Controlled Individual Skyrmion Nucleation at Artificial Defects Formed by Ion Irradiation

Magnetic skyrmions are particle‐like deformations in a magnetic texture. They have great potential as information carriers in spintronic devices because of their interesting topological properties and favorable motion under spin currents. A new method of nucleating skyrmions at nanoscale defect sites, created in a controlled manner with focused ion beam irradiation, in polycrystalline magnetic multilayer samples with an interfacial Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction, is reported. This new method has three notable advantages: 1) localization of nucleation; 2) stability over a larger range of external field strengths, including stability at zero field; and 3) existence of skyrmions in material systems where, prior to defect fabrication, skyrmions were not previously obtained by field cycling. Additionally, it is observed that the size of defect nucleated skyrmions is uninfluenced by the defect itself—provided that the artificial defects are controlled to be smaller than the inherent skyrmion size. All of these characteristics are expected to be useful toward the goal of realizing a skyrmion‐based spintronic device. This phenomenon is studied with a range of transmission electron microscopy techniques to probe quantitatively the magnetic behavior at the defects with applied field and correlate this with the structural impact of the defects.     

Coking behavior of nickel and a rhodium based catalyst used in steam reforming for power-to-gas applications

This paper proposes partial steam reforming of natural gas as a chemical storage option for excess electricity. Thermodynamic simulations with Aspen Plus^® show that highest process efficiencies are reached at low steam-to-carbon (S/C) ratios in the feed. However, coke deposition due to unwanted side or follow-up reactions and thus catalyst deactivation is likely in this operation range. In an experimental evaluation three catalysts were selected to test their resistance towards coking: two nickel based and one rhodium based noble metal catalyst. They were tested regarding their long-term stability at S/C ratios as low as 0 to 0.1 and reaction temperatures between 450 and 500 °C. A different reaction and deactivation behavior was observed for nickel and the noble metal catalysts. The measured life times of the noble metal catalyst were by a factor of at least 100 higher than for the two selected nickel catalysts at the applied reforming conditions. Furthermore, after each reforming experiment, a temperature-programmed oxidation (TPO) analysis was performed for the spent catalysts. Based on literature data, the measured CO₂ peaks at corresponding temperatures were related to the different forms of solid carbon depositions. Main carbonaceous species found on the nickel catalysts were of filamentous nature, whereas one or two more reactive C species with monoatomic or polymeric structure at much lower amount were detected on the noble metal catalyst. Further SEM analysis confirmed these findings.     

Strong influence of polymer architecture on the microstructural evolution of hafnium-alkoxide-modified silazanes upon ceramization

The present study focuses on the synthesis and ceramization of novel hafnium-alkoxide-modified silazanes as well as on their microstructure evolution at high temperatures. The synthesis of hafnia-modified polymer-derived SiCN ceramic nanocomposites is performed via chemical modification of a polysilazane and of a cyclotrisilazane, followed by cross-linking and pyrolysis in argon atmosphere. Spectroscopic investigation (i.e., NMR, FTIR, and Raman) shows that the hafnium alkoxide reacts with the N-H groups of the cyclotrisilazane; in the case of polysilazane, reactions of N-H as well as Si-H groups with the alkoxide are observed. Consequently, scanning and transmission electron microscopy studies reveal that the ceramic nanocomposites obtained from cyclotrisilazane and polysilazane exhibited markedly different microstructures, which is a result of the different reaction pathways of the hafnium alkoxide with cyclotrisilazane and with polysilazane. Furthermore, the two prepared ceramic nanocomposites are unexpectedly found to exhibit extremely different high-temperature behavior with respect to decomposition and crystallization; this essential difference is found to be related to the different distribution of hafnium throughout the ceramic network in the two samples. Thus, the homogeneous distribution of hafnium observed in the polysilazane-derived ceramic leads to an enhanced thermal stability with respect to decomposition, whereas the local enrichment of hafnium within the matrix of the cyclotrisilazane-based sample induces a pronounced decomposition upon annealing at high temperatures. The results indicate that the chemistry and architecture of the precursor has a crucial effect on the microstructure of the resulting ceramic material and consequently on its high-temperature behavior.     

