Circulation and Oxygen Distribution in the Tropical Atlantic Cruise No. 80, Leg 1; October 26 to November 23, 2009 Mindelo (Cape Verde) to Mindelo (Cape Verde)

METEOR cruise 80/1 was a contribution to the SFB 754 “Climate-Biogeochemistry Interactions in the Tropical Ocean”. Shipboard, glider and moored observations are used to study the temporal and spatial variability of physical and biogeochemical parameters within the oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) of the tropical North Atlantic. As part of the BMBF “Nordatlantik” project, it further focuses on the equatorial current system including the Equatorial Undercurrent (EUC) and intermediate currents below. During the cruise, hydrographic station observations were performed using a CTD/O2 rosette, including water sampling for salinity, oxygen, nutrients and other biogeochemical tracers. Underway current measurements were successfully carried out with the 75 kHz ADCP borrowed from R/V POSEIDON during the first part of the cruise, and R/V METEOR’s 38 kHz ADCP during the second part. During M80/1, an intensive mooring program was carried out with 8 mooring recoveries and 8 mooring deployments. Right at the beginning of the cruise, a multidisciplinary mooring near the Cape Verde Islands was recovered and redeployed. Within the framework of SFB 754, two moorings with CTD/O2 profilers were recovered and redeployed with other instrumentation in the center and at the southern rim of the OMZ of the tropical North Atlantic. The equatorial mooring array as part of BMBF “North Atlantic” project consists of 5 current meter moorings along 23°W between 2°S and 2°N. It is aimed at quantifying the variability of the thermocline water supply toward the equatorial cold tongue which develops east of 10°W during boreal summer. Several glider missions were performed during the cruise. One glider was recovered that was deployed two months earlier. Another glider was deployed for two short term missions, near the equator for about 8 days and near 8°N for one day. This glider was equipped with a new microstructure probe in addition to standard sensors, i.e. CTD/O2, chlorophyll and turbidity

Micro-CT imaging of Thiel-embalmed and iodine-stained human temporal bone for 3D modeling

Introduction This pilot study explores whether a human Thiel-embalmed temporal bone is suitable for generating an accurate and complete data set with micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and whether solid iodine-staining improves visualization and facilitates segmentation of middle ear structures. Methods A temporal bone was used to verify the accuracy of the imaging by first digitally measuring the stapes on the tomography images and then physically under the microscope after removal from the temporal bone. All measurements were compared with literature values. The contralateral temporal bone was used to evaluate segmentation and three-dimensional (3D) modeling after iodine staining and micro-CT scanning. Results The digital and physical stapes measurements differed by 0.01–0.17 mm or 1–19%, respectively, but correlated well with the literature values. Soft tissue structures were visible in the unstained scan. However, iodine staining increased the contrast-to-noise ratio by a factor of 3.7 on average. The 3D model depicts all ossicles and soft tissue structures in detail, including the chorda tympani, which was not visible in the unstained scan. Conclusions Micro-CT imaging of a Thiel-embalmed temporal bone accurately represented the entire anatomy. Iodine staining considerably increased the contrast of soft tissues, simplified segmentation and enabled detailed 3D modeling of the middle ear

New approaches to edge passivation of laser cut PERC solar cells

Recently the development trend in the PV industry is towards much larger wafer formats. With increasing wafer area and the resulting increase in short-circuit current at the cell level, there is also a trend towards sub-cells (solar cell cut into smaller pieces) for module integration. Using sub-cells, the resistance losses through the connection can be reduced. Modules based on sub-cells achieve higher levels of fill factors and thus a higher nominal power. However, the energy yield of such sub-cells is reduced compared to full cells due to the non-passivated laser edge. The laser cut edge causes a high recombination of the charge carriers, which negatively affects the pseudo fill factor as well as open-circuit voltage of the cell. The current work introduces two different approaches for passivating the laser separated PERC solar cells. The experiments were performed on p-type PERC monofacial cells and laser scribe and mechanical cleavage (LSMC) technique was used to obtain sub-cells from the host cells. The method ‘laser scribing and simultaneous Al doping’ increases the pFF of the cleaved cells by +0.2–0.4%abs in comparison to the reference cleaved cells whereas the method ‘laser scribing and subsequent Al doping’ shows an improvement in efficiency of the cleaved cells by + 0.2% abs

A Novel ABO Gene Variant Leads to Discrepant Results in Forward/Reverse and Molecular Blood Grouping

BACKGROUND: Discrepant results in antigen and reverse ABO blood typing are often caused by a variant ABO gene. Molecular analysis can help to characterize such variants. Here, we describe the identification of a novel ABO gene variant in a patient with aberrant ABO phenotype and discrepant genotyping results. METHODS: A patient with discrepant results in automated forward and reverse ABO phenotyping was further investigated by serological (gel and tube technique) and molecular (commercial and inhouse PCR-SSP, DNA sequencing) methods. A PCR-SSP system was established to screen the novel mutation in 1,820 blood donors. RESULTS: Standard serological tests confirmed blood group O, however, only anti-B isoagglutinins were present. A monoclonal anti-AB antibody detected very weak agglutination in gel technique. Standard ABO genotyping using PCR-SSP led to discrepant results (O1/O1 or O1/A) depending on the test system used. ABO exon re-sequencing identified a novel missense mutation in exon 6 at position 248A>G (Asp83Gly) in the binding region of PCR-SSP primers for the detection of 261G alleles. Blood donors with regular ABO blood groups were all negative for the 248G allele designated Aw34. CONCLUSION: The novel ABO gene variant Aw34 is associated with very weak A antigen expression and absent anti-A isoagglutinins. The mutation is located in exon 6 close to the O1-specific 261G deletion in the binding region of PCR-SSP primers. Presumably, depending on the primer concentration used in commercial ABO genotyping kits, the mutation could lead to a false-negative reaction

