NIR-spectroscopy for bioprocess monitoring & control

The Ingold port adaption of a free beam NIR spectrometer is tailored for optimal bioprocess monitoring and control. The device shows an excellent signal to noise ratio dedicated to a large free aperture and therefore a large sample volume. This can be seen particularly in the batch trajectories which show a high reproducibility. The robust and compact design withstands rough process environments as well as SIP/CIP cycles. Robust free beam NIR process analyzers are indispensable tools within the PAT/QbD framework for realtime process monitoring and control. They enable multiparametric, non-invasive measurements of analyte concentrations and process trajectories. Free beam NIR spectrometers are an ideal tool to define golden batches and process borders in the sense of QbD. Moreover, sophisticated data analysis both quantitative and MSPC yields directly to a far better process understanding. Information can be provided online in easy to interpret graphs which allow the operator to make fast and knowledge-based decisions. This finally leads to higher stability in process operation, better performance and less failed batches

A subgroup of plant aquaporins facilitate the bi-directional diffusion of As(OH)3 and Sb(OH)3 across membranes

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Arsenic is a toxic and highly abundant metalloid that endangers human health through drinking water and the food chain. The most common forms of arsenic in the environment are arsenate (As(V)) and arsenite (As(III)). As(V) is a non-functional phosphate analog that enters the food chain via plant phosphate transporters. Inside cells, As(V) becomes reduced to As(III) for subsequent extrusion or compartmentation. Although much is known about As(III) transport and handling in microbes and mammals, the transport systems for As(III) have not yet been characterized in plants.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Here we show that the Nodulin26-like Intrinsic Proteins (NIPs) AtNIP5;1 and AtNIP6;1 from <it>Arabidopsis thaliana</it>, OsNIP2;1 and OsNIP3;2 from <it>Oryza sativa</it>, and LjNIP5;1 and LjNIP6;1 from <it>Lotus japonicus </it>are bi-directional As(III) channels. Expression of these NIPs sensitized yeast cells to As(III) and antimonite (Sb(III)), and direct transport assays confirmed their ability to facilitate As(III) transport across cell membranes. On medium containing As(V), expression of the same NIPs improved yeast growth, probably due to increased As(III) efflux. Our data furthermore provide evidence that NIPs can discriminate between highly similar substrates and that they may have differential preferences in the direction of transport. A subgroup of As(III) permeable channels that group together in a phylogenetic tree required N-terminal truncation for functional expression in yeast.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This is the first molecular identification of plant As(III) transport systems and we propose that metalloid transport through NIPs is a conserved and ancient feature. Our observations are potentially of great importance for improved remediation and tolerance of plants, and may provide a key to the development of low arsenic crops for food production.</p

The Impact of Trajectory Prediction Uncertainty on Air Traffic Controller Performance and Acceptability

A Human-In-The-Loop air traffic control simulation investigated the impact of uncertainties in trajectory predictions on NextGen Trajectory-Based Operations concepts, seeking to understand when the automation would become unacceptable to controllers or when performance targets could no longer be met. Retired air traffic controllers staffed two en route transition sectors, delivering arrival traffic to the northwest corner-post of Atlanta approach control under time-based metering operations. Using trajectory-based decision-support tools, the participants worked the traffic under varying levels of wind forecast error and aircraft performance model error, impacting the ground automations ability to make accurate predictions. Results suggest that the controllers were able to maintain high levels of performance, despite even the highest levels of trajectory prediction errors

Nachhaltigkeit und Wertermittlung von Immobilien : Leitfaden für Deutschland, Österreich und die Schweiz

Der Wert von Immobilien wird durch zahlreiche Faktoren bestimmt. Wesentliche Einflussgrössen sind Standortmerkmale (Lage), Grundstückseigenschaften, Gebäudemerkmale (u. a. Bauweise, Ausstattung, funktionale und technische Qualität) sowie das Marktumfeld. Weiterhin wird der Wert von Immobilien durch die Präferenzen und Wertvorstellungen beteiligter Akteure beeinflusst. Verschiedene dieser Faktoren sind dynamisch, d. h. verändern sich im Verlaufe der Zeit. Investoren und Sachverständige werden sich zunehmend bewusst, dass es in diesem dynamischen Umfeld neben den bisherigen «traditionellen» Einflussgrössen weitere Faktoren gibt, welche den Wert von Immobilien ebenfalls beeinflussen. Zurückzuführen ist das Auftreten zusätzlicher Einflussgrössen bzw. die Veränderung ihrer Relevanz auf gesellschaftliche Veränderungen (Änderung der Nutzerbedürfnisse, demografischer Wandel, Migration, Wertewandel), Veränderungen von wirtschaftlichen und rechtlichen Rahmenbedingungen (steigende Energiepreise, wirtschaftliche Entwicklung usw.) und der Umwelt (Klimawandel usw.). Als Reaktion auf ein sich veränderndes Umfeld wächst derzeit die Nachfrage nach funktionalen, langlebigen, energiesparenden, ressourcenschonenden, gesundheitsgerechten und gestalterisch hochwertigen Immobilien, die häufig auch als «green buildings» bzw. «nachhaltige Gebäude » bezeichnet werden. Nachhaltigkeit in diesem Zusammenhang impliziert die gleichzeitige und gleichberechtigte Betrachtung und Beurteilung ökologischer, ökonomischer und sozialer Aspekte. Diese Interpretation unterscheidet sich von der in der Immobilienwirtschaft bisher üblichen Verwendung des Begriffs Nachhaltigkeit im Zusammenhang mit nachhaltigen – im Sinne von dauerhaften bzw. sicheren – Einnahmen. Aus einer wachsenden Nachfrage nach Immobilien, die geeignet sind, auf oben beschriebene Trends angemessen zu reagieren, ergibt sich Handlungsbedarf auch für die Wertermittlung. Diese ist gefordert, den empirisch belegbaren Wandel der Nachfrage nach ausgewählten Immobilienmerkmalen zu berücksichtigen. Dass einzelne nachhal- tigkeitsrelevante Merkmale einen Einfluss auf den Wert haben, ist mittlerweile unbestritten. Es stellt sich jedoch die Frage, wie diese Merkmale zu identifizieren und zu beschreiben sind, wie sie in die Wertermittlung integriert werden können und wie stark sie gewichtet werden sollen. Hier besteht ein dringender Bedarf an Grundlagen und Hilfsmitteln. Wichtig ist zudem, die Transparenz bei der Dokumentation von Nachhaltigkeitsaspekten im Gutachten zu verbessern. Zunehmend wird erkannt, dass die Langzeitperspektive von Entscheidungen in der Immobilienwirtschaft über eine zeitpunktbezogene Wertaussage hinaus Aussagen zur Wertstabilität und Wertentwicklung von Immobilien bzw. zum finanziellen Risiko erfordert. Zur traditionellen Wertermittlung kommt damit die Einschätzung der künftigen Wertentwicklung und somit die Frage der Risikoanalyse hinzu. Hieraus ergeben sich neue Aufgaben und Dienstleistungen

