Peptide synthesis by recombinant Fasciola hepatica cathepsin L1

Synthesis of the tripeptide Z-Phe-Arg-SerNH2 has been accomplished by a recombinant cysteine protease, cathepsin L1 from liver fluke (Fasciola hepatica), using Z-Phe-Arg-OMe as acyl acceptor and SerNH2 as nucleophile in 0.1 M ammonium acetate pH 9.0–12.5% v/v acetonitrile at 37 °C. LC–MS detection indicated tripeptide formation after 10 min, continuing up to 5.5 h. The ester Z-Phe-Arg-OMe was detected throughout the experiment but the hydrolysis product Z-Phe-Arg-OH appeared early and in quite large amounts. We believe that this is the first application of a parasite protease in enzymatic peptide synthesis

The effects of the direct instruction with computer-assisted instruction in reading for students with learning disabilities

The purposes of this study were: (a) to examine the effects of using the Direct Instruction Reading Mastery program along with Computer-assisted instruction to enhance the students\u27 vocabulary learning; (b) to examine the effects of using the Direct Instruction Reading Mastery program in reading along with Computer-assisted instruction to enhance the students\u27 reading comprehension; (c) to evaluate if students display a higher level of satisfaction in reading when taught with the Direct Instruction Reading Mastery program followed with computer-assisted instruction. Nine 5th grade students with learning disabilities in a resource room participated in the study. A multiple baseline design across students was used in the study. Baseline data of four weeks was collected based on student test scores followed by interventions (intervention I - Direct Instruction Reading Mastery program, intervention II - Direct Instruction Reading Mastery program with computer-assisted instruction). Each intervention lasted for four weeks. The findings of the study showed student gains in reading achievement both in vocabulary and comprehension in the intervention phases. The results also showed student satisfaction in learning

Great Blue Heron Nesting Biology and Habitat Use On the James River in South Dakota

Breeding biology, nest site activities, and habitat use of great blue herons (Ardea herodias) nesting in the Glendale heronry, South Dakota, were investigated in 1980 and 1981. Mean brood size was 3.35 nestlings. The predicted number of feeding trips of adult birds peaked when nestlings were 29 days old. A significant amount of variance in adult feeding trips per hour was accounted for by southerly winds and the time period from 1800-2100 hours. The variables that were not significantly related to the number of feeding trips were temperature, wind speed, wind directions other than south, cloud cover, and the 4 time periods occurring from 0600-1800 hours. Nest attentiveness of adult birds declined with increasing nestling age, with feeding the predominant nest activity of adults once nestlings reached 5-6 weeks of age. Standing at the nest, standing on branches, and gular fluttering increased as nestlings matured, while the inactive behavior and not visible categories decreased. Gular fluttering by nestlings and ambient temperature were significantly correlated. Important feeding habitats of adult herons included the James River and its inlets, streams, intermittent streams, and pastures. Forty-eight of 65 radiolocations occurred on the James River and its inlets. Unmarked herons travelled average and maximum distances of 3.15 and 24.40 km, respectively. Foraging herons occurred at a rate of 2.33 birds/km of Timber Creek and 3.56 birds/km of the James River. Departure directions of herons from the colony differed significantly during the 2 years of study. A significant amount of departure clumping in the same flight directions occurred, although data collected during the study did not allow the conclusion that the herons were following each other to feeding sites

Low carbon buildings: Sensitivity of thermal properties of opaque envelope construction and glazing

Buildings are responsible for half of UK’s energy use and carbon emissions, the reduction of which is key to mitigate the impacts of climate change. Most of the energy used in UK buildings is for heating and lighting, the need for which is determined, to a large extent, by building form and envelope, and the thermal properties of construction. Glazed surfaces in building envelopes enable daylighting but affect overall energy consumption due to heat loss during winter and unwanted solar heat gain during summer. Careful design of the envelope considering both thermal properties of construction and glazing characteristics is thus the first step in reducing energy demand from buildings. This research investigated the sensitivity of building envelope construction comprising multi-layered wall construction (36 types) and varying sizes of glazing (10-90%) on energy demand in a typical commercial building through dynamic thermal simulation. Brick and lightweight aggregate concrete block wall with 100 mm blown wool fiber insulation in-between layers and a plastered internal finish produced the optimum result with glazing levels of 30%, 20% and 10% on the south, north and corridor zones respectively. Optimum window sizes change with construction type and building orientation indicating the need for the integrated performance-based design of building envelopes, as opposed to the conventional rule of thumb approach. The role of optimization and computer assisted design exploration is discussed, as well as the feasibility of optimum solutions from environmental, social and economic perspectives

Composición en ácidos grasos de aceites de semillas de Tilia spp.

