Fast ephemeral DNA damage upon BaP injection

Injection of high concentrations of benzo[a]pyrene (10-125 micrograms BaP/g body weight) into young frogs (Xenopus laevis), fish (Gambusia affinis) or tissue culture cells (L 5178 Y) in a state of logarithmic growth causes alterations in DNA. In frogs these alterations reach a maximum at 60-90 min after application, then they decrease and become undetectable after 3 h. Within 8-12 days after the single BaP dose, a new wave of DNA alterations can again be detected. Parallel measurements of mixed function oxygenases (MFO) showed no short term activity changes within the first day. There was, however, an increase of activity starting on the 8th day following injection in frogs, and lasting until day 14. DNA alterations have been assessed by two methods. One is a modification of the alkaline filter elution method of Kohn et al. (1976) and is believed to determine the number of events leading to single strand breaks at alkaline pH. The other method determines the number of S1 nuclease sensitive sites in highly purified native DNA. Both results were found to be highly correlated. The effect does not seem to be caused by an impurity, unless an unknown, very minor, and extraordinarily active component is present. The effect in frogs is linked to nutritional status. Frogs fed a carbohydrate-rich, protein-poor diet do not give the fast response. The fast effect cannot be blocked by application of Actinomycin, Cordycepin, and Chloramphenicol injected either 30 min before or simultaneously with the BaP. Benzo(e)pyrene, a non-tumorigenic isomer of BaP, does not cause any effects at similar doses.     

Die Lebensdauer eines Wolframheizfadens unter verschiedenen Betriebsverhältnissen

Übersicht Wird der Wolframheizfaden in einer Röhre unter verschiedenen Betriebsverhältnissen (konstante Heizspannung bzw. Heizstrom, konstante Fadentemperatur oder Anodenstrom) betrieben, so entstehen durch die verschiedene Verdampfungsgeschwindigkeiten Differenzen in der Lebensdauer des Heizfadens. Die Lebensdauer sowohl als auch die Differentialgleichung für den zeitlichen Verlauf der Halbmesserverringerung und dadurch die Funktionr(t) sind für alle vier Fälle ermittelt worden. Die quantitativen Resultate können durch den Gebrauch der in der Tabelle 1 angegebenen Daten benutzt werden. Für die Spannungs- und Stromstabilisatoren sind außerdem die Stabilitätsformeln (Änderung der Stabilisierten Größe pro Stunde), welche für die praktische Anwendung von Sättigungsdioden in der Regeltechnik von Interesse sind, errechnet worden.Mit 2 Textabbildungen     

From Mass Customisation to Design ‘Democratisation’

Centuries of capitalism and democracy in North America have led to a landscape that can be characterised by an unrelenting normalcy and uniformity, whether it is rows of family houses behind picket fences in suburbia or clusters of glazed towers in downtown districts. Here, Branko Kolarevic , Professor and Chair in Integrated Design at the University of Calgary Faculty of Environmental Design, questions why at a time that the production of consumer goods has been revolutionised by mass customisation, buildings and cities have remained largely resistant to its forces.     

Raspberry wine fermentation with suspended and immobilized yeast cells of two strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The objectives of this study were to assess the differences in fermentative behaviour of two different strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (EC1118 and RC212) and to determine the differences in composition and sensory properties of raspberry wines fermented with immobilized and suspended yeast cells of both strains at 15 °C. Analyses of aroma compounds, glycerol, acetic acid and ethanol, as well as the kinetics of fermentation and a sensory evaluation of the wines, were performed. All fermentations with immobilized yeast cells had a shorter lag phase and faster utilization of sugars and ethanol production than those fermented with suspended cells. Slower fermentation kinetics were observed in all the samples that were fermented with strain RC212 (suspended and immobilized) than in samples fermented with strain EC1118. Significantly higher amounts of acetic acid were detected in all samples fermented with strain RC212 than in those fermented with strain EC1118 (0.282 and 0.602 g/l, respectively). Slightly higher amounts of glycerol were observed in samples fermented with strain EC1118 than in those fermented with strain RC212. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Differential scanning calorimetric examination of melamine–formaldehyde microcapsules containing decane

