Extraction and quantification of phytoestrogens in foods using automated solid-phase extraction and LC/MS/MS

Phytoestrogens are a group of polyphenolic plant metabolites that can induce biological responses. Their bioactivity is based on their similarity to 17beta-estradiol and their ability to bind to the beta-estrogen receptor. Although epidemiological data are inconclusive, phytoestrogens are considered to be beneficial for a variety of conditions, for example, hormone-related cancers like breast and prostate cancer. To investigate the biological effects of these compounds and to assess the exposure of larger cohorts or the general public, reliable data on the phytoestrogen content of food is necessary. Previously, food analysis for phytoestrogens was performed using either HPLC-UV or GC/MS. Here, we describe the development of the first generic method for the analysis of phytoestrogens in food, using automated solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The presented method shows a good reproducibility and can be easily adapted to other phytoestrogens if required.     

The Formation of Calcified Nanospherites during Micropetrosis Represents a Unique Mineralization Mechanism in Aged Human Bone

Osteocytes—the central regulators of bone remodeling—are enclosed in a network of microcavities (lacunae) and nanocanals (canaliculi) pervading the mineralized bone. In a hitherto obscure process related to aging and disease, local plugs in the lacuno‐canalicular network disrupt cellular communication and impede bone homeostasis. By utilizing a suite of high‐resolution imaging and physics‐based techniques, it is shown here that the local plugs develop by accumulation and fusion of calcified nanospherites in lacunae and canaliculi (micropetrosis). Two distinctive nanospherites phenotypes are found to originate from different osteocytic elements. A substantial deviation in the spherites' composition in comparison to mineralized bone further suggests a mineralization process unlike regular bone mineralization. Clearly, mineralization of osteocyte lacunae qualifies as a strong marker for degrading bone material quality in skeletal aging. The understanding of micropetrosis may guide future therapeutics toward preserving osteocyte viability to maintain mechanical competence and fracture resistance of bone in elderly individuals.     

Process optimization for efficient biomediated PHA production from animal-based waste streams

Conventional polymers are made of crude oil components through chemical polymerization. The aim of the project ANIMPOL is to produce biopolymers by converting lipids into polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) in a novel process scheme to reduce dependence on crude oil and decrease greenhouse gas emissions. PHA constitutes a group of biobased and biodegradable polyesters that may substitute fossil-based polymers in a wide range of applications. Waste streams from slaughtering cattle are used as substrate material. Lipids from rendering are used in this process scheme for biodiesel production. Slaughtering waste streams may also be hydrolyzed to achieve higher lipid yield. Biodiesel then is separated into a high- and low-quality fraction. High-quality biodiesel meets requirements for sale as fuel and low quality is used for PHA production as carbon source. Selected offal material is used for acid hydrolysis and serves as a source of organic nitrogen as well as carbon source for PHA-free biomass with high production rate in fermentation process. Nitrogen is a limiting factor to control PHA production during the fermentation process. It is available for bacterial growth from hydrolyzed waste streams as well as added separately as NH₄OH solution. Selected microbial strains are used to produce PHA from this substrate. The focus of the paper is about an overview of the whole process with the main focus on hydrolysis, to look for the possibility of using offal hydrolysis as an organic nitrogen substitute. The process design is optimized by minimizing waste streams and energy losses through cleaner production. Ecological evaluation of the process design will be done through footprint calculation according to Sustainable Process Index methodology.     

On-line monitoring and identification of bioaerosols

Fast analysis of bioaerosols in clean room environments is necessary in order to prevent contamination of pharmaceutical products, minimize machine downtimes, or both. The detection and identification of microbes will be carried out in several steps: After impaction of the aerosol on a surface, the particles are presorted with glancing light illumination and fluorescence imaging in order to distinguish between abiotic and biotic particles. Since only the biotic particles are of interest, the analysis time can be minimized due to reduction of the data set. The biotic particles are then analyzed further with Raman spectroscopy and identified with a support vector machine.     

