Formation of tyramine byLactobacillus curvatus LTH 972

The effect of food-related environmental factors on the formation of tyramine byLactobacillus curvatus LTH 972 was investigated in liquid culture supplemented with tyrosine. The highest concentrations of tyramine (up to 201 mg/l) were formed at 30 °C, pH 5.2 and at a water activity (a_w) of 0.97. At lower temperatures and at higher pH- and a_w values the reaction slowed down but was still clearly detectable. Glucose, nitrate and nitrite had no effect at concentrations applied in sausage fermentations. The strain was able to form tyramine from tyrosine-containing di- and tripeptides in phosphate buffer. Therefore, in proteinaceous substrates an increased formation of tyramine cannot be excluded when ongoing proteolysis creates precursors, as is the case in the presence of proteolytic micro-organisms.

---

Die Bildung von Tyramin durchLactobacillus curvatus LTH 972

Zusammenfassung Der Einfluß von Lebensmittel kennzeichnenden ökologischen Faktoren auf die Bildung von Tyramin durchLactobacillus curvatus LTH 972 wurde in Flüssigkultur mit Tyrosinzusatz untersucht. Höchste Konzentrationen an Tyramin (bis zu 201 mg/l) wurden bei 30 °C, pH 5,2 und a_w 0,97 gebildet. Bei niedrigeren Temperaturen (15 °C) sowie höheren pH- und a_w-Werten wurde eine verlangsamte, aber dennoch deutliche Tyraminbildung beobachtet. Glucose, Nitrat und Nitrit hatten in Konzentrationen, wie sie bei der Rohwurstherstellung üblich sind, keinen Einfluß. Eine Tyraminbildung aus Di- und Tripeptiden mit Tyrosylresten wurde in Phosphatpuffer beobachtet. In proteinreichen Substraten ist daher eine verstärkte Tyraminbildung nicht auszuschließen, wenn bei ablaufender Proteolyse Präkursoren gebildet werden, wie es z. B. bei Anwesenheit proteolytischer Mikroorganismen möglich ist.

     

Computational statistics for cell survival curves. I. Evaluation of the colony-forming ability of a single cell strain by the APL function CFALINE

An interactive program for the statistical analysis of cell survival curves by a linear regression approach is described. It allows for the computational determination of the linear part of a cell survival curve and the determination of a common slope estimate in the presence of repeated experiments for a particular cell strain with the appropriate variance estimates and confidence intervals.     

Constructive thinking: A broad coping variable with specific components.

The structure of constructive thinking and the development of an instrument for measuring it, the Constructive Thinking Inventory (CTI), were discussed. Scales were derived from a factor analysis of an item domain of people's everyday automatic thinking. When the CTI and other tests were factor analyzed, separate intellective and nonintellective factors were found, with the CTI loading more strongly on the nonintellective factor than any other test. Only measures of IQ loaded on the intellective factor. The global constructive thinking scale correlated significantly with success in work, love, social relationships, and in maintaining emotional and physical well-being, but not with academic achievement, the only criterion with which the measures of IQ correlated strongly. The patterns of correlations between the CTI scales and the various criteria as well as the factor analysis demonstrated that the construct of constructive thinking is differentiated as well as integrated. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Small and Large Scale Fire Experiments with Electric Cables under Well-Ventilated and Vitiated Conditions

Results from a series of small scale (using the DIN 53 436 tube furnace) and large scale experiments (using the IEC 60332-3 rig) are presented for two types of power transmission cables used in buildings. The results are unique in that they catalogue the production of a wide variety of organic and inorganic species under different fire conditions. The experiments were conducted to provide input to an LCA model and the specific organic species studied in detail have been chosen based on the information required by the LCA model.During the process of this study it became apparent that information concerning quantitative organic species evolution from cable fires is lacking in the open literature. This paper aims to provide such information for two specific sets of fire conditions, i.e., a well-ventilated and a vitiated cable riser fire.     

Aesthetics and the environment.

This article presents a framework for understanding aesthetic experience, with special reference to the natural environment. The framework entails 2 broad perspectives. First, from a functional perspective, aesthetic experiences are analyzed in terms of biological, sociocultural, and psychological systems of behavior; succinctly stated, objects are experienced aesthetically if they activate cognitive representations of response patterns that do or did contribute to the survival or enhancement of the species, society, or the self. Second, from the perspective of mediating mechanisms, the cognitive processes that enable aesthetic experiences are examined. The mechanisms discussed range from simple sensory processes to the activation and transformation of complex schemes. To the extent that cognitive representations of behavioral systems are flexible and subject to elaboration and refinement, aesthetic experience is a creative, skillful act. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Liquid crystalline nanowires in porous alumina: geometric confinement versus influence of pore walls

Aligned liquid crystalline nanowires within ordered porous alumina templates show a pronounced texture on a macroscopic scale. We have investigated the influence of the geometric confinement and the nature of the pore walls on the mesophase formation by means of X-ray diffraction. The apparent texture is the result of a complex interplay of the pore geometry, interfacial phenomena, and the thermal history. Pores with a diameter of a few hundred nm guide the mesophase formation more efficiently than those with a diameter below 100 nm.     

