High Transport Capacity Research Articles

Heteromerization of PIP aquaporins affects their intrinsic permeability.

The plant aquaporin plasma membrane intrinsic proteins (PIP) subfamily represents one of the main gateways for water exchange at the plasma membrane (PM). A fraction of this subfamily, known as PIP1, does not reach the PM unless they are coexpressed with a PIP2 aquaporin. Although ubiquitous and abundantly expressed, the role and properties of PIP1 aquaporins have therefore remained masked. Here, we unravel how FaPIP1;1, a fruit-specific PIP1 aquaporin from Fragaria x ananassa, contributes to the modulation of membrane water permeability (Pf) and pH aquaporin regulation. Our approach was to combine an experimental and mathematical model design to test its activity without affecting its trafficking dynamics. We demonstrate that FaPIP1;1 has a high water channel activity when coexpressed as well as how PIP1-PIP2 affects gating sensitivity in terms of cytosolic acidification. PIP1-PIP2 random heterotetramerization not only allows FaPIP1;1 to arrive at the PM but also produces an enhancement of FaPIP2;1 activity. In this context, we propose that FaPIP1;1 is a key participant in the regulation of water movement across the membranes of cells expressing both aquaporins.

Uncorrelated evolution of leaf and petal venation patterns across the angiosperm phylogeny

Early angiosperm evolution, beginning approximately 140 million years ago, saw many innovations that enabled flowering plants to alter ecosystems globally. These included the development of novel, flower-based pollinator attraction mechanisms and the development of increased water transport capacity in stems and leaves. Vein length per area (VLA) of leaves increased nearly threefold in the first 30-40 million years of angiosperm evolution, increasing the capacity for transpiration and photosynthesis. In contrast to leaves, high water transport capacities in flowers may not be an advantage because flowers do not typically contribute to plant carbon gain. Although flowers of extant basal angiosperms are hydrated by the xylem, flowers of more recently derived lineages may be hydrated predominantly by the phloem. In the present study, we measured leaf and flower VLA for a phylogenetically diverse sample of 132 species from 52 angiosperm families to ask (i) whether flowers have lower VLA than leaves, (ii) whether flowers of basal angiosperm lineages have higher VLA than more recently derived lineages because of differences between xylem and phloem hydration, and (iii) whether flower and leaf VLA evolved independently. It was found that floral structures had lower VLA than leaves, but basal angiosperm flowers did not have higher VLA than more derived lineages. Furthermore, the independent evolution of leaf and petal VLA suggested that these organs may be developmentally modular. Unlike leaves, which have experienced strong selection for increased water transport capacity, flowers may have been shielded from such selective pressures by different developmental processes controlling VLA throughout the plant bauplan.

Optimal Location of Sediment-Trapping Best Management Practices for Nonpoint Source Load Management

Selecting approaches to managing nonpoint source pollution is challenging due to the complex generation and transport processes that influence the quantity of pollutant that eventually reaches a receiving water. Pollutant transport is influenced by land surface characteristics along the transport path, and these effects should be considered when optimizing management approaches for nonpoint source pollution. A fully distributed sediment-generation and transport watershed model is presented within an optimization framework to enable the development of spatially precise solutions to sediment-trapping best management practice (BMP) placement at the watershed scale. To focus on the BMP-siting problem, a stylized representation of a BMP is assumed to be capable of reducing sediment mass by a fixed fraction, and optimal arrangements of this assumed BMP type are developed with a genetic algorithm. The results suggest that the optimal location for sediment mass reduction is not necessarily at locations of only high mass generation or at locations of only high transport capacity. The results also suggest that there are efficient locations for management that produce a relatively large reduction in storm sediment load.

Technical Principle and Working Properties of Sludge Dredging by Airlift Water Jet

The sludge in rivers, dams and municipal facilities have caused increasing attentions. The airlift water jet can make density difference between sludge and the environment, and make the sludge float automatically. A kind of airlift water jet dredging system is designed and its work properties are analyzed. Mechanical structure analysis shows that the airlift water jet dredging device is low energy consumption and easy of maintenance with low cost. Numerical Simulation shows that the bubble volume ratio will affect the flow performance: the bigger bubble volume ratio will generate higher transport capacity.

