In vitro production of L-cysteine using thermophilic enzymes

L-Cysteine (L-Cys) is a commercially important amino acid and widely used in food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. Commercial production of L-Cys has long been done by an acid-hydrolysis of human hair and animal feather, leading to the generation of a large quantity of hazardous wastes. Although several biotechnology companies have recently launched a fermentative production of L-Cys using engineered bacteria, these processes suffer from the low product titer mainly due to the cytotoxic effect of L-Cys. To provide an alternative approach for the commercial production of L-Cys, we aimed at the development of a non-fermentative, in vitro manufacturing system using thermophilic enzymes. In this system, enzymes from (hyper)thermophilic bacteria and archaea were assembled to construct an in vitro synthetic pathway for the one-pot conversion of glucose to L-Cys (Figure 1). By using experimentally optimized concentrations of enzymes, L-Cys could be produced at a rate of 0.9 g/L/h with a molar conversion yield of 25%. Please click Additional Files below to see the full abstract

The Survey on Familiar Living Things for the 9th Graders (about 15 year-olds) and High-School Science Teachers(around 35 yrar-olds): Comparison of Two Age Groups.

中学校3年生と高等学校理科教諭とを回答者とし、「多様な生物」に関する意識と、現行の小・中学校理科（生活科を含む）教科書に示されている「身近な生物」の身近さの程度とを問うアンケート調査を実施し、回答結果を比較分析してきた。中学3年生より高等学校理科教諭の方が、「多様な生物」に対する関心度が高いこと、自信度が高いこと、「身近な生物」により身近でることを、また、中学3年生と高等学校理科教諭とも、「生物の多様性」に関連した基本方針への関心も基盤となる学問的な知識も十分とは言い難いこと、植物より動物に対して自信度が高いこと、識別されている生物（種）数は現実より非常に多いと考えていることを、明らかにした。Respondents were the 9th graders (about 15-year-olds) and high-school science teachers (32-year-olds or so). For two age groups, surveys were conducted to find the perception of familiar living things. The living things were picked out from the science textbooks (including the Life Environmental Studies). The questions are to what extent respondents are familiar with these living things, and how much perception respondents have of 'diverse living things.' Results of the survey are: High-school science teachers have a greater interest and more confidence in diverse living things than 9th graders. Teachers find 'familiar living things' much familiar and closer to them. Neither 9th graders nor science teachers have a sufficient knowledge and awareness of basic policies related to biodiversity. Both respondents have more confidence in animals than plants, and both of them wrongly estimate that a larger number of life are found and given names

Scandium 45 in meteoritic irons

This report presents the results of determinations of cosmogenic ^Sc and light noble gases in iron meteorites. Sc and REE were simultaneously determined using radiochemical neutron activation method. This method is sensitive enough for detection of as little as lower than 10^gSc/g, compared to the level of cosmic ray effects in irons which are usually in the range of 10^-10^gSc/g. The lowest concentration found in irons was 2×10^gSc/g in the Campo del Cielo and similar contents were observed in the Gibeon, DRP-78008 (and Brenham-metal). Even at these low levels, Sc seems mostly attributable to cosmic ray production. The Sc content in irons is best compared with cosmogenic ^4He. The ratio of Sc to ^4He, approximately 1×10^gSc/1×10^cc ^4He, or an average atomic ratio of 1 : 19±3,was observed independent of shielding. Technical aspects of metal phase separation from ordinary chondrites were studied. In one Peace River metal sample, 0.9 ppbSc was found. This number corresponds to 0.01% of the stone phase in the metal. This level of contamination seems still higher than the cosmogenic level of 0.2 ppbSc expected in the metal phase of this meteorite

Electronic Structures of Amorphous Co-P and Ni-P Alloys by γ-ray Compton Scattering

γ-ray Compton scattering has been applied to study the electronic state of electro-deposited and melt-quenched amorphous Ni_P_ alloys, and electro-deposited amorphous Co_P_ alloy. Based on experimental Compton profiles, it is conclused that the charge transfer occurs from phosphorus atom to 3d band holes of transition metals, but 3d states may not be completely filled with electrons even in amorphous Ni_P_ alloy

Effect of Initial Grain Size on Dynamically Recrystallized Grain Size in AZ31 Magnesium Alloy

The effect of initial grain size on dynamically recrystallized grain size (DRX grain size) is examined in AZ31 magnesium alloy with four kinds of initial grain sizes. When the average grain size after the high-temperature compression test is plotted against Zenner-Hollomon parameter (Z-parameter), initial grain size dependence on DRX grain size appears only in the specimen with large initial grain size in the low Z region, but not in the specimen with small grain size or in high Z region. When the grain size measured only in recrystallized region is plotted against Z-parameter, initial grain size dependence on DRX grain size does not appear. From these results, it is concluded that there is no initial grain size dependence on DRX grain size when the DRX proceeds to some degree, because the DRX grain size becomes constant for a given Zvalue. The initial grain size dependence on DRX grain size observed in the low Z region would be related to the rotation of basal plane perpendicular to the compression axis during deformation before the DRX grains have been developed sufficiently

Studies on the Pre-seasonal Defoliation of Campbell Early Grape : II. The Effect of Soil Management(1).

1.水田地帯で約70cm盛り土して1.8×18.0mに列植され一文字仕立て(双腕コルドン)に整枝されているCampbell Early種葡萄園で,7月初めから8月末まで乾燥処理または定期的に灌水を行なった区および清耕(無灌水)の3区を設けて,早期落葉発現の様相を比較した.2.各区において7月下旬から8月末までに,顕著な早期落葉の波相を示した.3.乾燥区の土壌水分(-20cm)は最低11.6%(対容水量:33.1%)となったが割合に変化が少なく,また清耕区のそれは最低13.6%(対容水量:38.8%)ではあるが変化が著しかった.ところが予期に反して乾燥区の方がむしろ落葉が少なかった.4.清耕区において土壌水分含量が急減して,最低値に達する頃落葉の波が現われた.また降雨によって土壌水分が急増することが落葉を誘発することは,清耕区および乾燥区の両区で認められた.5.灌水は早期落葉を減少せしめるが,灌水(異常)区の場合一時的に下層土の過湿を招いて,かえって落葉を促進せしめたのではないかと推定される