Effect of lipid type on water‐in‐oil‐emulsions stabilized by phosphatidylcholine‐depleted lecithin and polyglycerol polyricinoleate

Water‐in‐oil (W/O, 30:70) emulsions were prepared with phosphatidylcholine‐depleted lecithin [PC/(PI,PE) = 0.16] or polyglycerol polyricinoleate (PGPR) as emulsifying agents by means of pressure homogenization. The effect of lipid type (medium‐chain triacylglycerols, sunflower, olive, butter oil, or MCT‐oil/vegetable fat blends) was investigated in relation to particle size distribution, coalescence stability and the sedimentation of the water droplets. A significant correlation (p <0.05) was observed between the interfacial pressure caused by the addition of lecithin to the pure lipids and the specific surface area of the emulsion droplets (r_s = 0.700), and between the viscosity of the lipids used as the continuous phase (reflecting the fatty acid composition) and the specific surface area of the emulsion droplets (r_s = 0.8459) on the other hand. Blends of vegetable fat and MCT‐oil led to reduced coalescence stability due to the attachment of fat crystals to the emulsion droplets. Lecithin‐stabilized W/O emulsions showed significantly higher viscosities compared to those stabilized with PGPR. It was possible to adjust the rheological properties of lecithin‐stabilized emulsions by varying the lipid phase.     

Assembly of phosphofructokinase-1 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae in extracts of single-deletion mutants

Phosphofructokinase-1 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae is an octameric enzyme comprising two non-identical subunits, α and β, which are encoded by the unlinked genes PFK1 and PFK2. In this paper, assembly and reactivation of the enzyme have been studied in cell-free extracts of single-deletion mutants. In contrast to the previously described lack of phosphofructokinase-1 activity in cell-free extracts of these mutants, we could measure a temporary enzyme activity immediately after lysis of protoplasts. This result supports the assumption that each of the subunits forms an enzyme structure which is active in vivo but not stable after cell disruption. Upon mixing of separately prepared cell-free extracts of both deletion mutants very low activity could be measured. About 40% of the wild-type activity was regained when both mutants were mixed prior to disruption. The reactivation rate could be slightly increased by addition of ATP and fructose 6-phosphate and was found to be a function of the growth state, particularly of the β-subunit-carrying cells. The individual subunits did not interact with Cibacron Blue F3G-A, a biomimetic ligand of phosphofructokinase-1. After reassembly of both subunits in vitro a strong affinity of the reconstituted phosphofructokinase-1 to the dye-ligand was observed. The inability of the subunits to reconstitute under certain conditions seems to result from alterations of the intracellular environment following disruption. These changes give rise to induce an unproductive side reaction like self-aggregation of the subunits. Because reconstitution of phosphofructokinase-1 from S. cerevisiae behaves in a similar way to that of hemoglobin and luciferase, we would speculate a general mechanism for assembly of oligomeric proteins in vivo. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Influence of Screening and Drying on Low-Quality Wood Chips for Application in Small-Scale Gasification Plants

Before using low-quality wood chips for gasification on the small and medium scale (30–500 kW_el), mechanical fuel pretreatment has to be employed to ensure the required fuel characteristics concerning particle size distribution and moisture. Two different low-quality wood assortments (calamity wood and roadside maintenance wood) were subjected to three different mechanical fuel pretreatment strategies and a detailed analysis was realized along the supply chains. The results reveal the enrichment in elements characteristic of soil contamination in the removed fine fraction. Gasification tests were successfully performed with the upgraded low-quality fuels in field trials and indicated comparable electrical efficiencies but higher supervision effort during plant operation.     

Solvent‐free synthesis of 6‐deoxy‐6‐(ω‐aminoalkyl)amino cellulose

Cellulose p‐toluenesulfonic acid esters (TosCell) with degree of substitution (DS_Tos) between 0.8 and 1.4 were converted with ethylene diamine or tris(2‐aminoethyl)amine. In contrast to procedures published, the conversion was carried out without any solvent, i.e., the reagent (amines) was used as reaction medium yielding readily soluble products. Moreover, the absence of an additional solvent makes the recycling of both not‐consumed amine and precipitant easy. Recycling experiments proofed the possibility of reusing the isolated ethylene diamine. The DS of 6‐deoxy‐6‐(ω‐aminoalkyl)amino groups is between 0.71 and 0.93, which is in accordance with the functionalization pattern of tosyl cellulose and the ability of amines to displace primary tosylate moieties only. Attention must be paid to the precipitant used for the workup procedure; ¹³C NMR measurements revealed a formation of imine structures in case of precipitation with acetone. Precipitation in 2‐propanol did not lead to any side product. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 43987.     

