Alteration of the Route to Menaquinone towards Isochorismate-Derived Metabolites

Chorismate and isochorismate constitute branch-point intermediates in the biosynthesis of many aromatic metabolites in microorganisms and plants. To obtain unnatural compounds, we modified the route to menaquinone in Escherichia coli. We propose a model for the binding of isochorismate to the active site of MenD ((1R,2S, 5S,6S)-2-succinyl-5-enolpyruvyl-6-hydroxycyclohex-3-ene-1-carboxylate (SEPHCHC) synthase) that explains the outcome of the native reaction with α-ketoglutarate. We have rationally designed variants of MenD for the conversion of several isochorismate analogues. The double-variant Asn117Arg–Leu478Thr preferentially converts (5S,6S)-5,6-dihydroxycyclohexa-1,3-diene-1-carboxylate (2,3-trans-CHD), the hydrolysis product of isochorismate, with a >70-fold higher ratio than that for the wild type. The single-variant Arg107Ile uses (5S,6S)-6-amino-5-hydroxycyclohexa-1,3-diene-1-carboxylate (2,3-trans-CHA) as substrate with >6-fold conversion compared to wild-type MenD. The novel compounds have been made accessible in vivo (up to 5.3 g L⁻¹). Unexpectedly, as the identified residues such as Arg107 are highly conserved (>94 %), some of the designed variations can be found in wild-type SEPHCHC synthases from other bacteria (Arg107Lys, 0.3 %). This raises the question for the possible natural occurrence of as yet unexplored branches of the shikimate pathway.     

Recrystallization/precipitation behaviour in microalloyed steels

Microalloyed high-strength low-alloy (HSLA) steels contain additions of Nb, V, Ti, or in combination, in amounts of 0.01 to 0.1 weight percent to improve mechanical properties, which are strongly dependent on the thermomechanical interaction taking place in the course of rolling mill processes. The recrystallizatian of hat-twisted austenite has been investigated in a cylindrical specimen (f 6×50 mm) machined from hat rolled plates of 0,052 wt % Niobium microalloyed steel. Continuous and interrupted torsion test were carried out in the temperature range 1123 K to 1173 K after a solution treatment of 1.5 minutes at 1423 K and torque-twist data were analysed. The various methods were discussed for obtaining results from torsion tests. The effect of precipitation kinetics was appreciated by way of connection t_p/t_p(red), where t_p is the experimental measured time for the peak stress and t_p(red) is the newly defined reduced time. The softening ratio X and time t_0.05R for start of static recrystallization were established.

The correlation between precipitation and recrystallization is presented as a graphs for chosen requirements (temperature of austenitization, carbon and niobium content and strain rate). If temperature goes below 850°C, the restoration processes are hardly suppressed, both are limited by diffusion and Nb(CN) precipitation, which are extended dynamically in the range of strains rates 10⁻² to 1 s⁻¹.

In the present paper, an attempt is made to derive the PRTT diagram and to define all mathematical equations for describing recrystallization times t_0.05R, t_0.5R, t_0.95R and t_0.05P for the start of precipitation. In real metal forming processes such as the hot rolling of plates or strips the knowledge of these parameters and results is extremely important for the the correct microstructure and sheet quality to be obtained.     

Magnetic force microscopy studies on the magnetic ordering in organic materials induced by high-energy proton irradiation

In this study, ferromagnetic microstructures in highly oriented pyrolytic graphite and superparamagnetic spots in polyimide foils were created by 2.25 MeV proton microbeam irradiation and characterized using atomic and magnetic force microscopy. For this purpose, graphite samples were irradiated with cross-like patterns of 15 μm × 15 μm size using ion fluences in the range of (0.003–2.5) × 10¹⁸ cm⁻². The irradiated crosses showed strong magnetic signals and a complex domain structure in the magnetic images depending on the geometrical dimensions of the crosses. Furthermore, polyimide foils were irradiated with microspots and fluences in the range of (0.016–3.1) × 10¹⁹ cm⁻². Magnetic force microscopy shows very strong phase shifts in these irradiated areas.     

Synthesis of Aminopyridazines from Aminocyclopropenylium Salts and Diazomethyl Compounds [1]

Amino-substituted cyclopropenylium salts ( 11a,b ) react with diazomethyl compounds ( 12a-i ) in dichloromethane or acetonitrile in the presence of a base (ethyldiisopropylamine, 1,5-diazabicyclo[4.3.0] non-5-ene) to form 4-aminopyridazines ( 13a-i ) specifically. The reaction is interpreted in terms of an initial electrophilic diazoalkane substitution to give diazomethylcyclopropenes ( 11 + 12 → 14 ) which undergo a [1.5]-cyclisation to form the betaines 16 which, in turn, isomerise with opening of the bridging bond to give the aminopyridazines 13 . In a similar manner, the tris[amino] cyclopropenylium salts 8a,b and 10a-c are converted to the 3,4,5-tris[amino]-pyridazines ( 21a-k ) by treatment with diazomethyl compounds ( 12a, c-f ).     

