Identification of the Trail Pheromone of the Pavement Ant Tetramorium immigrans (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Journal of Chemical Ecology - Four species of Tetramorium pavement ants are known to guide foraging activities of nestmates via trail pheromones secreted from the poison gland of worker ants, but...     

Effect of pH,co-monomer content,and surfactant structure on the swelling behavior of microgel-azobenzene-containing surfactant complex

The contraction/swelling transition of anionic PNIPAM-co-AAA particles can be manipulated by light using interactions with cationic azobenzene-containing surfactant. In this study the influence of pH-buffers and their concentrations, the charge density (AAA content) in microgel particles as well as the spacer length of the surfactant on the complex formation between the microgel and surfactant is investigated. It is shown that the presence of pH buffer can lead to complete blocking of the interactions in such complexes and the resulting microgel contraction/swelling response. There is a clear competition between the buffer ions and the surfactant molecules interacting with microgel particles. When working in pure water solutions with fixed concentration (charge density) of microgel, the contraction/swelling of the particles is controlled only by relative concentration (charge ratio) of the surfactant and AAA groups of the microgel. Furthermore, the particle contraction is more efficient for shorter spacer length of the surfactant. The onset point of the contraction process is not affected by the surfactant hydrophobicity. This work provides new insight into the interaction between microgel particles and photo-sensitive surfactants, which offers high potential in new sensor systems.     

Shear‐induced shish‐kebab structures in isotactic polypropylene using acicular precipitated calcium carbonate as whisker

It has been reported in the technical literature that whiskers of rodlike single crystals can be used in order to generate shish‐kebab structures or other different lamellae morphologies during isothermal or dynamic crystallization of sheared or presheared polymer melts. The expected advantage of the changed crystalline structure is a reinforcing effect of the composite. A lot of papers reported about the application of inorganic and organic whiskers such as cellulose and chitin whiskers. This study reports on an attempt to use acicular PCC as appropriate whisker for improving mechanical properties of polypropylene. In this article special attention is given to demonstrate the effect of flow induced crystallization under varying shear conditions in order to improve the mechanical properties. The effects were demonstrated using rheology, thermal analysis, tensile testing, and transmission electron microscopy. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 54:2057–2063, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers     

A combinatorial approach to evaluation of monomer conversion and particle size distribution in vinyl chloride emulsion polymerization

This work is targeted to study emulsion polymerization of vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) using experimental and mathematical methods. To fulfill this goal, a computer code was developed on the basis of zero–one population balance by which the effects of initiator and emulsifier concentration on the evolution of VCM conversion were investigated in the course of polymerization. The model was also trained to capture the coagulation of the particles. This enabled to adopt a reliable way of evaluating the particle size distribution (PSD). In particular, the rates of homogeneous and micellar nucleation mechanisms were simulated and reasonably predicted alterations in the PSD and the number of polymer particles under the influence of aforementioned parameters. The results from modeling were satisfactorily consistent with the experimental outputs and obviously visualized the impact of initiator and surfactant concentration on the PSD of the prepared PVC latexes.     

Platelet-Released Growth Factors Influence Wound Healing-Associated Genes in Human Keratinocytes and Ex Vivo Skin Explants

