			Home About us Contact

Treatment Step (treatment + step)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	36%
Polymers and Materials Science	18%
Life Sciences	18%
Chemistry	18%

Selected Abstracts

Characterization of putative ligands for a fish gonadal androgen receptor in a pulp mill effluent

ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 2 2006
D. G. Joakim Larsson
Abstract Fish exposed to pulp and paper mill effluents often become masculinized. A plausible hypothesisis that this is caused by activation of androgen receptors. The present study aimed to investigate if ligands for the fish gonadal androgen receptor (AR2) are present in pulp mill effluent and to characterize/identify these compounds. Extracts of both primary and biologically treated effluents from a Swedish kraft pulp mill were fractionated chemically. Fractions were tested in competitive binding assays for AR2 from ovaries of the Atlantic croaker (Micropogonias undulatus). Primary effluent contained 96 ng dihydrotestosterone equivalents/L, whereas biologically treated effluent was 16 times less potent. Further fractionations and assays of binding activities were performed on the primary effluent. Eight final fractions displaced androgen in the binding assay, and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analyses revealed that these contained 37 detectable compounds that were not present in inactive fractions. The majority were moderately polar compounds between 200 and 400 g/mol with hydroxyl/carbonyl groups. Two compounds were ruled out because of their lack of binding to AR2. The mass spectra of a third compound matched that of 4-hydroxy-3 (2-(4-hydroxy-3methoxophenyl)ethyl)-5-metoxyacetophenon, but the remaining candidates could not be fully identified. A search for 21 known steroidal AR2 ligands showed that progesterone, a relatively strong AR2 ligand, was present in the primary effluent (1.6 ,g/L) but was removed during the biological treatment step. The detection of multiple fractions with significant binding activity indicates that a variety of compounds in effluents have the potential to masculinize fish near pulp mills via an androgen receptor-mediated mechanism. [source]

Thin Film Solar Cells: Materials Science at Interfaces

ADVANCED ENGINEERING MATERIALS, Issue 10 2005
J. Fritsche
Abstract Interfaces are important for the efficiencies of thin film solar cells. In particular for polycrystalline chalcogenide semiconductors as Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se)2 and CdTe the existing physical concepts, which describe the electronic properties of semiconductor interfaces, are not sufficient. The increased complexity is mostly due to the non-abruptness of the interfaces and the strong tendency for the formation of defects. For the CdTe thin film solar cell a very relevant interface for their operation and efficiency is the CdTe/CdS semiconductor hetero junction. The properties of the semiconductor interfaces have been characterised systematically with photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS/UPS) in integrated ultra high vacuum (UHV) systems for sample preparation and analysis. Withal the key topic is the experimental determination of the band alignment at the semiconductor interfaces. For high efficiency CdTe solar cell production CdCl2 activation is of major importance. The effects of the CdCl2 treatment step on CdTe solar cells had been not completely understood so far. To investigate its influence the activation process has been transferred into the integrated UHV system. We will report about chemical and electronic modifications of the CdTe/CdS hetero interface due to in-situ CdCl2 activation performing sputter depth profiles in combination with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). [source]

Measurement of stain on extracted teeth using spectrophotometry and digital image analysis

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DENTAL HYGIENE, Issue 3 2007
DL Lath
Abstract:, Aim:, The aim of this study was to assess the reliability and validate a customized image analysis system, designed for use within clinical trials of general dental hygiene and whitening products, for the measurement of stain levels on extracted teeth and to compare it with reflectance spectrophotometry. Method:, Twenty non-carious extracted teeth were soaked in an artificial saliva, brushed for 1 min using an electric toothbrush and a standard toothpaste, bleached using a 5.3% hydrogen peroxide solution and cycled for 6 h daily through a tea solution. CIE L* values were obtained after each treatment step using the customized image analysis system and a reflectance spectrophotometer. A statistical analysis was carried out in SPSS. Results:, Fleiss' coefficient of reliability for intra-operator repeatability of the image analysis system and spectrophotometry was 0.996 and 0.946 respectively. CIE L* values were consistently higher using the image analysis compared with spectrophotometry, and t -tests for each treatment step showed significant differences (P < 0.05) for the two methods. Limits of agreement between the methods were ,27.95 to +2.07, with a 95% confidence of the difference calculated as ,14.26 to ,11.84. The combined results for all treatment steps showed a significant difference between the methods for the CIE L* values (P < 0.05). Conclusion:, The image analysis system has proven to be a reliable method for assessment of changes in stain level on extracted teeth. The method has been validated against reflectance spectrophotometry. This method may be used for pilot in vitro studies/trials of oral hygiene and whitening products, before expensive in vivo tests are carried out. [source]

