More Than Just Simple Interaction between STIM and Orai Proteins: CRAC Channel Function Enabled by a Network of Interactions with Regulatory Proteins

The calcium-release-activated calcium (CRAC) channel, activated by the release of Ca²⁺ from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), is critical for Ca²⁺ homeostasis and active signal transduction in a plethora of cell types. Spurred by the long-sought decryption of the molecular nature of the CRAC channel, considerable scientific effort has been devoted to gaining insights into functional and structural mechanisms underlying this signalling cascade. Key players in CRAC channel function are the Stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1) and Orai1. STIM1 proteins span through the membrane of the ER, are competent in sensing luminal Ca²⁺ concentration, and in turn, are responsible for relaying the signal of Ca²⁺ store-depletion to pore-forming Orai1 proteins in the plasma membrane. A direct interaction of STIM1 and Orai1 allows for the re-entry of Ca²⁺ from the extracellular space. Although much is already known about the structure, function, and interaction of STIM1 and Orai1, there is growing evidence that CRAC under physiological conditions is dependent on additional proteins to function properly. Several auxiliary proteins have been shown to regulate CRAC channel activity by means of direct interactions with STIM1 and/or Orai1, promoting or hindering Ca²⁺ influx in a mechanistically diverse manner. Various proteins have also been identified to exert a modulatory role on the CRAC signalling cascade although inherently lacking an affinity for both STIM1 and Orai1. Apart from ubiquitously expressed representatives, a subset of such regulatory mechanisms seems to allow for a cell-type-specific control of CRAC channel function, considering the rather restricted expression patterns of the specific proteins. Given the high functional and clinical relevance of both generic and cell-type-specific interacting networks, the following review shall provide a comprehensive summary of regulators of the multilayered CRAC channel signalling cascade. It also includes proteins expressed in a narrow spectrum of cells and tissues that are often disregarded in other reviews of similar topics.     

Status and Perspectives of Biomass Use for Industrial Process Heat for Industrialized Countries

Full reduction of greenhouse gas emissions involves transforming the industrial process heat supply. The status and future perspectives of biomass for industrial heat mainly based on the German example are reviewed, and a more differentiated consideration by a newly introduced method is attempted. The article focuses on temperature levels above 200 °C combined with an individual examination of most energy-consuming industrial subsectors according to the feasibility of biomass utilization. Numerous studies conclude that biomass use will shift substantially from residential to industrial heat. Results indicate that biomass could play a bigger role especially for cement and clinker production, but they indicate also a significant need for further research and development to take final conclusions.     

Material behaviour of a dual hardening steel under thermomechanical loading

Dual hardening steels are a group of metals, which reach their material properties through a combination of strengthening via carbides and intermetallic precipitates. Because of their combination of mechanical properties, dual hardening steels are a promising alloying concept for hot‐work applications. The applied materials for hot‐work applications have to meet certain requirements, such as high hardness, high thermal strength, thermal stability, and fracture toughness. In this paper, a dual hardening steel in different heat treatment conditions was tested under out‐of‐phase thermomechanical loading conditions. All tests were done under full reverse strain control and the minimum temperature was kept constant. In the thermomechanical fatigue tests, solution annealed samples reached higher lifetimes compared with aged specimens. The hardness measurements show that the starting procedure of the thermomechanical fatigue leads to an increase of the hardness approximate to the values of the specimens with the ageing heat treatment. Cyclic softening can be observed in the test with the highest maximum temperature of 600°C. An increase of the maximum temperature also causes a decrease of the lifetime.     

Real-Time Visualization of Internal and External Concentration Fields in Multiphase Systems via Laser-induced Fluorescence and Rainbow Schlieren Deflectometry During and After Droplet Production

The applicability of laser-induced dye fluorescence (LIF) and rainbow schlieren deflectometry (RSD) for qualitative, non-invasive real-time visualization of spatial concentration distributions in two standard reference systems is presented. The combination of LIF and RSD enables measurements inside and outside of droplets and is able to overcome limitations of both measurement techniques. Experimental results in the presence of interfacial phenomena are compared and the connection between inner and outer effects is shown during droplet production at a capillary.     

