Construction of a homodimeric dihydrofolate reductase-thymidylate synthase bifunctional enzyme

A gene encoding a bifunctional homodimeric dihydrofolate reductase- thymidylate synthase (DHFR-TS) was constructed by destroying the stop codon of Escherichia coli dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) and joining the coding sequences of the monofunctional enzymes by a five amino acid linker. The protein was designed to mimic features of active site proximity and electrostatics in the protozoan DHFR-TSs which are believed to be important in channeling of the DHFR substrate, H2folate, to TS. The genetically engineered catalytically active homodimeric bifunctional DHFR-TS was expressed, purified and characterized. The component activities of the purified bifunctional enzyme had kinetic properties similar to those of the monofunctional TS and DHFR, but unlike the authentic bifunctional enzymes from protozoa this enzyme did not kinetically channel dihydrofolate from DHFR to TS.      

Spinning of a chemisorptive sulfonic acid fibre

Conclusions Special features of spinning a fibre by the wet method from a copolymer based on acrylonitrile and sodium methallylsulfonate which are connected with dissociation and solvation of the sulfonate groups have been examined.It has been found that, to obtain a fibre with satisfactory physico-mechanical properties which assure processing into textile articles from a sulfonate-containing copolymer, it is necessary to carry out the spinning either into nonaqueous baths or into aqueous baths which contain lyophilic salts.Translated from Khimicheskie Volokna, No. 3, pp. 10–12, May–June, 1988.     

Conservation categories and rarity types of Siberian Saussurea species

Abstract

The criteria for assessing conservation categories of rare species are not identical in drafting the red lists of Russia and the IUCN. By the example of genus Saussurea (Compositae), we have shown that the conservation measures for some endangered species do not match their state. We conducted indicator analyses on two factors of more than 9000 relevés with Saussurea species with large ranges and determined their rarity types according to D. Rabinowitz. Only 2 Siberian Saussurea species are not characterised by any type of rarity. The other 54 taxa all feature a small range, low abundance or high habitat specificity.     

Thermal model of spindles on rolling bearings

By means of the proposed thermal model and corresponding software, the thermal characteristics of high-precision spindles may be quickly assessed in the initial stages of design.     

The politics of conservative elites and the 'liberal media' argument

Recent evidence suggests that conservative elites' claims of a liberal media are having an impact upon public perceptions of news coverage. With this in mind, we examined two related questions in the context of the 1988, 1992, and 1996 presidential elections. First, what factors may be prompting conservative elites to make allegations of liberal media bias? Second, what factors may influence when news media report these criticisms during presidential campaigns? Findings suggest that these criticisms of news media are at least partly strategic and reflect a dynamic relationship between political elites and journalists during a presidential campaign.     

Simulation of nanochannel membrane formation

Monte Carlo simulations of atomic processes on the surface of silicon nanochannel membranes during molecular-beam epitaxy and subsequent thermal oxidation are performed. It is demonstrated that silicon deposition on Si(001) wafers with 1–100 nm cylindrical pores results in constriction of channel inlets. The rates of reduction of the nanochannel diameter are estimated as functions of the wafer temperature, silicon deposition rate, and initial nanochannel diameter. Optimal conditions of silicon deposition on nanochannel membranes are determined: the wafer temperature of 250–450°C and silicon flux intensity of 10⁻² to 10 monolayers (ML) per second. Under these conditions, the rate of reduction of the nanochannel inlet diameter is 0.13–0.15 nm/ML, which allows membrane channel modifications over a wide range down to several nanometers. Simulations of nanochannel membrane oxidation in an oxygen flux shows that precise reduction of nanochannel inlet diameters down to complete sealing of the channel due to oxide growth is only possible for small diameters of the initial pores. For channels with large lateral sizes, the effect of reduction of the channel inlet diameter due to oxidation is insignificant. Oxidation of pores enhances their stability to subsequent high-temperature treatment.     

1，4-环己二酮单乙二醇缩酮的合成研究

对1,4-环已二酮的单保护反应进行了研究,在自制催化荆催化下,用n(乙二醇)∶n(1,4-环己二酮)=1∶1进行脱水缩合反应,在环己烷溶液中除去部分未保护的原料,在乙酸乙酯中用亚硫酸氢钠提取单保护产物,用10%的碳酸钠脱去亚硫酸氢钠,结晶精制而得产品1,4-环己二酮单乙二醇缩酮[1,4-二氧杂螺(4,5)癸烷-8-酮],收率为68.2%,气相色谱测定其纯度为99.8%.     

Ethanol-induced gastrointestinal damage. Influence of endogenous antioxidant components and gender

This study compared the effects of undiluted and 8% ethanol administered orally on gastrointestinal antioxidant components of male and female rats. Eight percent ethanol increased the activities of duodenal glutathione peroxide (29% in males, 14% in females) and superoxide dismutase in female gastric (24%) and male duodenal (15%) mucosa. This dose of ethanol also increased the glutathione content of gastric mucosa (12% in males, 13% in females). Undiluted ethanol decreased glutathione levels in gastric mucosa (22% in males, 11% in females) and increased glutathione peroxide activity in gastric mucosa (14% in males, 9% in females). Undiluted alcohol also produced decreases in the activity of glutathione reductase in stomach (14% in males, 9% in females) and duodenum (16% in males, 12% in females). Undiluted ethanol caused mucosal damage in the body of the stomach in both genders, accompanied by an increase in luminal pH and fluid accumulation in the stomach; these changes were absent in rats given 8% ethanol. The increase in gastrointestinal antioxidant capacity associated with the administration of 8% ethanol may be a factor in the reported cytoprotective effect of lower doses of ethanol.     

A clinical evaluation of risperidone in the treatment of schizophrenia: a 10-week, open-label, multicenter trial. ARCS Study Group. Assessment of Risperdal in a Clinical Setting

The present investigation was conducted to study the effect of selected processing and storage methods on the concentration of ascorbic acid and beta-carotene in Bathua and fenugreek leaves. Methods included storage of leaves with or without polythene bags for 24 and 48 h in a refrigerator at 5 degrees C; at 30 degrees C in polythene bags; drying (sun and oven); blanching (5, 10, 15 min); open pan and pressure cooking. Ascorbic acid content of fresh leaves was 220.97 to 377.65 mg and beta-carotene content was 19.00 to 24.64 mg/100 g, DW. The percent loss of ascorbic acid ranged from 2.03 to 8.77 and 45.15 to 66.9 while lower losses (0.0 to 1.75 and 1.63 to 2.84) of beta-carotene were observed in leaves stored in the refrigerator and at 30 degrees C, respectively. A markedly greater reduction in ascorbic acid and beta-carotene was observed in dried, blanched and cooked leaves. The study data suggest that storage of leaves in refrigeration, drying in oven, blanching for a short time and cooking in a pressure cooker results in better retention of these two vitamins.