D-lactate-selective amperometric biosensor based on the mitochondrial fraction of Ogataea polymorpha recombinant cells

During the recent decades, a lot of data about the significance of D-lactate determination in food technology and quality control have been accumulated. Nowadays, the development of new methods for the determination of D-lactate is very relevant, especially with regard to biosensors. To construct a D-lactate-selective biosensor, we suggest using the mitochondria of recombinant yeast cells of Ogataea (Hansenula) polymorpha “tr6” (gcr1 catX/Δcyb2, prAOX_DLDH) overproducing D-lactate: cytochrome c-oxidoreductase (DLDH, EC 1.1.2.4) and lacking an L-lactate-specific enzyme (flavocytochrome b₂, E.C. 1.1.2.3). The usage of the pure enzyme is problematic due to the complexity of its isolation and stabilization because of the intramembranous localization of DLDH. The enzyme catalyzes D-lactate oxidation to pyruvate coupled with ferricytochrome c reduction to ferrocytochrome c. The constructed biosensor is characterized by high sensitivity (18.5 А·М⁻¹·m⁻²), a low detection limit (3 μM of D-lactate), wide linear ranges, good selectivity, and sufficient stability. The real samples' analysis of D-lactate in dairy products was performed, and high correlation of the obtained results with the reference approach (0.7 < r < 1) and literature data was demonstrated.     

Paradox of False Slow Oscillations of Magnetization in Quasi-two-dimensional Metals and its Resolution

Journal of Superconductivity and Novel Magnetism - I investigate the issue of the appearance of false slow oscillations of magnetization in quasi-two-dimensional metals, which arise from a careless...     

Softwaregestützte Kostenermittlung für die Gebäudeinstandsetzung

In diesem Beitrag werden Möglichkeiten der softwaregestützten Kostenermittlung für die Instandsetzung vorgestellt, die in den vergangenen Jahren im Rahmen mehrerer Instandsetzungsprojekte entwickelt wurden und für unterschiedlichste Gebäudetypen anwendbar sind. Schwerpunkte sind die zügige und präzise Schadenserfassung und ‐bewertung als Schlüsselfaktoren für die Ermittlung der zu erwartenden Baukosten. Am konkreten Beispiel werden die Vorteile der softwaregestützten Schadenserfassung und ‐bewertung beschrieben, und es wird der Bezug zur Praxis hergestellt. Computer aided cost calculation for building repair. This paper shows ways of software aided cost calculation for rehabilitation of buildings, which have been developed in recent years in several repair projects and which are applicable for various building types. The advantages of automated damage assessment and evaluation are described at an example of a parking garage and are related to the practice.     

Heat and mass transfer in two-layer elastic composite subjected to thermal infrared radiation

In this paper coupled thermal, mechanical and diffusive processes in two-layer semitransparent composite subjected to thermal infrared radiation are examined. One of the layers is supposed to be multi-component consisting of deformable matrix and gaseous admixture. Effect of radiation upon a composite is taken into account by heat sources in composite and heat supply to admixture. Model equations are solved within iterative approach. On each step of iterative process radiation equations are solved analytically while for solving diffusion and thermal conductivity equations the finite difference method is applied. Numerical calculations suggested that the presence of the layer located closer to radiation source allows reduce thermal stresses in another layer of two-layer semitransparent elastic composite in both cases when materials of layers are the same and different. The layer located closer to radiation source and whose thickness is less than that of another layer is heated to lower temperatures, their distributions are more homogeneous and consequently, it undergoes weaker stress loading.     

Examining the impact of Culture's consequences: A three-decade, multilevel, meta-analytic review of Hofstede's cultural value dimensions.

