Development of technologies aiding large-tissue engineering

Apoptosis associated oligonucleosomal fragmentation of DNA can result from the activation of endonucleases that exhibit different pH optima and are either sensitive or insensitive to divalent cations. DNA fragmentation due to activation of cation sensitive endonucleases occurs in the absence of a change in intracellular pH whereas intracellular acidification is a feature of apoptosis characterized by activation of cation insensitive acidic endonuclease. We have reported earlier that somatostatin (SST) induced DNA fragmentation and apoptosis is signaled in a receptor subtype selective manner uniquely via human somatostatin receptor subtype 3 (hSSTR3). In the present study we investigated the pH dependence and cation sensitivity of endonuclease induced in hSSTR3 expressing CHO-K1 cells by the SST agonist octreotide (OCT) and its effect on intracellular pH. We show that OCT induced apoptosis is associated with selective stimulation of a divalent cation insensitive acidic endonuclease. The intracellular pH of of cells undergoing OCT induced apoptosis was 0.9 pH units lower than that of control cells. The effect of OCT on endonuclease and pH was inhibited by orthovanadate as well as by pretreatment with pertussis toxin, suggesting that hSSTR3 initiated cytotoxic signaling is protein tyrosine phosphatase mediated and is G protein dependent. These findings suggest that intracellular acidification and activation of acidic endonuclease mediate wild type p53 associated apoptosis signaled by hormones acting via G protein coupled receptors.     

Nachweis von Maillard-Produkten in Malzen, Bieren und Braucouleuren

Zusammenfassung Bei der Maillard-Reaktion reagieren primär reduzierende Zucker mit den freien Aminogruppen der Aminosäuren. Dabei entstehen aus Aldosen als erste stabile Zwischenprodukte die 1-Aminosäure-1-desoxy-ketosen (Amadori-Verbindungen). In Malzen konnten zehn Amadori-Verbindungen quantitativ bestimmt werden. Sie entstehen während des Darrens des Malzes. Aufgrund unterschiedlicher Darrbedingungen unterscheiden sich die Malztypen im Gehalt und im Muster dieser Substanzen. Während der Erhitzungsvorgänge beim Brauprozeß (Maischen, Würzekochung) werden die Amadori-Verbindungen etwa zur Hälfte abgebaut, dagegen sind bei der an schließenden Gärung keine Veränderungen zu beobachten. Aus dem Gehalt und dem Muster der Amadori-Verbindungen im Bier können somit Rückschlüsse auf das verwendete Malz gezogen werden. Bei der Herstellung von Braucouleuren werden Ammoniak bzw. Ammoniumverbindungen als Aminokomponenten eingesetzt. Die Couleure enthalten deshalb keine 1-Aminosäure-l-desoxy-ketosen, dafür aber Desoxyfructosazine, die bei der Reaktion von Zuckern mit Ammoniak entstehen. Diese Pyrazinderivate wurden in Braucouleuren in hohen Mengen (2–6 g/100 g) gefunden. Es wird eine Methode vorgestellt, mit der ein Zusatz von Braucouleuren zum Bier über die Bestimmung der Desoxyfructosazine eindeutig nachgewiesen werden kann.

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Detection of Maillard products in malts, beers, and brewing couleurs

During the Maillard reaction, the reducing sugars first react with the free amino groups of the amino acids. With aldoses, 1-amino-l-deoxyketoses (ketose-amino acids, Amadori compounds) are the first stable intermediates to be formed. In malts ten different Amadori compounds could be determined that formed during the kiln-drying of malt. Dependent on the kiln-drying conditions, the different types of malt contain different amounts and proportions of these compounds. During the brewing process (mashing, mash wort cooking) about half of the Amadori compounds are decomposed, whereas during fermentation no changes can be observed. Therefore the amount and composition of Amadori compounds detected in beer may indicate the type of malt used. During the production of brewing couleurs, ammonia or ammonium compounds react with sugars and deoxyfructosazines are formed. In brewing coleurs, relatively high amount of these pyrazine derivatives (2–6 g/100 g) could be found. An analytical method is described for the quantitative determination of deoxyfructosazines, indicating an addition of brewing couleur to beer.

