Microstructured Fibers for the Production of Food.

Food engineering faces the difficult challenge of combining taste, i.e., tailoring texture and rheology of food matrices with the balanced intake of healthy nutrients.

Shifts in Borrelia burgdorferi (s.l.) geno-species infections in Ixodes ricinus over a 10-year surveillance period in the city of Hanover (Germany) and Borrelia miyamotoi-specific Reverse Line Blot detection.

Background: Lyme borreliosis caused by spirochetes of the Borrelia burgdorferi (sensu lato) complex is still the most common tick-borne disease in Europe, posing a considerable threat to public health. The predominant vector in Europe is the widespread hard tick Ixodes ricinus, which also transmits the relapsing fever spirochete B. miyamotoi as well as pathogenic Rickettsiales (Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Rickettsia spp.

Simple, but not easy - Opportunities and challenges from teachers' and students' perspectives in the 21st century of veterinary parasitology teaching.

One of the main goals in academia is, and has been, high quality education of students to provide theoretical and practical knowledge essential for professional life. Achieving this goal is highly dependent on teaching procedures and, consequently, on a constant adaptation of teaching styles to align to technical advances and cutting-edge topics. Technical advances can strongly influence teaching and learning in the complex subject area of veterinary parasitology.

Chemical composition of processed bamboo for structural applications.

Natural materials are a focus for development of low carbon products for a variety of applications. To utilise these materials, processing is required to meet acceptable industry standards. Laminated bamboo is a commercial product that is currently being explored for structural applications, however there is a gap in knowledge about the effects of commercial processing on the chemical composition.

Broad-spectrum non-toxic antiviral nanoparticles with a virucidal inhibition mechanism.

Viral infections kill millions yearly. Available antiviral drugs are virus-specific and active against a limited panel of human pathogens. There are broad-spectrum substances that prevent the first step of virus-cell interaction by mimicking heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPG), the highly conserved target of viral attachment ligands (VALs).

A 10-year surveillance of Rickettsiales (Rickettsia spp. and Anaplasma phagocytophilum) in the city of Hanover, Germany, reveals Rickettsia spp. as emerging pathogens in ticks.

Background: Rickettsiales (Rickettsia spp. and Anaplasma phagocytophilum) transmitted by ticks are considered (re-)emerging pathogens posing a risk to public health. Nevertheless, year-long monitoring studies on prevalences of these pathogens in questing ticks to contribute to public health risk assessment are rare.

Photo-induced interfacial electron transfer of ZnO nanocrystals to control supramolecular assembly in water.

Herein, we show how the inherent light-induced redox properties of semiconducting nanocrystals (NCs) can be utilized for the photo-driven reversible modulation of dynamic supramolecular systems formed at their interfaces that, on their own, do not respond to light. This was achieved by the unprecedented combination of photoactive zinc oxide NCs (ZnO NCs) with a host-guest chemistry of cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]) providing a route to the semiconductor-assisted light modulation of supramolecular assemblies (SALSA), here mediated by the photo-generation of viologen radical cations (MV˙) at the NC corona and their further dimerization enhanced by CB[8] macrocycles. The reported SALSA strategy was successfully applied for light-controlled reversible assembly processes at NC interfaces enabling light-triggered release of guest molecules from surface confined discrete CB[8] host-guest complexes.

Zoonotic intestinal helminths interact with the canine immune system by modulating T cell responses and preventing dendritic cell maturation.

Parasite co-evolution alongside the mammalian immune system gave rise to several modulatory strategies by which they prevent exaggerated pathology and facilitate a longer worm survival. As little is known about the immunoregulatory potential of the zoonotic canine parasites Ancylostoma caninum and Toxocara canis in the natural host, the present study aimed to investigate whether their larval excretory-secretory (ES) products can modulate the canine immune system. We demonstrated TcES to increase the frequency of CD4+ Foxp3 T cells, while both AcES and TcES were associated with elevated Helios expression in Foxp3 lymphocytes.

Abnormal neurobehaviour and impaired memory function as a consequence of Toxocara canis- as well as Toxocara cati-induced neurotoxocarosis.

Background: Neuroinvasive larvae of the worldwide occurring zoonotic roundworms Toxocara canis and T. cati may induce neurotoxocarosis (NT) in humans, provoking a variety of symptoms including cognitive deficits as well as neurological dysfunctions. An association with neuropsychological disorders has been discussed.

Single-Molecule Force Spectroscopy Quantification of Adhesive Forces in Cucurbit[8]Uril Host-Guest Ternary Complexes.

Cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]) heteroternary complexes display certain characteristics making them well-suited for molecular level adhesives. In particular, careful choice of host-guest binding pairs enables specific, fully reversible adhesion. Understanding the effect of the environment is also critical when developing new molecular level adhesives.

Impact of leukoaraiosis on parenchymal hemorrhage in elderly patients treated with thrombolysis.

Introduction: Severity of vascular damage of white matter may predict hemorrhagic transformation (HT). We assess the relationship between leukoaraiosis (LA) severity and the type of hemorrhagic transformation in elderly patients treated with thrombolysis.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data and pretreatment magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of 180 consecutive ischemic stroke patients aged over 75 years.

Flotation and adherence characteristics of Toxocara canis and T. cati and a reliable method for recovering Toxocara eggs from soil.

Toxocara canis and T. cati are worldwide distributed intestinal nematodes of canids and felids and pose a threat to public health due to possible clinical manifestations in humans. Different methods for detection of Toxocara eggs in soil have been described, but conducted studies deal with egg recovery rates of T.

