Deshima 2.0: Rapid Redshift Surveys and Multi-line Spectroscopy of Dusty Galaxies.

We present a feasibility study for the high-redshift galaxy part of the Science Verification Campaign with the 220-440 GHz deshima 2.0 integrated superconducting spectrometer on the ASTE telescope. The first version of the deshima 2.0 chip has been recently manufactured and tested in the lab. Based on these realistic performance measurements, we evaluate potential target samples and prospects for detecting the [CII] and CO emission lines. The planned observations comprise two distinct, but complementary objectives: (1) acquiring spectroscopic redshifts for dusty galaxies selected in far-infrared/mm-wave surveys; (2) multi-line observations to infer physical conditions in dusty galaxies.

Normal, dust-obscured galaxies in the epoch of reionization.

Over the past decades, rest-frame ultraviolet (UV) observations have provided large samples of UV luminous galaxies at redshift (z) greater than 6 (refs. 1-3), during the so-called epoch of reionization. While a few of these UV-identified galaxies revealed substantial dust reservoirs4-7, very heavily dust-obscured sources at these early times have remained elusive. They are limited to a rare population of extreme starburst galaxies8-12 and companions of rare quasars13,14. These studies conclude that the contribution of dust-obscured galaxies to the cosmic star formation rate density at z > 6 is sub-dominant. Recent ALMA and Spitzer observations have identified a more abundant, less extreme population of obscured galaxies at z = 3-6 (refs. 15,16). However, this population has not been confirmed in the reionization epoch so far. Here, we report the discovery of two dust-obscured star-forming galaxies at z = 6.6813 ± 0.0005 and z = 7.3521 ± 0.0005. These objects are not detected in existing rest-frame UV data and were discovered only through their far-infrared [C II] lines and dust continuum emission as companions to typical UV-luminous galaxies at the same redshift. The two galaxies exhibit lower infrared luminosities and star-formation rates than extreme starbursts, in line with typical star-forming galaxies at z ≈ 7. This population of heavily dust-obscured galaxies appears to contribute 10-25% to the z > 6 cosmic star formation rate density.

Superconducting Coplanar Waveguide Filters for Submillimeter Wave On-Chip Filterbank Spectrometers.

We show the first experimental results which prove that superconducting NbTiN coplanar-waveguide resonators can achieve a loaded Q factor in excess of 800 in the 350 GHz band. These resonators can be used as narrow band pass filters for on-chip filter bank spectrometers for astronomy. Moreover, the low-loss coplanar waveguide technology provides an interesting alternative to microstrip lines for constructing large scale submillimeter wave electronics in general.

Bull's eye maculopathy with trichorhexis nodosa.

The authors report on a healthy young boy with a bull's eye maculopathy and trichorhexis nodosa. The combination, though hitherto unreported, is not unexpected because there exists an immunologic relationship between the retinal pigment epithelium and the hair bulb.

Anatomy of the photodissociation region in the orion bar.

Much of the interstellar gas resides in photodissociation regions whose chemistry and energy balance is controlled by the flux of far-ultraviolet radiation upon them. These photons can ionize and dissociate molecules and heat the gas through the photoelectric effect working on dust grains. These regions have been extensively modeled theoretically, but detailed observational studies are few. Mapping of the prominent Orion Bar photodissociation region at wavelengths corresponding to the carbon-hydrogen stretching mode of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, the 1-0 S(1) line of molecular hydrogen, and the J = 1-0 rotational line of carbon monoxide allows the penetration of the far-ultraviolet radiation into the cloud to be traced. The results strongly support the theoretical models and show conclusively that the incident far-ultraviolet radiation field, not shocks as has sometimes been proposed, is responsible for the emission in the Orion Bar.

Determination of thyroxine binding globulin (TBG) in human serum by fluorescence excitation transfer immunoassay.

Human thyroxine binding globulin (TBG) was purified to near homogeneity by chromatography on thyroxine-substituted Sepharose 4B, DEAE-Sephadex A-50, Sephadex G-150 and n-decylamine-substituted Sepharose 4B. TBG was quantitated by homogeneous fluorescence excitation transfer immunoassay; the preparation of dye-protein conjugates is described. The fluorescence of fluorescein-TBG is quenched when an immune complex is formed with tetramethylrhodamine-antibody. In the presence of unlabeled TBG, the relative fluorescence intensity is increased and can be related quantitatively to the concentration of competing antigen. The described assay for TBG has a range corresponding to serum concentrations of 5--75 microgram/ml; the correlation with radioimmunoassay is 0.96. The coefficients of variation for replicate determinations of single samples of serum with low, normal and elevated TBG concentrations were 3.5%, 2.7% and 2.6% respectively; between-assay variations were 8.8%, 8.6% and 2.6% respectively.

Identification of a gamma-glutamyl methyl ester in bacterial membrane protein involved in chemotaxis.

Evidence is presented that a methyltransferase enzyme, previously shown to be necessary for chemotaxis and identified as the cheR gene product, catalyzes the formation of a gamma-glutamyl methyl ester in one or more membrane proteins of Salmonella typhimurium. The rates of release of methyl label from the methylated protein in acid, base, and hydroxylamine are consistent with a methyl ester and not with a methylated imidazole, guanidino, or amino group. A gamma-glutamyl methyl ester was isolated from a proteolytic digest of the modified protein.

5-Oxo-L-prolinase (L-pyroglutamate hydrolase). Purification and catalytic properties.

