FORMATION OF TOXIC METHYLHYDRAZINE DURING COOKING OF FALSE MORELS, GYROMITRA ESCULENTA

Methylhydrazine, the main metabolite of N-methyl-N-formylhydra-zones, was detected in the cooking steam of the mushrooms False morels, Gyromitra esculenta. About 25% of the original amount of acetaldehyde-N-methyl-N-formylhydrazone was decomposed during cooking process to methylhydrazine and residues of N-methyl-N-formylhydrazine was detected as well.     

Haloperidol blocks the conditioned place preferences induced by rewarding brain stimulation.

The conditioned place preference test was employed to investigate the effects of neuroleptic challenge on the rewarding properties of lateral hypothalamic stimulation. Conditioning took place during a single day and consisted of five 5-min exposures to each of two environments (differing in color and floor texture). Twenty-four hours later, when provided a choice between the two environments, rats showed strong preferences for the environment in which they had experienced sessions of rewarding brain stimulation. These stimulation-produced place preferences were prevented by pretreatment with the neuroleptic drug, haloperidol (0.3 but not 0.15 mg/kg, ip). On the basis of the results, it was concluded that (a) the conditioned place preference test can provide a rate-free index of brain stimulation reward and (b) dopamine receptor antagonism can result in an attenuation of the rewarding properties of lateral hypothalamic stimulation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The separation of sulfur dioxide and oxygen by absorption

Of the thermochemical processes available for decomposing water into hydrogen and oxygen, MARK 11 and MARK 13, the processes proposed by the European Communities, use sulfuric acid as an internal recycling substance. Using a high temperature source, sulfuric acid is decomposed into sulfur dioxide, oxygen and water. One method to separate the products is by absorption. Therefore, measurements of the absorption and stripping mass transfer coefficients for sulfur dioxide and oxygen in water were recorded at absolute pressures ranging from 1 to 50 bar. The method selected was the stirring cell method used by Danckwerts; at the same time the equilibrium solubilities were measured. The experimental results allow preliminary discussion about the feasibility of absorption and stripping methods used to separate product streams in sulfur thermochemical processes.     

Die Entwicklung des Sikawildes und seiner Troph?en in Schleswig-Holstein

Zusammenfassung Im nördlichen Schleswig-Holstein wurden im Jahre 19287 Stück Sikawild (2 , 5 ) in ein Gatter gesetzt und in 2 Partien nacheinander in die freie Wildbahn gelassen, wo sie heure auf 150–200 Stück angewachsen sind. Es wird über das Einleben und die Ausbreitung sowie über die Körper- und Geweihentwicklung berichtet. Dabei fällt die Zunahme der Stärke der Trophäen auf, die anhand der Jagdausstellungen in Kiel 1958, München 1963 und Kiel 1968 dargestellt wird.

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Summary In the year 1928 seven (2, 5) sika deer were brought to an enclosure in the northern part of Schleswig-Holstein. They were released into open range in two groups, where they multiplied to a present population of 150–200. The acclimatization, distribution, as well as body and antler developments are reported. An increase of trophy measurements is apparent, and is documented at the hunting exhibitions in Kiel 1958, Munich 1963, and Kiel 1968.

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Résumé En 1928 a eu lieu, dans le Nord du Schleswig-Holstein, le lâcher de7 têtes de Cerf Sika (2 mâles et 5 femelles). Cette souche s'est développée pour constituer à l'heure actuelle une population de 150 à 200 têtes. L'acclimatation et la dispersion de ces animaux de même que le développement du corps et des bois est décrite. Ces derniers se sont constamment améliorés comme en témoignent les expositions cynégétiques de Kiel (1958), Munich (1963) et Kiel (1968).

     

In vitro screening of probiotics and synbiotics according to anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative effects

There is emerging evidence of the efficiency of probiotic, prebiotic and synbiotic treatments in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) and one of their long-term complications, colorectal cancer (CRC). In this study, various strains of probiotic lactic acid bacteria, prebiotic glucooligosaccharides (GOS) or a synbiotic combination of the two were screened for anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative effects in different in vitro models in the context of such diseases. To mimic IBD response to Gram negative bacteria, HT-29 cells were sensitised to inflammatory response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) by IFNγ which increased expression of TLR4, the LPS biosensor, and were then treated by probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics. Secreted IL-8 and activated NF-κB were monitored as inflammation biomarkers. A selection of active strains were then subjected to a second inflammatory cell culture model consisting of inflammatory activated transgenic Caco-2 cells transfected by a reporter gene under the control of NF-κB inducible promoter. Quantification of reporter gene expression allowed us to demonstrate some probiotic inhibitory properties or to confirm such characteristics in two different models. Proliferation of cancerous HT-29 cells was monitored by XTT assay. Only three probiotic strains induced a proliferation decrease, but with a lack of reproducibility. Binary or ternary probiotic associations, complemented or not by prebiotic GOS, significantly decreased proliferation, especially with a synbiotic association of Bifidobacterium breve, Lactococcus lactis and oligoalternan, a GOS. This combination was selected for the following experiments. We showed the involvement of both bacterial and carbohydrate compounds of this synbiotic in the observed effect by dose range tests. We demonstrated that this decrease in proliferation may be due to an induction of a differentiated phenotype, as shown by the up-regulation of intestinal alkaline phosphatase, a biomarker of differentiation, monitored by real-time RT-PCR in HT-29 cells treated by the selected synbiotics. Thus, this study demonstrates the ability of probiotics to exert anti-inflammatory effects and shows some anti-proliferative characteristics for a specific synbiotics. These products should be further evaluated in animal models to confirm the in vitro results.     

