Selective and sensitive optical chemosensor for detection of Ag(I) ions based on 2(4-hydroxy pent-3-en-2-ylideneamine) phenol in aqueous samples

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mirzaei, Mohammad; Saeed, Jaber

2011-11-01

A selective and sensitive chemosensor, based on the 2(4-hydroxy pent-3-en-2-ylideneamine) phenol (HPYAP) as chromophore, has been developed for colorimetric and visual detection of Ag(I) ions. HPYAP shows a considerable chromogenic behavior toward Ag(I) ions by changing the color of the solution from pale-yellow to very chromatic-yellow, which can be easily detected with the naked-eye. The chemosensor exhibited selective absorbance enhancement to Ag(I) ions in water samples over other metal ions at 438 nm, with a linear range of 0.4-500 μM ( r2 = 0.999) and a limit of detection 0.07 μM of Ag(I) ions with UV-vis spectrophotometer detection. The relative standard deviation (RSD) for 100 μM Ag(I) ions was 2.05% ( n = 7). The proposed method was applied for the determination Ag(I) ions in water and waste water samples.

Spectrophotometric methods for the determination of urea in real samples using silver nanoparticles by standard addition and 2nd order derivative methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ali, Nauman; Ismail, Muhammad; Khan, Adnan; Khan, Hamayun; Haider, Sajjad; Kamal, Tahseen

2018-01-01

In this work, we have developed simple, sensitive and inexpensive methods for the spectrophotometric determination of urea in urine samples using silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The standard addition and 2nd order derivative methods were adopted for this purpose. AgNPs were prepared by chemical reduction of AgNO3 with hydrazine using 1,3-di-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)-2-propanol (DIPO) as a stabilizing agent in aqueous medium. The proposed methods were based on the complexation of AgNPs with urea. Using this concept, urea in the urine samples was successfully determined spectrophotometric methods. The results showed high percent recovery with ± RSD. The recoveries of urea in the three urine samples by spectrophotometric standard addition were 99.2% ± 5.37, 96.3% ± 4.49, 104.88% ± 4.99 and that of spectrophotometric 2nd order derivative method were 115.3% ± 5.2, 103.4% ± 2.6, 105.93% ± 0.76. The results show that these methods can open doors for a potential role of AgNPs in the clinical determination of urea in urine, blood, biological, non-biological fluids.

Light-Trapping Characteristics of Ag Nanoparticles for Enhancing the Energy Conversion Efficiency of Hybrid Solar Cells.

PubMed

Fan, Zhiqiang; Zhang, Weijia; Ma, Qiang; Yan, Lanqin; Xu, Lihua; Fu, Yaolong

2017-10-18

In this paper, we investigated the optical and electrical characteristics of hybrid solar cells using silicon pyramid/Ag nanoparticle and nanowire/Ag nanoparticle nanocomposite structures, which are obtained by the Ag-assisted electroless etching method. We introduced the application of the physical and chemical properties of Ag nanoparticles on four kinds of solar cells: silicon pyramid, silicon pyramid/PEDOT:PSS, silicon nanowire, and silicon nanowire/PEDOT:PSS. We simulated the absorption of these structures for different parameters. Furthermore, we also show the result of the current density-voltage (J-V) characterization of the sample with Ag nanoparticles, which exhibits an improvement of the power conversion efficiency (PCE) in contrast to the samples without Ag nanoparticles. It was found that the properties of light-trapping of Ag nanoparticles have a prominent impact on improving the PCE of hybrid solar cells.

Ag-doped Lithium alumino silicate photostructurable glass for microdevice fabrication

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mishra, Richa; Goswami, Madhumita; Krishnan, Madangopal

2018-04-01

Ag-doped LAS glass of composition (wt.%):74SiO2-6Al2O3-15Li2O-5X (X=other additives) were prepared by melt-quench technique and characterized for thermal and optical properties using DTA and UV-Visible spectrometer. XRD technique was used for phase identification in the heat treated glasses. Glass samples were exposed to UV-light for conversion of Ce3+ to Ce4+ state and Ag+ into Ago metallic state. DTA shows a lower crystallization temperature (Tp) at around 605°C for exposed samples as compared to unexposed base glass which is at around 625°C. UV-Visible spectra shows a broad band at around 305nm which indicates Ce3+ in base glass whereas in case of UV-exposed sample the reduced peak intensity indicates conversion of Ce3+ to Ce4+ ions, which also confirm formation of Ago in glass samples. Ag agglomeration was also confirmed from the band position at 430nm in heat treated sample, found responsible for early growth of meta-silicate phase in exposed sample. The meta-silicate phase was selectively etched for fabrication of micro-devices.

Green synthesis of Ag nanoparticles for water treatment (antimicrobial on Eschirichia coli)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Darus, Mazlina Mat; Mahusin, Wan Norazwani

2017-05-01

Green synthesis approach was used to synthesis silver (Ag) nanoparticles. In this study, a one-step method was employed via hydrothermal technique. Samples are synthesized at different temperatures and times. All samples were characterized by Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM). The morphology of the as-synthesized Ag samples are consists of nanoparticles and nanoplates with the diameter is in the range of 45 - 140 nm. The Ag nanoparticles were tested on Gram-Negative bacteria, Eschirichia coli (E.coli) which represent as an indicator for water pollution by using disc diffusion methods. Different concentrations of Ag nanoparticles were used to treat E.coli which is at 25 µg/ml, 50 µg/ml and 100 µg/ml respectively. The results show that for every samples, the inhibition zone of the E.coli increased as the concentration of Ag nanoparticles increased. Ag nanoparticles which synthesized at 100 °C/ 8 hrs exhibits the most optimum inhibition zone for the growth of E.coli due to its smaller size and the triangular nanoplate shaped. The diameter of the inhibition zone is between 6.17 ± 0.03 to 8.03 ± 0.03 mm.

Synergistic Effects of Iodine and Silver Ions Co-Implanted in 6H-SiC

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kuhudzai, Remeredzai J.; Malherbe, Johan; Hlatshwayo, T. T.

2015-10-23

Motivated by the aim of understanding the release of fission products through the SiC coating of fuel kernels in modern high temperature nuclear reactors, a fundamental investigation is conducted to understand the synergistic effects of implanted silver (Ag) and iodine (I) in 6H-SiC. The implantation of the individual species, as well as the co-implantation of 360 keV ions of I and Ag at room temperature in 6H-SiC and their subsequent annealing behavior has been investigated by Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS), Atom Probe Tomography (APT) and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). SIMS and APT measurements indicated the presence of Ag inmore » the co-implanted samples after annealing at 1500 ºC for 30 hours in sharp contrast to the samples implanted with Ag only. In samples implanted with Ag only, complete loss of the implanted Ag was observed. However, for I only implanted samples, some iodine was retained. APT of annealed co-implanted 6H-SiC showed clear spatial association of Ag and I clusters in SiC, which can be attributed to the observed I assisted retention of Ag after annealing. Such detailed studies will be necessary to identify the fundamental mechanism of fission products migration through SiC coatings.« less

Synthesis, structural characterisation and antibacterial activity of Ag+-doped fluorapatite nanomaterials prepared by neutralization method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stanić, Vojislav; Radosavljević-Mihajlović, Ana S.; Živković-Radovanović, Vukosava; Nastasijević, Branislav; Marinović-Cincović, Milena; Marković, Jelena P.; Budimir, Milica D.

2015-05-01

Silver doped fluorapatite nanopowders were synthesised by neutralization method, which consists of dissolving Ag2O in solution of HF and H3PO4 and addition to suspension of Ca(OH)2. The powder XRD, SEM and FTIR studies indicated the formation of a fluorapatite nanomaterials with average length of the particles is about 80 nm and a width of about 15 nm. The FTIR studies show that carbonate content in samples is very small and carbonte ions substitute both phosphate and hydroxyl groups in the crystal structure of samples, forming AB-type fluorapatite. Antibacterial studies have demonstrated that all Ag+-doped fluorapatite samples exhibit bactericidal effect against pathogens: Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteus and Kllebsiela pneumoniae. Antibacterial activity increased with the increase of Ag+ in the samples. The atomic force microscopy studies revealed extensive damage to the bacterial cell envelops in the presence of Ag+-doped fluorapatite particles which may lead to their death. The synthesized Ag+-doped fluorapatite nanomaterials are promising as antibacterial biomaterials in orthopedics and dentistry.

Active Silver Nanoparticles for Wound Healing

PubMed Central

Rigo, Chiara; Ferroni, Letizia; Tocco, Ilaria; Roman, Marco; Munivrana, Ivan; Gardin, Chiara; Cairns, Warren R. L.; Vindigni, Vincenzo; Azzena, Bruno; Barbante, Carlo; Zavan, Barbara

2013-01-01

In this preliminary study, the silver nanoparticle (Ag NP)-based dressing, Acticoat™ Flex 3, has been applied to a 3D fibroblast cell culture in vitro and to a real partial thickness burn patient. The in vitro results show that Ag NPs greatly reduce mitochondrial activity, while cellular staining techniques show that nuclear integrity is maintained, with no signs of cell death. For the first time, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) analyses were carried out on skin biopsies taken from a single patient during treatment. The results show that Ag NPs are released as aggregates and are localized in the cytoplasm of fibroblasts. No signs of cell death were observed, and the nanoparticles had different distributions within the cells of the upper and lower dermis. Depth profiles of the Ag concentrations were determined along the skin biopsies. In the healed sample, most of the silver remained in the surface layers, whereas in the unhealed sample, the silver penetrated more deeply. The Ag concentrations in the cell cultures were also determined. Clinical observations and experimental data collected here are consistent with previously published articles and support the safety of Ag NP-based dressing in wound treatment. PMID:23455461

Silicon anode materials with ultra-low resistivity from the inside out for lithium ion batteries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Guojun; Jin, Chenxin; Liu, Liekai; Lan, Yu; Yue, Zhihao; Li, Xiaomin; Sun, Fugen; Huang, Haibin; Zhou, Lang

2017-12-01

Broken silicon (Si) wafers with electrical resistivity of 1 and 0.001 Ω cm were respectively ball-milled to Si particles with median diameters of less than 1 μm. Both these two types of Si particles were deposited with silver (Ag) nanoparticles by self-selective electroless deposition method. 1-Ω cm-Si particles, 0.001-Ω cm-Si particles, Ag-deposited 1-Ω cm-Si particles and Ag-deposited 0.001-Ω cm-Si particles were, respectively, mixed with graphite particles in weight ratio of 1:9 to form four types of Si-C anode materials and then they were assembled into coin cells. The experimental results indicate that the Ag-deposited 0.001-Ω cm-Si sample shows the higher capacity, better rate and cycle performance than other three samples, due to the high conductivity of Ag-deposited 0.001-Ω cm-Si sample from the inside out. At the current density of 750 mA g-1, the discharge capacity gap of Ag-deposited 0.001-Ω cm-Si sample and 0.001-Ω cm-Si sample is as high as 141.7 mA h g-1, which is almost equal to the discharge capacity of the latter. Besides, the discharge capacity retention ratio of Ag-deposited 0.001-Ω cm-Si sample after 50 cycles is 70%, which is 23.5% higher than that of 0.001-Ω cm-Si sample.

Pd-Ag chronometry of IVA iron meteorites and the crystallization and cooling of a protoplanetary core

DOE PAGES

Matthes, M.; Fischer-Godde, M.; Kruijer, T. S.; ...

2017-09-07

To constrain the timescales and processes involved in the crystallization and cooling of protoplanetary cores, we examined the Pd-Ag isotope systematics of the IVA iron meteorites Muonionalusta and Gibeon. A Pd-Ag isochron for Muonionalusta provides an initial 107Pd/ 108Pd = (2.57 ± 0.07) × 10 -5. The three metal samples analyzed from Gibeon plot below the Muonionalusta isochron, but these samples also show significant effects of cosmic ray-induced neutron capture reactions, as is evident from 196Pt excesses in the Gibeon samples. After correction for neutron capture effects on Ag isotopes, the Gibeon samples plot on the Muonionalusta isochron, indicating thatmore » these two IVA irons have indistinguishable initial 107Pd/ 108Pd. Collectively, the Pd-Ag data indicate cooling of the IVA core below Pd-Ag closure between 2.9 ± 0.4 Ma and 8.9 ± 0.6 Ma after CAI formation, where this age range reflects uncertainties in the initial 107Pd/ 108Pd ratios of the solar system, which in turn result from uncertainties in the Pb-Pb age of Muonionalusta. The Ag isotopic data indicate that the IVA core initially evolved with a modestly elevated Pd/Ag, but the low Ag concentrations measured for some metal samples indicate derivation from a source with much lower Ag contents and, hence, higher Pd/Ag. These contrasting observations can be reconciled if the IVA irons crystallized from an initially more Ag-rich core, followed by extraction of Fe-S melts during compaction of the nearly solidified core. Owing to its strong tendency to partition into Fe-S melts, Ag was removed from the IVA core during compaction, leading to the very low Ag concentration observed in metal samples of IVA irons. Alternatively, Ag was lost by evaporation from a still molten metallic body just prior to the onset of crystallization. The Pd-Ag isotopic data indicate that Muonionalusta cooled at >500 K/Ma through the Pd-Ag closure temperature of ~900 K, consistent with the rapid cooling inferred from metallographic cooling rates for IVA irons. Finally, combined, these observations are consistent with cooling of IVA irons in a metallic body with little or no silicate mantle.« less

Pd-Ag chronometry of IVA iron meteorites and the crystallization and cooling of a protoplanetary core

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Matthes, M.; Fischer-Gödde, M.; Kruijer, T. S.; Kleine, T.

2018-01-01

To constrain the timescales and processes involved in the crystallization and cooling of protoplanetary cores, we examined the Pd-Ag isotope systematics of the IVA iron meteorites Muonionalusta and Gibeon. A Pd-Ag isochron for Muonionalusta provides an initial 107Pd/108Pd = (2.57 ± 0.07) × 10-5. The three metal samples analyzed from Gibeon plot below the Muonionalusta isochron, but these samples also show significant effects of cosmic ray-induced neutron capture reactions, as is evident from 196Pt excesses in the Gibeon samples. After correction for neutron capture effects on Ag isotopes, the Gibeon samples plot on the Muonionalusta isochron, indicating that these two IVA irons have indistinguishable initial 107Pd/108Pd. Collectively, the Pd-Ag data indicate cooling of the IVA core below Pd-Ag closure between 2.9 ± 0.4 Ma and 8.9 ± 0.6 Ma after CAI formation, where this age range reflects uncertainties in the initial 107Pd/108Pd ratios of the solar system, which in turn result from uncertainties in the Pb-Pb age of Muonionalusta. The Ag isotopic data indicate that the IVA core initially evolved with a modestly elevated Pd/Ag, but the low Ag concentrations measured for some metal samples indicate derivation from a source with much lower Ag contents and, hence, higher Pd/Ag. These contrasting observations can be reconciled if the IVA irons crystallized from an initially more Ag-rich core, followed by extraction of Fe-S melts during compaction of the nearly solidified core. Owing to its strong tendency to partition into Fe-S melts, Ag was removed from the IVA core during compaction, leading to the very low Ag concentration observed in metal samples of IVA irons. Alternatively, Ag was lost by evaporation from a still molten metallic body just prior to the onset of crystallization. The Pd-Ag isotopic data indicate that Muonionalusta cooled at >500 K/Ma through the Pd-Ag closure temperature of ∼900 K, consistent with the rapid cooling inferred from metallographic cooling rates for IVA irons. Combined, these observations are consistent with cooling of IVA irons in a metallic body with little or no silicate mantle.

Pd-Ag chronometry of IVA iron meteorites and the crystallization and cooling of a protoplanetary core

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Matthes, M.; Fischer-Godde, M.; Kruijer, T. S.

To constrain the timescales and processes involved in the crystallization and cooling of protoplanetary cores, we examined the Pd-Ag isotope systematics of the IVA iron meteorites Muonionalusta and Gibeon. A Pd-Ag isochron for Muonionalusta provides an initial 107Pd/ 108Pd = (2.57 ± 0.07) × 10 -5. The three metal samples analyzed from Gibeon plot below the Muonionalusta isochron, but these samples also show significant effects of cosmic ray-induced neutron capture reactions, as is evident from 196Pt excesses in the Gibeon samples. After correction for neutron capture effects on Ag isotopes, the Gibeon samples plot on the Muonionalusta isochron, indicating thatmore » these two IVA irons have indistinguishable initial 107Pd/ 108Pd. Collectively, the Pd-Ag data indicate cooling of the IVA core below Pd-Ag closure between 2.9 ± 0.4 Ma and 8.9 ± 0.6 Ma after CAI formation, where this age range reflects uncertainties in the initial 107Pd/ 108Pd ratios of the solar system, which in turn result from uncertainties in the Pb-Pb age of Muonionalusta. The Ag isotopic data indicate that the IVA core initially evolved with a modestly elevated Pd/Ag, but the low Ag concentrations measured for some metal samples indicate derivation from a source with much lower Ag contents and, hence, higher Pd/Ag. These contrasting observations can be reconciled if the IVA irons crystallized from an initially more Ag-rich core, followed by extraction of Fe-S melts during compaction of the nearly solidified core. Owing to its strong tendency to partition into Fe-S melts, Ag was removed from the IVA core during compaction, leading to the very low Ag concentration observed in metal samples of IVA irons. Alternatively, Ag was lost by evaporation from a still molten metallic body just prior to the onset of crystallization. The Pd-Ag isotopic data indicate that Muonionalusta cooled at >500 K/Ma through the Pd-Ag closure temperature of ~900 K, consistent with the rapid cooling inferred from metallographic cooling rates for IVA irons. Finally, combined, these observations are consistent with cooling of IVA irons in a metallic body with little or no silicate mantle.« less

The preparation of Ag-BiVO4 metal composite oxides and its application in efficient photocatalytic oxidative thiophene

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, Xiao-Ming; Fu, Feng; Zhang, Li-Ping; Li, Wen-Hong

2013-06-01

A series of Ag-BiVO4 photocatalysts was synthesized by the hydrothemal synthesis method for different pH values. A strong correlation was found among the prepared processing, structure and property of the samples. With increasing pH value from 5 to 9, the crystallinity increases and the as-prepared Ag-BiVO4 sample gradually disappeared from the nanostructures. The light absorption became higher in the UV and visible range, accompanied by a bathochromic shift of the absorption edge. The competitive relations between crystallinity and surface area affecting photocatalytic activity were also discussed. Photocatalytic desulfurization on the as-prepared Ag-BiVO4 samples using thiophene dissolved in n-octane as a model organosulfur compound was performed. It showed that the photocatalytic desulfurization on the as-prepared Ag-BiVO4 sample at pH=7 can be up to 95%, which existed as various size particles and had significant high surface area of 13.768 m2 g-1.

Optical properties of Ag- and AgI-doped Ge-Ga-Te far-infrared chalcogenide glasses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cheng, Ci; Wang, Xunsi; Xu, Tiefeng; Sun, Lihong; Pan, Zhanghao; Liu, Shuo; Zhu, Qingde; Liao, Fangxing; Nie, Qiuhua; Dai, Shixun; Shen, Xiang; Zhang, Xianghua; Chen, Wei

2016-05-01

Te-based glasses are ideal material for life detection and infrared-sensing applications because of their excellent far-infrared properties. In this study, the influence of Ag- and AgI- doped Te-based glasses were discussed. Thermal and optical properties of the prepared glasses were evaluated using X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Results show that these glass samples have good amorphous state and thermal stability. However, Ge-Ga-Te-Ag and Ge-Ga-Te-AgI glass systems exhibit completely different in optical properties. With an increase of Ag content, the absorption cut-off edge of Ge-Ga-Te-Ag glass system has a red shift. On the contrary, a blue shift appears in Ge-Ga-Te-AgI glass system with an increase of AgI content. Moreover, the transmittance of Ge-Ga-Te-Ag glass system deteriorates while that of Ge-Ga-Te-AgI glass system ameliorates. All glass samples have wide infrared transmission windows and the far-infrared cut-off wavelengths of these glasses are beyond 25 μm. The main absorption peaks of these glasses are eliminated through a purifying method.

Direct nucleation of silver nanoparticles on graphene sheet.

PubMed

Singh, Manoj K; Titus, E; Krishna, R; Hawaldar, R R; Goncalves, G; Marques, P A A P; Gracio, J

2012-08-01

Silver (Ag) nanoparticles were synthesized on the surface of graphene sheet by the simultaneous reduction of Ag+ and graphene oxide (GO) in the presence of simple reducing agent, hydrazine hydrate (N2H4 x H2O). Both the Ag+ and GO were reduced and Ag+ was nucleated onto graphene. GO flakes were prepared by conventional chemical exfoliation method and in the presence of strong acidic medium of potassium chlorate. Silver nanoparticles were prepared using 0.01 M AgNO3 solution. The reduced GO sheet decorated with Ag is referred as G-Ag sample. G-Ag was characterized by FTIR (Fourier transform infrared) spectroscopy using GO as standard. An explicit alkene peak appeared around 1625 cm(-1) was observed in G-Ag sample. Besides, the characteristic carbonyl and hydroxyl peaks shows well reduction of GO. The FTIR therefore confirms the direct interaction of Ag into Graphene. SEM (scanning electron microscopy) and TEM (transmission electron microscopy) analysis were performed for morphological probing. The average size of Ag nanoparticles was confirmed by around 5-10 nm by the high-resolution TEM (HRTEM). The Ag quantum dots incorporated nanocomposite material could become prominent candidate for diverse applications including photovoltaic, catalysis, and biosensors etc.

A new silver metaniobate semiconductor of Ag0.5La0.5Nb2O6 with defect-perovskite structure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mi, Longqing; Feng, Yongyi; Cao, Lei; Xue, Mingqiang; Huang, Yanlin; Qin, Lin; Seo, Hyo Jin

2018-03-01

Silver-containing lanthanum metaniobate Ag0.5La0.5Nb2O6 nanoparticles were synthesized by sol-gel polymerized complex method. A typical defect-perovskite structure was confirmed by XRD Rietveld refinements. The surface characteristics of the sample were tested by SEM, TEM and EDS measurements. SEM and TEM show that the sample presents ball-like particles with the diameters of 100 nm to 400 nm. The sample shows both self-activated luminescence and photocatalytic activities. Ag0.5La0.5Nb2O6 has a direct transition with band energy of 2.85 eV. The Ag4d-O2p hybridization in the valence band contributes to the narrowed band gap. The luminescence properties of Ag0.5La0.5Nb2O6 have been investigated for the first time. The luminescence is characterized by two emission centers with maximum wavelength near 460 and 530 nm. The emission and excitation spectra, decay curves and the thermal quenching mechanism were discussed. Ag0.5La0.5Nb2O6 shows the efficient photocatalytic activities and the photodegradation rate for methylene blue dye (MB) can reach about 95% under visible light (> 420 nm) irradiation in 5 h. The trapped experiments for the active species were tested and discussed, which verified that rad OH radicals could be the major active species in photocatalysis.

Individual and collective modes of surface magnetoplasmon in thiolate-protected silver nanoparticles studied by MCD spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yao, Hiroshi; Shiratsu, Taisuke

2016-05-01

Large magneto-optical (MO) responses at the energy of localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR), namely, surface magnetoplasmons, are demonstrated for the first time in thiolate-protected silver nanoparticles with magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopy. The samples examined are decanethiol (DT)-, azobenzenethiol (ABT)-, and ABT/DT mixed-monolayer-protected Ag nanoparticles. ABT-protected Ag nanoparticles are somewhat aggregated and thus exhibit a broad, collective mode of plasmonic absorption, whereas other samples with highly-dispersed nanoparticles show an individual mode of LSPR absorption. In all Ag nanoparticles, a derivative-like MCD signal is observed under an applied magnetic field of 1.6 T, which can be explained in terms of two circular modes of magnetoplasmon caused by the increase (or decrease) in the Lorentz force imparted on the free electrons that oscillate in the left (or right) circular orbits in the nanosphere. For the Ag nanoparticles exhibiting an individual LSPR mode, in particular, simultaneous deconvolution analysis of UV-vis absorption and MCD spectra reveal that (i) the amplitude of the magnetoplasmonic component with lower frequency (ω-), resulting from the reduction in the confinement strength of collective electrons by the Lorentz force, is stronger than that with a higher frequency (ω+) (ii) the accurate shift or cyclotron frequency between two magnetoplasmonic modes (ωc = ω+ - ω-) is size-dependent, and presents a very large value with implications for the apparent enhancement of the local magnetic-field in the Ag nanoparticles. These results strongly suggest that the Ag-thiolate layer or Ag-S bonding on the nanoparticle surface plays a significant role in the MO enhancement.Large magneto-optical (MO) responses at the energy of localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR), namely, surface magnetoplasmons, are demonstrated for the first time in thiolate-protected silver nanoparticles with magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopy. The samples examined are decanethiol (DT)-, azobenzenethiol (ABT)-, and ABT/DT mixed-monolayer-protected Ag nanoparticles. ABT-protected Ag nanoparticles are somewhat aggregated and thus exhibit a broad, collective mode of plasmonic absorption, whereas other samples with highly-dispersed nanoparticles show an individual mode of LSPR absorption. In all Ag nanoparticles, a derivative-like MCD signal is observed under an applied magnetic field of 1.6 T, which can be explained in terms of two circular modes of magnetoplasmon caused by the increase (or decrease) in the Lorentz force imparted on the free electrons that oscillate in the left (or right) circular orbits in the nanosphere. For the Ag nanoparticles exhibiting an individual LSPR mode, in particular, simultaneous deconvolution analysis of UV-vis absorption and MCD spectra reveal that (i) the amplitude of the magnetoplasmonic component with lower frequency (ω-), resulting from the reduction in the confinement strength of collective electrons by the Lorentz force, is stronger than that with a higher frequency (ω+) (ii) the accurate shift or cyclotron frequency between two magnetoplasmonic modes (ωc = ω+ - ω-) is size-dependent, and presents a very large value with implications for the apparent enhancement of the local magnetic-field in the Ag nanoparticles. These results strongly suggest that the Ag-thiolate layer or Ag-S bonding on the nanoparticle surface plays a significant role in the MO enhancement. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: EDX spectroscopic analysis of various Ag nanoparticle samples; MCD signals normalized to absorbance for the Ag(DT)L and Ag(DT)S samples; deconvolution of UV-vis absorption and MCD spectra using three Lorentzian components; IR spectral changes upon photoisomerization; thermal cis-to-trans relaxation of azobenzene in the Ag(ABT) sample; UV-vis absorption spectra of Ag nanoparticle samples in the presence/absence of a magnetic field of 1.6 T. See DOI: 10.1039/c6nr00631k

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kumar, Pragati, E-mail: pkumar.phy@gmail.com; Department of Physics and Astrophysics, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110 007; Saxena, Nupur

This work shows the influence of Ag concentration on structural properties of pulsed laser deposited nanocrystalline CdS thin film. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) studies confirm the dopant concentration in CdS films and atomic concentration of elements. XPS studies show that the samples are slightly sulfur deficient. GAXRD scan reveals the structural phase transformation from cubic to hexagonal phase of CdS without appearance of any phase of CdO, Ag{sub 2}O or Ag{sub 2}S suggesting the substitutional doping of Ag ions. Photoluminescence studies illustrate that emission intensity increases with increase in dopant concentration upto 5% and then decreases for higher dopant concentration.

[Clinical evaluation of a novel HBsAg quantitative assay].

PubMed

Takagi, Kazumi; Tanaka, Yasuhito; Naganuma, Hatsue; Hiramatsu, Kumiko; Iida, Takayasu; Takasaka, Yoshimitsu; Mizokami, Masashi

2007-07-01

The clinical implication of the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) concentrations in HBV-infected individuals remains unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate a novel fully automated Chemiluminescence Enzyme Immunoassay (Sysmex HBsAg quantitative assay) by comparative measurements of the reference serum samples versus two independent commercial assays (Lumipulse f or Architect HBsAg QT). Furthermore, clinical usefulness was assessed for monitoring of the serum HBsAg levels during antiviral therapy. A dilution test using 5 reference-serum samples showed linear correlation curve in range from 0.03 to 2,360 IU/ml. The HBsAg was measured in total of 400 serum samples and 99.8% had consistent results between Sysmex and Lumipulse f. Additionally, a positive linear correlation was observed between Sysmex and Architect. To compare the Architect and Sysmex, both methods were applied to quantify the HBsAg in serum samples with different HBV genotypes/subgenotypes, as well as in serum contained HBV vaccine escape mutants (126S, 145R). Correlation between the methods was observed in results for escape mutants and common genotypes (A, B, C) in Japan. Observed during lamivudine therapy, an increase in HBsAg and HBV DNA concentrations preceded the aminotransferase (ALT) elevation associated with drug-resistant HBV variant emergence (breakthrough hepatitis). In conclusion, reliability of the Sysmex HBsAg quantitative assay was confirmed for all HBV genetic variants common in Japan. Monitoring of serum HBsAg concentrations in addition to HBV DNA quantification, is helpful in evaluation of the response to lamivudine treatment and diagnosis of the breakthrough hepatitis.

Antimicrobial acrylic materials with in situ generated silver nanoparticles.

PubMed

Oei, James D; Zhao, William W; Chu, Lianrui; DeSilva, Mauris N; Ghimire, Abishek; Rawls, H Ralph; Whang, Kyumin

2012-02-01

Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) is widely used to treat traumatic head injuries (cranioplasty) and orthopedic injuries (bone cement), but there is a problem with implant-centered infections. With organisms such as Acinetobacter baumannii and methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus developing resistance to antibiotics, there is a need for novel antimicrobial delivery mechanisms without risk of developing resistant organisms. To develop a novel antimicrobial implant material by generating silver nanoparticles (AgNP) in situ in PMMA. All PMMA samples with AgNP's (AgNP-PMMA) released Ag(+) ions in vitro for over 28 days. In vitro antimicrobial assays revealed that these samples (even samples with the slowest release rate) inhibited 99.9% of bacteria against four different strains of bacteria. Long-term antimicrobial assay showed a continued antibacterial effect past 28 days. Some AgNP-loaded PMMA groups had comparable Durometer-D hardness (a measure of degree of cure) and modulus to control PMMA, but all experimental groups had slightly lower ultimate transverse strengths. AgNP-PMMA demonstrated a tremendously broad-spectrum and long-intermediate-term antimicrobial effect with comparable mechanical properties to control PMMA. Current efforts are focused on further improving mechanical properties by reducing AgNP loading and assessing fatigue properties. Copyright © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Plasmon-resonance-enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activity of Ag quantum dots/TiO2 microspheres for methyl orange degradation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, Xin; Shang, Liwei; Wang, Dongjun; An, Li; Li, Zhonghua; Liu, Jiawen; Shen, Jun

2018-06-01

We successfully prepared Ag quantum dots modified TiO2 microspheres by facile solvothermal and calcination method. The as-prepared Ag quantum dots/TiO2 microspheres were characterized by scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The Ag quantum dots/TiO2 photocatalyst showed excellent visible light absorption and efficient photocatalytic activity for methyl orange degradation. And the sample with the molar ratio of 0.05 (Ag to Ti) showed the best visible light photocatalytic activity for methyl orange degradation, mainly because of the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effects of Ag quantum dots to generate electron and hole pairs for enhanced visible light photocatalysis. Finally, possible visible light photocatalytic mechanism of Ag quantum dots/TiO2 microspheres for methyl orange degradation was proposed in detail.

Synthesis, characterization, optical and antimicrobial studies of polyvinyl alcohol-silver nanocomposites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mahmoud, K. H.

2015-03-01

Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) were synthesized by chemical reduction of silver salt (AgNO3) through sodium borohydride. The characteristic surface plasmon resonance band located at around 400 nm in the UV-Visible absorption spectrum confirmed the formation of Ag nanoparticles. Polyvinyl alcohol-silver (PVA-Ag) nanocomposite films were prepared by the casting technique. The morphology and interaction of PVA with Ag NPs were examined by transmission electron microscopy and FTIR spectroscopy. Optical studies show that PVA exhibited indirect allowed optical transition with optical energy gap of 4.8 eV, which reduced to 4.45 eV under addition of Ag NPs. Optical parameters such as refractive index, complex dielectric constant and their dispersions have been analyzed using Wemple and DiDomenco model. Color properties of the nanocomposites are discussed in the framework of CIE L∗u∗v∗ color space. The antimicrobial activity of the nanocomposite samples was tested against Gram positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus NCTC 7447 &Bacillus subtillis NCIB 3610), Gram negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, NTC10416 &Pseudomonas aeruginosa NCIB 9016) and fungi (Aspergillus niger Ferm - BAM C-21) using the agar diffusion technique. The antimicrobial study showed that PVA has moderate antibacterial activity against B. subtillis and the 0.04 wt% Ag NPs composite sample effect was strong against S. aureus.

Physico-chemical characteristics and antimicrobial studies of silver doped hydroxyapatite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Predoi, D.; Predoi, M. V.; Kettani, Moncef Ech Cherif El; Leduc, Damien; Iconaru, S. L.; Ciobanu, C. S.; Buton, N.; Petre, C. C.; Prodan, A. M.

2018-02-01

The present research is focused on the synthesis, structural and morphological characterization and antimicrobial evaluation of silver doped hydroxyapatite (AgHAp) in water. The preliminary ultrasonic characterizations of the AgHAp in water synthesized by an adapted co-precipitation method are also presented. X-ray diffraction result showed that silver ions were substituted in the hydroxyapatite structure. The lattice parameters increased when the silver substitution increased. The morphology of AgHAp were evaluated by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). By EDX analysis the constituents elements of hydroxyapatite were detected in all analyzed samples. The silver was also found in the samples with xAg = 0.5 and 0.2. The colloidal properties of the resulted AgHAp (xAg = 0.0, 0.05 and 0.2) in water were analyzed by Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) and zeta potential. On the other hand, the novelty of our research consists of preliminary ultrasonic measurements (US) conducted on AgHAp in water. Furthermore, the antimicrobial activity of AgHAp was evaluated and a decrease in the number of surviving cells was established.

Antibacterial activity of silver-doped hydroxyapatite nanoparticles against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Ag-doped nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (Ag:HAp-NPs) (Ca10-xAgx(PO4)6(OH)2, xAg = 0.05, 0.2, and 0.3) with antibacterial properties are of great interest in the development of new products. Coprecipitation method is a promising route for obtaining nanocrystalline Ag:HAp with antibacterial properties. X-ray diffraction identified HAp as an unique crystalline phase in each sample. The calculated lattice constants of a = b = 9.435 Å, c = 6.876 Å for xAg = 0.05, a = b = 9.443 Å, c = 6.875 Å for xAg = 0.2, and a = b = 9.445 Å, c = 6.877 Å for xAg = 0.3 are in good agreement with the standard of a = b = 9.418 Å, c = 6.884 Å (space group P63/m). The Fourier transform infrared and Raman spectra of the sintered HAp show the absorption bands characteristic to hydroxyapatite. The Ag:HAp nanoparticles are evaluated for their antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Providencia stuartii, Citrobacter freundii and Serratia marcescens. The results showed that the antibacterial activity of these materials, regardless of the sample types, was greatest against S. aureus, K. pneumoniae, P. stuartii, and C. freundii. The results of qualitative antibacterial tests revealed that the tested Ag:HAp-NPs had an important inhibitory activity on P. stuartii and C. freundii. The absorbance values measured at 490 nm of the P. stuartii and C. freundii in the presence of Ag:HAp-NPs decreased compared with those of organic solvent used (DMSO) for all the samples (xAg = 0.05, 0.2, and 0.3). Antibacterial activity increased with the increase of xAg in the samples. The Ag:HAp-NP concentration had little influence on the bacterial growth (P. stuartii). PMID:22721352

Antibacterial activity of silver-doped hydroxyapatite nanoparticles against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.

PubMed

Ciobanu, Carmen Steluta; Iconaru, Simona Liliana; Le Coustumer, Phillippe; Constantin, Liliana Violeta; Predoi, Daniela

2012-06-21

Ag-doped nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (Ag:HAp-NPs) (Ca10-xAgx(PO4)6(OH)2, xAg = 0.05, 0.2, and 0.3) with antibacterial properties are of great interest in the development of new products. Coprecipitation method is a promising route for obtaining nanocrystalline Ag:HAp with antibacterial properties. X-ray diffraction identified HAp as an unique crystalline phase in each sample. The calculated lattice constants of a = b = 9.435 Å, c = 6.876 Å for xAg = 0.05, a = b = 9.443 Å, c = 6.875 Å for xAg = 0.2, and a = b = 9.445 Å, c = 6.877 Å for xAg = 0.3 are in good agreement with the standard of a = b = 9.418 Å, c = 6.884 Å (space group P63/m). The Fourier transform infrared and Raman spectra of the sintered HAp show the absorption bands characteristic to hydroxyapatite. The Ag:HAp nanoparticles are evaluated for their antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Providencia stuartii, Citrobacter freundii and Serratia marcescens. The results showed that the antibacterial activity of these materials, regardless of the sample types, was greatest against S. aureus, K. pneumoniae, P. stuartii, and C. freundii. The results of qualitative antibacterial tests revealed that the tested Ag:HAp-NPs had an important inhibitory activity on P. stuartii and C. freundii. The absorbance values measured at 490 nm of the P. stuartii and C. freundii in the presence of Ag:HAp-NPs decreased compared with those of organic solvent used (DMSO) for all the samples (xAg = 0.05, 0.2, and 0.3). Antibacterial activity increased with the increase of xAg in the samples. The Ag:HAp-NP concentration had little influence on the bacterial growth (P. stuartii).

Effect of ablation time on femtosecond laser synthesis of Au- Ag colloidal nanoalloys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hidayah, A. N.; Triyono, D.; Herbani, Y.; Isnaeni; Suliyanti, M. M.

2018-03-01

Au-Ag nanoalloys have been synthesized by laser irradiation technique. First, Au and Ag nanoparticles were prepared from Au and Ag pure metal (99.9%) ablated using an 800 nm femtosecond laser in distilled water. Using the same laser, Au and Ag nanoparticle with 1:1 ratio were subsequently mixed and irradiated with various irradiation time, i.e. 0, 5, 20, and 35 minutes. We varied the ablation time for each metal nanoparticles, i.e. 25 minutes and 1 hour to see its effect on the production of nanoalloys in the subsequent irradiation. Au-Ag nanoalloys were characterized and analyzed using transmission electron microscope and UV-Vis spectrophotometry. The result shows that Au-Ag nanoalloys were already formed in 20 minutes irradiation, either for the sample ablated for 25 minutes or 1 hour. The result of TEM shows that the size of Au-Ag nanoalloys prepared from 1 hour ablation was around 15.03 nm.

L-Phenylalanine functionalized silver nanoparticles: Photocatalytic and nonlinear optical applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nidya, M.; Umadevi, M.; Sankar, Pranitha; Philip, Reji; Rajkumar, Beulah J. M.

