Tallinn University of Technology

About: Tallinn University of Technology is a education organization based out in Tallinn, Estonia. It is known for research contribution in the topics: European union & Oil shale. The organization has 3688 authors who have published 10313 publications receiving 145058 citations. The organization is also known as: Tallinn Technical University & Tallinna Tehnikaülikool.

CuS-based thin films for architectural glazing applications produced by co-evaporation: Morphology, optical and electrical properties

Abstract: Copper sulphide thin films in the 90–300 nm thickness range have been deposited on soda–lime glass substrates by thermal co-evaporation of Cu and S. Depending on the film thickness, the optical transmittance in the visible region is of about 50% for the thinnest film and 19% for the thickest film, with the corresponding near-infrared transmittance dropping from 11% to near-zero at 2500 nm as the film thickness increases from 90 to 300 nm. A resistivity of ρ ~ 10 − 4 Ω cm has been obtained for the films. The optoelectronic properties of the films remained practically unchanged after one year stored under laboratory ambient. The optical properties obtained for selected CuS-based films make them suitable for their use as effective solar control glazings in warm climates.

A life cycle environmental impact assessment of oil shale produced and consumed in Estonia.

Abstract: With 0.5–1.0% of the world's oil shale reserves, Estonia mines more than 48% of the total world oil shale output. Electricity, thermal energy and shale oil are produced from oil shale in Estonia. Enterprises operating on oil shale have been the main polluters in Estonia for several decades. A comprehensive quantitative analysis of the pressure on the environment and efficiency of the oil shale complex was carried out using Life Cycle Inventory and Material Flow Analysis methodologies. The results of this study are relevant to the implementation and further development of oil shale resource policies.

Copper(I)-binding properties of de-coppering drugs for the treatment of Wilson disease. α-Lipoic acid as a potential anti-copper agent.

Abstract: Wilson disease is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder caused by loss-of-function mutations in the P-type copper ATPase, ATP7B, which leads to toxic accumulation of copper mainly in the liver and brain. Wilson disease is treatable, primarily by copper-chelation therapy, which promotes copper excretion. Although several de-coppering drugs are currently available, their Cu(I)-binding affinities have not been quantitatively characterized. Here we determined the Cu(I)-binding affinities of five major de-coppering drugs – D-penicillamine, trientine, 2,3-dimercapto-1-propanol, meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinate and tetrathiomolybdate – by exploring their ability to extract Cu(I) ions from two Cu(I)-binding proteins, the copper chaperone for cytochrome c oxidase, Cox17, and metallothionein. We report that the Cu(I)-binding affinity of these drugs varies by four orders of magnitude and correlates positively with the number of sulfur atoms in the drug molecule and negatively with the number of atoms separating two SH groups. Based on the analysis of structure-activity relationship and determined Cu(I)-binding affinity, we hypothesize that the endogenous biologically active substance, α-lipoic acid, may be suitable for the treatment of Wilson disease. Our hypothesis is supported by cell culture experiments where α-lipoic acid protected hepatic cells from copper toxicity. These results provide a basis for elaboration of new generation drugs that may provide better therapeutic outcomes.

Progress toward improving ethanol production through decreased glycerol generation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae by metabolic and genetic engineering approaches

Abstract: Bioethanol, a prominent biofuel mostly produced industrially by the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, has been among the main pillars of sustainable development in the transportation sector. However, there exist different factors negatively affecting ethanolic fermentation pathway including i.e., microbial contamination, ethanol stress, and byproducts production (CO2, biomass, and glycerol). Removal of these barriers are essential to achieve a more efficient and cleaner production of this eco-friendly commodity. Among various solutions, by reducing glycerol production, i.e., through redirecting carbon flux into bioethanol production pathway, yields beyond optimal values could be expected. The present article strives to review and discuss glycerol production in S. cerevisiae including its significance and metabolisms. Subsequently, over two decades of investigation (1997–2018) aimed at improving ethanol production by blocking glycerol production pathway in S. cerevisiae using metabolic engineering approaches have been presented and comprehensively elaborated. Various metabolic engineering strategies put forth to enhance ethanol production at the expense of glycerol production have been inclusively reviewed. More specifically, the effect of manipulation of the genes GPD, GLT, GLN, GDH, DAK, GCY, ADH, PDC, and GAPN invidually or in combination on decreasing glycerol and improving ethanol production have been reviewed. Overall, it could be concluded that glycerol production was hindered by the deletion of the most important genes in glycerol production, i.e., GPD genes, generally resulting in increased ethanol production. However, this strategy is also accompanied with reduced yeast growth rate or stopped growth owing to the crucial roles of glycerol, e.g., osmoregulation and redox balancing. Therefore, other strategies such as expression of foreign genes (Escherichia coli mhpF/Bacillus subtilis GAPN) and/or overexpression of yeast genes (GTL1, GLN1, GDH) should be considered simultaneously to compensate for the unfavorable impacts of GPD manipulations. The findings reviewed and critically discussed herein could shed light on the various aspects of yeast metabolic engineering to improve ethanol production and could be instrumental in directing future research efforts toward a more efficient and eco-friendly production of bioethanol as a cleaner alternative of its fossil-oriented counterpart.

Guyer-Krumhansl-type heat conduction at room temperature

Abstract: Results of heat pulse experiments in various artificial and natural materials are reported in the paper. The experiments are performed at room temperature with macroscopic samples. It is shown that temperature evolution does not follow the Fourier's law but well explained by the Guyer-Krumhansl equation. The observations confirm the ability of non-equilibrium thermodynamics to formulate universal constitutive relations for thermomechanical processes.