358 research outputs found
Stochastic Approach to Enantiomeric Excess Amplification and Chiral Symmetry Breaking
Stochastic aspects of chemical reaction models related to the Soai reactions
as well as to the homochirality in life are studied analytically and
numerically by the use of the master equation and random walk model. For
systems with a recycling process, a unique final probability distribution is
obtained by means of detailed balance conditions. With a nonlinear
autocatalysis the distribution has a double-peak structure, indicating the
chiral symmetry breaking. This problem is further analyzed by examining
eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of the master equation. In the case without
recycling process, final probability distributions depend on the initial
conditions. In the nonlinear autocatalytic case, time-evolution starting from a
complete achiral state leads to a final distribution which differs from that
deduced from the nonzero recycling result. This is due to the absence of the
detailed balance, and a directed random walk model is shown to give the correct
final profile. When the nonlinear autocatalysis is sufficiently strong and the
initial state is achiral, the final probability distribution has a double-peak
structure, related to the enantiomeric excess amplification. It is argued that
with autocatalyses and a very small but nonzero spontaneous production, a
single mother scenario could be a main mechanism to produce the homochirality.Comment: 25 pages, 6 figure
Chiral Crystal Growth under Grinding
To study the establishment of homochirality observed in the crystal growth
experiment of chiral molecules from a solution under grinding, we extend the
lattice gas model of crystal growth as follows. A lattice site can be occupied
by a chiral molecule in R or S form, or can be empty. Molecules form
homoclusters by nearest neighbor bonds. They change their chirality if they are
isolated monomers in the solution. Grinding is incorporated by cutting and
shafling the system randomly. It is shown that Ostwald ripening without
grinding is extremely slow to select chirality, if possible. Grinding alone
also cannot achieve chirality selection. For the accomplishment of
homochirality, we need an enhanced chirality change on crystalline surface.
With this "autocatalytic effect" and the recycling of monomers due to rinding,
an exponential increase of crystal enantiomeric excess to homochiral state is
realized.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figure
Order and Frustration in Chiral Liquid Crystals
This paper reviews the complex ordered structures induced by chirality in
liquid crystals. In general, chirality favors a twist in the orientation of
liquid-crystal molecules. In some cases, as in the cholesteric phase, this
favored twist can be achieved without any defects. More often, the favored
twist competes with applied electric or magnetic fields or with geometric
constraints, leading to frustration. In response to this frustration, the
system develops ordered structures with periodic arrays of defects. The
simplest example of such a structure is the lattice of domains and domain walls
in a cholesteric phase under a magnetic field. More complex examples include
defect structures formed in two-dimensional films of chiral liquid crystals.
The same considerations of chirality and defects apply to three-dimensional
structures, such as the twist-grain-boundary and moire phases.Comment: 39 pages, RevTeX, 14 included eps figure
Fluctuation Induced Homochirality
We propose a new mechanism for the achievment of homochirality in life
without any autocatalytic production process. Our model consists of a
spontaneous production together with a recycling cross inhibition in a closed
system.
It is shown that although the rate equations for this system predict no
chiral symmetry breaking, the stochastic master equation predicts complete
homochirality. This is because the fluctuation induced by the discreteness of
population numbers of participating molecules plays essential roles. This
fluctuation conspires with the recyling cross inhibition to realize the
homochirality.Comment: 13 pages, 6 figure
DNA barcode assessment and population structure of aphidophagous hoverfly <i>Sphaerophoria scripta</i>:Implications for conservation biological control
With the advent of integrated pest management, the conservation of indigenous populations of natural enemies of pest species has become a relevant practice, necessitating the accurate identification of beneficial species and the inspection of evolutionary mechanisms affecting the long-time persistence of their populations. The long hoverfly,Sphaerophoria scripta, represents one of the most potent aphidophagous control agents due to a worldwide distribution and a favorable constellation of biological traits. Therefore, we assessed five EuropeanS. scriptapopulations by combining molecular (cytochromecoxidase subunit I-COI, internal transcribed spacer 2-ITS2, and allozyme loci) and morphological (wing size and shape) characters.COIsequences retrieved in this study were conjointly analyzed with BOLD/GenBank sequences of the otherSphaerophoriaspecies to evaluate whetherCOIpossessed a sufficient diagnostic value as a DNA barcode marker to consistently delimit allospecific individuals. Additionally, the aforementioned characters were used to inspect the population structure ofS. scriptain Europe using methods based on individual- and population-based genetic differences, as well as geometric morphometrics of wing traits. The results indicate numerous sharedCOIhaplotypes among differentSphaerophoriaspecies, thus disqualifying this marker from being an adequate barcoding region in this genus. Conversely, the analyses of population structuring revealed high population connectivity across Europe, therefore indicating strong tolerance ofS. scriptato environmental heterogeneity. The results imply a multilocus approach as the next step in molecular identification of differentSphaerophoriaspecies, while confirming the status ofS. scriptaas a powerful biocontrol agent of economically relevant aphid pests
Acetic Acid Bacteria: Physiology and Carbon Sources Oxidation
Acetic acid bacteria (AAB) are obligately aerobic bacteria within the family Acetobacteraceae, widespread in sugary, acidic and alcoholic niches. They are known for their ability to partially oxidise a variety of carbohydrates and to release the corresponding metabolites (aldehydes, ketones and organic acids) into the media. Since a long time they are used to perform specific oxidation reactions through processes called “oxidative fermentations”, especially in vinegar production. In the last decades physiology of AAB have been widely studied because of their role in food production, where they act as beneficial or spoiling organisms, and in biotechnological industry, where their oxidation machinery is exploited to produce a number of compounds such as l-ascorbic acid, dihydroxyacetone, gluconic acid and cellulose. The present review aims to provide an overview of AAB physiology focusing carbon sources oxidation and main products of their metabolism
Influenza at the animal–human interface: a review of the literature for virological evidence of human infection with swine or avian influenza viruses other than A(H5N1)
Factors that trigger human infection with animal influenza virus progressing into a pandemic are poorly understood. Within a project developing an evidence-based risk assessment framework for influenza viruses in animals, we conducted a review of the literature for evidence of human infection with animal influenza viruses by diagnostic methods used. The review covering Medline, Embase, SciSearch and CabAbstracts yielded 6,955 articles, of which we retained 89; for influenza A(H5N1) and A(H7N9), the official case counts of the World Health Organization were used. An additional 30 studies were included by scanning the reference lists. Here, we present the findings for confirmed infections with virological evidence. We found reports of 1,419 naturally infected human cases, of which 648 were associated with avian influenza virus (AIV) A(H5N1), 375 with other AIV subtypes, and 396 with swine influenza virus (SIV). Human cases naturally infected with AIV spanned haemagglutinin subtypes H5, H6, H7, H9 and H10. SIV cases were associated with endemic SIV of H1 and H3 subtype descending from North American and Eurasian SIV lineages and various reassortants thereof. Direct exposure to birds or swine was the most likely source of infection for the cases with available information on exposure
Effect of phenobarbital on inducing insecticide tolerance and esterase changes in Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae)
From Monasteries to Multinationals (and Back): A Historical Review of the Beer Economy
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