Social Alpha to support innovations in precision farming, soil and water management, farm mechanization, post-harvest management, and animal husbandry They need to address critical challenges smallholder farmers face

This is a colour that truly looks of the forest and from the forest

Vijay starrer Theri not releasing in the theatres of Chengalpet has spurred a war or words that threatens to divide the industry

Valparaiso Vikings were set up for a tournament run before defection of star guard, who has offers from IU and Purdue.

Inter-α-inhibitor is a proteoglycan essential for mammalian reproduction and also plays a less well-characterized role in inflammation. It comprises two homologous “heavy chains” (HC1 and HC2) covalently attached to chondroitin sulfate on the bikunin core protein. Before ovulation, HCs are transferred onto the polysaccharide hyaluronan (HA) to form covalent HC·HA complexes, thereby stabilizing an extracellular matrix around the oocyte required for fertilization. Additionally, such complexes form during inflammatory processes and mediate leukocyte adhesion in the synovial fluids of arthritis patients and protect against sepsis. Here using X-ray crystallography, we show that human HC1 has a structure similar to integrin β-chains, with a von Willebrand factor A domain containing a functional metal ion-dependent adhesion site (MIDAS) and an associated hybrid domain. A comparison of the WT protein and a variant with an impaired MIDAS (but otherwise structurally identical) by small-angle X-ray scattering and analytical ultracentrifugation revealed that HC1 self-associates in a cation-dependent manner, providing a mechanism for HC·HA cross-linking and matrix stabilization. Surprisingly, unlike integrins, HC1 interacted with RGD-containing ligands, such as fibronectin, vitronectin, and the latency-associated peptides of transforming growth factor β, in a MIDAS/cation-independent manner. However, HC1 utilizes its MIDAS motif to bind to and inhibit the cleavage of complement C3, and small-angle X-ray scattering–based modeling indicates that this occurs through the inhibition of the alternative pathway C3 convertase. These findings provide detailed structural and functional insights into HC1 as a regulator of innate immunity and further elucidate the role of HC·HA complexes in inflammation and ovulation.

Lens proteins become increasingly cross-linked through nondisulfide linkages during aging and cataract formation. One mechanism that has been implicated in this cross-linking is glycation through formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs). Here, we found an age-associated increase in stiffness in human lenses that was directly correlated with levels of protein–cross-linking AGEs. α-Crystallin in the lens binds to other proteins and prevents their denaturation and aggregation through its chaperone-like activity. Using a FRET-based assay, we examined the stability of the αA-crystallin–γD-crystallin complex for up to 12 days and observed that this complex is stable in PBS and upon incubation with human lens–epithelial cell lysate or lens homogenate. Addition of 2 mm ATP to the lysate or homogenate did not decrease the stability of the complex. We also generated complexes of human αA-crystallin or αB-crystallin with alcohol dehydrogenase or citrate synthase by applying thermal stress. Upon glycation under physiological conditions, the chaperone–client complexes underwent greater extents of cross-linking than did uncomplexed protein mixtures. LC-MS/MS analyses revealed that the levels of cross-linking AGEs were significantly higher in the glycated chaperone–client complexes than in glycated but uncomplexed protein mixtures. Mouse lenses subjected to thermal stress followed by glycation lost resilience more extensively than lenses subjected to thermal stress or glycation alone, and this loss was accompanied by higher protein cross-linking and higher cross-linking AGE levels. These results uncover a protein cross-linking mechanism in the lens and suggest that AGE-mediated cross-linking of α-crystallin–client complexes could contribute to lens aging and presbyopia.

The middleweight Honda Africa Twin will cater to a much wider audience, especially in a price-sensitive market like India and will lock horns with the KTM 790 Adventure.

CLP India is owned by CLP Group, one of the largest investor-owned power businesses in Asia, and Caisse de dpt et placement du Qubec (CDPQ), one of Canada's leading institutional fund managers.

