Environmental Effects on the Accumulation of Hydroxamic Acids in Wheat Seedlings: The Importance of Plant Growth Rate

The effects of temperature and photoperiod on accumulation of hydroxamic acids (Hx) in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seedlings were evaluated under laboratory conditions. Hx concentrations were significantly higher at higher temperatures. No such clear trend was found for the photoperiod effect. The significant effect of temperature and photoperiod on growth rate of seedlings and the significant positive correlation between growth rate prior to analysis and levels of Hx, suggested that environmental effects on Hx accumulation were at least partially mediated through their effect on plant growth rate. After uncoupling the effect of environmental conditions from the effect of plant growth rate by statistical means the effect of temperature on Hx was no longer significant. Therefore, temperature effect was fully mediated by plant growth rate. Implications of the patterns found are discussed in issues of plant-defense general theories.     

Molecular Mechanisms of Taste Recognition: Considerations about the Role of Saliva

The gustatory system plays a critical role in determining food preferences and food intake, in addition to nutritive, energy and electrolyte balance. Fine tuning of the gustatory system is also crucial in this respect. The exact mechanisms that fine tune taste sensitivity are as of yet poorly defined, but it is clear that various effects of saliva on taste recognition are also involved. Specifically those metabolic polypeptides present in the saliva that were classically considered to be gut and appetite hormones (i.e., leptin, ghrelin, insulin, neuropeptide Y, peptide YY) were considered to play a pivotal role. Besides these, data clearly indicate the major role of several other salivary proteins, such as salivary carbonic anhydrase (gustin), proline-rich proteins, cystatins, alpha-amylases, histatins, salivary albumin and mucins. Other proteins like glucagon-like peptide-1, salivary immunoglobulin-A, zinc-α-2-glycoprotein, salivary lactoperoxidase, salivary prolactin-inducible protein and salivary molecular chaperone HSP70/HSPAs were also expected to play an important role. Furthermore, factors including salivary flow rate, buffer capacity and ionic composition of saliva should also be considered. In this paper, the current state of research related to the above and the overall emerging field of taste-related salivary research alongside basic principles of taste perception is reviewed.     

Characteristics of Hydroxamic Acid Induction in Wheat Triggered by Aphid Infestation

Hydroxamic acids (Hx) are natural products of Gramineae that are associated with cereal resistance to pests. We aimed at characterizing the induction of Hx accumulation in seedlings of wheat,Triticum aestivum, by short-term infestation of the cereal aphid,Rhopalosiphum padi. A load of 25 aphids increased significantly the Hx levels in the infested primary leaf in comparison with control levels. Lower loads did not increase Hx concentration. Aphid infestation lasting 16 hr did not elicit induction of Hx, even after a time-lag of 32 hr to allow the expression of any induced response. Forty-eight hours was the minimum duration of aphid infestation required to trigger Hx induction. The age of the infested tissue (the primary leaf) did not affect induction. Similar increases of Hx were found in unfolding, expanding, and totally expanded primary leaves. It was determined that the regime of nutrient supply (N-intensive nutritive solutions at low and high concentration) to wheat seedlings had no effect on the magnitude of the aphid-induced Hx (N-based secondary metabolites). Results obtained are discussed in the framework of general theories of plant defense allocation.     

Interaction of 1-allyl-3-methyl-imidazolium chloride and carbon black and its influence on carbon black filled rubbers

The interactions of the ionic liquid 1-allyl-3-methyl-imidazolium chloride (AMIMCl) with different grades of carbon black have been investigated using rheological measurements, differential scanning calorimetry and Raman spectroscopy. We could prove strong attractive interactions of AMIMCl with the carbon black surface, which result, for example, in the formation of an AMIMCl–carbon black–bucky gel and in an increased glass transition temperature of the ionic liquid in the presence of carbon black. Raman spectroscopy revealed that the AMIMCl is preferably attached to the edges of graphitic crystals at the carbon black surface, which have the highest adsorption energies. A surface treatment of different grades of carbon black with AMIMCl led to significant changes of the mechanical and electrical properties of different rubber compounds filled with carbon black, which can be attributed to a decreased filler–polymer interaction and a local plasticising effect of the AMIMCl at the carbon black surface.     

Salivary defense proteins: their network and role in innate and acquired oral immunity

There are numerous defense proteins present in the saliva. Although some of these molecules are present in rather low concentrations, their effects are additive and/or synergistic, resulting in an efficient molecular defense network of the oral cavity. Moreover, local concentrations of these proteins near the mucosal surfaces (mucosal transudate), periodontal sulcus (gingival crevicular fluid) and oral wounds and ulcers (transudate) may be much greater, and in many cases reinforced by immune and/or inflammatory reactions of the oral mucosa. Some defense proteins, like salivary immunoglobulins and salivary chaperokine HSP70/HSPAs (70 kDa heat shock proteins), are involved in both innate and acquired immunity. Cationic peptides and other defense proteins like lysozyme, bactericidal/permeability increasing protein (BPI), BPI-like proteins, PLUNC (palate lung and nasal epithelial clone) proteins, salivary amylase, cystatins, prolin-rich proteins, mucins, peroxidases, statherin and others are primarily responsible for innate immunity. In this paper, this complex system and function of the salivary defense proteins will be reviewed.     

Oxide ceramic fibers via dry spinning process—From lab to fab

Oxide fibers preparation and manufacturing capabilities at Fraunhofer-Center HTL are introduced, showing the development and preparation of oxide ceramic fibers from lab scale to pilot scale up to near production scale. As a specific example, the development of an aluminosilicate fiber with mullite composition is discussed in more detail. Fiber development started from nonaqueous sol-gel precursors in the early lab scale. With increasing fiber spinning volume, precursors were switched to water-soluble systems. Transformation from green fiber to ceramic fiber was monitored by thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy. The evolution of ceramic phases, microstructure formation, and the effects on tensile strength and Young's modulus were investigated. Weibull statistics and fracture analysis helped to understand the results. Next step will be the transition from large lab scale to pilot scale, demonstrating manufacturing capability.     

Model-based Scale Up of Solid Bowl Centrifuges Using Experimentally Determined Material Functions

The scale up of solid bowl centrifuges is a major challenge as the process and material behavior are complex and difficult to describe. A common approach to forecast the process behavior is to use analytical models and transfer the experience gained from the lab to the industrial scale. In this context, time-consuming and cost-intensive pilot scale experiments are necessary. This paper presents a methodology to improve the scale up process and make it more sustainable by using a numerical model that allows the real-time tracking of the process and a more reliable scale up process. For this approach, the material behavior is derived from laboratory experiments whereby the scalability is given. Here, the determination of material functions allows an accurate representation of the material behavior for solid bowl centrifuges of different scales. The focus of this paper is the detailed explanation of material related functions for the scale up of decanter centrifuges.     

Combining Acoustic Emission and Vibration Technologies Harbors Huge Potential for Material Characterization

The demand for raw materials is growing worldwide, in step with increasing world population and rising living standards of emerging countries. It is becoming more difficult to exploit primary raw materials because of declining ore grades and increasingly complicated mineralogies. Thus, the efficient and environmentally sustainable exploitation of primary resources using innovative technologies has emerged as an important research field to address these issues. An innovative approach is introduced to optimize process and quality control by combining acoustic emission (AE) and vibration technology. The general feasibility of these two technologies for material recognition and characterization is examined. The new approach was tested to determine whether coal could be distinguished from waste rock.