Determination of beta-turn conformation by laser Raman spectroscopy

To correlate the Raman frequencies of the amide I and III bands to beta-turn structures, three peptides shown to contain beta-turn structure by x-ray diffraction and NMR were examined. The compounds examined were tertiary (formula: see text). The amide I band of these compounds is seen at 1,668, 1,665, and 1,677 cm-1, and the amide III band appears at 1,267, 1,265, and 1,286 cm-1, respectively. Thus, it is concluded that the amide I band for type III beta-turn structure appears in the range between 1,665 and 1,677 cm-1 and the amide III band between 1,265 and 1,286 cm-1.

Kuluttaminen ja ylhäisaatelin elämäntapa 1700-luvun Ruotsissa

Consumption and the lifestyle of the high nobility in eighteenth-century Sweden This monograph is an analysis of the lifestyle, consumption and private finances of the Swedish high nobility during the eighteenth century (ca 1730 1795). It describes the lifestyle of one noble house, the House of Fersen. The Fersen family represents the leading political, economic and cultural elite in eighteenth-century Sweden. The analysis concentrates on Count Carl von Fersen (1716 1786) and his brother Count Axel von Fersen (1719 1794), their spouses and children. Carl von Fersen was a courtier whilst Axel von Fersen was an officer and one of the leaders of the Francophile Hat party. His son, Axel von Fersen the younger, was in his time an officer and a favourite of Gustavus III, King of Sweden, as well as a favourite and trusted confidant of Marie-Antoinette, Queen of France. The research is based upon the Fersen family s private archives, the Counts personal account books, probate inventories, letters and diaries. The study discusses the Fersens landed property and investments in ironworks and manufacturing, the indebtedness of the high nobility, high offices in civil administration, the militia and at court, as well as marriages as the foundations of noble wealth and power. It analyses the Count von Fersens revenue and expenditure, their career options and personal expenses, their involvement in the building and decorating of palaces, and the servants in service of the Fersen family as well as the ideal nobleman and his consumption. Central themes are inheritance, children s education, marriages and ladies preparing their trousseaux, the nobility ordering luxury goods from France, the consumption of Counts and Countesses before and after marrying and having children, the pleasures of a noble life as well as the criticism of luxury and sumptuousness. The study contributes to the large body of research on consumption and nobility in the eighteenth century by connecting the lifestyle, consumption and private finances of the Swedish high nobility to their European context. Key words: nobility, Fersen, lifestyle, consumption, private finances, Sweden, eighteenth century

Effects Of 5' Flanking Sequences And Changes In The 5' Internal Control Region On The Transcription Of Rice Transfer-Rna Gcc Cly Gene

A stretch of 71 nucleotides in a 1.2 kilobase pair Pst I fragment of rice DNA was identified as tRNA~ gene by hybridization and nucleotide sequence analyses. The hybridization of genomic DNA with the tRNA gene showed that there are about 10 glycine tRNA genes per diploid rice genome. The 3' and 5' internal control regions, where RNA polymerase III and transcription factors bind, were found to be present in the coding sequence. The gene was transcribed into a 4S product in an yeast cell-free extract. The substitution of 5' internal control region with analogous sequences from either M13mpl9 or M13mpl8 DNA did not affect the transcription of the gene in vitro. The changes in three highly conserved nucleotides in the consensus 5' internal control region (RGYNNARYGG; R = purine, Y = pyrimidine, N = any nucleotide) did not affect transcription showing that these nucleotides are not essential for promotion of transcription. There were two 16 base pair repeats, 'TGTTTGTTTCAGCTTA' at - 130 and - 375 positions upstream from the start of the gene. Deletion of 5' flanking sequences including the 16 base pair repeat at - 375 showed increased transcription indicating that these sequences negatively modulate the expression of the gene.

Reversals of polypeptide chain in globular proteins.