Regional Characteristics of Histamine Uptake into Neonatal Rat Astrocytes

Histaminergic signalling constitutes an attractive target for treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders. One obstacle to developing new pharmacological options has been failure to identify putative specific histamine transporter responsible for histamine clearance. Although high-affinity histamine uptake was detected in neonatal cortical astrocytes, its existence in other brain regions remains largely unexplored. We investigated whether cerebellar and striatal astrocytes participate in histamine clearance and evaluated the role of organic cation transporters (OCT) in astroglial histamine transport. Kinetic and pharmacological characteristics of histamine transport were determined in cultured astrocytes derived from neonatal rat cerebellum, striatum and cerebral cortex. As well as astrocytes of cortical origin, cultured striatal and cerebellar astrocytes displayed temperature-sensitive, high-affinity histamine uptake. Exposure to ouabain or Na(+)-free medium, supplemented with choline chloride markedly depressed histamine transport in cortical astrocytes. Conversely, histamine uptake in striatal and cortical astrocytes was ouabain-resistant and was only partially diminished during incubation in the absence of Na(+). Also, histamine uptake remained unaltered upon exposure to OCT inhibitor corticosterone, although OCTs were expressed in cultured astrocytes. Finally, histamine transport in cerebellar and striatal astrocytes was not sensitive to antidepressants. Despite common characteristics, cerebellar astrocytes had lower affinity, but markedly higher transport capacity for histamine compared to striatal astrocytes. Collectively, we provide evidence to suggest that cerebellar, striatal as well as cortical astrocytes possess saturable histamine uptake systems, which are not operated by OCTs. In addition, our data indicate that Na(+)-independent histamine carrier predominates in cerebellar and striatal astrocytes, whereas Na(+)-dependent transporter underlies histamine uptake in cortical astrocytes. Our findings implicate a role for histamine transporters in regulation of extracellular histamine concentration in cerebellum and striatum. Inhibition of histamine uptake might represent a viable option to modulate histaminergic neurotransmission.

Study of the heat transport capacity of a novel gravitational loop heat pipe

This article presented a theoretical analysis of the heat transfer limits associated with a gravitational loop heat pipe (LHP), which involves the utilization of an innovative liquid feeding/distributing and vapour/liquid-separating structure. The mathematical equations governing the heat transport capacity were applied to simulate several commonly known heat transfer limits of the pipe, namely, viscous, sonic, entrainment, capillary, boiling and liquid filling mass limits. This will allow the determination of the actual figure of the limitation and analyses of the factors effecting the limits, including the loop operational temperature, wick type, evaporator diameter/length, evaporator inclination angle, vapour column diameter in the three-way fitting, liquid filling mass and evaporator-to-condenser height difference. During the study, the heat-transfer limits associated with the three-way fitting for liquid feeding/distribution and vapour/liquid separation were given particular attention. The results derived from the analytical model indicated that the compound screen mesh wick can achieve better thermal performance over the sintered powder and open rectangular groove wicks. It was also found that the heat transport capacity of such LHP operation is positively proportional to the operational temperature, evaporator diameter, evaporator inclination angle, vapour column diameter within the three-way fitting, liquid filling mass and evaporator-to-condenser height difference, and in a reciprocal order to the evaporator length. With the specified loop configuration and operational conditions, the LHP can achieve a high heat transport capacity of around 900 W. Overall, the work presented in this article provided an approach to determine the heat transfer limitations for such a specific LHP operation that will be of practical use for the associated system design and performance evaluation.

Consequences of anthropic activity in Mar del Tuyú partido de La Costa, Buenos Aires, Argentine

The main cause for the deterioration of coastline of Buenos Aires province, is the rapid growth of tourist centers and the lack of environmental criteria for their development.Human activities in Mar del Tuyú have altered the aero and hydrodynamic conditions. Urban development causes destruction of coastal dune fields and degradation of foredunes, interrupting the aerial exchange of sand between coastal and continental areas. Regarding hydrodynamics, removal of sand from beaches constitutes the biggest damage to the dynamic sedimentary balance. During the rainy season, high transport capacity currents, which are generated in perpendicular to the shoreline sloping streets, are responsible for eroding beach sediments. Fishing piers construction and inadequate coastal defenses also destabilize the dynamic balance of beaches by interfering littoral drift.The human activities responsible for the modification of natural conditions in shorelines by enhancing erosion processes are predominant in densely urbanized areas. The trend of shoreline displacement over the last fifty years points to a relationship between anthropic factors and shoreline erosion.The urban distribution, coastal structures, activities and uses present in the Mar del Tuyú locality provide an appropriate model to determine causes and consequences, both present and future, of loss in coastal dynamics balance, and to establish basic criteria for the development of coastal management plans.

