Multivariate process trajectories for molecular description of MF thermal curing and correlation with hydrolytic stability

During curing of thermosetting resins the technologically relevant properties of binders and coatings develop. However, curing is difficult to monitor due to the multitude of chemical and physical processes taking place. Precise prediction of specific technological properties based on molecular properties is very difficult. In this study, the potential of principal component analysis (PCA) and principal component regression (PCR) in the analysis of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra is demonstrated using the example of melamine-formaldehyde (MF) resin curing in solid state. FTIR/PCA-based reaction trajectories are used to visualize the influence of temperature on isothermal cure. An FTIR/PCR model for predicting the hydrolysis resistance of cured MF resin from their spectral fingerprints is presented which illustrates the advantages of FTIR/PCR compared to the combination differential scanning calorimetry/isoconversional kinetic analysis. The presented methodology is transferable to the curing reactions of any thermosetting resin and can be applied to model other technologically relevant final properties as well.     

Coralline Skeleton Biomaterial Reduces Phagocytosis in Mouse Blood in vitro

Inflammatory and immunogenic response to foreign bodies presents a challenge in the use of biomaterials as implants for tissue restoration. Therefore, there is a need to understand the interactions between such implants and the blood. One such material, currently in clinical use for bone replacement in humans, is the skeleton of corals, in the form of crystalline aragonite. This biomaterial has been shown to impart a protective and supportive influence on several types of cells ex vivo. The carbonate skeleton activates secretion in phagocytes in vitro, however its effects on these cells in the blood, and on the process of phagocytosis itself, remain unknown. Using 1–500 μm particles of coral skeleton, we show that these particles bind blood proteins and alter the leukocyte population, reducing the proportion of granulocytes by more than 3-fold with no effect on the proportion of monocytes. In addition, the presence of coral skeleton in the blood causes a reduction in phagocytosis. Specifically, we observed a decrease in the percentage of phagocytic cells by 27 % in the granulocytes and by 73 % in monocyte family, as well as a 41.6 % reduction in the MFI of granulocytes, but with no such effect on monocytes. Taken together, the results suggest that the coral skeleton biomaterial may act as a strong, promotive scaffold for tissue regeneration due to its ability to reduce its rejection by inflammatory reactions such as phagocytosis.     

Comparative Analysis of Platelet-Derived Extracellular Vesicles Using Flow Cytometry and Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis

Growing interest in extracellular vesicles (EVs) has prompted the advancements of protocols for improved EV characterization. As a high-throughput, multi-parameter, and single particle technique, flow cytometry is widely used for EV characterization. The comparison of data on EV concentration, however, is hindered by the lack of standardization between different protocols and instruments. Here, we quantified EV counts of platelet-derived EVs, using two flow cytometers (Gallios and CytoFLEX LX) and nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA). Phosphatidylserine-exposing EVs were identified by labelling with lactadherin (LA). Calibration with silica-based fluorescent beads showed detection limits of 300 nm and 150 nm for Gallios and CytoFLEX LX, respectively. Accordingly, CytoFLEX LX yielded 40-fold higher EV counts and 13-fold higher counts of LA⁺CD41⁺ EVs compared to Gallios. NTA in fluorescence mode (F-NTA) demonstrated that only 9.5% of all vesicles detected in scatter mode exposed phosphatidylserine, resulting in good agreement of LA⁺ EVs for CytoFLEX LX and F-NTA. Since certain functional characteristics, such as the exposure of pro-coagulant phosphatidylserine, are not equally displayed across the entire EV size range, our study highlights the necessity of indicating the size range of EVs detected with a given approach along with the EV concentration to support the comparability between different studies.     

Toxizitätsreduktion durch (Grundwasser-) Sanierung?

