Discovery of a Short‐Chain Dehydrogenase from Catharanthus roseus that Produces a New Monoterpene Indole Alkaloid

Plant monoterpene indole alkaloids, a large class of natural products, derive from the biosynthetic intermediate strictosidine aglycone. Strictosidine aglycone, which can exist as a variety of isomers, can be reduced to form numerous different structures. We have discovered a short‐chain alcohol dehydrogenase (SDR) from plant producers of monoterpene indole alkaloids (Catharanthus roseus and Rauvolfia serpentina) that reduce strictosidine aglycone and produce an alkaloid that does not correspond to any previously reported compound. Here we report the structural characterization of this product, which we have named vitrosamine, as well as the crystal structure of the SDR. This discovery highlights the structural versatility of the strictosidine aglycone biosynthetic intermediate and expands the range of enzymatic reactions that SDRs can catalyse. This discovery further highlights how a sequence‐based gene mining discovery approach in plants can reveal cryptic chemistry that would not be uncovered by classical natural product chemistry approaches.     

Electrochemical behaviour of titanium in fluoride-containing saliva

The effect of fluoride on the electrochemical behaviour of titanium was studied. Open circuit potentials, breakdown potentials (E _b) and potentiostatic transient currents were measured in synthetic salivas of different compositions. Optical and scanning electron microscopic observations were also made. Results show that the growth rate of Ti oxide layer is affected by fluoride anions and tensile stresses are developed. The OCP/time relationship of Ti immersed in salivas A and B obeys a logarithmic law which depends on the saliva composition. The E _b value is influenced by the thickness of the oxide layer, by the composition of the saliva (including fluoride concentration), and by the technique utilised for its evaluation. Thus, results reported in the literature, which seem to be contradictory, could be explained taking into account the experimental conditions assayed. A careful control of the titanium-containing dental materials should be made after long treatments with fluoride-containing prophylactic products or when fluoride-releasing restorative materials are present in the vicinity.     

Experimental Evaluation of Thermal Properties of Grouting Materials

This study is aimed at the thermal analysis of sealant mortar （usually a mixtures of bentonite and cemem with addition of sand） used in geothermal cooling and heating. In particular, thermal conductivity and diffusivity measurements were performed on differem sealant mixtures by using Hot Disk thermal constants analyzer in order to identify the interesting thermal properties of grouting materials. The grouting materials that we considered are of porous nature and, if used in the presence of groundwater, have different levels of imbibitions. It is important to know the thermal behavior of these materials at different water content. A first set of measurements was performed on a not-tinted material at room temperature; then the samples were led to saturation conditions by contact capillary imbibitions with a cotton wool layer moistened in water. The determination of thermal conductivity in these test conditions appears to be critical compared to the measuremems on non-timed sample. The thermal conductivity tests have revealed how the thermal behavior of the samples analyzed is essentially determined by the density and water content of the material： in fact, the thermal conductivity increases of two to three times the value of the not-tinted material.     

Immunolocalization of corneous proteins including a serine‐tyrosine‐rich beta‐protein in the adhesive pads in the tokay gecko

Adhesive pads of geckos contain many thousands of nanoscale spatulae for the adhesion and movement along vertical or inverted surfaces. Setae are composed of interlaced corneous bundles made of small cysteine‐glycine‐rich corneous beta proteins (CBPs, formerly indicated as beta‐keratins), embedded in a matrix material composed of cytoskeletal proteins and lipids. Negatively charged intermediate filament keratins (IFKs) and positively charged CBPs likely interact within setae, aside disulphide bonds, giving rise to a flexible and resistant corneous material. Using differernt antibodies against CBPs and IFKs an updated model of the composition of setae and spatulae is presented. Immunofluorescence and ultrastructural immunogold labeling reveal that one type of neutral serine‐tyrosine‐rich CBP is weakly localized in the setae while it is absent from the spatula. This uncharged protein is mainly present in the thin Oberhautchen layer sustaining the setae, although with a much lower intensity with respect to the cysteine‐rich CBPs. These proteins in the spatula likely originate a positively charged or neutral contact surface with the substrate but the influence of lipids and cytoskeletal proteins present in setae on the mechanism of adhesion is not known. In the spatula, protein‐lipid complexes may impart the pliability for the attachment and adapt to irregular surfaces. The presence of cysteine‐glycine medium rich CBPs and softer IFKs in alpha‐layers sustaining the setae forms a flexible base for compliance of the setae to substrate and improved adhesion.     

