Inactivation of microorganisms by low-frequency high-power ultrasound: 1. Effect of growth phase and capsule properties of the bacteria

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of high-intensity low-frequency (20 kHz) ultrasound treatment on the viability of bacteria suspension. More specifically, we have investigated the relationship between the deactivation efficiency and the physical (size, hydrophobicity) and biological (gram-status, growth phase) properties of the microbes. Enterobacter aerogenes, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus epidermidis, S. epidermidis SK and Staphylococcus pseudintermedius were chosen for this study owing to their varying physical and biological properties. The survival ratio of the bacteria suspension was measured as a function of the ultrasound power (up to 13 W) for a constant sonication time of 20 min. Transmission electron microscopy was used to evaluate the ultrasound-induced damages to the microbes. Ultrasound treatment resulted in lethal damage to E. aerogenes and B. subtilis (up to 4.5-log reduction), whereas Staphylococcus spp. were not affected noticeably. Further, E. aerogenes suspensions were more sensitive to ultrasonication in exponential growth phase than when they were in stationary phase. The results of this study demonstrate that the main reason for bacterial resistance to ultrasonic deactivation is due to the properties of the bacterial capsule. Microbes with a thicker and “soft” capsule are highly resistant to ultrasonic deactivation process.     

Effects of swimming associated with risedronate in osteopenic bones: An experimental study with ovariectomized rats

Physical activity and risedronate sodium have effects on metabolic bone diseases, maintaining the integrity of bone tissue. Our objective was to evaluate the effects of swimming associated with risedronate as a prophylactic means in osteopenic bone of ovariectomized rats. A total of 24 animals of the Wistar strain were used and separated into four groups containing six animals: Ovariectomy (OVX), ovariectomy and swimming (OVXS), ovariectomy and risedronate (OVXM), ovariectomy, risedronate and swimming (OVXMS). The effectiveness of the treatments were evaluated using the tibia by means of biomechanical, radiographic, histomorphometric analyzes. Statistical analysis was performed by the non-parametric Kruskal–Wallis test (p < 0.05). The OVXM and OVXMS groups showed higher values ​​compared to OVX in maximum strength and rigidity. Microscopic analysis showed increased trabecular bone in the OVXM group in relation to the others, and in the OVXMS compared to OVXS. Proximal densitometry in the OVXM and OVXMS groups showed higher values than the OVX and OVXS groups. There were no significant differences in overall densitometry. In conclusion, when comparing the prophylactic means, risedronate was able to preserve bone mass significantly, unlike exercise where an improvement of bone tissue was observed, although not significant, and when swimming and risedronate are combined the result was even better.     

InGaN: An overview of the growth kinetics,physical properties and emission mechanisms

This article reviews the fundamental properties of InGaN materials. The growth kinetics associated with the growth parameters, such as growth temperatures, V/III ratios, and growth rates which influence the quality of the InGaN epilayers, are briefly described. An overview of the properties of the InGaN alloys, such as the optical, structural and electrical characteristics, is presented. The design and fabrication of novel optoelectronic device structures require an accurate knowledge of the band gap as a function of alloy composition; therefore, attention is paid to Vegard’s law and the bowing parameter; in addition, the major factors leading to the uncertainties of the bowing parameter of InGaN are addressed. Apart from that, the determination of indium composition by X-ray diffraction (XRD) using different assumptions and various equations are summarized. The erroneous measurements of the indium composition by using this technique are also described. Finally, different emission mechanisms of the strained InGaN quantum wells proposed by different groups of researchers are also discussed.     

Superior selectivity of high-frequency ultrasound toward chorine containing-pharmaceuticals elimination in urine: A comparative study with other oxidation processes through the elucidation of the degradation pathways

This work considered the sonochemical degradation (using a bath-type reactor, at 375 kHz and 106.3 W L^-1, 250 mL of sample) of three representative halogenated pharmaceuticals (cloxacillin, diclofenac, and losartan) in urine matrices. The action route of the process was initially established. Then, the selectivity of the sonochemical system, to degrade the target pharmaceuticals in simulated fresh urine was compared with electrochemical oxidation (using a BDD anode, at 1.88 mA cm⁻²), and UVC/H₂O₂ (at 60 W of light and 500 mol L^-1 of H₂O₂). Also, the treatment of cloxacillin in an actual urine sample by ultrasound and UVC/H₂O₂ was evaluated. More than 90% of the target compounds concentration, in the simulated matrix, was removed after 60 min of sonication. However, the sono-treatment of cloxacillin in the real sample was less efficient than in the synthetic urine. The ultrasonic process achieved 43% of degradation after 90 min of treatment in the actual matrix. In the sonochemical system, hydroxyl radicals in the interfacial zone were the main degrading agents. Meanwhile, in the electrochemical process, electrogenerated HOCl was responsible for the elimination of pharmaceuticals. In turn, in UVC/H₂O₂ both direct photolysis and hydroxyl radicals degraded the target pollutants. Interestingly, the degradation by ultrasound of the pharmaceuticals in synthetic fresh urine was very close to the observed in distilled water. Indeed, the sonodegradation had a higher selectivity than the other two processes. Despite the sono-treatment of cloxacillin was affected by the actual matrix components, this contrasts with the UVC/H₂O₂, which was completely inhibited in the real urine. The sonochemical process led to 100% of antimicrobial activity (AA) elimination after 75 min sonication in the synthetic urine, and ∼ 20% of AA was diminished after 90 min of treatment in the real matrix. The AA decreasing was linked to the transformations of the penicillin nucleus on cloxacillin, the region most prone to electrophilic attacks by radicals according to a density theory functional analysis. Finally, predictions of biological activity confirmed that the sono-treatment decreased the activity associated with cloxacillin, diclofenac, and losartan, highlighting the positive environmental impact of degradation of chlorinated pharmaceuticals in urine.     

Tuning the coercive field of Ni and CuNi thin films with the embedding of Co nanoparticles: An element-specific study

Cobalt nanoparticles have been embedded either within magnetic thin films of CuNi or Ni, or at their interface with an Al capping layer. Soft X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) was used to measure element-specific hysteresis loops, allowing discrimination between the nanoparticles and the host film. The hysteresis shows coupling between the nanoparticles and the films and a reduction in coercivity is observed when positioning the nanoparticles within the film, as opposed to at its interface with the cap. Sum rule analysis of the XMCD spectra makes it possible to determine the orbital to spin moment ratios for Co and Ni in the samples. The difference in the calculated ratios is consistent with the differences in the coercivities, the films appearing more homogenous due to hybridization of the 3d bands of Co and Ni when the nanoparticles are embedded deeper within the films, creating less pinning sites and hence a lower coercivity.