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The presentation summarizes our recent results on the coupled electrochemical methods for high resolution corrosion studies. The combination of Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy (SECM) and multielectrode (MMA) based real-time corrosion monitoring was presented as a new method for achieving high time resolution in local electrochemical analysis. Correlative imaging by means of Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was demonstrated as a tool for the investigation of local corrosion processes initiated by the intermetallic particles (IMPs) on AA2024-T3 aluminium alloy.
Die additive Fertigung (AM) metallischer Werkstoffe ist eine Technologie, die zunehmend Gegenstand von Forschungsaktivitäten und industrieller Anwendung ist. Dennoch steht sie noch vor Herausforderungen, um eine breite Nutzung in sicherheitsrelevanten Anwendungen zu erreichen. Die Hauptgründe für die Verzögerung des technologischen Durchbruchs zugunsten von AM-Metallen gegenüber konventionell hergestellten Varianten sind das Fehlen eines tieferen Verständnisses der Prozess-Struktur-Eigenschafts-Beziehungen und die begrenzte Verfügbarkeit von Daten zu den Materialeigenschaften. In diesem Kontext stellt diese Arbeit einen Beitrag sowohl zum Verständnis der Prozess-Struktur-Eigenschafts-Beziehungen als auch zur Verbesserung der Datenlage von 316L dar, einem häufig als Konstruktionswerkstoff in verschiedenen Hochtemperaturbauteilen verwendeten Werkstoff. Die Arbeit legt den Fokus auf die mittels Laser-Pulverbettschmelzen hergestellte Werkstoffvariante, PBF-LB/M/316L. Eine konventionell hergestellte Variante, HR/316L, wurde auch untersucht. Bei PBF-LB/M/316L wurde zusätzlich der Effekt ausgewählter Wärmebehandlungen ausgewertet. Die Untersuchung umfasste die Charakterisierung der mechanischen Eigenschaften und der Verformungs- und Schädigungsmechanismen bei erhöhten Prüftemperaturen bei LCF und Kriechen, wo die Daten und Wissenslage am spärlichsten ist. Außerdem hat die untersuchte PBF-LB/M/316L-Wersktoffvariante einen geringen Porositätsgrad. Somit hat diese Arbeit die Mikrostruktur stärker in den Fokus genommen als die meisten bisher in der Literatur verfügbaren Studien.
Die mechanische Prüfkampagne umfasste Zugversuche zwischen Raumtemperatur und 650 °C, LCF-Versuche zwischen Raumtemperatur und 600 °C sowie Kriechversuche bei 600 °C und 650 °C. In Ermangelung konkreter Richtlinien und Normen wurde die Charakterisierung zumeist anhand der bestehenden internationalen Prüfnormen und Probengeometrien durchgeführt. Aus jedem dieser Prüfverfahren wurden die entsprechenden Festigkeits- und Verformungskennwerte ermittelt. Darüber hinaus wurde mit Hilfe gezielter mikrostruktureller Untersuchungen ein Beitrag zum Verständnis des Zusammenhangs zwischen der Mikrostruktur und den mechanischen Eigenschaften in Bezug auf die Verformungs- und Schädigungsmechanismen geleistet.
Die Dehngrenze von PBF-LB/M/316L ist etwa doppelt so hoch wie die von HR/316L und dieser Trend setzt sich mit ansteigender Prüftemperatur fort. Die Bruchdehnung ist bei allen Prüftemperaturen geringer. PBF-LB/M/316L weist über den größten Teil der Ermüdungslebensdauer vor allem bei Raumtemperatur höhere zyklische Spannungen als HR/316L auf. Ausschließlich bei den kleinsten Dehnungs-schwingbreiten sind die Ermüdungslebensdauer ausgeprägt kürzer. Das Wechselverformungsverhalten von PBF-LB/M/316L ist durch eine Anfangsverfestigung gefolgt von einer kontinuierlichen Entfestigung charakterisiert, welche bis zum Auftreten der zum Versagen führenden Entfestigung stattfindet. Die Kriechbruchzeiten und die Dauer jeder Kriechphase sind bei allen Kombinationen von Prüfparametern bei PBF-LB/M/316 kürzer als bei HR/316L. Die Spannungsabhängigkeit von PBF-LB/M/316L ist im Vergleich zu HR/316L geringer und die Duktilität beim Kriechen kleiner. Die minimale Kriechrate wird bei allen geprüften Parameterkombinationen bei deutlich geringeren Kriechdehnungen erreicht. Eine Wärmebehandlung bei 450 °C / 4 h bewirkt keine wesentliche Änderungen der Mikrostruktur und Zugversuchseigenschaften. Eine zusätzliche Wärmebehandlung bei 900 °C / 1 h verursacht eine Abnahme der Dehngrenze des PBF-LB/M/316L. Diese blieb aber immer noch um den Faktor 1,5x höher als bei HR/316L. Die Verformungsmerkmale wurden kaum davon beeinflusst. Bezüglich des Kriechverhaltens hat die Wärmebehandlung bei 900 °C / 1 h längere sekundäre und tertiäre Kriechstadien bewirkt und die Kriechdehnung hat sich signifikant erhöht. Die Bruchbilder unterscheiden sich generell nicht nur aber vor allem mit ansteigender Prüftemperatur, bei der bei PBF-LB/M/316L oft interkristalline Rissbildung beobachtet wurde. Die Zellstruktur trägt als der Hauptfaktor zu den unterschiedlichen mechanischen Eigenschaften im Vergleich zur HR/316L-Variante bei. Darüber hinaus spielen mutmaßlich die Kornmorphologie, die Stapelfehlerenergie und der Stickstoffgehalt eine Rolle.
Silicate bioceramics possess an excellent bioactivity; however, shaping them into complex geometries is still challenging. Therefore, this paper aims to present a new strategy for the shaping of a bioglass-ceramic with controlled geometry and properties starting from a glass powder combined with a preceramic polymer, i.e. a silicon resin, and reactive fillers. The powder-based three-dimensional (3D)-printing of wollastonite (CaSiO3)-based silicate bioceramic parts was demonstrated in this work. The resin plays a dual role, as it not only acts as a non-sacrificial binder for the filler powders in the printing process but it also reacts with the fillers to generate the desired bioceramic phases. The mechanical and physical properties, i.e. ball-on-three-balls test, density, porosity and morphology, were evaluated in 3D-printed discs. These samples possessed a total porosity around 64 vol% and a biaxial flexural strength around 6 MPa. The raw materials used in this work also enabled the 3D-printing of scaffolds possessing a designed multi-scale porosity, suitable bioceramic phase assemblage and a compressive strength of 1 MPa (for cylindrical scaffolds with total porosity ~80 vol%). Solubility in TRIS/HCl and in vitro assays, i.e. viability, cytotoxicity and apoptosis assays, were also performed. In vitro tests indicated good cell viability and no cytotoxicity effect on the cells.
Statistical algorithms are presented for modeling the interaction processes between electrons and matter. A software
implementation has been developed for hybrid supercomputers making use of NVIDIA© CUDA©
technology. Standard Monte Carlo schemes are modified for effectively exploiting the parallel computing capabilities
of graphical processors. The model of individual collisions (MIC) is used to describe the interaction of
electrons with atoms. This model does not include the approximations assumed in multiple collision theory or
the continuous slow down approach with the Landau theory for energy-loss fluctuations. The distributions of
electron characteristics are obtained from tabulated electron cross section data. The examples discussed in this
paper demonstrate the applicability of the algorithms to investigating the interaction of electrons with X-ray tube
targets producing Bremsstrahlung. The proposed technique can be used for mathematical modeling in radiography.
In this study, an Impulse Response Function analysis of pile response to sine-sweep excitation by a low cost, portable Shaker was used to identify defects in piles. In straightforward impact-echo methods, echoes from the pile toe and defects are visible in the time domain measurements. However, these echoes are not present in the time domain records of piles subjected to sine-sweep excitations, due to interactions between the input and output signals. For this reason, the impulse response function in the time domain has been calculated and is able to identify the echoes from pile impedance changes. The proposed methodology has been evaluated both numerically and experimentally. A one-dimensional pile-soil interaction system was developed, and a finite difference method used to calculate the pile response to sine-sweep excitation. The numerical simulations indicate that impulse response measurements with a synthesized logarithmic, sine-sweep excitation could be an effective tool for detecting defects in piles. The methodology was further tested with field trials on 6 cast in situ concrete test piles including 1 intact pile and 5 defective piles subjected to sine-sweep excitations by a shaker. In 5 of the 6 cases the echoes from the pile toe could be identified in the deconvoluted waveforms—the impulse Response functions. Damage detection is more difficult and dependent on the selection of the optimal regularization parameter. Further research and optimization of the deconvolution process is needed to evaluate the effectiveness compared to standard pile integrity testing methods.
Structural health monitoring systems have been widely implemented to provide real-time continuous data support and to ensure structural safety in the context of structural integrity management. However, the quantification of the potential benefits of structural health monitoring systems has not yet attracted widespread attention. At the same time, there is an urgent need to develop strategies, such as optimizing the monitoring period, monitoring variables, and other factors, to maximize the potential benefits of structural health monitoring systems. Considering the continuity of structural health monitoring information, a framework is developed in this article to support decision-making for structural Health monitoring systems arrangement in the context of structural integrity management, which integrates the concepts of value of information and risk-based inspection planning based on an approach which utilizes a conjugate prior probability distribution for updating of the probabilistic models of structural performances based on structural health Monitoring information. An example considering fatigue degradation of steel structures is investigated to illustrate the application of the proposed framework. The considered example shows that the choice of monitoring variables, the Monitoring period, and the monitoring quality may be consistently optimized by the application of the proposed framework and approach. Finally, discussions and conclusions are provided to clarify the potential benefits of the proposed Framework with a special view to practical applications of structural health monitoring systems.
In this study, the optimized fabrication and evolution of the microstructure and magnetic Transition behavior of the melt-extraction LaFe11.2Si1.8 microwires have been studied. After the optimization of extraction technique (heating power 22 KW, feeding rate 30-50 mm/s, rotation velocity 1700 r/min), the content of La Fe,Si)13 phase in the as-extracted microwires was 54 wt% due to the high solidification velocity, which was increased to 85 wt% via annealing at 1373 K for 20 min. The amount of La(Fe,Si)13 phase was increased and the composition of La(Fe,Si)13 phase became more homogenized through peritectic reaction and short-distance diffusion in the microwires during annealing process. The coexistence of the nanocrystalline and amorphous structures contributed to the broad magnetic Transition temperature range of the as-extracted and annealed microwires. The annealed microwires exhibited a second-order magnetic transformation behavior and showed a maximum magnetic entropy Change jDSMjmax of 6.2 J/kgK and working temperature interval of 36.0 K under a magnetic field of 20 kOe.
Metastasis is the main cause of death from colorectal cancer (CRC). About 20% of stage II CRC patients develop metastasis during the course of disease. We performed metabolic profiling of plasma samples from non-metastasized and metachronously metastasized stage II CRC patients to assess the potential of plasma metabolites to serve as biomarkers for stratification of stage II CRC patients according to metastasis risk. We compared the metabolic profiles of plasma samples prospectively obtained prior to metastasis formation from non-metastasized vs. metachronously metastasized stage II CRC patients of the German population-based case–control multicenter DACHS study retrospectively. Plasma samples were analyzed from stage II CRC patients for whom follow-up data including the information on metachronous metastasis were available. To identify metabolites distinguishing non-metastasized from metachronously metastasized stage II CRC patients robust supervised classifications using decision trees and support vector machines were performed and verified by 10-fold cross-validation, by nested cross-validation and by traditional validation using training and test sets. We found that metabolic profiles distinguish non-metastasized from metachronously metastasized stage II CRC patients. Classification models from decision trees and support vector machines with 10-fold cross-validation gave average accuracy of 0.75 (sensitivity 0.79, specificity 0.7) and 0.82 (sensitivity 0.85, specificity 0.77), respectively, correctly predicting metachronous metastasis in stage II CRC patients. Taken together, plasma metabolic profiles distinguished non-metastasized and metachronously metastasized stage II CRC patients. The classification models consisting of few metabolites stratify non-invasively stage II CRC patients according to their risk for metachronous metastasis.
