Acute effects of an isometric neck warm-up programme on neck performance characteristics and ultrasound-based morphology.

Objective: Athletic performance can be enhanced immediately after an isometric warm-up, a phenomenon termed post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE). While isometric warm-ups can improve lower extremity sprint and jump performance, neck-specific isometric warm-ups need development and validation for mild traumatic brain disorders and neck pain. This study examined acute effects of isometric warm-ups on neck performance and morphology.

Failed in aging? Queering in living with dementia.

This article explored the ways in which living with dementia brings potentials to queer the concept of "successful aging" and associated notions of being human. Regarding the progressive development of dementia, it can be assumed that people affected, no matter how hard they try, will sooner or later fail to age successfully. They increasingly become a symbol of what is called the "fourth age" and are framed as an essentialized other.

MOF-Derived Defective CoO Nanosheets in Carbon Nitride Nanocomposites for CO Photoreduction and H Production.

In photocatalysis, especially in CO reduction and H production, the development of multicomponent nanomaterials provides great opportunities to tune many critical parameters toward increased activity. This work reports the development of tunable organic/inorganic heterojunctions comprised of cobalt oxides (CoO) of varying morphology and modified carbon nitride (CN), targeting on optimizing their response under UV-visible irradiation. MOF structures were used as precursors for the synthesis of CoO.

The role of the gold-platinum interface in AuPt/TiO-catalyzed plasmon-induced reduction of CO with water.

Bimetallic gold-platinum nanoparticles have been widely studied in the fields of nanoalloys, catalysis and plasmonics. Many preparation methods can lead to the formation of these bimetallic nanoparticles (NPs), and the structure and related properties of the nanoalloy often depend on the preparation method used. Here we investigate the ability of thermal dimethylformamide (DMF) reduction to prepare bimetallic gold-platinum sub-nm clusters supported on titania.

Titania-Carbon Nitride Interfaces in Gold-Catalyzed CO Oxidation.

Gold-catalyzed CO oxidation is a reaction of both practical and fundamental interest. In particular, rate-determining oxygen activation pathways have attracted a lot of attention. They have been found to depend on the surface chemistry of the catalyst support, titania providing the most active catalysts and carbon nitride leading to inactive catalysts.

Antibacterial and Biofilm-Preventive Photocatalytic Activity and Mechanisms on P/F-Modified TiO Coatings.

Photocatalytic antibacterial and biofilm-preventive activity in liquid of heavy-metal-free coatings based on a phosphorus (P)- and fluorine (F)-modified TiO photocatalyst has been investigated. They reveal significantly higher immediate and longer-term (biofilm-preventive) inactivation capacity than a reference coating made of the commercial photocatalyst TiO P25 on three bacterial species differing in cell wall type and ability to resist oxidative stress (, , ) (up to more than 99% reduction of colonization on P/F-modified TiO coating compared to about 50% on P25 TiO coating for 10 min UV-A illumination). This results from the P- and F-induced improvement of photocatalyst properties and from the smoother surface topography, which shortens reactive oxygen species (ROS) diffusion to the outer membrane of the targeted adhered bacteria.

Double side nanostructuring of microcantilever sensors with TiO-NTs as a route to enhance their sensitivity.

We reported a new strategy to enhance the sensing performances of a commercial microcantilever with optical readout in dynamic mode for the vapor detection of organophosphorus compounds (OPs). In order to increase significantly the surface area accessible to the molecules in the vapor phase, we nanostructured both sides of the microcantilever with ordered, open and vertically oriented amorphous titanium dioxide nanotubes (TiO2-NTs) in one step by an anodization method. However, due to the aggressive conditions of anodization synthesis it remains a real challenge to nanostructure both sides of the microcantilever.

Functionalized TiO Nanorods on a Microcantilever for the Detection of Organophosphorus Chemical Agents in Air.

We report the fabrication of nanostructured microcantilevers employed as sensors for the detection of organophosphorus (OPs) vapors. These micromechanical sensors are prepared using a two-step procedure first optimized on a silicon wafer. TiO one-dimensional nanostructures are synthesized at a silicon surface by a solvothermal method and then grafted with bifunctional molecules having an oxime group known for its strong affinity with organophosphorus compounds.

Plasmonic photocatalysis applied to solar fuels.

The induction of chemical processes by plasmonic systems is a rapidly growing field with potentially many strategic applications. One of them is the transformation of solar energy into chemical fuel by the association of plasmonic metal nanoparticles (M NPs) and a semi-conductor (SC). When the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) and the SC absorption do not match, one limitation of these systems is the efficiency of hot electron transfer from M NPs to SC through the Schottky barrier formed at the M NP/SC interfaces.

Wide band gap GaO as efficient UV-C photocatalyst for gas-phase degradation applications.

α, β, γ, and δ polymorphs of 4.6-4.8 eV wide band gap GaO photocatalysts were prepared via a soft chemistry route.

One-pot synthesis of lightly doped Zn Cu O and Au-Zn Cu O with solar light photocatalytic activity in liquid phase.

We report on the facile and low-temperature one-pot chemical synthesis of lightly doped Zn Cu O and hybrid Au-Zn Cu O photocatalysts with low Cu molar content (0 < x < 0.7%) using 1,3-propanediol polyol simultaneously as solvent, reducing and a stabilizing agent, without any final thermal treatment. The photocatalysts have been characterized by X-ray diffraction, N adsorption study, UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy.

Layer-by-Layer Photocatalytic Assembly for Solar Light-Activated Self-Decontaminating Textiles.