Incidence and predictors of thermal oesophageal and vagus nerve injuries in Ablation Index-guided high-power-short-duration ablation of atrial fibrillation : a prospective study

Aims: High-power-short-duration (HPSD) ablation is an effective treatment for atrial fibrillation but poses risks of thermal injuries to the oesophagus and vagus nerve. This study aims to investigate incidence and predictors of thermal injuries, employing machine learning. Methods and results: A prospective observational study was conducted at Leipzig Heart Centre, Germany, excluding patients with multiple prior ablations. All patients received Ablation Index-guided HPSD ablation and subsequent oesophagogastroduodenoscopy. A machine learning algorithm categorized ablation points by atrial location and analysed ablation data, including Ablation Index, focusing on the posterior wall. The study is registered in clinicaltrials.gov (NCT05709756). Between February 2021 and August 2023, 238 patients were enrolled, of whom 18 (7.6%; nine oesophagus, eight vagus nerve, one both) developed thermal injuries, including eight oesophageal erythemata, two ulcers, and no fistula. Higher mean force (15.8 ± 3.9 g vs. 13.6 ± 3.9 g, P = 0.022), ablation point quantity (61.50 ± 20.45 vs. 48.16 ± 19.60, P = 0.007), and total and maximum Ablation Index (24 114 ± 8765 vs. 18 894 ± 7863, P = 0.008; 499 ± 95 vs. 473 ± 44, P = 0.04, respectively) at the posterior wall, but not oesophagus location, correlated significantly with thermal injury occurrence. Patients with thermal injuries had significantly lower distances between left atrium and oesophagus (3.0 ± 1.5 mm vs. 4.4 ± 2.1 mm, P = 0.012) and smaller atrial surface areas (24.9 ± 6.5 cm2 vs. 29.5 ± 7.5 cm2, P = 0.032). Conclusion: The low thermal lesion’s rate (7.6%) during Ablation Index-guided HPSD ablation for atrial fibrillation is noteworthy. Machine learning based ablation data analysis identified several potential predictors of thermal injuries. The correlation between machine learning output and injury development suggests the potential for a clinical tool to enhance procedural safety

Nanomechanical control of an optical antenna

Resonant optical nanoantennas hold great promise for applications in physics and chemistry1–6. Their operation relies on their ability to concentrate light on spatial scales much smaller than the wavelength. In this work, we mechanically tune the length and gap between two triangles comprising a single gold bow-tie antenna by precise nanomanipulation with the tip of an atomic force microscope. At the same time, the optical response of the nanostructure is determined by means of dark-field scattering spectroscopy. We find no unique single ‘antenna resonance’. Instead, the plasmon mode splits into two dipole resonances for gap sizes on the order of a few tens of nanometres, governed by the full three-dimensional shape of the antenna arms. This result opens the door to new nano-optomechanical devices, where mechanical changes on the nanometre scale control the optical properties of artificial structures

Ultrasonic excitation during press-fit joining of electrical contacts

Ultrasonic excitation of pins during a press-in process can reduce the press-in force. There are various theories describing the reason for the force reduction. In this paper, the printed circuit board (PCB) was excited to reduce the press-in force. The advantages of this process in comparison with the excitation of the pin are its suitability for already embedded pins. Another point is that several pins at the same time can be joined with the PCB. A new pin geometry was developed, and an appropriate aluminum-based alloy was chosen to show the effects of ultrasonic excitation. The influence of the amplitude of the ultrasound on the press-in force and the deformation of pin and plated through hole (PTH) were studied. With an excitation amplitude of 20 μm, the press-in force could be reduced by more than 80%. Furthermore, it is found that the force needed for plastic deformation and the friction are reduced by ultrasound. The higher the amplitude, the more deforms the PTH while the pin deforms less

Low Cost Semi Automated Assembly Unit for Small Size Back Contact Modules and Low Cost Interconnection Approach

AbstractWe present our low cost assembly unit to manufacture back contact solar modules based on the conductive backsheet (CBS) approach. This in house developed apparatus was built to assemble test modules containing one up to four 6 inch back contact solar cells. The system is a retrofit of a commercially available CNC system which is equipped with a cell grabber and a manual dispensing system (by Nordson). The total cost of the setup was roughly 4000 € excluding the dispenser unit. Using this equipment we assembled several small size modules containing one and four Zebra cells, which are low cost 6 inch IBC solar cells developed at ISC Konstanz [1,2]. The contact between copper backsheet and back contact cell of the one cell modules we present here is formed by low temperature solder paste (LTSP). First cell to module (CTM) loss evaluations and reliability results suggest that this material could be a viable alternative to electrically conductive adhesive (ECA) which is currently the most commonly used material for this purpose

Embedding Biological Information in a Scene Graph System

We present the Bio Scene Graph (BioSG) for visualization of biomolecular structures based on the scene graph system OpenSG. The hierarchical model of primary, secondary and tertiary structures of molecules used in the organic chemistry is mapped to a graph of nodes when loading molecular files. We show that using BioSG, displaying molecules can be integrated in other applications, for example in medical applications. Additionally, existing algorithms and programs can be easily adapted to display the results with BioSG