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Scanning electron microscopy based automated mineralogy (SEM-AM) is a combined analytical tool initially designed for the characterisation of ores and mineral processing products. Measurements begin with the collection of backscattered electron (BSE) images and their handling with image analysis software routines. Subsequently, energy dispersive X-ray spectra (EDS) are gained at selected points according to the BSE image adjustments. Classification of the sample EDS spectra against a list of approved reference EDS spectra completes the measurement. Different classification algorithms and four principal SEM-AM measurement routines for point counting modal analysis, particle analysis, sparse phase search and EDS spectral mapping are offered by the relevant software providers. Application of SEM-AM requires a high-quality preparation of samples. Suitable non-evaporating and electron-beam stable epoxy resin mixtures and polishing of relief-free surfaces in particles and materials with very different hardness are the main challenges. As demonstrated by case examples in this contribution, the EDS spectral mapping methods appear to have the most promising potential for novel applications in metamorphic, igneous and sedimentary petrology, ore fingerprinting, ash particle analysis, characterisation of slags, forensic sciences, archaeometry and investigations of stoneware and ceramics. SEM-AM allows the quantification of the sizes, geometries and liberation of particles with different chemical compositions within a bulk sample and without previous phase separations. In addition, a virtual filtering of bulk particle samples by application of numerous filter criteria is possible. For a complete mineral phase identification, X-ray diffraction data should accompany the EDS chemical analysis. Many of the materials which potentially could be characterised by SEM-AM consist of amorphous and glassy phases. In such cases, the generic labelling of reference EDS spectra and their subsequent target component grouping allow SEM-AM for interesting and novel studies on many kinds of solid and particulate matter which are not feasible by other analytical methods.

Trotz der Schlüsselstellung heterotropher Protisten als Bindeglied zwischen dem mikrobiellen und dem klassischen Nahrungsnetz ist noch wenig über ihre biochemische Zusammensetzung und ihren Nährwert bekannt. In der vorliegenden Doktorarbeit wurde untersucht ob die biochemische Zusammensetzung von Protisten (1) von deren Nahrungsgrundlage (Alge oder Bakterien) und Ernährungsweise (Autotrophie, Mixotrophie oder Heterotrophie) abhängt und (2) ihre Nahrungsqualität für räuberisches Rotatorien (Keratella quadrata) bedingt. Die Fettsäure-, Sterol- und Aminosäurezusammensetzung vier heterotropher Protisten spiegelte generell die ihrer Nahrung wider. Es trat jedoch eine Akkumulation dieser biochemischen Substanzen in den Protisten auf. Auch die Ernährungsweise eines Flagellaten (Ochromonas sp.) beeinflusste stark dessen biochemische Zusammensetzung, insbesondere die Konzentrationen an mehrfach ungesättigten Fettsäuren (PUFAs). Bei der Untersuchung des Nährwertes vier heterotropher Protisten für K. quadrata wurden signifikante Korrelationen zwischen verschiedenen PUFAs, drei Sterolen und einer Aminosäure (Leucin) der Protisten und der Eiproduktion der Rotatorien festgestellt. Auch die experimentelle Supplementierung eines Flagellaten mit einer PUFA (Docosahexaensäure, DHA) erhöhte seinen Nährwert für die Rotatorien signifikant. Die Ergebnisse verdeutlichen die Fähigkeit heterotropher Protisten, die biochemische Zusammensetzung organischer Materie schon auf einer unteren Ebene des aquatischen Nahrungsnetzes zu verändern, nämlich beim Übergang zwischen Algen/Bakterien und dem Mesozooplankton. Hier können biochemische Änderungen weitreichende Folgen für den Stoff- und Energiefluß des gesamten Nahrungsnetzes nach sich ziehen. / Heterotrophic protists are an important link between the microbial and the classical food web. However, little is known about their biochemical composition and nutritional quality as prey. In this thesis, I analysed (1) whether the biochemical composition of the protists depends on their dietary resources (bacterial or algal food) or trophic mode (autotrophy, mixotrophy or heterotrophy), and (2) whether the biochemical composition of protists determines their nutritional quality as prey for a rotifer species (Keratella quadrata). The fatty acid, sterol, and amino acid composition of four heterotrophic protists generally resembled the dietary composition, but the protists accumulated these compounds. Moreover, the trophic mode strongly affected the composition of a flagellate (Ochromonas sp.), especially that of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). When investigating the nutritional quality of four protist species for K. quadrata, several PUFAs, three sterols (desmosterol, ergosterol, stigmastanol), and one amino acid (leucine) of the protists were significantly correlated with the rotifer’s egg production. Moreover, the nutritional quality of a heterotrophic flagellate for the rotifer was significantly enhanced by artificially supplementing the flagellate with a PUFA (docosahexaenoic acid, DHA). The thesis highlights the ability of heterotrophic protists to modify the biochemical composition of organic matter at an early stage in aquatic food webs, i.e. at the interface between algae/bacteria and mesozooplankton. Biochemical modifications at this stage may profoundly affect matter and energy transfer through the entire food web.

