Isolation and characterization of Kluyveromyces marxianus mutants deficient in malate transport

In malic acid-grown cells of the strains ATCC 10022 and KMS3 of Kluyveromyces marxianus the transport of malic acid occurred by a malate-proton symport, which accepted l-malic, d-malic, succinic and fumaric acids, but not tartaric, malonic or maleic acids. The system was inducible and subjected to glucose repression. Mutants of the strain KMS3, unable to grow in a medium with malic acid, were isolated and checked for their capacity to utilize several carbon sources and to transport dicarboxylic acids by the malate-proton symport. Two distinct clones affected on malate transport were obtained. Both were able to grow on a medium with glycerol or ethanol but not with dl-malic, succinic, oxoglutaric and oxaloacetic acids as the sole carbon and energy sources. However, while one of the mutants (Mal7) displayed activity levels for the enzymes malate dehydrogenase, isocitrate lyase, and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase similar to those of the wild strain, in the other mutant type (Mal6) the activities for the same enzymes were significantly reduced. Plasma membranes from derepressed cells of the wild strain and of the mutants Mal6 and Mal7 were isolated and the protein analysed by SDS–PAGE. The electrophoretic patterns of these preparations differed in a polypeptide with an apparent molecular mass of about 28 kDa, which was absent only in the mutant Mal7. The results indicated that Mal7 can be affected in a gene that encodes a malate carrier in K. marxianus. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Design and analysis of the IFMIF–EVEDA beam dump cooling system

The IFMIF–EVEDA beam dump is designed to stop a 9 MeV, 125 mA continuous wave deuteron beam that deposits along its surface a total of 1.125 MW. The beam dump design is based on a 2.5 m long copper cone whose inner surface absorbs the beam. This piece is cooled by water flowing at high velocity through the annular channel formed between it and a second piece (shroud) made of four truncated cones of slightly different slopes.In this paper the beam dump cooling system will be briefly described, and the relevant 1D and 3D results will be presented paying especial attention to the computational fluid dynamics results.     

Current status of the engineering design of the test modules for the IFMIF

Under Broader Approach (BA) Agreement between EURATOM and Japan, IFMIF/EVEDA (International Fusion Materials Irradiation Facility/Engineering Validation and Engineering Design Activities) has been performed since the middle of 2007. IFMIF presents three main facilities (the Accelerator Facility, Li Target Facility and Test Facilities). A previous design of IFMIF was summarized in the comprehensive design report [1]. The present EVEDA phase aims at producing a detailed, complete and fully integrated engineering design of IFMIF. The delivery of the “Intermediate IFMIF Engineering Design Report” is foreseen mid-2013. The goal of IFMIF is to obtain the indispensable design database to allow the design and licensing of DEMO and ensuring commercial reactors thanks to the materials data set obtained from planned evaluation tests such irradiations in high flux test modules (HFTM-vertical rig, HFTM-horizontal rig), medium flux test modules (creep fatigue test module, tritium release test module, liquid breeder validation module) and low flux test modules of IFMIF. In addition, the Startup Monitoring Module will be used for IFMIF commissioning. This paper is summarizing the overall current progress status of the engineering and conceptual design of the test modules in IFMIF/EVEDA.     

Neutronics study for the installation of the LBVM in the medium flux area of IFMIF

IFMIF (International Fusion Materials Irradiation Facility) will be a fusion dedicated facility producing a large amount of neutrons with the appropriate energy spectrum to test materials and subcomponents for DEMO and future Fusion Power Plants.While the high flux area of IFMIF will be devoted to reduced activation structural materials for first wall and blanket, the medium flux area will be dedicated to functional materials for breeder blankets. In particular, the Liquid Breeder Validation Module (LBVM), will host experiments related with functional materials for liquid breeder blankets. Since IFMIF neutron spectra have been intended to fit the most irradiated areas of a fusion reactor in the high flux area, the irradiation conditions in the LBVM placed in the medium flux area of IFMIF have been assessed. The effect of some neutron shifter/reflector components to optimize the neutron spectra have been evaluated in order to find out the proper irradiation conditions for functional materials for liquid breeder blankets.Therefore, the objective of this report is to summarize the neutronic calculations developed to evaluate the viability of IFMIF neutron source to perform relevant irradiation experiments on functional materials for liquid breeder blanket concept for future nuclear fusion power reactors (ITER, DEMO). The irradiation parameters evaluated for this purpose are: the tritium production for liquid breeder material (Pb–17Li) and the damage dose (dpa) and gas production to damage dose ratios for Al₂O₃ and SiC functional materials.The main conclusion is that, it is possible to perform relevant irradiation experiments on functional materials for liquid breeder blanket concept for the future nuclear fusion reactor DEMO. Nevertless, the use of some shifter components will be needed to optimize some irradiation parameters.     

