Size-dependent electron transfer from PbSe quantum dots to SnO2 monitored by picosecond Terahertz spectroscopy

We report the direct and unambiguous determination of electron transfer rates and efficiencies from PbSe quantum dots (QDs) to mesoporous SnO2 films. We monitor the time-dependent electron density within the oxide with picosecond time resolution using Terahertz spectroscopy, following optical excitation of the QDs using a femtosecond laser pulse. QD-oxide electron transfer occurs with efficiencies of ～2% in our samples under 800 nm pumping with a marked dependence on QD size, ranging from ～100 ps injection times for the smallest, ～2 nm diameter QDs, to ～1 ns time scale for ～7 nm QDs. The size-dependent electron transfer rates are modeled within the framework of Marcus theory and the implications of the results for device design are discussed.     

The study on the impact of glycated pea proteins on human intestinal bacteria

The traditionally perceived function of nutrition includes supplying the consumer with the appropriate quantity and quality of substrates. As nutritional substrates, proteins are prone to spontaneously occurring non-enzymatic glycosylation (glycation) which can alter their molecular structure, making them highly bioactive. Glycated food proteins are able to modify the bacterial intestinal ecosystem, which is of great importance for the optimal usage of nutrients and maintenance of both intestinal homeostasis and balanced health status of the consumer. This study aimed to determine the impact of glycated pea proteins on the intestinal bacteria from a healthy human. The analyses were conducted with the use of experimental batch-type simulator models imitating human intestinal conditions. The glycated pea proteins affected the growth of gut commensal bacteria, particularly lactobacilli and bifidobacteria, whose levels increased significantly. There was a corresponding shift in the bacterial metabolites with increased levels of the short chain fatty acids (SCFAs); acetate, propionate lactate and butyrate. Intestinal bacteria were able to utilize these pea proteins thus indicating that the energy encrypted in glycated pea proteins, partially inaccessible for gastric enzymes, may be salvaged by gut microbiota. Such changes in microbial composition may beneficially impact the intestinal environment and exert a health-promoting effect in humans.     

Nature of the second optical transition in PbSe nanocrystals

The second peak in the optical absorption spectrum of PbSe nanocrystals is arguably the most discussed optical transition in semiconductor nanocrystals. Ten years of scientific debate have produced many theoretical and experimental claims for the assignment of this feature as the 1P e1P h as well as the 1S h,e1P e,h transitions. We studied the nature of this absorption feature by pump-probe spectroscopy, exactly controlling the occupation of the states involved, and present conclusive evidence that the optical transition involves neither 1S e nor 1S h states. This suggests that it is the 1P h1P e transition that gives rise to the second peak in the absorption spectrum of PbSe nanocrystals.     

Dutch and American waterway development: identification and classification of instruments for value creation

Waterways can serve society in a variety of ways. However, authorities responsible for maintenance and development of waterways often have a sectoral focus. They strive for cost-efficient solutions within their restricted scope; broader development of socio-economic value receives little attention. This can be seen in, e.g. the Netherlands and the USA. Both countries have strong national authorities responsible for the navigation function of waterways. The societal call for broader optimization is recognized, but a systemized response to this call is lacking. Nevertheless, both authorities make attempts towards increasing the socio-economic value of their capital waterway projects by deploying instruments for broader optimization. Six recent cases, in which such attempts were made, are studied with the aim of identifying and classifying the instruments deployed. Identification and classification are needed to evaluate where gaps and opportunities lie for more systemized responses. From these cases, a total of 15 instruments are identified which stimulated broad optimization. These instruments are classified by identifying the transaction characteristics associated with these instruments. The results show overlaps and voids in the domains these instruments address. For practitioners, the results can be helpful to navigate through the planning and implementation phase of waterway projects.     

