Enhancing the Extraction Yield from Shiitake Culinary-Medicinal Mushroom, Lentinus edodes (Agaricomycetes), by Pulsed Electric Fields Treatment.

Medicinal mushrooms contain highly valuable substances with proven positive effects on human health. To extract these components, different methods are available. Most of them suffer from individual disadvantages, therefore making them economically unviable.

Cylindrospermopsin is effectively degraded in water by pulsed corona-like and dielectric barrier discharges.

Cylindrospermopsin (CYN) is an important cyanobacterial toxin posing a major threat to surface waters during cyanobacterial blooms. Hence, methods for cyanotoxin removal are required to confront seasonal or local incidences to sustain the safety of potable water reservoirs. Non-thermal plasmas provide the possibility for an environmentally benign treatment which can be adapted to specific concentrations and environmental conditions without the need of additional chemicals.

Side effects by oral application of atmospheric pressure plasma on the mucosa in mice.

Cold atmospheric pressure plasma (CAP) has been investigated with promising results for peri-implant diseases treatment. However, prior to in-vivo applications of CAP sources in humans, short-term harmful mucosal damage or other unwanted side effects have to be reviewed. 180 male mice (B6C3F1) were divided into twelve treatment groups (n = 15).

The response of the marine nitrogen cycle to ocean acidification.

Ocean acidification (OA), arising from the influx of anthropogenically generated carbon, poses a massive threat to the ocean ecosystems. Our knowledge of the effects of elevated anthropogenic CO in marine waters and its effect on the performance of single species, trophic interactions, and ecosystems is increasing rapidly. However, our understanding of the biogeochemical cycling of nutrients such as nitrogen is less advanced and lacks a comprehensive overview of how these processes may change under OA.

Quantification of the ozone and singlet delta oxygen produced in gas and liquid phases by a non-thermal atmospheric plasma with relevance for medical treatment.

In the field of plasma medicine, the identification of relevant reactive species in the liquid phase is highly important. To design the plasma generated species composition for a targeted therapeutic application, the point of origin of those species needs to be known. The dominant reactive oxygen species generated by the plasma used in this study are atomic oxygen, ozone, and singlet delta oxygen.

Long-lived and short-lived reactive species produced by a cold atmospheric pressure plasma jet for the inactivation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus.

Different chemical pathways leading to the inactivation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus by a cold atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ) in buffered and non-buffered solutions are reported. As APPJs produce a complex mixture of reactive species in solution, a comprehensive set of diagnostics were used to assess the liquid phase chemistry. This includes absorption and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy in addition to a scavenger study to assess the relative importance of the various plasma produced species involved in the inactivation of bacteria.

Elucidation of Plasma-induced Chemical Modifications on Glutathione and Glutathione Disulphide.

Cold atmospheric pressure plasmas are gaining increased interest in the medical sector and clinical trials to treat skin diseases are underway. Plasmas are capable of producing several reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS). However, there are open questions how plasma-generated RONS interact on a molecular level in a biological environment, e.

Degradation and intermediates of diclofenac as instructive example for decomposition of recalcitrant pharmaceuticals by hydroxyl radicals generated with pulsed corona plasma in water.

Seven recalcitrant pharmaceutical residues (diclofenac, 17α-ethinylestradiol, carbamazepine, ibuprofen, trimethoprim, diazepam, diatrizoate) were decomposed by pulsed corona plasma generated directly in water. The detailed degradation pathway was investigated for diclofenac and 21 intermediates could be identified in the degradation cascade. Hydroxyl radicals have been found primarily responsible for decomposition steps.

Mineral-Based Coating of Plasma-Treated Carbon Fibre Rovings for Carbon Concrete Composites with Enhanced Mechanical Performance.

Surfaces of carbon fibre roving were modified by means of a low temperature plasma treatment to improve their bonding with mineral fines; the latter serving as an inorganic fibre coating for the improved mechanical performance of carbon reinforcement in concrete matrices. Variation of the plasma conditions, such as gas composition and treatment time, was accomplished to establish polar groups on the carbon fibres prior to contact with the suspension of mineral particles in water. Subsequently, the rovings were implemented in a fine concrete matrix and their pull-out performance was assessed.

Removal of naturally grown human biofilm with an atmospheric pressure plasma jet: An in-vitro study.

The removal of biofilm is a prerequisite for a successful treatment of biofilm-associated diseases. In this study, we compared the feasibility of an atmospheric pressure plasma device with a sonic powered brush to remove naturally grown supragingival biofilm from extracted teeth. Twenty-four periodontally hopeless teeth were extracted.

Comparison of pulsed corona plasma and pulsed electric fields for the decontamination of water containing Legionella pneumophila as model organism.

Pulsed corona plasma and pulsed electric fields were assessed for their capacity to kill Legionella pneumophila in water. Electrical parameters such as in particular dissipated energy were equal for both treatments. This was accomplished by changing the polarity of the applied high voltage pulses in a coaxial electrode geometry resulting in the generation of corona plasma or an electric field.

Potential of pulsed corona discharges generated in water for the degradation of persistent pharmaceutical residues.

Anthropogenic pollutants and in particular pharmaceutical residues are a potential risk for potable water where they are found in increasing concentrations. Different environmental effects could already be linked to the presence of pharmaceuticals in surface waters even for low concentrations. Many pharmaceuticals withstand conventional water treatment technologies.