An Interdisciplinary Approach for the Assessment and Implementation of Resilient and Flexible Water Supply Infrastructure under Changing or Instable Conditions

In case of demographic changes or emergencies pipeline bound infrastructure like gas or water is specifically challenged. Then, the advantages of decentralized infrastructure should be considered: Minimization of asset bound funds; flexibility; resilience; response capacity. A research project at the Federal Armed Forces University together with the Brazilian utility company COPASA, the process engineering company Grünbeck and the ICT company Phönix focused on: A procedure for successful decentralized water infrastructure implementation; a new operation scheme; related pilot tests. To describe the local situation the Open System of Boundaries is created comprising 13 interdisciplinary groups and 68 subgroups. To describe water supply systems the Open System of Attributes is created comprising 15 groups and 64 subgroups. An Attributes Profile which fits into the Boundaries Profile makes a resilient decentralized application more likely. For Minas Gerais, Brazil, i.e. for instable conditions the Boundaries Profile and the Attributes Profile of a decentralized SCADA equipped water treatment plant are compiled. Results of on-site tests are discussed. Recommendations for decentralized water supply under instable conditions are given. The application of standardized SCADA equipped treatment plants is suggested with remote supervision from one control centre

Landnutzungsdynamiken und deren ökologische Auswirkungen auf Teneriffa (Kanarische Inseln). Analyse und Bewertung landwirtschaftlicher Entwicklungsprozesse mit Methoden der Fernerkundung und Landnutzungsmodellierung

Das heutige Landschaftsbild der Kanarischen Insel Teneriffa ist das Ergebnis einer beständigen kulturlandschaftlichen Entwicklung, die im Wesentlichen mit dem Beginn der europäischen Kolonialisierung im 15. Jahrhundert ihren Anfang nahm. Während bis Mitte des 20. Jahrhunderts fast ausschließlich landwirtschaftliche Inwertsetzungsprozesse die Landschaft prägten, spielen in jüngster Zeit vor allem der Tourismus und die damit verbundenen Wirtschaftssektoren eine maßgebliche Rolle bei der anthropogenen Umgestaltung des Raums. Der damit einhergehende sozioökonomische Wandel von einer Agrar- zu einer Dienstleistungsgesellschaft führt zu einer Umorientierung der Erwerbstätigen von der Landwirtschaft hin zum Tourismus und zu ansteigenden Migrationsbewegungen in die urbanen Tourismuszentren. Hierdurch kommt es einerseits zu enormen Siedlungsexpansionen in den Küstenzonen und andererseits zu einer verstärkten Aufgabe von landwirtschaftlichen Nutzflächen im ländlichen Raum. Im Rahmen der vorliegenden Arbeit wird eine umfassende Analyse, Simulation und ökologische Bewertung der agrarischen Landnutzungsdynamiken auf Teneriffa durchgeführt. Die Ergebnisse liefern ein ganzheitliches Bild zur bisherigen sowie möglichen zukünftigen räumlichen Entwicklung der kanarischen Landwirtschaft und den damit verbundenen ökologischen Auswirkungen auf den teilweise stark fragmentierten Naturraum. Ausgangspunkt der Untersuchung bildet die objektbasierte Landnutzungs- und Landbedeckungsklassifikation (LULC-Klassifikation) von SPOT 1-Daten (1986/88), SPOT 4-Daten (1998) sowie RapidEye-Daten (2010) und die anschließende Change Detection-Analyse in Form eines modifizierten, halbautomatisierten Post-Klassifikations-Vergleichs. Ein weiterer objektbasierter Klassifikationsprozess für hochauflösende RGB-Orthophotos dient darüber hinaus zur Erfassung der landwirtschaftlich beeinflussten Gesamtfläche Teneriffas. Hauptaugenmerk dieses Verfahrens liegt auf der texturbasierten Detektion von Agrarflächen inklusive landwirtschaftlich stillgelegter Areale bzw. Dauerbrachen, die in den Multispektraldaten aufgrund fortgeschrittener Sukzessionsprozesse nicht mehr von der natürlichen oder naturnahen Landbedeckung unterschieden werden können. Die Klassifikationsergebnisse münden anschließend in den Aufbau eines auf Dyna-CLUE 2 (Dynamic Conversion of Land Use and its Effects Model, Version 2) basierenden, räumlich expliziten Landnutzungsmodells, das nach einer Parametrisierung und Kalibrierung zur Simulation der möglichen zukünftigen Entwicklung des Agrarsektors bis 2030 herangezogen werden kann. Ein Trendszenario zeigt in diesem Zusammenhang auf, welche agrarischen Landnutzungsveränderungen auftreten, wenn sich der bisherige Trend mit einer Steigerung der Intensivlandwirtschaft und einer weiteren räumlichen Abnahme von Ackerflächen vor allem in den Peripheriegebieten fortsetzt. Ein zweites, alternatives Szenario prognostiziert hingegen, welche landwirtschaftlichen Veränderungen durch eine erfolgreiche Umsetzung von Agrarprogrammen und -maßnahmen der EU zu erwarten sind. Im Rahmen einer ökologischen Analyse wird schließlich eruiert, welche Areale des Lorbeer- und Kiefernwaldes sowie des Sukkulentenbuschs in der Vergangenheit unter landwirtschaftlichem Einfluss standen und somit als Regenerationsflächen gelten. Darüber hinaus wird ermittelt, wie sich das zukünftige Regenerationspotenzial für die einzelnen Vegetationsformationen unter Berücksichtigung der landwirtschaftlichen Entwicklungsszenarien darstellt. Nach einer Bewertung und Interpretation der gewonnenen Ergebnisse werden abschließend raumplanerische Vorschläge unterbreitet, wie der kanarische Lorbeerwald zukünftig stärker vor kulturlandschaftlichen Raumentwicklungsprozessen geschützt werden könnte

