Synthesis of (R,S)-10-methyloctadecanoic acid (tuberculostearic acid) and key chiral 2-methyl branched intermediates

Tuberculostearic acid, (R)-10-methyloctadecanoic acid, is a characteristic component of pathogenic mycobacteria and related organisms. Sensitive detection of this acid in infected material allows rapid detection of mycobacterial disease. A novel, convergent synthesis of tuberculostearic acid and key chiral intermediates is described in this communication, to provide a reference compound. Racemic and (R)- and (S)-1-iodo-2-methyldecanes were synthesised from 1-octanal and 1-carboethoxyethylidenetriphenylphosphorane as initial starting materials. 1-Hydroxyoct-7-yne was made from 1,6-hexanediol by two alternative methods and coupled with the above racemic iodide. Hydrogenation and oxidation of the resulting (R,S)-10-methyloctadec-7-yn-1-ol gave racemic tuberculostearic acid.     

CYSTINE LYASES IN PLANTS: A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW

Cystine lyases cleave L-cystine through aβ-elimination reaction producing thiocysteine (cysteine persulfide), pyruvate and ammonia. They are responsible for the initial reaction that produces characteristic flavors and aromas in important vegetables of the genus Brassica. In this review, an overview of these plant C-S lyases, comparison with alliin lyases andβ-cystathionases, purification protocols, substrate specificity, function and biochemical characteristics will be discussed. The importance of these enzymes to food science will also be examined.     

紧凑 Tokamak(球形环)聚变堆第一壁及中心导体柱上中子负荷及核热计算与分析

采用通用蒙特卡罗粒子输运程序ＭＣＮＰ／３８计算低环径比Ｔｏｋａｍａｋ（紧凑环或球形环）聚变堆第一壁及中心导体上的中子壁负荷分布和核热沉积分布，并与常规Ｔｏｋａｍａｋ堆第一壁上中子壁负荷分布和核热沉积分布进行比较、分析。结果表明，在中子壁负荷归一化为１ＭＷ／ｍ２时，与常规Ｔｏｋａｍａｋ相比，在低环径比Ｔｏｋａｍａｋ堆第一壁及中心柱表面上中子壁负荷分布峰值并不比常规Ｔｏｋａｍａｋ堆第一壁上的峰值高，而且低于低环径比Ｔｏｋａｍａｋ堆整个第一壁上的平均值，而中心柱上的核热沉积峰值稍高于常规Ｔｏｋａｍａｋ堆第一壁上的核热沉积峰值，但对较高中子壁负荷情况，中心导体柱上的核热沉积和辐照损伤仍可能是比较严重和值得特别研究的问题。     

Unit risk estimates for airborne arsenic exposure: an updated view based on recent data from two copper smelter cohorts

The current unit risk for airborne arsenic, 4.29 x 10(-3), was established by the EPA in 1984. Using updated results from a cohort mortality study on Tacoma smelter workers and recent findings from a cohort study of 3619 Swedish smelter workers, new unit risk estimates were developed for the respective cohorts. Methods were analogous to those used by the EPA in 1984, and all estimates were derived under an absolute risk model. A new unit risk 1.28 x 10(-3), was estimated for the Tacoma smelter cohort which was a factor of 5 less than the EPA's earlier estimate, and a direct result of radically revised exposure estimates. A unit risk of 0.89 x 10(-3) was estimated from the Swedish study. Pooling these new unit risk estimates with the EPA's earlier estimates from the Montana smelter cohort yielded a composite unit risk of 1.43 x 10(-3). Based on this estimate, the present unit risk may overestimate the effects of airborne arsenic by a factor of 3. A need to update the unit risk for airborne arsenic and the collateral IRIS database is evident from the results.     

A 16-element phased-array head coil

beta2-Integrin adhesion molecules play crucial roles in monocyte transmigration and adherence to the inflamed extracellular matrix. While integrin engagement contributes to inflammatory cell activation, little is known about the precise signaling pathways that are important to integrin-dependent monocyte activation. We examined the role of tyrosine phosphorylation and extracellular-signal regulated kinase (ERK) activity in beta2-integrin signaling in monocytes. Cross-linking of the LFA-1 (CD11a/CD18) and MAC-1 (CD11b/CD18) integrins on the surface of THP-1 monocytic cells induced the accumulation of tyrosine phosphoproteins. As part of this signal both ERK-1 and ERK-2 are tyrosine phosphorylated. In vitro kinase assays documented an increase in ERK-2 activity following both LFA-1 and MAC-1 cross-linking. beta2-Integrin cross-linking also led to a marked increase in 4-h procoagulant activity (PCA) in THP-1 cells and purified human monocytes. Inhibition of tyrosine phosphorylation by genistein (10 microg/ml), or selective ERK inhibition with PD98059 (10 microM), was able to block the integrin-dependent induction of PCA in both THP-1 cells and human monocytes. Thus, beta2 integrin signaling in monocytic cells can flow through the tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of the ERK mitogen activated protein kinases, which is essential for the subsequent expression of tissue factor. These results suggest that the ERK proteins likely function to integrate various adhesion-dependent signals during the process of monocyte transmigration.     

ST/b and DBA/2 mice differ in brain alpha-bungarotoxin binding and alpha 7 nicotinic receptor subunit mRNA levels: a quantitative autoradiographic analysis

Inbred mouse strains vary in sensitivity to a number of behavioral and physiological effects produced by nicotine. Differences in sensitivity to nicotine are correlated with variance in the number of brain nicotinic receptors as measured in regionally dissected brain tissue. The studies reported here used quantitative autoradiography and in-situ hybridization methods to measure regional levels of alpha-bungarotoxin (alpha BTX) binding and alpha 7 mRNA levels. Two inbred mouse strains, ST/b and DBA/2, were compared because these strains differ maximally in sensitivity to nicotine-induced seizures and in alpha BTX binding measured in regional brain homogenates. The binding of alpha BTX was significantly greater in the St/b strain in 42 of 127 brain regions that were analyzed, and a trend towards increased binding was seen in many additional brain regions. The most consistent strain differences were found in hippocampal, thalamic and pontine nuclei. Strain differences in alpha 7 mRNA levels were also detected, but these were not as widespread as were the alpha BTX binding differences. The alpha 7 mRNA levels were significantly correlated with alpha BTX binding in both mouse strains which suggests that the strain differences in binding are related, in part, to the levels of alpha 7 mRNA.     

提高E^2PROM中NMOS管源漏穿通电压的实验研究

为了提高Ｅ＾２ＰＲＯＭ中Ｎ管源漏穿通电压，用实验的方法对制造工艺进行了研究。结果表明，高能量注入是提高ＶＰＴ的有效手段，但受到ｐｎ结击穿的限制，只适用于低区短沟Ｎ管；ＤＤＤ工艺大幅度高ＶＰＴ，但ｐｎ结击穿电压低于２０Ｖ，不能应用于高压ＭＯＳ管；采用适量的防穿通注入和适当增大沟道长度为最理想的工艺途径。