Inactivation of Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis by a direct-current,cold atmospheric-pressure air plasma microjet

Objective： A direct-current, cold atmospheric-pressure air plasma microjet （PMJ） was performed to inactivate Staphylococcus aureus （S. aureus） and Enterococcusfaecalis （E. faecalis） in air. The process of sterilization and morphology of bacteria was observed. We wish to know the possible inactivation mechanisms of PMJ and explore a potential application in dental and other temperature sensitive treatment. Methods： In this study, we employed a direct current, atmospheric pressure, cold air PMJ to inactivate bacterias. Scanning electron microscopy was employed to evaluate the morphology of S. aureus and showed rupture of cell walls after the plasma treatment and Optical emission spectrum （OES） were used to understand the possible inactivation mechanisms of PMJ. Re- suits＂ The inactivation rates could reach 100% in 5 min. When the distance between the exit nozzle of the PMJ device and Petri dish was extended from 1 cm to 3 cm, effective inactivation was also observed with a similar inactivation curve. Conclusion： The inactivation of bacteria is attributed to the abundant reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, as well as ultroviolet radiation in the plasma. Different life spans and defensibilities of these killing agents may hold the key to understanding the different inactivation curves at different treatment distances.

Synthesis and electrochemical properties of environmental free Lglutathione grafted graphene oxide/ZnO nanocomposite for highly selective piroxicam sensing

A simple and reliable strategy was proposed to engineer the glutathione grafted graphene oxide/ZnO nanocomposite(glutathione-GO/ZnO)as electrode material for the high-performance piroxicam sensor.The prepared glutathione-GO/ZnO nanocomposite was well characterized by X-ray diffraction(XRD),Fourier transform infrared spectrum(FTIR),X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS),field emission scanning electron microscopy(FE-SEM),cyclic voltammetry(CV),electrochemical impedance spectroscopy(EIS)and differential pulse voltammetry(DPV).The novel nanocomposite modified electrode showed the highest electrocatalytic activity towards piroxicam(oxidation potential is 0.52 V).Under controlled experimental parameters,the proposed sensor exhibited good linear responses to piroxicam concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 500 μM.The detection limit and sensitivity were calculated as 1.8 μM and 0.2 μA/μM·cm^(2),respectively.Moreover,it offered excellent selectivity,reproducibility,and long-term stability and can effectively ignore the interfering candidates commonly existing in the pharmaceutical tablets and human fluids even at a higher concentration.Finally,the reported sensor was successfully employed to the direct determination of piroxicam in practical samples.

Chemical and Electrochemical Characterization of Artifi cial Sulphate Patina on Bronze

Copper patinas are generally regarded as aesthetically pleasing and are supposed to protect copper against further corrosion. The preparation of artificial sulphate patina on bronzes has been realized by immersing the bronze into CuSO4 solution. The effect of immersion time on the formation of the patina has been investigated. The sulphate patina obtained with immersion time of 500 h in CuSO4 solution consists of fiat area and crystals. The flat area in the patina is mainly made of cuprite, whereas the crystals are mainly composed of brochantite. The electrochemical measurement of sulphate patina in simulated acid rain with pH 3.1 shows that the protective effectiveness of patina decreases with time and the dissolution of patina is the key factor leading to the degradation of patina. The investigation of the formation mechanism of sulphate patina shows that the cuprite layer forms on the surface of bronze in the initial patination. Then, crystal brochantite grows on the surface of cuprite by the oxidation of cuprite and the incorporation of CuSO4 solution.

Performance Evaluation of MWCNTs Reinforced Cement Mortar Composites using Natural and Commercial Surfactants

