Previous work on the structural and thermal properties of various types of kaolinite have led to different conclusions, rendering comparison of analytical results difficult. The objectives of the present study were to investigate the thermal behaviour of kaolinite and to carry out a kinetic analysis of the decomposition of kaolinite at high temperatures. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermogravimetry-differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC) were used to study the mechanism of the thermal decomposition. The modified Coats–Redfern, Friedman, Flynn–Wall–Ozawa and Kissinger decomposition models were used to determine the decomposition mechanism of the kaolinite sample. The dehydroxylation of kaolinite occurred at ∼600°C with the formation of metakaolin, which then transformed into either γ-alumina or aluminium-silicon spinel together with amorphous silica. The results of the XRD and FTIR analyses indicated that the γ-alumina, or aluminium-silicon spinel and amorphous silica phases, transformed into mullite and α-cristobalite, respectively, after decomposition at 900°C. Good linearity was observed with the modified Coats–Redfern, Flynn–Wall–Ozawa and Kissinger models from room temperature to 1400°C and the range of the activation energy determined was 120–180 kJ/mol.

The effects of soil temperature, moisture, and herbicide concentration on the rate of degradation of dinitramine (N4,N4-diethyl-α,α,α-trifluoro-3,5-dinitrotoluene-2,4-diamine) were measured in clay loam and sandy loam in the laboratory. In sandy loam, the rate of degradation increased with increasing temperature. In clay loam, the rate of degradation increased from 10 to 30 C and decreased at 40 C. Soil moisture content influenced the rate of degradation in the following order: 22>11>>2.2% (air-dry) for clay loam and 12.0 = 6.0>>0.5% (air-dry) for sandy loam. First-order half-lives ranged from 3.2 at 30 C to 47 weeks at 10 C in clay loam, and 2.3 at 40 C to 31 weeks at 10 C in sandy loam. Applications in 2 yr did not cause buildup of dinitramine in the field. A mathematical model was used in an attempt to correlate laboratory and field data.

Glutathione transferases (GSTs) are a family of multifunctional enzymes with fundamental roles in cellular detoxication. Here we report the molecular characterization of 3 recombinant GSTs belonging to the mu- and delta-class from the parasitic mite Sarcoptes scabiei. Kinetic constants were determined, and the effect of acaricides, including organothiophosphates, pyrethroid esters, a formamidine, a macrocyclic lactone, an organochlorine as well as a bridged diphenyl acaricide, on the activity of the GSTs were tested using 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB) as model substrate. Our results showed that enzymes from the same class and with high amino acid sequence identity have significantly different kinetic properties. For instance, one mu-class GST lost more than 50% of its activity in the presence of one of the organothiophosphates while the activity of the second mu-class GST was only slightly reduced under identical conditions. Tertiary structure modulations indicated that structural differences were the crucial factor for the different kinetic patterns observed. Genome analysis showed that the two mu-class GSTs are organized in tandem in the S. scabiei genome. Taken together these results show that GSTs might be involved in the metabolism of acaricides in S. scabiei.

The effect of long-chain n-3 PUFA on the metabolism of apoB100-containing lipoprotein in diabetic subjects is not fully understood. The objective of the present study was to determine the effect of a daily intake of 1080mg EPA and 720mg DHA for diabetic subjects on the kinetics of apoB100-containing lipoprotein in the fasting state. A kinetic study was undertaken to determine the mechanisms involved in the effects of n-3 fatty acids in terms of a decrease in triacylglycerol level in type 2 diabetic patients. We have studied the effect of fish oils on the metabolism of apoB100 endogenously labelled by [5,5,5–2H3]-leucine in type 2 diabetic patients in the fasting state. The kinetic parameters of apoB100 in VLDL, intermediate-density lipoprotein and LDL were determined by compartmental modelling in five diabetic subjects before and 8 weeks aftern-3 fatty acid treatment. Treatment did not change the plasma cholesterol level (0·801 (sd 0·120)v. 0·793 (sd 0·163) mmol/l) but lowered the plasma triacylglycerol level (1·776 (sd 0·280) v.1·356 (sd 0·595) mmol/l; p<0·05). Treated patients showed a decrease in VLDL apoB100 concentration (0·366 (sd 0·030) v.0·174 (sd 0·036) g/l; v<0·05) related to a decrease in VLDL 1 production (1·49 (sd 0·23) v.0·44 (sd 0·19) mg/kg per h; p<0·05) and an increase in the VLDL conversion rate (0·031 (sd 0·024)v.0·052 (sd 0·040) per h; p<0·05), with no change in fractional catabolic rates. Treatment led to a higher direct production of intermediate-density lipoprotein (0·02 (sd 0·01) v 0·24 (sd 0·12) mg/kg per h; p<0·05). In conclusion, the present study, conducted in the fasting state, showed that supplementation with n-3 fatty acids in type 2 diabetic patients induced beneficial changes in the metabolism of apoB100-containing lipoprotein.

