198 research outputs found

    Fluxes and distribution of dissolved iron in the eastern (sub-) tropical North Atlantic Ocean

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    Aeolian dust transport from the Saharan/Sahel desert regions is considered the dominant external input of iron (Fe) to the surface waters of the eastern (sub-) tropical North Atlantic Ocean. To test this hypothesis, we investigated the sources of dissolved Fe (DFe) and quantified DFe fluxes to the surface ocean in this region. In winter 2008, surface water DFe concentrations varied between <0.1 nM and 0.37 nM, with an average of 0.13 ± 0.07 nM DFe (n = 194). A strong correlation between mixed layer averaged concentrations of dissolved aluminum (DAl), a proxy for dust input, and DFe indicated dust as a source of DFe to the surface ocean. The importance of Aeolian nutrient input was further confirmed by an increase of 0.1 nM DFe and 0.05 ?M phosphate during a repeat transect before and after a dust event. An exponential decrease of DFe with increasing distance from the African continent, suggested that continental shelf waters were a source of DFe to the northern part of our study area. Relatively high Fe:C ratios of up to 3 × 10?5 (C derived from apparent oxygen utilization (AOU)) indicated an external source of Fe to these African continental shelf waters. Below the wind mixed layer along 12°N, enhanced DFe concentrations (>1.5 nM) correlated positively with apparent oxygen utilization (AOU) and showed the importance of organic matter remineralization as an DFe source. As a consequence, vertical diffusive mixing formed an important Fe flux to the surface ocean in this region, even surpassing that of a major dust event

    UV luminescence in Gd-doped silica and phosphosilicate optical fibers

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    Gd-doped silica and phosphosilicate fibers were pulled from preforms fabricated using the rod-in-tube technique and the solution doping technique, respectively. Ultraviolet (UV)-B luminescence from trivalent Gd at around 312 nm given by transition from first excited state to ground state were observed under deep UV excitations

    Ultrasound Investigations of Orbital Quadrupolar Ordering in UPd_3

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    For a high-quality single crystal of UPd_3 we present the relevant elastic constants and ultrasonic attenuation data. In addition to the magnetic phase transition at T_2=4.4 +/- 0.1K and the quadrupolar transition at T_1~6.8K, we find orbital ordering at T_0=7.6 +/- 0.1K concomitant with a symmetry change from hexagonal to orthorhombic. A striking feature is the splitting of the phase transition at T_1 into a second-order transition at T_{+1}=6.9 +/- 0.05K and a first-order transition at T_{-1}=6.7 +/- 0.05K. For the four phase transitions, the quadrupolar order parameters and the respective symmetry changes are specified.Comment: 14 pages (RevTex), 3 eps-figures, accepted by PR

    Structure of the human signal peptidase complex reveals the determinants for signal peptide cleavage

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    The signal peptidase complex (SPC) is an essential membrane complex in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), where it removes signal peptides (SPs) from a large variety of secretory pre-proteins with exquisite specificity. Although the determinants of this process have been established empirically, the molecular details of SP recognition and removal remain elusive. Here, we show that the human SPC exists in two functional paralogs with distinct proteolytic subunits. We determined the atomic structures of both paralogs using electron cryo-microscopy and structural proteomics. The active site is formed by a catalytic triad and abuts the ER membrane, where a transmembrane window collectively formed by all subunits locally thins the bilayer. Molecular dynamics simulations indicate that this unique architecture generates specificity for SPs based on the length of their hydrophobic segments

    The analysis of European lacquer : optimization of thermochemolysis temperature of natural resins

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    In order to optimize chromatographic analysis of European lacquer, thermochemolysis temperature was evaluated for the analysis of natural resins. Five main ingredients of lacquer were studied: sandarac, mastic, colophony, Manila copal and Congo copal. For each, five temperature programs were tested: four fixed temperatures (350, 480, 550, 650 degrees C) and one ultrafast thermal desorption (UFD), in which the temperature rises from 350 to 660 degrees C in 1 min. In total, the integrated signals of 27 molecules, partially characterizing the five resins, were monitored to compare the different methods. A compromise between detection of compounds released at low temperatures and compounds formed at high temperatures was searched. 650 degrees C is too high for both groups, 350 degrees C is best for the first, and 550 degrees C for the second. Fixed temperatures of 480 degrees C or UFD proved to be a consensus in order to detect most marker molecules. UFD was slightly better for the molecules released at low temperatures, while 480 degrees C showed best compounds formed at high temperatures

    Magnetic Field Effects on Neutron Diffraction in the Antiferromagnetic Phase of UPt3UPt_3

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    We discuss possible magnetic structures in UPt3_3 based on our analysis of elastic neutron-scattering experiments in high magnetic fields at temperatures T<TNT<T_N. The existing experimental data can be explained by a single-{\bf q} antiferromagnetic structure with three independent domains. For modest in-plane spin-orbit interactions, the Zeeman coupling between the antiferromagnetic order parameter and the magnetic field induces a rotation of the magnetic moments, but not an adjustment of the propagation vector of the magnetic order. A triple-{\bf q} magnetic structure is also consistent with neutron experiments, but in general leads to a non-uniform magnetization in the crystal. New experiments could decide between these structures.Comment: 5 figures included in the tex

    Reliable identification of protein-protein interactions by crosslinking mass spectrometry

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    Protein-protein interactions govern most cellular pathways and processes, and multiple technologies have emerged to systematically map them. Assessing the error of interaction networks has been a challenge. Crosslinking mass spectrometry is currently widening its scope from structural analyses of purified multi-protein complexes towards systems-wide analyses of protein-protein interactions (PPIs). Using a carefully controlled large-scale analysis of Escherichia coli cell lysate, we demonstrate that false-discovery rates (FDR) for PPIs identified by crosslinking mass spectrometry can be reliably estimated. We present an interaction network comprising 590 PPIs at 1% decoy-based PPI-FDR. The structural information included in this network localises the binding site of the hitherto uncharacterised protein YacL to near the DNA exit tunnel on the RNA polymerase.TU Berlin, Open-Access-Mittel – 2021DFG, 390540038, EXC 2008: Unifying Systems in Catalysis "UniSysCat"DFG, 392923329, GRK 2473: Bioaktive Peptide - Innovative Aspekte zur Synthese und BiosyntheseDFG, 426290502, Erfassung der strukturellen Organisation des Mycoplasma pneumoniae Proteoms mittels in-Zell Crosslinking-Massenspektrometri
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