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Die Handzahnbürste gilt seit Jahrhunderten als das Instrument zur mechanischen Reinigung von Zähnen. Sie kommt mehrmals täglich mit der Mundflora in Kontakt und ist somit potenzieller Träger verschiedenster humanpathogener Mikroorganismen. In einer In-vitro-Studie kontaminierten wir zwei Handzahnbürsten mit unterschiedlicher Borstenhärte (Dr. BEST Flex Plus mittel und hart) mit zwei etablierten Leitkeimen (Streptococcus mutans und Staphylococcus aureus). Vier verschiedene Dekontaminationsmethoden (24 -stündige Lufttrocknung, 0,2%ige CHX-Lösung, 0,2%iges CHX-Spray, UV-Ofen VIOlight) wurden anschließend verglichen und statistisch ausgewertet. Wir konnten nachweisen, dass die Borstenhärte nur je nach untersuchtem Bakterium einen signifikanten Einfluss auf die Keimbesiedlung des Borstenfeldes hat (nur bei Staphylococcus aureus). Eine zusätzliche Anwendung einer Dekontaminationsmethode zur reinen Lufttrocknung führte immer zu einer weiteren Bakterienreduktion auf dem Borstenfeld. Die Bestrahlung mit UV-Licht zeigte den größten Einfluss auf die Keimbesiedlung bei Zahnbürsten (mittel und hart), welche mit dem Bakterium Streptococcus mutans kontaminiert wurden, sowie bei den mit Streptococcus aureus kontaminierten Zahnbürsten mit harten Borsten. Die Methoden mit dem Wirkstoff CHX führten bei den Zahnbürsten mit mittlerer Borstanhärte und der Kontamination mit Straphylococcus aureus zur stärksten Bakterienreduzierung.

Die in dieser Arbeit isolierten und hochaufgereinigten, humanen dermalen Mastzellen wurden mit UVB, UVA-1 und PUVA-1 bestrahlt und anschließend entweder mit Substanz P oder anti-IgE stimuliert. Dadurch sollten Einblicke in die unterschiedlichen Wirkmechanismen der bei zahlreichen mastzellassoziierten Erkrankungen eingesetzten UV Licht Therapie gewonnen werden. Ein Schwerpunkt dieser Arbeit lag in der Erforschung der Histamin-, Tryptase- und Zytokinfreisetzung von menschlichen Mastzellen. Zusätzlich wurde die Expression von Lysosomen-assoziierten Membran Proteinen (LAMPs) auf der Oberfläche dieser Zellen untersucht. Im Gegensatz zu der durch UV Licht induzierbaren spontanen Histaminfreisetzung zeigte sich die anti-IgE stimulierte Histaminausschüttung durch UVB, UVA-1 und PUVA-1 signifikant und dosisabhängig inhibierbar. Auch die durch Substanz P stimulierten Mastzellen gaben nach UVA-1 Bestrahlung deutlich weniger Histamin ab. Demgegenüber blieb die sezernierte Menge des Mediators nach UVB und PUVA-1 konstant. Analog zu den erhobenen Histaminergebnissen konnte eine signifikante Inhibition der anti-IgE induzierten Tryptasefreisetzung nachgewiesen werden. Ebenso zeigte sich eine signifikante Verringerung, der innerhalb von vierundzwanzig Stunden basal freigesetzten Menge an Interleukin-6 und Interleukin-8, nach UV Bestrahlung. Die spontane Ausschüttung vom Tumornekrosefaktor-a verblieb in dem Untersuchungszeitraum auf sehr geringem Niveau, so dass eine relevante Beeinflussung durch UV Licht nicht stattfand. Des weiteren konnte eine vermehrte basale Expression von CD107a und CD63 auf der Mastzellmembran durch UV Bestrahlung demonstriert werden. Auch die anti-IgE induzierte Mehrexpression der LAMPs konnte bei den drei Bestrahlungsarten nachweisbar supprimiert werden. Die in dieser Arbeit gewonnenen Erkenntnisse zeigen, dass die Auswirkungen der UV Licht Therapie auf Mastzellen sehr komplex sind. Zu beachten ist, dass unter physiologischen Bedingungen nicht nur isolierte Mastzellen, sondern auch weitere bestrahlte Zellverbände eine Veränderung erfahren. Erst durch das Zusammenspiel aller Zellen lassen sich Rückschlüsse auf Krankheitsbilder und die anzuwendende Therapien ziehen. Letztendlich soll diese Arbeit dazu beitragen, dass das Verständnis der unterschiedlichen Wirkungen von UV Licht begriffen und so ein sinnvolles und gezieltes Einsetzen im klinischen Alltag ermöglicht wird. / For all experiments highly purified dermal mast cells were used. The aim of the current study was to systematically investigate the effects of UVB, UVA-1 and PUVA-1 on skin derived human mast cells. Baseline and stimulated release of histamine, tryptase and of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-a were examined. Furthermore, the CD 107a and CD 63 surface levels in UV treated cells were investigated representing two members of lysosome associated membrane proteins which were found to appear on mast cell surface during degranulation. Prior treatment with UV resulted in a striking suppression of the anti-IgE induced release of preformed mediators such as histamine and tryptase in a dose dependent manner. This inhibition was accompanied by a diminished, anti-IgE mediated increase in CD 107a and CD 63 surface expression. In sharp contrast, UV-light slightly preactivates mast cells as indicated by a marginal but statistically significant direct UV-caused histamine release. Theses findings matched the observation of slightly enhanced CD 107a and CD 63 surface levels in UV treated but unstimulated cells. After UVA-1 treatment the histamine release of substance P stimulated mast cells is statistically significant reduced which contrasts to the unchanged liberation of this preformed marker after UVB and PUVA-1 irradiation. Furthermore the release of mediators that are not or only partially preformed was examined. In the present study all types of UV-irradiation inhibits baseline IL-6 and IL-8 secretion from mast cells. The very low baseline level of TNF-a remained unaffected. Taken together, the present findings identify cutaneous human mast cells as important targets of UV-induced immunomodulation. They help explain both the dose-dependent adverse effects of UV-light and the beneficial and desired antiinflammatory effects during therapy.

