Development of a novel approach for the production of dried genomic DNA for use as standards for qualitative PCR testing of food-borne pathogens

As part of a multi-centre European project, FOOD-PCR, the feasibility of a novel approach for production of dried bacterial DNA that could be used as certified reference materials (CRM) was assessed. Selected strains of Salmonella typhimurium, Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli O157, Campylobacter jejuni and Yersinia enterocolitica were used to produce genomic DNA (gDNA). These preparations gave support to method development for qualitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection methods for food-borne pathogens. Purified gDNA was transformed into stable and dry gDNA by using polypropylene vials as carrier and applying a vacuum-drying technique. The gDNA preparations were shown to be sufficiently stable under ambient transport conditions without cooling and proved to have long-term stability at 5°C of at least 22 months. The dried DNA was easily reconstituted by addition of distilled water then gentle shaking. These studies have shown that production of stable and dry bacterial gDNA material is feasible and could help satisfy the increasing need for certified reference DNA positive control samples in the field of PCR testing for detection and verification of food-borne microbial pathogens.

     

Thermally stable silarylene-1,3,4-oxadiazole polymers

The effects of incorporating a p-phenylene- (or m-phenylene)-1,3,4-oxadiazole fragment into the backbone of poly[1,4-phenylene(diphenylsilyl)-1,4-phenylene-2,5-(1,3,4-oxadiazole)], which was developed by the authors, was investigated. Bis[(p-carbohydrazidophenyl)]diphenylsilane was copolymerized with dipentachlorophenyl terephthalate or isophthalate to produce the prepolymers poly[N-(p-diphenylsilylbenzoyl)-N′N″-(terephthaloyl)-N″′-(p-benzoyl)dihydrazide] and poly[N-(p-diphenylsilylbenzoyl)-N′,-N″-(isophthaloyl)-N″′-p-(benzoyl) dihydrazide], respectively. The polyhydrazides were converted by thermal dehydration into poly[1,4-phenylene(diphenylsilyl)-1,4-phenylene-(1,3,4-oxadiazole-2,5-diyl)-1,4-phenylene-2,5-(1,3,4-oxadiazole)] and poly[1,4-phenyl-ene(diphenylsilyl)-1,4-phenylene-(1,3,4-oxadiazole-2,5-diyl)-1,3,4-(oxadiazole)]. The new polymers were soluble in organic solvents. Films cast from these solutions exhibited good adhesion to glass and metal surfaces. Thermal analysis showed that the heat stability of all these polymers was about the same and that they were resistant to decomposition when heated in air to about 400°C. The results also indicated that these polymers were somewhat less heat-resistant than samples of poly-[1,4-phenylene(diphenylsilyl)-1,4-phenylene-2,5-]1,3,4-(oxadiazole) synthesized from bis(p-carbohydrazidophenyl)diphenylsilane and bis-(p-carbopentachlorophenoxy-phenyl)diphenylsilane.     

Solution dynamics and stability of lanthanide(III) (S)-2-(p-nitrobenzyl)DOTA complexes

Addition of a benzyl substituent to the macrocyclic ring of DOTA has a substantial impact on the conformational ring flipping motion of the macrocycle in the resulting LnDOTA complexes. The p-NO2-benzyl substituent in the Ln(p-NO2-Bn-DOTA)- complexes lies in an equatorial position and effectively "locks" the conformation of the ring into the deltadeltadeltadelta configuration. The presence of the p-NO2-benzyl group also increases the population of the square antiprismatic (SAP) coordination isomer for all Ln(p-NO2-Bn-DOTA)- complexes relative to that seen for the respective LnDOTA- complexes. Despite this increase in SAP isomer population, the rate of water exchange in these complexes remains comparatively fast. The kinetic and thermodynamic stabilities of the Ln(p-NO2-Bn-DOTA)- complexes are also slightly lower than the corresponding LnDOTA- complexes but appear to be sufficiently high for in vivo use.     

Measurements of side-chain 13C-13C residual dipolar couplings in uniformly deuterated proteins

13C-only spectroscopy was used to measure multiple residual (13)C-(13)C dipolar couplings (RDCs) in uniformly deuterated and (13)C-labeled proteins. We demonstrate that (13)C-start and (13)C-observe spectra can be routinely used to measure an extensive set of the side-chain residual (13)C-(13)C dipolar couplings upon partial alignment of human ubiquitin in the presence of bacteriophages Pf1. We establish that, among different broadband polarization transfer schemes, the FLOPSY family can be used to exchange magnetization between a J coupled network of spins while largely decoupling dipolar interactions between these spins. An excellent correlation between measured RDCs and the 3D structure of the protein was observed, indicating a potential use of the (13)C-(13)C RDCs in the structure determination of perdeuterated proteins.     