Platelet-released growth factors (PRGFs) or other thrombocyte concentrate products, e.g., Platelet-Rich Fibrin (PRF), have become efficient tools of regenerative medicine in many medical disciplines. In the context of wound healing, it has been demonstrated that treatment of chronic or complicated wounds with PRGF or PRF improves wound healing in the majority of treated patients. Nevertheless, the underlying cellular and molecular mechanism are still poorly understood. Therefore, we aimed to analyze if PRGF-treatment of human keratinocytes caused the induction of genes encoding paracrine factors associated with successful wound healing. The investigated genes were Semaphorin 7A (SEMA7A), Angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPLT4), Fibroblast Growth Factor-2 (FGF-2), Interleukin-32 (IL-32), the CC-chemokine-ligand 20 (CCL20), the matrix-metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), the chemokine C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 10 (CXCL10) and the subunit B of the Platelet-Derived Growth Factor (PDGFB). We observed a significant gene induction of SEMA7A, ANGPLT4, FGF-2, IL-32, MMP-2 and PDGFB in human keratinocytes after PRGF treatment. The CCL20- and CXCL10 gene expressions were significantly inhibited by PRGF therapy. Signal transduction analyses revealed that the PRGF-mediated gene induction of SEMA7A, ANGPLT4, IL-32 and MMP-2 in human keratinocytes was transduced via the IL-6 receptor pathway. In contrast, EGF receptor signaling was not involved in the PRGF-mediated gene expression of analyzed genes in human keratinocytes. Additionally, treatment of ex vivo skin explants with PRGF confirmed a significant gene induction of SEMA7A, ANGPLT4, MMP-2 and PDGFB. Taken together, these results describe a new mechanism that could be responsible for the beneficial wound healing properties of PRGF or related thrombocytes concentrate products such as PRF.     

Kommentar I zum Fall “Aus dem Hospiz in die Schweiz?”

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

The effects of chickpea on the functional properties of white and whole wheat bread

The effects of the addition of chickpea (Cicer arietinum), emulsifier and altered amount of water on the functional properties (bread volume, colour of crust, crumb texture and crumb porosity) of white and whole wheat bread were investigated applying a screening three factorial design. Addition of chickpea increased crumb firmness and slightly decreased bread volume in both bread types. Addition of emulsifier increased bread volume and decreased bread firmness. Altering the amount of water addition had no significant effects on white bread, but decreased crumb firmness and increased bread volume in whole wheat bread. None of the investigated parameter had an effect of whole wheat bread colour, while in white bread chickpea addition increased darkness and yellowness of the bread. Optimum addition for breads of highest quality would be 56.9–58% water, 1.0% emulsifier and 10.0–16.0% chickpea in white bread and 58% water, 1.0% emulsifier and 11.8% chickpea in whole wheat bread.     

Optimization of Cell Adhesion on Mg Based Implant Materials by Pre-Incubation under Cell Culture Conditions

Magnesium based implants could revolutionize applications where orthopedic implants such as nails, screws or bone plates are used because they are load bearing and degrade over time. This prevents a second surgery to remove conventional implants. To improve the biocompatibility we studied here if and for how long a pre-incubation of the material under cell culture conditions is favorable for cell attachment and proliferation. For two materials, Mg and Mg10Gd1Nd, we could show that 6 h pre-incubation are already enough to form a natural protective layer suitable for cell culture.     

Two Pheromones of Coniferophagous Bark Beetles Found in the Bark of Nonhost Angiosperms

Volatiles from fresh bark of black cottonwood, Populus trichocarpa; trembling aspen, P. tremuloides; paper birch, Betula papyrifera; bigleaf maple, Acer macrophyllum; red alder, Alnus rubra; and Sitka alder, Alnus viridis, were collected on Porapak Q and subjected to coupled gas chromatographic–electroantennographic detection analyses by utilizing the antennae of several scolytid beetles (Dendroctonus pseudotsugae, D. rufipennis, D. ponderosae, Ips pini, and Dryocoetes confusus). Among the antennally active volatiles identified by coupled gas chromatographic-mass spectroscopic analysis were frontalin, 1,5-dimethyl-6,8-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]-octane, in the two Alnus species and conophthorin, (E)-7-methyl-1,6-diox-aspiro[4.5]decane, in the other four species. Field trapping experiments demonstrated that conophthorin had a significant disruptant effect on the response to a pheromone-host kairomone blend by both Dendroctonus pseudotsugae and D. ponderosae. Our results, and the recent identification of other scolytid pheromones in various tree species, pose major questions regarding the evolution and ecological roles of these semiochemicals, including the possibility of Batesian mimicry by the beetles. They also suggest a need for comparative studies on the biosynthetic pathways for these compounds.