Trace elements play an important role in the fine-tuning of complex material properties. This study focuses on the correlation of microstructure, lattice misfit and creep properties. The compositionally complex alloy Al10Co25Cr8Fe15Ni36Ti6 (in at. %) was tuned with high melting trace elements Hf and W. The microstructure consists of a γ matrix, γ' precipitates and the Heusler phase and it is accompanied by good mechanical properties for high temperature applications. The addition of 0.5 at.% Hf to the Al10Co25Cr8Fe15Ni36Ti6 alloy resulted in more sharp-edged cubic γ′ precipitates and an increase in the Heusler phase amount. The addition of 1 at.% W led to more rounded γ′ precipitates and the dissolution of the Heusler phase. The shapes of the γ' precipitates of the alloys Al9.25Co25Cr8Fe15Ni36Ti6Hf0.25W0.5 and Al9.25Co25Cr8Fe15Ni36Ti6Hf0.5W0.25, that are the alloys of interest in this paper, create a transition from the well-rounded precipitates in the alloy with 1% W containing alloy to the sharp angular particles in the alloy with 0.5% Hf. While the lattice misfit has a direct correlation to the γ' precipitates shape, the creep rate is also related to the amount of the Heusler phase. The lattice misfit increases with decreasing corner radius of the γ' precipitates. So does the creep rate, but it also increases with the amount of Heusler phase. The microstructures were investigated by SEM and TEM, the lattice misfit was calculated from the lattice parameters obtained by synchrotron radiation measurements.
Water is generally considered to be an undesirable substance in fuel system, which may lead to microbial contamination. The antibacterial strategies that can turn water into things of value with high disinfection efficacy have been urgently needed for fuel system. Here, we reveal a water-fueled autocatalytic bactericidal pathway comprised by bi-metal micro-electrode system, which can spontaneously produce reactive oxygen species (mainly H2O2 and O2•–) by the electron Fenton-like reaction in water medium without external energy., The respiratory chain component of bacteria and the galvanic corrosion on the coated metals were two electron sources in the system. The specific model of Ag-Ru water-fueled autocatalytic (WFA) microelectrode particles presents extremely high disinfection efficiency (>99.9999%) in less than one hour for three aerobic bacteria (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus subtilis) in LB media and high disinfection efficiency for the anaerobic bacteria (Desulfovibrio alaskensis) in Postgate E media without natural light irradiation. Overall, the novel WFA Ag-Ru antibacterial material explored in this study has a high potential for sterilizing applications in fuel system and this work provides the potential for the development of non-chemical and water-based antibacterial materials, such as WFA Ag-Ru antibacterial coating on stainless steel.
Uncertainty quantification of multimodal surface wave inversion using artificial neural networks
(2023)
An inversion of surface waves dispersion curves is a non-unique and ill-conditioned problem. The inversion result has a probabilistic nature, which becomes apparent when simultaneously restoring the shear wave (S-wave) velocity and layer thickness. Therefore, the problem of uncertainty quantification is relevant. Existing methods through deterministic or global optimization approaches of uncertainty quantification via posterior probability density (PPD) of the model parameters are not computationally efficient since they demand multiple solutions of the inverse problem. We present an alternative method based on a multi-layer fully connected artificial neural network (ANN). We improve the current uni-modal approach, which is known from publications, to multi-modal inversion. The learned ANN maps the phase velocity dispersion curves to values of the S-wave velocity and layers thickness. To estimate the uncertainties, we adapt the Monte-Carlo simulation strategy and project onto the resulting velocity model both frequency-dependent data noise and inverse operator errors, which are evaluated by the prediction of the training data set. The proposed combination of surface waves data processing methods, configured with each other, provides a novel surface waves multi-modal dispersion data inversion and uncertainty quantification approach. We first test our approach on synthetic experiments for various velocity models: a positive velocity gradient, a low-velocity layer and a high-velocity layer. This is done considering uni-modal inversion at first and then compared to the multi-modal inversion. Afterwards, we apply our approach to field data and compare resulting models with the body S-wave processing by the generalized reciprocal method (GRM). The experiments show high-potential results using ANN yields the possibility to accurately estimate PPD of restored model parameters without a significant computational effort. The PPD-based comparison demonstrates advantages of a multi-modal inversion over uni-modal inversion. The trained ANN provides reasonable model parameters predictions and related uncertainties in real-time.
The data center needs more and more electricity due to the explosive growth of IT servers and it could cause electricity power shortage and huge carbon emission. It is an attractive and promising solution to power the data center with hydrogen energy source. The present work aims to conduct an economic analysis on the hydrogen-powered data center. Configurations of hydrogen-powered and traditional data centers are compared and the differences focus on backup power system, converter/inverter, fuel cell subsystem, carbon emission, hydrogen and electricity consumptions. Economic analysis is conducted to evaluate the feasibility to power the data center with hydrogen energy source. Results show that electricity price increasing rate and hydrogen cost are the main factors to influence economic feasibility of hydrogen-powered data center. When the electricity price keeps constant in the coming two decades, the critical hydrogen price is about 2.8 U.S. dollar per kilogram. If the electricity price could increase 5% annually due to explosive growth of electric vehicles and economy, critical hydrogen price will become 6.4 U.S. dollar per kilogram. Hydrogen sources and transportation determine the hydrogen price together. Hydrogen production cost varies greatly with hydrogen sources and production technologies. Hydrogen transport cost is greatly influenced by distances and H2 consumptions to consumers. It could be summarized that the hydrogen-powered data center is economic if hydrogen could be produced from natural gas or H2-rich industrial waste streams in chemical plant and data center could not be built too far away from hydrogen sources. In addition, large-scale hydrogen-powered data center is more likely to be economic. Solar hydrogen powered data center has entered into a critical stage in the economic feasibility. Solar hydrogen production cost has restrained the H2 utilization in data center power systems now, since it could be competitive only when more strict carbon emission regulation is employed, hydrogen production cost reduces greatly and electricity price is increasing greatly in the future. However, it could be expected solar hydrogen-powered system will be adopted as the power source of data centers in the next few years.
Microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) on steel occurs where the presence and activity of microbes change the localized conditions on the surface of a metal substrate. For instance, metal reducing bacteria (MRB) are capable of utilizing metal compounds in the passive layer on stainless steel as electron acceptors during their metabolism. This weakening of the passive film not only leads to an acceleration of the general corrosion processes, but also increases the susceptibility of stainless steels to pitting corrosion. Even though the electron transfer mechanisms are not yet fully understood, recent research shows that the secretion of electron shuttles like flavins contribute significantly to the extracellular electron transfer (EET). Electron shuttle molecules like riboflavin (RB) or flavin mononucleotide (FMN) are secreted by MRB after the transition from planktonic to sessile mode and exist in the biofilm at low concentrations. Therefore, they are precise early phase indicators of bacterial settlement.
This project aims at clarifying the electrochemical interaction mechanisms of MRB with stainless steel surfaces, with a special focus on the role of the extracellular redox molecules. The analysis of corrosion processes as a function of chloride and flavin concentration have been performed by means of electrochemical methods. Due to the differences in their chemical structure, FMN and RB have shown significant differences in terms of their adsorption behavior and the stability of the formed films, which directly influences the electron transfer processes. Therefore, Electrochemical Quartz Crystal Microbalance (eQCM) studies have been performed on sputtered FeCr electrodes to investigate the adsorption/desorption kinetics of flavins.
The results of electrochemical studies are complemented by the analysis of the changes in the passive film chemistry and the chemical composition of the adsorbed films by means of Fourier Transform Infrared Reflection Absorption Spectroscopy (FT-IRRAS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Changes in surface morphology have been investigated by means of Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM).The presentation will summarize our results on the degradation mechanisms of passive films on stainless steel surfaces in the presence of flavins and provide useful insights from a fundamental aspect for the understanding of the initial stages of microbiologically influenced corrosion.
Stainless steel AISI 304 surfaces were studied after a mild anodic polarization for oxide growth in the presence and absence of two derivatives of vitamin B2 (riboflavin and flavin mononucleotide) that can be secreted by metal‐reducing bacteria and act as a chelating agent for iron species. The alterations in oxide chemistry were studied by means of surface‐sensitive techniques such as X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry analysis. The complementary electrochemical characterization revealed a preferential growth of an oxide/hydroxide iron‐rich film that is responsible for an altered pit initiation and nucleation behavior. These findings suggest that as the corrosion behavior is determined by the interplay of the chemical and electronic properties, only a mild anodic polarization in the presence of redox‐active molecules is able to alter the chemical and electronic structure of the passive film formed on stainless steel AISI 304. This helps to achieve a profound understanding of the mechanisms of microbially influenced corrosion (MIC) and especially the possible effects of the redox‐active biomolecules, as they may play an important role in the corrosion susceptibility of stainless steel surfaces.
Biofilm formation and microbially influenced corrosion of the iron-reducing microorganism Shewanella putrefaciens were investigated on stainless steel surfaces preconditioned in the absence and presence of flavin molecules by means of XANES (X-ray absorption near-edge structure) analysis and electrochemical methods. The results indicate that biofilm formation was promoted on samples preconditioned in electrolytes containing minute amounts of flavins. On the basis of the XANES results, the corrosion processes are controlled by the iron-rich outer layer of the passive film. Biofilm formation resulted in a cathodic shift of the open circuit potential and a protective effect in terms of pitting corrosion. The samples preconditioned in the absence of flavins have shown delayed pitting and the samples preconditioned in the presence of flavins did not show any pitting in a window of −0.3- to +0.0-V overpotential in the bacterial medium. The results indicate that changes in the passive film chemistry induced by the presence of minute amounts of flavins during a mild anodic polarization can change the susceptibility of stainless steel surfaces to microbially influenced corrosion.
This paper reports results from in situ electrochemical X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (XANES) studies of the corrosion processes on model thin iron films in the presence of iron reducing bacteria Shewanella putrefaciens. Here we investigate the electrochemical activity of two cultures grown in the presence and absence of Fe(III) citrate in the culture medium. The XANES spectra and the OCP data of the Fe sample incubated with the culture grown in absence of Fe(III) did not show any significant changes during twenty hours of monitoring. In the case of the culture grown in Fe(III) containing medium, an accelerated dissolution of the iron film was observed together with the formation of a mixed Fe(II)-Fe(III) hydroxide surface layer. The open circuit potential (OCP) steadily approached the free corrosion potential of iron in neutral chloride containing electrolytes, indicating a continuous dissolution process without passivation.
The effect of the presence of Fe(III) during the cultivation on the electrochemical activity and corrosion behaviour of dissimilatory iron reducing bacteria Shewanella putrefaciens was studied by means of ex situ and in situ X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (XANES). Stainless steel AISI 304 and thin iron films were studied as substrates. XANES analysis indicated an accelerated iron dissolution and growth of an oxide/hydroxide film for the culture grown with Fe(III) in comparison to the culture grown in absence of Fe(III). Electrochemical Analysis indicated that the biofilm resulted in acceleration of the general corrosion but provides protection against local corrosion.
The initial attachment and subsequent biofilm formation of electroactive bac-teriaShewanella putrefaciensCN32 was investigated to clarify the influence oforganic conditioning layers. A selection of macromolecules and self-assembledmonolayers (SAMs) of different chain lengths and functional groups were pre-pared and characterized by means of infrared spectroscopy in terms of theirchemistry. Surface energy and Zeta (ζ-) potential of the conditioning layers wasdetermined with contact angle and streaming current measurements. Amongthe studied surface parameters, a high polar component and a high ratio ofpolar-to-disperse components of the surface energy has emerged as a successfulindicator for the inhibition of the initial settlement ofS. putrefacienson stainlesssteel AISI 304 surfaces. Considering the negative surface charge of planktonicS. putrefacienscells, and the strong inhibition of cell attachment by positivelycharged polyethylenimine (PEI) conditioning layers, our results indicate thatelectrostatic interactions do play a subordinate role in controlling the attach-ment of this microorganism on stainless steel AISI 304 surfaces. For the biofilmformation, the organization of the SAMs affected the local distribution of thebiofilms. The formation of three-dimensional and patchy biofilm networks waspromoted with increasing disorder of the SAMs.
Metal reducing bacteria (MRB) are able to utilize various materials such as iron, uranium and manganese as well as many organic compounds as electron acceptors. This process leads to the conversion of Fe(III) containing passive film species to soluble Fe(II) oxides and hydroxides. The reduction process triggers the acceleration of general and local corrosion processes. Electron transfer mechanisms are not yet fully understood. In literature it has been controversially discussed to which extend secreted electron shuttles contribute to the extracellular electron transfer (EET).
