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Paper des Monats
- ja (71)
Phosphorus-based flame retardancy mechanisms - Old hat or a starting point for future development?
(2010)
Different kinds of additive and reactive flame retardants containing phosphorus are increasingly successful as halogen-free alternatives for various polymeric materials and applications. Phosphorus can act in the condensed phase by enhancing charring, yielding intumescence, or through inorganic glass formation; and in the gas phase through flame inhibition. Occurrence and efficiency depend, not only on the flame retardant itself, but also on its interaction with pyrolysing polymeric material and additives. Flame retardancy is sensitive to modification of the flame retardant, the use of synergists/adjuvants, and changes to the polymeric material. A detailed understanding facilitates the launch of tailored and targeted development.
To date silica nanoparticles (SNPs) play an important role in modern technology and nanomedicine. SNPs are present in various materials (tyres, electrical and thermal insulation material, photovoltaic facilities). They are also used in products that are directly exposed to humans such as cosmetics or toothpaste. For that reason it is of great concern to evaluate the possible hazards of these engineered particles for human health. Attention should primarily be focussed on SNP effects on biological barriers. Accidentally released SNP could, for example, encounter the alveolar-capillary barrier by inhalation. In this study we examined the inflammatory and cytotoxic responses of monodisperse amorphous silica nanoparticles (aSNPs) of 30 nm in size on an in vitro coculture model mimicking the alveolar-capillary barrier and compared these to conventional monocultures.
Methods
Thus, the epithelial cell line, H441, and the endothelial cell line, ISO-HAS-1, were used in monoculture and in coculture on opposite sides of a filter membrane. Cytotoxicity was evaluated by the MTS assay, detection of membrane integrity (LDH release), and TER (Transepithelial Electrical Resistance) measurement. Additionally, parameters of inflammation (sICAM-1, IL-6 and IL-8 release) and apoptosis markers were investigated.
Results
Regarding toxic effects (viability, membrane integrity, TER) the coculture model was less sensitive to apical aSNP exposure than the conventional monocultures of the appropriate cells. On the other hand, the in vitro coculture model responded with the release of inflammatory markers in a much more sensitive fashion than the conventional monoculture. At concentrations that were 10-100fold less than the toxic concentrations the apically exposed coculture showed a release of IL-6 and IL-8 to the basolateral side. This may mimic the early inflammatory events that take place in the pulmonary alveoli after aSNP inhalation. Furthermore, a number of apoptosis markers belonging to the intrinsic pathway were upregulated in the coculture following aSNP treatment. Analysis of the individual markers indicated that the cells suffered from DNA damage, hypoxia and ER-stress.
Conclusion
We present evidence that our in vitro coculture model of the alveolar-capillary barrier is clearly advantageous compared to conventional monocultures in evaluating the extent of damage caused by hazardous material encountering the principle biological barrier in the lower respiratory tract.
High welding residual stresses can cause service life reducing consequences. Even though many processes have been developed to reduce these stresses, they are only applicable for wider welds and simple component geometries or are cost-intensive, respectively. The presented method uses a defocused beam after welding for heating the material regions on both sides of the weld. In this way, the welding stresses are decreased without contacting the surfaces using the available equipment. Different process parameters could be used depending on the component geometry and the laser power. The mechanism and the influence of the process parameters were investigated by FEM-simulation and experiments on S355J2+N steel and showed a stress reduction of about 73%.
Crystals of the title compound, C18H26O2, were grown from ethyl acetate. Due to the racemic precursor, the title compound is also obtained as a racemate. Disorder was observed during structure refinement, originating from two possible half-chair conformations of the non-aromatic ring. The disorder was refined by introducing split positions in the cyclo-hexane ring regarding the two possible R and S-enantiomers at the chiral CH group [ratio 0.744 (3):0.256 (3)]. The crystal structure features pairs of inversion-related molecules connected by pairs of non-classical C–H···O hydrogen bonds.
Triacetone triperoxide (TATP) is a primary explosive, which was used in various terrorist attacks in the past. For the development of biosensors, immunochemical µ-TAS, electronic noses, immunological test kits, or test strips, the availability of antibodies of high quality is crucial. Recently, we presented the successful immunization of mice, based on the design, synthesis, and conjugation of a novel TATP derivative. Here, the long-term immunization of rabbits is shown, which resulted in antibodies of extreme selectivity and more than 1,000 times better affinity in relation to the antibodies from mice. Detection limits below 10 ng L-1 (water) were achieved. The working range covers more than four decades, calculated from a precision profile. The cross-reactivity tests revealed an extraordinary selectivity of the antibodies—not a single compound could be identified as a relevant cross-reactant. The presented immunoreagent might be a major step for the development of highly sensitive and selective TATP detectors particularly for security applications.
GMR sensors are widely used in many industrial segments such as information technology, automotive, automation and production, and safety applications. Each area requires an adaption of the sensor arrangement in terms of size adaption and alignment with respect to the field source involved. This paper deals with an analysis of geometric sensor parameters and the arrangement of GMR sensors providing a design roadmap for non-destructive testing (NDT) applications. For this purpose we use an analytical model simulating the magnetic flux leakage (MFL) distribution of surface breaking defects and investigate the flux leakage signal as a function of various sensor parameters. Our calculations show both the influence of sensor length and height and that when detecting the magnetic flux leakage of µm sized defects a gradiometer base line of 250 µm leads to a signal strength loss of less than 10% in comparison with a magnetometer response. To validate the simulation results we finally performed measurements with a GMR magnetometer sensor on a test plate with artificial µm-range cracks. The differences between simulation and measurement are below 6%. We report on the routes for a GMR gradiometer design as a basis for the fabrication of NDT-adapted sensor arrays. The results are also helpful for the use of GMR in other application when it comes to measure positions, lengths, angles or electrical currents.