Disturbing effect of CaCl2 used for drying in the measurement of 226Ra in water

A frequently used method in determining the radium concentration of water is the radon emanation method. When radon gas is transferred to the Lucas-cell usually CaCl₂ is used to remove the water traces. When we measured the background of the system using ultra clear distilled water the results were astonishing. The detailed investigation has shown that the unwanted radon originated from the CaCl₂, contained about 1000 Bq/kg of ²²⁶Ra. Depending on the time interval between two measurement, the radon deriving from the CaCl₂ disturbed the measurements.     

The first example of a nitrile hydratase model complex that reversibly binds nitriles

Nitrile hydratase (NHase) is an iron-containing metalloenzyme that converts nitriles to amides. The mechanism by which this biochemical reaction occurs is unknown. One mechanism that has been proposed involves nucleophilic attack of an Fe-bound nitrile by water (or hydroxide). Reported herein is a five-coordinate model compound ([Fe(III)(S(2)(Me2)N(3)(Et,Pr))](+)) containing Fe(III) in an environment resembling that of NHase, which reversibly binds a variety of nitriles, alcohols, amines, and thiocyanate. XAS shows that five-coordinate [Fe(III)(S(2)(Me2)N(3)(Et,Pr))](+) reacts with both methanol and acetonitrile to afford a six-coordinate solvent-bound complex. Competitive binding studies demonstrate that MeCN preferentially binds over ROH, suggesting that nitriles would be capable of displacing the H(2)O coordinated to the iron site of NHase. Thermodynamic parameters were determined for acetonitrile (DeltaH = -6.2(+/-0.2) kcal/mol, DeltaS = -29.4(+/-0.8) eu), benzonitrile (-4.2(+/-0.6) kcal/mol, DeltaS = -18(+/-3) eu), and pyridine (DeltaH = -8(+/-1) kcal/mol, DeltaS = -41(+/-6) eu) binding to [Fe(III)(S(2)(Me2)N(3)(Et,Pr))](+) using variable-temperature electronic absorption spectroscopy. Ligand exchange kinetics were examined for acetonitrile, iso-propylnitrile, benzonitrile, and 4-tert-butylpyridine using (13)C NMR line-broadening analysis, at a variety of temperatures. Activation parameters for ligand exchange were determined to be DeltaH(+ +) = 7.1(+/-0.8) kcal/mol, DeltaS(+ +) = -10(+/-1) eu (acetonitrile), DeltaH(+ +) = 5.4(+/-0.6) kcal/mol, DeltaS(+ +) = -17(+/-2) eu (iso-propionitrile), DeltaH(+ +) = 4.9(+/-0.8) kcal/mol, DeltaS(+ +) = -20(+/-3) eu (benzonitrile), and DeltaH(+ +) = 4.7(+/-1.4) kcal/mol DeltaS(+ +) = -18(+/-2) eu (4-tert-butylpyridine). The thermodynamic parameters for pyridine binding to a related complex, [Fe(III)(S(2)(Me2)N(3)(Pr,Pr))](+) (DeltaH = -5.9(+/-0.8) kcal/mol, DeltaS = -24(+/-3) eu), are also reported, as well as kinetic parameters for 4-tert-butylpyridine exchange (DeltaH(+ +) = 3.1(+/-0.8) kcal/mol, DeltaS(+ +) = -25(+/-3) eu). These data show for the first time that, when it is contained in a ligand environment similar to that of NHase, Fe(III) is capable of forming a stable complex with nitriles. Also, the rates of ligand exchange demonstrate that low-spin Fe(III) in this ligand environment is more labile than expected. Furthermore, comparison of [Fe(III)(S(2)(Me2)N(3)(Et,Pr))](+) and [Fe(III)(S(2)(Me2)N(3)(Pr,Pr))](+) demonstrates how minor distortions induced by ligand constraints can dramatically alter the reactivity of a metal complex.     

