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Selected AbstractsMultiphoton microscopy in life sciencesJOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY, Issue 2 2000K. König Near infrared (NIR) multiphoton microscopy is becoming a novel optical tool of choice for fluorescence imaging with high spatial and temporal resolution, diagnostics, photochemistry and nanoprocessing within living cells and tissues. Three-dimensional fluorescence imaging based on non-resonant two-photon or three-photon fluorophor excitation requires light intensities in the range of MW cm,2 to GW cm,2, which can be derived by diffraction limited focusing of continuous wave and pulsed NIR laser radiation. NIR lasers can be employed as the excitation source for multifluorophor multiphoton excitation and hence multicolour imaging. In combination with fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), this novel approach can be used for multi-gene detection (multiphoton multicolour FISH). Owing to the high NIR penetration depth, non-invasive optical biopsies can be obtained from patients and ex vivo tissue by morphological and functional fluorescence imaging of endogenous fluorophores such as NAD(P)H, flavin, lipofuscin, porphyrins, collagen and elastin. Recent botanical applications of multiphoton microscopy include depth-resolved imaging of pigments (chlorophyll) and green fluorescent proteins as well as non-invasive fluorophore loading into single living plant cells. Non-destructive fluorescence imaging with multiphoton microscopes is limited to an optical window. Above certain intensities, multiphoton laser microscopy leads to impaired cellular reproduction, formation of giant cells, oxidative stress and apoptosis-like cell death. Major intracellular targets of photodamage in animal cells are mitochondria as well as the Golgi apparatus. The damage is most likely based on a two-photon excitation process rather than a one-photon or three-photon event. Picosecond and femtosecond laser microscopes therefore provide approximately the same safe relative optical window for two-photon vital cell studies. In labelled cells, additional phototoxic effects may occur via photodynamic action. This has been demonstrated for aminolevulinic acid-induced protoporphyrin IX and other porphyrin sensitizers in cells. When the light intensity in NIR microscopes is increased to TW cm,2 levels, highly localized optical breakdown and plasma formation do occur. These femtosecond NIR laser microscopes can also be used as novel ultraprecise nanosurgical tools with cut sizes between 100 nm and 300 nm. Using the versatile nanoscalpel, intracellular dissection of chromosomes within living cells can be performed without perturbing the outer cell membrane. Moreover, cells remain alive. Non-invasive NIR laser surgery within a living cell or within an organelle is therefore possible. [source] Photo-Induced Electron Transfer Between Photosystem 2 via Cross-linked Redox HydrogelsELECTROANALYSIS, Issue 10 2008Adrian Badura Abstract Photosystem 2 (PS2) that catalyses light driven water splitting in photosynthesis was ,wired' to electrode surfaces via osmium-containing redox polymers based on poly(vinyl)imidazol. The redox polymer hydrogel worked as both immobilization matrix and electron acceptor for the enzyme. Upon illumination, the enzymatic reaction could be switched on and a catalytic current was observed at the electrode. The catalytic current is directly dependent on the intensity of light used for the excitation of PS2. A typical current density of 45,,A cm,2 at a light intensity of 2.65,mW cm,2 could be demonstrated with a significantly improved operational stability. [source] Influence of light energy and power density on the microhardness of two nanohybrid compositesEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ORAL SCIENCES, Issue 1 2008Kerstin Gritsch The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of light parameters on nanohybrid composite curing. Two nanohybrid resins were cured by two light-emitting diode (LED) devices and by one quartz-tungsten-halogen (QTH) device using different combinations of energy density and power density (8 J cm,2 and 400 mW cm,2; 8 J cm,2 and 1,000 mW cm,2; 16 J cm,2 and 400 mW cm,2; and 16 J cm,2,1,000 mW cm,2). The effects of these combinations on polymerization were assessed by measuring the Vickers microhardness. Data differed for the two composites and varied according to the light parameters and the nature of the curing device. For both resins, an energy density of 16 J cm,2 yielded the best microhardness values at both the top and the bottom of the sample, independently of the power density. When using a lower energy density of 8 J cm,2, a modulated power density was required to achieve proper curing at the bottom of the sample: 8 J cm,2 and 400 mW cm,2 induced greater values at the bottom surface. At an energy density of 16 J cm,2, the power density was not relevant (no significant differences were found between 400 and 1,000 mW cm,2), except when the emission spectra of the light-curing units (LCUs) did not match exactly with the absorption spectra of the photoinitators included in the resins (greatest values with 16 J cm,2 and1,000 mW cm,2). These results suggest that above a certain energy density threshold, the power density may not significantly influence the polymerization kinetics. [source] Effect of irradiation type (LED or QTH) on photo-activated composite shrinkage strain kinetics, temperature rise, and hardnessEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ORAL SCIENCES, Issue 6 2002Norbert Hofmann This study compares commercially available light-emitting diode (LED) lights with a quartz tungsten halogen (QTH) unit for photo-activating resin-based composites (RBC). Shrinkage strain kinetics