Thermal imaging of dust hiding the black hole in NGC 1068.

In the widely accepted 'unified model' solution of the classification puzzle of active galactic nuclei, the orientation of a dusty accretion torus around the central black hole dominates their appearance. In 'type-1' systems, the bright nucleus is visible at the centre of a face-on torus. In 'type-2' systems the thick, nearly edge-on torus hides the central engine.

A kinetic isotope effect and isotope exchange study of the nonenzymatic and the equine serum butyrylcholinesterase-catalyzed thioester hydrolysis.

Formylthiocholine (FTC) was synthesized and found to be a substrate for nonenzymatic and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE)-catalyzed hydrolysis. Solvent (D2O) and secondary formyl-H kinetic isotope effects (KIEs) were measured by an NMR spectroscopic method. The solvent (D2O) KIEs are (D2O)k = 0.

The central dusty torus in the active nucleus of NGC 1068.

Active galactic nuclei (AGNs) display many energetic phenomena--broad emission lines, X-rays, relativistic jets, radio lobes--originating from matter falling onto a supermassive black hole. It is widely accepted that orientation effects play a major role in explaining the observational appearance of AGNs. Seen from certain directions, circum-nuclear dust clouds would block our view of the central powerhouse.

Photocross-linking of nucleic acids to associated proteins.

Photocross-linking is a useful technique for the partial definition of the nucleic acid-protein interface of nucleoprotein complexes. It can be accomplished by one or two photon excitations of wild-type nucleoprotein complexes or by one photon excitation of nucleoprotein complexes bearing one or more substitutions with photoreactive chromophores. Chromophores that have been incorporated into nucleic acids for this purpose include aryl azides, 5-azidouracil, 8-azidoadenine, 8-azidoguanine, 4-thiouracil, 5-bromouracil, 5-iodouracil, and 5-iodocytosine.