希林格利奥酒庄 奥地利布尔根兰

正总体上,希林格利奥酒庄设计将风景、葡萄种植和建筑三种元素融为一体。希林格利奥酒庄位于乔伊斯葡萄园中央,地下空间十分深邃,四周植被茂盛,其特殊的位置显得敏感又有些困难,建筑师需要考虑如何让希林格利奥酒庄风光迷人。在旧有地窖里的走道的基础上,我们特别地利用了地下环境,将展示区的悬挑梁设计成可见的小标记,夜晚月光透过大窗户便会照亮这些小印记。生产大厅上端有8个椎体,这些椎体面朝北,呈对角线排     

Ecologic Potential for Flexible Methanol Production from Steel Mill Off-gases

Methanol production is one promising way to minimize the ecological impact of the conventional steelmaking process. This synthesis needs additional hydrogen, preferably produced from a green power source. In this paper, the influence of different power supply scenarios, gas storage volumes, and hydrogen production capacities on the overall carbon saving potential – defined as carbon binding ratio – from a flexible methanol production case will be investigated. A mixed-integer linear programming model with rolling horizon is used to calculate the optimal production plan.     

Effect of milking stall dimensions on upper limb and shoulder muscle activity in milkers

Increasing societal awareness for animal welfare can promote changes in legislation. Some of these changes may also affect the person that interacts with the animal in a shared workspace, such as in milking stalls. Swiss milking stalls were designed many years ago, when cows were smaller than they are today. A recent animal-based study indicated that welfare decreased in cows exposed to restricted space allowance in milking stalls, which had resulted from increasing body size without adjustment of milking stall dimensions. However, changing the milking stall dimensions without considering the milker may be detrimental. For many years, health issues, particularly of the upper limb and shoulders, have affected milking personnel. The current study investigated the effect of large and standard milking stall dimensions on muscle activity in milkers (as a measure of workload) during milking. This assessment is fundamental to ensure that legislation improving animal welfare does not jeopardize human health. The study took place in an experimental milking parlor that allowed for size adjustment of the individual milking stall. Nine milkers performed 2 shifts of milking in a herringbone and 2 shifts in a side-by-side milking parlor. The milking stall dimensions were large on one side and standard on the other side of the parlor; the 2 sides were switched between milking shifts. We used surface electromyography to monitor bilateral muscle activity of forearm (flexor carpi ulnaris), arm (biceps brachii), and shoulder (deltoideus anterior; upper trapezius) muscles. Statistical analysis was performed separately for the herringbone and the side-by-side parlor for each muscle using mean and maximum muscle activity as the target variables in a linear mixed-effects model. The analysis showed that the different milking stall dimensions did not consistently affect activity of the measured muscles. Our results suggest that milking stall dimensions are not a primary risk factor for poor ergonomics in parlor workers.     

Consistent scale-up procedure for the power consumption in agitated non-newtonian fluids

It is shown how a consistent scale-up rule for the power consumption in agitated non-Newtonian liquids can be obtained. The new approach is based on the concept of including the real liquid in a set of liquids with similar rheological properties and of using, in a small scale laboratory system, a suitable member of that set instead of the original liquid. Considerations of similarity lead to simple unique selection rules for the actual test liquid and for the stirrer speed in the laboratory experiment as well as to a prediction of the power requirement in the real system. The theory is tested experimentally by means of different aqueous polyacrylamide solutions. The results are compared with predictions, according to Metzner and Otto as well as Rieger and Novák.     

In situ laser irradiation of WC-Co hardmetals inside an SEM

Samples of WC-6% Co hardmetals were irradiated with a pulsed CO₂ laser inside a scanning electron microscope in order to study the mechanisms and development of surface modification in microscopic detail. The photon emission of the irradiated surface was measured simultaneously. Samples with surfaces prepared in different ways were irradiated in a multiple pulse regime. The laser power density was somewhat lower than that which would lead to a melting of the polished surface. It is shown that under such irradiation conditions the decisive step in surface modification is the successive solution of the carbide in the lower melting binder phase. Above a critical number of laser pulses, in the order of a thousand, this leads to the onset of large-scale melting, pointing to a marked rise of absorbency. These alterations of surface state are well reflected in the photon emission measurements. The influence of the original binder distribution within the surface layer, changed by grinding or polishing, is investigated.