2015-04-01

An extensive study on the behavior of L-Phenylalanine capped silver nanoparticles (Phe-Ag NPs) in the aqueous phase and in a sol-gel thin film showed different UV/Vis, Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), Dynamic Light Scattering and Zeta potential profiles. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) images of the samples in the sol gel film showed Ag embedded in the SiO2 matrix. Surface Enhanced Raman Spectra (SERS) confirmed that both in the aqueous media and in the sol gel film, the attachment of Phe to the Ag NP surface was through the benzene ring, with the sol-gel film showing a better enhancement. Photocatalytic degradation of crystal violet was measured spectrophotometrically using Phe-Ag NPs as a nanocatalyst under visible light illumination. Intensity-dependent nonlinear optical absorption of Phe-Ag measured using the open aperture Z-scan technique revealed that the material is an efficient optical limiter with potential applications.

Synthesis of novel cellulose- based antibacterial composites of Ag nanoparticles@ metal-organic frameworks@ carboxymethylated fibers.

PubMed

Duan, Chao; Meng, Jingru; Wang, Xinqi; Meng, Xin; Sun, Xiaole; Xu, Yongjian; Zhao, Wei; Ni, Yonghao

2018-08-01

A novel cellulose-based antibacterial material, namely silver nanoparticles@ metal-organic frameworks@ carboxymethylated fibers composites (Ag NPs@ HKUST-1@ CFs), was synthesized. The results showed that the metal-organic frameworks (HKUST-1) were uniformly anchored on the fiber's surfaces by virtue of complexation between copper ions in HKUST-1 and carboxyl groups on the carboxymethylated fibers (CFs). The silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) were immobilized and well-dispersed into the pores and/or onto the surfaces of HKUST-1 via in situ microwave reduction, resulting in the formation of novel Ag NPs@ HKUST-1@ CFs composites. The antibacterial assays showed that the as-prepared composites exhibited a much higher antibacterial activity than Ag NPs@ CFs or HKUST-1@ CFs samples. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Comparison of secondary ion intensity enhancement from polymers on silicon and silver substrates by using Au-TOF-SIMS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kudo, M.; Aimoto, K.; Sunagawa, Y.; Kato, N.; Aoyagi, S.; Iida, S.; Sanada, N.

2008-12-01

The usefulness of the usage of cluster primary ion source together with an Ag substrate and detection of Ag cationized molecular ions was studied from the standpoint to realize high sensitivity TOF-SIMS analysis of organic materials. Although secondary ions from polymer thin films on a Si substrate can be detected in a higher sensitivity with Au 3+ cluster primary ion compared with Ga + ion bombardment, it was clearly observed that the secondary ion intensities from samples on an Ag substrate showed quite a different tendency from that on Si. When monoatomic primary ions, e.g., Au + and Ga +, were used for the measurement of the sample on an Ag substrate, [M+Ag] + ions (M corresponds to polyethylene glycol molecule) were detected in a high sensitivity. On the contrary, when Au 3+ was used, no intensity enhancement of [M+Ag] + ions was observed. The acceleration energy dependence of the detected secondary ions implies the different ionization mechanisms on the different substrates.

Fabrication of conductive and high-dispersed Ppy@Ag/g-C3N4 composite photocatalysts for removing various pollutants in water

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Zhi; Tang, Xu; Ma, Changchang; Song, Minshan; Gao, Nailing; Wang, Youshan; Huo, Pengwei; Lu, Ziyang; Yan, Yongsheng

2016-11-01

The ternary conductive Ppy@Ag/g-C3N4 composite photocatalysts was successfully synthesized by polymerization process and surface polymerization technique. And the as-prepared Ppy@Ag/g-C3N4 sample exhibited the higher photocatalytic activity for various pollutant (MO, DM, TC, CIP, GFLX and EH) remove than that of pure g-C3N4 and Ag/g-C3N4 under visible light irradiation. It mainly originated from the Ag nanoparticles anchored between g-C3N4 and Ppy acted as electron transfer mediator that facilitated the charge carrier separation and then expending the lifetime of the carriers. Meanwhile, the obtained Ppy@Ag/g-C3N4 sample also showed a relatively good recycling stability which was the crucial factor for photocatalyst practical application. This work provided a new facile strategy for improving photo-degradation activity of g-C3N4 photocatalyst.

Enhanced apatite-forming ability and antibacterial activity of porous anodic alumina embedded with CaO-SiO2-Ag2O bioactive materials.

PubMed

Ni, Siyu; Li, Xiaohong; Yang, Pengan; Ni, Shirong; Hong, Feng; Webster, Thomas J

2016-01-01

In this study, to provide porous anodic alumina (PAA) with bioactivity and anti-bacterial properties, sol-gel derived bioactive CaO-SiO2-Ag2O materials were loaded onto and into PAA nano-pores (termed CaO-SiO2-Ag2O/PAA) by a sol-dipping method and subsequent calcination of the gel-glasses. The in vitro apatite-forming ability of the CaO-SiO2-Ag2O/PAA specimens was evaluated by soaking them in simulated body fluid (SBF). The surface microstructure and chemical property before and after soaking in SBF were characterized. Release of ions into the SBF was also measured. In addition, the antibacterial properties of the samples were tested against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). The results showed that CaO-SiO2-Ag2O bioactive materials were successfully decorated onto and into PAA nano-pores. In vitro SBF experiments revealed that the CaO-SiO2-Ag2O/PAA specimens dramatically enhanced the apatite-forming ability of PAA in SBF and Ca, Si and Ag ions were released from the samples in a sustained and slow manner. Importantly, E. coli and S. aureus were both killed on the CaO-SiO2-Ag2O/PAA (by 100%) samples compared to PAA controls after 3 days of culture. In summary, this study demonstrated that the CaO-SiO2-Ag2O/PAA samples possess good apatite-forming ability and high antibacterial activity causing it to be a promising bioactive coating candidate for implant materials for orthopedic applications. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Transport mechanisms of Silver Nanoparticles by runoff - A Flume Experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mahdi Mahdi, Karrar NM; Commelin, Meindert; Peters, Ruud J. B.; Baartman, Jantiene E. M.; Ritsema, Coen; Geissen, Violette

2017-04-01

Silver Nanoparticles (AgNPs) are being used in many products as it has unique antimicrobial-biocidal properties. Through leaching, these particles will reach the soil environment which may affect soil organisms and disrupt plants. This work aims to study the potential transport of AgNPs with water and sediment over the soil surface due to soil erosion by water. This was done in a laboratory setting, using a rainfall simulator and flume. Low AgNPs concentration (50 μg.kg-1) was applied to two soil-flumes with slopes of 20% and 10%. The rainfall was applied in four events of 15 min each with the total amount of rainfall was 15mm in each event. After applying the rainfall, different samples were collected; soil clusters, background (BS) and surface sediments (Sf), from the flume surface, and, Runoff sediments (RS) and water (RW) was collected from the outlet. The results showed that AgNPs were detected in all samples collected, however, AgNPs concentration varied according samples type (soil or water), time of collection (for runoff water and sediment) and the slope of the soil flume. Further, the higher AgNPs concentrations were detected in the background soil (BS); as the BS samples have more finer parts (silt and clay). The AgNPs concentration in the runoff sediments increased with subsequent applied rain events. In addition to that, increasing the slope of the flume from 10% to 20% increased the total AgNPs transported with the runoff sediments by a factor 1.5. The study confirms that AgNPs can be transported over the soil surface by both runoff water and sediments due to erosion.

Performance evaluation of new automated hepatitis B viral markers in the clinical laboratory: two quantitative hepatitis B surface antigen assays and an HBV core-related antigen assay.

PubMed

Park, Yongjung; Hong, Duck Jin; Shin, Saeam; Cho, Yonggeun; Kim, Hyon-Suk

2012-05-01

We evaluated quantitative hepatitis B surface antigen (qHBsAg) assays and a hepatitis B virus (HBV) core-related antigen (HBcrAg) assay. A total of 529 serum samples from patients with hepatitis B were tested. HBsAg levels were determined by using the Elecsys (Roche Diagnostics, Indianapolis, IN) and Architect (Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, IL) qHBsAg assays. HBcrAg was measured by using Lumipulse HBcrAg assay (Fujirebio, Tokyo, Japan). Serum aminotransferases and HBV DNA were respectively quantified by using the Hitachi 7600 analyzer (Hitachi High-Technologies, Tokyo, Japan) and the Cobas AmpliPrep/Cobas TaqMan test (Roche). Precision of the qHBsAg and HBcrAg assays was assessed, and linearity of the qHBsAg assays was verified. All assays showed good precision performance with coefficients of variation between 4.5% and 5.3% except for some levels. Both qHBsAg assays showed linearity from 0.1 to 12,000.0 IU/mL and correlated well (r = 0.9934). HBsAg levels correlated with HBV DNA (r = 0.3373) and with HBcrAg (r = 0.5164), and HBcrAg also correlated with HBV DNA (r = 0.5198; P < .0001). This observation could provide impetus for further research to elucidate the clinical usefulness of the qHBsAg and HBcrAg assays.

Domination of volumetric toughening by silver nanoparticles over interfacial strengthening of carbon nanotubes in bactericidal hydroxyapatite biocomposite.

PubMed

Herkendell, Katharina; Shukla, Vishnu Raj; Patel, Anup Kumar; Balani, Kantesh

2014-01-01

In order to address the problem of bacterial infections in bone-substitution surgery, it is essential that bone replacement biomaterials are equipped with bactericidal components. This research aims to optimize the content of silver (Ag), a well-known antibacterial metal, in a multiwalled carbon nanotube (CNT) reinforced hydroxyapatite (HA) composite, to yield a bioceramic which can be used as an antibacterial and tough surface of bone replacement prosthesis. The bactericidal properties evaluated using Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis indicate that CNT reinforcement supports growth of Gram negative E. coli bacteria (~8.5% more adhesion than pure HA); but showed a strong decrease of Gram positive S. epidermidis bacteria (~diminished to 66%) compared to that of pure HA. Small amounts of silver (2-5wt.%) already show a severe bactericidal effect when compared to that of HA-CNT (by 30% and ~60% respectively). MTT assay confirmed enhanced biocompatibility of L929 cells on HA-4wt.% CNT (~121%), HA-4wt.% CNT-1wt.% Ag (~124%) sample and HA-4wt.% CNT-2wt.% Ag (~100%) when compared to that of pure HA. The samples with higher silver content showed decreased biocompatibility (77% for HA-4wt.% CNT-5wt.% Ag sample and 73% for HA-4wt.% CNT-10wt.% Ag). Though reinforcement of 4wt.% CNT has shown an increase of fracture toughness by ~62%, silver reinforcement has shown enhancement of up to 244% (i.e. 3.43 times). Accordingly, isolation of toughening contribution indicates that volumetric toughening by silver dominates over interfacial strengthening contributed by CNTs towards enhanced fracture toughness of potential HA-Ag-CNT biocomposites. © 2013.

Dependence of Ag/Ga composition ratio in AgGaSe2 thin film

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Matsuo, H.; Yoshino, K.; Ikari, T.

2006-09-01

AgGaSe2 thin film was deposited on glass substrates by vacuum evaporation method. The starting material was mixed Ag2Se and Ga2Se3 powders. Ag/Ga ratios of the samples were 1.5, 1.2, 1.0, 0.8, 0.7 and 0.4. The samples were annealed from 100 to 600 °C for 10 min. After these processes, single phase AgGaSe2 thin films could be obtained except Ag/Ga ratio of 0.4 at annealing temperature of 600 °C. Ag-rich samples had large grain. On the other hand, Ga-rich samples had small grain. Furthermore, Ga-rich and Ag-rich samples indicated p- and n-types because of Ag- and/or Ga-vacancy and Se-vacancy, respectively.

The Effect of Ag and Ag+N Ion Implantation on Cell Attachment Properties

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Urkac, Emel Sokullu; Oztarhan, Ahmet; Gurhan, Ismet Deliloglu

2009-03-10

Implanted biomedical prosthetic devices are intended to perform safely, reliably and effectively in the human body thus the materials used for orthopedic devices should have good biocompatibility. Ultra High Molecular Weight Poly Ethylene (UHMWPE) has been commonly used for total hip joint replacement because of its very good properties. In this work, UHMWPE samples were Ag and Ag+N ion implanted by using the Metal-Vapor Vacuum Arc (MEVVA) ion implantation technique. Samples were implanted with a fluency of 1017 ion/cm2 and extraction voltage of 30 kV. Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry (RBS) was used for surface studies. RBS showed the presence of Agmore » and N on the surface. Cell attachment properties investigated with model cell lines (L929 mouse fibroblasts) to demonstrate that the effect of Ag and Ag+N ion implantation can favorably influence the surface of UHMWPE for biomedical applications. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to demonstrate the cell attachment on the surface. Study has shown that Ag+N ion implantation represents more effective cell attachment properties on the UHMWPE surfaces.« less

Morphology-controlled synthesis of Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4} nano/microcrystals and their antibacterial properties

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wu, Aiping; Tian, Chungui, E-mail: tianchungui@yahoo.com.cn; Chang, Wei

Graphical abstract: The Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4} with rhombic dodecahedral, spherical and small size particles were controllable fabricated just by changing the types of the solvent. The materials possess good antibacterial properties toward different kinds of bacteria. - Highlights: • The Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4} with three morphologies were controllable fabricated. • The Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4} as-prepared possess obvious antibacterial properties in the dark. • The antibacterial ability of Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4} could be greatly improved under the visible light irradiation. - Abstract: We reported the controllable fabrication of Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4} nano/microcrystals through a simple solution-based precipitation reaction. The samples weremore » characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and infrared spectroscopy. The results indicated that the Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4} crystals with three different morphology, including the rhombic dodecahedron of 500 nm, the sphere of 100 nm and the particles with small-size of 20 nm, could be obtained in the solvents of water, ethylene glycol (EG) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). The antibacterial assay showed that all samples possess obvious antibacterial properties. In addition, the Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4} with small size of 20 nm showed better activity due to their high specific surface areas. Notably, we have found that the antibacterial ability of Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4} could be greatly improved under the visible light irradiation, which are superior to that in the dark and commercial streptomycin.« less

Bimetallic AgCu/Cu2O hybrid for the synergetic adsorption of iodide from solution.

PubMed

Mao, Ping; Liu, Ying; Liu, Xiaodong; Wang, Yuechan; Liang, Jie; Zhou, Qihang; Dai, Yuexuan; Jiao, Yan; Chen, Shouwen; Yang, Yi

2017-08-01

To further improve the capacity of Cu 2 O to absorb I - anions from solution, and to understand the difference between the adsorption mechanisms of Ag/Cu 2 O and Cu/Cu 2 O adsorbents, bimetallic AgCu was doped into Cu 2 O through a facile solvothermal route. Samples were characterized and employed to adsorb I - anions under different experimental conditions. The results show that the Cu content can be tuned by adding different volumes of Ag sols. After doping bimetallic AgCu, the adsorption capacity of the samples can be increased from 0.02 mmol g -1 to 0.52 mmol g -1 . Moreover, the optimal adsorption is reached within only 240 min. Meanwhile, the difference between the adsorption mechanisms of Ag/Cu 2 O and Cu/Cu 2 O adsorbents was verified, and the cooperative adsorption mechanism of the AgCu/Cu 2 O hybrid was proposed and verified. In addition, the AgCu/Cu 2 O hybrid showed excellent selectivity, e.g., its adsorption efficiencies are 85.1%, 81.9%, 85.9% and 85.7% in the presence of the Cl - , CO 3 2- , SO 4 2- and NO 3 - competitive anions, respectively. Furthermore, the AgCu/Cu 2 O hybrid can worked well in other harsh environments (e.g., acidic, alkaline and seawater environments). Therefore, this study is expected to promote the development of Cu 2 O into a highly efficient adsorbent for the removal of iodide from solution. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Removal of bromide and iodide anions from drinking water by silver-activated carbon aerogels.

PubMed

Sánchez-Polo, M; Rivera-Utrilla, J; Salhi, E; von Gunten, U

2006-08-01

The aim of this study is to analyze the use of Ag-doped activated carbon aerogels for bromide and iodide removal from drinking water and to study how the activation of Ag-doped aerogels affects their behavior. It has been observed that the carbonization treatment and activation process of Ag-doped aerogels increased the surface area value ( [Formula: see text] ), whereas the volume of meso-(V(2)) and macropores (V(3)) decreased slightly. Chemical characterization of the materials revealed that carbonization and especially activation process considerably increased the surface basicity of the sample. Original sample (A) presented acidic surface properties (pH(PZC)=4.5) with 21% surface oxygen, whereas the sample that underwent activation showed mainly basic surface chemical properties (pH(PZC)=9.5) with only 6% of surface oxygen. Carbonization and especially, activation process considerable increased the adsorption capacity of bromide and iodide ions. This would mainly be produced by (i) an increase in the microporosity of the sample, which increases Ag-adsorption sites available to halide anions, and (ii) a rise of the basicity of the sample, which produces an increase in attractive electrostatic interactions between the aerogel surface, positively charged at the working pH (pH(solution)

Thermoelectric Properties of Pulsed Electric Current Sintered Samples of AgPb m SbSe17 ( m = 16 or 17)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Chun-I.; Todorov, Ilyia; Kanatzidis, Mercouri G.; Timm, Edward; Case, Eldon D.; Schock, Harold; Hogan, Timothy P.

2012-06-01

Lead chalcogenide materials have drawn attention in recent years because of their outstanding thermoelectric properties. Bulk n-type materials of AgPb m SbTe2+ m have been reported to exhibit high figure of merit, ZT, as high as 1.7 at 700 K. Recent reports have shown p-type lead selenide-based compounds with comparable ZT. The analogous material AgPb m SbSe17 shares a similar cubic rock-salt structure with PbTe-based compounds; however, it exhibits a higher melting point, and selenium is more abundant than tellurium. Using solid solution chemistry, we have fabricated cast AgPb15SbSe17 samples that show a peak power factor of approximately 17 μW/cm K2 at 450 K. Increasing the strength of such materials is commonly achieved through powder processing, which also helps to homogenize the source materials. Pulsed electric current sintering (PECS) is a hot-pressing technique that utilizes electric current through the die and sample for direct Joule heating during pressing. The mechanisms present during PECS processing have captured significant research interest and have led to some notable improvements in sample properties compared with other densification techniques. We report the thermoelectric properties of PECS samples of AgPb m SbSe17 along with sample fabrication and processing details.

Structural studies on the substitution of Ag, Na doped LCSMO CMR manganites

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Subhashini, P., E-mail: subhashinisvu@gmail.com; Krishnaiah, M.; Munirathinam, B.

2016-05-06

Synthesis and characterization of colossal magnetoresistance (CMR) materials has been a subject of scientific research due to the unique transport, magnetotransport, and magnetic properties. The single phase polycrystalline La{sub 0.7}Ca{sub 0.1}Sr{sub 0.1}M{sub 0.1}MnO{sub 3} (LCSMO) (M=Ag and Na) samples prepared using nitrate route method. The structural properties are studied at different dopants by X-ray diffraction. The surface morphology and elemental analysis of both samples were carried out by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray technique (EDAX) respectively. The structural analysis shows that the LCSMO is crystallized in an orthorhombic perovskite structure belonging to Pnma space group. The crystalmore » size of the sample is calculated using Scherrer formula. The SEM images show that the polycrystalline grains are observed to be near spherical shape and uniform in size. EDAX spectra taken from the surface of the synthesized powders show a nominal composition near the desired one for M=Na sample where as some vacancies are present in the A-site in the case of Ag substitution as will be discussed in this paper.« less

Piezoelectric and opto-electrical properties of silver-doped ZnO nanorods synthesized by low temperature aqueous chemical method

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Nour, E. S., E-mail: eiman.satti.osman@liu.se; Echresh, A.; Willander, M.

2015-07-15

In this paper, we have synthesized Zn{sub 1−x}Ag{sub x}O (x = 0, 0.03, 0.06, and 0.09) nanorods (NRs) via the hydrothermal method at low temperature on silicon substrate. The characterization and comparison between the different Zn{sub 1−x}Ag{sub x}O samples, indicated that an increasing Ag concentration from x = 0 to a maximum of x = 0.09; All samples show a preferred orientation of (002) direction with no observable change of morphology. As the quantity of the Ag dopant was changed, the transmittances, as well as the optical band gap were decreased. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy data clearly indicate the presence ofmore » Ag in ZnO crystal lattice. A nanoindentation-based technique was used to measure the effective piezo-response of different concentrations of Ag for both direct and converse effects. The value of the piezoelectric coefficient (d{sub 33}) as well as the piezo potential generated from the ZnO NRs and Zn{sub 1−x}Ag{sub x}O NRs was found to decrease with the increase of Ag fraction. The finding in this investigation reveals that Ag doped ZnO is not suitable for piezoelectric energy harvesting devices.« less

Conformational dynamics of a short antigenic peptide in its free and antibody bound forms gives insight into the role of β-turns in peptide immunogenicity.

PubMed

Shukla, Rashmi Tambe; Sasidhar, Yellamraju U

2015-07-01

Earlier immunological experiments with a synthetic 36-residue peptide (75-110) from Influenza hemagglutinin have been shown to elicit anti-peptide antibodies (Ab) which could cross-react with the parent protein. In this article, we have studied the conformational features of a short antigenic (Ag) peptide ((98)YPYDVPDYASLRS(110)) from Influenza hemagglutinin in its free and antibody (Ab) bound forms with molecular dynamics simulations using GROMACS package and OPLS-AA/L all-atom force field at two different temperatures (293 K and 310 K). Multiple simulations for the free Ag peptide show sampling of ordered conformations and suggest different conformational preferences of the peptide at the two temperatures. The free Ag samples a conformation crucial for Ab binding (β-turn formed by "DYAS" sequence) with greater preference at 310 K while, it samples a native-like conformation with relatively greater propensity at 293 K. The sequence "DYAS" samples β-turn conformation with greater propensity at 310 K as part of the hemagglutinin protein also. The bound Ag too samples the β-turn involving "DYAS" sequence and in addition it also samples a β-turn formed by the sequence "YPYD" at its N-terminus, which seems to be induced upon binding to the Ab. Further, the bound Ag displays conformational flexibility at both 293 K and 310 K, particularly at terminal residues. The implications of these results for peptide immunogenicity and Ag-Ab recognition are discussed. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Transport Properties and Magnetoresistance of La0.8Ca0.13Ag0.07MnO3 Perovskite Manganite Synthesized by Sol-Gel Method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kurniawan, B.; Ruli, F.; Imaduddin, A.; Kamila, R.

2018-05-01

In this paper, we investigate the transport properties and magnetoresistance effect of La0.8Ca0.13Ag0.07MnO3 perovskite manganite synthesized by sol-gel method. The XRD pattern of the sample shows a rhombohedral perovskite structure with space group R3¯c. The EDX analysis confirms that the sample contains all expected chemical elements without any additional impurity. The temperature dependence of electrical resistivity was measured using a cryogenic magnetometer. The results show a metal-insulator transition temperature (TM-I ) at 280 K. The resistivity of the sample increases with an increase of temperature below TM-I . Theoretical analyses of the temperature dependence of resistivity suggest that the resistivity due to electron-electron scattering is predominant below TI-M. The resistivity of the sample decreases when applied magnetic field 1 T at a temperature range of 10 K to 300 K. The magnetoresistance of La0.8Ca0.13Ag0.07MnO3 emanates from spin-polarized tunneling process at the grain boundary.

Photocatalytic degradation of gaseous toluene over hollow “spindle-like” α-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} loaded with Ag

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Li, Hong; Department of Basic, Dalian Naval Academy, Dalian 116018; Zhao, Qidong

2012-06-15

Highlights: ► Hollow α-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} spindle-shaped microparticles were prepared for Ag support. ► The hollow α-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} and Ag/α-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} materials were used to degrade gaseous toluene. ► Complete degradation of toluene occurred on the Ag/α-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} surface. -- Abstract: In this work, hollow “spindle-like” α-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanoparticles were synthesized by a hydrothermal route. The Ag/α-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} catalyst was prepared based on the spindle-shaped α-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} with CTAB as the surfactant, which showed excellent photoelectric property and photocatalytic activity. The structural properties of these samples were systematically investigated by X-ray powder diffraction, scanningmore » electronic microscopy, transmission electronic microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectra, and UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy techniques. The photo-induced charge separation in the samples was demonstrated by surface photovoltage measurement. The photocatalytic performances of the Ag/α-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} and α-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} samples were comparatively studied in the degradation of toluene under xenon lamp irradiation by in situ FTIR spectroscopy. Benzaldehyde and benzoic acid species could be observed on the α-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} surface rather than Ag/α-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} surface. The results indicate that the Ag/α-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} sample exhibited higher photocatalytic efficiency.« less

Highly luminescent material based on Alq3:Ag nanoparticles.

PubMed

Salah, Numan; Habib, Sami S; Khan, Zishan H

2013-09-01

Tris (8-hydroxyquinoline) aluminum (Alq3) is an organic semiconductor molecule, widely used as an electron transport layer, light emitting layer in organic light-emitting diodes and a host for fluorescent and phosphorescent dyes. In this work thin films of pure and silver (Ag), cupper (Cu), terbium (Tb) doped Alq3 nanoparticles were synthesized using the physical vapor condensation method. They were fabricated on glass substrates and characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy, atomic force microscope (AFM), UV-visible absorption spectra and studied for their photoluminescence (PL) properties. SEM and AFM results show spherical nanoparticles with size around 70-80 nm. These nanoparticles have almost equal sizes and a homogeneous size distribution. The maximum absorption of Alq3 nanoparticles is observed at 300 nm, while the surface plasmon resonant band of Ag doped sample appears at 450 nm. The PL emission spectra of Tb, Cu and Ag doped Alq3 nanoparticles show a single broad band at around 515 nm, which is similar to that of the pure one, but with enhanced PL intensity. The sample doped with Ag at a concentration ratio of Alq3:Ag = 1:0.8 is found to have the highest PL intensity, which is around 2 times stronger than that of the pure one. This enhancement could be attributed to the surface plasmon resonance of Ag ions that might have increased the absorption and then the quantum yield. These remarkable result suggest that Alq3 nanoparticles incorporated with Ag ions might be quite useful for future nano-optoelectronic devices.

Scintillating screens based on the LPE grown Tb3Al5O12:Ce single crystalline films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zorenko, Yuriy; Douissard, Paul-Antoine; Martin, Thierry; Riva, Federica; Gorbenko, Vitaliy; Zorenko, Tetiana; Paprocki, Kazimierz; Iskalieva, Aizhan; Witkiewicz, Sandra; Fedorov, Alexander; Bilski, Paweł; Twardak, Anna

2017-03-01

We report in this work the creation of new heavy and efficient Tb3Al5O12:Ce (TbAG:Ce) single crystalline film (SCF) scintillators, grown by LPE method from PbO-B2O3 based flux onto Y3Al5O12 (YAG) and Gd3Ga2.5Al2.5O12 (GAGG) substrates, for different optoelectronic applications. The luminescent and scintillation properties of the TbAG:Ce SCF screens, grown onto different types of substrates, are studied and compared with the properties of the Lu3Al5O12:Ce (LuAG:Ce) and YAG:Ce SCF counterparts. TbAG:Ce SCFs show very high scintillation light yield (LY) under α-particles excitation, which overcomes by 30% the LY of high-quality LuAG:Ce SCF samples. In comparison with YAG:Ce and LuAG:Ce SCFs, TbAG:Ce SCF screens show also significantly lower afterglow (up to 10-4 level at X-ray burst duration of 0.1 s), which is comparable with the afterglow level of the best samples of LSO:Ce, Tb SCFs typically being used now for microimaging. Together with a high light output of X-ray excited luminescence, such extremely low afterglow of TbAG:Ce SCF is a very good reason for future development of scintillating screens based on the mentioned garnet. We also introduce the possibility to create new types of ;film-substrate; hybrid scintillators using the LPE method for simultaneous registration of different components of ionizing radiation and microimaging based on the TbAG:Ce SCF and GAGG:Ce substrates.

Preparation of silver nanoparticles loaded graphene oxide nanosheets for antibacterial activity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

T, T. T., Vi; Lue, S. J.

2016-11-01

A simple, facile method to fabricate successfully silver nanoparticle (AgNPs) decorated on graphene oxide (GO) layers via grafted thiol groups. Samples were prepared with different concentrations of AgNO3. Resulting AgNPs were quasi-spherical in shape and attached on the layers of GO. Physical properties were confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), zeta potential, dynamic light scattering (DLS), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra, thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). Antimicrobial test was effectively showed using MRSA (Staphylococcus areus). The GO-Ag NPs with appropriate Ag NPs content of 0.2 M AgNO3 exhibited the strongest antibacterial activity at 48.77% inhibition after 4 hours incubation.

Visible-light-induced Ag/BiVO4 semiconductor with enhanced photocatalytic and antibacterial performance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Regmi, Chhabilal; Dhakal, Dipesh; Wohn Lee, Soo

2018-02-01

An Ag-loaded BiVO4 visible-light-driven photocatalyst was synthesized by the microwave hydrothermal method followed by photodeposition. The photocatalytic performance of the synthesized samples was evaluated on a mixed dye (methylene blue and rhodamine B), as well as bisphenol A in aqueous solution. Similarly, the disinfection activities of synthesized samples towards the Gram-negative Escherichia coli (E. coli) in a model cell were investigated under irradiation with visible light (λ ≥ 420 nm). The synthesized samples have monoclinic scheelite structure. Photocatalytic results showed that all Ag-loaded BiVO4 samples exhibited greater degradation and a higher mineralization rate than the pure BiVO4, probably due to the presence of surface plasmon absorption that arises due to the loading of Ag on the BiVO4 surface. The optimum Ag loading of 5 wt% has the highest photocatalytic performance and greatest stability with pseudo-first-order rate constants of 0.031 min-1 and 0.023 min-1 for the degradation of methylene blue and rhodamine B respectively in a mixture with an equal volume and concentration of each dye. The photocatalytic degradation of bisphenol A reaches 76.2% with 5 wt% Ag-doped BiVO4 within 180 min irradiation time. Similarly, the Ag-loaded BiVO4 could completely inactivate E. coli cells within 30 min under visible light irradiation. The disruption of the cell membrane as well as degradation of protein and DNA exhibited constituted evidence for antibacterial activity towards E. coli. Moreover, the bactericidal mechanisms involved in the photocatalytic disinfection process were systematically investigated.

Effect of dopants on the TL response of the new LiF:Mg,Cu,Ag material

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yahyaabadi, A.; Torkzadeh, F.; Rezaei-Ochbelagh, D.; Hosseini Pooya, M.

2018-07-01

The new TL LiF:Mg,Cu,Ag material was prepared and investigated in this study. The TL intensity of LiF:Mg,Cu,Ag is strongly dependent on the concentration of dopants and the preparation procedure. Any small change in these factors can cause alterations in TL response. In this study, the influence of Cu and Ag concentrations on the response of the LiF:Mg,Cu,Ag sample was investigated and showed that the height of the low, main and high temperature peaks changes with Ag concentration. Their intensities increased with increasing Ag concentration to a maximum value and decreased with higher Ag concentration. It was also found that Cu concentration less than 0.05 mol% influences the maximum peak height and TL intensity. The optimum Cu and Ag concentrations were found to be 0.05 and 0.1 mol% at 1005 °C QT, respectively. The role of dopants in LiF:Mg,Cu,Ag material was also investigated. The results showed that presence of three dopants is important for having material with sensitivity higher than LiF:Mg,Ti. The Mg dopant plays a crucial role in the formation of the trapping center and the position of the main dosimetric peak.

Evaluation methods and evaporation conditions for low-resistivity contacts on high Tc superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Y. P.; Warner, K.; Chan, C.; Chen, K.; Markiewicz, R.

1989-12-01

Low-resistivity contacts to bulk high-Tc superconductors have been prepared by resistive evaporation with values of rho-s (ohm sq cm) as low as 10 to the -10th (77 K) for Ag/YBaCuO, 10 to the -9th (77 K) for Ag/TlPbBaCaCuO, and 10 to the 7th (60 K) for Ag/BiCaSrCuO. It was found that rho-s is improved by increasing the length of a preevaporation step. This effect has been further investigated by secondary ion-mass spectrometry analysis on several Ag/Si samples. Both three-terminal and four-terminal methods have been used to determine rho-s; the three-terminal method shows less dependency on the sample/contact geometry for measurements taken above Tc.

Ameliorative role of nano-ceria against amine coated Ag-NP induced toxicity in Labeo rohita

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khan, Muhammad Saleem; Qureshi, Naureen Aziz; Jabeen, Farhat

2018-03-01

Silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) and its byproducts can spread pollution in aquatic habitat. Liver and gills are key target for toxicity. Oxidative stress, tissue alterations, and hemotoxicity are assumed to be associated with Ag-NPs in target animals. Cerium oxide nanoparticles (nano-ceria) show antioxidant potential in scavenging the free radicals generated in Ag-NP-induced oxidative stress. We determined ameliorated role of nano-ceria against Ag-NP-induced toxicity in fresh water Labeo rohita (L. rohita). Four groups were used in study including control, nano-ceria, Ag-NPs, and Ag-NPs + nano-ceria. Ag-NPs (30 mg l-1) and nano-ceria (50 µg kg-1) were given through water and prepared feed, respectively. The samples were taken after 28 days. Results demonstrated that pre-treatment of nano-ceria recovered L. rohita from Ag-NP-induced toxicity and oxidative stress. Nano-ceria pre-treatment actively mimics the activity of GST, GSH, CAT, and SOD. Furthermore, Ag-NPs' treatment caused severe inflammation and necrosis in hepatic parenchyma which leaded to congestion of blood in hepatic tissues. Accumulation of a yellow pigment in hepatic tissue was also seen due to necrosis of affected cells. In nano-ceria pre-treatment, there was no congestion in hepatic tissue. Vacuolization of cells and necrosis in some area was recorded in nano-ceria pre-treated group, but the gill and hepatic tissue showed improvement against Ag-NP-induced damage. Nano-ceria pre-treatment also improved hematological parameters in Ag-NP-treated fish. This study concluded that Ag-NP-induced toxicity in treated fish and pre-treatment of nano-ceria show ameliorative role.

Enhanced Visible Light Photocatalytic Degradation of Organic Pollutants over Flower-Like Bi₂O₂CO₃ Dotted with Ag@AgBr.

PubMed

Lin, Shuanglong; Wang, Miao; Liu, Li; Liang, Yinghua; Cui, Wenquan; Zhang, Zisheng; Yun, Nan

2016-10-31

A facile and feasible oil-in-water self-assembly approach was developed to synthesize flower-like Ag@AgBr/Bi₂O₂CO₃ micro-composites. The photocatalytic activities of the samples were evaluated through methylene blue degradation under visible light irradiation. Compared to Bi₂O₂CO₃, flower-like Ag@AgBr/Bi₂O₂CO₃ micro-composites show enhanced photocatalytic activities. In addition, results indicate that both the physicochemical properties and associated photocatalytic activities of Ag@AgBr/Bi₂O₂CO₃ composites are shown to be dependent on the loading quantity of Ag@AgBr. The highest photocatalytic performance was achieved at 7 wt % Ag@AgBr, degrading 95.18% methylene blue (MB) after 20 min of irradiation, which is over 1.52 and 3.56 times more efficient than that of pure Ag@AgBr and pure Bi₂O₂CO₃, respectively. Bisphenol A (BPA) was also degraded to further demonstrate the degradation ability of Ag@AgBr/Bi₂O₂CO₃. A photocatalytic mechanism for the degradation of organic compounds over Ag@AgBr/Bi₂O₂CO₃ was proposed. Results from this study illustrate an entirely new approach to fabricate semiconductor composites containing Ag@AgX/bismuth (X = a halogen).

Hollow raspberry-like PdAg alloy nanospheres: High electrocatalytic activity for ethanol oxidation in alkaline media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peng, Cheng; Hu, Yongli; Liu, Mingrui; Zheng, Yixiong

2015-03-01

Palladium-silver (PdAg) alloy nanospheres with unique structure were prepared using a one-pot procedure based on the galvanic replacement reaction. Their electrocatalytic activity for ethanol oxidation in alkaline media was evaluated. The morphology and crystal structure of the samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Electrochemical characterization techniques, including cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometry (CA) measurements were used to analyze the electrochemical performance of the PdAg alloy nanospheres. The SEM and TEM images showed that the PdAg alloy nanospheres exhibit a hierarchical nanostructure with hollow interiors and porous walls. Compared to the commercial Pd/C catalyst, the as-prepared PdAg alloy nanospheres exhibit superior electrocatalytic activity and stability towards ethanol electro-oxidation in alkaline media, showing its potential as a new non-Pt electro-catalyst for direct alcohol fuel cells (DAFCs).

Antibacterial abilities and biocompatibilities of Ti-Ag alloys with nanotubular coatings.

PubMed

Liu, Xingwang; Tian, Ang; You, Junhua; Zhang, Hangzhou; Wu, Lin; Bai, Xizhuang; Lei, Zeming; Shi, Xiaoguo; Xue, Xiangxin; Wang, Hanning

To endow implants with both short- and long-term antibacterial activities without impairing their biocompatibility, novel Ti-Ag alloy substrates with different proportions of Ag (1, 2, and 4 wt% Ag) were generated with nanotubular coverings (TiAg-NT). Unlike commercial pure Ti and titania nanotube, the TiAg-NT samples exhibited short-term antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus ( S. aureus ), as confirmed by scanning electron microscopy and double staining with SYTO 9 and propidium iodide. A film applicator coating assay and a zone of inhibition assay were performed to investigate the long-term antibacterial activities of the samples. The cellular viability and cytotoxicity were evaluated through a Cell Counting Kit-8 assay. Annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide double staining was used to assess the level of MG63 cell apoptosis on each sample. All of the TiAg-NT samples, particularly the nanotube-coated Ti-Ag alloy with 2 wt% Ag (Ti2%Ag-NT), could effectively inhibit bacterial adhesion and kill the majority of adhered S. aureus on the first day of culture. Additionally, the excellent antibacterial abilities exhibited by the TiAg-NT samples were sustained for at least 30 days. Although Ti2%Ag-NT had less biocompatibility than titania nanotube, its performance was satisfactory, as demonstrated by the higher cellular viability and lower cell apoptosis rate obtained with it compared with those achieved with commercial pure Ti. The Ti1%Ag-NT and Ti4%Ag-NT samples did not yield good cell viability. This study indicates that the TiAg-NT samples can prevent biofilm formation and maintain their antibacterial ability for at least 1 month. Ti2%Ag-NT exhibited better antibacterial ability and biocompatibility than commercial pure Ti, which could be attributed to the synergistic effect of the presence of Ag (2 wt%) and the morphology of the nanotubes. Ti2%Ag-NT may offer a potential implant material that is capable of preventing implant-related infection.