An efficient and promising approach for effectively dispersing multi-walled carbon nanotubes(MWCNTs)in cementitious composites has been investigated.The naturally occurring organic extracts from species of indigenously known‘Keekar’trees scattered along tropical and sub-tropical regions;is found as an exceptional replacement to the non-natural commercial surfactants.In the initial phase of investigation,ideal surfactant’s content required for efficient dispersion of MWCNTs in solution was determined using ultra-violet spectroscopy.The experimental investigations were then extended to five different cement composite formulations containing 0.0,0.025,0.05,0.08 and 0.10%MWCNTs by weight of cement.It was observed that the natural surfactant produced efficient dispersion at much reduced cost(approx.14%)compared with the commercial alternate.The estimated weight efficiency factor f was found 6.5 times higher for the proposed sustainable replacement to the conventional along with remarkable increase of 23%in modulus of rupture on 0.08 wt%addition of MWCNTs.Besides strength enhancement,the dispersed MWCNTs also improved the first crack and ultimate fracture toughness by 51.5%and 35.9%,respectively.The field emission scanning electron microscopy of the cryofractured samples revealed efficient dispersion of MWCNTs in the matrix leading to the phenomenon of effective crack bridging and crack branching in the composite matrix.Furthermore,the proposed scheme significantly reduced the early age volumetric shrinkage by 39%.

Correlation between impedance spectroscopy and bubble-induced mass transport in the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide

In the electrochemical conversion of carbon dioxide, high currents need to be employed to obtain large production rates, thus implying that mass transport of reactants and products is of crucial importance.This aspect can be investigated by employing a model that depicts the local environment for the reduction reactions. Simultaneously, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, despite being a versatile technique, has rarely been adopted for studying the mass transport features during the carbon dioxide(CO_(2))electroreduction. In this work, this aspect is deeply analyzed by correlating the results of impedance spectroscopy characterization with those obtained by a bubble-induced mass transport modeling under controlled diffusion conditions on a gold rotating disk electrode. The effects of potential and rotation rate on the local environment are also clarified. In particular, it has been found that CO_(2) depletion occurs at high kinetics when the rotation is absent, giving rise to an increment of the competing hydrogen evolution reaction. This feature reflects in an enlargement of the diffusion resistance, which overcomes the charge transport one.

Wetting Behavior of Graphite and CFC Composites by Cu-Ti Compacts

The wetting behavior of Cu-Ti powder compacts with 22 wt %Ti and 50 wt %Ti on carbon materials, including graphite and carbon fiber reinforced carbon composites（CFC）, has been investigated in a vacuum using the sessile drop method. The equilibrium contact angles of Cu-22Ti（containing 22 wt%Ti） on the graphite and the CFC substrates at 1 253 K are 32 o and 26 o, respectively, whereas the equilibrium contact angle of 9° is obtained for Cu-50Ti（containing 50 wt%Ti） on both the graphite and the CFC substrates at 1 303 K.Microstructural analysis of the wetting samples shows that a thin TiC reaction layer is developed at the interfacial area and Ti-Cu intermetallic compounds are formed over the reaction layer. The investigation on the spreading kinetics of Cu-Ti compacts on carbon materials substrates at fixed temperatures reveals that the spreading is controlled by the interfacial reactions in the first stage and then by the diffusion of the active Ti from the drop bulk to the triple line in the later stage. The spreading is promoted by the intense reaction at higher Ti concentrations.

XRPD and SEM-EDS Identification of a Mineralogical Standards Kit Forming a 19th Century Collection for Educational Analysis

An historical collection of more than one hundred samples of minerals and ore, used in the second half of the XVIII century was found and acquired during Munich Mineralientage 2014. The samples contained in numbered glass vials but lacking description, were prepared for teaching purpose about determinative mineralogy and ore recognition. All samples were analysed and identified. The identification effort drove the authors along a historical excursus about the didactics of mineralogy and the dry method analysis, nowadays neglected.

Relaxation of Energy and Momentum in an Carrier-Phonon System

If electrons (e) and holes (h) in metals or semiconductors are heated to the temperatures Te and Th greater than the lattice temperature Tp, the electron-phonon interaction causes energy relaxation. In the non-uniform case a momentum relaxation occurs as well. In view of such an application, a new model, based on an asymptotic procedure for solving the generalized kinetic equations of carriers and phonons is proposed, which gives naturally the displaced Maxwellian at the leading order. After that, balance equations for the electron number, hole number, energy densities, and momentum densities are constructed, which constitute now a system of five equations for the electron chemical potential, the temperatures and the drift velocities. In the drift-diffusion approximation the constitutive laws are derived and the Onsager relations recovered.

