Subharmonic Solutions of a Pendulum Under Vertical Anharmonic Oscillations of the Point of Suspension

We prove the existence of subharmonic solutions in the dynamics of a pendulum whose point of suspension executes a vertical anharmonic oscillation of small amplitude.     

Bacterial Cellulose as a Versatile Biomaterial for Wound Dressing Application

Chronic ulcers are among the main causes of morbidity and mortality due to the high probability of infection and sepsis and therefore exert a significant impact on public health resources. Numerous types of dressings are used for the treatment of skin ulcers-each with different advantages and disadvantages. Bacterial cellulose (BC) has received enormous interest in the cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and medical fields due to its biological, physical, and mechanical characteristics, which enable the creation of polymer composites and blends with broad applications. In the medical field, BC was at first used in wound dressings, tissue regeneration, and artificial blood vessels. This material is suitable for treating various skin diseases due its considerable fluid retention and medication loading properties. BC membranes are used as a temporary dressing for skin treatments due to their excellent fit to the body, reduction in pain, and acceleration of epithelial regeneration. BC-based composites and blends have been evaluated and synthesized both in vitro and in vivo to create an ideal microenvironment for wound healing. This review describes different methods of producing and handling BC for use in the medical field and highlights the qualities of BC in detail with emphasis on biomedical reports that demonstrate its utility. Moreover, it gives an account of biomedical applications, especially for tissue engineering and wound dressing materials reported until date. This review also includes patents of BC applied as a wound dressing material.     

Baseline separation of α and β‐acids homologues and isomers in hop (Humulus lupulus L.) by CD‐MEKC‐UV

An alternative method for simultaneous baseline separation of α and β‐acids homologues and isomers in hop by CD‐MEKC with UV detection was proposed. The optimized background electrolyte was composed of 30 mmol/L sodium tetraborate solution, 45 mmol/L sodium dodecyl sulfate, 20 mmol/L β‐cyclodextrin and 10% v/v acetonitrile. The instrumental conditions were evaluated by using a 3³ Box‐Benhken experimental design. In order to demonstrate the applicability of the method, 21 hop samples from different varieties were analyzed. The repeatability intra‐ and interday tests were performed and relative standard deviations lower than 7% for area and migration times were observed. The present method comprehended 8 min analysis time and revealed to be faster and more efficient when compared to previous reports from literature.     

Determination of cadmium and lead in table salt by sequential multi-element flame atomic absorption spectrometry

In the present paper, a simultaneous pre-concentration procedure for the sequential determination of cadmium and lead in table salt samples using flame atomic absorption spectrometry is proposed. This method is based on the liquid-liquid extraction of cadmium(II) and lead(II) ions as dithizone complexes and direct aspiration of the organic phase for the spectrometer. The sequential determination of cadmium and lead is possible using a computer program. The optimization step was performed by a two-level fractional factorial design involving the variables: pH, dithizone mass, shaking time after addition of dithizone and shaking time after addition of solvent. In the studied levels these variables are not significant. The experimental conditions established propose a sample volume of 250 mL and the extraction process using 4.0 mL of methyl isobutyl ketone. This way, the procedure allows determination of cadmium and lead in table salt samples with a pre-concentration factor higher than 80, and detection limits of 0.3 ng g⁻¹ for cadmium and 4.2 ng g⁻¹ for lead. The precision expressed as relative standard deviation (n = 10) were 5.6 and 2.6% for cadmium concentration of 2 and 20 ng g⁻¹, respectively, and of 3.2 and 1.1% for lead concentration of 20 and 200 ng g⁻¹, respectively. Recoveries of cadmium and lead in several samples, measured by standard addition technique, proved also that this procedure is not affected by the matrix and can be applied satisfactorily for the determination of cadmium and lead in saline samples. The method was applied for the evaluation of the concentration of cadmium and lead in table salt samples consumed in Salvador City, Bahia, Brazil.     

Three‐Electrode‐Integrated Sensor into a Micropipette Tip

This work describes the construction, characterization, and application of a three‐electrode‐integrated sensor into a micropipette tip. The three electrodes (working, pseudoreference and counter) are positioned at the end of a micropipette tip. The working electrode (graphite composite or gold microfiber) is placed inside the micropipette tip and the pseudo‐reference and counter electrodes outside (diametrically opposed sides). This approach is candidate for portable applications and allows the analysis and studies in low‐volume solutions (ca. 10 µL) which are useful for waste minimization and development of clean analytical methods. In addition, the three‐electrode‐integrated sensor can be easy used as detector in flow injection system through its direct joining at the end of polyethylene tubing of the FIA system.     

