Fast Method to Determine Solubility Products of Sparingly Soluble Salts by Combining Titration Experiments and Thermodynamic Modeling: A Case Study on the Example of Cu/Zn Based Catalyst Precursors and Ni/Mn Based Precursors for Cathode Active Material

Solubility products are essential for the thermodynamic and kinetic modeling of (co-)precipitation processes. However, due to the complexity in the determination of solubility products of sparingly soluble salts, models often rely on the limited data for minerals, which may differ in the elemental composition or crystallographic properties when compared to their synthetic counterparts. Thus, we developed an easily accessible method to determine solubility products for synthetic precipitate phases as a function of the temperature and elemental composition based on simple titration studies and a thermodynamic equilibrium model. By applying this method, we determined solubility products for the synthetic precursor phase zincian georgeite ([Cu,Zn]2CO3(OH)2), which is relevant in the preparation of Cu/Zn-based catalysts, as a function of temperature and its Zn fraction. The data significantly differ from the data for the mineral rosasite (Cu1.16Zn0.84CO3(OH)2) which is used so far, and applying the new data resulted in an improved model accuracy. Furthermore, we identified Ni8(OH)14SO4 as a phase that is possibly responsible for the incorporation of sulfate ions into the precursor for cathode active material (PCAM) and determined its solubility product. Using these results, we were able to predict the phase composition of Ni/Mn-based PCAM and the degree of sulfate incorporation as a function of pH. Both examples show the applicability and relevance of our method to determine solubility products for the modeling of industrial relevant (co-)precipitation processes

Field Evaluation of a Rising Plate Meter to Estimate Herbage Mass in Austrian Pastures

Pasture management is an important topic for dairy farms with grazing systems. Herbage mass (HM) is a key measure, and estimations of HM content in pastures allow for informed decisions in pasture management. A common method of estimating the HM content in pastures requires manually collected grass samples, which are subjected to laboratory analysis to determine the dry matter (DM) content. However, in recent years, new methods have emerged that generate digital data and aim to expedite, facilitate and improve the measurement of HM. This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of a rising plate meter (RPM) tool in a practical setting to estimate HM in Austrian pastures. With this study, we also attempted to answer whether the tool is ready for use by farmers with its default settings. This study was conducted on the teaching and research farm of the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna, Austria. Data were collected from May to October 2021 in five different pastures. To evaluate the accuracy of the RPM tool, grass samples were collected and dried in an oven to extract their DM and calculate the HM. The HM obtained from the grass samples was used as the gold standard for this study. In total, 3796 RPM measurements and 203 grass samples yielding 49 measurement points were used for the evaluation of the RPM tool. Despite the differences in pasture composition, the averaged HM from the RPM tool showed a strong correlation with the gold standard (R2 = 0.73, rp = 0.86, RMSE = 517.86, CV = 33.67%). However, the results may not be good enough to justify the use of the tool, because simulations in economic studies suggest that the error of prediction should be lower than 15%. Furthermore, in some pastures, the RPM obtained poor results, indicating an additional need for pasture-specific calibrations, which complicates the use of the RPM tool

Evaluation of Different Sensor Systems for Classifying the Behavior of Dairy Cows on Pasture

Monitoring animal behavior using sensor technologies requires prior testing under varying conditions because behaviors can differ significantly, such as between grazing and confined cows. This study aimed to validate several sensor systems for classifying rumination and lying behaviors in cows on pasture under different environmental conditions, compare the sensors’ performance at different time resolutions, and evaluate a correction algorithm for rumination data. Ten Simmental dairy cows were monitored on pasture, each simultaneously equipped with an ear-tag accelerometer (ET), two different leg-mounted accelerometers (LMs), and a noseband sensor (NB). Indirect visual observations using drone-recorded video footage served as the gold standard for validation. The concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) for rumination time was very high for both the ET and NB (0.91–0.96) at a 10 min time resolution. Applying the correction algorithm to 1 min data improved the CCC for the NB from 0.68 to 0.89. For lying time, the CCC was moderate for the ET (0.55) but nearly perfect for both LMs (0.99). In conclusion, both sensors evaluated for classifying rumination are suitable for cows on pasture. We recommend using a correction algorithm for 1 min NB data. For the measurement of lying time, the LMs significantly outperformed the ET