A simple algorithm has been developed to detect β-bends and 'loops'-chain reversals containing five amino acid residues, using only coordinates of Cα-atoms from crystal structure data of globular proteins using the above algorithm. Analysis of bends have showed that the total number of bends in each protein (TB) is linearly related to total number of non-hydrophobic residues in that protein which in turn is related linearly to total number of amino acid residues. Secondly, we found that a large number of consecutive bends occur in each protein which give rise to on an average only three independent residues per turn. Positional preference of amino acid residues in chain reversals is stressed. Consideration of pairs of amino acid residues in positions (i + 1) and (i + 2) of bends seems to provide a more reliable basis for predicting chain reversals in proteins.

A rapid and sensitive method for the estimation of individual tRNA pools

A rapid and sensitive method is described to quantitatively compare tRNA pools for individual aminoacids in a single experiment. The procedure comprises of: (i) charging of total tRNA with a mixture of radiolabeled aminoacids, (ii) deacylation of the esterified tRNA with a volatile base and the recovery of the labeled aminoacid, (iii) derivatisation of the aminoacid with phenylisothiocyanate after mixing with excess of nonradioactive aminoacids, (iv) baseline separation of the phenylthiocarbamyl aminoacids by reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography monitored by A254nm and (v) quantitation of the radioactivity in individual aminoacid peaks. The radioactivity in the aminoacid peak corresponds to the quantity of the aminoacylated tRNA. The method has been successfully applied to quantitate the individual tRNA pools in the developing silk glands of Bombyx mori, a functionally adapted tissue which undergoes considerable variations in tRNA content. PSG, posterior silk gland; PITC, phenylisothiocyanate; DMAA, N,N-dimethyl-N-allylamine; APH, algal protein hydrolysate; ptc-, phenylthiocarbamyl; HPLC, high performance liquid chromatography.

Re-entrant Phase Behavior of a Concentrated Anionic Surfactant System with Strongly Binding Counterions

The phase behavior of the anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) in the presence of the strongly binding counterion p-toluidine hydrochloride (PTHC) has been examined using small-angle X-ray diffraction and polarizing microscopy. A hexagonal-to-lamellar transition on varying the PTHC to SDS molar ratio (alpha) occurs through a nematic phase of rodlike micelles (N-C) -> isotropic (I) -> nematic of disklike micelles (N-D) at a fixed surfactant concentration (phi). The lamellar phase is found to coexist with an isotropic phase (l') over a large region of the phase diagram. Deuterium nuclear magnetic resonance investigations of the phase behavior at phi = 0.4 confirm the transition from N-C to N-D on varying alpha. The viscoelastic and flow behaviors of the different phases were examined. A decrease in the steady shear viscosity across the different phases with increasing alpha suggests a decrease in the aspect ratio of the micellar aggregates. From the transient shear stress response of the N-C and N-D nematic phases in step shear experiments, they were characterized to be tumbling and now aligning, respectively. Our studies reveal that by tuning the morphology of the surfactant micelles strongly binding counterions modify the phase behavior and rheological properties of concentrated surfactant solutions.

Male traits and herd reproductive capability in tropical beef cattle. 2. Genetic parameters of bull traits

A total of 4063 young bulls of two tropical genotypes (1639 Brahman and 2424 Tropical Composite) raised in northern Australia were evaluated for a comprehensive range of production and reproduction traits up to 24 months of age. Prior to weaning, peripheral blood concentrations of luteinising hormone (LH) and inhibin were measured at 4 months of age. At weaning (6 months) blood insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-I) and flight time were recorded. Body composition traits of fat depth and eye-muscle area were determined by ultrasonography at 15 months of age when additional measurements of liveweight, hip height and body condition score were recorded. Bull breeding soundness was evaluated at similar to 12, 18 and 24 months of age when measurements of scrotal circumference, sheath score, semen mass activity, progressive motility of individual sperm and percent morphologically normal sperm were recorded. Magnitude of heritability and genetic correlations changed across time for some traits. Heritability of LH, inhibin, IGF-I and of 18-month scrotal circumference, mass activity, progressive motility and percent normal sperm was 0.31, 0.74, 0.44, 0.75, 0.24, 0.15 and 0.25, respectively, for Brahmans and 0.48, 0.72, 0.36, 0.43, 0.13, 0.15 and 0.20, respectively, for Tropical Composites. Inhibin and IGF-I had moderate genetic association with percent normal sperm at 24 months in Brahmans but low to negligible associations in Tropical Composites. Body condition score in Brahmans and sperm motility (mass and individual) traits in both genotypes had moderate to strong genetic correlation with percent normal sperm and may prove useful candidates for indirect selection. There is scope to increase scrotal circumference by selection and this will be associated with favourable correlated responses of improved semen quality in both genotypes. The lack of genetic antagonism among bull traits indicates that selection for improved semen quality will not adversely affect other production traits.

