A model for cell-surface-exposed carbohydrate moieties suitable for structural studies by NMR spectroscopy

In the present study a synthetic glycolipid system is presented that can be readily incorporated into phospholipid micelles and that allows the study of cell-surface-exposed carbohydrate units by high-resolution NMR techniques. Here, we present an efficient route for the synthesis of glycolipid compounds that contain mannose, mannobiose, or mannotriose coupled either directly to an alkyl chain or through a poly(ethylene glycol) linker. Furthermore, we have validated our model system by measuring the binding of cyanovirin N (CV-N), a cyanobacterial protein that binds with nanomolar affinity to the terminal arms of high-mannose structures of the HIV surface-envelope glycoprotein gp120, to glycolipids the carbohydrate portions of which comprise the corresponding high-mannose moieties. From the results of chemical-shift mapping with uniformly (15)N-labelled CV-N, we conclude that binding to the protein occurs at sites similar to those involved in binding the nonconjugated carbohydrates. We characterized the insertion of the glycolipids into dodecylphosphocholine (DPC) micelles by measuring translational diffusion, and we observed that the diffusion constants of the glycolipids were very similar to those of the DPC micelles themselves, but significantly deviated from those of the free glycolipids. We also present experimental proof that the glycolipids remain inserted in the micelles while binding to CV-N. Finally, by addition of a ligand that had a higher affinity to CV-N but which was not attached did not couple to a lipid anchor, CV-N could be released from the glycolipid and, hence, from the micelle-associated state.     

Firefly luciferase produces hydrogen peroxide as a coproduct in dehydroluciferyl adenylate formation

Firefly luciferase catalyzes the synthesis of H2O2 from the same substrates as the bioluminescence reaction: ATP and luciferin (D-LH2). About 80% of the enzyme-bound intermediate D-luciferyl adenylate (D-LH2-AMP) is oxidized into oxyluciferin, and a photon is emitted during this reaction. The enzyme pathway responsible for the generation of H2O2 is a side reaction in which D-LH2-AMP is oxidized into dehydroluciferyl adenylate (L-AMP). Like the bioluminescence reaction, the luciferase-catalyzed synthesis of H2O2 and L-AMP is a stereospecific process, involving only the natural D enantiomer. However, the intramolecular electron transfer postulated as essential to the light emission process is not involved in this side reaction.     

Non-destructive Real Time Monitoring of the Laser Welding Process

Laser welding is a high power density technology of materials joining that has many advantages in comparison with conventional fusion welding methods, for example, high accuracy, flexibility, repeatability and especially very narrow heat-affected zone which results in minimal workpiece distortions. Since it is still quite expensive technology, minimal spoilage is required. Effective system of quality control and processing parameters optimization must be established to reduce total costs, which is particularly required in industrial production. In this article some results of pulsed Nd:YAG laser welding process monitoring based on the measurement of plasma electron temperature are presented. The ability of designed sensor to detect weld penetration depth has been demonstrated. Plasma spectral lines intensities measurement can discover gap instabilities as well as local sheet thickness reduction.     

Surface functionalization of mesoporous antimony doped tin oxide by metalorganic reaction

Electrically conducting mesoporous antimony doped tin oxide was functionalized by the metalorganic reaction with several Grignard reagents. This fast and efficient grafting approach enables a direct connection of the metal atoms with the organic functionalities avoiding the formation of insulating Si–O linkers, which is of special interest for the interfacial charge transfer processes. Using this approach we introduced vinyl, allyl and phenyl groups into the pores of mesoporous ATO, which was confirmed by IR spectroscopy, TGA and nitrogen sorption measurements. We obtained a high loading of organic groups corresponding to about 50–60% of the monolayer surface coverage. The obtained mesoporous inorganic–organic hybrids can serve as a platform for incorporation of electrochemically active species.     

Flow patterns and velocity fields in two-dimensional thin slice panel with flow-corrective insert

An experimental two-dimensional (2-D) thin slice panel for studying flow patterns of fine silica sand was designed and manufactured. As supplier of sand was not known at that time, flow properties of the silica sand were assessed without shear tests. A preliminary design of plane-flow hopper of the experimental 2-D panel was assumed to be close to the mass flow conditions. Sand was circulated in the experimental panel to study the steady state flow. Tests of flow patterns suggested typical funnel-flow patterns with stagnant zones in the hopper and in the vertical part of the panel. Stagnant zones near the bottom of the hopper indicated insufficient width of the hopper outlet. Shear tests for estimation of flow properties of silica sand were carried out additionally and two methods of how to transform the funnel flow of sand to the mass flow were followed up; (a) existing 2-D panel was retrofitted with flow-corrective element, and (b) the width of outlet in existing experimental panel was widen into the size, calculated according to mass flow conditions. Both modifications were proven to be successful and the last-in first-out funnel flow was transformed into first-in first-out mass flow of sand. Velocities of individual tracer particles were measured during mass flow and velocity field was evaluated. Velocity profile of particles in the vicinity of flow-corrective insert was studied in detail.     