The diversity and evolution of chelicerate hemocyanins.

BackgroundOxygen transport in the hemolymph of many arthropod species is facilitated by large copper-proteins referred to as hemocyanins. Arthropod hemocyanins are hexamers or oligomers of hexamers, which are characterized by a high O2 transport capacity and a high cooperativity, thereby enhancing O2 supply. Hemocyanin subunit sequences had been available from horseshoe crabs (Xiphosura) and various spiders (Araneae), but not from any other chelicerate taxon. To trace the evolution of hemocyanins and the emergence of the large hemocyanin oligomers, hemocyanin cDNA sequences were obtained from representatives of selected chelicerate classes.ResultsHemocyanin subunits from a sea spider, a scorpion, a whip scorpion and a whip spider were sequenced. Hemocyanin has been lost in Opiliones, Pseudoscorpiones, Solifugae and Acari, which may be explained by the evolution of trachea (i.e., taxon Apulmonata). Bayesian phylogenetic analysis was used to reconstruct the evolution of hemocyanin subunits and a relaxed molecular clock approach was applied to date the major events. While the sea spider has a simple hexameric hemocyanin, four distinct subunit types evolved before Xiphosura and Arachnida diverged around 470 Ma ago, suggesting the existence of a 4 × 6mer at that time. Subsequently, independent gene duplication events gave rise to the other distinct subunits in each of the 8 × 6mer hemocyanin of Xiphosura and the 4 × 6mer of Arachnida. The hemocyanin sequences were used to infer the evolutionary history of chelicerates. The phylogenetic trees support a basal position of Pycnogonida, a sister group relationship of Xiphosura and Arachnida, and a sister group relationship of the whip scorpions and the whip spiders.ConclusionFormation of a complex hemocyanin oligomer commenced early in the evolution of euchelicerates. A 4 × 6mer hemocyanin consisting of seven subunit types is conserved in most arachnids since more than 400 Ma, although some entelegyne spiders display selective subunit loss and independent oligomerization. Hemocyanins also turned out to be a good marker to trace chelicerate evolution, which is, however, limited by the loss of hemocyanin in some taxa. The molecular clock calculations were in excellent agreement with the fossil record, also demonstrating the applicability of hemocyanins for such approach.

A structurally informed autotransporter platform for efficient heterologous protein secretion and display

BackgroundThe self-sufficient autotransporter (AT) pathway, ubiquitous in Gram-negative bacteria, combines a relatively simple protein secretion mechanism with a high transport capacity. ATs consist of a secreted passenger domain and a β-domain that facilitates transfer of the passenger across the cell-envelope. They have a great potential for the extracellular expression of recombinant proteins but their exploitation has suffered from the limited structural knowledge of carrier ATs. Capitalizing on its crystal structure, we have engineered the Escherichia coli AT Hemoglobin protease (Hbp) into a platform for the secretion and surface display of heterologous proteins, using the Mycobacterium tuberculosis vaccine target ESAT6 as a model protein.ResultsBased on the Hbp crystal structure, five passenger side domains were selected and one by one replaced by ESAT6, whereas a β-helical core structure (β-stem) was left intact. The resulting Hbp-ESAT6 chimeras were efficiently and stably secreted into the culture medium of E. coli. On the other hand, Hbp-ESAT6 fusions containing a truncated β-stem appeared unstable after translocation, demonstrating the importance of an intact β-stem. By interrupting the cleavage site between passenger and β-domain, Hbp-ESAT6 display variants were constructed that remain cell associated and facilitate efficient surface exposure of ESAT6 as judged by proteinase K accessibility and whole cell immuno-EM analysis. Upon replacement of the passenger side domain of an alternative AT, EspC, ESAT6 was also efficiently secreted, showing the approach is more generally applicable to ATs. Furthermore, Hbp-ESAT6 was efficiently displayed in an attenuated Salmonella typhimurium strain upon chromosomal integration of a single encoding gene copy, demonstrating the potential of the Hbp platform for live vaccine development.ConclusionsWe developed the first structurally informed AT platform for efficient secretion and surface display of heterologous proteins. The platform has potential with regard to the development of recombinant live vaccines and may be useful for other biotechnological applications that require high-level secretion or display of recombinant proteins by bacteria.

