Solubility engineering of the HhaI methyltransferase

DNA methylation is involved in epigenetic control of numerouscellular processes in eukaryotes, however, many mechanisticaspects of this phenomenon are not yet understood. A bacterialprototype cytosine-C5 methyltransferase, M.HhaI, serves as aparadigm system for structural and mechanistic studies of biologicalDNA methylation, but further analysis of the 37 kDa proteinis hampered by its insufficient solubility (0.15 mM). To overcomethis problem, three hydrophobic patches on the surface of M.HhaIthat are not involved in substrate interactions were subjectedto site-specific mutagenesis. Residues M51 or V213 were substitutedby polar amino acids of a similar size, and/or the C-terminaltetrapeptide FKPY was replaced by a single glycine residue (     

Oil spill fluorosensing lidar for inclined onshore or shipboard operation

An oil spill detection fluorosensing lidar for onshore or shipboard operation is described. Some difficulties for its operation arise from the inclined path of rays. This is due to the increased reflection of the laser beam at the air-water interface, the decreased fluorescence signal, and the increased background light when compared with other instruments having a close-to-nadir measuring geometry. The analysis of these problems shows that they significantly reduce the detection distance in the presence of a flat water surface. However, waves on the water surface weaken the influence of the laser beam reflections but at the same time cause a variable fluorescence signal, which makes specific signal processing necessary for increased detection ranges. A fluorescence data processing method is proposed that efficiently eliminates the background water column fluorescence from signals such as yellow substance. This enables oil fluorescence to be distinguished from variable natural water fluorescence.     

Dielectric investigations and theoretical calculations of size effect in lead titanate nanocrystals

The dielectric properties of nanograin ferroelectric lead titanate crystals are presented. The PbTiO3 samples were prepared by pressing nanopowders into plates and were studied experimentally by dielectric permittivity measurements in a wide frequency and temperature range. The TC dependence obtained showed a critical change of behavior with increasing mean nanoparticle size in the 9-nm region. The theoretical calculations based on Monte Carlo simulation were performed to describe the behavior of this material. It was shown that the distribution of nanoparticle sizes in the sample taken into account with the Monte Carlo method describes the dielectric properties of PbTiO3 nanocrystals quite well.     

Migration of sulphur in limed soils differing in agricultural management

During recent decades the problem of the sulphur cycle in the agroecosystem has become increasingly urgent due to the improvements in agricultural technologies and reduction of environmental pollution. The extremely moist climatic conditions prevailing in Lithuania predetermine rather significant losses of sulphur by leaching and also its negative balance. Thus, sulphur deficiency may become a limiting factor in crop productivity in both organic and intensive cropping systems. This paper summarises the results of investigations on sulphur migration and balance in Luvisols carried out from 1994–1998 under both cropping systems. In an intensive cropping system with programmed mineral fertilization the yield of all crops was 54% higher compared to the organic one, where only manure was applied. Liming, used as a means of chemically improving soil, not only neutralizes soil acidity, but also its sulphureous regime. The amount of mobile sulphur in soil is reduced by up to 7–8 times by this treatment. This reduction is even more evident in intensive cropping systems. Mineral fertilization is the main means of regulating nutrient balance. The balance of N and P was negative in organic cropping systems. In contrast, it was positive under the conditions of intensive cropping. Neither the organic nor the intensive cropping systems ensured a positive sulphur balance. The average annual sulphur deficit was 91 kg ha^–1 in intensive cropping systems and rose even to 142 kg ha^–1 in organic cropping systems. In order to avoid sulphur deficiency as a factor limiting crop productivity and to ensure a positive balance of sulphur in agroecosystems, additional usage of S-rich fertilizers is a necessary condition for rationally farming Lithuanian acid soils.     

Effect of weld parameters on mechanical properties and tensile behavior of tungsten inert gas welded AW6082-T6 aluminium alloy

The effect of different welding parameters on the mechanical properties and tensile behavior of tungsten inert gas (TIG) welded joints was analyzed. Four different groove angles were chosen, 60°, 70°, 80° and 90°, to ascertain the tendency of microstructure formation and quality of the weld. Mechanical properties were assessed in the terms of Vickers HV1 hardness. Microanalysis of test samples produced using different current 165 A, 180 A, 200 A with same groove angle of 90° was done in fusion, partially melted, and heat affected zone; all the images showed good penetration and clear transition from one to following zone. The transverse tensile tests were accomplished on the welded joints to evaluate influence of welding parameters and groove geometry to the joint tensile strength and its behavior during exploitation. It was verified that the tensile strength of the welds is closely related to the welding parameters. The chosen 180 A welding current ensured highest tensile strength of test samples; the same as proper selection of groove angle (90°) provides good fusion and high quality of major welds. The results revealed that the weld penetration depends on welding current.

     

Improving the Extraction of Juice and Anthocyanins from Blueberry Fruits and Their By-products by Application of Pulsed Electric Fields

Pulsed electric field (PEF) treatments (1–10 kJ/kg at 3 kV/cm) were applied before pressing of blueberry fruits to improve the yield and quality of expressed juice as well as the recovery of anthocyanins from blueberry by-products (press cake) via solid–liquid extraction. A PEF pre-treatment at 1 kJ/kg was sufficient to significantly increase the juice yield (by 32%) with respect to the untreated sample. Higher energy input (10 kJ/kg) was most favorable for the largest increment of anthocyanin content (55%) and antioxidant capacity (36 and 41%, determined by ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl hydrate (DPPH) assay, respectively) in juice. Extracts obtained from the press cake of PEF-treated blueberries at 10 kJ/kg possessed an anthocyanin content (75%) and antioxidant capacity (71 and 109%, determined by FRAP and DPPH assay, respectively) higher than that of the extracts obtained from non-treated berries press cake. HPLC analyses revealed the major classes of the detected anthocyanins as glycosides of delphinidin, cyanidin, petunidin, peonidin, and malvidin, and no significant degradation of individual anthocyanins due to PEF application was observed. The present PEF pre-treatment could be a promising approach to facilitate efficient extraction of juice and antioxidants especially anthocyanins from blueberry and their by-products.     

Structural characterization of femtosecond laser modified regions inside sapphire

We report on structural characterization of sapphire photomodified by voids of sub-wavelength diameter surrounded by amorphised regions formed after exposure by tightly-focused femtosecond laser pulses of 800 nm wavelength and 150 fs duration at the single and double-pulse irradiation inside crystalline sapphire. Regrowth of a crystalline phase near the edge between the amorphous and crystalline phases was observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) in the case of double-pulse-irradiated locations. Regions patterned by single-pulse-induced voids inside sapphire were characterized by synchrotron X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique. The XRD patterns indicate presence of an expanded phase of the host crystal. The origin of structural changes observed in TEM and XRD is discussed and is consistent with fast thermal quenching.