Dual-colour thermal imaging with InAs/GaSb superlattices in mid-wavelength infrared spectral range

Based on type-II InAs/GaSb superlattice photodiodes, the first report of a dual-colour infrared camera with excellent NETD values<30 mK for the shortwave channel with a cutoff wavelength of 4.0 /spl mu/m and <17 mK for the longwave channel with 5.0 /spl mu/m cutoff is presented. The bispectral system, which offers a simultaneous and pixel-registered detection of both colours, allows remote imaging of carbon dioxide.     

Induction of manganese superoxide dismutase gene expression in bronchoepithelial cells after rockwool exposure

Superoxide dismutases play an important protective role in the lung defense against the pro-oxidative effect of fibrous dusts (e.g. crocidolite fibers). Particularly crocidolite, but also other asbestos fibers, are known to induce cellular antioxidant defense. Although rockwool, a man-made fiber made from rock, is used widely for insulation purposes, its effects on the superoxide dismutases in bronchoepithelial cells have not been investigated. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine whether human bronchoepithelial cells (BEAS 2B) respond to rockwool fibers (115-4 experimental rockwool fiber) by induction of MnSOD mRNA and an increase of MnSOD activity levels. The results were compared with BEAS 2B cells exposed to silica (alpha-quartz: DQ12; SiO2) and UICC (Union Internationale Contre le Cancer) crocidolite (concentrations of all dusts: 0, 2, 5, 10, 25, 50 micrograms/cm2 = 0, 2.4, 6, 12, 30, 60 micrograms/ml; 24-h exposure) as control fibers. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed close dust cell contact under all experimental settings. Very low MnSOD mRNA baseline levels rose significantly (p < 0.001) in BEAS 2B cells exposed to all three dusts at 2 micrograms/cm2. However, at > 25 micrograms/cm2 MnSOD mRNA levels in silica- and crocidolite- but not in rockwool-exposed cells decreased. Slight (no significance) increases of MnSOD activity were observed which decreased at higher dust (> 5 micrograms/cm2) concentrations. These results suggest that: (1) like crocidolite and silica, rockwool accelerates MnSOD gene expression in bronchoepithelial cells; (2) an increase of MnSOD mRNA levels is not accompanied by MnSOD activity elevation; (3) in contrast to rockwool, high concentrations (> or = 25 micrograms/cm2) of crocidolite and silica reduced MnSOD activity and MnSOD mRNA levels. Because oxidants (H2O2) and crocidolite fibers were shown to reduce SOD activity, lack of active MnSOD protein may be caused by inactivation on a post-translational level. Furthermore, the decline of MnSOD mRNA and MnSOD activity levels coincides with increasing cytotoxicity. In conclusion, rockwool was demonstrated to induce MnSOD gene expression, perhaps because of its pro-oxidative effect in bronchoepithelial cells. In contrast to crocidolite and silica, rockwool fibers are not cytotoxic in this experimental setting.     

Recombinant modified vaccinia virus Ankara-simian immunodeficiency virus gag pol elicits cytotoxic T lymphocytes in rhesus monkeys detected by a major histocompatibility complex class I/peptide tetramer

The utility of modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) as a vector for eliciting AIDS virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) was explored in the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)/rhesus monkey model. After two intramuscular immunizations with recombinant MVA-SIVSM gag pol, the monkeys developed a Gag epitope-specific CTL response readily detected in peripheral blood lymphocytes by using a functional killing assay. Moreover, those immunizations also elicited a population of CD8+ T lymphocytes in the peripheral blood that bound a specific major histocompatibility complex class I/peptide tetramer. These Gag epitope-specific CD8+ T lymphocytes also were demonstrated by using both functional and tetramer-binding assays in lymph nodes of the immunized monkeys. These observations suggest that MVA may prove a useful vector for an HIV-1 vaccine. They also suggest that tetramer staining may be a useful technology for monitoring CTL generation in vaccine trials in nonhuman primates and in humans.     

