Destruction of Helminth (Ascaris suum) Eggs by Ozone

Based on the properties of ozone as a strong germicidal agent, the inactivation kinetics or disintegration of Ascaris suum eggs in water were studied. Ozone was applied in synthetic samples, the concentration of dissolved ozone in the liquid phase was typically between 3.5 to 4.7mg/L, pH 5, 9. The value of 90% inactivation (t₉₀) obtained was at 1 h, the remaining 10% being inactivated in 2 h. A linear correlation between the logarithm of bacterial or yeast concentration (N) and contact time was found, being the linear significant correlation coefficient (r of 0.95). That 2-log inactivation occurred at a CT value near 4.7mg/min/L. The best reduction percentage was of 99.00 in 120min. It therefore could be demonstrated that ozone indeed induces effects on the helminth eggs.     

Microstructure and wear studies of laser clad Al-Si/SiC(p) composite coatings

Coatings of a composite material consisting of an Al-Si matrix reinforced with SiC particles were produced by laser cladding on UNS A03560 cast Al-alloy substrates from mixtures of powders of Al-12 wt.% Si alloy and SiC. The influence of the processing parameters on the microstructure and abrasive wear resistance of the coatings was studied. For an interaction time of 0.08 s and a power density of 330 MW/m², corresponding to a specific energy of 26 MJ/m², the interaction between SiC and liquid Al is limited and the reinforcement particles remain essentially undissolved. The coating's microstructure is formed of SiC particles dispersed in a matrix consisting of primary α-Al dendrites and interdendritic α-Al + Si eutectic. For interaction times of 0.3 and 0.45 s and a power density of 193 MW/m², corresponding to specific energies of 58 and 87 MJ/m², SiC reacts with molten Al and partially dissolves. The resulting microstructure consists of undissolved SiC particles, found mainly at the bottom of the clad tracks, where the maximum temperature reached during processing is lower, and Al₄SiC₄ and Si particles dispersed in a matrix of α-Al + Si eutectic. The coatings prepared with higher specific energy (58 MJ/m²) present a hardness of 250 V and an abrasive wear rate in three-body abrasion tests with SiC as abrasive of 1.7 × 10^− 4 mm³/m, while those produced with 26 MJ/m² present a hardness of 120 V and a wear rate of 0.43 × 10^− 4 mm³/m. These results show that Al₄SiC₄ and Si increase the hardness of the material by dispersion hardening but do not contribute to its abrasive wear resistance, because they are softer than the abrasive particles, and confirm that the parameters used to prepare Al-Si-SiC composite coatings by laser cladding must be selected so that only minimal reactions occur between SiC and molten Al.     

The influence of surface treatment on hydrophobicity, protein adsorption and microbial colonisation of silicone hydrogel contact lenses.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the influence of surface treatment of silicone-hydrogel CL on lens hydrophobicity, protein adsorption and microbial colonisation by studying several silicone hydrogel contact lenses (CL) with and without surface treatment. The lenses used in this study were Balafilcon A, Lotrafilcon A, Lotrafilcon B and Galyfilcon A. A conventional hydrogel CL (Etafilcon A) was also tested. METHODS: Hydrophobicity was determined through contact angle measurement using the advancing type technique on air. The type and quantity of proteins adsorbed were assessed through SDS-PAGE and fluorescence spectroscopy, respectively. Microbial colonisation was studied by removing the microbes from the lenses through sonication, and counting the colony-forming units on agar plates. RESULTS: Regarding hydrophobicity, both surface and non-surface-treated silicone hydrogel CL were found to be hydrophobic, and the conventional hydrogel CL was found to be hydrophilic. Concerning protein adsorption, different protein profiles were observed on the several lenses tested. Nevertheless, the presence of proteins with the same molecular weight as lysozyme and lactoferrin was common to all lenses, which is probably related to their abundance in tears. In terms of total protein adsorption, silicone hydrogel CL did not exhibit any differences between themselves. However, the conventional hydrogel Etafilcon A adsorbed a larger amount of proteins. Regarding microbial colonisation, Balafilcon A exhibited the greatest amount of colonising microbes, which can be due to its superior hydrophobicity and higher electron acceptor capacity. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that silicone hydrogel lenses adsorb a lower amount of proteins than the conventional hydrogel lenses and that this phenomenon is independent of the presence of surface treatment. Concerning microbial colonisation, the surface treated Balafilcon A, exhibited a greater propensity, a fact that may compromise the lens wearer's ocular health.     

