CypScore: Quantitative Prediction of Reactivity toward Cytochromes P450 Based on Semiempirical Molecular Orbital Theory

CypScore predicts the reactivity of competing positions in the same and different molecules to a variety of cytochrome P450 metabolic reactions on a single reactivity scale.

     

Improved creaminess of low-fat yoghurt: The impact of amylomaltase-treated starch domains

Amylomaltase-treated starch (ATS) is an excellent creaminess enhancer in yoghurt. Small amounts of ATS raised the creaminess perception of low-fat yoghurt (1.5%) to that of full-fat yoghurt (5%). In this way, a reduction in fat-related energy value could be achieved from 45 to 21.5 kcal/100 g product. The functionality of ATS in set yoghurt resulted from discrete domains of ATS that resemble the microstructural behaviour of fat particles. The microstructure of the yoghurt is dominated by the protein and the ATS domains are enclosed in or bound to this protein network. The perceived creaminess resulted from in-mouth melting of these ATS domains due to a combined effect of their physical melting and hydrolysis by amylase present in the saliva.     

Microchannel bioreactors for bioartificial liver support

An extracorporeal bioartificial liver (BAL) device containing viable hepatocytes has the potential to provide temporary hepatic support to liver failure patients, serving as a bridge to transplantation while awaiting a suitable donor. In some patients, providing temporary hepatic support may be sufficient to allow adequate regeneration of the host liver, thereby eliminating the need for a liver transplant. Although the BAL device is a promising technology for the treatment of liver failure, there are several technical challenges that must be overcome in order to develop systems with sufficient processing capacity and of manageable size. In this study, the authors describe the critical issues involved in developing a BAL device. They also discuss their experiences in hepatocyte culture optimization within the context of a microchannel flat-plate BAL device.     

Plasma printing: patterned surface functionalisation and coating at atmospheric pressure

A new plasma-based micropatterning technique, here referred to as plasma printing, combines the well known advantages given by the nonequilibrium character of a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) and its operation inside small gas volumes with dimension between tens and hundreds of micrometres. The discharge is run at atmospheric pressure and can be easily implemented for patterned surface treatment with applications in biotechnology and microtechnology. In this work the local modification of dielectric substrates, e.g. polymeric films, is addressed with respect to coating and chemical functionalisation, immobilisation of biomolecules and area-selective electroless plating.     

Free radical destruction of N-nitrosodimethylamine in water

Absolute rate constants for the reactions of the hydroxyl radical, hydrated electron, and hydrogen atom with N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) in water at room temperature have been determined using electron pulse radiolysis and transient absorption spectroscopy (*OH and e- aq) and EPR free induction decay attenuation (*H) measurements. Specific values of (4.30 +/- 0.12) x 10(8), (1.41 +/- 0.02) x 10(10), and (2.01 +/- 0.03) x 10(8) M(-1) s(-1) were measured, respectively. DMPO spin-trapping experiments demonstrated that the hydroxyl radical reaction with NDMA occurs by hydrogen atom abstraction from a methyl group, and the rate constant for the subsequent reaction of this radical transient with dissolved oxygen was measured as (5.3 +/- 0.6) x 10(6) M(-1) s(-1). This relatively slow rate constant implies that regeneration of the parent nitrosoamine from the oxidized transient could occur in natural waters containing dissolved organic compounds. The reaction of the hydrated electron with NDMA was to form a transient adduct anion, which could subsequently transfer this excess electron to regenerate the parent chemical. Such regeneration reactions would significantly reduce the effectiveness of any applied advanced oxidation technology remediation effort on NDMA-contaminated natural waters.     

Quellungsverminderung von Holz in Teilbereichen der relativen Luftfeuchtigkeit

Ohne Zusammenfassung Für die finanzielle F?rderung der Arbeit aus ERP-Mitteln des Senats von Berlin wird besonders gedankt.     

Maps of sky relative radiance and luminance distributions acquired with a monochromatic CCD camera

The purpose of this work is to characterize the sky relative radiance and luminance distributions from the analysis of sky images acquired using a monochromatic CCD wide angle lens camera. The proposed methodology is based on the reduction of the number of the gray levels from the original image, in order to sharpen the different regions of the sky hemisphere, resulting in low level gray scale maps. In these maps each gray level is related to an intensity level and each pixel is associated to a sky direction. An experimental system that is able to simultaneously supply images from the sky and solar irradiance data was developed using a commercial CCD camera. The sky relative radiance and luminance distributions for different sky conditions were also determined. The resultant maps agree with observations of the main characteristics of sky radiance and luminance distributions.     

Cytomorphometric markers for uterine cancer in intermediate cells

Precise microphotometric assessment of intermediate cells from patients with normal cervical cytology and from patients with dysplasia or carcinoma in situ shows the existence of small but consistent differences. Marker features for the presence of premalignant and malignant disease can be extracted from the cell images of "normal"-appearing intermediate cells. The marker features and their diagnostic classification potential are described.     

In-vivo confocal scanning laser microscopy of the cerebral microcirculation

Confocal scanning laser microscopy (CSLM) was used to study the microcirculation of the brain neocortex in anaesthetized rats. After removal of the dura mater, implantation of a closed cranial window, and intravenous injection of fluorescein, three-dimensional reconstructions of cortical capillaries were performed down to a depth of 250 μm below the pial surface. Using a one-dimensional approach (single line scanning), erythrocyte (negative contrast in fluorescently labelled plasma) and leucocyte (labelled with rhodamine 6 G) velocity and supply rate in cortical capillaries were measured. The effect of CO₂-inhalation on capillary blood flow dynamics was studied. Capillaries were imaged continuously for up to 1 h without changes in flow or fluorescence pattern. However, by increasing the laser power 10–100-fold, aggregate formation was induced and capillaries were occluded, possibly due to damage to vascular endothelium. We conclude that CSLM can be used to study morphological and dynamic aspects of fluorescently labelled subsurface structures in organs of experimental animals.