Dynamic diffusion model for tracing the real-time potential response of polymeric membrane ion-selective electrodes

A numerical solution for the prediction of the time-dependent potential response of a polymeric-based ion-selective electrode (ISE) is presented. The model addresses short- and middle-term potential drifts that are dependent on changes in concentration gradients in the aqueous sample and organic membrane phase. This work has important implications for the understanding of the real-time response behavior of potentiometric sensors with low detection limits and with nonclassical super-Nernstian response slopes. As a model system, the initial exposure of membranes containing the well-examined silver ionophore O,O' '-bis[2-(methylthio)ethyl]-tert-butylcalix[4]arene was monitored, and the large observed potential drifts were compared to theoretical predictions. The model is based on an approximate solution of the diffusion equation for both aqueous and organic diffusion layers using a numerical scheme (finite difference in time and finite elements in space). The model may be evaluated on the basis of experimentally available parameters and gives time-dependent information previously inaccessible with a simpler steady-state diffusion model. For the cases studied, the model gave a very good correlation with experimental data, albeit with lower than expected diffusion coefficients for the organic phase. This model may address numerous open questions regarding the response time and memory effects of low-detection-limit ion-selective electrodes and for other membrane electrodes where ion fluxes are relevant.     

Developing Biotechnology Clusters in Non-high Technology Regions—The Case of Austria

This paper explores the role of distant knowledge links and policy actions for the development of biotechnology clusters. It seeks to challenge the prevailing view that the birth and early development of high technology industries are always spontaneous phenomena which are mainly based on local knowledge. Departing from the theoretical concept of regional innovation systems (RIS), a distinction between “RIS with strong potentials for high technology industries” and “RIS with weak potentials for high technology industries” will be drawn. It will be argued that in the latter case the development of biotechnology clusters is more dependent on distant knowledge sources and proactive policy efforts to create a favourable environment for high technology activities. Furthermore, it will be shown that a far-reaching transformation of the regional innovation system is crucial for catching-up processes of regions which are latecomers in high technology sectors such as biotechnology.     

Designing a Production Line to Maximize Profit

The relationship between profitability and efficiency in a production line is discussed at length for the continuous production model. We prove that a solution which maximizes efficiency will not necessarily maximize profit. Several useful relationships between profitability and efficiency are developed which can greatly enhance computational efficiency. A solution procedure is developed which will determine the optimal number of work stations by maximizing an assumed profit function. An example is provided to illustrate these relationships and the entire solution procedure.     

Assessing cellular toxicities in fibroblasts upon exposure to lipid-based nanoparticles: a high content analysis approach

Lipid-based nanoparticles (LNPs) are widely used for the delivery of drugs and nucleic acids. Although most of them are considered safe, there is confusing evidence in the literature regarding their potential cellular toxicities. Moreover, little is known about the recovery process cells undergo after a cytotoxic insult. We have previously studied the systemic effects of common LNPs with different surface charge (cationic, anionic, neutral) and revealed that positively charged LNPs ((+)LNPs) activate pro-inflammatory cytokines and induce interferon response by acting as an agonist of Toll-like receptor 4 on immune cells. In this study, we focused on the response of human fibroblasts exposed to LNPs and their cellular recovery process. To this end, we used image-based high content analysis (HCA). Using this strategy, we were able to show simultaneously, in several intracellular parameters, that fibroblasts can recover from the cytotoxic effects of (+)LNPs. The use of HCA opens new avenues in understanding cellular response and nanotoxicity and may become a valuable tool for screening safe materials for drug delivery and tissue engineering.     

Measurement and Risk Scales of Crane-Related Safety Factors on Construction Sites

This paper addresses quantitative measurement and risk scales of safety hazards on construction sites due to the work of tower cranes. Hazard measurement and risk scales are essential components of an integrated model aimed at quantitatively determining the safety level of individual construction sites, on a comparative basis. The paper focuses on two factors identified in earlier studies as considerably affecting safety on sites with tower cranes, “overlapping cranes” and “operator proficiency.” These two factors are inherently different from each other in their characteristics and therefore also in the methods used to measure both the factors and the risk resulting from them. A probability-based method was prescribed for the measurement of overlapping cranes, while the analytical hierarchy process method and knowledge elicitation from experts were applied to develop metrics for operator proficiency. In both cases, an intimate understanding of the crane work environment is necessary. The uniform format and specific methodologies presented here can be used in the development of measurement techniques and risk scales for other safety factors concerning crane operation on construction sites.