PPARdelta in Affected Atopic Dermatitis and Psoriasis: A Possible Role in Metabolic Reprograming

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are nuclear hormone receptors expressed in the skin. Three PPAR isotypes, α (NRC1C1), β or δ (NRC1C2) and γ (NRC1C3), have been identified. After activation through ligand binding, PPARs heterodimerize with the 9-cis-retinoic acid receptor (RXR), another nuclear hormone receptor, to bind to specific PPAR-responsive elements in regulatory regions of target genes mainly involved in organogenesis, cell proliferation, cell differentiation, inflammation and metabolism of lipids or carbohydrates. Endogenous PPAR ligands are fatty acids and fatty acid metabolites. In past years, much emphasis has been given to PPARα and γ in skin diseases. PPARβ/δ is the least studied PPAR family member in the skin despite its key role in several important pathways regulating inflammation, keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation, metabolism and the oxidative stress response. This review focuses on the role of PPARβ/δ in keratinocytes and its involvement in psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. Moreover, the relevance of targeting PPARβ/δ to alleviate skin inflammation is discussed.     

Interactions between ABC‐transport proteins and the secondary Fusarium metabolites enniatin and beauvericin

Enniatins (ENN) and beauvericin (BEA) exert cytotoxic properties. Here, we observed that their impact on Ca²⁺‐homeostasis can be reversed by exogenous ATP. Thus, we investigated whether membrane‐located ATP‐binding cassette (ABC) transporters influence ENNs‐ and BEA‐induced cytotoxicity. In short‐term exposure assays breast cancer resistance protein (ABCG2)‐overexpression weakly but significantly reduced the cytotoxic activity of BEA but not ENNs. In contrast, multidrug resistance‐associated protein‐1 (ABCC1)‐ and P‐glycoprotein (ABCB1)‐overexpression was not protective under identical conditions. ABCG2‐mediated resistance against BEA was reversible by ABCG2 modulators. In long‐term exposure assays, ABCG2 and ABCB1 significantly protected against ENNs‐ and to a lesser extent BEA‐induced cytotoxicity. Moreover, both fusariotoxins potently inhibited the ABCG2‐ and ABCB1‐mediated efflux of specific fluorescent substrates, with BEA being more effective. Additionally, ATPase and photoaffinity‐labelling assays proofed interaction of both substances with ABCG2 and ABCB1. Remarkably, 2 years selection of KB‐3‐1 cells against both fusariotoxins resulted only in two‐fold ENNs but negligible BEA resistance. Interestingly, the selected sublines displayed upregulation of multidrug resistance proteins and crossresistance to other chemotherapeutics. Summarizing, ABCG2 and ABCB1 slightly but significantly protect human cells against ENNs‐ and BEA‐induced cytotoxicity. However, both mycotoxins potently interact with ABCB1 and ABCG2 transport functions suggesting influences on bioavailability of xenobiotics and pharmaceuticals.     

Interface effects in NaAlH4–carbon nanocomposites for hydrogen storage

For practical solid-state hydrogen storage, reversibility under mild conditions is crucial. Complex metal hydrides such as NaAlH₄ and LiBH₄ have attractive hydrogen contents. However, hydrogen release and especially uptake after desorption are sluggish and require high temperatures and pressures. Kinetics can be greatly enhanced by nanostructuring, for instance by confining metal hydrides in a porous carbon scaffold. We present for a detailed study of the impact of the nature of the carbon–metal hydride interface on the hydrogen storage properties. Nanostructures were prepared by melt infiltration of either NaAlH₄ or LiBH₄ into a carbon scaffold, of which the surface had been modified, varying from H-terminated to oxidized (up to 4.4 O/nm²). It has been suggested that the chemical and electronic properties of the carbon/metal hydride interface can have a large influence on hydrogen storage properties. However, no significant impact on the first H₂ release temperatures was found. In contrast, the surface properties of the carbon played a major role in determining the reversible hydrogen storage capacity. Only a part of the oxygen-containing groups reacted with hydrides during melt infiltration, but further reaction during cycling led to significant losses, with reversible hydrogen storage capacity loss up to 40% for surface oxidized carbon. However, if the carbon surface had been hydrogen terminated, ∼6 wt% with respect to the NaAlH₄ weight was released in the second cycle, corresponding to 95% reversibility. This clearly shows that control over the nature and amount of surface groups offers a strategy to achieve fully reversible hydrogen storage in complex metal hydride-carbon nanocomposites.