Evolution of the Corticotropin-releasing Hormone Signaling System and Its Role in Stress-induced Phenotypic Plasticity

Developing animals respond in variation in their habitats by altering their rules of development and/or their morphologies (i.e., they exhibit phenotypic plasticity). In vertebrates, one mechanism by which plasticity is expressed is through activation of the neuroendocrine system, which transduces environmental information into a physiological response. Recent findings of ours with amphibians and of others with mammals show that the primary vertebrate stress neuropeptide, corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), is essential for adaptive developmental responses to environmental stress. For instance, CRH-dependent mechanisms cause accelerated metamorphosis in response to pond-drying in some amphibian species, and intrauterine fetal stress syndromes in humans precipitate preterm birth. CRH may be a phylogenetically ancient developmental signaling molecule that allows developing organisms to escape deleterious changes in their larval/fetal habitat. The response to CRH is mediated by at least two different receptor subtypes and may also be modulated by a secreted binding protein.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/73287/1/j.1749-6632.1999.tb07877.x.pd

Collagen film as a new pervaporation membrane

Various films based on collagen are tested for use as hydrophilic pervaporation membranes. Aqueous solutions of ethanol, isopropanol, ethylene glycol, and acetone serve as model mixtures to gain insight into the separation proper-ties of these membranes. The dehydration of apple juice aroma is studied as a practical example in food technology. As a general result, the collagen films investigated proved to be promising pervaporation membranes with good selectivity and, most of all, surprisingly high fluxes at low operation temperatures. Additional benefits, as well as limitations, of these films are briefly discussed

Kontinuierliche Aufarbeitung von Galvanik-Spuelwaessern Abschlussbericht

The work carried out in the context of this project proved the technical feasility of electro-dialysis applied to the treatment of galvanising waste water. Laboratory experiments were carried out for cadmium, silver and gold baths. The cadmium bath investigations were carried out in detail and reproduced, in order to make a cost estimate possible. The analysis of all known ions in the bath gave information on the different permeation characteristics of the existing ions. This value must be interpreted as a preliminary estimate and referes exclusively to the electro-dialysis unit to be installed additionally. Cost savings in flushing water, bath chemicals, ion exchanger and removal are not taken into account. The possible savings are substracted from this value. (orig.)Die im Rahmen dieses Projektes durchgefuehrten Arbeiten haben die technische Funktionsfaehigkeit der Elektrodialyse in der Anwendung zur Aufbereitung von Galvanikabwaessern unter Beweis gestellt. Fuer Cadmium-, Silber- und Goldbaeder wurden Laborversuche durchgefuehrt. Die Cadmiumbaduntersuchungen wurden detailliert und reproduziert ausgefuehrt, um eine Kostenabschaetzung zu ermoeglichen. Die Analyse aller bekannten Ionen im Bad erbrachte Aufschluss ueber die unterschiedlichen Permeationscharakteristiken der vorhandenen Ionen. Dieser Wert ist als vorlaeufige Abschaetzung zu interpretieren und bezieht sich ausschliesslich auf die zusaetzlich zu installierende Elektrodialyseeinheit. Kosteneinsparungen an Spuelwasser, Badchemikalien, Ionenaustauscher und Entsorgung sind nicht beruecksichtigt. Die so moeglichen Einsparungen subtrahieren sich von diesem Wert. (orig.)Available from TIB Hannover: F93B41 / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekSIGLEBundesministerium fuer Forschung und Technologie (BMFT), Bonn (Germany)DEGerman