Survival and movement of enterovirus in connection with land disposal of sludges

Coxsackievirus and tritiated water were added to municipal sludges which were placed on lysimeters containing sandy soil or clay soil. It took 23 weeks during a normal Danish winter to inactivate virus from an initial 10⁶tcid₅₀/g sludge to a not demonstrable level. Irrespective of sludge and soil type no virus was demonstrated in the leachate water. The rainfall during December–May was 300 mm.     

Untersuchungen im Dreistoffsystem Eisen (II)-oxid–Chrom(III)-oxid–Tonerde

Schrifttumsübersicht über die beteiligten Randsysteme. Klärung der Frage, welche Fassung des Zustandsschaubildes Eisen(II)-oxid–Tonerde zutreffend ist, mit Hilfe von Schmelzen im Tonerdetiegel. Ermittlung des Schmelzpunktes des Hercynits. Sättigungsisothermen eisen(II)-oxidreicher Schlacken an Hercynit. Untersuchung des quasibinären Schnittes Hercynit–Chromit mit Röntgenfeinstruktur- und Mikrosondenmessungen. Entwurf des Zustandsschaubildes FeO–Cr₂O₃–Al₂O₃.     

Deep desulfurization of diesel oil: kinetic studies and process-improvement by the use of a two-phase reactor with pre-saturator

Desulfurization of liquid fuels is usually obtained by heterogeneous catalyzed hydrodesulfurization (HDS). Improvement of this process is needed, particularly with respect to future low residual S-contents of about . Up to now HDS of diesel oil is performed in a trickle bed reactor equipped with an expensive H₂-recycle, although the H₂-supply is far beyond the amount chemically consumed, at least for deep HDS of an already hydrotreated feed. In addition, scale up of trickle bed reactors is in general problematic. In this work kinetic studies and above all a new HDS-concept using a two-phase reactor is presented. Thereby the oil is externally pre-saturated with H₂ and only the liquid phase is passed over the catalytic fixed bed. The H₂-recycle is then redundant, the intrinsic reaction rate can be utilized, and scale-up problems do not occur. In addition, this concept can also be used for HDS of oils with a higher content of sulfur and/or unsaturated hydrocarbons by installing a liquid recycle.     

Changes of physicochemical indicators during mastitis and the effects of milk ejection on their sensitivity

We examined the relationship between physicochemical indicators and somatic cells in the milk of dairy cows during experimentally induced mastitis and their significance as indicators for use in controlling udder health. We were concerned particularly with the effect of alveolar milk ejection on the sensitivity of these indicators. In Expt 1, Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (Esch. coli LPS) was injected into the left rear quarter to induce an inflammatory reaction in one quarter in each of six cows. The contralateral control quarter was injected with a solution of NaCl (9 g/l). Nine milk samples were taken from both quarters until 60 h after injection. In Expt 2, repeated milk samples were taken every 20 s from one quarter during a 120-s teat stimulation in 20 cows with different somatic cell counts (SCC). Quarters were clustered for low (<5.0 log cells/ml), mid (5.0-5.7 log cells/ml) and high (>5.7 log cells/ml) SCC of the sample taken at t=0 s. Samples were analysed for SCC, electrical conductivity (EC) and Na+ and Cl- concentrations. During the experimental inflammation SCC, EC, Na+ and Cl- peaked at 12 h from LPS administration and values in treated quarters (T) at this time were elevated to 7900, 157, 501 and 169% of the values in untreated quarters, respectively. In Expt 2, SCC, EC, Na+ and Cl- in high SCC quarters were 2520, 121, 283 and 141% of low SCC quarters at the start of stimulation (t=0 s), respectively. Highly significant (P<0.001) differences in EC, Na+ and Cl- between high and low SCC quarters disappeared owing to the onset of alveolar milk ejection 100 s after the first contact with the teat. In conclusion, SCC in cows' milk provided the strongest amplitude in the case of an intramammary inflammation. EC, Na+ or Cl- were useful tools only if the measurements were performed in cisternal milk before the start of alveolar milk ejection.