The element silicon is everywhere! In fact, silicon is the second most abundant element in Earth’s crust. Silicon in rocks and minerals breaks down and is transported from rivers and streams into the world’s oceans. Many marine organisms need silicon as it is a crucial nutrient to build their skeletons. Silicon eventually reaches the seafloor, but its journey into the abyss is not straightforward

Brain tissue of Alzheimer’s disease patients invariably contains deposits of insoluble, fibrillar aggregates of peptide fragments of the amyloid precursor protein (APP), typically 40 or 42 residues in length and referred to as Aβ40 and Aβ42. However, it remains unclear whether these fibrils or oligomers constitute the toxic species. Depending on sample conditions, oligomers can form in a few secon

Protein transport across the cytoplasmic membrane of bacterial cells is mediated by either the general secretion (Sec) system or the twin-arginine translocase (Tat). The Tat machinery exports folded and cofactor-containing proteins from the cytoplasm to the periplasm by using the transmembrane proton motive force as a source of energy. The Tat apparatus apparently senses the folded state of its pr

Phosphate plays a crucial role in biology because of the stability of the phosphate ester bond. To overcome this inherent stability, enzymes that catalyze phosphoryl transfer reactions achieve enormous rate accelerations to operate on biologically relevant time scales, and the mechanisms that underpin catalysis have been the subject of extensive debate. In an archetypal system, β-phosphoglucomutas

Phosphorus acquisition is critical for life. In low phosphate conditions, some species of bacteria have evolved mechanisms to import reduced phosphorus compounds, such as phosphite and hypophosphite, as alternative phosphorus sources. Uptake is facilitated by high-affinity periplasmic binding proteins (PBPs) that bind cargo in the periplasm and shuttle it to an ATP-binding cassette (ABC)-transport

Lysostaphin is a bacteriolytic enzyme targeting peptidoglycan, the essential component of the bacterial cell envelope. It displays a very potent and specific activity toward staphylococci, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Lysostaphin causes rapid cell lysis and disrupts biofilms, and is therefore a therapeutic agent of choice to eradicate staphylococcal infections. The C-term

Enzyme regulation is vital for metabolic adaptability in living systems. Fine control of enzyme activity is often delivered through post-translational mechanisms, such as allostery or allokairy. β-phosphoglucomutase (βPGM) from Lactococcus lactis is a phosphoryl transfer enzyme required for complete catabolism of trehalose and maltose, through the isomerisation of β-glucose 1-phosphate to glucose

The popularity of digital gaming among older adults is on the rise, necessitating a deeper understanding of this phenomenon. Drawing upon the concepts and theoretical perspectives in domestication theory, actor network theory, and media engagement theory, we explored the digital gameplay experiences of older adults in China’s sociocultural contexts. We conducted in-depth interviews with 12 adults

Denna rapport sammanställer och sammanfattar arbetsmaterial i förhållande tillarbetsgruppens fyra frågeställningar och syftar till att ge underlag för verksamheternas fortsatta diskussioner. På så sätt följer den inte gängse utformning för en FoU-rapport och gör inte heller anspråk på att rapportera några färdiga slutsatser. Analyserna kommer att bearbetas vidare på olika sätt; praktiskt i verksam

This paper examines the profound impact of digital technology on Classical and Mediterranean archaeology, with a focus on digital field recording and infrastructure. Using the 'skeuomorphism of practice' framework, it traces the integration of technology into our current practice. The Swedish Pompeii project is used as a case study to illustrate the adoption of 3D models into traditional archaeolo

How to construct and facilitate participatory and playful opera? Through this interdisciplinary artistic research project within the fields of music drama / opera and game studies, I seek to develop a framework for alternative and innovative opera concepts – based on immersion, relations and play. The term that I propose for this type of contemporary music theatre is ludo-immersive opera (related

The measurement and application of residual dipolar couplings (RDCs) in solution NMR studies of biological macromolecules has become well established over the past quarter of a century. Numerous methods for generating the requisite anisotropic orientational molecular distribution have been demonstrated, each with its specific strengths and weaknesses. In parallel, an enormous number of pulse schem

Resonance assignment and structural studies of larger proteins by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) can be challenging when exchange broadening, multiple stable conformations, and 1H back-exchange of the fully deuterated chain pose problems. These difficulties arise for the SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease, a homodimer of 2 × 306 residues. We demonstrate that the combination of four-dimensional (4D) TROSY-

The 68-kDa homodimeric 3C-like protease of SARS-CoV-2, Mpro (3CLpro/Nsp5), is a promising antiviral drug target. We evaluate the concordance of models generated by the newly introduced AlphaFold2 structure prediction program with residual dipolar couplings (RDCs) measured in solution for 15N-1HN and 13C′-1HN atom pairs. The latter were measured using a new, highly precise TROSY-AntiTROSY Encoded R

Understanding the factors that underpin the enormous catalytic proficiencies of enzymes is fundamental to catalysis and enzyme design. Enzymes are, in part, able to achieve high catalytic proficiencies by utilizing the binding energy derived from nonreacting portions of the substrate. In particular, enzymes with substrates containing a nonreacting phosphodianion group coordinated in a distal site

Types and functions of roles in work groups are presented in overview followed by a discussion of relations between roles, personality and team roles. Role conflicts, role stress and problems in roles are discussed and advice is given on how to apply small group role theory to group work in higher education and the chapter ends with suggestions for exercises and a few role related instruments.

Despite that climate hazards are increasingly felt across the globe, there is widespread and often subtle resistance to climate adaptation interventions. However, adaptation research and practice have largely focused on overcoming barriers to implementation. By presuming adaptation programs are welcome, they miss that many people oppose or refuse to participate in them, and the politics hidden beh