Collection Guidelines to Achieve a Viable Caper Commercial Propagation

The caper (Capparis spinosa L.) is a perennial plant characteristic of the Mediterranean region that presents difficulties in its propagation, both vegetatively and by seeds. The main aim of this study is to provide collection guidelines to achieve a viable caper commercial propagation, for which three experiments were undertaken to determine the viability and germination in different seed lots. In the first experiment, commercial and own produced seeds (collected with the same criteria as commercial seeds) were analysed; the commercial seeds presented the lowest viability and germination. The second experiment analysed the effect of the fruit (from which the seeds were extracted) at its maturation stage, obtaining the lowest seed viability and germination in the seeds extracted from the dry fruits. In the third experiment, seed viability and germination were analysed immediately after collection, following a short drying period (3 d), and after six storage months. Viability and germination decreased with seed storage. Overall, it can be stated that caper seeds are sensitive to desiccation; consequently, a general rule of thumb is to collect the fruits once a week, to extract the seeds, and to plant them immediately for germination.

Structural and functional studies of Arabidopsis thaliana legumain beta reveal isoform specific mechanisms of activation and substrate recognition

The vacuolar cysteine protease legumain plays important functions in seed maturation and plant programmed cell death. Because of their dual protease and ligase activity, plant legumains have become of particular biotechnological interest, e.g. for the synthesis of cyclic peptides for drug design or for protein engineering. However, the molecular mechanisms behind their dual protease and ligase activities are still poorly understood, limiting their applications. Here, we present the crystal structure of Arabidopsis thaliana legumain isoform β (AtLEGβ) in its zymogen state. Combining structural and biochemical experiments, we show for the first time that plant legumains encode distinct, isoform-specific activation mechanisms. Whereas the autocatalytic activation of isoform γ (AtLEGγ) is controlled by the latency-conferring dimer state, the activation of the monomeric AtLEGβ is concentration independent. Additionally, in AtLEGβ the plant-characteristic two-chain intermediate state is stabilized by hydrophobic rather than ionic interactions, as in AtLEGγ, resulting in significantly different pH stability profiles. The crystal structure of AtLEGβ revealed unrestricted nonprime substrate binding pockets, consistent with the broad substrate specificity, as determined by degradomic assays. Further to its protease activity, we show that AtLEGβ exhibits a true peptide ligase activity. Whereas cleavage-dependent transpeptidase activity has been reported for other plant legumains, AtLEGβ is the first example of a plant legumain capable of linking free termini. The discovery of these isoform-specific differences will allow us to identify and rationally design efficient ligases with application in biotechnology and drug development.

Diseño e implementación de un sistema de control a lazo cerrado PID para manipular la temperatura en el proceso de termoformado

The purpose of this work lies in the design and implementation of a closed-circuit temperature control system (SCTLC), to control the temperature transfer in the mold of the thermoprepared system, where the blocks are manufactured from multilayer containers. post-consumer. The plant (electrical resistance) was characterized, with the AC voltage levels (30V, 60V, 90V and 120V) in a time of 60 min each of the voltage levels, considering the initial temperature (ambient temperature), in function of the step signal, then, the plant model was determined using Matlab software and the analytical method with the data of the plant characteristic curve at a voltage of 120Vac, obtaining the first-order transfer function, then The PID controller implemented the Ziegler & Nichols method and the Matlab software were tuned and finally the reference input, the control, the power stage, the plant and the feedback were coupled. This project contributes to control and stabilize the resistance temperature, implemented in the thermoforming process, for the production of blocks using multilayer containers.

The Recognition of Fragrant Plant Characteristic in Enhancing the Place Image for Royal Town of Kuala Kangsar, Perak

In Malay art, a flower or Bunga expressed about the beauties and aesthetics. At the same time, the fragrant plant belief to be a representative of paradise, which have a pleasant fragrance. It is observed that the used of aromatic plants has been a practices in Perak's royal ceremonies. This paper aims to identify the qualitative response on the recognition of the fragrant plant to support the reinforcement of place image of Kuala Kangsar as Royal Town of Perak. The results reveal that Lotus (Nelumbo), Melur (Jasminum), and Tanjong (Mimusops elengi) are mostly associated with Royal Town Kuala Kangsar, Perak. (100 words max.)Keywords: Fragrant plant; Place Image, Royal TowneISSN: 2398-4287 © 2019. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open-access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia.DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/e-bpj.v4i12.1874

Effects of Plant Identification on the Generalized Predictive Controllers Design

The effects of the estmated plant models accuracy on the control system signals quality after generalized predictive controllers design are studied in the paper. Two identification approaches are used for different in structures discrete-time models – by optimization procedure in Optimization Toolbox based on the plant step response as a standard deterministic plant characteristic and by functions in System Identification Toolbox after experiments with random signals on the plant. The generalized predictive controllers are design according to the estimated models. The processes in the simulated control systems are analyzed concerning the effects of different kind plant models on the designed controllers.