Gene expression by human monocytes from peripheral blood in response to exposure to metals

With increasing life expectancy and active lifestyles, the longevity of arthroplasties has become an important problem in orthopaedic surgery and will remain so until novel approaches to joint preservation have been developed. The sensitivity of the recipient to the metal alloys may be one of the factors limiting the lifespan of implants. In the present study, the response of human monocytes from peripheral blood to an exposure to metal ions was investigated, using the method of real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based low-density arrays. Upon stimulation with bivalent (Co2+ and Ni2+) and trivalent (Ti3+) cations and with the calcium antagonist LaCl3, the strength of the elicited monocytic response was in the order of Co2+ > or = Ni2+ > Ti3+ > or = LaCl3. The transcriptional regulation of the majority of genes affected by the exposure of monocytes to Co2+ and Ni2+ was similar. Some genes critically involved in the processes of inflammation and bone resorption, however, were found to be differentially regulated by these bivalent cations. The data demonstrate that monocytic gene expression is adapted in response to metal ions and that this response is, in part, specific for the individual metals. It is suggested that metal alloys used in arthroplasties may affect the extent of inflammation and bone resorption in the peri-implant tissues in dependence of their chemical composition.

The Electrical Resistance of Metals and Alloys in Their Hard and Soft States

It is known that the electrical resistance of annealed metals is usually smaller than that of metals in their cold worked state. The curve showing the relation between electrical resistance and annealing temperature reaches a minimum; continued annealing at higher temperature produces an increase in the electrical resistance. In the case of alloys it has been noted that a second decrease occurs at higher annealing temperature. The following work corroborates the observance of previous investigations. The electrical resistance of cold worked copper, gold, nickel, and iron decreased with annealing and then increased, the minimum being around 300° C. or 400° C. Monel metal showed a minimum resistance followed by an increase which in turn was followed by a second decrease.

The Electrical Resistance of Metals in their Hard and Soft States

Many investigations have shown that the electrical resistance of soft annealed metals is usually smaller than that of metals in their hard, cold worked state. By annealing cold-worked metals, the electrical resistance decreases to a minimum and then increases upon continued annealing at higher temperatures. The work performed in this investigation upon silver, aluminum, copper, nickel, and soft steel corroborates this idea.

Roasting and Leaching Bulk Copper-Zinc Sulfide Concentrates with the Subsequent Recovery of the Metals by Electrolysis

The aim of this research was to investigate the possibilities of roasting and leaching a bulk copper-zinc sulfide concentrate, and the subsequent separation of the metals from the leach solution by electro­lytic deposition.

A Study of the Effect of Third Metals on the Wetting Properties of Solders

Solders are not new alloys, since they were known in late Roman times when they were mentioned by Pliny. These solders differed very little from our modern ones. Tertiarium, consisting of one part of tin to two parts of lead, is known today as plumbers solder; and argentarium, consisting of equal parts of lend and tin, is still extensively used for many purposes.

Some Preliminary Investiagtions of the Magnetic Permeabilities of Alloys of the Ferromagnetic Metals

The problem presented for this thesis was an investigation of the magnetic properties of the alloys produced by the methods of powder metallurgy. The question behind this was the correlation of the magnetic properties with the bonding properties and with the diffusion of the constituents.

Mineralogy-based quantitative precipitation and temperature reconstructions from annually laminated lake sediments (Swiss Alps) since AD 1580

[1] We present quantitative autumn, summer and annual precipitation and summer temperature reconstructions from proglacial annually laminated Lake Silvaplana, eastern Swiss Alps back to AD 1580. We used X-ray diffraction peak intensity ratios of minerals in the sediment layers (quartz qz, plagioclase pl, amphibole am, mica mi) that are diagnostic for different source areas and hydro-meteorological transport processes in the catchment. XRD data were calibrated with meteorological data (AD 1800/1864–1950) and revealed significant correlations: mi/pl with SON precipitation (r = 0.56, p < 0.05) and MJJAS precipitation (r = 0.66, p < 0.01); qz/mi with MJJAS temperature (r = −0.72, p < 0.01)and qz/am with annual precipitation (r = −0.54, p < 0.05). Geological catchment settings and hydro-meteorological processes provide deterministic explanations for the correlations. Our summer temperature reconstruction reproduces the typical features of past climate variability known from independent data sets. The precipitation reconstructions show a LIA climate moister than today. Exceptionally wet periods in our reconstruction coincide with regional glacier advances.