Antibacterial abilities and biocompatibilities of Ti–Ag alloys with nanotubular coatings

PubMed Central

Liu, Xingwang; Tian, Ang; You, Junhua; Zhang, Hangzhou; Wu, Lin; Bai, Xizhuang; Lei, Zeming; Shi, Xiaoguo; Xue, Xiangxin; Wang, Hanning

2016-01-01

Purpose To endow implants with both short- and long-term antibacterial activities without impairing their biocompatibility, novel Ti–Ag alloy substrates with different proportions of Ag (1, 2, and 4 wt% Ag) were generated with nanotubular coverings (TiAg-NT). Methods Unlike commercial pure Ti and titania nanotube, the TiAg-NT samples exhibited short-term antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), as confirmed by scanning electron microscopy and double staining with SYTO 9 and propidium iodide. A film applicator coating assay and a zone of inhibition assay were performed to investigate the long-term antibacterial activities of the samples. The cellular viability and cytotoxicity were evaluated through a Cell Counting Kit-8 assay. Annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide double staining was used to assess the level of MG63 cell apoptosis on each sample. Results All of the TiAg-NT samples, particularly the nanotube-coated Ti–Ag alloy with 2 wt% Ag (Ti2%Ag-NT), could effectively inhibit bacterial adhesion and kill the majority of adhered S. aureus on the first day of culture. Additionally, the excellent antibacterial abilities exhibited by the TiAg-NT samples were sustained for at least 30 days. Although Ti2%Ag-NT had less biocompatibility than titania nanotube, its performance was satisfactory, as demonstrated by the higher cellular viability and lower cell apoptosis rate obtained with it compared with those achieved with commercial pure Ti. The Ti1%Ag-NT and Ti4%Ag-NT samples did not yield good cell viability. Conclusion This study indicates that the TiAg-NT samples can prevent biofilm formation and maintain their antibacterial ability for at least 1 month. Ti2%Ag-NT exhibited better antibacterial ability and biocompatibility than commercial pure Ti, which could be attributed to the synergistic effect of the presence of Ag (2 wt%) and the morphology of the nanotubes. Ti2%Ag-NT may offer a potential implant material that is capable of preventing implant-related infection. PMID:27843315

Comparative Metatranscriptomics of Wheat Rhizosphere Microbiomes in Disease Suppressive and Non-suppressive Soils for Rhizoctonia solani AG8

PubMed Central

Hayden, Helen L.; Savin, Keith W.; Wadeson, Jenny; Gupta, Vadakattu V. S. R.; Mele, Pauline M.

2018-01-01

The soilborne fungus Rhizoctonia solani anastomosis group (AG) 8 is a major pathogen of grain crops resulting in substantial production losses. In the absence of resistant cultivars of wheat or barley, a sustainable and enduring method for disease control may lie in the enhancement of biological disease suppression. Evidence of effective biological control of R. solani AG8 through disease suppression has been well documented at our study site in Avon, South Australia. A comparative metatranscriptomic approach was applied to assess the taxonomic and functional characteristics of the rhizosphere microbiome of wheat plants grown in adjacent fields which are suppressive and non-suppressive to the plant pathogen R. solani AG8. Analysis of 12 rhizosphere metatranscriptomes (six per field) was undertaken using two bioinformatic approaches involving unassembled and assembled reads. Differential expression analysis showed the dominant taxa in the rhizosphere based on mRNA annotation were Arthrobacter spp. and Pseudomonas spp. for non-suppressive samples and Stenotrophomonas spp. and Buttiauxella spp. for the suppressive samples. The assembled metatranscriptome analysis identified more differentially expressed genes than the unassembled analysis in the comparison of suppressive and non-suppressive samples. Suppressive samples showed greater expression of a polyketide cyclase, a terpenoid biosynthesis backbone gene (dxs) and many cold shock proteins (csp). Non-suppressive samples were characterised by greater expression of antibiotic genes such as non-heme chloroperoxidase (cpo) which is involved in pyrrolnitrin synthesis, and phenazine biosynthesis family protein F (phzF) and its transcriptional activator protein (phzR). A large number of genes involved in detoxifying reactive oxygen species (ROS) and superoxide radicals (sod, cat, ahp, bcp, gpx1, trx) were also expressed in the non-suppressive rhizosphere samples most likely in response to the infection of wheat roots by R. solani AG8. Together these results provide new insight into microbial gene expression in the rhizosphere of wheat in soils suppressive and non-suppressive to R. solani AG8. The approach taken and the genes involved in these functions provide direction for future studies to determine more precisely the molecular interplay of plant-microbe-pathogen interactions with the ultimate goal of the development of management options that promote beneficial rhizosphere microflora to reduce R. solani AG8 infection of crops. PMID:29780371

The structural and electrical properties of polycrystalline La0.8Ca0.17Ag0.03MnO3 manganites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ruli, F.; Kurniawan, B.; Imaduddin, A.

2018-04-01

In this paper, the authors report the electrical properties of polycrystalline La0.8Ca0.17Ag0.03MnO3 manganites synthesized using sol-gel method. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns of polycrystalline La0.8Ca0.17Ag0.03MnO3 samples reveal an orthorhombic perovskite structure with Pnma space group. Analysis using energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) confirms that the sample contains all expected chemical elements without any additional impurity. The measurement of resistivity versus temperature using cryogenic magnetometer was performed to investigate the electrical properties. The results show that the electrical resistivity of polycrystalline La0.8Ca0.17Ag0.03MnO3 exhibits metalic behavior below 244 K. The temperature dependence of electrical resistivity dominantly emanates from electron-electron scattering and the grain/domain boundary play a important role in conduction mechanism in polycrystalline La0.8Ca0.17Ag0.03MnO3.

Characterization and device performance of (AgCu)(InGa)Se2 absorber layers

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hanket, Gregory; Boyle, Jonathan H.; Shafarman, William N.

The study of (AgCu)(InGa)Se2 absorber layers is of interest in that Ag-chalcopyrites exhibit both wider bandgaps and lower melting points than their Cu counterparts. (AgCu)(InGa)Se2 absorber layers were deposited over the composition range 0 < Ag/(Ag+Cu) < 1 and 0.3 < Ga/(In+Ga) < 1.0 using a variety of elemental co-evaporation processes. Films were found to be singlephase over the entire composition range, in contrast to prior studies. Devices with Ga content 0.3 < Ga/(In+Ga) <0.5 tolerated Ag incorporation up to Ag/(Ag+Cu) = 0.5 without appreciable performance loss. Ag-containing films with Ga/(In+Ga) = 0.8 showed improved device characteristics over Cu-only controlmore » samples, in particular a 30-40% increase in short-circuit current. An absorber layer with composition Ag/(Ag+Cu) = 0.75 and Ga/(In+Ga) = 0.8 yielded a device with VOC = 890 mV, JSC = 20.5mA/cm2, fill factor = 71.3%, and η = 13.0%.« less

Metallurgical characterization of experimental Ag-based soldering alloys.

PubMed

Ntasi, Argyro; Al Jabbari, Youssef S; Silikas, Nick; Al Taweel, Sara M; Zinelis, Spiros

2014-10-01

To characterize microstructure, hardness and thermal properties of experimental Ag-based soldering alloys for dental applications. Ag12Ga (AgGa) and Ag10Ga5Sn (AgGaSn) were fabricated by induction melting. Six samples were prepared for each alloy and microstructure, hardness and their melting range were determined by, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) microanalysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Vickers hardness testing and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Both alloys demonstrated a gross dendritic microstructure while according to XRD results both materials consisted predominately of a Ag-rich face centered cubic phase The hardness of AgGa (61 ± 2) was statistically lower than that of AgGaSn (84 ± 2) while the alloys tested showed similar melting range of 627-762 °C for AgGa and 631-756 °C for AgGaSn. The experimental alloys tested demonstrated similar microstructures and melting ranges. Ga and Sn might be used as alternative to Cu and Zn to modify the selected properties of Ag based soldering alloys.

Metallurgical characterization of experimental Ag-based soldering alloys

PubMed Central

Ntasi, Argyro; Al Jabbari, Youssef S.; Silikas, Nick; Al Taweel, Sara M.; Zinelis, Spiros

2014-01-01

Aim To characterize microstructure, hardness and thermal properties of experimental Ag-based soldering alloys for dental applications. Materials and methods Ag12Ga (AgGa) and Ag10Ga5Sn (AgGaSn) were fabricated by induction melting. Six samples were prepared for each alloy and microstructure, hardness and their melting range were determined by, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) microanalysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Vickers hardness testing and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Results Both alloys demonstrated a gross dendritic microstructure while according to XRD results both materials consisted predominately of a Ag-rich face centered cubic phase The hardness of AgGa (61 ± 2) was statistically lower than that of AgGaSn (84 ± 2) while the alloys tested showed similar melting range of 627–762 °C for AgGa and 631–756 °C for AgGaSn. Conclusion The experimental alloys tested demonstrated similar microstructures and melting ranges. Ga and Sn might be used as alternative to Cu and Zn to modify the selected properties of Ag based soldering alloys. PMID:25382945

As-synthesis of nanostructure AgCl/Ag/MCM-41 composite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sohrabnezhad, Sh.; Pourahmad, A.

2012-02-01

In this work, we present the simple synthetic route for silver chloride/silver nanoparticles (AgCl/Ag-NPs) using as-synthesis method. The structure, composition and optical properties of such material were investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-vis DRS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and FTIR. Powder X-ray diffraction showed that when AgNO 3 content is below 0.1 wt.% in synthetic gel, the guest AgCl/Ag-NPs is formed on the silica channel wall, and lower exists in the crystalline state. When AgNO 3 content exceeds this value, AgCl/Ag nanoparticles can be observed in high crystalline state. The absorption at 327 nm ascribed to the characteristic absorption of the AgCl semiconductor. Ag nanoparticles have been shown to exist in the nanocomposite at 375 nm. When AgNO 3 content is above 0.1 wt.% in synthetic gel, spectra exhibited stronger absorption at 450-700 nm that was attributed to the surface plasmonic resonance of silver nanoparticles. The obtained AgCl/Ag/MCM-41 sample exhibit enhanced photocatalytic activity for the degradation of methylene blue under visible-light irradiation.

Strontium (Sr) and silver (Ag) loaded nanotubular structures with combined osteoinductive and antimicrobial activities.

PubMed

Cheng, Hao; Xiong, Wei; Fang, Zhong; Guan, Hanfeng; Wu, Wei; Li, Yong; Zhang, Yong; Alvarez, Mario Moisés; Gao, Biao; Huo, Kaifu; Xu, Jiangwen; Xu, Na; Zhang, Chengcheng; Fu, Jijiang; Khademhosseini, Ali; Li, Feng

2016-02-01

Two frequent problems are associated with the titanium surfaces of bone/dental implants: lack of native tissue integration and associated infection. These problems have prompted a significant body of research regarding the modification of these surfaces. The present study describes a hydrothermal treatment for the fabrication of strontium (Sr) and silver (Ag) loaded nanotubular structures with different tube diameters on titanium surfaces. The Sr loading from a Sr(OH)2 solution was regulated by the size of the inner diameter of the titanium nanotubes (NT) (30nm or 80nm, formed at 10V or 40V, respectively). The quantity of Ag was adjusted by immersing the samples in 1.5 or 2.0M AgNO3 solutions. Sr and Ag were released in a controllable and prolonged matter from the NT-Ag.Sr samples, with negligible cytotoxicity. Prominent antibacterial activity was observed due to the release of Ag. Sr incorporation enhanced the initial cell adhesion, migration, and proliferation of preosteoblast MC3T3-E1 cells. Sr release also up-regulated the expression of osteogenic genes and induced mineralization, as suggested by the presence of more mineralized calcium nodules in cells cultured on NT-Ag.Sr surfaces. In vivo experiments showed that the Sr-loaded samples accelerated the formation of new bone in both osteoporosis and bone defect models, as confirmed by X-ray, Micro-CT evaluation, and histomorphometric analysis of rats implanted with NT-Ag.Sr samples. The antibacterial activity and outstanding osteogenic properties of NT-Ag.Sr samples highlight their excellent potential for use in clinical applications. Two frequent problems associated with Ti surfaces, widely used in orthopedic and dental arenas, are their lack of native tissue integration and risk of infection. We describe a novel approach for the fabrication of strontium (Sr) and silver (Ag) loaded nanotubular structures on titanium surfaces. A relevant aspect of this work is the demonstration of long-lasting and controllable Ag release, leading to excellent antibacterial and anti-adherent properties against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and Gram-negative bacteria such as Escherichia coli. The extended release of Sr accelerates the filling of bone defects by improving the repair of damaged cortical bone and increasing trabecular bone microarchitecture. Our results highlight the potential of Sr and Ag loaded nanotubular structures for use in clinical applications. Copyright © 2015 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Ag nanoparticle decorated molybdenum oxide structures: growth, characterization, DFT studies and their application to enhanced field emission

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guha, Puspendu; Ghosh, Arnab; Thapa, Ranjit; Mathan Kumar, E.; Kirishwaran, Sabari; Singh, Ranveer; Satyam, Parlapalli V.

2017-10-01

We report a simple single step growth of α-MoO3 structures and energetically suitable site specific Ag nanoparticle (NP) decorated α-MoO3 structures on varied substrates, having almost similar morphologies and oxygen vacancies. We elucidate possible growth mechanisms in light of experimental findings and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. We experimentally establish and verified by DFT calculations that the MoO3(010) surface is a weakly interacting and stable surface compared to other orientations. From DFT study, the binding energy is found to be higher for (100) and (001) surfaces (˜-0.98 eV), compared to the (010) surface (˜-0.15 eV) and thus it is likely that Ag NP formation is not favorable on the MoO3(010) surface. The Ag decorated MoO3 (Ag-MoO3) nanostructured sample shows enhanced field emission properties with an approimately 2.1 times lower turn-on voltage of 1.67 V μm-1 and one order higher field enhancement factor (β) of 8.6 × 104 compared to the MoO3 sample without Ag incorporation. From Kelvin probe force microscopy measurements, the average local work function (Φ) is found to be approximately 0.47 eV smaller for the Ag-MoO3 sample (˜5.70 ± 0.05 eV) compared to the MoO3 sample (˜6.17 ± 0.05 eV) and the reduction in Φ can be attributed to the shifting Fermi level of MoO3 toward vacuum via electron injection from Ag NPs to MoO3. The presence of oxygen vacancies together with Ag NPs lead to the highest β and lowest turn-on field among the reported values under the MoO3 emitter category.

Green synthesis and antibacterial effects of aqueous colloidal solutions of silver nanoparticles using camomile terpenoids as a combined reducing and capping agent.

PubMed

Parlinska-Wojtan, Magdalena; Kus-Liskiewicz, Małgorzata; Depciuch, Joanna; Sadik, Omowunmi

2016-08-01

Green synthesis method using camomile extract was applied to synthesize silver nanoparticles to tune their antibacterial properties merging the synergistic effect of camomile and Ag. Scanning transmission electron microscopy revealed that camomile extract (CE) consisted of porous globular nanometer sized structures, which were a perfect support for Ag nanoparticles. The Ag nanoparticles synthesized with the camomile extract (AgNPs/CE) of 7 nm average sizes, were uniformly distributed on the CE support, contrary to the pure Ag nanoparticles synthesized with glucose (AgNPs/G), which were over 50 nm in diameter and strongly agglomerated. The energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy chemical analysis showed that camomile terpenoids act as a capping and reducing agent being adsorbed on the surface of AgNPs/CE enabling their reduction from Ag(+) and preventing them from agglomeration. Fourier transform infrared and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy measurements confirmed these findings, as the spectra of AgNPs/CE, compared to pure CE, did not contain the 1109 cm(-1) band, corresponding to -C-O groups of terpenoids and the peaks at 280 and 320 nm, respectively. Antibacterial tests using four bacteria strains showed that the AgNPs/CE performed five times better compared to CE AgNPs/G samples, reducing totally all the bacteria in 2 h.

Surfactant-assisted atomic-level engineering of spin valves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chopra, Harsh Deep; Yang, David X.; Chen, P. J.; Egelhoff, W. F.

2002-03-01

Surfactant Ag is successfully used to atomically engineer interfaces and nanostructure in NiO-Co-Cu-based bottom spin valves. At a Cu spacer thickness of 1.5 nm, a strong net ferromagnetic (or positive) coupling >13.92 kA/m (>175 Oe) between NiO-pinned and ``free'' Co layers leads to a negligible ``giant'' magnetoresistance (GMR) effect (<0.7%) in Ag-free samples. In contrast, the net ferromagnetic coupling could be reduced by a factor of 2 or more in spin valves deposited in the presence of ~1-3 ML of surfactant Ag, and such samples exhibit more than an order of magnitude increase in GMR (8.5-13 %). Based on transmission electron microscopy (TEM), a large contribution to net ferromagnetic coupling in Ag-free samples could be directly attributed to the presence of numerous pinholes. In situ x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and TEM studies show that surfactant Ag floats out to the surface during deposition of successive Co and Cu overlayers, leaving behind smooth interfaces and continuous layers that are less prone to intermixing and pinholes. The use of surfactants in the present study also illustrates their potential use in atomic engineering of magnetoelectronics devices and other multilayer systems.

Oil-in-Water Self-Assembled Synthesis of Ag@AgCl Nano-Particles on Flower-like Bi2O2CO3 with Enhanced Visible-Light-Driven Photocatalytic Activity

PubMed Central

Lin, Shuanglong; Liu, Li; Liang, Yinghua; Cui, Wenquan; Zhang, Zisheng

2016-01-01

In this work, a series of novel flower-like Ag@AgCl/Bi2O2CO3 were prepared by simple and feasible oil-in-water self-assembly processes. The phase structures of as-prepared samples were examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (XRF), etc. The characterization results indicated that the presence of Ag@AgCl did not affect the crystal structure, but exerted a great influence on the photocatalytic activity of Bi2O2CO3 and enhanced the absorption band of pure Bi2O2CO3. The photocatalytic activities of the Ag@AgCl/Bi2O2CO3 samples were determined by photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) under visible light irradiation. The Ag@AgCl (10 wt %)/Bi2O2CO3 composite showed the highest photocatalytic activity, degrading 97.9% MB after irradiation for 20 min, which is over 1.64 and 3.66 times faster than that of pure Ag@AgCl (calculated based on the equivalent Ag@AgCl content in Ag@AgCl (10 wt %)/Bi2O2CO3) and pure Bi2O2CO3, respectively. Bisphenol A (BPA) was also degraded to further prove the degradation ability of Ag@AgCl/Bi2O2CO3. Photocurrent studies indicated that the recombination of photo-generated electron–hole pairs was decreased effectively due to the formation of heterojunctions between flower-like Bi2O2CO3 and Ag@AgCl nanoparticles. Trapping experiments indicated that O2−, h+ and Cl° acted as the main reactive species for MB degradation in the present photocatalytic system. Furthermore, the cycling experiments revealed the good stability of Ag@AgCl/Bi2O2CO3 composites. Based on the above, a photocatalytic mechanism for the degradation of organic compounds over Ag@AgCl/Bi2O2CO3 was proposed. PMID:28773607

Genotypic to expression profiling of bovine calcium channel, voltage-dependent, alpha-2/delta subunit 1 gene, and their association with bovine mastitis among Frieswal (HFX Sahiwal) crossbred cattle of Indian origin.

PubMed

Deb, Rajib; Singh, Umesh; Kumar, Sushil; Kumar, Arun; Singh, Rani; Sengar, Gyanendra; Mann, Sandeep; Sharma, Arjava

2014-04-03

Calcium channel, voltage-dependent, alpha-2/delta subunit 1 (CACNA2D1) gene is considered to be an important noncytokine candidate gene influencing mastitis. Scanty of reports are available until today regarding the role play of CACNA2D1 gene on the susceptibility of bovine mastitis. We interrogated the CACNA2D1 G519663A [A>G] SNP by PCR-RFLP among two hundreds Frieswal (HF X Sahiwal) crossbred cattle of Indian origin. Genotypic frequency of AA (51.5, n=101) was comparatively higher than AG (35, n=70) and GG (14.5, n=29). Association of Somatic cell score (SCS) with genotypes revealed that, GG genotypes showing lesser count (less susceptible to mastitis) compare to AA and AG. Relative expression of CACNA2D1 transcript (in milk samples) was significantly higher among GG than AG and AA. Further we have also isolated blood sample from the all groups and PBMCs were cultured from each blood sample as per the standard protocol. They were treated with Calcium channel blocker and the expression level of the CACNA2D1 gene was evaluated by Real Time PCR. Results show that expression level decline in each genotypic group after treatment and expression level of GG are again significantly higher than AA and AG. Thus, it may be concluded that GG genotypic animals are favorable for selecting disease resistant breeds.

Magnesium and cadmium containing Heusler phases REPd2Mg, REPd2Cd, REAg2Mg, REAu2Mg and REAu2Cd

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Johnscher, Michael; Stein, Sebastian; Niehaus, Oliver; Benndorf, Christopher; Heletta, Lukas; Kersting, Marcel; Höting, Christoph; Eckert, Hellmut; Pöttgen, Rainer

2016-02-01

Twenty-eight new Heusler phases REPd2Mg, REPd2Cd, REAg2Mg, REAu2Mg and REAu2Cd with different rare earth elements were synthesized from the elements in sealed niobium ampoules in a water-cooled sample chamber of an induction furnace. The samples were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction. The cell volumes show the expected lanthanide contraction. The structures of YPd2Cd, GdPd2Cd, GdAu2Cd, Y1.12Ag2Mg0.88 and GdAg2Mg were refined based on single crystal diffractometer data. The magnetic properties were determined for fifteen phase pure samples. LuAu2Mg is a weak Pauli paramagnet with a susceptibility of 1.0(2) × 10-5 emu mol-1 at room temperature. The remaining samples show stable trivalent rare earth ions and most of them order magnetically at low temperatures. The ferromagnet GdAg2Mg shows the highest ordering temperature of TC = 98.3 K. 113Cd and 89Y MAS NMR spectra of YAu2Cd and YPd2Cd confirm the presence of unique crystallographic sites. The resonances are characterized by large Knight shifts, whose magnitude can be correlated with electronegativity trends.

Raman Scattering Studies on Ag Nanocluster Composites Formed by Ion Implantation into Silica

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ren, Feng; Jiang, Chang Zhong; Fu, De Jun; Fu, Qiang

2005-12-01

Highly-pure amorphous silica slides were implanted by 200 keV Ag ions with doses ranged from 1× 1016 to 2× 1017 ions/cm2. Optical absorption spectra show that Ag nanoclusters with various sizes have been formed. Enhancement of surface enhanced Raman scattering signal by a factor up to about 103 was obtained by changing the Ag particle size. The silica was damaged by the implanted Ag ions, and the large compression stress on the silica leads to the shift of Raman peaks. New bands at 1368 and 1586 cm-1, which are attributed to the vibration of Ag-O bond and O2 molecules in silica, are observed in the samples with doses higher than 1× 1017 ions/cm2.

Advanced surface characterization of silver nanocluster segregation in Ag-TiCN bioactive coatings by RBS, GDOES, and ARXPS.

PubMed

Escobar Galindo, R; Manninen, N K; Palacio, C; Carvalho, S

2013-07-01

Surface modification by means of wear protective and antibacterial coatings represents, nowadays, a crucial challenge in the biomaterials field in order to enhance the lifetime of bio-devices. It is possible to tailor the properties of the material by using an appropriate combination of high wear resistance (e.g., nitride or carbide coatings) and biocide agents (e.g., noble metals as silver) to fulfill its final application. This behavior is controlled at last by the outmost surface of the coating. Therefore, the analytical characterization of these new materials requires high-resolution analytical techniques able to provide information about surface and depth composition down to the nanometric level. Among these techniques are Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS), glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy (GDOES), and angle resolved X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (ARXPS). In this work, we present a comparative RBS-GDOES-ARXPS study of the surface characterization of Ag-TiCN coatings with Ag/Ti atomic ratios varying from 0 to 1.49, deposited at room temperature and 200 °C. RBS analysis allowed a precise quantification of the silver content along the coating with a non-uniform Ag depth distribution for the samples with higher Ag content. GDOES surface profiling revealed that the samples with higher Ag content as well as the samples deposited at 200 °C showed an ultrathin (1-10 nm) Ag-rich layer on the coating surface followed by a silver depletion zone (20-30 nm), being the thickness of both layers enhanced with Ag content and deposition temperature. ARXPS analysis confirmed these observations after applying general algorithm involving regularization in addition to singular value decomposition techniques to obtain the concentration depth profiles. Finally, ARXPS measurements were used to provide further information on the surface morphology of the samples obtaining an excellent agreement with SEM observations when a growth model of silver islands with a height d = 1.5 nm and coverage θ = 0.20 was applied to the sample with Ag/Ti = 1.49 and deposited at room temperature.

In-vitro anticancer and antimicrobial activities of PLGA/silver nanofiber composites prepared by electrospinning.

PubMed

Almajhdi, Fahad N; Fouad, H; Khalil, Khalil Abdelrazek; Awad, Hanem M; Mohamed, Sahar H S; Elsarnagawy, T; Albarrag, Ahmed M; Al-Jassir, Fawzi F; Abdo, Hany S

2014-04-01

In the present work, a series of 0, 1 and 7 wt% silver nano-particles (Ag NPs) incorporated poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) nano-fibers were synthesized by the electrospinning process. The PLGA/Ag nano-fibers sheets were characterized using SEM, TEM and DSC analyses. The three synthesized PLGA/silver nano-fiber composites were screened for anticancer activity against liver cancer cell line using MTT and LDH assays. The anticancer activity of PLGA nano-fibers showed a remarkable improvement due to increasing the concentration of the Ag NPs. In addition to the given result, PLGA nano-fibers did not show any cytotoxic effect. However, PLGA nano-fibers that contain 1 % nano silver showed anticancer activity of 8.8 %, through increasing the concentration of the nano silver to 7 % onto PLGA nano-fibers, the anticancer activity was enhanced to a 67.6 %. Furthermore, the antibacterial activities of these three nano-fibers, against the five bacteria strains namely; E.coli o157:H7 ATCC 51659, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 13565, Bacillus cereus EMCC 1080, Listeria monocytogenes EMCC 1875 and Salmonella typhimurium ATCC25566 using the disc diffusion method, were evaluated. Sample with an enhanced inhibitory effect was PLGA/Ag NPs (7 %) which inhibited all strains (inhibition zone diameter 10 mm); PLGA/Ag NPs (1 %) sample inhibited only one strain (B. cereus) with zone diameter 8 mm. The PLGA nano-fiber sample has not shown any antimicrobial activity. Based on the anticancer as well as the antimicrobial results in this study, it can be postulated that: PLGA nanofibers containing 7 % nano silver are suitable as anticancer- and antibiotic-drug delivery systems, as they will increase the anticancer as well as the antibiotic drug potency without cytotoxicity effect on the normal cells. These findings also suggest that Ag NPs, of the size (5-10 nm) evaluated in the present study, are appropriate for therapeutic application from a safety standpoint.

Antibacterial and biological characteristics of plasma sprayed silver and strontium doped hydroxyapatite coatings

PubMed Central

Fielding, Gary A.; Roy, Mangal; Bandyopadhyay, Amit

2012-01-01

Infection in primary total joint prostheses is estimated to occur in up to 3% of all surgeries. As a measure to improve the antimicrobial properties of implant materials, silver (Ag) was incorporated into plasma sprayed hydroxyapatite (HA) coatings. To offset potential cytotoxic effects of Ag in the coatings, strontium (Sr) was also added as a binary dopant. HA powder were doped with 2.0 wt% Ag2O, 1.0 wt% SrO and the powder was then heat treated at 800° C. Titanium substrates were coated using a 30 kW plasma spray system equipped with a supersonic nozzle. X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed the phase purity and high crystallinity of the coatings. Samples were evaluated for mechanical stability by adhesive bond strength testing. Results show that the addition of dopants did not affect the overall bond strength of the coatings. The antibacterial efficacies of the coatings were tested against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Samples that contained the Ag2O dopant were found to be highly effective against the bacterial colonization. In vitro cell-material interactions using human fetal osteoblast (hFOB) cells were characterized by 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay for cell viability, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) for cell morphology and confocal imaging for the important differentiation marker alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Our results showed evidence of cytotoxic effects in the Ag-HA coatings, characterized by poor cellular morphology and cell death and nearly complete impediment of functional ALP activity. The addition of SrO to Ag-HA coatings was able to effectively offset these negative effects and improve the performance when compared to pure HA coated samples. PMID:22487928

Fluorescence ELISA based on glucose oxidase-mediated fluorescence quenching of quantum dots for highly sensitive detection of Hepatitis B.

PubMed

Wu, Yunqing; Zeng, Lifeng; Xiong, Ying; Leng, Yuankui; Wang, Hui; Xiong, Yonghua

2018-05-01

Herein, we present a novel sandwich fluorescence enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for highly sensitive detection of Hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) based on glucose oxidase (GOx)-induced fluorescence quenching of mercaptopropionic acid-modified CdTe quantum dots (MPA-QDs). In this system, hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) sensitive MPA-QDs was used as a signal output, and glucose oxidase (GOx) was used as label which can generate H 2 O 2 via catalytic oxidation of glucose. The proposed method showed dynamic linear detection of HBsAg both in the range of 47pgmL -1 ~ 380pgmL -1 and 0.75ngmL -1 ~ 12.12ngmL -1 . The detection limit of the proposed fluorescence ELISA was 1.16pgmL -1 , which was approximately 430-fold lower than that of horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-based conventional ELISA. The average recoveries for HBsAg-spiked serum samples ranged from 98.0% to 126.8% with the relative standard derivation below 10%, thus indicating acceptable precision and high reproducibility of the proposed fluorescence ELISA for HBsAg detection. Additionally, the developed method showed no false positive results analyzing 35 real HBsAg-negative serum samples, and exhibited excellent agreement (R 2 =0.9907) with a commercial time-resolved fluorescence immunoassay (TRFIA) kit for detecting 31 HBsAg-positive serum samples. In summary, the proposed method based on fluorescence quenching of H 2 O 2 sensitive QDs is considerably to be an excellent biodetection platform with ultrahigh sensitivity, good accuracy and excellent reliability. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Hierarchical assembly of AgCl@Sn-TiO2 microspheres with enhanced visible light photocatalytic performance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ganeshraja, Ayyakannu Sundaram; Zhu, Kaixin; Nomura, Kiyoshi; Wang, Junhu

2018-05-01

The hierarchical silver chloride loaded tin-doped titania (AgCl@Sn-TiO2) microspheres were first time prepared by a hydrothermal method and annealing at different temperatures. The catalyst showed the enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity as compared to the plasmonic photocatalysts of AgCl and Ag/AgCl, and commercial Degussa P25 (TiO2). The improved efficiency is considered to local surface plasmonic resonance (AgCl could reduce to Ag0 during photocatalytic reaction) in enhanced broad band visible light absorption in addition to the characteristics of heterojunction between Sn-TiO2 and AgCl NPs. Moreover, the surface and bulk properties of as-synthesized samples were analyzed by 119Sn Mössbauer spectroscopy. The magnetic property of the bulk was studied as a function of magnetic field with different temperatures. These results signify the clear details of the magnetic and visible light photocatalytic activities of hierarchical AgCl@Sn-TiO2 microspheres.

Antibacterial activity of silver nanoparticle-coated fabric and leather against odor and skin infection causing bacteria.

PubMed

Velmurugan, Palanivel; Lee, Sang-Myeong; Cho, Min; Park, Jung-Hee; Seo, Sang-Ki; Myung, Hyun; Bang, Keuk-Soo; Oh, Byung-Taek

2014-10-01

We present a simple, eco-friendly synthesis of silver and gold nanoparticles using a natural polymer pine gum solution as the reducing and capping agent. The pine gum solution was combined with silver nitrate (AgNO3) or a chloroauric acid (HAuCl4) solution to produce silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), respectively. The reaction process was simple; formation of the nanoparticles was achieved by autoclaving the silver and gold ions with the pine gum. UV-Vis spectra showed surface plasmon resonance (SPR) for silver and gold nanoparticles at 432 and 539 nm, respectively. The elemental forms of AgNPs and AuNPs were confirmed by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) showed the biomolecules present in the pine gum, AgNPs, and AuNPs. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images showed the shape and size of AgNPs and AuNPs. The crystalline nature of synthesized AgNPs and AuNPs was confirmed by X-ray crystallography [X-ray diffraction (XRD)]. Application of synthesized AgNPs onto cotton fabrics and leather, in order to evaluate their antibacterial properties against odor- or skin infection-causing bacteria, is also discussed. Among the four tested bacteria, AgNP-coated cotton fabric and leather samples displayed excellent antibacterial activity against Brevibacterium linens.

Effect of Silver Doping on Transport Properties of Bi2Se3: AgxBi2Se3 and Bi2-xAgxSe3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Min; Wei, Zhan-Tao

2018-05-01

Ag-doped Bi2Se3 with the formula AgxBi2Se3 and Bi2-xAgxSe3 were prepared and their electrical and magnetic transport properties have been investigated to study the influence of silver doping on transport properties of Bi2Se3 with different Ag-doped method. All samples exhibited metallic resistivity and the resistivity increased with increasing Ag concentration. The lattice parameter c of Ag-substituted and Ag-intercalated samples displays a contrary change as the Ag concentration increased. For the Ag-intercalated samples, both the resistance upturn were observed in the curves of temperature dependent of resistivity and temperature dependent of magnetoresistance, respectively, indicating that the enhanced surface effect was obtained in those samples. Monotonously, field-induced MR peaks around 200 K were also observed in those samples. Similar behaviors were not observed in the Ag-substituted samples.

Synthesis and characterization of cloisite-30B clay dispersed poly (acryl amide/sodium alginate)/AgNp hydrogel composites for the study of BSA protein drug delivery and antibacterial activity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nanjunda Reddy, B. H.; Ranjan Rauta, Pradipta; Venkatalakshimi, V.; Sreenivasa, Swamy

2018-02-01

The aim of this research is to inspect the effect of Cloisite-30B (C30B) modified clay dispersed poly (acrylamide-co-Sodiumalginate)/AgNp hydrogel nanocomposites (PASA/C30B/Ag) for drug delivery and antibacterial activity. A novel hydrogel composite based sodium alginate (SA) and the inorganic modified clay with silver nano particle (C30B/AgNps)polymer hydrogel composites are synthesized via the graft copolymerization of acrylamide (AAm) in an aqueous medium with methylene bisacrylamide (MBA) as a crosslinking agent and ammonium per sulfate(APS) as an initiator. The UV/Visible spectroscopy of obtained composites is successfully studied, which confirms the occurrence of AgNps in the hydrogel composites. And the swelling capacity and bovine serum albumin (BSA) protein as model drug delivery study for these hydrogel nanocomposites have been carried out. The C30B/Ag filled hydrogel composites exhibit superior water absorbency or swelling capacity compared to pure samples and it is establish that the formulations with clay (C30B) dispersed silver nanocomposite hydrogels show improved and somewhat faster rate of drug delivery than other formulations(pure systems) and SEM and TEM reports suggests that the size of AgNps in the composite hydrogels is in the range of 5-10 nm with shrunken surface and the antibacterial characterizations for gram positive and gram negative bacteria are carried out by using Streptococcus faecalis (S. Faecalis) and Escherichia coli (E.coli) as model bacteria and the hydrogel composites of PASA/C30B/Ag shows exceptional antibacterial activity against both the bacteria as compared to pure hydrogel composites samples.

A supersensitive silver nanoprobe based aptasensor for low cost detection of malathion residues in water and food samples

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bala, Rajni; Mittal, Sherry; Sharma, Rohit K.; Wangoo, Nishima

2018-05-01

In the present study, we report a highly sensitive, rapid and low cost colorimetric monitoring of malathion (an organophosphate insecticide) employing a basic hexapeptide, malathion specific aptamer (oligonucleotide) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as a nanoprobe. AgNPs are made to interact with the aptamer and peptide to give different optical responses depending upon the presence or absence of malathion. The nanoparticles remain yellow in color in the absence of malathion owing to the binding of aptamer with peptide which otherwise tends to aggregate the particles because of charge based interactions. In the presence of malathion, the agglomeration of the particles occurs which turns the solution orange. Furthermore, the developed aptasensor was successfully applied to detect malathion in various water samples and apple. The detection offered high recoveries in the range of 89-120% with the relative standard deviation within 2.98-4.78%. The proposed methodology exhibited excellent selectivity and a very low limit of detection i.e. 0.5 pM was achieved. The developed facile, rapid and low cost silver nanoprobe based on aptamer and peptide proved to be potentially applicable for highly selective and sensitive colorimetric sensing of trace levels of malathion in complex environmental samples. Figure S2. HPLC Chromatogram of KKKRRR. Figure S3. UV- Visible spectra of AgNPs in the presence of increasing peptide concentrations. Inset shows respective color changes of AgNPs with peptide concentrations ranging from 0.1 mM to 100 mM (a to e). Figure S4. UV- Visible spectra of AgNPs in the presence 10 mM peptide and varying aptamer concentrations. Inset shows the corresponding color changes. a to e shows aptamer concentrations ranging from 10 nM to 1000 nM. Figure S5. Interference Studies. Ratio of A520 nm/390 nm of AgNPs in the presence of 10 mM peptide, 500 nM aptamer, 0.5 nM malathion and 0.5 mM interfering components i.e. sodium, potassium, calcium, alanine, arginine, aspartic acid, ascorbic acid (AA) and glucose. Figure S6. (A) Absorbance spectra of AgNPs with increasing malathion concentrations. (B) Calibration plot for spiked lake water. Inset shows their respective images where a to g represents malathion concentrations from 0.01 nM to 0.75 nM. Each point represents an average of three individual measurements and error bars indicate standard deviation. Figure S7. (A) Absorbance spectra of AgNPs with increasing malathion concentrations in spiked tap water samples. (B) Calibration plot for the biosensor. Inset represents the color changes. a to g represents varying malathion concentrations from 0.01 nM to 0.75 nM. Each point represents an average of three individual measurements and error bars indicate standard deviation. Figure S8. (A) Absorbance spectra of AgNPs in the presence of different malathion concentrations in spiked apple samples. (B) Calibration plot for spiked apple. Inset displays the corresponding color changes. a to g shows the color of solutions having malathion concentrations from 0.01 nM to 0.75 nM. Each point represents an average of three individual measurements and error bars indicate standard deviation.

Using nuclear microscopy to characterize the interaction of textile-used silver nanoparticles with a biological wastewater treatment system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bento, J. B.; Franca, R. D. G.; Pinheiro, T.; Alves, L. C.; Pinheiro, H. M.; Lourenço, N. D.

2017-08-01

The use of engineered nanoparticles in the textile industry has been rapidly increasing but their fate during biological wastewater treatment is largely unknown. The goal of the current study was to characterize the interaction of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), used in the textile industry, with a biological wastewater treatment system based on aerobic granular sludge (AGS). The exposure tests were performed using a laboratory-scale sequencing batch reactor (SBR) system with AGS. The behavior and fate of textile AgNPs in the AGS system was studied with nuclear microscopy techniques. Elemental maps of AGS samples collected from the SBR showed that AgNPs typically clustered in agglomerates of small dimensions (<10 μm), which were preferentially associated with extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). This preliminary study highlights the potential application of nuclear microscopy for the characterization of the behavior and fate of AgNPs in AGS. The detailed compartmentalization of AgNPs in AGS components obtained with nuclear microscopy provides new and relevant information concerning AgNPs retention. This will be important in biotechnological terms to delineate strategies for AgNPs removal from textile wastewater.

Using Ag/Ag2O/SnO2 Nanocomposites to Remove Malachite Green by a Photocatalytic Process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Taufik, A.; Paramarta, V.; Prakoso, S. P.; Saleh, R.

