A new luciferase reporter gene assay for the detection of androgenic and antiandrogenic effects based on a human prostate specific antigen promoter and PC3/AR human prostate cancer cells.

We developed a new mammalian cell-based luciferase reporter gene assay for androgenic and antiandrogenic activities of chemicals and environmental samples. Environmental samples usually have a complex matrix that may contain the constituents acting as androgen receptor (AR) agonists, AR antagonists or aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) agonists. AhR agonists are known to elicit the antiandrogenic effect through cross-talk between AR and AhR signal transduction pathways. In this study, PC3/AR human prostate carcinoma cells were transiently transfected with a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) promoter-driven luciferase expression plasmid. The cells were treated with a test compound or an environmental sample for 24 h at 37 degrees C and then measured for luciferase activity. The luciferase activity was induced by dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in a concentration-dependent manner in a concentration range from 10 fM to 1 nM. R1881, a synthetic androgen receptor agonist, induced luciferase activity and its inductive effects was additive to that of DHT. The luciferase activity was not induced by cortisol, a glucocorticoid, progesterone, a progestin, and 17beta-estradiol, an estrogen in a concentration range of up to 1 microM. DHT-induced luciferase activity was reduced by bicalutamide and cyproterone acetate, AR antagonists, and also by benzo[a]pyrene, an aryl hydrocarbon receptor agonist, through AhR-mediated pathways. All of these findings indicate that the present assay system correctly responds to AR agonists, AR antagonists and AhR agonist and, therefore, it is a powerful tool for the sensitive and selective screening of chemicals and environmental samples for their androgenic and antiandrogenic activities. We developed the first assay system, in which the expression of luciferase was driven by the promoter of a prostate-specific antigen gene, a typical human androgen-regulated gene.     

Large-volume injection electrothermal AAS combined with tungsten-treated pyrolytic graphite furnace: determination of cadmium in tap, snow and river water samples with phosphate modifier.

A large-volume (100 microl) injection-ETAAS with W-treated PG furnace combined with a phosphate modifier was applied to the determination of unpolluted levels of Cd in tap, snow and river-water samples. The limit of detection of 1.1 ng l(-1) was observed for a 4 w/v% NH4H2PO4 modifer. Matrix interference studies were tested for major ion species well found in fresh water. The direct determination of Cd in certified river water (12 +/- 2 ng l(-1)) was carried out and the observed value was in agreement with the certified one. The good recoveries of Cd added to real environmental water samples were also observed. This method was applied to the determination of Cd in unpolluted environmental water samples.     

A fast atom bombardment mass spectrometric analysis of crown ether complexes [1]

Analyses of crown ether complexes of alkali metal ions and characterization of the complexes formed inm-nitrobenzyl alcohol have been carried out by fast atom bombardment (FAB) mass spectrometry. By using m-nitrobenzyl alcohol as a matrix for measurements, the stoichiometry of the complexes was assessed on the basis of the observed FAB peaks. In addition, the formation of crown ether-alkali metal complexes at a 2 : 1 molar ratio was enhanced by increasing the ionic radius of the metal ion in agreement with previous observations. On these grounds, FAB mass spectrometry may provide a rapid means for investigation of the complexation behavior of crown ethers and the stoichiometry of the complexes.     

Uptake and excretion of total inorganic arsenic by the freshwater alga Chlorella vulgaris

Arsenic-tolerant freshwater alga Chlorella vulgaris which had been collected from an arsenicpolluted environment were tested for uptake and excretion of inorganic arsenic. Approximately half the quantity of arsenic taken up by C. vulgaris was estimated to be adhered to the extraneous coat (10 wt %) of the cell. The remainder was bioaccumulated by the cell. Both adhered and accumulated arsenic concentrations increased with an increase in arsenic(V) concentration of the aqueous phase. Arsenic(V) accumulation was affected by the growth phse: arsenic was most actively accumulated when the cell was exposed to arsenic during the early exponential phase and then accumulation decreased with an increase in culture time exposed to arsenic. The alga grew well in the modified Detmer (MD) medium containing 1 mg As(III) dm^?3 and the growth curve was approximated by a ‘logistic equation’. Arsenic(III) was accumulated up to the second day of the culture time and arsenic(III) accumulation decreased with an increase in the culture time after that. Arsenic accumulation was also largely affected by various nutrients, especially by managanese, iron and phosphorus compounds. A modified MD medium with the three nutrients was proposed for the purpose of effective removal of arsenic from the aqueous phase. Using radioactive arsenate (Na₂H⁷⁴AsO₄), the arsenic accumulated was found to be readily excreted under conditions which were unfavourable for the multiplication of C. vulgaris.     

