Corrigendum to “Tail behaviour of the busy period of a GI/GI/1 queue with subexponential service times” [Stochastic Process. Appl. 111 (2004) 237-258]

The purpose of this note is to correct an error in Baltrunas et al. (2004) [1], and to give a more detailed argument to a formula whose validity has been questioned over the years. These details close a gap in the proof of Theorem 4.1 as originally stated, the validity of which is hereby strengthened.     

The peroxidase/H2O2 system as a free radical-generating agent for gelling maize bran arabinoxylans: rheological and structural properties

The oxidative gelation of maize bran arabinoxylans (MBAX) using a peroxidase/H(2)O(2) system as a free radical-generating agent was investigated. The peroxidase/H(2)O(2) system led to the formation of dimers and trimer of ferulic acid as covalent cross-link structures in the MBAX network. MBAX gels at 4% (w/v) presented a storage modulus of 180 Pa. The structural parameters of MBAX gels were calculated from swelling experiments. MBAX gels presented a molecular weight between two cross-links (Mc), a cross-linking density (ρ(c)) and a mesh size (x) of 49 × 103 g/mol, 30 × 10-6 mol/cm3 and 193 nm, respectively.     

Antimicrobial activity of diterpenes from Viguiera arenaria against endodontic bacteria

Six pimarane-type diterpenes isolated from Viguiera arenaria Baker and two semi-synthetic derivatives were evaluated in vitro against a panel of representative microorganisms responsible for dental root canal infections. The microdilution method was used for the determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) against Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella nigrescens, Prevotella intermedia, Prevotella buccae, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Bacteroides fragilis, Actinomyces naeslundii, Actinomyces viscosus, Peptostreptococcus micros, Enterococcus faecalis and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans. The compounds ent-pimara-8(14),15-dien-19-oic acid, its sodium salt and ent-8(14),15-pimaradien-3β-ol were the most active, displaying MIC values ranging from 1 to 10 μg mL-1. The results also allow us to conclude that minor structural differences among these diterpenes significantly influence their antimicrobial activity, bringing new perspectives to the discovery of new chemicals for use as a complement to instrumental endodontic procedures.     

An XPS investigation on glucose oxidase and Ni/Al hydrotalcite interaction

In this work, a Ni/Al hydrotalcite (HT) was used as glucose oxidase (GOx) immobilizer. Small‐area and angle‐resolved X‐ray photoelectron spectra were recorded on HTs electrosynthesized on Pt in the absence and in the presence of GOx, and compared with those obtained for a Pt surface, modified with the electrosynthesized HT, on which a drop of GOx solution was deposited. The simultaneous electrodeposition of HT + GOx resulted in a compact deposit, thicker than the XPS sampling depth (>10 nm), that is not homogeneous in the lateral and in‐depth composition. The presence of GOx can be deduced comparing the N1s spectra of HT and HT + GOx: in the latter, the N1s component at 400 eV binding energy (BE) is predominant whilst, depending on the analyzed point, a small or no contribution from the component at 407.2 eV, due to nitrate, is revealed. Angle‐resolved XPS provides evidence on the in‐depth composition of anions, cations and GOx. The results highlight the crucial role played by nickel in GOx immobilization. On the basis of the results, it can be suggested that enzyme activity is unevenly distributed and is localized in small areas, where Ni concentration is higher. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An alternative paper based tissue washing method for mass spectrometry imaging: localized washing and fragile tissue analysis

Surface treatment of biological tissue sections improves detection of peptides and proteins for mass spectrometry imaging. However, liquid surface treatments can result in diffusion of surface analytes and fragile tissue sections can be easily damaged by typical washing solvents. Here, we present a new surface washing procedure for mass spectrometry imaging. This procedure uses solvent wetted fiber-free paper to enable local washing of tissue sections for mass spectrometry imaging and tissue profiling experiments. In addition, the method allows fragile tissues that cannot be treated by conventional washing techniques to be analyzed by mass spectrometry imaging.     

