Preparation and characterization of poly(lactic acid)/poly(methyl methacrylate) blend tablets for application in quantitative analysis by micro Raman spectroscopy

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is a biodegradable polymer that has a variety of applications, one of which is as biomaterial in surgery or as functional layers on implants, due to its compatibility with living tissue. This paper reports the possibilities of quantification of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) in a polymer matrix such as poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) by micro Raman spectroscopy (MRS). Blends of amorphous poly(DL‐lactic acid) with poly(methyl methacrylate) were prepared by the procedure of dissolution/precipitation. Thermal properties of the blends such as the glass transition temperature (Tg) were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The PLA/PMMA blends exhibited only a single glass transition region, indicating that this system is miscible. The PLA/PMMA system obeys the Gordon–Taylor equation (Tg versus PLA content). Various concentration ratios of PLA blends were prepared to use as a basis for quantitative analysis by MRS. Intensities of the characteristic bands at 813 cm⁻¹ (νCOC of PMMA) and 873 cm⁻¹ (νC―COO of PLA) were used for the calculation. The calibration graph showed a good linear correlation with an R² value of 0.9985. On the basis of the calibration curve obtained, the determined content of several PLA/PMMA blends was in good agreement when compared with nominal contents. The limit of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) were calculated by the calibration data set as signal‐to‐noise method. The relative standard deviation of this method was lower than 10% and the accuracy better than 4%. This study demonstrated that Raman spectroscopy provides an alternative non destructive method for quantitative analysis of PLA in a PMMA matrix. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Applications of Approximation Theory to thermographic images in earthquake engineering

In this paper we show some new applications of the approximation theory, by means of the multivariate sampling Kantorovich operators, to thermographic images in seismic engineering. (© 2015 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Sensory and Chemical Characteristic of Two Insect Species: Tenebrio molitor and Zophobas morio Larvae Affected by Roasting Processes

The volatile compounds from insects (Tenebrio molitor and Zophobas morio larvae) roasted at 160, 180, or 200 °C and fed with potato starch or blue corn flour were isolated by solid-phase microextraction (SPME), and identified by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In the tested material, 48 volatile compounds were determined. Among them, eight are pyrazines, aroma compounds that are formed in food products during thermal processing due to the Maillard reaction. Eleven of the identified compounds influenced the roast, bread, fat, and burnt aromas that are characteristic for traditional baked dishes (meat, potatoes, bread). Most of them are carbonyl compounds and pyrazines. To confirm the contribution of the most important odorants identified, their odor potential activity values (OAVs) and %OAV were calculated. The highest value was noted for isobuthylpyrazine, responsible for roast aroma (%OAV > 90% for samples roasted at lower temperatures), and 2,5-dimethylpyrazine, responsible for burnt aroma (%OAV > 20% for samples roasted at the highest temperature). According to the study, the type of feed did not significantly affect the results of the sensory analysis of roasted insects. The decisive influence was the roasting temperature. The highest scores were achieved for Tenebrio molitor larvae heat-treated at 160 °C.     

Interplay between spinodal decomposition and glass formation in proteins exhibiting short-range attractions

We investigate the competition between spinodal decomposition and dynamical arrest using aqueous solutions of the globular protein lysozyme as a model system for colloids with short-range attractions. We show that quenches below a temperature Ta lead to gel formation as a result of a local arrest of the protein-dense phase during spinodal decomposition. The rheological properties of these gels allow us to use centrifugation experiments to determine the local densities of both phases and to precisely locate the gel boundary and the attractive glass line close to and within the unstable region of the phase diagram.     

Detecting and localizing the foci in human epileptic seizures

We consider the electrical signals recorded from a subdural array of electrodes placed on the pial surface of the brain for chronic evaluation of epileptic patients before surgical resection. A simple and computationally fast method to analyze the interictal phase synchrony between such electrodes is introduced and developed with the aim of detecting and localizing the foci of the epileptic seizures. We evaluate the method by comparing the results of surgery to the localization predicted here. We find an indication of good correspondence between the success or failure in the surgery and the agreement between our identification and the regions actually operated on.     

Real-time detection of DNA interactions with long-period fiber-grating-based biosensor

Using an optical biosensor based on a dual-peak long-period fiber grating, we have demonstrated the detection of interactions between biomolecules in real time. Silanization of the grating surface was successfully realized for the covalent immobilization of probe DNA, which was subsequently hybridized with the complementary target DNA sequence. It is interesting to note that the DNA biosensor was reusable after being stripped off the hybridized target DNA from the grating surface, demonstrating a function of multiple usability.     

Interaction in the molten system Rb2O‐P2O5‐TiO2‐NiO. Crystal structure of the langbeinite‐related Rb2Ni0.5Ti1.5(PO4)3

The interaction in the molten system Rb₂O‐P₂O₅‐TiO₂‐NiO was investigated at different molar ratios Rb/P = 0.5‐1.3, fixed Ti/P = 0.15, Ti/Ni = 1.0 at temperature range 1073–953 K. The conditions of formation of complex phosphates RbTi₂(PO₄)₃, Rb₂Ni_0.5Ti_1.5(PO₄)₃ and RbNiPO₄ have been determined. The new phosphate Rb₂Ni_0.5Ti_1.5(PO₄)₃ (space group P2₁3, a = 9.9386(2) Å) has been obtained and investigated by the single crystal X‐ray diffraction and FTIR‐spectroscopy. It has langbeinite‐like structure, that is built up from mixed (Ni/Ti)O₆‐octahedra and РО₄‐tetrahedra. Rubidium atoms are located in closed cavities of 3D‐framework.     

Need for database extension for reliable identification of bacteria from extreme environments using MALDI TOF mass spectrometry

The ability of MALDI TOF MS (matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry) to identify cultivable microflora from two waste disposal sites from non-ferrous metal industry was analysed. Despite the harsh conditions (extreme pH values and heavy metal content in red mud disposal site from aluminium production or high heavy metal content in nickel sludge), relatively high numbers of bacteria were recovered. In both environments, the bacterial community was dominated by Gram-positive bacteria, especially by actinobacteria. High-quality MALDI TOF mass spectra were obtained but most of the bacteria isolates could be not identified using MALDI Biotyper software. The overall identification rate was lower than 20 %; in two of the environments tested identification rates were lower than 10 %. As a dominant bacterial species, Microbacterium spp. in drainage water from an aluminium red mud disposal site near ?iar nad Hronom, Bacillus spp. in red mud samples from the same site, and Arthrobacter spp. from nickel smelter sludge near Sereï were identified by a combination of the Biolog system and 16S rRNA sequence analysis. As the primary focus of the MALDI TOF MS-based methodology is directed towards medically important bacteria, reference database spectra expansion and refinement are needed to improve the ability of MALDI TOF MS to identify environmental bacteria, especially those from extreme environments.