On-chip isoelectric focusing using photopolymerized immobilized pH gradients

We present the first successful adaptation of immobilized pH gradients (IPGs) to the microscale (muIPGs) using a new method for generating precisely defined polymer gradients on-chip. Gradients of monomer were established via diffusion along 6 mm flow-restricted channel segments. Precise control over boundary conditions and the resulting gradient is achieved by continuous flow of stock solutions through side channels flanking the gradient segment. Once the desired gradient is established, it is immobilized via photopolymerization. Precise gradient formation was verified with spatial and temporal detection of a fluorescent dye added to one of the flanking streams. Rapid (<20 min) isoelectric focusing of several fluorescent pI markers and proteins is demonstrated across pH 3.8-7.0 muIPGs using both denaturing and nondenaturing conditions, without the addition of carrier ampholytes. The muIPG format yields improved stability and comparable resolution to prominent on-chip IEF techniques. In addition to rapid, high-resolution separations, the reported muIPG format is amenable to multiplexed and multidimensional analysis via custom gradients as well as integration with other on-chip separation methods.     

Hypothesis-driven approach for the identification of fecal pollution sources in water resources

Water resource management must strive to link catchment information with water quality monitoring. The present study attempted this for the field of microbial fecal source tracking (MST). A fecal pollution source profile based on catchment data (e.g., prevalence of fecal sources) was used to formulate a hypothesis about the dominant sources of pollution in an Austrian mountainous karst spring catchment. This allowed a statistical definition of methodical requirements necessary for an informed choice of MST methods. The hypothesis was tested in a 17-month investigation of spring water quality. The study followed a nested sampling design in order to cover the hydrological and pollution dynamics of the spring and to assess effects such as differential persistence between parameters. Genetic markers for the potential fecal sources as well as microbiological, hydrological, and chemo-physical parameters were measured. The hypothesis that ruminant animals were the dominant sources of fecal pollution in the catchment was clearly confirmed. It was also shown that the concentration of ruminant markers in feces was equally distributed in different ruminant source groups. The developed approach provides a tool for careful decision-making in MST study design and might be applied on various types of catchments and pollution situations.     

Decomposition kinetics of dimethyl sulphide

Dimethyl sulphide is a well characterized off‐flavour in the brewing industry. The thermal re‐creation of dimethyl sulphide by the decomposition of dimethyl sulphide precursor in standardized wort is measured using pressure‐controlled boiling processes at different temperatures. The results are used for the calculation of decomposition speed constants and Arrhenius activation energies. Using these data the re‐creation of dimethyl sulphide during the wort production processes can be calculated and thereby optimized. Copyright © 2014 The Institute of Brewing & Distilling     

Determination ofN-nitrosodiethanolamine in cosmetics and in alkanolamines: results of collaborative studies

Summary Results of collaborative studies on methods for determination ofN-Nitrosodiethanolamine (NDELA), in cosmetics and in alkanolamines are reported. Participants from eleven laboratories in each study examined two freshly prepared model cosmetics, one emulsion and one shower gel and also one sample of triethanolamine. Samples were analyzed unspiked and after fortification with 50 g/kg NDELA. Distribution of unspiked and spiked samples and amounts of NDELA added were not known to the participants. In spiked samples overall mean values (±standard deviation) found for NDELA were 50 ± 9 gg/kg for the emulsion, 53 ± 8 gg/kg for the shower gel and 47 ± 10 g/kg for triethanolamine. With few exceptions, NDELA was not found in unspiked samples at concentrations exceeding the determination limit (10 gg/kg).

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Ergebnisse von Ringversuchen zur Bestimmung vonN-Nitrosodiethanolamin in Cosmetica und in Alkanolaminen

Zusammenfassung Ergebnisse von Ringversuchen zur Bestimmung vonN-Nitrosodiethanolamin (NDELA) in kosmetischen Mitteln and in Alkanolaminen werden beschrieben. Teilnehmer aus jeweils elf Laboratorien analysierten zwei kosmetische Mittel, die für diese Studie frisch hergestellt wurden, eine Emulsion und ein Duschbad Bowie eine Probe Triethanolamin. Die Proben wurden undotiert Bowie nach Zusatz von jeweils 50 g/kg NDELA untersucht, wobei die Verteilung und Höhe der Dotierung den Teilnehmern nicht bekannt wares. Die Gesamtmittelwerte betrugen für die dotierte Emulsion 50 g/kg NDELA±9 g/kg SD (Standardabweichung), für das dotierte Duschbad 53 g/kg NDELA±8 g/kg SD and fur das dotierte Triethanolamin 47 g/kg NDELA ± 10 g/kg SD. Mit wenigen Ausnahmen wurden in den undotierten Proben keine NDELA-Gehalte gefunden, die die Bestimmungsgrenze von 10 g/kg überschritten.