Anti‐Interferent Properties of Oxidized Nickel Based on Layered Double Hydroxide in Glucose Amperometric Biosensors

An amperometric biosensor based on Pt electrodes modified with a thin film of a Ni, Al layered double hydroxide (LDH), submitted to a preliminary oxidative treatment in order to have the nickel centers at the oxidation state +4, and glucose oxidase (GOx) is presented. The oxidized LDH acts both as a system to support the enzyme and as a barrier to anions since it acquires an overall negative charge, as demonstrated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Even if the biosensor response is due to the detection of H₂O₂ at anodic potentials, glucose can be accurately determined in the presence of ascorbic acid or other interferences, commonly present in real matrices in anionic form, since they can not reach the electrode surface. The effectiveness of the developed biosensor has been demonstrated by measuring glucose in samples of fruit juices containing ascorbic acid at high levels.     

The physicochemical and biological properties of zinc(II) complexes

Spectroscopic (IR), thermoanalytical (TG/DTG, DTA) and biological methods were applied to investigate physicochemical and biological properties of seven zinc(II) complex compounds of the following formula Zn(HCOO)₂·2H₂O (I), Zn(HCOO)₂·tph (II), Zn(CH₃COO)₂·2H₂O (III), Zn(CH₃COO)₂·tph (IV), Zn(CH₃COO)₂·2phen (V), Zn(CH₃CH₂COO)₂·2H₂O (VI), Zn(CH₃CH₂CH₂COO)₂·2H₂O (VII), where tph=theophylline, phen=phenazone. The formation of various intermediates during thermal decomposition suggests the dependence on the length of aliphatic carboxylic chain and type of N-donor ligand (tph, phen). The final product of the thermal decomposition was ZnO. The antimicrobial activity of these complexes were tested against G⁺ and G^– bacteria. Strong inhibitive effect was observed towards E. coli, salmonellae and Staph. aureus.     

The environment controlled effect of thiacalix[4]arene on the transition thermodynamics and kinetics of bovine serum albumin

Complexation ability of water-soluble thiacalix[4]arene-tetrasulfonate towards three aromatic amino acids (Phenylalanine, Tyrosine and Tryptophane) was studied in water–ethanol mixtures by photoluminescence (PL) method as a function of the ethanol content of the bulk solutions. Job’s method followed by the application of the van’t Hoff theory was used to determine the thermodynamic parameters of the molecular association. Results show quite different thermodynamics of formation of calixarene–amino acid complexes at low and higher ethanol content of the solutions. The considerable stability of the individual calixarene–aromatic amino acids complexes supports their existence also in the case when the amino acids are in a protein. To test this idea the conversion rate, enthalpy and entropy change associated to the structural transition of BSA (bovine serum albumin) were investigated by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) in the absence and in the presence of calixarene. Results show that presence of calixarene changes significantly both the thermodynamics and the kinetics of the transition of BSA and the information collected for the individual calixarene–amino acid complexes gives insights about the possible processes at molecular level.     

All‐in‐One Cellulose Nanocrystals for 3D Printing of Nanocomposite Hydrogels

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) with >2000 photoactive groups on each can act as highly efficient initiators for radical polymerizations, cross‐linkers, as well as covalently embedded nanofillers for nanocomposite hydrogels. This is achieved by a simple and reliable method for surface modification of CNCs with a photoactive bis(acyl)phosphane oxide derivative. Shape‐persistent and free‐standing 3D structured objects were printed with a mono‐functional methacrylate, showing a superior swelling capacity and improved mechanical properties.     

Microstructure and surface properties of fibrous and ground cellulosic substrates

Cotton and linen fibers were ground in a ball-mill, and the effect of grinding on the microstructure and surface properties of the fibers was determined by combining a couple of simple tests with powerful techniques of surface and structure analysis. Results clearly proved that the effect of grinding on cotton fiber was much less severe than on linen. For both fibers, the degree of polymerization reduced (by 14.5% and 30.5% for cotton and linen, respectively) with a simultaneous increase in copper number. The increased water sorption capacity of the ground substrates was in good agreement with the X-ray results, which proved a less perfect crystalline structure in the ground samples. Data from XPS and SEM-EDS methods revealed that the concentration of oxygen atoms (bonded especially in acetal and/or carbonyl groups) on the ground surfaces increased significantly, resulting in an increase in oxygen/carbon atomic ratio (XPS data: from 0.11 to 0.14 and from 0.16 to 0.29 for cotton and linen, respectively). Although grinding created new surfaces rich in O atoms, the probable higher energy of the surface could not be measured by IGC, most likely due to the limited adsorption of the n-alkane probes on the less perfect crystalline surfaces.