Growth and characterization of tetragonal bismuth ferrite–lead titanate thin films

Thin films of tetragonal bismuth ferrite–lead titanate (1 − x)BiFeO₃–xPbTiO₃ with x = 0.9–0.7 were prepared by pulsed laser deposition (PLD). The films exhibit a dense columnar grain growth. XRD analysis reveals that the films have a perovskite structure and exhibit a preferred (1 1 1) texture. The film microstructure was studied using SEM. The ferroelectric properties of the films are discussed in the light of polarization-field hysteresis behaviour and impedance spectroscopy. The remanent polarization values ranged between 2P_r  45 and 60 μC cm⁻² at a field amplitude of 500 kV cm⁻¹ and −10 °C, while the dielectric permittivity of the films ranged between 375 and 1096 at a frequency of 2 kHz.     

Development, fabrication, and test of a modular eddy current micro sensor on a flexible polymer foil

This paper describes the development and fabrication of a modular eddy current micro sensor on a flexible polymer foil. Due to handling purposes during the micro sensor fabrication process the modular eddy current micro sensors are fabricated on a temporary Si substrate. To enable a release of the micro sensors at the end of the fabrication process, initial investigations concentrated on the proof of principle applying a deep reactive-ion etching (DRIE) process to structure the Si wafer. The DRIE process was used to structure Si frames, which serve as carriers for the modular micro sensors. For the evaluation of the fabricated eddy current micro sensors, electrical resistance measurements were accomplished with the integrated anisotropic magneto-resistance (AMR) sensor. The aim of these investigations was to evaluate the influence of the substrate material on the characteristics of the AMR sensor. The electrical output signal of these micro sensors were subsequently compared to electrical resistance measurements of identical AMR sensors fabricated on a Si substrate and served as reference. To prove the capability of the completed eddy current micro sensors, a defect in form of a scratch was created on the surface of a Cu probe and investigated by eddy current testing. The electrical output signal of the eddy current micro sensor was subsequently compared to an optical measurement of the surface profile of this scratch. There is a high correlation between the optical measurements and the signal of the eddy current micro sensor.     

Combined Blockade of TIGIT and CD39 or A2AR Enhances NK-92 Cell-Mediated Cytotoxicity in AML

This study aimed to characterize different natural killer (NK) cell phenotypes on bone marrow and peripheral blood cells from acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients and healthy donors (HDs). Our data show that CD56^dimCD16⁻ and CD56^brightCD16⁻ NK cells represent the predominant NK cell subpopulations in AML, while the CD56^dimCD16⁺ NK cells are significantly reduced compared to HDs. Moreover, TIGIT⁺ and PVRIG⁺ cells cluster on the CD56^dimCD16⁺ subset whereas CD39⁺ and CD38⁺ cells do so on CD56^brightCD16⁻ NK cells in AML. Furthermore, functional effects of (co-)blockade of TIGIT and CD39 or A2AR on NK cell functionality were analyzed. These experiments revealed that the single blockade of the TIGIT receptor results in an increased NK-92 cell-mediated killing of AML cells in vitro. Combined targeting of CD39 or A2AR significantly augments the anti-TIGIT-mediated lysis of AML cells. Our data indicate that distinct NK cell subsets in AML exhibit different immunosuppressive patterns (via the TIGIT/PVRIG receptors and the purinergic pathway). In summary, we conclude that TIGIT, CD39, and A2AR constitute relevant inhibitory checkpoints of NK cells in AML patients. A combinatorial blockade synergistically strengthens NK-92 cell-mediated cytotoxicity. As inhibitors of TIGIT, CD39, and A2AR are clinically available, studies on their combined use could be conducted in the near future.     

Drivers and barriers for implementation of environmental strategies in manufacturing companies

In order for environmental strategies to come into effect in industry practice, they need to be implemented and applied in daily business routines. Based on a dedicated comprehensive international survey in product developing and manufacturing companies, this paper identifies major current drivers for implementing product life cycle oriented environmental strategies but also barriers and obstacles that need to be addressed. On this basis it provides a number of recommendations for manufacturing companies as well as policy makers to consider for a successful implementation of strategic environmental goals in manufacturing industry.     

Recent studies of particle packing in organic coatings

Organic coatings often contain sufficient pigmentation that the pigment volume concentration (PVC) and the critical PVC (CPVC) must be carefully considered. Past work has shown that the CPVC can be identified with the random densest packing of pigment particles after considerations of the adsorbed polymer layer on the particles is taken into account, and that this packing can be predicted by empirical particle packing algorithms developed for mixtures of particle sizes. Recent studies have shown that local fluctuations of pigment and polymer concentrations in a film can lead to local film volumes that can exceed the CPVC even though the average PVC for the whole film (the global PVC) is below the CPVC. These effects are consistent with observations of void formation in films below the CPVC, and can be analyzed by local film statistics. We have also recently performed simulations of particle packing by the compression of multiple hard spheres that allows further insight into local concentration fluctuations in PVC within a film.     