Modelling and simulation of heat transfer by convection in aerogel treated nonwovens

Simulation and numerical modeling are becoming increasingly popular due to the ability to seek solutions for a problem without undertaking real-life experiments. For the problems of heat transfer, these techniques to generate relevant data by incorporating different changes to the input parameters. Heat transfer property of textile materials is a major concern since it influences comfort properties of clothing. In this paper, numerical simulation was applied to evaluate the heat flux, temperature distributions, and convective heat transfer coefficients of the fibrous insulating materials treated with aerogel. The computational model simulated the insulation behavior of nonwoven fabrics without and with aerogel. Ansys and Comsol were used to model and simulate heat transfer. The simulation was performed assuming laminar flow and since the Mach number was < 0.3, the compressible flow model with Mach number < 0.3 was used. The results of simulation were correlated to experimental measurements for validation. Furthermore, aerogel-treated fabric samples showed better thermal performance. Using this model, the heat transfer properties of the nonwoven fabrics treated with aerogel can be optimized further.     

Editorial

This editorial provides an overview of a special issue dedicated to the 7th conference on Process Integration, Modeling and Optimization for Energy Saving and Pollution Reduction—PRES 2004. Eight papers have been selected and peer-reviewed covering various subjects of heat transfer engineering, focusing on the recent development of various features of heat transfer equipment design and optimization. This is the fourth special issue of Heat Transfer Engineering dedicated to selected contributions from PRES conferences [1 Kleme?, J. and Stehlík, P. Heat Transfer Engineering. PRES Conference—Challenges in Complex Process Heat Transfer. vol. 23, pp.1–2. no. 6 [Google Scholar], 2 Stehlík, P. and Kleme?, J. Heat Transfer Engineering. Selected Papers from the PRES 2002 Conference. vol. 25, pp.1–3. no. 5 [Google Scholar], 3 Kleme?, J. and Stehlík, P. Heat Transfer Engineering. Selected Papers from the PRES 2003 Conference. vol. 26, pp.1–3. no. 5 [Google Scholar]].     

Prediction of emerging technologies based on analysis of the US patent citation network

The network of patents connected by citations is an evolving graph, which provides a representation of the innovation process. A patent citing another implies that the cited patent reflects a piece of previously existing knowledge that the citing patent builds upon. A methodology presented here (1) identifies actual clusters of patents: i.e., technological branches, and (2) gives predictions about the temporal changes of the structure of the clusters. A predictor, called the citation vector, is defined for characterizing technological development to show how a patent cited by other patents belongs to various industrial fields. The clustering technique adopted is able to detect the new emerging recombinations, and predicts emerging new technology clusters. The predictive ability of our new method is illustrated on the example of USPTO subcategory 11, Agriculture, Food, Textiles. A cluster of patents is determined based on citation data up to 1991, which shows significant overlap of the class 442 formed at the beginning of 1997. These new tools of predictive analytics could support policy decision making processes in science and technology, and help formulate recommendations for action.     

Relationship between chemical and rheological properties of two asphalts of different origins

The chemical and rheological properties of two asphalts selected from different sources (Urals, Russia; Cold Lake, Canada) were investigated. Analyses of chemical (elemental composition, fractional composition, molecular weights) and physical properties (complex viscosity, loss tangent, shear compliance) were performed on all original and aged (rolling thin film oven test, RTFOT; pressurized aging vessel, PAV) samples. The analyses of the chemical properties of both asphalts revealed higher asphaltene content, higher heteroatom content, and lower aging susceptibility of the Cold Lake asphalt (less significant changes in group composition). Based on its chemical composition, the Cold Lake asphalt was expected to perform better in the rheological tests than the Urals asphalt. The rheological tests confirmed this hypothesis and revealed better low- and high-temperature properties of the Cold Lake asphalt and a slower deterioration of its physical properties upon oxidative aging.     

Recalibration of the Large Scale Gap‐Test to a Stress Scale

A series of gap‐test experiments were conducted in accordance with the EMTAP Test 22a guidelines to characterize the stress output from a donor charge of ROWANEX 3601. Forty eight successful gap‐tests were conducted at the University of Pardubice in addition to two supporting plate impact experiments performed at the Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge. The experiments indicated that there are two principal release mechanisms, which produce the observed reduction in stress with increasing gap distance. The first is attenuation of the input wave, something which is expected during explosive loading due to the triangular nature of the loading pulse. The second is an interaction between the input wave and lateral release waves from the edges of the test sample at the measurement station. Attenuation of the input wave due to visco‐elastic loss in the PMMA “gap” used is likely to be less significant than these other two release mechanisms. The data generated by this investigation forms a robust dataset that gives an accurate calibration for ROWANEX 3601 for users of the EMTAP 22a test procedure. In addition the data represent an excellent “set problem” for those developing and wishing to validate, computational models of similar physical phenomena.