and temperature within the RBC were measured simultaneously using the ,deflecting disc technique' and a thermocouple. Surface hardness (Knoop) at the bottom of 1.5-mm thick RBC specimens was measured 24 h after irradiation to indicate degree of cure. Irradiation was performed for 40 s using either the continuous or the ramp-curing mode of a QTH and a LED light (800 mW cm,2 and 320 mW cm,2, respectively) or the continuous mode of a lower intensity LED light (160,mW cm,2). For Herculite XRV and Filtek Z250 (both containing only camphoroquinone as a photo-initiator) the QTH and the stronger LED light produced similar hardness, while in the case of Definite (containing an additional photo-activator absorbing at lower wavelength) lower hardness was observed after LED irradiation. The temperature rise during polymerization and heating from radiation were lower with LED compared to QTH curing. The fastest increase of polymerization contraction was observed after QTH continuous irradiation, followed by the stronger and the weaker LED light in the continuous mode. Ramp curing decreased contraction speed even more. Shrinkage strain after 60 min was greater following QTH irradiation compared with both LED units (Herculite, Definite) or with the weaker LED light (Z250). [source] High-Yield Synthesis and Electrochemical and Photovoltaic Properties of Indene-C70 BisadductADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 19 2010Youjun He Abstract [6, 6]-Phenyl-C61 -butyric acid methyl ester (PC60BM) is the widely used acceptor material in polymer solar cells (PSCs). Nevertheless, the low LUMO energy level and weak absorption in visible region are its two weak points. For enhancing the solar light harvest, the soluble C70 derivative PC70BM has been used as acceptor instead of PC60BM in high efficiency PSCs in recent years. But, the LUMO level of PC70BM is the same as that of PC60BM, which is too low for the PSCs based on the polymer donors with higher HOMO level, such as poly (3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT). Here, a new soluble C70 derivative, indene-C70 bisadduct (IC70BA), is synthesized with high yield of 58% by a one-pot reaction of indene and C70 at 180 °C for 72 h. The electrochemical properties and electronic energy levels of the fullerene derivatives are measured by cyclic voltammetry. The LUMO energy level of IC70BA is 0.19 eV higher than that of PC70BM. The PSC based on P3HT with IC70BA as acceptor shows a higher Voc of 0.84 V and higher power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 5.64%, while the PSC based on P3HT/PC60BM and P3HT/PC70BM displays Voc of 0.59 V and 0.58 V, and PCE of 3.55% and 3.96%, respectively, under the illumination of AM1.5G, 100 mW cm,2. The results indicate that IC70BA is an excellent acceptor for the P3HT-based PSCs and could be a promising new acceptor instead of PC70BM for the high performance PSCs based on narrow bandgap conjugated polymer donor. [source] The Origin of the High Voltage in DPM12/P3HT Organic Solar CellsADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 16 2010Antonio Sánchez-Díaz Abstract Organic solar cells made using a blend of DPM12 and P3HT are studied. The results show that higher Voc can be obtained when using DPM12 in comparison to the usual mono-substituted PCBM electron acceptor. Moreover, better device performances are also registered when the cells are irradiated with sun-simulated light of 10,50 mW cm,2 intensity. Electrochemical and time-resolved spectroscopic measurements are compared for both devices and a 100-mV shift in the density of states (DOS) is observed for DPM12/P3HT devices with respect to PCBM/P3HT solar cells and slow polaron-recombination dynamics are found for the DPM12/P3HT devices. These observations can be directly correlated with the observed increase in Voc, which is in contrast with previous results that correlated the higher Voc with different ideality factors obtained using dark-diode measurements. The origin for the shift in the DOS can be correlated to the crystallinity of the blend that is influenced by the properties of the included fullerene. [source] Enhanced-Light-Harvesting Amphiphilic Ruthenium Dye for Efficient Solid-State Dye-Sensitized Solar CellsADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 11 2010Mingkui Wang Abstract A ruthenium sensitizer (coded C101, NaRu (4,4,-bis(5-hexylthiophen-2-yl)-2,2,-bipyridine) (4-carboxylic acid-4,-caboxylate-2,2,-bipyridine) (NCS)2) containing a hexylthiophene-conjugated bipyridyl group as an ancillary ligand is presented for use in solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells (SSDSCs). The high molar-extinction coefficient of this dye is advantageous compared to the widely used Z907 dye, (NaRu (4-carboxylic acid-4,-carboxylate) (4,4,-dinonyl-2,2,-bipyridine) (NCS)2). In combination with an organic hole-transporting material (spiro-MeOTAD, 2,2,,7,7,-tetrakis-(N,N -di- p -methoxyphenylamine) 9, 9,-spirobifluorene), the C101 sensitizer exhibits an excellent power-conversion efficiency of 4.5% under AM 1.5 solar (100 mW cm,2) irradiation in a SSDSC. From electronic-absorption, transient-photovoltage-decay, and impedance measurements it is inferred that extending the ,-conjugation of spectator ligands induces an enhanced light harvesting and retards the charge recombination, thus favoring the photovoltaic performance of a SSDSC. [source] Polydisperse Spindle-Shaped ZnO Particles with Their Packing Micropores in the Photoanode for Highly Efficient Quasi-Solid Dye-Sensitized Solar CellsADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 3 2010Yantao Shi Abstract In this paper, a novel hierarchically structured ZnO photoanode for use in quasi-solid state dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) is presented. The film is composed