Interactions between carbon coatings and tissue

The unique properties of thin diamond layers make them perspective candidates for producing advanced micro-electronic devices, coatings for cutting tools and optics. However, due to the highest biocompatibility of carbon resulting from the presence of this element in the human body, it appears to be a potential biomaterial.Carbon, especially in the form of the nanocrystalline diamond film, have found industrial applications in the area of medical implants.The studies of carbon films as coatings for implants in surgery were aimed at the investigations of biological resistance of implants, histopathological investigations on laboratory animals, tests of corrosion resistance, measurements of mechanical properties and a breakdown test in Tyrode's solution.Different medical implants are covered by Nanocrystalline Diamond Coatings (NCD). NCD forms the barrier diffusion between implant and human environment. The research on NCD proved that diamond layers are biocompatible with living organisms.Diamond Powder Particles (DPP) is an extended surface of NCD. Biological research with diamond powder can answer the basic question: what is the influence of DPP on cells, tissues and organs in human organism?     

Boosting TiO2-anatase antimicrobial activity: Polymer-oxide thin films

TiO₂ incorporation into an isotactic polypropylene (iPP) polymeric matrix was achieved via a straightforward and cost-effective melting process using laboratory-made nanometric anatase-TiO₂ and an industrial polymer. The structural characteristics of the resulting nanocomposite thin films as a function of the inorganic component content were examined using wide and small angle X-ray scattering (WAXS/SAXS) and vibrational Raman spectroscopy. Electron scanning and transmission microscopy (SEM/TEM) studies were also performed to provide evidence of the nanometric dispersion of the oxide within the polymer matrix, showing the presence of average aggregates of ca. 80 nm. TiO₂ incorporation into the iPP renders self-sterilized nanocomposite films upon light excitation, the activity of which was tested against Gram negative (P. aeruginosa) and positive (E. faecalis) bacteria. TiO₂ displays maximum activity for a sample containing a 2 wt.% of anatase-TiO₂ irrespective of the microorganism nature. The antimicrobial activity of the nanocomposite films is significantly enhanced with respect to that of the oxide alone. This key fact is interpreted on physical basis with the help of a complete optical (UV–vis and photoluminescence) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) characterization.     

The differential equation counterpart of an individual-based model for yeast population growth

Computer simulations are increasingly used in biological fields. The amazing power, storage ability, and processing speeds available nowadays have enabled the implementation of computer individual-based models (IbMs) to simulate really complex biological populations. Computers can easily keep track of thousands of individuals (often called ’agents’), whose complex behaviours and large amounts of associated data were daunting only 20 years ago. As such, computer modelling has just entered a field where traditional PDE models used to reign alone. A study of the exchange and non-trivial relationship between these two fields, computer IbMs versus classic partial differential equations (PDEs), is appropriate. The aim of this paper is to compare both approaches through a relevant example, namely the evolution of a yeast population in a batch culture. Thus, this paper deals with the utilization of both classical mathematics and computer science in the solution of problems arising in microbiology. First, an IbM approach to study the evolution of a yeast batch culture is presented. Second, an equivalent PDE model is derived by using some techniques from the interacting particle systems field. Third, a comparison and discussion on the advantages and drawbacks of both modelling tools is given.     

Effect of Nb, Cr, Sn additions on gas sensing properties of TiO2 thin films

The effect of Nb and Cr dopants as well as Sn⁴⁺ additions on the electronic structure of rf-sputtered TiO₂ thin films and its subsequent influence on gas sensor performance is reported. The changes in the electrical conductivities of TiO₂ thin films doped with up to 10 at.% Nb, 4 at.% Cr and TiO₂-SnO₂ in the full range of compositions upon exposure to hydrogen and oxygen are demonstrated. The spectral dependence of the absorption coefficient in the vicinity of the band gap transition of TiO₂ is shown to be affected by doping.     

Numerical Study of Scale Effects on the Stiffness Modulus of Rock Masses

The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the study of scale effects on the stiffness modulus of discontinuous rock masses from a mechanical point of view. The study has been conducted on the basis of the observation that the length and density of the natural discontinuities (cracks) in rock masses increase with the volume of the mass. Compressive tests on specimens containing open and closed flat cracks have been simulated through a numerical procedure that is based on the displacement discontinuity method and the fictitious stress method. Cracks have been generated, through a random process, with dips in the 0°–180° range. Both open and closed cracks have been considered. The numerical results obtained for specimens containing open cracks are found to approach the values obtained through an analytical solution. Then, the numerical method has been applied to the study of scale effects on the stiffness modulus of specimens with closed cracks. The numerical results show a decrease in the stiffness modulus with an increase in the size of the rock volume.     