The main objective of this study was to investigate the composition of microcapsules and the degree of curing of melamine–formaldehyde (MF) resin, which formed a shell of microcapsules, by the use of differential dynamic calorimetry (DSC). For this purpose, decane was chosen as core material. The microencapsulation of decane with MF resin was carried out at different temperatures and pH values. The temperature and pH value were kept constant during the process. The composition of the microcapsules and the degree of curing of the shell material were studied during and after the microencapsulation process. DSC analysis, in combination with scanning electron microscopy analysis, was revealed as an effective tool for the investigation of the microencapsulation process with MF resin. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Novel boron-rich aluminum nitride advanced ceramic materials

Aluminum nitride (AlN) and boron nitride (BN) are well-known ceramic materials with numerous valuable properties, whereas recently there is a growing field of research on the AlN/BN advanced ceramic materials. Here, we present a study on boron-rich AlN, structural and electronic properties, and structure–property relationship. Several Al_xB_1−xN solid solutions (x = 1, .875, .75, and .625) have been investigated, and structure optimization has been performed for four different structure types: h-BN, wurtzite, sphalerite, and rock salt. First-principles calculations were performed using hybrid B3LYP functional. New modifications and compounds have been predicted as a function of boron concentration in AlN, and especially, interesting phase transitions were found at extreme pressure conditions. Electronic properties and band structures were computed, and the possibility for bandgap tuning has been discovered. The present study, and especially the structure–property relationship, gives new possibilities for bandgap engineering in boron-rich AlN electroceramic materials.     

Filter efficiency as a function of nanoparticle velocity and shape

The filtration efficiency of a conventional fibrous filter was investigated with particular emphasis on the removal of particles with different shapes. A previous study has shown that particles of spherical shape are removed from the gas carrier with efficiencies which are higher when compared to cubic particles of the same aerodynamic size. In this project, to challenge our previously made explanation, spherical PSL and cubic MgO particles were tested along with particles of sodium chloride (NaCl) of intermediate shape (cubic particles with rounded edges) at a range of filtration velocities from 5 to 20 cm/s. It was found that particles of NaCl are removed with efficiencies lower then those for PSL particles but higher than the efficiencies for cubic particles of MgO, at the lowest filtration velocity when inertial effects are negligible. The rounded NaCl particles, depending on the geometry of the contact, could either land on the rounded corner and hence roll, land on a sharp edge and hence tumble, or slide. This range of options alters the probability of detachment of the particle. The difference between the filter efficiencies for cubic MgO particles and intermediate shaped NaCl particles is decreasing with the increase in velocity. With increasing velocity, the filtration efficiency of the cubic MgO particles, exceeds the filtration efficiency for the intermediate shaped NaCl particles, due to the dominating inertial effects of the denser, and hence heavier, MgO particles. This paper shows the results of these experiments and, we hope, will ignite the interest of the aerosol community towards further theoretical analysis of the phenomenon.     

Encapsulation of thyme (Thymus serpyllum L.) aqueous extract in calcium alginate beads

BACKGROUND: Encapsulation of Thymus serpyllum L. aqueous extract within calcium alginate beads was studied in order to produce dosage formulations containing polyphenolic compounds. Electrostatic extrusion was applied for encapsulation of thyme aqueous extract in alginate gel beads. In addition to hydrogel beads, heat‐dried and freeze‐dried forms of beads were examined. METHODS: Encapsulation systems were examined and compared in order to choose the optimal one with respect to entrapment efficiency, preservation of antioxidant activity and thermal behaviour under heating conditions simulating the usual food processing. RESULTS: The beads obtained with approximately 2 mg g^?1 of gallic acid equivalents encapsulated in 0.015 g mL^?1 of alginate were spheres of a uniform size of about 730 µm. Encapsulation efficiency varied in the range 50‐80% depending on the encapsulation method. Besides, the analysis reveals that the encapsulation process and the material used did not degrade the bioactive compounds, as the total antioxidant content remained unchanged. This was verified by Fourier transform infrared analysis, which proved the absence of chemical interactions between extracted compounds and alginate. Addition of a filler substance, such as sucrose and inulin, in the dried product reduced its collapse and roundness distortion during drying process. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the potential of using hydrogel material for encapsulation of plant poplyphenols to improve their functionality and stability in food products. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry