Enhancing the formation and shear resistance of nitrifying biofilms on membranes by surface modification

Polypropylene (PP) membranes and polyethylene (PE) surfaces were modified to enhance formation and shear resistance of nitrifying biofilms for wastewater treatment applications. A combination of plasma polymerization and wet chemistry was employed to ultimately introduce poly(ethyleneglycol) (PEG) chains with two different functional groups (-PEG-NH₂ and -PEG-CH₃). Biofilm growth experiments using a mixed nitrifying bacterial culture revealed that the specific combination of PEG chains with amino groups resulted in most biofilm formation on both PP and PE samples. Detachment experiments showed similar trends: biofilms on -PEG-NH₂ modified surfaces were much stronger compared to the other modifications and the unmodified reference surfaces. Electrostatic interactions between the protonated amino group and negatively charged bacteria as well as PEG chain density which can affect the surface structure might be possible explanations of the superiority of the -PEG-NH₂ modification. The success of the-PEG-NH₂ modification was independent of the original surface and might, therefore, be used in wastewater treatment bioreactors to improve reactor performance by making biofilm formation more stable and predictable.     

Landmarks or surveys? The impact of different instructions on children’s performance in hierarchical menu structures

Which kind of instruction helps children aged 9–14 years interact efficiently with a mobile phone? Due to analogies between navigation in menu structures and the natural environment, three instructions providing different forms of spatial knowledge were under study: A step-by-step instruction featuring landmark knowledge of the menu functions to be selected, a diagram of the menu structure providing survey knowledge and a free exploration of the menu, also giving the children the opportunity to develop survey knowledge. Results show a superiority of the two instructions that provide survey knowledge, except for the youngest children aged 9–10 years. This group showed to have lower spatial abilities and is therefore presumably not able to understand and integrate this type of knowledge. For those very young children, the landmark information given in traditional step-by-step instructions is more helpful. It is concluded, that simple diagrams of the menu structure can help children from 11 years on to significantly ease their interaction with small menu driven devices.     

Extracts from red muscadine and cabernet sauvignon wines induce cell death in MOLT-4 human leukemia cells

Red wine contains a diversity of polyphenolic compounds that exert beneficial health effects including anti-cancer effects. This trial evaluated the anti-proliferative potential of red muscadine (Vitis rotundifolia) and red cabernet sauvignon (Vitis vinifera) wines in cell culture. Chemical properties of wines were determined by HPLC-PDA analysis and concentrated extracts of each wine were evaluated before and after glycosidic hydrolysis in MOLT-4 leukemia cells. Cell growth and the induction of apoptosis were evaluated after exposure to various extract dilutions. Wine extracts reduced cell viability up to 68% and cell numbers up to 50% after 48 h with muscadine extracts being more effective than cabernet sauvignon. Caspase-3 activity was induced similarly by all extracts in a dose dependent manner. Cell cycle arrest in the G₂/M phase was observed for both muscadine and the non-hydrolyzed cabernet sauvignon extract. Collectively, extracts from both wines exerted anti-cancer effects in leukemia cells.     

Evaluation of Stable LifeAct-mRuby2- and LAMP1-NeonGreen Expressing A549 Cell Lines for Investigation of Aspergillus fumigatus Interaction with Pulmonary Cells

Inhaled Aspergillus fumigatus spores can be internalized by alveolar type II cells. Cell lines stably expressing fluorescently labeled components of endocytic pathway enable investigations of intracellular organization during conidia internalization and measurement of the process kinetics. The goal of this report was to evaluate the methodological appliance of cell lines for studying fungal conidia internalization. We have generated A549 cell lines stably expressing fluorescently labeled actin (LifeAct-mRuby2) and late endosomal protein (LAMP1-NeonGreen) following an evaluation of cell-pathogen interactions in live and fixed cells. Our data show that the LAMP1-NeonGreen cell line can be used to visualize conidia co-localization with LAMP1 in live and fixed cells. However, caution is necessary when using LifeAct-mRuby2-cell lines as it may affect the conidia internalization dynamics.     

Vorkommen von Bläueschutzwirkstoffen in importierten Schnitthölzern unter besonderer Berücksichtigung von PCP

Out of 122 lots from more than 100 unloaders 5 samples each were examined qualitatively and at random quantitatively for antibluestain treatment. Within 16 lots PCP could be confirmed and furthermore boron and fluoride one time each has been found. Antibluestain treatment was present especially in lots with origin in Finland/USSR, at which the less susceptible spruce timber was more frequently treated than pine. However, within the majority of the samples without obvious antibluestain treatment small quantities of PCP are present, which prevailing are to be considered as contamination. With further processing of the timber into profile boards the impregnated outer layer is planed for a far extent, so that the hazard for the consumer should be negligible; however, the load of the shavings has to be taken into consideration.     

University Spillovers: Does the Kind of Science Matter?

This study examines the impact of university spillovers on the locational choice of firm formation. Based on a unique and hand-collected data set of high-technology start-ups publicly listed in Germany, this paper tests the propositions that geographic proximity to the university is influenced by the kind of science and type of knowledge spillover. The results provide evidence that younger high technology start-ups (less than eight years old) settle near universities with a high academic output and a high number of students in both natural and social science. Thus, spillover of tacit knowledge has an impact on the firms' geographic decision. Older firms, however, only locate closer to technical universities in order to satisfy demand for traditional German industries such as engineering and machinery.