Limits to Nanopatterning of Fluids on Surfaces in Soft Lithography

Soft lithographic microcontact printing using the residual polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) found in elastomeric PDMS stamps is demonstrated to lead to unstable prints with sub‐micrometer dimensions. The statics and dynamics of the process have been followed with time‐resolved atomic force microscopy, imaging ellipsometry, water contact angle measurement, and optical diffraction. It is proposed that this instability places a fundamental limitation on patterning by macromolecular fluids, which is of general relevance to soft lithography and nanoimprint lithography with low viscosity polymers.     

Effects of Fusarium infection on the amino acid composition of winter wheat grain

Winter wheat (susceptible cultivar Ritmo) was grown in 2006 near Kiel and in 2007 near Heide in northern Germany. Plants were inoculated at anthesis using a Fusarium graminearum macroconidial suspension. The percentage of Fusarium-damaged kernels (FDK) ranged from 0 ± 2% to 28 ± 2%. The contents of the Fusarium mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) and wheat amino acids were determined in the grain. Levels of the amino acids alanine, lysine, and tyrosine increased with the percentage of FDK or DON contents whereas glutamic acid contents decreased. Aspartic acid and threonine were not related to the percentage of FDK or DON contents. Effects of Fusarium infection on other amino acids were significant only at the sampling site with the higher degree of Fusarium-damage. Interestingly, those amino acids that increased consistently and significantly with the degree of Fusarium-damage are derived from phosphoenolpyruvate or pyruvate, suggesting that pathogen-induced changes in the glycolytic input for amino acid biosynthesis play a significant role for the amino acid composition of Fusarium-damaged winter wheat grain. On average, amino acid contents decreased by 0.13% compared to the amino acid content of sound kernels upon an increase of 1% of FDK.     

Colour formation in fermented sausages by meat-associated staphylococci with different nitrite- and nitrate-reductase activities

Three Staphylococcus strains, S. carnosus, S. simulans and S. saprophyticus, selected due to their varying nitrite and/or nitrate-reductase activities, were used to initiate colour formation during sausage fermentation. During fermentation of sausages with either nitrite or nitrate added, colour was followed by L^*a^*b measurements and the content of nitrosylmyoglobin (MbFe^IINO) quantified by electron spin resonance (ESR). MbFe^IINO was rapidly formed in sausages with added nitrite independent of the presence of nitrite reducing bacteria, whereas the rate of MbFe^IINO formation in sausages with added nitrate depended on the specific Staphylococcus strain. Strains with high nitrate-reductase activity showed a significantly faster rate of pigment formation, but other factors were of influence as well. Product stability for the sliced, packaged sausage was evaluated as surface colour and oxidation by autofluorescence and hexanal content, respectively. No significant direct effect of the Staphylococcus addition was observed, however, there was a clear correspondence between high initial amount of MbFe^IINO in the different sausages and the colour stability during storage. Autofluorescence data correlated well with hexanal content, and may be used as predictive tools. Overall, nitrite- and nitrate-reductase activities of Staphylococcus strains in nitrite-cured sausages were of limited importance regarding colour development, while in nitrate-cured sausages strains with higher nitrate reductase activity were crucial for ensuring optimal colour formation during initial fermentation stages.     

Assessment of pre-combustion decarbonisation schemes for polygeneration from fossil fuels

This article deals with emerging poly-generation schemes that employ pre-combustion decarbonisation of fossil fuels—eventually with options for geological storage of the CO₂. Inevitably, such schemes are highly complex, and may require new approaches and knowledge on interactions between key components in large plants, as even new technologies and features are expected to occur in due course as the experience from polygeneration matures. Reference is made to the European DYNAMIS project and the Sino-European project COACH—both conducted under the auspices of the European Commission.

How have we arrived at the present state of knowledge in process control? Is there a lesson to be learned?

The utilization of the results of control theory in the process control field has been lagging behind other application fields such as aerospace by many years. It is argued that the availability of high capacity computing at low price will change this situation and that new powerful control techniques can now be implemented in process control.     

A Shrink Wrapping Approach to Remeshing Polygonal Surfaces

Due to their simplicity and flexibility, polygonal meshes are about to become the standard representation for surface geometry in computer graphics applications. Some algorithms in the context of multiresolution representation and modeling can be performed much more efficiently and robustly if the underlying surface tesselations have the special subdivision connectivity. In this paper, we propose a new algorithm for converting a given unstructured triangle mesh into one having subdivision connectivity. The basic idea is to simulate the shrink wrapping process by adapting the deformable surface technique known from image processing. The resulting algorithm generates subdivision connectivity meshes whose base meshes only have a very small number of triangles. The iterative optimization process that distributes the mesh vertices over the given surface geometry guarantees low local distortion of the triangular faces. We show several examples and applications including the progressive transmission of subdivision surfaces.     

Fensteröffnung in Passivhäusern

Window opening in passive solar dwellings Discussions of the user influence on the heating energy consumption of buildings are often controversial. A particularly significant issue is the opening of windows. However, concrete data about user behaviour are rarely available, and the actual consequences of open windows on the heating energy consumption are not understood very well. Based on measured data, this paper discusses the duration of additional window opening in passive solar dwellings, typical behaviour patterns, influence factors and the consequences on the heating energy consumption. Window opening during the summer is also considered. The study is based on measurements carried out at the passive solar housing development in Wiesbaden‐Dotzheim [1], [2] during 2001 and 2002.     

Biegebemessung von Bauteilen aus ultrahochfestem Beton

Design for Bending and Bending with axial force of Ultra High Performance Concrete Ultra high performance concrete (UHPC) differs from normaland high strength concrete by having a more compact material structure. The UHPC components show a higher resistance against mechanical abrasions and freeze‐thaw‐stress as well as a greater impermeability for fluids and gases. Without adding steel fibres UHPC is a very brittle material, which fails abruptly. A ductile material behaviour can be reached by using steel fibres. This article describes how to design a UHPC for bending and bending with axial force by generating stress‐strain‐relation.     

Tailored Systemic Therapy for Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastases

Liver metastases are the most common site of metastatic spread in colorectal cancer. Current treatment approaches involve effective systemic therapies in combination with surgical and/or interventional strategies. Multimodal strategies greatly improved clinical outcomes of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer over the last decades. Identification of predictive and prognostic biomarkers helped to comprehensively refine individual targeted treatment approaches and resulted in median overall survival rates of 30 months or longer. Current guidelines, thus, recommend treatment selection according to patients’ performance status, tumor localization and stage as well as the tumor’s molecular and genetic status. Here, we outline the latest developments in molecular decision-making for patients with upfront resectable, potentially or initially unresectable and non/never-resectable colorectal cancer liver metastases.