To understand the chemical and electrochemical interaction mechanisms of MRB with steel surfaces this project combines a variety of in-situ techniques. The changes in oxide chemistry on Fe/steel surfaces in the presence of biomolecules and MRB are under investigation using a newly designed electrochemical cell for in situ XANES (x-ray absorption near edge structure) spectroscopy. Electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (eQCM) studies support the spectroscopic investigations to gain information about the kinetics of attachment processes and changes in biofilm viscosity. The biofilm structure and composition as well as cell viability are investigated by complementary ex situ spectroscopic and microscopic analysis.
Combining spectroscopic techniques and eQCM data with electrochemical measurements, biological processes and the resulting degradation of steel surfaces can be observed in a non-destructive manner. Selecting model systems and a defined biological medium allows the determination of individual effects of diverse surface and environmental parameters. The fundamental understanding of bacterial attachment mechanisms and initial steps of biofilm formation will contribute to the development of new antifouling strategies.
The role of metal reducing bacteria (MRB) in corrosion is being controversially discussed in the literature. They can utilize metals including iron, uranium and manganese as well as many organic compounds as electron acceptors. The reduction of Fe(III) compounds to soluble Fe(II) species leads to the destruction of passive films on steel, resulting in acceleration of general and local corrosion processes. Recent research shows that the secretion of electron shuttles like riboflavins also contribute to the extracellular electron transfer (EET).
The aim of this project is to understand the chemical and electrochemical interaction mechanisms of MRB with steel surfaces by means of combined in situ techniques. An electrochemical XANES (x-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy) cell has been designed to study the changes of passive film chemistry in the presence of biomolecules and MRB. Electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (eQCM) is used for studying the kinetics of bacterial cell attachment and diffusion of biomolecules in model biofilms. In situ investigations are complemented by ex situ spectroscopic and microscopic analysis to investigate the biofilm structure, composition and cell viability.
Via the combination of electrochemical methods with spectroscopic techniques and QCM we are able to follow biological processes and resulting degradation of steel surfaces in a non-destructive manner. The selection of model systems and a defined biological medium allows the identification of the effects of individual surface and environmental parameters. The fundamental understanding of bacterial attachment mechanisms and initial steps of biofilm formation will contribute to the development of new antifouling strategies.
Metal reducing bacteria (MRB) are capable of utilizing different metals, such as iron, chromium, manganese or uranium as well as many organic compounds, as electron acceptors for their metabolism. Via direct and indirect electron transfer processes MRB are able to convert insoluble passive film species like Fe(III)-oxides to soluble Fe(II)-oxides and hydroxides. This weakening of the passive film not only leads to an acceleration of the general corrosion processes, but also increases the susceptibility of stainless steels to pitting corrosion. Electron transfer mechanisms are not yet fully understood and the role of bacteria in corrosion processes is controversially discussed in the literature. Moreover, recent research indicates that the secretion of electron shuttles like riboflavins by MRB also contributes to the extracellular electron transfer.
This project aims at clarifying the chemical and electrochemical interaction mechanisms of MRB with stainless steel surfaces. To investigate the changes in the oxide chemistry on the stainless steel surface in the presence of biomolecules and MRB a new flow cell has been designed and constructed which enables the collection of XANES (X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure) spectra in fluorescence mode at the Fe K-edge and electrochemical analysis. Availability of oxygen and the pre-exposure of the MRB to Fe(III) during cultivation have been investigated as parameters with significant effect on the corrosion rates. XANES analysis is supplemented by ex-situ X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier Transform Infrared Reflection Absorption Spectroscopy (FT-IRRAS) to complete the surface characterisation in terms of the oxide chemistry and the composition of organic residues. Complementary electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (e-QCM) measurements have been performed to quantify the kinetics of bacterial attachment and biofilm formation. Together with the frequency shift, the evolution of the dissipation signal has been analyzed to investigate the changes in viscosity and structure of the biofilm from initial stages up to maturation. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) has been used to study the structure and viscoelastic properties of the biofilms after e-QCM experiments.
The presentation will summarize our results on the effects of individual surface and environment related parameters on the chemical/electrochemical interaction mechanisms of MRB leading to passive film degradation on stainless steel surfaces and provide useful insights from a fundamental aspect for the development of novel mitigation strategies for microbiologically influenced corrosion.
The interface of a metal substrate and a biofilm can differ significantly from the surrounding environment. Metal reducing bacteria (MRB), for instance, are capable of utilizing various metallic compounds as electron acceptors. Besides chromium, uranium and manganese as well as many organic compounds, Fe(III) is converted to the soluble form Fe(II) during the bacterial metabolism. This could lead to a weakening of the protective passivation layer on stainless steel and thereby facilitate microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC). Even tough the processes of electron transfer are not yet entirely explained, the contribution of flavins and other humic substances as electron shuttles is widely discussed in the literature. Moreover, the adsorption of organic thin films on steel surfaces can lead to surface preconditioning and thus to changes in adhesion behavior of bacteria.
The aim of this work is to understand the chemical and electrochemical interaction mechanisms of MRB with steel surfaces by combining electrochemistry and surface-analytical techniques. The investigations primarily focus on the effect of pre-adsorbed thin organic films and self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on the electron transfer processes between bacteria and steel surfaces. Electrochemical Quartz Crystal Microbalance (eQCM) studies have been performed to investigate the adsorption/desorption kinetics of organic films as well as the formation of biofilms on FeCr electrodes. Furthermore, the evolution of the biofilms on steel surfaces has been analyzed by means of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) to support the QCM studies with information on structural changes during different stages of biofilm growth. Electron transfer and corrosion processes have been analyzed by means of square wave voltammetry (SWV) and linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), respectively. The results of electrochemical studies are complemented with microscopic and spectroscopic characterisation of organic adsorbates and analysis of changes in the passive film chemistry and surface morphology.
This presentation will summarize our results on the chemical and electrochemical interaction mechanisms of MRB on steel surfaces leading to passive film degradation. The role of flavins in accelerating corrosion processes will be elucidated in detail to provide useful insights from a fundamental aspect for the understanding of the initial stages of microbiologically influenced corrosion in the presence of MRB.
Aluminium is still one of the most important contact metallisations for power electronic chips like MOSFETs or IGBTs. With a large difference in thermal expansion coefficients (CTEs) between aluminium and silicon and the temperatures generated in hot-spots during high power transients, these layers are prone to failure due to thermo-mechanical fatigue. Usually lifetime assessment is done by subjecting dedicated test specimens to standardised stress tests as e.g. active or passive thermal cycling. This paper proposes a novel method for accelerated stress testing and lifetime modelling of thin aluminium films in the high-cycle fatigue regime by isothermal mechanical loading. The proposed novel test method is suggested to complement or replace resource-demanding thermal cycling tests and allow simple in-situ monitoring of failure.
The self-ignition of coal dust deposits and its subsequent smoldering combustion pose a high fire hazard to oxy-fuel power systems which burn fuels using pure oxygen for the sake of carbon capture and storage. The increasing risk of explosion in the gas-phase and self-ignition in the solid-phase for an oxygen enhanced combustion environment has not been well studied yet. In this work, the heterogeneous reactions of a bituminous coal dust are investigated by using a novel hot-basket apparatus with an emphasis on the roles of O2 and diluent gas in chemisorption and smoldering. Experiments show that increasing O2 mole fraction accelerates both self-ignition and the following smoldering combustion. On the other hand, the presence of CO2 increases the ignition temperature and reduces the maximum smoldering temperature. However, the promotion in the fire and explosion risk by elevating O2 mole fraction is substantially stronger than the retardation effected by presence of CO2. The emission-gas measurements show that the CO to CO2 ratio increases significantly after self-ignition, and CH4 counts for 1–8% of the total carbon emission. This research may help improve the understanding of heterogeneous coal combustion and the fire safety in oxy-fuel power systems.
Ausgehend von der Verschiebung wesentlicher rechtlicher Grundlagen zum Explosionsschutz von der Betriebssicherheitsverordnung in die Gefahrstoffverordnung nennt der Beitrag die Maßnahmen des Explosionsschutzes bei Einsätzen der Feuerwehr. Für die häufigen Einsatztypen wird das Explosionsschutzkonzept unter Berücksichtigung der Beladung des aktuellen Gerätewagen Gefahrgutes beschrieben. Es kann als Vorlage für eine individuell für die Feuerwehr zu erstellende Gefährdungsbeurteilung (Explosionsschutzdokument) nach Paragraf 9 Absatz 4 Gefahrstoffverordnung dienen.
The morphology of the antennal hearts in the head of Phasmatodea and Embioptera was investigated with particular reference to phylogenetically relevant key taxa. The antennal circulatory organs of all examined species have the same basic construction: they consist of antennal vessels that are connected to ampullae located in the head near the antenna base. The ampullae are pulsatile due to associated muscles, but the points of attachment differ between the species studied. All examined Phasmatodea species have a Musculus (M.) interampullaris which extends between the two ampullae plus a M. ampulloaorticus that runs from the ampullae to the anterior end of the aorta; upon contraction, all these muscles dilate the lumina of both ampullae at the same time. In Embioptera, only the australembiid Metoligotoma has an M. interampullaris. All other studied webspinners instead have a M. ampullofrontalis which extends between the ampullae and the frontal region of the head capsule; these species do not have M. ampulloaorticus. Outgroup comparison indicates that an antennal heart with a M. interampullaris is the plesiomorphic character state among Embioptera and the likely ground pattern of the taxon Eukinolabia. Antennal hearts with a M. ampullofrontalis represent a derived condition that occurs among insects only in some embiopterans. These findings help to further clarify the controversially discussed internal phylogeny of webspinners by supporting the view that Australembiidae are the sister group of the remaining Embioptera.
Orientation determination does not necessarily require complete knowledge of the local atomic arrangement in a crystalline phase. We present a method for microstructural phase discrimination and orientation analysis of phases for which there is only limited crystallographic information available. In this method, experimental Kikuchi diffraction patterns are utilized to generate a self-consistent master reference for use in the technique of Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD). The experimentally derived master data serves as an application-specific reference in EBSD pattern matching approaches. As application examples, we map the locally varying orientations in samples of icosahedral quasicrystals observed in a Ti40Zr40Ni20 alloy, and we analyse AlNiCo decagonal quasicrystals.
"Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry" is the benchmark reference in chemistry and chemical and life science engineering, covering inorganic and organic chemicals, advanced materials, pharmaceuticals, polymers and plastics, metals and alloys, biotechnology and biotechnological products, food chemistry, process engineering and unit operations, analytical methods, environmental protection, and much more.
The present article is part of the topic collection "Environmental Protection and Industrial Safety". It covers plant and process safety, focusing on hazardous materials and process conditions.
Ziel der im Rahmen dieses Forschungsvorhabens durchgeführten Untersuchungen war der Nachweis der sicheren Auslegung von Transport- und Lagerbehältern radioaktiver Stoffe aus Gußeisen mit Kugelgraphit auch unter bruchmechanischen Gesichtspunkten. Das bisher im nationalen Rahmen für die Bauartprüfung derartiger sogenannter Typ B-Verpackungen (d.h. unfallsicherer Verpackungen) von der BAM angewandte Begutachtungskonzept basiert im wesentlichen auf experimentellen Festigkeitsnachweisen an Prototypbehältern mit entsprechend daraus abgeleiteten Anforderungen an die qualitätsgerechte Herstellung der Serienbehälter. Die Anforderungen an die Werkstoffqualität und die zerstörungsfreien Prüfungen (insbesondere Nachweis von Rissen durch Ultraschallprüfungen) werden so gewählt, daß ein gesonderter bruchmechanischer Nachweis nicht erforderlich ist. Dieses Begutachtungskonzept ist jedoch unmittelbar mit der Bedingung verknüpft, daß die maximale in der Behälterstruktur auftretende Nennzugspannung etwa 50 % der Werkstoff-Streckgrenze nicht überschreitet. Da dies u.U. eine erhebliche Einschränkung für bestimmte Behälterbauarten bedeuten kann, wird das Begutachtungskonzept derzeit um einen bruchmechanischen Festigkeitsnachweis erweitert, der weitgehend werkstoffunabhängig auch für Gußeisen mit Kugelgraphit anwendbar ist. Die Bereitstellung der dafür erforderlichen grundlegenden Erkenntnisse wurde unter direkter Mitwirkung der BAM auch im Rahmen dieses Forschungsvorhabens auf internationaler Ebene durchgeführt. Die Ergebnisse sind in einem "Technical Dokument (TECDOC)" der Internationalen Atomenergie-Behörde (IAEA) niedergelegt, welches diesem Fachband als Anlage beigefügt ist.