Restriction and modification in Bacillus subtilis: inducibility of a DNA methylating activity in nonmodifying cells

The nonrestricting/nonmodifying strain Bacillus subtilis 222 (r-m-) can be induced to synthesize a DNA-modifying activity upon treatment with either mitomycin C (MC) or UV light. This is shown by the following facts. (i) Infection of MC-pretreated 222 cells with unmodified SPP1 phage yields about 3% modified phage that are resistant to restriction in B. subtilis R (r+m+). The induced modifying activity causes the production of a small fraction of fully modified phage in a minority class of MC-treated host cells. (ii) The MC-pretreated host cells contain a DNA cytosine methylating activity: both bacterial and phage DNAs have elevated levels of 5-methylcytosine. (iii) The MC-induced methylation of SPP1 DNA takes place at the recognition nucleotide sequences of restriction endonuclease R from B. subtilis R. (iv) Crude extracts of MC-pretreated 222 cells have enhanced DNA methyltransferase activities, with a substrate specificity similar to that found in modification enzymes present in (constitutively) modifying strains

Effect of the modulation of the membrane lipid composition on the localization and function of P-glycoprotein in MDR1-MDCK cells

Summary: Multidrug resistance (MDR) is a major obstacle in cancer therapy. It results from different mechanisms; among them is P-glycoprotein (P-gp)-mediated drug efflux out of cells. The mechanism of action remains elusive. The membrane lipid surrounding of P-gp, especially cholesterol, has been postulated to play an important role. To determine the effect of cholesterol depletion on P-gp, Madin Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells, transfected with the mdr1 gene (MDR1-MDCK cells), were treated with methyl-β-cyclodextrin (MβCD). The localization and function of P-gp were analyzed using confocal laser scanning microscopy. Treatment with 100 mM MβCD did not affect viability but altered the structural appearance of the cells and abolished efflux of rhodamine 123, a P-gp substrate. The MβCD treatment released P-gp from intact cells into the supernatant and reduced the amount of P-gp in total membrane preparations. The P-gp was shifted from the raft fractions (1% Triton X-100, 4° C) to higher density fractions in MβCD-treated cells. The amount of cholesterol was significantly decreased in the raft fractions. Treatment of cells with 1-phenyl-2-decanoylamino-3-morpholino-1-propanol, a glucosylceramide synthase inhibitor, also led to a shift of P-gp to higher density fractions. These results show that removal of cholesterol modulates the membrane lipid composition, changes the localization of P-gp, and results in loss of P-gp functio

Phenotypic characterization of human umbilical vein endothelial (ECV304) and urinary carcinoma (T24) cells: Endothelial versus epithelial features

Summary: ECV 304 cells reported as originating from human umbilical vein endothelial cells by spontaneous transformation have been used as a model cell line for endothelia over the last decade. Recently, deoxyribonucleic acid fingerprinting revealed an identical genotype for ECV 304 and T24 cells (urinary bladder carcinoma cell line). In order to resolve the apparent discrepancy between the identical genotype and the fact that ECV304 cells phenotypically show important endothelial characteristics, a comparative study was performed. Immortalized porcine brain microvascular endothelial cells/C1-2, and Madin Darby canine kidney cells were included as typical endothelial and epithelial cells, respectively. Various methods, such as confocal laser scanning microscopy, Western blot, and protein activity tests, were used to study the cell lines. ECV304 and T24 cells differ in criteria, such as growth behavior, cytoarchitecture, tight junction arrangement, transmembrane electrical resistance, and activity of γ-glutamyltransferase. Several endothelial markers (von Willebrand factor, uptake of low-density lipoprotein, vimentin) could clearly be identified in ECV304, but not in T24 cells. Desmoglein and cytokeratin, both known as epithelial markers, were found in ECV304 as well as T24 cells. However, differences were found for the two cell lines with respect to the type of cytokeratin: in ECV304 cells mainly cytokeratin 18 (45 kDa) is found, whereas in T24 cells cytokeratin 8 (52 kDa) is predominant. As we could demonstrate, the ECV 304 cell line exposes many endothelial features which, in view of the scarcity of suitable endothelial cell lines, still make it an attractive in vitro model for endotheli

