Apollo command module mockup flammability tests

Apollo command module mockup flammability tests using three different atmosphere

MACiE: a database of enzyme reaction mechanisms.

SUMMARY: MACiE (mechanism, annotation and classification in enzymes) is a publicly available web-based database, held in CMLReact (an XML application), that aims to help our understanding of the evolution of enzyme catalytic mechanisms and also to create a classification system which reflects the actual chemical mechanism (catalytic steps) of an enzyme reaction, not only the overall reaction. AVAILABILITY: http://www-mitchell.ch.cam.ac.uk/macie/.EPSRC (G.L.H. and J.B.O.M.), the BBSRC (G.J.B. and J.M.T.—CASE studentship in association with Roche Products Ltd; N.M.O.B. and J.B.O.M.—grant BB/C51320X/1), the Chilean Government’s Ministerio de Planificacio´n y Cooperacio´n and Cambridge Overseas Trust (D.E.A.) for funding and Unilever for supporting the Centre for Molecular Science Informatics.application note restricted to 2 printed pages web site: http://www-mitchell.ch.cam.ac.uk/macie

ExplorEnz: the primary source of the IUBMB enzyme list

ExplorEnz is the MySQL database that is used for the curation and dissemination of the International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (IUBMB) Enzyme Nomenclature. A simple web-based query interface is provided, along with an advanced search engine for more complex Boolean queries. The WWW front-end is accessible at http://www.enzyme-database.org, from where downloads of the database as SQL and XML are also available. An associated form-based curatorial application has been developed to facilitate the curation of enzyme data as well as the internal and public review processes that occur before an enzyme entry is made official. Suggestions for new enzyme entries, or modifications to existing ones, can be made using the forms provided at http://www.enzyme-database.org/forms.php

Characterization of growth and metabolism of the haloalkaliphile Natronomonas pharaonis

Natronomonas pharaonis is an archaeon adapted to two extreme conditions: high salt concentration and alkaline pH. It has become one of the model organisms for the study of extremophilic life. Here, we present a genome-scale, manually curated metabolic reconstruction for the microorganism. The reconstruction itself represents a knowledge base of the haloalkaliphile's metabolism and, as such, would greatly assist further investigations on archaeal pathways. In addition, we experimentally determined several parameters relevant to growth, including a characterization of the biomass composition and a quantification of carbon and oxygen consumption. Using the metabolic reconstruction and the experimental data, we formulated a constraints-based model which we used to analyze the behavior of the archaeon when grown on a single carbon source. Results of the analysis include the finding that Natronomonas pharaonis, when grown aerobically on acetate, uses a carbon to oxygen consumption ratio that is theoretically near-optimal with respect to growth and energy production. This supports the hypothesis that, under simple conditions, the microorganism optimizes its metabolism with respect to the two objectives. We also found that the archaeon has a very low carbon efficiency of only about 35%. This inefficiency is probably due to a very low P/O ratio as well as to the other difficulties posed by its extreme environment

Higher education and unemployment in Europe : an analysis of the academic subject and national effects

This paper examines the impact of an academic degree and field of study on short and long-term unemployment across Europe (EU15). Labour Force Survey (LFS) data on over half a million individuals are utilised for that purpose. The harmonized LFS classification of level of education and field of study overcomes past problems of comparability across Europe. The study analyses (i) the effect of an academic degree at a European level, (ii) the specific effect of 14 academic subjects and (iii) country specific effects. The results indicate that an academic degree is more effective on reducing the likelihood of short-term than long-term unemployment. This general pattern even though it is observed for most of the academic subjects its levels show significant variation across disciplines and countries

Selenium supplementation to improve bone health in postmenopausal women: the SeMS three-armRCT

Background Observational and pre-clinical studies have reported an association between selenium status, bone density, bone turnover and fracture risk. Selenium is an anti-oxidant, so we hypothesised that selenium could reduce the pro-resorptive action of reactive oxygen species on osteoclasts. Population mortality data suggest that the optimum range for serum selenium is 120–150 µg/l. Most adults in Europe are relatively selenium insufficient compared with adults in the USA and other geographical areas. Objectives The objectives of the study were to determine if selenium supplementation in postmenopausal women with osteopenia decreased bone turnover, improved physical function or decreased markers of oxidative stress and inflammation. Design We conducted a 6-month double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial. Setting This was a single-centre study in Sheffield, UK. Participants We recruited 120 postmenopausal women with osteopenia or osteoporosis. One hundred and fifteen women completed follow-up and were included in the intention-to-treat analysis. Interventions The interventions were sodium selenite as Selenase 200 µg/day, Selenase 50 µg/day (biosyn, Germany) and placebo. Main outcome measures The primary end point was urine N–terminal cross-linking telopeptide of type I collagen/Cr (NTX/Cr) at 26 weeks. Groups were compared with an analysis of covariance, through the use of Hochberg testing. Secondary end points were other biochemical markers of bone turnover, bone mineral density by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and physical function scores (short physical performance battery and grip strength). The mechanistic end points were markers of inflammation and anti-oxidant activity (glutathione peroxidase, highly sensitive C-reactive protein and interleukin 6). Results In the 200 µg/day group, mean serum selenium increased from 78.8 µg/l (95% confidence interval 73.5 to 84.2 µg/l) to 105.7 µg/l (95% confidence interval 99.5 to 111.9 µg/l) at 26 weeks. Urine NTX/Cr did not differ between treatment groups at 26 weeks. None of the secondary or mechanistic end-point measurements differed between the treatment groups at 26 weeks. Conclusions We conclude that selenium supplementation at these doses does not affect bone turnover (assessed by NTX/Cr) and is not beneficial for musculoskeletal health in postmenopausal women. Trial registration IRAS 200308, EudraCT 2016-002964-15 and ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02832648. Funding This project was funded by the Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation (EME) programme, a MRC and National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) partnership. This will be published in full in Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation; Vol. 8, No. 6. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information