Generating solutions of Einstein's field equations by typing mistakes

A solution to Einstein's field equations is presented that represents a Petrov type II electromagnetic null field with one Killing vector. This solution generalizes a vacuum solution previously discovered by Hoenselaers. The solution was found by the peculiar method of generalizing a member of this class inadvertently discovered by making a typing error when checking the vacuum solution with the computer algebra system SHEEP.     

Patents and literature

Protein engineering and site-directed mutagenesis is becoming immensely important in both fundamental studies and commercial applications involving proteins and enzymes in biocatalysis. Protein engineering has become a powerful tool to help biochemists and molecular enzymologists elucidate structure-function relationships in enzymic active sites, to understand the intricacies of protein folding and denaturation, and to alter the selectivity of enzymatic catalysis. Commercial applications of engineered enzymes are being developed to increase protein stability, widen or narrow substrate specificity, and to develop novel approaches for use of enzymes in organic synthesis, drug design, and clinical applications. In addition to protein engineering, novel expression systems have been designed to prepare large quantities of genetically engineered proteins. Recent US patents and scientific literature on protein engineering, site-directed mutagenesis, and protein expression systems related to protein engineering are surveyed. Patent abstracts are summarized individually and a list of literature references are given.     

Preparation of solutions of amidomagnesium chlorides in poly(ethylene oxide) and their characterization by conductivity measurements

Polymer electrolyte systems were prepared for the first time by dissolution of amidomagnesium chlorides in poly(ethylene oxide), (PEO). For the preparation, solutions of (hexamethyldisilylamido)magnesium chloride, (dimethylpyrrolyl)magnesium chloride, (diisopropylamido)magnesium chloride, piperidinomagnesium chloride and morpholinomagnesium chloride were chosen. The composition of these polymer electrolyte systems corresponds to the general formula R₂NMgCl·P(EO)_n·THF. Most work has been done with the system (hexamethyldisilylamido)magnesium chloride in PEO, (Me₃Si)₂NMgCl·P(EO)_n·THF, with n= 3, 4, 5, or 7. The electrolytes have a soft rubber-like consistency. At 30 °C, electrical conductivities of 10⁻⁶–10⁻⁵ S/cm were found. The conductivities were measured in the temperature range 20–60 °C. Within this temperature range a linear dependence of the logarithms of the conductivity on the inverse temperature was found and activation energies for the conducting process of 30–60 kJ/mol were calculated. Using those polymer electrolytes with a high content of the amidomagnesium compound, a reversible magnesium deposition takes place by cathodic reduction at potentials below −1.9 V vs. a Ag/AgCl reference electrode. These polymer electrolytes were found to be stable against oxidation up to about −0.3 V vs. Ag/AgCl. Electronic Publication     

The solid state and solution chemistry of dichlorobis(pyridine)cobalt(II)

The thermal decomposition of dichlorobisquinolinecobalt(II) was investigated. Kinetic analyses were performed on the dynamic and isothermal curves. The dynamic and d.s.c. studies revealed two simultaneously reactions while the isothermal reactions represented single processes. The scheme of thermal decomposition is:

A Stereoselective Synthesis of (±)-cis-γ-Irone

(±)-cis-γ-Irone( 1 ), a main constitutent of natural iris oil, has been stereoselectively synthesized from methyl (2E)-3 -[(2,2,4-trimethyl-3-cyclohexen-1-yl)methoxy]-2-propenoate (3) (6 steps, overall yield 14%). The cis-configuration as the exocyclic position of the double bond of 1 were secured by the thermal ene reaction of the β-(alkenyloxy)acrylate 3 yielding the 3-oxabicyclo [3,3,1] nonane derivative 5 .     

Low temperature crystal and molecular structure of nitrobenzene

The crystal and molecular structure of nitrobenzene was determined at 103 K by X-ray diffraction, yieldingR=0.034 and a highly precise geometry of the molecule (esds of bond lengths 0.001 Å and bond angles 0.1°). The bond angles in the ring agree very well with additive scheme based on angular substituent parameters. X-X electron density maps support the view that the C-N bond does not exhibit-character, and, hence, the nitro group interacts with the ring mostly by inductive effects.     

Quantification of clenbuterol in equine plasma,urine and tissue by liquid chromatography coupled on-line with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Clenbuterol (CBL) is a potent beta(2)-adrenoceptor agonist used for the management of respiratory disorders in the horse. The detection and quantification of CBL can pose a problem due to its potency, the relatively low dose administered to the horse, its slow clearance and low plasma concentrations. Thus, a sensitive method for the quantification and confirmation of CBL in racehorses is required to study its distribution and elimination. A sensitive and fast method was developed for quantification and confirmation of the presence of CBL in equine plasma, urine and tissue samples. The method involved liquid-liquid extraction (LLE), separation by liquid chromatography (LC) on a short cyano column, and pseudo multiple reaction monitoring (pseudo-MRM) by electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-QTOF-MS/MS). At very low concentrations (picograms of CBL/mL), LLE produced better extraction efficiency and calibration curves than solid-phase extraction (SPE). The operating parameters for electrospray QTOF and yield of the product ion in MRM were optimized to enhance sensitivity for the detection and quantification of CBL. The quantification range of the method was 0.013-10 ng of CBL/mL plasma, 0.05-20 ng/0.1 mL of urine, and 0.025-10 ng/g tissue. The detection limit of the method was 13 pg/mL of plasma, 50 pg/0.1 mL of urine, and 25 pg/g of tissue. The method was successfully applied to the analysis of CBL in plasma, urine and various tissue samples, and in pharmacokinetic (PK) studies of CBL in the horse. CBL was quantified for 96 h in plasma and 288 h in urine post-administration of CLB (1.6 micro g/kg, 2 x daily x 7 days). This method is useful for the detection and quantification of very low concentrations of CBL in urine, plasma and tissue samples.     

Simultaneous flow injection determination of ammoniacal nitrogen and chloride in industrial effluent water with a combined on-line gas diffusion/dialyser unit

An on-line gas diffusion/dialyser unit has been designed and incorporated into the manifold of a flow injection system for the simultaneous determination of two different species in a single sample injected into the FIA system. A fast and reliable fully automated two-component flow injection procedure has been carried out where a single sample (50 l industrial effluent water) is injected into a carrier stream and simultaneously gas diffused and dialysed in a single on-line gas diffusion/dialyser unit for the determination of ammonia and chloride, respectively. The results obtained for the ammoniacal nitrogen and chloride in industrial effluent water compared well with data obtained by standard methods. The relative standard deviation for industrial effluent water samples with concentrations of ammoniacal nitrogen in the range between 0.050 and 1 g/l and chloride from 0.127 to 2.531 g/l have been better than 1.0% for ammoniacal nitrogen and 0.5% for chloride, respectively. The proposed system could be attractive for routine analyses of industrial effluent water.