Tetracycline Potentiometric Sensor Based on Cyclodextrin for Pharmaceuticals and Waste Water Analysis

In this work, the construction and performance evaluation of PVC membranes ion‐selective electrodes for the determination of tetracycline type antibiotics is described. Electrodes with the best responses were based on plastic membranes containing 31% (w/w) PVC, 68% (w/w) of dibutylphthalate as plasticizer and 1% (w/w) of β‐cyclodextrin as ionophore. The electrodes were responsive over 6 months to tetracycline, oxytetracycline, doxycycline and chlortetracycline in glycine buffer solution (pH 2), in the dynamic range 2×10^?5–10^?2 mol L^?1 with a constant slope of about 55 mV/dec To enable large scale analysis reducing wastes as associated costs tubular shape electrodes were coupled to a sequential‐injection analysis system and its performance evaluated using pharmaceutical samples and waste waters from a treatment facility. The sample throughput of 51 samples h^?1 was enabled by the system as well as results that favorably agree with those provided by chromatographic analysis.     

A framework for the development of STR genotyping in domestic animal species: Characterization and population study of 12 canine X‐chromosome loci

This study reports the methodology used to search, select and characterize STR loci on the canine X chromosome using publicly available genome resources and following the current guidelines for human and non‐human forensic testing. After several rounds of selection, 12 X‐STR markers were optimized for simultaneous co‐amplification in a single PCR, and genetic profiles were determined in a sample of 103 unrelated dogs. Mendelian inheritance was verified and mutation rates were assessed using family groups. Alleles that varied in size were sequenced to create a standardized nomenclature proposal based on the number of repeats. All loci conformed to Hardy–Weinberg expectations. The resulting panel showed high forensic efficiency, presenting high values of power of discrimination (in males and females) and mean exclusion chance, both in trios involving female offspring and in duos composed of dam and male offspring. Its use may complement the information obtained by autosomal STR analysis and contribute to the resolution of complex cases of kinship in dogs. The presented methodology for the de novo construction of an STR multiplex may also provide a helpful framework for analogous work in other animal species. As an increasing number of reference genomes become available, convenient tools for individual identification and parentage testing based on STR loci selected from autosomes or sex chromosomes' sequences may be created following this strategy.     

Optical emission spectroscopy diagnostics of an atmospheric pressure direct current microplasma jet

This paper is about the use of optical emission spectroscopy as a diagnostic tool to determine the gas discharge parameters of a direct current (98% Ar–2% H₂) non-thermal microplasma jet, operated at atmospheric pressure. The electrical and optical behaviors were studied to characterize this glow discharge. The microplasma jet was investigated in the normal and abnormal glow regimes, for current ranging from 10 to 130 mA, at ~ 220 V of applied voltage for copper cathode. OH (A ²∑⁺, ν = 0 → X ²Π, ν′ = 0) rotational bands at 306.357 nm and also the 603.213 nm Ar I line, which is sensitive to van der Waals broadening, were used to determine the gas temperature, which ranges from 550 to 800 K. The electron number densities, ranging from 6.0 × 10¹⁴ to 1.4 × 10¹⁵ cm^? 3, were determined through a careful analysis of the main broadening mechanisms of the H_β line. From both 603.213 nm and 565.070 nm Ar I line broadenings, it was possible to obtain simultaneously electron number density and temperature (~ 8000 K). Excitation temperatures were also measured from two methods: from two Cu I lines and from Boltzmann-plot of 4p–4s and 5p–4s Ar I transitions. By employing H_α line, the hydrogen atoms' H temperature was estimated (~ 18,000 K) and found to be surprisingly hotter than the excitation temperature.     

Optical and morphological properties of N-doped TiO2 thin films

Nitrogen doped titanium dioxide (TiO₂) thin films were deposited by RF magnetron sputtering onto various substrates. The films were prepared in plasma of argon, oxygen, and nitrogen, with varying the nitrogen content, from 0% up to 70%. The resulting TiOx–Ny films were found to consist of cubic TiN osbornite and tetragonal TiO₂ rutile phases. Using optical spectroscopy with large spectral range from 350 to 1000 nm, the band gap width was determined and a narrowing of the optical gap from 2.76 to 2.32 eV was observed as a function of the N-content. It was found that the optical properties of the TiOx–Ny layers are influenced by the surface morphology, roughness, surface energy and phase content. The chemical composition, the crystalline structure, the surface morphology and the surface energy were thoroughly studied by the Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS), grazing-angle XRD, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and contact angle measurements (wettability), respectively.