of polydisperse spindle-shaped ZnO particles that are prepared through direct precipitation of zinc acetate in aqueous solution. Without additional pore-forming agents, the microporous structure is well constructed through the packing of polydisperse ZnO particles. In the film, small ZnO particles are able to improve interparticle connectivity and offer a large internal surface area for sufficient dye-adsorption; on the other hand, particles of larger size can enhance the occurrence of light-scattering and introduce micropores for the permeation of quasi-solid state electrolytes. Meanwhile, morphologies, particle size, and specific areas of the products are controlled by altering the reactant concentration and synthetic temperature. Combined with a highly viscous polymer gel electrolyte, a device based on this ZnO photoanode shows high conversion efficiencies, 4.0% and 7.0%, under 100 and 30,mW cm,2 illumination, respectively. Finally, the unsealed device is demonstrated to remain above 90% of its initial conversion efficiency after 7 days, showing excellent stability. [source] Vertically Aligned Nanocomposite Thin Films as a Cathode/Electrolyte Interface Layer for Thin-Film Solid Oxide Fuel CellsADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 24 2009Jongsik Yoon Abstract A thin layer of a vertically aligned nanocomposite (VAN) structure is deposited between the electrolyte, Ce0.9Gd0.1O1.95 (CGO), and the thin-film cathode layer, La0.5Sr0.5CoO3 (LSCO), of a thin-film solid-oxide fuel cell (TFSOFC). The self-assembled VAN nanostructure contains highly ordered alternating vertical columns of CGO and LSCO formed through a one-step thin-film deposition process that uses pulsed laser deposition. The VAN structure significantly improves the overall performance of the TFSOFC by increasing the interfacial area between the electrolyte and cathode. Low cathode polarization resistances of 9,×,10,4 and 2.39,, were measured for the cells with the VAN interlayer at 600 and 400,°C, respectively. Furthermore, anode-supported single cells with LSCO/CGO VAN interlayer demonstrate maximum power densities of 329, 546, 718, and 812,mW cm,2 at 550, 600, 650, and 700,°C, respectively, with an open-circuit voltage (OCV) of 1.13,V at 550,°C. The cells with the interlayer triple the overall power output at 650,°C compared to that achieved with the cells without an interlayer. The binary VAN interlayer could also act as a transition layer that improves adhesion and relieves both thermal stress and lattice strain between the cathode and the electrolyte. [source] High-Performance Organic Photovoltaic Devices Using a New Amorphous Molecular Material with High Hole Drift Mobility, Tris[4-(5-phenylthiophen-2-yl)phenyl]amineADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 24 2009Hiroshi Kageyama Abstract A new amorphous molecular material, tris[4-(5-phenylthiophen-2-yl)phenyl]amine (TPTPA), is synthesized and characterized. TPTPA forms a stable amorphous glass with a glass-transition temperature of 83,°C when the melt sample is cooled. It also forms amorphous thin films by a thermal deposition technique. TPTPA exhibits a hole drift mobility of 1.0,×,10,2,cm2 V,1 s,1 at an electric field of 1.0,×,105,V cm,1 and at 293,K, as determined by the time-of-flight method, which is of the highest level among those of amorphous molecular materials. pn-Heterojunction organic photovoltaic devices (OPVs) using TPTPA as an electron donor and C60 or C70 as an electron acceptor exhibit high performance with fill factors of 0.66,0.71 and power conversion efficiencies of 1.7,2.2% under air-mass (AM) 1.5G illumination at an intensity of 100,mW cm,2, which are of the highest level ever reported for OPVs using amorphous molecular materials. [source] Nanoscale Phase Separation and High Photovoltaic Efficiency in Solution-Processed, Small-Molecule Bulk Heterojunction Solar CellsADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 19 2009Bright Walker Abstract Research relating to organic solar cells based on solution-processed, bulk heterojunction (BHJ) films has been dominated by polymeric donor materials, as they typically have better film-forming characteristics and film morphology than their small-molecule counterparts. Despite these morphological advantages, semiconducting polymers suffer from synthetic reproducibility and difficult purification procedures, which hinder their commercial viability. Here, a non-polymeric, diketopyrrolopyrrole-based donor material that can be solution processed with a fullerene acceptor to produce good quality films is reported. Thermal annealing leads to suitable phase separation and material distribution so that highly effective BHJ morphologies are obtained. The frontier orbitals of the material are well aligned with those of the fullerene acceptor, allowing efficient electron transfer and suitable open-circuit voltages, leading to power conversion efficiencies of 4.4,±,0.4% under AM1.5G illumination (100,mW cm,2). Small molecules can therefore be solution processed to form high-quality BHJ films, which may be used for low-cost, flexible organic solar cells. [source] Three-Dimensional Bulk Heterojunction Morphology for Achieving High Internal Quantum Efficiency in Polymer Solar CellsADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 15 2009Jang Jo Abstract Here, an investigation of three-dimensional (3D) morphologies for bulk heterojunction (BHJ) films based on regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and [6,6]-phenyl-C61 -butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) is reported. Based on the results, it is demonstrated that optimized post-treatment, such as solvent annealing, forces the PCBM molecules to migrate or diffuse toward the top surface of the BHJ composite films, which induces a new