Absolute Configuration of 4-Methyl-3-Heptanone and 4-Methyl-3-Heptanol from Mandibular Glands of Virgin Males and Females ofAtta sexdens rubropilosa

(S)-;(+)-4-Methyl-3-heptanone is the principal component in the secretion from the mandibular glands of unmated and mated males and females ofAtta sexdens rubropilosa. In mated and unmated females, it is essentially the only component in the glandular secretion. In unmated males up to 50% of the secretion is a mixture of (3S, 4S)- and (3R, 4S)-4-methyl-3-heptanol. After mating, the amount of alcohol in the males decreases markedly.     

Predicting multicomponent adsorption: 50 years of the ideal adsorbed solution theory

Describing multi‐component adsorption is fundamental to using sorption in any chemical separation. 50 years ago, Myers and Prausnitz made a seminal contribution to characterization and prediction of multi‐component adsorption by introducing Ideal Adsorbed Solution Theory (IAST). Here, we give an overview of IAST, highlighting its continued role as a benchmark method in describing adsorption using illustrative examples from a variety of experimental and molecular modeling studies. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 61: 2757–2762, 2015     

Correction to: Herd concentration areas create greenhouse gas hotspots

Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems -     

DNA Break Mapping Reveals Topoisomerase II Activity Genome-Wide

Genomic DNA is under constant assault by endogenous and exogenous DNA damaging agents. DNA breakage can represent a major threat to genome integrity but can also be necessary for genome function. Here we present approaches to map DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) and single-strand breaks (SSBs) at the genome-wide scale by two methods called DSB- and SSB-Seq, respectively. We tested these methods in human colon cancer cells and validated the results using the Topoisomerase II (Top2)-poisoning agent etoposide (ETO). Our results show that the combination of ETO treatment with break-mapping techniques is a powerful method to elaborate the pattern of Top2 enzymatic activity across the genome.     

Alpha‐Lipoic Acid Supplementation Reduces mTORC1 Signaling in Skeletal Muscle from High Fat Fed,Obese Zucker Rats

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway is hyperactive in liver, adipose and skeletal muscle tissues of obese rodents. Alpha‐lipoic acid (αLA) has been well accepted as a weight‐loss treatment, though there are limited studies on its effect on mTOR signaling in high‐fat fed, obese rodents. Therefore, the goal of this study was to determine mTOR signaling and oxidative protein alterations in skeletal muscle of high‐fat fed, obese rats after αLA supplementation. Phosphorylation of the mTOR substrate, eukaryotic initiation factor (eIF) 4E‐binding protein 1 (4E‐BP1) and eIF4B were significantly reduced (p < 0.05) in muscle from αLA supplemented rats. Activation of AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK), an mTOR inhibitory kinase, was higher (p < 0.05) in the αLA group. Protein expression of markers of oxidative metabolism, acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACC), cytochrome c oxidase IV (COX IV), peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor (PPAR), and PPAR gamma coactivator 1‐alpha (PGC‐1α) were significantly higher (p < 0.05) after αLA supplementation compared to non‐supplemented group. Our findings show that αLA supplementation limits the negative ramifications of consuming a high fat diet on skeletal muscle markers of oxidative metabolism and mTORC1 signaling.     

The reaction of sodium cyanate with wool and nylon and its effect on subsequent dyeing

This paper describes the reaction of the simplest isocyanate, isocyanic acid, conveniently generated in situ from sodium cyanate, with nucleophilic carboxylate and amino residues in polyamide fibres. Changing the pH conditions greatly affects the outcome of these reactions: under acidic conditions the carboxylate residues are selectively carbamoylated, whereas under neutral conditions both residues are carbamoylated. Such modifications greatly change the dyeing behaviour of the treated substrates. The carboxylate carbamoylation reaction leads to the formation of amides rather than the carbamoylcarboxylate, which is a reactive intermediate.     

Influence of the Pathogen <Emphasis Type="Italic">Candidatus</Emphasis> Liberibacter Solanacearum on Tomato Host Plant Volatiles and Psyllid Vector Settlement

Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum (CLso) is an unculturable bacterium vectored by the tomato potato psyllid (TPP) Bactericera cockerelli and has been associated with Zebra chip disease in potato and with other economically relevant symptoms observed in solanaceous crops. By altering their host and vector’s biological system, pathogens are able to induce changes that benefit them by increasing their transmission rate. Understanding these changes can enable better targeting of mechanisms to control pathogen outbreaks. Here, we explored how the CLso infectious status affects the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of the tomato plant, and whether the CLso infectious status of TPP influences host plant settlement. These chemical and behavioral changes can ultimately affect the rate of encounter between the host and the vector. Results from headspace volatile collection of tomato plants showed that CLso infected tomato plants emitted a qualitatively and quantitatively different blend of VOCs compared to sham-infected plants. By a factorial experiment, we showed that CLso negative (CLso-) TPP preferred to settle 70 % more often on infected tomato plants, while CLso positive (CLso+) TPP were found 68 % more often on sham-infected tomato plants. These results provide new evidence in favor of both host and vector manipulation by CLso.     

Tungsten hexacarbonyl and hydrogen peroxide as precursors for the growth of tungsten oxide thin films on titania nanoparticles

W(CO)₆ and H₂O₂ were used in an atomic layer deposition (ALD)‐like process to grow thin WO_x films onto TiO₂ powders in a fluidized bed reactor. Carbonyl precursors are not widely used in this application, so that deviations from an ideal ALD process, previously not examined with W(CO)₆, were identified. The resulting WO_x films were a result of both ALD‐like and chemical vapor deposition‐based growth modes. A chemical reaction mechanism incorporating a combination of these two growth modes was inferred. As the move to expand the range of ALD precursors meets with the desire to scale up these processes, the simultaneous appearance of both these growth modes is likely to become more and more common, and so understanding the interaction of these two types of surface reactions is key to progress in the field. The films were observed to inhibit the anatase‐to‐rutile phase transformation in the TiO₂ powders upon high temperature annealing, while crystallization of the amorphous WO₃ was also not observed. Changes in the local bonding within the WO₃ were observed and associated with changes in the structural nature of the film and its interface to the substrate. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 60: 1278–1286, 2014