Experimentelle Bestimmung des maximalen Säurebildungs- bzw. Pufferungspotentials von sulfidhaltigen Lockergesteinen

A simple titrimetric oxidation test using hydrogen peroxide was developed for the determination of the maximum quantity of acid releasable from tip sands by pyrite oxidation. The acid buffering capacity of the respective sample can be estimated by balancing the maximum amount of acid releasable by weathering (worst case) with the amount calculated theoretically from the total sulphur. The measurement of the pH and the electrical conductivity in the oxidised sample already allows a semi-quantitative assessment of the worst case. These analysis methods, conductable with little laboratorial expenditure and appliable to large sample quantities are used to estimate the maximum possible acid release from aquifers.     

Cellulose as an extracellular matrix component present in Enterobacter sakazakii biofilms

Cellulose was identified and characterized as an extracellular matrix component present in the biofilm of an Enterobacter sakazakii clinical isolate grown in nutrient-deficient (M9) medium. Using a bacterial artificial cloning approach in Escherichia coli and subsequent screening of transformants for fluorescence on calcofluor plates, nine genes organized in two operons were identified as putatively responsible for the biosynthesis of cellulose. In addition to the genes already described for cellulose production, two more genes were identified, putatively transcribed together with the genes from the first operon. Putative cellulose in E. sakazakii ES5 biofilm grown on glass coverslips was visualized by calcofluor staining and confocal fluorescence laser scanning microscopy. For the first time, the presence of cellulose in biofilms produced by E. sakazakii was confirmed by methylation analysis.     

Innovative Stahltragwerke für das Museo del Acero in Mexiko

The former industrial site ‘Parque Fundidora’ in Monterrey, Mexico was turned into a museum site with entertainment facilities. Within these modifications a disused steel mill was converted to a steel museum, showing past and present of the local steelwork industry. The museum opened to the public in the fall of 2007 and was immediately designated a “Monumento Nacional de Mexicox”. One part of the museum complex is the old steel mill that was refurbished and made accessible by open‐air walkways. Another part of the Museo del Acero is a new building that is connected to the existing structure at ground floor level. Due to the site's topography, the new building is partially located underground. Three elements are particularly noteworthy when considering the new building: the facetted roof of the Steel Gallery, a wide‐spanning helical stair, and an extremely transparent glass façade with a lightweight supporting structure made out of steel. These three structures are described in the following article.     

Textile-Based Sensors for Inspection of Composite Materials

The monitoring of mechanical deformation and damage of composite materials is normally performed by established analytical methods,such as strain gauges and opt...     

The hydroxycinnamic acid content of barley and brewers’ spent grain (BSG) and the potential to incorporate phenolic extracts of BSG as antioxidants into fruit beverages

The hydroxycinnamic acid (HA) content of starting barley for brewers’ spent grains (BSG), whole BSG and phenolic extracts from BSG was measured using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and correlated with antioxidant potential. The effect of BSG phenolic extracts on antioxidant activity of fruit beverages was also assessed (using the total phenolic content (TPC), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays). The concentration of HA present in barley extract and BSG was in the order of ferulic acid (FA), p-coumaric acid (p-CA) derivatives, FA derivatives, p-CA, caffeic acid (CA) and CA derivatives. Results suggested that brewing and roasting decreased the HA content. Antioxidant activity was significantly (P < 0.05) correlated with caffeic acid (R² = 0.8309) and total HA (R² = 0.3942) concentrations. Addition of extracts to fruit beverages resulted in a significant (P < 0.05) increase in antioxidant activity of cranberry juice, measured by the FRAP assay. In vitro digestion significantly (P < 0.05) reduced TPC, DPPH and FRAP activity of the fruit beverages.     