vertical component distribution favorable for enhancing the internal quantum efficiency (,IQE) of the devices. To investigate the 3D BHJ morphology, novel time-of-flight secondary-ion mass spectroscopy studies are employed along with conventional methods, such as UV-vis absorption, X-ray diffraction, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy studies. The ,IQE of the devices are also compared after solvent annealing for different times, which clearly shows the effect of the vertical component distribution on the performance of BHJ polymer solar cells. In addition, the fabrication of high-performance P3HT:PCBM solar cells using the optimized solvent-annealing method is reported, and these cells show a mean power-conversion efficiency of 4.12% under AM 1.5G illumination conditions at an intensity of 100,mW cm,2. [source] Charge Generation and Photovoltaic Operation of Solid-State Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Incorporating a High Extinction Coefficient Indolene-Based SensitizerADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 11 2009Henry J. Snaith Abstract An investigation of the function of an indolene-based organic dye, termed D149, incorporated in to solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells using 2,2,,7,7,-tetrakis(N,N -di- p -methoxypheny-amine)-9,9,-spirobifluorene (spiro-OMeTAD) as the hole transport material is reported. Solar cell performance characteristics are unprecedented under low light levels, with the solar cells delivering up to 70% incident photon-to-current efficiency (IPCE) and over 6% power conversion efficiency, as measured under simulated air mass (AM) 1.5 sun light at 1 and 10,mW cm,2. However, a considerable nonlinearity in the photocurrent as intensities approach "full sun" conditions is observed and the devices deliver up to 4.2% power conversion efficiency under simulated sun light of 100,mW cm,2. The influence of dye-loading upon solar cell operation is investigated and the thin films are probed via photoinduced absorption (PIA) spectroscopy, time-correlated single-photon counting (TCSPC), and photoluminescence quantum efficiency (PLQE) measurements in order to deduce the cause for the non ideal solar cell performance. The data suggest that electron transfer from the photoexcited sensitizer into the TiO2 is only between 10 to 50% efficient and that ionization of the photo excited dye via hole transfer directly to spiro-OMeTAD dominates the charge generation process. A persistent dye bleaching signal is also observed, and assigned to a remarkably high density of electrons "trapped" within the dye phase, equivalent to 1.8,×,1017,cm,3 under full sun illumination. it is believed that this localized space charge build-up upon the sensitizer is responsible for the non-linearity of photocurrent with intensity and nonoptimum solar cell performance under full sun conditions. [source] Polymer Photovoltaic Cells Based on Solution-Processable Graphene and P3HTADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 6 2009Qian Liu Abstract A soluble graphene, which has a one-atom thickness and a two-dimensional structure, is blended with poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and used as the active layer in bulk heterojunction (BHJ) polymer photovoltaic cells. Adding graphene to the P3HT induces a great quenching of the photoluminescence of the P3HT, indicating a strong electron/energy transfer from the P3HT to the graphene. In the photovoltaic devices with an ITO/PEDOT:PSS/P3HT:graphene/LiF/Al structure, the device efficiency increases first and then decreases with the increase in the graphene content. The device containing only 10,wt % of graphene shows the best performance with a power conversion efficiency of 1.1%, an open-circuit voltage of 0.72,V, a short-circuit current density of 4.0,mA cm,2, and a fill factor of 0.38 under simulated AM1.5G conditions at 100,mW cm,2 after an annealing treatment at 160,°C for 10,min. The annealing treatment at the appropriate temperature (160,°C, for example) greatly improves the device performance; however, an annealing at overgenerous conditions such as at 210,°C results in a decrease in the device efficiency (0.57%). The morphology investigation shows that better performance can be obtained with a moderate content of graphene, which keeps good dispersion and interconnection. The functionalized graphene, which is cheap, easily prepared, stable, and inert against the ambient conditions, is expected to be a competitive candidate for the acceptor material in organic photovoltaic applications. [source] Highly Efficient Quantum-Dot-Sensitized Solar Cell Based on Co-Sensitization of CdS/CdSeADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 4 2009Yuh-Lang Lee Abstract Cadmium sulfide (CdS) and cadmium selenide (CdSe) quantum dots (QDs) are sequentially assembled onto a nanocrystalline TiO2 film to prepare a CdS/CdSe co-sensitized photoelectrode for QD-sensitized solar cell application. The results show that CdS and CdSe QDs have a complementary effect in the light harvest and the performance of a QDs co-sensitized solar cell is strongly dependent on the order of CdS and CdSe respected to the TiO2. In the cascade structure of TiO2/CdS/CdSe electrode, the re-organization of energy levels between CdS and CdSe forms a stepwise structure of band-edge levels which is advantageous to the electron injection and hole-recovery of CdS and CdSe QDs. An energy conversion efficiency of 4.22% is achieved using a TiO2/CdS/CdSe/ZnS electrode, under the illumination of one sun (AM1.5,100,mW cm,2). This efficiency is relatively higher than other QD-sensitized solar cells previously reported in the literature. [source] Graphene-On-Silicon Schottky Junction Solar CellsADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 