Solid-phase epitaxy of undoped amorphous silicon by in-situ postannealing

The solid phase epitaxy (SPE) of undoped amorphous Si (a-Si) deposited on SiO₂ patterned Si(001) wafers by reduced pressure chemical vapor deposition (RPCVD) using a H₂-Si₂H₆ gas system was investigated. The SPE was performed by applying in-situ postannealing directly after deposition process. By transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy, we studied the lateral SPE (L-SPE) length on sidewall and mask for various postannealing times, temperatures and a-Si thicknesses. We observed an increase in L-SPE growth for longer postannealing times, temperatures and larger Si thicknesses on mask. TEM defect studies revealed that by SPE crystallized epi-Si exhibits a higher defect density on the mask than at the inside of the mask window. By introducing SiO₂-cap on the sample with 180 nm Si thickness following postannealing at 570 °C for 5 h, the crystallization of up to 450 nm epi-Si from a-Si is achieved. We demonstrated the possibility to use this technique for SiGe:C heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) base layer stack to crystallize Si-buffer layer to widen the monocrystalline region around the bipolar window and to improve base link resistivity of the HBT.     

Fate of the glucose degradation products 3-deoxyglucosone and glyoxal during peritoneal dialysis

Conventional fluids for peritoneal dialysis (PD) contain reactive glucose degradation products (GDPs) as a result of glucose breakdown during heat-sterilization. GDPs in PD fluids (PDFs) have been associated with the progressive alteration of the peritoneal membrane during long-term PD by cytotoxic effects and formation of advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs). In this study, we investigated the possible fate of two characteristic GDPs, 3-deoxyglucosone (3-DG) and glyoxal, during PD. In vivo, 3-DG and glyoxal concentrations, which were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), decreased in PDFs by 78% and 88% during 4 h of dwell time. The PDFs were then incubated in vitro in the presence of the most important reaction partners of GDPs in the peritoneal cavity. Neither human peritoneal mesothelial cells, human peritoneal fibroblasts, soluble protein, an insoluble collagen surface, nor components of spent dialysate led to a significant reduction of 3-DG or glyoxal after 6 h. Only after long-term incubation, a noticeable decrease of 3-DG was observed (-37% after three weeks), more likely due to spontaneous degradation reaction than formation of advanced glycation endproducts. These results suggest that in the course of PD, 3-DG, and glyoxal are absorbed into the organism and thus might contribute to the systemic pool of reactive carbonyl compounds.     

Mastitis diagnostics: quantitative PCR for Staphylococcus aureus genotype B in bulk tank milk

A novel real-time quantitative PCR assay for detecting the pathogenic and contagious Staphylococcus aureus genotype B (GTB) in bulk tank milk was developed and evaluated. The detection of this pathogen in bulk tank milk would greatly facilitate its control, as it is responsible for great economic loss in Swiss dairy herds. The assay is based on the simultaneous detection of 3 GTB-typical target sequences, including 2 enterotoxin genes and a polymorphism within the leucotoxin E gene. A variety of mastitis-associated bacteria was used to validate the assays, resulting in an analytical specificity of 100% and high repeatability. The analytical sensitivity in milk was 40 cfu/mL. An exponential association between simulated cow prevalence and quantitative PCR result was observed. An initial field study revealed 1 GTB-positive herd among the 33 studied herds. This novel assay for bulk tank milk analysis is suitable for routine purposes and is expected to be an effective tool for minimizing Staph. aureus GTB in Swiss dairy herds.     

Characteristic phenolic composition of the Greek variety Mavrokountoura grape and wine

Mavrokountoura, a clone of the Mandilaria grape cultivar, was studied for the first time. The morphological characteristics and composition of berries were determined, as well as total phenols and tannins in skins, flesh, and seeds. The skin anthocyanins were identified using HPLC-MS/MS and quantified using HPLC-DAD. Two main anthocyanins were identified as malvidin-3-O-glucoside and malvidin-3-O-(6″-p-coumaroyl)-glucoside. One minor anthocyanin was identified as malvidin-3-O-(6″-acetyl)-glucoside. Glycosides of delphinidin, petunidin, and peonidin were detected in traces. Young Mavrokountoura wine was also studied. Extraction of total phenols from the grape to the young wine amounted to 32%, composing mainly non-tannic phenols. The individual anthocyanin components exhibited different extractability values from the skin to wine, ranging between 10–94%.     

