Protein Shift – How Membrane Technology Can Contribute

Proteins are not only important for our daily diet but also one of the most important food ingredients worldwide. Since the 1970ies membrane processes have established themselves as a key unit operation in protein processing, e.g., in the dairy industry. The recent trend of the protein shift moving consumption of animal-based to plant-based proteins provides new applications for membrane processes. Thus, in this work, the opportunities to transfer the membrane processing experiences from animal-based proteins to plant-based protein products will be the focus.     

Butyltin(IV) Benzoates: Inhibition of Thioredoxin Reductase,Tumor Cell Growth Inhibition,and Interactions with Proteins

Thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) is overexpressed in cancer cells and is therefore a putative cancer target. Inhibition of this enzyme is considered an important strategy for the development of new chemotherapeutic agents with a specific mechanism of action. Organotin compounds have been described as experimental antitumor agents, yet their mechanism of action remains largely unknown. Based on the outcome of a virtual screening study, various di‐ and tri‐n‐butyltin(IV) carboxylates were synthesized, and their biological properties were evaluated. All synthesized compounds were able to inhibit TrxR selectively within the micromolar range and showed potent antitumor activity against HT‐29 and MCF‐7 cancer cell lines. Moreover, tin(IV) organometallics were found to strongly induce apoptosis in the BJAB lymphoma cell line. Mass spectrometry and atomic absorption spectroscopy experiments revealed metal binding to proteins, and efficient cellular uptake was observed using a di‐n‐butyltin(IV) complex as an example.     

Interpolation with positive real functions of several variables

The interpolation problem for n-dimensional positive real functions is formulated in two different settings: with interpolation knots either contained on the distinguished boundary of the Cartesian product of open right half planes or in this n-dimensional ‘open right half plane’. A complete solution of the first problem is given. Necessary conditions of existence of a solution of the second problem are proved and the well known Nevanlinna-Pick algorithm is generalized so that construction of interpolating n-dimensional positive real functions becomes possible at least in case when the interpolation knots are real vectors. Examples illustrate the suggested methods, show the complexity and significance of the problem and methods under discussion. Interpolation in special classes of functions has for some time been an important problem in mathematics. General schemes of solution in linear functional spaces with orthogonality are well known. For classes of functions which do not satisfy the axioms of a linear space special methods have been studied in detail, because they are closely connected to other important parts of mathematics such as approximation theory, numerical analysis and the theory of moments. Considerable efforts have been put into interpolation in the complex domain with functions analytic in the unit disc and with positive real functions. the significance of interpolation procedures in the class of one-variable positive real functions in network theory, e.g. in broadband matching and approximation problems has been recognized in References 1-3. an excellent survey paper has recently been devoted to these problems;⁴ in this paper some new ideas for the use of interpolation in system theory were outlined. the growing interest in multivariable network theory calls for generalizations of interpolation procedures to multivariable cases. Many of the one-variable applications can easily be extended to the multivariable case and it is hoped that in passive network theory and in problems of n-dimensional digital systems the solution of the interpolation problem will contribute to the difficult synthesis problems in the multivariable theory. In this paper conditions for the existence of multivariable positive real interpolating functions will be investigated and some procedures for the construction of such functions will be described.     

Enhanced immunomodulatory activity of gelatin-encapsulated Rubus coreanus Miquel nanoparticles