25 2010Xinming Li Highly conductive semitransparent graphene sheets are combined with an n-type silicon (n-Si) wafer to fabricate solar cells with power conversion efficiencies up to 1.5% at AM 1.5 and an illumination intensity of 100 mW cm,2. The Schottky junction solar cells can be extended to other semiconducting materials in which graphene serves multiple functions as active junction layer, charge transport path, and transparent electrode. [source] On mass transport in an air-breathing DMFC stackINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENERGY RESEARCH, Issue 12 2005G. Q. Lu Abstract An 8-cell air-breathing direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) stack with the active area of 5 cm2 of each cell has been developed. Stainless steel plates of 500 µm thickness with flow channels were fabricated using photochemical etching method as the current collectors. Different conditioning methods for membrane electrode assembly (MEA) activation were discussed. With proper control of water crossover to the cathode, cathode flooding was avoided in the DMFC stack. Methanol crossover at open circuit voltage (OCV) in the air-breathing DMFC was measured. Further, it was found that flow maldistribution might occur in the parallel flow field of the stack, making carbon dioxide gas management at the anode necessary. Using humidified hydrogen in the anode with a high flow rate, the oxygen transport limiting current density was characterized and found to be sufficient in the air-breathing cathode. The stack produced a maximum output power of 1.33 W at 2.21 V at room temperature, corresponding to a power density of 33.3 mW cm,2. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Fundamental study on biomass-fuelled ceramic fuel cellINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENERGY RESEARCH, Issue 1 2002B. Zhu Abstract Recent development in the advanced intermediate temperature (400 to 700°C) ceramic fuel cell (CFC) research brings up feasibility and new opportunity to develop innovative biomass-fuelled CFC technology. This work focuses on fundamentals of the biomass-fuelled CFCs based on available biofuel resources through thermochemical conversion technologies. Both real producer gas from biomass gasification and imitative compounded gas were used as the fuel to operate the CFCs in the biomass CFC testing station. The composition of the fuel gas was varied in a wide range of practices of the present conversion technology both in KTH and Shandong Institute of Technology (SDIT). CFC performances were achieved between 100 and 700 mW cm,2 at 600,800°C corresponding to various gas compositions. A high performance close to 400 mW cm,2 was obtained at 600°C for the gas with the composition of H2 (50 per cent)+CO (15 per cent)+CO2 (15 per cent)+N2 (20 per cent) and more than 600 mW cm,2 for the H2 (55 per cent)+CO (28 per cent)+CO2 (17 per cent) at 700°C. This paper presents the experimental results and discusses the fundamentals and future potentiality on the biomass fuelled CFCs. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Effect of pulsed ultrasound in combination with gentamicin on bacterial viability in biofilms on bone cements in vivoJOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 3 2005G.T. Ensing Abstract Aims:, The aim of this study is to investigate whether pulsed ultrasound (US) in combination with gentamicin yields a decreased viability of bacteria in biofilms on bone cements in vivo. Methods and Results:, Bacterial survival on bone cement in the presence and absence of ultrasound was compared in a rabbit model. Two bone cement samples with an Escherichia coli ATCC 10798 biofilm were implanted in a total of nine rabbits. In two groups bone cement discs loaded with gentamicin, freshly prepared and aged were used, and in one group unloaded bone cement discs in combination with systemically administered gentamicin. Pulsed ultrasound with a frequency of 28·48 kHz and a maximum acoustic intensity of 500 mW cm,2 was applied continuously from 24 h till 72 h postsurgery on one of the two implanted discs. After euthanization and removal of the bacteria from the discs, the number of viable bacteria were quantified and skin samples were analysed for histopathological examination. Application of ultrasound, combined with gentamicin, reduced the viability of the biofilms in all three groups varying between 58 and 69% compared with the negative control. Histopathological examinations showed no skin lesions. Conclusions:, Ultrasound resulted in a tendency of improved efficacy of gentamicin, either applied locally or systemically. Usage of ultrasound in this model proved to be safe. Significance and Impact of the Study:, This study implies that ultrasound could improve the prevention of infection immediately after surgery, especially because the biomaterials, gentamicin and ultrasound used in this model are all in clinical usage, but not yet combined in clinical practice. [source] Ultrasonic immunization of sea bream, Pagrus major (Temminck & Schlegel), with a mixed vaccine against Vibrio alginolyticus and V. anguillarumJOURNAL OF FISH DISEASES, Issue 6 2002Y-C Zhou In order to clarify the effectiveness of ultrasonication on vaccine delivery, juvenile sea bream, Pagrus major, were treated with eight different ultrasonic methods. A mixed vaccine against Vibrio alginolyticus and V. anguillarum was used to immunize the fish. The intensity and frequency of the ultrasound were 280 mW cm,2 and 35 kHz, respectively. The ultrasonic methods included continuous or pulsed ultrasound for 3 min, and continuous or pulsed ultrasound for 3 min before and/or after immersion for 3 min. Of all the eight ultrasonic methods tested, `pulsed ultrasound followed by immersion' and `immersion, pulsed ultrasound, and followed by