Cell-Free Synthesis of Selenoproteins in High Yield and Purity for Selective Protein Tagging

The selenol group of selenocysteine is much more nucleophilic than the thiol group of cysteine. Selenocysteine residues in proteins thus offer reactive points for rapid post-translational modification. Herein, we show that selenoproteins can be expressed in high yield and purity by cell-free protein synthesis by global substitution of cysteine by selenocysteine. Complete alkylation of solvent-exposed selenocysteine residues was achieved in 10 minutes with 4-chloromethylene dipicolinic acid (4Cl-MDPA) under conditions that left cysteine residues unchanged even after overnight incubation. Gd^III−Gd^III distances measured by double electron–electron resonance (DEER) experiments of maltose binding protein (MBP) containing two selenocysteine residues tagged with 4Cl-MDPA-Gd^III were indistinguishable from Gd^III−Gd^III distances measured of MBP containing cysteine reacted with 4Br-MDPA tags.     

Comparative techno-economic assessment of a large-scale hydrogen transport via liquid transport media

A large-scale point to point hydrogen transport is one strategy for a prospective energy import scenario for certain countries. The case for a hydrogen transport from Australia to Japan has been addressed in several studies. However, most studies lack transparency and detailed insights into the made assumptions thus a fair evaluation of different transport pathways is challenging. To address this issue, we developed a model where a large-scale point to point hydrogen transport of liquid hydrogen is compared with the transport via liquid organic hydrogen carrier (LOHC), namely via methyl cyclohexane and hydrogenated dibenzyl toluene. We analyzed, where energy is required along the different pathways, where hydrogen losses do occur and how the costs are put together. Furthermore, the influence of hydrogen feed costs is also considered. For hydrogen production costs of 5 €₂₀₁₈/kg_H2 the total delivery costs are in the range of 6.40– 8.10 €₂₀₁₈/kg_H2.     

Ultrastructural studies of the ileum neobladder

Of 101 women, 15-50 years of age, presenting with vaginal discharge, 34 had bacterial vaginosis and were randomly assigned to a seven-day course of oral treatment with either erythromycin (0.5 g b.i.d.) or metronidazole (0.4 g b.i.d.) in a single-blind, cross-over study. Treatment failure (> or = three clinical signs of bacterial vaginosis) occurred in 13 (81%) of 16 patients given erythromycin, as compared with three (17%) of 18 women treated with metronidazole (p < 0.001). Persistence of Gardnerella vaginalis, Mobiluncus species and/or Mycoplasma hominis was found in 14 of 16 patients treated with erythromycin, and in four of 16 patients treated with metronidazole. Treatment with metronidazole was successful (< or = two clinical signs of bacterial vaginosis) in eight of 10 cases of erythromycin treatment failure. Neither of two cases of metronidazole treatment failure was cured with erythromycin. At three-month follow-up of 31 women, persistence or recurrence of bacterial vaginosis was diagnosed in 11 cases (36%).     

A 100-GOPS programmable processor for vehicle vision systems

New generations of automobiles will include driver assistance systems requiring powerful, low-cost processors to handle video/camera applications and to enable fast, convenient application development. Shrinking feature sizes on processors already in development will bring substantial increases in system speed and functionality.     

Die Mikroflora des Sauerteiges

Zusammenfassung Es wurden Untersuchungen angestellt über die Mikroflora von 26 Weizensauerteigen für die Panettone- und Weizenbrotherstellung aus Bäckereien in Italien, der Schweiz, Deutschland und Schweden. Die Sauerteige wurden teils mit einem Spontansauer angestellt, teils mit einem reifen Weizensauer (masa madre), der bereits über längere Zeit fortgeführt wurde. Die Mikroflora der Sauerteige (pH 4,4 bis 3,8, Säuregrad 6,3 bis 22,4) setzte sich aus 2,5 × 10⁵ bis 3 × 10⁹ Lactobacillun/g und 1 × 10³ bis 4,5 × 10⁷ Hefen/g zusammen. Es wurden insgesamt 388 Isolate gewonnen und als Vertreter der GattungLactobacillus identifiziert. In Weizensauerteigen, die mit einem Spontansauer angestellt wurden, traten vornehmlich homofermentativeLactobacillus-Species auf (Lactobacillus plantarum, L. casei, L. farciminis, L. homohiochii), nebenL. brevis, L. hildegardii und einigen anderen heterofermentativen Spezies. Die Sauerteigbakterien des mit einem masa madre angestellten Weizensauerteig erwiesen sich insbesondere alsLactobacillus brevis ssp.lindneri resp.L. sanfrancisco, nebenL. brevis, L. hildegardii undL. viridescens. Daneben kamen in den Weizensauerteigen zu mehr oder minder hohen AnteilenStreptococcus spp. vor. Bei den im Weizensauerteig auftretenden Hefen handelt es sich umSaccharomyces cerevisiae, nebenS. servazzi undCandida milleri.

