Synthesis of the Antibiotic Precursor Thiazolyl‐7‐Aminocephalosporanic Acid in a Microstructured Flow System

The synthesis of thiazolyl‐7‐aminocephalosporanic acid, a pharmaceutical precursor of the β‐lactam antibiotic drug cefodizime, could be successfully realized in a continuous microstructured flow system. This was accomplished by changing the process window from batch, having a reaction temperature of 60 °C with a reaction time of 1 h, to a flow system at temperatures > 100 °C and reaction times of several minutes. The space‐time yield could be increased by a factor of 130.     

Anti-Inflammatory Treatment with FTY720 Starting after Onset of Symptoms Reverses Synaptic Deficits in an AD Mouse Model

Therapeutic approaches providing effective medication for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients after disease onset are urgently needed. Previous studies in AD mouse models suggested that physical exercise or changed lifestyle can delay AD-related synaptic and memory dysfunctions when treatment started in juvenile animals long before onset of disease symptoms, while a pharmacological treatment that can reverse synaptic and memory deficits in AD mice was thus far not identified. Repurposing food and drug administration (FDA)-approved drugs for treatment of AD is a promising way to reduce the time to bring such medication into clinical practice. The sphingosine-1 phosphate analog fingolimod (FTY720) was approved recently for treatment of multiple sclerosis patients. Here, we addressed whether fingolimod rescues AD-related synaptic deficits and memory dysfunction in an amyloid precursor protein/presenilin-1 (APP/PS1) AD mouse model when medication starts after onset of symptoms (at five months). Male mice received intraperitoneal injections of fingolimod for one to two months starting at five to six months. This treatment rescued spine density as well as long-term potentiation in hippocampal cornu ammonis-1 (CA1) pyramidal neurons, that were both impaired in untreated APP/PS1 animals at six to seven months of age. Immunohistochemical analysis with markers of microgliosis (ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1; Iba1) and astrogliosis (glial fibrillary acid protein; GFAP) revealed that our fingolimod treatment regime strongly down regulated neuroinflammation in the hippocampus and neocortex of this AD model. These effects were accompanied by a moderate reduction of Aβ accumulation in hippocampus and neocortex. Our results suggest that fingolimod, when applied after onset of disease symptoms in an APP/PS1 mouse model, rescues synaptic pathology that is believed to underlie memory deficits in AD mice, and that this beneficial effect is mediated via anti-neuroinflammatory actions of the drug on microglia and astrocytes.     

Beurteilung von Korrosionsschutzsystemen für Offshore‐Windenergietürme – Teil 1: Problemstellung und Versuchsdurchführung

Assessment of corrosion protection systems for offshore wind energy towers – part 1: Introduction and test scenario. Based on field and on laboratory tests, the corrosion protective performance of different corrosion protection systems for offshore wind energy towers was investigated. The systems under investigation included duplex systems with Zn/Al metallization, multi‐layered organic systems, a single‐layer thick organic system, Zn/Mg metallization and cathodic protection of uncoated sections. Special field specimens and laboratory specimens were utilized in order to investigate the systems. Laboratory tests included immersion tests, ageing tests, test on cathodic compatibility and electro‐chemical impedance spectroscopy. Part 1 of the paper covers the general experimental design and details of the experimental procedures, whereas Part 2 deals with the results of the test programme.     

Modification of wool fibers by atmospheric pressure plasma treatment

Shrink‐proofing processing of wool fabrics by vacuum plasma treatment has been studied for many years. However, as a wool shrink‐proofing processing method, discharge treatment under atmospheric pressure, such as corona and low‐temperature electric plasma treatment, has been studied recently. In this study, an attempt was made to improve shrink‐proofing and other properties of a wool fabric by low‐temperature plasma treatment. The wool fabric was treated by pulsed atmospheric pressure plasma using a dielectric barrier discharge apparatus of the Institute of Textile Technology at Denkendorf by varying the power and flow rate of air. Shrink‐proofing, dyeing yield and water‐absorbing properties increased to a greater degree with the increase in the treatment time. However, the effect was saturated at 3 min. On the other hand, hysteresis of shearing property at large shear angle (2HG5), which is one of the mechanical parameters for measuring fabric hand by the Kawabata evaluation system (KES), becomes larger with the treatment time. It can be concluded that shear hysteresis value is related to the improvement in shrink‐proofing and other properties of the wool fabric.     

The influence of nitrate on the physiology of the yeast Dekkera bruxellensis grown under oxygen limitation

A previous study showed that the use of nitrate by Dekkera bruxellensis might be an advantageous trait when ammonium is limited in sugarcane substrate for ethanol fermentation. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the influence of nitrate on the yeast physiology during cell growth in different carbon sources under oxygen limitation. If nitrate was the sole source of nitrogen, D. bruxellensis cells presented slower growth, diminished sugar consumption and growth‐associated ethanol production, when compared to ammonium. These results were corroborated by the increased expression of genes involved in the pentose phosphate (PP) pathway, the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle and ATP synthesis. The presence of ammonium in the mixed medium restored most parameters to the standard conditions. This work may open up a line of investigation to establish the connection between nitrate assimilation and energetic metabolism in D. bruxellensis and their influence on its fermentative capacity in oxygen‐limited or oxygen‐depleted conditions. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Maßnahmen zur Verbesserung der Richtigkeit von Stahlanalysen mit Automaten

Das Verhältnis der Vergleichbarkeit zwischen den Laboratorien zu der Wiederholbarkeit innerhalb der Laboratorien bei der Erstellung von analytischen Informationen läßt auf systematische Unterschiede zwischen den Laboratorien schließen. Die so konstatierte unterschiedlich gute Beschreibung der Realität soll durch Erzeugen analytischer Informationen größtmöglicher Richtigkeit verbessert werden. Das wird erreicht durch Referenz; das ist eine definierte Atomzahl des Analyten, die nach einer Voranalyse durch Rekonstitution der Probenportion in Form einer festen oder flüssigen Lösung den gleichen physikalischen und chemischen Bedingungen ausgesetzt wird wie die Analysenprobe. Es werden der Produktion angepaßte sekundäre Referenzproben erzeugt für die Eichkontrolle der Analysengeräte nach mehreren Methoden. Dabei soll schließlich durch minimalen Aufwand eine maximale Übertragung des Vertrauens in die Referenz auf den Analyten in der Analysenprobe gesichert werden.     

The politics and policy of energy system transformation—explaining the German diffusion of renewable energy technology

To arrest climate change, a transition to a low-carbon economy must take place quite rapidly, within a century at most. Thus, the rate of diffusion of new technologies such as those for the generation of electricity from renewable energy sources becomes a central issue. This article explores the reasons for the particularly rapid spread of two such technologies in Germany, wind turbines and solar cells. We trace this diffusion to the nature of the policy instruments employed and to the political process which led to the adoption of these instruments. The analysis demonstrates how the regulatory framework is formed in a ‘battle over institutions’ where the German parliament, informed and supported by an advocacy coalition of growing strength, backed support policies for renewables sourced electricity against often reluctant governments and the opposition from nuclear and coal interests. It also demonstrates that this major political and environmental achievement carries a modest price if we consider total costs to society, i.e. including both subsidies to coal and the negative external economies of coal.