The vast majority of protein sequences are aperiodic; they do not have any strong bias in the amino acid composition, and they use a subtle mixture of all or most of the 20 amino acid residues to code a great number of various structures and functions. In this context, homorepeats, runs of a single amino acid residue, represent unusual, eye-catching motifs in proteins. Despite the sequence simp...

Oligostatins C, D and E, three new antibiotics were found in the culture filtrate of Streptomyces myxogenes nov. sp. SF-1130. Their spectral and chemical properties suggested that oligostatins were basic oligosaccharide antibiotics. They exhibited not only antibacterial activity but also strong amylase inhibitory activity.

An 'across the fence' comparison of farmer paddocks with nearby virgin bush sites was made at 3 locations, to measure the effects of lupins and subterranean clover based pastures on the chemical properties of the soil. Estimated rates of acidification in the 0--60 cm depth were 0.29-0.55 kmol H+/ha.year for wheat-lupin paddocks and 0.16-0.21 kmol H+/ha.year for pasture paddocks. A significant p...

Faujasite (X, Y, and USY) zeolites represent one of the most widely-applied and abundant catalysts and sorbents in the chemical industry. In the last 5 years substantial progress was made in the synthesis, characterisation, and catalytic exploitation of hierarchically-structured variants of these zeolites. Hererin, we provide an overview of these contributions, highlighting the main advancement...

Freshly prepared 2% acid and alkaline glutaraldehyde solutions were stored at 4, 20, and 37 C. At intervals, samples were removed and changes in pH, ultraviolet spectrum, and sporicidal activity (against Bacillus pumilus spores) were recorded. Alkaline solutions stored at 4 C showed little changes in these properties, whereas such solutions stored at 37 C became turbid and showed a decrease in ...

Crystal engineering is discussed, along with its three key concepts: crystal packing; the design of solids; and physical and chemical properties.

Carbon is a major player in the evolutionary scheme of the universe because of its abundance and its ability to form complex species. It is also a key element in the evolution of prebiotic molecules. The different forms of cosmic carbon are reviewed ranging from carbon atoms and carbon-bearing molecules to complex, solid-state, carbonaceous structures. The current state of knowledge is assessed...