Stability and Asymptotic Stability of Functional-Differential Equations

We investigate asymptotic behaviour of solutions of the functional-differentialequation where f and g arelocally Lipschitz functions, C is a continuous matrix and thesmooth lag function obeys 0 (t) t for t 0. We transformthe equation into a delay equation with an infinity of delaysand use a theorem of Söderlind to derive sufficient conditionsfor stability and for asymptotic stability in the case lim_t (t) = . The situation is qualitatively different when lim_t (t) = * < and we outline stability conditions for thatcase by employing direct techniques.     

Etude dilatométrique de la cristallisation et de la transformation polymorphe du polybutène — 1 isotactique

Résumé On étudie par dilatométrie la cinétique de cristallisation et de la transformation III de trois échantillons de polybutène-1 isotactique. On montre que la cristallisation de l'échantillon fondu est initiée par des germes hétérogènes, dont le nombre varie d'un échantillon à l'autre. La vitesse de cristallisation varie linéairement avec l'inverse du degré de surfusion (T ^–1), sa variation thermique étant indépendante de l'échantillon. On met en évidence l'importance de la cristallisation secondaire, qui suit le processus autocatalytique. D'autre part, la transformation III, après refroidissement, est initiée par des germes apparaissant sporadiquement dans les fibrilles lamellaires de la texture sphérulitique, et elle se propage le long de celles-ci. D'une manière générale la vitesse de transformation isotherme dépend de l'histoire thermique: on examine ici l'influence de la température de cristallisation primitive et celle d'une trempe préalable aux basses températures. Cette dernière engendre un grand nombre de germes, dont la fraction qui résiste à une élévation de température, accélère la transformation. On discute, enfin, les trois volumes de référence déterminant la cristallinité des échantillons dans les deux formes. On propose une nouvelle échelle de cristallinité, dont la cohérence est confirmée par l'invariance des valuers des coefficients de dilatation des deux formes de cristaux, déduites de la dilatation des échantillons obtenus après trempe ou cristallisation isotherme à haute température.

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Summary Kinetics of crystallization and transformation III are investigated dilatometrically with three isotactic Polybutene-1 samples. Primary autocatalytic crystallization from the supercooled melt is initiated by a heterogeneous nucleation process, the number of nucle being determined by the previous temperature of the melt. The rate of crystallization depends linearly on the reciprocal of the degree of supercooling (T ^–1) and its thermal variation is identical for the three samples investigated. The importance of the secondary cristallization, which follows the primary process, is emphasized. On the other hand, the transformation III, which occurs after cooling the semicristalline sample in the room temperature range, is initiated by nuclei appearing sporadically in the lamellar ribbons of the spherulitic texture and they grow linearly along these ribbons. In general the isothermal rate of transformation depends on the previous thermal history of the sample: the influence of the cristallization temperature and that of quenching to low temperatures are systematically investigated. Such a quenching prior to transformation generates a great number of nuclei, a fraction of which persiste even at higher temperatures and increases the rate of transformation. Reference volumes, which determine the cristallinity of PB-1 in its two forms, are discussed. A new cristallinity scale is proposed, the coherence of which is confirmed by the constant values of the expansion coefficients of the two cristalline forms, calculated from the actuel thermal expansion of the semicristalline material, the cristallinity of which varied in a large range.

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Zusammenfassung Es wird an drei isotaktischen Polybuten-1-Proben die Kinetik der Kristallisation und der Transformation von II nach I untersucht. Eine primäre autokatalytische Kristallisation aus der unterkühlten Schmelze wird durch einen heterogenen Keimbildungs-Prozeß initiiert. Die Zahl der Keime ist durch die vorausgehende Temperatur der Schmelze bedingt. Die Geschwindigkeit der Kristallisation hängt linear vom reziproken Wert der Unterkühlung ab (T ^–1) und die thermische Variation ist identisch für alle drei untersuchten Proben. Die Wichtigkeit der Sekundär-Kristallisation, die dem primären Prozeß folgt, wird betont. Andererseits wird die Transformation von II nach I, die nach Abkühlen der halb-kristallinen Probe auf Raumtemperatur eintritt, durch Keime initiiert, die verstreut in den laminaren Rippen der sphärulithischen Textur erscheinen. Sie wachsen linear längs der Rippen. Im allgemeinen hängt die isotherme Geschwindigkeit der Transformation von der thermischen Vorgeschichte der Probe ab. Der Einfluß der Kristallisations-Temperatur und der des Abschreckens zu tiefen Temperaturen werden systematisch untersucht. Ein Abschrecken vor der Transformation erzeugt eine große Zahl von Keimen, von denen ein Bruchteil auch bei höheren Temperaturen fortbesteht und die Transformations-Geschwindigkeit so erhöht. Referenz-Volumina, die die Kristallinität von PB-1 bestimmen, werden diskutiert in ihren zwei Formen. Eine neue Kristallinitäts-Skala wird vorgeschlagen, deren Zutreffen durch die konstanten Werte der Ausdehnungs-Koeffizienten der zwei Kristall-Formen, berechnet aus dem tatsächlichen Ausdehnungsverhaltens des semikristallinen Materials, dessen Kristallanteil in einem großen Bereich variierte, gesichert wird.

