Binding Mode and Structure–Activity Relationships around Direct Inhibitors of the Nrf2–Keap1 Complex

An X‐ray crystal structure of Kelch‐like ECH‐associated protein (Keap1) co‐crystallised with (1S,2R)‐2‐[(1S)‐1‐[(1,3‐dioxo‐2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐isoindol‐2‐yl)methyl]‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroisoquinolin‐2‐carbonyl]cyclohexane‐1‐carboxylic acid (compound (S,R,S)‐ 1 a ) was obtained. This X‐ray crystal structure provides breakthrough experimental evidence for the true binding mode of the hit compound (S,R,S)‐ 1 a , as the ligand orientation was found to differ from that of the initial docking model, which was available at the start of the project. Crystallographic elucidation of this binding mode helped to focus and drive the drug design process more effectively and efficiently.     

Response of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) to stress induced by different types of pollutants – testing the fluctuating asymmetry

Damage caused to pine forests by industrial pollution is observed even several decades after emissions have stopped down. A simple morphological feature – the leaf fluctuating asymmetry – was used for assessing the condition of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) stands growing in a heavily degraded area. In 2011, a study was performed on the developmental instability of needles in four naturally reforested Polish populations of P. sylvestris. Studies were conducted within the protective zone at a zinc smelter, a copper smelter, a cement plant and train tracks. All selected areas manifested a high extent of anthropogenic pollution‐induced environmental degradation until the end of the 90s. Currently, a reduced level of environmental pollution is recorded at these sites. Control group was a natural population of Scots pine from the region of National Park of Wielkopolska. The results confirm the usefulness of fluctuating asymmetry as a highly sensitive indicator of non‐specific stress. Also, it was shown that in areas degraded by human activity, poor condition of Scots pine persists that the stress factor has been eliminated. This tendency occurs particularly to areas contaminated by heavy metals.     

A First Report of Photoemission in Experiments Related to Flash Sintering

A highly nonlinear increase in electrical conductivity and concomitant photoemission occurs not only during “flash sintering” but also in presintered, dense specimens. We report results from experiments with dense specimens that show a strong correspondence between the intensity of photoemission and electrical conductivity of specimens under a variety of conditions of the electrical parameters. It is proposed that both properties are related to the concentration of electron–hole pairs generated in such experiments.     

Effect of ageing and annealing on the mechanical behaviour and biodegradability of a poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) and poly(ethylene‐co‐methyl‐acrylate‐co‐glycidyl‐methacrylate)blend

Poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) undergoes an ageing process that contributes to its remarkable fragility. Blending it with an elastomer is a possibility to increase toughness. In this work, the mechanical properties of a 70/30 wt% blend of PHB and poly(ethylene‐co‐methyl‐acrylate‐co‐glycidyl‐methacrylate) were studied over time. The phenomenon of ageing affected the blend, which lost its ductility and became fragile days after its processing. Differential scanning calorimetry and small angle X‐ray scattering analyses showed that this drop in mechanical properties was due to changes in the crystalline structure of the matrix. Annealing reduced fragility, increased toughness and prevented a re‐ageing of the blend. Biodegradation in soil was also more intense for annealed samples. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry     

Anisotropic loss of toughness with physical aging of work toughened polycarbonate

We have studied the response of mechanically toughened and physically aged polycarbonate primarily using Charpy impact and ultrasonic wave speed measurements. The toughening was conducted through plastic compression on as‐received PC. The Charpy impact tests showed anisotropic toughening, both in the absorbed energy and in the mode of fracture. The amount of toughening with plastic compression, even though anisotropic, is centered around the response of annealed and quenched samples, which represent the response of an unaged PC. There was an anisotropic drop in the toughness of some samples with aging. The time of this drop was uncorrelated in the different directions and disappeared for the highly toughened samples. This transition was bimodal and statistically distributed between either a fully ductile or a fully brittle failure. As the samples were prepared in a manner to remove induced residual stresses, this drop in toughening may be associated with an intrinsic anisotropic thermal aging of the deformed material. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 54:794–804, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Parametric study of an efficient renewable power-to-substitute-natural-gas process including high-temperature steam electrolysis

Power-to-Substitute Natural Gas processes are investigated to offer solutions for renewable energy storing or transportation. In the present study, an original Power-to-SNG process combining high-temperature steam electrolysis and CO₂ methanation is implemented and simulated. A reference process is firstly defined, including a specific modelling approach of the electrolysis and a methanation modelling including a kinetic law. The process also integrates a unit to clean the gas from residual CO₂, H₂ and H₂O for gas network injection. Having set all the units, simulations are performed with ProsimPlus 3™ software for a reference case where the electrolyser and the methanation reactors are designed. The reference case allows to produce 67.5 Nm³/h of SNG with an electrical energy consumption of 14.4 kW h/Nm³. The produced SNG satisfies specifications required for network injection. From this reference process, two sensitivity analyses on electrolysis and methanation working points and on external parameters and constraints are considered. As a main result, we observe that the reference case maximises both process efficiency and SNG production when compared with other studied cases.     

Increasing X-ray image interpretation competency of cargo security screeners

X-ray screening of containers and unit load devices in the area of cargo shipping is becoming an essential and common feature at ports and airports all over the world. The detection of prohibited items in X-ray images is a challenging task for screening officers as they need to know which items are prohibited and what they look like in X-ray images. The main aim of this study was to investigate whether X-ray image interpretation competency of cargo security screeners can be increased by computer-based training. More specifically, effects of training were investigated by conducting tests before training started and after approximately three months of training. Moreover, it was examined whether viewing X-ray images in pseudo color would lead to a better detection performance compared to when X-ray images are shown in greyscale. Recurrent computer-based training resulted in large performance increases after three months. No significant difference in detection performance could be found for tests when using X-ray images in greyscale vs. pseudo color.