Catalytic Low-Temperature Dehydration of Fructose to 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural Using Acidic Deep Eutectic Solvents and Polyoxometalate Catalysts

HMF synthesis typically requires high temperature and is carried out in aqueous solutions. In this work, the low-temperature dehydration of fructose to HMF in different deep eutectic solvents (DES) was investigated. We found a very active and selective reaction system consisting of the DES tetraethyl ammonium chloride as hydrogen bond acceptor (HBA) and levulinic acid as hydrogen bond donor (HBD) in a molar ratio of 1:2 leading to a maximum HMF yield of 68% after 120 h at 323 K. The DES still contained a low amount of water at the initial reaction, and water was also produced during the reaction. Considering the DES properties, neither the molar ratio in the DES nor the reaction temperature had a significant influence on the overall performance of the reaction system. However, the nature of the HBA as well as the acidity of the HBD play an important role for the maximum achievable HMF yield. This was validated by measured yields in a DES with different combinations of HBD (levulinic acid and lactic acid) and HBA (choline chloride and tetra-n-alkyl ammonium chlorides). Moreover, addition of vanadium containing catalysts, especially the polyoxometalate HPA-5 (H8PV5Mo7O40) leads to drastically increased reaction kinetics. Using HPA-5 and the DES tetraethyl ammonium chloride—levulinic acid we could reach a maximum HMF yield of 57% after only 5 h reaction time without decreasing the very high product selectivity

Gene Transfer Agent Promotes Evolvability within the Fittest Subpopulation of a Bacterial Pathogen

The Bartonella gene transfer agent (BaGTA) is an archetypical example for domestication of a phage-derived element to permit high-frequency genetic exchange in bacterial populations. Here we used multiplexed transposon sequencing (TnSeq) and single-cell reporters to globally define the core components and transfer dynamics of BaGTA. Our systems-level analysis has identified inner- and outer-circle components of the BaGTA system, including 55 regulatory components, as well as an additional 74 and 107 components mediating donor transfer and recipient uptake functions. We show that the stringent response signal guanosine-tetraphosphate (ppGpp) restricts BaGTA induction to a subset of fast-growing cells, whereas BaGTA particle uptake depends on a functional Tol-Pal trans-envelope complex that mediates outer-membrane invagination upon cell division. Our findings suggest that Bartonella evolved an efficient strategy to promote genetic exchange within the fittest subpopulation while disfavoring exchange of deleterious genetic information, thereby facilitating genome integrity and rapid host adaptation

From perception to action: phase-locked gamma oscillations correlate with reaction times in a speeded response task

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Phase-locked gamma oscillations have so far mainly been described in relation to perceptual processes such as sensation, attention or memory matching. Due to its very short latency (≈90 ms) such oscillations are a plausible candidate for very rapid integration of sensory and motor processes.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We measured EEG in 13 healthy participants in a speeded reaction task. Participants had to press a button as fast as possible whenever a visual stimulus was presented. The stimulus was always identical and did not have to be discriminated from other possible stimuli. In trials in which the participants showed a fast response, a slow negative potential over central electrodes starting approximately 800 ms before the response and highly phase-locked gamma oscillations over central and posterior electrodes between 90 and 140 ms after the stimulus were observed. In trials in which the participants showed a slow response, no slow negative potential was observed and phase-locked gamma oscillations were significantly reduced. Furthermore, for slow response trials the phase-locked gamma oscillations were significantly delayed with respect to fast response trials.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These results indicate the relevance of phase-locked gamma oscillations for very fast (not necessarily detailed) integration processes.</p

Catalytic low-temperature dehydration of fructose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural using acidic deep eutectic solvents and polyoxometalate catalysts

HMF synthesis typically requires high temperature and is carried out in aqueous solutions. In this work, the low-temperature dehydration of fructose to HMF in different deep eutectic solvents (DES) was investigated. We found a very active and selective reaction system consisting of the DES tetraethyl ammonium chloride as hydrogen bond acceptor (HBA) and levulinic acid as hydrogen bond donor (HBD) in a molar ratio of 1:2 leading to a maximum HMF yield of 68% after 120 h at 323 K. The DES still contained a low amount of water at the initial reaction, and water was also produced during the reaction. Considering the DES properties, neither the molar ratio in the DES nor the reaction temperature had a significant influence on the overall performance of the reaction system. However, the nature of the HBA as well as the acidity of the HBD play an important role for the maximum achievable HMF yield. This was validated by measured yields in a DES with different combinations of HBD (levulinic acid and lactic acid) and HBA (choline chloride and tetra-n-alkyl ammonium chlorides). Moreover, addition of vanadium containing catalysts, especially the polyoxometalate HPA-5 (H8PV5Mo7O40) leads to drastically increased reaction kinetics. Using HPA-5 and the DES tetraethyl ammonium chloride—levulinic acid we could reach a maximum HMF yield of 57% after only 5 h reaction time without decreasing the very high product selectivity

Systemic risks in electricity systems: A perspective on the potential of digital technologies

In the last decades, several developments have transformed electricity systems in Europe towards liberalized and decentralized systems that are coupled inter-sectorally and inter-regionally. These developments have yielded various significant benefits, such as increased efficiency and robustness. However, we argue that they have also caused new interdependencies and complexity with a corresponding increase in associated systemic risks, e.g., local failures may spread faster and more extensively throughout the system. In this paper, we illustrate how systemic risks may arise in European electricity systems by discussing three exemplary developments. We also discuss the decisive role of the digital transformation that, on the one hand, speeds up the transition of electricity systems and challenges electricity systems’ stability through rapid change, but on the other hand may also provide solutions to tackle systemic risks. We argue that, especially in a strongly interconnected world, policymakers must implement a global perspective on these critical and increasingly complex systems, requiring adequate cooperation with respect to data. Using an exemplary case from Germany, we finally illustrate how an intensified data exchange may help to address systemic risks. In this context, we draw a perspective on the potential of emerging digital technologies, like self-sovereign identities, blockchains, and privacy-enhancing technologies

