Solution- and crystal-phase covalent modification of lysozyme by a purpose-designed organoruthenium complex. A MALDI-TOF MS study of its metal binding sites

Study of the reaction between the transition organometallic complex 4-ruthenocenyl 2,6-dimethylpyrylium tetrafluoroborate and the enzyme hen egg white lysozyme (HEWL) in solution and by diffusion in crystals was performed by use of a combination of spectroscopic and chromatographic methods. Conjugation involving the lysine residues of lysozyme appeared to occur readily, yielding very stable ruthenocenyl pyridinium adducts with average degrees of incorporation ranging from 0.2 to 1.8 metal complexes per protein molecule, depending on reaction conditions. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) revealed that the protein conjugates were in fact mixtures of unmodified, mono-, di- and sometimes tripyridinium adducts. In combination with reversed-phased HPLC, we were able to show that six different monoruthenocenyl pyridinium adducts were formed in solution. This result was confirmed by trypsin digestion of a ruthenocenyl pyridinium conjugate and MALDI-TOF MS analysis of the peptide mixture, which showed that lysines 1, 13, 33, 96, 97 and 116 were involved in the reaction with the pyrylium complex, lysines 13, 33 and 116 being the major binding sites. In the tetragonal crystal state, no binding of the ruthenium complex was shown to occur at lysine 116, owing to steric hindrance at this particular position.     

As(V) retention and As(III) simultaneous oxidation and removal on a MnO2-loaded polystyrene resin

Based on KMnO4 oxidative capacity, a polystyrene matrix loaded with manganese dioxide was synthesized from an anionic commercial resin in chloride form. This medium, called R-MnO2, was tested for As(V) retention and for As(III) simultaneous oxidation and removal. Equilibrium was reached in 2 h and isotherms showed that R-MnO2 maximal capacities towards As(III) and As(V) are, respectively, 0.7 and 0.3 mmol/g. Various mechanisms were involved in As(III) retention: oxidation of H3AsO3(0) by MnO2(s) leading to the formation of HAsO4(2)- and Mn2+, fixation of As(V) formed on the resin beads and precipitation of Mn3(AsO4)2 with Mn2+ released. Successive arsenic desorption and retention steps were performed and showed that the quantity desorbed was low compared to the quantity removed during the first stage of the process. A second removal step, carried out under the same conditions as the first one, proved that the matrix second-removal capacity was weak. This solid sorbent, although not reusable, can be considered in field application as arsenic retention is really strong.     

PREDICTOL: a computer program to determine the thermophysiological duration limited exposures in various climatic conditions

PREDICTOL is a PC program used to determine the thermophysiological duration limited exposures (DLE) in humans, nude or clothed, submitted to various climatic conditions (hot and cold climates) at rest or during a physical exercise. DLE are determined following different standards of the International Standardization Organization (ISO), especially ISO 7933 for hot environment and ISO-TR 11079 for cold environment. The original aspect of this program is that it can be used whatever the climatic conditions. The program presents two modes: an educational interactive mode and a scenario mode. The educational interactive mode demonstrates the thermophysiological effects, expressed as DLE, of different parameter changes (temperature, humidity, wind speed, metabolic heat production by physical exercise, clothing insulation and water vapor permeability). The scenario mode determines DLE for given various linked sequences as encountered in occupational, military or even recreational activities, each sequence being characterized by its climatic conditions, physical activities performed and by physical clothing properties. DLE given by PREDICTOL are correlated to those obtained in various controlled climatic laboratory conditions (r = 0.86; P < 0.001). PREDICTOL is written in Visual Basic 6.0. A "help menu" is provided to explain the use of the program and give information concerning the equations used to calculate both the thermal balance and DLE.     

Preparation par transport en phase vapeur et caracterisation de monocristaux d' oxyde ternaire V1−xNbxOw(0 ⩽ x ⩽ 0,33)

Single crystals of V_1?xNb_xO₂ ternary oxide (0 ? x ? 0,33) are prepared by chemical transport using TeCl₄. The compositions are determined by thermogravimétric analysis under oxygen, X-ray diffraction measurements and evaluation of the insulator-metal transition temperature.     

Evaluation of IP over WDM Network Architectures

The commonly used IP-backbone network architecture of today is IP/ATM/SDH/WDM. This architecture has many redundant functionalities and is not optimized to transport IP traffic. New approaches for simplified network architectures try to eliminate redundant functionalities and to decrease the protocol overhead and thereby transport IP as efficiently as possible over WDM-based optical networks. EURESCOM project P918 Integration of IP-over-optical networks: networking and management investigated scenarios for optimized IP transport in WDM-based backbone networks. In this paper, three architectures, namely Gigabit Ethernet, Packet over Sonet/SDH and Dynamic Packet Transport are investigated and evaluated as an alternative to the IP/ATM/SDH/WDM architecture.     

非整数阶系统连续时间域的模拟

提出了一种致力于非整数阶系统连续时间域的模拟方法.这种特殊系统的仿真建立在有限频率区间非整数阶积分算子的基础上,其非整数阶作用仅限于有限频率区域.然后,可以定义非整数阶模型的状态方程实现,它允许近似理想非整数阶系统的连续时间响应.最后,通过两个数字仿真例子来验证这种模拟方法.     

升温速率对氧化铝粉末烧结行为的影响

采用不同的升温速率,在膨胀计中对脱脂后的氧化铝粉末射成形坯件进行一系列的烧结试验.结果表明,烧结致密化过程主要发生在升温阶段,快速升温有利于致密化的进行和抑止晶粒长大,但由于烧结时间较短和烧结炉最高温度的限制,产品的最终致密化程度不高.在低温时快速升温,高温时缓慢加热,可以获得较好的致密化效果和微观结构.试验和分析结果将为建立非等温烧结模型和烧结工艺参数的优化方法提供依据.     

Thermal patterns in evaporating liquid

In this paper, some of the preparatory experiments of the ESA sponsored space program CIMEX-1 are presented. A liquid layer of variable thickness is subject to a flow of inert gas. The non-uniform evaporation induced by the gas flow creates a temperature gradient parallel to the interface triggering in that way thermocapillary convection. The combined action of evaporation, thermocapillarity and gravity has been not completely clarified both theoretically and experimentally. The experiment presented in this work concerns a liquid layer of ethanol of 2.2 mm thickness in presence of a mass flow of Nitrogen whose intensity varies in the range of hundreds of milliliter per minute. The experiments were performed at an initial liquid temperature of 21°C. The patterns observed are strongly dependent on the flow rate of inert gas. A change in the instability patterns has been observed for a gas flow of about 1.7 l/min.     

Dedicated SAR interferometric analysis to detect subtle deformation in evaporite areas around Zaragoza,NE Spain

A high density of local natural and human-induced ground deformation structures resulting from the presence of evaporites occur extensively around Zaragoza (NE Spain), posing risks to infrastructure, buildings and agriculture. We studied the potential of a series of interferograms constructed from 29 European Radar Satellite (ERS)-1/2 images to detect different types of ground deformation related to evaporite dissolution, landslides and mining subsidence. We examined the factors involved in the usefulness and quality of interferograms, especially in relation to coherence and atmospheric circumstances. Favourable conditions were found in desert or developed areas, while agricultural practises caused decorrelation in most sinkhole-prone areas. Results are consistent with previous geomorphological data and indicate that different natural and human-induced deformation phenomena can be detected in a time lag less than 5 years in evaporite areas. Advanced interferometric techniques based on time series of SAR images are needed for precise measurement and monitoring purposes.