Euryhaline pufferfish NBCe1 differs from nonmarine species NBCe1 physiology

Marine fish drink seawater and eliminate excess salt by active salt transport across gill and gut epithelia. Euryhaline pufferfish (Takifugu obscurus, mefugu) forms a CaCO(3) precipitate on the luminal gut surface after transitioning to seawater. NBCe1 (Slc4a4) at the basolateral membrane of intestinal epithelial cell plays a major role in transepithelial intestinal HCO(3)(-) secretion and is critical for mefugu acclimation to seawater. We assayed fugu-NBCe1 (fNBCe1) activity in the Xenopus oocyte expression system. Similar to NBCe1 found in other species, fNBCe1 is an electrogenic Na(+)/HCO(3)(-) cotransporter and sensitive to the stilbene inhibitor DIDS. However, our experiments revealed several unique and distinguishable fNBCe1 transport characteristics not found in mammalian or other teleost NBCe1-orthologs: electrogenic Li(+)/nHCO(3)(-) cotransport; HCO(3)(-) independent, DIDS-insensitive transport; and increased basal intracellular Na(+) accumulation. fNBCe1 is a voltage-dependent Na(+)/nHCO(3)(-) cotransporter that rectifies, independently from the extracellular Na(+) or HCO(3)(-) concentration, around -60 mV. Na(+) removal (0Na(+) prepulse) is necessary to produce the true HCO(3)(-)-elicited current. HCO(3)(-) addition results in huge outward currents with quick current decay. Kinetic analysis of HCO(3)(-) currents reveals that fNBCe1 has a much higher transport capacity (higher maximum current) and lower affinity (higher K(m)) than human kidney NBCe1 (hkNBCe1) does in the physiological range (membrane potential = -80 mV; [HCO(3)(-)] = 10 mM). In this state, fNBCe1 is in favor of operating as transepithelial HCO(3)(-) secretion, opposite of hkNBCe1, from blood to the luminal side. Thus, fugu-NBCe1 represents the first ortholog-based tool to study amino acid substitutions in NBCe1 and how those change ion and voltage dependence.

Baseflow control on sediment flux connectivity: Insights from a nested catchment study in Central Mexico

In order to assess the extent of sediment connectivity between uplands and lowlands and to quantify the processes of in-channel deposition and remobilization, measurements of suspended sediment fluxes were conducted in a nested rural catchment of the Mexican Volcanic Belt. Data were collected over one year at three upland sites (3 to 12 km2) and two downstream stations (390-630 km2). Our results show that a structural discontinuity in the catchment (i.e. abrupt slope decrease at the junction between piedmonts and the alluvial plain from 2 to 10% to < 0.1%) could be compensated by functional continuity during floods. Direct conveyance of fine sediment to the outlet occurred when a high stream transport capacity was reached. Erosion of the streambed was observed on various occasions and accounted for up to 50% of the flux leaving the catchment during one event. Conversely, temporary in-channel storage was apparent on other occasions, amounting to up to 52% of the flux recorded upstream during one storm. These two distinct behaviours were approximately equally distributed along the rainy season and strongly driven by the extent of coupling between surface and subsurface water. This work indeed highlights the role of baseflow spatial variations in determining the extent of lowland sediment conveyance. Riverbed erosional processes occurred when large differences in pre-event baseflow values (i.e. at least a twofold longitudinal increase) were observed between the 5-km distant lowland stations. Our findings outline the importance of systematically taking into consideration the baseflow parameter in research focusing on fine sediment transport across scales.

Threshold-induced complex behavior of wood in mountain streams

The geomorphic complexity of streams influences the residence time of carbon by creating storage sites for organic matter. Instream wood increases complexity, particularly where logjams initiate multithread channels, as documented previously for lowland alluvial channels. Analogous processes in mountain streams can substantially increase the residence time of organic matter in streams otherwise characterized by high transport capacity and limited storage. Thresholds in wood mobility that reflect valley and channel geometry and wood dimensions determine the distribution of multithread channels and the mechanics underlying these thresholds. Valleys must have a lower gradient and less lateral confinement to develop multithread channels, but also larger volumes of riparian and instream wood. Hydrostatic forces that mobilize jams increase more slowly in low-gradient, unconfined channels, facilitating jam persistence. Treefall can thus initiate complex behavior that results in a self-enhancing feedback between wood recruitment and channel geometry. Patches of old-growth forest and multithread channels were formerly more widespread. Carbon retention has likely decreased as multithread channels have become less common.

Equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1 genotype, cytidine deaminase activity and age predict gemcitabine plasma clearance in patients with solid tumours

Gemcitabine (GEM) enters normal and tumour cells via concentrative (CNT) and equilibrative nucleoside transporters (ENT) and is subsequently deaminated to the inactive difluorodeoxyurine (dFdU) by cytidine deaminase (CDA). The aim of our study was to ascertain whether the nucleoside transporter genotype and the CDA activity phenotype can predict total GEM plasma clearance. Forty-seven patients received GEM 1000-1250mgm(-2) i.v. over 30min. Plasma concentrations of GEM and dFdU were measured and individual pharmacokinetic profiles were determined. CDA activity was measured ex vivo in plasma samples. The two most common hENT1 and hCNT1 polymorphisms were determined from genomic DNA. Multivariate analysis revealed that GEM plasma clearance (CL) was positively correlated with the end of infusion dFdU : GEM ratio (P < 0.0001), which is a marker of in vivo CDA activity. The ENT1 genotype characterized by high transport capacity (G/G) and age were inversely correlated with CL (P= 0.027 and 0.048, respectively). A strong correlation was found between end of infusion GEM concentration and area under the concentration-time curve from time 0 to infinity (AUC(0,∞)) (r(2) = 0.77). Our results confirm the role of CDA and age on the interindividual variability of GEM CL and show the contribution of the hENT1 genotype for the first time.

Research and Prospects of Improving the Fatigue Life of Wleded Train Bogie Structure

Because of the high-speed, high transport capacity, low power consumption and a lot of technical and economic advantages, high-speed rail way are universal importance. High-speed railway with the speed of more than 300k/h has been run in China. But fatigue cracking of wleded bogie structure is markedly increased with increasing the train speed. How to avoid fatigue destroy of wleded bogie structure and ensure the safety of transportation are urgent problems to be soved in engineering. A lot of research works have been done at home and abroad. Comparing with traditional surface engineering method, there are many advantages of ultrasonic impact , for example, simple operation, less power consumption, high efficiency, adapt to a wide range, easy to achieve automate production and so on. It is an effective way to surface strengthening of metallic materials. Plastic flow and grain refinement on the metal surface can be obtained by using ultrasonic impact method, and the residual compressive stress on the surface can also be formed. So the mechanical properties of metal surface can be greatly improved. It is new method used in the area of welded structure, especially in the welded bogie structure. It is a new research direction to research the surface nanocrystallization mechanisium of ultrasonic impact, the effect of ultrasonic impac on the fatigue properties and failure mechanisium of wled joint of bogie.

The Plasma Membrane Ca2+ ATPase and the Plasma Membrane Sodium Calcium Exchanger Cooperate in the Regulation of Cell Calcium

Calcium is an ambivalent signal: it is essential for the correct functioning of cell life, but may also become dangerous to it. The plasma membrane Ca(2+) ATPase (PMCA) and the plasma membrane Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger (NCX) are the two mechanisms responsible for Ca(2+) extrusion. The NCX has low Ca(2+) affinity but high capacity for Ca(2+) transport, whereas the PMCA has a high Ca(2+) affinity but low transport capacity for it. Thus, traditionally, the PMCA pump has been attributed a housekeeping role in maintaining cytosolic Ca(2+), and the NCX the dynamic role of counteracting large cytosolic Ca(2+) variations (especially in excitable cells). This view of the roles of the two Ca(2+) extrusion systems has been recently revised, as the specific functional properties of the numerous PMCA isoforms and splicing variants suggests that they may have evolved to cover both the basal Ca(2+) regulation (in the 100 nM range) and the Ca(2+) transients generated by cell stimulation (in the μM range).

Automatic Train Control Based On The Multi-agent Control Of Cooperative Systems

The growing traffic intensity and complexity of the railway systems as well as the demand for higher speed need to new Automatic Train Control (ATC) methods. The conventional ATC system has some problems and in recent years new ATC methods like the Decentralized ATC (D-ATC) and autonomous decentralized ATC are developed which have some advantages. In this paper, an Intelligent Decentralized ATC (ID-ATC) approach based on the Multi-Agent systems theory is developed which can provide high transportation capacity, high-safety and high-reliability. In this method we combine the Voronoi concept of cooperative systems theory with Multi-Agent control theory by using of fuzzy control logic. The control algorithms are presented and by using of simulation results the effectiveness of the method is demonstrated.