Creative Use of Mountain Biodiversity Databases: The Kazbegi Research Agenda of GMBA-DIVERSITAS

Geo-referenced archive databases on mountain organisms are very promising tools for achieving a better understanding of mountain biodiversity and predicting its changes. The Global Mountain Biodiversity Assessment (GMBA) of DIVERSITAS, in cooperation with the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, encourages a global effort to mine biodiversity databases on mountain organisms. The wide range of climatic conditions and topographies across the world's mountains offers an unparalleled opportunity for developing and testing biodiversity theory. The power of openly accessible, interconnected electronic databases for scientific biodiversity research, which by far exceeds the original intent of archiving for mainly taxonomic purposes, has been illustrated. There is an urgent need to increase the amount and quality of geo-referenced data on mountain biodiversity provided online, in order to meet the challenges of global change in mountains

Managed and Continuous Evolution of Dependable Automotive Software Systems / Andreas Rausch, Oliver Brox, Axel Grewe, Marcel Ibe, Stefanie Jauns-Seyfried, Christoph Knieke, Marco Körner, Steffen Küpper, Malte Mauritz, Henrik Peters, Arthur Strasser, Martin Vogel, Norbert Weiss

Automotive software systems are an essential and innovative part of nowadays connected and automated vehicles. Automotive industry is currently facing the challenge to re-invent the automobile. Consequently, automotive software systems, their software systems architecture, and the way we engineer those kinds of software systems are confronted with major challenges: managing complexity, providing flexibility, and guaranteeing dependability of the desired automotive software systems and the corresponding engineering process. In this paper we will present an improved and sophisticated engineering approach. Our approach is based on the managed and continuous evolution of dependable automotive software systems. It helps engineers to manage system complexity based on continous engineering processes to iteratively evolve automotive software systems and therby guarantee the required dependability issues. Based on a running sample, we will present and illustrate the main assets of the proposed engineering approach for managed and continuous evolution of dependable automotive software systems

Managed and Continuous Evolution of Dependable Automotive Software Systems / Andreas Rausch, Oliver Brox, Axel Grewe, Marcel Ibe, Stefanie Jauns-Seyfried, Christoph Knieke, Marco Körner, Steffen Küpper, Malte Mauritz, Henrik Peters, Arthur Strasser, Martin Vogel, Norbert Weiss

Automotive software systems are an essential and innovative part of nowadays connected and automated vehicles. Automotive industry is currently facing the challenge to re-invent the automobile. Consequently, automotive software systems, their software systems architecture, and the way we engineer those kinds of software systems are confronted with major challenges: managing complexity, providing flexibility, and guaranteeing dependability of the desired automotive software systems and the corresponding engineering process. In this paper we will present an improved and sophisticated engineering approach. Our approach is based on the managed and continuous evolution of dependable automotive software systems. It helps engineers to manage system complexity based on continous engineering processes to iteratively evolve automotive software systems and therby guarantee the required dependability issues. Based on a running sample, we will present and illustrate the main assets of the proposed engineering approach for managed and continuous evolution of dependable automotive software systems

Lactobacillus Acidophilus/Bifidobacterium Infantis Probiotics Are Beneficial to Extremely Low Gestational Age Infants Fed Human Milk

To evaluate the nutrition-related effects of prophylactic Lactobacillus acidophilus/ Bifidobacterium infantis probiotics on the outcomes of preterm infants <29 weeks of gestation that receive human milk and/or formula nutrition. We hypothesize that human-milk-fed infants benefit from probiotics in terms of sepsis prevention and growth. Methods: We performed an observational study of the German Neonatal Network (GNN) over a period of six years, between 1 January, 2013 and 31 December, 2018. Prophylactic probiotic use of L. acidophilus/B. infantis was evaluated in preterm infants <29 weeks of gestation (n = 7516) in subgroups stratified to feeding type: (I) Exclusively human milk (HM) of own mother and/or donors (HM group, n = 1568), (II) HM of own mother and/or donor and formula (Mix group, n = 5221), and (III) exclusive exposure to formula (F group, n = 727). The effect of probiotics on general outcomes and growth was tested in univariate models and adjusted in linear/logistic regression models. Results: 5954 (76.5%) infants received L. acidophilus/B. infantisprophylactically for the prevention of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Probiotic use was associated with improved growth measures in the HM group (e.g., weight gain velocity in g/day: effect size B = 0.224; 95% CI: 2.82–4.35; p < 0.001) but not in the F group (effect size B = −0.06; 95% CI: −3.05–0.28; p = 0.103). The HM group had the lowest incidence of clinical sepsis (34.0%) as compared to the Mix group (35.5%) and the F group (40.0%). Only in the Mix group, probiotic supplementation proved to be protective against clinical sepsis (OR 0.69; 95% CI: 0.59–0.79; p < 0.001). Conclusion: Our observational data indicate that the exposure to L. acidophilus/B. infantis probiotics may promote growth in exclusively HM-fed infants as compared to formula-fed infants. To exert a sepsis-preventive effect, probiotics seem to require human milk