Phase imaging with intermodulation atomic force microscopy

Intermodulation atomic force microscopy (IMAFM) is a dynamic mode of atomic force microscopy (AFM) with two-tone excitation. The oscillating AFM cantilever in close proximity to a surface experiences the nonlinear tip-sample force which mixes the drive tones and generates new frequency components in the cantilever response known as intermodulation products (IMPs). We present a procedure for extracting the phase at each IMP and demonstrate phase images made by recording this phase while scanning. Amplitude and phase images at intermodulation frequencies exhibit enhanced topographic and material contrast.     

Effect of Head Shape Variations Among Individuals on the EEG/MEG Forward and Inverse Problems

We study the effect of the head shape variations on the EEG/magnetoencephalography (MEG) forward and inverse problems. We build a random head model such that each sample represents the head shape of a different individual and solve the forward problem assuming this random head model, using a polynomial chaos expansion. The random solution of the forward problem is then used to quantify the effect of the geometry when the inverse problem is solved with a standard head model. The results derived with this approach are valid for a continuous family of head models, rather than just for a set of cases. The random model consists of three random surfaces that define layers of different electric conductivity, and we built an example based on a set of 30 deterministic models from adults. Our results show that for a dipolar source model, the effect of the head shape variations on the EEG/MEG inverse problem due to the random head model is slightly larger than the effect of the electronic noise present in the sensors. The variations in the EEG inverse problem solutions are due to the variations in the shape of the volume conductor, while the variations in the MEG inverse problem solutions, larger than the EEG ones, are caused mainly by the variations of the absolute position of the sources in a coordinate system based on anatomical landmarks, in which the magnetometers have a fixed position.     

Charge Transfer Excitons in Polymer/Fullerene Blends: The Role of Morphology and Polymer Chain Conformation

Here, it is shown how carrier recombination through charge transfer excitons between conjugated polymers and fullerene molecules is mainly controlled by the intrachain conformation of the polymer, and to a limited extent by the mesoscopic morphology of the blend. This experimental result is obtained by combining near‐infrared photoluminescence spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy, which are sensitive to charge transfer exciton emission and morphology, respectively. The photoluminescence intensity of the charge transfer exciton is correlated to the degree of intrachain order of the polymer, highlighting an important aspect for understanding and limiting carrier recombination in organic photovoltaics.     

Photo‐induced Charge Transfer and Relaxation of Persistent Charge Carriers in Polymer/Nanocrystal Composites for Applications in Hybrid Solar Cells

The photo‐induced charge transfer and the dynamics of persistent charge carriers in blends of semiconducting polymers and nanocrystals are investigated. Regioregular poly(3‐hexylthiophene) (P3HT) is used as the electron donor material, while the acceptor moiety is established by CdSe nanocrystals (nc‐CdSe) prepared via colloidal synthesis. As a reference system, organic blends of P3HT and [6,6]‐phenyl C₆₁‐butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) are studied as well. The light‐induced charge transfer between P3HT and the acceptor materials is studied by photoluminescence (PL), photo‐induced absorption (PIA) and light‐induced electron spin resonance spectroscopy (LESR). Compared to neat P3HT samples, both systems show an intensified formation of polarons in the polymer upon photo‐excitation, pointing out successful separation of photogenerated charge carriers. Additionally, relaxation of the persistent charge carriers is investigated, and significant differences are found between the hybrid composite and the purely organic system. While relaxation, reflected in the transient signal decay of the polaron signal, is fast in the organic system, the hybrid blends exhibit long‐term persistence. The appearance of a second, slow recombination channel indicates the existence of deep trap states in the hybrid system, which leads to the capture of a large fraction of charge carriers. A change of polymer conformation due to the presence of nc‐CdSe is revealed by low temperature LESR measurements and microwave saturation techniques. The impact of the different recombination behavior on the photovoltaic efficiency of both systems is discussed.     

免烫衬衫面料整理的新型流水线

60年来,Brückner公司已制造出了规模化、效果优良的机织及针织面料整理流水线。使用中国天津田歌纺织有限公司提供的样品,Brückner展现了几种不同免烫整理的新型流水线。