The aim of this work was to investigate the immunomodulatory activities of Rubus coreanus Miquel extract-loaded gelatin nanoparticles. The mean size of the produced nanoparticles was 143 ± 18 nm with a bandwidth of 76 nm in the size distribution and a maximum size of ~200 nm, which allows effective nanoparticle uptake by cells. Confocal imaging confirmed this, since the nanoparticles were internalized within 30 min and heterogeneously distributed throughout the cell. Zeta-potential measurements showed that from pH = 5 onwards, the nanoparticles were highly negatively charged, which prevents agglomeration to clusters by electrostatic repulsion. This was confirmed by TEM imaging, which showed a well dispersed colloidal solution. The encapsulation efficiency was nearly 60%, which is higher than for other components encapsulated in gelatin nanoparticles. Measurements of immune modulation in immune cells showed a significant effect by the crude extract, which was only topped by the nanoparticles containing the extract. Proliferation of B-, T- and NK cells was notably enhanced by Rubus coreanus-gelatin nanoparticles and in general ~2-3 times higher than control and on average ~2 times higher than ferulic acid. R. coreanus-gelatin nanoparticles induced cytokine secretion (IL-6 and TNF-α) from B- and T-cells on average at a ~2-3 times higher rate compared with the extract and ferulic acid. In vivo immunomodulatory activity in mice fed with R. coreanus-gelatin nanoparticles at 1 mL/g body weight showed a ~5 times higher antibody production compared to control, a ~1.3 times higher production compared to the extract only, and a ~1.6 times higher production compared to ferulic acid. Overall, our results suggest that gelatin nanoparticles represent an excellent transport vehicle for Rubus coreanus extract and extracts from other plants generally used in traditional Asian medicine. Such nanoparticles ensure a high local concentration that results in enhancement of immune cell activities, including proliferation, cytokine secretion, and antibody production.     

The Use of Ethylene/Propylene Copolymers as Compatibilizers for Recycled Polyolefin Blends

Compatibilizing effects of ethylene/propylene (EPR) diblock copolymers on the morphology and mechanical properties of immiscible blends produced from recycled low‐density polyethylene (PE‐LD) and high‐density polyethylene (PE‐HD) with 20 wt.‐% of recycled poly(propylene) (PP) were investigated. Two different EPR block copolymers which differ in ethylene monomer unit content were applied to act as interfacial agents. The morphology of the studied blends was observed by scanning‐ (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It was found that both EPR copolymers were efficient in reducing the size of the dispersed phase and improving adhesion between PE and PP phases. Addition of 10 wt.‐% of EPR caused the formation of the interfacial layer surrounding dispersed PP particles with the occurrence of PE‐LD lamellae interpenetration into the layer. Tensile properties (elongation at yield, yield stress, elongation at break, Young's modulus) and notched impact strength were measured as a function of blend composition and chemical structure of EPR. It was found that the EPR with a higher content of ethylene monomer units was a more efficient compatibilizer, especially for the modification of PE‐LD/PP 80/20 blend. Notched impact strength and ductility were greatly improved due to the morphological changes and increased interfacial adhesion as a result of the EPR localization between the phases. No significant improvements of mechanical properties for recycled PE‐HD/PP 80/20 blend were observed by the addition of selected block copolymers.     

The fate of iron during the alkali‐activation of synthetic (CaO‐)FeOx‐SiO2 slags: An Fe K‐edge XANES study

Slags from the nonferrous metals industry have great potential to be used as feedstocks for the production of alkali‐activated materials. Until now, however, only very limited information has been available about the structural characteristics of these materials. In the work presented herein, synthetic slags in the CaO–FeO_x–SiO₂ system, representing typical compositions of Fe‐rich slags, and inorganic polymers (IPs) produced from the synthetic slags by activation with alkali silicate solutions have been studied by means of X‐ray absorption near‐edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy at the Fe K‐edge. The iron in the slags was largely Fe²⁺, with an average coordination number of approximately 5 for the iron in the amorphous fraction. The increase in average oxidation number after alkali‐activation was conceptualized as the consequence of slag dissolution and IP precipitation, and employed to calculate the degrees of reaction of the slags. The degree of reaction of the slags increased with increasing amorphous fraction. The iron in the IPs had an average coordination number of approximately 5; thus, IPs produced from the Fe‐rich slags studied here are not Fe‐analogs of aluminosilicate geopolymers, but differ significantly in terms of structure from the latter.     