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Avec 12 figures en 14 détails et 8 tableaux

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Beursier del'OTAN pendant l'année 1966.     

Propriétés des copolymères biséquencés polyoxyéthylène-polystyrène

Résumé On a préparé des monocristaux de copolymères biséquencés polyoxyéthylène-polystyrène (POE-PS) à partir de leurs solutions diluées, qui peuvent contenir jusqu'à 55% de PS. Les principales formes de ces cristaux et leurs variantes morphologiques, observées sous microscope optique, sont décrites et rattachées à la maille cristallographique du POE. On présente aussi quelques exemples de monocristaux obtenus par ensemencement, dans lesquels les différentes formes se succèdent par filiation; on discute les transitions des formes et leur dépendance vis à vis des conditions de cristallisation.La cristallisation de ces copolymères provoque généralement un fractionnement en composition, car la proportion de PS dans les cristaux est limitée. On propose deux modèles de structure différents, dans lesquels une ou deux couches cristallines de POE en configuration repliée sont recouvertes par le PS amorphe. Le processus de fractionnement est interprété à partir de ces deux structures en admettant une extension critique pour les séquences de PS, dont l'une des extrémités est ancrée sur la surface des repliements du POE.

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Summary Single crystals of copolymers, composed of one Poly(ethylene-oxide), (POE), and one Polystyrene (PS) block, (which may contain 55% of PS, by weight), have been prepared from dilute solutions. The principal crystal habits and their morphological variations, as observed with an optical microscope, are described and related to the unit cell of POE. Single crystals grown from various types of seeds, in which different external habits succeed one another, are also shown. Transitions of crystal habits and their dependence on crystallisation conditions are discussed in some detail.Generally, crystallisation of these copolymers produces some fractionation with respect to composition, for only a limited fraction of the initial PS can enter into the crystal. Two different crystal structures are proposed in which a single, or a double crystalline layer of folded POE is covered by amorphous PS. The fractionation process is interpreted on the basis of these two structural models, assuming a critical extension of the PS blocks anchored at one end to the fold surface of PEO.

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Zusammenfassung Einkristalle von Copolymeren aus einem Polyäthylenoxyd (PEO) und Polystyrol (PS)-Block, die gewichtsmäßig 55% PS enthalten können, wurden aus verdünnten Lösungen präpariert. Der grundsätzliche Charakter der Kristalle und ihre morphologischen Variationen, wie es in einem optischen Mikroskop beobachtet wird, ist beschrieben und mit der Elementarzelle PEO in Beziehung gebracht. Einkristalle, entstanden aus verschiedenen Typen von Kristallkeimen, in welchen verschiedene äußere Formen auftreten, die aufeinanderfolgen, werden gezeigt. Die übrigen Kristallformen und ihre Abhängigkeit von den Kristallisationsbedingungen werden im einzelnen diskutiert.Im allgemeinen verursacht die Kristallisation dieser Copolymeren gewisse Fraktionierung hinsichtlich der Zusammensetzung, da nur eine begrenzte Menge des ursprünglichen Polystyrols in den Kristall eintreten kann. Zwei verschiedene Kristall-Strukturen werden vorgeschlagen, in denen bzw. eine oder zwei Schichten von gefaltetem PEO mit amorphem Polystyrol bedeckt ist. Der Fraktionierungsprozeß wird auf Grund dieser zwei Struktur-Modelle interpretiert, die eine kritische Größe der PS-Blöcke, verankert an einem Ende der gefalteten Oberfläche von PEO, annehmen.