Changes in content of microbially available phosphorus,assimilable organic carbon and microbial growth potential during drinking water treatment processes

There are regions where microbial growth in drinking water is limited by phosphorus instead of organic carbon. In phosphorus limited waters small changes in phosphorus concentration significantly affect microbial growth. We studied how water treatment processes in waterworks affect the availability of microbial nutrients and microbial growth potential in drinking water. The nutrients studied were assimilable organic carbon (AOCpotential) and microbially available phosphorus (MAP) which both were quantified by bioassays. Chemical coagulation, commonly used in surfacewater works, effectively removed AOCpotential and MAP. In contrast to activated carbon filtration, ozonation increased the concentrations of AOCpotential and MAP, and also microbial growth potential. In most of the drinking waters, microbial growth was limited by phosphorus, and microbial growth potential correlated with the MAP concentration. Microbial growth potential was lowest in drinking waters produced from surface waters with efficient treatment technique and highest in less treated ground waters.     

Cross-Sectional Associations of Food Consumption with Plasma Fatty Acid Composition and Estimated Desaturase Activities in Finnish Children

Plasma fatty acid (FA) composition is known to be an indicator of dietary fat quality, but the associations of other dietary factors with plasma FA composition remain unknown in children. We investigated the cross-sectional associations of food consumption with the proportions of FA and estimated desaturase activities in plasma cholesteryl esters (CE) and phospholipids (PL) among children. The subjects were a population sample of 423 children aged 6–8 years examined at baseline of The Physical Activity and Nutrition in Children (PANIC) Study. We assessed food consumption by food records and plasma FA composition by gas chromatography. We used linear regression models adjusted for age, sex, physical activity and total energy intake to analyze the associations. A higher consumption of vegetable oil-based margarine (fat 60–80 %) was associated with a higher proportion of linoleic and α-linolenic acids in plasma CE and PL. A higher consumption of high-fiber grain products was related to a lower proportion of oleic acid in CE and PL. The consumption of candy was directly associated with the proportion of palmitoleic and oleic acid in plasma CE. The consumption of vegetable oil-based margarine was inversely associated with estimated stearoyl-CoA-desaturase activity in plasma CE and PL and the consumption of candy was directly related to it in plasma CE. The results of our study suggest that plasma FA composition is not only a biomarker for dietary fat quality but also reflects the consumption of high-fiber grain products and foods high in sugar among children.     

Use of adipose stem cells and polylactide discs for tissue engineering of the temporomandibular joint disc

There is currently no suitable replacement for damaged temporomandibular joint (TMJ) discs after discectomy. In the present study, we fabricated bilayer biodegradable polylactide (PLA) discs comprising a non-woven mat of poly(L/D)lactide (P(L/D)LA) 96/4 and a P(L/DL)LA 70/30 membrane plate. The PLA disc was examined in combination with adipose stem cells (ASCs) for tissue engineering of the fibrocartilaginous TMJ disc in vitro. ASCs were cultured in parallel in control and chondrogenic medium for a maximum of six weeks. Relative expression of the genes, aggrecan, type I collagen and type II collagen present in the TMJ disc extracellular matrix increased in the ASC-seeded PLA discs in the chondrogenic medium. The hypertrophic marker, type X collagen, was moderately induced. Alcian blue staining showed accumulation of sulphated glycosaminoglycans. ASC differentiation in the PLA discs was close to that observed in pellet cultures. Comparison of the mRNA levels revealed that the degree of ASC differentiation was lower than that in TMJ disc-derived cells and tissue. The pellet format supported the phenotype of the TMJ disc-derived cells under chondrogenic conditions and also enhanced their hyalinization potential, which is considered part of the TMJ disc degeneration process. Accordingly, the combination of ASCs and PLA discs has potential for the development of a tissue-engineered TMJ disc replacement.     

Thin film bulk acoustic wave filter

Thin film bulk acoustic wave (BAW) resonators (FBAR) are fabricated on a silicon nitride bridge using a ZnO piezolayer on a glass substrate and surface micromachining by standard thin film technology. These resonators exhibit a coupling constant k/sub t//sup 2/=7.8% at the first thickness extensional wave mode and are used as impedance elements in a ladder filter in the 1-GHz frequency band of mobile telecommunications. An electrical equivalent circuit is used to characterize the properties of the resonators and to show how the performance of the filter depends on the parameters of the resonators. 2.5% bandwidth, 2.8-dB insertion loss, and 35-dB selectivity are obtained in a filter with six resonators. The technology can be used to manufacture miniature microwave filters without any additional inductances.     