Chemical rescue of active site mutants of S. pneumoniae surface endonuclease EndA and other nucleases of the HNH family by imidazole

The His-Asn-His (HNH) motif characterizes the active sites of a large number of different nucleases such as homing endonucleases, restriction endonucleases, structure-specific nucleases and, in particular, nonspecific nucleases. Several biochemical studies have revealed an essential catalytic function for the first amino acid of this motif in HNH nucleases. This histidine residue was identified as the general base that activates a water molecule for a nucleophilic attack on the sugar phosphate backbone of nucleic acids. Replacement of histidine by an amino acid such as glycine or alanine, which lack the catalytically active imidazole side chain, leads to decreases of several orders of magnitude in the nucleolytic activities of members of this nuclease family. We were able, however, to restore the activity of HNH nuclease variants (i.e., EndA (Streptococcus pneumoniae), SmaNuc (Serratia marcescens) and NucA (Anabaena sp.)) that had been inactivated by His→Gly or His→Ala substitution by adding excess imidazole to the inactive enzymes in vitro. Imidazole clearly replaces the missing histidine side chain and thereby restores nucleolytic activity. Significantly, this chemical rescue could also be observed in vivo (Escherichia coli). The in vivo assay might be a promising starting point for the development of a high-throughput screening system for functional EndA inhibitors because, unlike the wild-type enzyme, the H160G and H160A variants of EndA can easily be produced in E. coli. A simple viability assay would allow inhibitors of EndA to be identified because these would counteract the toxicities of the chemically rescued EndA variants. Such inhibitors could be used to block the nucleolytic activity of EndA, which as a surface-exposed enzyme in its natural host destroys the DNA scaffolds of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) and thereby allows S. pneumoniae to escape the innate immune response.     

Sludge Pre-Treatment through Ozone Application: Alternative Sludge Reuse Possibilities for Recirculating Aquaculture System Optimization

Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) reduce water consumption by efficient filtration to maintain appropriate levels of accumulating compounds and sludge. Sludge is mechanically separated by drum filters and disposed of to the detriment of overall system water budgets. Dissolved nitrogen compounds are reduced via nitrification–denitrification filters, requiring commercial external carbon sources. The reuse of sludge after ozone pre-treatment may represent the next step in RAS optimization. The present study analyzes the content of sludge from RAS and tests ozonation as a pre-treatment for recycling as carbon source. The dissociative effect of ozone and the physicochemical changes due to ozonation lead to a significant increase in soluble carbon availability. Predominantly long-chain fatty acid (FA) (saturated and unsaturated) with 16 and 18 carbon atoms independently of the treatment were found in the profiles. Saturated FA concentrations in solution increased after 20, 40, and 60 min ozonation. The solid content of the sludge was practically unaffected by ozonation in terms of FA profile: only saturated FA slightly increases after 40 min treatment. The implications of these findings for denitrifying bacteria are discussed.

Abbreviations: Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS); Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs)     

Investigations on residual stresses and deformations in selective laser melting

For establishing Selective Laser Melting (SLM) in production technology, an extensive knowledge about the transient physical effects during the manufacturing process is mandatory. In this regard, a high process stability for various alloys, e.g. tool steel 1.2709 (X3NiCoMoTi 18-9-5), is realisable, if approaches for the virtual qualification of adequate process parameters by means of a numerical simulation based on the finite element analysis (FEA) are developed. Furthermore, specific methods to evaluate and quantify the resulting residual stresses and deformations due to the temperature gradient mechanism (TGM) are required. Hence, the presented work contains particular approaches using the FEA for the simulation of transient physical effects within the additive layer manufacturing (ALM) process. The investigations focus on coupled thermo-mechanical models incorporating specific boundary conditions and temperature dependant material properties to identify the heat impact on residual stresses and deformations. In order to evaluate the structural effects and simultaneously validate the simulation, analysis on residual stresses based on the neutron diffractometry as well as considerations concerning part deformations are presented.