immersion again' provided the best protection, which were comparable with protection of fish immunized by intraperitoneal injection. Moreover, the convenience of applying these two ultrasonic methods for immunization was comparable with the immersion method and was much better than intraperitoneal injection. If 2 × 108 CFU mL,1 of this mixed vaccine was used for vaccination repeatedly five times by ultrasonic methods, it could still produce good protection for the immunized sea bream. Therefore, the ultrasonic method is an effective and practical approach for fish vaccination on a large scale. [source] Raman scattering determination of the depth of cure of light-activated composites: influence of different clinically relevant parametersJOURNAL OF ORAL REHABILITATION, Issue 6 2002G. Leloup The purpose of this research was to determine the depth of cure of light-activated composites in relation with different clinically relevant parameters. A Raman spectroscopic method has been used. The measurement of cure is made on a relative basis by comparing the vibration band of the residual unpolymerized methacrylate C=C bond at 1640 cm,1 against the aromatic C=C stretching band at 1610 cm,1 used as an internal standard. The information gained draw attention to the importance of light transmission during the exposure. The influence of sample's thickness on the depth of cure is illustrated by a second order polynomial regression. The shade and translucency of the resin composite also modify the light transmission and thus have a significant influence on the degree of conversion. Moreover the light-source intensity and the distance from the curing tip are important parameters of influence. A significant reduction of the depth of cure is observed for all sample thickness of resin composite tested when using a light device with an intensity of 300 mW cm,2 as well as using a distance from the curing tip higher than 20 mm. [source] Degree of conversion and temperature rise during polymerization of composite resin samples with blue diodesJOURNAL OF ORAL REHABILITATION, Issue 6 2001A. Kne To ensure an adequate clinical composite filling light source for photopolymerization is of great importance. In everyday clinical conditions commonly used unit for polymerization of composite material is halogen curing unit. The development of new blue superbright light emitting diodes (LED) of 470 nm wavelengths comes as an alternative to standard halogen curing unit of 450,470 nm wavelengths. The purpose of this study was to compare the degree of conversion (DC) and temperature rise of four hybrid composite materials: Tetric Ceram, Pertac II, Valux Plus and Degufill Mineral during 40 s illulmination with standard halogen curing unit Heliolux GTE of 600 mW cm,2 intensity, Elipar Highlight soft-start curing unit of 100 mW cm,2 (10 s) and 700 mW cm,2 (30 s) intensity and 16 blue superbright LED of minimal intensity of 12 mW cm,2 on the surface and 1 mm depth. The results revealed only a little bit higher DC values in case of polymerization with even 66 times stronger halogen curing units which showed twice higher temperature than blue diodes. Temperature and DC obtained are higher on the surface than on 1 mm depth regardless on the light source used. [source] Synthesis and properties of phenothiazylene vinylene-based polymers: New organic semiconductors for field-effect transistors and solar cellsJOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE (IN TWO SECTIONS), Issue 3 2010Seon-Kyoung Son Abstract A series of new phenothiazylene vinylene-based semiconducting polymers, poly[3,7-(4,-dodecyloxyphenyl)phenothiazylene vinylene] (P1), poly[3,7-(4,-dodecyloxyphenyl)phenothiazylene vinylene- alt -1,4-phenylene vinylene] (P2), and poly[3,7-(4,-dodecyloxyphenyl)phenothiazylene vinylene- alt -2,5-thienylene vinylene] (P3), have been synthesized via a Horner-Emmons reaction. FTIR and 1H NMR spectroscopies confirmed that the configurations of the vinylene groups in the polymers were all - trans (E). The weight-averaged molecular weights (Mw) of P1, P2, and P3 were found to be 27,000, 22,000, and 29,000, with polydispersity indices of 1.91, 2.05, and 2.25, respectively. The thermograms for P1, P2, and P3 each contained only a broad glass transition, at 129, 167, and 155 °C, respectively, without the observation of melting features. UV,visible absorption spectra of the polymers showed two strong absorption bands in the ranges 315,370 nm and 450,500 nm, which arose from absorptions of the phenothiazine segments and the conjugated main chains. Solution-processed field-effect transistors fabricated from these polymers showed p -type organic thin-film transistor characteristics. The field-effect mobilities of P1, P2, and P3 were measured to be 1.0 × 10,4, 3.6 × 10,5, and 1.0 × 10,3 cm2 V,1 s,1, respectively, and the on/off ratios were in the order of 102 for P1 and P2, and 103 for P3. Atomic force microscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis of thin films of the polymers show that they have amorphous structures. A photovoltaic device in which a P3/PC71BM (1/5) blend film was used as the active layer exhibited an open-circuit voltage (VOC) of 0.42 V, a short circuit current (JSC) of 5.17 mA cm,2, a fill factor of 0.35, and a power conversion efficiency of 0.76% under AM 1.5 G (100 mW cm,2) illumination. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 635,646, 2010 [source] Low bandgap ,-conjugated copolymers based on fused thiophenes and benzothiadiazole: Synthesis and structure-property relationship studyJOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE (IN TWO SECTIONS), Issue 20 2009Shiming Zhang Abstract A series of low bandgap conjugated polymers consisting of benzothiadiazole alternating with dithienothiophene (DTT) or dithienopyrrole (DTP) unit with or without 3-alkylthiophene bridge have been synthesized. Effect of the fused rings and 3-alkylthiophene bridge on the thermal, optical, electrochemical, charge transport, and photovoltaic properties of these polymers have been investigated. These polymers show broad absorption extending from 300 to 1000 nm with optical bandgaps as low as 1.2 eV; the details of which can be varied either by incorporating 3-alkylthiophene bridge or by replacing DTT with DTP. The LUMO levels (,2.9 to ,3.3 eV) are essentially unaffected by the specific choice of donor moiety, whereas the HOMO levels (,4.6 to ,5.6 eV) are more sensitive to the choice of donor. The DTT and DTP polymers with 3-alkylthiophene bridge were found to exhibit hole mobilities of 8 × 10,5 and 3 × 10,2 cm2 V,1 s,1, respectively, in top-contact organic field-effect transistors. Power conversion efficiencies in the range 0.17,0.43% were obtained under simulated AM 1.5, 100 mW cm,2 irradiation for polymer solar cells using the DTT and DTP-based polymers with 3-alkylthiophene bridge as donor and fullerene derivatives as acceptor. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 5498,5508, 2009 [source] Soluble dithienothiophene polymers: Effect of link patternJOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE (IN TWO SECTIONS), Issue 11 2009Shiming Zhang Abstract Soluble conjugated polymers based on 3,5-didecanyldithieno[3,2- b:2,,3,- d]thiophene,single-bond (1), double-bond (2), and triple-bond linked (3),were synthesized by palladium(0)-catalyzed Stille coupling reaction and oxidation polymerization. The thermal, absorption, emission, and electrochemical properties of these polymers were examined; the effect of the link pattern was studied. All polymers exhibit decomposition temperatures over 295 °C and glass-transition temperatures in the range of 137,202 °C. The absorption spectra of 1, 2, and 3 in thin films exhibit absorption maxima at 381, 584, and 444 nm, respectively. Polymer 1 exhibits intense green emission located at 510 nm in film, whereas polymers 2 and 3 are nonemissive both in solution and in film due to H-aggregate. Cyclic voltammograms of polymers 1, 2, and 3 display irreversible oxidation waves with onset oxidation potentials at 1.73, 0.78, and 1.03 V versus Ag+/Ag, respectively. Theory calculation on model compounds suggests that the dihedral angle decreases in the order of 1 > 3 > 2. On reducing the dihedral angle, the polymer exhibits a longer absorption maximum, a smaller bandgap, a less oxidizing potential and fluorescence quench, due to more coplanar and more ,-electron delocalized backbone structure. Polymer solar cells were fabricated based on the blend of polymer 2 and methanofullerene [6,6]-phenyl C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM). The power conversion efficiency of 0.45% was achieved under AM 1.5, 100 mW cm,2 using polymer 2:PCBM (1:2, w/w) as active layer. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 2843,2852, 2009 [source] Synthesis and properties of new dialkoxyphenylene quinoxaline-based donor-acceptor conjugated polymers and their applications on thin film transistors and solar cellsJOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE (IN TWO SECTIONS), Issue 3 2009Mei-Hsiu Lai Abstract Synthesis, properties, and optoelectronic device applications of four new bis-[4-(2-ethyl-hexyloxy)-phenyl]quinoxaline(Qx(EHP))-based donor-acceptor conjugated copolymers are reported, in which the donors are thiophene(T), dithiophene(DT), dioctylfluorene(FO), and didecyloxyphenylene(OC10). The optical band gaps (Eg) of PThQx(EHP), PDTQ(EHP), POC10DTQ(EHP), and PFODTQ(EHP) estimated from the onset absorption are 1.57, 1.65, 1.77, and 1.92 eV, respectively. The smallest Eg of PThQx(EHP) among the four copolymers is attributed to the balanced donor/acceptor ratio and backbone coplanarity, leading to a strong intramolecular charge transfer. The hole mobilities obtained from the thin film transistor (TFT) devices of PThQx(EHP), PDTQ(EHP), POC10DTQ(EHP), and PFODTQ(EHP) are 2.52 × 10,4, 4.50 × 10,3, 4.72 × 10,5, and 9.31 × 10,4 cm2 V,1 s,1, respectively, with the on-off ratios of 2.00 × 104, 1.89 × 103, 4.07 × 103, and 2.30 × 104. Polymer solar cell based on the polymer blends of PFODTQ(EHP), PThQx(EHP), POC10DTQ(EHP), and PDTQ(EHP) with [6, 6]-phenyl C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) under illumination of AM1.5 (100 mW cm,2) solar simulator exhibit power conversion efficiencies of 1.75, 0.92, 0.79, and 0.43%, respectively. The donor/acceptor strength, molecular weight, miscibility, and energy level lead to the difference on the TFT or solar cell characteristics. The present study suggests that the prepared bis[4-(2-ethyl-hexyloxy)-phenyl]quinoxaline donor-acceptor conjugated copolymers would have promising applications on electronic device applications. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 973,985, 2009 [source] Fabrication of novel conjugated polymer nanostructure: Porphyrins and fullerenes conjugately linked to the polyacetylene backbone as pendant groupsJOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE (IN TWO SECTIONS), Issue 13 2005Ning Wang Abstract A new series of conjugated polyacetylenes with conjugately linked fullerene and porphyrin groups as pendant units were prepared by a copolymerization reaction catalyzed by chloronorbornadiene rhodium(I)dimer-triethylamine ([Rh(nbd)Cl]2 -NEt3) in anhydrous CHCl3. These polymers were characterized with UV,vis spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, and voltammetry. Scanning electron microscopy indicated that the morphology of the copolymers consisted of uniform nanorods with a diameter of about 100 nm and a length of about 300 nm. Thin films of the copolymers produced steady and prompt photocurrent at an irradiation of 20.0 mW cm,2 of white light, which was higher than that of a mixture of poly[5-(4-Ethynyl-phenyl)-10,15,20-tris(4-carbomethoxyphenyl)porphyrin zinc] and C60. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 2851,2861, 2005 [source] The Neovessel Occlusion Efficacy of 151 -Hydroxypurpurin-7-Lactone Dimethyl Ester Induced with Photodynamic TherapyPHOTOCHEMISTRY & PHOTOBIOLOGY, Issue 2 2010Siang Hui Lim In this study, the photodynamic therapy (PDT) induced efficacy of a semi-synthesized analogue 151 -hydroxypurpurin-7-lactone dimethyl ester or G2, in terms of chick chorioallantoic membrane blood vessel occlusion was evaluated in reference to verteporfin. Early formulation studies showed that G2 prepared in a system of cremophor EL 2.5% and ethanol 2.5% in saline was biocompatible up to 20 ,L volume of injection. Following injection, G2 accumulation peaked within the first minute and its extravasation from intra- to extra-vascular occurred somewhat slower as compared with verteporfin. In the PDT study, closure of capillaries and small neovessels was observed with 4 ,g per embryo of G2 and a light dose of 20 J cm,2 at a fluence rate of 40 mW cm,2 filtered at 400,440 nm,a result that may be considered optimum for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Also, partial occlusion of the large vessels was observed using the same dose of G2 and light,an effect which is desirable for cancer treatment. From this study, we conclude that G2 has the potential to be developed as a therapeutic agent for photodynamic treatment for AMD and cancer. [source] Mitochondrial Responses of Normal and Injured Human Skin Fibroblasts Following Low Level Laser Irradiation,An In Vitro StudyPHOTOCHEMISTRY & PHOTOBIOLOGY, Issue 4 2009Innocent L. Zungu Laser irradiation has proved to be very efficient in speeding and improving the quality of healing in pathological conditions of diverse etiologies. However, the mechanisms by which the beneficial effects are attained are not clear. Mitochondria are the primary phototargets during irradiation. The study aimed to establish if laser irradiation had an effect on hypoxic and acidotic cells. The study also aimed to use existing information regarding the possible mechanism of action (established in wounded cells) and apply these principles to acidic and hypoxic irradiated cells to determine whether laser has a stimulatory or inhibitory effect. Cell cultures were modified to simulate conditions of hypoxia (hypoxic gas mixture 95% N2 and 5% O2) and acidosis (pH 6.7) whereas the central scratch model was used to simulate a wound. Cells were irradiated with a helium,neon (632.8 nm, 3 mW cm,2) laser using 5 or 16 J cm,2 on days 1 and 4. Mitochondrial responses were measured 1 or 24 h after laser irradiation by assessing changes in mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), cyclic AMP, intracellular Ca2+ and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) cell viability. Hypoxia and acidosis significantly reduced MMP when compared with normal nonirradiated control cells. Wounded, hypoxic and acidotic cells irradiated with 5 J cm,2 showed an increase in mitochondrial responses when compared with nonirradiated cells while 16 J cm,2 showed a significant decrease. The study confirmed that laser irradiation with 5 J cm,2 stimulated an increase in intracellular Ca2+ which resulted in an increase in MMP, ATP and cAMP, which ultimately results in photobiomodulation to restore homeostasis of injured cells. [source] Monitoring ALA-induced PpIX Photodynamic Therapy in the Rat Esophagus Using Fluorescence and Reflectance SpectroscopyPHOTOCHEMISTRY & PHOTOBIOLOGY, Issue 6 2008Bastiaan Kruijt The presence of phased protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) bleach kinetics has been shown to correlate with esophageal response to 5-aminolevulinic acid-based photodynamic therapy (ALA-PDT) in animal models. Here we confirm the existence of phased PpIX photobleaching by increasing the temporal resolution of the fluorescence measurements using the therapeutic illumination and long wavelength fluorescence detection. Furthermore fluorescence differential pathlength spectroscopy (FDPS) was incorporated to provide information on the effects of PpIX and tissue oxygenation distribution on the PpIX bleach kinetics during illumination. ALA at a dose of 200 mg kg,1 was orally administered to 15 rats, five rats served as control animals. PDT was performed at an in situ measured fluence rate of 75 mW cm,2 using a total fluence of 54 J cm,2. Forty-eight hours after PDT the esophagus was excised and histologically examined for PDT-induced damage. Fluence rate and PpIX photobleaching at 705 nm were monitored during therapeutic illumination with the same isotropic probe. A new method, FDPS, was used for superficial measurement on saturation, blood volume, scattering characteristics and PpIX fluorescence. Results showed two-phased PpIX photobleaching that was not related to a (systematic) change in esophageal oxygenation but was associated with an increase in average blood volume. PpIX fluorescence photobleaching measured using FDPS, in which fluorescence signals are only acquired from the superficial layers of the esophagus, showed lower rates of photobleaching and no distinct phases. No clear correlation between two-phased photobleaching and histologic tissue response was found. This study demonstrates the feasibility of measuring fluence rate, PpIX fluorescence and FDPS during PDT in the esophagus. We conclude that the spatial distribution of PpIX significantly influences the kinetics of photobleaching and that there is a complex interrelationship between the distribution of PpIX and the supply of oxygen to the illuminated tissue volume. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||