Intercellular Transport of Nanomaterials is Mediated by Membrane Nanotubes In Vivo

So‐called membrane nanotubes are cellular protrusions between cells whose functions include cell communication, environmental sampling, and protein transfer. It has been previously reported that systemically administered carboxyl‐modified quantum dots (cQDs) are rapidly taken up by perivascular macrophages in skeletal muscle of healthy mice. Expanding these studies, it is found, by means of in vivo fluorescence microscopy on the mouse cremaster muscle, rapid uptake of cQDs not only by perivascular macrophages but also by tissue‐resident cells, which are localized more than 100 μm distant from the closest vessel. Confocal microscopy on muscle tissue, immunostained for the membrane dye DiI, reveals the presence of continuous membranous structures between MHC‐II‐positive, F4/80‐positive cells. These structures contain microtubules, components of the cytoskeleton, which clearly colocalize with cQDs. The cQDs are exclusively found inside endosomal vesicles. Most importantly, by using in vivo fluorescence microscopy, this study detected fast (0.8 μm s^?1, mean velocity), bidirectional movement of cQDs in such structures, indicating transport of cQD‐containing vesicles along microtubule tracks by the action of molecular motors. The findings are the first to demonstrate membrane nanotube function in vivo and they suggest a previously unknown route for the distribution of nanomaterials in tissue.     

Avalanche‐Discharge‐Induced Electrical Forming in Tantalum Oxide‐Based Metal–Insulator–Metal Structures

Oxide‐based metal–insulator–metal structures are of special interest for future resistive random‐access memories. In such cells, redox processes on the nanoscale occur during resistive switching, which are initiated by the reversible movement of native donors, such as oxygen vacancies. The formation of these filaments is mainly attributed to an enhanced oxygen diffusion due to Joule heating in an electric field or due to electrical breakdown. Here, the development of a dendrite‐like structure, which is induced by an avalanche discharge between the top electrode and the Ta₂O_5‐x layer, is presented, which occurs instead of a local breakdown between top and bottom electrode. The dendrite‐like structure evolves primarily at structures with a pronounced interface adsorbate layer. Furthermore, local conductive atomic force microscopy reveals that the entire dendrite region becomes conductive. Via spectromicroscopy it is demonstrated that the subsequent switching is caused by a valence change between Ta⁴⁺ and Ta⁵⁺, which takes place over the entire former Pt/Ta₂O_5‐x interface of the dendrite‐like structure.     

Uranium sorption on various forms of titanium dioxide--influence of surface area, surface charge, and impurities

Titanium dioxide (TiO(2)) has often served as a model substrate for experimental sorption studies of environmental contaminants. However, various forms of Ti-oxide have been used, and the different sorption properties of these materials have not been thoroughly studied. We investigated uranium sorption on some thoroughly characterized TiO(2) surfaces with particular attention to the influence of surface area, surface charge, and impurities. The sorption of U(VI) differed significantly between samples. Aggressive pretreatment of one material to remove impurities significantly altered the isoelectric point, determined by an electroacoustic method, but did not significantly impact U sorption. Differences in sorption properties between the various TiO(2) materials were related to the crystallographic form, morphology, surface area, and grain size, rather than to surface impurities or surface charge. In-situ attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared (ATR FT-IR) spectroscopic studies showed that the spectra of the surface species of the TiO(2) samples are not significantly different, suggesting the formation of similar surface complexes. The data provide insights into the effect of different source materials and surface properties on radionuclide sorption.     

Antibiotic resistance in bacteria isolated from vegetables with regards to the marketing stage (farm vs. supermarket)