Several construction and building materials, including wood, glue and coatings, are possible sources of very volatile organic compounds (VVOCs) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) like formic and acetic acid. Due to very high air tightness and very low air exchange rates in new buildings concentrations of these harmful substances can increase considerably. To minimize the risk, emissions from building products should be identified and quantified. With the common standard method, this means Tenax® sampling followed by thermal desorption and GC-MS analysis, these acids could not be detected sufficiently. The aim oft this study is the comparison of two different methods for the determination of acetic and formic acid. The sampling of method one, which is usually used for identification and quantification of VOCs, is done in accordance with ISO 16000-6 and ISO 16017-1 on Carbotrap® 202 multi-bed thermal desorption tube by subsequent identification and quantification with GC-MS. Method two is based on sampling on 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH) cartridges, derivatisation, elution, identification and quantification of the derivatives with LC-MS/MS (liquid chromatography mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry).
A unifying review of bioassay-guided fractionation, effect-directed analysis and related techniques
(2012)
The success of modern methods in analytical chemistry sometimes obscures the problem that the ever increasing amount of analytical data does not necessarily give more insight of practical relevance. As alternative approaches, toxicity- and bioactivity-based assays can deliver valuable information about biological effects of complex materials in humans, other species or even ecosystems. However, the observed effects often cannot be clearly assigned to specific chemical compounds. In these cases, the establishment of an unambiguous cause-effect relationship is not possible. Effect-directed analysis tries to interconnect instrumental analytical techniques with a biological/biochemical entity, which identifies or isolates substances of biological relevance. Successful application has been demonstrated in many fields, either as proof-of-principle studies or even for complex samples. This review discusses the different approaches, advantages and limitations and finally shows some practical examples. The broad emergence of effect-directed analytical concepts might lead to a true paradigm shift in analytical chemistry, away from ever growing lists of chemical compounds. The connection of biological effects with the identification and quantification of molecular entities leads to relevant answers to many real life questions.
A fiber Bragg grating (FBG) strain patch specially adapted for long-term and high-strain applications has been developed and characterized. The design concept for the patch is based on a glass-fiber reinforced plastic (gfrp) carrier material. The developed concept for the FBG integration into the carrier material was derived from reliable integration procedure of FBG sensors into composite structures. The patches' temperature sensitivity, strain gauge factor, fiber–matrix interface adhesion and fatigue behavior were characterized. As a result, FBG strain patches with linear temperature and strain behavior, as well as excellent fatigue resistance, were developed and can be used as part of a monitoring system for advanced composite materials in aerospace structures or wind turbine power plants.
Ultrasonic echo and transmission techniques are used in civil engineering on a regular basis. New sensors and data processing techniques have lead to many new applications in the structural investigation as well as quality control. But concrete structures in the nuclear sector have special features and parameters, which pose problems for the methods and instrumentation currently available, e.g. extreme thickness, dense reinforcement, steel liners or special materials. Several innovative ultrasonic techniques have been developed to deal with these issues at least partly in lab experiments and pilot studies. Modern imaging techniques as multi-offset SAFT have been used e. g. to map delaminations. Thick concrete walls have successfully been inspected, partly through a steel liner. Embedded ultrasonic sensors have been designed which will be used in monitoring networks of large concrete structures above and below ground. In addition, sensitive mathematical methods as coda wave interferometry have been successfully evaluated to detect subtle changes in material properties. Examples of measurements and data evaluation are presented.
A major requirement for the validation of methods assessing the risk associated with engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) is the use of reference materials (RMs). In the present contribution we review available RMs, ongoing projects and characterisation trends in the field. The conclusion is that actual approaches to RMs mostly deal with metrological considerations about single properties of the ENPs, typically their primary size, which can hardly be representative of nanoparticles characteristics in real testing media and therefore, not valid for reliable and comparable toxicological studies. As an alternative, we discussed the convenience and feasibility of establishing multi-parametric RMs for a series of ENPs, focusing on silica nanoparticles (SNPs). As a future perspective, the need to develop RMs based on hybrid nanoparticles is also discussed.
Indirect UV-absorption spectrometry was shown to be a valuable tool for chemical characterization of functionalized carbon nanotubes (CNTs). It complements data from X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) or FTIR analysis since it helps to clarify the type and concentration of functional groups. The principles of indirect application of UV-spectrometry and its mathematical interpretation are discussed. Their facile application, together with their adequate sensitivity and high flexibility, make UV-absorption-based approaches a valuable alternative to fluorescence spectrometry. Here, the approach was applied to the chemical analysis of oxidizing substances on CNTs. For this, pristine CNTs of low but finite oxygen content as well as brominated CNTs were analyzed by reaction in suspension with UV-active thiol reagents and a styrene derivative. It was shown that carefully selected reagents allow differentiation and quantification of bromine and generally oxidizing entities like oxygen. For brominated CNTs, it was shown that physisorbed bromine may dominate the overall bromine content.