Synthesis, Characterization and Crystal Structures of Zwitterionic Triazolato Complexes by Reaction of a Ruthenium Azido Complex with Excess Ethyl Propiolate

The synthesis and structures of two novel zwitterionic ruthenium triazolato complexes are reported. The treatment of the ruthenium azido complex [Ru]-N3 (1, [Ru] = (η5-C5H5)(dppe)Ru, dppe = Ph2PCH2CH2PPh2) with an excess of ethyl propiolate in CHCl3 or CH2Cl2 under ambient conditions for 15 days results in the formation of a mixture of the Z- and E-forms of N(1)-bound ruthenium 3-ethylacryl-4-carboxylate-3H-1,2,3-triazolato complexes [Ru]N3(CH=CHCO2Et)C2H(CO2) (Z-3) and (E-3) in a ratio of ca. 5:2. The structures of E-3 and Z-3 were confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and fully characterized by 1H, 31P, 13C NMR and IR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis. The negatively charged carboxylate moieties of the zwitterionic ruthenium triazolato complexes Z-3 and Z-3 are highly nucleophilic and reactive toward a variety of electrophiles, making Z-3 and Z-3 potential starting materials for the development of biologically active 1,2,3-triazole derivatives.

Role of neurotrophic factors in enhancing linear axonal growth of ganglionic sensory neurons in vitro

Neurotrophins play a major role in the regulation of neuronal growth such as neurite sprouting or regeneration in response to nerve injuries. The role of nerve growth factor, neurotrophin-3, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in maintaining the survival of peripheral neurons remains poorly understood. In regenerative medicine, different modalities have been investigated for the delivery of growth factors to the injured neurons, in search of a suitable system for clinical applications. This study was to investigate the influence of nerve growth factor, neurotrophin-3 and brain-derived neurotrophic factor on the growth of neurites using two in vitro models of dorsal root ganglia explants and dorsal root ganglia-derived primary cell dissociated cultures. Quantitative data showed that the total neurite length and tortuosity were differently influenced by trophic factors. Nerve growth factor and, indirectly, brain-derived neurotrophic factor stimulate the tortuous growth of sensory fibers and the formation of cell clusters. Neurotrophin-3, however, enhances neurite growth in terms of length and linearity allowing for a more organized and directed axonal elongation towards a peripheral target compared to the other growth factors. These findings could be of considerable importance for any clinical application of neurotrophic factors in peripheral nerve regeneration. Ethical approval was obtained from the Regione Piemonte Animal Ethics Committee ASLTO1(file # 864/2016-PR) on September 14, 2016.

Insight into the interaction of inhaled corticosteroids with human serum albumin: A spectroscopic-based study

It is well known that the safety and efficacy profile of an inhaled cortocosteroid(ICS) is influenced by the pharmacokinetic properties and associated pharmacodynamic effects of the drug. Freely circulating,protein unbound, and active ICS can cause systemic adverse effects. Therefore, a detailed investigation of drug-protein interaction could be of great interest to understand the pharmacokinetic behaviour of corticosteroids and for the design of new analogues with effective pharmacological properties. In the present work, the interaction between some corticosteroids and human serum albumin(HSA) has been studied by spectroscopic approaches. UV–Vis spectroscopy confirmed that all the investigated corticosteroids can bind to HSA forming a protein-drug complex. The intrinsic fluorescence of HSA was quenched by all the investigated drugs, which was rationalized in terms of a static quenching mechanism. The thermodynamic parameters determined by the Van't Hoff analysis of the binding constants(negative ΔH and ΔS values) clearly indicate thathydrogen bonds and van der Waals forces play a major role in the binding process between albumin and betamethasone, flunisolide and prednisolone, while hydrophobic forces may play a major role in stabilizing albumin-triamcinolone complexes.

Reactive spontaneous infiltration of Al-activated TiO_2 by molten aluminum

The reactive spontaneous infiltration of Al-activated TiO2 (anatase) was investigated. Pure Al powder was blended with TiO2 for activation. They were compacted into the preform and then sealed within 6060 alloy mould. The activation and infiltration were carried out in 6060 alloy bath for 1 h and comparative sintering experiments were carried out in an argon protected environment under the same conditions of temperature and duration. X-ray diffraction analysis proved that the Al sealed environment was superior to the argon protection on activating the reaction between Al and TiO2. The blending ratio of TiO2 to Al and the temperature were found to play the most important role in infiltration by affecting infiltration and reaction kinetics. Three main types of microstructures were observed after infiltration: full infiltration, partial infiltration with the formation of cracks and no infiltration. The formation of these microstructures was explained on the basis of reaction kinetics and local volume changes due to the reactions. Ultimately, it is found that to obtain an overall good spontaneous infiltration, a TiO2 to Al blending ratio around 3:7 in volume and an infiltration temperature around 900 °C are the most suitable.