Impact of minimal heat-processing on pectin methylesterase and peroxidase activity in freshly squeezed <Emphasis Type="Italic">Citrus</Emphasis> juices

The impact of minimal heat-processing of juices on the activities of endogenous pectin methylesterase (PE) and peroxidase (POD) was compared between Citrus species. Mono-cultivar juices were produced from three orange (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck cvs. ‘Navelina’, ‘Salustiana’, and ‘Navelate’), two lemon (Citrus limon (L.) Burm. f. cvs. ‘Verna’ and ‘Primofiori’), and two Clementine mandarin varieties (Citrus reticulata Blanco cvs. ‘Marisol’ and ‘Clemenules’). Two mandarin hybrids (cvs. ‘Ortanique’ and ‘Clemenvilla’) were likewise used. The freshly squeezed juices were subjected to continuous treatments at six different temperatures (42–92 °C) with subsequent re-cooling on the pilot plant scale. In fresh Citrus juice, POD activities notably varied between 0.2 and 7.5 nkat g⁻¹ of juice, whereas PE activities were more uniform (0.4–1.5 PE units g⁻¹). In all juices, except ‘Ortanique’ juice, heating ≥42 °C for 12 s reduced POD activity below 4.3% of the maximum activity in fresh Citrus juice. Thermal tolerance of the thermo-labile PE fraction was overall much higher, but varied among juices during heating at temperatures ≤62 °C. Overall thermal resistance of PE was though comparable, with deactivation exceeding 84%, mostly even 90%, after thermal treatments ≥72 °C. Unlike POD, total PE activity proved to be an indicator of freshness that is universally applicable to Citrus juices derived from orange, mandarin, and lemon or blends thereof. Freshly squeezed juices can analytically be distinguished from cold-stored, minimally processed products that display an almost completely inactivated thermo-labile PE fraction and thus extended shelf life.     

Isolation and characterization of a major allergen in kiwi fruit

 The isolation of an important allergen in kiwi fruit (Actinidia chinensis) by ion-exchange chromatography (IEC) and micropreparative SDS-PAGE followed by electroelution is reported. The purity of the allergen was analysed by SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting with sera from patients who have an allergy to kiwi. The allergen was shown to have a molecular weight of 43 kDa by SDS-PAGE/immunoblotting and an isoelectric point of approximately 6.9 as estimated by IEC. In accordance with World Health Organization nomenclature, this allergen is called Act c 2. By immunoblot inhibition it was shown that epitopes from different allergens in kiwi fruit are also located on Act c 2. N-terminal amino acid sequencing of 17 amino acid residues did not reveal homology with the major allergens in birch pollen (Bet v 1), apple (Mal d 1) or with other proteins of allergenic plant foods. In addition, the isoelectric point of a 67-kDa allergen in kiwi fruit was estimated to be 7.4 by IEC, but micropreparative isolation of this allergen failed because of its very low content in the fruit. Received: 14 April 1997     

Oxidation of alcohols using RuMnCe catalysts

The combination of ruthenium, manganese as well as cerium oxides formed an active catalytic system for the oxidation of 2-octanol and other alcohols. The addition of manganese species as promotors resulted in more active catalysts than comparable cobalt-doped oxidic materials. The application of RuMnCe oxides on redox-active supports, such as TiO₂ or CeO₂, by deposition–precipitation caused a further improvement of catalytic activity. A tolerance to nitrogen-containing substrates was observed.     

Isothermal DNA amplification coupled with DNA nanosphere-based colorimetric detection

We present a simple, rapid method for detecting short DNA sequences that combines a novel isothermal amplification method (EXPAR) with visual, colorimetric readout based on aggregation of DNA-functionalized gold nanospheres. The reaction is initiated by a trigger oligonucleotide, synthetic in nature for this proof-of-principle study, which is exponentially amplified at 55 degrees C and converted to a universal reporter oligonucleotide capable of bridging two sets of DNA-functionalized gold nanospheres. This reaction provides >10(6)-fold amplification/conversion in under 5 min. When combined with a solution containing DNA nanospheres, the bridging reporter causes nanosphere aggregation. The resulting color change from red to dark purple or blue is enhanced through spotting the solution onto a C18 reversed-phase thin-layer chromatography plate. The reaction can easily be adapted for detection of different trigger oligonucleotides using the same set of DNA nanospheres. It permits detection of as low as 100 fM trigger oligonucleotide in under 10 min total assay time, with minimal reagent consumption and requirement for instrumentation. We expect that combining this simple, versatile assay with trigger generation from a genomic target DNA sequence of interest will be a powerful tool in the development of rapid and simple point-of-care molecular diagnostic applications.