Evaluation of a bacteriocin-producing strain of Pediococcus acidilactici as a biopreservative for “Alheira”, a fermented meat sausage

This study was conducted to evaluate the ability of Pediococcus acidilactici HA-6111-2, a PA-1 bacteriocin-producing lactic acid bacterium (LAB), isolated from “Alheira” to inhibit a cocktail of Listeria innocua strains during production and shelf-life of these products. The bacteriocinogenic culture reduced the Listeria population below the detection limit (1.5log CFU/g) and had no effect on the growth of the natural LAB flora or on the pH. Pathogenic organisms were not detected in any sample. The presence of some virulence factors and antibiotic resistances of the strain to be used as a bioprotective culture were investigated. P. acidilactici HA-6111-2 did not produce any of the biogenic amines tested; no formation of biofilms was observed; more l(+)lactic acid was produced than its isomer d(?); no gelatinase, DNase or lipase activity was recorded; no structural genes for the haemolysin, enterococcal surface protein, hydrolytic compounds, aggregation protein and cell-wall adhesins were detected, no significant antibiotic resistances were found. P. acidilactici HA-6111-2 appears to have potential as a bioprotective culture during “Alheira” fermentation. Moreover, a trained panel considered the protected product to be sensorially acceptable.     

An evaluation of the policy and techno-economic factors affecting the potential for biogas upgrading for transport fuel use in the UK

Gaseous biofuels including biomethane, which has been shown to be more environmentally beneficial than liquid biofuels, should contribute to meeting the challenging UK targets set for the supplying of biofuels to the road transport fuel market. Under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligations the financial incentives for the supply of biofuels have been volatile, e.g. 2008/2009 saw Renewable Transport Fuel Certificate values fall to zero. Any shortfall from the maximum value has significant implications for all biofuels. It is demonstrated that biomethane can be produced at a cost which is competitive with liquid biofuels and fossil fuels within the UK. Technologies such as water scrubbing, pressure swing adsorption and physical and chemical absorption are available to upgrade biogas generated by anaerobic digestion of organic wastes to transport fuel quality, and technologies such as membrane separation and cryogenic distillation are being modified for such an application. The manufacture and sale of biomethane as a transport fuel is also financially competitive with Combined Heat and Power. One limiting factor may be the additional cost of purchasing and maintaining biomethane fuelled vehicles. Support in this area could lead to the rapid expansion of biomethane transport fuel infrastructure and bring significant long term environmental and economic advantages.     

Contemporary genetic structure of walleye (Sander vitreus) reflects a historical inter-basin river diversion

River diversions can have unexpected biological consequences. In the mid-20th century, the upper Ogoki River in northern Ontario was diverted from its original Hudson Bay drainage to flow into the Great Lakes. Although walleye were present in both systems prior to the diversion, the Hudson Bay and Great Lakes watersheds had previously been separated since the early Holocene (7500–8500 years ago). We assessed the effects that this inter-basin diversion has had on the genetic structure of two formerly allopatric populations. We assessed the genetic structure and diversity of walleye in the Ogoki and Little Jackfish river systems and Lake Nipigon (number, distribution, and divergence of identified genetic groups) and quantified the contribution of fish from the historical population (Hudson Bay drainage Ogoki River) and Lake Nipigon to walleye in the Ogoki and Little Jackfish Rivers. Walleye from Ogoki Lake, the Ogoki River diversion through the Little Jackfish River, Lake Nipigon and Nipigon Bay were genotyped at 10 microsatellite loci. Significant genetic differences were detected among sampling locations: walleye from Ogoki Lake, presumably representing fish originally from the historical Ogoki River gene pool, were genetically similar to but statistically distinct from walleye within the diversion. Walleye from sample sites within the diversion and Ombabika Bay appear to form a single genetic group that is largely derived from the Ogoki watershed and differs significantly from walleye in Lake Nipigon and Nipigon Bay. Our findings confirm that the historical river diversion has had long-term effects on the genetic composition of contemporary walleye populations.     

Determination of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins,dibenzofurans, and biphenyls by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry in the negative chemical ionization mode with different reagent gases

Reagent gases that are used in mass spectrometry in the NCI mode for the determination of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), dibenzofurans (PCDFs), and biphenyls (PCBs) are discussed. Ion-molecule reactions and respective characteristic ions that form while using reagent gases (CH(4), O(2), i-C(4)H(10), NH(3), H(2), He, Ar, Xe, SF(6)) or gas mixtures (CH(4)/O(2), Ar/CH(4), CH(4)/H(2)O, Ar/O(2), i-C(4)H(10)/CH(2)Cl(2)/O(2)) are reviewed. It is shown that only CH(4), O(2), CH(4)/O(2), and CH(4)/N(2)O are widely used and well studied, even though-in the case of these reagent gases-there are contradictions between the publications of various authors. Such reagent gases as NH(3) and He are not well studied, but further investigations of their use for the determination of organochlorine pollutants could be of interest. The possibilities of more sensitive and selective determination of PCDDs, PCDFs, and PCBs are discussed.