Crystallization of Arthrobacter sp. strain 1C N-(1-D-carboxyethyl)-L-norvaline dehydrogenase and its complex with NAD+

The novel NAD+-linked opine dehydrogenase from a soil isolate Arthrobacter sp. strain 1C belongs to an enzyme superfamily whose members exhibit quite diverse substrate specificites. Crystals of this opine dehydrogenase, obtained in the presence or absence of co-factor and substrates, have been shown to diffract to beyond 1.8 ? resolution. X-ray precession photographs have established that the crystals belong to space group P21212, with cell parameters a = 104.9, b = 80.0, c = 45.5 ? and a single subunit in the asymmetric unit. The elucidation of the three-dimensional structure of this enzyme will provide a structural framework for this novel class of dehydrogenases to enable a comparison to be made with other enzyme families and also as the basis for mutagenesis experiments directed towards the production of natural and synthetic opine-type compounds containing two chiral centres.     

Conductance and vibrational states of single-molecule junctions controlled by mechanical stretching and material variation

The changes of molecular conformation, contact geometry, and metal-molecule bonding are revealed by inelastic-electron-tunneling spectroscopy measurements characterizing the molecular vibrational modes and the metal-phonon modes in alkanedithiol molecular junctions at low temperature. Combining inelastic-electron-tunneling spectroscopy with mechanical control and electrode material variation (Au or Pt) enables separating the influence of contact geometry and of molecular conformation. The mechanical strain of different electrode materials can be imposed onto the molecule, opening a new route for controlling the charge transport through individual molecules.     

Integral resource capacity planning for inpatient care services based on bed census predictions by hour

The design and operations of inpatient care facilities are typically largely historically shaped. A better match with the changing environment is often possible, and even inevitable due to the pressure on hospital budgets. Effectively organizing inpatient care requires simultaneous consideration of several interrelated planning issues. Also, coordination with upstream departments like the operating theatre and the emergency department is much-needed. We present a generic analytical approach to predict bed census on nursing wards by hour, as a function of the Master Surgical Schedule and arrival patterns of emergency patients. Along these predictions, insight is gained on the impact of strategic (ie, case mix, care unit size, care unit partitioning), tactical (ie, allocation of operating room time, misplacement rules), and operational decisions (ie, time of admission/discharge). The method is used in the Academic Medical Center Amsterdam as a decision-support tool in a complete redesign of the inpatient care operations.     

Abwärme als Energiequelle

Die Verstromung von Abwärme ist ein vielversprechender Ansatz zur Steigerung der Energieeffizienz vieler Prozesse. Hierfür bietet die Thermoelektrik große Vorteile in Bezug auf Systemkomplexität, Wartungsfreiheit und Langzeitstabilität. In den letzten Jahren wurden neue, effizientere thermoelektrische Materialien entwickelt. Auch die Aufbautechnik wurde verbessert. Auf dieser Basis werden nun thermoelektrische Module in Systemen verschiedener Anwendungen erprobt. Dazu zählen Fahrzeuge, Blockheizkraftwerke und die industrielle Abwärmenutzung zum Beispiel in Stahlwerken. Durch Produktion im industriellen Maßstab kann die Thermoelektrik zukünftig so wirtschaftlich werden, dass sie auf vielen Anwendungsgebieten einen spürbaren Beitrag zur Senkung der CO₂‐Emissionen leistet.