Carbon capture & storage (CCS) is one of the most promising technologies for greenhouse gas (GHG) management. However, an unsolved issue of CCS is the development of appropriate long-term monitoring systems for leak detection of the stored CO2. To complement already existing monitoring infrastructure for CO2 storage areas, and to increase the granularity of gas concentration measurements, a quickly deployable, mobile measurement device is needed. In this paper, we present an autonomous gas-sensitive micro-drone, which can be used to monitor GHG emissions, more specifically, CO2. Two different measurement strategies are proposed to address this task. First, the use of predefined sensing trajectories is evaluated for the task of gas distribution mapping using the micro-drone. Alternatively, we present an adaptive strategy, which suggests sampling points based on an artificial potential field (APF). The results of real-world experiments demonstrate the feasibility of using gas-sensitive micro-drones for GHG monitoring missions. Thus, we suggest a multi-layered surveillance system for CO2 storage areas.
Luminescence techniques are among the most widely used detection methods in the life and material sciences. At the core of these methods is an ever-increasing variety of fluorescent reporters (i.e., simple dyes, fluorescent labels, probes, sensors and switches) from different fluorophore classes ranging from small organic dyes and metal ion complexes, quantum dots and upconversion nanocrystals to differently sized fluorophore-doped or fluorophore-labeled polymeric particles. A key parameter for fluorophore comparison is the fluorescence quantum yield (Φf), which is the direct measure for the efficiency of the conversion of absorbed light into emitted light. In this protocol, we describe procedures for relative and absolute determinations of Φf values of fluorophores in transparent solution using optical methods, and we address typical sources of uncertainty and fluorophore class-specific challenges. For relative determinations of Φf, the sample is analyzed using a conventional fluorescence spectrometer. For absolute determinations of Φf, a calibrated stand-alone integrating sphere setup is used. To reduce standard-related uncertainties for relative measurements, we introduce a series of eight candidate quantum yield standards for the wavelength region of ~350950 nm, which we have assessed with commercial and custom-designed instrumentation. With these protocols and standards, uncertainties of 5–10% can be achieved within 2 h.
Quantifying degradation of collagen in ancient manuscripts: the case of the Dead Sea Temple Scroll
(2013)
Since their discovery in the late 1940s, the Dead Sea Scrolls, some 900 ancient Jewish texts, have never stopped attracting the attention of scholars and the broad public alike, because they were created towards the end of the Second Temple period and the 'time of Christ'. Most of the work on them has been dedicated to the information contained in the scrolls' text, leaving physical aspects of the writing materials unexamined. They are, however, crucial for both historical insight and preservation of the scrolls. Although scientific analysis requires handling, it is essential to establish the state of degradation of these valued documents. Polarized Raman Spectroscopy (PRS) is a powerful tool for obtaining information on both the composition and the level of disorder of molecular units. In this study, we developed a non-invasive and non-destructive methodology that allows a quantification of the disorder (that can be related to the degradation) of protein molecular units in collagen fibers. Not restricted to collagen, this method can be applied also to other protein-based fibrous materials such as ancient silk, wool or hair. We used PRS to quantify the degradation of the collagen fibers in a number of fragments of the Temple Scroll (11Q19a). We found that collagen fibers degrade heterogeneously, with the ones on the surface more degraded than those in the core.
Separation of CO2. Microporous polyurethane networks were prepared based on a renewable resource. Betulin, extracted from birch bark, is used as a structure-directing diol monomer in A3-B2 monomers. The resulting microporous networks show very promising CO2/N2 selectivities. The state of adsorbed CO2 is analyzed by in situ NMR spectroscopy, and pure physisorption is proven. The preparation of monolithic materials is demonstrated as well.
In welding experiments conducted on heavy wall pipes, the penetration mode (full or partial penetration) occurred to be a significant factor influencing appearance of solidification cracks. To explain the observed phenomena and support further optimization of manufacturing processes, a computational model was developed, which used a sophisticated strategy to model the material. High stresses emerged in the models in regions which showed cracking during experiments. In partial penetration welding, they were caused by the prevention of weld shrinkage due to the cold and strong material below the joint. Another identified factor having an influence on high stress localization is bulging of the weld.
Odour measurements become increasingly important in view of the assessment of indoor air quality and the emissions of building products. Hence they need to be implemented into evaluation schemes such as the AgBB scheme. While there are already standards like DIN ISO 16000-28 and VDI 4302 Part 1 specifying the procedure of odour measurements using a comparison scale, no final validation of the method has been carried out so far. Therefore, a round robin test was conducted in 2012 with 12 participating laboratories that mainly consisted of the following two parts: 1) testing of the available comparison scales with respect to their operational performance and 2) execution of an odour assessment of an acrylic sealant using emission test chambers. Part one included the measurement of the air flow rates and the provided concentrations of the reference substance (acetone). Part two was conducted to test the performance of the laboratories and the applicability of DIN ISO 16000-28 and supplementary VDI 4302 Part 1 by assessing the perceived intensity and the hedonic tone of the air samples. Moreover, samples for VOC analysis were taken from the air in the emission test chamber on the 7th day of testing to allow for quality control. Resulting from this round robin test main deficits were detected and suggestions for the improvement of the odour measurement procedure were made.