Preparation and certification of the new reference materials; plastics (disk form, JSAC 0621-0625) for determination of mercury using x-ray fluorescent analysis.

The Japan Society for Analytical Chemistry has developed some new plastic certified reference materials (CRMs) for the analysis of mercury in polyester disks using XRF analysis. These CRMs (named as JSAC 0621-0625) were prepared by casting polyesters including a toluene solution of organometallic compounds as a standard. Concentrations of the five levels of mercury ranged from 0 to 250 mg/kg. Homogeneity tests of prepared disks had shown excellent results. Interlaboratory comparison study for the certification was performed by 15 laboratory participants. The z-scores in robust statistical method was applied for the evaluation of outliers. The certified values were assigned after discarding outliers. The uncertainties of certified values were determined as the confidence levels of 95%.     

Wirkungsgrade in der Welt des Lebens und der Technik

Zusammenfassung Um der oft gehörten Meinung entgegenzutreten, die energetischen Wirkungsgrade lebender Organismen seien wesentlich höher als die technischer Verfahren, werden entsprechende Werte miteinander verglichen. Der sehr niedrige Wirkungsgrad der Photosynthese zusammen mit der kleinen Energiedichte der Sonnenstrahlung erzwang ab einer kritischen Größe die Aufspaltung in Energiesammler, die Pflanzen, und Verbraucher chemischer Energie, den Tieren. Dank den 10 mal höheren Wirkungsgraden in der Technik, lassen sich Solarmobile bauen, die von der auf sie fallenden Sonnenstrahlung angetrieben werden. Wegen des Multiplikationsgesetzes der Teilwirkungsgrade ergeben sich sowohl für die Speicherung der Sonnenenergie in den fossilen Brennstoffen wie in der Nahrungskette extrem niedrige Wirkungsgrade.

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Efficiencies in the world of life and in engineering

One often hears the opinion, that the efficiencies in the world of life are higher than in engineering. To disprove this, many values of efficiency of corresponding processes are compared. The very low efficiency of photosynthesis in living plants together with the low density of solar radiation has led the world of life to split into collectors of energy, the plants, and consumers of chemical energy, the animals. Thanks to the ten times higher efficiencies of solar cells, it is possible, to produce solar mobiles, vehicles that move driven by solar radiation.

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Herrn Prof. Dr.-Ing. U. Grigull zum 75. Geburtstag gewidmet     

Neue Näherungsgleichung zur einheitlichen Berechnung von Wärmeübertragern

Zusammenfassung Es wird eine für alle Stromführungen einheitliche Näherungsgleichung mit drei oder vier anpaßbaren Parametern zur Berechnung des Korrekturfaktors für die mittlere logarithmische Temperaturdifferenz angegeben. Die anpaßbaren Parameter wurden für etwa 50 verschiedene Stromführungen durch Ausgleichsrechnung bestimmt. Die Genauigkeit der Gleichung ist für die Berechnung im praktisch wichtigen Bereich mehr als ausreichend.

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New approximate equation for uniform heat exchanger design

An approximate equation with three or four empirical parameters for the uniform calculation of the LMTD-correction factor of all heat exchanger configurations is proposed. The empirical parameters have been determined for about 50 different flow configurations using least squares estimation. The accuracy of the equation is more than sufficient for practical design purposes.

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Formelzeichen A Übertragungsfläche - a, b, c, d Parameter der Näherungsgleichung - Wärmekapazitätsstrom - F Korrekturfaktor für die logarithmische mittlere Temperaturdifferenz - k Wärmedurchgangskoeffizient - m, n Zahl der Durchgänge oder Einzelapparate - NTU Anzahl der Übertragungseinheiten (number of transfer units); NTU_i=kA/ _i - P dimensionslose Temperaturänderung - R Wärmekapazitätsstromverhältnis;R ₁=₁/₂;R ₂=₂/₁ - relativer Fehler - Mittelwert von NTU₁ und NTU₂ Indizes 1, 2 Stoffstrom 1, 2 - G Gegenstrom - s Schätzwert Herrn Prof. Dr.-Ing. E.h. K. Stephan zum 65. Geburtstag gewidmet.     