Influence of arsenate adsorption to ferrihydrite, goethite, and boehmite on the kinetics of arsenate reduction by Shewanella putrefaciens strain CN-32

The kinetics of As(V) reduction by Shewanella putrefaciens strain CN-32 was investigated in suspensions of 0.2, 2, or 20 g L(-1) ferrihydrite, goethite, or boehmite at low As (10 μM) and lactate (25 μM) concentrations. Experimental data were compared with model predictions based on independently determined sorption isotherms and rates of As(V) desorption, As(III) adsorption, and microbial reduction of dissolved As(V), respectively. The low lactate concentration was chosen to prevent significant Fe(III) reduction, but still allowing complete As(V) reduction. Reduction of dissolved As(V) followed first-order kinetics with a 3 h half-life of As(V). Addition of mineral sorbents resulted in pronounced decreases in reduction rates (32-1540 h As(V) half-life). The magnitude of this effect increased with increasing sorbent concentration and sorption capacity (goethite < boehmite < ferrihydrite). The model consistently underestimated the concentrations of dissolved As(V) and the rates of microbial As(V) reduction after addition of S. putrefaciens (～5 × 10(9) cells mL(-1)), suggesting that attachment of S. putrefaciens cells to oxide mineral surfaces promoted As(V) desorption and thereby facilitated As(V) reduction. The interplay between As(V) sorption to mineral surfaces and bacterially induced desorption may thus be critical in controlling the kinetics of As reduction and release in reducing soils and sediments.     

Methodological characteristics of the national dietary surveys carried out in the European Union as included in the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Comprehensive European Food Consumption Database

In 2009 competent organisations in the European Union provided the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) with data from the most recent national dietary survey at the level of individuals' consumption. Twenty different Member States provided EFSA with data from 22 different national dietary surveys, with consumption figures for adults and, when available, for children. Member States' dietary data were assembled into the EFSA Comprehensive European Food Consumption Database. In this paper an overview of the methodologies and protocols employed in the different national dietary surveys is provided. Specifically, details about dietary assessment methods, interview administration, sampling design, portion size estimation, dietary software, evaluation of under-reporting and non-dietary information collected are described. This information is crucial to evaluate the level of accuracy of food consumption data and to anticipate and acknowledge the utmost important sources of heterogeneity of national databases included in the Comprehensive Database. The Comprehensive Database constitutes a unique resource for the estimation of consumption figures across the European Union and represents a useful tool to assess dietary exposure to hazardous substances and nutrient intake in Europe. Nevertheless, the many substantial methodological differences that characterise the Comprehensive Database are acknowledged and critically discussed.     

Quantifizierende calciumspezies-analytik im wein zur frage der calciumstabilit?t

Zusammenfassung Die Calciumspezies-Stabilität als dekadischer Logarithmus der Komplex-Stabilitätskonstanten nach dem Massenwirkungsgesetz in Wein wird mit Hilfe der Direktpotentiometrie mit Ca-selektiver Elektrode (für die Calciumionenkonzentration) sowie der Photometrie (Ca-Gesamtgehalt) in 16 lager-stabilen Weinen (Ca-Gehalte zwischen 60 und 120 mg/l) mit 3,50±0,20 (Bereich 3,11–3,79) ermittelt. Durch Methodenvergleiche (Photometrie und AAS für Gesamtgehalte sowie Direktpotentiometrie und Ionenaustauschmethode für die Ionenkonzentration) wurden diese Ergebnisse abgesichert. Die Anwendung von Weinbehandlungsverfahren wie der Adsorption phenolischer Stoffe an Polyvinylpolypyrrolidin (PVPP) sowie der Ultrafiltration zur Abtrennung höhermolekularer Eiweißstoffe zeigte keine wesentlichen Veränderungen der Elementspezies-Stabilitäten. Bei einer Entsäuerung mit CaCO₃ oder nach der Doppelsalz-Entsäuerung wurde dagegen nicht nur ein Anstieg der Calciumgesamtgehalte auf 200 bis 535 mg/1 sondern auch eine deutliche Abnahme der Calciumspezies-Stabilität auf Werte von 2,2 bis 2,8 festgestellt. die nach dem Auskristallisieren von Calciumverbindungen nach einigen Wochen wieder Werte um 3 erreicht. Die Lagerstabilität eines Weines im Hinblick auf Calcium kann somit nach der Bestimmung der Calciumspezies-Stabilität beurteilt werden.

