First-principles study of structural,electronic, thermodynamic,and thermoelectric properties of a new ternary half-Heusler alloy PdZrGe

This work concerns a predictive study of PdZrGe half-Heusler compound with 18 valence electrons. The structural and electronic properties are investigated by using the full potential linearized augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) method within the framework of generalized gradient approximation (GGA). To investigate the thermodynamic properties, we are applying the quasi-harmonic Debye model. The semi-classical Boltzmann theory as implemented in the BoltzTraP code is used to study the thermoelectric properties. We have found that the PdZrGe alloy is an indirect band gap semiconductor. Also the PdZrGe exhibit a negative thermal expansion. The Seebeck coefficient (S) is relatively high (237 µV/K at 300?K) due to its semiconducting nature. The calculated thermoelectric figure of merit is 0.759 at 300?K; this result indicates that our compound is an excellent candidate for practical applications in the thermoelectric field.     

Efficient coupling of the inhomogeneous current spreading model to the dynamic electro-optical solver for broad-area edge-emitting semiconductor devices

We extend a 2 (space) + 1 (time)-dimensional traveling wave model for broad-area edge-emitting semiconductor lasers by a model for inhomogeneous current spreading from the contact to the active zone of the laser. To speedup the performance of the device simulations, we suggest and discuss several approximations of the inhomogeneous current density in the active zone.     

Anionic charge effects on the crystal structures of Re6 octahedral cluster based compounds: The structure of the cubic bromide K2Re6S6Br8

The title compound synthesized by solid state reaction crystallizes in the cubic system (Pn-3) witha=13.433 Å. The structure has been determined by singlecrystal X-ray diffraction and shows that the compound is based on isolated |(Re₆S ₆ ⁱ Br ₂ ⁱ )Br ₆ ^a |^2? units. The K⁺ cations occupy two different sites. Steric effects lead to the switching from the cubic symmetry present in KRe₆Se₅Cl₉ to the monoclinic one in the case of KRe₆S₅Br₉ and again the former cubic symmetry in the new compound K₂Re₆S₆Br₈.     

An Oxidant- and Solvent-Stable Protease Produced by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus cereus</Emphasis> SV1: Application in the Deproteinization of Shrimp Wastes and as a Laundry Detergent Additive

The current increase in amount of shrimp wastes produced by the shrimp industry has led to the need in finding new methods for shrimp wastes disposal. In this study, an extracellular organic solvent- and oxidant-stable metalloprotease was produced by Bacillus cereus SV1. Maximum protease activity (5,900 U/mL) was obtained when the strain was grown in medium containing 40 g/L shrimp wastes powder as a sole carbon source. The optimum pH, optimum temperature, pH stability, and thermal stability of the crude enzyme preparation were pH 8.0, 60 °C, pH 6–9.5, and <55 °C, respectively. The crude protease was extremely stable toward several organic solvents. No loss of activity was observed even after 60 days of incubation at 30 °C in the presence of 50% (v/v) dimethyl sulfoxide and ethyl ether; the enzyme retained more than 70% of its original activity in the presence of ethanol and N,N-dimethylformamide. The protease showed high stability toward anionic (SDS) and non-ionic (Tween 80, Tween 20, and Triton X-100) surfactants. Interestingly, the activity of the enzyme was significantly enhanced by oxidizing agents. In addition, the enzyme showed excellent compatibility with some commercial liquid detergents. The protease of B. cereus SV1, produced under the optimal culture conditions, was tested for shrimp waste deproteinization in the preparation of chitin. The protein removal with a ratio E/S of 20 was about 88%. The novelties of the SV1 protease include its high stability to organic solvents and surfactants. These unique properties make it an ideal choice for application in detergent formulations and enzymatic peptide synthesis. In addition, the enzyme may find potential applications in the deproteinization of shrimp wastes to produce chitin.     

A Novel α-Amylase from Bacillus mojavensis A21: Purification and Biochemical Characterization

α-Amylase from Bacillus mojavensis A21 (BMA.2) was purified to homogeneity by ultrafiltration, Sephadex G-75 gel filtration and Sepharose mono Q anion exchange chromatography, with a 15.3-fold increase in specific activity and 11% recovery. The molecular weight of the BMA.2 enzyme was estimated to be 58 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and gel filtration. The optimum temperature and pH were 80?°C and 6.5, respectively. BMA.2 belonged to the EDTA-sensitive α-amylase, but its activity was not stimulated by the presence of Ca²⁺ ions. The major end-products of starch hydrolysis were maltohexaose, maltopentaose and maltotriose. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the first ten amino acids of the purified α-amylase was ASVNGTLMQY. Compared to sequences of other amylases, the ten amino acid sequence contains Val at position 3, while amylases from Bacillus licheniformis NH1 and Bacillus sp. SG-1 have Leu and Thr at position 3, respectively.     