The Japanese electronics firm has bagged city surveillance projects in Bhopal and Ludhiana. It is now eyeing projects under Smart Cities mission in Guwahati and Jabalpur.

The board had been holding regular workshops with both farmers and buyers to encourage exports, he said, adding that the board had taken huge efforts to ensure that more mango growers register their orchards with MangoNet.

Existing backer Wavemaker Partners also participated in the funding round.

The post Indonesia’s GudangAda snags $25.4m led by Sequoia, Alpha JWC appeared first on DealStreetAsia.

The dotcom entrepreneur who built Argentina’s largest company is now eyeing the banks

CRM No. 3354 of 2020 (Via Video Conference) In Re:- An application for bail under section 438 of the Code of Criminal Procedure in connection with Jalpaiguri Women Police Station Case No. 144/2019 dated 07.11.2019 registered for investigation into offences punishable under Sections 498A/304B/34 of the Indian Penal Code read with Section 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act.

And In the matter of : Kalpana Roy ... Petitioner Ms. Jeenia Rudra .. for the petitioner Mr. Neguive Ahmed ..for the State The petitioner undertakes to affirm and stamp the petition as per the Rules within 48 hours of resumption of normal functioning of the court. The petition is taken up through video conference on the basis of such undertaking. The petitioner is the mother-in-law of the deceased victim. The prayer for bail of the husband of the victim has been rejected earlier today.

United dithered over whether to pursue a deal for the Canadian youngster, who was playing for Vancouver Whitecaps at the time, with the youngster eventually signing for the Germans.

Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl has expressed his hope that captain Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg signs a new deal with the club.

United dithered over whether to pursue a deal for the Canadian youngster, who was playing for Vancouver Whitecaps at the time, with the youngster eventually signing for the Germans.

Archives, Room Use Only - HE7677.M6 M67 1907

Archives, Room Use Only - PS3539.A14 C52 1915

Archives, Room Use Only - TK5243.L4 T69 1909

Archives, Room Use Only - TK5264.M36 1894

MICAL is an oxidoreductase that participates in cytoskeleton reorganization via actin disassembly in the presence of NADPH. Although three MICALs (MICAL1, MICAL2 and MICAL3) have been identified in mammals, only the structure of mouse MICAL1 has been reported. Here, the first crystal structure of human MICAL3, which contains the flavin-containing monooxygenase (FMO) and calponin-homology (CH) domains, is reported. MICAL3 has an FAD/NADP-binding Rossmann-fold domain for mono­oxygenase activity like MICAL1. The FMO and CH domains of both MICAL3 and MICAL1 are highly similar in structure, but superimposition of the two structures shows a different relative position of the CH domain in the asymmetric unit. Based on kinetic analyses, the catalytic efficiency of MICAL3 dramatically increased on adding F-actin only when the CH domain was available. However, this did not occur when two residues, Glu213 and Arg530, were mutated in the FMO and CH domains, respectively. Overall, MICAL3 is structurally highly similar to MICAL1, which suggests that they may adopt the same catalytic mechanism, but the difference in the relative position of the CH domain produces a difference in F-actin substrate specificity.

Lodgepole pine drawn in 1898 by U.S. National Herbarium illustrator Frederick Andrew Walpole.

The post Frederick Walpole illustrations recovered appeared first on Smithsonian Insider.

State and local leaders break ground at a Louisville, Ky., coal-burning power plant in November 2012.; Credit: Dylan Lovan/AP

California State Senator Kevin de Leon says he’ll introduce legislation next month to get the state’s public employees retirement system off of coal.

Just back from ho-hum international talks in Lima, where he was a member of California's delegation, de Leon spoke at a conference in Oakland. It was sponsored by NextGen Climate, a nonpartisan group founded by billionaire philanthropist Tom Steyer to raise the profile of climate change among issues in the U.S. political debate.

“With coal power in retreat, and the value of coal dropping, it’s time for us to lead again in moving our massive state portfolios to lower carbon investments,” De Leon said. “Divestment is about matching your values with your investment strategy — and still seeing positive financial returns… California has prohibited its energy companies from buying or importing coal power, and state funds should match that.”

