High-throughput spectroscopic viscosity measurement of nanocomposite sols with ETC-effect

A high-throughput method for viscosity measurement was developed and tested for nanocomposite sols with an easy-to-clean (ETC) effect. The method is based on doping of sols with viscosity sensitive fluorescent dye 4,4′-bis-(2- benzoxazolyl)-stilbene (BOS) and acquisition of fluorescence intensity data. The spectroscopic data were correlated with viscosity data derived from mechanical measurements with a rotational viscometer and show an exponential correlation of both mechanical and spectroscopic measurement methods in the relevant data space of 3-5 mPa•s. For application of the spectroscopic viscosity measurement as a high-throughput assay doping of sols with BOS slurry was carried out with an automated liquid handling system, and spectroscopic measurements were performed with a fluorescence microplate reader

A high-throughput screening method for the exploration of optimal curing parameters and resistance to solvents of MANOMER® coating materials

A high-throughput screening method for the exploration of optimal curing parameters and resistance to solvents of NANOMER® coating materials based on the temperature-dependent swellability was developed. The screening method was first tested using a model sol made of pre-hydrolyzed (3-glycidoxypropyl)triethoxysilane (GPTES), tetraethoxysilane (TEOS), (heptadecafluoro-1,1,2,2-tetrahydrodecyl)triethoxysilane (FTS) and zirconium complex (prepared of zirconium-tert-butoxide complexed with acetylacetonate) charged with reactive diluent trimethylolpropan-triglycidether and defined amounts of fluorescein and cured at different temperatures. Afterwards, fluorescein was extracted with sodium hydroxide solution and the optical density of the supernatant of all samples was measured at 490 nm which is sensitive to the dye concentration. The optical density (OD) correlates with the degree of curing. According to this screening a temperature C is necessary for proper curing. The time dependence of extraction reveals information on resistance against sodium hydroxide solution, i. e. alkali resistance. The time dependent extraction of fluorescein at C of coatings cured at 100 and 140°C, respectively, shows a better resistance against 0.1 M sodium hydroxide solution for the one cured at 140°C, especially in the time range 10—60 min. The whole process — sol preparation, mixing of sols with dye, extraction, and optical spectroscopy—can be performed automatically. Further testes were made to proof the usability of this process. 96 hybrid materials were screened in regard to their alkali resistance and finally, a total number of 14 clear organic-inorganic hybrid coating systems with improved stability against sodium hydroxide solution were derived from this study

Child\u27s play and child\u27s self

Die Frage nach dem Spiel scheint der wissenschaftlichen Forschung eine Herausforderung besonderer Art zu bieten. Allzu offensichtlich erschöpft es sich nämlich nicht in den Funktionen, die wissenschaftliches Nutzdenken - und vor allem solches strengerer empirischer Herkunft - an ihm zu entdecken vermag. Gleichermaßen muß es die wissenschaftliche Betrachtung brüskieren, wenn es - im Gegenzug zur vorgenannten Blickrichtung - gerade als der prinzipiell unfaßbare Ort der Freiheit und der Spontaneität herausgehoben und damit der nachdenkenden Untersuchung entzogen wird. Der vorliegende Beitrag nimmt eine vermittelnde Position ein. Er fragt, wie sich ein Ich mit Hilfe eines flexiblen Raums, wie ihn das Spiel darstellt, als "Selbst" hervorbringen oder auch gegebenenfalls wiederherstellen kann. Dabei arbeitet der Verfasser die Dimensionen eines selbstbildenden, selbstentwickelnden, selbstheilenden, selbstregenerierenden und selbstbereichernden Spiels heraus. Ferner gliedert er das Spiel in einen kreisförmigen Austauschprozeß ein, in welchem innere und äußere Welt, sich gegenseitig verändernd, miteinander in Verbindung treten. (DIPF/Orig.

