Magnon Modes of Microstates and Microwave-Induced Avalanche in Kagome Artificial Spin Ice with Topological Defects.

We investigate spin dynamics of microstates in artificial spin ice (ASI) in Ni_{81}Fe_{19} nanomagnets arranged in an interconnected kagome lattice using microfocus Brillouin light scattering, broadband ferromagnetic resonance, magnetic force microscopy, x-ray photoemission electron microscopy, and simulations. We experimentally reconfigure microstates in ASI using a 2D vector field protocol and apply microwave-assisted switching to intentionally trigger reversal. Our work is key for the creation of avalanches inside the kagome ASI and reprogrammable magnonics based on ASIs.

Anisotropic Polar Magneto-Optic Kerr Effect of Ultrathin Fe/GaAs(001) Layers due to Interfacial Spin-Orbit Interaction.

We report the observation of the anisotropic polar magneto-optical Kerr effect in thin layers of epitaxial Fe/GaAs(001) at room temperature. A clear twofold symmetry of the Kerr rotation angle depending on the orientation of the linear polarization of the probing laser beam with respect to the crystallographic directions of the sample is detected for ultrathin magnetic films saturated out of the film plane. The amplitude of the anisotropy decreases with increasing Fe film thickness, suggesting that the interfacial region is the origin of the anisotropy. The twofold symmetry is fully reproduced by model calculations based on an interference of interfacial Bychkov-Rashba and Dresselhaus spin-orbit coupling.

Quantitative and qualitative effects of bioaugmentation on ammonia oxidisers at a two-step WWTP.

Large waste water treatment plants (WWTP) often operate nitrification in two different process environments: the cold-dilute sewage is treated in the mainstream nitrification/denitrification system, while the high strength ammonia liquors from sludge dewatering are treated in a separate high temperature reactor (SBR). This study investigates transfer from nitrifier biomass into a two-stage WWTP, commonly referred to as bioaugmentation. Besides the quantitation of ammonia oxidising bacteria (AOB), community differences were analysed with two techniques, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and real-time PCR melt curve analysis. It was shown that, without bioaugmentation, two distinct AOB communities establish in the mainstream and in the SBR, respectively. A gradual shift of the two AOB communities with increasing pump rates between the systems could be demonstrated. These molecular findings support process engineering experience, that cycling of waste activated sludge improves the ability of AOB to adapt to different process environments.

Benefits and drawbacks of thermal pre-hydrolysis for operational performance of wastewater treatment plants.

This paper presents benefits and potential drawbacks of thermal pre-hydrolysis of sewage sludge from an operator's prospective. The innovative continuous Thermo-Pressure-Hydrolysis Process (TDH) has been tested in full-scale at Zirl wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), Austria, and its influence on sludge digestion and dewatering has been evaluated. A mathematical plant-wide model with application of the IWA Activated Sludge Model No.1 (ASM1) and the Anaerobic Digestion Model No.1 (ADM1) has been used for a systematic comparison of both scenarios--operational plant performance with and without thermal pre-hydrolysis. The impacts of TDH pre-hydrolysis on biogas potential, dewatering performance and return load in terms of ammonia and inert organic compounds (Si) have been simulated by the calibrated model and are displayed by Sankey mass flow figures. Implementation of full scale TDH process provided higher anaerobic degradation efficiency with subsequent increased biogas production (+75-80%) from waste activated sludge (WAS). Both effects--enhanced degradation of organic matter and improved cake's solids content from 25.2 to 32.7% TSS--promise a reduction in sludge disposal costs of about 25%. However, increased ammonia release and generation of soluble inerts Si was observed when TDH process was introduced.

Prediction of thermal hydrolysis pretreatment on anaerobic digestion of waste activated sludge.

Thermal hydrolysis is known for an efficient sludge disintegration capability to enhance biogas potential--but to which extent? Obviously, residual VSS concentration in digested sludge gives not sufficient information to predict additional biogas potential. In this paper, different types of waste activated sludge (WAS) were pre-hydrolysed by a full-scale Thermo-Pressure-Hydrolysis Process (Thermo-Druck-Hydrolyse, TDH) and break-down mechanisms on specific organic compounds were investigated. The IWA Anaerobic Digestion Model No.1 (ADM1) has been used for a systematic analysis of monitoring data gained from experimental work. The TDH process combined with anaerobic digestion can be well described by a modified ADM1 model that includes an X(P)-fraction (inactivated aerobic biomass and their decay products). More rapid and more complete degradation of TDH-treated sludge is represented by calibrated disintegration rate and disintegration factors, while biokinetic parameters of acetogenesis and methanogenesis show no sensitivity. TDH process impacts mainly biomass and decay products while inerts Xi already contained in the raw wastewater are hardly converted. Final concentration of soluble inerts in digestion effluent has been increased from 2% to 9% of influent COD due to thermal hydrolysis. An increase in biogas generation (ca. +80%) and in ammonia release (ca. +75%) can be explained by complete degradation of cell mass.

Solar-thermic sewage sludge treatment in extreme alpine environments.