     

Gaschromatographisch-massenspektrometrische Untersuchung der im Modellsystem Cystein/Methionin/Furfural unter R?stbedingungen gebildeten Aromastoffe

Zusammenfassung Das Modellsystem Cystein/Methionin/Furfural lieferte unter Röstbedingungen ein komplexes Reaktionsgemisch, das sich mittels Adsorptionschromatographie auf Kieselgel und Capillar-GC in ca. 130 Komponenten auftrennen ließ, von denen 85 capillargaschromatographisch-massenspektrometrisch charakterisiert wurden. Furfural und die aus Cystein und Methionin resultierenden reaktiven Abbauprodukte H₂S, Cysteamin und Methylmercaptan sind wichtige Precursor für heterocyclische Flavorkomponenten. Neben Furanen, (Furan)-aldiminen und schwefelsubstituierten Furanderivaten werden auchN-Furfurylpyrrole, Pyridine, Thiazole, Thiazoline, Thiazolidine, Thiophene sowie aliphatische Schwefelverbindungen und cyclische Methylenpolysulfide gebildet. Beim Kaffeerösten entsteht Furfural als eine der Furanhauptkomponenten und spielt bei der Genese wesentlicher Kaffeearomastoffe eine zentrale Rolle.

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Gaschromatographic-mass spectrometric investigation of aroma compounds from the reaction of cysteine and methionine with furfural under roasting conditions

Summary The model-system cysteine/methionine/furfural produced under roasting conditions a complex mixture of compounds which was separated by adsorption chromatography on silica gel, according to the increasing polarity of the components, into six fractions. The fractions were investigated by capillary gas chromatography with and without mass spectrometry. Of the approx. 130 compounds detected, 85 were identified and quantified. Furfural and the reactive degradation products H₂S, cysteamine and methylmercaptan, resulting from cysteine and methionine, are important precursors for heterocyclic flavor components. Besides furans, (furan)aldimines, and sulphur-substituted furan derivates, the following compounds are also formed:N-furfurylpyrroles, pyridines, thiazoles, thiazolines, thiazolidines, thiophenes, as well as aliphatic sulphur compounds and cyclic methylene polysulfides. During coffee roasting, furfural is produced as one of the major components of the furans and is essential for the formation of important coffee aroma constituents.

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Poster-Präsentation beim Deutschen Lebensmittelchemikertag in Bremen (14.–16. Sept. 1988)     

Bestimmung des Herbicids Glyphosat und dessen Hauptmetabolit Aminomethylphosphons?ure (AMPA) in Trinkwasser mit Hilfe der HPLC

Zusammenfassung Es wird eine Methode zur Bestimmung von Glyphosat und dessen Hauptmetabolit Aminomethylphosphonsäure (AMPA) in Trinkwasser beschrieben, die es erlaubt, den in der Schweiz geforderten Toleranzwert von 0,1 g/1 zu erreichen (Nachweisgrenze 0,02 g/l). Die Wasserprobe wird dabei direkt mit 9-Fluorenylmethyl-chloroformaat (FMOCCI) versetzt, um extrahierbare und gleichzeitig fluorescierende Derivate zu erhalten. Diese werden nach Ausschütteln mit einem organischen Lösungsmittelgemisch durch HPLC mit Fluorescenzdetektor bestimmt. In bisher 151 untersuchten Trinkwasserproben des Kantons Bern konnten weder Glyphosat noch AMPA nachgewiesen werden.

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Determination of glyphosate herbicide and its main metabolite aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) in drinking water by HPLC

Summary A method for the determination of glyphosate and its major metabolite aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) is described. With a detection limit of 0.02 g/l, the method suitably fulfills the requirements of the Swiss legislation (tolerance value of 0.1 g/l water). The compounds are derivatized directly in the original water sample with 9-fluorenylmethyl chloroformate (FMOCCI) in order to obtain extractable and fluorescent derivatives. These are extracted with organic solvents and determined by HPLC using a fluorescence detector. Neither of the compounds could be detected in 151 tap water samples from the Canton of Berne.

     

细磨活化对白钨矿浸取行为的影响SCIEI

本文研究了细磨活化对白钨矿浸取行为的影响.实验结果表明,细磨活化后白钨矿在HCl-Na_3PO_4介质中的浸出速率显著加快,钨的浸出率由原来的约8％提高到99％以上.红外光谱和X射线分析结果表明,细磨除了使白钨矿比表面积显著增大外,还在固体的表面和内部产生缺陷结构,增加了矿物表面的反应活性,改善了白钨矿的分解,使得白钨矿的浸出能在较低的温度顺利进行。     

A kinetic study of the adsorption and desorption process of two commercial molecular sieves

A mathematical model and its numerical solution is presented to describe adiabatic adsorption—desorption processes in a fixed bed when the mass and heat transfer can be described by external film transfer coefficients only, which is especially interesting in the case of non-uniform, irregular particles. A new method to measure such rates is presented, based on continuous weighing of a through-circulated bed. The measured rates can be checked against the difference in humidity and temperature between the outlet and inlet air in order to minimize errors.The comparison between experimental results and calculations showed that the adsorption process in a bed of molecular sieve pellets can not be described with a constant mass transfer coefficient; the desorption process is better described although not entirely satisfactorily. In the case of a honeycomb molecular sieve, a constant mass transfer coefficient described both the adsorption and desorption processes satisfactorily.     

