Capacitively-coupled rf discharge with a large amount of microparticles: spatiotemporal emission pattern and microparticle arrangement

The effect of micron-sized particles on a low-pressure capacitively-coupled rf discharge is studied both experimentally and using numerical simulations. In the laboratory experiments, microparticle clouds occupying a considerable fraction of the discharge volume are supported against gravity with the help of the thermophoretic force. The spatiotemporally resolved optical emission measurements are performed with different arrangements of microparticles. The numerical simulations are carried out on the basis of a one-dimensional hybrid (fluid-kinetic) discharge model describing the interaction between plasma and microparticles in a self-consistent way. The study is focused on the role of microparticle arrangement in interpreting the spatiotemporal emission measurements. We show that it is not possible to reproduce simultaneously the observed microparticle arrangement and emission pattern in the framework of the considered one-dimensional model. This disagreement is discussed and attributed to two-dimensional effects, e.g., radial diffusion of the plasma components

Außenarbeitsplätze von Werkstätten für behinderte Menschen (WfbM) in der Landwirtschaft – Erfahrungen von Beschäftigten

Außenarbeitsplätze von Werkstätten für Menschen mit Behinderung stellen eine Möglichkeit zur Eingliederung in berufliche Teilhabe dar. Fünf Menschen wurden befragt und ihre Arbeitssituation durch teilnehmende Beobachtungen erfasst, alle arbeiten auf unterschiedlichen landwirtschaftlichen Betrieben

The minor house dust mite allergen Der p 13 is a fatty acid binding protein and an activator of a TLR2-mediated innate immune response

Background: The house dust mite (HDM) allergen Der p 13 could be a lipid-binding protein able to activate key innate signaling pathways in the initiation of the allergic response. We investigated the IgE reactivity of recombinant Der p 13 (rDer p 13), its lipid binding activities and its capacity to stimulate airway epithelium cells. Methods: Purified rDer p 13 was characterized by mass spectrometry, circular dichroism, fluorescence-based lipid binding assays and in-silico structural prediction. IgE binding activity and allergenic potential of Der p 13 were examined by ELISA, basophil degranulation assays and in-vitro airway epithelial cell activation assays. Results: Protein modeling and biophysical analysis indicated that Der p 13 adopts a β barrel structure with a predominately apolar pocket representing a potential binding site for hydrophobic ligands. Fluorescent lipid binding assays confirmed that the protein is highly selective for ligands and that it binds a fatty acid with a dissociation constant typical of lipid transporter proteins. The low IgE binding frequency (7%, n= 224) in Thai HDM-allergic patients as well as the limited propensity to activate basophil degranulation classifies Der p 13 as a minor HDM allergen. Nevertheless, the protein with its presumptively associated lipid(s) triggered the production of IL-8 and GM-CSF in respiratory epithelial cells through a TLR2-, MyD88-, NF-kB- and MAPK-dependent signaling pathway. Conclusions: Although a minor allergen, Der p 13 may, through its lipid binding capacity, play a role in the initiation of the HDM allergic response through TLR2 activation

Ekoplasma - The Future of Complex Plasma Research in aboard the International Space Station

Ekoplasma is a joint German-Russian project, developing the future multi-purpose laboratory for the investigation of complex plasmas under microgravity conditions aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Complex plasmas are low-temperature plasmas, consisting of neutral gas atoms, ions, electrons and micro-meter sized particles as an additional component. The particles become charged in the plasma and as a result of their mutual repulsion form an optically thin cloud that can be studied in its full spatial and dynamical complexity on the granularity scale of each particle by optical cameras. Therefore, complex plasmas allow fundamental investigations down to the kinetic level of individual particles also for a wide field of interdisciplinary topics in classical condensed matter physics. Since gravity prevents the formation of large, homogeneous systems on earth, research on the ISS is essential, and Ekoplasma will follow in a line of successful preceding experiments aboard the ISS: PKE-Nefedov, PK-3 Plus and the currently operating PK-4 facility. Ekoplasma is planned to be launched to the ISS in 2022, and it will cover a wide range of research topics such as solidification and melting, phase separation in binary systems, the transition to turbulence, active matter or electrorheology

