The Weak Li2 — He Interaction Revisited: a Combined Ab-initio and Empirical Modelling.

No Heading The potential energy surfaces (PES) for the interaction between Li₂ (¹⁺ _g) and ⁴He has been computed earlier by using an accurate, post-Hartree-Fock quantum calculation for its ground electronic state and was presented in previous papers^1,2. Here we report a revised version of the same interaction that we have generated using instead an empirical approach that replaces the two-body contributions in the ab-initio potential with external estimates. We have repeated Diffusion Monte Carlo calculations to obtain the quantum ground states for the Li₂He_n clusters already discussed in our previous paper¹ and we compare the two sets of fundings.     

Wärme-Integration und Prozeßoptimierung

Thermal integration and process optimization . The Pinch method for optimization of thermal integration of chemical plant has been widely accepted in recent years. Serving initially only as an aid in the design of energetically optimized heat exchanger networks, the method was developed in the course of time with regard to the following questions: optimization of heating and cooling systems; simultaneous optimization of energy and investment costs; operability, start-up and shut-down behaviour; inclusion of heat engines; optimization of old plant; and process optimization. The fundamentals of the Pinch method are summarized and further developments concerning development of the method for simultaneous optimization of energy and capital costs are presented. Optimization of the BASF butadiene process and the mutual interaction of process and energy system are then presented as practical applications.     

Stabilization of aluminum pigment in waterborne paints

The corrosion of aluminum pigments in aqueous alkaline paint media, which results in the evolution of hydrgen, can be inhibited by certain substances. The combination of noninhibiting paint resins with three corrosion inhibitors (salicylic acid, a fluorinated phosphate surfactant, and an epoxy ester resin) has been studied. The presence of the resins does not significantly affect the stabilization of the aluminum pigment at pH 10 by the corrosion inhibitors. With the addition of corrosion inhibitors, the hydrogen volume evolved from aqueous aluminum pigment dispersions is surprisingly reduced by stirring. However, when heated to +40°C aqueous aluminum pigment dispersions with inhibitors evolve more hydrogen; at pH 8 the results are still satisfactory even at +40°C.     

Quality Control and Stability Studies with the Monoclonal Antibody,Trastuzumab: Application of 1D- vs. 2D-Gel Electrophoresis

Recombinant monoclonal antibodies (rmAbs) are medicinal products obtained by rDNA technology. Consequently, like other biopharmaceuticals, they require the extensive and rigorous characterization of the quality attributes, such as identity, structural integrity, purity and stability. The aim of this work was to study the suitability of gel electrophoresis for the assessment of charge heterogeneity, post-translational modifications and the stability of the therapeutic, recombinant monoclonal antibody, trastuzumab. One-dimensional, SDS-PAGE, under reducing and non-reducing conditions, and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis were used for the determination of molecular mass (Mr), the isoelectric point (pI), charge-related isoform patterns and the stability of trastuzumab, subjected to stressed degradation and long-term conditions. For the assessment of the influence of glycosylation in the charge heterogeneity pattern of trastuzumab, an enzymatic deglycosylation study has been performed using N-glycosidase F and sialidase, whereas carboxypeptidase B was used for the lysine truncation study. Experimental data documented that 1D and 2D gel electrophoresis represent fast and easy methods to evaluate the quality of biological medicinal products. Important stability parameters, such as the protein aggregation, can be assessed, as well.     

Experimental identification of modal parameters of an industrial 2‐MW wind turbine

This contribution presents modal testing of a 2‐MW wind turbine on a 100‐m tubular tower with a 93‐m rotor developed by W2E Wind to Energy GmbH. This research is part of the DYNAWIND project of the University of Rostock and W2E. Beside classical modal analysis schemes, this contribution mainly focusses on the application of operational modal analysis techniques to a wind turbine. Specific problems are addressed, and hints for modal testing on wind turbines are given. Furthermore, an effective measurement setup is proposed for identification of the modal parameters of a wind turbine. The measurement campaign is divided in two parts. First, a measurement campaign using 8 sensor positions on a rotor blade was done while the rotor is lying on ground. Second, a detailed measurement campaign was done on the entire wind turbine with the rotor locked in Y position using 61 sensor positions on the tower, the mainframe, the gearbox, the generator, and the low‐voltage unit. While the rotor blade was tested by classical and operational modal analysis techniques, the entire wind turbine was tested by operational modal analysis techniques only. The mode shapes and eigenfrequencies of the wind turbine identified within the measurement campaigns are within the expected range of the design values of the wind turbine. But in contrast, the damping ratios differ strongly from those given in guidelines and literature. Furthermore, a strong influence of aerodynamic damping compared to structural damping is observed for the first tower mode even for a parked wind turbine.     

Tracing residual recombinant feed molecules during digestion and rumen bacterial diversity in cattle fed transgene maize

The aim of this study was to trace selected nucleic acid and protein components of isogene versus Bt transgene maize within the bovine gastrointestinal tract (GIT). After feeding 22 cattle for 4 weeks with Bt176 maize, different plant genes and the recombinant protein CryIAb were quantified during digestion. Furthermore, a first initial characterization of rumen bacteria was approached, using 16rDNA gene sequencing comparing isogene- against transgene-fed animals. Ingesta samples of different GIT sections (rumen, abomasum, jejunum, colon) were analysed for chloroplast, maize invertase, zein and Bt toxin (CryIAb) gene fragments using quantitative real-time PCR. First, the initial gene dose of these maize genes was detected in maize silage. During digestion, a significant reduction of high-to-medium abundant plant gene fragments was shown depending on the dwell-time and the initial gene copy number. Immunoreactive CryIAb protein was quantified by ELISA in intestinal samples indicating a significant loss of that protein. Remarkable amounts of Bt toxin were found in all contents of the GIT and the protein was still present in faeces. For the first time, the influence of CryIAb transgene maize on rumen bacterial microflora was investigated compared to isogene material through analysis of 497 individual bacterial 16S rDNA sequences. In principle, specific bacterial leader-species could be identified in all bovine rumen extracts, but no significant influence of Bt176 maize feed was found on the composition of the microbial population. This investigation provides supplementing data to further evaluate the fate of novel recombinant material originating from transgene feed or food within the mammalian GIT.     

Physicochemical and rheological properties of agarose/xylans composite hydrogel materials

Agarose (AG)/Xylans [beech (BX) and oat spelt (OSX)] composite hydrogels were prepared by effortless mixing method, using water as solvent. The gelling behavior of the composite hydrogels was investigated by a rheometer fitted with a temperature control facility. Improved gelling properties were observed as a result of incorporation of BX and OSX into the appropriate native aqueous agarose solution. A significant increase in the viscosity and elastic modulus of the parent AG was found with incorporation of xylans. The gelling and melting points of the mixtures resembled that of pure agarose gel, except for 90% xylan concentration. A significant increase in swelling ability of the parent AG was found with incorporation of xylans, while syneresis was reduced on addition of xylans. The physicochemical and rheological properties of seaweed polysaccharide agarose were modified significantly after blending with xylans, allowing their use in new applications. POLYM. COMPOS., 34:978–988, 2013. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers