A comparative study on the B12N12, Al12N12, B12P12 and Al12P12 fullerene-like cages

The stability, geometry and electronic structure of the title nanoclusters were compared by using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Their electrical property analysis showed that the relative magnitude of the HOMO-LUMO gaps (eV) that are average values from the calculated results with five different DFT functionals is as follows: B12N12(7:02)>Al12N12(4.09)>B12P12(3.80)>Al12P12(3.39). Computing the standard enthalpy and the Gibbs free energy of formation, it was found that the B(12)N(12) structure is thermodynamically stable at 298 K and 1 atmosphere of pressure, while the Al(12)N(12) structure may be stable at low temperatures. Due to positive values of change of enthalpy and entropy of formation for both the B(12)P(12) and Al(12)P(12) clusters, it seems that their formation from the consisting atoms is not spontaneous at any temperature.     

大鹏湾维生素B1、B12与赤潮

海湾及近海水域 ,因某些浮游生物爆发性繁殖引起的赤潮异常现象时有发生 ,已构成水产资源的严重破坏。为弄清赤潮发生的机理 ,已有许多作者进行过研究 ,现已知水温、盐度、溶解氧、ｐＨ、Ｎ、Ｐ ,以及Ｆｅ、Ｍｎ、Ｓｅ等微量元素都是发生赤潮的重要环境因子[1 ]。近年来通过生态实验研究 ,发现维生素Ｂ1 、Ｂ1 2 (以下简称Ｂ1 、Ｂ1 2 )亦有促进赤潮生物生长繁殖的作用[2 ]。本文报道 1 991年对大鹏湾海域水样中Ｂ1 、Ｂ1 2 含量的测定结果 ,并对赤潮发生与其相关性进行探讨。1　采样布点和分析方法1 .1　采样布点大鹏湾盐田海域的Ｓ0 、Ｓ1…     

Supplementing lactating dairy cows with a vitamin B12 precursor, 5,6-dimethylbenzimidazole,increases the apparent ruminal synthesis of vitamin B12

Cobalamin (CBL), the biologically active form of vitamin B₁₂, and its analogs, are produced by bacteria only if cobalt supply is adequate. The analogs differ generally by the nucleotide moiety of the molecule. In CBL, 5,6-dimethylbenzimidazole (5,6-DMB) is the base in the nucleotide moiety. The present study aimed to determine if a supplement of 5,6-DMB could increase utilization of dietary cobalt for synthesis of CBL and change ruminal fermentation, nutrient digestibility, omasal flow of nutrients and ruminal protozoa counts. Eight ruminally cannulated multiparous Holstein cows (mean±standard deviation=238±21 days in milk and 736±47 kg of BW) were used in a crossover design. Cows were randomly assigned to a daily supplement of a gelatin capsule containing 1.5 g of 5,6-DMB via the rumen cannula or no supplement. Each period lasted 29 days and consisted of 21 days for treatment adaptation and 8 days for data and samples collection. Five corrinoids, CBL and four cobamides were detected in the total mixed ration and the omasal digesta from both treatments. The dietary supplement of 5,6-DMB increased (P=0.02) apparent ruminal synthesis of CBL from 14.6 to 19.6 (s.e.m. 0.8) mg/day but had no effect (P>0.1) on apparent ruminal synthesis of the four analogs. The supplement of 5,6-DMB had no effect (P>0.1) on milk production and composition, or on protozoal count, ruminal pH and concentrations of volatile fatty acids and ammonia nitrogen in rumen content. The supplement had also no effect (P>0.1) on intake, omasal flow and apparent ruminal digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, NDF, ADF and nitrogenous fractions. Plasma concentration of CBL was not affected by treatments (P=0.98). Providing a preformed part of the CBL molecule, that is, 5,6-DMB, increased by 34% the apparent ruminal synthesis of CBL by ruminal bacteria but had no effect on ruminal fermentation or protozoa count and it was not sufficient to increase plasma concentrations of the vitamin. Even though the efficiency of cobalt utilization for apparent synthesis of CBL was increased from 2.0% to 2.7% by the 5,6-DMB supplement, this improved efficiency was still very low. Further research is needed to identify the factors affecting efficiency of utilization of cobalt for synthesis of CBL by the bacterial populations in rumen.     

Alternate Requirement for Vitamin B12 or Methionine in Mutants of Pseudomonas denitrificans, a Vitamin B12-producing Bacterium

Experiments are described which indicate that Pseudomonas denitrificans, an organism that overproduces vitamin B(12), uses the B(12) pathway exclusively for methionine synthesis.