Facilitating GL13K Peptide Grafting on Polyetheretherketone via 1-Ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide: Surface Properties and Antibacterial Activity

In the present work, the antimicrobial peptide (AMP) of GL13K was successfully coated onto a polyetheretherketone (PEEK) substrate to investigate its antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) bacteria. To improve the coating efficiency, 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide (EDC) was mixed with a GL13K solution and coated on the PEEK surface for comparison. Both energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) data confirmed 30% greater peptide coating on PEEK/GL13K-EDC than PEEK without EDC treatment. The GL13K graft levels are depicted in the micrograms per square centimeter range. The PEEK/GL13K-EDC sample showed a smoother and lower roughness (Rq of 0.530 µm) than the PEEK/GL13K (0.634 µm) and PEEK (0.697 µm) samples. The surface of the PEEK/GL13K-EDC was more hydrophilic (with a water contact angle of 24°) than the PEEK/GL13K (40°) and pure PEEK (89°) samples. The pure PEEK disc did not exhibit any inhibition zone against S. aureus. After peptide coating, the samples demonstrated significant zones of inhibition: 28 mm and 25 mm for the PEEK/GL13K-EDC and PEEK/GL13K samples, respectively. The bacteria-challenged PEEK sample showed numerous bacteria clusters, whereas PEEK/GL13K contained a little bacteria and PEEK/GL13K-EDC had no bacterial attachment. The results confirm that the GL13K peptide coating was able to induce antibacterial and biofilm-inhibitory effects. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of successful GL13K peptide grafting on a PEEK substrate via EDC coupling. The present work illustrates a facile and promising coating technique for a polymeric surface to provide bactericidal activity and biofilm resistance to medical implantable devices.     

Statewide investigation of the role of pyrethroid pesticides in sediment toxicity in California's urban waterways

A statewide investigation of urban creek sediment toxicity was conducted in California in recognition of increased incidences of toxicity linked to pyrethroid pesticides. The goals were to examine the spatial occurrence and magnitude of sediment toxicity in California urban creeks, and to examine the role of pyrethroids in toxic urban creek sediment samples. After a preliminary screening of 90 sites, 30 creeks were sampled in eight geographical regions. Sediment toxicity was assessed using 10 day bioassays with the resident amphipod Hyalella azteca. Bioassays were conducted at two test temperatures of 23 degrees C and at 15 degrees C to provide evidence of the cause of toxicity, and to more accurately reflect ambient environmental temperatures. Twenty-five of 30 samples were toxic when tested at 23 degrees C, and all 30 samples were toxic when tested at 15 degrees C. The magnitude of toxicity increased in samples tested at 15 degrees C suggesting the influence of pyrethroids, which are more toxic at colder temperatures. Pyrethroids were present in all sediment samples and were the only compounds detected at concentrations toxic to H. azteca. Bifenthrin was the pyrethroid of greatest toxicological concern, occurring in all 30 samples at concentrations up to 219 ng/g. Pyrethroid contamination of urban creeks was most severe in the Los Angeles, Central Valley, and San Diego regions, respectively. However, pyrethroids were also linked to urban creek aquatic toxicity in all regions sampled, including the less urbanized areas of the North Coast and Lake Tahoe.     

Development and numerical validation of a new model for walls with phase change materials implemented in TRNSYS

This paper presents a model of a wall with variable properties dedicated to modelling phase change materials (PCMs) in building envelopes. The model is implemented in the TRNSYS simulation tool and referred to as Type 3258. The 1-D conduction heat transfer equation is solved using an explicit finite-difference method coupled with an enthalpy method to consider the variable PCM thermal capacity. This model includes temperature-dependent thermal conductivity and PCM-specific effects like hysteresis and supercooling. The stability conditions are discussed and the algorithm implemented in TRNSYS is described. A numerical validation performed on wall test cases proposed by the International Energy Agency is presented, showing that the developed model is in agreement with reference models. The paper also discusses the impact of temporal and spatial discretization on the model performance. Modelling problems encountered when using an effective heat capacity method (compared to an enthalpy method) and when representing supercooling are also discussed.     

两类典型碱活性岩石试体在碱溶液中的膨胀行为

为确定以Spratt硅质灰岩(SL岩石)和Pittsburg泥质白云质灰岩(PL岩石)为代表的两类典型碱活性岩石试体在碱性环境中的膨胀来源和发展评定岩石碱活性的方法,研究了不同条件下SL和PL岩石在砂浆和混凝土中的膨胀行为.研究结果表明:SL岩石在砂浆和混凝土中均呈高ASR膨胀性,尽管其中的少量白云石可发生去白云石化反应;决定PL岩石高膨胀性的机制是ACR,与传统的ASR有本质不同,尽管其中含有的少量微晶石英可参与与碱的反应并可能对岩石的膨胀有一定贡献.采用能保持岩石微观结构构造特征的颗粒尺寸是正确评估PL岩石碱活性的关键.利用ASR和ACR对粉煤灰等混合材及含锂化合物的不同响应,特别是LiOH的抑制ASR膨胀和引发ACR膨胀的双重效应,在实验室可以快速区别同时含有白云石和石英的灰岩类集料的活性来源.     