De Leon proposes to divest the nation’s two largest public pension funds from coal. The California Public Employees Retirement System, or CALPERS, is the nation’s largest, controlling about $295 billion as of the end of September.  The California School Teachers Retirement System is a sister fund for pensions of nearly 850,000 California teachers. CALSTRS controls another $187.1 billion dollars in potential investments.

Burning coal for energy is a major source of greenhouse gases that are warming the planet. The move would lend momentum to a divestment movement already underway, largely targeted at investment funds belonging to colleges and universities nationwide.

Stanford and Pitzer College in Claremont are among a dozen universities that have pulled investments out of the coal industry. But others, including the University of California have refused. 

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

Climate change could cause increasing but unpredictable hazard risks in mountainous regions, according to a new study. The study analyses the effects of two extreme weather events - the 2003 heatwave and the 2005 flood - on the Eastern European Alps to demonstrate how similar events, predicted to become more frequent under a changing climate, could have an impact on Alpine regions.

Glaciers are sensitive indicators of climate change. This study focused on hanging glaciers in the French Alps, where warming is increasing the risk of glaciers collapsing. The authors applied a state-of-the-art numerical model to a particularly hazardous glacier in Mont Blanc to simulate how it will respond to climate change. The results suggest the glacier may become unstable in the current century, posing a risk to the inhabitants of the valley below.

The impacts of drought on European trees are of high concern, especially under a changing climate. New research has indicated that, if summers become continually drier, sensitive species, such as larch and spruce, will suffer reduced growth in some Alpine areas. This could potentially compromise ecosystem services provided by forests in these areas.

Nutrient pollution and resulting eutrophication has caused a rapid loss of whitefish species from lakes in the European Alps, according to a new genetic and ecological study that sheds light on how these fish became extinct in Swiss lakes. The researchers suggest that diversity loss among whitefish during the last century was related to environmental changes induced by eutrophication such as changes in oxygen levels and food composition in lakes.

Satellite images taken over a 30-year period have shown that a French national park in the Alps has become greener with more vegetation, as snow cover disappears under a changing climate. These landscape changes have important implications for alpine biodiversity and ecosystem services, warn the scientists behind the study.

Increases in woody plant and shrub cover render alpine livestock less efficient at using their landscape, finds a new study of the eastern Spanish Pyrenees. Changes in land use and climate will affect not only flora and fauna but also the futures of alpine farmers, says the study, placing them at a growing economic risk both throughout Europe and worldwide.

Farms offer stress relief yoga classes with the help of calming critters, like goats and alpacas.

12 shiny new off-shore turbines in Germany are a reminder of just how far behind the U.S. lags in race for clean offshore energy.

There's more to an alpaca than their quirky good looks. Did you know the fiber from their fleece is flame-resistant? Here are 11 alpaca facts you may not know.

The same thing that keeps the lights on and appliances humming tastes great on a cracker.

An obvious benefits of scalp massage is increased circulation. The increased blood flow helps to nourish the follicle. The scalp depends on blood flow to bring oxygen and nutrients to the hair follicles.

Richard Halperin has been endorsed by Marquis Who's Who as a leader in the information technology industry

Dr. Wyndrum has been endorsed by Marquis Who's Who as a leader in the engineering industry

Mr. Rosenbaum channels years of financial expertise into his work in private practice

GRE Alpha's team brings their modular approach to LED dimming to the Messe Light+Building 2018

Dr. Alpert has been endorsed by Marquis Who's Who as a leader in the neurology industry

Pacific Mayor Leanne Guier and 12 other mayors, councilmembers and a city manager elected to lead the Board of Directors of the Sound Cities Association, which provides a regional voice for more than one million people in King County, Washington.

Best Lawyers employs peer review process to identify top attorneys in multiple practice areas throughout the country

World Leader in LED Driver Manufacturing Breaks New Ground with Advance to DALI-2