Field-coupled computing in magnetic multilayers

This paper presents a computational study of ion-beam patterned cobalt-platinum multilayers, which could be used for field-coupled computing. We use micromagnetic simulations to reproduce measured hysteresis curves. This parameterized micromagnetic simulator then will be used for simulating interacting magnetic dots. We demonstrate how logic gates can be built from such coupled dots. We also show how electrical wires—placed beneath or above the magnetic dots—can provide a magnetic field, which propagates the magnetic signals.     

ESBL-producing E. coli in Austrian sewage sludge

The aim of this study was to investigate the degree of contamination of sewage sludge with ESBL-producing Escherichia coli strains and the effectiveness of different sewage sludge treatment methods.Monthly sewage sludge samples were collected between January and September 2009 in 5 different sewage treatment plants and tested for the presence of ESBL E. coli. In addition, the number of colony forming units (CFU) of E. coli and coliform bacteria before and after the different sludge treatment methods (aerobic/anaerobic digestion, lime stabilization, and thermal treatment) was investigated.Of the 72 sewage sludge samples investigated, ESBL-positive E. coli were found in 44 (61.1%) sewage sludge samples. The classification of β-lactamase groups was carried out in 15 strains resulting in the detection of 2 different groups (CTX-M and TEM) of bla genes. All 15 of them had a CTX-M gene and 4 of these strains furthermore carried a TEM gene.With regard to the CFU of E. coli and coliform bacteria, thermal treatment and lime stabilization following dehydration sufficiently reduced pathogen concentrations. The plants using merely stabilization and dehydration showed an increase of E. coli and coliform bacteria and thus also an increase in ESBL-producing E. coli.     

A thermodynamic criterion for selection of working fluid for subcritical and supercritical domestic micro CHP

A thermodynamic criterion for selection of a fluid both for subcritical and supercritical organic Rankine cycle has been proposed. Theoretical performances of few fluids have been comparatively assessed for use in low-temperature domestic organic Rankine cycle micro systems. Of the 20 fluids investigated, ethanol, R123 and R141b appear as the most suitable for small scale domestic CHP applications.     

Studies of Bainitic Steel for Rail Applications Based on Carbide-Free,Low-Alloy Steel

Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A - This paper describes the development and characterisation of bainitic steel for rail applications based on carbide-free, low-alloy steel. The results...     

Analysis of Residual Stresses and Dislocation Density of AA6082 Butt Welds Produced by Friction Sir Welding

Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A - The Friction Stir Welding (FSW) method was employed to join AA6082 sheets. The welds were produced with different tool traverse speed (200 and...     

Preparation of scratch resistant superhydrophobic hybrid coatings by sol–gel process

Organic–inorganic hybrid coatings on glass substrates with superhydrophobic properties and with improved scratch resistance were obtained by means of applying a multilayer approach including multiple sol–gel processes. The coatings exhibited a water contact angle (WCA) higher than 150°. Ultraviolet (UV)-curable vinyl ester resins and vinyltriethoxysilane (VTEOS) as coupling agent were employed to increase the adhesion between substrate and the inorganic layers. The surfaces were characterized by means of dynamic contact angle and roughness measurements. Indeed, the occurrence of superhydrophobic behavior was observed. The scratch resistance of the hybrid coatings was tested to evaluate the adhesion of the coatings to the glass substrate. The proposed preparation method for scratch resistant, mechanically stable, superhydrophobic coatings is simple and can be applied on large areas of different kinds of substrates.     

Multicompartment Tubular Micromotors Toward Enhanced Localized Active Delivery

A tubular micromotor with spatially resolved compartments is presented toward efficient site-specific cargo delivery, with a back-end zinc (Zn) propellant engine segment and an upfront cargo-loaded gelatin segment further protected by a pH-responsive cap. The multicompartment micromotors display strong gastric-powered propulsion with tunable lifetime depending on the Zn segment length. Such propulsion significantly enhances the motor distribution and retention in the gastric tissues, by pushing and impinging the front-end cargo segment onto the stomach wall. Once the micromotor penetrates the gastric mucosa (pH ≥ 6.0), its pH-responsive cap dissolves, promoting the autonomous localized cargo release. The fabrication process, physicochemical properties, and propulsion behavior are systematically tested and discussed. Using a mouse model, the multicompartment motors, loaded with a model cargo, demonstrate a homogeneous cargo distribution along with approximately four-fold enhanced retention in the gastric lining compared to monocompartment motors, while showing no apparent toxicity. Therapeutic payloads can also be loaded into the pH-responsive cap, in addition to the gelatin-based compartment, leading to concurrent delivery and sequential release of dual cargos toward combinatorial therapy. Overall, this multicompartment micromotor system provides unique features and advantages that will further advance the development of synthetic micromotors for active transport and localized delivery of biomedical cargos.     

Studies of bacterial adhesion on TiN, SiO2-TiO2 and hydroxyapatite thin layers deposited on titanium and Ti6Al4V alloy for medical applications

The Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilm formation on titanium or titanium alloy, coated with TiN, SiO₂-TiO₂ and electrodeposited hydroxyapatite, was tested. Surfaces of titanium, Ti6Al4V alloy or TiN, modified with SiO₂-TiO₂ layer, were found to be highly resistant to bacterial adhesion. Only small amounts of bacterial cells were observed on matrices coated by thin hydroxyapatite films, deposited on both SiO₂-TiO₂ and TiN + SiO₂-TiO₂ interlayers. Biological tests showed that the biofilm formed massively on polished and ground titanium and titanium alloy surfaces, also those covered with TiN, but not on those modified with SiO₂-TiO₂ nanofilm.