Research on Layer Manufacturing Techniques at Fraunhofer

Within the German Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, the Fraunhofer Alliance Rapid Prototyping unites the competences of 12 institutes in the field of solid freeform fabrication. Covered competences are virtual and computer-aided product planning methods and techniques, the development and integration of materials and processes for different industrial sectors. This paper presents actual research results on layer manufacturing within the Fraunhofer- Gesellschaft based on examples from Fraunhofer ILT »Laser Melting - Direct manufacturing of metal parts with unique properties«, Fraunhofer IFAM »ecoMold - A novel concept to produce molds for plastic injection molding and pressure die casting« and Fraunhofer IPT »Quick manufacture, repair and modification of steel molds using Controlled Metal Build Up (CMB)«.Mechanical Engineerin

Lrmp/Jaw1 is Expressed in Sweet, Bitter, and Umami Receptor–Expressing Cells

Inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate–mediated calcium (IP3-Ca2+) signal cascade is an essential process in sweet, bitter, and umami taste signal transduction. Although the main components of this cascade have been identified, the candidate regulators of them in taste tissues are still unclear. In an effort to identify genes involved in taste signal transduction, we found that a gene encoding lymphoid-restricted membrane protein (Lrmp/Jaw1) was expressed in mouse taste tissues. Here we report that Lrmp/Jaw1 is specifically expressed in sweet, bitter, and umami taste receptor–expressing cells of mouse circumvallate, foliate, and fungiform papillae. In addition to this specific expression patterns, we found that Lrmp/Jaw1 is associated with type III IP3 receptor (IP3R3) via its coiled-coil domain in the COS7 heterologous expression system. These results raise the possibility that Lrmp/Jaw1 interacts with IP3R3 in taste cells and suggest an important role for Lrmp/Jaw1 in the IP3-Ca2+ signal cascade in sweet, bitter, and umami taste signal transduction

Field testing of a prototype mechanical dry toilet flush

A prototype of a non-fluid based mechanical toilet flush was tested in a semi-public, institutional setting and in selected peri-urban households in eThekwini municipality, Republic of South Africa. The mechanism's functionality and users' perception of the flush were assessed. User perception varied depending on background: Users accustomed to porcelain water flush toilets were open to, yet reserved about the idea of using a waterless flush in their homes. Those who commonly use Urine Diversion Dehydration Toilets were far more receptive. The user-centred field trials were complemented by a controlled laboratory experiment, using synthetic urine, -faeces, and -menstrual blood, to systematically assess the efficiency of three swipe materials to clean the rotating bowl of the flush. A silicone rubber with oil-bleed-effect was found to be the best performing material for the swipe. Lubrication of the bowl prior to use further reduced fouling. A mechanical waterless flush that does not require consumables, like plastic wrappers, is a novelty and could – implemented in existing dry toilet systems – improve acceptance and thus the success of waterless sanitation

Faeces - Urine separation via settling and displacement: Prototype tests for a novel non-sewered sanitation system

The development of novel, non-sewered sanitation systems like the Nano Membrane Toilet requires thorough investigation of processes that may seem well-understood. For example, unlike the settling of primary sludge, the separation of solids from liquids in a small-volume container at the scale of a household toilet has not been studied before. In two sets of experiments, the settling of real faeces and toilet paper in settling columns and the settling of synthetic faeces in a conical tank are investigated to understand the factors affecting the liquid quality for downstream treatment processes. Toilet paper is found to be a major inhibitor to settling of solids. While a lower overflow point results in better phase separation through displacement of liquid, a higher overflow point and frequent removal of solids may be more advantageous for the liquid qualit

Sarco/Endoplasmic Reticulum Ca2+-ATPases (SERCA) Contribute to GPCR-Mediated Taste Perception

The sense of taste is important for providing animals with valuable information about the qualities of food, such as nutritional or harmful nature. Mammals, including humans, can recognize at least five primary taste qualities: sweet, umami (savory), bitter, sour, and salty. Recent studies have identified molecules and mechanisms underlying the initial steps of tastant-triggered molecular events in taste bud cells, particularly the requirement of increased cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]c) for normal taste signal transduction and transmission. Little, however, is known about the mechanisms controlling the removal of elevated [Ca2+]c from the cytosol of taste receptor cells (TRCs) and how the disruption of these mechanisms affects taste perception. To investigate the molecular mechanism of Ca2+ clearance in TRCs, we sought the molecules involved in [Ca2+]c regulation using a single-taste-cell transcriptome approach. We found that Serca3, a member of the sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA) family that sequesters cytosolic Ca2+ into endoplasmic reticulum, is exclusively expressed in sweet/umami/bitter TRCs, which rely on intracellular Ca2+ release for signaling. Serca3-knockout (KO) mice displayed significantly increased aversive behavioral responses and greater gustatory nerve responses to bitter taste substances but not to sweet or umami taste substances. Further studies showed that Serca2 was mainly expressed in the T1R3-expressing sweet and umami TRCs, suggesting that the loss of function of Serca3 was possibly compensated by Serca2 in these TRCs in the mutant mice. Our data demonstrate that the SERCA family members play an important role in the Ca2+ clearance in TRCs and that mutation of these proteins may alter bitter and perhaps sweet and umami taste perception