Combination of UDP‐Glc(NAc) 4′‐Epimerase and Galactose Oxidase in a One‐Pot Synthesis of Biotinylated Nucleotide Sugars

The enzymatic epimerization of uridine 5′‐diphospho‐α‐D ‐glucose (UDP‐Glc, 1 ) and uridine 5′‐diphospho‐N‐acetyl‐α‐D ‐glucosamine (UDP‐GlcNAc, 2 ) and the subsequent oxidation of uridine 5′‐diphospho‐α‐D ‐galactose (UDP‐Gal, 3 ) and uridine 5′‐diphospho‐N‐acetyl‐α‐D ‐galactosamine (UDP‐GalNAc, 4 ) were combined with chemical biotinylation with biotin‐ε‐amidocaproylhydrazide in a one‐pot synthesis. Analysis by CE and NMR revealed a mixture (1.0:1.4) of the biotinylated nucleotide sugars uridine 5′‐diphospho‐6‐biotin‐ε‐amidocaproylhydrazino‐α‐D ‐galactose (UDP‐6‐biotinyl‐Gal, 7) and uridine 5′‐diphospho‐6‐biotin‐ε‐amidocaproylhydrazino‐α‐D ‐glucose (UDP‐6‐biotinyl‐Glc, 9 ), respectively, in a reaction started with 1 . One product, uridine 5′‐diphospho‐6‐biotin‐ε‐amidocaproylhydrazino‐N‐acetyl‐α‐D ‐galactosamine (UDP‐6‐biotinyl‐GalNAc, 8) was formed when the reaction was initiated with 2 . It could be demonstrated for the first time that a UDP‐Glc(NAc) 4′‐epimerase (Gne from Campylobacter jejuni) and galactose oxidase from Dactylium dendroides can be used simultaneously in enzymatic catalysis. This is of particular interest since the coaction of an enzyme demanding reductive conditions and an oxygen‐dependent oxidase is unexpected.     

Qualitätsmanagement bei der Herstellung von Chemieapparaten aus Sonderwerkstoffen

Quality Management during the Fabrication of Chemical Equipment Made of Special Materials Optimizing a material's resistance to corrosion by the addition of alloying elements up to their solubility limits will make it increasingly difficult to use these frequently unstable alloys for the manufacture of chemical plant. The requirements these materials have to meet in the manufacture of chemical plant in terms of manufacturing technology and quality management, are becoming increasingly stringent. The current situation, for example in the manufacture of domed heads of pressure vessels, forgings, heat exchangers, and filter screens with a high specific surface area as a constituent part of stirred suction filters using advanced metallic materials, is not very satisfactory. Results of fabrication tests necessary for pressure vessel manufacture as well as in-service failures frequently demonstrate insufficient expertise of workshops dealing with high-alloy stainless steels and nickel-based materials. That the in-service failure of compoents clearly leads to considerable costs due to maintenance, delays in supply, and production downtimes. The economic consequences can be substantial. The aim of this paper is to highlight sensitive areas by demonstrating the impact of unintentional and unnoticed fabrication-related changes in welding parameters and to provide information on easily applicable methods of monitoring techniques.     

Understanding employee resourcing in construction organizations

In recent years the literature on employee resourcing has consistently advocated the importance of adopting a holistic, strategic approach to employee deployment decision making rather than adopting a reactive needs‐based approach. This is particularly problematic in construction where the multi‐project environment leads to constantly changing resource requirements and to changing demands over a project's life cycle. This can lead to inappropriate decisions, which fail to meet the longer‐term needs of both construction organizations and their employees. A structured and comprehensive understanding of the current project team deployment practices within large construction organizations was developed. Project deployment practices were examined within seven case study contracting firms. The emergent themes that shaped the decision‐making processes were grouped into five broad clusters comprising human resource planning, performance/career management, team deployment, employee involvement and training and development. The research confirms that a reactive and ad hoc approach to the function prevails within the firms investigated. This suggests a weak relationship between the deployment process and human resource planning, team deployment, performance management, employee involvement and training and development activities. It is suggested that strategic HR–business partnering could engender more transparent and productive relationships in this crucial area.     

