The content and composition of sterols and sterol esters in low erucic acid rapeseed (Brassica napus)

The low temperature crystallization technique for the enrichment of “minor” components, such as sterols and sterol esters, from vegetable oils was applied to low erucic acid rapeseed oils. The recovery of free sterols and sterol esters was estimated by use of¹⁴C-cholesterol and¹⁴C-cholesterol oleate. 80% of the free sterols and 45% of the sterol esters were recovered in the liquid fraction, while in two studies total recoveries were 95% and 99%, respectively. This technique showed some selectivity toward the sterol bound fatty acids when compared to direct preparative thin layer chromatography (TLC) of the crude oil. Gas liquid chromatography (GLC) analysis of the free and esterified sterols as TMS-derivatives showed very little selectivity in the enrichment procedure. The fatty acid patterns of the sterol esters demonstrated, however, a preference in the liquid fraction for those sterol esters which have a high linoleic and linolenic acid content. The content of free sterols was 0.3–0.4% and that of sterol esters 0.7–1.2% of the rapeseed oils in both winter and summer types of low erucic acid rapeseed (Brassica napus) when the lipid classes were isolated by direct preparative TLC of the oils. The free sterols in the seven cultivars or breeding lines analyzed were composed of 44–55% sitosterol, 27–36% campesterol, 17–21% brassicasterol, and a trace of cholesterol. The esterified sterols were 47–57% sitosterol, 36–44% campesterol, 6–9% brassicasterol, and traces of cholesterol and Δ5-avenasterol. The fatty acid patterns of these esters were characterized by ca. 30% oleic acid and ca. 50% linoleic acid, whereas these acids constitute 60% and 20%, respectively, of the total fatty acids in the oil. Little or no variation in sterol and sterol ester patterns with locality within Sweden was observed for the one cultivar of summer rapeseed investigated by the low temperature crystallization technique.     

A comparative study of two wayfinding aids for simulated driving tasks – single-scale and dual-scale GPS aids

Global Positioning System (GPS) is currently the most frequently used wayfinding aid for driving. Yet, GPS is designed to act as a driving guide rather than to help users gain spatial knowledge. Accordingly, GPS might be less usable in situations where such knowledge is required or highly desirable. In this study, we experimentally study the influence of GPS display scales (single-scale vs. dual-scale) using simulated driving tasks in a virtual environment. The single-scale GPS is similar to the regular GPS view. The dual-scale GPS aid is a dual-scale navigation tool that provides two levels of detail, including both detailed and contextual information. The results demonstrate that the dual-scale GPS was more efficient in leading the participants to the destination during the simulated driving and was more useful for the participants to establish spatial awareness and a cognitive map; the dual-scale GPS participants also reported higher subjective evaluations. The proposed dual-scale GPS design and experimental results show some indications for designing new wayfinding aids aimed at increasing wayfinding performance while simultaneously helping users construct a cognitive map.     

梯级水电站施工导流风险效益补偿机制研究

汛期通过上游已建水电站调蓄可保障下游施工电站的度汛安全。为有效均衡上下游风险,合理分摊合作利益,对梯级水电站施工导流风险效益进行了补偿机制的设计。以总效益可量化为前提,提出补偿是落实风险效益分摊的一种支付行为,分别从补偿主客体的界定、责权利的划分、风险效益计量、补偿实施方式、补偿管理流程设计等方面,构建了梯级水电开发条件下施工导流风险效益补偿框架和程序。针对补偿制度实施存在的难点,提出了相应的对策和建议,可为流域梯级水电站风险效益补偿管理模式和制度的构建提供参考。     

The removal of dichloromethane from atmospheric pressure air streams using plasma-assisted catalysis

Plasma-assisted catalysis was used for the destruction of 500 ppm of dichloromethane, CH₂Cl₂ (DCM), in gas streams of air using a non-thermal, atmospheric pressure plasma utilising a dielectric packed bed. The combination of plasma and catalyst gave improved destruction of DCM. Eight catalysts which including alumina, TiO₂ and various zeolites were investigated with the finding that alumina in a one-stage reactor configuration and TiO₂ and HZSM-5 in two-stage configurations gave the best DCM destructions. The sodium zeolites are capable of reducing by 50% the unwanted NO_x by-products, formed by plasma processing in air. The nature of the catalyst is important in terms of the destruction efficiency, end-product selectivity and NO_x reduction.     