In the framework of a program for environmental protection conducted by the German mountaineers' club (DAV) problems emerging from residual solids accumulating in on-site wastewater treatment plants of mountain refuges were investigated. To handle these problems in an ecologically and economically reasonable way two devices for solar-supported treatment of sludge and bio-solids have been developed. These units support gravity-filtration and evaporation of liquid sludge as well as thermal acceleration of composting processes. Two solar sludge dryers were installed and operated without external energy supply at alpine refuges treating primary and secondary sludge, respectively. Batch-filling during the season could increase load capacity and a total solids concentration of up to 40% could be achieved before discharge at the beginning of the next season. The promising results from the solar sludge dryer encouraged for the development of a solar composter. The period of temperature levels suitable for composting biosolids in mountain areas can be extended considerably by application of this technology--measured temperature distribution indicated no freezing at all.

Use of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies against DNA adducts for the detection of DNA lesions in isolated DNA and in single cells.

Interaction of genotoxic chemicals with their intracellular target, i.e., DNA, may result in the formation of covalent adducts. Various methods have been developed to estimate exposure to genotoxic chemicals by means of molecular dosimetry of DNA adducts. Such experiments have generally been carried out with radiolabeled genotoxicants administered in vitro to cultured cells or in vivo to laboratory animals. Biomonitoring of human exposure to genotoxic chemicals requires methods to detect very small quantities of nonradioactive DNA adducts in limited amounts of sample. Attention has been devoted to the development of immunochemical techniques in which specific DNA adducts can be detected with antibodies. The level of sensitivity achieved in these experiments renders these methods applicable for human biomonitoring. When suitable antibodies are available, the immunochemical approach enables one to analyze various types of adducts separately, and to discriminate between irrelevant (e.g., quickly repairable) and relevant lesions (key lesions) with respect to biological end points such as mutation induction and cancer. Polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies were used for the detection of DNA adducts in animal and human tissue. Adducts were measured in DNA from various organs of rats treated with the liver carcinogen 2-AAF. Human exposure to genotoxic agents was studied by the measurement of DNA adducts in blood cells from patients treated with the genotoxic cytostatic cisplatin. Also, the development is described of a system to detect and quantitate DNA adducts at the single-cell level by means of immunofluorescence microscopy, which allows the analysis of small samples of human tissue with preservation of cell morphology.

Detection of DNA adducts in N-acetoxy-2-acetylaminofluorene-treated human fibroblasts by means of immunofluorescence microscopy and quantitative immunoautoradiography.

An immunohistochemical procedure was developed for the detection of adducts in DNA of cultured cells exposed to N-acetoxy-2-acetylaminofluorene (N-AcO-AAF) with the use of antibodies raised in rabbits against N-(guanosin-8-yl)-2-acetyl-aminofluorene (Guo-8-AAF) conjugated to bovine serum albumin. Binding of these antibodies to the nuclear DNA was visualized by means of immunofluorescence microscopy with fluorescein-conjugated anti-rabbit-Ig antibodies, or by means of immunoautoradiography with 125I-labeled protein A. The dose-response curve obtained when the number of autoradiographic grains developed over the nuclei was plotted as a function of the concentration of N-AcO-AAF used to treat the cells, indicated that the extent of specific antibody-binding is determined by the amount of adducts in the cells. DNA modification levels allowing for 20% survival of the cells could be detected with the immunofluorescence technique, while cells exposed to concentrations of N-AcO-AAF resulting in 60% survival were still positive with the immunoautoradiographic method.

Inhibition of responder cell activity in mixed leukocyte culture reactions. II. Influence of antibody binding and shedding properties within a B7-cross-reactivity group.

An HLA-B7 antiserum showed cross-reactivity with HLA-B8, Bw41, a split of B40 (Bw60) and possibly Bw22 and B27, thus detecting one or more determinants on these antigens similar to an antigenic site on HLA-B7 usually not detected by other B7-antisera. The cross-reactions were demonstrable by adsorption of antibodies on lymphocytes followed by release at 37 degrees C, which enabled the detection of weak and otherwise hardly detectable reactivity. Released antibody molecules were detected in two different assays: (1) Antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) with HLA-B7 positive target cells (fluorochromasia micro ADCC). (2) Inhibition of MLC reactions with B7 positive stimulator cells. The B7-antibody, as detected in both assays, was released in decreasing activity from Bw41 greater than B8 greater than Bw60 much greater than B7 greater than (B27 = Bw22) positive cells. The order of sensitivity in which the various antigens were detected in ADCC assays in which the antiserum activity was measured directly on various target cells was different, viz. HLA-B7 greater than Bw60 = B27 greater than Bw41 greater than B8. Bw22 was not detected. Absorption studies demonstrated that HLA-B7 positive cells bound more B7 antibody activity than B8 positive cells. However, antibody molecules bound to B7 positive cells were mainly released as immune complexes, which could be dissociated by treatment with acid. In contrast, B7 antibody molecules bound to B8 positive cells were released as free antibody molecules. This marked difference in shedding properties further explained the previously described B7 specific unresponsiveness in MLC of HLA-B8 (and also Bw41) positive responder cells after sensitization with the B7 antiserum (de Rooij et al. 1980).