Comparison of established systems for measuring the dustiness of powders with the UNC Dustiness Tester developed especially for pharmaceutical substances.

Four methods for evaluating the dustiness of powders have been compared. The relatively new UNC Dustiness Tester first described by Boundy et al. (2006) in the Annals of Occupational Hygiene, which was developed specifically for the measurement of hazardous and/or highly potent substances, a single-drop device, a rotating-drum method, and a continuous drop-down apparatus.

Integrated and compact fiber-coupled single-photon system based on nitrogen-vacancy centers and gradient-index lenses.

A fiber-coupled single-photon system is presented. Gradient-index lenses are utilized for single-photon collection and fiber coupling of a nitrogen-vacancy defect center in a nanodiamond. Integrated filter technology separates excitation and laser light.

Degradation of chloroaromatics: structure and catalytic activities of wild-type chlorocatechol 2,3-dioxygenases and modified ones.

To improve the efficiency and to investigate the molecular determinants that direct substrate specificity of chlorocatechol 2,3-dioxygenase CbzE(GJ31) , several mutant enzymes were constructed. Loci for substitutions of amino acids were selected by sequence comparisons as well as by homology modelling of known chlorocatechol 2,3-dioxygenases (CbzE(BASF) , CbzE(SK1) and CbzE(16-6A)). Activity measurements with various catechols showed that most of the modifications influenced activity only to a minor degree.

Determining the dustiness of powders--a comparison of three measuring devices.

The dustiness of 12 test powders was determined using three different measuring methods. One of the methods, the continuous drop method, is a reference test method according to the EN 15051 'Workplace atmospheres--Measurement of the dustiness of bulk materials--Requirements and reference test methods'. A test of equivalence between the reference test method and the other two methods, the modified Heubach Dustmeter, a rotating drum method and the Palas Dustview, a single-drop method, has been carried out as provided in Annex D of the European standard.

Influence of leaks in surface filters on particulate emissions.

Compliance with severe limit values of dust emissions is a main characteristic of surface filters. This characteristic is due to the high particle collection efficiency of surface filters. Beside regular operation it is necessary to consider phenomena such as a "pinhole" bypass through leaks in surface filters to ensure the above mentioned compliance with the limit values at all times.

Microorganisms degrading chlorobenzene via a meta-cleavage pathway harbor highly similar chlorocatechol 2,3-dioxygenase-encoding gene clusters.

Pseudomonas putida GJ31 harbors a degradative pathway for chlorobenzene via meta-cleavage of 3-chlorocatechol. Pseudomonads using this route for chlorobenzene degradation, which was previously thought to be generally unproductive, were isolated from various contaminated environments of distant locations. The new isolates, Pseudomonas fluorescens SK1 (DSM16274), Pseudomonas veronii 16-6A (DSM16273), Pseudomonas sp.

10 years after rio-concepts on the contribution of chemistry to a sustainable development.

The principles of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), held in June 1992 in Rio de Janeiro, and Agenda 21, the comprehensive plan of action for the 21st century, adopted 10 years ago by more than 170 governments, address the pressing problems of today and also aim at preparing the world for the challenges of this century. The conservation and management of resources for development are the main focus of interest, to which the sciences will have to make a considerable contribution. Natural, economic, and social sciences will have to be integrated in order to achieve this aim.

Degradation of aromatics and chloroaromatics by Pseudomonas sp. strain B13: cloning, characterization, and analysis of sequences encoding 3-oxoadipate:succinyl-coenzyme A (CoA) transferase and 3-oxoadipyl-CoA thiolase.

3-oxoadipate:succinyl-coenzyme A (CoA) transferase and 3-oxoadipyl-CoA thiolase carry out the ultimate steps in the conversion of benzoate and 3-chlorobenzoate to tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates in bacteria utilizing the 3-oxoadipate pathway. This report describes the characterization of DNA fragments with the overall length of 5.9 kb from Pseudomonas sp.

Degradation of aromatics and chloroaromatics by Pseudomonas sp. strain B13: purification and characterization of 3-oxoadipate:succinyl-coenzyme A (CoA) transferase and 3-oxoadipyl-CoA thiolase.

The degradation of 3-oxoadipate in Pseudomonas sp. strain B13 was investigated and was shown to proceed through 3-oxoadipyl-coenzyme A (CoA) to give acetyl-CoA and succinyl-CoA. 3-Oxoadipate:succinyl-CoA transferase of strain B13 was purified by heat treatment and chromatography on phenyl-Sepharose, Mono-Q, and Superose 6 gels.