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The microflora of sourdoughXXII. Communication: The lactobacillus species of wheat sourdough

Summary We investigated the microflora of 26 wheat sourdoughs which are used for the production of panettone and wheat bread in bakeries in Italy, Switzerland, Germany and Sweden. The sourdoughs were started in part with a ripe wheat sour (masa madre) which had been propagated for a long time. The microflora of the wheat sourdough (pH 4.4 to 3.8; acidity 6.3 to 22.4) consisted of 2 × 10⁵ to 3 × 10⁹ lactobacilli/g and 1 × 10³ to 4.5 to 10⁷ yeasts/g. We obtained 388 isolates; all belonging to the genusLactobacillus. In wheat sourdoughs which were started with a spontaneous sour homofermentativelactobacilli (Lactobacillus plantarum, L. casei, L. farciminis, L. homohiochii) are mainly found and alsoLactobacillus brevis, L. hildegardii and some other heterofermentative species. The main sourdough bacteria of wheat sourdoughs which were prepared with a masa madre were identified asLactobacillus brevis ssp.lindneri resp.L. sanfrancisco, which were present in addition toL. brevis, L. hildegardii, andL. viridescens. We also found varying numbers ofStreptococcus spp. in the wheat sourdoughs. The yeasts which we identified wereSaccharomyces cerevisiae, S. servazzi andCandida milleri.

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Nr. 5475 der Veröffentlichung der Bundesforschungsanstalt für Getreide- und Kartoffelverarbeitung, Detmold     

The effect of specific β‐nucleation on morphology and mechanical behavior of isotactic polypropylene

The commercial grade of isotactic polypropylene was modified by a specific β‐nucleating agent in a broad concentration range. The supermolecular structure of the specimens prepared by injection molding was characterized by X‐ray scattering and correlated with mechanical behavior. It was found that at a critical nucleant concentration of 0.03 wt % the content of the β‐modification virtually reaches a saturation level. With further addition of the nucleant, the β‐phase content increases only slightly. The long period passes through a distinct maximum at the same nucleant concentration. This singularity in structure remarkably correlates with a minimum of the yield stress and maxima of strain at break and fracture toughness. Such general behavior is also reflected in the correlation between the β‐phase concentration and fracture toughness profiles along the injection‐molded bars. It is suggested that in the critically nucleated material an optimum thickness of the amorphous interlayer with connecting chains between the β‐crystallites is established, rendering the material the highest possible ductility and toughness. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 85: 1174–1184, 2002     

Iron(II)‐based catalysts for ethene oligomerization

The synthesis of iron(II) complexes with various tridentate di(imino)pyridine ligands and their potential as ethene oligomerization catalysts are described. The ligands are characterized by ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR spectroscopy and the complexes only by mass spectrometry due to their paramagnetism. After activation either with methylalumoxane (MAO) or with a heterogeneous cocatalyst consisting of partially hydrolyzed trimethylaluminum and silica gel, the prepared complexes proved to be good catalysts for the oligomerization of ethene. 1‐Octene, 1‐hexene, and 1‐decene were the major products, formed in very high isomeric purity (99.9 %). © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 88: 476–482, 2003     

Effect of substrate surface roughness on the adherence of NiCrAlY thermal spray coatings

The adherence of plasma sprayed NiCrAlY bond coats can be improved by an appropriate substrate surface finish. The interface fracture energy for crack propagation along the coating/substrate interface has been measured for different surface roughness by means of a specially designed four-point bending test. An increase of the interface fracture energy of about 15% was observed for a three times higher surface roughness. In addition, four-point bending tests with the coating on the side face of bending specimens were performed to analyze the fracture and spalling behavior of the coatings both under large tensile and compressive substrate deformations.     

When Disaster Strikes

The importance of securing data against the threat of natural disasters i s something most MIS managers don't realize until it's too late. This column describes how two fires and an earthquake adversely affected several companies that were unprepared, or only partially prepared, for such disasters. It also discusses disaster recovery measures some MIS executives believe their companies should strengthen not only to protect the data center but to reduce their employees risk of losing valuable informa- tion from office files.