Stair locomotion has been used in the rehabilitation of the lower extremity as a motor performance test and multi-joint exercise. Controversies exist regarding joint loads during stair locomotion. The purposes of the study were to investigate the three-dimensional kinetics of the lower limb joints during stair locomotion, and to compare them with those during level walking. Ten normal young adults walked, and ascended and descended stairs in a gait laboratory while kinematic and kinetic data were collected and analyzed. The results showed that the intersegmental resultant forces at the joints during the activities were generally similar in pattern but the force magnitudes, moments and angular impulses were significantly different. The general impression that the loads in the lower limb were larger during stair descent than stair ascent only holds for certain kinetic variables. Most of the peak joint moments and angular impulses over the entire stance phase were bigger during stair ascent than descent. The study provides a complete knowledge of the three-dimensional loading patterns at and dynamic functions of the lower limb joints during level walking and stair locomotion. It will be helpful for the planning and evaluation of treatment programs for patients with neuromusculoskeletal pathologies in the lower extremities.

A resonant mirror biosensor was used to study cyclic nucleotide–receptor interactions. In particular, a novel method was developed to determine inhibition constants (Ki) from initial rates of ligate association to immobilized ligand. This approach was applied to the comparison of cyclic nucleotide-binding properties of the wild-type isolated B domain of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase type Iα regulatory subunit and its Ala-334-Thr (A334T) variant that has altered cyclic nucleotide specificity. A cUMP-saturated form of the B domain was used for all measurements. Under the conditions used, cUMP did not affect the kinetics of B domain association to immobilized cAMP. Triton X-100 was required to stabilize the protein at nanomolar concentrations. The association and dissociation rate constants for wild-type and A334T B domains yielded equilibrium dissociation constants of 11 and 16 nM. Heterogeneity of ligate and immobilized ligand, mass transport effects, and other factors were evaluated for their influence on biosensor-determined kinetic constants. Biosensor-determined relative inhibition constants (K′i = KicAMP/Kianalog) for 16 cyclic nucleotide analogs correlated well with those determined by a [3H]cAMP binding assay. Previously published K′i values for the B domain in the intact regulatory subunit were similar to those of the isolated B domain. The K′i values for the wild-type and A334T B domains were essentially unchanged except for dramatic enhancements in affinity of cGMP analogs for the A334T B domain. These observations validate the isolated B domain as a simple model system for studying cyclic nucleotide–receptor interactions.

Using random mutagenesis and a genetic screening in yeast, we isolated 26 mutations that inactivate Saccharomyces cerevisiae arginyl–tRNA synthetase (ArgRS). The mutations were identified and the kinetic parameters of the corresponding proteins were tested after purification of the expression products in Escherichia coli. The effects were interpreted in the light of the crystal structure of ArgRS. Eighteen functional residues were found around the arginine-binding pocket and eight others in the carboxy-terminal domain of the enzyme. Mutations of these residues all act by strongly impairing the rates of tRNA charging and arginine activation. Thus, ArgRS and tRNAArg can be considered as a kind of ribonucleoprotein, where the tRNA, before being charged, is acting as a cofactor that activates the enzyme. Furthermore, by using different tRNAArg isoacceptors and heterologous tRNAAsp, we highlighted the crucial role of several residues of the carboxy-terminal domain in tRNA recognition and discrimination.