Typechecking XQuery: A Prototype in ASF+SDF

Semistructured data (particularly XML) are the standard data representation for information exchange in the world-wide web. A number of query languages for XML has been proposed. Most of them follow the style of SQL. One of these languages is XQuery. In this work, we propose the construction of a prototype for the static type analysis of XQuery programs. The prototype implements XQuery operational semantics, in a way that is close to that proposed by theW3C. The implementation was built using the ASF+SDF meta-environment. The prototype described here is a first step in the construction of a practical XML query language laboratory, in which different semantics for commands may be tested

Healthy skin wins: A glowing pressure ulcer prevention program

Session presented on Monday, November 9, 2015 and Tuesday, November 10, 2015: Pressure ulcers (PUs) are one indicator of the quality of health care. The prevalence of PUs in acute care hospitals in Canada is estimated at 25.1% with half of PUs assessed as Stage 1. In 2013, an observational survey using a modified Braden Scale was conducted among 272 patients in an acute care hospital located in a Western Canadian city. The prevalence rate of PUs was 34.9% with only one third of the PUs at Stage 1. In this poster presentation, we describe how a multidisciplinary research team implemented and evaluated a PU prevention program (PUPP). The multi-disciplinary research team was comprised of a physiotherapist, an occupational therapist, a dietician, wound care specialists, and several nurses. The team used the Iowa Model of Evidence-Based Practice to Promote Quality Care in conjunction with Rogers\u27 Diffusion of Innovations Model as guiding frameworks. The PUPP included the establishment of specialized mattresses hospital-wide, new products for patients with incontinence, use of sliders, and discontinued use of soaker pads. A staff awareness campaign was launched; it was entitled, Healthy Skin Wins with posters and weekly newsletters about changes in practice, nutritional support for at-risk patients, and a 20-minute online tutorial about PUs and PU prevention. A mixed methods study, funded by the Manitoba Centre for Nursing and Health Research, was employed to determine the effectiveness of the PUPP with a pre-test/post-test design, a repeat observational PU prevalence survey, and three focus group interviews. Health care aides, licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, and allied health care professionals were invited to complete an anonymous 18-item knowledge assessment tool before and after an online tutorial about PU prevention using FluidSurveys.com. Eighty staff members volunteered to participate in the pre-test/post-test with a statistically significant increase in their knowledge about PUs and PU prevention. A repeat PU prevalence observational survey was conducted after the launch of the PUPP in 2014 with 240 in-hospital patients, and a statistically significant reduction in the prevalence rate (7.5%). Following analysis of the quantitative data, health care aides, nurses, and allied health professionals were invited to participate in three semi-structured, audio-recorded focus group interviews to share their perceptions of the PUPP. The audio-recordings of the interviews were transcribed verbatim. Transcripts were read and reread to facilitate a process of thematic analysis to describe hospital staff\u27s experiences of the PUPP. In this poster presentation, we share the results of the mixed methods study that determined the effectiveness of the PUPP. This mixed methods study can be used as a template to incorporate and evaluate evidence-based practice changes in various health care facilities around the world

Austrian Raw-Milk Hard-Cheese Ripening Involves Successional Dynamics of Non-Inoculated Bacteria and Fungi

Cheese ripening involves successional changes of the rind microbial composition that harbors a key role on the quality and safety of the final products. In this study, we analyzed the evolution of the rind microbiota (bacteria and fungi) throughout the ripening of Austrian Vorarlberger Bergkäse (VB), an artisanal surface-ripened cheese, by using quantitative and qualitative approaches. The real-time quantitative PCR results revealed that bacteria were more abundant than fungi in VB rinds throughout ripening, although both kingdoms were abundant along the process. The qualitative investigation was performed by high-throughput gene-targeted (amplicon) sequencing. The results showed dynamic changes of the rind microbiota throughout ripening. In the fresh products, VB rinds were dominated by Staphylococcus equorum and Candida. At early ripening times (14–30 days) Psychrobacter and Debaryomyces flourished, although their high abundance was limited to these time points. At the latest ripening times (90–160 days), VB rinds were dominated by S. equorum, Brevibacterium, Corynebacterium, and Scopulariopsis. Strong correlations were shown for specific bacteria and fungi linked to specific ripening periods. This study deepens our understanding of VB ripening and highlights different bacteria and fungi associated to specific ripening periods which may influence the organoleptic properties of the final products

The two-pore channel TPCN2 mediates NAADP-dependent Ca2+-release from lysosomal stores

