Degradable and bioresorbable polymers in surgery and in pharmacology: beliefs and facts

The number of articles dealing with degradable polymers and macromolecules is increasing rapidly and the number of proposed compounds as well. However, not all have a high potential for effective applications. This contribution examines first the criteria to be taken into account when commercialisation of polymeric compounds and devices aimed at helping the body for a limited period of time, i.e. the healing time, is the main goal. What is really known is tentatively analysed by considering some of the candidates present in literature confronted to the targeted potential applications. Tentative comments are made on what should be done to qualify a candidate. Last but not least, trends in the search for polymers to be exploited in presently attracting areas such as bioresorbable stents, hydrogels to deliver bioactive macromolecules like proteins and polynucleotides or polyelectrolytes to temporarily complex charged biomacromolecules like proteins or genes are considered.     

Energy RTD expenditures in the European union: Data gathering procedures and results towards a scientific reference system

Insights into the past Energy Research and Technology Development (ERTD) expenditures allows policy makers to better set priorities for current and future ERTD funding as well as to analyze the exact impact of ERTD investments to the development of energy technologies. However, despite numerous attempts in the past, there is currently no comprehensive, validated database that includes disaggregated data on public and private ERTD expenditures in the EU-27 for different technology groups. One of the main aims of the Scientific Reference System for New Energy Technologies and Energy End Use Efficiency (SRS NET & EEE) FP6 project is to enhance the availability, quality and completeness of data on public and private ERTD expenditures, disaggregated for energy technologies and energy end-use efficiency options in the EU-27. The aim of the paper is to outline the main data gathering procedures and results from the “SRS NET & EEE” project, as well as the related policy implication.     

Miniaturization limits for single-chamber micro-solid oxide fuel cells with coplanar electrodes

Single-chamber solid oxide fuel cells with coplanar microelectrodes were operated in methane–air mixtures (R_mix = 2) at 700 °C. The performance of cells with one pair of NiO–YSZ (yttria stabilized zirconia) anode and (La_0.8Sr_0.2)_0.98MnO₃–YSZ cathode, arranged parallel on a YSZ electrolyte substrate, was found to be significantly dependent on the electrode width. For an interelectrode gap of 250 μm, cells with average electrode widths exceeding 850 μm could establish a stable open circuit voltage (OCV) of 0.8 V, while those with widths less than 550 μm could not establish any OCV. In the intermediate range, the cells exhibited significant fluctuations in voltage and power under our testing conditions. This behavior suggests that a lower limit to electrode dimensions exists for cells with single electrode pairs, below which neither a stable difference in oxygen partial pressure, nor an OCV, can be established. Conversely, increasing the electrode width imposes a penalty in the form of an increase in the cell resistance. However, both size limits can be circumvented by employing multiple pairs of microscale electrodes in an interdigitated configuration.     

基于床面形态的泥沙输移模式及其在黄河下游的应用

冲积河流系统中,水流在不规则床面上产生的漩涡对泥沙悬浮效率影响很大.基于漩涡流的运动特征及床面形态控制数m,本文研究了水流阻力与床面形态运动之间的关系.同时,在Bagnold泥沙悬浮效率(η_(sl))概念的基础上,提出了床沙质输沙能力公式,对其中的η_(sl)C_*进行了深入研究,建立的η_(sl)C_*与1/m的关系,能够反映床面形态由低能态到高能态区的发展过程.研究提出的输沙公式,经黄河下游调水调沙试验等实测资料验证表明,计算结果与实测值特别是相对平衡条件下的实测值吻合较好.在输沙能力公式研究中引入反映床面形态控制参数是一种新的尝试,该方法在研究中显示出较大的发展潜力.     

Patent citation analysis.A closer look at the basic input data from patent search reports

The present paper focuses on some important requirements for understanding patent searchreports in view of their use for statistical analysis. It is pointed out and illustrated that thecomprehensiveness and the quality of a given search report may vary significantly as a function ofthe patent office drawing up the report. These differences imply consequences with respect to thesafe use and interpretation of the data. The authors stress that a sound analysis based on patentcitation data can only be performed in a meaningful way if the analyst has a minimum knowledgeof the underlying search reports.     

La mousse d'argile

Clay foam is a ceramic material, produced by the firing of a raw clay, invented by the French Technical Centre for Tiles and Bricks, in Paris. Unlike ordinary ceramic materials, the porosity of clay foam is achieved in the first stage of production through the foaming of clay slip. This foam is then dried and fired, yielding a strong, rigid and porous material affording remarkable possibilities for colours and reliefs. So far, qualities which have been in demand are primarily those of appearance, sound absorption and durability, for example for sound‐absorbent screens for motorways and railways, and for sound‐absorbent internal surfacings for swimming‐pools, gymnasia and offices.     

Antibacterial activity of peptides extracted from tryptic hydrolyzate of whey protein by nanofiltration

Ultrafiltration permeate of whey protein tryptic hydrolyzate was processed by nanofiltration (NF) to obtain retentate (NFR) and permeate (NFP) that were then tested as inhibitors of Listeria, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. NFR at 20 mg mL^?1 was most effective as an inhibitor (P < 0.001); whereas E. coli was relatively resistant, the effect on Listeria and S. aureus was greater at 20 mg mL^?1 than at 10 mg mL^?1 (P < 0.01). Peptide analysis revealed that NFR was rich in anionic peptides over eight amino acid residues in length. The antibacterial activity of two anionic peptides (84–91 and 125–135) and a cationic peptide (36–42) derived from β-lactoglobulin was tested. Peptide 125–135 was more inhibitory (P < 0.05) than peptide 84–91 against Listeria monocytogenes and S. aureus; peptide 36–42 was not inhibitory. NFR appears to have potential as a natural bio-preservative.     

Surfactant‐Free Sub‐2 nm Ultrathin Triangular Gold Nanoframes

Ultrathin triangular gold nanoframes are synthesized in high yield through selective gold deposition on the edges of triangular silver nanoprisms and subsequent silver etching with mild wet etchants. These ultrathin gold nanoframes are surfactant‐free with tailorable ridge thickness from 1.8 to 6 nm and exhibit adjustable and distinct surface plasmon resonance bands in the visible and near‐IR region. In comparison, etching of the nanoprism template by galvanic replacement can only create frame structures with much thicker ridges, which have much lower catalytic activity for 4‐nitrophenol reduction than the ultrathin gold nanoframes.