Partial Purification and Characterization of β-glucosidase from Monascus sanguineus

The aim of the present work was to study the production and characterization of β-glucosidase from Monascus sanguineus. Agro-waste residues were screened to obtain the maximum yield of enzyme. Jack fruit seed was the best substrate for enzyme production. Studies on the optimization of pH and temperature showed acidic pH favorable for enzymatic activity, whereas the optimum temperature was 60°C. Enzyme kinetics studies with different concentration of pNPG showed the calculated value of Km approximately 0.89 mM with the non-linear regression and 0.98 mM with the linear regression techniques. The enzyme was predominantly inhibited by KCl (69.8%) and moderately inhibited by CaCl2 (14.8%). Studies on the sensitivity for glucose showed that after 100 mM concentration of glucose, inhibition in pNPG hydrolysis took place. The molecular weight of the protein was estimated as 116 and 66 kDa with SDS- PAGE and zymography was carried out to verify the specific activity.

The psychology postgraduate system in Brazil: current characteristics and challenges for the area / O sistema de pós-graduação no Brasil: características atuais e desafios à área

AbstractThis text is a characterization of the Psychology Postgraduate System in Brazil, presenting indicators of its growth in recent years, of its current geographical distribution, of its research lines, and of the grades awarded in the last Triennial evaluation of 2013. This characterization underlies a set of reflections regarding the challenges for the area from the guidelines established by the National Postgraduate System Plan (PNPG) 2011-2020. These challenges include: internationalization, interdisciplinarity, the link with basic education, the reduction of regional disparities, and the differentiation between academic and professional qualification. The text also focuses on the continuous and necessary improvements in the evaluation process conducted by the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES). These reflections seek to provide a basis for the management of the Psychology Postgraduate System in Brazil in the coming years. (AU)

ResumoO presente texto faz uma caracterização do sistema de Pós-Graduação em Psicologia no Brasil, oferecendo indicadores do seu crescimento nos últimos anos, da distribuição geográfica vigente, dos fenômenos tomados como objetos de investigação nas suas linhas de pesquisa e das notas atribuídas na última avaliação trienal de 2013. Tal caracterização embasa um conjunto de reflexões sobre os desafios para a Área a partir de diretrizes fixadas pelo Programa Nacional de Pós-Graduação (PNPG) 2011-2020, tais como: internacionalização, interdisciplinaridade, vínculo com a educação básica, redução das assimetrias regionais, diferenciação entre a formação acadêmica e profissional. Focaliza-se, também, os aprimoramentos contínuos e necessários do processo de avaliação conduzido pela Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior Capes. Tais reflexões buscam embasar a gestão da Área nos próximos anos. (AU)