New,Non‐quinone Fluorogeldanamycin Derivatives Strongly Inhibit Hsp90

Streptomyces hygroscopicus is a natural producer of geldanamycin. Mutasynthetic supplementation of an AHBA‐blocked mutant with all possible monofluoro 3‐aminobenzoic acids provided new fluorogeldanamycins. These showed strong antiproliferative activity and inhibitory effects on human heat shock protein Hsp90. Binding to Hsp90 in the low nanomolar range was determined from molecular modelling, AFM analysis and by calorimetric studies.     

Extended studies of degradation mechanisms in the refractory lining of a rotary kiln for iron ore pellet production

Changes, over a period of 8 years, in the chemical composition and morphology of deposit and lining materials in a production rotary kiln for iron ore pellet manufacture are described. The following have been studied: two types of refractory brick used as lining material; deposited chunk materials from the lining; the interaction zones between deposits and linings. Morphological changes at the deposit/lining interface, and the active chemical reactions, are established. Larger hematite grains in the deposit material (5–50 μm) primarily remain at the original deposit/lining interface. The remainder penetrates fissures, voids and brick joints, forms a laminar structure with corundum from the bricks, and migrates in grains in the lining material. Potassium penetrates more deeply into the bricks than hematite, resulting in the formation of kalsilite, leucite and potassium β-alumina, which contribute to degradation of the lining.     

On-Line Characterization of Morphology and Water Adsorption on Fumed Silica Nanoparticles

The first wetting layer on solid nanoparticles has direct implications on the roles these particles play in industrial processes and technological applications as well as in the atmosphere. We present a technique for online measurements of the adsorption of the first few water layers onto insoluble aerosol nanoparticles. Atomized fumed silica nanoparticles were dispersed from aqueous suspension and their hygroscopic growth factors (HGF) and number of the adsorbed water layers at subsaturated conditions were measured using a nanometer hygroscopic tandem differential mobility analyzer (HTDMA). Particle morphology was characterized by electron microscopy and particle density was determined by mobility analysis. The HGFs of the size-selected particles at mobility diameters from 10 to 50 nm at 90% relative humidity (RH) varied from 1.05 to 1.24, corresponding to 2–6 layers of adsorbed water. The morphology of the generated fumed silica nanoparticles varied from spheres at 8–10 nm to agglomerates at larger diameters with effective density from 1.7 to 0.8 g/cm³ and fractal dimension of 2.6. The smallest spheres and agglomerates had the highest HGFs. The smallest particles with diameters of 8 and 10 nm adsorbed two to three water layers in subsaturated conditions, which agreed well with the Frenkel, Halsey, and Hill (FHH) isotherm fitting. In comparison to the small spheres or large agglomerates, the compact agglomerate structure containing a few primary particles increased the number of adsorbed water layers by a factor of ～1.5. This was probably caused by the capillary effect on the small cavities between the primary particles in the agglomerate.     

Prospecting hydrogen production of Escherichia coli by metabolic network modeling

Genome-scale model was applied to analyze the anaerobic metabolism of Escherichia coli. Three different methods were used to find deletions affecting fermentative hydrogen production: flux balance analysis (FBA), algorithm for blocking competing pathways (ABCP), and manual selection. Based on these methods, 81 E. coli mutants possessing one gene deletion were selected and cultivated in batch experiments. Experimental results of H₂ and biomass production were compared against the results of FBA. Several gene deletions enhancing H₂ production were found. Correctness of gene essentiality predictions of FBA for the selected genes was 78% and 77% in glucose and galactose media, respectively. 33% of the mutations that were predicted by FBA to increase H₂ production had a positive effect in experiments. Batch cultivation is a simple and straightforward experimental way to screen improvements in H₂ production. However, the ability of FBA to predict the H₂ production rate cannot be evaluated by batch experiments. Metabolic network models provide a method for gaining broader understanding of the complicated metabolic system of a cell and can aid in prospecting suitable gene deletions for enhancing H₂ production.     

Recovery rates of logging residue harvesting in Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karsten) dominated stands

A significant amount of logging residues is available for recovery in clear-cut areas. The forest residues’ potential has usually been estimated using biomass models. In Norway spruce (Picea abies) dominated stands, a large share of material is left on site especially due to dropping of needles as residues are left on site to dry in small heaps. In this study, we compared the measured dry weight of logging residues at a power plant with the potential biomass estimations made at a stand level. The study was performed in eight Norway spruce dominated stands, three of which were located in eastern Finland (North Karelia region) with the remainder being in Central Finland. The dry weights of branches, needles and stem tops were estimated using biomass models developed for individual trees by Repola et al. [1]. These dry weights were also compared with Swedish biomass models produced by Marklund [2]. The diameter and tree height information of each harvested tree served as input data in these model-based computations. Tree diameter information was obtained straight from the harvester’s stem value files, while the height information was obtained from models using the data from the stem value files as input. Inventory data before logging was used as a control material for harvester based estimates to spot possible measurement errors on the harvester measurement data. In addition, inventory data were used to get the crown height information, which was not available in the harvester measurement data. It was found that the average recovery rate was approximately 62% when applying Repola’s et al. [1] models and 61% when applying Marklund’s [2] models. However, variation between the logging sites was high. According this study, at least a third of the residues remains on the logging site if they are seasoned during the spring and summertime in small heaps.     

Electrical capacitance tomography as a monitoring tool for high-shear mixing and granulation

Electrical capacitance tomography (ECT) was utilized for monitoring of high-shear mixing and high-shear granulation processes. A finite element method (FEM)-based reconstruction algorithm was utilized to take into account the specific geometrical characteristics of the experimental set-up. Two-dimensional ECT tomograms, mixing index curves and permittivity fractions were computed based on the measurements, and their suitability in the analysis of the processes was assessed. It was found that the different mixing processes and the different granulation processes could be analyzed based on these quantities.     

Application of oxygen-consumption calorimetry to non-combustibility testing

The feasibility of oxygen-consumption calorimetry to testing of non-combustibility of building materials is studied. The reasons for the ambiguities of the traditional test method are qualitatively discussed. The construction of the gas collecting system added to the conventional test apparatus is described and the necessary formulae for calculating the oxygen consumption and the simultaneously measured conventional test variables are compared. The results clearly suggest that oxygen-consumption calorimetry is a consistent and powerful method for determining the non-combustibility of building materials.     

Characterization of Submillimeter Wave Absorbers from 200–600 GHz

This paper presents measurements of both specular and non-specular scattering from several submillimeter wave absorber materials designed for antenna testing and from low-cost carpet materials. The frequency range is 200–600 GHz in specular scattering, and 300–400 GHz in non-specular scattering measurements. The constructed bistatic test bench allows testing of the full continuous angular range of 0°–90°. The measurement results show large differences in performance of different materials. It is shown that reflectivities below ?50 dB over limited angular ranges are possible with a correct alignment of the material. Also, low-cost carpet materials have lower than ?15 dB reflectivities in most angles, and may be useful in non-critical parts of the antenna test range. The results can be used to optimise the absorber placement inside an antenna range, concerning both best performance and lowest cost.