Prediction of the thermal release of transactinide elements (112 ≤ Z ≤ 116) from metals

Metallic catcher foils have been investigated on their thermal release capabilities for future superheavy element studies. These catcher materials shall serve as connection between production and chemical investigation of superheavy elements (SHE) at vacuum conditions. The diffusion constants and activation energies of diffusion have been extrapolated for various catcher materials using an atomic volume based model. Release rates can now be estimated for predefined experimental conditions using the determined diffusion values. The potential release behavior of the volatile SHE Cn (E112), E113, Fl (E114), E115, and Lv (E116) from polycrystalline, metallic foils of Ni, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Hf, Ta, and W is predicted. Example calculations showed that Zr is the best suited material in terms of on-line release efficiency and long-term operation stability. If higher temperatures up to 2773 K are applicable, tungsten is suggested to be the material of choice for such experiments.

Polycyclic aromatic compounds (PAHs and oxygenated PAHs) and trace metals in fish species from Ghana (West Africa): Bioaccumulation and health risk assessment

We report the concentrations of 28 PAHs, 15 oxygenated PAHs (OPAHs) and 11 trace metals/metalloids (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, and Zn) in muscle and gut + gill tissues of demersal fishes (Drapane africana, Cynoglossus senegalensis and Pomadasys peroteti) from three locations along the coast of the Gulf of Guinea (Ghana). The concentrations of ∑ 28PAHs in muscle tissues averaged 192 ng g− 1 dw (range: 71–481 ng g− 1 dw) and were not statistically different between locations. The concentrations of ∑ 28 PAHs were higher in guts + gills than in muscles. The PAH composition pattern was dominated by low molecular weight compounds (naphthalene, alkyl-naphthalenes and phenanthrene). All fish tissues had benzo[a]pyrene concentrations lower than the EU limit for food safety. Excess cancer risk from consumption of some fish was higher than the guideline value of 1 × 10− 6. The concentrations of ∑ 15 OPAHs in fish muscles averaged 422 ng g− 1 dw (range: 28–1715 ng g− 1dw). The ∑ 15 OPAHs/∑ 16 US-EPA PAHs concentration ratio was > 1 in 68% of the fish muscles and 100% of guts + gills. The log-transformed concentrations of PAHs and OPAHs in muscles, guts + gills were significantly (p < 0.05) correlated with their octanol–water partitioning coefficients, strongly suggesting that equilibrium partitioning from water/sediment into fish tissue was the main mechanism of bioaccumulation. The trace metal concentrations in the fish tissues were in the medium range when compared to fish from other parts of the world. The concentrations of some trace metals (Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn) were higher in guts + gills than in muscle tissues. The target hazard quotients for metals were < 1 and did not indicate a danger to the local population. We conclude that the health risk arising from the consumption of the studied fish (due to their PAHs and trace metals content) is minimal.

Comparative theoretical analysis of continuous wave laser cutting of metals at 1 and 10 um wavelength

We present a derivation and, based on it, an extension of a model originally proposed by V.G. Niziev to describe continuous wave laser cutting of metals. Starting from a local energy balance and by incorporating heat removal through heat conduction to the bulk material, we find a differential equation for the cutting profile. This equation is solved numerically and yields, besides the cutting profiles, the maximum cutting speed, the absorptivity profiles, and other relevant quantities. Our main goal is to demonstrate the model’s capability to explain some of the experimentally observed differences between laser cutting at around 1 and 10 μm wavelengths. To compare our numerical results to experimental observations, we perform simulations for exactly the same material and laser beam parameters as those used in a recent comparative experimental study. Generally, we find good agreement between theoretical and experimental results and show that the main differences between laser cutting with 1- and 10-μm beams arise from the different absorptivity profiles and absorbed intensities. Especially the latter suggests that the energy transfer, and thus the laser cutting process, is more efficient in the case of laser cutting with 1-μm beams.

Heavy Metals in Crop Plants: Transport and Redistribution Processes on the Whole Plant Level

Copper, zinc, manganese, iron, nickel and molybdenum are essential micronutrients for plants. However, when present in excess they may damage the plant or decrease the quality of harvested plant products. Some other heavy metals such as cadmium, lead or mercury are not needed by plants and represent pollutants. The uptake into the roots, the loading into the xylem, the acropetal transport to the shoot with the transpiration stream and the further redistribution in the phloem are crucial for the distribution in aerial plant parts. This review is focused on long-distance transport of heavy metals via xylem and phloem and on interactions between the two transport systems. Phloem transport is the basis for the redistribution within the shoot and for the accumulation in fruits and seeds. Solutes may be transferred from the xylem to the phloem (e.g., in the small bundles in stems of cereals, in minor leaf veins). Nickel is highly phloem-mobile and directed to expanding plant parts. Zinc and to a lesser degree also cadmium are also mobile in the phloem and accumulate in meristems (root tips, shoot apex, axillary buds). Iron and manganese are characterized by poor phloem mobility and are retained in older leaves.