No description available.

The small village Chonyonyo, in the district Karagwe in the northwest of Tanzania has a shortage of safe drinking water. Women and children spend several hours a day fetching water and gathering firewood to boil the water to make it more suitable for drinking. The need of new sustainable water supply solutions is fundamental for providing more people with safe drinking water.   Two water distribution alternatives was suggested by Engineers Without Borders and MAVUNO as possible solutions to supply the community with water.  Alternative 1 consisted of a 10 km distribution system from an already existing groundwater well at the MAVUNO office to Chonyonyo. Alternative 2 consisted of a 3.5 km distribution system from the most neighboring valley to Chonyonyo, where no groundwater well exists today. Both alternatives would be powered by solar panels and operated six hours a day. The most sustainable distribution solution was chosen by modeling the distribution alternatives in the modeling software EPANET. Input parameters to simulate the model were position, elevation and dimension of storage tanks and pipes. Other required input parameters were absolute roughness, water withdrawal, operation hours, description of the withdrawal pattern for the water outlet and other modelling conditions such as a suitable simulation time. The selection of water distribution system was based on minimum requirements of energy used for operation weighed with lowest possible water residence time in the storage tank. Water quality analyses of the raw water source for distribution alternative 1 were performed in order to classify the water and select suitable water treatment solutions. The analyses consisted of microbiological and metal/metalloid analyses, and measurements of EC and pH. The result of the simulation showed that neither of the distribution alternatives met all the pipe design criteria. The main reason is that the system can not be constantly operated. If this criterion is excluded the optimal solution is distribution alternative 1 with an outer pipe diameter of 110 mm throughout the whole distribution system and a water residence time in the storage tank of 57.1 hours. The water quality analysis showed that the ground water source for distribution alternative 1 was affected by surface water and is thus classified as unusable because of high levels of harmful bacteria and lead. The most suitable water treatment solution due to the aspects of sustainable water supply are the microbiological barriers ultrafiltration and UV-light in combination with a treatment method to remove lead from the water. / I samhället Chonyonyo i distriktet Karagwe i nordvästra Tanzania råder brist på säkert dricksvatten. Kvinnor och barn spenderar flera timmar om dagen för att hämta vatten och samla ved för att koka vattnet så att det blir säkrare att dricka. Behovet av nya hållbara vattenlösningar är fundamental för att kunna försörja fler människor med säkert dricksvatten.   Två vattendistributionsalternativ lades fram av Ingenjörer utan gränser och MAVUNO som möjliga lösningar för att försörja invånarna i Chonyonyo med dricksvatten. Alternativ 1 bestod av ett 10 km distributionssystem från en befintlig grundvattenbrunn vid MAVUNO:s kontor. Alternativ 2 bestod av ett 3.5 km distributionssystem från den närmaste dalen till samhället Chonyonyo, där det inte finns någon befintlig grundvattenbrunn. Båda alternativen kommer att drivas av solpaneler och vara under drift sex timmar per dygn. Det lämpligaste distributionsalternativet valdes ut genom simulering i mjukvaran EPANET. Ingångsparametrar för simuleringen var bl.a. position, höjd och dimension på reservoarer och ledningar. Ytterligare nödvändiga parametrar var skrovlighet på ledningar, storlek på vattenuttag, antal driftstimmar, uttagmönster från vattenkranar i systemet samt andra modelleringsförhållanden såsom en lämplig simuleringstid. Valet av distributionssystem grundades på lägsta möjliga energibehov för drift viktat mot lägsta möjliga uppehållstid i vattenreservoarerna.   Kvalitetsanalyser av råvattnet för distributionsalternativ 1 genomfördes för att klassificera vattnet och göra lämpliga val av vattenreningslösningar. Analyserna omfattade mätning av ett antal mikrobiologiska parametrar, metaller/metalloider samt EC och pH. Simuleringen visade att ingen av alternativen kunde uppnå alla designkriterierna. Huvudorsaken till det är att systemet endast är i drift periodvis. Bortsett från dessa kriterier var det optimala lösningen distributionsalternativ 1 med en yttre rördiameter på 110 mm genom hela systemet med en maximal uppehållstid i vattenreservoaren på ca 57 timmar.   Analyserna visade att grundvattnet var ytvattenpåverkat och klassificeras som otjänligt med höga nivåer av skadliga bakterier och bly. De lämpligaste vattenreningslösningarna i förhållande till hållbarhetsaspekterna var de mikrobiologiska barriärerna ultrafiltrering och behandling med UV-ljus kombinerat med en reningsmetod för att avskilja bly från vattnet.