[Correction Notice: An erratum for this article was reported in Vol 95(5) of Journal of Applied Psychology (see record 2010-18410-003). Tables 1 and 2 were printed incorrectly due to errors in the production process. In Table 1 (p. 414), row 2 (vote count, data point count) the table incorrectly lists 0s for categories in which data points were not available; therefore the data cells should in fact be empty. In Table 2 (pp. 416–423), due to formatting errors some of the columns were incorrectly shifted either one or two columns to the right (i.e., in row 1, the “4” should be aligned under the “k,” not the “r”). The formatting errors in Tables 1 and 2, however, do not affect the values in the tables. Corrected versions of both Table 1 and Table 2 can be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0020939 .supp.] Using data from 598 studies representing over 200,000 individuals, we meta-analyzed the relationship between G. Hofstede's (1980a) original 4 cultural value dimensions and a variety of organizationally relevant outcomes. First, values predict outcomes with similar strength (with an overall absolute weighted effect size of ρ = 0.18) at the individual level of analysis. Second, the predictive power of the cultural values was significantly lower than that of personality traits and demographics for certain outcomes (e.g., job performance, absenteeism, turnover) but was significantly higher for others (e.g., organizational commitment, identification, citizenship behavior, team-related attitudes, feedback seeking). Third, cultural values were most strongly related to emotions, followed by attitudes, then behaviors, and finally job performance. Fourth, cultural values were more strongly related to outcomes for managers (rather than students) and for older, male, and more educated respondents. Fifth, findings were stronger for primary, rather than secondary, data. Finally, we provide support for M. Gelfand, L. H. Nishii, and J. L. Raver's (2006) conceptualization of societal tightness–looseness, finding significantly stronger effects in culturally tighter, rather than looser, countries. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Relationships between H2 photoproduction and different electron transport pathways in sulfur-deprived Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

In this study the relationships between photosystem (PS) II dependent and independent pathways of H₂ photoproduction, cyclic electron transport around PS I, chloro- and mitorespiration, and transmembrane ΔpH were examined by inhibitor analysis in S deprived Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. The rate of non-photochemical reduction of plastoquinones in photosynthetic membranes was significantly diminished under starvation which may explain the minor contribution of the PS II independent pathway of H₂ photoproduction in starved cells. The suppressive effect of the herbicide 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea on the long-term H₂ photoproduction was shown to be entirely attributed to the inhibition of electron transport in PS II, whereas non-specific interactions did not take place. Ferredoxin-quinone reductase – dependent cyclic electron transport around PS I slowed down H₂ photoproduction more than two fold. This result was related to the competition between ferredoxin-quinone reductase and hydrogenase for the reduced ferredoxin and to the decrease in transmembrane ΔpH induced by the cyclic electron flow. The ΔpH gradient was shown to down regulate the PS II independent pathway of H₂ photoproduction in starved cells.     

Process rheometers for molten plastics: A survey of existing technology

There are many operations in the plastics industry where it is useful to be able to monitor the rheological properties of a melt as it is being processed. Such operations include polymerization, blending, compounding, and reactive extrusion. The design of such instruments poses major challenges, as there is a conflict between the need for rapid sample renewal and the desire for measurement accuracy. In-line types, which are installed directly in the process flow, have a rapid response but must operate in an environment where temperature, pressure, and flow rate fluctuate in response to process upsets. On-line types, which make use of a side stream and gear pump to feed the rheometer, allow for more freedom in the design of the rheometer but have an inherent signal delay due to the time required for melt to reach the rheometer. A variety of rheological sensors have been described in the patent and research literature, each with its unique advantages and disadvantages, and some of these are finding increased use in the plastics industry to improve product quality and process efficiency.     

Evolutionary design of soft-bodied animats with decentralized control

We show how a biologically inspired model of multicellular development combined with a simulated evolutionary process can be used to design the morphologies and controllers of soft-bodied virtual animats. An animat’s morphology is the result of a developmental process that starts from a single cell and goes through many cell divisions, during which cells interact via simple physical rules. Every cell contains the same genome, which encodes a gene regulatory network (GRN) controlling its behavior. After the developmental stage, locomotion emerges from the coordinated activity of the GRNs across the virtual robot body. Since cells act autonomously, the behavior of the animat is generated in a truly decentralized fashion. The movement of the animat is produced by the contraction and expansion of parts of the body, caused by the cells, and is simulated using a physics engine. Our system makes possible the evolution and development of animats that can run, swim, and actively navigate toward a target in a virtual environment.