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).
Multi-principal element alloys (MPEAs) are gaining interest in corrosion and electrocatalysis research due to their electrochemical stability across a broad pH range and the design flexibility they offer. Using the equimolar CrCoNi alloy, we observe significant metal dissolution in a corrosive electrolyte (0.1 M NaCl, pH 2) concurrently with the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in the transpassive region despite the absence of hysteresis in polarization curves or other obvious corrosion indicators. We present a characterization scheme to delineate the contribution of OER and alloy dissolution, using scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) for OER-onset detection, and quantitative chemical analysis with inductively coupled-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and ultraviolet visible light (UV-Vis) spectroscopy to elucidate metal dissolution processes. In-situ electrochemical atomic force microscopy (EC-AFM) revealed that the transpassive metal dissolution on CrCoNi is dominated by intergranular corrosion. These results have significant implications for the stability of MPEAs in corrosion systems, emphasizing the necessity of analytically determining metal ions released from MPEA electrodes into the electrolyte when evaluating Faradaic efficiencies of OER catalysts. The release of transition metal ions not only reduces the Faradaic efficiency of electrolyzers but may also cause poisoning and degradation of membranes in electrochemical reactors.
Für die Sanierung von Bauwerken werden meist Informationen über die innere Struktur und den Aufbau, Belastungszustände, Feuchte- und Salzgehalte benötigt. Die Untersuchung mit zerstörungsarmen und -freien Methoden minimieren die dazu nötigen Eingriffe. Ebenfalls bieten die ZfP-Verfahren die Möglichkeit, den Erfolg einer Maßnahme zu kontrollieren sowie Prozesse über einen langen Zeitraum zu beobachten (Monitoring). Die vorliegende Arbeit befasst sich mit der zerstörungsfreien Untersuchung von inneren Strukturen und des Aufbaus von Mauerwerk mittels Ultraschall und Radar. Der untersuchte Querschnitt wird tomografisch rekonstruiert. Diese Darstellungsart bietet den Vorteil der Tiefenbestimmung von Objekten und der besseren Visualisierung für Auftraggeber und/oder Laien. Es wurden die Laufzeiten der Longitudinalwellen rekonstruiert. Die Frequenzen der Ultraschalluntersuchungen lagen bei 25 kHz sowie 85 kHz und der Radaruntersuchungen bei 900 MHz sowie 1,5 GHz. Die Rekonstruktion erfolgte mit dem Tomografieprogramm “Geo- Tom“, welches auf der Grundlage des SIRT-Algorithmus arbeitet. Die untersuchten Querschnitte beinhalteten Anomalien bestehend aus Luft, Granit, Holz und Mörtel. Die Abmaße der Anomalien lagen zwischen 10-27 cm bezogen auf einen Querschnitt von 0,76 x 1,0 m. Eine Ortung der Anomalien war möglich, wenn diese eine Laufzeitveränderung von mindestens der Größe des Messfehlers bewirken. Die Größe dieser Laufzeitdifferenz ist abhängig von den Abmaßen der Anomalie und dem Kontrast der elektromagnetischen bzw. akustischen Eigenschaften zwischen Anomalie und umgebenden Material. Eine Aussage über die Größe der Anomalie ist möglich, jedoch kann auf die Form nur bedingt geschlussfolgert werden. Des Weiteren kann durch den Vergleich der beiden Verfahren ein Rückschluss auf die möglichen Materialien der Anomalie gezogen werden.
Use of higher-alloyed metallic materials and duplex steels for transport tanks of dangerous goods
(2011)
Compatibility evaluations of selected metallic materials under the influence of dangerous goods are published in the BAM-List - Requirements for Tanks for the Transport of Dangerous Goods” as basis for substance-related prototype approvals for tank Containers designed for the carriage of dangerous goods.
There is a request of the tank manufacturing industry and transportation Companies to incorporate additional materials into the BAM-List, especially corrosion-resistant materials because of the large number of corrosive dangerous goods. One solution to solve corrosion Problems is to line the tank with a polymer, an alternative solution is the application of high-alloyed stainless steels and nickel-based alloys as there are 1.4529 (XINiCrMoCu 25-20-7, alloy 926), 1.4562 (X1NiCrMoCu32-28-7, alloy 31) and 2.4605 (NiCr23Mo16AI, alloy 59).
There is an interest to use cost-efficient steels with high strength values and concomitant adequate corrosion resistance such as duplex steel 1.4362 (X2CrNiN23-4).
This steel grade was originally developed as a substitute for the austenitic grades 1.4404 (X2CrNiMo17-12-2) and 1.4571 (X6CrNiMoTi17-12-2). Due to the lower content of the alloy elements nickel and molybdenum this duplex steel is a cost-efficient alternative to molybdenum containing austenite.
Due to the limited number of corrosion test results with welded test samples of these high-alloyed materials and the duplex steel under the influence of corrosive dangerous goods a comprehensive test Programme was performed with these materials in Cooperation with ThyssenKrupp VDM and Deutsche Edelstahlwerke GmbH. It can be concluded from the test results that the superaustenitic steels 1.4529 and 1.4562 as well as the nickel-based alloy 2.4605 are a really good alternative as tank materials for the transport of dangerous goods in comparison to the lining of the tanks. The nickel-based alloy 2.4605 shows the best resistance and is suitable as material for tanks transporting all tested corrosive substances. One exception is the temperature limit during the transport of hydrochloric acid.
The superaustenit 1.4562 is a resistant material with a wide ränge of application. Exceptions for use are: ammonium bifluoride, brine, 34 % calcium Chloride solution, hydrochloric acid, perchloric acid, 90 % 2-chloropropionic acid, nitrating acid with nitric acid content > 50 % and molten monochloroacetic acid. The alloy is limited suitable for allyl Chloride, aluminum Chloride, copper (II) -Chloride and ferric Chloride. The superaustenit 1.4529 showed the lowest resistance compared to the other two materials. This steel is not resistant in hydrochloric acid, perchloric acid, sodium Chlorite and sodium hypochlorite. The application is limited in the concentration ränge of aqueous Solutions of aluminum Chloride, copper (II) Chloride and ferric Chloride. Due to the reduced alloying content of the duplex steel 1.4362 (X2CrNiN23-4) compared to the austenitic CrNiMo-steels, a lower resistance especially in acidic media like formic, acetic or sulfuric acid was observed. Within the more than 7.000 substances contained in the BAM-List there is a large amount of dangerous goods such as hydrocarbons, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, ethers, esters, and inorganic alkaline substances which have a large transport volume and do not corrode the duplex steel 1.4362 (X2CrNiN23-4).
The test results are included in the actual 11th edition of the BAM-List and therefore available for the costumer.
In the past few years, a new phase, Ba0.5Sr0.5Zn2Si2O7 with negative thermal expansion has been described in the literature. Some excess of SiO2 is necessary to produce glasses from which the Ba0.5Sr0.5Zn2Si2O7 phase can be crystallized.
Unfortunately, in such glasses usually surface crystallization occurs; however, the addition of nucleating agents such as trace quantities of platinum or relatively high quantities of ZrO2 is necessary to achieve bulk nucleation. These additional components also affect the crystal growth velocity, which furthermore is different for crystal growth from the surface and in the bulk. In this paper, three different chemical compositions containing different ZrO2 concentrations, where one composition additionally contains 100 ppm platinum, are studied with respect to their crystallization behaviour. Although the compositions do not differ much, the crystallization behaviour and also the Crystal growth velocities are surprisingly different.
We report on the use of a sprayable and thermogelating biomaterial (Poloxamer; a.k.a. Pluronic) in optical imaging of pH values, local oxygen and temperature. The material is highly biocompatible and easy to handle. We also show that the material is well permeable to oxygen (thus making it a good choice for use in oxygen sensors), and is stable in liquid solution and at elevated temperature. We demonstrate its applicability in optical sensors for oxygen, pH and temperature. This was accomplished by incorporating appropriate luminescent probes in various kinds of microparticles (which act as hosts for the probes and prevent dye leaching and aggregation), and then dispersing the microparticles in the thermogelating polymer. The resulting sensor gels were deposited on the surface of interest via spraying at temperatures of <20 °C. At these temperatures, the gels adhere well to the target, even on uneven surfaces such as skin, wounds, and bacterial cultures. If temperature is risen to above 25 °C, the gels form a thin and soft but solid sensing layer which, however, can be simply removed from surface of interest by cooling and wiping it off, or by washing with water. Sprayable thermogelating sensors present obvious advantages over other sensors by not causing damage to the surface of interest. In our perception, the sensing materials also have wide further applicability in sensors for other species including clinically relevant gases, enzyme substrates (such as glucose or lactate) and ions.
A series of experiments were conducted in a 10L closed and vented tube with L/D = 10.0, and effects of initial fuel volume concentration, inert gas dilutions (diluted by N2 and CO2), inert gas–water mist twin fluid medium dilutions (diluted by N2-H2O twin fluid medium, CO2-H2O twin fluid medium) and end boundary conditions on overpressure transients of hydrocarbon fuel–air mixtures explosion were revealed. Results show that the overpressure-time profiles consistent with the dynamic evolution law of ‘approximately zero-1st overpressure rising stage-2nd overpressure rising stage-descending stage’, and ‘rate of overpressure rise-time’ curves exhibit the characteristics of multi-stages and multi-peaks, such as (dp/dt)(1,max), (dp/dt)(1,min), (dp/dt)(2,max) and (dp/dt)(2,min). Specifically, as the fuel volume concentration increased, both the maximum overpressures (pmax), and the maximum rates of overpressure rise ((dp/dt)(1,max) and (dp/dt)(2,max)) show a variation trend of increasing firstly and then decreasing, while the corresponding times (tmax, θ(1,max) , θ(2,max)) show a total different variation trend. Moreover, when YCH is lower than 1.88%, the value of (dp/dt)(1,max) is greater than (dp/dt)(2,max), while the value of (dp/dt)(1,max) was less than (dp/dt)(2,max), and when YCH was higher than 1.88%. The addition of N2 and CO2 can obviously inhibit the explosion intensity of hydrocarbon fuel, and the inhibition effect of CO2 is better than that of N2. Due to the synergy inhibition effect of the inert gas and ultrafine water mist, all the values of pmax, (dp/dt)(1,max) and (dp/dt)(2,max) diluted by inert gas-ultrafine water mist twin fluid medium were smaller than those diluted by sole inert gases. In addition, there are significant differences in the overpressure-time and the rate of overpressure rise-time profiles between closed and end venting explosions. The values of maximum overpressure and the rates of overpressure rise of the closed explosion were higher than those of the venting explosion, but the minimum rate of overpressure rise is a smaller one.
What isotopes can do...
(2019)
Pseudomonas aeruginosa MPAO1 is the parental strain of the widely utilized transposon mutant collection for this important clinical pathogen. Here, we validate a model system to identify genes involved in biofilm growth and biofilm-associated antibiotic resistance. Our model employs a genomics-driven workflow to assemble the complete MPAO1 genome, identify unique and conserved genes by comparative genomics with the PAO1 reference strain and genes missed within existing assemblies by proteogenomics. Among over 200 unique MPAO1 genes, we identified six general essential genes that were overlooked when mapping public Tn-seq data sets against PAO1, including an antitoxin. Genomic data were integrated with phenotypic data from an experimental workflow using a user-friendly, soft lithography-based microfluidic flow chamber for biofilm growth and a screen with the Tn-mutant library in microtiter plates. The screen identified hitherto unknown genes involved in biofilm growth and antibiotic resistance. Experiments conducted with the flow chamber across three laboratories delivered reproducible data on P. aeruginosa biofilms and validated the function of both known genes and genes identified in the Tn-mutant screens. Differential Protein abundance data from planktonic cells versus biofilm confirmed the upregulation of candidates known to affect biofilm formation, of structural and secreted proteins of type VI secretion systems, and provided proteogenomic evidence for some missed MPAO1 genes. This integrated, broadly applicable model promises to improve the mechanistic understanding of biofilm formation, antimicrobial tolerance, and resistance evolution in biofilms.
