directly fusing the C-terminus of H2B to the N-terminus of H2A without an artificial linker sequence. A high-resolution crystal structure of scH2BH2A shows that it adopts a nearly identical fold to that of nucleosomal H2A/H2B and may be useful for future structural studies of many H2A/H2B-interacting proteins.

This study presents the crystal structure of a thiol variant of the human mitochondrial branched-chain aminotransferase protein. Human branched-chain aminotransferase (hBCAT) catalyzes the transamination of the branched-chain amino acids leucine, valine and isoleucine and α-ketoglutarate to their respective α-keto acids and glutamate. hBCAT activity is regulated by a CXXC center located approximately 10 Å from the active site. This redox-active center facilitates recycling between the reduced and oxidized states, representing hBCAT in its active and inactive forms, respectively. Site-directed mutagenesis of the redox sensor (Cys315) results in a significant loss of activity, with no loss of activity reported on the mutation of the resolving cysteine (Cys318), which allows the reversible formation of a disulfide bond between Cys315 and Cys318. The crystal structure of the oxidized form of the C318A variant was used to better understand the contributions of the individual cysteines and their oxidation states. The structure reveals the modified CXXC center in a conformation similar to that in the oxidized wild type, supporting the notion that its regulatory mechanism depends on switching the Cys315 side chain between active and inactive conformations. Moreover, the structure reveals conformational differences in the N-terminal and inter-domain region that may correlate with the inactivated state of the CXXC center.

Javad Fahanik-babaei, Bahareh Rezaee, Maryam Nazari, Nihad Torabi, Reza Saghiri, Remy Sauve, and Afsaneh Eliassi

We have determined the electropharmacological properties of a new potassium channel from brain mitochondrial membrane by planar lipid bilayer method. Our results showed the presence of a channel with a conductance of 150 pS at potentials between 0 and –60 mV in 200 cis/50 trans mM KCl solutions.

The channel was voltage-independent, with an open probability value ~0.6 at different voltages. ATP did not affect current amplitude and Po at positive and negative voltages. Notably, adding iberiotoxin, charybdotoxin, lidocaine, and margatoxin had no effect on the channel behavior. Similarly, no changes were observed by decreasing the cis-pH to 6. Interestingly, the channel was inhibited by adding sodium in a dose dependent manner. Our results also indicated a significant increase in mitochondrial complex IV activity and membrane potential and decrease in complex I activity and mitochondrial ROS production in the presence of sodium ions.

We propose that inhibition of mitochondrial K⁺ transport by Na ions on K⁺ channel opening may be important for cell protection and ATP synthesis.

A new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine recommends ways to make supply chains -- the systems that provide populations with critical goods and services, such as food and water, gasoline, and pharmaceuticals and medical supplies – more resilient in the face of hurricanes and other disasters, drawing upon lessons learned from the 2017 hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria.

Tradeshift, a supply...

If we can’t secure the supply chain, eventually everything else will break

The post What happens when the global supply chain breaks? appeared first on WeLiveSecurity

Researchers have discovered high levels of plastic particles and fibres, as well as black carbon (BC), which is formed by the incomplete burning of fossil fuels, in the waters of the Jade Bay, an inshore basin off the coast of Germany in the Southern North Sea. The concentration of suspended particles are of concern because they have the potential to be ingested by fish and other marine life, and enter the food chain.

Green supply chain management (GSCM) is a holistic approach to improving environmental performance along the supply chain. A new study by Italian researchers on over 4000 manufacturing facilities in seven developed countries has indicated that GSCM increases environmental performance.

The application to crops of struvite (magnesium ammonium phosphate) recovered from waste water may cause antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) present in this fertiliser to enter the food chain. Chinese researchers who conducted this study on Brassica plants suggest that ARGs in struvite pass from the soil into the roots of the plant, and from the roots to the leaves, via the bacterial community already present. The results of this research highlight the need for struvite production methods and agricultural practices that minimise the risk of antibiotic-resistance transmission from struvite to humans or animals via the environment.

An analysis of European retailers revealed a range of initiatives being undertaken to improve the environmental performance of product supply chains. However, it appears that very large grocery retailers are less proactive than specialist and cooperative retailers, owing to their complex supply chains and tendency to consider consumers responsible for environmental improvements.

The pressures facing Indian manufacturers to ‘green’ their supply chain have been explored by a recent study. Both international and national pressures from government and consumers were found to play an important role in whether a company adopts green supply chain management principles, with pressures varying to some degree depending on the business’s sector and size.

A recent study from Finland on the carbon footprint of food can help producers and consumers make choices that lower the food chain’s impact on climate change, by highlighting hotspots in the food chain for improvement and revealing food’s overall impact.

Tracing products through the supply chain is a key feature for all businesses and industries; this is currently possible via automated identification systems that link a product to a database to track its progress, and through information-tracing (‘infotracing’) systems that keep accessible records of this progress. A study now introduces blockchain technology as a way to electronically trace timber as it travels from the forest to final product, using an infotracing system based on open source and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology that retains records in a secure, decentralised, distributed ledger.

Mandatory legislation can play an important role in managers’ decisions to keep their supply chains ‘green’, according to a recent survey of Greek businesses which investigated incentives driving investment in green management practices.

