Schepeneses mumifizierte Organe

Four mysterious packages were found on the abdomen and legs of the mummy of Schepenese when she was unwrapped in 1993. Here we show by chemical analysis that at least one of them contains human tissue, presumably the intestines, sodium chloride, bitumen ans sand. The composition of a sample is to 85% of organic origin (about 71% human tissue and 14% bitumen), about 9% is common salt and 6% is desert sand. It is concluded that Schepenese's viscera were preserved with common salt and bitumen. Trace analysis displays enhanced values of molybdenum. The occurrence of this metal is linked to bitumen used for mummification

Sol-gel coatings with lime repellent properties

Erworben im Rahmen der Schweizer Nationallizenzen (http://www.nationallizenzen.ch)Calcification of surfaces by hard water represents a major issue for sanitary installations. Calcium carbonate precipitates forming crusts of lime that are difficult to remove. Much effort has been undertaken to avoid scaling, most methods require chemicals or create waste. We constructed a test rig which allows for the controlled calcification of various substrates. It is found that all solid surfaces investigated calcify more or less evenly. On the other hand, surface bound poly(ethylene glycol), PEG, is known to prevent the non-specific adsorption of biomolecules. PEG coated surfaces find their use in a variety of applications. Here we show that glass and plastics, such as polyethylene, polypropylene and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, can be efficiently made lime repellent by the use of sol-gel coatings containing a PEG bearing silane. It is shown that the amount of scaling is drastically reduced. Prior to coating, plastics have to be pretreated by oxygen plasma and an adhesion promoter has to be employed

Sol-gel coatings with lime repellent properties

Calcification of surfaces by hard water represents a major issue for sanitary installations. Calcium carbonate precipitates forming crusts of lime that are difficult to remove. Much effort has been undertaken to avoid scaling, most methods require chemicals or create waste. We constructed a test rig which allows for the controlled calcification of various substrates. It is found that all solid surfaces investigated calcify more or less evenly. On the other hand, surface bound poly(ethylene glycol), PEG, is known to prevent the non-specific adsorption of biomolecules. PEG coated surfaces find their use in a variety of applications. Here we show that glass and plastics, such as polyethylene, polypropylene and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, can be efficiently made lime repellent by the use of sol-gel coatings containing a PEG bearing silane. It is shown that the amount of scaling is drastically reduced. Prior to coating, plastics have to be pretreated by oxygen plasma and an adhesion promoter has to be employe

In situ attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopic monitoring of supercritical CO2 extraction for green process applications

Supercritical CO2 (scCO2) extraction of valuable chemicals from food, biomass, and residues thereof has recently been recognized as a sustainable process. In this study, we present a new design of an attenuated total reflection infrared (ATR-IR) spectroscopic cell for monitoring the extraction of fatty acid from almonds under scCO2 conditions. The newly designed ATR-IR cell allows in situ monitoring of changes of the composition of the almonds during the scCO2 extraction process at a pressure of up to 450 bar. Extracted components can be spectroscopically followed at a time resolution of 30 s. This allows fast and facile optimization of scCO2 conditions such as temperature, pressure, and extraction time

Multi-color gradient ceramics produced by aqueous tape casting

OBJECTIVE: Functionally graded materials find currently an increasing interest, especially in ceramic field, thus broadening the ranges of applications, e.g. for separation membranes, tribological applications, thermal barriers or just esthetic purposes. A general procedure was developed to produce stacks of hundreds of layers with different material properties in such controlled arrangement that smooth macroscopic gradients through the whole block are achieved after firing. As a case study we demonstrate the possibility to create multiple color gradient within ceramic blocks and to machine those to specific shapes. MATERIALS & METHODS: Ceramic powders, cellulose and vinyl acetate‐based aqueous slurries were used to produce flexible green tapes with thickness ranging from 60 to 200 microns. The fabrication of ceramic blocks followed the stacking up of color tapes at room temperature using low‐pressure moldless compaction. Subsequently, the blocks were pre‐sintered, and then CNC machined in various shapes and sintered to full density. Scanning electron microscopy, stereo microscopy and UV‐Vis spectrophotometry were used to analyze the interior microstructure and gradient color zones. RESULTS: Different prefabricated blocks were shaped by CNC milling and subsequently fired. All ceramics specimens, depending on individual material, achieved relative densities around 99 %. The results from CIE Lab color space coordinates that were calculated from spectrophotometer’s reflectance spectra showed high degrees of linearity or reflected the applied material pattern. Results of hardness tests and bending strength were found to be in close match with literature data. There was no significant difference among the perpendicular and parallel layers orientation in stacked blocks. CONCLUSIONS: The developed process allows production of functionally graded ceramic materials. As an example, the study shows smooth transitions between color boundaries within ceramic blocks. It can be concluded that process does not negatively affect the mechanical properties and density of ceramic bodies. Furthermore, it provides a more flexible way of creating gradient zone through the ceramics. This makes it a very attractive method, especially for dental applications, but also for other esthetic demands e.g. jewelry and watch industry

Mucosal Maltase-Glucoamylase Plays a Crucial Role in Starch Digestion and Prandial Glucose Homeostasis of Mice1–3

Starch is the major source of food glucose and its digestion requires small intestinal α-glucosidic activities provided by the 2 soluble amylases and 4 enzymes bound to the mucosal surface of enterocytes. Two of these mucosal activities are associated with sucrase-isomaltase complex, while another 2 are named maltase-glucoamylase (Mgam) in mice. Because the role of Mgam in α-glucogenic digestion of starch is not well understood, the Mgam gene was ablated in mice to determine its role in the digestion of diets with a high content of normal corn starch (CS) and resulting glucose homeostasis. Four days of unrestricted ingestion of CS increased intestinal α-glucosidic activities in wild-type (WT) mice but did not affect the activities of Mgam-null mice. The blood glucose responses to CS ingestion did not differ between null and WT mice; however, insulinemic responses elicited in WT mice by CS consumption were undetectable in null mice. Studies of the metabolic route followed by glucose derived from intestinal digestion of 13C-labeled and amylase-predigested algal starch performed by gastric infusion showed that, in null mice, the capacity for starch digestion and its contribution to blood glucose was reduced by 40% compared with WT mice. The reduced α-glucogenesis of null mice was most probably compensated for by increased hepatic gluconeogenesis, maintaining prandial glucose concentration and total flux at levels comparable to those of WT mice. In conclusion, mucosal α-glucogenic activity of Mgam plays a crucial role in the regulation of prandial glucose homeostasis