     

Separating the Role of Particles and the Suspending Fluid for the Flow of Soy Milks

The paper describes a model and a simple experimental method to determine suspension transport properties, separating the role of particles from the suspending fluid. Shear stresses are described as consisting of 2 components: 1st, a shear stress caused by the flow of the suspending fluid and 2nd, a shear stress caused by direct interaction between suspended particles. We show that the determination of these shear stresses of a complex (food) suspension is largely independent of the definition of its suspending fluid. The rheological behavior of soy milks at low and intermediate moisture contents was studied, and results are compared with those obtained previously. The method evidences that the high viscosity of soy milks is predominantly caused by direct particle interaction.     

Hot topic: Black spot defect in Cheddar cheese linked to intramammary teat sealant

The objective of this work was to characterize a novel appearance defect found in Cheddar cheese, heretofore referred to as black spot defect (BSD), and to determine an etiology. Uniformly distributed throughout the cheese mass, BSD appears as small spherical black spots from 0.20 to 4.7 mm in diameter and at an average frequency of about 2 spots per kg of cheese. To date, BSD has only been found in aged Cheddar cheese. Selected elemental analysis found the BSD region in cheese to have average concentrations of the element bismuth of approximately 400 μg/g, representing an approximately 2,500-fold increase over native levels of bismuth in cheese. Transmission electron microscopy analysis of the BSD region revealed amorphous solid structures and one-dimensional hair-like structures, neither of which was present in non-BSD regions. Such amorphous “nanorod” structures can be formed by the crystallization of bismuth III sulfide and are proposed to be a source of black discoloration. We hypothesize that localized bismuth salts entrained within the cheese curd react with hydrogen sulfide generated during aging to generate bismuth III sulfide. We further propose that the presence of localized bismuth salt precursor results from residual levels of a commercial intra-mammary teat sealant containing bismuth subnitrate that becomes unintentionally entrained within the cheese milk.     

A comparative study of oxygen transmission rates through polymer films based on fluorescence quenching

Information on oxygen permeability through polymer films is essential for some applications, especially in food packaging where the control of oxygen levels can be critical in avoiding food spoilage. A permeability testing device using fluorescence‐based optical oxygen sensing was developed as a potential new instrument for measuring the oxygen permeability of packaging films. The fluorescence‐based permeability tester was validated against two existing commercial oxygen permeability measuring devices, the Mocon Ox‐Tran 2/20 and PBI‐Dansensor OPT‐5000. Oxygen transmission rates (OTR) of polylactide (PLA) and nanoclay‐reinforced PLA films, as well as polyethylene/poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PE/PET) and polypropylene/poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PP/PET) laminated films were determined at 23°C and 50% relative humidity using each of these instruments. No significant differences were observed between mean OTR values obtained by the fluorescence method and the corresponding values obtained using the OPT‐5000 but significantly lower values were measured when using the Mocon Ox‐Tran 2/20. In general, oxygen permeability data for the tested films were within the range of values found in the literature; however, in terms of further development, the fluorescence‐based technique gave OTR with relatively high standard deviation compared to the commercial methods and equipment modifications to address this issue are considered desirable. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

ATM‐based wireless broadband access in the local loop

Broadband networks using wireless transmission techniques are a quick and flexible means of implementing subscriber access. Unoccupied frequency bands with sufficient bandwidth to allow the transmission of digital signals at very high bit rates are found only in the microwave bands. Because the path loss is fairly high at these frequencies, the diameter of radio cells is limited to a maximum of a few kilometres. This results in a microcellular system, which is best implemented in the form of a point‐to‐multipoint system, where one radio‐base station serves all subscribers registered in that radio cell. An interactive, broadband, ATM‐based radio local loop has undergone successful trials in Munich. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Determination of a kinetic factor influencing the vaporescence of flavour components from wort

The current article considers the question of whether vaporescence during wort boiling affects evaporation via the vapour side mass transport. Thereby the vaporization of unwanted flavour components (such as dimethyl sulphide or benzaldehyde) can be influenced negatively or positively, which affects the amount of energy needed. The question is pursued by pre‐calculation and experimental validation of the vapour side mass stream at the evaporation surface: for that purpose vaporescence trials were carried out in a plant trial, with both benzaldehyde and water as pure substances and a mixture of benzaldehyde and water in an infinite solution (x_i < 10^?6). Trial parameters were process temperature and volume stream of the gas phase. The results obtained by the trials with pure substances enable pre‐calculation of vapour side mass transport. Then, pre‐calculation is compared with the results of the mixture trials and thus verified. As a result it has to be stated that vaporescence in the brew houses is pre‐calculable and that the mass transport has an impact on the vaporescence at the vapour side boundary layer. Copyright © 2016 The Institute of Brewing & Distilling     

重型血友病甲基因诊断新技术的研究及其应用

远用长距离ＤＮＡ扩增技术成功地检测出凝血八因子ＦⅧ基因倒位缺陷患者，并检出该倒位的女性携带者。