University of Bremen

About: University of Bremen is a education organization based out in Bremen, Germany. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Glacial period. The organization has 14563 authors who have published 37279 publications receiving 970381 citations. The organization is also known as: Universität Bremen.

Rapid changes in the hydrologic cycle of the tropical Atlantic during the last glacial.

Abstract: Sedimentary time series of color reflectance and major element chemistry from the anoxic Cariaco Basin off the coast of northern Venezuela record large and abrupt shifts in the hydrologic cycle of the tropical Atlantic during the past 90,000 years. Marine productivity maxima and increased precipitation and riverine discharge from northern South America are closely linked to interstadial (warm) climate events of marine isotope stage 3, as recorded in Greenland ice cores. Increased precipitation at this latitude during interstadials suggests the potential for greater moisture export from the Atlantic to Pacific, which could have affected the salinity balance of the Atlantic and increased thermohaline heat transport to high northern latitudes. This supports the notion that tropical feedbacks played an important role in modulating global climate during the last glacial period.

Gradient selection in inverse heteronuclear correlation spectroscopy

Abstract: After a brief theoretical description, new gradient-selected, proton-detected heteronuclear correlation sequences are introduced. The gs-HMBC and gs-Relayed-HMQC are closely related to the original gs-HMQC proposed by Hurd and John. A new approach to obtain pure absorption line shapes in gradient selected spectroscopy is used to measure phase-sensitive gs-HMQC spectra, to carry out multiplicity editing in HSQC spectra and to distinguish direct and long-range correlations in HMQC/HSQC–TOCSY spectra.

Multinuclear NMR studies on the energy metabolism of glial and neuronal cells.

Abstract: In this multinuclear NMR study myo-inositol is identified as a glia-specific marker for in vivo NMR studies. The unusually high inositol concentration may participate in the osmoregulatory system in astrocytes. Primary astrocytes also synthesize and export high amounts of hypotaurine, an intermediate of taurine synthesis. Taurine--another osmolyte--is synthesized from cysteine by astrocytes but not by primary neurons. Taurine as well as hypotaurine is accumulated by neurons from the extracellular medium. 13C NMR labelling results with 2-13C pyruvate indicate a considerable contribution of the anaplerotic pathway in primary neurons from rat. The activity is only half of the activity in primary astrocytes. The ratio of pyruvate carboxylase/malic enzyme activity versus pyruvate dehydrogenase activity reflects the degree of maturation. The 13C isotopomer ratio of glutamate and glutamine is different for pure astrocyte cultures. Therefore, the different isotopomer ratios of glutamate to glutamine obtained from intact brain studies alone do not prove TCA cycle compartimentation in the brain. Finally, the PCr/ATP ratio in primary astrocytes is 3 times higher than in primary neurons. This has to be considered in case of recovery from ischemic insults.

Application of Spectroscopic Methods for Structural Analysis of Chitin and Chitosan

Abstract: Chitin, the second most important natural polymer in the world, and its N-deacetylated derivative chitosan, have been identified as versatile biopolymers for a broad range of applications in medicine, agriculture and the food industry. Two of the main reasons for this are firstly the unique chemical, physicochemical and biological properties of chitin and chitosan, and secondly the unlimited supply of raw materials for their production. These polymers exhibit widely differing physicochemical properties depending on the chitin source and the conditions of chitosan production. The presence of reactive functional groups as well as the polysaccharide nature of these biopolymers enables them to undergo diverse chemical modifications. A complete chemical and physicochemical characterization of chitin, chitosan and their derivatives is not possible without using spectroscopic techniques. This review focuses on the application of spectroscopic methods for the structural analysis of these compounds.