Effect of thermal treatment of incubated potato juice on the formation of Maillard volatiles

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, Issue 8 2003
Stephen J. Davids
Summary Potato juice samples, obtained from potatoes stored at different temperatures (0,24 °C) and times (8,20 weeks), were incubated (45,57 °C for 42 h) with or without commercial proteases. The samples were then used for thermal browning experiments by placing in either a heated oven at 125 °C overnight or in an autoclave at 132 or 121 °C for 1 h, these experiments promoted the occurrence of the Maillard reaction. After the heat treatment step, all samples were extracted with methylene chloride and analysed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The data indicated that, by subjecting the potato juice to thermal treatments, a wide variety of volatiles generated by the Maillard were produced and these are known to be associated with specific flavour notes, examples are alkyl and acetyl pyrazines, piperazinediones, furans and pyrroles. These findings suggest that the study of potato juice extract as a new medium for flavour development, in particular in those applications which presently use malt, coffee, soybean, meat and yeast extracts, is a worthwhile endeavour. [source]

Stabilization of biomass-derived pyrolysis oils

JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGY, Issue 5 2010
R.H. Venderbosch
Abstract BACKGROUND: Biomass is the only renewable feedstock containing carbon, and therefore the only alternative to fossil-derived crude oil derivatives. However, the main problems concerning the application of biomass for biofuels and bio-based chemicals are related to transport and handling, the limited scale of the conversion process and the competition with the food industry. To overcome such problems, an integral processing route for the conversion of (non-feed) biomass (residues) to transportation fuels is proposed. It includes a pretreatment process by fast pyrolysis, followed by upgrading to produce a crude-oil-like product, and finally co-refining in traditional refineries. RESULTS: This paper contributes to the understanding of pyrolysis oil upgrading. The processes include a thermal treatment step and/or direct hydroprocessing. At temperatures up to 250 °C (in the presence of H2 and catalyst) parallel reactions take place including re-polymerization (water production), decarboxylation (limited CO2 production) and hydrotreating. Water is produced in small quantities (approx. 10% extra), likely caused by repolymerization. This repolymerization takes place faster (order of minutes) than the hydrotreating reactions (order of tens of minutes, hours). CONCLUSIONS: In hydroprocessing of bio-oils, a pathway is followed by which pyrolysis oils are further polymerized if H2 and/or catalyst is absent, eventually to char components, or, with H2/catalyst, to stabilized components that can be further upgraded. Results of the experiments suggest that specifically the cellulose-derived fraction of the oil needs to be transformed first, preferably into alcohols in a ,mild hydrogenation' step. This subsequently allows further dehydration and hydrogenation. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry [source]

Referral and treatment patterns for complex regional pain syndrome in the Netherlands

ACTA ANAESTHESIOLOGICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 6 2009
M. DE MOS
Background: Patients with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) are seen and treated by a variety of physicians. The present study aims to describe referral and treatment patterns for CRPS patients in the Netherlands. Methods: Patients, who were selected (1996,2005) from an electronic general practice (GP) database (Integrated Primary Care Information Project), were invited for study participation, involving diagnosis verification (International Association for the Study of Pain criteria) and assessment of referrals and treatment through information retrieved from GP journals, patients' questionnaires, pharmacy dispensing lists and specialist letters if available. Results: One hundred and two patients were included. Sixty-one percent had presented first at the GP, while 80% subsequently consulted one or more medical specialists, most frequently an anesthetist (55% of the cases) or a specialist in rehabilitation medicine (41%). Over 90% of the patients received oral or topical pharmacotherapy, 45% received intravenous therapy, 89% received non-invasive therapy (i.e. physiotherapy) and 18% received nerve blocks. Analgesics and free radical scavengers were administered early during CRPS, while vasodilating drugs and drugs against neuropathic pain (antidepressants and anti-epileptics) were administered later on. Pharmacotherapy was usually initiated by a medical specialist. Conclusion: The Dutch treatment guidelines, issued in 2006, recommend free radical scavenger prescription (plus physiotherapy) as the initial treatment step for CRPS. Until 2005 only half of the patients received a scavenger within 3 months after disease onset, and the majority presents first at the GP, in particular GPs may be encouraged to initiate treatment with scavengers, while waiting for the results of further specialist consultation. [source]