Identification of full length bovine TLR1 and functional characterization of lipopeptide recognition by bovine TLR2/1 heterodimer

Toll-like receptors (TLR) are highly conserved pattern recognition receptors of the innate immune system. Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) recognizes bacterial lipopeptides in a heterodimeric complex with TLR6 or TLR1, thereby discriminating between di- or triacylated lipopeptides, respectively. Previously, we found that HEK293 cells transfected with bovine TLR2 (boTLR2) were able to respond to diacylated lipopeptides but did not recognize triacylated lipopeptides, even after cotransfection with the so far published sequence of boTLR1. In this study we now could show that primary bovine cells were in general able to detect triacylated lipopetides. A closer investigation of the boTLR1 gene locus revealed an additional ATG 195 base pairs upstream from the published start codon. Its transcription would result in an N-terminus with high identity to human and murine TLR1 (huTLR1, muTLR1). Cloning and cotransfection of this longer boTLR1 with boTLR2 now resulted in the recognition of triacylated lipopeptides by HEK293 cells, thereby resembling the ex vivo observation. Analysis of the structure-activity relationship showed that the ester-bound acid chains of these lipopeptides need to consist of at least 12 carbon atoms to activate the bovine heterodimer showing similarity to the recognition by huTLR2/huTLR1. In contrast, HEK293 cell cotransfected with muTLR2 and muTLR1 could already be activated by lipopeptides with shorter fatty acids of only 6 carbon atoms. Thus, our data indicate that the additional N-terminal nucleotides belong to the full length and functionally active boTLR1 (boTLR1-fl) which participates in a species-specific recognition of bacterial lipopeptides

Wege in die Ernährungszukunft der Schweiz - Leitfaden zu den grössten Hebeln und politischen Pfaden für ein nachhaltiges Ernährungssystem

Aus wissenschaftlicher Sicht ist klar: Unser Ernährungssystem ist nicht nachhaltig. Um unsere Lebens- und Wirtschaftsgrundlagen zu erhalten, braucht es eine Neuausrichtung über die gesamte Wertschöpfungskette. Diese ist gleichzeitig ein Schlüssel zur Erreichung der Agenda 2030 für nachhaltige Entwicklung. SDSN Schweiz hat das wissenschaftliche Gremium Ernährungszukunft Schweiz initiiert, um einen Wegweiser zu entwickeln. Er soll es der Schweiz erlauben, Chancen rechtzeitig anzupacken und unkontrollierbare Kostenfolgen zu vermeiden. Das wissenschaftliche Gremium hat international wegweisende Pionierarbeit geleistet. In einem interdisziplinären wissenschaftlichen Prozess wurde zum ersten Mal für ein Land ein umfassender Handlungspfad zur Neuausrichtung des Ernährungssystems im Einklang mit den Zielen für nachhaltige Entwicklung ausgearbeitet. Die beteiligten Forschenden schaffen damit eine wichtige Grundlage für die weitere politische Diskussion in der Schweiz und international

Design of 500 W Class SOFC Stack with Homogeneous Cell Performance

Our planar SOFC stacking technology uses unprofiled metallic interconnects (MIC) and thin cells of tape cast anode supported YSZ. The key element is the gas diffusion layer (GDL) between cell and MIC, which consists of so-called SOFConnex™. Using square cells with internal manifolds, 0.5 W/cm2 stack power density (800°C) can be obtained on short stacks. However, this open design configuration limits the assembly of large stacks and the durability of operation, owing to postcombustion and redox cycling occurring at unprotected cell edges. A new design, inspired from modeling work and the adaptability of the SOFConnex™ GDL, led to oblong-shaped cells, assembled in a closed stack casing with external air manifolding and fuel recovery manifolding, avoiding postcombustion. While stack power density in both designs remains similar, the operation at increased fuel utilization has become more stable in the 2nd design. Furthermore, a correlation of performance homogeneity during stack testing was drawn to assembly quality control. A 36-cell stack in dilute H2 at 800°C achieved 625 Wel (28% LHV efficiency, 0.35 W/cm2) under continuous polarisation, with all 6 clusters of 6 cells showing coincident i-V-output