Second messenger-induced Ca2+-release from intracellular stores plays a key role in a multitude of physiological processes. In addition to 1,4,5-inositol trisphosphate (IP3), Ca2+, and cyclic ADP ribose (cADPR) that trigger Ca2+-release from the endoplasmatic reticulum (ER), nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAADP) has been identified as a cellular metabolite that mediates Ca2+-release from lysosomal stores. While NAADP-induced Ca2+-release has been found in many tissues and cell types, the molecular identity of the channel(s) conferring this release remained elusive so far. Here, we show that TPCN2, a novel member of the two-pore cation channel family, displays the basic properties of native NAADP-dependent Ca2+-release channels. TPCN2 transcripts are widely expressed in the body and encode a lysosomal protein forming homomers. TPCN2 mediates intracellular Ca2+-release after activation with low-nanomolar concentrations of NAADP while it is desensitized by micromolar concentrations of this second messenger and is insensitive to the NAADP analog nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP). Furthermore, TPCN2-mediated Ca2+-release is almost completely abolished when the capacity of lysosomes for storing Ca2+ is pharmacologically blocked. By contrast, TPCN2-specific Ca2+-release is unaffected by emptying ER-based Ca2+ stores. In conclusion, these findings indicate that TPCN2 is a major component of the long-sought lysosomal NAADP-dependent Ca2+-release channel

Guidance on the monitoring of marine litter in European seas

The Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) Technical Group on Marine Litter developed the ‘Guidance on monitoring of marine litter in European seas’ in 2013 to enable EU Member States to launch monitoring programmes for MSFD Descriptor 10: ‘no harm caused by marine litter’. The maturity of methodological protocols for marine litter monitoring has increased over the last 10 years, based on research advances and Member States’ efforts. This document updates the previous guidance to facilitate the harmonisation of the monitoring framework for the MSFD, including protocols, recommendations, and information required to increase the comparability of data and assessments among Member States. The document comprises chapters dedicated to the protocols for monitoring marine litter across different marine environmental compartments (i.e. the coastline/beach, the surface layer of the water column, the seafloor/seabed) and types of litter (i.e. macro litter, mesolitter, microlitter, ingested litter and microlitter by biota, and entanglement with litter).JRC.D.2 - Ocean and Wate

Interfacing with the Brain: How Nanotechnology Can Contribute

Interfacing artificial devices with the human brain is the central goal of neurotechnology. Yet, our imaginations are often limited by currently available paradigms and technologies. Suggestions for brain-machine interfaces have changed over time, along with the available technology. Mechanical levers and cable winches were used to move parts of the brain during the mechanical age. Sophisticated electronic wiring and remote control have arisen during the electronic age, ultimately leading to plug-and-play computer interfaces. Nonetheless, our brains are so complex that these visions, until recently, largely remained unreachable dreams. The general problem, thus far, is that most of our technology is mechanically and/or electrically engineered, whereas the brain is a living, dynamic entity. As a result, these worlds are difficult to interface with one another. Nanotechnology, which encompasses engineered solid-state objects and integrated circuits, excels at small length scales of single to a few hundred nanometers and, thus, matches the sizes of biomolecules, biomolecular assemblies, and parts of cells. Consequently, we envision nanomaterials and nanotools as opportunities to interface with the brain in alternative ways. Here, we review the existing literature on the use of nanotechnology in brain-machine interfaces and look forward in discussing perspectives and limitations based on the authors' expertise across a range of complementary disciplines─from neuroscience, engineering, physics, and chemistry to biology and medicine, computer science and mathematics, and social science and jurisprudence. We focus on nanotechnology but also include information from related fields when useful and complementary

Molecular Characterization of a Novel Intracellular ADP-Ribosyl Cyclase

Background. ADP-ribosyl cyclases are remarkable enzymes capable of catalyzing multiple reactions including the synthesis of the novel and potent intracellular calcium mobilizing messengers, cyclic ADP-ribose and NAADP. Not all ADP-ribosyl cyclases however have been characterized at the molecular level. Moreover, those that have are located predominately at the outer cell surface and thus away from their cytosolic substrates. Methodology/Principal Findings. Here we report the molecular cloning of a novel expanded family of ADP-ribosyl cyclases from the sea urchin, an extensively used model organism for the study of inositol trisphosphate-independent calcium mobilization. We provide evidence that one of the isoforms (SpARC1) is a soluble protein that is targeted exclusively to the endoplasmic reticulum lumen when heterologously expressed. Catalytic activity of the recombinant protein was readily demonstrable in crude cell homogenates, even under conditions where luminal continuity was maintained. Conclusions/Significance. Our data reveal a new intracellular location for ADP-ribosyl cyclases and suggest that production of calcium mobilizing messengers may be compartmentalized