Significance of the presence of antibiotics on the microbial consortium in wastewater - The case of nitrofurantoin and furazolidone.

Antibiotics in wastewater leads to migration of pollutants and disrupts natural processes of mineralization of organic matter. In order to understand the mechanism of this, research was undertaken on the influence of nitrofurantoin (NFT) and furazolidone (FZD), on the behaviour of a consortium of microorganisms present in a model wastewater in a bioreactor. Our study confirmed biodegradation of the antibiotics by the microbial consortium, with the degradation efficiency within 10 days of 65% for FZD, but only 20% for NFT.

Medical Applications of Diode Lasers: Pulsed versus Continuous Wave (cw) Regime.

The paper deals with the medical application of diode-lasers. A short review of medical therapies is presented, taking into account the wavelength applied, continuous wave (cw) or pulsed regimes, and their therapeutic effects. Special attention was paid to the laryngological application of a pulsed diode laser with wavelength 810 nm, and dermatologic applications of a 975 nm laser working at cw and pulsed mode.

Enzyme Immobilization on Gold Nanoparticles for Electrochemical Glucose Biosensors.

More than 50 years have passed since Clark and Lyon developed the concept of glucose biosensors. Extensive research about biosensors has been carried out up to this day, and an exponential trend in this topic can be observed. The scope of this review is to present various enzyme immobilization methods on gold nanoparticles used for glucose sensing over the past five years.

Hydrothermal Cobalt Doping of Titanium Dioxide Nanotubes towards Photoanode Activity Enhancement.

Doping and modification of TiO nanotubes were carried out using the hydrothermal method. The introduction of small amounts of cobalt (0.1 at %) into the structure of anatase caused an increase in the absorption of light in the visible spectrum, changes in the position of the flat band potential, a decrease in the threshold potential of water oxidation in the dark, and a significant increase in the anode photocurrent.

Manufacturing and Recycling Impact on Environmental Life Cycle Assessment of Innovative Wind Power Plant Part 1/2.

Wind power plants are considered as an ecologically-clean source of energy. However, manufacturing processes cannot be treated that way. Manufacturing processes consume huge amounts of electrical and thermal energy and significant amount of materials, e.

Manufacturing and Recycling Impact on Environmental Life Cycle Assessment of Innovative Wind Power Plant Part 2/2.

The process of conversion of wind kinetic energy into electricity in innovative wind power plant emits practically no harmful substances into the environment. However, the production stage of its components requires a lot of energy and materials. The biggest problem during production planning process of an innovative wind power plant is selection of materials and technologies and, consequently, the waste generated at this stage.

Free-standing TiO nanotubes decorated with spherical nickel nanoparticles as a cost-efficient electrocatalyst for oxygen evolution reaction.

Here, we report significant activity towards the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) of spherical nickel nanoparticles (NPs) electrodeposited onto free-standing TiO nanotubes (TNT) cyclic voltammetry. It has been shown that simple manipulation of processing parameters, including scan rate and number of cycles, allows for formation of the NPs in various diameters and amounts. The polarization data with respect to transmission electron microscopy (TEM) allowed for determination of the diameter and propagation depth of the Ni NPs leading to the highest activity towards the OER with an overpotential of 540 mV at +10 mA cm and Tafel slope of 52 mV per decade.

Anodic titania nanotubes decorated with gold nanoparticles produced by laser-induced dewetting of thin metallic films.

Herein, we combine titania layers with gold species in a laser-supported process and report a substantial change of properties of the resulting heterostructures depending on the major processing parameters. Electrodes were fabricated via an anodisation process complemented with calcination to ensure a crystalline phase, and followed by magnetron sputtering of metallic films. The obtained TiO nanotubes with deposited thin (5, 10 nm) Au films were treated with a UV laser (355 nm) to form Au nanoparticles on top of the nanotubes.

Laser-Assisted Synthesis and Oxygen Generation of Nickel Nanoparticles.

Nowadays, more than ever, environmental awareness is being taken into account when it comes to the design of novel materials. Herein, the pathway to the creation of a colloid of spherical, almost purely metallic nickel nanoparticles (NPs) through pulsed laser ablation in ethanol is presented. A complex description of the colloid is provided through UV-vis spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering analysis, ensuring insight into laser-induced nanoparticle homogenization and size-control of the NPs.

The Effect of Laser Re-Solidification on Microstructure and Photo-Electrochemical Properties of Fe-Decorated TiO Nanotubes.

Fossil fuels became increasingly unpleasant energy source due to their negative impact on the environment; thus, attractiveness of renewable, and especially solar energy, is growing worldwide. Among others, the research is focused on smart combination of simple compounds towards formation of the photoactive materials. Following that, our work concerns the optimized manipulation of laser light coupled with the iron sputtering to transform titania that is mostly UV-active, as well as exhibiting poor oxygen evolution reaction to the material responding to solar light, and that can be further used in water splitting process.

Carbon nanoarchitectures as high-performance electrodes for the electrochemical oxidation of landfill leachate.

Nanomaterials and assemblies of the aforementioned into complex architectures constitute an opportunity to design efficient and selective solutions to widespread and emerging environmental issues. The limited disposal of organic matter in modern landfills generates extremely concentrated leachates characterised by high concentrations of refractory compounds. Conventional biochemical treatment methods are unsuitable, while advanced treatment, such coagulation, reverse osmosis and ultrafiltration can be very costly and generate additional waste.

The effect of sunlight and UV lamp exposure on EPR signals in X-ray irradiated touch screens of mobile phones.

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) signals generated by ionizing radiation in touch-screen glasses have been reported as useful for personal dosimetry in people accidently exposed to ionizing radiation. This article describes the effect of light exposure on EPR spectra of various glasses obtained from mobile phones. This effect can lead to significant inaccuracy of the radiation doses reconstructed by EPR.

Novel approach to interference analysis of glucose sensing materials coated with Nafion.

We focus here on a novel approach to analysing the mechanisms of interference phenomena in glucose sensing, taking into account the changes within the Nafion layer deposited on the active surface. Several electrochemical techniques were used to verify the sustainability of catalytic properties of the electrode material after exposure to different compounds, i.e.

Physicochemical and Mechanical Performance of Freestanding Boron-Doped Diamond Nanosheets Coated with C:H:N:O Plasma Polymer.

The physicochemical and mechanical properties of thin and freestanding heavy boron-doped diamond (BDD) nanosheets coated with a thin C:H:N:O plasma polymer were studied. First, diamond nanosheets were grown and doped with boron on a Ta substrate using the microwave plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition technique (MPECVD). Next, the BDD/Ta samples were covered with nylon 6.

Modified Manganese Phosphate Conversion Coating on Low-Carbon Steel.

Conversion coatings are one of the primary types of galvanic coatings used to protect steel structures against corrosion. They are created through chemical reactions between the metal surface and the environment of the phosphating. This paper investigates the impact that the addition of new metal cations to the phosphating reaction environment has on the quality of the final coating.

Pulsed Laser Deposition of Bismuth Vanadate Thin Films-The Effect of Oxygen Pressure on the Morphology, Composition, and Photoelectrochemical Performance.

Thin layers of bismuth vanadate were deposited using the pulsed laser deposition technique on commercially available FTO (fluorine-doped tin oxide) substrates. Films were sputtered from a sintered, monoclinic BiVO pellet, acting as the target, under various oxygen pressures (from 0.1 to 2 mbar), while the laser beam was perpendicular to the target surface and parallel to the FTO substrate.

Fluctuations of the elemental composition in the layers of mineral deposits formed on the elements of biogas engines.

The aim of the research was to compare the chemical composition and morphology of the surface of the backsheet growing on the metallic and surface substrate growing already on the prepared mineral substrate. Moreover the aim of this study was also to analyze the dispersion of chemical elements on the cross-sections of deposits formed on parts of landfill biogas-driven engines. The chemical composition of extreme layers of mineral deposits extracted from the engine piston and their cross-sections from four pistons and one head was examined by SEM-EDS.

