Conversion of the maltogenic {alpha}-amylase Novamyl into a CGTase

Novamyl is a thermostable five-domain maltogenic     

Morphology and Atomic-Scale Structure of MoS2 Nanoclusters Synthesized with Different Sulfiding Agents

We use scanning tunneling microscopy to investigate the morphology and atomic-scale edge structure of MoS₂ nanoclusters synthesized on a gold single crystal as a model system for hydrodesulfurization catalysts using three different sulfur sources for sulfiding. Crystalline and triangularly shaped MoS₂ nanoclusters are predominantly produced from sulfiding with H₂S, dimethyl disulfide (DMDS) and dimethyl sulfide (DMS), but the detailed dispersion, stacking and distribution of active edge sites is sensitive to the selection of the sulfiding agent. The main effect of varying the sulfiding agent seems to be related to the variation in the reactivity of the sulfur, i.e. changes in the sulfur chemical potential. H₂S and DMDS both yield fully sulfided edge structures, but lower sulfur content is obtained on the edges of MoS₂ sulfided with DMS reflected by Mo-edges terminated by sulfur monomers. The present model studies demonstrate that MoS₂ morphology and hereby also the dispersion, type and amounts of active edge sites can be manipulated by control of sulfiding conditions and choice of sulfiding agent. The findings are in line with previous reports on activity variations on technical catalysts which have undergone different sulfidation procedures.     

Pricing structures for solutions: an exploratory study within the oil and gas industry†

A growing number of companies have begun to realise the potential for differentiating their product offerings by integrating services to provide customised solutions. Although there is now an extensive and growing literature on this trend, researchers have only recently begun to consider the pricing structures for such solutions. To address this shortcoming, the present study adopts an exploratory case-based approach to investigate a buyer (drilling contractor) and two suppliers of offshore capital equipment, each of whom provides condition-based maintenance solutions for offshore drilling units in the upstream oil and gas industry. The findings of the study identify a number of underlying mechanisms for solution offerings (i.e. innovativeness, benchmarking alternatives, measurability, replicability and operational risk) that are important considerations in the process of determining appropriate pricing structures based on the buyer’s business model, procurement practices and maintenance strategy vis-à-vis the supplier’s capabilities and the buyer–supplier relationship. The present study contributes to the literature by providing empirical evidence on and insight into the complexity of determining the pricing structure for solution offerings from the perspective of the supplier as well as the buyer.     

Hybrid micro/nano-topography of a TiO2 nanotube-coated commercial zirconia femoral knee implant promotes bone cell adhesion in vitro

Various approaches have been studied to engineer the implant surface to enhance bone in-growth properties, particularly using micro- and nano-topography. In this study, the behavior of osteoblast (bone) cells was analyzed in response to a titanium oxide (TiO₂) nanotube-coated commercial zirconia femoral knee implant consisting of a combined surface structure of a micro-roughened surface with the nanotube coating. The osteoblast cells demonstrated high degrees of adhesion and integration into the surface of the nanotube-coated implant material, indicating preferential cell behavior on this surface when compared to the bare implant. The results of this brief study provide sufficient evidence to encourage future studies. The development of such hierarchical micro- and nano-topographical features, as demonstrated in this work, can provide insightful designs for advanced bone-inducing material coatings on ceramic orthopedic implant surfaces.     

Function of gene 49 of bacteriophage T4 III. Isolation of Holliday structures from very fast-sedimenting DNA

Branched DNA molecules were identified in ClaI digests of cytosine containing very fast-sedimenting DNA (VFS-DNACYT) which was isolated from Escherichia coli infected with the multiple mutant 49-GT7 of phage T4. In about 10% of randomly picked ClaI fragments branches with three arms (Y-structures) as well as four arms (Holliday structures) were seen in the electron microscope. Branched structures were absent from ClaI digests after treatment with purified endonuclease VII (gp49) in vitro.     

Atomic-scale structure of Mo6S6 nanowires

We have studied the atomic-scale structure of the Mo6S6 nanowires using scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy (STM and STS) and density functional theory (DFT). A novel synthesis route based on metallic Mo precursors is presented for the selective formation of elementary pure Mo6S6 nanowires. The Mo6S6 nanowires selectively organize as trimer bundles, and each of the Mo6S6 nanowires consists of an electrically conducting Mo backbone dressed with a sulfur exterior cap. The Mo6S6 nanowires may thus be of interest as novel building blocks in nanoelectronics because the Mo6S6 nanowires exist in a robust, singular structural conformation with uniquely defined electrical (metallic) properties.