Isolation and Spectroscopic Characterization of Eu@C72

A new Eu-endohedral fullerene cage, namely, Eu@C₇₂, was synthesized, separated, and a single isomer, Eu@C₇₂-I, has been isolated by multi-step HPLC for the first time and characterized by LDI-TOF mass spectrometry, UV-Vis and EPR spectroscopy. Additionally, a second isomer, Eu@C₇₂-II, has been separated by HPLC and identified by LDI-TOF mass spectrometry.     

A Profile of Psychologists' Views of Critical Risk Factors for Completed Suicide in Older Adults.

The ability to accurately and reliably predict whether an older adult will commit suicide has eluded clinicians and researchers. A random national sample of psychologists who work with older adults was surveyed regarding their perception of 36 risk factors for completed suicide and indirect self-destructive behavior in older adults. This study produced a profile of psychologists' assessment and treatment practices when working with suicidal older adults. Determining what psychologists consider to be the most salient risk factors for completed suicide is important in identifying a minimum standard that clinicians should follow when assessing older adults. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Introduction to the special series: HIV infection among drug abusers.

Drug users are particularly at risk for contracting the human immunodeficiency virus and serve as a major mechanism for spreading the virus to other sectors of the population. As a result drug abuse treatment and potential behavioral change strategies are primary public health issues. The purpose of this article is to review the contributions included in this special edition, which represent an effort to describe the most current thinking in the field with a blend of theoretical, review, and empirical articles. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Telephone booster sessions for optimizing smoking cessation for patients in rehabilitation centers.

Smokers with smoking-related diseases who are hospitalized in rehabilitation centers should be offered smoking cessation. This is the first study evaluating whether telephone booster sessions after intensive inpatient treatment are an effective strategy. The present study was conducted in 13 rehabilitation centers for somatic disorders as a prospective multicenter study with a randomized treatment-control group design. We compared abstinence rates after hospital discharge from treatment that included a group smoking cessation program with (treatment group) and without telephone booster sessions (control group). Data from 290 smokers were analyzed. After 6 and 12 months the treatment group achieved abstinence rates twice as high as those of the control group. Men profited more from telephone booster sessions than did women. Results indicated that telephone booster sessions were highly effective (even) after an inherently intensive group program during a hospital stay. Further research should focus on the special needs of women receiving telephone counseling.     

Effects of selenium and vitamin E on incidence of retained placenta

In a series of experiments over 3 yr, relatively low doses of selenium and vitamin E were injected intramuscularly 3 wk prepartum to pregnant Israeli-Holstein dairy cows in a high-producing herd (9000 kg milk/yr) with a history of retained placenta in 17% of the primiparous and 28% of the multiparous animals, as recorded for the 12 mo preceding the study. Selenium ranged from .035 to .109 ppm in the prepartum diet and from .160 to .200 ppm in the postpartum diet. Doses of selenium ranging from 2.3 to 23.0 mg reduced the incidence of retained placenta in 186 primiparous and in 428 multiparous to 7 and 15%, which was half of that of controls. Low doses of selenium (2.3 to 4.6 mg) tended to be more effective than higher ones. Selenium alone was at least as effective as a combination of selenium and vitamin E. Dosage, timing, mechanism, and interactions of selenium with other factors in reducing the incidence of retained placenta need clarification.     

A detailed analysis of ambipolar diffusion in nanostructured metal oxide films

In this paper a transport equation is derived which describes the behaviour of the nanostructured metal oxide films in a photoelectrochemical cell. It is shown that a detailed analysis of the charge compensation mechanism necessarily leads to a transport equation with characteristics similar to but logically distinct from the pure diffusion equation. The studied phenomenon was named ambipolar diffusion in the early 1950s. It takes into account the fact that the diffusion processes of ions and electrons occur at different speeds. A weak electric field therefore couples the processes together to preserve charge neutrality. The electric field in turn affects the transport resulting in a deviation from purely diffusive behaviour. However, this has not been widely recognised in the literature for nanostructured semiconductor films until very recently. In this paper a detailed analysis is presented. It is based on the assumption that the current density is solenoidal. It is shown that application of the ambipolar diffusion model to a photoelectrochemical cell based on a nanostructured metal oxide film leads to an additional term in the transport equation, rather than only a new diffusion coefficient as in earlier work. It is also shown that the boundary conditions interact closely with the equation to form a transport model.