Bioavailability aspects of hydrophobic contaminant degradation in soils

This thesis concentrates on bioavailability of organic soil contaminants in the context of bioremediation of soil contaminated with volatile or non-volatile hydrophobic pollutants. Bioavailability and biodegradation was studied from four viewpoints: (i) Improvement of bioavailability and biodegradation of volatile hydrocarbons in contained bioremediation systems at laboratory - and pilot-scale. (ii) Improvement of bioavailability of non-volatile, hydrophobic compounds in such systems. (iii) Biodegradation of a non-volatile hydrophobic compound in soil organic matter in microcosms. (iiii) Bioavailability of nitrogen in an open, full-scale bioremediation system. It was demonstrated that volatility of organic compounds can be controlled by amending the soil with adsorbents. The sorbed hydrocarbons were shown to be available to soil microbiota. As the result, biodegradation of the volatile hydrocarbons was greatly favored at the expense of volatilization. PAH compounds were shown to be mobilized and their bioavailability improved by a hydrophobic, non-toxic additive, vegetable oil. Bioavailability of the PAHs was recorded as an increased toxicity of the soil. In spite of the increased bioavailability, biodegradation of the PAHs decreased. In microcosms simulating boreal forest organic surface soil, PAH-compound (pyrene) was shown to be removed from soil biologically. Therefore hydrophobicity of the substrate does not necessarily mean low availability and biodegradation in organic soil. Finally, in this thesis it was demonstrated that an unsuitable source of nitrogen or its overdose resulted in wasteful spending of this nutrient and even harmful effects on soil microbes. Such events may inhibit rather than promote the bioremediation process in soil.

Active vibration suppression of non-linear beams using optimal dynamic inversion

Euler–Bernoulli beams are distributed parameter systems that are governed by a non-linear partial differential equation (PDE) of motion. This paper presents a vibration control approach for such beams that directly utilizes the non-linear PDE of motion, and hence, it is free from approximation errors (such as model reduction, linearization etc.). Two state feedback controllers are presented based on a newly developed optimal dynamic inversion technique which leads to closed-form solutions for the control variable. In one formulation a continuous controller structure is assumed in the spatial domain, whereas in the other approach it is assumed that the control force is applied through a finite number of discrete actuators located at predefined discrete locations in the spatial domain. An implicit finite difference technique with unconditional stability has been used to solve the PDE with control actions. Numerical simulation studies show that the beam vibration can effectively be decreased using either of the two formulations.

Graenum Berger papers, undated, (1825)-2002

Contains correspondence, minutes, reports, clippings, manuscripts, research materials, journal articles, photographs and publications; primarily relating to Berger's involvement with Ethiopian Jewry and his efforts to bring about their rescue through the organization he formed, the American Association for Ethiopian Jews. Also contains material from Berger's other interests- his writings, travels through the world and to Israel and Ethiopia, community affiliations, research in Black American Jews, profession as a Jewish social work executive, his commitment to Jewish causes and to Israel. There are also many personal and biographical materials from the numerous long-term friendships and associations he established.

Karnaugh map analysis and synthesis of threshold functions

A unate function can easily be identified on a Karnaugh map from the well-known property that it cons ist s only ofess en ti al prime implicante which intersect at a common implicant. The additional property that the plot of a unate function F(x, ... XII) on a Karnaugh map should possess in order that F may also be Ivrealizable (n';:; 6) has been found. It has been sh own that the I- realizability of a unate function F corresponds to the ' compac tness' of the plot of F. No resort to tho inequalities is made, and no pre-processing such as positivizing and ordering of the given function is required.