Solid-State Nuclear Magnetic Resonance as a Versatile Tool To Identify the Main Chemical Components of Epoxy-Based Thermosets

Cross-linked thermosets are investigated by ¹³C solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to determine their structure and to distinguish important epoxy resins and hardening agents. In addition to the epoxy resin and hardening agent, the identification of phosphorus-containing flame retardants is demonstrated by ³¹P solid-state NMR. These studies provide a spectral database for routine use, which is finally applied to analyze commercial products containing an unknown multicomponent system

Multimorbidity and long-term care dependency - a five-year follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Not only single, but also multiple, chronic conditions are becoming the normal situation rather than the exception in the older generation. While many studies show a correlation between multimorbidity and various health outcomes, the long-term effect on care dependency remains unclear. The objective of this study is to follow up a cohort of older adults for 5 years to estimate the impact of multimorbidity on long-term care dependency. METHODS: This study is based on claims data from a German health insurance company. We included 115,203 people (mean age: 71.5 years, 41.4% females). To identify chronic diseases and multimorbidity, we used a defined list of 46 chronic conditions based on ICD-10 codes. Multimorbidity was defined as three or more chronic conditions from this list. The main outcome was "time until long-term care dependency". The follow-up started on January 1st, 2005 and lasted for 5 years until December 31st, 2009. To evaluate differences between those with multimorbidity and those without, we calculated Kaplan-Meier curves and then modeled four distinct Cox proportional hazard regressions including multimorbidity, age and sex, the single chronic conditions, and disease clusters. RESULTS: Mean follow-up was 4.5 years. People with multimorbidity had a higher risk of becoming care dependent (HR: 1.85, CI 1.78-1.92). The conditions with the highest risks for long-term care dependency are Parkinson's disease (HR: 6.40 vs. 2.68) and dementia (HR: 5.70 vs. 2.27). Patients with the multimorbidity pattern "Neuropsychiatric disorders" have a 79% higher risk of care dependency. CONCLUSIONS: The results should form the basis for future health policy decisions on the treatment of patients with multiple chronic diseases and also show the need to introduce new ways of providing long-term care to this population. A health policy focus on chronic care management as well as the development of guidelines for multimorbidity is crucial to secure health services delivery for the older population

Vaccination with virosomally formulated recombinant CyRPA elicits protective anti against Plasmodium falciparum parasites in preclinical in vitro and in vivo modelsbodies

The; Plasmodium falciparum; (; Pf; ) cysteine-rich protective antigen (; Pf; CyRPA) has emerged as a promising blood-stage candidate antigen for inclusion into a broadly cross-reactive malaria vaccine. This highly conserved protein among various geographical strains plays a key role in the red blood cell invasion process by; P. falciparum; merozoites, and antibodies against; Pf; CyRPA can efficiently prevent the entry of the malaria parasites into red blood cells. The aim of the present study was to develop a human-compatible formulation of the; Pf; CyRPA vaccine candidate and confirming its activity in preclinical studies. Recombinant; Pf; CyRPA expressed in HEK 293 cells was chemically coupled to phosphoethanolamine and then incorporated into the membrane of unadjuvanted influenza virosomes approved as antigen delivery system for humans. Laboratory animals were immunised with the virosome-based; Pf; CyRPA vaccine to determine its immunogenic properties and in particular, its capacity to elicit parasite binding and growth-inhibitory antibodies. The vaccine elicited in mice and rabbits high titers of; Pf; CyRPA-specific antibodies that bound to the blood-stage parasites. At a concentration of 10 mg/mL, purified total serum IgG from immunised rabbits inhibited parasite growth in vitro by about 80%. Furthermore, in a; P. falciparum; infection mouse model, passive transfer of 10 mg of purified total IgG from; Pf; CyRPA vaccinated rabbits reduced the in vivo parasite load by 77%. Influenza virosomes thus represent a suitable antigen delivery system for the induction of protective antibodies against the recombinant; Pf; CyRPA, designating it as a highly suitable component for inclusion into a multivalent and multi-stage virosomal malaria vaccine