As part of a study of the seed oil fatty acid composition of Malvaceae plants, the seeds of seven Tilia species (lime or linden trees) were evaluated for their fatty acid profiles. Seeds were obtained from the Germplasm Research Information Network and from various commercial sources. After extraction of the seed oil with hexane, the glycerides were trans-methylated and analyzed by gas chromatography on two polar stationary phases. All of the seed oils analyzed were composed primarily of linoleic acid (49-60%) with lesser amounts of oleic (16-22%) and palmitic (8-10%) acids. The usual secondary components were also found. In addition, cyclopropenoid acids (i.e., sterculic and malvalic acids) were present at levels between 6 and 17%. In all samples, the level of malvalic acid was approximately twice the level of sterculic acid, indicating that considerable a-oxidation of sterculic acid had occurred in these seeds. Two additional a-oxidation products, 8-heptadecenoic acid and 8,11-heptadecadienoic acid were also detected. Combined, the level of these fatty acids was between 1.3 and 2.3%, roughly comparable to the levels of these acids recently reported in the seed oil of Thespesia populnea.Como parte de un estudio sobre la composición de aceites derivados de semillas de plantas Malvaceae, las semillas de siete especies de Tilia (árboles de tilia o lima) fueron evaluadas con respecto a sus perfiles de ácidos grasos. Las semillas fueron obtenidas de Germplasm Research Information Network así como de varias fuentes comerciales. Tras la extracción del aceite con hexano, los glicéridos fueron trans-metilados y analizados por cromatografía de gases con dos fases polares estacionarias. Todos los aceites extraidos de las semillas analizados estaban compuestos principalmente de ácido linoleico (49-60%) y, en cantidades más bajas de ácido oleico (16-22%) y palmítico (8-10%). Otros componentes secundarios típicos también fueron encontrados. Además, los ácidos ciclopropenoides (i.e., ácidos estercúlicos y malválicos) estuvieron presentes en niveles entre 6 y 17%. En todas las muestras, el nivel de ácido malválico fue aproximadamente el doble del nivel de ácido estercúlico, lo que indica que una cantidad considerable de a-oxidación del ácido estercúlico ocurrió en las semillas. Dos productos de a-oxidación adicionales, los ácidos 8-heptadecenoico y 8,11-heptadecadienoico también fueron determinados. Juntos el nivel de estos ácidos grasos estuvo entre 1.3 y 2.3%, estas cantidades son comparables a los niveles reportados recientemente de estos ácidos en el aceite de semilla de Thespesia populnea

Neutral Gas Properties and Lyα\alpha Escape in Extreme Green Pea Galaxies

Mechanisms regulating the escape of Ly$\alpha$ photons and ionizing radiation remain poorly understood. To study these processes we analyze VLA 21cm observations of one Green Pea (GP), J160810+352809 (hereafter J1608), and HST COS spectra of 17 GP galaxies at $z<0.2$. All are highly ionized: J1608 has the highest [O III] $\lambda5007$/[O II] $\lambda3727$ for star-forming galaxies in SDSS, and the 17 GPs have [O III]/[O II] $\geq6.6$. We set an upper limit on J1608's HI mass of $\log M_{HI}/M_\odot=8.4$, near or below average compared to similar mass dwarf galaxies. In the COS sample, eight GPs show Ly$\alpha$ absorption components, six of which also have Ly$\alpha$ emission. The HI column densities derived from Ly$\alpha$ absorption are high, $\log N_{HI}/$cm$^{-2}=19-21$, well above the LyC optically thick limit. Using low-ionization absorption lines, we measure covering fractions (f_{\mbox{cov}}) of $0.1-1$, and find that f_{\mbox{cov}} strongly anti-correlates with Ly$\alpha$ escape fraction. Low covering fractions may facilitate Ly$\alpha$ and LyC escape through dense neutral regions. GPs with f_{\mbox{cov}}\sim1 all have low neutral gas velocities, while GPs with lower f_{\mbox{cov}}=0.2-0.6 have a larger range of velocities. Conventional mechanical feedback may help establish low f_{\mbox{cov}} in some cases, whereas other processes may be important for GPs with low velocities. Finally, we compare f_{\mbox{cov}} with proposed indicators of LyC escape. Ionizing photon escape likely depends on a combination of neutral gas geometry and kinematics, complicating the use of emission-line diagnostics for identifying LyC emitters.Comment: 21 pages, 11 figures, accepted for publication in Ap

Thin Films of AuCuAl Shape Memory Alloy for Use in Plasmonic Nano-actuators

Vijay Bhatia, Gordon Thorogood, Annette Dowd and Michael B. Cortie (2011). Thin Films of AuCuAl Shape Memory Alloy for Use in Plasmonic Nano-actuators. MRS Proceedings, 1295 , mrsf10-1295-n01-08 doi:10.1557/opl.2011.18

On the formation of nanocrystalline active zinc oxide from zinc hydroxide carbonate

The decomposition of zinc hydroxide carbonate, Zn5(CO 3)2(OH)6 (ZHC), into the high surface area form of ZnO known as "active zinc oxide" is examined. In particular, the nucleation and evolution of the ZnO nanocrystals is of interest as the size of these particles controls the activity of the product. The decomposition process was studied using X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and BET surface area measurements. At about 240°C ZHC decomposes to porous ZnO in a single step. The product material has a specific surface area in the range of 47-65 m 2 g-1 and initially has a crystallite size that is of the order of 10 nm. A further increase in temperature, however, causes the particles to coarsen to over 25 nm in diameter. In principle, the coarsening phenomenon may be interrupted to control the particle size. © Springer Science+Business Media 2014