For osmoadaptation the halophilic bacterium Halomonas elongata synthesizes as its main compatible solute the aspartate derivative ectoine. H. elongata does not rely entirely on synthesis but can accumulate ectoine by uptake from the surrounding environment with the help of the osmoregulated transporter TeaABC. Disruption of the TeaABC-mediated ectoine uptake creates a strain that is constantly losing ectoine to the medium. However, the efflux mechanism of ectoine in H. elongata is not yet understood. H. elongata possesses four genes encoding mechanosensitive channels all of which belong to the small conductance type (MscS). Analysis by qRT-PCR revealed a reduction in transcription of the mscS genes with increasing salinity. The response of H. elongata to hypo- and hyperosmotic shock never resulted in up-regulation but rather in downregulation of mscS transcription. Deletion of all four mscS genes created a mutant that was unable to cope with hypoosmotic shock. However, the knockout mutant grew significantly faster than the wildtype at high salinity of 2 M NaCl, and most importantly, still exported 80% of the ectoine compared to the wildtype. We thus conclude that a yet unknown system, which is independent of mechanosensitive channels, is the major export route for ectoine in H. elongata.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen of considerable medical importance, owing to its pronounced antibiotic tolerance and association with cystic fibrosis and other life-threatening diseases. The aim of this study was to highlight the genes responsible for P. aeruginosa biofilm tolerance to antibiotics and thereby identify potential new targets for the development of drugs against biofilm-related infections. By developing a novel screening approach and utilizing a public P. aeruginosa transposon insertion library, several biofilm-relevant genes were identified. The Pf phage gene (PA0720) and flagellin gene (fliC) conferred biofilm-specific tolerance to gentamicin. Compared with the reference biofilms, the biofilms formed by PA0720 and fliC mutants were completely eliminated with a 4-fold-lower gentamicin concentration. Furthermore, the mreC, pprB, coxC, and PA3785 genes were demonstrated to play major roles in enhancing biofilm tolerance to gentamicin. The analysis of biofilm-relevant genes performed in this study provides important novel insights into the understanding of P. aeruginosa antibiotic tolerance, which will facilitate the detection of antibiotic resistance and the development of antibiofilm strategies against P. aeruginosa.
Using continuum damage mechanics (CDM) for lifetime prediction requires numerical integration of evolving damage until the onset of failure. The primary challenge for the simulation of structural fatigue failure is caused by the enormous computational costs due to cycle-by-cycle temporal integration throughout the whole loading history, which is in the order of 103–107 cycles. As a consequence, most approaches circumvent this problem and use empirical methods such as Wöhler curves. They are well suited for approximating the lifetime, but they are not capable to capture a realistic degradation of the material including redistribution of stresses. The main objective of the paper is to provide a technique for finite element (FE) simulations of structures under fatigue loading while reducing computational costs.
A Fourier transformation-based temporal integration (FTTI) scheme is proposed, which adapts the conventional FE method for modeling the viscoplastic deterioration in a structure subjected to cyclic loading. The response fields are represented by a Fourier series which assumes a temporal scale separation: a microchronological (short time) scale arises from the oscillatory loading and a macrochronological (long time) scale is due to the slow material relaxation resulting from yielding and damage evolution. The original dynamic boundary value problem (BVP) is approximated by the stationary BVP on the microchronological scale. Alternation of the displacement field on the macrochronological scale is correlated with evolution of the history variables by means of a high order adaptive cycle jump method. Performance and significant acceleration of the FE simulations is demonstrated at different loading scenarios for a constitutive damage model where the progressive damage accumulation is driven by viscoplastic yielding.
In many industrial sectors, Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) is considered as an addition to Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) that can reduce maintenance effort during lifetime of a technical facility, structural component or vehicle. A large number of SHM methods is based on ultrasonic waves, whose properties change depending on structural health. However, the wide application of SHM systems is limited due to the lack of suitable methods to assess their reliability. The evaluation of the system performance usually refers to the determination of the Probability of Detection (POD) of a test procedure. Up to now, only few limited methods exist to evaluate the POD of SHM systems, which prevent them from being standardised and widely accepted in industry. The biggest hurdle concerning the POD calculation is the large amount of samples needed. A POD analysis requires data from numerous identical structures with integrated SHM systems. Each structure is then damaged at different locations and with various degrees of severity. All of this is connected to high costs. Therefore, one possible way to tackle this problem is to perform computer-aided investigations. In this work, the POD assessment procedure established in NDT according to the Berens model is adapted to guided wave-based SHM systems. The approach implemented here is based on solely computer-aided investigations. After efficient modelling of wave propagation phenomena across an automotive component made of a carbon fibre-reinforced composite, the POD curves are extracted. Finally, the novel concept of a POD map is introduced to look into the effect of damage position on system reliability.
One of today’s major problems in many technical plants as well as fuel tanks is Microbial induced corrosion (MIC), leading to considerable damage and huge financial losses. Successful prevention of MIC requires the localization of first signs of corrosion as well as the identification of factors influencing the corrosion process. Hence, there is a growing need for sensitive and preferably inexpensive tools that enable the early detection of MIC. Of utmost importance are methods, which provide spatially and time-resolved information and allow the determination of corrosion rates at sites of interest for possible prevention of MIC.
MALDI-TOF-MS-based identification of monoclonal murine anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies within one hour
(2022)
During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, many virus-binding monoclonal antibodies have been developed for clinical and diagnostic purposes. This underlines the importance of antibodies as universal bioanalytical reagents. However, little attention is given to the reproducibility crisis that scientific studies are still facing to date. In a recent study, not even half of all research antibodies mentioned in publications could be identified at all. This should spark more efforts in the search for practical solutions for the traceability of antibodies. For this purpose, we used thirty-five monoclonal antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 to demonstrate how sequence-independent antibody identification can be achieved by simple means applied onto the protein. First, we examined the intact and light chain masses of the antibodies relative to the reference material NIST-mAb 8671. Already half of the antibodies could be identified based solely on these two parameters. In addition, we developed two complementary peptide mass fingerprinting methods with MALDI-TOF-MS that can be performed in 45 minutes and had a combined sequence coverage of over 80%. One method is based on the partial acidic hydrolysis of the protein by 5 mM of sulfuric acid at 99 °C. Furthermore, we established a fast way for a tryptic digest without an alkylation step. We were able to show that the distinction of clones is possible simply by a brief visual comparison of the mass spectra. In this work, two clones originating from the same immunization gave the same fingerprints. Later, a hybridoma sequencing confirmed the sequence identity of these sister clones. In order to automate the spectral comparison for larger libraries of antibodies, we developed the online software ABID 2.0 (https://gets.shinyapps.io/ABID/). This open-source software determines the number of matching peptides in the fingerprint spectra. We propose that publications and other documents critically relying on monoclonal antibodies with unknown amino acid sequences should include at least one antibody fingerprint. By fingerprinting an antibody in question, its identity can be confirmed by comparison with a library spectrum at any time and context.
Concrete is a complex material and can be modeled on various spatial and temporal scales. While simulations on coarse scales are practical for engineering applications, a deeper understanding of the material is gained on finer scales. This is at the cost of an increased numerical effort that can be reduced by the three methods developed and used in this work, each corresponding to one publication.
The coarse spatial scale is related to fully homogenized models. The material is described in a phenomenological approach and the numerous parameters sometimes lack a physical meaning. Resolving the three-phase mesoscopic structure consisting of aggregates, the mortar matrix and the interfaces between them allow to describe similar effects with simpler models.
New V-shaped non-centrosymmetric dyes, possessing a strongly electron-deficient azacyanine core, have been synthesized based on a straightforward two-step approach. The key step in this synthesis involves palladium-catalysed cross-coupling of dibromo-N,N'-methylene-2,2'-azapyridinocyanines with arylacetylenes. The resulting strongly polarized π-expanded heterocycles exhibit green to orange fluorescence and they strongly respond to changes in solvent polarity. We demonstrate that differently electron-donating peripheral groups have a significant influence on the internal charge transfer, hence on the solvent effect and fluorescence quantum yield. TD-DFT calculations confirm that, in contrast to the previously studied bis(styryl)azacyanines, the proximity of S1 and T2 states calculated for compounds bearing two 4-N,N-dimethylaminophenylethynyl moieties establishes good conditions for efficient intersystem crossing and is responsible for its low fluorescence quantum yield. Non-linear properties have also been determined for new azacyanines and the results show that depending on peripheral groups, the synthesized dyes exhibit small to large two-photon absorption cross sections reaching 4000 GM.
An understanding of the interactions of 2D nanomaterials with pathogens is of vital importance to developing and controlling their antimicrobial properties. In this work, the interaction of functionalized graphene with tunable hydrophobicity and bacteria is investigated. Poly-(ethylene glycol)-block-(poly-N-isopropylacrylamide) copolymer (PEG-b-PNIPAM) with the triazine joint point was attached to the graphene Surface by a nitrene [2 + 1] cycloaddition reaction. By thermally switching between hydrophobic and hydrophilic states, functionalized graphene sheets were able to bind to bacteria. Bacteria were eventually disrupted when the functionality was switched to the hydrophobic state. On the basis of measuring the different microscopy methods and a live/dead viability assay, it was found that Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria are more susceptible to hydrophobic interactions than B. cereus bacteria, under the same conditions. Our investigations confirm that hydrophobic interaction is one of the main driving forces at the presented graphene/bacteria interfaces and promotes the antibacterial activity of graphene derivatives significantly.
The distribution and speciation of zinc were studied in the body of female specimens of the soil-inhabiting, plant-feeding nematode, Xiphinema vuittenezi treated with nano-ZnO and its bulk counterpart. Lyophilized nematodes were studied by X-ray absorption near edge structure spectrometry (XANES) in order to characterize the zinc speciation. Furthermore, in the cross-sections prepared by focused ion beam technique, elemental maps were obtained using the electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) technique. XANES spectra were collected from three different regions (head, midbody and tail region) of nematodes in case of two different treatments (50 mg/L bulk and nano-ZnO suspension, 24 h long treatment). The sample spectra were fitted by the spectra of several reference compounds, the main components of the fitted spectra are the following in all cases: bulk/nano-ZnO; ZnHis and Zn3(PO4)2 * xH2O. Consequently, partial biotransformation takes place for both treatments, histidine- and phosphate-rich ligands play dominant role in the binding of zinc. According to the result of the EPMA analysis, it can be established that the distribution of zinc correlates with the calcium and phosphorus distribution for both treatments. Considering the results of the investigations performed by the two microanalytical techniques, it is likely that calcium phosphate granules were formed in order to bind zinc and hereby to take part in zinc detoxification. Apparent difference in the behavior of bulk and nano-sized ZnO in the body of the investigated nematodes was not found.
This contribution reports the development of a polymerizable BODIPY-type fluorescent probe targeting small-molecule carboxylates for incorporation into molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs). The design of the probe crosslinker includes a urea recognition site p-conjugated to the 3-position of the BODIPY core and two methacrylate moieties. Titration experiments with a carboxylate-expressing antibiotic, levofloxacin (LEVO), showed a blue shift of the absorption band as well as a broadening and decrease in emission, attributed to hydrogen bonding between the probe’s urea group and the carboxylate group of the antibiotic. Using this probe crosslinker, core–shell particles with a silica core and a thin MIP shell were prepared for the detection of LEVO. The MIP exhibited highly selective recognition of LEVO, with an imprinting factor of 18.1 compared to the non-imprinted polymer. Transmission electron microscopy confirmed the core–shell structure and spectroscopic studies revealed that the receptor’s positioning leads to a unique perturbation of the polymethinic character of the BODIPY chromophore, entailing the favourable responses. These features are fully preserved in the MIP, whereas no such response was observed for competitors such as ampicillin. The sensory particles allowed to detect LEVO down to submicromolar concentrations in dioxane. We have developed here for the first time a BODIPY probe for organic carboxylates and incorporated it into polymers using the imprinting technique, paving the way for BODIPY-type fluorescent MIP sensors.
The moisture content of screed samples is monitored by means of embedded sensors. Relative humidity sensors and multi-ring-electrodes are used to measure the spatial moisture distribution during desorption. Based on the humidity data and the pore volume distribution, the moisture and the water layer thickness within the pore space are predicted.
Slit shape as well as cylindrical pores are evaluated. Finally, the measured real part of the electrical impedance and the calculated water layer thickness are correlated. Based on the available data, a significant trend change of the impedance is documented at a water layer thickness of approximately 3 nm. This water layer thickness corresponds to a relative humidity of 88.3%.