A method for the determination of very volatile organic compounds (VVOC) in air was developed and successfully tested for methanol and ethanol. Carbotrap300® (a multi-bed tube using Carbopack C®, Carbopack B® and Carbosive SIII®) was selected as sorption material for thermal desorption and tested for its suitability for emission test chamber measurements. The adsorption behaviour and the chromatographic results are influenced negatively by spiking aqueous solutions on the adsorption medium for calibration purposes. The latter effect can be reduced by blowing dry air across the adsorbent to remove the adsorbed water. Detection and quantification limits were determined for a GC-FID system and compared to GC-MS. The applicability of the method was tested with a methanol eliminating silane modified polymeric adhesive (SMP-adhesive for parquet) in an emission test chamber
Algal blooms are a frequent phenomenon in nearly all kinds of fresh water. Global warming and eutrophication by waste water, air pollution and fertilizers seem to lead to an increased frequency of occurrence. Many cyanobacteria produce hazardous and quite persistent toxins, which can contaminate the respective water bodies. This may limit the use of the raw water for many purposes. The purification of the contaminated water might be quite costly, which makes a continuous and large scale treatment economically unfeasible in many cases. Due to the obvious risks of algal toxins, an online or mobile detection method would be highly desirable. Several biosensor systems have been presented in the literature for this purpose. In this review, their mode of operation, performance and general suitability for the intended purpose will be described and critically discussed. Finally, an outlook on current developments and future prospects will be given.
This survey will discuss current and emerging isothermal and rapid polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based nucleic acid amplification methods for patient near diagnostics. To assess the clinical need of rapid diagnostics for infectious diseases based on nucleic acid tests (NATs) we performed and analysed a questionnaire among laboratories participating in corresponding INSTAND ring trials for external quality assurance. The questions concerning new amplification technologies like isothermal nucleic acid amplification, potentially suited to significantly decrease turnaround times, were complemented by questions to evaluate the present status of NATs. Besides end-users, companies were also addressed by sending out a manufacturer specific questionnaire. Analysis of the answers from 48 laboratories in 14 European countries revealed that a much shorter turnaround time is requested for selected pathogens compared to about 2 h or longer when applying temperature cycling amplification, i.e. PCR. In this context, most frequently mentioned were MRSA, norovirus, influenza A and B viruses, cytomegalovirus (CMV) as well as hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV). At present, 8% of the laboratories having participated in this survey apply isothermal amplification of nucleic acid to identify infectious pathogens.
The synthesis of the polymorphic cocrystal caffeine:anthranilic acid was investigated to obtain a better understanding of the processes leading to the formation of different polymorphic forms. In the case of these cocrystal polymorphs synthesized by liquid-assisted grinding a distinct influence of the dipole moment of the solvent was found. A pre-coordination between the solvent molecules and the caffeine:anthranilic acid cocrystal could be identified in the formation of form II. In the case of form II the solvent can be regarded as a catalyst. The formation pathway of each polymorph was evaluated using synchrotron X-ray diffraction.
The current furfural production yield is low due to the use of non-selective homogeneous catalysts and expensive separation. In this work, partially hydroxylated MgF2 catalysts, synthesized using different water contents, were screened during xylose dehydration in watertoluene at 160 °C. The different Lewis/Brønsted ratios on the MgF2 catalysts showed that under-coordinated Mg can isomerize xylose to xylulose, whilst the surface OH-groups were responsible for the dehydration reactions. The presence of glucose as a co-carbohydrate reduced the furfural selectivity from 86 to 81%, whilst it also led to high 5-hydroxymethylfurfural selectivity. The tests catalyzed by MgF2 in combination with simultaneous N2-stripping showed that a furfural selectivity of 87% could be achieved using low xylose loadings. Moreover, the catalysts regenerated by H2O2 showed high activity during the dehydration tests in watertoluene at 160 °C.
This paper presents a finite element model of an overhead transmission line using so called cable elements which allow reproducing the cable's nonlinear characteristics accurately employing only a few elements. Aerodynamic damping is considered in the equation of motion by taking into account the relative velocity between the flow of the wind and the moving structure. The wind flow itself is simulated by wave superposition making necessary assumptions on the lateral correlation between the wind velocities along the cable length. As result from the simulation, the following conclusions can be drawn. The first natural frequency of generally used wide spanning cables lies well below 1 Hz where also most of the energy content of the wind excitation is to be expected. Aerodynamic damping is significant for the moving cables holding very low structural damping which leads to a suppression of resonant amplification. This is particularly of interest regarding the support reaction which is dominated by the mean value and the so called background response. The latter is mostly influenced by the randomness of the wind flow, especially lateral to the main wind direction.
Genetic transformation of Knufia petricola A95 - a model organism for biofilm-material interactions
(2014)
We established a protoplast-based system to transfer DNA to Knufia petricola strain A95, a melanised rock-inhabiting microcolonial fungus that is also a component of a model sub-aerial biofilm (SAB) system. To test whether the desiccation resistant, highly melanised cell walls would hinder protoplast formation, we treated a melanin-minus mutant of A95 as well as the type-strain with a variety of cell-degrading enzymes. Of the different enzymes tested, lysing enzymes from Trichoderma harzianum were most effective in producing protoplasts. This mixture was equally effective on the melanin-minus mutant and the type-strain. Protoplasts produced using lysing enzymes were mixed with polyethyleneglycol (PEG) and plasmid pCB1004 which contains the hygromycin B (HmB) phosphotransferase (hph) gene under the control of the Aspergillus nidulans trpC. Integration and expression of hph into the A95 genome conferred hygromycin resistance upon the transformants. Two weeks after plating out on selective agar containing HmB, the protoplasts developed cell-walls and formed colonies. Transformation frequencies were in the range 36 to 87 transformants per 10 µg of vector DNA and 106 protoplasts. Stability of transformation was confirmed by sub-culturing the putative transformants on selective agar containing HmB as well as by PCR-detection of the hph gene in the colonies. The hph gene was stably integrated as shown by five subsequent passages with and without selection pressure.
