Equilibrium Constants of Various Polyol-borate Systems

This 26 page thesis examines the polyol-borate system

Welcome to Microbial Informatics and Experimentation

Microbial Informatics and Experimentation (MIE) is a journal about computers and microbes. We created a new journal to fill a gap for which there is no publication avenue that is particularly geared to computationally-oriented, strongly biologically motivated, pragmatic articles focused on microbes. On the one hand, the bioinformatics journals are generally very computer technical and unlikely to be read by the diverse community of microbiologists. There is also a strong emphasis in bioinformatics literature on human/mammalian systems, though this is a secondary issue. On the other hand, microbial informatics work has appeared in a variety of microbiological publications, but it is seldom a good fit there either, and methods that span diverse microbes have no obvious home

How Does the Choice of the Lower Boundary Conditions in Large-Eddy Simulations Affect the Development of Dispersive Fluxes Near the Surface?

Large-eddy simulations (LES) are an important tool for investigating the longstanding energy-balance-closure problem, as they provide continuous, spatially-distributed information about turbulent flow at a high temporal resolution. Former LES studies reproduced an energy-balance gap similar to the observations in the field typically amounting to 10–30% for heights on the order of 100 m in convective boundary layers even above homogeneous surfaces. The underestimation is caused by dispersive fluxes associated with large-scale turbulent organized structures that are not captured by single-tower measurements. However, the gap typically vanishes near the surface, i.e. at typical eddy-covariance measurement heights below 20 m, contrary to the findings from field measurements. In this study, we aim to find a LES set-up that can represent the correct magnitude of the energy-balance gap close to the surface. Therefore, we use a nested two-way coupled LES, with a fine grid that allows us to resolve fluxes and atmospheric structures at typical eddy-covariance measurement heights of 20 m. Under different stability regimes we compare three different options for lower boundary conditions featuring grassland and forest surfaces, i.e. (1) prescribed surface fluxes, (2) a land-surface model, and (3) a land-surface model in combination with a resolved canopy. We show that the use of prescribed surface fluxes and a land-surface model yields similar dispersive heat fluxes that are very small near the vegetation top for both grassland and forest surfaces. However, with the resolved forest canopy, dispersive heat fluxes are clearly larger, which we explain by a clear impact of the resolved canopy on the relationship between variance and flux–variance similarity functions

Prenatal and Postnatal Sonographic Confirmation of Congenital Absence of the Ductus Venosus in a Child with Noonan Syndrome

The ductus venosus serves as an important vascular pathway for intrauterine circulation. This case presents a description of an absent ductus venosus in a female patient with Noonan syndrome, including both prenatal and postnatal imaging of the anomaly. In the setting of the anomalous vascular connection, the umbilical vein courses inferiorly to the iliac vein in parallel configuration with the umbilical artery. This finding was suspected based on prenatal imaging and the case was brought to attention when placement of an umbilical catheter was thought to be malpositioned given its appearance on radiography. Ultrasound imaging confirmed the anomalous course. This is in keeping with prior descriptions in the literature of an association between Noonan syndrome and aberrant umbilical venous drainage. This case illustrates the need for awareness of this condition by the radiologist, allowing for identification on radiographs and the recommendation for further confirmatory imaging. Further, the case illustrates the value of paying particular attention to the fetal course of the umbilical vessels in patients with suspected Noonan syndrome, as this population is particularly at risk for anomalous vasculature

Quantification of Degradation of Chlorinated Hydrocarbons in Saturated Low Permeability Sediments Using Compound-Specific Isotope Analysis

This field and modeling study aims to reveal if degradation of chlorinated hydrocarbons in low permeability sediments can be quantified using compound-specific isotope analysis (CSIA). For that purpose, the well-characterized Borden research site was selected, where an aquifer−aquitard system was artificially contaminated by a three component chlorinated solvent mixture (tetrachloroethene (PCE) 45 vol %, trichloroethene (TCE) 45 vol %, and chloroform (TCM) 10 vol %). Nearly 15 years after the contaminant release, several high-resolution concentration and CSIA profiles were determined for the chlorinated hydrocarbons that had diffused into the clayey aquitard. The CSIA profiles showed large shifts of carbon isotope ratios with depth (up to 24‰) suggesting that degradation occurs in the aquitard despite the small pore sizes. Simulated scenarios without or with uniform degradation failed to reproduce the isotope data, while a scenario with decreasing degradation with depth fit the data well. This suggests that nutrients had diffused into the aquitard favoring stronger degradation close to the aquifer−aquitard interface than with increasing depth. Moreover, the different simulation scenarios showed that CSIA profiles are more sensitive to different degradation conditions compared to concentration profiles highlighting the power of CSIA to constrain degradation activities in aquitards

Synthesis of spiro quasi[1]catenanes and quasi[1]rotaxanes via a templated backfolding strategy

Due to their well-defined three-dimensional geometry, spiro compounds are widely utilized in drug research. From the central tetrahedral carbon atom, besides the regular structure, an inverted spiro connectivity may be envisioned. Here we disclose the synthesis of this molecule class that we have coined quasi[1]catenanes. Next to their fascinating and aesthetic shape, the higher compactness as compared to regular spiro bicycles is noteworthy. To enable synthetic access to compact entangled multimacrocyclic molecules, we have developed a new strategy. The key element is a template, which is covalently connected to the linear precursors, and spatially directs the sterically congested backfolding macrocyclizations that are required to give quasi[1]catenanes. Similarly, quasi[1]rotaxanes are made

Attempted [2]Catenane Synthesis via a Quasi[1]catenane by a Templated Backfolding Strategy

A templated backfolding concept to construct a [2]catenane was attempted via a quasi[1]catenane showing an inverted spiro geometry. The template is covalently connected to the ketal-connected semi-perpendicular-arranged linear precursors and spatially directs the sterically congested backfolding macrocyclizations that are required to give a quasi[1]catenane. So far, we are unable to hydrolyze the cyclic ketal to liberate the [2]catenane

Effects of EDTA-Induced Hypocalcaemia and Stress on Plasma TNF-α, IL-1-ra, G-CSF, GM-CSF and S-100 in Dairy Cows

The pathophysiology of postparturient paresis is still not completely understood. Knowledge recently acquired in immunology, endocrinology and cell physiology has still to be integrated in order to elucidate the aetiopathogenesis of the disease. For that purpose, the effect of the EDTA infusion model on the plasma concentrations of selected cytokines and growth factors, and of a calcium binding protein was examined in dairy cows. Six 6- to 11-year-old Brown Swiss cows in mid lactation were infused with a 5% solution of Na2EDTA in one jugular vein over a period of 5 h. Blood samples were collected from the contralateral side daily two days before, and then hourly for five hours during the infusion, hourly for five hours after the end of the infusion, and once daily for 10 days thereafter. The plasma concentrations of cortisol, tumour necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, granulocyte and macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and the calcium binding protein S-100 were determined. Before the EDTA infusion, during the infusion and for two days thereafter, the mean plasma concentrations of cortisol were significantly higher than those from days 4 to 10 after the infusion. The plasma concentrations of tumour necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist followed a similar profile. At the end of EDTA infusion, low concentrations of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor were detected in one cow only. On days 3 and 4, the mean plasma concentrations of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor were significantly higher than the pre-infusion values, but this was followed by a significant decrease on post-infusion day 5. From day 4 to 7, the plasma concentrations of S-100 were significantly lower than the pre-infusion values. The importance of these findings in the pathophysiology of postparturient paresis remains to be establishe