Investigation of droplet breakup in liquid–liquid dispersions by CFD–PBM simulations：The influence of the surfactant type

The accurate prediction of the droplet size distribution(DSD)in liquid–liquid turbulent dispersions is of fundamental importance in many industrial applications and it requires suitable kernels in the population balance model.When a surfactant is included in liquid–liquid dispersions,the droplet breakup behavior will change as an effect of the reduction of the interfacial tension.Moreover,also the dynamic interfacial tension may be different with respect to the static,due to the fact that the surfactant may be easily desorbed from the droplet surface,generating additional disruptive stresses.In this work,the performance of five breakup kernels from the literature is assessed,to investigate their ability to predict the time evolution of the DSD and of the mean Sauter diameter,when different surfactants are employed.Simulations are performed with the Quadrature Method of Moments for the solution of the population balance model coupled with the two-fluid model implemented in the compressible Two Phase Euler Foam solver of the open-source computational fluid dynamics(CFD)code Open FOAM v.2.2.x.The time evolution of the mean Sauter diameter predicted by these kernels is validated against experimental data for six test cases referring to a stirred tank with different types of surfactants(Tween 20 and PVA 88%)at different concentrations operating under different stirrer rates.Our results show that for the dispersion containing Tween 20 additional stress is generated,the multifractal breakup kernel properly predicts the DSD evolution,whereas two other kernels predict too fast breakup of droplets covered by adsorbed PVA.Kernels derived originally for bubbles completely fail.

Feedback arcs and node hierarchy in directed networks

Directed networks such as gene regulation networks and neural networks are connected by arcs（directed links）. The nodes in a directed network are often strongly interwound by a huge number of directed cycles, which leads to complex information-processing dynamics in the network and makes it highly challenging to infer the intrinsic direction of information flow. In this theoretical paper, based on the principle of minimum-feedback, we explore the node hierarchy of directed networks and distinguish feedforward and feedback arcs. Nearly optimal node hierarchy solutions, which minimize the number of feedback arcs from lower-level nodes to higher-level nodes, are constructed by belief-propagation and simulated-annealing methods. For real-world networks, we quantify the extent of feedback scarcity by comparison with the ensemble of direction-randomized networks and identify the most important feedback arcs. Our methods are also useful for visualizing directed networks.

Tarnish Testing of Copper-Based Alloys Coated with SiO_2-Like Films by PECVD

The tarnishing test in the presence of hydrogen sulfide（H2S） vapors has been used to investigate the tarnish resistance capability of copper-based alloys coated with Si02-like films by means of plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition（PECVD） fed with a tetraethoxysilane/oxygen mixture.The chemical and morphological properties of the films have been characterized by using infrared absorption spectroscopy（IR） and scanning electron microscopy（SEM）with energy disperse spectroscopy（EDS）.The corrosion products of the samples after the tarnishing test have been identified by X-ray diffraction analysis（XRD）.It has been found that SiO2-like films formed via PECVD with a high O2 flow rate could protect copper-based alloys from H2S vapor tarnishing.The alloys coated at the O2 flow rate of 20 sccm remain uncorroded after 54days of H2S vapor tarnish testing.The corrosion products for the alloys deposited at a low O2flow rate after 54 days of tarnish testing are mainly composed of brochantite.

Planar Optical Waveguides in KNbO_(3) Formed by MeV B and He Ion Implantation

Planar optical waveguides in single crystals of KNbOs were fabricated by MeV B and He ion implantation.The depth profiles of radiation damage in these waveguides were compared and analyzed by high resolution transmission electron microscope.Non leaky waveguiding modes(TEo and TMo),which are due to implantation induced increase of rib and nc,were observed in 6.0 MeV B ion implantated waveguides with a dose of 1×10^(15)cm^(-2).