Engineering of functional supramacromolecular complexes of proteins (enzymes) using reversed micelles as matrix microreactors

The size of the inner water cavity of reversed micelles formedin a triple system ‘water-surfactant-organic solvent’can be widely varied by changing the degree of surfactant hydration.This gives grounds to use reversed micelles as matrix microreactorsfor the design of supramolecular complexes of proteins. Usingultracentrifugation analysis, it has been demonstrated thatthe oligomeric composition of various enzymes (ketoglutaratedehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, lactic dehydrogenase, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphatedehydrogenase) solubilized in reversed micelles of Aerosol OT[sodium bis(2-ethylehexyl)sulfosuccinate] in octane changesupon variation of the degree of hydration. An oligomeric complexforms under conditions when the radius of the micelle innercavity is big enough to incorporate this complex as a whole.At lower degrees of hydration the micelles ‘uncouple’such complexes to their components. The catalytic propertiesof various oligomeric complexes have been studied. Possibilitiesof using reversed micelles for the separation of subunits ofoligomeric enzymes under non-denaturating conditions have beendemonstrated. In particular, the isolated subunits of alkalinephosphatase, lactic dehydrogenase and glyceralde-hyde-3-phosphatedehydrogenase have been found to be active in Aerosol OT reversedmicelles. The dependences of the catalytic activity of oligomericenzymes represent saw-like curves. The maxima of the catalyticactivity observed at these curves relate to the functioningof various oligomeric forms of an enzyme. The radii of the micelleinner cavity under conditions when these maxima are observedcorrelate with the linear dimensions of the enzyme oligomericforms. Correlation of the position of a maximum with the shapeof an oligomeric complex is discussed.     

Polyesters containing sulfur. I. Products of melt polycondensation of diphenylmethane-4,4′-di(methylthioacetic acid) with some diols

Several new polyesters containing sulfur in the main chain were obtained by melt polycondensation of diphenylmethane-4,4′-di(methylthioacetic acid) with ethanediol, 1,3-propane diol, 1,4-butanediol, 1,5-pentenediol, 1,6-hexanediol, 1,2-propanediol, and 2,2′-oxydiethanol. The structure of all polyesters was determined from elemental analysis and infrared (IR) spectra. Yield, reduced viscosity, molecular weight, and softening temperature for reaction products have been found. Initial decomposition and initial intensive decomposition temperature were defined from the curves of thermogravimetric analysis.     

Knowledge base support for dynamic information system management

Enterprise activities are governed by regulations and laws that are multiple, heterogeneous and not always easy to understand. The arising and/or the modification of these regulations and laws can cause a significant impact in the business context, especially in terms of enterprise information systems adaptation. Currently, there are many methodological and technological tools that facilitate the application of regulations and procedures, but they are not integrated enough to ensure a complete problem management. Therefore, they are not sufficient to support organizations and companies in the management of their business processes. In this paper we propose a methodological and technological solution, able to model, manage, execute and monitor business processes of complex domains. The system allows both the design of an information system and its prototyping as a web application, by the extension of an appropriately selected Business Process Management suite. During both the design and the usage phases of the prototyped information system, it is possible to interface with a knowledge base that contains information about regulations and aspects that characterize the enterprise (organizational chart, tasks, etc.).     

The contribution of proteomics towards deciphering the enigma of Coxiella burnetii

Coxiella burnetii, the causative agent of Q fever, is an intracellular bacterium and a potential weapon for bioterrorism. The widespread throughout the world, zoonosis is manifested clinically as a self-limited febrile illness, as pneumonia (acute Q fever) or as a chronic illness with endocarditis being its major complication. The recent Netherlands Q fever outbreak has driven the bacterium from a relatively cryptic, underappreciated, “niche” microorganism on the sideline of bacteriology, to one of possibly great impact on public health. Advances in the study of this microorganism proceeded slowly, primarily due to the, until recently, obligatory intracellular nature of the pathogen that in its virulent phase I must be manipulated under biosafety level-3 conditions. Proteomic studies, in particular, have generated a vast amount of information concerning several aspects of the bacterium such as virulence factors, detection/diagnostic and immunogenic biomarkers, inter-/intraspecies variation, resistance to antibiotics, and secreted effector proteins with significant clinical impact. The phenomenon observed following the genomics era, that of generation and accumulation of huge amount of data that ultimately end up unexploited on several databases, begins to emerge in the proteomics field as well. This review will focus on the advances in the field of C. burnetii proteomics through MS, attempting in parallel to utilize some of the proteomics findings by suggesting future directions for the improvement of Q fever diagnosis and therapy.     

A Comparative Study of Two Wayfinding Aids With Simulated Driving Tasks—GPS and a Dual-Scale Exploration Aid

Global Positioning System (GPS) is currently the most often used wayfinding aid for driving. Yet GPS is originally designed to provide a driving guide rather than to help users gain spatial knowledge. Accordingly, GPS might be less usable in situations where spatial knowledge is required. This study experimentally compared two wayfinding aids using simulated driving tasks in a virtual environment: a simulated GPS and a dual-scale exploration aid (DSEA). The DSEA, which provides two levels of details—both detailed and contextual information—was proposed to support participants in finding and selecting routes by themselves. The results show that although DSEA was less helpful in leading participants to their destination and corresponded to more turning errors in simulated driving, it was more useful for the corresponding participants to establish spatial awareness and a cognitive map. The influence of participants' spatial ability test score on wayfinding performance was measured and discussed. The proposed DSEA design and experimental results show some indications for designing new wayfinding aids aimed at reducing wayfinding errors and constructing cognitive maps while still providing easy navigation.