2017-03-01

Silver/silver oxide/tin oxide nanocomposites of various weight ratios were synthesized using a microwave-assisted method. The Ag/Ag2O:SnO2 nanoparticle weight ratios used were 25:75, 50:50, and 75:25. All samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction, UV-Vis spectroscopy, Differential Scanning Calorimetry and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA). The Ag/Ag2O/SnO2 nanocomposites contained cubic structures provided by the Ag and Ag2O and tetragonal structures provided by the SnO2. The silver resulted in surface plasmon resonance (SPR) at a wavelength of about 435 nm. The silver oxide material was transformed into pure Ag at a temperature of about 370 °C The photocatalytic activity was tested on the degradation of malachite green (MG) from an aqueous solution. The results showed that Ag/Ag2O/SnO2 at a ratio of 50:50 exhibited the best photocatalytic performance for degrading MG under visible-light irradiation. The degradation of MG using Ag/Ag2O/SnO2 nanocomposites followed pseudo first-order kinetic reactions, and electron holes were found to be the main species acting on the degradation process.

Enhanced Visible Light Photocatalytic Degradation of Organic Pollutants over Flower-Like Bi2O2CO3 Dotted with Ag@AgBr

PubMed Central

Lin, Shuanglong; Wang, Miao; Liu, Li; Liang, Yinghua; Cui, Wenquan; Zhang, Zisheng; Yun, Nan

2016-01-01

A facile and feasible oil-in-water self-assembly approach was developed to synthesize flower-like Ag@AgBr/Bi2O2CO3 micro-composites. The photocatalytic activities of the samples were evaluated through methylene blue degradation under visible light irradiation. Compared to Bi2O2CO3, flower-like Ag@AgBr/Bi2O2CO3 micro-composites show enhanced photocatalytic activities. In addition, results indicate that both the physicochemical properties and associated photocatalytic activities of Ag@AgBr/Bi2O2CO3 composites are shown to be dependent on the loading quantity of Ag@AgBr. The highest photocatalytic performance was achieved at 7 wt % Ag@AgBr, degrading 95.18% methylene blue (MB) after 20 min of irradiation, which is over 1.52 and 3.56 times more efficient than that of pure Ag@AgBr and pure Bi2O2CO3, respectively. Bisphenol A (BPA) was also degraded to further demonstrate the degradation ability of Ag@AgBr/Bi2O2CO3. A photocatalytic mechanism for the degradation of organic compounds over Ag@AgBr/Bi2O2CO3 was proposed. Results from this study illustrate an entirely new approach to fabricate semiconductor composites containing Ag@AgX/bismuth (X = a halogen). PMID:28774002

Electrocatalytic simultaneous determination of ascorbic acid, uric acid and L-Cysteine in real samples using quercetin silver nanoparticles-graphene nanosheets modified glassy carbon electrode

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zare, Hamid R.; Jahangiri-Dehaghani, Fahime; Shekari, Zahra; Benvidi, Ali

2016-07-01

By immobilizing of quercetin at the surface of a glassy carbon electrode modified with silver nanoparticles and graphene nanosheets (Q-AgNPs-GNs-GCE) a new sensor has been fabricated. The cyclic voltammogram of Q-AgNPs-GNs-GCE shows a stable redox couple with surface confined characteristics. Q-AgNPs-GNs-GCE demonstrated a high catalytic activity for L-Cysteine (L-Cys) oxidation. Results indicated that L-Cys peak potential at Q-AgNPs-GNs-GCE shifted to less positive values compared to GNs-GCE or AgNPs-GCE. Also, the kinetic parameters such as the electron transfer coefficient,, and the heterogeneous electron transfer rate constant, k‧, for the oxidation of L-Cys at the Q-AgNPs-GNs-GCE surface were estimated. In differential pulse voltammetric determination, the detection limit of L-Cys was obtained 0.28 μM, and the calibration plots were linear within two ranges of 0.9-12.4 μM and 12.4-538.5 μM of L-Cys. Also, the proposed modified electrode is used for the simultaneous determinations of ascorbic acid (AA), uric acid (UA), and L-Cys. Finally, this study has demonstrated the practical analytical utility of the sensor for determination of AA in vitamin C tablet, L-Cys in a milk sample and UA in a human urine sample.

Thermoelectric Inhomogeneities in (Ag(sub 1-y)SbTe2)(sub x)(PbTe)(sub 1-x)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Snyder, G. Jeffrey; Chen, Nancy; Gascoin, Franck; Mueller, Eckhard; Karpinski, Gabriele; Stiewe, Christian

2006-01-01

A document presents a study of why materials of composition (Ag1 ySbTe2)0.05 (PbTe)0.95 [0< or = y < or = 1] were previously reported to have values of the thermoelectric figure of merit [ZT (where Z = alpha(sup 2)/rk, alpha is the Seebeck coefficient, r is electrical resistivity, k is thermal conductivity, and T is absolute temperature)] ranging from <1 to >2. In the study, samples of (AgSbTe2)0.05(PbTe)0.95, (Ag0.67SbTe2)0.05 (PbTe)0.95, and (Ag0.55SbTe2)0.05(PbTe)0.95 were prepared by melting followed, variously, by slow or rapid cooling. Analyses of these samples by x-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, and scanning-microprobe measurements of the Seebeck coefficient led to the conclusion that these materials have a multiphase character on a scale of the order of millimeters, even though they appear homogeneous in x-ray diffraction and electron microscopy. The Seebeck measurements showed significant variations, including both n-type and p-type behavior in the same sample. These variations were found to be consistent with observed variations of ZT. The rapidly quenched samples were found to be less inhomogeneous than were the furnace-cooled ones; hence, rapid quenching was suggested as a basis of research on synthesizing more nearly uniform high-ZT samples.

Silver-pig skin nanocomposites and mesenchymal stem cells: suitable antibiofilm cellular dressings for wound healing.

PubMed

Pérez-Díaz, Mario Alberto; Silva-Bermudez, Phaedra; Jiménez-López, Binisa; Martínez-López, Valentín; Melgarejo-Ramírez, Yaaziel; Brena-Molina, Ana; Ibarra, Clemente; Baeza, Isabel; Martínez-Pardo, M Esther; Reyes-Frías, M Lourdes; Márquez-Gutiérrez, Erik; Velasquillo, Cristina; Martínez-Castañon, Gabriel; Martinez-Gutierrez, Fidel; Sánchez-Sánchez, Roberto

2018-01-10

Treatment of severe or chronic skin wounds is an important challenge facing medicine and a significant health care burden. Proper wound healing is often affected by bacterial infection; where biofilm formation is one of the main risks and particularly problematic because it confers protection to microorganisms against antibiotics. One avenue to prevent bacterial colonization of wounds is the use of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs); which have proved to be effective against non-multidrug-resistant and multidrug-resistant bacteria. In addition, the use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) is an excellent option to improve wound healing due to their capability for differentiation and release of relevant growth factors. Finally, radiosterilized pig skin (RPS) is a biomatrix successfully used as wound dressing to avoid massive water loss, which represents an excellent carrier to deliver MSC into wound beds. Together, AgNPs, RPS and MSC represent a potential dressing to control massive water loss, prevent bacterial infection and enhance skin regeneration; three essential processes for appropriate wound healing with minimum scaring. We synthesized stable 10 nm-diameter spherical AgNPs that showed 21- and 16-fold increase in bacteria growth inhibition (in comparison to antibiotics) against clinical strains Staphylococcus aureus and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, respectively. RPS samples were impregnated with different AgNPs suspensions to develop RPS-AgNPs nanocomposites with different AgNPs concentrations. Nanocomposites showed inhibition zones, in Kirby-Bauer assay, against both clinical bacteria tested. Nanocomposites also displayed antibiofilm properties against S. aureus and S. maltophilia from RPS samples impregnated with 250 and 1000 ppm AgNPs suspensions, respectively. MSC were isolated from adipose tissue and seeded on nanocomposites; cells survived on nanocomposites impregnated with up to 250 ppm AgNPs suspensions, showing 35% reduction in cell viability, in comparison to cells on RPS. Cells on nanocomposites proliferated with culture days, although the number of MSC on nanocomposites at 24 h of culture was lower than that on RPS. AgNPs with better bactericide activity than antibiotics were synthesized. RPS-AgNPs nanocomposites impregnated with 125 and 250 ppm AgNPs suspensions decreased bacterial growth, decreased biofilm formation and were permissive for survival and proliferation of MSC; constituting promising multi-functional dressings for successful treatment of skin wounds.

Magnetic analysis of a melt-spun Fe-dilute Cu60Ag35Fe5 alloy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kondo, Shin-ichiro; Kaneko, Kazuhiro; Morimura, Takao; Nakashima, Hiromichi; Kobayashi, Shin-Taro; Michioka, Chishiro; Yoshimura, Kazuyoshi

2015-04-01

The magnetic properties of a melt-spun Fe-dilute Cu60Ag35Fe5 alloy are examined by X-ray diffraction, magnetic measurements, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The X-ray diffraction patterns show that the as-spun and annealed (773 K×36 ks) samples contain Cu and Ag phases and no Fe phases; thus, most Fe atoms are dispersed as clusters. Magnetic measurements indicate that the as-spun and annealed samples exhibit superparamagnetic behavior at 300 K, whereas ferromagnetic and superparamagnetic behaviors coexist at 4.2 K. The magnetic moments of small clusters at 300 K are determined by the nonlinear least squares method as 5148 and 4671 μB for as-spun and annealed samples, respectively, whereas those at 300 K are experimentally determined as 3500 and 3200 μB. This decrease in magnetic moments may imply the formation of anti-ferromagnetic coupling by annealing. TEM observation of the melt-spun sample suggests that there are three regions with different compositions: Cu-rich, Ag-rich, and Fe-rich with no precipitation in the matrix. In addition, these regions have obscure interfaces. The magnetic clusters are attributed to the Fe-rich regions.

Morphology, structure, optical, and electrical properties of AgSbO3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yi, Z. G.; Liu, Y.; Withers, R. L.

2010-07-01

The morphology of defect pyrochlore-type, AgSbO3 microparticle/nanoparticles obtained via solid state reaction evolve from irregular to Fullerene-like polyhedra before finally decomposing into metal-organic framework-5 like particles with increase in sintering temperature. The defect pyrochlore-type AgSbO3 particles are slightly Ag deficient while the valence of the antimony ion is shown to be +5 giving rise to a probable stoichiometry of Ag1-xSbVO3-x/2, with x˜0.01-0.04. A highly structured diffuse intensity distribution observed via electron diffraction is interpreted in terms of correlated displacements of one-dimensional (1D) silver ion chains along ⟨110⟩ directions. A redshifting in the absorption edges in UV-visible absorption spectra is observed for samples prepared at sintering temperatures higher than 1000 °C and attributed to the surface plasma resonance effect associated with small amounts of excess metallic Ag on the Ag1-xSbVO3-x/2 particles. An electrical properties investigation of the silver antimonate samples via dielectric, conductivity, and electric modulus spectroscopy shows a prominent dielectric relaxation associated with grain boundaries. The silver ion conductivity is associated with correlated displacements of 1D silver ion chains along ⟨110⟩ directions.

Core-shell AgSiO2-protoporphyrin IX nanoparticle: Effect of the Ag core on reactive oxygen species generation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lismont, M.; Pá; ez-Martinez, C.; Dreesen, L.

2015-03-01

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) for cancer is based on the use of a light sensitive molecule to produce, under specific irradiation, toxic reactive oxygen species (ROS). A way to improve the therapy efficiency is to increase the amount of produced ROS near cancer cells. This aim can be achieved by using a metal enhanced process arising when an optically active molecule is located near a metallic nanoparticle (NP). Here, the coupling effect between silver (Ag) NPs and protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) molecules, a clinically approved photosensitizer, is studied compared first, to PpIX fluorescence yield and second, to ROS production efficiency. By applying a modified Stöber process, PpIX was encapsulated into a silica (SiO2) shell, surrounding a 60 nm sized Ag core. We showed that, compared to SiO2-PpIX NPs, Ag coated SiO2-PpIX NPs dramatically decreased PpIX fluorescence together with singlet oxygen production efficiency. However, after incubation time in the dark, the amount of superoxide anions generated by the Ag doped sample was higher than the control sample one.

A novel glucose biosensor platform based on Ag@AuNPs modified graphene oxide nanocomposite and SERS application.

PubMed

Gupta, Vinod Kumar; Atar, Necip; Yola, Mehmet Lütfi; Eryılmaz, Merve; Torul, Hilal; Tamer, Uğur; Boyacı, Ismail Hakkı; Ustündağ, Zafer

2013-09-15

This study represents a novel template demonstration of a glucose biosensor based on mercaptophenyl boronic acid (MBA) terminated Ag@AuNPs/graphene oxide (Ag@AuNPs-GO) nanomaterials. The nanocomposites were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) method. The TEM image shows that Ag@AuNPs in the nanocomposite is in the range of diameters of 10-20 nm. The nanocomposite was used for the determination of glucose through the complexation between boronic acid and diol groups of glucose. Thus, a novel glucose biosensor was further fabricated by immobilizing glucose oxidase (GOD) into MBA terminated Ag@AuNPs-GO nanocomposite film (MBA-Ag@AuNPs-GO). The linearity range of glucose was obtained as 2-6mM with detection limit of 0.33 mM. The developed biosensor was also applied successfully for the determination of glucose in blood samples. The concentration value of glucose in blood samples was calculated to be 1.97±0.002 mM from measurements repeated for six times. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Plasmon assisted enhanced nonlinear refraction of monodispersed silver nanoparticles and their tunability.

PubMed

Lama, Pemba; Suslov, Anatoliy; Walser, Ardie D; Dorsinville, Roger

2014-06-02

Nonlinear optical characterizations were performed on monodispersed silver (Ag) nanoparticles (NPs) of various sizes using a picosecond Z-scan technique with excitation wavelengths of 532 nm and 1064 nm. The Ag NPs were fabricated using a heterogeneous condensation technique in a gas medium. The nonlinear refraction values were higher for the monodispersed Ag NPs whose surface plasmon resonance (SPR) peak is closer to the excitation wavelength. The higher nonlinear optical response is explained in terms of an electric field enhancement near the SPR. Moreover, the fabrication method allows the tailoring of the nonlinear refraction index of the Ag NPs by tuning the SPR peak of the sample. A comparison of the nonlinear refraction index of the monodispersed and polydispersed Ag NPs showed that the nonlinear refractive index of the monodispersed Ag NPs is higher.

Green synthesis of carbon dots functionalized silver nanoparticles for the colorimetric detection of phoxim.

PubMed

Zheng, Mingda; Wang, Chenge; Wang, Yingying; Wei, Wei; Ma, Shuang; Sun, Xiaohan; He, Jiang

2018-08-01

In this work, Lycii Fructus as raw materials for green synthesis of fluorescent carbon dots (CDs) reduce AgNO 3 . The CDs-AgNPs were synthesized by one-step method. CDs were applied to stabilize AgNPs due to abundant functional groups on the surface of CDs. In presence of phoxim, the dispersed CDs-AgNPs get aggregated and the absorption peak with red shift from 400 nm to 525 nm, resulting in the color changed from yellow to red. Under optimized conditions, the absorbance ratio at A 525 nm /A 400 nm was related linearly to the concentrations of phoxim in the range of 0.1-100 μM. The detection limit was calculated to 0.04 μM, which is lower than maximum residue limits of phoxim in samples in China. The colorimetric sensor was successfully utilized to monitoring phoxim in environmental and fruit samples with good recoveries ranges from 87% to 110.0%. These results showed the sensor had a promising application prospect in real samples. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Removal of glyphosate herbicide from water using biopolymer membranes.

PubMed

Carneiro, Rafael T A; Taketa, Thiago B; Gomes Neto, Reginaldo J; Oliveira, Jhones L; Campos, Estefânia V R; de Moraes, Mariana A; da Silva, Camila M G; Beppu, Marisa M; Fraceto, Leonardo F

2015-03-15

Enormous amounts of pesticides are manufactured and used worldwide, some of which reach soils and aquatic systems. Glyphosate is a non-selective herbicide that is effective against all types of weeds and has been used for many years. It can therefore be found as a contaminant in water, and procedures are required for its removal. This work investigates the use of biopolymeric membranes prepared with chitosan (CS), alginate (AG), and a chitosan/alginate combination (CS/AG) for the adsorption of glyphosate present in water samples. The adsorption of glyphosate by the different membranes was investigated using the pseudo-first order and pseudo-second order kinetic models, as well as the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. The membranes were characterized regarding membrane solubility, swelling, mechanical, chemical and morphological properties. The results of kinetics experiments showed that adsorption equilibrium was reached within 4 h and that the CS membrane presented the best adsorption (10.88 mg of glyphosate/g of membrane), followed by the CS/AG bilayer (8.70 mg of glyphosate/g of membrane). The AG membrane did not show any adsorption capacity for this herbicide. The pseudo-second order model provided good fits to the glyphosate adsorption data on CS and CS/AG membranes, with high correlation coefficient values. Glyphosate adsorption by the membranes could be fitted by the Freundlich isotherm model. There was a high affinity between glyphosate and the CS membrane and moderate affinity in the case of the CS/AG membrane. Physico-chemical characterization of the membranes showed low values of solubility in water, indicating that the membranes are stable and not soluble in water. The SEM and AFM analysis showed evidence of the presence of glyphosate on CS membranes and on chitosan face on CS/AG membranes. The results showed that the glyphosate herbicide can be adsorbed by chitosan membranes and the proposed membrane-based methodology was successfully used to treat a water sample contaminated with glyphosate. Biopolymer membranes therefore potentially offer a versatile method to eliminate agricultural chemicals from water supplies. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Preparation of PVA/Co/Ag film and evaluation of its magnetic and microstructural properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Banerjee, M.; Sachdev, Preeti; Mukherjee, G. S.

2012-05-01

PVA/Co/Ag film has been prepared by sputtering Co followed by Ag in polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) matrix film by IBS technique, so as to get a 9 nm (thick) layer of Co metal nanoparticles followed by a protective 4 nm (thick) layer of Ag nanoparticles. Grazing incidence x-ray diffraction (GIXRD) pattern of the film reveals the formation of nanocrystalline Co with hcp phase. GIXRD pattern also indicates that there is no change in the crystalline structure of PVA even after sputtering of the metallic nanoparticles. The average particle size of Co nanoparticles as evaluated using Scherrer formula is found to be about 2.64 nm. UV visible absorption pattern of the film sample showed SPR peaks of Co and Ag metals in their nano size level embedded in the PVA matrix system. XPS study confirms the metallic nature of Co and Ag nanoparticles; and the depth profiling study reveals that both the metal nanoparticles have been embedded in the PVA matrix system. Surface morphology of such film has been studied using AFM; and the magnetic behaviour of the film studied by using MOKE shows soft ferromagnetic behaviour in this PVA/Co/Ag system.

Determination of antibody to Streptococcus mutans from radiation-induced xerostomia patients. Agglutination activity against cariogenic microorganisms, active immunoglobulin classes, and post-irradiation caries activity in cancer patients. Final report 15 jul 77-14 apr 79

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Brown, L.R.; O'Neill, P.A.; Dreizen, S.

1979-07-01

The relationship between specific agglutination (Ag) and caries activity during 30 month post radiation was assessed in 36 head and neck cancer patients. Ag titers in 444 saliva and 481 serum samples from these patients and 16 noncancer controls were determined against formalinized cellular antigens of Streptococcus mutans (Sm), Streptococcus sanguis (Ss), Streptococcus mitis, Lactobacillus fermenti (Lf), and Lactobacillus casei. Saliva IgA and IgG levels and Ag titers were significantly higher in cancer patients than in noncancer controls. Post radiation-induced xerostomic changes in saliva IgA reflected changes in specific Ag against oral microbes, particularly Sm serotype c. Patients with highmore » saliva IgA levels had significantly higher saliva Ag titers to Sm, Ss and Lf, lower plaque Sm counts and lower caries activity than patients with low saliva IgA levels. Serum Ag titers, however, showed no significant relationship with either serum Ig levels, microbial counts or caries activity. Chromatographic separation of Ig classes showed that Ag activity in saliva stemmed mainly from secretory IgA. Most serum Ag activity was found in regions corresponding to IgG and 7S IgA.« less

Performance of the BioPlex 2200 HIV Ag-Ab assay for identifying acute HIV infection.

PubMed

Eshleman, Susan H; Piwowar-Manning, Estelle; Sivay, Mariya V; Debevec, Barbara; Veater, Stephanie; McKinstry, Laura; Bekker, Linda-Gail; Mannheimer, Sharon; Grant, Robert M; Chesney, Margaret A; Coates, Thomas J; Koblin, Beryl A; Fogel, Jessica M

Assays that detect HIV antigen (Ag) and antibody (Ab) can be used to screen for HIV infection. To compare the performance of the BioPlex 2200 HIV Ag-Ab assay and two other Ag/Ab combination assays for detection of acute HIV infection. Samples were obtained from 24 individuals (18 from the US, 6 from South Africa); these individuals were classified as having acute infection based on the following criteria: positive qualitative RNA assay; two negative rapid tests; negative discriminatory test. The samples were tested with the BioPlex assay, the ARCHITECT HIV Ag/Ab Combo test, the Bio-Rad GS HIV Combo Ag-Ab EIA test, and a viral load assay. Twelve (50.0%) of 24 samples had RNA detected only ( > 40 to 13,476 copies/mL). Ten (43.5%) samples had reactive results with all three Ag/Ab assays, one sample was reactive with the ARCHITECT and Bio-Rad assays, and one sample was reactive with the Bio-Rad and BioPlex assays. The 11 samples that were reactive with the BioPlex assay had viral loads from 83,010 to >750,000 copies/mL; 9/11 samples were classified as Ag positive/Ab negative by the BioPlex assay. Detection of acute HIV infection was similar for the BioPlex assay and two other Ag/Ab assays. All three tests were less sensitive than a qualitative RNA assay and only detected HIV Ag when the viral load was high. The BioPlex assay detected acute infection in about half of the cases, and identified most of those infections as Ag positive/Ab negative. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

X-ray Reflectivity Study of a Highly Rough Surface: Si Nanowires Grown by Ag Nanoparticle Etching

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kremenak, Jesse; Arendse, Christopher; Cummings, Franscious; Chen, Yiyao; Miceli, Paul

Vertically oriented Si nanowires (SiNWs) formed by Ag-assisted wet chemical etching of a Si(100) substrate was studied by X-ray reflectivity (XRR) in combination with electron microscopy. Si(100) wafers coated with Ag nanoparticles, which serve as a catalyst, were etched for different durations in a HF/H2O2/DI-H2O solution. Because of the extreme roughness of these surfaces, there are challenges for using XRR methods in such systems. Therefore, significant attention is given to the analysis method of the XRR measurements. This sample-average information presents a valuable complement to electron microscopy studies, which focus on small sections of the sample. The present work shows-for the first time-the amount and distribution of Ag during the formation of SiNWs fabricated by Ag-assisted wet chemical etching, which is vital information for understanding the etching mechanisms. Support is gratefully acknowledged from the National Science Foundation (USA) - DGE1069091, the National Research Foundation (RSA) - TTK14052167658, 76568, 92520, and 93212; and the University of Missouri/University of Western Cape Linkage Program.

Improved conductivity and antibacterial activity of poly(2-aminothiophenol)-silver nanocomposite against human pathogens.

PubMed

Boomi, P; Anandha Raj, J; Palaniappan, S P; Poorani, G; Selvam, S; Gurumallesh Prabu, H; Manisankar, P; Jeyakanthan, J; Langeswaran, V K

2018-01-01

A rapid and simple chemical synthesis of poly(2-aminothiophenol)‑silver (P2ATP-Ag) nanocomposite using conductive and electroactive silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) is reported. The AgNPs was synthesized by chemical reduction method using tri‑sodium citrate as reducing agent and poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) (PVP) as stabilizing agent. P2ATP-Ag nanocomposite was synthesized by using potassium peroxodisulphate as oxidant and the samples were characterized. The presence of AgNPs in the composite was confirmed from UV-Vis, FTIR and X-ray diffraction studies. Morphology of the P2ATP and its composite were investigated by SEM. HR-TEM images show spherical, trigonal and rod like morphologies with sizes of Ag nanoparticles and its composite. Thermal analysis revealed that the thermal stability of the P2ATP-Ag nanocomposite is improved when compared with pure P2ATP. The synthesized AgNPs, pure P2ATP and P2ATP-Ag nanocomposite were screened for antibacterial activity test against human pathogen such as Gram positive (Bacillus subtilis, ATCC-6051) and Gram negative (Vibrio cholerae, ATCC-14035), carried out by agar-well diffusion method at micro molar concentration. The result shows that P2ATP-Ag nanocomposite has excellent antibacterial activity due to the presence of Ag nanoparticles. The electrical conductivity of the P2ATP-Ag nanocomposite is better than that of pure P2ATP. The reported nanocomposite will be a potential material for electrocatalysis, sensors and biomedical applications. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Liver transplantation for HBsAg-positive recipients using grafts from HBsAg-positive deceased donors.

PubMed

Choi, YoungRok; Choi, Jong Young; Yi, Nam-Joon; Lee, Kyoungbun; Mori, Shozo; Hong, Geun; Kim, Hyeyoung; Park, Min-Su; Yoo, Tae; Suh, Suk-Won; Lee, Hae Won; Lee, Kwang-Woong; Suh, Kyung-Suk

2013-12-01

This study reports our experience using deceased donor liver grafts from HBsAg-positive donors. We performed eight cases of liver transplantation (LT) using grafts from deceased HBsAg-positive donors between November 2005 and October 2010. The median age of donors was 48 years (range: 26-64). HBV DNA in the serum of donors ranged from 44 to 395 IU/ml, but HBeAg in all donors was negative. Preoperative laboratory and liver biopsy samples revealed the absence of definitive cirrhotic features and hepatitis. All recipients showed HBsAg positive preoperatively except one patient with HBsAg(-) status post previous LT for HBV related liver cirrhosis. The median age was 60 years (range: 46-76) at LT. Post-LT antiviral management consisted of hepatitis B immunoglobulin and antiviral nucleos(t)ide analogues. The median follow-up period was 25.5 months (range: 14-82). Of eight recipients, two recipients experienced serum HBsAg and HBV DNA disappearance postoperatively. Three recipients died of HBV-unrelated causes. The remaining five recipients were stable with normal liver function and no marked pathologic changes on follow-up biopsies. This experience shows that LT using grafts from deceased HBsAg-positive donors is feasible, and may represent a valuable expansion of the pool of organ donors with appropriate antiviral management and monitoring. © 2013 Steunstichting ESOT. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Clinical performance of the novel DiaSorin LIAISON(®) XL murex: HBsAg Quant, HCV-Ab, HIV-Ab/Ag assays.

PubMed

Krawczyk, Adalbert; Hintze, Christian; Ackermann, Jessica; Goitowski, Birgit; Trippler, Martin; Grüner, Nico; Neumann-Fraune, Maria; Verheyen, Jens; Fiedler, Melanie

2014-01-01

The fully automated and closed LIAISON(®)XL platform was developed for reliable detection of infection markers like hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies (Ab) or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-Ag/Ab. To date, less is known about the diagnostic performance of this system in direct comparison to the common Abbott ARCHITECT(®) platform. We compared the diagnostic performance and usability of the DiaSorin LIAISON(®)XL with the commonly used Abbott ARCHITECT(®) system. The qualitative performance of the above mentioned assays was compared in about 500 sera. Quantitative tests were performed for HBsAg-positive samples from patients under therapy (n=289) and in vitro expressed mutants (n=37). For HCV-Ab, a total number of 155 selected samples from patients chronically infected with different HCV genotypes were tested. The concordance between both systems was 99.4% for HBsAg, 98.81% for HCV-Ab, and 99.6% for HIV-Ab/Ag. The quantitative LIAISON(®)XL murex HBsAg assay detected all mutants in comparable amounts to the HBsAg wild type and yielded highly reliable HBsAg kinetics in patients treated with antiviral drugs. Dilution experiments using the 2nd International Standard for HBsAg (WHO) showed a high accuracy of this test. HCV-Ab from patients infected with genotypes 1-3 were equally detected in both systems. Interestingly, S/CO levels of HCV-Ab from patients infected with genotype 3 seem to be relatively low using both systems. The LIAISON(®)XL platform proved to be an excellent system for diagnostics of HBV, HCV, and HIV with equal performance compared to the ARCHITECT(®) system. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Ag2S/CdS/TiO2 Nanotube Array Films with High Photocurrent Density by Spotting Sample Method.

PubMed

Sun, Hong; Zhao, Peini; Zhang, Fanjun; Liu, Yuliang; Hao, Jingcheng

2015-12-01

Ag2S/CdS/TiO2 hybrid nanotube array films (Ag2S/CdS/TNTs) were prepared by selectively depositing a narrow-gap semiconductor-Ag2S (0.9 eV) quantum dots (QDs)-in the local domain of the CdS/TiO2 nanotube array films by spotting sample method (SSM). The improvement of sunlight absorption ability and photocurrent density of titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanotube array films (TNTs) which were obtained by anodic oxidation method was realized because of modifying semiconductor QDs. The CdS/TNTs, Ag2S/TNTs, and Ag2S/CdS/TNTs fabricated by uniformly depositing the QDs into the TNTs via the successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method were synthesized, respectively. The X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectrum (XPS) results demonstrated that the Ag2S/CdS/TNTs prepared by SSM and other films were successfully prepared. In comparison with the four films of TNTs, CdS/TNTs, Ag2S/TNTs, and Ag2S/CdS/TNTs by SILAR, the Ag2S/CdS/TNTs prepared by SSM showed much better absorption capability and the highest photocurrent density in UV-vis range (320~800 nm). The cycles of local deposition have great influence on their photoelectric properties. The photocurrent density of Ag2S/CdS/TNTs by SSM with optimum deposition cycles of 6 was about 37 times that of TNTs without modification, demonstrating their great prospective applications in solar energy utilization fields.

Antimicrobial fabrication of cotton fabric and leather using green-synthesized nanosilver.

PubMed

Velmurugan, Palanivel; Cho, Min; Lee, Sang-Myeong; Park, Jung-Hee; Bae, Sunyoung; Oh, Byung-Taek

2014-06-15

This study aims to investigate the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) by Erigeron annuus (L.) pers flower extract as reducing and capping agent, and evaluation of their antibacterial activities for the first time. The obtained product was confirmed by UV-Vis spectrum, high resolution-transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction studies. The optimum AgNPs production was achieved at pH 7, metal silver (Ag(+) ion) concentration of 2.0mM, flower extract concentration 4%, and time 335 min. In addition, the antibacterial activity of cotton fabrics and tanned leather loaded with AgNPs, commercial AgNPs, flower extract, Ag(+) ion and blend of flower extract with AgNPs were evaluated against Gram-positive odor causing bacteria Brevibacterium linens and Staphylococcus epidermidis. The results showed maximum zone of inhibition (ZOI) by the cotton fabrics embedded with blend of flower extract and AgNPs against B. linens. The structure and morphology of cotton fabric and leather samples embedded with AgNPs, Ag(+) ion and blend of flower extract with AgNPs were examined under field emission scanning electron microscope. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A miniaturized solid contact test with Arthrobacter globiformis for the assessment of the environmental impact of silver nanoparticles.

PubMed

Engelke, Maria; Köser, Jan; Hackmann, Stephan; Zhang, Huanjun; Mädler, Lutz; Filser, Juliane

2014-05-01

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are widely applied for their antibacterial activity. Their increasing use in consumer products implies that they will find their way into the environment via wastewater-treatment plants. The aim of the present study was to compare the ecotoxicological impact of 2 differently designed AgNPs using the solid contact test for the bacterial strain Arthrobacter globiformis. In addition, a miniaturized version of this test system was established, which requires only small-sized samples because AgNPs are produced in small quantities during the design level. The results demonstrate that the solid contact test can be performed in 24-well microplates and that the miniaturized test system fulfills the validity criterion. Soils spiked with AgNPs showed a concentration-dependent reduction of Arthrobacter dehydrogenase activity for both AgNPs and Ag ions (Ag(+)). The toxic effect of the investigated AgNPs on the bacterial viability differed by 1 order of magnitude and can be related to the release of dissolved Ag(+). The release of dissolved Ag(+) can be attributed to particle size and surface area or to the fact that AgNPs are in either metallic or oxide form. Environ © 2014 SETAC.

[HCV and HBV seropositivity in university students of the State of Nuevo Leòn, Mexico].

PubMed

Flores-Castañeda, M S; García-Méndez, B L; Tijerina-Menchaca, R

1996-01-01

Viral hepatitis is a contagious disease. Patients infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV), may be either chronically symptomatic or asymptomatic, and suffer cirrhosis and high risk of hepatic carcinoma. Asymptomatic carriers of HBV surface antigen (HBs-Ag) or with anti-HCV antibodies are potentially infectious, and therefore a risk to public health. This work seeks to establish the frequency of seropositivity for HBs-Ag and anti-HCV antibodies in a population of 774 newly accepted students of the Medical School of the Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon, whose average age was 18 years. Second generation ELISA test were used to screen for HBs-Ag and anti-HCV antibodies. HBs-Ag was confirmed by a neutralization test and anti-HCV antibodies were confirmed by a RIBA test. Three sera were positive for HBs-Ag by ELISA and only one serum (0.13% of analyzed samples) was confirmed by the neutralization technique. On the other hand 12 sera were positive for anti-HCV antibodies by ELISA, and eight of these were confirmed by RIBA (1.03% of the analyzed samples). Intensive reactivity bands were found in two sera, and weak reactivity bands were found in six sera. ELISA screening for anti-HCV antibodies showed 0.5% of false positives. This study shows that the frequency of anti-HCV antibodies is 7.95% times higher than that found for HBs-Ag. All seropositive patients were asymptomatic and potentially infective. This demonstrates the need to routinely screen for HBs-Ag and anti-HCV antibodies to establish the prevalence of these diseases in our area.

Preparation and thermoelectric properties of sulfur doped Ag2Te nanoparticles via solvothermal methods.

PubMed

Zhou, Wenwen; Zhao, Weiyun; Lu, Ziyang; Zhu, Jixin; Fan, Shufen; Ma, Jan; Hng, Huey Hoon; Yan, Qingyu

2012-07-07

In this work, n-type Ag(2)Te nanoparticles are prepared by a solvothermal approach with uniform and controllable sizes, e.g. 5-15 nm. The usage of dodecanethiol during the synthesis effectively introduces sulfur doping into the sample, which optimizes the charge carrier concentration of the nanoparticles to >1 × 10(20) cm(-3). This allows us to achieve the desired electrical resistivities of <5 × 10(-6)Ω m. It is demonstrated that Ag(2)Te particles prepared by this solvothermal process can exhibit high ZT values, e.g. 15 nm Ag(2)Te nanoparticles with effective sulphur doping show a maximum ZT value of ~0.62 at 550 K.

Photocatalytic activity of ZnO doped with Ag on the degradation of endocrine disrupting under UV irradiation and the investigation of its antibacterial activity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bechambi, Olfa; Chalbi, Manel; Najjar, Wahiba; Sayadi, Sami

2015-08-01

Ag-doped ZnO photocatalysts with different Ag molar content (0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0%) were prepared via hydrothermal method. The X-ray diffraction (XRD), Nitrogen physisorption at 77 K, Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UV--Visible spectroscopy, Photoluminescence spectra (PL) and Raman spectroscopy were used to characterize the structural, textural and optical properties of the samples. The results showed that Ag-doping does not change the average crystallite size with the Ag low content (≤1.0%) but slightly decreases with Ag high content (>1.0%). The specific surface area (SBET) increases with the increase of the Ag content. The band gap values of ZnO are decreased with the increase of the Ag doping level. The results of the photocatalytic degradation of bisphenol A (BPA) and nonylphenol (NP) in aqueous solutions under UV irradiation and in the presence of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) showed that silver ions doping greatly improved the photocatalytic efficiency of ZnO. The TOC conversion BPA and NP are 72.1% and 81.08% respectively obtained using 1% Ag-doped ZnO. The enhancement of photocatalytic activity is ascribed to the fact that the modification of ZnO with an appropriate amount of Ag can increase the separation efficiency of the photogenerated electrons-holes in ZnO. The antibacterial activity of the catalysts which uses Escherichia coli as a model for Gram-negative bacteria confirmed that Ag-doped ZnO possessed more antibacterial activity than the pure ZnO.

Comparison of the Abbott Architect i2000 assay, the Roche Modular Analytics E170 assay, and an immunoradiometric assay for serum hepatitis B virus markers.

PubMed

Kim, Hyunjung; Oh, Eun-Jee; Kang, Mi-Sook; Kim, Sung Hoon; Park, Yeon-Joon

2007-01-01

Serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers are the most important data for epidemiological screening and clinical diagnosis of HBV infection, especially in endemic areas. We compared the results of the Roche Modular Analytics E170 assay, the Abbott Architect i2000 assay, and an immunoradiometric assay (IRMA) for HBV surface antigen (HBsAg), anti-HBV surface antigen (anti-HBs), HBV e antigen (HBeAg), and anti-HBV e antigen (anti-HBe). A number of serum samples (264, 263, 224, and 202 for HBsAg, anti-HBs, HBeAg, and anti-HBe, respectively) were studied. For samples giving discrepant results for HBeAg between methods, real-time PCR assays were performed. The concordance rates among the three methods were high for HBsAg (100%) and HBeAg (94.6), but low for anti-HBs (91.6%) and anti-HBe (82.2%). For anti-HBs, which could be measured quantitatively by the Modular E170 and Architect i2000 procedures, discrepant results were observed at low levels of anti-HBs. For anti-HBe, the positive rate was highest with Modular E170 (60.9%) followed by the IRMA kit (54.1%) and Architect i2000 (51.0%). This study shows substantial differences between the assay results by the three methods, which should be taken into account in determinations of serum HBV markers.

Spectroscopic attributes of Sm3+ doped magnesium zinc sulfophosphate glass: Effects of silver nanoparticles inclusion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ahmadi, F.; Hussin, R.; Ghoshal, S. K.

2017-11-01

We report the modified optical properties of Sm3+ doped magnesium zinc sulfophosphate glass system with silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) inclusion. Three glass samples were prepared using melt quenching method and characterized. TEM images revealed the nucleation of Ag NPs with average diameter ≈12.50 nm. The UV-Vis-NIR spectra showed thirteen absorption bands. The surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band of Ag NPs was manifested at 446 nm. FTIR spectra disclosed the bonding vibrations for P-O bonds, P-O-P linkages, and PO2 units. Ag NPs concentration dependent bonding parameters and Judd-Ofelt (JO) intensity parameters were calculated. The JO parameter Ω2 was reduced with the increase of Ag NPs contents, indicating the ionicity and symmetry enhancement between Sm3+ ions with their surrounding ligands. The emission spectra of all samples under the excitation wavelength of 402 nm exhibited four significant peaks centered at 562, 599, 644 and 702 nm which are allocated to 4G5/2 →6H5/2, 6H7/2, 6H9/2 and 6H11/2 transitions, respectively. Inclusion of Ag NPs was discerned to augment the luminescence intensity by a factor of two, which was majorly ascribed to the local field effect of Ag NPs and subsequent energy transfer from the NPs to Sm3+ ions.

Studying the morphological features of plasma treated silver and PEGylated silver nanoparticles: antibacterial activity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Waseem, M.; Awan, T.; Yasin, H. M.; Rehman, N. U.