The In-Depth Studies of Pulsed UV Laser-Modified TiO Nanotubes: The Influence of Geometry, Crystallinity, and Processing Parameters.

The laser processing of the titania nanotubes has been investigated in terms of morphology, structure, and optical properties of the obtained material. The length of the nanotubes and crystallinity, as well as the atmosphere of the laser treatment, were taken into account. The degree of changes of the initial geometry of nanotubes were checked by means of scanning electron microscopy, which visualizes both the surface and the cross-section.

Scalable Route toward Superior Photoresponse of UV-Laser-Treated TiO Nanotubes.

Titanium dioxide nanotubes gain considerable attention as a photoactive material due to chemical stability, photocorrosion resistance, or low-cost manufacturing method. This work presents scalable pulsed laser modification of TiO nanotubes resulting in enhanced photoactivity in a system equipped with a motorized table, which allows for modifications of both precisely selected and any-large sample area. Images obtained from scanning electron microscopy along with Raman and UV-vis spectra of laser-treated samples in a good agreement indicate the presence of additional laser-induced shallow states within band gap via degradation of crystalline structure.

Detection of the Plant Pathogen pv. on Antibody-Modified Gold Electrodes by Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy.

The present work describes an impedimetric immunosensor for pv. () detection. This pathogen infects many crop species causing considerable yield losses, thus fast and cheap detection method is in high demand.

Boron-Doped Nanocrystalline Diamond-Carbon Nanospike Hybrid Electron Emission Source.

Electron emission signifies an important mechanism facilitating the enlargement of devices that have modernized large parts of science and technology. Today, the search for innovative electron emission devices for imaging, sensing, electronics, and high-energy physics continues. Integrating two materials with dissimilar electronic properties into a hybrid material is an extremely sought-after synergistic approach, envisioning a superior field electron emission (FEE) material.

Corrosion Inhibition Mechanism and Efficiency Differentiation of Dihydroxybenzene Isomers Towards Aluminum Alloy 5754 in Alkaline Media.

The selection of efficient corrosion inhibitors requires detailed knowledge regarding the interaction mechanism, which depends on the type and amount of functional groups within the inhibitor molecule. The position of functional groups between different isomers is often overlooked, but is no less important, since factors like steric hinderance may significantly affect the adsorption mechanism. In this study, we have presented how different dihydroxybenzene isomers interact with aluminum alloy 5754 surface, reducing its corrosion rate in bicarbonate buffer (pH = 11).

Temperature Depth Profiles Induced in Human Skin In Vivo Using Pulsed 975 nm Irradiation.

Background And Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the temperature depth profiles induced in human skin in vivo by using a pulsed 975 nm diode laser (with 5 ms pulse duration) and compare them with those induced by the more common 532 nm (KTP) and 1,064 nm (Nd:YAG) lasers. Quantitative assessment of the energy deposition characteristics in human skin at 975 nm should help design of safe and effective treatment protocols when using such lasers.

Study Design/materials And Methods: Temperature depth profiles induced in the human skin by the three lasers were determined using pulsed photothermal radiometry (PPTR).

Tailoring Electro/Optical Properties of Transparent Boron-Doped Carbon Nanowalls Grown on Quartz.

Carbon nanowalls (CNWs) have attracted much attention for numerous applications in electrical devices because of their peculiar structural characteristics. However, it is possible to set synthesis parameters to vary the electrical and optical properties of such CNWs. In this paper, we demonstrate the direct growth of highly transparent boron-doped nanowalls (B-CNWs) on optical grade fused quartz.

The effect of sunlight and UV lamps on EPR signal in nails.

The effects of illumination of nail clippings by direct sunlight, UV lamps and fluorescent bulbs on native and radiation-induced electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) signals in nails are presented. It is shown that a few minutes of exposure of the nail clippings to light including a UV component (sunlight and UV lamps) generates a strong EPR signal similar to the other EPR signals observable in nails: native background (BKG), mechanically induced (MIS) or radiation-induced (RIS). This effect was observed in clippings exposed and unexposed to ionizing radiation prior to the light illuminations.