Einsatz der Nahinfrarotspektroskopie zur Qualitätskontrolle ökologischer Produkte am Beispiel von Möhren

Near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy is known for its inexpensiveness, rapidity and accuracy and may become a useful tool for the quality assessment of products of the growing organic food market. The objective of this study was to evaluate the ability of visible and near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) to predict several quality parameters (total nitrogen content and the content of different sugars) of organically grown carrots. Spectra of the VIS-NIR region (400-2500 nm) from 120 dried and milled carrot samples were recorded and transformed in the form of (log[1/reflectance]) values. The samples were randomly separated into two groups for calibration (n=60) and validation (n=60). A modified partial least square method was used to develop an equation over the whole spectrum (1st to 3rd derivation) from the spectra and the laboratory results for total nitrogen and the contents of D-glucose, D-fructose, sucrose and the sum of these three sugars. Calibrations were successful for all constituents. The validation, however, gave differing results: The total nitrogen content was predicted well by NIRS - the regression coefficient (a) of the linear regression (measured against predicted values) was 1.0, the correlation coefficient (r) was 0.9 and the ratio of standard deviation of the laboratory results to standard error of prediction (RDP) was 2.5. A satisfactory prediction was obtained for D-glucose (a=0.8, r=0.8, RDP=1.5) and D-fructose (a=0.8, r=0.8, RDP=1.5). In contrast, the contents of sucrose (a=0.8, r=0.7, RPD=1.4) and the sum of sugars (a=1.2, r=0.6, RPD=1.3) were predicted less satisfactorily. The good and satisfactory results for total nitrogen, glucose and fructose indicate that there is marked potential of NIRS for the quality assessment of organic food products. Studies are now required for a wider spectrum of food products and more constituents

Peptides in BioNMR Research

Heteronuclear NMR in combination with isotope labelling is used to study folding of polypeptides induced by metals in the case of metallothioneins, binding of the peptidic allosteric modulator ?-TIA to the human G-protein coupled ?1b adrenergic receptor, the development of therapeutic drugs that interfere with the biosynthesis of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, and a system in which protein assembly is induced upon peptide addition. NMR in these cases is used to derive precise structural data and to study the dynamics

Blockade but not overexpression of the junctional adhesion molecule C influences virus-induced type 1 diabetes in mice

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) results from the autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing beta-cells in the pancreas. Recruitment of inflammatory cells is prerequisite to beta-cell-injury. The junctional adhesion molecule (JAM) family proteins JAM-B and JAM–C are involved in polarized leukocyte transendothelial migration and are expressed by vascular endothelial cells of peripheral tissue and high endothelial venules in lympoid organs. Blocking of JAM-C efficiently attenuated cerulean-induced pancreatitis, rheumatoid arthritis or inflammation induced by ischemia and reperfusion in mice. In order to investigate the influence of JAM-C on trafficking and transmigration of antigen-specific, autoaggressive T-cells, we used transgenic mice that express a protein of the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) as a target autoantigen in the β-cells of the islets of Langerhans under the rat insulin promoter (RIP). Such RIP-LCMV mice turn diabetic after infection with LCMV. We found that upon LCMV-infection JAM-C protein was upregulated around the islets in RIP-LCMV mice. JAM-C expression correlated with islet infiltration and functional beta-cell impairment. Blockade with a neutralizing anti-JAM-C antibody reduced the T1D incidence. However, JAM-C overexpression on endothelial cells did not accelerate diabetes in the RIP-LCMV model. In summary, our data suggest that JAM-C might be involved in the final steps of trafficking and transmigration of antigen-specific autoaggressive T-cells to the islets of Langerhans

Assessment of the Synergy between Recycling and Thermal Treatments in Municipal Solid Waste Management in Europe

In 2018, the production of Municipal SolidWaste (MSW) in EU-28 reached 250.6 Mt, with the adoption of dierent management strategies, involving recycling (48 wt %), incineration and thermal valorization (29 wt %) and landfilling (23 wt %). This work was based on the analysis of the baseline situation of MSW management in EU-28 in 2018, considering its progress in 2008–2018, and discussed the possible improvement perspectives based on a framework involving incineration and recycling as the only possible alternatives, specifically evaluating the capability of already-existing incineration plants to fulfill the EU needs in the proposed framework. The results of the assessment showed two main crucial issues that could play a pivotal role in the achievement of Circular Economy action plan targets: the need to increase the recycling quotas for specific MSW fractions through the separate collection, and therefore the improvement of definite treatment process chains; the optimization of the recovery of secondary raw materials from incineration bottom ash, involving the recycling of ferrous and nonferrous metals and the mineral fraction. Both issues need to find an extensive application across all member states to decrease the actual dierences in the adoption of sustainable MSW management options