Determination of the pesticides Chlorpropham,Propham, Propoxur,and Terbucarb by low temperature phosphorimetry

Summary Simple, direct, and sensitive low temperature phosphorimetric methods for the determination of Chlorpropham, Propham, Propoxur, and Terbucarb in EPA solvent are described. The minimum detectable amounts are 0.01 p. p. m. for Chlorpropham and Propham and 0.02 and 0.3 p. p. m. for Propoxur and Terbucarb respectively. The ranges of linearity of the analytical calibration graphs are 0.05-7.5, 0.05–10, 0.5–50, and 1–50 p. p. m. for Chlorpropham, Propham, Propoxur, and Terbucarb respectively. The procedure for Chlorpropham has been applied to the analysis of a solid commercial formulation.

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Bestimmung der Pesticide Chlorpropham, Propham, Propoxur und Terbucarb bei Tief-Temperatur-Phosphorimetrie

Zusammenfassung Einfache, direkte und empfindliche Methoden für die Bestimmung der genannten Pesticide in dem Lösungsmittel Diethylether-i-Pentan-abs. Ethanol wurden beschrieben. Die geringsten nachweisbaren Mengen sind 0,01 ppm für Chlorpropham und Propham sowie 0,02 und 0,3 ppm für Propoxur und Terbucarb. Die Eichkurven verlaufen zwischen 0,05 und 7,5, 0,05 und 10, 0,5 und 50 sowie zwischen 1 und 50 ppm für Chlorpropham, Propham, Propoxur bzw. Terbucarb linear. Das Verfahren für Chlorpropham wurde zur Analyse eines festen Handelsproduktes angewendet.

     

Preparation of 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane (HFC-245fa) by using a SbF5-attached catalyst

In this report, a simple process for preparing HFC-245fa through the reaction of 1,1,1,3,3-pentachloropropane (PCP) and anhydrous HF via two-step vapor-phase catalytic fluorination is described. The antimony pentafluoride catalyst was supported on inert porous materials to improve the catalytic activity. The resulting process catalyst not only exhibited high catalytic activity and excellent thermo-stability, but also improved the performance of SbF₅, in terms of hygroscopicity and corrosion.     

Beitrag zum Stabilisierungsmechanismus des Wollkeratins durch einige Metalle

Zusammenfassung Das Verhalten des Wollkeratins ist im kochenden Wasser nach Behandlung mit Kupfer-, Kadmium-, Silber- und Quecksilbersalzen unnormal, nicht nur verglichen mit dem Verhalten des metallfreien Proteins, sondern auch gegenüber des unter gleichen Bedingungen mit anderen Metallen behandelten Keratins. Die beobachteten Phänomene werden in einigen Fällen entweder mit der Annahme der Bildung von Vernetzungen zwischen benachbarten Polypeptidketten durch Komplexbildung des Metalls mit einigen Gruppen des Keratins oder durch Blockieren des Cysteins und der Verhinderung des Disulfidaustausches erklärt. In anderen Fällen jedoch, besonders bei Silber, ist die Erklärung der eintretenden Veränderung mit Hilfe dieser zwei Mechanismen nicht möglich, und es wird die direkte Reaktion des Metalls mit dem Schwefel des Cystins vorgeschlagen. Hierbei wird das Cystin und damit die Disulfidbindung gespalten. Die Spaltung dieser Bindung und die Verhinderung ihrer Rückbildung, entweder in derselben oder in anderer Lage, senkt die Zahl der Quervernetzungen im Keratin herab und damit die Fixierung der Polypeptidketten in ihrer ursprünglichen Lage. Hieraus resultiert eine Schrumpfung der Ketten und die Kontraktion der Faser.

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Summary Wool fibres containing cadmium, copper, mercury or silver set in a different way than the untreated ones or the fibres which contain other metals. This behaviour is explained in some cases by assuming the formation of complexes between the metal and the protein or by the disulphide exchange mechanism. In other cases, however, and particularly with silver this is not possible, and therefore the direct reaction between the metal and the sulphur of cystine is proposed. According to this mechanism the contraction of the fibre is due to the breakdown of the disulphide bond and the inability of its reformation.

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Mit 10 Abbildungen und 2 Tabellen