Immunological Response to Biodegradable Magnesium Implants

The use of biodegradable magnesium implants in pediatric trauma surgery would render surgical interventions for implant removal after tissue healing unnecessary, thereby preventing stress to the children and reducing therapy costs. In this study, we report on the immunological response to biodegradable magnesium implants—as an important aspect in evaluating biocompatibility—tested in a growing rat model. The focus of this study was to investigate the response of the innate immune system to either fast or slow degrading magnesium pins, which were implanted into the femoral bones of 5-week-old rats. The main alloying element of the fast-degrading alloy (ZX50) was Zn, while it was Y in the slow-degrading implant (WZ21). Our results demonstrate that degrading magnesium implants beneficially influence the immune system, especially in the first postoperative weeks but also during tissue healing and early bone remodeling. However, rodents with WZ21 pins showed a slightly decreased phagocytic ability during bone remodeling when the degradation rate reached its maximum. This may be due to the high release rate of the rare earth-element yttrium, which is potentially toxic. From our results we conclude that magnesium implants have a beneficial effect on the innate immune system but that there are some concerns regarding the use of yttrium-alloyed magnesium implants, especially in pediatric patients.     

Studies of the pulse charge of lead-acid batteries for photovoltaic applications: Part IV. Pulse charge of the negative plate

The paper discusses the influence of the state of charge and pulse charge frequency on the mechanism of the lead-acid battery recharge with pulse current. The data from the pulse charge transients of the negative plate potential at various frequencies show that a decrease of the pulse charge frequency keeping constant average pulse current can impede the charge reaction leading to earlier start of the hydrogen evolution reaction. The dependence of the electrochemical double layer (EDL) capacitance on the state of charge was estimated both during the charge and the discharge using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements at open circuit, followed by equivalent circuit modelling. These data were used to derive the dependence of the average double layer current on SOC and pulse charge frequency. The results show that in the end of the charge almost all of the charge proceeds with the participation of EDL in a certain pulse frequency domain. Using the data from the impedance measurements the optimal pulse charge frequencies were predicted, considering the existence of “electrochemical resonance”. The latter appears when the pulse charge frequency approaches the characteristic frequency of the Pb electrodeposition process, given by the product between EDL capacitance and the charge transfer resistance.     

Flow behaviour of carrot puree: modelling the influence of time,temperature and potato flakes addition

Rheological properties of carrot puree were investigated in the 1–1000 s^?1 shear rate range with the objective of modelling the influence of time, temperature and addition of potato flakes on the flow behaviour. Carrot puree exhibited a shear‐thinning behaviour that was well described by the Ostwald‐de Waele (Power Law) model with a flow behaviour index of 0.34 (±0.02) at 20 °C. The time‐dependent behaviour was characterised by a second‐order Structural Kinetic Model. The decay of the structural parameter with time was found to be independent of shear rate. The Arrhenius model was used to explain the effect of temperature in the range from 4 to 60 °C. The dry matter was increased by adding potato flakes (0–5%). A power law model (for the concentration) and the Arrhenius relationship (for the temperature) were combined to simultaneously describe the effects of temperature and concentration. This study provides essential data for equipment and process design.     

Aquifex aeolicus membrane hydrogenase for hydrogen biooxidation: Role of lipids and physiological partners in enzyme stability and activity

Hydrogenase I from the hyperthermophilic bacterium Aquifex aeolicus is a good candidate for biotechnological devices thanks to its ability to oxidize hydrogen at high temperature, even in the presence of oxygen and CO. In order to enhance the enzyme stability and the catalytic efficiency, we investigated the hydrogen oxidation process with hydrogenase I embedded in a physiological-like environment. Hydrogenase I partners in the metabolic chain, namely membrane quinone and cytochrome b, were purified and fully characterized. The complex hydrogenase I–cytochrome b was inserted into liposomes. Surface Plasmon Resonance revealed that quinone took part in the stabilization of the complex. By use of molecular modelization and electrochemistry analysis, enzyme stability has been demonstrated to be stronger and enzymatic efficiency to be five times higher when hydrogenase is embedded into the liposomes. This result raises the possibility of using hydrogenases as biocatalysts in fuel cells.     

Synthese du furyl-2 oxiranne en milieu hétérogène solide-liquide faiblement hydrate: Determination du régime de production,expression de la loi cinétique

Optimum conditions for scaling up the synthesis of furyl-2 oxyrane from furfural have been determined. A continuous stirred tank reactor proved the most efficient configuration for the production of the oxirane. The kinetic model makes it possible to predict the yields of epoxide per unit volume and unit time.     

Ein zu Massenuntersuchungen von Tomaten und Tomatenkonserven geeignetes Analysenverfahren

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Environmental life cycle assessment of a pre‐fragmented high explosive grenade

Organisations today face increasing environmental constraints, e.g. in the form of legal and customer requirements; the defence sector is no exception. There is a need to evaluate and limit environmental effects of defence activities and materiel. In this study we used quantitative Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and a method for simplified LCA (the Material, Energy, Chemicals and Others (MECO) method) to assess the environmental impacts of a grenade. The aims of the study are to identify aspects in the grenade's life‐cycle that have the largest environmental impact, suggest improvement possibilities, make a comparison between different approaches for waste management of munitions, and to perform a demonstrative case for the application of LCA to munitions. Significant environmental aspects of the grenade's life‐cycle include use of metals, use of fossil fuels, and detonation outdoors. The study shows that an LCA can be used to analyse environmental impacts from munitions. The simplified LCA gave information that is complementary to the quantitative LCA. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

Influence of the termonomer on the synthesis and properties of ethylene-propylene polymers

EPDM elastomers have been synthesized by the Ziegler-Natta oatalytic system VOCl₃/Al₂Et₃Cl₃ with the objetive of verifying the influence of termonomers on terpolymer synthesis and on the properties of peroxide-vulcanized terpolymer compositions. Two groups of termonomers have been studied. Dienes, i.e., dicyclopentadiene (DCP), 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene (ENB) and limonene, and aromatic compounds, i.e., indene (IND) and styrene (ST). The influence on the synthesis has been verified by yield, termonomer incorporation, and molecular weight distri bution. The vulcanizate properties have included mechanical and electrical properties.     

Datenschutzrechtliche Einwilligung zur Werbung: Opt-out ausreichend?

Zusammenfassung  Das Interesse der Unternehmen, an personenbezogene Daten zu gelangen und diese für Werbezwecke zu verwerten, ist gro?. An die Einholung von Einwilligungen zur Verarbeitung solcher Daten stellte die Rechtsprechung daher hohe Anforderungen. Die herrschende Meinung ging bislang davon aus, dass Einwilligungen in Werbema?nahmen, die mittels Opt-out-Verfahren erlangt wurden, unwirksam sind. Bereits im vergangenen Jahr hatte das Oberlandesgericht München erneut darüber zu entscheiden, ob eine Opt-out-Klausel den datenschutzrechtlichen Anforderungen nach § 4a BDSG entspricht — und bejahte überraschenderweise die Wirksamkeit der Einwilligung.