A Novel Dry Treatment for Municipal Solid Waste Incineration Bottom Ash for the Reduction of Salts and Potential Toxic Elements

The main obstacle to bottom ash (BA) being used as a recycling aggregate is the content of salts and potential toxic elements (PTEs), concentrated in a layer that coats BA particles. This work presents a dry treatment for the removal of salts and PTEs from BA particles. Two pilot-scale abrasion units (with/without the removal of the fine particles) were fed with different BA samples. The performance of the abrasion tests was assessed through the analyses of particle size and moisture, and that of the column leaching tests at solid-to-liquid ratios between 0.3 and 4. The results were: the particle-size distribution of the treated materials was homogeneous (25 wt % had dimensions <6.3 mm) and their moisture halved, as well as the electrical conductivity of the leachates. A significant decrease was observed in the leachates of the treated BA for sulphates (44%), chlorides (26%), and PTEs (53% Cr, 60% Cu and 8% Mo). The statistical analysis revealed good correlations between chloride and sulphate concentrations in the leachates with Ba, Cu, Mo, and Sr, illustrating the consistent behavior of the major and minor components of the layer surrounding BA particles. In conclusion, the tested process could be considered as promising for the improvement of BA valorization

Anwendbarkeit der Nah- Infrarotspektroskopie zur Qualitätsbeurteilung von Komposten

Die Verwendung hochwertiger Komposte als organische Dünger hat positive Effekte auf den Boden und das Pflanzenwachstum. Komposte können beispielsweise die Stickstoffumsetzung und die Bildung von organischer Substanz erhöhen. Zudem sind viele Komposte in der Lage Pflanzen-krankheiten zu unterdrücken (Hoitink et al., 2006). Die Kompostqualität ist dabei von entscheidender Bedeutung. Die Einteilung erfolgt durch die Analyse von ausgewählten physikalischen, chemischen und bio-logischen Parametern, die zur Güte-klassifizierung herangezogen werden. Bislang werden sämtliche Parameter kostenintensiv und unter hohem Zeitaufwand, meist mit einer aufwendigen Probenvorbereitung, nasschemisch untersucht. Die Nahinfrarot-Spektroskopie (NIRS), ist eine präzise Messtechnik, die mehrere Analysen in einem Arbeitsgang durchführen kann, welches den Zeit- und Kostenaufwand von Analysen deutlich reduzieren könnte. Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit war es, die Anwendbarkeit der NIRS zur Beurteilung der Kompostqualität, insbesondere biologischer Parameter, zu untersuchen. Die folgenden Fragestellungen wurden bearbeitet: • Können Basisparameter, biologische Parameter, Keim- und Suppressivitäts-tests mit NIRS vorhergesagt werden? • Wie hoch ist der Einfluss der Homogenität der Proben auf die Abschätzungsgenauigkeit der NIRS

Evidence for West Nile Virus and Usutu Virus Infections in Wild and Resident Birds in Germany, 2017 and 2018

Wild birds play an important role as reservoir hosts and vectors for zoonotic arboviruses and foster their spread. Usutu virus (USUV) has been circulating endemically in Germany since 2011, while West Nile virus (WNV) was first diagnosed in several bird species and horses in 2018. In 2017 and 2018, we screened 1709 live wild and zoo birds with real-time polymerase chain reaction and serological assays. Moreover, organ samples from bird carcasses submitted in 2017 were investigated. Overall, 57 blood samples of the live birds (2017 and 2018), and 100 organ samples of dead birds (2017) were positive for USUV-RNA, while no WNV-RNA-positive sample was found. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the first detection of USUV lineage Europe 2 in Germany and the spread of USUV lineages Europe 3 and Africa 3 towards Northern Germany. USUV antibody prevalence rates were high in Eastern Germany in both years. On the contrary, in Northern Germany, high seroprevalence rates were first detected in 2018, with the first emergence of USUV in this region. Interestingly, high WNV-specific neutralizing antibody titers were observed in resident and short-distance migratory birds in Eastern Germany in 2018, indicating the first signs of a local WNV circulation