2018-03-01

A strategy to treat the silver and PEGylated silver nanoparticles with plasma was being purposed. Oil in water (o/w) microemulsion method was used for the synthesis of Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs). Polyethylene glycol (PEG) having molecular weight 600 was used to coat the surface of AgNPs. Optical emission spectroscopy (OES) was used to characterize the plasma and it is noted that plasma treatment is useful to modify the structural characteristic of silver nanoparticles. The nanoparticles were treated with helium-oxygen mixture plasma, generated in plasma needle at atmospheric pressure. Both AgNPs and PEGylated AgNPs before and after plasma treatment were characterized by x-rays diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The crystallite size of silver nanoparticles after the treatment of plasma decreases from 71 nm to 27 nm. The SEM micrographs show that the size of Ag nanoparticles was nearly 118 nm whereas the thickness of the silver needle was around 135 nm. All the characteristics IR bands associated to the silver nanoparticles were detected. The FTIR spectrum also support the accumulation of OH radicals in the plasma treated samples. The samples before and after plasma treatment were screened against Gram positive (Bacillus Subtilis and Staphylococcus Aureus) and Gram negative (Escherichia Coli and Pseudomonas Aeruginosa) bacteria. The promising response was detected when plasma treated PEGylated AgNPs was tested against bacterial strains.

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles from Moringa oleifera leaf extracts and its antimicrobial potential

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moodley, Jerushka S.; Babu Naidu Krishna, Suresh; Pillay, Karen; Sershen; Govender, Patrick

2018-03-01

In this study we report on the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) from the leaf extracts of Moringa oleifera using sunlight irradiation as primary source of energy, and its antimicrobial potential. Silver nanoparticle formation was confirmed by surface plasmon resonance at 450 nm and 440 nm, respectively for both fresh and freeze-dried leaf samples. Crystanality of AgNPs was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analysis. FTIR spectroscopic analysis suggested that flavones, terpenoids and polysaccharides predominate and are primarily responsible for the reduction and subsequent capping of AgNPs. X-ray diffraction analysis also demonstrated that the size range of AgNPs from both samples exhibited average diameters of 9 and 11 nm, respectively. Silver nanoparticles showed antimicrobial activity on both bacterial and fungal strains. The biosynthesised nanoparticle preparations from M. oleifera leaf extracts exhibit potential for application as broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents.

Half-life determination for {sup 108}Ag and {sup 110}Ag

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zahn, Guilherme S.; Genezini, Frederico A.

2014-11-11

In this work, the half-life of the short-lived silver radionuclides {sup 108}Ag and {sup 110}Ag were measured by following the activity of samples after they were irradiated in the IEA-R1 reactor. The results were then fitted using a non-paralizable dead time correction to the regular exponential decay and the individual half-life values obtained were then analyzed using both the Normalized Residuals and the Rajeval techniques, in order to reach the most exact and precise final values. To check the validity of dead-time correction, a second correction method was also employed by means of counting a long-lived {sup 60}Co radioactive sourcemore » together with the samples as a livetime chronometer. The final half-live values obtained using both dead-time correction methods were in good agreement, showing that the correction was properly assessed. The results obtained are partially compatible with the literature values, but with a lower uncertainty, and allow a discussion on the last ENSDF compilations' values.« less

Cytidine-stabilized gold nanocluster as a fluorescence turn-on and turn-off probe for dual functional detection of Ag(+) and Hg(2+).

PubMed

Zhang, Yuanyuan; Jiang, Hui; Wang, Xuemei

2015-04-22

In this study, we have developed a label-free, dual functional detection strategy for highly selective and sensitive determination of aqueous Ag(+) and Hg(2+) by using cytidine stabilized Au NCs and AuAg NCs as fluorescent turn-on and turn off probes, respectively. The Au NCs and AuAg NCs showed a remarkably rapid response and high selectivity for Ag(+) and Hg(2+) over other metal ions, and relevant detection limit of Ag(+) and Hg(2+) is ca. 10 nM and 30 nM, respectively. Importantly, the fluorescence enhanced Au NCs by doping Ag(+) can be conveniently reusable for the detection of Hg(2+) based on the corresponding fluorescence quenching. The sensing mechanism was based on the high-affinity metallophilic Hg(2+)-Ag(+) interaction, which effectively quenched the fluorescence of AuAg NCs. Furthermore, these fluorescent nanoprobes could be readily applied to Ag(+) and Hg(2+) detection in environmental water samples, indicating their possibility to be utilized as a convenient, dual functional, rapid response, and label-free fluorescence sensor for related environmental and health monitoring. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Predicting kinetic nanocrystal shapes through multi-scale theory and simulation: Polyvinylpyrrolidone-mediated growth of Ag nanocrystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Balankura, Tonnam; Qi, Xin; Zhou, Ya; Fichthorn, Kristen A.

2016-10-01

In the shape-controlled synthesis of colloidal Ag nanocrystals, structure-directing agents, particularly polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), are known to be a key additive in making nanostructures with well-defined shapes. Although many Ag nanocrystals have been successfully synthesized using PVP, the mechanism by which PVP actuates shape control remains elusive. Here, we present a multi-scale theoretical framework for kinetic Wulff shape predictions that accounts for the chemical environment, which we used to probe the kinetic influence of the adsorbed PVP film. Within this framework, we use umbrella-sampling molecular dynamics simulations to calculate the potential of mean force and diffusion coefficient profiles of Ag atom deposition onto Ag(100) and Ag(111) in ethylene glycol solution with surface-adsorbed PVP. We use these profiles to calculate the mean-first passage times and implement extensive Brownian dynamics simulations, which allows the kinetic effects to be quantitatively evaluated. Our results show that PVP films can regulate the flux of Ag atoms to be greater towards Ag(111) than Ag(100). PVP's preferential binding towards Ag(100) over Ag(111) gives PVP its flux-regulating capabilities through the lower free-energy barrier of Ag atoms to cross the lower-density PVP film on Ag(111) and enhanced Ag trapping by the extended PVP film on Ag(111). Under kinetic control, {100}-faceted nanocrystals will be formed when the Ag flux is greater towards Ag(111). The predicted kinetic Wulff shapes are in agreement with the analogous experimental system.

A novel green synthesis of Fe3O4-Ag core shell recyclable nanoparticles using Vitis vinifera stem extract and its enhanced antibacterial performance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Venkateswarlu, Sada; Natesh Kumar, B.; Prathima, B.; Anitha, K.; Jyothi, N. V. V.

2015-01-01

We described a novel and eco-friendly method for preparing Fe3O4-Ag core shell nanoparticles (CSNPs) with high magnetism and potent antibacterial activity. The Fe3O4-Ag CSNPs were obtained using waste material of Vitis vinifera (grape) stem extract as the green solvent, reducing and capping agent. The result recorded from X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), UV-vis spectrum, energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) supports the biosynthesis and characterization of Fe3O4-Ag CSNPs. From transmission electron microscopy (TEM) the size of the Fe3O4-Ag nanoparticles was measured below 50 nm; high-resolution TEM (HRTEM) indicates the core shell structure; and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) has revealed polycrystalline nature. Vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) shows the ferromagnetic nature of Fe3O4-Ag CSNPs at room temperature with saturation magnetization of 15.74 emu/g. Further, these biogenic nanoparticles were highly hazardous to microorganisms. The antibacterial activity of biogenic Fe3O4-Ag CSNPs showed potent inhibitory activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens. These nanoparticles may also be reusable because of its excellent ferromagnetic property.

Epitaxial Growth of LuAG:Ce and LuAG:Ce,Pr Films and Their Scintillation Properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Douissard, Paul-Antoine; Martin, Thierry; Riva, Federica; Zorenko, Yuriy; Zorenko, Tetiana; Paprocki, Kazimierz; Fedorov, Alexander; Bilski, Pawel; Twardak, Anna

2016-06-01

We performed the growth by Liquid Phase Epitaxy (LPE) of Ce and Ce-Pr doped Lu3Al5O12 (LuAG) Single Crystalline Films (SCFs) onto LuAG and Y3Al5O12 (YAG) substrates. The structural properties of LuAG:Ce and LuAG:Ce,Pr SCFs were examined by X-ray diffraction. The optical properties of the SCFs were studied through cathodoluminescence (CL) spectra, scintillation Light Yield (LY), decay kinetic under α-particle (Pu239) excitation, X-ray excited luminescence, thermostimulated luminescence (TSL) and afterglow measurements. The SCFs grown on LuAG substrates displayed good surface quality and structural perfection, whereas the SCFs grown on YAG substrates showed a rough surface and poorer crystalline quality, due to a large lattice mismatch between the film and the substrate (0.82%). Under α-particle excitation, the LY of LuAG:Ce SCF exceeded by 2 times that of the best YAG:Ce SCF sample used as reference. Under X-ray excitation, the LuAG:Ce SCF with optimized Ce concentration showed LY close (77%) to a reference YAG:Ce Single Crystal (SC) scintillator. The afterglow of LuAG:Ce and LuAG:Ce,Pr SCFs was lower (by 1 decade) than that of the tested reference LuAG:Ce SC. However there is not a complete suppression of the afterglow at room temperature (RT), despite the fact that the SCFs present much lower concentration of antisite and vacancy type defects than their SC counterparts. This can be explained by the presence in the films of other trap centers responsible for TSL above RT.

ZnO/Ag/CdO nanocomposite for visible light-induced photocatalytic degradation of industrial textile effluents.

PubMed

Saravanan, R; Mansoob Khan, M; Gupta, Vinod Kumar; Mosquera, E; Gracia, F; Narayanan, V; Stephen, A

2015-08-15

A ternary ZnO/Ag/CdO nanocomposite was synthesized using thermal decomposition method. The resulting nanocomposite was characterized by X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, UV-Vis spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The ZnO/Ag/CdO nanocomposite exhibited enhanced photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation for the degradation of methyl orange and methylene blue compared with binary ZnO/Ag and ZnO/CdO nanocomposites. The ZnO/Ag/CdO nanocomposite was also used for the degradation of the industrial textile effluent (real sample analysis) and degraded more than 90% in 210 min under visible light irradiation. The small size, high surface area and synergistic effect in the ZnO/Ag/CdO nanocomposite is responsible for high photocatalytic activity. These results also showed that the Ag nanoparticles induced visible light activity and facilitated efficient charge separation in the ZnO/Ag/CdO nanocomposite, thereby improving the photocatalytic performance. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Fluxless Bonding Processes Using Silver-Indium System for High Temperature Electronics and Silver Flip-Chip Interconnect Technology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Yuan-Yun

In this dissertation, fluxless silver (Ag)-indium (In) binary system bonding and Ag solid-state bonding are used between different bonded pairs which have large thermal expansion coefficient (CTE) mismatch and flip-chip interconnect bonding application. In contrast to the conventional soldering process, fluxless bonding technique eliminates contamination and reliability problems caused by flux to fabricate high quality joints. There are two section are reported. In the first section, the reactions of Ag-In binary system are presented. In the second section, the high melting temperature, thermal and electrical conductivity joint materials bonding by either Ag-In binary system bonding or solid-state bonding processes for different bonded pairs and flip-chip application are designed, developed, and reported. Our group have studied Ag-In system for several years and developed the bonding processes successfully. However, the detailed reactions of Ag and In were seldom studied. To design a proper bonding structure, it is necessary to understand the reaction between Ag and In. The systematic experiments were performed to investigate these reactions. A 40 um Ag layer was electroplated on copper (Cu) substrates, followed by indium layers of 1, 3, 5, 10, and 15 um, respectively. The samples were annealed at 180 °C in 0.1 torr vacuum. For samples with In thickness less than 5 mum, the joint compositions are Ag2In only (1 um) or AgIn2, Ag2In, and Ag solid solution (Ag) after annealing. No indium is identified. For 10 and 15 um thick In samples, In covers almost over the entire sample surface after annealing. Later, an Ag layer was annealed at 450 °C for 3 hours to grow Ag grains, followed by plating 10 um In and annealing at 180 °C. By annealing Ag before plating In, more In is kept in the structure during annealing at 180 °C. Based on above results, for those designs with In thinner than 5 um, the Ag layer needs to be annealed, prior to In plating in order to make a successful bonding. In this section, we further studied the Ag-In bonding and solid-state bonding for different bonded pairs and flip-chip application. For the silicon (Si) and aluminum (Al) pair, Al has been used as the material for interconnect pads on the ICs. However, its high CTE (23 x 10-6/°C) and non-solderable property limit its applications in electronic products. To overcome these problems, a fluxless Ag-In bonding was developed. Al was deposited Cr/Cu layer on the surface by E-beam evaporator to make it solderable. 15 um of Ag and 8 um of In were sequentially plated on the Al substrates and 15 um of Ag was on Si chips with Cr/Au coating layer. The bonding was performed at 180 °C in 0.1 torr vacuum. The joint consists of Ag/(Ag)/Ag2In/(Ag)/Ag. The joint can achieve a solidus temperature of beyond 600 °C. From shear test results, the shear strengths far exceed the requirement in MIL-STD-883H. Al is not considered as a favorable substrate material because it is not solderable and has a high CTE. The new method presented in this thesis seems to have surmounted these two challenges. Since Ag2In is weak inside the joint in Ag-In system, an annealed process was used to convert the joints into Ag solid solution (Ag) to increase the joint strength and ductility. Two copper (Cu) substrates were bonded at 180 °C without flux. Bonding samples were annealed at 200 °C for 1,000 hours (first design) and at 250 °C for 350 hours (second design), respectively. Scanning electron microscope with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis results indicate that the joint of the first design is an alloy of mostly (Ag) with micron-size Ag2In and Ag3In regions, and that of second design has converted to a single (Ag) phase. Shear test results show that the breaking forces far exceed the requirement in MIL-STD-883H. The joint solidus temperatures are 600 °C and 800 °C for the first and second designs, respectively. The research results have shown that high-strength and high temperature joints can be manufactured using fluxless low temperature processes with the Ag-In system and are valuable in developing high temperature package. (Abstract shortened by UMI.).

Thermoelectric study of Ag doped SnSe-Sb2Se3 based alloy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Das, Anish; Talukdar, M.; Kumar, Aparabal; Sarkar, Kalyan Jyoti; Dhama, P.; Banerji, P.

2018-05-01

In this article we have synthesized p-type alloy of SnSe and Sb2Se3 (10 atomic %) to study the thermoelectric transport properties. The alloy was prepared by melt grown technique followed by spark plasma sintering and latter doped with 2 atomic % Ag to compensate the carrier density in order to achieve higher electrical conductivity (σ). Out of these, the doped sample resulted in the maximum figure of merit, ZT˜0.7 at 773 K due to the existence of the secondary phase AgSbSe2 and reduced lattice thermal conductivity (0.61 W m-1 K-1 at 300 K). The fitted lattice thermal conductivity shows that point defect and Umklapp scattering are the primary process of phonon scattering for all the samples whereas the fitted mobility data confirms acoustic phonon scattering along with point defect and grain boundary scattering to be the main carrier scattering mechanism. More over room temperature carrier density and electrical conductivity are found to increase for the doped sample which further corroborate (90%)SnSe-(10%)Sb2Se3:2%Ag to be a potential candidate for highly efficient thermoelectric materials.

Halloysite nanotubes with immobilized silver nanoparticles for anti-bacterial application.

PubMed

Jana, Subhra; Kondakova, Anastasiya V; Shevchenko, Svetlana N; Sheval, Eugene V; Gonchar, Kirill A; Timoshenko, Victor Yu; Vasiliev, Alexander N

2017-03-01

Halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) with immobilized silver (Ag) nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared by methods of wet chemistry and were characterized by using the transmission electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, optical spectroscopy and experiments with E. coli bacteria in-vitro. It was found that Ag NPs with almost perfect crystalline structure and sizes from ∼9nm were mainly attached over the external surface of HNTs. The optical absorption measurement revealed a broad plasmonic resonance in the region of 400-600nm for HNTs with Ag NPs. The later samples exhibit bactericidal effect, which is more pronounced under illumination. A role of the plasmonic excitation of Ag NPs for their bioactive properties is discussed. The obtained results show that Ag NPs-decorated HNTs are promising agents for the antibacterial treatment. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Non-labile silver species in biosolids remain stable throughout ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Increasing commercial use of nanosilver has focussed attention on the fate of silver (Ag) in the wastewater release pathway. This paper reports the speciation and lability of Ag in archived, stockpiled, and contemporary biosolids from the UK, USA and Australia, and indicates that biosolids Ag concentrations have decreased significantly over recent decades. XANES revealed the importance of reduced-sulfur binding environments for Ag speciation in materials ranging from freshly produced sludge to biosolids weathered under ambient environmental conditions for more than 50 years. Isotopic dilution with 110mAg showed that Ag was predominantly non-labile in both fresh and aged biosolids (13.7% mean lability), with E-values ranging from 0.3 to 60 mg/kg and 5 mM CaNO3 extractable Ag from 1.2 to 609 µg/kg (0.002 - 3.4% of the total Ag). This study indicates that at the time of soil application, biosolids Ag will be predominantly Ag-sulfides and characterised by low isotopic lability. This paper presents an overview of biosolids Ag chemistry in historic and contemporary biosolids sourced from the UK, USA and Australia from the 1950s until today by drawing on a unique collection of archived, stockpiled and contemporary biosolids samples. Characteristics of biosolids Ag chemistry determined in this study included total Ag measurement by neutron activation analysis (NAA); the assessment of Ag lability by 110mAg isotopic dilution (E-values); and Ag speciation by X-ray Absorp

Manipulation of surface morphology of flower-like Ag/ZnO nanorods to enhance photocatalytic performance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

U-thaipan, Kasira; Tedsree, Karaked

2018-06-01

The surface morphology of flower-like Ag/ZnO nanorod can be manipulated by adopting different synthetic routes and also loading different levels of Ag in order to alter their surface structures to achieve the maximum photocatalytic efficiency. In a single-step preparation method Ag/ZnO was prepared by heating directly a mixture of Zn2+ and Ag+ precursors in an aqueous NaOH-ethylene glycol solution, while in the two-step preparation method an intermediate of flower-shaped ZnO nanorod was obtained by a hydrothermal process before depositing Ag particles on the ZnO surfaces by chemical reduction. The structure, morphology and optical properties of the synthesized samples were characterized using TEM, SEM, XRD, DRS and PL techniques. The sample prepared by single-step method are characterized with agglomeration of Ag atoms as clusters on the surface of ZnO, whereas in the sample prepared by two-step method Ag atoms are found uniformly dispersed and deposited as discrete Ag nanoparticles on the surface of ZnO. A significant enhancement in the adsorption of visible light was evident for Ag/ZnO samples prepared by two-step method especially with low Ag content (0.5 mol%). The flower-like Ag/ZnO nanorod prepared with 0.5 mol% Ag by two-step process was found to be the most efficient photocatalyst for the degradation of phenol, which can decompose 90% of phenol within 120 min.

Shape and size dependent nonlinear refraction and absorption in citrate-stabilized, near-IR plasmonic silver nanopyramids.

PubMed

Dadhich, Bhavesh Kumar; Kumar, Indrajit; Choubey, Ravi Kant; Bhushan, Bhavya; Priyam, Amiya

2017-10-11

Using a combination of a mild stabilizer and a mild reductant, sodium citrate and hydrazine hydrate, anisotropic silver nanocrystals (NCs) were synthesized with tunable plasmon peaks at 550 nm, 700 nm, 800 nm, 900 nm and 1010 nm (the samples are named Ag-550, Ag-700, Ag-800, Ag-900 and Ag-1010, respectively). TEM investigations revealed that Ag-550 NCs were pentagonal nanoplates while the other four samples were nanopyramids with a pentagonal base with the edge length varying between 15 and 30 nm. The non-linear optical (NLO) properties of these NCs were studied by the Z-scan technique using the CW He-Ne laser (632.8 nm, 15 mW). The shape change from 2D nanoplates (Ag-550) to 3D nanopyramids (Ag-700) resulted in sign reversal of the non-linear refractive index, n 2 , from a negative (-3.164 × 10 -8 cm 2 W -1 ) to a positive one (1.195 × 10 -8 cm 2 W -1 ). This corresponds to a change from a self-defocussing effect to a self-focussing one. Besides shape, the size effect is also prominently observed. Amongst nanopyramids, as the edge length increases, n 2 increases linearly and reaches a maximum of 3.124 × 10 -8 cm 2 W -1 . Doubling the edge length from 15 nm to 30 nm resulted in 162% increase in n 2 . On moving from Ag-550 to Ag-900 NCs, with the increasing plasmon wavelength, the non-linear absorption (NLA) coefficient increased exponentially to a high value of 8.52 × 10 -4 cm W -1 . However, Ag-1010 showed 29% decrease in NLA which is attributed to twinning present in the crystal structure as seen in the HR-TEM images. Due to the tunable NLO properties, these anisotropic Ag NCs hold great potential for applications in optical limiting, switching and data storage.

Seroprevalence of HDV infection in HBsAg positive population in Ismailia, Egypt.

PubMed

Gomaa, Nahed I M; Metwally, Lobna A; Nemr, Nader; Younis, Soha

2013-01-01

Hepatitis D virus (HDV) is a defective RNA virus that needs hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) from HBV for transmission. HDV can lead to fulminant hepatitis and the progression of chronic liver damage in patients with chronic hepatitis B. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of HDV among HBsAg positive individuals in Ismailia, Egypt. Serum samples were collected from 170 HBsAg positive healthy individuals from Suez Canal University blood bank over a one year period. All of them were seeking blood donation and found to be HBsAg positive during viral hepatitis screening workups which is routinely done prior to donation. Serum samples were screened for IgG antibodies to hepatitis delta virus (HDV) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Anti-HDV antibodies were detected in 8 (4.7%) individuals aged from 29-43 years. Liver function tests showed that serum ALT and AST levels were elevated in the HBsAglanti-HDV positive cases. It is concluded that the rate of HDV infection in Ismailia is high and further investigation is needed to validate the findings and raise awareness about the risk of dual HBV and HDV infection.

Frequency upconversion in Er3+ doped tungsten tellurite glass containing Ag nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mahajan, S. K.; Parashar, J.

2018-05-01

The frequency upconversion emission in Er3+ doped TeO2-WO3-Li2O containing Ag nanoparticle (TWLEOAG) glasses at 980nm excitation is reported. The absorption spectra reveal not only the peaks due to Er3+ ions, but also the surface plasmon resonance band of silver NPs located around 525nm and 650 nm. The spherical AgNPs with average size ˜38 nm in the glassy matrix is evidenced from the TEM measurement. Under 980nm laser excitation upconversion emission spectra show two major emission at 550nm and 638nm originating from 4S3/2 and 4F9/2 energy levels of the Er3+ ions, respectively was observed. Upconversion emission enhancement factor 7 fold has been measured for sample heat treated during 40h. However for 18h heat treated TWLEOAG sample under 980 nm flash lamp excitation produced Intense green compare to red emission. Since the 980nm frequency is far from the AgNPs surface plasmon resonance frequency, visible emission ehancement is attributed to local field increase in proximity of the Ag NPs and not energy tranfer from NPs to emitters. Possible energy transfer upconversion mechanism has been also discussed.

Room temperature synthesis and optical studies on Ag and Au mixed nanocomposite polyvinylpyrrolidone polymer films.

PubMed

Udayabhaskar, R; Mangalaraja, R V; Manikandan, D; Arjunan, V; Karthikeyan, B

2012-12-01

Optical properties of silver, gold and bimetallic (Au:Ag) nanocomposite polymer films which are prepared by chemical method have been reported. The experimental data was correlated with the theoretical calculations using Mie theory. We adopt small change in the theoretical calculations of bimetallic/mixed particle nanocomposite and the theory agrees well with the experimental data. Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) was used as reducing and capping agent. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) study reveals the presence of different functional groups, the possible mechanism that leads to the formation of nanoparticles by using PVP alone as reducing agent. Optical absorption spectra of Ag and Au nanocomposite polymers show a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band around 430 and 532 nm, respectively. Thermal annealing effect on the prepared samples at 60 °C for different time durations result in shift of SPR band maximum and varies the full width at half maximum (FWHM). Absorption spectra of Au:Ag bimetallic films show bands at 412 and 547 nm confirms the presence of Ag and Au nanoparticles in the composite. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Synthesis of silver-platinum nanoferns substrates used in surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy sensors to detect creatinine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Adliha Abdullah, Nur; Abu Bakar, Norhayati; Shapter, Joseph G.; Mat Salleh, Muhamad; Umar, Akrajas Ali

2017-06-01

Creatinine is one of the most commonly used bio markers of renal function. This paper reports a study on detection of creatinine using silver-platinum (AgPt) nanoferns substrates to fabricate a surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) sensor. The AgPt nanoferns were synthesized by liquid phase deposition (LPD) where the morphology structures and thickness of the AgPt nanoferns were controlled by varying the concentration of formic acid which was acting as the reducing agent. We have obtained four different nanoferns structures and thicknesses. This study showed that the AgPt nanoferns structure synthesized with 40 mM formic acid give the highest Raman peak intensity for a 0.05 M creatinine sample.

Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Silver Vanadium Phosphorus Oxide, Ag 2VO 2PO 4 : Crystallite Size Control and Impact on Electrochemistry

DOE PAGES

Huang, Jianping; Marschilok, Amy C.; Takeuchi, Esther S.; ...

2016-03-07

We study silver vanadium phosphorus oxide, Ag 2VO 2PO 4, that is a promising cathode material for Li batteries due in part to its large capacity and high current capability. Herein, a new synthesis of Ag 2VO 2PO 4 based on microwave heating is presented, where the reaction time is reduced by approximately 100× relative to other reported methods, and the crystallite size is controlled via synthesis temperature, showing a linear correlation of crystallite size with temperature. Notably, under galvanostatic reduction, the Ag 2VO 2PO 4 sample with the smallest crystallite size delivers the highest capacity and shows the highestmore » loaded voltage. Further, pulse discharge tests show a significant resistance decrease during the initial discharge coincident with the formation of Ag metal. Thus, the magnitude of the resistance decrease observed during pulse tests depends on the Ag 2VO 2PO 4 crystallite size, with the largest resistance decrease observed for the smallest crystallite size. Additional electrochemical measurements indicate a quasi-reversible redox reaction involving Li + insertion/deinsertion, with capacity fade due to structural changes associated with the discharge/charge process. In summary, this work demonstrates a faster synthetic approach for bimetallic polyanionic materials which also provides the opportunity for tuning of electrochemical properties through control of material physical properties such as crystallite size.« less

Individual and collective modes of surface magnetoplasmon in thiolate-protected silver nanoparticles studied by MCD spectroscopy.

PubMed

Yao, Hiroshi; Shiratsu, Taisuke

2016-06-07

Large magneto-optical (MO) responses at the energy of localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR), namely, surface magnetoplasmons, are demonstrated for the first time in thiolate-protected silver nanoparticles with magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopy. The samples examined are decanethiol (DT)-, azobenzenethiol (ABT)-, and ABT/DT mixed-monolayer-protected Ag nanoparticles. ABT-protected Ag nanoparticles are somewhat aggregated and thus exhibit a broad, collective mode of plasmonic absorption, whereas other samples with highly-dispersed nanoparticles show an individual mode of LSPR absorption. In all Ag nanoparticles, a derivative-like MCD signal is observed under an applied magnetic field of 1.6 T, which can be explained in terms of two circular modes of magnetoplasmon caused by the increase (or decrease) in the Lorentz force imparted on the free electrons that oscillate in the left (or right) circular orbits in the nanosphere. For the Ag nanoparticles exhibiting an individual LSPR mode, in particular, simultaneous deconvolution analysis of UV-vis absorption and MCD spectra reveal that (i) the amplitude of the magnetoplasmonic component with lower frequency (ω-), resulting from the reduction in the confinement strength of collective electrons by the Lorentz force, is stronger than that with a higher frequency (ω+); (ii) the accurate shift or cyclotron frequency between two magnetoplasmonic modes (ωc = ω+-ω-) is size-dependent, and presents a very large value with implications for the apparent enhancement of the local magnetic-field in the Ag nanoparticles. These results strongly suggest that the Ag-thiolate layer or Ag-S bonding on the nanoparticle surface plays a significant role in the MO enhancement.

The effect of silver fluoride and potassium iodide on the bond strength of auto cure glass ionomer cement to dentine.

PubMed

Knight, G M; McIntyre, J M; Mulyani

2006-03-01

Diamine silver fluoride (Ag(NH3)2F), referred to as AgF, has been shown to reduce the incidence of caries in primary dentitions. The clinical application of this material has been limited by staining associated with both teeth and restorative materials. The application of potassium iodide (KI) after AgF eliminates stain formation. There is a lack of information as to how the addition of AgF followed by KI may affect the bond strength to dentine. The purpose of this study was to compare the bond strengths of auto cure glass ionomer cement to dentine surfaces that had been treated with AgF and KI and without treatment. Ten recently extracted human third molars were embedded into methyl methacrylate resin and sliced to form a square block of exposed dentine surfaces. Each of the four surfaces were treated by one of the following procedures: (a) etching with 37 per cent phosphoric acid; (b) applying GC dentine conditioner; (c) etching, followed by application of AgF/KI then washing off the precipitate and air drying; and (d) etching, applying AgF/KI and air drying the reaction products on the surface. Fuji VII auto cure glass ionomer cement was bonded onto each sample and fracture tested. The dentine samples treated with AgF/KI followed by washing away the precipitate and air drying had bond strengths (2.83 MPa) not significantly different from samples that had been conditioned (2.40 MPa). Samples where the AgF/KI precipitate had been air dried onto the dentine surface had significantly lower bond strengths (1.49 MPa) than the washed samples. Samples that were etched had significantly lower bond strengths (1.91MPa) than the conditioned samples. This study found that the application of AgF/KI to etched dentine samples followed by washing off the precipitate, created bond strengths that were not significantly different to conditioned samples. Leaving the AgF/KI precipitate on the dentine surface significantly reduced the bond strength of auto cured glass ionomer cement to dentine. Washing away the reaction products and air drying is recommended as the clinical protocol for using AgF and KI on dentine surfaces prior to application of an auto cure glass ionomer cement.

Silver-Loaded Aluminosilicate Aerogels As Iodine Sorbents

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Riley, Brian J.; Kroll, Jared O.; Peterson, Jacob A.

This paper discusses the development of aluminosilicates aerogels as scaffolds for Ag0 nanoparticles used for chemisorption of I2(g). The starting materials for these scaffolds included both Na-Al-Si-O and Al-Si-O aerogels, both synthesized from metal alkoxides. The Ag0 particles are added by soaking the aerogels in AgNO3 followed by drying and flowing under H2/Ar to reduce Ag+ → Ag0. In some cases, samples were soaked in 3-(mercaptopropyl)trimethoxysilane under supercritical CO2 to add –SH tethers to the aerogel surfaces for more effective binding of Ag+. During the Ag+-impregnation steps, for the Na-Al-Si-O aerogels, Na was replaced with Ag, and for the Al-Si-Omore » aerogel, Si was replaced with Ag. The Ag-loading of thiolated versus non-thiolated Na-Al-Si-O aerogels was comparable at ~35 at% whereas the Ag-loading in unthiolated Al-Si-O aerogels was significantly lower at ~ 7 at% after identical treatment. Iodine loadings in both thiolated and unthiolated Ag0-functionalized Na-Al-Si-O aerogels were > 0.5 g g-1 showing almost complete utilization of the Ag through chemisorption to form AgI. Iodine loading in the thiolated Al-Si-O aerogel was 0.31 g g-1. The control of Ag uptake over solution residence time and [AgNO3] demonstrates the ability to customize the Ag-loading in the base sorbent to regulate the capacity of iodine chemisorption. Consolidation experimental results are also presented.« less

Substantial variation in the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-positive patients from South Africa: Reliable detection of HBV by the Elecsys HBsAg II assay.

PubMed

Gencay, Mikael; Vermeulen, Marion; Neofytos, Dionysis; Westergaard, Gaston; Pabinger, Stephan; Kriegner, Albert; Seffner, Anja; Gohl, Peter; Huebner, Kirsten; Nauck, Markus; Kaminski, Wolfgang E

2018-04-01

It is essential that hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) diagnostic assays reliably detect genetic diversity in the major hydrophilic region (MHR) of HBsAg to avoid false-negative results. Mutations in this domain display marked ethno-geographic variation and may lead to failure to diagnose hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Evaluate diagnostic performance of the Elecsys ® HBsAg II Qualitative assay in a cohort of South African HBV-positive blood donors. A total of 179 South African HBsAg- and HBV DNA > 100 IU/mL-positive blood donor samples were included. Samples were sequenced for genetic variation in HBsAg MHR using next-generation ultra-deep sequencing. HBsAg seropositivity was determined using the Roche Elecsys HBsAg II Qualitative assay. Mutation rates were compared between the first (amino acids 124-137) and second (amino acids 139-147) loops of the immunodominant MHR 'a' determinant region. Frequency of occult HBV infection-associated Y100C mutations was also determined. We observed a total of 279 MHR mutations (117 variants) in 102 (57%) samples, of which 91 were located in the 'a' determinant region. The major vaccine-induced escape mutation G145R was observed in two samples. All occult HBV infection-associated Y100C and common diagnostic and vaccine-escape-associated P120T, G145R, K122R, M133L, M133T, Q129H, G130N, and T126S mutations were reliably detected by the assay, which consistently detected the presence of HBsAg in all 179 samples including samples with 11 novel mutations. Despite substantial variation in HBsAg MHR, the Elecsys HBsAg II Qualitative assay robustly detects HBV infection in this South African cohort. Copyright © 2018 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Ground-water quality and effects of poultry confined animal feeding operations on shallow ground water, upper Shoal Creek basin, Southwest Missouri, 2000

USGS Publications Warehouse

Mugel, Douglas N.

2002-01-01

Forty-seven wells and 8 springs were sampled in May, October, and November 2000 in the upper Shoal Creek Basin, southwest Missouri, to determine if nutrient concentrations and fecal bacteria densities are increasing in the shallow aquifer as a result of poultry confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs). Most of the land use in the basin is agricultural, with cattle and hay production dominating; the number of poultry CAFOs has increased in recent years. Poultry waste (litter) is used as a source of nutrients on pasture land as much as several miles away from poultry barns.Most wells in the sample network were classified as ?P? wells, which were open only or mostly to the Springfield Plateau aquifer and where poultry litter was applied to a substantial acreage within 0.5 mile of the well both in spring 2000 and in several previous years; and ?Ag? wells, which were open only or mostly to the Springfield Plateau aquifer and which had limited or no association with poultry CAFOs. Water-quality data from wells and springs were grouped for statistical purposes as P1, Ag1, and Sp1 (May 2000 samples) and P2, Ag2, and Sp2 (October or November 2000 samples). The results of this study do not indicate that poultry CAFOs are affecting the shallow ground water in the upper Shoal Creek Basin with respect to nutrient concentrations and fecal bacteria densities. Statistical tests do not indicate that P wells sampled in spring 2000 have statistically larger concentrations of nitrite plus nitrate or fecal indicator bacteria densities than Ag wells sampled during the same time, at a 95-percent confidence level. Instead, the Ag wells had statistically larger concentrations of nitrite plus nitrate and fecal coliform bacteria densities than the P wells.The results of this study do not indicate seasonal variations from spring 2000 to fall 2000 in the concentrations of nutrients or fecal indicator bacteria densities from well samples. Statistical tests do not indicate statistically significant differences at a 95-percent confidence level for nitrite plus nitrate concentrations or fecal indicator bacteria densities between either P wells sampled in spring and fall 2000, or Ag wells sampled in spring and fall 2000. However, analysis of samples from springs shows that fecal streptococcus bacteria densities were statistically smaller in fall 2000 than in spring 2000 at a 95-percent confidence level.Nitrite plus nitrate concentrations in spring 2000 samples ranged from less than the detection level [0.02 mg/L (milligram per liter) as nitrogen] to 18 mg/L as nitrogen. Seven samples from three wells had nitrite plus nitrate concentrations at or larger than the maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 10 mg/L as nitrogen. The median nitrite plus nitrate concentrations were 0.28 mg/L as nitrogen for P1 samples, 4.6 mg/L as nitrogen for Ag1 samples, and 3.9 mg/L as nitrogen for Sp1 samples.Fecal coliform bacteria were detected in 1 of 25 P1 samples and 5 of 15 Ag1 samples. Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria were detected in 3 of 24 P1 samples and 1 of 13 Ag1 samples. Fecal streptococcus bacteria were detected in 8 of 25 P1 samples and 6 of 15 Ag1 samples. Bacteria densities in samples from wells ranged from less than 1 to 81 col/100 mL (colonies per 100 milliliters) of fecal coliform, less than 1 to 140 col/100 mL of E. coli, and less than 1 to 130 col/100 mL of fecal streptococcus. Fecal indicator bacteria densities in samples from springs were substantially larger than in samples from wells. In Sp1 samples, bacteria densities ranged from 12 to 3,300 col/100 mL of fecal coliform, 40 to 2,700 col/100 mL of E. coli, and 42 to 3,100 col/100 mL of fecal streptococcus.

Room-temperature synthesis of carnation-like ZnO@AgI hierarchical nanostructures assembled by AgI nanoparticles-decorated ZnO nanosheets with enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity.

PubMed

Huang, He; Huang, Ni; Wang, Zhonghua; Xia, Guangqiang; Chen, Ming; He, Lingling; Tong, Zhifang; Ren, Chunguang

2017-09-15

The preparation of highly efficient visible-light-driven photocatalyst for the photodegradation of organic pollutants has received much attention due to the increasing global energy crises and environmental pollution. In this study, carnation-like ZnO@AgI hierarchical nanostructures assembled by AgI nanoparticles-decorated ZnO nanosheets were successfully prepared via a room-temperature route. The as-prepared ZnO@AgI nanostructures exhibited highly efficient photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation (λ>400nm). Under optimized AgI content, the ZnO@AgI-5% sample showed high photocatalytic activity, which was 25.7 and 1.5 times the activity of pure ZnO and pure AgI, respectively. Mechanism studies indicated that superoxide anion radicals (O 2 - ) was the main reactive species in the photocatalytic process. The high photocatalytic activity of the ZnO@AgI nanostructures is attributed to the highly active AgI nanoparticles and the heterojunction between AgI nanoparticles and ZnO nanosheets. The heterojunction structure reduced the recombination of the photogenerated electron-hole pairs in the conduction band (CB) and valence band (VB) of AgI nanoparticles by transferring the electrons from the CB of AgI nanoparticles to the CB of ZnO nanosheets. The composite of ZnO and AgI not only improves photocatalytic efficiency but also reduces photocatalyst cost, which is beneficial for practical application. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

AGS67E, an Anti-CD37 Monomethyl Auristatin E Antibody–Drug Conjugate as a Potential Therapeutic for B/T-Cell Malignancies and AML: A New Role for CD37 in AML

PubMed Central

Pereira, Daniel S.; Guevara, Claudia I.; Jin, Liqing; Mbong, Nathan; Verlinsky, Alla; Hsu, Ssucheng J.; Aviña, Hector; Karki, Sher; Abad, Joseph D.; Yang, Peng; Moon, Sung-Ju; Malik, Faisal; Choi, Michael Y.; An, Zili; Morrison, Kendall; Challita-Eid, Pia M.; Doñate, Fernando; Joseph, Ingrid B.J.; Kipps, Thomas J.; Dick, John E.; Stover, David R.