Single-walled carbon nanotubes as nanotest tubes

PHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (B) BASIC SOLID STATE PHYSICS, Issue 11 2007
E. Borowiak-Palen
Abstract In this study a wet-chemistry procedure to perform a metathesis reaction in the interior of single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) is shown. Initially, AgNO3 was placed into the tube interior. The AgNO3 filling was then transformed into AgCl through a metathesis reaction involving a treatment step with HCl. The reaction highlights the potential application of SWCNT as nanotest tubes. This was further demonstrated by the successful development of a facile and efficient wet-chemistry route to purge the AgCl filling from the interior of the SWCNT. (© 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source]

The Effect of Thermal Treatment on the Morphology and Charge Carrier Dynamics in a Polythiophene,Fullerene Bulk Heterojunction,

ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 8 2005
J. Savenije
Abstract The influence of various thermal treatment steps on the morphology and the photoconductive properties of a non-contacted, 50,nm thick blend (50:50,wt.-%) of [6,6]-phenyl C61 -butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) and poly(3-hexyl thiophene) (P3HT) spin-coated from chloroform has been studied using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and the electrodeless time-resolved microwave conductivity technique. After annealing the film for 5,min at 80,°C, TEM images show the formation of crystalline fibrils of P3HT due to a more ordered packing of the polymer chains. The thermal treatment results in a large increase of the photoconductivity, due to an enhancement of the hole mobility in these crystalline P3HT domains from 0.0056,cm2,V,1,s,,1 for the non-annealed sample to 0.044,cm2,V,1,s,,1 for the sample annealed at 80,°C. In contrast, the temporal shape of the photoconductivity, with typical decay half-times, ,1/2, of 1,,s for the lowest excitation intensities, is unaffected by the temperature treatment. Further annealing of the sample at 130,°C results in the formation of three different substructures within the heterojunction: a PCBM:P3HT blend with PCBM-rich clusters, a region depleted of PCBM, and large PCBM single crystals. Only a minor increase in the amplitude, but a tenfold rise of the decay time of the photoconductivity, is observed. This is explained by the formation of PCBM-rich clusters and large PCBM single crystals, resulting in an increased diffusional escape probability for mobile charge carriers and hence reduced recombination. [source]

Measurement of stain on extracted teeth using spectrophotometry and digital image analysis

Inactivation of Salmonella enterica serovar enteritidis in shell eggs by sequential application of heat and ozone

LETTERS IN APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 6 2008
J.J. Perry
Abstract Aims:, To assess the contribution of ozone to lethality of Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis in experimentally inoculated whole shell eggs that are sequentially treated with heat and gaseous ozone in pilot-scale equipment. Methods and Results:, Whole shell eggs were inoculated with small populations of Salmonella Enteritidis (8·5 × 104,2·4 × 105 CFU per egg) near the egg vitelline membrane. Eggs were subjected to immersion heating (57°C for 21 min), ozone treatment (vacuum at 67·5 kPa, followed by ozonation at a maximum concentration of approx. 140 g ozone m,3 and 184,198 kPa for 40 min) or a combination of both treatments. Survivors were detected after an enrichment process or enumerated using modified most probable number technique. Ozone, heat and combination treatments inactivated 0·11, 3·1 and 4·2 log Salmonella Enteritidis per egg, respectively. Conclusions:, Sequential application of heat and gaseous ozone was significantly more effective than either heat or ozone alone. The demonstrated synergy between these treatment steps should produce safer shell eggs than the heat treatment alone. Significance and Impact of the Study:, Shell eggs are the most common vehicle for human infection by Salmonella Enteritidis. Many cases of egg-related salmonellosis are reported annually despite efforts to reduce contamination, including thermal pasteurization of shell eggs and egg products. Treatment with ozone-based combination should produce shell eggs safer than those treated with heat alone. [source]

A prospective study of the time to evacuate acute subdural and extradural haematomas,

ANAESTHESIA, Issue 3 2009
D. Bulters
Summary We performed a prospective, single-centre study of times to treatment of patients with life-threatening, traumatic, extra- and subdural haematomas requiring surgical evacuation between May 2006 and May 2007. The mean time to surgical decompression was 5.0 h and 32% were performed within 4 h. Patients who initially presented to a district hospital and required transfer for neurosurgery were decompressed in 5.4 h vs 3.7 h for those admitted directly. The current standard of surgical evacuation of all haematomas within 4 h is not being met. Delays were identified in every stage in the management of these patients and no single step was identified as the major cause. Initial treatment in district hospitals led to delays greater than the added driving time. There may be time savings from carrying out treatment steps in parallel instead of in series. [source]