Development of a Radioimmunoassay for Pig Pancreatic Kallikrein

Peer Reviewe

Design and experimental verification of an improved magnetostrictive energy harvester

This paper summarizes and extends the modeling state of the art of magnetostrictive energy harvesters with a focus on the pick-up coil design. The harvester is a one-sided clamped galfenol unimorph loaded with two brass pieces each containing a permanent magnet to create a biased magnetic field. Measurements on different pick-up coils were conducted and compared with results from an analytic model. Resistance, mass and inductance were formulated and proved by measurements. Both the length for a constant number of turns and the number of turns for a constant coil length were also modeled and varied. The results confirm that the output voltage depends on the coil length for a constant number of turns and is higher for smaller coils. In contrast to a uniform magnetic field, the maximal output voltage is gained if the coil is placed not directly at but near the fixation. Two effects explain this behavior: Due to the permanent magnet next to the fixation, the magnetic force is higher and orientates the magnetic domains stronger. The clamping locally increases the stress and forces the magnetic domains to orientate, too. For that reason the material is stiffer and therefore the strain smaller. The tradeoff between a higher induced voltage in the coil and an increasing inductance and resistance for every additional turn are presented together with an experimental validation of the models. Based on the results guidelines are given to design an optimal coil which maximizes the output power for a given unimorph

Microbial biomass, nutrient availability and nutrient uptake by wheat in two soils with organic amendments

A 72-day greenhouse pot experiment was conducted with a sandy loam or a silt loam soil to examine the effects of farmyard manure (FYM), poultry litter (PL) and biogenic waste compost (BWC) at 10 g dw kg-1 soil on microbial biomass and activity and growth and nutrient uptake by wheat. Soil samples were collected at days 0, 14, 28, 42, 56 and 72 after planting. Growth and nutrient uptake by wheat were determined on day 72. All three amendments increased microbial biomass C, N and P, dehydrogenase activity, plant growth and nutrient uptake with a greater effect by FYM and PL than by BWC. All amendments increased microbial biomass C, N and P and enzyme activity particularly on day 0. These microbial parameters decreased after day 0 indicating microbial biomass turnover. All amendments increased plant growth and nutrient uptake. It is concluded that organicamendments can stimulate microbial growth and nutrient uptake as well as plant growth and nutrient uptake. Microbes can increase plant nutrient availability by nutrient mobilisation but also because nutrients taken up by the microbial biomass initially could become available to plants when the microbial biomass turns over as the easily available C is depleted.M.A. Malik, K.S. Khan, P. Marschner, Fayyaz-ul-Hassa

Soil organic phosphorus and microbial community composition as affected by 26years of different management strategies

Agricultural management can affect soil organic matter chemistry and microbial community structure, but the relationship between the two is not well understood. We investigated the effect of crop rotation, tillage and stubble management on forms of soil phosphorus (P) as determined by solution 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and microbial community composition using fatty acid methyl ester analysis in a long-term field experiment (26years) on a Chromic Luvisol in New South Wales, Australia. An increase in soil organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus compared to the beginning of the experiment was found in a rotation of wheat and subterranean clover with direct drill and mulching, while stubble burning in wheat-lupin and wheat-wheat rotations led to soil organic matter losses. Microbial biomass was highest in the treatment with maximum organic matter contents. The same soil P forms were detected in all samples, but in different amounts. Changes in organic P occurred mainly in the monoester region, with an increase or decrease in peaks that were present also in the sample taken before the beginning of the experiment in 1979. The microbial community composition differed between the five treatments and was affected primarily by crop rotations and to a lesser degree by tillage. A linkage between soil P forms and signature fatty acids was tentatively established, but needs to be verified in further studie

Synthesis of indium nanoparticles at ambient temperature; simultaneous phase transfer and ripening

The synthesis of size-monodispersed indium nanoparticles via an innovative simultaneous phase transfer and ripening method is reported. The formation of nanoparticles occurs in a one-step process instead of well-known two-step phase transfer approaches. The synthesis involves the reduction of InCl3 with LiBH4 at ambient temperature and although the reduction occurs at room temperature, fine indium nanoparticles, with a mean diameter of 6.4 ± 0.4 nm, were obtained directly in non-polar n-dodecane. The direct synthesis of indium nanoparticles in n-dodecane facilitates their fast formation and enhances their size-monodispersity. In addition, the nanoparticles were highly stable for more than 2 months. The nanoparticles were characterised by dynamic light scattering (DLS), small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy to determine their morphology, structure and phase purity

An external quality control survey (EQCS) for serum cortisol

Peer Reviewe

Modular Synthesis of trans‐A2_{2}B2_{2}‐Porphyrins with Terminal Esters: Systematically Extending the Scope of Linear Linkers for Porphyrin‐Based MOFs

Differently functionalized porphyrin linkers represent the key compounds for the syntheses of new porphyrin‐based metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), which have gathered great interest within the last two decades. Herein we report the synthesis of a large range of 5,15‐bis(4‐ethoxycarbonylphenyl)porphyrin derivatives, through Suzuki and Sonogashira cross‐coupling reactions of an easily accessible corresponding meso‐dibrominated trans‐A$_{2}$B$_{2}$‐porphyrin with commercially available boronic acids or terminal alkynes. The resulting porphyrins were fully characterized through NMR, MS, and IR spectroscopy and systematically investigated through UV/Vis absorption. Finally, selected structures were saponified to the corresponding carboxylic acids and subsequently proven to be suitable for the synthesis of surface‐anchored MOF thin films

Changes in p pools over three months in two soils amended with legume residues

To assess the longer term effects of soil properties and residue addition on soil P pool concentrations, we added residues from three different legumes to two soils and measured the concentration of soil P pools over three months. The size of various P pools was assessed by sequential P fractionation on days 0, 14, 28, 56, 70 and 98. Compared to the unamended control, addition of faba bean and chickpea residues increased the concentrations of resin P, microbial P, NaHCO₃-Pi temporarily whereas amendment with white lupin residues had little effect on P pool concentrations. The decrease in NaHCO₃-Po and NaOH-Po towards the end of the experiment coincided with an increase in NaOH-Pi in Mt. Bold soil and of HCl-Pi in Monarto soil. These temporal changes were more pronounced in soils amended with faba bean and chickpea residues than in the unamended soil or after addition of white lupin residues. The principal component analysis (PCA) plot showed that the P pool concentrations on days 0 and 98 were quite similar and differed from those on days 28, 56 and 70 suggesting clear temporal patterns. The results of this study show that the concentration of various P pools is strongly affected by soil properties such as pH and organic matter content and further modulated by the properties of the residues.M. Alamgir, P. Marschne