Some investigations on secondary breakdown in p-n junctions considering the effect of thermally generated carriers

The V-I characteristic of a p-n junction under breakdown is calculated taking the thermally generated carriers into account. The current density distributions computed under different conditions have been given. The light emission and other characteristics reported by Chiang and Lauritzen and others have been explained.

A new framework for solution of multidimensional population balance equations

A new framework is proposed in this work to solve multidimensional population balance equations (PBEs) using the method of discretization. A continuous PBE is considered as a statement of evolution of one evolving property of particles and conservation of their n internal attributes. Discretization must therefore preserve n + I properties of particles. Continuously distributed population is represented on discrete fixed pivots as in the fixed pivot technique of Kumar and Ramkrishna [1996a. On the solution of population balance equation by discretization-I A fixed pivot technique. Chemical Engineering Science 51(8), 1311-1332] for 1-d PBEs, but instead of the earlier extensions of this technique proposed in the literature which preserve 2(n) properties of non-pivot particles, the new framework requires n + I properties to be preserved. This opens up the use of triangular and tetrahedral elements to solve 2-d and 3-d PBEs, instead of the rectangles and cuboids that are suggested in the literature. Capabilities of computational fluid dynamics and other packages available for generating complex meshes can also be harnessed. The numerical results obtained indeed show the effectiveness of the new framework. It also brings out the hitherto unknown role of directionality of the grid in controlling the accuracy of the numerical solution of multidimensional PBEs. The numerical results obtained show that the quality of the numerical solution can be improved significantly just by altering the directionality of the grid, which does not require any increase in the number of points, or any refinement of the grid, or even redistribution of pivots in space. Directionality of a grid can be altered simply by regrouping of pivots.

Thermodynamic and kinetic studies on the mechanism of binding of methylumbelliferyl galactosides to the basic agglutinin from winged bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus)

The binding of winged bean basic agglutinin (WBA I) to 4-methylumbelliferyl (MeUmb) galactosides was examined by extrinsic fluorescence titration and stopped-flow spectrofluorimetry. Upon binding to WBA I, MeUmb alpha-galactosides show quenching in fluorescence intensity, decrease in UV absorbance with a concomitant blue shift, and decrease in fluorescence excited-state lifetimes. However, their beta-analogues show enhancement in fluorescence intensity, increase in UV absorbance with a red shift, and an increase in fluorescence excited-state lifetimes. This implies that the umbelliferyl groups of alpha- and beta-galactosides experience non-polar and polar microenvironments, respectively, upon binding to WBA I. Replacement of the anomeric hydroxyl group of galactose by 4-methylumbelliferyl moiety increases the affinity of resulting saccharides. Substitution of C-2 hydroxyl of galactose by an acetamido group leads to increased affinity due to a favorable entropy change. This suggests that acetamido group of MeUmb-alpha/beta-GalNAc binds to a relatively non-polar subsite of WBA I. Most interestingly, this substitution also reduces the association rate constants dramatically. Inspection of the activation parameters reveals that the enthalpy of activation is the limiting factor for the differences in the forward rate constants for these saccharides and the entropic contribution to the activation energy is small

An indole oxidase isolated from the leaves of Tecoma stans

The presence of an indole oxidase (indole: O2 oxidoreductase) was detected in the leaf extracts of Tecoma stans. The end product of the reaction was identified as anthranil. Formylaminobenzaldehyde, and o- aminobenzaldehyde were detected as intermediates in the overall conversion. Oxygen-uptake studies established that 3 atoms of oxygen were consumed in the formation of anthranil form I molecule of indole. The enzyme showed an absolute requirement for FAD and Cu2+ for maximum activity. FMN was ineffective as a cofactor. The enzyme had an optimum pH of 5.0. Inhibition studies with GSH and p-chloromericuribenzoate showed that a sulfhydrylcupric-ion complex at the active centre is highly essential.