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Quantifying analysis of calcium species in wine from the point of view of calcium stability

Summary The stability of calcium species, expressed as the decadic logarithm of the complex stability constant after the chemical equilibrium had been established, was determined to be 3.50 ± 0.20 (range 3.11–3.79) by direct potentiometry with a calcium-selective electrode (for the calcium ion concentration) as well as photometry (total Ca content) in 16 storage-stable wines (Ca contents between 60 and 120 mg/1). By comparing the methods of photometry, AAS (for the total content) and direct potentiometry as well as ion-exchange method for ion concentrations, the results were verified. The treatment of the wine by the adsorption of phenolic substances on polyvinylpolypyrrolidine (PVPP) and by ultrafiltration for the separation of higher molecular proteins showed no significant changes in the stabilities of the calcium species. After deacidification with CaCO₃ or after salt deacidification had been performed twice, not only an increase in the total calcium content occured (200–535 mg/1), but there was also an evident decrease in the stabilities of the calcium species, which had values of 2.2–2.8 and reached values of 3 after crystallization of the calcium species. The storage stability of a wine, with respect to calcium, can be estimated after the determination of the stability of the calcium species.

     

Antarctic springtime depletion of atmospheric mercury

Unlike other heavy metals that are inherently associated with atmospheric aerosols, mercury in ambient air exists predominantly in the gaseous elemental form. Because of its prolonged atmospheric residence time, elemental mercury vapor is distributed on a global scale. Recently, Canadian researchers have discovered that total gaseous mercury levels in the lower tropospheric boundary layer in the Canadian Arctic are often significantly depleted during the months after polar sunrise. A possible explanation may involve oxidation of elemental mercury, followed by adsorption and deposition of the oxidized form, leading to an increased input of atmospheric mercury into the Arctic ecosystem. Here we present the first continuous high-time-resolution measurements of total gaseous mercury in the Antarctic covering a 12-month period between January 2000 and January 2001 at the German Antarctic research station Neumayer (70 degrees 39' S, 8 degrees 15' W). We report that mercury depletion events also occur in the Antarctic after polar sunrise and compare our measurements with a data setfrom Alert, Nunavut, Canada. We also present indications that BrO radicals and ozone play a key role in the boundary-layer chemistry during springtime mercury depletion events in the Antarctic troposphere.     

Microbial growth,communities and sensory characteristics of vacuum and modified atmosphere packaged lamb shoulders

Packaging fresh lamb in a vacuum (VAC) versus a 100% CO₂ modified atmosphere (MAP) may influence product shelf-life and the bacterial communities. While VAC is a common packing method and 100% CO₂ MAP is used in some countries, there is little information about how these different techniques affect the growth of spoilage bacteria and sensory attributes of lamb. The aim of this study was to assess changes in microbiological and organoleptic properties, and determine differences in microbial communities by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (TRFLP) and 454 pyrosequencing, in bone-in (BI) and bone-out (BO) MAP- and VAC-packed lamb shoulders stored at −0.3 °C over 12 wk. VAC and MAP lamb shoulders were acceptable in sensory test scores over 12 wk of storage at −0.3 °C, despite total viable count (TVC) and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) levels increasing to 8 log₁₀ CFU/cm² for VAC lamb and 4–6 log₁₀ CFU/cm² for MAP lamb. Similar to the sensory results, there were no significant differences in microbial communities between BI and BO product. However, types of bacteria were different between VAC and MAP packaging. Specifically, while VAC shoulder became dominated by Carnobacterium spp. in the middle of the storage period, the MAP shoulder microbial population remained similar from the start until later storage times.