Plasma Supported Deposition of Amorphous Hydrogenated Carbon a C H on Polyamide 6 Determining Interlayer Completion and Dehydrogenation Effects during Layer Growth

Polyamide 6 (PA6) is a commonly used material in many different sectors of modern industry. Herein, PA6 samples were coated with amorphous carbon layers (a-C:H) with increasing thickness up to 2 µm using radio frequency plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition for surface adjustment. The morphology of the carbon coatings was inspected by ex situ atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Surface wettability was checked by contact angle measurements. The chemical composition was analyzed using the surface sensitive synchrotron X-ray-based techniques near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, supported by diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy. Particular attention was paid to the coating interval from 0 to 100 nm, to specify the interlayer thickness between the PA6 polymer and a-C:H coating, and the region between 1000 and 2000 nm, where dehydrogenation of the a-C:H layer occurs. The interlayer is decisive for the linkage of the deposited carbon layer on the polymer: the more pronounced it is, the better the adhesion. The thickness of the interlayer could be narrowed down to 40 nm in all used methods, and the dehydrogenation process takes place at a layer thickness of 1500 nm

Widespread Use of Migratory Megafauna for Aquatic Wild Meat in the Tropics and Subtropics

Wild animals are captured or taken opportunistically, and the meat, body parts, and/or eggs are consumed for local subsistence or used for traditional purposes to some extent across most of the world, particularly in the tropics and subtropics. The consumption of aquatic animals is widespread, in some places has been sustained for millennia, and can be an important source of nutrition, income, and cultural identity to communities. Yet, economic opportunities to exploit wildlife at higher levels have led to unsustainable exploitation of some species. In the literature, there has been limited focus on the exploitation of aquatic non-fish animals for food and other purposes. Understanding the scope and potential threat of aquatic wild meat exploitation is an important first step toward appropriate inclusion on the international policy and conservation management agenda. Here, we conduct a review of the literature, and present an overview of the contemporary use of aquatic megafauna (cetaceans, sirenians, chelonians, and crocodylians) in the global tropics and subtropics, for species listed on the Appendices of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS). We find that consumption of aquatic megafauna is widespread in coastal regions, although to varying degrees, and that some species are likely to be at risk from overexploitation, particularly riverine megafauna. Finally, we provide recommendations for CMS in the context of the mandate of the Aquatic Wild Meat Working Group