Nanoscale Control of Structure and Composition for Nanocrystalline Fe Thin Films Grown by Oblique Angle RF Sputtering.

The use of Fe films as multi-element targets in space radiation experiments with high-intensity ultrashort laser pulses requires a surface structure that can enhance the laser energy absorption on target, as well as a low concentration and uniform distribution of light element contaminants within the films. In this paper, (110) preferred orientation nanocrystalline Fe thin films with controlled morphology and composition were grown on (100)-oriented Si substrates by oblique angle RF magnetron sputtering, at room temperature. The evolution of films key-parameters, crucial for space-like radiation experiments with organic material, such as nanostructure, morphology, topography, and elemental composition with varying RF source power, deposition pressure, and target to substrate distance is thoroughly discussed. A selection of complementary techniques was used in order to better understand this interdependence, namely X-ray Diffraction, Atomic Force Microscopy, Scanning and Transmission Electron Microscopy, Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy and Non-Rutherford Backscattering Spectroscopy. The films featured a nanocrystalline, tilted nanocolumn structure, with crystallite size in the (110)-growth direction in the 15-25 nm range, average island size in the 20-50 nm range, and the degree of polycrystallinity determined mainly by the shortest target-to-substrate distance (10 cm) and highest deposition pressure (10-2 mbar Ar). Oxygen concentration (as impurity) into the bulk of the films as low as 1 at. %, with uniform depth distribution, was achieved for the lowest deposition pressures of (1-3) × 10-3 mbar Ar, combined with highest used values for the RF source power of 125-150 W. The results show that the growth process of the Fe thin film is strongly dependent mainly on the deposition pressure, with the film morphology influenced by nucleation and growth kinetics. Due to better control of film topography and uniform distribution of oxygen, such films can be successfully used as free-standing targets for high repetition rate experiments with high power lasers to produce Fe ion beams with a broad energy spectrum.

Epidemiology of west nile in europe and in the mediterranean basin.

In the last 30 years several cases of West Nile (WN) virus infection were reported in horses and humans in Europe and in the Mediterranean Basin. Most of them were determined by strains of the Lineage 1 included in the European Mediterranean/Kenyan cluster. Strains of this cluster are characterised by a moderate pathogenicity for horses and humans and limited or no pathogenicity for birds. In recent years, however, WN cases determined by strains grouped in the Israeli/American cluster of Lineage 1 or in the lineage 2 have been reported in Hungary and Austria. The role of migrating birds in introducing new viruses to Europe has been often demonstrated. The migratory birds, which may be infected in their African wintering places, carry the virus northward to European sites during spring migrations. In the past, the virus introduction determined occasional cases of WN. In the recent years, new epidemiological scenarios are developing. In few occasions it has been evidenced the capability of WNV strains of overwintering by using local birds and mosquitoes. Species of Culex amongst mosquitoes and magpies (Pica pica), carrion crows (Corvus corone) and rock pigeons (Columba livia) amongst resident birds are the most probable species involved in this hypothetical WND endemic cycle.

The effects of transglutaminase on the functional properties of the myofibrillar protein concentrate obtained from beef heart.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of bacterial transglutaminase on the functional properties of the myofibrillar protein concentrate from beef heart. The degrees of hydration and aggregation and emulsifying properties were studied. The degree of polymerization of the myofibrillar proteins depended on the enzyme concentration and setting time; the best results in terms of functional properties were obtained with 0.3g transglutaminase/100g protein with 60min setting at 35°C. This investigation confirms that transglutaminase may be used for the production of myofibrillar protein aggregates with enhanced functional properties.

Weather stations and the data reports from Romania as part of the East-BTNet project.

The authors present data collected by six weather stations placed in Romania, as part of the East-BTNet regional project. The weather stations were equipped with smart sensors to collect information on air and soil temperature, atmospheric relative humidity, soil moisture and wind speed, factors that may influence the development and activity of Culicoides insects, vectors of bluetongue virus. Concomitantly with the monitoring of the environmental parameters, insects were captured, examined and identified according to the standard methods. The six weather stations were placed in locations with different geo-climatic conditions (seaside, mountains, plateaux and plains) to establish whether there is a correlation between environmental parameters and insect populations, especially for the Pulicaris, Obsoletus and Nubeculosus Complexes. A correlation between environmental conditions and the activity of vector populations was observed. The characteristics of the climate influenced the size of vector populations (sub-Mediterranean climate in the south-west and temperate continental climate in the centre of the country).