Synthesis of p-cymene from limonene, a renewable feedstock

Highly selective limonene conversions to p-cymene in short reaction times were achieved under “solvent free” conditions over mesoporous silica–alumina supports heated by microwave irradiation. An increase in the silica content of these mixed oxides led to increases in the specific surface area, porosity (pore size and volume) and the surface acidity. The conversion and selectivity of limonene to p-cymene under microwave irradiation was also found to rise as the silica content in these mixed oxides was increased. By careful choice of the solid and reaction parameters the activities for the conversion of limonene and selectivity to p-cymene (used as an intermediate in fine chemical syntheses) could be fine tuned. Results are presented under both dry media and reflux conditions.     

Validation of a Single-Extraction Procedure for Sequential Analysis of Vitamin E, Cholesterol, Fatty Acids, and Total Fat in Seafood

Food lipid major components are usually analyzed by individual methodologies using diverse extractive procedures for each class. A simple and fast extractive procedure was devised for the sequential analysis of vitamin E, cholesterol, fatty acids, and total fat estimation in seafood, reducing analyses time and organic solvent consumption. Several liquid/liquid-based extractive methodologies using chlorinated and non-chlorinated organic solvents were tested. The extract obtained is used for vitamin E quantification (normal-phase HPLC with fluorescence detection), total cholesterol (normal-phase HPLC with UV detection), fatty acid profile, and total fat estimation (GC-FID), all accomplished in <40 min. The final methodology presents an adequate linearity range and sensitivity for tocopherol and cholesterol, with intra- and inter-day precisions (RSD) from 3 to 11 % for all the components. The developed methodology was applied to diverse seafood samples with positive outcomes, making it a very attractive technique for routine analyses in standard equipped laboratories in the food quality control field.     

Beitr?ge zur Kenntnis der Bestandteile der Kakaoschale

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Reversed-phase HPLC analysis of peptides in standard and dairy samples using on-line absorbance and post-column OPA-fluorescence detection

Absorbance and post-columno-phthalaldehyde (OPA)-fluorescent detection were used to analyse standard and dairy peptides following reversed-phase HPLC. Using both detection systems on-line provides additional information on the presence of peptides in dairy products. The detection response depends on the amino acid composition of the peptide involved. Among the peptides used, glutathione, lysine-containing peptides and peptides with glycine as the N-terminal residue give the highest fluorescence after the OPA post-column reaction. Absorbance is more sensitive than fluorescence for peptides with aromatic amino acids. Different parameters, such as the flow rate of OPA, the amount of mercaptoethanol in the OPA reagent and the temperature of reaction, substantially influence the fluorescent response of peptides. The interest of using on-line absorbance and fluorescence detection is highlighted by analysing peptides from skim milk and from a tryptic hydrolysate.

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Analyse der Peptide in Standardproben und Milchprodukten (mittels Hochleistungs-Flüssigchromatographie in reverser Phase (HPLC) unter Einsatz von on-line Absorptions- und Fluoreszenznachweis mit OPA

Zusammenfassung Der Postkolonnen-Absorptions- und Fluoreszenznachweis mit orthophthaldialdehyd (OPA) wird bei der Standard- und Milchpeptidanalyse nach der Trennung durch Hochleistungs-Flüssigchromatographie (HPLC) eingesetzt. Der Einsatz beider Nachweissysteme vermittelt zusätzliche Information über das Auftreten von Peptiden in Milchprodukten. Das Ergebnis des Nachweisverfahrens ist von der chemischen Bindung der Aminosäuren im Peptid abhängig. Unter den untersuchten Peptiden weisen Glutathion, Peptide mit Lysin und Peptide mit Glykokoll im endständigen N nach der Postkolonnen-Reaktion mit OPA die größte Fluoreszenz auf. Bei Peptiden mit aromatischen Aminosäuren spricht die Absorption stärker als die Fluoreszenz an. Verschiedene Parameter wie die OPA-Strömung, der Anteil an Mercaptoethanol im Reagens OPA und die Reaktionstemperatur beeinflussen die Fluoreszenzcharakteristik des Peptids. Der Einsatz der on-line-Absorption und Fluoreszenz ist nützlich bei der Analyse von Peptiden in entrahmter Milch und eines tryptischen Hydrolysats.