EAWAG’s Biocatalysis/Biodegradation Database

“The sky broke like an egg into full sunset and the water caught fire.” -- Pamela Hansford Johnson (American Critic, Author and Writer, 1912-1981)

EAWAG, the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, offers an interesting database. Labeled Biocatalysis/Biodegradation Database, it enables a quick search for pathways to degradation on a number of substances.

For example, enter the following search string in the database’s search box …

dibenzothiophene desulfurization

… and you will see the following:

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Dibenzothiophene Desulfurization Map
This pathway was contributed by Dr. Margie Romine, Pacific Northwest National Lab, and updated by Dr. Kevin Gray, Energy BioSystems Corp., The Woodlands, TX. Jennifer Lockhart, Williams College, assisted with HTML and graphics.
This pathway is the first that purposely does not continue to intermediary metabolism. Dibenzothiophene (DBT) is a model compound for organic sulfur in fossil fuels, and its desulfurization pathway removes this sulfur (Gray et al., 1996). The EAWAG-BBD has a separate DBT degradation pathway, but in the words of Dr. Kevin Gray (personal communication, 1996):
"We know that in this species of Rhodococcus the pathway does not continue; i.e., it stops at 2-hydroxybiphenyl (HBP) and the HBP is released into the medium. The sulfur product is incorporated into cellular biomass via sulfur assimilation pathways. That actually is the beauty of this system as far as desulfurization of fossil fuels is concerned: we do not decrease the carbon content (the 'fuel value') of our substrate molecule. If all we wanted to do was degrade the dibenzothiophene (DBT) to carbon (and energy) we would have chosen an easier and more efficient enzyme system like the biphenyl or naphthalene degradation pathways (which will mineralize DBT). However we don't want to 'degrade' DBT just 'transform' it into another molecule that can then go back into the fuel while at the same time removing the sulfur. The physiological role of this enzyme system is to obtain sulfur for growth; in fact, Rhodococcus sp. IGTS8 can use dibenzothiophene as a sole source of sulfur."
The following is a text-format dibenzothiophene desulfurization pathway map. An organism which can initiate the pathway is given, but other organisms may also carry out later steps. Follow the links for more information on compounds or reactions. This is the first pathway to have its map also available in graphic (12k) format.
Page Author(s): Kevin Gray
June 30, 2014
Click this hyperlink to see the entire detailed pathway: http://eawag-bbd.ethz.ch/dbt/dbt_map.html
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TIP: Google® dibenzothiophene OR thiophene OR thiophenic and browse the results for additional interesting results.

Saudi Downstream 2016 – Call for Speakers

“Every speaker has a mouth; An arrangement rather neat. Sometimes it's filled with wisdom. Sometimes it's filled with feet.” -- Robert Orben (US magician and comedy writer, b. 1927)

Here’s another Saudi conference you might be interested in …

Saudi Downstream, 8-10 March 2016, King Abdullah Cultural Center, Jubail, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
source: http://www.saudidownstream.com/sponsor/saudi-aramco/

According to the conference Web …
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If you’d like to enquire about speaking at Saudi Downstream 2016, please contact:
Hejke Coetzee
Email – hejke@bme-global.com
Tel – 0044 203 463 1021
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TIP: To find conferences staged in Saudi Arabie, Google®: conferences 2016 aramco

TIP: see also the post on Getting to Saudi Conferences … Important Stuff to Know

Call for Papers … Plus Some Free Advice (Worth Every Penny)

“Writing is not necessarily something to be ashamed of, but do it in private and wash your hands afterwards.” — Robert Anson Heinlein (1907 – 1988), American science fiction writer, often called the "dean of science fiction writers"

Digital Refining (a la PTQ-Petroleumm Technology Quarterly) has issued a Call for Papers for the 10th Refining China International Conference  to be held  13-14 April 2016, in Beijing.

Visit the conference Web (http://refiningchina.com/) for details, or send an email to: presentations@refiningchina.com.

If you have never responded to a Call for Papers, here is a tip …

TIP: Google® Search String: writing call for papers

One result of such a search appears below …

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WRITING
AN ABSTRACT

When answering a call for papers a number of factors need to be kept in mind to ensure that your abstract has a good chance of being accepted.

Ensure that your ideas are well thought out and follow a logical, coherent flow:

• state the issue to be discussed
• give a brief background to the issue
• brief description of what you are doing about it
• implications/outcomes: why is what you’ve done important?