Fibrinolytic Serine Protease Isolation from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus amyloliquefaciens</Emphasis> An6 Grown on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mirabilis jalapa</Emphasis> Tuber Powders

In this study, Mirabilis jalapa tuber powder (MJTP) was used as a new complex organic substrate for the growth and production of fibrinolytic enzymes by a newly isolated Bacillus amyloliquefaciens An6. Maximum protease activity (1,057 U/ml) with casein as a substrate was obtained when the strain was grown in medium containing (grams per liter) MJTP 30, yeast extract 6, CaCl₂ 1, K₂HPO₄ 0.1, and K₂HPO₄ 0.1. The strain was also found to grow and produce extracellular proteases in a medium containing only MJTP, indicating that it can obtain its carbon, nitrogen, and salts requirements directly from MJTP. The B. amyloliquefaciens An6 fibrinase (BAF1) was partially purified, and fibrinolytic activity was assayed in a test tube with an artificial fibrin clot. The molecular weight of the partially purified BAF1 fibrinolytic protease was estimated to be 30 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and gel filtration. The optimum temperature and pH for the caseinolytic activity were 60 °C and 9.0, respectively. The enzyme was highly stable from pH 6.0 to 11.0 and retained 62% of its initial activity after 1 h incubation at 50 °C. However, the enzyme was inactivated at higher temperatures. The activity of the enzyme was totally lost in the presence of phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, suggesting that BAF1 is a serine protease.     

Production of Xylooligosaccharides by Immobilized His-tagged Recombinant Xylanase from Penicillium occitanis on Nickel-Chelate Eupergit C

Penicillium occitanis xylanase 2 expressed with a His-tag in Pichia pastoris, termed PoXyn2, was immobilized on nickel-chelate Eupergit C by covalent coupling reaction with a high immobilization yield up to 93.49 %. Characterization of the immobilized PoXyn2 was further evaluated. The optimum pH was not affected by immobilization, but the immobilized PoXyn2 exhibited more acidic and large optimum pH range (pH 2.0–4.0) than that of the free PoXyn2 (pH 3.0). The free PoXyn2 had an optimum temperature of 50 °C, whereas that of the immobilized enzyme was shifted to 65 °C. Immobilization increased both pH stability and thermostability when compared with the free enzyme. Time courses of the xylooligosaccharides (XOS) produced from corncob xylan indicated that the immobilized enzyme tends to use shorter xylan chains and to produce more xylobiose and xylotriose initially. At the end of 24-h reaction, XOS mixture contained a total of 21.3 and 34.2 % (w/w) of xylobiose and xylotriose with immobilized xylanase and free xylanase, respectively. The resulting XOS could be used as a special nutrient for lactic bacteria.     

1,3,5-Triaryl-1,3,5-Triazinane-2,4,6-Trithiones: Synthesis,Electronic Structure and Linear Optical Properties

The synthesis of four new 1,3,5-triaryl-1,3,5-triazinane-2,4,6-trithione derivatives (thioisocyanurates) and two new partially thionated analogues from the corresponding 1,3,5-triaryl-1,3,5-triazinane-2,4,6-triones (isocyanurates) is reported, together with their spectroscopic properties. DFT calculations and comparison with the corresponding isocyanurates evidence the impact of the oxygen-for-sulfur replacement on the electronic structure and linear optical properties of these heterocycles. A bathochromic shift of the absorption bands and more efficient quenching of the fluorescence was observed.     

How to drive imine–enamine tautomerism of pyronic derivatives of biological interest – A theoretical and experimental study of substituent and solvent effects

An investigation of the tautomerism of five series of aminated pyronic compounds of pharmacological interest was carried out using NMR experiments and standard quantum mechanical B3LYP/6-311+G** calculations. The obtained results indicate that among four possible tautomers, imine and enamine forms are the two predominating ones in the gas phase as well as in solution. Depending on the nature of the substituting group, the enamine or the imine form is the most stable tautomer, the calculations being in agreement with experiment. The calculated equilibrium constants in the gas phase and in solution show that the enamine form is stabilized by polar solvents, in all cases. NBO analysis explains well the predominance of a form over another one when changing a substituting group. We give indications on how to favour the imine form which is preferred for synthesis purposes.     

Triaryl‐1,3,5‐triazinane‐2,4,6‐triones (Isocyanurates) Peripherally Functionalized by Donor Groups: Synthesis and Study of Their Linear and Nonlinear Optical Properties

The linear optical (LO) and nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of a series of isocyanurates functionalized by donor arms at the periphery are reported herein. These octupolar derivatives were obtained in a straightforward way from commercial isocyanate derivatives and were fully characterized. Although several of these compounds are known, those that exhibited the largest NLO activities are all new compounds. In terms of second‐order activity, several of these derivatives exhibit remarkable activity/transparency tradeoffs. In terms of third‐order activity, the longer derivatives with the stronger donor groups (X=NH₂, NMe₂, or NPh₂) were shown to possess significant two‐photon absorption cross sections. These strongly luminescent derivatives exhibit two‐photon absorption cross sections up to 410 GM. DFT computations were also conducted to unravel their electronic structures and to rationalize their NLO properties. To our knowledge, the present study is the first concerned with the nonlinear optical properties of these original cyclotrimers.