Wood distribution along streams draining old-growth floodplain forests in Congaree National Park, South Carolina, USA

We measured wood volume and other characteristics along a series of instream and floodplain transects in and around Congaree National Park, South Carolina. Seven transects were surveyed at most sites; one within the bankfull channel, and three on each bank, at 10, 50, and 100 m lateral distances, respectively, from the channel. Along each transect we measured piece dimensions, location along transect, orientation, and decay category. We also characterized channel width, drainage area, vegetation type, average forest basal area, and inundation category for each transect. Forest transects > 100 m from a channel were also surveyed. Instream wood loads for unmanaged channels draining old-growth forests were 102–178 m 3/ha, which is lower than most instream wood loads documented for old-growth temperate forests. We attribute the lower wood loads to the combined effects of high transport capacity and rapid decay. Floodplain wood loads are lowest close to the channel but increase with distance, reaching comparable values (up to 172 m 3/ha) at distances > 100 m from a channel. Channel geometry does not appear to exert the significant influence on instream wood loads that has been documented for more laterally constrained channels. Channel-spanning jams are uncommon and appear to be transient features.

Hydrogen production with CO 2 capture by coupling steam reforming of methane and chemical-looping combustion: Use of an iron-based waste product as oxygen carrier burning a PSA tail gas

In this work it is analyzed the performance of an iron waste material as oxygen carrier for a chemical-looping combustion (CLC) system. CLC is a novel combustion technology with the benefit of inherent CO 2 separation that can be used as a source of energy for the methane steam reforming process (SR). The tail gas from the PSA unit is used as fuel in the CLC system. The oxygen carrier behaviour with respect to gas combustion was evaluated in a continuous 500 W th CLC prototype using a simulated PSA off-gas stream as fuel. Methane or syngas as fuel were also studied for comparison purposes. The oxygen carrier showed enough high oxygen transport capacity and reactivity to fully convert syngas at 880 °C. However, lower conversion of the fuel was observed with methane containing fuels. An estimated solids inventory of 1600 kg MW th −1 would be necessary to fully convert the PSA off-gas to CO 2 and H 2O. An important positive effect of the oxygen carrier-to-fuel ratio up to 1.5 and the reactor temperature on the combustion efficiency was found. A characterization of the calcined and after-used particles was carried out showing that this iron-based material can be used as oxygen carrier in a CLC plant since particles maintain their properties (reactivity, no agglomeration, high durability, etc.) after more than 111 h of continuous operation.

Comparison of heterologous xylose transporters in recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae

BackgroundBaker's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) has been engineered for xylose utilization to enable production of fuel ethanol from lignocellulose raw material. One unresolved challenge is that S. cerevisiae lacks a dedicated transport system for pentose sugars, which means that xylose is transported by non-specific Hxt transporters with comparatively low transport rate and affinity for xylose.ResultsIn this study, we compared three heterologous xylose transporters that have recently been shown to improve xylose uptake under different experimental conditions. The transporters Gxf1, Sut1 and At5g59250 from Candida intermedia, Pichia stipitis and Arabidopsis thaliana, respectively, were expressed in isogenic strains of S. cerevisiae and the transport kinetics and utilization of xylose was evaluated. Expression of the Gxf1 and Sut1 transporters led to significantly increased affinity and transport rates of xylose. In batch cultivation at 4 g/L xylose concentration, improved transport kinetics led to a corresponding increase in xylose utilization, whereas no correlation could be demonstrated at xylose concentrations greater than 15 g/L. The relative contribution of native sugar transporters to the overall xylose transport capacity was also estimated during growth on glucose and xylose.ConclusionsKinetic characterization and aerobic batch cultivation of strains expressing the Gxf1, Sut1 and At5g59250 transporters showed a direct relationship between transport kinetics and xylose growth. The Gxf1 transporter had the highest transport capacity and the highest xylose growth rate, followed by the Sut1 transporter. The range in which transport controlled the growth rate was determined to between 0 and 15 g/L xylose. The role of catabolite repression in regulation of native transporters was also confirmed by the observation that xylose transport by native S. cerevisiae transporters increased significantly during cultivation in xylose and at low glucose concentration.

Ngong Ping 360: Hong Kong’s state-of-the-art cable car

Cable cars are increasingly being seen as sustainable mass-transit solutions due to minimal emissions, short waits, low costs and rapid construction. One of the most recent examples is the 5·7 km long Ngong Ping 360 ropeway on Lantau Island in Hong Kong, the largest bi-cable circulating detachable cable car system in the world. Completed with the help of mules and helicopters in September 2006, it links Tung Chung new town next to Hong Kong International airport with the popular Ngong Ping tourist village, home of the Tian Tan Buddha. The system has the second highest transport capacity in the world, with 3500 passengers per hour each way.