On the role of fluoro-substituted nucleosides in DNA radiosensitization for tumor radiation therapy
(2014)
Gemcitabine (2',2'-difluorocytidine) is a well-known radiosensitizer routinely applied in concomitant chemoradiotherapy. During irradiation of biological media with high-energy radiation secondary low-energy (<10 eV) electrons are produced that can directly induce chemical bond breakage in DNA by dissociative electron attachment (DEA). Here, we investigate and compare DEA to the three molecules 2'-deoxycytidine, 2'-deoxy-5-fluorocytidine, and gemcitabine. Fluorination at specific molecular sites, i.e., nucleobase or sugar moiety, is found to control electron attachment and subsequent dissociation pathways. The presence of two fluorine atoms at the sugar ring results in more efficient electron attachment to the sugar moiety and subsequent bond cleavage. For the formation of the dehydrogenated nucleobase anion, we obtain an enhancement factor of 2.8 upon fluorination of the sugar, whereas the enhancement factor is 5.5 when the nucleobase is fluorinated. The observed fragmentation reactions suggest enhanced DNA strand breakage induced by secondary electrons when gemcitabine is incorporated into DNA.
Recently, C K-edge Near Edge X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (NEXAFS) spectra of graphite (HOPG) surfaces have been measured for the pristine material, and for HOPG treated with either bromine or krypton plasmas (Lippitz et al., Surf. Sci., 2013, 611, L1). Changes of the NEXAFS spectra characteristic for physical (krypton) and/or chemical/physical modifications of the surface (bromine) upon plasma treatment were observed. Their molecular origin, however, remained elusive. In this work we study by density functional theory, the effects of selected point and line defects as well as chemical modifications on NEXAFS carbon K-edge spectra of single graphene layers. For Br-treated surfaces, also Br 3d X-ray Photoelectron Spectra (XPS) are simulated by a cluster approach, to identify possible chemical modifications. We observe that some of the defects related to plasma treatment lead to characteristic changes of NEXAFS spectra, similar to those in experiment. Theory provides possible microscopic origins for these changes.
A micromechanical model of creep induced grain boundary damage is proposed, which allows for the simulation of creep damage in a polycrystal with the finite element method. Grain boundary cavitation and sliding are considered via a micromechanically motivated cohesive zone model, while the grains creep following the slip system theory. The model has been calibrated with creep test data from pure Cu single crystals and a coarse-grained polycrystalline Cu-Sb alloy. The test data includes porosity measurements and estimates of grain boundary sliding. Finally, the model has been applied to Voronoi models of polycrystalline structures. In particular the influence of grain boundary sliding on the overall creep rate is demonstrated.
In this article, the high potential of the fluorolytic sol–gel process to synthesize nanoscopic rare earth-doped calcium fluoride sols is shown. Through a fluorolytic sol–gel process we manage to achieve spherical monodisperse ~5 nm sized nanoparticles using a simple and reproducible one-pot-wet chemical route at room temperature. The as-synthesized clear sols exhibit an intense red and green luminescence under UV excitation at room temperature. A spectroscopic study of the sols revealed the characteristic transitions 5D0 → 7FJ of Eu3+ and 5D4 → 7FJ of Tb3+, with 5D0 → 7F2 (611 nm) of Eu3+ and 5D4 → 7F4 (581 nm) of Tb3+ as the most prominent transitions. This facile synthetic strategy is also valuable for developing other luminescent nanoparticles.
A flexible, sustainable, one-step thermal decomposition route for the synthesis of hierarchical, heteroatom doped carbon foams is presented. Task-specific semi-organic crystals combine functions for three different purposes: the carbon and heteroatom source, a foaming agent (CO2) and an in situ generable template (NaCl). Insights to the decomposition pathway were gained through FTIR/MS coupled TGA and an ultrafast out-of-furnace heating procedure and the products were analysed with (HR)SEM/TEM, EELS, FTIR, and N2 sorption. The resulting macroporous carbon foams are excellent supports for metallic nanoparticles due to their hierarchical structure, high surface area and tuneable heteroatom contents. This was demonstrated for catalytically active copper or the magnetic CoNi alloy for water purification.
Recent advances in vacuum sciences and applications are reviewed. Novel optical interferometer cavity devices enable pressure measurements with ppm accuracy. The innovative dynamic vacuum standard allows for pressure measurements with temporal resolution of 2 ms. Vacuum issues in the construction of huge ultra-high vacuum devices worldwide are reviewed. Recent advances in surface science and thin films include new phenomena observed in electron transport near solid surfaces as well as novel results on the properties of carbon nanomaterials. Precise techniques for surface and thin-film characterization have been applied in the conservation technology of cultural heritage objects and recent advances in the characterization of biointerfaces are presented. The combination of various vacuum and atmospheric-pressure techniques enables an insight into the complex phenomena of protein and other biomolecule conformations on solid surfaces. Studying these phenomena at solid–liquid interfaces is regarded as the main issue in the development of alternative techniques for drug delivery, tissue engineering and thus the development of innovative techniques for curing cancer and cardiovascular diseases. A review on recent advances in plasma medicine is presented as well as novel hypotheses on cell apoptosis upon treatment with gaseous plasma. Finally, recent advances in plasma nanoscience are illustrated with several examples and a roadmap for future activities is presented.
