On neutron phase contrast imaging

Improving the spatial resolution conditions in a neutron imaging experiment enables the detection of phase-based contrast in addition to attenuation contrast. Addressing not only the amplitude but also the phase of radiation in an imaging experiment allows for obtaining additional information about the sample. The so-called neutron phase contrast method improves imaging results mainly by edge enhancement which increases the visibility of sub-resolution structures and of low attenuation contrast materials. These effects have been found at high intensity synchrotron X-ray sources before and have been applied to neutron imaging recently. However, the excellent coherence conditions and spatial resolution of imaging instruments at state-of-the-art synchrotron sources can hardly be compared to neutron imaging. Nevertheless, edge enhancement has been found for increased resolution (coherence) conditions in neutron experiments as well. As for X-ray instruments the effects have been explained by diffraction, although typical interference fringes have never been recorded. In contrast this article will explain the effects measured with neutron radiation by refraction and total reflection. Both of these do not require high spatial coherence. Therefore improved resolution and not increased coherence will be considered as precondition to obtain the reported signals and to understand the results. Considerations concerning relaxed collimation requirements for improved detector resolutions will be presented as a consequence.     

On the kinetics of isothermal crystallization of branched polyethylene

Isothermal crystallization of branched polyethylene was studied by time-dependent small-angle X-ray scattering experiments and dilatometry. A strict proportionality between scattering intensities and density changes was found for all times. This result indicates complete absence of crystal thickening and perfectioning processes. Isotherms directly reflect the increase in specific inner surface resulting from nucleation and lateral growth of lamellae. The shape of isotherms suggests a time-dependent non-uniform internal structure of spherulites with a decrease in specific inner surface with increasing distance from centre.     

Resilience of riparian vegetation after restoration measures on River Inn

River restoration is widely applied, although its effects are poorly understood, and degraded habitats might be difficult to improve. Moreover, there is a lack of monitoring as well as few systematic comparisons of restoration methods. This study presents results of a 4‐year monitoring on River Inn (southern Germany) investigating restoration by gravel or sand addition or embankment removal. The results were compared with reference sites that represent the pre‐restoration conditions. At the landscape scale, we analysed vegetation types based on aerial photographs, whereas at a smaller scale, we undertook vegetation surveys and evaluated species composition, growth, and life form, as well as the proportion of the target vegetation. After 4 years, the data indicated a “negative resilience” of the vegetation back to the state prior to restoration. The structural analysis revealed an extensive spread of reed at expense of bare soil. Thus, the species composition largely regressed to the pre‐restoration conditions, and neither annuals nor other pioneer species showed a long‐term benefit of river restoration. There were differences among the three restoration treatments after 2 years, but no longer after 4 years. However, the river restoration had three positive outcomes: (a) There was a temporary benefit for pioneer vegetation that most likely replenished the seed bank of the respective species, (b) the valuable reed communities showed resilience, and (c) the measures allowed some practical learning as expected for adaptive restoration.     

Optimization of scale and parametrization for terrain segmentation: An application to soil-landscape modeling

This paper presents a procedure to optimize parametrization and scale for terrain-based environmental modeling. The workflow was exemplified on crop yield data, which is assumed to represent a proxy for soil productivity. Focal mean statistics were used to generate different scale levels of terrain derivatives by increasing the neighborhood size in calculation. The degree of association between each terrain derivative and crop yield values was established iteratively for all scale levels through correlation analysis. The first peak of correlation indicated the scale level to be further retained. To select the best combination of terrain parameters that explains the variation of crop yield, we ran stepwise multiple regressions with appropriately scaled terrain parameters as independent variables. These techniques proved that the mean curvature, filtered over a neighborhood of 55 m, together with slope, made up the optimal combination to account for patterns of soil productivity.To illustrate the importance of scale, we compared the regression results of unfiltered and filtered mean curvature vs. crop yield. The comparison shows an improvement of R² from a value of 0.01 when the curvature was not filtered, to 0.16 when the curvature was filtered within 55×55 m neighborhood size.The results were further used in an object-based image analysis environment to create terrain objects containing aggregated values of both terrain derivatives and crop yield. Hence, we introduce terrain segmentation as an alternative method for generating scale levels in terrain-based environmental modeling, besides existing per-cell methods. At the level of segments, R² improved up to a value of 0.47.     

Beschichtungssysteme für Verbindungselemente in Kontakt mit Leichtmetallen

Coating systems for joining elements in contact with light metals Galvanic corrosion of light metal alloys can only be avoided, if the steel fasteners are given an electrochemically compatible protection or if the corrosion circuit is interrupted by electric insulating layers. Current density vs. potential curves of chromated zinc alloy coatings show, that by means of zinc nickel coatings a largely electrochemical adaption to the equilibrium potential of quenchaged aluminium alloys of the type AlMgSi is possible. On the other hand, the equilibrium potentials of chromated systems based on ZnFe, ZnCo respectively, are too low to avoid galvanic corrosion on aluminium. In practicerelated corrosion tests on joining elements, this result was confirmed. Besides this, zinc- and aluminium-bearing sintersystems, galvanic tin depositions as well as ternary mechanical coatings based on ZnSnAl have been proved to be compatible with AlMgSi-type alloys. For coating systems in contact with magnesium a satisfactory protection against galvanic corrosion can be achieved effectively with insulating top coats. The results with suitable duplex systems are presented and recommendations for practical applications are derived.     

