A novel route to estimate the photocatalytic activity of titanium dioxide via voltage measurements.

Titanium dioxide is known as a photocatalyst, that may be activated by UV-A light and thus be able to lead to chemical reactions, to mineralize organic compounds, to inactivate biomolecules and to kill microorganisms, respectively. To estimate the capability of the photocatalytic activity a novel experimental setup using photovoltage measurements was studied. A distinct correlation between the photocatalytic activity of the titanium dioxide samples and the measurable photovoltages could be demonstrated.

Technical and clinical performance of the thermo-test device "Q-Sense" to assess small fibre function: A head-to-head comparison with the "Thermal Sensory Analyzer" TSA in diabetic patients and healthy volunteers.

Background: Thermo-test devices are rarely used outside specialized pain centres because of high acquisition costs. Recently, a new, portable device ("Q-Sense") was introduced, which is less expensive but has reduced cooling capacity (20°C). We assessed the reliability/validity of the "Q-Sense" by comparing it with the Thermal Sensory Analyzer (TSA).

New approaches for automatic threedimensional source localization of acoustic emissions--Applications to concrete specimens.

The task of locating a source in space by measuring travel time differences of elastic or electromagnetic waves from the source to several sensors is evident in varying fields. The new concepts of automatic acoustic emission localization presented in this article are based on developments from geodesy and seismology. A detailed description of source location determination in space is given with the focus on acoustic emission data from concrete specimens.

Inactivation of LPS and RNase A on photocatalytically active surfaces.

TiO(2) coated surfaces are able to generate highly reactive oxidizing species under mild UV-A light exposure in the presence of water and oxygen. We have demonstrated that these radicals are sufficient to eliminate different pathogenic bacteria, by breaking their cell walls. The photocatalytic activity of surfaces coated with titanium dioxide offers therefore an alternative possibility of disinfection.

Strategies for reliable automatic onset time picking of acoustic emissions and of ultrasound signals in concrete.

Determining the onset of transient signals like seismograms, acoustic emissions or ultrasound signals is very time consuming if the onset is picked manually. Therefore, different approaches exist, especially in seismology. The concepts of the most popular approaches are summarized.