Two design approaches for multifunctional information carriers are introduced. In the first one, quick response (QR) code carriers, which were composed of poly(ester urethane) (PEU) and microencapsulated thermochromic pigments (T-PIGs), differing in color and color switching temperature (CST), were prepared. The obtained material systems exhibited machine-readable QR codes at 23 °C and a two-stage decolorization when heated, culminating in unreadable QR codes at temperatures above the highest CST of the employed T-PIGs. In the second scenario, information carriers were sealed with a dark, thermochromic PEU layer. As a result, the QR codes were hidden at 23 °C and became readable upon heating due to color fading. Beyond the characterization of the employed components, preparation methods, functionality analyses and durability investigations are reported. When heated after thermo-mechanical programming, pronounced shape memory properties could be verified. The thermo-responsiveness of such multifunctional material systems may qualify them for usage in anti-counterfeiting applications.
The mechanochemical synthesis of two model compounds, a metal organic framework ([Bi(1,4-bdc)2]*(Im) (bdc = benzene dicarboxylate, Im = imidazole cation)) and a cocrystal (Carbamazepine:Indometacin 1:1) were followed ex situ by combined analytical methods. Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy data were evaluated for the synthesis of the metal organic framework. XRD measurements and REM images were analysed for the synthesis of the cocrystal. The measurements revealed that both model compounds were synthesised within minutes. The metal organic framework [Bi(1,4-bdc)2]*(Im) is synthesised via an intermediate structure. The cocrystal Carbamazepine:Indometacin 1:1 is formed within few seconds and afterwards the crystallite size decreases extremely.
In order to investigate molecular recognition on surfaces, an azide-functionalized monolayer was deposited on gold. The monolayer was characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and angle-resolved near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) experiments and the decomposition of the azide upon irradiation with X-ray beams was investigated. Subsequently, various alkyne-functionalized host and guest molecules were attached to the azide by 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition. These modified surfaces and their host–guest chemistry were analysed by XPS and angle-resolved NEXAFS. The reversibility of guest binding was shown for one example as a proof of principle.
DNA origami nanostructures allow for the arrangement of different functionalities such as proteins, specific DNA structures, nanoparticles, and various chemical modifications with unprecedented precision. The arranged functional entities can be visualized by atomic force microscopy (AFM) which enables the study of molecular processes at a single-molecular level. Examples comprise the investigation of chemical reactions, electron-induced bond breaking, enzymatic binding and cleavage events, and conformational transitions in DNA. In this paper, we provide an overview of the advances achieved in the field of single-molecule investigations by applying atomic force microscopy to functionalized DNA origami substrates.
The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of externally applied magnetic fields on the weld quality in laser beam welding. The optimization of the process parameters was performed using the results of computer simulations. Welding tests were performed with up to 20 kW laser beam power. It was shown that the AC magnet with 3 kW power supply allows for a prevention of the gravity drop-out for full penetration welding of 20 mm thick stainless steel plates. For partial penetration welding it was shown that an0.5 T DC magnetic field is enough for a suppression of convective flows in the weld pool. Partial penetration welding tests with 4 kW beam power showed that the application of AC magnetic fields can reduce weld porosity by a factor of 10 compared to the reference joints. The weld surface roughness was improved by 50%.
The most successful additive manufacturing (AM) technologies are based on the layer-by-layer deposition of a flowable powder. Although considered as the third industrial revolution, one factor still limiting these processes to become completely autonomous is the often necessary build-up of support structures. Besides the prevention of lateral shifts of the part during the deposition of layers, the support assures quality and stability to the built process. The loose powder itself surrounding the built object, or so-called powder-bed, does not provide this sustenance in most existent technology available. Here we present a simple but effective and economical method for stabilizing the powder-bed, preventing distortions in the geometry with no need for support structures. This effect, achieved by applying an air flow through the powder-bed, is enabling an entirely autonomous generation of parts and is a major contribution to all powder-based additive manufacturing technologies. Moreover, it makes powder-based AM independent of gravitational forces, which will facilitate crafting items in space from a variety of powdery materials.
Dendrimers of various generations were synthesized by the divergent method. Starting from various amine cores (G0a, G0b, G0c) the generations were built by reaction of the amine with acrylnitrile followed by hydrogenation with DIBAL-H. Treatment with salicylaldehyde creates a fivefold coordination sphere for iron in the molecular periphery. The resulting multinuclear coordination compounds are investigated by Mossbauer spectroscopy.
The combination of complementary characterization techniques such as SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy), T-SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy in Transmission Mode), EDX (Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy) and SAM (Scanning Auger Microscopy) has been proven to be a powerful and relatively quick characterization strategy for comprehensive morphological and chemical characterization of individual silica and titania nanoparticles. The selected real life test materials, silica and titania, are listed in the OECD guidance manual as representative examples because they are often used as commercial nanomaterials. Imaging by high resolution SEM and in the transmission mode by T-SEM allows almost simultaneous surface and in-depth inspection of the same particle using the same instrument. EDX and SAM enable the chemical characterization of bulk and surface of individual nanoparticles. The core–shell properties of silica based materials are addressed as well. Titania nominally coated by silane purchased from an industrial source has been found to be inhomogeneous in terms of chemical composition.
