Isolation of a bacterial enzyme releasing axillary malodor and its use as a screening target for novel deodorant formulations

Axillary odor is known since 50 years to be formed upon the action of Corynebacteria on odorless axilla secretions, but the nature of the bacterial enzymes involved in this process remained a mystery. We identified the known axilla odor determinant 3-methyl-2-hexenoic acid in hydrolyzed axilla secretions along with a new, chemically related compound, 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-hexanoic acid. The natural, odorless precursors of both these acids were purified from non-hydrolyzed fresh axilla secretions. The malodorous acids were shown to be covalently linked to a glutamine residue in fresh axilla secretions. Corynebacteria, but not Staphylococci, isolated from the axilla were found to release the acids from these precursors in vitro. A Zn(2+) -dependent aminoacylase mediating this cleavage was then purified from Corynebacterium striatum Ax20 and the corresponding gene agaA was cloned and heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli. Based on these biochemical findings, novel approaches in research on axilla malodor control are presented: (a) With a new test method using the isolated Corynebacteria and their enzymatic activity, the direct malodor-controlling activity of existing cosmetic ingredients was evaluated. (b) The structure of the natural malodor precursor was modified by replacing the malodor acid with fragrance molecules. These new fragrance precursors were shown to be cleaved by the same aminoacylase.     

50 mW CW-operated single-mode surface-emitting AlGaAs lasers with45° total reflection mirrors

The authors report on the fabrication and testing of surface-emitting AlGaAs 3.5 μm ridge lasers with etched mirrors and 45° internal deflectors. The 45° mirror coupling coefficient and the resulting threshold current penalty have been analyzed theoretically and experimentally. A surface-emitted optical power of 50 mW CW at 26 mA threshold current and external differential efficiency of 57% has been achieved in lateral fundamental-mode operation. The optical power density of 14 mW CW per micrometer ridge width is the highest reported to date and produces two-dimensional surface-emitting laser arrays of diffraction-limited beam quality suitable for optical storage applications     

Three-way-catalyst induced benzene formation: A precursor study

The implementation of the three-way-catalyst technology was the major step for pollutant abatement of gasoline vehicles. There are, however, situations, where the engine has to be operated at sub-stoichiometric combustion. At such fuel-rich conditions, an intense formation of benzene was observed over a Pd/Rh-based three-way-catalyst (TWC), when operating the catalyst in a critical temperature window of 600–730 °C. At least four different reaction pathways can lead to benzene formation on the catalyst, viz. (i) dealkylation of alkylbenzenes under steam reforming conditions, (ii) hydrodealkylation, (iii) aromatization of cyclohexanes, and (iv) cyclotrimerization of ethyne. Based on the engine-out exhaust composition only routes (i) and (ii) seem to be reasonable. The pre-catalyst application of 12 different alkylbenzenes indeed revealed that benzene formation is possible from all these precursors. At most up to 60% of the spiked precursors were converted to benzene. For meta- and para-substituted alkylbenzenes, a multi-step mechanism is proposed because partial dealkylation products such as toluene were formed as well. But a different, one-step mechanism is assumed for ortho-substituted alkylbenzenes, since no intermediates could be detected. No C–C-bond cleavage was observed within alkyl side chains. It is concluded that dealkylation reactions of alkylbenzenes are the major pathways leading to benzene formation in the TWC. Because fuel-rich combustion conditions have to be applied for the regeneration of deNO_X traps or certain particulate traps as well, this chemistry might also be of relevance for these exhaust gas treatment systems.     

Faster Swap Edge Computation in?Minimum Diameter Spanning Trees

In network communication systems, frequently messages are routed along a minimum diameter spanning tree (MDST) of the network, to minimize the maximum travel time of messages. When a transient failure disables an edge of the MDST, the network is disconnected, and a temporary replacement edge must be chosen, which should ideally minimize the diameter of the new spanning tree. Such a replacement edge is called a best swap. Preparing for the failure of any edge of the MDST, the all-best-swaps (ABS) problem asks for finding the best swap for every edge of the MDST. Given a 2-edge-connected weighted graph G=(V,E), where |V|=n and |E|=m, we solve the ABS problem in O(mlog?n) time and O(m) space, thus considerably improving upon the decade-old previously best solution, which requires $O(n\sqrt{m})$ time and O(m) space, for m=o(n ²/log?² n).     

