Sampling Field Heterogeneity at the Heme of c-Type Cytochromes by Spectral Hole Burning Spectroscopy and Electrostatic Calculations

AbstractWe report on a comparative investigation of the heme pocket fields of two Zn-substituted c-type cytochromes—namely yeast and horse heart cytochromes c—using a combination of hole burning Stark spectroscopy and electrostatic calculations. The spectral hole burning experiments are consistent with different pocket fields experienced at the hemes of the respective cytochromes. In the case of horse heart Zn-cytochrome c, two distinguishable electronic origins with different electrostatic properties are observed. The yeast species, on the other hand, displays a single electronic origin. Electrostatic calculations and graphics modeling using the linearized finite-difference Poisson-Boltzmann equation performed at selected time intervals on nanosecond-molecular dynamics trajectories show that the hemes of the respective cytochromes sample different potentials as they explore conformational space. The electrostatic potentials generated by the protein matrix at the heme show different patterns in both cytochromes, and we suggest that the cytochromes differ by the number of “electrostatic substates” that they can sample, thus accounting for the different spectral populations observed in the two cytochromes

Strategies for weed control in maize in water sensitive areas

Dargestellt werden seit 2014 vom Pflanzenschutzdienst Niedersachsen durchgeführten Gemeinschaftsversuche zur Unkrautbekämpfung unter besonderer Berücksichtigung von Wasserschutzaspekten. Herbizid-Wirkstoffe, deren Metabolite vermehrt in Grundwasser-Gütemessnetzen in Niedersachsen gefunden wurden (Chloracetamide, v.a. S-Metolachlor) standen dabei im Mittelpunkt der Untersuchungen. Es zeigte sich, dass bezüglich S-Metolachlor gleichwertige bodenwirksame Alternativwirkstoffe zur Verfügung stehen. Gleichwohl wird die Frage diskutiert, ob durch ein gezieltes Wirkstoffmanagement (Rotation) die Austragsgefahr für die o.a. Wirkstoffgruppe minimiert werden kann. Ziel dabei ist, eine möglichst breite Wirkstoffpalette mit Bodenherbiziden im Maisanbau zu erhalten, um dadurch zum einen einer Resistenzbildung vorzubeugen und zum anderen einer `Übernutzung` verbleibender Wirkstoffe entgegen zu wirken. Letzteres könnte dann ebenfalls zu einer stärkeren Grundwassergefährdung führen. In einem ergänzenden Versuchsprojekt in 2017 konnten Erkenntnisse zur Wirksamkeit und Umsetzbarkeit mechanischer und kombinierter Verfahren der Unkrautbekämpfung gesammelt werden. Dabei zeigte sich, dass rein mechanische Maßnahmen mit einem hohen Risiko von Ertragsverlusten verbunden sind, hauptsächlich dann, wenn die Unkrautkonkurrenz in der Maisreihe nicht ausreichend ausgeschaltet werden kann. Höhere Wirkungssicherheit bei geringeren Kosten wurde durch die Kombination aus breitflächiger Vorlage eines blattaktiven Herbizids und anschließendem Hackeinsatz erzielt. Mögliche Strategien der Unkrautbekämpfung insbesondere in Wasserschutzgebeiten werden diskutiert.Since 2014, the Crop Protection Service Niedersachsen has carried out joint experiments on weed control with special consideration of water protection aspects. The focus of the investigations was the handling of herbicidal active substances whose metabolites were increasingly found in groundwater quality measurement networks in Lower Saxony (chloroacetamides, especially S-metolachlor). It was found that s-metolachlor has equivalent soil active ingredients. Nonetheless, the question is being discussed whether a targeted active ingredient management (rotation) can reduce the risk of discharge for the active ingredient. The aim ist o obtain the widest possible range of active ingredients with soil herbicides in maize cultivation, thereby preventing the formation of resistance on the one hand, and counteracting an overuse of remaining active ingredients on the other hand. The latter could then also lead to a stronger groundwater hazard. An additional experimental project in 2017 provided insights into the effectiveness and practicability of mechanical and combined weed control methods. It showed that purely mechanical measures are associated with a high risk of yield losses, especially if the weed competition in the corn line cannot be sufficiently eliminated. Greater efficacy at lower cost was achieved through the combination of broad leafy herbicide presentation and subsequent hacking. Possible strategies for weed control, especially in water conservation areas, are discussed