Materials that support natural biodiversity on their surfaces can compensate for human activities that have a negative impact on nature and thus contribute to a carbon-neutral and nature-positive world. Specifically designing bioreceptive materials which favor the growth of biofilms on their surface is an approach complementing conventional, macroscopic green façades. But what exactly characterizes a bioreceptive substrate and how do biofilm and substrate interact? How and why does a spontaneous colonization and the formation of biofilms take place? What are biofilms and how can they be established in a laboratory setting? How can this existing knowledge be transferred to the artificial stone concrete so that this material can be tuned to increase (or decrease) its bioreceptivity?
This review paper aims at summarizing the existing state of knowledge on bioreceptive concrete and pointing out inconsistencies and contradictions which can only be removed by more interdisciplinary research in the field.
Biogenic impact on materials
(2011)
Materials as constituents of products or components of technical systems rarely exist in isolation and many must cope with exposure in the natural world. This chapter describes methods that simulate how a material is influenced through contact with living systems such as microorganisms and arthropods. Both unwanted and desirable interactions are considered. This biogenic impact on materials is intimately associated with the environment to which the material is exposed (Materials-Environment Interaction, Chap. 15). Factors such as moisture, temperature and availability of food sources all have a significant influence on biological systems. Corrosion (Chap. 12) and wear (Chap. 13) can also be induced or enhanced in the presence of microorganisms. Section 14.1 introduces the categories between desired (biodegradation) and undesired (biodeterioration) biological effects on materials. It also introduces the role of biocides for the protection of materials. Section 14.2 describes the testing of wood as a building material especially against microorganisms and insects. Section 14.3 characterizes the test methodologies for two other groups of organic materials, namely polymers (Sect. 14.3.1) and paper and textiles (Sect. 14.3.2). Section 14.4 deals with the susceptibility of inorganic materials such as metals (Sect. 14.4.1), concrete (Sect. 14.4.2) and ceramics (Sect. 14.4.3) to biogenic impact. Section 14.5 treats the testing methodology concerned with the performance of coatings and coating materials. In many of these tests specific strains of organisms are employed. It is vital that these strains retain their ability to utilize/attack the substrate from which they were isolated, even when kept for many years in the laboratory. Section 14.6 therefore considers the importance of maintaining robust and representative test organisms that are as capable of utilizing a substrate as their counterparts in nature such that realistic predictions of performance can be made.
Materials are subject to environmental constraints that include biological, chemical and physical factors. To gain confidence about durability and long-term performance of any material, environmental resistance testing procedures have to be amended with modern simulation procedures that include biological components. In fact, any environmentally exposed surface at temperatures lower than 121 °C will be home to microbial growth, even at high salt concentrations, extreme pH, environmental pollution, low water potential, and intense irradiation – everywhere where water is liquid and available. As a consequence, complex microbial ecosystems called biofilms are self-sufficient and found on almost all solid-air-water interfaces. Obviously, environmental changes perturb biofilm development but over a number of seasons, these changes result in relatively stable microbial communities peculiar and adapted to a particular niche and material. Certain microbial settlers are indicative of, and in a real sense mark, a particular biofilm and can, thus, be considered as “reference organisms”. Characteristic reference organisms’ peculiar to specific material-inhabiting communities can be isolated, identified, characterised and used in standard test procedures as well as research into materials science (materials improvement). In this presentation classical microbiological, genetic and molecular methods for studying reference organisms and their roles in materials deterioration will be presented. We will present a set of different reference organisms that are currently in focus of our research and testing development.
Thermally-induced moisture transport in high-performance concrete studied by X-ray-CT and 1H-NMR
(2019)
The thermohydraulic damage mechanism is one of the primary causes for explosive spalling of highperformance concrete. This paper presents the spatially- and temporally-resolved analysis of the thermally-induced moisture transport and reconfiguration processes by means of X-ray-CT and 1HNMR.
Thermal testing results for a high-performance concrete, which is sensitive to explosive spalling and which was prepared with and without added polypropylene fibres, are presented in this paper. These results indicate that the addition of fibres leads to a faster and deeper migration of the drying front and, thus, to a lower likelihood of vapour-pressure induced explosive spalling.
Jährlich entstehen in Brasilien ca. 2 bis 10 Millionen Tonnen Aschen aus der Verbrennung von Zuckerrohrbagasse. Die Aschen enthalten schwankende Zusammensetzungen an mineralischen Nährelementen und könnten daher zu Düngezwecken verwendet werden.
Allerdings ist (i) die Nährstoffverfügbarkeit gering, (ii), die entsprechende Nährstoffzusammensetzung nicht optimal für die Nutzung der Aschen als Düngemittel für die Hauptanbaukulturen in Brasilien und (iii) weisen die Aschen aufgrund häufig schlechter Verbrennungsqualitäten hohe organische Kohlenstoffgehalte auf. Im Rahmen des Forschungsprojekts ASHES („Rückführung von Nährstoffen aus Aschen von thermochemischen Prozessen mit Bagasse bzw. Zuckerrohrstroh“), arbeiten 7 deutsche und 4 brasilianische Partner an der Optimierung der thermochemischen Verwertung von Rückständen aus der Zuckerproduktion in Brasilien, inklusive der Formulierung von optimierten Düngemischungen auf Basis der generierten Aschen. In dieser Veröffentlichung wird die Verarbeitung dieser optimierten Mischungen zu Pellets und Granulaten unter Verwendung verfügbarer regionaler Reststoffe wie Filterkuchen (Vinasse-Presskuchen) sowie Hühnertrockenkot beschrieben. Zur Untersuchung der Handlingeigenschaften wurden die produzierten Pellets und Granulate hinsichtlich ihrer mechanischen Stabilität und des Wasseraufnahmevermögens untersucht. Dafür wurden geeignete Prüfverfahren angepasst und entsprechende Versuche durchgeführt.
pH presents one of the most important analytes in the life and material sciences, indicating, e.g., diseases and corrosion processes. This includes the optical monitoring of pH in living cells for studying cellular internalization pathways, such as phagocytosis, endocytosis, and receptor mediated internalization with the aid of molecular and nanoscale fluorescent sensors. Nanoparticle (NP)-based sensors, that are labelled or stained with a multitude of sensor dyes, have several advantages as compared to conventional molecular probes like enhanced brightness, i.e., amplified signals, ease of designing ratiometric systems by combining analyte-sensitive and inert reference dyes, and increased photostability. Moreover, this can enable the use of hydrophobic dyes in aqueous environments. Versatile templates and carriers for the fabrication of nanosensors by staining and/or labelling with different fluorophores and sensor molecules are surface-functionalized particles like silica (SiO2) and polystyrene (PS) particles. Here we present a platform of blue-red-green fluorescent pH nanosensors for the measurement of acidic, neutral, and basic pH utilizing both types of matrices and two spectrally distinguishable sensor dyes with an integrated reference dye and demonstrate its applicability for cellular studies.
SRB are environmentally and industrially important microorganisms. The disadvantage of their metabolic activity (e.g. sulfate reduction) results in the formation of toxic sulfide that leads to microbial influenced corrosion. SRB have been responsible for biocorrosion of ferrous metal. One of mitigation strategy is the use of biocides. However, it has been shown that various bacteria develop antimicrobial resistance due to excessive use of biocides. Thus, a deeper understanding of the evolution of biocide resistance of SRB is necessary. Three commonly used biocides, THPS, BAC, and GLUT were applied to investigate the susceptibility of Desulfovibrio alaskensis G20.The minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentration and the killing kinetics of the three biocides was determined. These results will be used to conduct evolution experiments to determine the evolution of resistance towards biocides of SRBs. The outcome of this work can be helpful to improve the management of MIC treatments.
In this study, the wavefield radiated from a building to its surroundings is identified and extracted from M4.6 earthquake recordings collected by sensors installed in a building and on the nearby athletic field in Matera (Italy) using a new approach for soil-structure interaction assessment. The proposed approach for earthquake data analysis combines in an innovative way two methods already used in seismology and engineering seismology: deconvolution and polarization analysis. The approach enables the identification, reconstruction, and characterization of the wavefield radiated from a vibrating building into its surroundings, and the estimation of the amount of energy associated with it. The approach consists of four steps: estimation of the resonant frequencies of the building, deconvolution of the earthquake recordings from a building and its surroundings, identification of the seismic phases, reconstruction of the signal transmitted from the building to its surroundings, and estimation of its energy, and polarization analysis. Analysis of recordings of the M4.6 event highlighted that the motion related to the wavefield radiated from the building to the ground was mostly linearly polarized in the radial and transverse planes, while a clear ellipticity was observed only in the horizontal plane. The wavefield radiated from the building might be dominated by unconventionally polarized surface waves, i.e., quasi-Rayleigh waves or a combination of quasi-Rayleigh and quasi-Love waves. The results indicated that the energy transmitted from the analyzed vibrating building to its surroundings was significant and decreased the ground motion shaking due to the out-of-phase motion.
For the first time, synchrotron X-ray refraction radiography (SXRR) has been paired with in-situ heat treatment to monitor microstructure and porosity evolution as a function of temperature. The investigated material was a laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) manufactured AlSi10Mg, where the initial eutectic Si network is known to disintegrate and spherodize into larger particles with increasing temperature. Such alloy is also prone to thermally induced porosity (TIP). We show that SXRR allows detecting the changes in the Si-phase morphology upon heating, while this is currently possible only using scanning electron microscopy. SXRR also allows observing the growth of pores, usually studied via X-ray computed tomography, but on much smaller fields-of-view. Our results show the great potential of in-situ SXRR as a tool to gain in-depth knowledge of the susceptibility of any material to thermally induced damage and/or microstructure evolution over statistically relevant volumes.
Die im Rahmen dieser Arbeit vornehmlich untersuchten supermartensitischen Stähle werden im Offshore-Bereich als geschweißte Flowlines eingesetzt. Diese Stähle sollen nach dem Prinzip „Fitness for Purpose“ bisher verwendete höher legierte Werkstoffe ersetzen. Die neuen Stähle sind aufgrund ihrer Korrosionsbeständigkeit und Festigkeit sehr gut für das beabsichtigte Einsatzgebiet geeignet. Im Sour Service besteht jedoch die Gefahr der Wasserstoffaufnahme mit nachfolgender Rissbildung. Zur Beurteilung der Risssicherheit der Schweißverbindungen sowie des unbeeinflussten Werkstoffes im Anlieferungszustand werden Wasserstofftransportdaten benötigt. Diese werden im Rahmen dieser Arbeit mittels Permeationsexperimenten an Stahlmembranen unter realistischen Einsatzbedingungen quantifiziert, so dass die Ergebnisse in computergestützte Lebensdauerberechnungen Eingang finden können. Die Untersuchungen zeigten, dass der Diffusionskoeffizient des jeweiligen Werkstoffs bzw. Gefüges nicht von der chemischen Zusammensetzung der Prüflösung abhängt. Die Subsurface-Konzentration, das ist die in die Werkstoffe eintretende Wasserstoff- konzentration, hängt dagegen vom pH-Wert, von der Schwefelwasserstoffsättigung und von der Zusammensetzung der Prüflösung ab. Die Abhängigkeit der Subsurface-Konzentration von der chemischen Zusammensetzung der Prüflösung wird zudem entscheidend durch die Chloridionenkonzentration bestimmt. Darüber hinaus wurde festgestellt, dass die chemische Zusammensetzung supermartensitischer Stähle das Permeationsverhalten erheblich beeinflusst. Beim Vergleich des Permeationsverhaltens von wärmebehandelten Proben mit Proben realer Schweißnahtgefüge ergaben sich Differenzen in Höhe einer Größenordnung. Das bedeutet letztlich, dass das Permeationsverhalten von Wasserstoff in solchen Schweiß- verbindungen für jeden Fall, abhängig von der chemischen Zusammensetzung und Temperaturführung, separat zu untersuchen ist. Zusätzlich wurde die Wasserstoffdiffusion und -aufnahme in Schweißnahtgefügen höchstfester Feinkornbaustähle untersucht. Die Ergebnisse zeigten, dass diese Werkstoffe schon bei geringfügig abgesenkten pH-Werten, wie sie in Spalten oder Rissen aufgrund von Hydrolyse vorherrschen können, Wasserstoff aufnahmen. Die Subsurface-Konzentration war wiederum von der chemischen Zusammensetzung der Prüfelektrolytlösung abhängig. Generell waren die Diffusionskoeffizienten und die Subsurface-Konzentrationen stark vom Gefüge abhängig. Der Vergleich der Resultate der höchstfesten Feinkornbaustähle S 1100 und S 890 zeigte, dass die Wasserstoffpermeation bei diesen Werkstofftypen weniger große Unterschiede aufwies als bei den supermartensitischen Stählen.