2015-01-01

CD37 is a tetraspanin expressed on malignant B cells. Recently, CD37 has gained interest as a therapeutic target. We developed AGS67E, an antibody–drug conjugate that targets CD37 for the potential treatment of B/T-cell malignancies. It is a fully human monoclonal IgG2 antibody (AGS67C) conjugated, via a protease-cleavable linker, to the microtubule-disrupting agent mono-methyl auristatin E (MMAE). AGS67E induces potent cytotoxicity, apoptosis, and cell-cycle alterations in many non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cell lines and patient-derived samples in vitro. It also shows potent antitumor activity in NHL and CLL xenografts, including Rituxan-refractory models. During profiling studies to confirm the reported expression of CD37 in normal tissues and B-cell malignancies, we made the novel discovery that the CD37 protein was expressed in T-cell lymphomas and in AML. AGS67E bound to >80% of NHL and T-cell lymphomas, 100% of CLL and 100% of AML patient-derived samples, including CD34+CD38− leukemic stem cells. It also induced cytotoxicity, apoptosis, and cell-cycle alterations in AML cell lines and antitumor efficacy in orthotopic AML xenografts. Taken together, this study shows not only that AGS67E may serve as a potential therapeutic for B/T-cell malignancies, but it also demonstrates, for the first time, that CD37 is well expressed and a potential drug target in AML. PMID:25934707

Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles from Microbial Source-A Green Synthesis Approach, and Evaluation of its Antimicrobial Activity against Escherichia coli

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Behera, S. S.; Jha, S.; Arakha, M.; Panigrahi, T. K.

2012-03-01

TRACT Nanoparticles synthesis by biological methods using various microorganisms, plants, and plant extracts and enzymes have attracted a great attention as these are cost effective, nontoxic, eco-friendly and an alternative to physical and chemical methods. In this research, Silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) were synthesized from AgNO3 solution by green synthesis process with the assistance of microbial source only. The detailed characterization of the Ag NPs were carried out using UV-visible spectroscopy, Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS), Dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis, and their antimicrobial evaluation was done against Escherichia coli. The UV-visible spectroscopy analysis showed the surface plasmon resonance property of nanoparticles. The DLS analysis showed the particle distribution of synthesized silver nanoparticles in solution, and SEM analysis showed the morphology of nanoparticles. The elemental composition of synthesized sample was confirmed by EDS analysis. Antibacterial assay of synthesized Ag NP was carried out in solid (Nutrient Agar) growth medium against E.coli. The presence of zone of inhibition clearly indicated the antibacterial activity of silver nanoparticles.

Highly efficient and porous TiO2-coated Ag@Fe3O4@C-Au microspheres for degradation of organic pollutants

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shen, Mao; Chen, Suqing; Jia, Wenping; Fan, Guodong; Jin, Yanxian; Liang, Huading

2016-12-01

In this paper, we reported a novel hierarchical porous Ag@Fe3O4@C-Au@TiO2 core@shell microspheres with a highly photocatalytic activity and magnetically separable properties. The synthesis method is included of a Fe3O4 magnetic embedded Ag core (Ag@Fe3O4), an interlayer of carbon modified by PEI to form sufficient amounts of amine functional groups (Ag@Fe3O4@C-PEI), the grafting of Au nanoparticles on the surface of Ag@Fe3O4@C-PEI (Ag@Fe3O4@C-Au), and an ordered porous TiO2 structured shell. As an example of the applications, the photocatalytic activities of the samples were investigated by the reduction of Rhodamine B (RhB) under visible-light irradiation. The results show that the porous Ag@Fe3O4@C-Au@TiO2 core@shell microspheres display higher adsorption and photocatalytic activities compared to the pure porous TiO2 and Ag@Fe3O4@C@TiO2 microspheres, which are attributed to the local surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) by the Ag and Au nanoparticles and the high specific surface area.

A new Ti-5Ag alloy for customized prostheses by three-dimensional printing (3DP).

PubMed

Hong, S B; Eliaz, N; Leisk, G G; Sach, E M; Latanision, R M; Allen, S M

2001-03-01

Three important considerations in the fabrication of customized cranio-maxillofacial prostheses are geometric precision, material strength, and biocompatibility. Three-dimensional printing (3DP) is a rapid part-fabrication process that can produce complex parts with high precision. The aim of this study was to design, synthesize by 3DP, and characterize a new Ti-5Ag (wt%) alloy. Silver nitrate was found to be an appropriate inorganic binder for the Ti powder-based skeleton, and the optimum sintering parameters for full densification were determined. The hardness of the Ti-5Ag alloy was shown to be much higher than that of a pure titanium sample. Potentiodynamic measurements, carried out in saline solution at body temperature, showed that the Ti-5Ag alloy had good passivation behavior, similar to that of pure titanium. It is concluded that the Ti-Ag system may be suitable for fabrication of customized prostheses by 3DP.

Effect of thermal annealing on the phase evolution of silver tungstate in Ag/WO₃ films.

PubMed

Bose, R Jolly; Sreedharan, R Sreeja; Krishnan, R Resmi; Reddy, V R; Gupta, Mukul; Ganesan, V; Sudheer, S K; Pillai, V P Mahadevan

2015-06-15

Silver/tungsten oxide multi-layer films are deposited over quartz substrates by RF magnetron sputtering technique and the films are annealed at temperatures 200, 400 and 600°C. The effect of thermal annealing on the phase evolution of silver tungstate phase in Ag/WO3 films is studied extensively using techniques like X-ray diffraction, micro-Raman analysis, atomic force microscopy and photoluminescence studies. The XRD pattern of the as-deposited film shows only the peaks of cubic phase of silver. The film annealed at 200°C shows the presence of XRD peaks corresponding to orthorhombic phase of Ag2WO4 and peaks corresponding to cubic phase of silver with reduced intensity. It is found that, as annealing temperature increases, the volume fraction of Ag decreases and that of Ag2WO4 phase increases and becomes highest at a temperature of 400°C. When the temperature increases beyond 400°C, the volume fraction of Ag2WO4 decreases, due to its decomposition into silver and oxygen deficient phase Ag2W4O13. The micro-Raman spectra of the annealed films show the characteristic bands of tungstate phase which is in agreement with XRD analysis. The surface morphology of the films studied by atomic force microscopy reveals that the particle size and r.m.s roughness are highest for the sample annealed at 400°C. In the photoluminescence study, the films with silver tungstate phase show an emission peak in blue region centered around the wavelength 441 nm (excitation wavelength 256 nm). Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The effect of chronic silver nanoparticles on aquatic system in microcosms.

PubMed

Jiang, Hong Sheng; Yin, Liyan; Ren, Na Na; Xian, Ling; Zhao, Suting; Li, Wei; Gontero, Brigitte

2017-04-01

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) inevitably discharge into aquatic environments due to their abundant use in antibacterial products. It was reported that in laboratory conditions, AgNPs display dose-dependent toxicity to aquatic organisms, such as bacteria, algae, macrophytes, snails and fishes. However, AgNPs could behave differently in natural complex environments. In the present study, a series of microcosms were established to investigate the distribution and toxicity of AgNPs at approximately 500 μg L -1 in aquatic systems. As a comparison, the distribution and toxicity of the same concentration of AgNO 3 were also determined. The results showed that the surface layer of sediment was the main sink of Ag element for both AgNPs and AgNO 3 . Both aquatic plant (Hydrilla verticillata) and animals (Gambusia affinis and Radix spp) significantly accumulated Ag. With short-term treatment, phytoplankton biomass was affected by AgNO 3 but not by AgNPs. Chlorophyll content of H. verticillata increased with both AgNPs and AgNO 3 short-term exposure. However, the biomass of phytoplankton, aquatic plant and animals was not significantly different between control and samples treated with AgNPs or AgNO 3 for 90 d. The communities, diversity and richness of microbes were not significantly affected by AgNPs and AgNO 3 ; in contrast, the nitrification rate and its related microbe (Nitrospira) abundance significantly decreased. AgNPs and AgNO 3 may affect the nitrogen cycle and affect the environment and, since they might be also transferred to food web, they represent a risk for health. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Charcoal as a capture material for silver nanoparticles in the aquatic environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McGillicuddy, Eoin; Morrison, Liam; Cormican, Martin; Morris, Dearbháile

2017-04-01

Background: The reported antibacterial activity of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) has led to their incorporation into numerous consumer products including; textiles, domestic appliances, food containers, cosmetics, paints, medical and medicinal products. The AgNPs incorporated into these products can be released into the environment and aquatic system during their production, use and end of life disposal. In the aquatic environment, uncertainties surround the concentration, fate and effects of AgNPs. The aim of this project is to examine charcoal as a potential material for capture of silver nanoparticles from the aquatic environment. Material/methods: Activated charcoal is a commonly used filter material and was selected for this project to determine its suitability as a capture material for AgNPs in water samples. Activated charcoal (Norit® CA1 (Sigma-Aldrich)) was exposed to 100 ppb, 25 nm PVP coated AgNPs (nanoComposix) prepared in Milli-Q water. These solutions were exposed to unaltered charcoal granules for 20 hours after which the decrease of silver in the solution was measured using ICP-MS. In order to improve the removal, the surface area of the charcoal was increased firstly by grinding with a pestle and mortar and secondly by milling the charcoal. The milled charcoal was prepared using an agate ball mill running at 500 rpm for 5 minutes. The activated charcoal was then exposed to samples containing 10 ppb AgNPs. Results: In the initial tests, approximately 10% of the silver was removed from the water samples using the unaltered activated charcoal granules. Further experiments were carried out to compare the unaltered granules with the ground and milled charcoal. These tests were carried out similarly to the previous test however lower concentration of 10 ppb was used. After 20 hours of exposure the granule samples, as previously, showed approximately a 10% reduction in silver content with the ground charcoal giving approximately 30% reduction in silver concentration and in the sample exposed to milled charcoal, approximately 60% reduction in silver concentration was observed. These tests found that increasing the surface area of the charcoal increased the silver reduction in the solution. Conclusions: Data suggest that charcoal may be a suitable material for use in the capture of AgNPs from water samples

AgBr/MgBi2O6 heterostructured composites with highly efficient visible-light-driven photocatalytic activity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhong, Liansheng; Hu, Chaohao; Zhuang, Jing; Zhong, Yan; Wang, Dianhui; Zhou, Huaiying

2018-06-01

AgBr/MgBi2O6 heterostructured photocatalysts were synthesized by the deposition-precipitation method. X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), photoluminescence (PL), and UV-Visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-Vis DRS) were employed to examine the phase structure, morphology and optical properties of the as-prepared samples. The photocatalytic activity was investigated by decomposing methylene blue (MB) solution under visible light irradiation (λ > 420 nm). AgBr/MgBi2O6 composites exhibited significantly enhanced visible-light-driven photocatalytic properties in comparison with pure MgBi2O6 and AgBr. When the molar ratio of AgBr to MgBi2O6 was 3:1, the composite catalyst showed the optimal photocatalytic activity and excellent stability. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of AgBr/MgBi2O6 composites was attributed to the formation of p-n heterojunction between AgBr and MgBi2O6, thereby resulting in the effective separation and transfer of photogenerated electrons-hole pairs.

Modification of surfaces of silver nanoparticles for controlled deposition of silicon, manganese, and titanium dioxides

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Apostolova, Tzveta; Obreshkov, B. D.; Ionin, A. A.; Kudryashov, S. I.; Makarov, S. V.; Mel'nik, N. N.; Rudenko, A. A.

2018-01-01

In this work we show that nanometric-thick layers of SiO2, MnO2, and TiO2 may be effectively deposited on various silver nanoparticles (including cubic Ag nanoparticles) covered by a very thin (below 0.4 nm) layer of silver sulphide. The background in Raman measurements generated by sulphide-protected Ag nanoparticles is significantly smaller than that for analogous Ag nanoparticles protected by a monolayer formed from alkanethiols - depositing alkanethiols on a surface of anisotropic silver nanoparticles is the current standard method used for protecting a surface of Ag nanoparticles before depositing a layer of silica. Because of significantly smaller generated Raman background, Ag@SiO2 nanostructures with an Ag2S linkage layer between the silver core and the silica shell are very promising low-background electromagnetic nanoresonators for carrying out Raman analysis of various surfaces - especially using what is known as shell-isolated nanoparticle-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SHINERS). Sample SHINERS analyses of various surfaces (including pesticide-contaminated surfaces of tomatoes) using cubic-Ag@SiO2 nanoparticles as electromagnetic nanoresonators are also presented.

Enhanced photocatalytic performance of RGO/Ag nanocomposites produced via a facile microwave irradiation for the degradation of Rhodamine B in aqueous solution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Divya, K. S.; Chandran, Akash; Reethu, V. N.; Mathew, Suresh

2018-06-01

A series of RGO/Ag nanocomposites with different weight addition ratios of graphene oxide (GO) have been successfully prepared in situ through the simultaneous reduction of GO and AgNO3 via a facile microwave irradiation. X-ray diffraction analysis, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra, Scanning electron microscopy, Photoluminescence spectra, Raman spectra, Atomic Force Microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Transmission electron microscopy are employed to determine the properties of the samples. It is found that RGO/Ag nanocomposites with a proper weight addition ratios of GO exhibit higher photocatalytic activity toward liquid phase photodegradation of Rhodamine B under visible light irradiation. The improved photoactivity of RGO/Ag nanocomposites can be ascribed to the integrative synergestic effect of enhanced adsorption capacity, the prolonged lifetime of photogenerated electron-hole pairs and effective interfacial hybridization between RGO and Ag nanoparticles. This study also shows that graphene sheets act as electronic conductive channels to efficiently separate charge carriers from Ag nanoparticles.

A direct solid sampling analysis method for the detection of silver nanoparticles in biological matrices.

PubMed

Feichtmeier, Nadine S; Ruchter, Nadine; Zimmermann, Sonja; Sures, Bernd; Leopold, Kerstin

2016-01-01

Engineered silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are implemented in food contact materials due to their powerful antimicrobial properties and so may enter the human food chain. Hence, it is desirable to develop easy, sensitive and fast analytical screening methods for the determination of AgNPs in complex biological matrices. This study describes such a method using solid sampling high-resolution continuum source graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS). A recently reported novel evaluation strategy uses the atomization delay of the respective GFAAS signal as significant indicator for AgNPs and thereby allows discrimination of AgNPs from ionic silver (Ag(+)) in the samples without elaborate sample pre-treatment. This approach was further developed and applied to a variety of biological samples. Its suitability was approved by investigation of eight different food samples (parsley, apple, pepper, cheese, onion, pasta, maize meal and wheat flour) spiked with ionic silver or AgNPs. Furthermore, the migration of AgNPs from silver-impregnated polypropylene food storage boxes to fresh pepper was observed and a mussel sample obtained from a laboratory exposure study with silver was investigated. The differences in the atomization delays (Δt(ad)) between silver ions and 20-nm AgNPs vary in a range from -2.01 ± 1.38 s for maize meal to +2.06 ± 1.08 s for mussel tissue. However, the differences were significant in all investigated matrices and so indicative of the presence/absence of AgNPs. Moreover, investigation of model matrices (cellulose, gelatine and water) gives the first indication of matrix-dependent trends. Reproducibility and homogeneity tests confirm the applicability of the method.

Gold grade variation and particle microchemistry in exploration pits of the Batouri gold district, SE Cameroon

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vishiti, A.; Suh, C. E.; Lehmann, B.; Egbe, J. A.; Shemang, E. M.

2015-11-01

The Batouri area hosts lode-gold mineralization under several-m-thick lateritic cover. Pitting to bed rock on a geochemical Au anomaly defined from previous reconnaissance soil sampling identified five horizons ranging from saprock at the base to laterite at the top. Analysis of bulk samples from each horizon by fire assay shows that most of the horizons are barren although 119 ppb and 48 ppb Au values were obtained from one laterite horizon and one saprolite horizon, respectively, from two separate pits. All the horizons were panned and particulate gold was also recovered only from these two horizons. The gold grains from both horizons are morphologically and compositionally indistinguishable with rare quartz, pyrite and galena inclusions. The grains have irregular, sub-rounded, bean to elongated shapes and they show a remarkable core-rim zonation. Electron microprobe analysis of the grains recorded high gold content in the rims (86.3-100 wt%) and along fissures within the grains (95.1-100 wt%). The cores are relatively Ag rich (11.8-14 wt% Ag) while the rims (0.63-13.7 wt% Ag, most of the values fall within the lower limit of this range) and fissures (0.03-5.02 wt% Ag) are poor in Ag. The low Ag concentration in the rims and along fissures is attributed to preferential leaching of Ag; a process recognized in gold grains and platiniferous alloys from alluvia. The core composition of the grains is similar to that of primary gold composition in the bedrock. These results show that gold in the soil is relic particulate gold derived from the primary source with no evidence of secondary gold precipitation in the weathering cycle. In all the pits no horizon was systematically enriched in gold suggesting there has been no chemical remobilization of gold in this environment. Rather the dispersion of gold here is in the particulate form. Therefore combining particulate gold features with assay data is relevant to exploration in such tropical environments.

Antimicrobial effect of TiO2 doped with Ag and Cu on Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas putida

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Angelov, O.; Stoyanova, D.; Ivanova, I.

2016-10-01

Antimicrobial effect of TiO2 doped with Ag and Cu on Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas putida is studied. The thin films are deposited on glass substrates without heating during the deposition by r.f. magnetron co-sputtering of TiO2 target and pieces of Ag and Cu. The studied films, thickness about 65 nm, were as deposited and annealed (5200C, 4h, N2+5%H2, 4Pa). The as deposited thin films TiO2:Ag:Cu have band gap energy of 3.56 eV little higher than the band gap of crystalline anatase TiO2 which can be explained with the quantum effect of the granular structure of r.f. magnetron sputtered films. The annealed samples have band gap of 2.52 eV due to formation of donor levels from Ag and Cu atoms near the bottom of the conduction band. The toxic effect was determined through the classical Koch's method and the optical density measurements at λ=610 nm. The as deposited TiO2:Ag:Cu thin films demonstrate stronger inhibition effect - bactericidal for P. putida and bacteriostatic for E. coli (up to the 6th hour) in comparison with the annealed samples. The both methods of study show the same trends of the bacterial growth independently of their different sensitivity which confirms the observed effect.

Characterization and antimicrobial performance of nano silver coatings on leather materials

PubMed Central

Lkhagvajav, N.; Koizhaiganova, M.; Yasa, I.; Çelik, E.; Sari, Ö.

2015-01-01

In this study, the characterization and the antimicrobial properties of nano silver (nAg) coating on leather were investigated. For this purpose, turbidity, viscosity and pH of nAg solutions prepared by the sol-gel method were measured. The formation of films from these solutions was characterized according to temperature by Differential Thermal Analysis-Thermogravimetry (DTA-TG) equipment. The surface morphology of treated leathers was observed using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The antimicrobial performance of nAg coatings on leather materials to the test microorganisms as Escherichia coli , Staphylococcus aureus , Candida albicans and Aspergillius niger was evaluated by the application of qualitative (Agar overlay method) and quantitative (percentage of microbial reduction) tests. According to qualitative test results it was found that 20 μg/cm 2 and higher concentrations of nAg on the leather samples were effective against all microorganisms tested. Moreover, quantitative test results showed that leather samples treated with 20 μg/cm 2 of nAg demonstrated the highest antibacterial activity against E. coli with 99.25% bacterium removal, whereas a 10 μg/cm 2 concentration of nAg on leather was enough to exhibit the excellent percentage reduction against S. aureus of 99.91%. The results are promising for the use of colloidal nano silver solution on lining leather as antimicrobial coating. PMID:26221087

[Pretreatment of Aluminum-Lithium Alloy Sample and Determination of Argentum and Lithium by Spectral Analysis].

PubMed

Zhou, Hui; Tan, Qian; Gao, Ya-ling; Sang, Shi-hua; Chen, Wen

2015-10-01

Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES), Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (FAAS) and Visible Spectrometry (VS) was applied for determination of Ag and Li in lithium-aluminium alloy standard sample and test sample, their respective advantages and disadvantages were compared, the excellent selectivity of ICP-OES was confirmed by analyses of certified standard sample. Three different sample digestion methods were compared and discussed in this study. It was found that the better accuracy would be obtained by digesting sample with chloroazotic acid while the content of Li was measured by FAAS, and it was better to digest sample with hydrochloric acid and hydrogen peroxide while determining Ag and Li by ICP-OES simultaneously and determining Ag by FAAS and VS. The interference of co-existing elements and elimination methods was detailedly discussed. Ammonium hydroxide was added to adjust the sample solution into alkalescent and Al, Ti, Zr was precipitated by forming hydroxide precipitation, Mg and Cu was formed complex precipitation with 8-hydroxyquinoline in this condition, then the interference from matrix element to determinate Ag by FAAS was eliminated. In addition, phosphate was used to precipitate Ti to eliminate its interference for determination of Li by FAAS. The same treatment of determination for Ag by FAAS was used to eliminate the interference of matrix element for determination of Ag by VS, the excess of nitrate was added into sample and heated to release Ag+ from silver chloride complex, and the color of 8-hydroxyquinoline was eliminated because of decomposed by heating. The accuracy of analysis result for standard sample was conspicuously improved which confirms the efficient of the method to eliminate interference in this study. The optimal digestion method and eliminate interference method was applied to lithium-aluminium alloy samples. The recovery of samples was from 100.39% to 103.01% by ICP-OES determination for Ag, and from 100.42% to 103.01% by ICP-OES determination for Li. The recovery ranged from 95.91% to 99.98% by FAAS determination for Ag, and ranged from 98.04% to 99.98% for FAAS determination of Li. The recovery was from 98.00% to 101.00 by VS determination for Ag, the analysis results all meet the analysis requirement.

Study of the Ag-Doped Effect on the LPD-TiO2 Gas Sensing Properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Georgieva, V. B.; Stefchev, P. L.; Stefanov, P. K.; Raicheva, Z. G.; Atanassov, M. J.; Lazarov, Y. V.

2010-01-01

In this investigation, the gas-sensing properties of TiO2 thin layers are enhanced by Ag-doping. The TiO2 layers are prepared by the method of Liquid Phase Deposition (LPD) through a reaction between the metal fluorocomplex and boric acid in aqueous solution. The LPD-TiO2 layers are grown on AT-cut quartz resonators with gold electrodes (4 mm diameter). The prepared samples are divided in two (Ag-Doped TiO2 and un-doped TiO2) groups. The Ag-doped TiO2 thin films are created by vertically dipping in AgNO3 diluted water solution and UV irradiation with nine lamps of 6 W power each and light intensity of 0.35 mW/cm2 at room temperature. The sensing properties of two kinds of layers (Ag-doped TiO2 and un-doped TiO2) to NH3 are being studied by the method of Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM). The experiments are implemented at different NH3 concentrations—from 10 to 1000 ppm on a special laboratory set-up in dynamic regime. Comparing the results of measured sorbed mass of both kinds of layers show that the sensitivity of TiO2 is significantly affected by Ag presence. The role of Ag is to generate more active surface for TiO2 sorption. The obtained results show that the system QCM—LPD Ag TiO2 can be successfully applied as sensor element for NH3 registration in environment.

Enhancing the ag precipitation by surface mechanical attrition treatment on Cu-Ag alloys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Jiabin; Zhang, Lehao; Liu, Jingjing; Huang, Liuyi; Gu, Hao; Fang, Youtong; Meng, Liang; Zhang, Jian

2016-09-01

The influence of surface mechanical attrition treatment (SMAT) on Ag precipitation in Cu-Ag alloys was investigated. Cu-6 wt% Ag was melt, cold rolled and solution treated to be Cu-Ag solid solution, which was either aged at 250 and 350 °C for 24 h directly or SMAT-ed before aging. Ag precipitates were hard be found in the directly aged Cu-Ag sample while they were observed clearly in the SMAT-ed counterpart at 250 °C. The Ag precipitates formed in the surface layer by SMAT are much coarser than those in the un-SMAT-ed sample. It is obvious that the precipitating behavior of Ag was promoted significantly by SMAT approach. A large number of defects were generated by SMAT and they were acting as fast atomic diffusion channels that facilitated the atomic diffusion of Ag.

Characterizations of Pr-doped Yb3Al5O12 single crystals for scintillator applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yoshida, Yasuki; Shinozaki, Kenji; Igashira, Takuya; Kawano, Naoki; Okada, Go; Kawaguchi, Noriaki; Yanagida, Takayuki

2018-04-01

Yb3Al5O12 (YbAG) single crystals doped with different concentrations of Pr were synthesized by the Floating Zone (FZ) method. Then, we evaluated their basic optical and scintillation properties. All the samples showed photoluminescence (PL) with two emission bands appeared approximately 300-500 nm and 550-600 nm due to the charge transfer luminescence of Yb3+ and intrinsic luminescence of the garnet structure, respectively. A PL decay profile of each sample was approximated by a sum of two exponential decay functions, and the obtained decay times were 1 ns and 3-4 ns. In the scintillation spectra, we observed emission peaks in the ranges from 300 to 400 nm and from 450 to 550 nm for all the samples. The origins of these emissions were attributed to charge transfer luminescence of Yb3+ and intrinsic luminescence of the garnet structure, respectively. The scintillation decay times became longer with increasing the Pr concentrations. Among the present samples, the 0.1% Pr-doped sample showed the lowest scintillation afterglow level. In addition, pulse height spectrum of 5.5 MeV α-rays was demonstrated using the Pr-doped YbAG, and we confirmed that all the samples showed a full energy deposited peak. Above all, the 0.1% Pr-doped sample showed the highest light yield with a value of 14 ph/MeV under α-rays excitation.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chen, Limiao, E-mail: chenlimiao@csu.edu.cn; College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083; Wu, Min

The semiconductor nanostructures decorated with noble metals have attracted increasing attention due to their interesting physical and chemical properties. In this work, urchin-like monoclinic (m-) LaVO{sub 4} microspheres were prepared by a hydrothermal method and used as a template to fabricate Ag nanoparticle-decorated m-LaVO{sub 4} composites. The morphology and structure were characterized by transmission electron microscope, high-resolution transmission electron microscope, scanning electron microscope, and energy-dispersive X-ray. It was found that Ag nanoparticles with narrow size distribution were uniformly loaded on urchin-like m-LaVO{sub 4} microspheres, and the resulted composite microspheres showed distinct surface plasmon absorption band compared to pure m-LaVO{sub 4}more » microspheres. Photocatalytic activities of as-prepared samples were examined by studying the degradation of methyl orange solutions under visible-light irradiation (> 400 nm). Results clearly showed that urchin-like m-LaVO{sub 4}/Ag microspheres possess much higher photocatalytic activity than pure m-LaVO{sub 4} microspheres and P25. - Highlights: • m-LaVO{sub 4}/Ag composites microspheres were fabricated by a hydrothermal method. • m-LaVO{sub 4} microspheres show higher photocatalytic activity than m-LaVO{sub 4} microspheres. • m-LaVO{sub 4}/Ag microspheres exhibit a good stability.« less

Electronic structure of clean and Ag-covered single-crystalline Bi2Sr2CuO6

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lindberg, P. A. P.; Shen, Z.-X.; Wells, B. O.; Mitzi, D. B.; Lindau, I.; Spicer, W. E.; Kapitulnik, A.

1989-11-01

Photoemission studies of single-crystalline samples of Bi2Sr2CuO6 show clear resemblance to the corresponding data for single crystals of Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8. In particular, a sharp Fermi-level cutoff, giving evidence of metallic conductivity at room temperature, as well as single-component O 1s emission and Cu 2p satellites with a strength amounting to about 50% of that of the main Cu 2p line, are observed. An analysis of the relative core-level photoemission intensities shows that the preferential cleavage plane of single-crystalline Bi2Sr2CuO6 is between adjacent Bi-O layers. Deposition of Ag adatoms causes only weak reaction with the Bi and O ions of the Bi2Sr2CuO6 substrate, while the Cu states rapidly react with the Ag adatoms, as monitored by a continuous reduction of the Cu 2p satellite intensity as the Ag overlayer becomes thicker.

Organic-resistant screen-printed graphitic electrodes: Application to on-site monitoring of liquid fuels.

PubMed

Almeida, Eduardo S; Silva, Luiz A J; Sousa, Raquel M F; Richter, Eduardo M; Foster, Christopher W; Banks, Craig E; Munoz, Rodrigo A A

2016-08-31

This work presents the potential application of organic-resistant screen-printed graphitic electrodes (SPGEs) for fuel analysis. The required analysis of the antioxidant 2,6-di-tert-butylphenol (2,6-DTBP) in biodiesel and jet fuel is demonstrated as a proof-of-concept. The screen-printing of graphite, Ag/AgCl and insulator inks on a polyester substrate (250 μm thickness) resulted in SPGEs highly compatible with liquid fuels. SPGEs were placed on a batch-injection analysis (BIA) cell, which was filled with a hydroethanolic solution containing 99% v/v ethanol and 0.1 mol L(-1) HClO4 (electrolyte). An electronic micropipette was connected to the cell to perform injections (100 μL) of sample or standard solutions. Over 200 injections can be injected continuously without replacing electrolyte and SPGE strip. Amperometric detection (+1.1 V vs. Ag/AgCl) of 2,6-DTBP provided fast (around 8 s) and precise (RSD = 0.7%, n = 12) determinations using an external calibration curve. The method was applied for the analysis of biodiesel and aviation jet fuel samples and comparable results with liquid and gas chromatographic analyses, typically required for biodiesel and jet fuel samples, were obtained. Hence, these SPGE strips are completely compatible with organic samples and their combination with the BIA cell shows great promise for routine and portable analysis of fuels and other organic liquid samples without requiring sophisticated sample treatments. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Reciprocal contribution of clinical studies and the HP10 antigen ELISA for the diagnosis of extraparenchymal neurocysticercosis.

PubMed

Parkhouse, R Michael E; Carpio, Arturo; Campoverde, Alfredo; Sastre, Patricia; Rojas, Glenda; Cortez, María Milagros

2018-02-01

To evaluate diagnosis of active neurocysticercosis, paired cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) and serum samples from 24 neurocysticercosis (NCC) patients and 17 control neurological patients were assayed in the HP10 Taenia antigen (Ag) ELISA. The CSF samples were also tested with an HP10 Lateral Flow Assay (LFA). The HP10 Ag was detected by ELISA in the CSF of 5/5 patients with Definitive extraparenchymal NCC, and in 4/5 of the corresponding sera. In the Definitive parenchymal group, on the other hand, the HP10 Ag was absent in 2/3 CSF (with a very low value in the one positive sample) and all the corresponding serum samples. Samples of CSF from 4/7 patients in the Probable parenchymal group, were also significantly HP10 Ag positive, suggesting the presence of extraparenchymal cysts not identified by the imaging studies. With the possible exception of one patient, the corresponding serum samples of the Probable parenchymal NCC group, were all HP10 Ag negative. Samples of CSF from 9 NCC patients diagnosed with Mixed parenchymal and extraparenchymal NCC were all significantly HP10 Ag positive, confirming the presence of extraparenchymal cysts, with only 7/9 of the corresponding serum samples being HP10 positive. Thus detection of the HP10 Ag indicates extraparenchymal and not parenchymal cyst localization and is more sensitive with CSF than serum. Three neurological patients clinically diagnosed as subarachnoid cyst, hydrocephalus and tuberculoma, respectively, were clearly positive for HP10 Ag. Of these, two were confirmed as NCC by subsequent imaging; the third died prior to further examination. Thus, a total of 8 patients had their clinical diagnosis questioned. Finally, there was good agreement between the HP10 Ag ELISA and LFA with CSF samples giving an optical density ≥0.4 in the ELISA assay. In conclusion, the HP10 Ag assay should provide a valuable and reciprocal tool in the clinical diagnosis and follow up of extraparenchymal NCC. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

High-Strength Konjac Glucomannan/Silver Nanowires Composite Films with Antibacterial Properties

PubMed Central

Lei, Jia; Zhou, Lei; Tang, Yongjian; Luo, Yong; Duan, Tao; Zhu, Wenkun

2017-01-01

Robust, high-strength and environmentally friendly antibacterial composite films were prepared by simply blending konjac glucomannan (KGM) and silver nanowires (Ag NWs) in an aqueous system. The samples were then characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermal gravimetric analysis, mechanical property tests, Fourier transform infrared spectra (FT-IR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and antimicrobial tests. The results showed that there was a high ratio of Ag NWs uniformly distributed in the composite films, which was vital for mechanical reinforcement and stable antibacterial properties. The enhanced thermal stability and mechanical intensity increased, while the elongation at break was reduced with an increase in the amount of Ag NWs found in the composite films. When the percentage of Ag NWs in the composite films reached 5%, the tensile strength was 148.21 MPa, Young’s modulus was 13.79 GPa and the ultimate strain was 25.28%. Antibacterial tests showed that the KGM films had no antibacterial effect. After the addition of Ag NWs, the composite films had an obvious inhibitory effect on bacteria, with the uniform dispersion of Ag NWs promoting the antibacterial effect to a certain degree. These results indicated that these composite films would have a potential application in the fields of environmentally friendly packaging or medicine. PMID:28772883

Detection of silver nanoparticles in parsley by solid sampling high-resolution-continuum source atomic absorption spectrometry.

PubMed

Feichtmeier, Nadine S; Leopold, Kerstin

2014-06-01

In this work, we present a fast and simple approach for detection of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in biological material (parsley) by solid sampling high-resolution-continuum source atomic absorption spectrometry (HR-CS AAS). A novel evaluation strategy was developed in order to distinguish AgNPs from ionic silver and for sizing of AgNPs. For this purpose, atomisation delay was introduced as significant indication of AgNPs, whereas atomisation rates allow distinction of 20-, 60-, and 80-nm AgNPs. Atomisation delays were found to be higher for samples containing silver ions than for samples containing silver nanoparticles. A maximum difference in atomisation delay normalised by the sample weight of 6.27 ± 0.96 s mg(-1) was obtained after optimisation of the furnace program of the AAS. For this purpose, a multivariate experimental design was used varying atomisation temperature, atomisation heating rate and pyrolysis temperature. Atomisation rates were calculated as the slope of the first inflection point of the absorbance signals and correlated with the size of the AgNPs in the biological sample. Hence, solid sampling HR-CS AAS was proved to be a promising tool for identifying and distinguishing silver nanoparticles from ionic silver directly in solid biological samples.

Laterality effects in functional connectivity of the angular gyrus during rest and episodic retrieval.

PubMed

Bellana, Buddhika; Liu, Zhongxu; Anderson, John A E; Moscovitch, Morris; Grady, Cheryl L

2016-01-08

The angular gyrus (AG) is consistently reported in neuroimaging studies of episodic memory retrieval and is a fundamental node within the default mode network (DMN). Its specific contribution to episodic memory is debated, with some suggesting it is important for the subjective experience of episodic recollection, rather than retrieval of objective episodic details. Across studies of episodic retrieval, the left AG is recruited more reliably than the right. We explored functional connectivity of the right and left AG with the DMN during rest and retrieval to assess whether connectivity could provide insight into the nature of this laterality effect. Using data from the publically available 1000 Functional Connectome Project, 8min of resting fMRI data from 180 healthy young adults were analysed. Whole-brain functional connectivity at rest was measured using a seed-based Partial Least Squares (seed-PLS) approach (McIntosh and Lobaugh, 2004) with bilateral AG seeds. A subsequent analysis used 6-min of rest and 6-min of unconstrained, silent retrieval of autobiographical events from a new sample of 20 younger adults. Analysis of this dataset took a more targeted approach to functional connectivity analysis, consisting of univariate pairwise correlations restricted to nodes of the DMN. The seed-PLS analysis resulted in two Latent Variables that together explained ~86% of the shared cross-block covariance. The first LV revealed a common network consistent with the DMN and engaging the AG bilaterally, whereas the second LV revealed a less robust, yet significant, laterality effect in connectivity - the left AG was more strongly connected to the DMN. Univariate analyses of the second sample again revealed better connectivity between the left AG and the DMN at rest. However, during retrieval the left AG was more strongly connected than the right to non-medial temporal (MTL) nodes of the DMN, and MTL nodes were more strongly connected to the right AG. The multivariate analysis of resting connectivity revealed that the left and right AG show similar connectivity with the DMN. Only after accounting for this commonality were we able to detect a left laterality effect in DMN connectivity. Further probing with univariate connectivity analyses during retrieval demonstrates that the left preference we observe is restricted to the non-MTL regions of the DMN, whereas the right AG shows significantly better connectivity with the MTL. These data suggest bilateral involvement of the AG during retrieval, despite the focus on the left AG in the literature. Furthermore, the results suggest that the contribution of the left AG to retrieval may be separable from that of the MTL, consistent with a role for the left AG in the subjective aspects of recollection in memory, whereas the MTL and the right AG may contribute to objective recollection of specific memory details. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Inhibition of growth of S. epidermidis by hydrothermally synthesized ZnO nanoplates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abinaya, C.; Mayandi, J.; Osborne, J.; Frost, M.; Ekstrum, C.; Pearce, J. M.

2017-07-01

The antibacterial effect of zinc oxide (ZnO#1) as prepared and annealed (ZnO#2) at 400 °C, Cu doped ZnO (CuZnO), and Ag doped ZnO (AgZnO) nanoplates on Staphylococcus epidermidis was investigated for the inhibition and inactivation of cell growth. The results shows that pure ZnO and doped ZnO samples exhibited antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus epidermidis (S. epidermidis) as compared to tryptic soy broth (TSB). Also it is observed that S. epidermidis was extremely sensitive to treatment with ZnO nanoplates and it is clear that the effect is not purely depend on Cu/Ag. Phase identification of a crystalline material and unit cell dimensions were studied by x-ray powder diffraction (XRD). The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) provides information on sample’s surface topography and the EDX confirms the presence of Zn, O, Cu and Ag. X-ray photo-electron spectroscopy (XPS) was used to analyze the elemental composition and electronic state of the elements that exist within the samples. These studies confirms the formation of nanoplates and the presence of Zn, O, Ag, Cu with the oxidation states  +2, -2, 0 and  +2 respectively. These results indicates promising antibacterial applications of these ZnO-based nanoparticles synthesized with low-cost hydrothermal methods.

Supersensitive and selective detection of picric acid explosive by fluorescent Ag nanoclusters.

PubMed

Zhang, Jian Rong; Yue, Yuan Yuan; Luo, Hong Qun; Li, Nian Bing

2016-02-07

Picric acid (PA) explosive is a hazard to public safety and health, so the sensitive and selective detection of PA is very important. In the present work, polyethyleneimine stabilized Ag nanoclusters were successfully used for the sensitive and selective quantification of PA on the basis of fluorescence quenching. The quenching efficiency of Ag nanoclusters is proportional to the concentration of PA and the logarithm of PA concentration over two different concentration ranges (1.0 nM-1 μM for the former and 0.25-20 μM for the latter), thus the proposed quantitative strategy for PA provides a wide linear range of 1.0 nM-20 μM. The detection limit based on 3σ/K is 0.1 nM. The quenching mechanism of Ag nanoclusters by PA is discussed in detail. The results indicate that the selective detection of PA over other nitroaromatics including 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), 2,4-dinitrotoluene (2,4-DNT), p-nitrotoluene (p-NT), m-dinitrobenzene (m-DNB), and nitrobenzene (NB), is due to the electron transfer and energy transfer between PA and polyethyleneimine-capped Ag nanoclusters. In addition, the experimental data obtained for the analysis of artificial samples show that the proposed PA sensor is potentially applicable in the determination of trace PA explosive in real samples.

