The Protection of the Dignity of Laboratory Animals in Switzerland

The article discusses the question whether Swiss law offers an equal level of protection for animals being used in research projects and those being genetically modified and bred for these projects. To answer this question the article argues, first, that animal dignity has a sacrosanct core content which prohibits highly cruel treatments or killing methods, denial of an animal’s essential natural needs as well as exclusive instrumentalization. However, a use that does not infringe the sacrosanct core can be justified by prevailing interests, as is the case within authorisation procedures of animal experimentation. During the approval procedure, the competent authority conducts a harm–benefit assessment to define, rate and evaluate the conflicting interests. Next, the article examines the issue of the breeding of genetically modified laboratory animals being subject to laxer requirements than other animal experiments. The projects are subject to a simplified procedure that does not include a “traditional” harm–benefit assessment. The article argues that the harm–benefit assessment is the key to a sufficient protection of laboratory animals and their dignity. Due to the purely “trailed” assessment as well as potential negligence in regard to reporting obligations regarding strains suffered by the animal, the application of the simplified procedure raises certain doubts as to whether it provides a sufficient protection of animal dignity. Moreover, it is argued that the breeding of genetically modified animals exclusively for test purposes constitutes an excessive instrumentalization of these animals. The article, therefore, weighs the instrumentalization against (human) interests, but holds that even if some prevailing interests are conceivable, the severe infringement of animal dignity cannot be justified

The use of the ion probe mass spectrometer in the measurement of hydrogen concentration gradients in Monel K 500

The ion probe mass spectrometer was used to measure hydrogen concentration gradients in cathodically charged Monel K 500. Initial work with the ion probe involved the calibration of the instrument and the establishment of a suitable experimental procedure for this application. Samples of Monel K 500 were cathodically charged in a weak sulfuric acid solution. By varying the current density, different levels of hydrogen were introduced into the samples. Hydrogen concentration gradients were taken by ion sputtering on the surface of these samples and monitoring the behavior of the hydrogen mass peak as a function of time. An attempt was made to determine the relative amounts of hydrogen in the bulk and grain boundaries by analyzing a fresh fracture surface with a higher proportion of grain boundary area. It was found that substantially more hydrogen was detected in the grain boundaries than in the bulk, confirming the predictions of previous workers. A sputter rate determination was made in order to establish the rate of erosion

Surface aspects of pitting and stress corrosion cracking

The pitting and stress corrosion cracking of a stable austenitic stainless steel in aqueous chloride environments were investigated using a secondary ion mass spectrometer as the primary experimental technique. The surface concentration of hydrogen, oxygen, the hydroxide, and chloride ion, magnesium or sodium, chromium and nickel were measured as a function of potential in both aqueous sodium chloride and magnesium chloride environments at room temperature and boiling temperatures. It was found that, under anodic conditions, a sharp increase in the chloride concentration was observed to occur for all environmental conditions. The increase may be associated with the formation of an iron chloride complex. Higher localized chloride concentrations at pits and cracks were also detected with an electron microprobe

FGB1 and WSC3 are in planta-induced beta-glucan-binding fungal lectins with different functions

In the root endophyte Serendipita indica, several lectin-like members of the expanded multigene family of WSC proteins are transcriptionally induced in planta and are potentially involved in beta-glucan remodeling at the fungal cell wall. Using biochemical and cytological approaches we show that one of these lectins, SiWSC3 with three WSC domains, is an integral fungal cell wall component that binds to long-chain beta 1-3-glucan but has no affinity for shorter beta 1-3- or beta 1-6-linked glucose oligomers. Comparative analysis with the previously identified beta-glucan-binding lectin SiFGB1 demonstrated that whereas SiWSC3 does not require beta 1-6-linked glucose for efficient binding to branched beta 1-3-glucan, SiFGB1 does. In contrast to SiFGB1, the multivalent SiWSC3 lectin can efficiently agglutinate fungal cells and is additionally induced during fungus-fungus confrontation, suggesting different functions for these two beta-glucan-binding lectins. Our results highlight the importance of the beta-glucan cell wall component in plant-fungus interactions and the potential of beta-glucan-binding lectins as specific detection tools for fungi in vivo

The Structure of RdDddP from Roseobacter denitrificans Reveals That DMSP Lyases in the DddP-Family Are Metalloenzymes

Marine microbes degrade dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP), which is produced in large quantities by marine algae and plants, with DMSP lyases into acrylate and the gas dimethyl sulfide (DMS). Approximately 10% of the DMS vents from the sea into the atmosphere and this emission returns sulfur, which arrives in the sea through rivers and runoff, back to terrestrial systems via clouds and rain. Despite their key role in this sulfur cycle DMSP lyases are poorly understood at the molecular level. Here we report the first X-ray crystal structure of the putative DMSP lyase RdDddP from Roseobacter denitrificans, which belongs to the abundant DddP family. This structure, determined to 2.15 Å resolution, shows that RdDddP is a homodimeric metalloprotein with a binuclear center of two metal ions located 2.7 Å apart in the active site of the enzyme. Consistent with the crystallographic data, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and total reflection X-ray fluorescence (TRXF) revealed the bound metal species to be primarily iron. A 3D structure guided analysis of environmental DddP lyase sequences elucidated the critical residues for metal binding are invariant, suggesting all proteins in the DddP family are metalloenzymes

PAAWS: A Collaborative Progam Designed to Serve Preschool Children with Significant Language Impairments

In Fall 2019, a collaboration was created between UNC\u27s Speech-Language Pathology graduate students and Tozer Primary School\u27s preschool program. Tozer Preschool has a high number of preschool children with significant language needs, including children who need access to augmentative-alternative communication (AAC). Based on this need, the PAAWS program was created (Preschoolers Accessing AAC with Students). Three SLP graduate students have participated and designed this program in conjunction with Robyn Moore, SLP at Tozer Primary School (who is a UNC graduate)

Proof of Product Defect (Metallurgical Case)

This article describes some of the problems of proof encountered in the preparation of a unique product liability case. No single case regarding a defective hand tool was found which presented a standard of conduct by which the plaintiff could claim the defendant was negligent in causing the plaintiff his unfortunate injury-the loss of an eye