Strict lockdown measures around the world has caused severe delays and logistical issues leading to worldwide PC shipments falling by 8%, technology market analyst firm Canalys said.

Biodiversity’s contribution to ecosystem services in grasslands — at different levels of the food chain (known as trophic levels1) — has been assessed in a new study. Higher species diversity across trophic levels — particularly for plants, insects and soil microbial decomposers — is important for the provision of multiple ecosystem services related to food production, recreational benefits, or climate regulation. Species diversity across different trophic groups was also found to be just as important in controlling ecosystem functioning as the management intensity of grasslands and environmental factors, such as climate or soil type.

Long-chain perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) are persistent chemicals with proven toxic effects. This study estimated the emissions and concentrations of two such chemicals, perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), in 11 of Europe's most populated river catchments. Estimated emissions were lowest in the Thames and highest in the Rhine, while the EU environmental quality standard for PFOS was exceeded in all rivers. This study provides a picture of PFAAs contamination in rivers across Europe, and makes recommendations for achieving reductions.

The “hip, cool and tech-oriented” chain will target millennials.

As commerce becomes increasingly global, American corporations are taking steps to develop sustainable supply chains that span the country and the planet.

The Danish capital's urban 'parkipelago' will eventually include a sauna, cafe and mussel farm.

Eco-friendly supply chain. According to a study by management consulting firm Accenture, companies have found that having an eco-friendly supply chain can save

The disintegration of a giant Antarctic ice shelf that had been stable for millennia was caused by a chain reaction of lakes draining on top of the ice.

Rudi Putra takes on powerful palm oil plantations in the name of conservation — and wins.

Health systems in emerging markets have not realized the benefits of data visibility to global health supply-chain operations. To do so, health-system leaders will need to take four critical actions.

Wired's video series, 'Five Levels of Difficulty,' challenges an expert to explain a complicated concept to people at five levels of expertise — and it's cool.

Miss Willie the dog spent 12 years on a chain before she finally got to see the world.

In the latest episode of Insurance Post and Insurance Age’s new series of video casts brought to you while our journalists are in isolation lockdown we brought together a diverse group of businesses to discuss how the supply chain has forged deeper strategic – and personal - relationships with partners over the last six weeks.

Reducing Global Trade or Increasing Supply Chain Security?

October 20 is ECHO savings day in Temple Texas

Athena's Home Novelties' ambitious charitable endeavor, The Athena's Cup began linking their 200,527 donated bras to create their record-busting chain on October 4th.

The Corporate Whistleblower Center says, "We are appealing to a pharmacist or pharmacy manager to call us anytime at 800-714-0303 if their employer is overcharging Medicare and Medicaid. The rewards for this type of information can be substantial."

10K Blockchain Developers Training Initative

Source One Director Jennifer Ulrich will discuss end-to-end supplier engagement in a webinar sponsored by ISM-New Jersey.

Helping manufacturers and retailers GROW their business & MAXIMIZE profit.

When used together, platforms provide a comprehensive solution to enterprises' key blockchain challenges

'MexicoNow Supply Chain Summit', March 1, 2018 in El Paso, Texas will provide answers to questions that executives may have about Manufacturing in Mexico. The Tecma Group will be on site to provide personal review sessions about Tecma Services.

Source One Management Services to lend their decades of procurement insights and experience to produce ExecIn- a private event for supply chain leaders during ISM2018.

Today a new company was announced, TheBlockBox, to deliver blockchain product design and development to customers

AT.Wallet, a fingerprint enabled card type wallet is AuthenTrend's answer to the ever-increasing hackers to blockchain related transactions which includes Cryptocurrency.

The distributed ledger platform is designed from the ground up for use by businesses, addressing concerns about evolving regulation, privacy and malicious activity from the outset.

Global Cannabinoids, and its newly formed entity, Global Sanitizers LLC, is pleased to announce that it has secured over $15 Million Dollars in hand sanitizer orders in the past week.

Loveonly, Inc. unlocks the true asset potential of diamonds for all investors while re-establishing safety and trust through innovative transparent technology.

Originally, the products were given space in 77 Sally's Beauty Supply stores nationally, as well as, 298 location under the Target grocery chain.

Having a wide spectrum of clients from the ICO days, to corporate solutions on smart ledger technologies, Blockchain App Factory has now come up with the most comprehensive approach to Security Token Offerings.

Funds will be deployed to help BlocWatch expand its blockchain management platform used for enterprise implementations of Hyperledger Fabric, Ethereum, and Corda.

A multi-functional & multi-utility state-of-the-art Ethereum MainNet wallet

Steve New, head of degree programs at Oxford University's Said Business School and author of the HBR article "The Transparent Supply Chain."

Karim Lakhani, Harvard Business School professor and co-founder of the HBS Digital Initiative, discusses blockchain, an online record-keeping technology that many believe will revolutionize commerce. Lakhani breaks down how the technology behind bitcoin works and talks about the industries and companies that could see new growth opportunities or lose business. He also has recommendations for managers: start experimenting with blockchain as soon as possible. Lakhani is the co-author of the article “The Truth About Blockchain” in the January-February 2017 issue of Harvard Business Review.