Chytridiomycosis of marine diatoms : the role of stress physiology and resistance in parasite-host recognition and accumulation of defense molecules

Little is known about the role of chemotaxis in the location and attachment of chytrid zoospores to potential diatom hosts. Hypothesizing that environmental stress parameters affect parasite-host recognition, four chytrid-diatom tandem cultures (Chytridium sp./Navicula sp., Rhizophydium type I/Nitzschia sp., Rhizophydium type IIa/Rhizosolenia sp., Rhizophydium type IIb/Chaetoceros sp.) were used to test the chemotaxis of chytrid zoospores and the presence of potential defense molecules in a non-contact-co-culturing approach. As potential triggers in the chemotaxis experiments, standards of eight carbohydrates, six amino acids, five fatty acids, and three compounds known as compatible solutes were used in individual and mixed solutions, respectively. In all tested cases, the whole-cell extracts of the light-stressed (continuous light exposure combined with 6 h UV radiation) hosts attracted the highest numbers of zoospores (86%), followed by the combined carbohydrate standard solution (76%), while all other compounds acted as weak triggers only. The results of the phytochemical screening, using biomass and supernatant extracts of susceptible and resistant host-diatom cultures, indicated in most of the tested extracts the presence of polyunsaturated fatty acids, phenols, and aldehydes, whereas the bioactivity screenings showed that the zoospores of the chytrid parasites were only significantly affected by the ethanolic supernatant extract of the resistant hosts

Crystallographic order and decomposition of [MnIII6CrIII]3+ single-molecule magnets deposited in submonolayers and monolayers on HOPG studied by means of molecular resolved Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy in UHV

Gryzia A, Volkmann T, Brechling A, et al. Crystallographic order and decomposition of [MnIII6CrIII]3+ single-molecule magnets deposited in submonolayers and monolayers on HOPG studied by means of molecular resolved Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy in UHV. Nanoscale Research Letters. 2014;9(1): 60.Monolayers and submonolayers of [MnIII6CrIII]3+ single-molecule magnets (SMMs) adsorbed on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) using the droplet technique characterized by non-contact atomic force microscopy (nc-AFM) as well as by Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) show island-like structures with heights resembling the height of the molecule. Furthermore, islands were found which revealed ordered 1D as well as 2D structures with periods close to the width of the SMMs. Along this, islands which show half the heights of intact SMMs were observed which are evidences for a decomposing process of the molecules during the preparation. Finally, models for the structure of the ordered SMM adsorbates are proposed to explain the observations

Solvent-Free High-Temperature Capillary Stamping of Stimuli-Responsive Polymers: Wettability Management by Orthogonal Substrate Functionalization

The wettability of surfaces determines their antifouling, antifogging, anti-icing, and self-cleaning properties as well as their usability for sensing, oil-water separation, water collection, and water purification. Solvent-free high-temperature capillary stamping of stimuli-responsive polymers yielding arrays of stimuli-responsive polymer microdots on differently modified substrates enables the flexible generation of switchable surfaces with different water contact angles (WCAs). Potential problems associated with the deposition of polymer solutions, such as the handling of volatile organic solvents, phase separation induced by solvent evaporation, and capillarity-driven flow processes, are circumvented. We used composite stamps with topographically patterned contact surfaces consisting of metallic nickel cores and porous MnO2 coatings taking up the stimuli-responsive polymers. The short transport paths from the MnO2 contact layers to the counterpart substrates enabled the stamping of polymer melts containing components impeding flow, such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Thus-obtained arrays of polymer-CNT hybrid microdots prevent problems associated with continuous coatings including delamination and crack propagation. Moreover, the range within which the properties of the stamped stimuli-responsive polymer microdots are switchable can be tuned by orthogonal substrate modification. As an example, we stamped hybrid microdots consisting of poly(2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl ferrocenecarboxylate) (PFcMA) and CNTs onto indium tin oxide (ITO) substrates. Coating the ITO substrates with a poly(ethylene oxide)-terminated silane shifted the WCAs obtained by switching the PFcMA between its oxidized and reduced states by nearly 50{\deg}

Tunnel junction based memristors as artificial synapses

Thomas A, Niehörster S, Fabretti S, et al. Tunnel junction based memristors as artificial synapses. Frontiers in Neuroscience. 2015;9: 241.We prepared magnesia, tantalum oxide and barium titanate based junction structures and investigated their memristive properties. The low amplitudes of the resistance change in these types of junctions are the major obstacle for their use. Here, we increased the amplitude of the resistance change from 10% up to 100%. Utilizing the memristive properties, we looked into the use of the junction structures as artificial synapses. We observed analogs of longterm potentiation, long-term depression and spike-time dependent plasticity in these simple two terminal devices. Finally, we suggest a possible pathway of these devices towards their integration in neuromorphic systems for storing analog synaptic weights and supporting the implementation of biologically plausible learning mechanisms

Electronic and magnetic properties of transition metal compounds: An x-ray spectroscopic study

The aim of the present work was to develop a detailed picture of the electronic and magnetic properties of a number of interesting transition metal compounds. A number of complementary experimental and theoretical techniques have been applied, special emphasis was given to x-ray spectroscopies. The studies led to a number of results, and the following conclusions can be drawn: The influence of the magnetic ground state (high-spin (FeO) vs. low-spin (FeS2)) with respect to the recorded x-ray spectra was investigated. In particular, by performing RXES on the Fe L edge of the two compounds, very different ratios of La / Lβ integrated intensity for excitation energies close to the L2 edge have been observed. This effect has been explained in terms of the magnetic structure of FeO (high spin), which inhibits Coster-Kronig processes. Special attention has been given to the direct investigation of orbital ordering in a three dimensional CMR manganite, namely La7/8Sr1/8MnO3, by means of x-ray linear dichroism (XLD). We obtained, for the first time, rather strong indications that the coherently distorted Jahn-Teller phase in La7/8Sr1/8MnO3 is accompanied by a predominantly cross type (x2-z2) / (y2-z2) orbital ordering. In addition to manganites the double perovskite Sr2FeMoO6 the combined study by means of x-ray spectroscopies, magnetic measurements and theoretical band structure calculations could resolve some points discussed controversially in the literature. Both, paramagnetic measurements as well as core level spectroscopy of the Fe 2p, Fe 3s and the Mo 3d states suggest a mixed iron valence state involving around 30% Fe3+- Mo5+ and 70% Fe2+ - Mo6+ states in highly ordered Sr2FeMoO6. XPS valence band studies reveal that the Fe 3d states are not extremely localized, and we find evidence that charge transfer between Fe 3d and O 2p states plays an essential role

From three dimensional crystals to single molecular magnets: Electronic and magnetic properties of low dimensional advanced materials

In the framework of this habilitation thesis a number of 3d transition metal and 4f rare earth compounds ranging from highly insulating ternary oxides of type REScO3 via ferrite thin lm to single molecule magnets have been studied by means of complementary x-ray spectroscopic approaches. In combination with structural investigations, magnetic measurements and suitable theoretical calculations a detailed picture of the electronic and magnetic structure of the materials in question could be develope