Beurteilung der Reinigbarkeit von Oberflächen bei partikulärer Kontamination

Hygienic impeccable surfaces are, e.g., in food technology and healthcare facilities conditionally essential. Does a presence of fine particular contamination occur, adhesion forces between particles and surfaces are relevant. In this paper the cleaning‐process of materials, which are often used in cleanrooms are focused. The surface properties, which influence the dislodgement of particles are observed. There are two groups of materials used for the experiments, which are commonly used in hygienic relevant places in healthcare facilities.     

Effect of Water Stress and Fungal Inoculation on Monoterpene Emission from an Historical and a New Pine Host of the Mountain Pine Beetle

The mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae, MPB) has killed millions of lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) trees in Western Canada, and recent range expansion has resulted in attack of jack pine (Pinus banksiana) in Alberta. Establishment of MPB in the Boreal forest will require use of jack pine under a suite of environmental conditions different from those it typically encounters in its native range. Lodgepole and jack pine seedlings were grown under controlled environment conditions and subjected to either water deficit or well watered conditions and inoculated with Grosmannia clavigera, a MPB fungal associate. Soil water content, photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, and emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were monitored over the duration of the six-week study. Monoterpene content of bark and needle tissue was measured at the end of the experiment. β-Phellandrene, the major monoterpene in lodgepole pine, was almost completely lacking in the volatile emission profile of jack pine. The major compound in jack pine was α-pinene. The emission of both compounds was positively correlated with stomatal conductance. 3-Carene was emitted at a high concentration from jack pine seedlings, which is in contrast to monoterpene profiles of jack pine from more southern and eastern parts of its range. Fungal inoculation caused a significant increase in total monoterpene emission in water deficit lodgepole pine seedlings right after its application. By 4 weeks into the experiment, water deficit seedlings of both species released significantly lower levels of total monoterpenes than well watered seedlings. Needle tissue contained lower total monoterpene content than bark. Generally, monoterpene tissue content increased over time independent from any treatment. The results suggest that monoterpenes that play a role in pine-MPB interactions differ between lodgepole and jack pine, and also that they are affected by water availability.     

High density, dialysis culture of algae on sewage

Scenedesmus obliquus inoculated on tap water was grown in dialysis tubing suspended in raw sewage. Osmotic contact with the surrounding bacterial medium had a powerful stimulatory effect on algal growth. Algal biomass prolifered on the nutrients extracted from the waste water—without being mixed with it. The method seems to be promising for the production of single-cell algal protein from sewage.     

Additive Fertigung mit Beton – Leitfaden für die Planung und die Durchführung von Projekten

Additive manufacturing with concrete – guidance for planning and implementation of projects This guideline, created by the DAfStb Working Group “Digital Concrete Construction through Additive Manufacturing,” serves as a comprehensive resource to support the planning and implementation of additive manufacturing projects in concrete construction. It is intended for architects, planners, applicants, material manufacturers, construction companies, and other parties involved in construction. After a brief introduction to the classification, terminology, and methods of additive manufacturing, legal aspects and approval procedures are highlighted to ensure seamless integration of this technology into construction practice. The guide addresses the integration of additive manufacturing methods with concrete into construction law, explains the approval process, and offers assistance for coordinating responsibilities in projects. It addresses technical rules for the design and construction of structures, particularly for walls produced by additive manufacturing, and covers constructive aspects of reinforcement. An important component is concrete and component testing, including methods for sample preparation and testing procedures for fresh and hardened concrete, making the guide a useful tool for professionals in the field of digital concrete construction.     

Microstructure in copper interconnects - Influence of plating additive concentration

Downscaling of copper interconnects is demanding more knowledge about the microstructure and grain growth mechanisms in sub 100 nm dimensions. Large grains are needed to reduce the resistivity and to increase the reliability of narrow lines. Plating additives are used for a void free filling of the interconnecting vias and lines. Fractions of these additives are incorporated into the copper as impurities during electrochemical deposition. In the present paper the role of additive concentration on grain growth is investigated. Interconnect lines from 72 nm to 1.9 μm line width were completely filled with copper using different additive concentrations in the electrolyte. The impurity level was measured by time of flight secondary ion mass spectrometry. The samples were stored at room-temperature to achieve self-annealing or tempered at low and high temperatures. Self-annealing slows down with increasing additive concentration whereas bamboo-like grains are present after annealing all samples at high temperatures. Grain growth was studied as well as the average grain size, resistivity, and {1 1 1} texture.     

Biological and Psychological Factors Associated With Memory Function in Fibromyalgia Syndrome.

Fibromyalgia is a stress-related disorder characterized by chronic pain, memory impairment, and neuroendocrine aberrations. With the hypothesis that biological and psychological symptoms may underlie the cognitive problems, the relative influences of neuroendocrine function and psychological factors on declarative memory were examined among 50 women with fibromyalgia. This within-group analysis controlled for age, education, pain, and relevant medications. Neuroendocrine function and depression had significant independent associations with memory function. Higher log-transformed mean salivary cortisol levels were associated with better performance on both immediate and delayed visual recall and with delayed verbal recall. Depressive symptoms were negatively associated with verbal recall. These findings suggest that a basic disorder of endocrine stress responses may contribute to the cognitive symptoms experienced by fibromyalgia patients. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Hydrogen peroxide in bioelectrochemical systems negatively affects microbial current generation

Journal of Applied Electrochemistry - Hydrogen peroxide produced in the cathode of a bioelectrochemical system (BES) enables on-site disinfection of water using electrons derived from the...     

Modulation of Mitochondriotropic Properties of Cyanine Dyes by in Organello Copper‐Free Click Reaction

Cyanine (Cy) dyes show a general propensity to localize in polarized mitochondria. This mitochondriotropism was used to perform a copper‐free click reaction in the mitochondria of living cells. The in organello reaction of dyes Cy3 and Cy5 led to a product that was easily traceable by Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET). As determined by confocal laser scanning microscopy, the Cy3–Cy5 conjugate showed enhanced retention in mitochondria, relative to that of the starting compounds. This enhancement of a favorable property can be achieved by synthesis in organello, but not outside mitochondria.     

Association of acyl-CoA-binding protein (ACBP) single nucleotide polymorphisms and type 2 diabetes in two German study populations

The human acyl-CoA-binding protein (ACBP) is a potential candidate gene of type 2 diabetes (T2D), since it plays a central role in determining the intracellular concentration of activated fatty acids which contribute to insulin resistance. The aim of our study was to evaluate whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the ACBP gene are associated with risk of T2D. Genotyping of eight SNPs (rs2084202, rs3731607, rs8192501, rs8192504, rs2244135, rs2276596, rs8192506, rs2289948) was performed in 192 incident T2D subjects and 384 matched controls of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition-Potsdam cohort. A putative promoter SNP (rs2084202) of splice variant ACBP 1c showed decreased risk of T2D (odds ratio (OR) 0.63, 95% CI 0.41-0.96). The haplotype, that contained the mutant base of rs2084202 showed similar evidence for the association with disease risk as single SNP rs2084202. In a second population-based study, Cooperative Health Research in the Augsburg Region of 226 individuals with T2D and 863 control subjects a borderline significant association between rs2084202 and T2D (OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.51-1.01) was observed. In summary, we obtained evidence from two Caucasian study populations that the minor allele of ACBP rs2084202 might be associated with reduced risk of T2D.