Regioselective Organocatalytic Formation of Carbamates from Substituted Cyclic Carbonates

A highly regioselective catalytic approach has been developed towards carbamates derived from cyclic organic carbonates by reaction of the latter with amine reagents under organocatalytic control. For various combinations of carbonate and amine substrates, an organocatalyst (TBD: 1,5,7‐triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec‐5‐ene) was used to increase the reaction kinetics while exerting excellent regioselective control. The current method is the first general approach towards the control over the regioselectivity of this reaction using a wide variety of easily accessed substituted organic carbonates.

     

Molecular characterization of lactic acid bacteria and in situ amylase expression during traditional fermentation of cereal foods

Lactic acid bacteria play an important role in traditional fermented foods consumed in different countries. Study of their taxonomic structure and diversity is necessary for starter culture selection, improved safety and nutritional enhancement. To achieve these objectives, microbial genomic typing methods were used to study genetic differences of autochthonous bacteria and their distribution in two traditional African fermented cereal foods. A total of 85 predominant bacterial species were isolated from ogi and kunu-zaki obtained from Northern and Southern geographical region of Nigeria. They were identified using combination of 16S rRNA gene sequencing, multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) based on rpoA, pheS and atpA genes as well as M13-PCR gel fingerprints. The results showed that Lactobacillus fermentum was the most frequently isolated species in ogi (71.4%) and kunu-zaki (84.5%). Other species of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) identified were Lactobacillus plantarum, Streptococcus gallolyticus subsp. macedonicus and Pediococcus pentosaceus. Non lactic acid bacteria isolated from these foods were species belonging to the Bacillus and Staphylococcus. Non-metric multidimensional scaling (nMDS) analysis of the M13-PCR fingerprints for LAB strains showed clonal diversity among strains of the same species. In vitro and in situ expression of amylase gene during fermentation by amylolytic L. plantarum ULAG11 was detected, indicating the potential usefulness of such species for development of starter cultures and for controlled fermentation processes.     

A Model of Foam Filters

Filtration with foam filters is reported as a successful method to remove inclusions from top-cut silicon scrap. Inclusions in top-cut silicon scrap are needle-like Si₃N₄ particles and round SiC inclusions. A high filtration efficiency of more than 99 pct for 30-ppi SiC filters is achieved. The inclusions that remain are mainly SiC particles smaller than 10 μm. Possibly these particles are primarily secondary inclusions. The filtration efficiency increases with decreasing filter pore size. The main factor that plays a role in deep-bed filtration seems to be interception. Various models are considered to estimate the removal efficiency of foam filters by this mechanism. Here, we propose a new model called “the branch” model. This model gives a high filtration efficiency and agrees the best with the experimental results.     

Do We Need to Rethink Our Waterways? Values of Ageing Waterways in Current and Future Society

In the past canals were developed, and some rivers were heavily altered, driven by the need for good transportation infrastructure. Major investments were made in navigation locks, weirs and artificial embankments, and many of these assets are now reaching the end of their technical lifetime. Since then the concept of integrated water resource management (IWRM) emerged as a concept to manage and develop water-bodies in general. Two pressing problems arise from these developments: (1) major reinvestment is needed in order to maintain the transportation function of these waterways, and (2), it is not clear how the implementation of the concept of IWRM can be brought into harmony with such reinvestment. This paper aims to illustrate the problems in capital-intensive parts of waterway systems, and argues for exploring value-driven solutions that rely on the inclusion of multiple values, thus solving both funding problems and stakeholder conflicts. The focus on value in cooperative strategies is key to defining viable implementation strategies for waterway projects.     

Invariant-based reasoning about parameterized security protocols

We explore the applicability of the programming method of Feijen and van Gasteren to the domain of security protocols. This method addresses the derivation of concurrent programs from a formal specification, and it is based on common notions like invariants and pre- and post-conditions. We show that fundamental security concepts like secrecy and authentication can nicely be specified in this way. Using some small extensions, the style of formal reasoning from this method can be applied to the security domain. To demonstrate our approach, we discuss an authentication protocol and a public-key distribution protocol, and we deal with their composition. By focussing on a general setting where agents run the protocols multiple times, the nonce concept turns out to pop-up naturally. Although this work does not contain any new protocols, it does offer a new view on reasoning about security protocols.