SchussenAktivplus: reduction of micropollutants and of potentially pathogenic bacteria for further water quality improvement of the river Schussen, a tributary of Lake Constance, Germany

The project focuses on the efficiency of combined technologies to reduce the release of micropollutants and bacteria into surface waters via sewage treatment plants of different size and via stormwater overflow basins of different types. As a model river in a highly populated catchment area, the river Schussen and, as a control, the river Argen, two tributaries of Lake Constance, Southern Germany, are under investigation in this project. The efficiency of the different cleaning technologies is monitored by a wide range of exposure and effect analyses including chemical and microbiological techniques as well as effect studies ranging from molecules to communities

8.2 GHz bandwidth monolithic integrated optoelectronic receiver using MSM photodiode and 0.5 μm recessed-gate AlGaAs/GaAs HEMTs

An 8.2 GHz bandwidth monolithic optoelectronic receiver consisting of an MSM photodiode, a transimpedance amplifier, and a 50 Omega output buffer has been fabricated using an enhancement/depletion 0.5 μm recessed-gate AlGaAs/GaAs HEMT process. Successful operation at data rates up to 10 Gbit/s has been demonstrated

10 Gbit/s monolithic integrated optoelectronic receiver using an MSM photodiode and AlGaAs/GaAs HEMTs

A 10 Gbit/s monolithic integrated optoelectronic receiver has been fabricated with a metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) photodiode and enhancement/depletion 0.5 μm recessed-gate AlGaAs/GaAs HEMTs. A -3 dB bandwidth of 11.3 GHz has been achieved

Ion emission from plasmas produced by femtosecond pulses of short-wavelength free-electron laser radiation focused on massive targets: an overview and comparison with long-wavelength laser ablation

We report on ion emission from plasma produced on thick targets irradiated with nanosecond and femtosecond pulses delivered by mid-ultraviolet and soft x-ray lasers, respectively. To distinguish between different ion acceleration mechanisms, the maximum kinetic energy of ions produced under different interaction conditions is plotted versus laser fluence. The transformation of the time-of-flight detector signal into ion charge density distance-of-flight spectra makes it possible to determine the mean kinetic energy of the fastest ion groups based on the influence of the acoustic velocity of ion expansion. This allows obtaining additional characteristics of the ion production. The final energy of the group of fast ions determined using the ion sound velocity model is an order of magnitude larger in the fs-XFEL interaction than in the ns-UV one. On the contrary, the ablation yield of ions in our experiment is seven orders of magnitude greater when applying ns-UV laser pulses, not only due to higher energies of UV laser pulses, but also due to a significant difference in interaction and ion formation mechanisms

Small intestinal mucosa expression of putative chaperone fls485

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Maturation of enterocytes along the small intestinal crypt-villus axis is associated with significant changes in gene expression profiles. <it>fls485 </it>coding a putative chaperone protein has been recently suggested as a gene involved in this process. The aim of the present study was to analyze <it>fls48</it>5 expression in human small intestinal mucosa.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p><it>fls485 </it>expression in purified normal or intestinal mucosa affected with celiac disease was investigated with a molecular approach including qRT-PCR, Western blotting, and expression strategies. Molecular data were corroborated with several <it>in situ </it>techniques and usage of newly synthesized mouse monoclonal antibodies.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>fls485 mRNA expression was preferentially found in enterocytes and chromaffine cells of human intestinal mucosa as well as in several cell lines including Rko, Lovo, and CaCo2 cells. Western blot analysis with our new anti-fls485 antibodies revealed at least two fls485 proteins. In a functional CaCo2 model, an increase in fls485 expression was paralleled by cellular maturation stage. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated fls485 as a cytosolic protein with a slightly increasing expression gradient along the crypt-villus axis which was impaired in celiac disease Marsh IIIa-c.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Expression and synthesis of fls485 are found in surface lining epithelia of normal human intestinal mucosa and deriving epithelial cell lines. An interdependence of enterocyte differentiation along the crypt-villus axis and fls485 chaperone activity might be possible.</p