Nucleosynthesis, Mixing Processes, and Gas Pollution from AGB Stars

We discuss the evolution of stars through the asymptotic giant branch, focusing on the physical mechanisms potentially able to alter the surface chemical composition and on how changes in the chemistry of the external regions affect the physical properties of the star and the duration of this evolutionary phase. We focus on the differences between the evolution of low-mass stars, driven by the growth of the core mass and by the surface carbon enrichment, and that of their higher mass counterparts, which experience hot bottom burning. In the latter sources, the variation of the surface chemical composition reflects the equilibria of the proton capture nucleosynthesis experienced at the base of the convective envelope. The pollution expected from this class of stars is discussed, outlining the role of mass and metallicity on the chemical composition of the ejecta. To this aim, we considered evolutionary models of 0.7–8 M⊙ stars in a wide range of metallicities, extending from the ultra-metal-poor domain to super-solar chemistries.

Effects of He and Ar Heat-Assisted Plasma Treatments on the Adhesion Properties of Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)

Heat-assisted plasma (HAP) treatment using He gas is known to improve the adhesive-bonding and adhesive-free adhesion properties of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). In this study, we investigated the effects of He and Ar gaseous species on the HAP-treated PTFE surface. Epoxy (EP) adhesive-coated stainless steel (SUS304) and isobutylene–isoprene rubber (IIR) were used as adherents for the evaluation of the adhesive-bonding and adhesive-free adhesion properties of PTFE. In the case of adhesive bonding, the PTFE/EP-adhesive/SUS304 adhesion strength of the Ar-HAP-treated PTFE was the same as that of the He-HAP-treated PTFE. In the case of adhesive-free adhesion, the PTFE/IIR adhesion strength of the Ar-HAP-treated PTFE was seven times lower than that of the He-HAP-treated PTFE. The relation among gaseous species used in HAP treatment, adhesion properties, peroxy radical density ratio, surface chemical composition, surface modification depth, surface morphology, surface hardness, and the effect of irradiation with vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) and UV photons were investigated. The different adhesive-free adhesion properties obtained by the two treatments resulted from the changes in surface chemical composition, especially the ratios of oxygen-containing functional groups and C–C crosslinks.

Applying Cryo-X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy to Study the Surface Chemical Composition of Fungi and Viruses

Interaction between microorganisms and their surroundings are generally mediated via the cell wall or cell envelope. An understanding of the overall chemical composition of these surface layers may give clues on how these interactions occur and suggest mechanisms to manipulate them. This knowledge is key, for instance, in research aiming to reduce colonization of medical devices and device-related infections from different types of microorganisms. In this context, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) is a powerful technique as its analysis depth below 10 nm enables studies of the outermost surface structures of microorganism. Of specific interest for the study of biological systems is cryogenic XPS (cryo-XPS). This technique allows studies of intact fast-frozen hydrated samples without the need for pre-treatment procedures that may cause the cell structure to collapse or change due to the loss of water. Previously, cryo-XPS has been applied to study bacterial and algal surfaces with respect to their composition of lipids, polysaccharides and peptide (protein and/or peptidoglycan). This contribution focuses onto two other groups of microorganisms with widely different architecture and modes of life, namely fungi and viruses. It evaluates to what extent existing models for data treatment of XPS spectra can be applied to understand the chemical composition of their very different surface layers. XPS data from model organisms as well as reference substances representing specific building blocks of their surface were collected and are presented. These results aims to guide future analysis of the surface chemical composition of biological systems.

Zooming in on surface chemical composition of soil microaggregates – Is there an effect of plants (Festuca)?

<p>Formation of soil microaggregates (SMA) is a surface-driven process and depends on mineral cementing and organic gluing agents. Yet, the role of plants in soil microaggregation by input of fresh organic matter remains little understood. In a mesocosm experiment silty Luvisol topsoil (<250 µm; original soil material) was incubated in absence (bare soil) and presence of plants (Festuca) and water-stable free and occluded SMA were isolated after 4, 12, and 30 weeks and investigated for the surface chemical composition by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and for wetting properties by contact angle determination.</p><p>Compared to the original soil, the surfaces of both free and occluded SMA tended to smaller O and larger C contents, thus a smaller O/C ratio, along with a slight increase in initial contact angle from about 10° (original soil) to about 20° (SMA). The O/C ratio decreased slightly further from 4 to 12 weeks, especially for bare soil without plants. Slightly greater C contents were detected for occluded than for free SMA, probably hinting at higher retention of organic matter on surfaces of microaggregates entrained in larger soil structures. For bare soil, a slightly greater N content was observed for free SMA while in the presence of Festuca free and occluded SMA had same N contents.</p><p>Regardless of the presence of Festuca, C speciation indicated a lower proportion (in % of total C) of C=O/O-C-O and a higher proportion of C - C/C -  H species for occluded than for free SMA, probably indicating less altered organic matter at the surfaces of occluded SMA. While the proportion of C=O/O-C-O species slightly decreased, that of C- C/C-H species slightly increased towards the end of the incubation. This may hint at some preferences in microbial respiration with respect to C compounds and formation of microbial metabolites. From N speciation a higher ratio between protonated and non-protonated organic N species (N<sub>p</sub>/N<sub>np</sub>) was indicated for Festuca than for bare soil after 4 and for 30 weeks of incubation, i.e., the presence of plants seems to impact N compounds present. The N<sub>p</sub>/N<sub>np </sub>ratio tended to decrease after 30 weeks compared to 4 weeks for both treatments, hinting on changes in N species present.</p><p>In summary, aside some effect on N species present, results indicate rather incubation and SMA origin (free, occluded) than the presence of plants (Festuca) to impact surface chemical composition of the tested SMA. This suggests no defined contribution of plants and their products to formation of 250-53 µm-sized SMA.</p>