This master‘s thesis concerns gel polymer electrolytes formed on a methyl methacrylate base with selected types of nanoparticles. In the thesis are also analyzed the methods for measuring electrochemical properties. The practical portion deals with sample preparations of gel polymer electrolytes with different contents of alkaline salt in a solvent, creating gels with different nanoparticle content and comparing gel polymer electrolytes polymerized with heat and UV radiation. The thesis deals with the evaluation of these samples from the viewpoint of electrical conductivity and potential windows as well as thermal analysis of selected samples.

No description available.

Les véhicules de demain, (2020), devront diminuer leurs émissions globales de CO2 de 30% selon les directives européennes. Une solution qui apparait aujourd’hui comme inévitable est la substitution des métaux présents dans les châssis de véhicules par des matériaux composites plus légers et tout aussi performants. Pour généraliser cette approche à tout le secteur automobile, un temps court de fabrication des pièces est exigé pour satisfaire les cadences de production allant jusqu’à 1000 véhicules par jour. La production automatisée et robotisée de ces matériaux, basée sur la technologie de photo-polymérisation au moyen de rayonnements UV, répond à ces exigences. Le procédé de fabrication élaboré se décompose en deux phases : une phase de fabrication automatisée de pré-imprégnés (prépregs), produits semi-finis, et une phase de mise en forme et d’obtention du produit final (composite UV). La première étape consiste en l’imprégnation d’un renfort fibreux sec par une résine liquide photo-polymérisable, puis l’irradiation de celle-ci par des rayonnements UV, de manière à ce que la résine ne soit pas totalement polymérisée. On obtient alors un prépreg collant. La seconde étape de fabrication impose que les pré-imprégnés soient conditionnés parfaitement sous forme de bobines pour qu’ils soient intégrés dans un dispositif robotisé de dépose. D’où la nécessité de concevoir et de réaliser une machine automatisée de production des pré-imprégnés (objet de cette thèse). Cette machine a nécessité une automatisation se caractérisant par l'utilisation d'outils d'instrumentation et de pilotage modernes (servomoteurs Brushless, IHM, capteurs, …). Les essais réalisés sur cette machine ont permis de réaliser des premiers prépregs, dont les résultats ont conduit à des pistes de réflexion pour approfondir l'automatisation de la machine en vue d'améliorer le procédé de fabrication de ces prépregs. / The overall CO2 emission of the future vehicles, (2020), must be reduced by 30%, according to European directives. A solution that seems inevitable nowadays is the substitution of metals present in the vehicle chassis by lighter and equally efficient composite-materials. To generalize this approach throughout the automotive sector, a short manufacturing time of these materials is required to meet the high required production rates, of up to 1000 vehicles per day. The automated and robotic production of these materials, depending on the photo polymerization technology by UV radiation, meets these requirements. The developed automated manufacturing process consists of two phases: the phase of automated manufacturing of semi-finished composite (prepreg), and the phase of shaping and obtaining the final composite (UV composite). The first phase depends on the impregnation of fibrous reinforcement with a photo-polymerizable and liquid resin, then, on the partial irradiation of impregnated reinforcement with UV rays, in such a way that the resin is not completely cured. Thereby, a tacky prepreg is obtained. The second phase of automated manufacturing process requires that the prepregs must be perfectly reeled up in a form of coils, so that they can be incorporated in a robotic lay-up placement head. Hence, the need to design and produce a machine of automated prepreg production (subject of this thesis) is absolutely necessary. This machine requires automation, characterized by the use of modern instrumentations and control tools (Brushless Servo, Human–computer interface HCI, sensors...). The tests performed by this machine have enabled the production of the first prepregs, of which the results led to further approaches to develop the automation of this machine in order to improve the prepregs manufacturing process.