A Novel Low Temperature Synthesis of KNN Nanoparticles by Facile Wet Chemical Method

Sodium potassium niobate (KNN) (K0.5Na0.5NbO3) nanopowder with a mean particle size of about 20 - 30 nm was synthesized by wet chemical route using Nb2O5 as Nb source. A solution of K, Na and Nb cations was prepared, which resulted in a clear gel after the thermal treatment. Phase analysis, microstructure and morphology of the powder were determined by X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM). The obtained gel was first analyzed by Thermo Gravimetric Analyzer (TGA) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), and then calcined at different temperatures of 400℃, 500℃, 600℃ and 700℃. The X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) patterns of the synthesized samples confirmed the formation of the orthorhombic crystal phase of K0.5Na0.5NbO3 at 500?C, a temperature significantly lower than that typically used in the conventional mixed oxide route. The process developed in this work is convenient to realize the mass production of KNN nanopowders at low cost and suitable for various industrial applications.

Synthesis, Characterization and Metal Ion Adsorption Studies on Novel Aromatic Poly(Azomethine Amide)s Containing Thiourea Groups

A series of novel ladder-type poly(azomethine amide)s (PAMs) were prepared from new azomethine containing carboxylic acid monomer (TCA) with simple aromatic diamines and aromatic diamines with thiourea groups (TDAs) by means of phosphorylation polycondensation reaction. Molecular weights of the polyamides were evaluated viscometrically, and the inherent viscosities were in the range of 0.31 - 0.58 g/dl. These ladder-type polymers were not freely soluble in common organic solvents. Structure of monomers and polymers were confirmed using FT-IR, 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR spectroscopic analysis. Removal of Cu2+ and Cd2+ from aqueous solutions by adsorption onto the polyamides was investigated. The effect of pH, initial metal ion concentrations and contact time were studied in batch experiments. The polyamides were found to be highly effective adsorbents for the removal of Cu2+ and Cd2+ metal ions from aqueous solutions. In a mixture of metal ions, the selectivity order was found to be Pb(II) > Cu(II) > Cr(IV) > Cd(II).

Microstructure and Mechanical Performance of Ti-6Al-4V Lattice Structures Manufactured via Electron Beam Melting(EBM):A Review

Electron beam melting(EBM) process is an additive manufacturing process largely used to produce complex metallic components made of high-performance materials for aerospace and medical applications.Especially,lattice structures made by Ti-6A1-4V have represented a hot topic for the industrial sectors because of having a great potential to combine lower weights and higher performances that can also be tailored by subsequent heat treatments.However,the little knowledge about the mechanical behaviour of the lattice structures is limiting their applications.The present work aims to provide a comprehensive review of the studies on the mechanical behaviour of the lattice structures made of Ti-6A1-4V.The main steps to produce an EBM part were considered as guidelines to review the literature on the lattice performance:(1) design,(2) process and(3) post-heat treatment.Thereafter,the correlation between the geometrical features of the lattice structure and their mechanical behaviour is discussed.In addition,the correlation among the mechanical performance of the lattice structures and the process precision,surface roughness and working temperature are also reviewed.An investigation on the studies about the properties of heat-treated lattice structure is also conducted.

Development of AI-and Cu-based nanocomposites reinforced by graphene nanoplatelets： Fabrication and characterization

Aluminum and copper matrix nanocomposites reinforced by graphene nanoplatelets （GNPs） were successfully fabricated by a wet mixing method followed by conventional powder metallurgy. The uniform dispersion of GNPs within the metal matrices showed that the wet mixing method has a great potential to be used as a mixing technique. However, by increasing the GNPs content, GNPs agglomeration was more visible. DSC and XRD of AI/GNPs nanocomposites showed that no new phase formed below the melting point of AI. Microstructural observations in both nanocomposites reveal the evident grain refinement effect as a consequence of GNPs addition. The interfacial bonding evaluation shows a poor interfacial bonding between GNPs and AI, while the interfacial bonding between Cu and GNPs is strong enough to improve the properties of the Cu/GNPs nanocomposites. In both composites, the coefficient of thermal expansion decreases as a function of GNPs while, their hardness is improved by increasing the GNPs content as well as their elastic modulus.