Both Epstein-Barr viral nuclear antigen 2 (EBNA2) and activated Notch1 transactivate genes by interacting with the cellular protein RBP-J kappa

The Epstein-Barr viral nuclear antigen 2 (EBNA2) plays a key role during establishment and maintenance of B cell immortalization after Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. EBNA2 acts as a transactivator of cellular and viral genes. We studied two EBNA2 regulated viral promoters (TP1 promoter and LMP/TP2 promoter) in detail to learn more about the molecular mechanisms of EBNA2-mediated transactivation. In both promoters we could identify at least one binding site for the cellular repressor protein RBP-J kappa. EBNA2 is tethered to the EBNA2 responsive promoter elements by interaction with this cellular protein. Although necessary, the binding of RBP-J kappa is not sufficient for EBNA2-mediated transactivation. At least two further cellular proteins, which are different in the studied promoters are important for efficient transactivation. The identification of RBP-J kappa as central mediator of EBNA2 transactivation suggested an interference of EBNA2 with the highly conserved Notch receptor signal transduction pathway. We could show that an activated form of the Notch receptor can transactivate a reporter construct containing a hexamer of the two RBP-J kappa binding sites of the TP1 promoter supporting the idea that EBNA2 acts as a functional equivalent of an activated Notch receptor.     

Induktivitäten in Gleichrichterschaltungen

Zusammenfassung Eine einphasige Drossel mit herausgeführtem Mittelpunkt, die über einen Zweiweggleichrichter in Nullpunktschaltung einen Gleichstromverbraucher speist, kann durch entsprechende Bemessung der Kopplung zwischen ihren beiden Wicklungshälften zur Glättung des Gleichstromes herangezogen werden. Der Aufwand wird dabei zwar größer als bei besonderer Gleichstromdrossel, aber die Aufteilung auf zwei getrennte Einrichtungen, nämlich Transformator und Drossel, wird vermieden. Die Glättung ist mit dem Auftreten eines magnetischen Gleichstromfeldes in der Drossel verknüpft, und die Schaltung ist vorteilhaft verwendbar, wenn nicht der Gleichstrom sondern ein solches Magnetfeld erzeugt werden soll. Außer dem Magneten, der also mit zwei Wicklungen versehen ist und einem Zweiweggleichrichter sind dazu keine weiteren Einrichtungen notwendig. Eine solche Anordnung wurde durch Rechnung und Messung untersucht. Es zeigt sich, daß der Magnet nur um wenige Prozente größer zu bemessen ist, als wenn er mit reinem Gleichstrom erregt wäre und daß das erzeugte Feld nur ganz geringe Oberwellen hat. Der Versuch, bei dem der zeitliche Feldverlauf dadurch bestimmt wurde, daß die vom Feld in einen fremd angetriebenen Kommutatoranker induzierte Ankerspannung gemessen wurde, zeigt weitgehende Übereinstimmung mit der Rechnung.     

Zur Lage des Bergbaus: Entwicklungen auf internationaler und nationaler Ebene

Mineral raw materials are essential for maintaining and improving our quality of life. Thus they are of fundamental importance for a prosperous economy. Global mining production shows an all-time high of 17.4 billion tons in 2014. Asia and Oceania have demonstrated a significant increase in mining production in recent years, whereas Europe shows an opposite trend. In general, the oversupply of mineral raw materials has led to a drop in commodity prices in recent times.     

Fracture toughness of silicon nitride balls via thermal shock

A new method for fracture toughness determination of ceramic balls is presented. The starter crack is introduced into the surface of the ball by a Knoop indentation followed by grinding off the deformed zone. The loading through surface tensile stresses is realized by water quenching, i.e. dropping the heated ball into water. The temperature difference is stepwise increased to find the critical temperature difference for the initiation of crack growth. The geometric factor is calculated in a parametric finite element study, whereas the temperature distribution in the ball was previously determined by using the Biot concept. Combining experimentally measured critical temperature differences for different cracksizes and ball diameters with numerical results of the geometric factor, the fracture toughness of the silicon nitride balls is evaluated. For the evaluation, the knowledge of several material properties (e.g. the CTE) and other parameters is necessary, which have influence on the precision of the measurement. The overall measurement uncertainty is estimated to be about ± 10 %, what roughly corresponds to the value determined with standard measurement procedures. There is an excellent agreement with published fracture toughness results of these balls determined by the modified Surface Crack in Flexure procedure.