Issues related to the computer realization of a multidisciplinary and multiobjective optimization system

Issues and novel ideas to be considered when developing computer realizations of complex multidisciplinary and multiobjective optimization systems are introduced. The aim is to discuss computer realizations that make possible both computationally efficient multidisciplinary analysis and multiobjective optimization of real world problems. We introduce software tools that make typically very time-consuming simulation processes more effective and, thus, enable even interactive multiobjective optimization with a real decision maker. In this paper, we first define a multidisciplinary and multiobjective optimization system and after that present an implementation overview of such problems including basic components participating in the solution process. Furthermore, interfaces and data flows between the components are described. A couple of important features related to the implementation are discussed in detail, for example, the usage of automatic differentiation. Finally, the ideas presented are illustrated with an industrial multiobjective optimization problem, when we describe numerical experiments related to quality properties in paper making.     

“Plug-up”–a new concept for fabricating SOI MEMS devices

This paper reports a novel process sequence for fabricating micromechanical devices on silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafers. Among the merits of the described process are its improved immunity to stiction and elimination of conductor metal endurance problems during sacrificial etching in hydrofluoric acid. With this novel process one can controllably embed vacuum cavities within SOI substrates. Further processing of such cavity wafers enables realization of a wide variety of micromechanical devices based on single crystalline silicon or even integrated read-out circuitry.K. Järvi and T. Häkkinen are gratefully acknowledged for the device fabrication. The Finnish National Technology Agency, Okmetic, VTI Technologies, and Micro Analog Systems participated in funding this work. The ultrasonic devices were fabricated in collaboration with Autotank, Oras, Suunto, Vaisala, and Enermet.     

Regulation of receptor-coupling to (multiple) G proteins. A challenge for basic research and drug discovery

G protein-coupled receptors induce intracellular signals via interaction of with cytosolic/peripheral membrane proteins, mainly G proteins. There has been much debate about the mode of interaction between the receptors, G proteins and effectors, their mobility and the ways of determining the specificity of interaction. Additional complexity has been added to system upon the discovery of i) coupling of single receptors to several G proteins and ii) active direction of this by different ligands (stimulus trafficking). These data suggest that the most primary unit in the signal transduction is the receptor complexed with a specific G protein, making the investigation of the mechanism of receptor-G protein selection and interaction even more important. In this review, I will summarize the general knowledge of receptor interaction with G proteins and effectors and the ways of investigating this.     

Endothelial cell-matrix interactions

Dynamic interactions between endothelial cells and components of their surrounding extracellular matrix are necessary for the invasion, migration, and survival of endothelial cells during angiogenesis. These interactions are mediated by matrix receptors that initiate intracellular signaling cascades in response to binding to specific extracellular matrix molecules. The interactions between endothelial cells and their environment are also modulated by enzymes that degrade different matrix components and thus enable endothelial invasion. Recent reports on gene targeting in mice have confirmed the role of two classes of matrix receptors, integrins and cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans, and a group of matrix degrading proteolytic enzymes, matrix metalloproteinases, in angiogenesis. The significance of endothelial cell-matrix interactions is further supported by several ongoing clinical trials that analyze the effects of drugs blocking this interaction on angiogenesis-dependent growth of human tumors.     

Selection of NF membrane to improve quality of chemically treated surface water

The requirement for higher quality drinking water necessitates the application of more efficient water treatment techniques. Nanofiltration is one promising option for enhanced water treatment, for example, in enhanced organic matter removal. The characteristics of different nanofiltration membranes vary remarkably, and the selection of a membrane has to be made according to the requirements of an application. In this study six nanofiltration membranes (NF70, NF255, NTR-7450, NTR-7410, Desal-5 and TFC-S) were evaluated in improving the quality of chemically pre-treated surface water in a pilot-scale process. The results indicate that the membrane with high organics removal and slightly reduced ion removal characteristics (NF255) performed best in terms of product water quality as well as membrane productivity and fouling. The most permeable membrane (NTR-7410) suffered intensive fouling and insufficient product water quality. An interesting finding was that the permeates of all the tested membranes possessed a significant potential for microbial growth, despite the low nutrient contents.