Immune responses to retinal autoantigens and peptides in equine recurrent uveitis.

PubMed

Deeg, C A; Kaspers, B; Gerhards, H; Thurau, S R; Wollanke, B; Wildner, G

2001-02-01

To test the hypothesis that autoimmune mechanisms are involved in horses in which equine recurrent uveitis (ERU) develops spontaneously. Material obtained from horses treated for spontaneous disease by therapeutic routine vitrectomy was analyzed for total IgG content and IgG specific for S-Antigen (S-Ag) and interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP). The cellular infiltrate of the vitreous was analyzed by differential counts of cytospin preparations and flow cytometry using equine lymphocyte-specific antibodies. Antigen-specific proliferation assays were performed comparing peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) with vitreal lymphocytes by stimulation with S-Ag and several S-Ag- and IRBP-derived peptides. The total IgG content of specimens from horses with ERU was very high with great variability among the investigated samples (11.5 +/- 8.0 mg). Autoantibodies to S-Ag or IRBP or both were found in 72% of vitreous specimens from horses with uveitis. The leukocyte infiltrates (up to 2 x 10(8) cells per sample) were dominated by lymphocytes (>90%) in most cases (22/32). Flow cytometry showed that more than 50% of these cells were CD4(+) T cells. In vitro stimulation of vitreal lymphocytes, but not of PBL, showed a strong proliferative response to peptides derived from S-Ag or IRBP in 9 of 12 patients. In the eyes of horses with ERU, IgG antibodies and autoreactive T cells specific for retinal antigens were detected. These results strongly support the hypothesis that ERU is an autoimmune-mediated disease and is highly similar to recurrent uveitis in humans in both clinical and immunologic parameters.

Structural and physical properties of antibacterial Ag-doped nano-hydroxyapatite synthesized at 100°C

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ciobanu, Carmen Steluta; Massuyeau, Florian; Constantin, Liliana Violeta; Predoi, Daniela

2011-12-01

Synthesis of nanosized particle of Ag-doped hydroxyapatite with antibacterial properties is in the great interest in the development of new biomedical applications. In this article, we propose a method for synthesized the Ag-doped nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite. A silver-doped nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite was synthesized at 100°C in deionized water. Other phase or impurities were not observed. Silver-doped hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (Ag:HAp) were performed by setting the atomic ratio of Ag/[Ag + Ca] at 20% and [Ca + Ag]/P as 1.67. The X-ray diffraction studies demonstrate that powders made by co-precipitation at 100°C exhibit the apatite characteristics with good crystal structure and no new phase or impurity is found. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations suggest that these materials present a little different morphology, which reveals a homogeneous aspect of the synthesized particles for all samples. The presence of calcium (Ca), phosphor (P), oxygen (O), and silver (Ag) in the Ag:HAp is confirmed by energy dispersive X-ray (EDAX) analysis. FT-IR and FT-Raman spectroscopies revealed that the presence of the various vibrational modes corresponds to phosphates and hydroxyl groups. The strain of Staphylococcus aureus was used to evaluate the antibacterial activity of the Ca10- x Ag x (PO4)6(OH)2 ( x = 0 and 0.2). In vitro bacterial adhesion study indicated a significant difference between HAp ( x = 0) and Ag:HAp ( x = 0.2). The Ag:Hap nanopowder showed higher inhibition.

Structural and Optical Properties of Ag Nanoparticles Synthesized by Thermal Treatment Method.

PubMed

Gharibshahi, Leila; Saion, Elias; Gharibshahi, Elham; Shaari, Abdul Halim; Matori, Khamirul Amin

2017-04-12

The modified thermal treatment method via alternate oxygen and nitrogen flow was successfully employed to synthesize very narrow and pure Ag nanoparticles. The structural and optical properties of the obtained metal nanoparticles at different calcination temperatures between 400 and 800 °C were studied using various techniques. The FTIR and EDX confirmed the formation of Ag nanoparticles without a trace of impurities. The XRD spectra revealed that the amorphous sample at 30 °C had transformed into the cubic crystalline nanostructures at the calcination temperature of 400 °C and higher. The TEM images showed the formation of spherical Ag nanoparticles in which the average particle size decreased with increasing calcination temperature from 7.88 nm at 400 °C to 3.29 nm at 800 °C. The optical properties were determined by UV-vis absorption spectrophotometer, which showed an increase in the conduction band of Ag nanoparticles with increasing calcination temperature from 2.75 eV at 400 °C to 3.04 eV at 800 °C. This was due to less attraction between conduction electrons and metal ions as the particle size decreases in corresponding to fewer numbers of atoms that made up the metal nanoparticles.

Structural and Optical Properties of Ag Nanoparticles Synthesized by Thermal Treatment Method

PubMed Central

Gharibshahi, Leila; Saion, Elias; Gharibshahi, Elham; Shaari, Abdul Halim; Matori, Khamirul Amin

2017-01-01

The modified thermal treatment method via alternate oxygen and nitrogen flow was successfully employed to synthesize very narrow and pure Ag nanoparticles. The structural and optical properties of the obtained metal nanoparticles at different calcination temperatures between 400 and 800 °C were studied using various techniques. The FTIR and EDX confirmed the formation of Ag nanoparticles without a trace of impurities. The XRD spectra revealed that the amorphous sample at 30 °C had transformed into the cubic crystalline nanostructures at the calcination temperature of 400 °C and higher. The TEM images showed the formation of spherical Ag nanoparticles in which the average particle size decreased with increasing calcination temperature from 7.88 nm at 400 °C to 3.29 nm at 800 °C. The optical properties were determined by UV-vis absorption spectrophotometer, which showed an increase in the conduction band of Ag nanoparticles with increasing calcination temperature from 2.75 eV at 400 °C to 3.04 eV at 800 °C. This was due to less attraction between conduction electrons and metal ions as the particle size decreases in corresponding to fewer numbers of atoms that made up the metal nanoparticles. PMID:28772762

Combined branched-DNA and conventional HBV PCR assays for detection of serum HBV-DNA in hepatitis B e antigen-positive chronic hepatitis B patients.

PubMed

Ozdarendeli, Aykut; Toroman, Zulal Asci; Bulut, Yasemin; Demirbag, Kutbeddin; Kalkan, Ahmet; Ozden, Mehmet; Kilic, Suleyman Sirri

2006-01-01

Monitoring of HBV replication level is very useful for the management of patients with chronic HBV. However, the use of the correct tools to quantify HBV-DNA levels in serum and monitor the replication of HBV is of paramount importance in terms of diagnosis, and antiviral treatment of patients with chronic HBV infection. The aim of this study was to combine the bDNA assay and HBV PCR to improve detection of viremia the patients with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B infection. In this study, 67 HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients were analyzed to determine viremia level using bDNA and HBV PCR assays. Sixty-four patients with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B showed positivity by conventional HBV PCR, whereas 56 subjects with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B showed HBV-DNA levels by bDNA. The results indicated that it is reasonable to use the bDNA assay to determine HBV replicative activity first, and use conventional HBV-PCR for HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patient samples that are negative in bDNA assay.

Facile preparation of silver nanoparticle decorated chitosan cryogels for point-of-use water disinfection.

PubMed

Fan, Meikun; Gong, Lin; Huang, Yuting; Wang, Dongmei; Gong, Zhengjun

2018-02-01

In this study, silver nanoparticle decorated chitosan (CS/Ag NP) cryogels were fabricated through a simple freeze-drying process for point-of-use (POU) water disinfection. The CS/Ag NP cryogels showed high porosity, good mechanical properties, an excellent water absorption capability, and most importantly, an efficient bactericidal feature. The absorption capacity for water was found to be 47g/g, approximately 90% of which was recovered by simple squeezing. Three different sizes of Ag NPs were compared regarding their bactericidal capability against both Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis). Under optimum conditions, a 3 log reduction of bacteria was observed by holding the bacteria suspension (10 8 colony forming units (cfu)/mL) in the cryogels for 5min. Reduction was further increased to a 4 log when the contact time was doubled. The silver content in the cryogels was found to only be 7.5mg/g. Furthermore, the total Ag in processed water was found to only be 22μg/L, half of the safety limit set by China (<50μg/L). The bactericidal effectiveness of the material for real surface water samples was also demonstrated by treating water samples with different water quality matrices, including lake water and sewage water samples. In all three treated lake water samples, both the total bacteria and E. coli met the regulations for drinking water in China (<100cfu/mL for total bacteria and negative for E. coli). CS/Ag NP cryogels can be used for drinking water disinfection during disaster relief and in contingency water supply applications. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Pathogenicity of some Rhizoctonia solaniz isolates associated with root/collar rots on the cultivars of bean in greenhouse.

PubMed

Bohlooli, A; Okhovvat, S M; Javan-Nikkhah, M

2006-01-01

One hundred and eighteen isolates of Rhizoctonia solani were gathered from infected roots and hypocotyls of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) grown in the fields of Tehran Province, Iran. Two isolates of the collected samples belonged to binucleate and 81 isolates to multinucleate of R. solani. The multinucleate isolates showed different anastomosis groups as AG-4 (subg. AG-4 HGI, AG-4HGII), AG-6 and AG-2. In greenhouse, pathogenicity tests carried out on bean cv. Naz in randomized design with 4 replications and each replication (pots) with 5 seeds of bean. Infection was done with seeds of wheat which were infected to the fungus with pasteurized soil. Results showed that the highest disease severity was caused by AG-4 (Rs21) isolates, whereas AG-4 (Rs74) isolates were weakly pathogenic with 90% and 21% infection, respectively. In this test the major pathogenic isolates belonged to AG-4 and they caused seed rot and damping-off of bean and AG-6 isolates were non-pathogenic. Five isolates of the fungus with major pathogenicity (Rs7, Rs18, Rs21, Rs62 and Rs71) selected and used for the reaction with different cultivars of bean. In this test, the cultivars and lines of bean (Pinto, red, white, green) studied in factorial experiment as randomized block design with 4 replications (pots). Results showed that none of the cultivars was completely resistant, however green bean cv. Sanry and pinto cv. Shad with number 4.8 disease severities had the highest susceptibility to seed rot and damping-off and red bean cv. Goli with 2.58 had the lowest susceptibility to the infection. Reaction of the cultivars and lines to the isolates of R. solani was significantly different at 1% level. Isolates of the fungus, Rs7, Rs21 with 84%, 90% pathogenicity was more virulent than the others.

Analysis of YBCO high temperature superconductor doped with silver nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes using Williamson-Hall and size-strain plot

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dadras, Sedigheh; Davoudiniya, Masoumeh

2018-05-01

This paper sets out to investigate and compare the effects of Ag nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) doping on the mechanical properties of Y1Ba2Cu3O7-δ (YBCO) high temperature superconductor. For this purpose, the pure and doped YBCO samples were synthesized by sol-gel method. The microstructural analysis of the samples is performed using X-ray diffraction (XRD). The crystalline size, lattice strain and stress of the pure and doped YBCO samples were estimated by modified forms of Williamson-Hall analysis (W-H), namely, uniform deformation model (UDM), uniform deformation stress model (UDSM) and the size-strain plot method (SSP). These results show that the crystalline size, lattice strain and stress of the YBCO samples declined by Ag nanoparticles and CNTs doping.

Frequency of hepatitis B surface antigen variants (HBsAg) in hepatitis B virus genotype B and C infected East- and Southeast Asian patients: Detection by the Elecsys® HBsAg II assay.

PubMed

Kim, Hyon Suk; Chen, Xinyue; Xu, Min; Yan, Cunling; Liu, Yali; Deng, Haohui; Hoang, Bui Huu; Thuy, Pham Thi Thu; Wang, Terry; Yan, Yiwen; Zeng, Zhen; Gencay, Mikael; Westergaard, Gaston; Pabinger, Stephan; Kriegner, Albert; Nauck, Markus; Seffner, Anja; Gohl, Peter; Hübner, Kirsten; Kaminski, Wolfgang E

2018-06-01

To avoid false negative results, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) assays need to detect samples with mutations in the immunodominant 'a' determinant region, which vary by ethnographic region. We evaluated the prevalence and type of HBsAg mutations in a hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected East- and Southeast Asian population, and the diagnostic performance of the Elecsys ® HBsAg II Qualitative assay. We analyzed 898 samples from patients with HBV infection from four sites (China [Beijing and Guangzhou], Korea and Vietnam). HBsAg mutations were detected and sequenced using highly sensitive ultra-deep sequencing and compared between the first (amino acids 124-137) and second (amino acids 139-147) loops of the 'a' determinant region using the Elecsys ® HBsAg II Qualitative assay. Overall, 237 distinct amino acid mutations in the major hydrophilic region were identified; mutations were present in 660 of 898 HBV-infected patient samples (73.5%). Within the pool of 237 distinct mutations, the majority of the amino acid mutations were found in HBV genotype C (64.8%). We identified 25 previously unknown distinct mutations, mostly prevalent in genotype C-infected Korean patients (n = 18) followed by Chinese (n = 12) patients. All 898 samples were correctly identified by the Elecsys ® HBsAg II Qualitative assay. We observed 237 distinct (including 25 novel) mutations, demonstrating the complexity of HBsAg variants in HBV-infected East- and Southeast Asian patients. The Elecsys ® HBsAg II Qualitative assay can reliably detect HBV-positive samples and is suitable for routine diagnostic use in East and Southeast Asia. Copyright © 2018 Roche Diagnostics International Ltd. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Arginine-assisted immobilization of silver nanoparticles on ZnO nanorods: an enhanced and reusable antibacterial substrate without human cell cytotoxicity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Agnihotri, Shekhar; Bajaj, Geetika; Mukherji, Suparna; Mukherji, Soumyo

2015-04-01

Silver-based hybrid nanomaterials are gaining interest as potential alternatives for conventional antimicrobial agents. Herein, we present a simple, facile and eco-friendly approach for the deposition of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on ZnO nanorods, which act as a nanoreactor for in situ synthesis and as an immobilizing template in the presence of arginine. The presence of arginine enhanced the stability of ZnO deposition on the glass substrate by hindering the dissolution of zinc under alkaline conditions. Various Ag/ZnO hybrid nanorod (HNR) samples were screened to obtain a high amount of silver immobilization on the ZnO substrate. Ag/ZnO HNRs displayed potent antibacterial ability and could achieve 100% kill for both Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis strains under various test conditions. The hybrid material mediated its dual mode of antibacterial action through direct contact-killing and release of silver ions/nanoparticles and showed superior bactericidal performance compared to pure ZnO nanorods and colloidal AgNPs. No significant decline in antibacterial efficacy was observed even after the same substrate was repeatedly reused multiple times. Interestingly, the amount of Ag and Zn release was much below their maximal limit in drinking water, thus preventing potential health hazards. Immobilized AgNPs showed no cytotoxic effects on the human hepatocarcinoma cell line (HepG2). Moreover, treating cells with the antibacterial substrate for 24 hours did not lead to significant generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The good biocompatibility and bactericidal efficacy would thus make it feasible to utilize this immobilization strategy for preparing new-generation antibacterial coatings.Silver-based hybrid nanomaterials are gaining interest as potential alternatives for conventional antimicrobial agents. Herein, we present a simple, facile and eco-friendly approach for the deposition of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on ZnO nanorods, which act as a nanoreactor for in situ synthesis and as an immobilizing template in the presence of arginine. The presence of arginine enhanced the stability of ZnO deposition on the glass substrate by hindering the dissolution of zinc under alkaline conditions. Various Ag/ZnO hybrid nanorod (HNR) samples were screened to obtain a high amount of silver immobilization on the ZnO substrate. Ag/ZnO HNRs displayed potent antibacterial ability and could achieve 100% kill for both Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis strains under various test conditions. The hybrid material mediated its dual mode of antibacterial action through direct contact-killing and release of silver ions/nanoparticles and showed superior bactericidal performance compared to pure ZnO nanorods and colloidal AgNPs. No significant decline in antibacterial efficacy was observed even after the same substrate was repeatedly reused multiple times. Interestingly, the amount of Ag and Zn release was much below their maximal limit in drinking water, thus preventing potential health hazards. Immobilized AgNPs showed no cytotoxic effects on the human hepatocarcinoma cell line (HepG2). Moreover, treating cells with the antibacterial substrate for 24 hours did not lead to significant generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The good biocompatibility and bactericidal efficacy would thus make it feasible to utilize this immobilization strategy for preparing new-generation antibacterial coatings. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Synthesis of ZnO nanorods, instrumentation details, contact killing of Ag/ZnO. See DOI: 10.1039/c4nr06913g

Extracellular biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles using a novel and non-pathogenic fungus, Neurospora intermedia: controlled synthesis and antibacterial activity.

PubMed

Hamedi, Sepideh; Shojaosadati, Seyed Abbas; Shokrollahzadeh, Soheila; Hashemi-Najafabadi, Sameereh

2014-02-01

In the present study, the biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using Neurospora intermedia, as a new non-pathogenic fungus was investigated. For determination of biomass harvesting time, the effect of fungal incubation period on nanoparticle formation was investigated using UV-visible spectroscopy. Then, AgNPs were synthesized using both culture supernatant and cell-free filtrate of the fungus. Two different volume ratios (1:100 and 1:1) of the culture supernatant to the silver nitrate were employed for AgNP synthesis. In addition, cell-free filtrate and silver nitrate were mixed in presence and absence of light. Smallest average size and highest productivity were obtained when using equal volumes of the culture supernatant and silver nitrate solution as confirmed by UV-visible spectra of colloidal AgNPs. Comparing the UV-visible spectra revealed that using cell-free filtrate for AgNP synthesis resulted in the formation of particles with higher stability and monodispersity than using culture supernatant. The absence of light in cell-free filtrate mediated synthesis led to the formation of nanoparticles with the lowest rate and the highest monodispersity. The presence of elemental silver in all prepared samples was confirmed using EDX, while the crystalline nature of synthesized particles was verified by XRD. FTIR results showed the presence of functional groups which reduce Ag(+) and stabilize AgNPs. The presence of nitrate reductase was confirmed in the cell-free filtrate of the fungus suggesting the potential role of this enzyme in AgNP synthesis. Synthesized particles showed significant antibacterial activity against E. coli as confirmed by examining the growth curve of bacterial cells exposed to AgNPs.

Considerations on sample holder design and custom-made non-polarizable electrodes for Spectral Induced Polarization measurements on unsaturated soils

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaouane, C.; Chouteau, M. C.; Fauchard, C.; Cote, P.

2014-12-01

Spectral Induced Polarization (SIP) is a geophysical method sensitive to water content, saturation and grain size distribution. It could be used as an alternative to nuclear probes to assess the compaction of soils in road works. To evaluate the potential of SIP as a practical tool, we designed an experiment for complex conductivity measurements on unsaturated soil samples.Literature presents a large variety of sample holders and designs, each depending on the context. Although we might find some precise description about the sample holder, exact replication is not always possible. Furthermore, the potential measurements are often done using custom-made Ag/AgCl electrodes and very few indications are given on their reliability with time and temperature. Our objective is to perform complex conductivity measurements on soil samples compacted in a PVC cylindrical mould (10 cm-long, 5 cm-diameter) according to geotechnical standards. To expect homogeneous current density, electrical current is transmitted through the sample via chambers filled with agar gel. Agar gel is a good non-polarizable conductor within the frequency range (1 mHz -20kHz). Its electrical properties are slightly known. We measured increasing of agar-agar electrical conductivity in time. We modelled the influence of this variation on the measurement. If the electrodes are located on the sample, it is minimized. Because of the dimensions at stake and the need for simple design, potential electrodes are located outside the sample, hence the gel contributes to the measurements. Since the gel is fairly conductive, we expect to overestimate the sample conductivity. Potential electrodes are non-polarizable Ag/AgCl electrodes. To avoid any leakage, the KCl solution in the electrodes is replaced by saturated KCl-agar gel. These electrodes are low cost and show a low, stable, self-potential (<1mV). In addition, the technique of making electrode can be easily reproduced and storage and maintenance are simple. We measured a variation of less than 1 mS/m of the electrolyte conductivity during the time of measurement (~1h40) for a conductivity range 25-100 mS/m, showing no ionic contamination of the solution by the electrodes. An improvement to the cell design would be to control the internal temperature of the sample.

Facile synthesis of Ag/ZnO heterostructures assisted by UV irradiation: Highly photocatalytic property and enhanced photostability

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yang, Zhongmei, E-mail: kalimodor@163.com; Zhang, Ping; Ding, Yanhuai

2011-10-15

Highlights: {yields} Fabrication of Ag/ZnO heterostructure between the two incompatible phases is realized under UV irradiation in the absence of surfactant. {yields} The synthetic method is facile, low cost, and low carbon, which depends on the photogenerated electrons produced by ZnO under UV light. {yields} Photocatalytic property of the as-synthesized samples is 3.0 times as good as the pure ZnO synthesized under the same condition or the commercial TiO{sub 2} (Degussa, P-25). {yields} The heterostructures exhibit good durability without significant change in the activity even after the third cycle compared to the pure ZnO. -- Abstract: We report a newmore » method to synthesize Ag/ZnO heterostructures assisted by UV irradiation. The formation of Ag/ZnO heterostructures depends on photogenerated electrons produced by ZnO under UV light to reduce high valence silver. Functional property of the Ag/ZnO heterostructures is evaluated by photodegradation of methylene blue (MB) under UV illumination. Results of photodegradation tests reveal that the optimal photocatalytic activity of as-syntheszied samples is about 1.5 times higher than the pure ZnO synthesized in the same condition or commercial TiO{sub 2} (P-25), showing the advantage of the unique structure in the Ag/ZnO heterostructure. Besides, due to the reduced activation of surface oxygen atom, photocatalytic activity of the photocatalysts has no evident decrease even after three recycles.« less

Gold grade of epithermal gold ore at Lamuntet, Brang Rea, West Sumbawa District, West Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ernawati, Rika; Idrus, Arifudin; TBMP, Himawan

2017-06-01

Lamuntet is one of gold ore mining area carried out by the Artisanal Small scale Gold Mining (ASGM) located in West Sumbawa, Indonesia. Most of the miners at this area are not the local miners but also those from other regions. Mineralization of this area is strong identified as low sulfidation epithermal system. There are two blocks of this mining location, namely, Ngelampar block with an area of 0.164 km2 and Song block with an area of 0.067 km2. This study was focused on Ngelampar block. The characteristic of epithermal system is the existence of quartz vein with comb, vuggy, and sugary texture. The aim of this research was to analyze the gold grade and other metals, such as Cu, Ag, Pb, As, Zn, and Hg. The research methods included literature study from previous researches, field work, laboratory work, and interpretation. The literature study was performed on previous researches with similar study area. The field work comprised of direct observation and sampling. Fieldwork was done for a week to obtain gold ore/vein. Sixteen samples were analyzed to obtain the grade of ore/metal. The Hg laboratory analysis was then performed on the six samples with the highest gold grade. Laboratory works were conducted at Intertek Jakarta by using Fire Assay (FA) for gold grade and Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS) for Cu, Ag, Pb, As, Zn, and Hg. Results of the analysis showed the range of Au was grade (0.1 ppm - 27.8 ppm), Cu was 26 ppm -1740 ppm, Pb was 101 ppm- >4000 ppm, Zn of 73 ppm- >10,000 ppm, Ag of 3 ppm -185 ppm, As was 150 ppm-6530 ppm, and Hg of 0.08 ppm - 1.89 ppm. L1 and L15 had high grade for all values (Au, Ag, Zn, Cu, As, and Hg). Gold mineralization was formed as electrum because of Ag content is higher than 20%. Associated minerals of the samples in the study area were galena, sphalerite, arsenopyrite, and chalcopyrite which showed the characteristic of rich base metal of Pb, Zn, and Cu at LS epithermal.

Hepatitis B (HBV), Hepatitis C (HCV) and Hepatitis Delta (HDV) Viruses in the Colombian Population—How Is the Epidemiological Situation?

PubMed Central

Alvarado-Mora, Mónica Viviana; Gutierrez Fernandez, María Fernanda; Gomes-Gouvêa, Michele Soares; de Azevedo Neto, Raymundo Soares; Carrilho, Flair José; Pinho, João Renato Rebello

2011-01-01

Background Viral hepatitis B, C and delta still remain a serious problem worldwide. In Colombia, data from 1980s described that HBV and HDV infection are important causes of hepatitis, but little is known about HCV infection. The aim of this study was to determine the currently frequency of HBV, HCV and HDV in four different Colombian regions. Methodology/Principal Findings This study was conducted in 697 habitants from 4 Colombian departments: Amazonas, Chocó, Magdalena and San Andres Islands. Epidemiological data were obtained from an interview applied to each individual aiming to evaluate risk factors related to HBV, HCV or HDV infections. All samples were tested for HBsAg, anti-HBc, anti-HBs and anti-HCV markers. Samples that were positive to HBsAg and/or anti-HBc were tested to anti-HDV. Concerning the geographical origin of the samples, the three HBV markers showed a statistically significant difference: HBsAg (p = 0.033) and anti-HBc (p<0.001) were more frequent in Amazonas and Magdalena departments. Isolated anti-HBs (a marker of previous vaccination) frequencies were: Chocó (53.26%), Amazonas (32.88%), Magdalena (17.0%) and San Andrés (15.33%) - p<0.001. Prevalence of anti-HBc increased with age; HBsAg varied from 1.97 to 8.39% (p = 0.033). Amazonas department showed the highest frequency for anti-HCV marker (5.68%), while the lowest frequency was found in San Andrés Island (0.66%). Anti-HDV was found in 9 (5.20%) out of 173 anti-HBc and/or HBsAg positive samples, 8 of them from the Amazonas region and 1 from them Magdalena department. Conclusions/Significance In conclusion, HBV, HCV and HDV infections are detected throughout Colombia in frequency levels that would place some areas as hyperendemic for HBV, especially those found in Amazonas and Magdalena departments. Novel strategies to increase HBV immunization in the rural population and to strengthen HCV surveillance are reinforced by these results. PMID:21559488

Pulsed laser annealing of high-dose Ag+-ion implanted Si layer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Batalov, R. I.; Nuzhdin, V. I.; Valeev, V. F.; Vorobev, V. V.; Osin, Yu N.; Ivlev, G. D.; Stepanov, A. L.

2018-01-01

The formation of a crystalline composite Ag:Si material with Ag nanoparticles by low-energy (E  =  30 keV) high-dose (D  =  1.5  ×  1017 ion cm-2) Ag+ implantation into a monocrystalline c-Si substrate followed by nanosecond pulsed laser annealing (PLA) is demonstrated. Compared to traditional thermal annealing, PLA allows us to perform local heating of the sample both for its depth and area, and eliminate implantation-induced defects more efficiently, due to rapid liquid-phase recrystallization. Moreover, dopant diffusion during a nanosecond laser pulse is mainly limited by the molten region, where the dopant diffusion coefficient is several orders of magnitude higher than in the solid state. During PLA by a ruby laser (λ  =  0.694 µm), the optical probing of the irradiated zone at λ  =  1.064 µm with registration of time-dependent reflectivity R(t) was carried out. By scanning electron microscopy, it was established that Ag+ implantation leads to the creation of a thin amorphous Ag:Si layer of porous structure, containing Ag nanoparticles with sizes of 10-30 nm. PLA with energy density W  =  1.2-1.8 J cm-2 results in the melting of the implanted layer (d ~ 60 nm) and the topmost layers of the c-Si substrate (d  <  400 nm), followed by the rapid recrystallization of the Si matrix containing Ag nanoparticles with dominate sizes of 5-15 nm and some fraction of larger particles of 40-60 nm. Energy dispersive x-ray (EDX) spectroscopy did not show a noticeable change of Ag atomic concentration in the implanted layer after PLA. Spectral dependence R(λ) of Ag:Si layers showed the partial recovery of c-Si bands with maxima at 275 and 365 nm with simultaneous weakening of plasmon band for Ag nanoparticles in Si at 835 nm.

Tangential Flow Ultrafiltration: A “Green” Method for the Size Selection and Concentration of Colloidal Silver Nanoparticles

PubMed Central

Anders, Catherine B.; Baker, Joshua D.; Stahler, Adam C.; Williams, Austin J.; Sisco, Jackie N.; Trefry, John C.; Wooley, Dawn P.; Pavel Sizemore, Ioana E.

2012-01-01

Nowadays, AgNPs are extensively used in the manufacture of consumer products,1 water disinfectants,2 therapeutics,1, 3 and biomedical devices4 due to their powerful antimicrobial properties.3-6 These nanoparticle applications are strongly influenced by the AgNP size and aggregation state. Many challenges exist in the controlled fabrication7 and size-based isolation4,8 of unfunctionalized, homogenous AgNPs that are free from chemically aggressive capping/stabilizing agents or organic solvents.7-13 Limitations emerge from the toxicity of reagents, high costs or reduced efficiency of the AgNP synthesis or isolation methods (e.g., centrifugation, size-dependent solubility, size-exclusion chromatography, etc.).10,14-18 To overcome this, we recently showed that TFU permits greater control over the size, concentration and aggregation state of Creighton AgNPs (300 ml of 15.3 μg ml-1 down to 10 ml of 198.7 μg ml-1) than conventional methods of isolation such as ultracentrifugation.19 TFU is a recirculation method commonly used for the weight-based isolation of proteins, viruses and cells.20,21 Briefly, the liquid sample is passed through a series of hollow fiber membranes with pore size ranging from 1,000 kD to 10 kD. Smaller suspended or dissolved constituents in the sample will pass through the porous barrier together with the solvent (filtrate), while the larger constituents are retained (retentate). TFU may be considered a "green" method as it neither damages the sample nor requires additional solvent to eliminate toxic excess reagents and byproducts. Furthermore, TFU may be applied to a large variety of nanoparticles as both hydrophobic and hydrophilic filters are available. The two main objectives of this study were: 1) to illustrate the experimental aspects of the TFU approach through an invited video experience and 2) to demonstrate the feasibility of the TFU method for larger volumes of colloidal nanoparticles and smaller volumes of retentate. First, unfuctionalized AgNPs (4 L, 15.2 μg ml-1) were synthesized using the well-established Creighton method22,23 by the reduction of AgNO3 with NaBH4. AgNP polydispersity was then minimized via a 3-step TFU using a 50-nm filter (460 cm2) to remove AgNPs and AgNP-aggregates larger than 50 nm, followed by two 100-kD (200 cm2 and 20 cm2) filters to concentrate the AgNPs. Representative samples were characterized using transmission electron microscopy, UV-Vis absorption spectrophotometry, Raman spectroscopy, and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy. The final retentate consisted of highly concentrated (4 ml, 8,539.9 μg ml-1) yet lowly aggregated and homogeneous AgNPs of 1-20 nm in diameter. This corresponds to a silver concentration yield of about 62%. PMID:23070148

Tangential flow ultrafiltration: a "green" method for the size selection and concentration of colloidal silver nanoparticles.

PubMed

Anders, Catherine B; Baker, Joshua D; Stahler, Adam C; Williams, Austin J; Sisco, Jackie N; Trefry, John C; Wooley, Dawn P; Pavel Sizemore, Ioana E

2012-10-04

Nowadays, AgNPs are extensively used in the manufacture of consumer products,(1) water disinfectants,(2) therapeutics,(1, 3) and biomedical devices(4) due to their powerful antimicrobial properties.(3-6) These nanoparticle applications are strongly influenced by the AgNP size and aggregation state. Many challenges exist in the controlled fabrication(7) and size-based isolation(4,8) of unfunctionalized, homogenous AgNPs that are free from chemically aggressive capping/stabilizing agents or organic solvents.(7-13) Limitations emerge from the toxicity of reagents, high costs or reduced efficiency of the AgNP synthesis or isolation methods (e.g., centrifugation, size-dependent solubility, size-exclusion chromatography, etc.).(10,14-18) To overcome this, we recently showed that TFU permits greater control over the size, concentration and aggregation state of Creighton AgNPs (300 ml of 15.3 μg ml(-1) down to 10 ml of 198.7 μg ml(-1)) than conventional methods of isolation such as ultracentrifugation.(19) TFU is a recirculation method commonly used for the weight-based isolation of proteins, viruses and cells.(20,21) Briefly, the liquid sample is passed through a series of hollow fiber membranes with pore size ranging from 1,000 kD to 10 kD. Smaller suspended or dissolved constituents in the sample will pass through the porous barrier together with the solvent (filtrate), while the larger constituents are retained (retentate). TFU may be considered a "green" method as it neither damages the sample nor requires additional solvent to eliminate toxic excess reagents and byproducts. Furthermore, TFU may be applied to a large variety of nanoparticles as both hydrophobic and hydrophilic filters are available. The two main objectives of this study were: 1) to illustrate the experimental aspects of the TFU approach through an invited video experience and 2) to demonstrate the feasibility of the TFU method for larger volumes of colloidal nanoparticles and smaller volumes of retentate. First, unfuctionalized AgNPs (4 L, 15.2 μg ml(-1)) were synthesized using the well-established Creighton method(22,23) by the reduction of AgNO3 with NaBH4. AgNP polydispersity was then minimized via a 3-step TFU using a 50-nm filter (460 cm(2)) to remove AgNPs and AgNP-aggregates larger than 50 nm, followed by two 100-kD (200 cm(2) and 20 cm(2)) filters to concentrate the AgNPs. Representative samples were characterized using transmission electron microscopy, UV-Vis absorption spectrophotometry, Raman spectroscopy, and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy. The final retentate consisted of highly concentrated (4 ml, 8,539.9 μg ml(-1)) yet lowly aggregated and homogeneous AgNPs of 1-20 nm in diameter. This corresponds to a silver concentration yield of about 62%.

Sampling for silver nanoparticles in aqueous media using a rotating disk electrode: evidence for selective sampling of silver nanoparticles in the presence of ionic silver.

PubMed

Steinberg, Spencer; Hodge, Vernon; Schumacher, Brian; Sovocool, Wayne

2017-03-01

Amendment of a carbon paste electrode consisting of graphite and Nujol®, with a variety of organic and inorganic materials, allows direct adsorption of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) from aqueous solution in either open or close circuit modes. The adsorbed AgNPs are detected by stripping voltammetry. Detection limits of less than 1 ppb Ag are achievable with a rotating disk system. More than one silver peak was apparent in many of the stripping voltammograms. The appearance of multiple peaks could be due to different species of silver formed upon stripping or variation in the state of aggregation or size of nanoparticles. With most of these packing materials, dissolved Ag + was also extracted from aqueous solution, but, with a packing material made with Fe(II,III) oxide nanoparticles, only AgNPs were extracted. Therefore, it is the best candidate for determination of metallic AgNPs in aqueous environmental samples without interference from Ag + .

Structural and physical properties of antibacterial Ag-doped nano-hydroxyapatite synthesized at 100°C

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Synthesis of nanosized particle of Ag-doped hydroxyapatite with antibacterial properties is in the great interest in the development of new biomedical applications. In this article, we propose a method for synthesized the Ag-doped nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite. A silver-doped nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite was synthesized at 100°C in deionized water. Other phase or impurities were not observed. Silver-doped hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (Ag:HAp) were performed by setting the atomic ratio of Ag/[Ag + Ca] at 20% and [Ca + Ag]/P as 1.67. The X-ray diffraction studies demonstrate that powders made by co-precipitation at 100°C exhibit the apatite characteristics with good crystal structure and no new phase or impurity is found. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations suggest that these materials present a little different morphology, which reveals a homogeneous aspect of the synthesized particles for all samples. The presence of calcium (Ca), phosphor (P), oxygen (O), and silver (Ag) in the Ag:HAp is confirmed by energy dispersive X-ray (EDAX) analysis. FT-IR and FT-Raman spectroscopies revealed that the presence of the various vibrational modes corresponds to phosphates and hydroxyl groups. The strain of Staphylococcus aureus was used to evaluate the antibacterial activity of the Ca10-xAgx(PO4)6(OH)2 (x = 0 and 0.2). In vitro bacterial adhesion study indicated a significant difference between HAp (x = 0) and Ag:HAp (x = 0.2). The Ag:Hap nanopowder showed higher inhibition. PMID:22136671

Chalcone dendrimer stabilized core-shell nanoparticles—a comparative study on Co@TiO2, Ag@TiO2 and Co@AgCl nanoparticles for antibacterial and antifungal activity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vanathi Vijayalakshmi, R.; Praveen Kumar, P.; Selvarani, S.; Rajakumar, P.; Ravichandran, K.

2017-10-01

A series of core@shell nanoparticles (Co@TiO2, Ag@TiO2 and Co@AgCl) stabilized with zeroth generation triazolylchalcone dendrimer was synthesized using reduction transmetalation method. The coordination of chalcone dendrimer with silver ions was confirmed by UV-vis spectroscopy. The NMR spectrum ensures the number of protons and carbon signals in the chalcone dendrimer. The prepared samples were structurally characterized by XRD, FESEM and HRTEM analysis. The SAED and XRD analyses exhibited the cubic structure with d hkl   =  2.2 Å, 1.9 Å and 1.38 Å. The antibacterial and antifungal activities of the dendrimer stabilized core@shell nanoparticles (DSCSNPs) were tested against the pathogens Bacillus subtilis, Proteus mirabilis, Candida albicans and Aspergillus nigir from which it is identified that the dendrimer stabilized core shell nanoparticles with silver ions at the shell (Co@AgCl) shows effectively high activity against the tested pathogen following the other core@shell nanoparticles viz Ag@TiO2 and Co@TiO2.

High selectivity of colorimetric detection of p-nitrophenol based on Ag nanoclusters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qu, Fei; Chen, Ping; Zhu, Shuyun; You, Jinmao

2017-01-01

Ag nanoclusters (Ag NCs) templated by hyperbranched polyethyleneimine (PEI) with different terminal groups and molecular weights had been developed as a special optical sensor for detecting p-nitrophenol (p-NP). When adding p-NP into Ag NCs, an obvious color change from pale yellow to deep yellow could be observed by naked eyes, accompanying with an apparent red-shift of absorption peak, and the reason was attributed to the formation of oxygen anion of p-NP based on the transfer of H+ from p-NP to amine groups of PEI. The molecular weights of template would greatly affect the sensitivity of p-NP. Ag NCs capped by PEI terminated ethylenediamine (EDA) possessed better sensitivity than other Ag NCs, showing good linear range from 5 to 140 μM with the limit of detection as low as 1.28 μM. Most importantly, this present system displayed high selectivity toward p-NP even in the presence of other nitrophenols and nitrotoluenes. This reliable method had been successfully applied for the detection of p-NP in real water and soil samples.