The usage of an automatized and continuously (on-line) working biomonitor for the surveillance of groundwater remediation is presented and the data are compared to different discontinuous acute biotests. The use of an on-line biomonitor at the SAFIRA groundwater remediation testsite showed to be superior to the discontinuous tests. The long-time surveillance of two different remediation techniques revealed a decrease in remediation efficiency of one technique while the other technique -using activated carbon- did not show any reduction in efficiency. The validation of these results with other acute biotests (algae, fishembryo, daphnia and genotoxicity) indicated a complex groundwater contamination which can not be explained by the quantitatively main contaminant monochlorobenzene. It is suggested to use ecotoxicological biotests and knowledge in parallel to the conventional chemical analysis before a remediation strategy is designed. All anthropogenic contaminations (toxic or unwanted) should be identified beforehand such that the developed remediation techniques would be more target-oriented.     

The electrification accelerator: Understanding the implications of autonomous vehicles for electric utilities

The intersection of autonomous vehicles, ride sharing and transportation electrification could have significant implications for electric utilities. This paper analyses how the development of shared autonomous electric vehicles may make electrified transportation more likely and why this may lead to a more rapid than expected shift in the current transportation paradigm. We also discuss how these trends may affect utilities and suggest what they can do to prepare for the transition.     

Numerical experience with diagonalization algorithms for asymmetric demand traffic assignment

This paper reviews the concept of a diagonalization algorithm for use in solving traffic network equilibrium problems for which the arc cost and/or the origin-destination travel demand functions are asymmetric. Such functions are known to occur in realistic settings involving multiple modes or users. The computational performance of this algorithm for different degrees of travel demand asymmetry is then explored by a detailed numerical experiment since no previous results of this type have been reported. It is found that, through the use of progressive stopping tolerances, the impact of high degrees of travel demand function asymmetry on the computational burden associated with finding a traffic network equilibrium may be mitigated; in effect equilibrium problems with high degrees of demand asymmetry are little more difficult to solve than perfectly symmetric problems.     

Theoretical and practical considerations in electrostatic depositioning of charged polymers

An interfacial engineering technology, based on the electrostatic deposition of charged polyelectrolytes onto surfaces of oppositely charged templates is reviewed with an emphasis on practical applications in the food, pharmaceutical and personal care industries. On interfaces of disperse systems consecutively deposited polymers provide major advantages in terms of physical and chemical stability of dispersions against superimposed stresses (pH, temperature, ionic strength, freezing, chilling, dehydration, lipid oxidation). The controlled deposition of multiple layers allows for a controlled and triggered release of incorporated functional components. This review highlights the basic principles of the layer‐by‐layer (LbL) electrostatic deposition method as well as some major advantages and drawbacks of this approach. An overview of several systems that can be used as templates for the deposition including emulsion droplets, liposomal vehicles, colloidal aggregates, and planar surfaces is given. Suitable substrates for the deposition are presented with a focus on charged biopolymers such as proteins or polysaccharides since they play an essential role in the formulation and stabilization of food, pharmaceutical and personal care applications. Issues and difficulties associated with implementing the technology on a larger, industrial scale are discussed. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40099.     

Improved mapping of in-mouth creaminess of semi-solid dairy products by combining rheology,particle size,and tribology data

The effects of fat, protein, and casein to whey protein ratio on lubricating properties of stirred yogurt were determined and the relation of those to the sensory properties graininess, viscosity, and creaminess was assessed. Results demonstrated decreased friction effects with increasing fat and protein level, and decreasing proportion of whey protein. The predictive ability of in-mouth viscosity (r² = 0.91) and in-mouth creaminess (r² = 0.97) could be improved by combined assessments of rheological, particle size, and tribological characteristics. Graininess was not affected by friction data. To this end, the applicability of generated models has been tested. This study depicts a better understanding of the key drivers for creaminess and enables food manufacturers to develop fat-reduced dairy products without compromise on sensory properties.     

GAC NDVI interannual coefficient of variation (CoV) images: Ground truth sampling of the Sahel along north-south transects

While Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) images are widely used for assessing vegetation vigour and extent, much remains to be known regarding both how the images themselves and their interannual variation correspond to ground-level reality. This work addresses these issues through a discussion of a series of six north-south transects in the West African Sahel. In some cases along these transects, vegetation spatial aggregation and density vary directly withthe NDVI coefficient of variation (CoV), while in others community dynamics confound identifying such relationships. Analysis of CoV data infers the existence of a signal for rapid, dynamic land degradation (describable by the term 'desertification') in both the northern and southern Sahel.