Sch?dlingsbek?mpfung

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Influence of cryopreservation on the cytosine methylation state of potato genomic NDA

Shoot tips of Solanum tuberosum (Désirée) were successfully cryopreserved by the DMSO droplet method and stored for almost 7 years, while control material was maintained in vitro for the same period of time. To analyse potential epigenetic changes, the DNA methylation status was assayed by methylation-sensitive amplified polymorphism (MSAP) analysis using restriction endonucleases MspI and HpaII. An amount of 93.6% of the analysed MSAP signals were stable among all cryopreserved and in vitro maintained samples tested, indicating extensive stability of DNA methylation. Only 0.9 % of MSAP signals showed results that differed between the two treatments and at the same time matched for all three biological replications within each treatment. These can be seen as indicating directed effects of the two treatments on the DNA methylation. Cryopreserved samples displayed in comparison to in vitro stored samples consistent hypomethylation for 0.6 % (3 of 469) of MSAP signals (Table 4, pattern 4) and consistent hypermethylation for 0.2% (1 of 469), respectively. For 5.6% of all MSAP signals, inconsistent results were observed among the three biological replications at least for one of the two treatments. These were interpreted as resulting from stochastic DNA methylation changes in individual samples. As results for two biological replications were identical and different from the result for the third biological replication, the direction of methylation change could be determined in those cases. Cases of stochastic loss of CG methylation in cryopreserved samples were most frequent among them, adding up to 3.4% of MSAP signals. Stochastic loss of CG methylation was also found in material maintained in vitro, only for 0.6% of all MSAP signals. In conclusion, methylation changes occurred in long-term cryopreservation of potato, in a random rather than directed fashion. Hence, cryopreservation and long-term in vitro maintenance both induce limited changes of DNA methylation status. The order of magnitude of methylation changes observed was consistent with other studies, where similar rates of DNA methylation changes have been found.     

Inorganic WS<Subscript>2</Subscript> nanotubes revealed atom by atom using ultra-high-resolution transmission electron microscopy

The characterization of nanostructures to the atomic dimensions becomes more important, as devices based on a single particle are being produced. In particular, inorganic nanotubes were shown to host interesting properties making them excellent candidates for various devices. The WS₂ nanotubes outperform the bulk in their mechanical properties offering numerous applications especially as part of high strength nanocomposites. In contrast, their electrical properties are less remarkable. The structure–function relationship can be investigated by aberration-corrected high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), which enables the insight into their atomic structure as well as performing spectroscopic measurements down to the atomic scale. In the present work, the deciphering of atomic structure and the chiral angle of the different shells in a multiwall WS2 nanotube is demonstrated. In certain cases, the helicity of the structure can also be deduced. Finally, first electron energy loss spectra (EELS) of a single tube are presented, acquired by a new acquisition technique that allows for high spatial resolution (denoted StripeSTEM). The measured band gap values correspond with the values found in literature for thin films, obtained by spectroscopic techniques, and are higher than the values resulting from STM measurements.     

Auditory lateralization in monkeys: an examination of two cues serving directional hearing.

In assigning binaural ongoing time differences (phase) as the cue for localization of low frequencies, and binaural intensity differences as the cue for localization of high frequencies, the duplex theory has successfully accounted for human directional hearing of tones. Sensitivity of monkeys to these cues was examined in two experiments. The dependencies on frequency of interaural intensity difference thresholds (lateralization experiment I) and time difference thresholds (lateralization experiment II) were determined behaviorally on three monkeys (M. nemestrina). The range of frequencies was from 125 Hz to 8 kHz in experiment I and from 250 Hz to 2 kHz in experiment II. The results indicate that the duplex theory is applicable to monkeys. However, monkeys are less sensitive than man to both binaural cues. The shortest time disparity monkeys discriminate is 42 microseconds at 1.5 kHz and the smallest intensity difference is 3.5 dB at 500 Hz. Good agreement between the present findings and localization measurements [C. H. Brown et al., J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 63, 1484-1492 (1978)] suggests: (a) that monkeys utilize time disparity cues through higher frequencies than man; and (b) that inaccurate localization by monkeys at high frequencies reflects decreasing sensitivity to interaural intensity cues.     