The aim of this study was to elucidate whether and to what extent fresh produce from Germany plays a role as a carrier and reservoir of antibiotic resistant bacteria. For this purpose, 1001 vegetables (fruit, root, bulbous vegetables, salads and cereals) were collected from 13 farms and 11 supermarkets in Germany and examined bacteriologically. Phenotypic resistance of Enterobacter cloacae (n = 172); Enterobacter gergoviae (n = 92); Pantoea agglomerans (n = 96); Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 295); Pseudomonas putida (n = 106) and Enterococcus faecalis (n = 100) against up to 30 antibiotics was determined by using the microdilution method. Resistance to ß-lactams was most frequently expressed by P. agglomerans and E. gergoviae against cefaclor (41% and 29%). Relatively high resistance rates were also observed for doxycycline (23%), erythromycin (21%) and rifampicin (65%) in E. faecalis, for spectinomycin (28%) and mezlocillin (12%) in E. cloacae, as well as for streptomycin (19%) in P. putida. In P. aeruginosa, relatively low resistance rates were observed for the aminoglycosides amikacin, apramicin, gentamicin, neomycin, netilmicin and tobramycin (< 4%); 11% was resistant to streptomycin. No glycopeptide-resistant enterococci were observed. Resistance rates of bacteria isolated from farm samples were higher than those of the retail markets whenever significant differences were observed. This suggests that expressing resistance is at the expense of bacterial viability, since vegetables purchased directly at the farm are probably fresher than at the supermarket, and they have not been exposed to stress factors. However, this should not keep the customer from buying directly at the farm, since the overall resistance rates were not higher than observed in bacteria from human or animal origin. Instead, peeling or washing vegetables before eating them raw is highly recommended, since it reduces not only the risk of contact with pathogens, but also that of ingesting and spreading antibiotic resistant bacteria.     

Assessment of Bone Microstructure by Micro CT in C57BL/6J Mice for Sex-Specific Differentiation

It remains uncertain which skeletal sites and parameters should be analyzed in rodent studies evaluating bone health and disease. In this cross-sectional mouse study using micro-computed tomography (µCT), we explored: (1) which microstructural parameters can be used to discriminate female from male bones and (2) whether it is meaningful to evaluate more than one bone site. Microstructural parameters of the trabecular and/or cortical compartments of the femur, tibia, thoracic and lumbar vertebral bodies, and skull were evaluated by µCT in 10 female and 10 male six-month-old C57BL/6J mice. The trabecular number (TbN) was significantly higher, while the trabecular separation (TbSp) was significantly lower in male compared to female mice at all skeletal sites assessed. Overall, bone volume/tissue volume (BV/TV) was also significantly higher in male vs. female mice (except for the thoracic spine, which did not differ by sex). Most parameters of the cortical bone microstructure did not differ between male and female mice. BV/TV, TbN, and TbSp at the femur, and TbN and TbSp at the tibia and lumbar spine could fully (100%) discriminate female from male bones. Cortical thickness (CtTh) at the femur was the best parameter to detect sex differences in the cortical compartment (AUC = 0.914). In 6-month-old C57BL/6J mice, BV/TV, TbN, and TbSp can be used to distinguish male from female bones. Whenever it is not possible to assess multiple bone sites, we propose to evaluate the bone microstructure of the femur for detecting potential sex differences.     

Tomato Sterol 22-desaturase Gene CYP710A11: Its Roles in Meloidogyne incognita Infection and Plant Stigmasterol Alteration

Sterols are isoprenoid-derived lipids that play essential structural and functional roles in eukaryotic cells. Plants produce a complex mixture of sterols, and changes in plant sterol profiles have been linked to plant–pathogen interactions. β-Sitosterol and stigmasterol, in particular, have been associated with plant defense. As nematodes have lost the ability to synthesize sterols de novo, they require sterols from the host. Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants infected by the plant parasitic nematode Meloidogyne incognita show a reduced level of stigmasterol and a repression of the gene CYP710A11, encoding the sterol C-22 desaturase that is responsible for the conversion of β-sitosterol to stigmasterol. In this study, we investigated the role of the tomato sterol C-22 desaturase gene CYP710A11 in the response to infection by M. incognita. We explored the plant–nematode interaction over time by analyzing the plant sterol composition and CYP710A11 gene regulation in S. lycopersicum after M. incognita infection. The temporal gene expression analysis showed that 3 days after inoculation with M. incognita, the CYP710A11 expression was significantly suppressed in the tomato roots, while a significant decrease in the stigmasterol content was observed after 14 days. A cyp710a11 knockout mutant tomato line lacking stigmasterol was analyzed to better understand the role of CYP710A11 in nematode development. M. incognita grown in the mutant line showed reduced egg mass counts, presumably due to the impaired growth of the mutant. However, the nematodes developed as well as they did in the wild-type line. Thus, while the suppression of CYP710A11 expression during nematode development may be a defense response of the plant against the nematode, the lack of stigmasterol did not seem to affect the nematode. This study contributes to the understanding of the role of stigmasterol in the interaction between M. incognita and tomato plants and shows that the sterol C-22 desaturase is not essential for the success of M. incognita.