Untersuchungen zum Abbau von Maillard-Reaktionsprodukten durch amylolytische Enzyme

The enzymatic degradation of thermal treated α-glucans with amylolytic enzymes depends on the reaction environment (T, pH, moisture), the degree of polymerisation (DP) and the branch of the substrates as well as on the presence of amino compounds. The chemical changes of the α-glucans due to thermolysis at 180 °C are characterized by means of the amount of reducing substances and the amount of maltooligosaccharides (HPLC). In general the enzymatic degradability of the thermal treated α-glucans is decreased with increasing time of thermolysis, temperature and moisture content. The enzyme activity with the thermal treated α-glucans is diminished in the same way. The addition of amino compounds reduces the enzymatic degradability only at the beginning of the reaction. With increasing time of thermolysis the thermolysates without glycine addition are hardly degradated. As reason for these differences in the enzymatic degradation transglycosylation and non-enzymatic browning reactions (caramalisation/ Maillard-reaction) are assumed.     

Characterizing and optimizing poly-l-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone membranes for urothelial tissue engineering

Different synthetic biomaterials such as polylactide (PLA), polycaprolactone and poly-l-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone (PLCL) have been studied for urothelial tissue engineering, with favourable results. The aim of this research was to further optimize the growth surface for human urothelial cells (hUCs) by comparing different PLCL-based membranes: smooth (s) and textured (t) PLCL and knitted PLA mesh with compression-moulded PLCL (cPLCL). The effects of topographical texturing on urothelial cell response and mechanical properties under hydrolysis were studied. The main finding was that both sPLCL and tPLCL supported hUC growth significantly better than cPLCL. Interestingly, tPLCL gave no significant advantage to hUC attachment or proliferation compared with sPLCL. However, during the 14 day assessment period, the majority of cells were viable and maintained phenotype on all the membranes studied. The material characterization exhibited potential mechanical characteristics of sPLCL and tPLCL for urothelial applications. Furthermore, the highest elongation of tPLCL supports the use of this kind of texturing. In conclusion, in light of our cell culture results and mechanical characterization, both sPLCL and tPLCL should be further studied for urothelial tissue engineering.     

DIC image reconstruction on large cell scans

The width of the emission spectrum of a common fluorophore allows only for a limited number of spectral distinct fluorescent markers in the visible spectrum, which is also the regime where CCD-cameras are used in microscopy. For imaging of cells or tissues, it is required to obtain an image from which the morphology of the whole cell can be extracted. This is usually achieved by differential interference contrast (DIC) microscopy. These images have a pseudo-3D appearance, easily interpreted by the human brain. In the age of high throughput and high content screening, manual image processing is not an option. Conventional algorithms for image processing often use threshold-based criteria to identify objects of interest. These algorithms fail for DIC images as they have a range from dim to bright with an intermediate intensity equal to the background, so as to produce no clear object boundary. In this article we compare different reconstruction methods for up to 100 MB-large DIC images and implement a new iterative reconstruction method based on the Hilbert Transform that enables identification of cell boundaries with standard threshold algorithms.     

Nanosized titania derived from a novel sol-gel process for ammonia gas sensor applications

Highly redispersible anatase nanoparticles were prepared by a novel sol-gel based hydrothermal process for gas sensing applications. Thin titania films composed of nanoparticles were deposited on Au interdigital electrodes by dip-coating, annealed and tested in a gas test bench at 350 °C. The anatase films showed a very high sensitivity towards ammonia and no cross interference by CO₂, O₂ and C₃H₈. To classify the sensor as an ammonia gas sensor, a comparison with other sensor designs from literature has been performed.     

Daten amtlicher Lebensmittelkontrolle in Deutschland – Analyse und Erfassung der Unterschiede

Whether or not food control data reported according to former directive 89/397 EEC in Germany are comparable and whether or not recording or aggregation differences appear between the Länder should be proved within a project conducted by the BVL. The result of a data analysis of official control data was, that indicators like “the percentage of establishments with non-conformity reports” were not comparable between the Länder. It should be analysed, whether or not this is based on structural differences in the Länder and/or based on a matter of recording or aggregation differences. An analysis of these differences was conducted with the help of the Länder in several local authorities and upper authorities. The towns and authorities were chosen at random. Structured interviews were conducted with food control experts. It could be recognized that recording differences appeared for inspection data. These refer mainly to the deepness of data recording, the total number of recorded establishments, associated controls, and additional establishment information. Aggregation differences were mainly found for the sample data. Here, two main points are important: (1) which samples were actually aggregated; this is which sampling reasons were taken into account (population)? and (2) which samples were summarised in which product group. Less concise are differences in sample planning, the analysis spectrum for one sample, the assessment of analysis results and the consequence of the sample analysis outcome (advice, sanction). Since a statistical analysis of these food control data is difficult because of the mentioned differences in data recording and data aggregation, a harmonized usage of definitions for and recording as well as aggregation of these data is worthwhile. Not till then data could be the basis for a meaningful statistic and picture the success or failure of control activities.     

Droplet deformation and break-up under shear: Hydrocolloid solution vs. suspension of starch granules

Shear induced deformation and rupture of two types of droplets, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) aqueous solution and modified waxy maize suspension, were studied and compared using a counter-rotating rheo-optical set-up. The motivation of the work was to explain the difference observed in flavour perception of food products thickened by these two fluids. A droplet of either fluid was placed into silicon oil and deformation and break-up were monitored as a function of applied shear stress and strain. It was found that starch suspension droplets broke up at lower deformation stress and strain than HPMC solution droplets despite viscosity ratio and capillary number suggesting the opposite. It is hypothesised that the ease with which droplets thickened by starch break-up is responsible for their rapid mixing with saliva.     

Predicting pollutant removal in constructed wetlands using artificial neural networks(ANNs)

Growth in urban population,urbanisation,and economic development has increased the demand for water,especially in water-scarce regions.Therefore,sustainable approaches to water management are needed to cope with the effects of the urbanisation on the water environment.This study aimed to design novel configurations of tidal-flow vertical subsurface flow constructed wetlands(VFCWs) for treating urban stormwater.A series of laboratory experiments were conducted with semi-synthetic influent stormwater to examine the effects of the design and operation variables on the performance of the VFCWs and to identify optimal design and operational strategies,as well as maintenance requirements.The results show that the VFCWs can significantly reduce pollutants in urban stormwater,and that pollutant removal was related to specific VFCW designs.Models based on the artificial neural network(ANN) method were built using inputs derived from data exploratory techniques,such as analysis of variance(ANOVA) and principal component analysis(PCA).It was found that PCA reduced the dimensionality of input variables obtained from different experimental design conditions.The results show a satisfactory generalisation for predicting nitrogen and phosphorus removal with fewer variable inputs,indicating that monitoring costs and time can be reduced.