Testing usability and trainability of indirect touch interaction: perspective for the next generation of air traffic control systems

This study aims to determine whether indirect touch device can be used to interact with graphical objects displayed on another screen in an air traffic control (ATC) context. The introduction of such a device likely requires an adaptation of the sensory-motor system. The operator has to simultaneously perform movements on the horizontal plane while assessing them on the vertical plane. Thirty-six right-handed participants performed movement training with either constant or variable practice and with or without visual feedback of the displacement of their actions. Participants then performed a test phase without visual feedback. Performance improved in both practice conditions, but accuracy was higher with visual feedback. During the test phase, movement time was longer for those who had practiced with feedback, suggesting an element of dependency. However, this ‘cost’ of feedback did not extend to movement accuracy. Finally, participants who had received variable training performed better in the test phase, but accuracy was still unsatisfactory. We conclude that continuous visual feedback on the stylus position is necessary if tablets are to be introduced in ATC.     

Chemical inhibitors when timing is critical: a pharmacological concept for the maturation of T cell contacts

Cellular signal transduction proceeds through a complex network of molecular interactions and enzymatic activities. The timing of these molecular events is critical for the propagation of a signal and the generation of a specific cellular response. To define the timing of signalling events, we introduce the combination of high-resolution confocal microscopy with the application of small-molecule inhibitors at various stages of signal transduction in T cells. Inhibitors of Src-family tyrosine kinases and actin dynamics were employed to dissect the role of the lymphocyte-specific tyrosine kinase Lck in the formation and maintenance of T cell receptor/CD3-dependent contacts. Anti-CD3epsilon-coated coverslips served as a highly defined stimulus. The kinetics of the recruitment of the yellow fluorescent protein-tagged signalling protein ZAP-70 were detected by high-resolution confocal microscopy. The analysis revealed that at 5 min after receptor engagement, Lck activity was required for maintenance of contacts. In contrast, after 20 min of receptor engagement, the contacts were Lck-independent. The relevance of the timing of inhibitor application provides a pharmacological concept for the maturation of T cell-substrate contacts.     

Fiber Coating Concepts for Brittle-Matrix Composites

The current interest in tough, high-temperature materials has motivated fiber coating development for brittle-matrix composites with brittle reinforcements. Such coatings are needed for controlled interface debonding and frictional sliding. The system investigated in this study was sapphire fiber-reinforced alumina. This system is thermochemically stable for severe use conditions, exhibits little thermal expansion mismatch, and utilizes the excellent strength and creep resistance of sapphire reinforcements. Porous oxide and refractory metal coatings which satisfy requirements for toughness improvement in these composites were identified by employing a variety of newly developed mechanical testing techniques for determining the interfacial fracture energies and sliding resistances.     

Combination of non-thermal plasma and heterogeneous catalysis for oxidation of volatile organic compounds: Part 2. Ozone decomposition and deactivation of γ-Al2O3

The role of ozone was studied for two different configurations combining non-thermal plasma (NTP) and heterogeneous catalysis, namely the use of a gas phase plasma with subsequent exposure of the effluent to a catalyst in a packed-bed reactor (post-plasma treatment) and the placement of the catalyst directly in the discharge zone (in-plasma catalysis). Non-porous and porous alumina and silica were deployed as model catalysts. The oxidation of immobilised hydrocarbons, toluene as a volatile organic compound and CO as an inorganic pollutant were studied in both operational modes.

While conversion and selectivity of hydrocarbon oxidation in the case of catalytic post-plasma treatment can be fully explained by the catalytic decomposition of O₃ on γ-Al₂O₃, the conversion processes for in-plasma catalysis are more complex and significant oxidation was also measured for the other three materials (-Al₂O₃, quartz and silica gel). It became obvious that additional synergetic effects can be utilised in the case of in-plasma catalysis due to short-lived species formed in the NTP.

The capability of porous alumina for ozone decomposition was found to be correlated with its activity for oxidation of carbon-containing agents. It could be clearly shown that the reaction product CO₂ poisons the catalytic sites at the γ-Al₂O₃ surface. The catalytic activity for O₃ decomposition can be partially re-established by NTP treatment. However, for practical purposes the additional reaction pathways provided by in-plasma catalytic processes are essential for satisfactory conversion and selectivity.