Home About us Contact
|
Home About us Contact | ||
|
|
||
Surface Film (surface + film)
Selected AbstractsOvercoming surfactant inhibition with polymersACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 12 2000PA Dargaville Inhibition of the function of pulmonary surfactant in the alveolar space is an important element of the pathophysiology of many lung diseases, including meconium aspiration syndrome, pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome. The known mechanisms by which surfactant dysfunction occurs are (a) competitive inhibition of phospholipid entry into the surface monolayer (e.g. by plasma proteins), and (b) infiltration and destabilization of the surface film by extraneous lipids (e.g. meconium-derived free fatty acids). Recent data suggest that addition of non-ionic polymers such as dextrano and polyethylene glycol to surfactant mixtures may significantly improve resistance to inhibition. Polymers have been found to neutralize the effects of several different inhibitors, and can produce near-complete restoration of surfactant function. The anti-inhibitory properties of polymers, and their possible role as an adjunct to surfactant therapy, deserve further exploration. [source] The external gills of anuran amphibians: Comparative morphology and ultrastructureJOURNAL OF MORPHOLOGY, Issue 10 2008M. Nokhbatolfoghahai Abstract The external gills of anuran amphibians are transient structures, covered by the development of the operculum and regressing soon afterwards. Their functional role has been regarded as equivocal. However, detailed morphological analysis has been limited. Analysis of 21 species from six families using scanning and transmission electron microscopy revealed diversity at the anatomical and cellular levels in extent and length of gill filaments, numbers of surface ciliated cells, width of water-blood barrier distance, and evidence of gill motility. The most highly developed external gills were found in species with delayed hatching, such as Phyllomedusa trinitatis, or in species in which hatchlings hang from the surface film of temporary ponds, such as Phrynohyas venulosa in which gills added 26,38% to body surface area. In one family, the bufonids, all four species examined had poorly developed gills, but in other families where we examined several species, the hylids and leptodactylids, there was considerable diversity of external gills, suggesting flexible adaptation to incubation and hatching environment. J. Morphol., 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Micropipette manipulation: A technique to evaluate the stability of water-in-oil emulsions containing proteinsJOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES, Issue 12 2004Lene Jorgensen Abstract The interfacial properties and stability of water-in-oil emulsions containing protein were studied using micromanipulation. Micropipettes were used to produce individual water droplets in oil in a controlled manner on the micron scale. The pipettes were then used to bring two droplets into contact in order to observe fusion. The occurrence of fusion was investigated as a function of the compositions of both the continuous (oil) and dispersed (aqueous) phases. Various proteins, i.e., insulin, growth hormone, or serum albumin, were dissolved in the dispersed phase. When low concentrations of surfactants or no surfactant were present in the oil phase, a condensed protein film was formed at the surface of the droplets, which was revealed by the irregular topology of the droplet surface viewed with contrast microscopy. At higher surfactant concentrations, this topology was not observed nor was the stability apparently affected; emulsion droplets coalesce immediately upon contact with each other. There seems to be a limiting surfactant concentration, which stabilizes the droplets toward fusion and prevents formation of a condensed surface film, when the droplets contain protein. The technique exhibits potential for examination of the effects of various excipients on the coalescence stability of emulsion droplets. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 93:2994,3003, 2004 [source] Reactivity of alkylated phosphorothionates with steel: a tribological and surface-analytical studyLUBRICATION SCIENCE, Issue 2 2008Roman Heuberger Abstract Phosphorothionates are anti-wear lubricant additives and potential replacements for zinc dialkyldithiophosphates. In this study, ball-on-disc tests have been carried out combinatorially under extreme pressure (EP) conditions (100,350,MPa at 10,N load). The tests were performed in oil containing triphenyl phosphorothionates substituted with alkyl chains of different lengths. Imaging, small-area and angle-resolved X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were performed following the tribotest to probe the modification, removal and growth of the surface film. The films were composed, depending on the test conditions, of (i) iron phosphate, (ii) iron phosphates with sulphates or (iii) a mixture of iron phosphates with sulphides and sulphates. With increasing load, the dimensional wear coefficients decreased. Upon increasing temperature from 30 to 150°C, the wear became more severe. These findings suggest the formation of a tribochemical film with some EP performance, despite the severe tribological test conditions applied in this work. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Improved Hydration Resistance of Synthesized Magnesia,Calcia Clinker by Surface ModificationJOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CERAMIC SOCIETY, Issue 12 2004Shujiang Chen Hydration resistance of synthesized MgO,CaO clinker was improved by surface modification using oleic acid, stearic acid, or complex acids as modifiers, with phosphoric acid as a reference. Unmodified and modified samples were evaluated using a powdering resistance test, weight change test, and flowability test. The remarkable effects of the modifiers on the hydration resistance and flowability of the clinker were manifested, and the complex modifier caused the most significant effect. The mechanism involved the formation of calcium-containing films on the surfaces of the clinker particles, which protected them from hydration. The flowability of the clinker also increased with improved hydration resistance because of the decreased bonded-moisture content. Comparison of infrared spectra between unmodified and modified samples confirmed the formation of surface films. [source] Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy study of surface films formed on copper in aqueous environmentsMATERIALS AND CORROSION/WERKSTOFFE UND KORROSION, Issue 9 2005A. Srivastava Abstract The electrochemical behavior of pure copper has been studied in aqueous environments using linear polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques as a function of immersion time. The effect of pollutants (like chloride, sulfide and ammonium ions) on the nature of films formed on the copper surface has been studied. All the surfaces revealed the presence of a porous oxide layer. The corrosion resistance decreased with increasing amount of chloride ions. The addition of Na2S in the environments in the absence of any chloride species was beneficial for corrosion resistance. EIS data suggested that the capacitance of the films formed in chloride environments was higher. The surfaces obtained in presence of chloride ions were relatively rough and deeply attacked. The total impedance decreased after 432 h of immersion in solutions possessing chloride ions. The damaging role of chloride ions and the relatively less severe effect of sulfide ions were noted. [source] Linear Dichroism in the XANES of Partially Oriented Samples: Theory and Application to the Photosynthetic Manganese Complex,CHEMPHYSCHEM, Issue 6 2010Peter Liebisch Dr. Abstract For molecular systems which are partially ordered with respect to one macroscopic axis, for example, the sample,surface normal, X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) with linearly polarized synchrotron radiation can provide information on structure and orientation of the X-ray absorbing site (polarized or linear-dichroism XAS). Examples for such partially oriented systems are protein-carrying membrane particles deposited in the form of multilayers on surfaces, layered minerals, surface films or imperfect 2D crystals, planar electrodes or catalytic surfaces. For electric dipole transitions, equations are derived describing how partial unidirectional orientation determines the linear dichroism (LD). The approach presented facilitates description of 1) LD in multiple-scattering contributions of the extended X-ray absorption fine-structure (EXAFS) and 2) of LD in the X-ray absorption near-edge structure (LD-XANES). Structural and orientation information becomes accessible by combination with ab initio XANES calculations. The LD-XANES approach is applied to the water-oxidizing Mn complex of photosystem II. The results suggest that the (,-O)-(,-O) vectors of the Mn-(,-O)2 -Mn units are at an average angle to the membrane normal of 30,45°. The best-fit structure in connection with crystallographic data suggests a specific oxidation-state assignment: Mn(1)IIIMn(2)IIIMn(3)IVMn(4)IV. However, currently this assignment remains uncertain. In future studies, the LD-XANES analysis should play an important role in construction of unequivocal atomic-resolution model of the photosynthetic Mn complex. [source] | |||||||||||||