Ensure that the abstract relates to the conference theme:

• in a ‘real’ and not contrived way: if it doesn’t fit then don’t submit
• an interesting and catchy title helps:
• but make sure it’s not too ‘clever’ or obscure

Ensure that practical aspects of the abstract comply with requirements:

• it meets or is under the specified word length
• is typed in the specified font type, size
• spacing and setting out are correct
• if no guidelines are given then a standard format is usually:
• 300 words
• Times 12pt font
• 1.5 line spacing and centred on the page

 

There’s more … visit http://www.ivnnz.co.nz/files/file/7769/Writing%20an%20Abstract.pdf to see the rest.

 

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Getting to Saudi Conferences … Important Stuff to Know

“It has been said that a pretty face is a passport. But it's not, it's a visa, and it runs out fast.” -- Julie Burchill (British Columnist, b.1959)

If you decide to attend a conference in Saudi Arabia (see previous post: Saudi Conferences), you need to know about getting into the country.

The first thing you need to know is … it’s complicated.
The second thing to know is … it takes time, so plan ahead … way ahead.
The third thing is … it’s worth the effort.

Travisa (http://saudi-arabia.travisa.com/) has an excellent description of the process for obtaining a Visa to visit Saudi Arabia …

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A valid passport and business visa are required for travel to Saudi Arabia.
Send these documents to Travisa
1) Passport Requirements:
Original, signed passport valid for 6 months beyond stay in Saudi Arabia, with at least two blank adjacent passport pages available for Saudi visa stamp and Saudi entry stamps. Amendment pages in the back of the passport are not suitable for a Saudi Arabia visa.
2) Saudi Arabian Visa Application Form:
One original Saudi Arabia visa application per applicant properly completed and signed, plus one copy. Improperly completed Saudi Visa Application forms may delay the processing of your Saudi Arabian visa.
3) Photo Requirements:
One recent 2 x 2 passport type photograph, in color, front view and with a plain/white background.
4) Other Forms:
Houston: a Letter of Authorization is required.
New York: the Saudi Arabia Visa Application Good Conduct Form is required.
5) Official Invitation from Saudi Arabia:
Document certified by both the Saudi Chamber of Commerce and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The invitation should include inviting company's location and type of business. In addition, it must clearly state the applicant's name, nationality, position, length of visa, purpose of travel, and number of entries requested. The registration number of the host company will be printed on the invitation. No Chamber of Commerce certification is needed for invitations issued by a government company such as Saudi Aramco, SABIC, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Ma'aden, or the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority.
Travisa is able to obtain an official business or commercial invitation for you.  To apply online for this service, please fill out our Online Saudi Invitation Request Form. You will receive a confirmation of your request and the invitation needed to support your Saudi Arabian visa application by email.
6) Business Letter
Letter from employer or sponsoring company in the US, on company letterhead, introducing the applicant, indicating the applicant's employment status/position held in the company, and clearly stating the purpose of visit to Saudi Arabia. The business letter must also indicate who will be financially responsible for the applicant and must provide detailed contact information in Saudi Arabia.
7) Proof Of Departure:
Computer generated flight itinerary from the airline or travel agency or copy of airline tickets.
8) Other Requirements:
To apply in New York: The enjaz registration will be processed as part of the application process. In all other locations, enjaz registration must be completed before the application can be submitted.
To apply in Houston, Los Angeles, or Washington DC, Travisa can process this Registration. If you would like Travisa to process the on-line enjaz registration for you, submit this Enjaz Request Form. You will receive confirmation and the final Enjaz approval notification by e-mail. Simply print and include the confirmation pages you receive from our office to include with your application forms.
Washington DC, Houston, Los Angeles: The party that creates the enjaz registration must process the payment. A third party cannot process the payment. However, a third party is able to submit the application if the party responsible for creating the enjaz processes the visa payment.
After completing the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs Enjaz Registration Form it is important to print a copy of the registration and payment confirmation pages to include with your application.
Houston, Los Angeles and Washington DC: The US company's business license is required.
9) Special Instructions:
Approval for this visa will be submitted directly from the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs to a particular Consulate in the United States. The visa application must be processed in the location where the approval is registered.
Source:
http://saudi-arabia.travisa.com/
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TIP: Google® Search String: saudi visa requirements for us citizens