Analysis of volatile components by direct injection of real-life samples by using a programmed-temperature vaporizer

A Chromatographic method is presented which allows the analysis of the volatile components of real-life samples without requiring the previous isolation and concentration of the compounds of interest. A programmed-temperature vaporizer (PTV) is used to enable the direct injection of the sample. A comparison of the proposed method with one involving a liquid-liquid extraction of the sample is also included.     

Kinetics of the curing reaction of unsaturated polyester resins catalyzed with new initiators and a promoter

In this article, the curing of unsaturated polyester resins catalyzed with a promoter [cobalt(II) octoate] and free‐radical initiators is presented. The new initiators were formed by the oxidation process of ethyl methyl ketone or cyclohexanone with hydrogen peroxide and the mixture of solvents containing hydroxyl groups. As a reference, a typical curing system containing ethyl methyl ketone hydroperoxide (Luperox) and the promoter was used. The differential scanning calorimetry runs were performed at different heating rates. The experimental data were fitted with the empirical kinetic model. First, the kinetic parameters (activation energy, frequency factor, and reaction order) were obtained with a single reactive process and with the nth‐order reaction f(α), the nth‐order reaction f(α) with autocatalysis, and the first‐order reaction f(α) with autocatalysis. Second, two or three different reactive processes with the nth‐order reaction f(α) for each step were used. The obtained values of the activation energies for the curing of the unsaturated polyester resins with the free radical initiator–cobalt(II) salt catalytic system were in the range 40–60 kJ/mol for the polymerization initiated by the redox decomposition of the initiators and 80–90 kJ/mol for the polymerization initiated by the thermal decomposition of the initiators at high temperatures. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102: 1870–1876, 2006     

Solar light induced removal of arsenic from contaminated groundwater: the interplay of solar energy and chemical variables

The removal of arsenic by solar oxidation in individual units (SORAS) is currently being explored as a possible economic and simple technology to treat groundwater in Bangladesh and India. Hydroarsenicism affects also large regions of America, especially Argentina, Chile, Mexico and Peru. In this paper, the efficiency of arsenic removal by solar oxidation coupled with precipitation of iron (hydr)oxide, was assessed under various experimental conditions, both on samples of synthetic water and of groundwater of the province of Tucumán (Argentina). The results demonstrate that the underlying chemistry is very complex, and the efficiency is affected often in unpredictable ways by changes in the chemical matrix, or by changes in the operative conditions. Oxides generated from ferrous salts are more efficient than solids formed by hydrolysis of Fe(III); alkalinity contents (bicarbonate) is also important to permit the adequate precipitation. Addition of small amounts of citric acid (lemon juice) is beneficial, but at larger concentrations the effect is negative, probably because of interference in the formation of the solid. The effect of solar irradiation is variable, depending on the other experimental conditions. Although it is possible to remove As partially without solar irradiation under certain special conditions, a procedure versatile enough to cope with waters of different compositions must be based in the use of solar energy. Light plays the role of accelerating the oxidation of As(III) to As(V), and also affects the nature of the solid and, hence, its sorptive properties. The rationale of the effect of light is therefore appreciably more complex than in the case of heterogeneous photocatalysis with TiO₂.     

Induced expression of bacterial β-glucosidase activity in saccharomyces

The bglA gene which encodes a β-glucosidase from Bacillus polymyxa, has been expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae under control of the yeast CYC-GAL promoter. Strains have been constructed which carry the gene in different locations: in a multicopy plasmid, a single integration at the URA3 locus, or multiple integrations at the RDN1 locus. Integrative transformation at RDN1 yielded genetically stable clones with a high level of β-glucosidase activity. Coordinated overexpression of the GAL4 inducer protein further increased the level of enzyme activity, although eventually caused the lysis of the cultures. Diploid, triploid and tetraploid strains derived from the transformants with multiple integrations were constructed and expression of β-glucosidase activity in different conditions of growth was assayed. While per-cell activity increased with ploidy, specific activity was about the same in strains of equivalent genotype regardless of ploidy. Genetically stable and regulated expression in Saccharomyces of β-glucosidase activity is interesting for the development of strains able to ferment β-glycosidic sugars (i.e. cellobiose and lactose). From another point of view, the bglA product proved to be a convenient reporter enzyme to monitor heterologous gene expression.