The tribological and mechanical properties of niobium carbides (NbC) bonded with cobalt of Fe3Al
(2014)
The tribological and mechanical properties of niobium carbide bonded with 8 vol.-% (NbC-8Co), 12 vol.-% of cobalt (NbC-12Co) or 12 vol.-% of Fe3Al (NbC-12Fe3Al) are presented. Rotating discs made of metal-bonded niobium carbide were mated against alumina (99.7%) under unlubricated (dry) unidirectional sliding tests (0.1 m/s to 12.0 m/s; 22 °C and 400 C) as well as in oscillation tests (f=20 Hz, Δx=0.2 mm, 2/50/98% rel. humidity, n=105/106 cycles). Microstructure and phase compositions were determined as well. The tribological data obtained were benchmarked with different ceramics, cermets, hard metals and thermally sprayed coatings, where NbC bonded with 8% and 12% Co presented above 7 m/s the lowest wear rates so far in such a benchmark. Binderless NbC (HP-NbC1) and the metal-bonded NbCs exhibited low wear rates under dry sliding associated with P·V high load carrying capacities. NbC-based hard metal bonded with 12 vol.-% of Fe3Al resulted in a higher hardness level than for 12 vol.-% cobalt. The tribological profile established revealed a strong position of NbC-bearing materials under tribological considerations and for closed tribosystems against established reference tribo-couples.
-Background-
Laboratory leaching tests on treated wood were performed during a European robustness study in the framework of the validation of a tank leaching test procedure that has been proposed for construction products in order to determine the potential release of dangerous substances which can be transferred to soil and groundwater. The release of substances has to be determined also for materials treated with biocidal products according to the requirements of the European Biocidal Products Regulation. A similar leaching test procedure was already harmonised for treated wood for this purpose. Both test procedures were applied in parallel to wood treated with the same preservative to investigate whether the results of these tests can replace each other. Additional experiments were performed to further investigate unexpected effects of L/A ratio on leaching of copper and duration of storage of treated test specimens.
-Results-
Both procedures generate similar results concerning cumulative emissions of tebuconazole, copper, dissolved organic carbon and total nitrogen. The emission rates with time are in comparable ranges for both leaching protocols. Emissions of copper increased with decreasing L/A ratios. Strong correlation of copper concentrations and dissolved organic carbon as well as total nitrogen concentrations in eluates indicates that this observation is caused by co-elution of copper with organic substances. Duration of storage of treated test specimens affected emissions for the investigated wood preservative.
-Conclusions-
Based on these findings, results from both test procedures can be used to describe leaching characteristics and avoid double testing of treated wood to fulfil the requirements of the European regulations for either biocides or construction products. Leaching of substances from treated wood is a complex process that depends on its chemical composition and ageing processes.
Structural properties of iron-phosphate glasses: spectroscopic studies and ab initio simulations
(2014)
Vitrification is the most effective method for the immobilization of hazardous waste by incorporating toxic elements into a glass structure. Iron phosphate glasses are presently being considered as matrices for the storage of radioactive waste, even of those which cannot be vitrified using conventional borosilicate waste glass. In this study, a structural model of 60P2O5–40Fe2O3 glass is proposed. The model is based on the crystal structure of FePO4 which is composed of [FeO4][PO4] tetrahedral rings. The rings are optimized using the DFT method and the obtained theoretical FTIR and Raman spectra are being compared with their experimental counterparts. Moreover, the proposed model is in very good agreement with X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (XANES/EXAFS) and Mössbauer spectroscopy measurements. According to the calculations the Fe3+ is in tetrahedral and five-fold coordination. The maximal predicted load of waste constituents into the glass without rebuilding of the structure is 30 mol%. Below this content, waste constituents balance the charge of [FeO4]- tetrahedra which leads to their strong bonding to the glass resulting in an increase of the chemical durability, transformation and melting temperatures and density.
Industrial production of the cell protectant ectoine: protection mechanisms, processes, and products
(2014)
Bacteria, Archaea and Eukarya can adapt to Saline environments by accumulating compatible solutes in order to maintain an osmotic equilibrium. Compatible solutes are of diverse chemical structure (sugars, polyols, amino acid derivatives) and are beneficial for bacterial cells not only as osmoregulatory solutes, but also as protectants of proteins by mitigating detrimental effects of freezing, drying and high temperatures. The aspartate derivative ectoine is a wide spread compatible solute in Bacteria and possesses additional protective properties compared with other compatible solutes, and stabilizes even whole cells against stresses such as UV radiation or cytotoxins. The protective properties of ectoine for proteins can be explained by its strong (kosmotropic) interaction with water and subsequent exclusion from Protein surface, the decrease of the solubility of the peptide backbone and the strengthening of intramolecular hydrogen bonds (secondary structures). The stabilizing and UV-protective properties of ectoine attracted industry, which saw the potential to market ectoine as a novel active component in health care products and cosmetics. In joint efforts of industry and research large-scale fermentation procedures have been developed with the halophilic bacterium Halomonas elongata used as a producer strain. The two key technologies that allow for the annual production of ectoine on a scale of tons are the bacterial milking procedure and the development and application of ectoine-excreting mutants (“leaky” mutant). The details of these two procedures including the strain development and Fermentation processes will be introduced and current and future applications of ectoine will be discussed.
The progress in X-ray detector electronics (sensitivity and speed) allows meanwhile fast single photon detection by a matrix detector. Combined photon counting and energy discrimination is implemented in the electronic circuit of each detector pixel. The company XCounter developed detectors based on CdTe single crystals, which can be tiled to larger areas and have a pixel size of 100ìm. The largest area available in beginning of 2014 is 50x75 mm². These detectors have very promising properties, which make them very suitable for NDT applications:
1. A CdTe attenuation layer of 750 µm thickness allows efficient X-ray detection up to ca. 300 keV. In counting mode only photon noise is important; no other detector noise sources need to be considered. There is no Offset signal without radiation.
