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To determine the microbial community composition and antimicrobial resistance genes ( ARGs ) diversity in total and extracellular DNA in agricultural ecological compartments in Europe. This work is part of the OHEJP FED AMR consortium, which aims to investigate the role of free extracellular DNA ( exDNA ) in the spread of AMR genes across ecosystem barriers via bacterial transformation.

The valence bands of [EMIM][TFSI], [DEME][TFSI] and [PYR1,4][TFSI] gas-phase ion pairs have been investigated using ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS). The photoelectron spectra are interpreted by using several density functional and ab initio calculation methods. Although the experimental vapor phase spectra are similar, the different calculation methods make different predictions about the HOMO molecular state of the ion-pairs of the ionic liquids. The HOMO state of the [DEME][TFSI] ion-pair is due to the TFSI anion, while in [EMIM][TFSI] it is due to the EMIM cation. However, it is difficult to make conclusive assignments for the [PYR1,4][TFSI] ionic liquid. All calculation methods predict the LUMO to be of cationic origin in all the studied ion-pairs.

Oxide semiconductor nanowire (NW) suspension based devices have been attracted growing interest in smart window applications due to their great controllability of light transmittance, simplicity and long term stability. Recently, we demonstrated smart window device using the suspension of electrospun TiO2 or solvothermally synthesized ZnO NWs in viscous polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) matrix. The operating principle of the oxide semiconductor NW and PDMS device is based on the alterable orientation, alignment or spatial distribution of the NWs in an electric field, by changing light scattering cross-section and thus reversibly increasing or decreasing transmittance [1]. One-dimensional (1D) nanostructures such as NWs exhibit a good response to electric field due to the highly anisotropic shape. Herein we report transition metal doped ZnO NW and PDMS based smart window devices. Doping ZnO NWs with other chosen metal ions, such as transition metals, may lead to the emergence of new targeted material properties. For instance, high quality ZnO nanocrystals doped with transition metal cations lead to enhanced optical absorption of light in visible range. The pristine ZnO NWs used in our previous work did not exhibit visible light absorption and transmittance of ZnO NWs and PDMS based smart window device was regulated by changing scattering cross-section. The visible light absorption could increase efficiency of smart window device, because during electrophoretic alignment of NWs towards direction of electric field will change not only scattering, but also visible light absorption cross-section. One-dimensional ZnO nanostructures have been synthesized by wet chemical techniques including microemulsion hydrothermal synthesis, surfactant-assisted hydrothermal orientation growth and alcohol solution refluxing. However, synthesis of high quality transition metal doped ZnO nanowires with small diameter and high aspect ratio is still a challenge. Most wet chemical methods fail to produce high aspect ratio doped ZnO NWs in large quantities. Here we are demonstrating large-scale, single-step, direct solvothermal method and have successfully prepared high aspect ratio single crystalline transition metal (Co, Cu, Fe, Ni, Mn) doped ZnO NWs. The solvothermal synthesis process presented here can be scaled up to macro scale production and the fact that NWs need no further modification increases the technological potential of oxide semiconductor nanowire suspension based devices electro-optical smart window devices.

Magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles have found extensive scientific and technological applications, such as ferrofluids, data storage materials, photocatalysts, for water splitting under visible light, nanoparticle adsorbents for detoxication of biological fluids or removal of the heavy metals. Monophasic magnetite monodisperse nanoparticles ~30 nm in diameter were precipitated by NaOH from ferrous salt aqueous solution in air atmosphere. The influence of the solution molarity, precipitator agent drop rate and stirring time on the powder morphology, phase purity and magnetic properties was studied by using SEM, XRD, DTG, XPS, VSM and (FY)XAS analysis. Remarkable influence on grain size, morphology and phase purity was observed. XRD analysis and the comparison of Fe 2p fluorescence yield X-ray absorption spectra to reference compounds[1] shows that it is possible to obtain monophasic Fe3O4 or mixture of γ-Fe2O3, α-Fe2O3 and FeOOH with FeOOH dominance by regulating synthesis parameters. Magnetite nanoparticles shown high saturation magnetization (85.84 emu/g) and composition mainly of magnetite with little or no maghemite phase.