5-Oxo-L-prolinase, an enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of 5-oxo-L-proline (L-pyroglutamate; L-2-pyrrolidone-5-carboxylate) to L-glutamate coupled with the cleavage of ATP to ADP and Pi, has been purified about 1600-fold from rat kidney. Purification was carried out in the presence of 5-oxo-L-proline which protects the enzyme under a variety of conditions. An estimate of the molecular weight (about 325,000) was made by gel filtration on Sephadex G-200. K+ (or NH4+) and Mg2+ were required for activity. GTP, ITP, CTP, and UTP were much less active than ATP; dATP was 43% as active as ATP. ADP inhibited and addition of pyruvate kinase and phosphoenolpyruvate activated the reaction. The enzyme, which is protected during storage by dithiothreitol, is inhibited by p-hydroxymercuribenzoate, N-ethylmaleimide, and iodoacetamide. The apparent Km values for 5-oxo-L-proline and ATP are, respectively, 0.05 and 0.17 mM. The pH profile indicates a broad range of activity from about pH 5.5 to pH 11.2 with apparent maxima at about pH 7 and pH 9.7. The formation of Pi and glutamate was equimolar over a wide pH range. When the enzyme was incubated with ATP, Mg2+, K+, and L-2-imidazolidone-4-carboxylate or L-dihydroorotate, cleavage of ATP to ADP and Pi occurred, but no cleavage of the imino acid substrates was observed; when the enzyme was incubated under these conditions with 2-piperidone-6-carboxylate, 4-oxy-5-oxoproline, and 3-oxy-5-oxoproline, the corresponding dicarboxylic amino acids were formed, but the molar ratio of Pi to amino acid formation was significantly greater than unity.

[Diagnosis and treatment of macular lesions in multifocal chorioiditis (presumed histoplasmosis) (author's transl)]. / Erscheinungsbild und Behandlung makulärer Läsionen bei multifokaler Chorioiditis (presumed histoplasmosis)

The authors describe the clinical picture of "presumed histoplasmosis" with the typical disciform mascular lesion which is found in a increasing number of Dutch patients. Although systemic histoplasmosis is not endemic in the Netherlands, the authors feel they are dealing with the same entity. The therapy is elucidated, especially (Argon laser) photocoagulation of favourably situated subretinal neovascularisations. The importance of adequate coagulation technique and frequent (fluographic) follow-up studies in view of possible complications is stressed.

Accumulation of 5-oxoproline in mouse tissues after inhibition of 5-oxoprolinase and administration of amino acids: evidence for function of the gamma-glutamyl cycle.

5-Oxoprolinase catalyzes the conversion of 5-oxo-L-proline (L-pyroglutamate, L-2-pyrrolidone-5-carboxylate) to L-glutamate with concomitant stoichiometric cleavage of ATP to ADP and inorganic orthophosphate. In this reaction, a step in the gamma-glutamyl cycle, 5-oxoproline (formed by the action of gamma-glutamylcyclotransferase on gamma-glutamyl amino acids, which are in turn formed by transpeptidation of amino acids with glutathione), is made available for glutathione synthesis. When mice are injected with L-2-imidazolidone-4-carboxylate, a competitive inhibitor of 5-oxoprolinase, they accumulate 5-oxoproline in their tissues (kidney, liver, brain, and eye) and excrete it in the urine. Mice given the inhibitor together with one of several L-amino acids accumulate and excrete much more 5-oxoproline than when they are given the inhibitor alone. Such augmentation of 5-oxoproline accumulation offers evidence for the function of the gamma-glutamyl cycle in vivo and supports the view that 5-oxoproline is a quantitatively significant metabolite.

Inhibition of 5-oxoprolinase by 2-imidazolidone-4-carboxylic acid.

L-2-Imidazolidone-4-carboxylic acid is an effective competitive inhibitor of the reaction catalyzed by 5-oxoprolinase, in which 5-oxo-L-proline (L-pyroglutamic acid, L-2-pyrrolidone-5-carboxylic acid, L-5-oxopyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid) is converted to L-glutamate, with concomitant cleavage of ATP to ADP and orthophosphate. L-2-Imidazolidone-4-carboxylate decreased the rate of metabolism of 5-oxo-L-[(14)C]proline to (14)CO(2) by rat-kidney slices but had no effect on the metabolism of [(14)C]glutamate. Mice injected with L-2-imidazolidone-4-carboxylate exhibited greatly reduced ability to metabolize 5-oxo-L-proline, but metabolized glutamate at an essentially normal rate. The findings provide an approach to an animal model for the human condition 5-oxoprolinuria, in which there is apparently a deficiency of renal 5-oxoprolinase activity. The evidence indicates that 5-oxoproline is a normal metabolite.

Enzymatic conversion of 5-oxo-L-proline (L-pyrrolidone carboxylate) to L-glutamate coupled with cleavage of adenosine triphosphate to adenosine diphosphate, a reaction in the -glutamyl cycle.

A new enzyme, 5-oxoprolinase, was found in rat kidney and in several other tissues; it catalyzes the conversion of 5-oxo-L-proline (L-5-oxo-pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid, L-2-pyrrolidone-5-carboxylic acid, L-pyroglutamic acid) to L-glutamic acid, with concomitant stoichiometric cleavage of ATP to ADP and orthophosphate. The reaction catalyzed by 5-oxoprolinase, in which 5-oxoproline formed from gamma-glutamyl amino acids by the action of gamma-glutamylcyclotransferase is converted to glutamate, appears to function in the gamma-glutamyl cycle. 5-Oxoprolinase requires Mg(++) (or Mn(++)) and K(+) (or NH(4) (+)) for activity. The equilibrium is markedly in favor of glutamate formation at pH 7.8.