The effect of lignin on the structure and characteristics of composite coatings electrodeposited on titanium

Composite coatings based on lignin, obtained by electrophoretic deposition (EPD) on titanium, were investigated. The aim of this work was to produce hydroxyapatite/lignin (HAP/Lig) coatings on titanium and to investigate the effect of the lignin concentration on microstructure, morphology, phase composition, thermal behavior and cytotoxicity of the HAP/Lig coatings. An organosolv lignin was used for the production of the composite coatings studied in this research. The properties of HAP/Lig coatings were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FT-IR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), as well as the MTT test of cytotoxicity. The results showed that higher lignin concentrations protected the HAP lattice during sintering, thereby improving the stability of the HAP/Lig coatings. The cell survival of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) after proliferation indicates that the HAP/Lig coating with 1 wt% Lig electrodeposited on titanium was non-toxic with significant promise as a potential bone-repair material.     

Evaluation of thermal and mechanical properties of rubber compositions based on SBR extended with safe oils

The extender oil usually employed in compositions of rubbers based on styrene and butadiene (SBR) 1712 is the distilled aromatic extract (DAE). In this work, this oil was substituted by oils with low levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs): treated residual aromatic extract (TRAE) and two naphthenic oils from different suppliers (HN1 and HN2). This substitution was performed in response to REACH Regulation (EC No. 1907/2006 European Parliament and the Council of December 18, 2006, Annex XVII), which state that the sum of individual PAHs should be below 10 mg/kg and the levels of benzo (a) pyrene (BaP) should not exceed 1 mg/kg. Infrared spectroscopy was employed to characterize the structure of crude oils and respective SBR compositions. Thermal properties of the materials were evaluated by thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry. Mechanical properties as tension tests, hardness, abrasion resistance, and resilience were also determined. The final results showed that it is possible to replace the extender oil DAE for any of the oils tested, specially the naphthenic HN1, without any loss of the properties evaluated in this study for the SBR compositions. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

Electrospun Poly(styrene) Fibers as a Protection for the First- and the Second-Generation Grubbs’ Catalyst

The study presents a novel method for protection of the first- and the second-generation Grubbs’ catalyst, by incorporation in poly(styrene) fibers through electrospinning technique. Both catalysts are sensitive to the presence of the amine hardeners in the epoxy-based self-healing composites and require protection from deactivation to retain their ability to promote polymerization reaction of the healing agent. Comparison of healing efficiencies of both catalysts suggested that poly(styrene) fibers offer better protection and dispersion for the first-generation Grubbs’ catalyst, although all the samples exhibited high-healing efficiency. Difference in stereoselectivity between two catalysts was also indicated.     

Exploring the bibliometric and semantic nature of negative results

Negative results are not popular to disseminate. However, their publication would help to save resources and foster scientific communication. This study analysed the bibliometric and semantic nature of negative results publications. The Journal of Negative Results in Biomedicine (JNRBM) was used as a role model. Its complete articles from 2002–2009 were extracted from SCOPUS and supplemented by related records. Complementary negative results records were retrieved from Web of Science in “Biochemistry” and “Telecommunications”. Applied bibliometrics comprised of co-author and co-affiliation analysis and a citation impact profile. Bibliometrics showed that authorship is widely spread. A specific community for the publication of negative results in devoted literature is non-existent. Neither co-author nor co-affiliation analysis indicated strong interconnectivities. JNRBM articles are cited by a broad spectrum of journals rather than by specific titles. Devoted negative results journals like JNRBM have a rather low impact measured by the number of received citations. On the other hand, only one-third of the publications remain uncited, corroborating their importance for the scientific community. The semantic analysis relies on negative expressions manually identified in JNRBM article titles and abstracts and extracted to syntactic patterns. By using a Natural Language Processing tool these patterns are then employed to detect their occurrences in the multidisciplinary bibliographical database PASCAL. The translation of manually identified negation patterns to syntactic patterns and their application to multidisciplinary bibliographic databases (PASCAL, Web of Science) proved to be a successful method to retrieve even hidden negative results. There is proof that negative results are not only restricted to the biomedical domain. Interestingly a high percentage of the so far identified negative results papers were funded and therefore needed to be published. Thus policies that explicitly encourage or even mandate the publication of negative results could probably bring about a shift in the current scientific communication behaviour.     

Microstructure,corrosion resistance and cytocompatibility of Mg–5Y–4Rare Earth–0.5Zr (WE54) alloy

Conventionally cast Mg–5Y–4Rare Earth–0.5Zr alloy (WE54) was solution treated (525 °C/8 h — T4) and one part subsequently aged (200 °C/16 h — T6). Powder from the cast WE54 alloy prepared by gas atomizing was consolidated by extrusion at 250 °C or 400 °C. Dense triangular arrangement of prismatic plates of transient D0₁₉ and C-base centered orthorhombic phases precipitated in the α-Mg matrix during the T6 treatment. Both alloys prepared by powder metallurgy exhibit similar microstructure consisting of ~ 4–6 μm α-Mg matrix fibers surrounded by particles of the equilibrium Mg₅(Y, Nd) phase and of oxides. Open circuit potential and polarization resistance in the isotonic saline (9 g/l NaCl/H₂O) were monitored for 24 h. The corrosion rate of the T4 and T6 treated alloys was about 80 times lower than that of commercial Mg. Both alloys prepared by powder metallurgy exhibited approximately 8 times higher corrosion resistance than commercial Mg. The human MG-63 osteoblast-like cells spreading and division in the extracts (0.28 g in 28 ml of EMEM) of all 4 alloys were monitored by cinemicrography for 24 h. The MG-63 cells proliferate without cytotoxicity in all extracts.     