Construct validity of the computerized version of the Category Test

PURPOSE: This study compared the sedative effects of sublingual tablet midazolam (Roche Dormicum 7.5 mg) with the oral route as premedication. METHODS: One hundred ASA physical status I and II gynaecological patients were randomly selected to receive a 7.5 mg tablet of midazolam either sublingually or orally as premedication about one hour before elective surgery. There were 50 patients in each group. The degree of sedation was assessed according to the Ramsay scale initially and then at 20, 30, 45 and 60 min intervals by a second observer blinded to the route of administration. The time for complete drug dissolution was studied in the sublingual group by the inspection of tablet residue under the tongue every five minutes for 20 min, then the patients were interviewed regarding their acceptance of taste. RESULTS: The sedation scores in the sublingual group were higher than in the oral group at 30 and 60 min after drug administration. (P = 0.0054 and P = 0.008) Seventy-two percent of the sublingual group had complete drug dissolution within 10 min and 64% of the patients in the sublingual group found the tablet acceptable with regard to its taste. CONCLUSION: Midazolam 7.5 mg sublingual is a more effective pre-anaesthetic sedative than by the oral route.     

A robust wireless infrared system with channel reciprocity

Mobile computing devices require reliable wireless communication links, whereby data rates, transmission range, and power consumption fit the particular needs of the various types of devices. Proper designs of physical layer functions and medium access control mechanisms are crucial for efficient connectivity and coexistence among all participants in a communication cell. We describe a solution for reliable wireless infrared connectivity based on infrared channel reciprocity. Robust header signalling, and variable data rate coding     

Improving Binding Affinity and Stability of Peptide Ligands by Substituting Glycines with D‐Amino Acids

Improving the binding affinity and/or stability of peptide ligands often requires testing of large numbers of variants to identify beneficial mutations. Herein we propose a type of mutation that promises a high success rate. In a bicyclic peptide inhibitor of the cancer‐related protease urokinase‐type plasminogen activator (uPA), we observed a glycine residue that has a positive ? dihedral angle when bound to the target. We hypothesized that replacing it with a D ‐amino acid, which favors positive ? angles, could enhance the binding affinity and/or proteolytic resistance. Mutation of this specific glycine to D ‐serine in the bicyclic peptide indeed improved inhibitory activity (1.75‐fold) and stability (fourfold). X‐ray‐structure analysis of the inhibitors in complex with uPA showed that the peptide backbone conformation was conserved. Analysis of known cyclic peptide ligands showed that glycine is one of the most frequent amino acids, and that glycines with positive ? angles are found in many protein‐bound peptides. These results suggest that the glycine‐to‐D ‐amino acid mutagenesis strategy could be broadly applied.     

Characterization of Volatile Organic Compounds Emitted by Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) Roots and Their Attractiveness to Wireworms

Root volatile organic compounds (VOCs), their chemistry and ecological functions have garnered less attention than aboveground emitted plant VOCs. We report here on the identification of VOCs emitted by barley roots (Hordeum vulgare L.). Twenty nine VOCs were identified from isolated 21-d-old roots. The detection was dependent on the medium used for root cultivation. We identified 24 VOCs from 7-d-old roots when plants were cultivated on sterile Hoagland gelified medium, 33 when grown on sterile vermiculite, and 34 on non-sterile vermiculite. The major VOCs were fatty acid derived compounds, including hexanal, methyl hexanoate, (E)-hex-2-enal, 2-pentylfuran, pentan-1-ol, (Z)-2-(pentenyl)-furan, (Z)-pent-2-en-1-ol, hexan-1-ol, (Z)-hex-3-en-1-ol, (E)-hex-2-en-1-ol, oct-1-en-3-ol, 2-ethylhexan-1-ol (likely a contaminant), (E)-non-2-enal, octan-1-ol, (2E,6Z)-nona-2,6-dienal, methyl (E)-non-2-enoate, nonan-1-ol, (Z)-non-3-en-1-ol, (E)-non-2-en-1-ol, nona-3,6-dien-1-ol, and nona-2,6-dien-1-ol. In an olfactometer assay, wireworms (larvae of Agriotes sordidus Illiger, Coleoptera: Elateridae) were attracted to cues emanating from barley seedlings. We discuss the role of individual root volatiles or a blend of the root volatiles detected here and their interaction with CO₂ for wireworm attraction.