"Laser flash spectroscopy of photosystem II" Photosystem II (PS II) of plants and cyanobacteria oxidizes water in a light-powered reaction. Thereby, this protein is the ultimate source of the atmospheric oxygen. The capacity to oxidize water is owed to two properties of PS II: (i) The midpoint potential of the oxidizing chlorophyll moiety is increased by 0.6 V compared to photosystem I or photochemical reaction centers of anoxygenic bacteria, and (ii) the energy requirements of the four steps needed for the tetravalent oxidation of water are adapted to the energy of red light quanta. This thesis deals with two particular aspects, namely: 1. The coupling of the electron transfer from tyrosine Z (YZ) to the primary donor (P680+) to proton transfer, and an inquiry on the role of a positive charge on YZox (plus base cluster) in increasing the oxidizing potential at the catalytic site. 2. The localization of the electron hole, P680+, among the excitonically coupled four inner chlorophyll a molecules, and an estimation of the midpoint potential differences between them. Electron-proton-coupling by YZ This study was carried out with PS II core complexes from spinach or pea with a deactivated (removed) manganese cluster. The reduction of P680+ was investigated as a function of pH by detecting the laser flash induced absorption changes with nanosecond resolution. Two kinetic components were found with different pH-dependence and activation energies. The alteration of kinetic parameters by H/D isotope substitutions or by addition of divalent cations implied two different types of YZ-oxidation: At acidic pH the electron transfer was coupled with proton transfer, whereas in the alkaline region it was more rapid and no longer controlled by proton transfer. The conversion between both mechanisms occured at pH 7.4. This value corresponds either to the apparent pK of YZ itself (i.e. of the hydroxy group of the phenol ring) or to the pK of an acid-base-cluster, which includes YZ. Independent measurements of pH-transients by following the absorption changes of hydrophilic proton indicators corroborated this notion. The data were interpreted as indicating that the phenolic proton of YZ was released into the medium at acidic, but not at alkaline pH. The electron transfer and proton release characteristics of intact, oxygen-evolving PS II resembled those in deactivated samples kept at alkaline pH. We concluded that the electron transfer from YZ to P680+ in the native system was not coupled with proton transfer into the bulk. This has shed doubt on a popular hypothesis on the role of YZ as 'hydrogen abstractor' from bound water. On the other hand, the energetic constraints of water oxidation could be eased by the positive upcharging during oxidation of YZox plus its base cluster. On the localization of the electron hole of P680+ Photooxidation of PS II oxidizes the set of four innermost chlorophyll a molecules giving rise to the only spectroscopically defined species P680+. The deconvolution of difference spectra into bands of pigments is ambiguous. By using photoselective excitation of antennae, i.e. chl a molecules with site specific energies at the long wavelength border of the mean Qy-band, and by polarized detection, it was possible to tag P680+QA-/P680QA and 3P680/P680 difference spectra with a further parameter, the (wavelength-dependent) anisotropy r. Results obtained at liquid nitrogen temperature (77 K) can be clearly interpreted in terms of two chl a monomer bands. The two main components of the P680+QA-/P680QA difference spectrum were marked by two distinct values of the anisotropy and could be interpreted in a straightforward manner: the bleaching of a band at 675 nm belonging to the charged species (chl a+) and an electrochromic blue-shift of a nearby chl a from 684 to 682 nm. The main bleaching band of the 3P680/P680 spectrum (at 77 K) can be apparently attributed to a third (or several) chl a component(s). The analysis of the P680+QA-/P680QA spectrum at cryogenic temperature is compatible with monomeric chl a bands. On the other hand, one could assume a system of excitonically coupled core pigments, as it was recently introduced in the literature on the basis of energy transfer studies ('multimer model'). However, in view of the clear indications for an electrochromic band shift and the location of the bleaching band, which absorbs in a wavelength region of monomeric chl a, one assumption of the 'multimer model' should be questioned. Presumably, the excitonic couplings are rather weak, in particular between each of the two central chl a-molecules (PA/PB) and its respective accessory chl a (BA/BB), because of (i) the distances and (ii) different site energies of the monomeric chromophores. At room temperature, the absorption difference and anisotropy spectra of P680+QA-/P680QA were clearly altered. The anisotropy data indicated that the changes could no longer exclusively be ascribed to thermal broadening of individual bands. The localization of the positive charge on one pigment, analogous to the situation at 77 K, was now unlikely. Hence, the midpoint potential differences between the inner four chlorophyll a molecules were small and were estimated as approximately 15 meV.