Novel photocatalytic nanomaterials that can be used to functionalize textiles, conferring to them efficient solar-light-activated properties for the decontamination of toxic and lethal agents, are described. Textiles functionalized with one-dimensional (1D) SnS-based nanomaterials were used for photocatalytic applications for the first time. We showed that 1D SnS/TiO nanocomposites can be easily and strongly affixed onto textiles using the layer-by-layer deposition method.

Single-Step Synthesis of SnS₂ Nanosheet-Decorated TiO₂ Anatase Nanofibers as Efficient Photocatalysts for the Degradation of Gas-Phase Diethylsulfide.

We report on a facile one-step soft hydrothermal process for synthesizing 1D anatase TiO2 nanofibers decorated with ultrathin SnS2 nanosheets. H-titanate nanofibers were used as preshaped Ti precursor. Under controlled conditions, the H-titanate structure was transformed into anatase maintaining the fibril morphology, while at the same time SnS2 nanosheets were grown in situ on the surface of the nanofibers.

Effect of ball-milling and Fe-/Al-doping on the structural aspect and visible light photocatalytic activity of TiO2 towards Escherichia coli bacteria abatement.

Escherichia coli abatement was studied in liquid phase under visible light in the presence of two commercial titania photocatalysts, and of Fe- and Al-doped titania samples prepared by high energy ball-milling. The two commercial titania photocatalysts, Aeroxide P25 (Evonik industries) exhibiting both rutile and anatase structures and MPT625 (Ishihara Sangyo Kaisha), a Fe-, Al-, P- and S-doped titania exhibiting only the rutile phase, are active suggesting that neither the structure nor the doping is the driving parameter. Although the MPT625 UV-visible spectrum is shifted towards the visible domain with respect to the P25 one, the effect on bacteria is not increased.

TiO2 photocatalysis damages lipids and proteins in Escherichia coli.

This study investigates the mechanisms of UV-A (315 to 400 nm) photocatalysis with titanium dioxide (TiO2) applied to the degradation of Escherichia coli and their effects on two key cellular components: lipids and proteins. The impact of TiO2 photocatalysis on E. coli survival was monitored by counting on agar plate and by assessing lipid peroxidation and performing proteomic analysis.

H₂S photocatalytic oxidation over WO₃/TiO₂ Hombikat UV100.

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a toxic, corrosive and malodorous compound with damaging effects even when present at a low concentration in air. Consequently, the development of efficient and environmentally friendly remediation technologies as an alternative to conventional techniques is justified for environmental reasons and public concern over human health and well-being. In the context of indoor air quality control, the use of photocatalysis over semi-conductor oxides could be a valuable alternative purification technology due to its wide-ranging effect and its easy way of implementation.

Chemistry of NOx on TiO2 Surfaces Studied by Ambient Pressure XPS: Products, Effect of UV Irradiation, Water, and Coadsorbed K(.).

Self-cleaning surfaces containing TiO2 nanoparticles have been postulated to efficiently remove NOx from the atmosphere. However, UV irradiation of NOx adsorbed on TiO2 also was shown to form harmful gas-phase byproducts such as HONO and N2O that may limit their depolluting potential. Ambient pressure XPS was used to study surface and gas-phase species formed during adsorption of NO2 on TiO2 and subsequent UV irradiation at λ = 365 nm.

TiO2/β-SiC foam-structured photoreactor for continuous wastewater treatment.

Introduction: This study of photocatalytic degradation of wastewater was carried out in alveolar cell β-SiC foam-structured photocatalytic reactors working in a recirculation mode. The immobilization of TiO2 on β-SiC foams was efficiently obtained through a sol-gel technique in acidic conditions.

Discussion: In order to optimize degradation yields obtained by the foam-structured prototype reactor for the photocatalytic water treatment, the operating conditions of the photoreactor have been investigated and the efficiency of the process was evaluated by measuring the photocatalytic degradation of Diuron (3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethyl-urea)) under UV irradiation.

On the use of capillary cytometry for assessing the bactericidal effect of TiO2. Identification and involvement of reactive oxygen species.

The photocatalytic antimicrobial properties of TiO2 were studied on Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacterial strains taken as model strains for pathogenic species mainly implied in nosocomial infections. Capillary cytometry, coupled to a double-staining method for visualizing membrane integrity as a cell viability indicator, was highlighted as a rapid, easy-to-use, and automated numeration technique for quantitative and reproducible determination of cellular viability and thus, was able to give an accurate evaluation of the bactericidal effect of UV-A photocatalysis. Cytometry also enabled the study of TiO2-bacteria interactions and aggregation in the dark as well as TiO2 cytotoxicity.

Synthesis of transparent vertically aligned TiO2 nanotubes on a few-layer graphene (FLG) film.

Novel transparent 1D-TiO(2)/few-layer graphene electrodes are realised by the anodic growth of vertically aligned TiO(2) nano-tubes on a few-layer graphene film coated on a glass substrate.

Photocatalytically active polyelectrolyte/nanoparticle films for the elimination of a model odorous gas.

Virtually transparent films of Aeroxide TiO(2) P25 were fabricated via layer-by-layer assembly with sodium poly(styrene sulfonate). Nanoscale films are formed on model surfaces for characterization or inside of cylindrical reactors for investigating the catalytic properties. Films are fairly homogeneous and smooth over large areas and show different optical interference colors depending on film thickness.

Enhanced CO photocatalytic oxidation in the presence of humidity by tuning composition of Pd-Pt bimetallic nanoparticles supported on TiO2.

Here we put forward for the first time that the negative effect of humidity on CO photooxidation at room temperature can be overcome by adjusting the composition of Pd-Pt bimetallic particles supported on TiO(2). Consequently, optimized Pd(x)Pt(1-x)/TiO(2) materials can be considered as common and efficient photocatalysts for simultaneous elimination of CO and VOCs in the presence of humidity, i.e.