Initial Carbon–Carbon Bond Formation during the Early Stages of the Methanol‐to‐Olefin Process Proven by Zeolite‐Trapped Acetate and Methyl Acetate

Methanol‐to‐olefin (MTO) catalysis is a very active field of research because there is a wide variety of sometimes conflicting mechanistic proposals. An example is the ongoing discussion on the initial C?C bond formation from methanol during the induction period of the MTO process. By employing a combination of solid‐state NMR spectroscopy with UV/Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and mass spectrometry on an active H‐SAPO‐34 catalyst, we provide spectroscopic evidence for the formation of surface acetate and methyl acetate, as well as dimethoxymethane during the MTO process. As a consequence, new insights in the formation of the first C?C bond are provided, suggesting a direct mechanism may be operative, at least in the early stages of the MTO reaction.     

Bridging the Gap between the Direct and Hydrocarbon Pool Mechanisms of the Methanol‐to‐Hydrocarbons Process

After a prolonged effort over many years, the route for the formation of a direct carbon?carbon (C?C) bond during the methanol‐to‐hydrocarbon (MTH) process has very recently been unveiled. However, the relevance of the “direct mechanism”‐derived molecules (that is, methyl acetate) during MTH, and subsequent transformation routes to the conventional hydrocarbon pool (HCP) species, are yet to be established. This important piece of the MTH chemistry puzzle is not only essential from a fundamental perspective, but is also important to maximize catalytic performance. The MTH process was probed over a commercially relevant H‐SAPO‐34 catalyst, using a combination of advanced solid‐state NMR spectroscopy and operando UV/Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy coupled to an on‐line mass spectrometer. Spectroscopic evidence is provided for the formation of (olefinic and aromatic) HCP species, which are indeed derived exclusively from the direct C?C bond‐containing acetyl group of methyl acetate. New mechanistic insights have been obtained from the MTH process, including the identification of hydrocarbon‐based co‐catalytic organic reaction centers.     

Aqueous sol–gel processing of precursor oxides for ZrW<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>8</Subscript> synthesis

This paper describes the synthesis of ZrW₂O₈ by the use of an aqueous citrate-gel method in order to prepare a fine, pure and homogeneous oxide mixture suitable for ceramic processing. The thermal expansion coefficient thus obtained for α-ZrW₂O₈ is −10.6 × 10⁻⁶ °C⁻¹ (50–125 °C) whereas for the β-ZrW₂O₈ a value of −3.2 × 10⁻⁶ °C⁻¹ (200–300 °C) is obtained. The advantages of the use of a sol–gel method is expressed in the very homogeneous end-products. The paper describes crystallographic data, morphological structure and the thermal expansion properties of the ZrW₂O₈ material. Moreover, photoluminescence and photochromic properties specific to the precursor gel are described and analyzed. These effects support our views that the precursors show homogeneity up to nanometer level.     

Flexible oligomer spacers as the key to solid-state photopolymerization of hydrogel precursors

Efficient crosslinking of conventional photoreactive hydrogel precursors relies on the mobility of the reactive groups and is typically addressed from the liquid state. However, this represents a major limitation for many processing techniques of hydrogel materials. Herein, a model precursor is introduced that overcomes this challenge using a prepolymer designed to enable successful crosslinking in the solid state. The precursor is synthesized by connecting a flexible, mono-acrylated spacer to a semi-crystalline hydrophilic backbone polymer using a di-isocyanate linker. The resulting prepolymers exhibit excellent solid-state photoreactivity, even in the absence of a photo-initiator. As a proof of concept, the precursor has successfully been processed by: (1) solution electrospinning with subsequent solid-state photopolymerization (SSPP), (2) melt-based additive manufacturing with subsequent SSPP and (3) two-photon polymerization in the solid state. No cell adhesion takes place on bare crosslinked 3D-printed scaffolds whereas excellent cell adhesion is recovered after application of a gelatin methacrylamide coating. With this novel class of UV-reactive precursors unprecedented hydrogel processing avenues are opened.