Isolation and Spectroscopic Characterization of Eu@C72

A new Eu-endohedral fullerene cage, namely, Eu@C₇₂, was synthesized, separated, and a single isomer, Eu@C₇₂-I, has been isolated by multi-step HPLC for the first time and characterized by LDI-TOF mass spectrometry, UV-Vis and EPR spectroscopy. Additionally, a second isomer, Eu@C₇₂-II, has been separated by HPLC and identified by LDI-TOF mass spectrometry.     

Preparation and characterisation of titanium dioxide films for catalytic applications generated by anodic spark deposition

The advanced plasma electrochemical process of anodic spark deposition (ASD) was used to generate photoactive titanium dioxide films on titanium metal substrates. A shift to easier-to-machine substrates was demonstrated by the deposition of a titanium film with physical vapour deposition onto different materials such as glass, silicon, and stainless steel prior to ASD. Obtained films were characterised by scanning electron microscopy, surface area measurement (Brunnauer-Emmett-Teller method, BET), X-ray diffraction, electron-probe microanalysis, and glow discharge spectroscopy. Additionally, film thickness was determined by eddy current measurements. Standard ASD conditions were defined as 180 V applied voltage over a 180 s hold time, a voltage ramp of 20 V/s, a duty cycle of 0.5 and a frequency of 1500 Hz. Most prominent characteristics of the titanium films produced under these standard conditions are a film thickness of ≤80 μm, a surface area of approximately 51 m²/g (BET) and an anatase content of approximately 30% and rutile content of approximately 70%. Furthermore, the film formation process is elucidated and the dependence of film thickness on deposition time and the dependence of the anatase and rutile content on the deposited mass are shown for varying ASD conditions.     

Magnetic field control of a supersonic nitrogen flow

Magnetohydrodynamic impact on a cold supersonic nitrogen flow with external magnetic field was realized in an experimental complex based on the Big Shock Tube at the Ioffe Physicotechnical Institute. A pulsed supersonic flow with a Mach number of M=4 and steady phase duration of about 1.5 ms was created by expansion of the shock-heated nitrogen flow from a supersonic nozzle. The gas was ionized by pulsed discharge between two electrodes mounted on the nozzle wall so that an electric current of up to ∼500 A passed in the direction perpendicular to the gas flow at the dielectric wall. External magnetic field ∼0.3 T was perpendicular to the gas flow and the current direction. It is established that the magnetic field significantly modifies the shock wave structure in the flow.     

Stimulation of Bone Healing by Sustained Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 (BMP-2) Delivery

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of a sustained release of bone morphogenetic protein2 (BMP-2) incorporated in a polymeric implant coating on bone healing. In vitro analysis revealed a sustained, but incomplete BMP-2 release until Day 42. For the in vivo study, the rat tibia osteotomy was stabilized either with control or BMP-2 coated wires, and the healing progress was followed by micro computed tomography (μCT), biomechanical testing and histology at Days 10, 28, 42 and 84. MicroCT showed an accelerated formation of mineralized callus, as well as remodeling and an increase of mineralized/total callus volume (p = 0.021) at Day 42 in the BMP-2 group compared to the control. Histology revealed an increased callus mineralization at Days 42 and 84 (p = 0.006) with reduced cartilage at Day 84 (p = 0.004) in the BMP-2 group. Biomechanical stiffness was significantly higher in the BMP-2 group (p = 0.045) at Day 42. In summary, bone healing was enhanced after sustained BMP-2 application compared to the control. Using the same drug delivery system, but a burst release of BMP-2, a previous published study showed a similar positive effect on bone healing. Distinct differences in the healing outcome might be explained due to the different BMP release kinetics and dosages. However, further studies are necessary to adapt the optimal release profiles to physiological mechanisms.     

Growth and exopolysaccharide yield of Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus DSM 20081 in batch and continuous bioreactor experiments at constant pH

Some Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus strains are able to synthesize exopolysaccharides (EPS) and are therefore highly important for the dairy industry as starter cultures. The aim of this study was to investigate the nutritional requirements for growth and EPS production of Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus DSM 20081. A medium was developed from a semi-defined medium (SDM) in which glucose was replaced by lactose and different combinations of supplements (nucleobases, vitamins, salts, sodium formate and orotic acid) were added. Constant pH batch fermentation with the modified medium resulted in an EPS yield of approximately 210 mg glucose equivalents per liter medium. This was a 10-fold increase over flask cultivation of this strain in SDM. Although not affecting cell growth, the mixture of salts enhanced the EPS synthesis. Whereas EPS production was approximately 12 mg/g dry biomass without salt supplementation, a significantly higher yield (approximately 20 mg/g dry biomass) was observed after adding the salt mixture. In continuous fermentation, a maximal EPS concentration was obtained at a dilution rate of 0.31/h (80 mg EPS/L), which corresponded to a specific EPS production of 49 mg/g dry biomass.     

Shape-driven segmentation of the arterial wall in intravascular ultrasound images

Segmentation of arterial wall boundaries from intravascular images is an important problem for many applications in the study of plaque characteristics, mechanical properties of the arterial wall, its 3-D reconstruction, and its measurements such as lumen size, lumen radius, and wall radius. We present a shape-driven approach to segmentation of the arterial wall from intravascular ultrasound images in the rectangular domain. In a properly built shape space using training data, we constrain the lumen and media-adventitia contours to a smooth, closed geometry, which increases the segmentation quality without any tradeoff with a regularizer term. In addition to a shape prior, we utilize an intensity prior through a nonparametric probability-density-based image energy, with global image measurements rather than pointwise measurements used in previous methods. Furthermore, a detection step is included to address the challenges introduced to the segmentation process by side branches and calcifications. All these features greatly enhance our segmentation method. The tests of our algorithm on a large dataset demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach.     

Consumer acceptance of regular and reduced-sugar yogurt enriched with different types of dietary fiber

Reduction of energy in foods by eliminating sugar, combined with an increase in fiber, frequently results in products with sensory characteristics that cannot be compared with standard counterparts. This study analyzed the response of young educated consumers (n = 704) on standard or reduced-sugar vanilla yogurt enriched with inulin or with inulin combined with a grain mixture, a milled mixture of flakes, or a combination of grains and milled flakes. On a nine-point hedonic scale, mean acceptance was 6.4 and 6.8 for yogurt with 112 g kg^?1 and 160 g kg^?1 sugar, respectively. It was concluded from acceptance data and from results obtained by just-about-right rating that adapting the flavoring concentration might be an appropriate tool to mask sugar reduction. In yogurt with visible fiber, it is mainly the size of incorporated fiber that should be considered in product optimization. In these products, sugar content significantly affects acceptance.