Microbiologically induced corrosion due to bacterial biofilms causes several problems in industrial systems, technical applications and in medicine. Prior to the formation of a biofilm on a substrate, planktonic cells attach on the surface. Hence, the properties of the surface play a key role in biofilm formation and are of great importance for the development of strategies to prevent bacterial attachment and biofilm formation.
This project aims at clarifying to which extent surface micro-/nanostructuring and chemical functionalization affects bacterial attachment and whether a synergistic combination of the two can be used to control bacterial adhesion. To answer these questions, model surfaces with regular patterns of 5-10 micrometers in size have been prepared, which provide distinct zones differing in terms of their chemistry or nano-roughness. This was achieved by micro contact printing of self-assembled monolayers with different functional groups and deposition of patterned ZnO nanorod arrays for studying the effect of surface chemistry and morphology, respectively. Typical contrasts studied were combinations of positively/negatively charged, hydrophobic/hydrophilic or flat/rough.
The attachment behavior of bacteria on tailored surfaces were studied in a flow chamber as a function of time. The strain Pseudomonas fluorescens SBW25 was chosen as a model organism. DNA-intercalating dyes such as Syto9 have a high affinity to adsorb on ZnO nanorods. To overcome this limitation a genetic modification was performed by introducing a gene which expresses a green fluorescent protein in P. fluorescens SBW25 enabling the quantitative evaluation of the flow chamber studies by means of fluorescence microscopy. Further analysis of the attachment behavior was performed by means of scanning electron microscopy.
The presentation will summarize the results of our systematic study on the role of individual parameters on bacterial attachment and highlight synergistic combinations, showing an inhibition or enhancing effect. As the investigations with model substrates enable a precise control of the surface parameters, this approach can be applied to different microorganisms and material systems to achieve a correlative description of bacterial adhesion on solid surfaces.
The investigation of the microstructure in functional, polycrystalline thin films is an important contribution to the enhanced understanding of structure–property relationships in corresponding devices. Linear and planar defects within individual grains may affect substantially the performance of the device. These defects are closely related to strain distributions. The present work compares electron and X-ray diffraction as well as Raman microspectroscopy, which provide access to microstrain distributions within individual grains. CuInSe₂ thin films or solar cells are used as a modelsystem. High-resolution electron backscatter diffraction and X-ray microdiffraction as well as Ramanmicrospectroscopy were applied for this comparison. Consistently, microstrain values were determined of the order of 10⁻⁴ by these three techniques. However,only electron backscatter diffraction, X-ray microdiffraction exhibit sensitivities appropriate for mapping local strain changes at the submicrometer level within individual grains in polycrystalline materials.
In this study, femtosecond laser-induced sub-micrometer structures are generated to modify polyethylene (PE) surface topographies. These surfaces were subjected to bacterial colonization studies with Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus as test strains. The results reveal that the nanostructures do not influence S. aureus coverage, while the adhesion of E. coli is reduced.
Die Empfindlichkeit von Beschleunigungssensoren hängt von der Temperatur ab, bei der sie eingesetzt werden. Aus diesem Grund fordert der Entwurf der Neuausgabe von IEC 60068-2-53, dass Beschleunigungssensoren bei allen Prüftemperaturen kalibriert sein müssen.
Darüber hinaus müssen die Grenzabweichungen der entsprechenden dynamischen Prüfverfahrensnormen eingehalten werden.
Das Messunsicherheitsbudget für die Beschleunigungsmessung bei einer kombinierten Vibrations- und Klimaprüfung wird aufgestellt. Einflussgrößen sind die Kalibrierunsicherheit, der Frequenz- und Temperaturgang des Sensors, sowie die Messunsicherheit der elektrischen Messkette.
Anhand typischer Prüfbedingungen werden Kriterien aufgestellt, wann der Temperaturgang für die Prüfung relevant wird.
Eigene Untersuchungen und Hinweise aus der Literatur zeigen, dass dies eher selten der Fall ist. Gegebenenfalls muss auf geeignete Maßnahmen zur Verringerung der Messunsicherheit zurückgegriffen werden. Eine Kompensation des Temperaturganges ist möglich, aber derzeit noch aufwändig.
Diese Arbeit beschäftigt sich mit den Eigenschaften der photonenzählenden und spektralauflösenden Detektortechnik und möglichen Anwendungsgebieten in der zerstörungsfreien Prüfung. Dabei wurden konventionelle und photonenzählende Detektortechniken hinsichtlich der Bildqualität und Anwendbarkeit bei unterschiedlichen Prüfaufgaben verglichen und untersucht, inwiefern sich die Energieschwellwertsetzung auf die erreichbare Bildqualität und eine Materialdiskriminierbarkeit bei verschiedenen radiographischen Verfahren auswirkt.
Anhand von Anwendungsbeispielen wurden diese Eigenschaften und deren Auswirkung auf das Messergebnis analysiert. Neben der Radiographie wurden auch dreidimensionale Verfahren wie CT und Laminographie berücksichtigt.
Als eine der wichtigsten Eigenschaften der photonenzählenden Detektortechnik wurden zunächst die Energieauflösung des photonenzählenden Detektors und die Homogenität der Energieantwort über größere Detektorbereiche bestimmt. Dabei stellte sich heraus, dass die Energieauflösung eines abgegrenzten Detektorbereichs ca. 32 % bei 60 keV beträgt und die Streuung in der Energieantwort der einzelnen Detektorbereiche ca. 12 % ausmacht, woraus sich eine Gesamtunsicherheit in der spektralen Detektorantwort von ca. 44 % ergibt. Die geringe Energieauflösung und das stark heterogene Verhalten der Detektorbereiche ergeben sich vor allem aus der Detektorelektronik, welche nur eine globale Energieschwellwertsetzung zulässt.
Trotz dieser Einschränkungen konnte demonstriert werden, dass auch konventionelle radiographische Verfahren, wie Radiographie oder CT, vom Einsatz der photonenzählenden Technik profitieren. So ist es mit dieser Technik möglich, bei sehr geringen Dosisleistungen (z.B. aufgrund der Durchstrahlung großer Wandstärken von dichten Materialien) noch sehr gute Bildqualitäten zu erreichen. Die hohe Dynamik und Kontrastempfindlichkeit dieser Technik begünstigen die Inspektion von Leichtbauwerkstoffen wie Faserverbunde, was anhand von Vergleichen mit herkömmlicher Detektortechnik und anderen ZfP-Verfahren gezeigt werden konnte. Daneben konnte durch den Einsatz der Energieschwellwertsetzung der Einfluss von nicht bildzeichnender Streustrahlung im Röntgenbild um bis zu 20 % reduziert werden. Die Auswirkungen von Aufhärtungseffekten in der CT konnten sogar um bis zu Faktor 1 000 (in der mittleren quadratischen Abweichung), im Vergleich zu herkömmlicher Detektortechnik, reduziert werden.
Der Einsatz von photonenzählender Detektortechnik mit Röntgenblitzröhren ist hingegen nicht sinnvoll, da aufgrund der hohen Photonendichte pro Puls und einer endlichen Totzeit des Detektors in der Größenordnung der Pulsbreite eines Blitzes nur ein geringes Signal detektiert werden kann.
Im Hinblick auf eine Materialdiskriminierbarkeit konnte demonstriert werden, dass im Fall einer Radiographie anhand der Energieschwellwertsetzung im Detektor eine materialstärkenunabhängige Diskriminierung zwischen zwei Materialien (hier: Al und Fe) erzielt werden kann. Unter Einsatz mehrerer Energiefenster und eines Verfahrens der explorativen und multivariaten Datenanalyse konnte eine materialaufgelöste CT eines Multi-Material-Phantoms erreicht werden, wobei die Schwächungskoeffizienten der enthaltenen Materialien im relevanten Energieberiech teilweise sehr dicht beieinander lagen.
Neben Radiographie und CT wurde auch die Möglichkeit einer materialaufgelösten Laminographie am Beispiel eines glasfaserverstärkten Rotorblatts untersucht. Anhand der Energieschwellwertsetzung war nicht nur eine eindeutige Trennung der Glasfasern von der Epoxidharzmatrix möglich, sondern auch eine signifikante Reduzierung der durch die Laminographie entstandenen Artefakte. Der damit verbundene Gewinn an Information führt zu einer verbesserten Aussagefähigkeit des Untersuchungsergebnisses, was letztendlich eine gesteigerte Betriebssicherheit zur Folge hat.
Biocides are used for a wide range of purposes, including disinfectants or preservatives. They play a major role in the prevention of microbial infections in healthcare and animal husbandry. The use of biocides often leads to the discharge of active biocidal substances into wastewater streams, causing the exposure of wastewater microbial communities to subinhibitory concentrations. In turn, it is known that wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) are hotspots for antibiotic resistant bacteria. Since similar mechanisms confer resistance to biocides and antibiotics, exposure to biocides can result in co-selection of antibiotic resistant bacteria in WWTP Here, we want to investigate co-selection processes of antibiotic resistance in natural WWTP microbial communities upon biocide exposure. Microbial communities were sampled at the WWTP Ruhleben in Berlin and characterized regarding their susceptibility against different clinically relevant antibiotics. To investigate the link between biocide exposure and antibiotic resistance, changes in the susceptibility level after exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of the commonly used biocide didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC) will be determined by enumerating resistant and non-resistant E. coli on selective plates with and without antibiotics and DDAC. In case of antibiotics, clinical breakpoint concentrations according to EUCAST will be used to discriminate between susceptible and resistant strains. In case of DDAC (and biocides in general), clinical breakpoints do not exist. Therefore, we determined a cut-off concentration at which the majority of naturally-occurring E. coli strains cannot grow anymore based on (I) the MIC (minimal inhibitory concentration) distribution, and (II) by plating wastewater communities onto selective indicator agar plates loaded with increasing DDAC concentration. Additionally, antibiotic cross-resistance will be determined by spotting single colonies, isolated from DDAC-selective plates onto antibiotic plates. The results of our experiments will help to determine selective concentrations and to estimate the risk of antibiotic co-selection and cross-resistance in microbial WWTP communities upon biocide exposure.
Die vorgelegte Arbeit zeigt die Ausarbeitung und die Überprüfung einer Theorie, mit welcher die Ergebnisse aus einem neu entwickelten Mess-Verfahren (DySEM-Technik) beschrieben werden können. Mit dem Begriff “DySEM“ (Dynamic Scanning Electron Microscopy) wird ein experimentelles Verfahren bezeichnet, bei dem ein Elektronenstrahl als Mess-Sonde über einem mikroskaligen Schwinger verfahren wird, wobei die Schwingung durch eingesetzte Lock-In Technik frequenzaufgelöst dargestellt werden kann. Neben dem klassischen Sekundärelektronen-Signal wird zur Bildgebung auch der Anteil aus dem Signal genutzt, der sich anregungssynchron ändert. Die DySEM-Technik ermöglicht eine direkte Visualisierung der Schwingungsdynamik der oszillierenden Struktur, da zwischen unterschiedlichen Eigenmoden (flexural, torsional) als auch den jeweiligen höheren Harmonischen optisch eindeutig unterschieden werden kann. Damit bietet sich dieses Verfahren als ein Werkzeug der Modal-Analyse mikroskaliger Schwinger an, welche in mikro- bzw. nanoelektromechanischen Systemen (MEMS bzw. NEMS) häufig Verwendung finden und bei denen eine Optimierung der Designparameter oft erst durch die Bildgebung der Schwingung zu erreichen ist. Zusätzlich zeigen die DySEM-Bilder charakteristische Amplituden-abhängige Bildmerkmale, die theoretisch verstanden werden müssen. Prinzipiell ist die DySEM-Technik nicht an den Elektronenstrahl als Mess-Sonde gekoppelt. Allerdings erweist sich gerade im Zuge fortschreitender Miniaturisierung mit immer kleinskaligeren Schwingern eine elektronenoptische Orts-Auflösung als günstig. Bei der theoretischen Analyse des Abbildungsmechanismus liegt der Fokus auf der Untersuchung der raum-zeitlichen Dynamik der Wechselwirkung zwischen Elektronenstrahl und der periodisch darunter hinweg schwingenden Mikrostruktur, für die erstmals ein umfängliches Modell abgeleitet werden konnte, wodurch die detaillierte Interpretation der experimentellen Ergebnisse möglich wurde. Zusätzlich spielen lokale Eigenschaften (Materialeigenschaften) des Schwingers eine Rolle. Ebenso müssen die Beiträge von Energieverlustmechanismen zur Bildgebung berücksichtigt werden. Um die bildgebenden Gleichungen explizit ableiten zu können, beschränkt sich die mathematische Analyse in dieser Arbeit auf die Annahme eines frei oszillierenden, einseitig geklemmten Schwingers ohne Wechselwirkung mit Materie, wie es im DySEM-Experiment durch die Bildgebung im Hochvakuum angenähert wird. Die aufgrund dieses Modells simulierten DySEM-Bilder stimmen mit den experimentell gewonnenen Ergebnissen qualitativ und quantitativ gut überein.