A silica-based magnetic platform decorated with mixed ligand gold nanoparticles: a recyclable catalyst for esterification reactions.

A novel and convenient synthetic strategy for the preparation of magnetically responsive silica nanospheres decorated with mixed ligand protected gold nanoparticles is described. Gold nanoparticles are attached to the silica surface via stable amide bond formation. The hierarchical nanospheres show promising results as reusable and efficient catalysts for esterification reactions and they can be recovered through a simple magnetic separation.

Hybrid Supramolecular and Colloidal Hydrogels that Bridge Multiple Length Scales.

Hybrid nanocomposites were constructed based on colloidal nanofibrillar hydrogels with interpenetrating supramolecular hydrogels, displaying enhanced rheological yield strain and a synergistic improvement in storage modulus. The supramolecular hydrogel consists of naphthyl-functionalized hydroxyethyl cellulose and a cationic polystyrene derivative decorated with methylviologen moieties, physically cross-linked with cucurbit[8]uril macrocyclic hosts. Fast exchange kinetics within the supramolecular system are enabled by reversible cross-linking through the binding of the naphthyl and viologen guests.

Microarray gene expression analysis reveals major differences between Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati neurotoxocarosis and involvement of T. canis in lipid biosynthetic processes.

Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati are globally occurring intestinal nematodes of dogs and cats with a high zoonotic potential. Migrating larvae in the CNS of paratenic hosts, including humans, may cause neurotoxocarosis resulting in a variety of neurological symptoms. Toxocara canis exhibits a stronger affinity to the CNS than T.

Hybrid supramolecular and colloidal hydrogels that bridge multiple length scales.

Hybrid nanocomposites were constructed based on colloidal nanofibrillar hydrogels with interpenetrating supramolecular hydrogels, displaying enhanced rheological yield strain and a synergistic improvement in storage modulus. The supramolecular hydrogel consists of naphthyl-functionalized hydroxyethyl cellulose and a cationic polystyrene derivative decorated with methylviologen moieties, physically cross-linked with cucurbit[8]uril macrocyclic hosts. Fast exchange kinetics within the supramolecular system are enabled by reversible cross-linking through the binding of the naphthyl and viologen guests.

Multifunctional supramolecular polymer networks as next-generation consolidants for archaeological wood conservation.

The preservation of our cultural heritage is of great importance to future generations. Despite this, significant problems have arisen with the conservation of waterlogged wooden artifacts. Three major issues facing conservators are structural instability on drying, biological degradation, and chemical degradation on account of Fe(3+)-catalyzed production of sulfuric and oxalic acid in the waterlogged timbers.

Revisited: Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato infections in hard ticks (Ixodes ricinus) in the city of Hanover (Germany).

Background: The present study investigated the prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) genospecies in Ixodes ricinus ticks collected in Hanover, Northern Germany, in 2010.

Neurotoxocarosis: marked preference of Toxocara canis for the cerebrum and T. cati for the cerebellum in the paratenic model host mouse.

Background: Infective larvae of the worldwide occurring zoonotic roundworm T. canis exhibit a marked affinity to the nervous tissues of paratenic hosts. In humans, most cases of neurotoxocarosis are considered to be caused by larvae of T.

Nondestructive optical detection of monomer uptake in wood polymer composites.

A noninvasive method to assess the local monomer concentration within a wooden matrix, post monomer impregnation, by time-resolved diffuse optical spectroscopy is demonstrated. A data analysis technique for improving accuracy, which takes account of changes in the refractive index during the monomer uptake, has been employed. This technique can be potentially applied in the wood industry for the study of polymer composites as well as in cultural heritage science for noninvasively monitoring the penetration of chemical compounds used for consolidation or conservation purposes.

A facile route to viologen functional macromolecules through azide-alkyne [3+2] cycloaddition.

Viologen end and side-chain functional macromolecules are synthesized through a high-yielding, copper-mediated azide-alkyne [3+2] cycloaddition reaction. Specifically, poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and the C-terminus of a model oligopeptide are quantitatively end-coupled to a viologen moiety as confirmed by (1) H NMR, gel permeation chromatography (GPC), and mass spectrometry (MS). Side-chain functionalization of a styrene backbone is also readily achieved forming a polyelectrolyte species and demonstrating the applicability of this method across a range of macromolecular species.

[Toxocarosis in dogs - important aspects for the veterinary practice].

The zoonotic roundworm Toxocara canis is considered one of the most common gastrointestinal helminths in dogs in Europe. Infection occurs via embryonated eggs from the environment or the ingestion of paratenic hosts. Pups become infected via intrauterine or lactogenic transmission of larvae from the bitch.

Toxocara spp. infections in paratenic hosts.

The zoonotic roundworms Toxocara canis and T. cati are not only present worldwide in their definitive hosts; they also frequently occur in other animal species, including humans. In those so-called paratenic hosts, the larvae do not develop into the adult stage, but rather migrate throughout the somatic tissue and persist as infectious L3 stage for extensive periods.

SNP-based real-time pyrosequencing as a sensitive and specific tool for identification and differentiation of Rickettsia species in Ixodes ricinus ticks.

Background: Rickettsioses are caused by pathogenic species of the genus Rickettsia and play an important role as emerging diseases. The bacteria are transmitted to mammal hosts including humans by arthropod vectors. Since detection, especially in tick vectors, is usually based on PCR with genus-specific primers to include different occurring Rickettsia species, subsequent species identification is mainly achieved by Sanger sequencing.