Sucrose-mediated formation and adhesion strength of biofilms on titanium.

Biofilms consist of bacterial cells surrounded by a matrix of extracellular polymeric substance (EPS), which protects the colony from many countermeasures, including antibiotic treatments. Growth and formation of bacterial biofilms are affected by nutrients available in the environment. In the oral cavity, the presence of sucrose affects the growth of that produce acids that erode enamel and form dental caries.

Exploring microwave irradiation as a method to disinfect contact lens cases.

Purpose: Biofilm formation caused by infrequent contact lens case replacement and the ineffectiveness of multi-purpose solutions (MPS) on biofilm removal is associated with high rates of bacterial keratitis infections. This study demonstrated biofilm elimination from the contact lens case by microwave irradiation.

Methods: Staphylococcus aureus biofilms indicative of 3-9 months of contact wear were cultured in contact lens cases and visualized with crystal violet (CV) staining.

Evolution of the Laser-Induced Spallation Technique in Film Adhesion Measurement.

Laser-induced spallation is a process in which a stress wave generated from a rapid, high-energy laser pulse initiates the ejection of surface material opposite the surface of laser impingement. Through knowledge of the stress-wave amplitude that causes film separation, the adhesion and interfacial properties of a film-on-substrate system are determined. Some advantages of the laser spallation technique are the noncontact loading, development of large stresses (on the order of GPa), and high strain rates, up to 10/s.

The effect of surface roughness on laser-induced stress wave propagation.

We investigate laser-induced acoustic wave propagation through smooth and roughened titanium-coated glass substrates. Acoustic waves are generated in a controlled manner via the laser spallation technique. Surface displacements are measured during stress wave loading by the alignment of a Michelson-type interferometer.

Biofilm rupture by laser-induced stress waves increases with loading amplitude, independent of location.

Integral to the production of safe and biocompatible medical devices is to determine the interfacial properties that affect or control strong biofilm adhesion. The laser spallation technique has recently emerged as an advantageous method to quantify biofilm adhesion across candidate biomedical surfaces. However, there is a possibility that membrane tension is a factor that contributes to the stress required to separate biofilm and substrate.

Stress impacts sensory variability through cortical sensory activity motifs.

Medically unexplained symptoms in depression are common. These individual-specific complaints are often considered an 'idiom of distress', yet animal studies suggest that cortical sensory representations are flexible and influenced by spontaneous cortical activity. We hypothesized that stress would reveal activity dynamics in somatosensory cortex resulting in greater sensory-evoked response variability.

An Automated Home-Cage System to Assess Learning and Performance of a Skilled Motor Task in a Mouse Model of Huntington's Disease.

Behavioral testing is a critical step in assessing the validity of rodent models of neurodegenerative disease, as well as evaluating the efficacy of pharmacological interventions. In models of Huntington's disease (HD), a gradual progression of impairments is observed across ages, increasing the need for sensitive, high-throughput and longitudinal assessments. Recently, a number of automated systems have been developed to perform behavioral profiling of animals within their own home-cage, allowing for 24-h monitoring and minimizing experimenter interaction.