2. Each of the detector pixels has two energy thresholds. These can be used for dual energy imaging for materials separation. Also the suppression of scattered radiation by energy thresholding will improve the image contrast sensitivity. First experiments will be presented which demonstrate the advantages of this new detector technology over the conventional charge integrating detectors.
A challenge is the development of a modified detector calibration procedure, which becomes critical at longer exposure times.
A comparative study on the performance of digital detector systems for high energy applications
(2014)
For cast components reaching or exceeding total material thicknesses of 150mm, high energy sources such as linear accelerators or Betatrons are required in order to obtain reasonable exposure times. In this study, the performance of digital detector systems, involving imaging plates (IP) and digital detector arrays (DDA), was evaluated with respect to the testing class B requirements as formulated in the standard EN ISO 17636-2. As a reference, traditional radiographic film and a Cobalt-60 source was used. With film exposures, testing class B was achieved with Co-60 and Betatron (7.5 MV) at longer exposure times. The preliminary results show that the testing class B was not obtained with the examined digital detector arrays (DDA) and the high resolution imaging plates (IP) , even at 40, 60 and 80 minutes exposure time with a 7.5 MV Betatron. Class A was achieved using high resolution imaging plates with optimized metal filters between object and IPs and a high resolution DDA with intermediate Cu filters. Class A was also achieved applying a DDA with lower basic spatial resolution than required by Table B.13 of EN ISO 17636-2, but using the compensation principle as described in this standard. The next generation of digital detector arrays might potentially be able to obtain class B performance with the expected spatial resolution and sensitivity improvements.
The digital photography has almost completely substituted the film photography. The film replacement is also fast progressing in medical X-ray radiography. This process is slower in NDT and especially in Europe. Reasons for the hesitating change to digital radiography (RT-D) in NDT are the necessary time for adoption of standards and the conservative request for film RT by auditors and NDT managers for applications in large plants and at construction areas. The fast serial inspection for small castings is already almost completely dominated by RT-D due to the cost effective short exposure and interpretation times. Standards were developed in parallel at CEN, ISO, ASTM and ASME. Unfortunately, the standard practices are different and the requirements on image quality and useable hardware are different too. The first standard series on Computed Radiography were developed and published by CEN and ASTM in 2005. Harmonized classification and qualification standards are available but the published practices are different. ASTM has developed the first standards for application of Digital Detector Arrays (DDA) in 2010. The first digital RT ISO standard practice is ISO 17636-2 (2013), which describes the practice for application of DDAs and Imaging Plates for weld inspection. At the first time this standard provides requirements for the selection of suitable hardware. Minimum image quality requirements are specified in analogy to film radiography and 3 Compensation Principles are defined to enable the application of a wider range of digital detectors. A comparison of the different international digital RT standards is given and first experiences with ISO 17636-2 are discussed. New standards on RT wall thickness and corrosion measurements (EN 16407, film and digital) have been developed recently.
Critical parts in aircraft manufacturing such as stringers are very commonly used in modern aircraft structures to resist the compressive loads caused by the aerodynamic effects. They are generally made-up of thin aluminium (Al) metal sheets and are one of the key components in the aircraft wings. Any defects in the stringer leads to weakening of the stiffness of the whole wing structure and consequently, failures may occur. Hence, the structural integrity of the stringers should be evaluated using reliable non-destructive testing (NDT) methods. Due to the complex shaped structure of the stringer, the one-sided access NDT method such as X-ray backscatter technique is more preferable for the non-destructive imaging. In this paper, we present a new X-ray backscatter technique to image the internal sections of the stringer with only a single-sided access. The whole object was inspected by changing the viewing direction of the X-ray backscatter camera. For the first time, the X-ray backscatter measurements were conducted using high-energy (> 0.5MeV) X-rays and proved the applicability of the present technique to inspect thick carbon-fiber laminated components. In order to improve the inspection time and image quality of the backscatter image, we used high-resolution (180ìm) digital detector arrays (DDAs). At the end, important applications of the presented X-ray backscatter technique to the aerospace industry are discussed.
In this contribution, we present a dual high-energy X-ray imaging technique for cargo container inspection using the 'spectral high-energy X-ray attenuation method'. This method is based on attenuation of continuous highenergy spectra. The developed experimental technique consists of a betatron as high-energy (up to 7.5 MeV) X-ray source and a matrix detector with high spatial resolution (400 ìm) for digital X-ray imaging. In order to evaluate the material discrimination capability using dual high-energy X-ray imaging, a test specimen is proposed, comprising step wedges of different low and high atomic number (Z) materials. The selected X-ray spectra for the dual-energy experiments correspond to 3 MV and 7.5 MV acceleration potential of the betatron. We evaluated the ratio between low- and high-energy X-ray attenuation coefficients quantitatively based on simulated poly-energetic high-energy X-ray source spectra and the detector sensitivity using the 'analytical Radiographic Testing inspection simulation tool' (aRTist) developed at BAM. The simulated effective attenuation coefficients are compared with corresponding experimental results in order to establish a method for identification of low- and high-Z materials in the container. Finally, important applications of the proposed technique in the context of aviation security are discussed.