Laser alloying of aluminium alloys with chromium

The microstructure and corrosion resistance of laser-alloyed aluminium and ANSI 7175 aluminium alloy with chromium were investigated. Surface layers alloyed with chromium contain relatively large amounts of intermetallic compounds dispersed in a matrix of -Al. The intermetallic compound particles present needle-like morphologies, organized in a dense network or distributed radially. Al₇Cr, Al₁₁Cr₂ and -Al phases have been identified by X-ray diffraction. The alloyed layers may contain cracks, pores, inclusions and undissolved chromium particles, depending on the chromium concentration and the particle size. However, homogeneous layers were produced by a two-step process, consisting of laser alloying followed by remelting. The second treatment eliminates porosity and refines the structure. The hardness attains a Vickers hardness of 155 HV in chromium-alloyed aluminium and exceeds 300 HV in chromium-alloyed 7175. The corrosion behaviour of the above alloys was assessed using anodic polarization techniques. Laser alloying of aluminium and 7175 with chromium improves the pitting corrosion resistance of the alloys. The effect depends on the chromium content of the alloyed layers and is more significant in 7175 alloy.     

Delayed hospitalization of the patient with acute stroke

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: We analyze the main factors influencing the time delay between onset and admission to the hospital in acute stroke. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Consecutive series of 1,344 patients with acute stroke or transient ischemic attack admitted at two reference hospitals of Valencia and included at the same stroke register. Factors assessed were age, sex, vascular risk factors, stroke onset and arrival at hospital, stroke severity and stroke subtype. RESULTS: In 30% of patients the stroke onset time was unknown. 70.7% of patients with acute stroke, and known onset, arrived to the hospital in the first six hours. The median time from onset to admission was: TIA, 2 hours; cerebral infarct, 3 hours (lacunar infarcts 5 hours, non-lacunar infarcts 2 hours) and intracerebral hemorrhage, 2 hours. Patients with severe stroke arrive earlier at the hospital (p < 0.001). Neither sex, age, nor vascular risk factors influence the delay time. CONCLUSIONS: The arrival time varies with stroke subtype: patients with intracerebral hemorrhage or TIA arrive earlier than those with cerebral infarct, and non-lacunar infarcts earlier than lacunar ones. Furthermore, patients with severe stroke are admitted sooner at the hospital.     

Alizarin Complexone on Nanocrystalline TiO2: A Heterogeneous Approach to Anion Sensing

A novel, heterogeneous approach to “naked‐eye” colorimetric and spectrophotometric anion sensing is demonstrated, employing the molecular receptor alizarin complexone adsorbed onto a nanocrystalline, mesoporous TiO₂ film. pH buffer action intrinsic to the TiO₂ film allows dip sensing in aqueous solutions. This heterogeneous sensing system exhibits a high selectivity to F^– and CN^– anions, high sensitivity, a rapid response time, and excellent reusability.     

A frequency domain approach to wind turbines for flicker analysis

Wind turbines may have an important impact on power quality. Flicker is a more serious issue for fixed-speed wind turbines because these turbines produce electric power following the variations of the incident wind. During continuous operation, wind variations will result in power fluctuations and consequently in voltage fluctuations. It is necessary to evaluate wind turbines flicker emission level, and traditionally time domain simulations have been used to perform the analysis. This paper presents a complete frequency domain model to study flicker produced during wind turbines continuous operation. The model includes a realistic wind speed model as observed by the wind turbine and also a frequency domain induction generator model is presented. The frequency domain model has been compared with a time domain model. The frequency domain approach, as shown in the paper, may be very useful for flicker analysis in electric networks.