The aromatic/arginine selectivity filter of NIP aquaporins plays a critical role in substrate selectivity for silicon, boron, and arsenic

Nodulin-26-like intrinsic proteins (NIPs) of the aquaporin family are involved in the transport of diverse solutes, but the mechanisms controlling the selectivity of transport substrates are poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to investigate how the aromatic/arginine (ar/R) selectivity filter influences the substrate selectivity of two NIP aquaporins; the silicic acid (Si) transporter OsLsi1 (OsNIP2;1) from rice and the boric acid (B) transporter AtNIP5;1 from Arabidopsis; both proteins are also permeable to arsenite. Native and site-directed mutagenized variants of the two genes were expressed in Xenopus oocytes and the transport activities for Si, B, arsenite, and water were assayed. Substitution of the amino acid at the ar/R second helix (H2) position of OsLsi1 did not affect the transport activities for Si, B, and arsenite, but that at the H5 position resulted in a total loss of Si and B transport activities and a partial loss of arsenite transport activity. Conversely, changes of the AtNIP5;1 ar/R selectivity filter and the NPA motifs to the OsLsi1 type did not result in a gain of Si transport activity. B transport activity was partially lost in the H5 mutant but unaffected in the H2 mutant of AtNIP5;1. In contrast, both the single and double mutations at the H2 and/or H5 positions of AtNIP5;1 did not affect arsenite transport activity. The results reveal that the residue at the H5 position of the ar/R filter of both OsLsi1 and AtNIP5;1 plays a key role in the permeability to Si and B, but there is a relatively low selectivity for arsenite

Membrane-bound guaiacol peroxidases from maize (Zea mays L.) roots are regulated by methyl jasmonate, salicylic acid, and pathogen elicitors

Plant peroxidases are involved in numerous cellular processes in plant development and stress responses. Four plasma membrane-bound peroxidases have been identified and characterized in maize (Zea mays L.) roots. In the present study, maize seedlings were treated with different stresses and signal compounds, and a functional analysis of these membrane-bound class III peroxidases (pmPOX1, pmPOX2a, pmPOX2b, and pmPOX3) was carried out. Total guaiacol peroxidase activities from soluble and microsomal fractions of maize roots were compared and showed weak changes. By contrast, total plasma membrane and washed plasma membrane peroxidase activities, representing peripheral and integral membrane proteins, revealed strong changes after all of the stresses applied. A proteomic approach using 2D-PAGE analysis showed that pmPOX3 was the most abundant class III peroxidase at plasma membranes of control plants, followed by pmPOX2a >pmPOX2b >pmPOX1. The molecular mass (63 kDa) and the isoelectric point (9.5) of the pmPOX2a monomer were identified for the first time. The protein levels of all four enzymes changed in response to multiple stresses. While pmPOX2b was the only membrane peroxidase down-regulated by wounding, all four enzymes were differentially but strongly stimulated by methyl jasmonate, salicylic acid, and elicitors (Fusarium graminearum and Fusarium culmorum extracts, and chitosan) indicating their function in pathogen defence. Oxidative stress applied as H2O2 treatment up-regulated pmPOX2b >pmPOX2a, while pmPOX3 was down-regulated. Treatment with the phosphatase inhibitor chantharidin resulted in distinct responses

Atlas registration for edema-corrected MRI lesion volume in mouse stroke models

Lesion volume measurements with magnetic resonance imaging are widely used to assess outcome in rodent models of stroke. In this study, we improved a mathematical framework to correct lesion size for edema which is based on manual delineation of the lesion and hemispheres. Furthermore, a novel MATLAB toolbox to register mouse brain MR images to the Allen brain atlas is presented. Its capability to calculate edema-corrected lesion size was compared to the manual approach. Automated image registration performed equally well in in a mouse middle cerebral artery occlusion model (Pearson r=0.976, p=2.265e-11). Information encapsulated in the registration was used to generate maps of edema induced tissue volume changes. These showed discrepancies to simplified tissue models underlying the manual approach. The presented techniques provide biologically more meaningful, voxel-wise biomarkers of vasogenic edema after stroke