Multi-heterojunction large area HgCdTe long wavelength infrared photovoltaic detector for operation at near room temperatures

This paper describes a new multi-heterojunction n ⁺pp photovoltaic infrared photodetector. The device has been developed specifically for operation at temperatures of 200–300K in the long wavelength (8–14 μm) range of the infrared spectrum. The new structure solves the perennial problems of poor quantum efficiency and low dynamic resistance found in conventional long wavelength infrared photovoltaic detectors when operated near room temperature. Computer simulations show that devices with properly optimized multiple heterojunctions are capable of achieving the performance limits imposed by the statistical nature of thermal generation-recombination processes. In order to demonstrate the technology, multiple heterojunction devices have been fabricated on epilayers grown by isothermal vapor phase epitaxy of HgCdTe and in situ As p-type doping. The detector structures were formed using a combination of conventional dry etching, angled ion milling, and angled thermal evaporation for contact metal deposition. These multi-junction n ⁺pp HgCdTe heterostructure devices exhibit performances which make them useful for many applications. D* of optically immersed multiple heterostructure photovoltaic detectors exceeding 10⁸cmHz^1/2/W were measured at λ=10.6 μm and T=300K.     

High Performance, Low-Dose Radiography Systems for Space and Remote Site Applications

Medical imaging applications using X- and gamma-rays have reached outstanding levels of complexity and performance, thanks to technology achievements in the fields of radiography, tomography and high resolution synchrotron devices. The operability of the related instrumentation resides in the availability of highly qualified specialists, as well as of medical doctors for diagnoses and treatment. This is a problem for personnel working in difficult ambient conditions as can be found in remote sites like Arctica, Antarctica and under-populated, desolated or mountainous regions on Earth. Astronauts, during long permanence at the Space Station or on future mission to Mars are potentially subject to risks such as traumas, fractures or diseases which would require semi-automated, easy-to-handle application of X-ray radiographic devices. For this purpose, the possible use of imaging instrumentation based on solid state detectors is discussed with special regard to CdZnTe pixel devices, now available with sub-mm resolution. The use of these semiconductor detectors will also allow to perform image diagnostics at much lower doses compared to the current plate-based radiographic techniques.     

Sol–Gel Processing and Characterization of Pure and Metal-Doped SnO2 Thin Films

A chloride-based inorganic sol–gel route was used for preparing pure and metal (osmium, nickel, palladium, platinum)-doped SnO₂ sol. SnCl₄ was first reacted with propanol, then the resulting compound was hydrolyzed and subsequently mixed with solutions of the metal dopants. The obtained sols were used for depositing thin films by spin coating or for preparing powders by solvent evaporation at 110°C. FTIR spectroscopy and thermal analysis of the powders revealed that chlorine still bound to tin stabilized the sol against gelation by hindering the condensation reactions. Film characterizations showed that platinum and palladium, unlike nickel and osmium, were likely to form nanoparticles in the SnO₂ lattice. This result was discussed with regard to the different ways that platinum and palladium, on one hand, and nickel and osmium, on the other, modified the growth of SnO₂ grains and the film roughness and morphology. Dopants that formed nanoparticles (platinum, palladium) resulted in the roughest film, while dopants that did not form particles (nickel, osmium) resulted in SnO₂ grain size very close to that of pure SnO₂.     

Landscape dynamics of Mediterranean montane grasslands over 60 years and implications for habitats conservation. A case study in the northern Apennines (Italy)

Widespread trends of abandonment have strongly affected Mediterranean mountains after the Second World War, triggering spontaneous recolonisation of forests. A diachronic analysis of the landscape in a Natura 2000 site (Tuscany, Italy) was carried out using digital aerial photographs (1954, 2013) and a GIS-based methodology, focusing on territories above 1300 m a.s.l. The detected variations of total areas, patch shape, patch dimensions and selected metrics showed a notable shift of the vegetation towards woody types and a drastic reduction of open grasslands, some with high conservation value, accompanied by a strong increase in patch number, surface and edge. A decrease of SDI and SEI diversity indices was also observed. Considering that fragmentation is one of the main causes threatening habitats and species, our results point out a clear necessity for a monitoring programme and suitable actions aimed at improving the status of biodiversity-rich montane grasslands.