Astrophysikalische Neutrinos können in der Wechselwirkung kosmischer Strahlungsteilchen mit Materie oder Photonen nahe derer Quellen entstehen. Die auf der Erde erwartete Flavor-Zusammensetzung kann mögliche Neutrino Produktionsmechanismen einschränken. Tau-Neutrinos sind aufgrund von Flavor-Oszillationen über kosmische Distanzen zu erwarten. Das IceCube Neutrino Observatorium hat astrophysikalische Neutrinos bei Energien zwischen ~60 TeV und ~10 PeV entdeckt. Die gemessene Flavor-Zusammensetzung ist kompatibel mit ~1:1:1, wie vom Pion Produktionsszenario erwartet wird. Die Elektron- und Tau-Neutrino Anteile sind experimentell jedoch weitgehend unbestimmt. Das Ziel der in dieser Dissertation präsentierten Arbeit ist die erste Identifikation eines Tau-Neutrinos in IceCube. Die Suche basiert auf der “Doppel-Kaskaden” Ereignistopologie, die durch zwei aufeinanderfolgende Teilchenschauer aufgrund der Tau-Neutrino Wechselwirkung bzw. des Tau-Zerfalls beschrieben ist. Tau-Neutrinos werden durch die Rekonstruktion dieser Ereignistopologie identifiziert. Der Abstand zwischen beiden Kaskaden entspricht der Tau-Zerfallslänge. Tau-Neutrinos werden oberhalb einer deponierten Energie von ~200 TeV mit einer Effizienz von ~30-50% bei einer Untergrundkontamination von ~5-25% identifiziert. Die Tau-Zerfallslänge wird oberhalb der Auflösungsgrenze von ~10 m auf ~2 m genau bestimmt. In Abhängigkeit des angenommenen Neutrino-Energiespektrums werden ~1-3 identifizierbare Tau-Neutrinos und ~1 Untergrundereignis erwartet. Kein Doppel-Kaskaden Ereignis wird in sechs Jahren experimenteller Daten beobachtet. Der astrophysikalische Tau-Neutrino Fluss wird durch ein oberes Limit von 2.68x10^{-18}(E/100 TeV)^{-2.97} GeV^{-1} cm^{-2} sr^{-1} s^{-1} mit einem Konfidenzniveau von 90% beschränkt. Die gemessene Flavor-Zusammensetzung ~0.51:0.49:0 ist mit dem Pion Produktionsszenario kompatibel. Die Ergebnisse beinhalten die bislang sensitivste Suche nach hochenergetischen Tau-Neutrinos in IceCube. / Astrophysical neutrinos may be produced in interactions of cosmic rays with ambient matter or photons near their sources. The observable flavor composition on Earth can constrain possible production scenarios. The appearance of tau-neutrinos due to neutrino oscillations over cosmic baselines is a clear astrophysical signature. A diffuse flux of astrophysical neutrinos between ~60 TeV to ~10 PeV energy was discovered with the IceCube Neutrino Observatory. The observed flavor composition is compatible with ~1:1:1 expected from pion production and decay at the sources, although the experimental constraints on the electron- and tau-neutrino fractions are weak. The work presented in this thesis aims to identify a tau-neutrino interaction in IceCube for the first time. The search is based on the “double cascade” event topology, which is unique to the tau-flavor and characterized by two consecutive particle showers from the charged-current interaction of a tau-neutrino with a nucleus in the ice and the subsequent decay of the tau-lepton. Tau-neutrinos are identified by reconstructing this event topology, for which the distance between both cascades is an estimator of the tau decay length. Above ~200 TeV deposited energy, the identification efficiency is between ~30-50% and the background contamination ~5-25%. The tau decay length is resolved to ~2 m above the experimental resolution limit of ~10 m. This search is expected to yield ~1-3 identifiable tau-neutrino interactions and ~1 background event, depending on the assumed neutrino energy spectrum. No double cascade event is observed in six years of detector data. The astrophysical tau-neutrino flux is constrained by an upper limit of 2.68x10^{-18}(E/100 TeV)^{-2.97} GeV^{-1} cm^{-2} sr^{-1} s^{-1} at 90% confidence level. The measured flavor composition of ~0.51:0.49:0 is compatible with the pion production scenario. The results entail the most sensitive search for highly energetic tau-neutrinos in IceCube so far.

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We investigated the effects of substrate (cellulose or starch) and different clay contents on the production of microbial extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and concomitant development of stable soil aggregates. Soils were incubated with different amounts of montmorillonite (+ 0.1%, + 1%, + 10%) both with and without two substrates of contrasting quality (starch and cellulose). Microbial respiration (CO2), biomass carbon (C), EPS-protein, and EPS-polysaccharide were determined over the experimental period. The diversity and compositional shifts of microbial communities (bacteria/archaea) were analysed by sequencing 16S rRNA gene fragments amplified from soil DNA. Soil aggregate size distribution was determined and geometric mean diameter calculated for aggregate formation. Aggregate stabilities were compared among 1–2-mm size fraction. Starch amendment supported a faster increase than cellulose in both respiration and microbial biomass. Microbial community structure and composition differed depending on the C substrate added. However, clay addition had a more pronounced effect on alpha diversity compared to the addition of starch or cellulose. Substrate addition resulted in an increased EPS concentration only if combined with clay addition. At high clay addition, starch resulted in higher EPS concentrations than cellulose. Where additional substrate was not provided, EPS-protein was only weakly correlated with aggregate formation and stability. The relationship became stronger with addition of substrate. Labile organic C thus clearly plays a role in aggregate formation, but increasing clay content was found to enhance aggregate stability and additionally resulted in the development of distinct microbial communities and increased EPS production.

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