An enzymically catalyzed incorporation of amines into proteins / Nirmal K. Sarkar Donald D. Clarke Heinrich Waelsch Department of Biochemistry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, and the New York Psychiatric Institute, New York, N.Y. (U.S.A.)

In experiments reported some years ago the enzyme-catalyzed exchange of the amide group of glutamine and asparagine with 15N ammonia was demonstrated but an exchange of the amide groups of protein bound dicarboxylic amino acids could not be explored owing to the unfavorable experimental conditions1 . Recently the problem of the metabolism of protein-amide groups was approached again with the aid of 14C-labeled amines, such as ethanolamine or cadaverine. Soluble protein fractions obtained from sucrose homogenates (o.2sM) of the livers of guinea pigs, rats, mice, and rabbits by centrifugation at roo,ooo X g were incubated in the presence of Ca++ with the 14C-labeled amines. Appreciable radioactivity was recovered in the proteins precipitated and purified by the method of SIEKEVITZ2 (Table I). The incorporating system was activated by Ca++ but not by Mn++- and Mg++ or other metal ions-a fact which makes it unlikely that we are dealing with the enzyme system responsible for glutamo or asparto-transferase activitie

On Line Monitoring of Transformers using Gas Sensor Fabricated by Nanotechnology

Power transformers are key elements in a power system. Hence their maintenance is essential for uninterrupted power supply. In line with this demand a portable, on-line diagnostic analyzer is designed which is able to collect temperature data and quantify the concent rat ion of some of the dissolved gases in transformer oil with the help of a non-invasive sensor fabricated by nanotechnology methodology. After conditioning the signals appropriately, the data are transmitted to the substation for storage. The computer also has the ability to remotely access the data for analysis and assess the health of the transformers. From the data of three gases, different faults, if they are occurring inside the transformer, can be predicted. The fault diagnosis is done by dissolved gas analysis (DGA), which is one of the proven methods widely used during the last two decades

Industry, labour and the state: emerging relations in the Indian state of West Bengal

Despite the pursuit of similar industrial policies during the post-1990s, Indian states have revealed divergent outcomes in industrial growth. Such divergence suggests different levels of policy implementation which itself is a result of the interplay of formal and informal institutions, historically shaped. We try to ex-plain this divergence in the context of the evolution of state-business relations in West Bengal, a coastal state in Eastern India, and unique among Indian states not only by virtue of being ruled by a Leftist regime for an uninterrupted 34 years (1977-May, 2011), but also by having witnessed a turnaround of sorts in the outlook of the former government towards private capital within this period. Our findings suggest that it is the peculiarity of institutional behaviour that determines the policy outcomes in the state. The rigidities in political as well as economic institutions in the state are prompting us to look at West Bengal as a classic case of 'institutional stickiness' leading to 'path dependency'