Coronary CT Angiography in Managing Atherosclerosis

Invasive coronary angiography (ICA) was the only method to image coronary arteries for a long time and is still the gold-standard. Technology of noninvasive imaging by coronary computed-tomography angiography (CCTA) has experienced remarkable progress during the last two decades. It is possible to visualize atherosclerotic lesions in the vessel wall in contrast to “lumenography” performed by ICA. Coronary artery disease can be ruled out by CCTA with excellent accuracy. The degree of stenoses is, however, often overestimated which impairs specificity. Atherosclerotic lesions can be characterized as calcified, non-calcified and partially calcified. Calcified plaques are usually quantified using the Agatston-Score. Higher scores are correlated with worse cardiovascular outcome and increased risk of cardiac events. For non-calcified or partially calcified plaques different angiographic findings like positive remodelling, a large necrotic core or spotty calcification more frequently lead to myocardial infarctions. CCTA is an important tool with increasing clinical value for ruling out coronary artery disease or relevant stenoses as well as for advanced risk stratification.     

Hydrogen evolution under the influence of a magnetic field

The effect of a uniform magnetic field on the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) during water electrolysis in 0.1 M Na₂SO₄ solution was investigated. Irrespective of the magnetic field orientation with respect to the electrode surface, the desorption of hydrogen is enhanced by the presence of the magnetic field. This effect is displayed by a reduction of the mean bubble size as well as a narrower bubble size distribution in a magnetic field. Moreover, it is shown that in the presence of an external magnetic field the fractional bubble coverage is strongly retarded. As a consequence the current density is increased since more active sites are available for the reduction processes. These effects are discussed with respect to the Lorentz force driven convection induced by a magnetic field. In order to resolve further the influence of a magnetic field applied in the perpendicular-to-electrode configuration, where the bulk Lorentz force is negligible, a numerical study has been performed. This revealed the mechanism of the improved desorption of a hydrogen bubble from the electrode surface. The numerical study has been validated by a model experiment. Most importantly, it is clearly demonstrated that a magnetic field superposed during water decomposition is a very effective method to intensify hydrogen evolution processes, and it should be possible to significantly improve the energetic efficiency of the hydrogen production via water electrolysis in a magnetic field.     

Mechanical Alloying of β‐Type Ti–Nb for Biomedical Applications

β‐Type Ti–Nb powders which are needed as precursors for porous implant materials were produced by mechanical alloying of elemental powders. The effect of different fractions of the inorganic milling agent NaCl on the phase reactions during the milling process was investigated by means of X‐ray diffraction and scanning and transmission electron microscopy. It was demonstrated, that addition of ≥2 wt% NaCl during continuous ball milling is efficient for establishing a nanostructured β‐phase alloy and for the achievement of high powder yield.     

Task and sex modulate the brain response to emotional incongruity in Asian listeners.

In order to recognize banter or sarcasm in social interactions, listeners must integrate verbal and vocal emotional expressions. Here, we investigated event-related potential correlates of this integration in Asian listeners. We presented emotional words spoken with congruous or incongruous emotional prosody. When listeners classified word meaning as positive or negative and ignored prosody, incongruous trials elicited a larger late positivity than congruous trials in women but not in men. Sex differences were absent when listeners evaluated the congruence between word meaning and emotional prosody. The similarity of these results to those obtained in Western listeners suggests that sex differences in emotional speech processing depend on attentional focus and may reflect culturally independent mechanisms. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Ligand Versatility in Supercrystal Formation

Supercrystals (SCs) offer the opportunity to integrate nanoparticles into current technologies without losing their unique and designable properties. In the past two decades, much research has been conducted, allowing the synthesis of differently shaped nanoparticles of various materials. Employing those building units, several methods have been developed enabling the preparation of an increasing number of different superstructures. In this review, an overview is given of the large versatility of surfactant molecules used for SC preparation. While SCs with uncharged organic ligands are by far the largest group, the use of charged or uncommon ligands allows the preparation of unique SCs and superlattices. Additionally, the influence of the ligands on the self‐assembly and properties of the resulting SCs is highlighted.