A brief review of the ionic conductivity enhancement for selected oxide electrolytes

The advantages of lowering the operation temperature of SOFCs have attracted great interest worldwide. One of the major barriers to decreasing the operation temperature is the ohmic loss of the electrolyte. Maximizing the electrolyte ionic conductivity is of significant importance, especially in the absence of new electrolyte materials. The ionic conductivity of electrolytes can be influenced by many parameters. There has been an enormous effort in the literature for the improvement of the electrolyte ionic conductivity. From a practical point of view, this paper reviews various approaches to enhancing the ionic conductivity of polycrystalline zirconia- and ceria-based oxide electrolytes in the light of composition, microstructure, and processing. Suggestions are given for future work.     

Antimony Mobilization through Two Contrasting Gold Ore Processing Systems,New Zealand

Antimony, a toxic metalloid similar to arsenic, is present at variable levels in most gold-bearing rocks. Antimony is soluble in the surface environment, so antimony (Sb) mobilization in mine waters is an environmental issue around gold mines. The Reefton gold mine was originally developed in gold-bearing quartz veins; Sb concentrations were low (<100 mg/kg) compared to arsenic (As) concentrations (>1,000 mg/kg), and the mine waters had low dissolved Sb (<0.1 mg/L). A second stage of gold mineralization at Reefton involved brecciation and cataclasis of quartz veins and wall rocks, with addition of stibnite (Sb₂S₃). Processing of this ore has resulted in higher dissolved Sb in mine waters (0.1–1 mg/L), even after water treatment that removes most dissolved As (to 0.01 mg/L) by adsorption to suspended iron oxyhydroxide. Competition between As and Sb for adsorption sites on iron oxyhydroxide particles may have resulted in partial exclusion of the more weakly adsorbed Sb. The high rainfall (2,000 mm/year) at Reefton ensures adequate dilution of mine waters after discharge. The Macraes gold mine has no stibnite, and most Sb is in solid solution in the abundant arsenopyrite (Sb up to 2,000 mg/kg). Pit waters have both Sb and As dissolved up to 0.1 mg/L, partly because of evaporative concentration in a low-rainfall environment. Macraes tailings waters have high As (up to 3 mg/L) but negligible Sb (<0.001 mg/L). Reefton mine gold-bearing concentrate, containing stibnite, is transported 700 km to be processed by autoclave oxidation and cyanidation at the Macraes mine. This introduction of additional Sb to the Macraes site substantially increases the Sb content of the process stream periodically. Tailings from this process have up to 3 wt% Sb, dispersed through As-rich iron oxyhydroxides that are formed in the autoclave. The Sb-rich tailings are strongly diluted (approximately 100:1) by the Macraes tailings, and adsorption of Sb to iron oxyhydroxides in the tailings piles ensures that there has been no increase in the Sb content of the tailings water since the Reefton concentrate has been added at Macraes.     

Experimental investigation of the swelling/shrinkage of a hydride bed in a cell during hydrogen absorption/desorption cycles

The storage of hydrogen in hydride materials is currently much researched as a mean of energy storage. This reversible storage is achieved by successive hydriding and dehydriding reactions. During these reactions, the material undergoes structural transformations which result in swelling of the hydride powder grains due to the absorption of hydrogen. This phenomenon can generate major mechanical stresses on the cell containing the hydride. The present experimental study examines the cyclic swelling of a granular bed consisting of hydride Ti–Cr–V + Zr–Ni. Two superimposed phenomena are identified: a cyclic rearrangement causing a reduction and then an increase in porosity coupled with gradual densification of the stack.     

“Thank heavens for the lease”: histories of shared ownership

Drawing on and developing Kingdon’s multiple streams analysis, this article examines the development of one aspect of the UK’s low cost home ownership programme: shared ownership. We demonstrate how key human and non-human policy entrepreneurs were able to set the agenda from 1973–1983 in favour of shared ownership; they neutralized the alternatives, while retaining some of their instruments; and solved a number of early problems by bringing key players into the programme. Our data-sets include a range of archival material and elite interviews. The policy entrepreneurs included John Stanley (who was the housing minister in the First Thatcher government), the National Federation of Housing Associations, and the Building Societies Association. Our development of the multiple streams analysis is to argue that documents, including the lease, act as policy entrepreneurs in their own right. The lease was central to the development of shared ownership and its transformation into a model lease enrolled other organizations, most critically the building societies.     

Preliminary identification of potential markets for off-grid electrification: tool development and a case study of Ghana

With more than one billion people lacking access to electricity in the world, ensuring universal access to electricity by 2030 remains a major challenge which cannot be left to the government initiatives alone. Access to local information and identification of potential areas for investment can be a challenge for investors. This paper provides a tool for preliminary assessment of potential markets for off-grid electrification in developing countries and applies this to Ghana to demonstrate its applicability. A multi-criteria approach is used to rank the districts according to the overall potential and the best markets and least favourable areas for investment are identified. The tool offers flexibility to include new inputs to the analysis and the factor weights can be adjusted as appropriate. The case study shows that the tool can effectively identify potential areas from a list of candidates and offers support to analysts.