Dose-response effect of interleukin (IL)-1β, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interferon-γ on the in vitro production of epithelial neutrophil activating peptide-78 (ENA-78), IL-8, and IL-6 by human endometrial stromal cells

Purpose: The production of epithelial neutrophil activating peptide-78 (NA-78) and the interleukins IL-8 and IL-6 by endometrial stromal cells is stimulated by pro-inflammatory interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). IL-8 is suggested to play a role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis, and in these women the peritoneal fluid concentrations of ENA-78 and IL-8 are increased. TNF-α has been tested together with interferon-γ because of their cooperative stimulation of IL-6. The release of IL-8, however, is inhibited with increasing interferon levels. The aim of the study was the analysis of the production of ENA-78, IL-6 and IL-8 by cultured human endometrial stromal cells in the presence of varying concentrations of IL-1β, TNF-α, and interferon-γ. Methods: Eutopic endometrial tissue was obtained from seven cycling, endometriosis-free women undergoing laparoscopy for reasons of infertility or pain. The release of ENA-78, IL-8 and IL-6 by the isolated and monolayer cultured stromal cell fraction in the presence of IL-1β (0.08 to 50ng/mL), TNF-α, and interferon-γ (both 20 to 500ng/mL) was determined. Results: IL-1β stimulated the production of IL-8, IL-6, and ENA-78 dose dependently from 0.08 to 2.0ng/mL (ENA-78) or to 10ng/mL (IL-8, IL-6); at 50ng/mL a decrease in release was observed for IL-8 and IL-6. TNF-α stimulation yielded a plateau between 20 and 100ng/mL. Interferon-γ stimulated IL-6 and inhibited IL-8 production above 20ng/mL. ENA-78 release was largely unaffected by interferon-γ. Conclusions: IL-1β and TNF-α stimulate stromal cytokine production cumulatively with different dose-response curves. The presence of interferon-γ has opposite effects on IL-8 and IL-6. TNF-α and interferon-γ should be investigated separately in future in vitro studies with endometrial cells and explant

Hyaluronic Acid (Ha) Binding to Cd44 Activates Rac1 and Induces Lamellipodia Outgrowth

Both cell adhesion protein CD44 and its main ligand hyaluronic acid (HA) are thought to be involved in several processes ultimately requiring cytoskeleton rearrangements. Here, we show that the small guanine nucleotide (GTP)-binding protein, Rac1, can be activated upon HA binding to CD44. When applied locally to a passive cell edge, HA promoted the formation of lamellipodial protrusions in the direction of the stimulus. This process was inhibited by the prior injection of cells with dominant-negative N17Rac recombinant protein or by pretreatment of cells with monoclonal anti-CD44 antibodies, interfering with HA binding, implying the direct involvement of CD44 in signaling to Rac1

Abrogation of Experimental Colitis Correlates with Increased Apoptosis in Mice Deficient for Cd44 Variant Exon 7 (Cd44v7)

Experimental colitis in mice is characterized by infiltration of activated T helper (Th) cells and macrophages into the lamina propria. Particularly, these cells expressed CD44 variant exon 7 (CD44v7)-containing isoforms. Upregulation of CD44v7 isoforms was induced by CD40 ligation, an inflammation-driving interaction between activated Th cells and macrophages. To define the role of CD44v7 in colitis, mice bearing a targeted deletion for exon v7 were generated. In trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid–induced colitis, wild-type mice developed severe signs of persistent inflammation. Mice lacking CD44v7 initially showed unspecific inflammation, then recovered completely. The pathogenic origin was shown to reside in bone marrow–derived CD44v7+ cells, because adoptive transfer experiments demonstrated an absolute requirement for CD44v7 on hematopoietic cells for maintenance of colitis. Interleukin (IL)-10–deficient mice, which develop a chronic Th1-driven enterocolitis, were crossbred with CD44v6/v7 null mice. In IL-10 × CD44v6/v7 double deficient mice, intestinal inflammation developed only weakly and at an older age. Analysis of cell death in the inflamed lesions revealed that mononuclear cells in the CD44v7 null infiltrates had higher rates of apoptosis than those from wild-type mice. Thus, the region encoded by CD44v7 appears to be essential for survival of effector lymphocytes, resulting in persistence of inflammation