Chemiluminescence as a PDT light source for microbial control

The photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a combination of using a photosensitizer agent, light and oxygen that can cause oxidative cellular damage. This technique is applied in several cases, including for microbial control. The most extensively studied light sources for this purpose are lasers and LED-based systems. Few studies treat alternative light sources based PDT. Sources which present flexibility, portability and economic advantages are of great interest. In this study, we evaluated the in vitro feasibility for the use of chemiluminescence as a PDT light source to induce Staphylococcus aureus reduction. The Photogem? concentration varied from 0 to 75 μg/ml and the illumination time varied from 60 min to 240 min.The long exposure time was necessary due to the low irradiance achieved with chemiluminescence reaction at μW/cm2 level. The results demonstrated an effective microbial reduction of around 98% for the highest photosensitizer concentration and light dose. These data suggest the potential use of chemiluminescence as a light source for PDT microbial control, with advantages in terms of flexibility, when compared with conventional sources.     

Measurement of the tungsten ion concentration after forcedextinction of a vacuum arc

The concentrations of singly ionized and neutral tungsten atoms were measured by laser-induced fluorescence after the forced extinction of vacuum arcs between tungsten-copper butt contacts, 28-mm in diam. and 10-mm apart. The 50-Hz current was forced to zero at its maximum of 200 A in 1.3 μs by application of a reverse voltage. Near current zero, the ion concentration of 4×10¹⁷ m^-3 is of the same order of magnitude as the atomic tungsten concentration, which is 6×10¹⁷ m^-3. While the concentration of the neutrals remains virtually constant during 20 μs after current zero, the ion concentration decays by three orders of magnitude in the same time. The decay-time constant varies from 1.9 μs close to the postarc cathode to 3.6 μs near the postarc anode. It is concluded that the dielectric recovery of vacuum gaps after diffuse arcs is mainly controlled by residual charge carriers     

Avoiding infeasibility in DEA models with weight restrictions

The flexibility of weights assigned to inputs and outputs is a key aspect of DEA modeling. However, excessive weight variability and implausible weight values have led to the development of DEA models that incorporate weight restrictions, reflecting expert judgment. This in turn has created problems of infeasibility of the corresponding linear programs. We provide an existence theorem that establishes feasibility conditions for DEA multiplier programs with weight restrictions. We then propose a linear model that tests for feasibility and a nonlinear model that provides minimally acceptable adjustments to the original restrictions that render the program feasible. The analysis can be applied to restrictions on weight ratios, or to restrictions on virtual inputs or outputs.     

Isolation and identification of the thermolabile products of an allene-acetylene-isomerization by high-speed-liquid-chromatography (HSLC)

Summary The thermolabile isomeric acetylenes and allenes were separated from reaction mixtures of the base-catalysed isomerisation of 1,1-diethoxy-hexa-2,5-diyne by preparative HSLC in milligram to gram amounts. This allows a fast and reliable identification by spectroscopic methods. By using fine particle silica (5 m) for both separations, the analytical one on small columns and the preparative separation on columns with large diameters, the analytical conditions of separation may be transferred to the preparative scale without any difficulty.

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Isolierung und Identifizierung thermolabiler Reaktionsprodukte einer Allen-Acetylen-Umlagerung mit der schnellen Flüssigkeits-Chromatographie (HSLC)

Zusammenfassung Die thermolabilen isomeren Acetylene und Allene lassen sich aus Reaktionsgemischen der basenkatalysierten Umlagerung von 1,1-Diäthoxyhexa-2,5-diin durch präparative HSLC leicht und ohne Sekundärreaktionen in ausreichender Menge für eine anschließende sichere spektroskopische Identifizierung im Milligramm- bis Grammbereich trennen. Bei Verwendung von feinkörnigem Kieselgel (5 m) kann die an analytischen Säulen ausgearbeitete Trennung problemlos auf präparativen Maßstab übertragen werden.

     

A minimax theorem on circuits in projective graphs

A minimax theorem is proved. The theorem concerns packing non-separating circuits in eulerian graphs embedded in the projective plane. The proof includes a polynomial algorithm which produces a collection of edge-disjoint, non-separating circuits of the same cardinality as a transversal of such circuits.     

Measurement of the temperature of evaporating macroparticles aftercurrent zero of vacuum arcs

The concentration of copper and chromium vapor after current zero of vacuum arcs between chromium-copper contacts was measured simultaneously by the atomic-absorption technique. Temperatures between 1900 K and 2200 K were derived from the absorption data, assuming that the ratio of concentrations of copper and chromium vapor is equal to the ratio of vapor pressures at a given temperature. The temperatures obtained in this way were assigned to droplets of molten contact material evaporating in flight     

Increased viability of odontoblast-like cells subjected to low-level laser irradiation

Studies have shown that the increase of cell metabolism depends on the low level laser therapy (LLLT) parameters used to irradiate the cells. However, the optimal laser dose to up-regulate pulp cell activity remains unknown. Consequently, the aim of this study was to evaluate the metabolic response of odontoblast-like cells (MDPC-23) exposed to different LLLT doses. Cells at 20000 cells/cm² were seeded in 24-well plates using plain culture medium (DMEM) and were incubated in a humidified incubator with 5% CO₂ at 37°C. After 24 h, the culture medium was replaced by fresh DMEM supplemented with 5% (stress by nutritional deficit) or 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS). The cells were exposed to different laser doses from a near infrared diode laser prototype designed to provide a uniform irradiation of the wells. The experimental groups were: G1: 1.5 J/cm² + 5% FBS; G2: 1.5 J/cm² + 10% FBS; G3: 5 J/cm² + 5% FBS; G4: 5 J/cm² + 10% FBS; G5: 19 J/cm² + 5% FBS; G6: 19 J/cm² + 10% FBS. LLLT was performed in 3 consecutive irradiation cycles with a 24-hour interval. Non-irradiated cells cultured in DMEM supplemented with either 5 or 10% FBS served as control groups. The analysis of the metabolic response was performed by the MTT assay 3 h after the last irradiation. G1 presented an increase in SDH enzyme activity and differed significantly (Mann-Whitney test, p < 0.05) from the other groups. Analysis by scanning electron microscopy showed normal cell morphology in all groups. Under the tested conditions, LLLT stimulated the metabolic activity of MDPC-23 cultured in DMEM supplemented with 5% FBS and exposed to a laser dose of 1.5 J/cm². These findings are relevant for further studies on the action of near infrared lasers on cells with odontoblast phenotype.     

Holomorphic rank of hypersurfaces with an isolated singularity

LetV be a germ at 0 C ²,n3, of hypersurface with an isolated singularity at 0. In this paper we prove that the maximal number of germs of vector fields inV ^*=V–0, which are linearly independent in all points ofV ^* is two. In the casesn=3,4 and of quasi homogeneous hypersurfaces (n3), we prove that this number is one.Dedicated to the memory of R. MañéThis research was partially supported by Pronex.