Biocides used as disinfectants are important to prevent the transmission of pathogens, especially during the current antibiotic resistance crisis. This crisis is exacerbated by phenotypically tolerant persister subpopulations which can survive transient antibiotic treatment and facilitate resistance evolution. Despite the transient nature of disinfection, knowledge concerning persistence to disinfectants and its link to resistance evolution is currently lacking. Here, we show that E. coli displays persistence against a widely used disinfectant benzalkonium chloride (BAC). Periodic, persister-mediated failure of disinfection rapidly selects for BAC tolerance. BAC tolerance is associated with reduced cell surface charge and mutations in the novel tolerance locus lpxM. Moreover, the fitness cost incurred by BAC tolerance turned into a fitness benefit in the presence of antibiotics, suggesting a selective advantage of BAC-tolerant mutants in antibiotic environments. Our findings provide a mechanistic underpinning for the faithful application of disinfectants to prevent multi-drug-resistance evolution and to steward the efficacy of biocides and antibiotics.
Antimicrobial surfaces have broad use in multiple settings including touch surfaces in hospitals, implanted devices, or consumer products. Their aim is to support existing hygiene procedures, and to help combat the increasing threat of antimicrobial resistance. However, concerns have been raised over the potential selection pressure exerted by such surfaces, which might drive the evolution and spread of antimicrobial resistance. In my presentation, I will highlight the risks and knowledge gaps associated with resistance on antimicrobial surfaces by different processes including evolution by de novo mutations and horizontal gene transfer, and species sorting of inherently resistant bacteria dispersed onto antimicrobial surfaces. The latter process has the potential to select for antibiotic resistance via cross-resistance between traits that confer resistance to both the antimicrobial surface coating and antibiotics. Conditions in which antibiotics and antimicrobial coatings are present simultaneously (e.g. implants) will lead to more complex interactions that can either result in the selection for or against antibiotic resistance. We mapped these interactions between several antimicrobials and antibiotics on growth and selection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. We find prevalent physiological (i.e. synergy and antagonism) and evolutionary (i.e. cross-resistance and collateral sensitivity) combination effects. Understanding these interactions opens the door to tailor therapeutic interventions to select against resistance. In additions, we need new methods and translational studies that investigate resistance development to antimicrobial surfaces under realistic conditions. Therefore, I will present recent developments in our lab on the development of such a method based on existing efficacy standards.
Antimicrobials can exert specific physiological effects when used in combination that are different from those when applied alone. These effects include physiological effects (i.e. synergy, antagonism and suppression) as well as evolutionary effects on the selection of resistant strains (i.e. cross-resistance and collateral sensitivity). While combination effects have been extensively mapped for antibiotic-antibiotic combinations, the combination effects of antibiotics with antimicrobials used as biocides or antiseptics have not been systematically investigated.
Here, we investigated the physiological and evolutionary consequences of combinations of antibiotics (meropenem, gentamicin and ciprofloxacin) and substances used as biocides or antiseptics (octenidine, benzalkonium chloride, cetrimonium bromide, chlorhexidine, povidone-iodine, silver) on growth and selection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. We find prevalent physiological combination effects with synergy occurring 6 times and antagonism occurring 10 times. The effects are specific to the antibiotic-biocide combination with meropenem showing a tendency for antagonism with biocides (6 of 7), while gentamicin has a tendency for synergy (5 of 7). A particular strong antagonism is apparent for the meropenem-chlorhexidine combination, for which we conducted an in-depth study on the underlying molecular mechanism using RNASeq. Moreover, we find widespread effects of the biocide-antibiotic combinations on selection of P. aeruginosa strains resistant to the antibiotics, including cross-resistance and collateral sensitivity.
In conclusion, antibiotics and biocides or antiseptics exert physiological and evolutionary combination effects on the pathogen P. aeruginosa. These effects have consequences for the efficacy of both types of substances and for the selection of antimicrobial resistant strains in clinical applications with combined exposure (e.g. wound care, coated biomaterials).
Biocides, including disinfectants and antimicrobial surfaces (AMCs), are important to prevent the spread of pathogens and antimicrobial resistant bacteria via surfaces. However, concerns have been raised about the evolution and selection of resistance against disinfectants and AMCs. In turn, resistance against disinfectants and AMCs can be associated to antibiotic resistance due to cross-resistance and co-resistance. We need to understand the mechanisms and risks of disinfectants and AMCs for resistance and cross-resistance evolution to optimize their application and safeguard their long-term efficacy. We used adaptive laboratory evolution (ALE) experiments based on repeated exposure of bacteria to disinfectants. Our results show that repeated disinfection of E. coli with benzalkonium chloride in suspension results in a 2000-fold increase in survival within 5 exposure cycles. Adaption is linked to the initial presence of persister cells highly tolerant to benzalkonium chloride. We used the same approach to develop standardizable ALE experiments to determine resistance evolution to AMCs. The results highlight rapid adaptation of E. coli and P. aeruginosa towards copper surfaces. Moreover, there are multiple situations in the clinic or in the environment in which biocides and antibiotics co-occur and in which combination effects can shape their antimicrobial activity or their selective effects. Our work with P. aeruginosa shows prevalent combination effects of biocides and antibiotics, ranging from synergy to antagonism and resulting in the selection for or against antibiotic resistant strains. The combination effects are dependent on the biofilm mode-of-growth, manifesting in apparent differences in the structural arrangement of antibiotic sensitive and resistant strains in biofilms exposed to combinations. Furthermore, biocides affect rates of mutation and horizontal gene transfer, thereby having a potential facilitating effect on resistance evolution. Taken together, our work shows that the role of biocides as potential drivers of resistance evolution and selection deserves further study and regulative action.
Most microorganisms live in environments where nutrients are limited and fluctuate over time. Cells respond to nutrient fluctuations by sensing and adapting their physiological state. Recent studies suggest phenotypic heterogeneity in isogenic populations as an alternative strategy in fluctuating environments, where a subpopulation of cells express a function that allows growth under conditions that might arise in the future. It is unknown how environmental factors such as nutrient limitation shape phenotypic heterogeneity in metabolism and whether this allows cells to respond to nutrient fluctuations. Here, we show that substrate limitation increases phenotypic heterogeneity in metabolism, and this heterogeneity allows cells to cope with substrate fluctuations. We subjected the N2-fixing bacterium Klebsiella oxytoca to different levels of substrate limitation and substrate shifts, and obtained time-resolved single-cell measurements of metabolic activities using nanometre-scale secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS). We found that the level of NH4+ limitation shapes phenotypic heterogeneity in N2 fixation. In turn, the N2 fixation rate of single cells during NH4+ limitation correlates positively with their growth rate after a shift to NH4+ depletion, experimentally demonstrating the benefit of heterogeneity. The results indicate that phenotypic heterogeneity is a general solution to two important ecological challenges - nutrient limitation and fluctuations - that many microorganisms face. Currently, we use NanoSIMS to develop a new approach that defines functionally-relevant, phenotypic biodiversity in microbial systems. In the last part of my presentation, I will highlight why the concept of phenotypic diversity is relevant for the understanding of antimicrobial resistance.
Most microorganisms live in environments where nutrients are limited and fluctuate over time. Cells respond to nutrient fluctuations by sensing and adapting their physiological state. Recent studies suggest phenotypic heterogeneity in isogenic populations as an alternative strategy in fluctuating environments, where a subpopulation of cells express a function that allows growth under conditions that might arise in the future. It is unknown how environmental factors such as nutrient limitation shape phenotypic heterogeneity in metabolism and whether this allows cells to respond to nutrient fluctuations. Here, we show that substrate limitation increases phenotypic heterogeneity in metabolism, and this heterogeneity allows cells to cope with substrate fluctuations. We subjected the N2-fixing bacterium Klebsiella oxytoca to different levels of substrate limitation and substrate shifts, and obtained time-resolved single-cell measurements of metabolic activities using nanometre-scale secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS). We found that the level of NH4+ limitation shapes phenotypic heterogeneity in N2 fixation. In turn, the N2 fixation rate of single cells during NH4+ limitation correlates positively with their growth rate after a shift to NH4+ depletion, experimentally demonstrating the benefit of heterogeneity. The results indicate that phenotypic heterogeneity is a general solution to two important ecological challenges - nutrient limitation and fluctuations - that many microorganisms face. Currently, we use NanoSIMS to develop a new approach that defines functionally-relevant, phenotypic biodiversity in microbial systems. In the last part of my presentation, I will highlight why the concept of phenotypic diversity is relevant for the understanding of antimicrobial resistance.
Disinfectants are important to prevent the transmission of pathogens, especially in the face of the current antibiotic resistance crisis. The crisis is further exacerbated by phenotypically tolerant persister subpopulations that can survive transient antibiotic treatment and facilitate resistance evolution. Despite the transient nature of disinfectant application, persistence to disinfectants and its role for the evolution of tolerance and cross-resistance to antibiotics has not been studied. Our work shows that E. coli displays persistence against several widely used disinfectants, including benzalkonium chloride (BAC), didecyldimethylammoniumchlorid (DDAC) and isopropanol. The molecular mechanism of BAC persistence is triggered in stationary phase and affected by several antibiotic persister genes (hipA, tisB, tolC, relA, spoT). Experimental evolution and population dynamic modeling show that repeated failure of disinfection due to persisters rapidly selects for BAC tolerance underpinned by reduced cell surface charge due to mutations in genes related to lipid A acylation (lpxML). Furthermore, evolved BAC tolerance affects the susceptibility to antibiotics, leading to positive selection of disinfectant tolerant strains at environmentally relevant antibiotic concentrations and variations in evolvability of antibiotic resistance due to epistatic effects. These results highlight the need for faithful application of disinfectants to steward their efficacy and the efficacy of antibiotics. A better understanding of the bacterial response to disinfectants is crucial to understand and avert the ongoing antimicrobial resistance crisis.
Organic fluorophores, particularly stimuli-responsive molecules, are very interesting for biological and material sciences applications, but frequently limited by aggregation- and rotation-caused photoluminescence quenching. A series of easily accessible bipyridinium fluorophores, whose emission is quenched by a twisted intramolecular charge-transfer (TICT) mechanism, is reported.
Encapsulation in a cucurbit[7]uril host gave a 1:1 complex exhibiting a moderate emission increase due to destabilization of the TICT state inside the apolar cucurbituril cavity. A much stronger fluorescence enhancement is observed in 2:2 complexes with the larger cucurbit[8]uril, which is caused by additional conformational restriction of rotations around the aryl/aryl bonds. Because the cucurbituril complexes are pH switchable, this system represents an efficient supramolecular ON/OFF fluorescence switch.
Owners or operators of offshore wind farms perform inspections to collect information on the condition of the wind turbine support structures and perform repairs if required. These activities are costly and should be optimized. Risk-based methods can be applied to identify inspection and repair strategies that ensure an optimal balance between the expected total service life cost of inspection and repair, and the achieved risk reduction. Such an optimization requires explicit modeling of repairs. In this paper, the impact of different repair models on the results of a risk-based optimization of inspection and repair strategies is quantified in a numerical example considering a jacket-type steel frame subject to high-cycle fatigue. The example showed that, in this specific application, there is no need for detailed modeling of the behavior of repaired welded connections.
The round robin test investigated the reliability users can expect for AlSi10Mg additive manufactured specimens by laser powder bed fusion through examining powder quality, process parameter, microstructure defects, strength and fatigue. Besides for one outlier, expected static material properties could be found. Optical microstructure inspection was beneficial to determine true porosity and porosity types to explain the occurring scatter in properties. Fractographic analyses reveal that the fatigue crack propagation starts at the rough as-built surface for all specimens. Statistical analysis of the scatter in fatigue using statistical derived safety factors concludes that at a stress of 36.87 MPa the fatigue limit of 107 cycles could be reached for all specimen with a survival probability of 99.999 %.