Nanotechnologie im Bauwesen

Nanotechnology in Construction Engineering In general, nanotechnology comprises the development, production and application of materials yielding novel functionalities and performances. In the construction industry and materials research nanotechnology can be utilized for a variety of areas of application, such as the optimisation of material properties, the prevention of damages and the implementation of new functionalities. This article gives an overview of areas in the construction sector where nanotechnology gains prominently of significance, such as cementitious binders, façades, windows and glazing, fire protection, interior decoration and infrastructure buildings. Furthermore, actual scientific research activities in the field of building materials on a nano‐scale performed by the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM) in Berlin are being presented. The research activities relate to the modification of hydrate phases in ultra high performance concrete (UHPC) and to the enhancement of performance of anti‐graffiti‐systems.     

Quantifizierungen von Grundwassereintritten in städtische Abwassersysteme mittels stabiler Isotope

Infiltration of groundwater into sewer systems increases the costs for wastewater treatment plant operators. This study explores groundwater infiltration to urban sewer systems in the city of Nuremberg (Germany). Measurements of stable isotopes at the water works, storage tanks, groundwater, and the sewage network were carried out to define input end members for mass balance calculations. Only minor differences in oxygen stable isotopes (δ¹⁸O_H2O) were found between most sewer and drinking water samples which ranged around (??9.5?±?0.1) ‰. One exception was water from a water works at Genderkingen that is situated about 80 km south of Nuremberg. Here, drinking water from bank filtrate of the Lech River had more negative δ¹⁸O_H2O values of ??11.4?‰. This difference of 1.5?‰ revealed maximum possible groundwater contributions of 41?% by mass balance calculations. To obtain more accurate results, we suggest testing the use of deuterium-enriched water (D₂O) added to the sewer system.     

Biodegradability and ecotoxicity of commercially available geothermal heat transfer fluids

Commercially available heat transfer fluids used in borehole heat exchangers were investigated for their composition, their biodegradability as well as their ecotoxicity. The main components of the fluids are organic compounds (often glycols) for freezing protection. Biodegradation of the fluids in laboratory studies caused high oxygen depletion as well as nitrate/iron(III) reduction under anaerobic conditions. Additives such as benzotriazoles for corrosion protection were persistent. Ecotoxicity data show that the commercially available fluids caused much higher ecotoxicity than their main organic constituents. Consequently, with regard to groundwater protection pure water as heat transfer medium is recommended. The second best choice is the usage of glycols without any additives. Effects on groundwater quality should be considered during ecological-economical cost-benefit-analyses of further geothermal energy strategies. The protection of groundwater as the most important drinking water resource must take priority over the energy gain from aquifers.     

Regional differences in collagen stable isotope and tissue trace element profiles in populations of long-tailed duck breeding in the Canadian Arctic

Adult long-tailed ducks (Clangula hyemalis) were collected from nine locations across their breeding grounds in northern Canada and measurements of stable isotopes of carbon (delta(13)C), nitrogen (delta(15)N) and sulfur (delta(34)S) in bone collagen were used to investigate if relative use of freshwater habitats such as the Great Lakes (with expected depleted stable isotope profiles) compared with coastal marine environments (with expected enriched stable isotope foodweb profiles) could explain tissue trace element profiles. Contrary to expectation, all three stable isotopes did not covary in our sample, suggesting that mechanisms other than simple freshwater vs. marine isotopic gradients were involved among populations. All three stable isotopes varied significantly with collection location and both delta(15)N and delta(13)C values varied significantly between sexes suggesting that males exploit either a different food base or occur in different geographic areas than females for at least part of the year. The delta(34)S data, in particular, suggested that many of the birds breeding in the western Canadian Arctic probably overwinter in the Great Lakes along with many of the birds breeding in Hudson Bay. Males at the majority of collection locations had higher concentrations of hepatic Hg (1.1-8 microg/g dw), Cu (25-40 mug/g dw), Se (7.3-27 mug/g dw) and renal Cd (33-129 microg/g dw) than females. Concentrations of Hg, Cu and Cd were well below toxicological threshold levels found in the literature. However, hepatic Se concentrations in 64% of the females exceeded 10 mug/g dw and concentrations in 8% of the birds measured exceeded 33 microg/g dw suggesting levels of potential concern.