Radon programmes and health marketing

Being aware of negative health effects of radon exposure, many countries aim for the reduction of the radon exposure of their population. The Czech radon programme was commenced >20 y ago. Since then experts have gathered a lot of knowledge, necessary legislation has been enacted, tens of thousands of inhabitants have been offered free measurement and subsidy for the mitigation. Despite the effort, the effectiveness of the radon programme seems to be poor. Newly built houses still exhibit elevated radon concentrations and the number of houses mitigated is very low. Is it possible to enhance the effectivity of radon programme while keeping it on a voluntary basis? One possible way is to employ health marketing that draws together traditional marketing theories and science-based strategies to prevention. The potential of using marketing principles in communication and delivery of radon information will be discussed.     

Variable temperature in situ X-ray diffraction study of mechanically activated synthesis of calcium titanate, CaTiO3

The effect of mechanical activation on formation of calcium titanate (CaTiO₃) from calcined mixtures of CaCO₃ and TiO₂ was studied by monitoring the course of this solid-state reaction by variable temperature in situ X-ray diffraction (XRD) experiments, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and dilatometry. Two equimolar mixtures of powdered CaCO₃ and TiO₂ were prepared: one was mechanically activated by grinding in a high energy vibro-mill. A total of 32 X-ray diffraction data sets for each sample, collected between 30 and 1100 °C, were analyzed by multiphase Rietveld refinement. Quantitative phase analysis and microstructure analysis obtained from X-ray diffraction are correlated to results of scanning electron microscopy and dilatometry. In the non-activated sample, small quantities of the reactants remain in the product until 1100 °C. In the activated sample, the reaction results in pure CaTiO₃ at 920 °C.     

Oxidative properties and chemical stability of fluoronanotubes in matrixes of binary inorganic compounds

The chemical stability of fluoronanotubes in selected solid inorganic matrixes has been studied by initially mixing and mechanically grinding the components and subsequently heating them at temperatures ranging from 35 to 600 degrees C. The inorganic compounds selected for matrixes included halides (KBr, KI, Lil, LiBr, LiCl, NaCl, Znl2), oxides (Li2O, Fe2O3, PbO, MnO), lithium peroxide (Li2O2), potassium superoxide (KO2), sulfides (Li2S and ZnS), zinc selenide (ZnSe), lithium nitride (Li3N), and aluminum phosphide (AIP). Solid products, resulting from the proceeding chemical reactions, were analyzed by X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and SEM/EDX elemental analysis. Gaseous and volatile products were identified with the help of the TGA/MS technique. Experimental data presented in this paper provide clear evidence that fluoronanotubes are not chemically inert toward the solid matrixes studied and exhibit significant oxidative properties in the redox reactions occurring under various temperatures, depending on the nature of the inorganic compound.     

Radon index of a local administrative unit

The determination of radon-prone areas is usually based on indoor radon data and on the prognosis of the occurrence of houses exceeding the action level. However, the sample of houses in the survey must be representative and large enough, which is not easy to fulfill. Despite this, the determination of localities with high radon risk is useful not only for planning of indoor radon surveys, but also mainly for predicting the risk in newly built houses. There exist two more sources of data that can be used when assigning radon-related index to territories: soil gas radon measurements and gamma dose rate maps, both having their own inaccuracies. An attempt has been made to combine Czech indoor radon data, soil gas radon data and gamma dose rate maps for municipalities, where available. The radon-related index has been constructed by means of statistical analysis (linear regression). The equations found can be used for predicting the radon risk of the municipalities where the data sets are not large enough.     

Differences in cytocompatibility,dynamics of the oxide layers’ formation,and nickel release between superelastic and thermo-activated nickel–titanium archwires

Superelastic (SE) and thermo-activated (TA) nickel–titanium (NiTi) archwires are used in everyday orthodontic practice, based on their acceptable biocompatibility and well-defined shape memory properties. However, the differences in their surface microstructure and cytotoxicity have not been clearly defined, and the standard cytotoxicity tests are too robust to detect small differences in the cytotoxicity of these alloys, all of which can lead to unexpected adverse reactions in some patients. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that the differences in manufacture and microstructure of commercially available SE and TA archwires may influence their biocompatibility. The archwires were studied as-received and after conditioning for 24 h or 35 days in a cell culture medium under static conditions. All of the tested archwires, including their conditioned medium (CM), were non-cytotoxic for L929 cells, but Rematitan SE (both as received and conditioned) induced the apoptosis of rat thymocytes in a direct contact. In contrast, TruFlex SE and Equire TA increased the proliferation of thymocytes. The cytotoxic effect of Rematitan SE correlated with the higher release of Ni ions in CM, higher concentration of surface Ni and an increased oxygen layer thickness after the conditioning. In conclusion, the apoptosis assay on rat thymocytes, in contrast to the less sensitive standard assay on L929 cells, revealed that Rematitan SE was less cytocompatible compared to other archwires and the effect was most probably associated with a higher exposition of the cells to Ni on the surface of the archwire, due to the formation of unstable oxide layer.