A novel surface plasmon resonance biosensor based on the PDA-AgNPs-PDA-Au film sensing platform for horse IgG detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Ning; Zhang, Di; Deng, Xinyu; Sun, Ying; Wang, Xinghua; Ma, Pinyi; Song, Daqian

2018-02-01

Herein we report a novel polydopamine-silver nanoparticle-polydopamine-gold (PDA-AgNPs-PDA-Au) film based surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor for horse IgG detection. The PDA-AgNPs-PDA-Au film sensing platform was built on Au-film via layer-by-layer self-assembly. Ag ion was reduced in situ to AgNPs in presence of PDA. The top PDA layer can prevent AgNPs from being oxidized and connect with antibody via Schiff alkali reaction directly. The morphology and thickness of the modified gold film were characterized using scanning electron microscope and Talystep. Experimental results show that the PDA-AgNPs-PDA-Au film sensing platform is stable, regenerative and sensitive for horse IgG detection. The detection limit of horse IgG obtained with the present biosensor is 0.625 μg mL- 1, which is 2-fold and 4-fold lower than that obtained with biosensor based on PDA modified Au film and conventional biosensor based on MPA, respectively. Furthermore, when challenged to real serum samples, our sensor exhibited excellent specificity to horse IgG, suggesting its potential for industrial application.

Antibacterial Activity of Electrochemically Synthesized Colloidal Silver Nanoparticles Against Hospital-Acquired Infections

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thuc, Dao Tri; Huy, Tran Quang; Hoang, Luc Huy; Hoang, Tran Huy; Le, Anh-Tuan; Anh, Dang Duc

2017-06-01

This study evaluated the antibacterial activity of electrochemically synthesized colloidal silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) against hospital-acquired infections. Colloidal AgNPs were synthesized via a single process using bulk silver bars, bi-distilled water, trisodium citrate, and direct current voltage at room temperature. Colloidal AgNPs were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive x-ray analyses. The antibacterial activity of colloidal AgNPs against four bacterial strains isolated from clinical samples, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli O157:H7, multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumonia, was evaluated by disc diffusion, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and ultrathin sectioning electron microscopy. The results showed that the prepared AgNPs were 19.7 ± 4.3 nm in size, quasi-spherical, and of high purity. Zones of inhibition approximately 6-10 mm in diameter were found, corresponding to AgNPs concentrations of 50 μg/mL to 100 μg/mL. The MIC results revealed that the antibacterial activity of the prepared AgNPs was strongly dependent on the concentration and strain of the tested bacteria.

Chromatographic analysis of phytochemicals components present in mangifera indica leaves for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles by AgNO3 reduction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Martínez-Bernett, D.; Silva-Granados, A.; Correa-Torres, S. N.; Herrera, A.

2016-02-01

It was studied the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) from the reduction of a silver nitrate solution (1 and 10mM) in the presence of an extract of mangifera indica leaves. Phytochemicals components present in extracts of mango leaves were determined using a GC-MS chromatograph. The results showed the presence of the phenolic compound pyrogallol (26.9% wt/5mL of extract) and oleic acid (29.1% wt/5mL of extract), which are useful for the reduction of the metallic salt AgNO3 and the stabilization of silver nanoparticles. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by UV visible spectroscopy (UV-vis), evidencing absorbances at wavelengths of 417nm (AgNPs-1) and 414nm (AgNPs- 10), which are characteristic peaks of this metallic nanoparticles. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was used to determine the size of the synthesized nanoparticles. A particle size of about 28±7nm was observed for the AgNPs-1 sample and 26±5nm for the AgNPs-10. This suggests the advantages of green chemistry to obtain silver nanoparticles with a narrow size distribution.

Ruthenium oxide ion selective thin-film electrodes for engine oil acidity monitoring

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maurya, D. K.; Sardarinejad, A.; Alameh, K.

2015-06-01

We demonstrate the concept of a low-cost, rugged, miniaturized ion selective electrode (ISE) comprising a thin film RuO2 on platinum sensing electrode deposited using RF magnetron sputtered in conjunction with an integrated Ag/AgCl and Ag reference electrodes for engine oil acidity monitoring. Model oil samples are produced by adding nitric acid into fresh fully synthetic engine oil and used for sensor evaluation. Experimental results show a linear potential-versus-acid-concentration response for nitric acid concentration between 0 (fresh oil) to 400 ppm, which demonstrate the accuracy of the RuO2 sensor in real-time operation, making it attractive for use in cars and industrial engines.

Potential application of SERS for arsenic speciation in biological matrices.

PubMed

Yang, Mingwei; Matulis, Shannon; Boise, Lawrence H; McGoron, Anthony J; Cai, Yong

2017-08-01

Speciation of arsenic is usually carried out using chromatography-based methods coupled with spectroscopic determination; however, the inevitable procedures involving sample preparation and separation could potentially alter the integrity of the arsenic metabolites present in biological samples. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) could be a promising alternative for providing a reliable arsenic analysis under the influence of a cellular matrix. A method for arsenic speciation using SERS in cellular matrix was developed in this study and four arsenicals were selected, including arsenite (As III ), arsenate (As V ), monomethylarsonic acid (MMA V ) and dimethylarsinic acid (DMA V ). Silver nanoparticles in the form of colliodal suspension with different surface charges, i.e., coated with citrate (AgNPs-Citrate) and spermine (AgNPs-Spermine) were employed as SERS substrates. Adsorption of arsenicals on nanoparticles in colloidal suspensions and the cellular matrix and the pH, size, and zeta potential of the colloidal suspensions were investigated for a better understanding of the SERS signal response of arsenicals in the colloidal suspensions or under the influence of cellular matrix. Arsenicals showed substantially different SERS responses in the two colloidal suspensions, mainly because of the distinct difference in the interaction between the arsenicals and the nanoparticles. Arsenic speciation in cell lysate could be successfully carried out in AgNPs-Spermine suspension, while AgNPs-Citrate could not yield significant SERS signals under the experimental conditions. This study proved that AgNPs-Spermine colloidal suspension could be a promising SERS substrate for studying arsenic metabolism in a biological matrix, reducing the bias caused by traditional techniques that involve sample extraction and pretreatment.

Titanate nanotubes sensitized with silver nanoparticles: Synthesis, characterization and in-situ pollutants photodegradation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barrocas, B.; Nunes, C. D.; Carvalho, M. L.; Monteiro, O. C.

2016-11-01

In this work, titanate nanotubes were modified with silver nanoparticles to produce new nanocomposite materials with enhanced photocatalytic activity for phenol removal. The TNTs were produced using a hydrothermal approach and, after being submitted to an Ag+ exchange process, metallic Ag nanoparticles were obtained over the nanotubes surface. The prepared materials were structural, morphological and optical characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, micro X-ray fluorescence, transmission electron microscopy, diffused reflectance spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The characterization results indicate that Ag+ was immobilized not only in the nanotubes external surface but mainly in the TiO6 interlayers space. The application of this new nanocomposite material on photocatalytic degradation of pollutants was investigated. First, the evaluation of hydroxyl radical formation, using the terephthalic acid as a probe was studied. The photocatalytic activity of the sensitized materials for phenol degradation was afterwards evaluated. The results show that the nanocomposite sample is the best catalyst, achieving 98.0% photodegradation efficiency of a 0.2 mM phenol solution within 20 min under UV-vis radiation. The reusability of the prepared samples as photocatalysts was evaluated in four successive degradation assays, using fresh phenol solutions. The sensitized sample demonstrated excellent catalytic reusability ability, without loss of photochemical stability. The structural and morphological characterization during these experiments revealed no modifications on the nanotubes morphology but a continuous increase on the Ag nanoparticles, in number and size, with the irradiation time. A mechanism for this continuous growth of the Ag nanoparticles, together with the phenol catalytic photodegradation, over the nanotubes surface, is proposed and discussed.

Ignition and Combustion Characteristics of Nanoscale Al/AgIO3: A Potential Energetic Biocidal System

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-01-01

the actual particle morphology consists of thin platelets , roughly 1 mm in diam- eter. Silver iodide was purchased from Sigma Aldrich, and the size was...2008), and shows that mixing is limited by clumping of both ingredients. The AgIO3 has a platelet -like morphology, and could potentially mix...in this study is 80 nm from NanoTechnologies. The CuO in this study is 45 nm from Technanogy. Each sample was fuel rich in this study with equivalency

Electrochemical alloying of immiscible Ag and Co for their structural and magnetic analyses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Santhi, Kalavathy; Kumarsan, Dhanapal; Vengidusamy, Naryanan; Arumainathan, Stephen

2017-07-01

Electrochemical alloying of immiscible Ag and Co was carried out at different current densities from electrolytes of two different concentrations, after optimizing the electrolytic bath and operating conditions. The samples obtained were characterized using X-ray diffraction to confirm the simultaneous deposition of Ag and Co and to determine their crystallographic structure. The atomic percentage of Ag and Co contents in the granular alloy was determined by ICP-OES analysis. The XPS spectra were observed to confirm the presence of Ag and Co in the metallic form in the granular alloy samples. The micrographs observed using scanning and transmission electron microscopes threw light on the surface morphology and the size of the particles. The magnetic nature of the samples was analyzed at room temperature by a vibration sample magnetometer. Their magnetic phase transition while heating was also studied to provide further evidence for the magnetic behaviour and the structure of the deposits.

Synthesis of g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4}/Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4} heterojunction with enhanced photocatalytic performance

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

He, Peizhi; Song, Limin; Zhang, Shujuan, E-mail: songlmnk@sohu.com

2014-03-01

Graphical abstract: g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4}/Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4} heterojunction photocatalyst with visible-light response was prepared by a facile coprecipitation method. The results show that g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4}/Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4} possesses a much higher activity for the decomposition of RhB than that of the pure Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4} particles. The most mechanism is that g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4}/Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4} heterojunction photocatalyst can efficiently separate the photogenerated electron–hole pairs, enhancing the photocatalytic activity of g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4}/Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4} composites. - Highlights: • g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4}/Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4} heterojunction showed much higher activity than that of Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4}. • The high activitymore » could be attributed to g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} for modifying Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4}. • More ·OH radicals may be significant reason to improve Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4} activity. - Abstract: g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4}/Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4} heterojunction photocatalyst with visible-light response was prepared by a facile coprecipitation method. The photocatalysts were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, UV–vis absorption spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activities of the obtained samples were tested by using Rhodamine B (RhB) as the degradation target under visible light irradiation. g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4}/Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4} decomposed RhB more effectively than the pure Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4} particles did, and 2 wt.% g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} had the highest activity. Furthermore, 2 wt.% g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4}/Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4} degraded high-concentration RhB more potently than unmodified Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4} did, probably because g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4}/Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4} heterojunction photocatalyst enhanced the photocatalytic activity by efficiently separating the photogenerated electron–hole pairs.« less

Chromosome evolution in three Brazilian Leptodactylus species (Anura, Leptodactylidae), with phylogenetic considerations.

PubMed

Reinaldo Cruz Campos, João; Ananias, Fernando; Aguirre Brasileiro, Cinthia; Yamamoto, Marcos; Fernando Baptista Haddad, Célio; Kasahara, Sanae

2009-05-01

Karyotypic analyses on three species of the Leptodactylus from Brazil showed 2n=24 in L. cf. marmoratus, 2n=23 in Leptodactylus sp. (aff. bokermanni), and 2n=26 in L. hylaedactylus, with distinct numbers of bi and uni-armed chromosomes. Leptodactylus cf. marmoratus presented a variation as regard to the morphology of pair 12. All specimens of L. cf. marmoratus had Ag-NOR in pair 6, confirmed by FISH, but the sample from one of the localities presented additional Ag-NOR, in one of the chromosomes 8. In Leptodactylus sp. (aff. bokermanni) and L. hylaedactylus the chromosome pairs bearing Ag-NOR are 11 and 7, respectively. The C banding patterns are predominantly centromeric, but only in L. marmoratus this heterochromatin appeared very brilliant with DAPI. On the other hand, bright labelling was noticed with CMA(3) in the three species, on the Ag-NOR site. The data obtained here are in accordance with the proposed phylogeny to the genus, and the chromosomal analyses in these Leptodactylus showed that the karyotype evolution was based mainly in centric fusion and pericentric inversion.

Transcobalamin II (TCN2 67A>G and TCN2 776C>G) and transcobalamin II receptor (TCblR 1104C>T) polymorphisms in Korean patients with idiopathic recurrent spontaneous abortion.

PubMed

Kim, Hyun Seok; Lee, Bo Eun; Jeon, Young Joo; Rah, HyungChul; Lee, Woo Sik; Shin, Ji Eun; Choi, Dong Hee; Kim, Nam Keun

2014-09-01

The transcobalamin II (TCN2) 776C>G polymorphism has been reported to be a genetic risk factor for idiopathic recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA). However, the sample size in previous studies was small, and other TCN2 polymorphisms have not been studied. Moreover, the TCN2 67A>G and 776C>G polymorphisms, and the transcobalamin II receptor (TCblR/CD320) 1104C>T polymorphism, have demonstrated associations with immune responses. Three hundred and seventy-eight RSA patients who had at least two consecutive spontaneous abortions were enrolled. Two hundred and seven control subjects were collected from a convenience sample. Polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis were performed to identify the TCN2 67A>G and 776C>G polymorphisms, and the TCblR 1104C>T polymorphism. RSA patients showed significantly different frequencies of the TCN2 67AG+GG genotypes compared with control subjects. The TCN2 67G allele is a possible risk factor for idiopathic RSA. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Investigation on surface-plasmon-enhanced light emission of InGaN/GaN multiple quantum wells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, Zhenzhong; Li, Qiang; Fan, Qigao; Zhu, Yixin

2018-05-01

We demonstrate surface-plasmon (SP) enhanced light emission from InGaN/GaN near ultraviolet (NUV) multiple quantum wells (MQWs) using Ag thin films and nano-particles (NPs). Two types of Ag NP arrays are fabricated on the NUV-MQWs, one is fabricated on p-GaN layer with three different sizes of about 120, 160 and 240 nm formed by self-assembled process, while the other is embedded close to the MQWs. In addition, the influence of the surface plasmon polariton (SPP) and localized surface plasmon (LSP) in NUV-MQWs has been investigated by photoluminescence (PL) measurement. Both PL measurements and theoretical simulation results show that the NUV light would be extracted more effectively under LSP mode than that of SPP mode. The highest enhancement of PL intensity is increased by 324% for the sample with NPs embedded in etched p-GaN near the MQWs as compared with the bare MQWs, also is about 1.24 times higher than the MQW sample covered with Ag NPs on the surface, indicating strong surface scattering and SP coupling between Ag NPs and NUV-MQWs.

Effect of laser irradiation on Ag4In12Sb56Te28

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chinnusamy, Rangasami

2018-04-01

Ag4In12Sb56Te28 has been synthesized by melt-quench method. Phase homogeneity, crystal structure and effect of laser irradiation have been investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy. Rietveld refinement of crystal structure revealed that Ag4In12Sb56Te28 is a multiphase system with AgIn3Te5, Sb8Te3 and Sb phases. Combined optical microscopy and Raman spectroscopy have been used to understand the distribution of different phases on the surface of the samples, which substantiated the results of Rietveld analysis. Interaction of 20 mW laser beam with samples has been investigated using Raman measurements. The results have shown that regions with large phase fraction of AgIn3Te5 become amorphous during laser-sample interaction, but the starting phase remains nearly same after the interaction. Regions with AgIn3Te5 and nearly equal or larger amount of Sb8Te3 have shown significant growth of α-Sb2O3 during and after laser-sample interaction. Regions rich in Sb have shown formation of AgIn3Te5 and growth of α-Sb2O3 during and after interaction. These observations have been explained based on the maximum temperature rise at different regions during laser-sample interaction.

Comparison between two population-based hepatitis B serosurveys with an 8-year interval in Shandong Province, China.

PubMed

Liu, Jiaye; Lv, Jingjing; Yan, Bingyu; Feng, Yi; Song, Lizhi; Xu, Aiqiang; Zhang, Li; Yan, Yongping

2017-08-01

Tremendous progress has been made in hepatitis B virus (HBV) prevention and control in the last 30 years in China, but it continues to be a major public health problem. The most recently reported population-based seroepidemiological survey on HBV in Shandong Province in China was published in 2006, and an updated baseline for HBV prevalence was badly needed in the province to identify the change in HBV epidemiology in the last decade. Two population-based cross-sectional serosurveys were performed among the population aged 1-59 years in the same sample areas in Shandong Province, China in 2006 and 2014, respectively. Data on demographic characteristics were collected. A blood sample was obtained from each person and was tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), antibody against HBsAg (anti-HBs), and antibody against hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc). Overall, the prevalence rates of HBsAg, anti-HBs, and anti-HBc were 3.39% (95% confidence interval (CI) 2.51-4.26), 44.96% (95% CI 41.34-48.57), and 24.45% (95% CI 22.19-26.71), respectively, among the population aged 1-59 years in the 2006 serovsurvey; the corresponding prevalence rates were 2.49% (95% CI 1.81-3.17), 48.27% (95% CI 45.63-50.92), and 22.56% (95% CI 20.14-24.97), respectively, in 2014. The prevalence rates of HBsAg and anti-HBc were lower in 2014 than in 2006. Conversely, the prevalence of anti-HBs showed an increase. However, none of these differences were statistically significant (all p>0.05). The prevalence of HBsAg showed an increase among persons aged 20-24 years in 2014 (3.83%) compared with 2006 (2.98%) (t=0.45, p=0.67). Among all occupation groups, the prevalence of HBsAg was lower in 2014 than in 2006, while the prevalence of anti-HBc showed moderate increases in students and farmers (all p>0.05). The prevalence of HBsAg decreased more obviously in urban areas (65.49%) than rural areas (7.07%) from 2006 to 2014. The epidemiology of HBV infection has changed in Shandong Province, China over the last decade. More attention should be paid to HBV infection among students and farmers. Copyright © 2017 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Insights into the Performance of SD Bioline Malaria Ag P.f/Pan Rapid Diagnostic Test and Plasmodium falciparum Histidine-Rich Protein 2 Gene Variation in Madagascar.

PubMed

Willie, Nigani; Mehlotra, Rajeev K; Howes, Rosalind E; Rakotomanga, Tovonahary A; Ramboarina, Stephanie; Ratsimbasoa, Arsène C; Zimmerman, Peter A

2018-06-01

Plasmodium falciparum histidine-rich protein 2 (PfHRP2) forms the basis of many current malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs). However, the parasites lacking part or all of the pfhrp2 gene do not express the PfHRP2 protein and are, therefore, not identifiable by PfHRP2-detecting RDTs. We evaluated the performance of the SD Bioline Malaria Ag P.f/Pan RDT together with pfhrp2 variation in Madagascar. Genomic DNA isolated from 260 patient blood samples were polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-amplified for the parasite 18S rRNA and pfhrp2 genes. Post-PCR ligation detection reaction-fluorescent microsphere assay (LDR-FMA) was performed for the identification of parasite species. Plasmodium falciparum histidine-rich protein 2 amplicons were sequenced. Polymerase chain reaction diagnosis of patient samples showed that 29% (75/260) were infected and P. falciparum was present in 95% (71/75) of these PCR-positive samples. Comparing RDT and P. falciparum detection by LDR-FMA, eight samples were RDT negative but P. falciparum positive (false negatives), all of which were pfhrp2 positive. The sensitivity and specificity of the RDT were 87% and 90%, respectively. Seventy-three samples were amplified for pfhrp2 , from which nine randomly selected amplicons were sequenced, yielding 13 sequences. Amplification of pfhrp2 , combined with RDT analysis and P. falciparum detection by LDR-FMA, showed that there was no indication of pfhrp2 deletion. Sequence analysis of pfhrp2 showed that the correlation between pfhrp2 sequence structure and RDT detection rates was unclear. Although the observed absence of pfhrp2 deletion from the samples screened here is encouraging, continued monitoring of the efficacy of the SD Bioline Malaria Ag P.f/Pan RDT for malaria diagnosis in Madagascar is warranted.

Determination of 200 °C Isothermal Section of Al-Ag-Ga Phase Diagram by Microanalysis, X-ray Diffraction, Hardness and Electrical Conductivity Measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Premović, Milena; Tomović, Milica; Minić, Duško; Manasijević, Dragan; Živković, Dragana; Ćosović, Vladan; Grković, Vladan; Đorđević, Aleksandar

2017-04-01

Ternary Al-Ag-Ga system at 200 °C was experimentally and thermodynamically assessed. Isothermal section was extrapolated using optimized thermodynamic parameters for constitutive binary systems. Microstructure and phase composition of the selected alloy samples were analyzed using light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy combined with energy-dispersive spectrometry and x-ray powder diffraction technique. The obtained experimental results were found to be in a close agreement with the predicted phase equilibria. Hardness and electrical conductivity of the alloy samples from four vertical sections Al-Ag80Ga20, Al-Ag60Ga40, Ag-Al80Ga20 and Ag-Al60Ga40 of the ternary Al-Ag-Ga system at 200 °C were experimentally determined using Brinell method and eddy current measurements. Additionally, hardness of the individual phases present in the microstructure of the studied alloy samples was determined using Vickers microhardness test. Based on experimentally obtained results, isolines of Brinell hardness and electrical conductivity were calculated for the alloys from isothermal section of the ternary Al-Ag-Ga system at 200 °C.

Solid state synthesis of Mn{sub 5}Ge{sub 3} in Ge/Ag/Mn trilayers: Structural and magnetic studies

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Myagkov, V.G.; Bykova, L.E.; Matsynin, A.A.

The thin-film solid-state reaction between elemental Ge and Mn across chemically inert Ag layers with thicknesses of (0, 0.3, 1 and 2.2 µm) in Ge/Ag/Mn trilayers was studied for the first time. The initial samples were annealed at temperatures between 50 and 500 °C at 50 °C intervals for 1 h. The initiation temperature of the reaction for Ge/Mn (without a Ag barrier layer) was ~ 120 °C and increased slightly up to ~ 250 °C when the Ag barrier layer thickness increased up to 2.2 µm. In spite of the Ag layer, only the ferromagnetic Mn{sub 5}Ge{sub 3} compoundmore » and the Nowotny phase were observed in the initial stage of the reaction after annealing at 500 °C. The cross-sectional studies show that during Mn{sub 5}Ge{sub 3} formation the Ge is the sole diffusing species. The magnetic and cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies show an almost complete transfer of Ge atoms from the Ge film, via a 2.2 µm Ag barrier layer, into the Mn layer. We attribute the driving force of the long-range transfer to the long-range chemical interactions between reacting Mn and Ge atoms. - Graphical abstract: The direct visualization of the solid state reaction between Mn and Ge across a Ag buffer layer at 500 °C. - Highlights: • The migration of Ge, via an inert 2.2 µm Ag barrier, into a Mn layer. • The first Mn{sub 5}Ge{sub 3} phase was observed in reactions with different Ag layers. • The Ge is the sole diffusing species during Mn{sub 5}Ge{sub 3} formation • The long-range chemical interactions control the Ge atomic transfer.« less

Synthesis, characterization and multifunctional properties of plasmonic Ag-TiO2 nanocomposites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prakash, Jai; Kumar, Promod; Harris, R. A.; Swart, Chantel; Neethling, J. H.; Janse van Vuuren, A.; Swart, H. C.

2016-09-01

We report on the synthesis of multifunctional Ag-TiO2 nanocomposites and their optical, physio-chemical, surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and antibacterial properties. A series of Ag-TiO2 nanocomposites were synthesized by sol-gel technique and characterized by x-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersed x-ray analysis, photoluminescence, UV-vis, x-ray photoelectron and Raman spectroscopy and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller method. The Ag nanoparticles (NPs) (7-20 nm) were found to be uniformly distributed around and strongly attached to TiO2 NPs. The novel optical responses of the nanocomposites are due to the strong electric field from the localized surface plasmon (LSP) excitation of the Ag NPs and decreased recombination of photo-induced electrons and holes at Ag-TiO2 interface providing potential materials for photocatalysis. The nanocomposites show enhancement in the SERS signals of methyl orange (MO) molecules with increasing Ag content attributed to the long-range electromagnetic enhancement from the excited LSP of the Ag NPs. To further understand the SERS activity, molecular mechanics and molecular dynamics simulations were used to study the geometries and SERS enhancement of MO adsorbed onto Ag-TiO2 respectively. Simulation results indicate that number of ligands (MO) that adsorb onto the Ag NPs as well as binding energy per ligand increases with increasing NP density and molecule-to-surface orientation is mainly flat resulting in strong bond strength between MO and Ag NP surface and enhanced SERS signals. The antimicrobial activity of the Ag-TiO2 nanocomposites was tested against the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus and enhanced antibacterial effect was observed with increasing Ag content explained by contact killing action mechanism. These results foresee promising applications of the plasmonic metal-semiconductor based nano-biocomposites for both chemical and biological samples.

Silver nanoparticles in sewage sludge: Bioavailability of sulfidized silver to the terrestrial isopod Porcellio scaber.

PubMed

Kampe, Sebastian; Kaegi, Ralf; Schlich, Karsten; Wasmuth, Claus; Hollert, Henner; Schlechtriem, Christian

2018-06-01

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are efficiently converted during the wastewater-treatment process into sparingly soluble Ag sulfides (Ag 2 S). In several countries, sewage sludge is used as a fertilizer in agriculture. The bioavailability of sulfidized Ag to the terrestrial isopod Porcellio scaber was investigated. Sewage sludge containing transformed AgNPs was obtained from a laboratory-scale sewage-treatment plant operated according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) guideline 303a. The results of transmission electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray of sludge samples suggest that AgNPs were completely transformed to Ag 2 S. Adult isopods were exposed to OECD 207 soil substrate amended with the AgNP spiked sludge for 14 d (uptake phase) followed by an elimination phase in unspiked soil of equal duration. Most of the Ag measured in P. scaber at the end of the uptake phase was found in the hindgut (71%), indicating that only a minor part of the estimated Ag content was actually assimilated by the isopods with 16.3 and 12.7% found in the carcass and hepatopancreas, respectively. As a result of this, the Ag content of the animals dropped following transition to unspiked sludge within 2 d to one-third of the previously measured Ag concentration and remained stable at this level until the end of the elimination period. The present study shows that Ag 2 S in sewage sludge is bioavailable to the terrestrial isopod P. scaber. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:1606-1613. © 2018 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of SETAC. © 2018 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of SETAC.

Analysis of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) using high-sensitivity HBsAg assays in hepatitis B virus carriers in whom HBsAg seroclearance was confirmed by conventional assays.

PubMed

Ozeki, Itaru; Nakajima, Tomoaki; Suii, Hirokazu; Tatsumi, Ryoji; Yamaguchi, Masakatsu; Kimura, Mutsuumi; Arakawa, Tomohiro; Kuwata, Yasuaki; Ohmura, Takumi; Hige, Shuhei; Karino, Yoshiyasu; Toyota, Joji

2018-02-01

We investigated the utility of high-sensitivity hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) assays compared with conventional HBsAg assays. Using serum samples from 114 hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers in whom HBsAg seroclearance was confirmed by conventional HBsAg assays (cut-off value, 0.05 IU/mL), the amount of HBsAg was re-examined by high-sensitivity HBsAg assays (cut-off value, 0.005 IU/mL). Cases negative for HBsAg in both assays were defined as consistent cases, and cases positive for HBsAg in the high-sensitivity HBsAg assay only were defined as discrepant cases. There were 55 (48.2%) discrepant cases, and the range of HBsAg titers determined by high-sensitivity HBsAg assays was 0.005-0.056 IU/mL. Multivariate analysis showed that the presence of nucleos(t)ide analog therapy, liver cirrhosis, and negative anti-HBs contributed to the discrepancies between the two assays. Cumulative anti-HBs positivity rates among discrepant cases were 12.7%, 17.2%, 38.8%, and 43.9% at baseline, 1 year, 3 years, and 5 years, respectively, whereas the corresponding rates among consistent cases were 50.8%, 56.0%, 61.7%, and 68.0%, respectively. Hepatitis B virus DNA negativity rates were 56.4% and 81.4% at baseline, 51.3% and 83.3% at 1 year, and 36.8% and 95.7% at 3 years, among discrepant and consistent cases, respectively. Hepatitis B surface antigen reversion was observed only in discrepant cases. Re-examination by high-sensitivity HBsAg assays revealed that HBsAg was positive in approximately 50% of cases. Cumulative anti-HBs seroconversion rates and HBV-DNA seroclearance rates were lower in these cases, suggesting a population at risk for HBsAg reversion. © 2017 The Japan Society of Hepatology.

Antifungal Activity of Denture Soft Lining Material Modified by Silver Nanoparticles—A Pilot Study

PubMed Central

Chladek, Grzegorz; Mertas, Anna; Barszczewska-Rybarek, Izabela; Nalewajek, Teresa; Żmudzki, Jarosław; Król, Wojciech; Łukaszczyk, Jan

2011-01-01

Soft liner materials in oral cavity environments are easily colonized both by fungi and dental plaque. These factors are the cause of mucosal infections. The microorganism that most frequently colonizes soft liner materials is Candida albicans. Colonization occurs on the surface of materials and within materials. A solution to this problem might involve modification of soft liner materials with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). In this article, we present results showing the antifungal efficacy of silicone soft lining materials modified with AgNPs. The modification process was conducted by dissolving both material components (base and catalyst) in a colloidal solution of AgNPs and evaporating the solvent. Composites with various AgNP concentrations (10, 20, 40, 80, 120 and 200 ppm) were examined. The in vitro antifungal efficacy (AFE) of composite samples was 16.3% to 52.5%. PMID:21845108

Crystal Growth and Scintillation Properties of Ho-Doped Lu3Al5O12 Single Crystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sugiyama, Makoto; Yanagida, Takayuki; Fujimoto, Yutaka; Totsuka, Daisuke; Yokota, Yuui; Kurosawa, Shunsuke; Futami, Yoshisuke; Yoshikawa, Akira

2012-10-01

The crystals of 0.1, 0.5, 1, and 3% Ho doped Lu3Al5O12 (Ho:LuAG) grown by the micro-pulling-down method were examined for their scintillation properties. At wavelengths longer than 300 nm, Ho:LuAG crystals demonstrated around 60% transparency with many absorption peaks attributed to Ho3+ 4f10-4 f10 transitions. When excited by 241Am α-ray to obtain radio luminescence spectra, broad host emission and four sharp Ho3+ 4f10-4 f10 emission peaks were detected in the visible region. Light yields and decay time profiles of the samples irradiated by 137Cs γ-ray were measured using photomultiplier tubes R7600 (Hamamatsu). Ho 0.5%:LuAG showed the highest light yield of 3100 ±310 photons/MeV among the present samples. The decay time profiles were well reproduced by two components exponential approximation consisting of 0.5-1 μs and 3-6 μs.

Effect of Te substitution on crystal structure and transport properties of AgBiSe2 thermoelectric material.

PubMed

Goto, Y; Nishida, A; Nishiate, H; Murata, M; Lee, C H; Miura, A; Moriyoshi, C; Kuroiwa, Y; Mizuguchi, Y

2018-02-20

Silver bismuth diselenide (AgBiSe 2 ) has attracted much attention as an efficient thermoelectric material, owing to its intrinsically low lattice thermal conductivity. While samples synthesized using a solid-state reaction showed n-type conductivity and their dimensionless figure of merit (ZT) reached ∼1 by electron doping, theoretical calculations predicted that a remarkably high thermoelectric performance can be achieved in p-type AgBiSe 2 . In this paper, we present the effect of Te substitution on the crystal structure and thermoelectric properties of AgBiSe 2 , expecting p-type conductivity due to the shallowing of the energy potential of the valence band. We found that all AgBiSe 2-x Te x (x = 0-0.8) prepared using a solid-state reaction exhibits n-type conductivity from 300 to 750 K. The room-temperature lattice thermal conductivity decreased to as low as 0.3 W m -1 K -1 by Te substitution, which was qualitatively described using the point defect scattering model for the solid solution. We show that ZT reaches ∼0.6 for x = 0.8 at a broad range of temperatures, from 550 to 750 K, due to the increased power factor, although the carrier concentration has not been optimized yet.

Effect of carbon ion irradiation on Ag diffusion in SiC

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Leng, Bin; Ko, Hyunseok; Gerczak, Tyler J.

Transport of Ag fission product through the silicon-carbide (SiC) diffusion barrier layer in TRISO fuel particles is of considerable interest given the application of this fuel type in high temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) and other future reactor concepts. The reactor experiments indicate that radiation may play an important role in release of Ag; however so far the isolated effect of radiation on Ag diffusion has not been investigated in controlled laboratory experiments. In this study, we investigate the diffusion couples of Ag and polycrystalline 3C–SiC, as well as Ag and single crystalline 4H–SiC samples before and after irradiation with Cmore » 2+ ions. The diffusion couple samples were exposed to temperatures of 1500 °C, 1535 °C, and 1569 °C, and the ensuing diffusion profiles were analyzed by secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). We found that diffusion coefficients calculated from these measurements indicate that Ag diffusion was greatly enhanced by carbon irradiation due to a combined effect of radiation damage on diffusion and the presence of grain boundaries in polycrystalline SiC samples.« less

Effect of carbon ion irradiation on Ag diffusion in SiC

DOE PAGES

Leng, Bin; Ko, Hyunseok; Gerczak, Tyler J.; ...

2015-11-14

Transport of Ag fission product through the silicon-carbide (SiC) diffusion barrier layer in TRISO fuel particles is of considerable interest given the application of this fuel type in high temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) and other future reactor concepts. The reactor experiments indicate that radiation may play an important role in release of Ag; however so far the isolated effect of radiation on Ag diffusion has not been investigated in controlled laboratory experiments. In this study, we investigate the diffusion couples of Ag and polycrystalline 3C–SiC, as well as Ag and single crystalline 4H–SiC samples before and after irradiation with Cmore » 2+ ions. The diffusion couple samples were exposed to temperatures of 1500 °C, 1535 °C, and 1569 °C, and the ensuing diffusion profiles were analyzed by secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). We found that diffusion coefficients calculated from these measurements indicate that Ag diffusion was greatly enhanced by carbon irradiation due to a combined effect of radiation damage on diffusion and the presence of grain boundaries in polycrystalline SiC samples.« less

Verification of resistance to three mediated microbial strains and cancerous defense against MCF7 compared to HepG2 through microwave synthesized plant-mediated silver nanoparticle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abdel-Fattah, W. I.; Eid, M. M.; Hanafy, M. F.; Hussein, M.; Abd El-Moez, Sh I.; El-Hallouty, S. M.; Mohamed, E.

2015-09-01

The antimicrobial and anticancer efficiencies of green synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) through biogenic extracts were assessed on three bacterial strains and two cancer cell lines. Bio-synthesized AgNPs were achieved through domestic microwave generator for obtaining extracts from Asian nuts and Egyptian blackberry fruits. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) ˜435 nm demonstrated AgNPs earlier formation by the fruit extract. Capping by triglycerides/almond and phenols/berry extracts were responsible for the reduction proved by FTIR. XRD calculated particle sizes were 18 and 42 nm while TEM sizes are 24.5 and 21.5 nm for AgNPs from almond nut and blackberry fruits extracts (Alm.N.Ext. and BB.F.Ext.), respectively. Ag 3d5/2 was recorded at 368.12 eV for both samples through XPS. The monodispersed AgNPs recorded 0.727 and 0.5 polydispersity indices (PdI) for almond/Ag and berry/Ag, respectively. Zeta potential ˜ -31 and -13.2 for the same sequence confirmed the higher stability of the former. Reaction kinetics confirmed the advantage of fruit extract consuming only six minutes compared to nuts, consuming twice. Bactericidal effect of the extracts seldomly presented remarkable inhibition compared to extracts/Ag against the three species. In addition, Alm.N.Ext. showed the highest inhibition against staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) at 4 mM. The anti-cancerous effect of Ag/berry against HepG2 is stronger than Ag/almond, and similarly for MCF7.

Fabrication of potato-like silver molybdate microstructures for photocatalytic degradation of chronic toxicity ciprofloxacin and highly selective electrochemical detection of H2O2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kumar, J. Vinoth; Karthik, R.; Chen, Shen-Ming; Muthuraj, V.; Karuppiah, Chelladurai

2016-09-01

In the present work, potato-like silver molybdate (Ag2MoO4) microstructures were synthesized through a simple hydrothermal method. The microstructures of Ag2MoO4 were characterized by various analytical and spectroscopic techniques such as XRD, FTIR, Raman, SEM, EDX and XPS. Interestingly, the as-prepared Ag2MoO4 showed excellent photocatalytic and electrocatalytic activity for the degradation of ciprofloxacin (CIP) and electrochemical detection of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), respectively. The ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy results revealed that the potato-like Ag2MoO4 microstructures could offer a high photocatalytic activity towards the degradation of CIP under UV-light illumination, leads to rapid degradation within 40 min with a degradation rate of above 98%. In addition, the cyclic voltammetry (CV) and amperometry studies were realized that the electrochemical performance of Ag2MoO4 modified electrode toward H2O2 detection. Our H2O2 sensor shows a wide linear range and lower detection limit of 0.04-240 μM and 0.03 μM, respectively. The Ag2MoO4 modified electrode exhibits a high selectivity towards the detection of H2O2 in the presence of different biological interferences. These results suggested that the development of potato-like Ag2MoO4 microstructure could be an efficient photocatalyst as well as electrocatalyst in the potential application of environmental, biomedical and pharmaceutical samples.

[Evaluation of cytomegalovirus quantification in blood by the R-gene real-time PCR test].

PubMed

Marque-Juillet, S; Touzard, A; Monnier, S; Fernand-Laurent, C; Therby, A; Rigaudeau, S; Harzic, M

2010-04-01

Diagnosing the presence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) in the blood of immunodepressed patients is often done by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR) even though the reference method remains the antigenemia pp65 (Ag-pp65) test. To define the predictive value of the Q-PCR in the diagnosis of CMV disease and assess treatment efficacy using the CMV R-gene test. To compare the Q-PCR results and feasibility with those of the Ag-pp65 test. The Q-PCR was performed in 34 whole blood samples (frozen at -80 degrees C until use) from five patients diagnosed with CMV disease, defined as the presence of clinical signs and Ag-pp65 in the nuclei of more than two cells. After extraction, viral DNA was quantified in each sample using the Q-PCR CMV R-gene kit according to the manufacturer's instructions. Immediately after blood was drawn, the Ag-pp65 test had been performed in 32 samples using CINAkit (Argene). The 16 samples positive by the Ag-pp65 test were also positive by PCR; six samples negative by the Ag-pp65 test were positive by PCR; and the remaining 10 samples were negative by both techniques. During treatment, the two markers' kinetics were similar. The CMV R-gene test has a predictive value as good as that of the Ag-pp65 test but is fast and easier to use. A prospective study with a greater number of patients is needed to define the prediction threshold for CMV disease. Copyright 2009 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Magnetic properties of rare-earth sulfide YbAgS2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Iizuka, Ryosuke; Numakura, Ryosuke; Michimura, Shinji; Katano, Susumu; Kosaka, Masashi

2018-05-01

We have succeeded in synthesizing single-phase polycrystalline samples of YbAgS2 belonging to the tetragonal system with space group I41 md . YbAgS2 shows an antiferromagnetic transition at TN = 6.6 K . The effective magnetic moment is in good agreement with the theoretical value for Yb3+ free ion. A broad anomaly is observed just above TN in the temperature dependence of magnetic susceptibility. The entropy released at TN is only about half of Rln2 expected for a Kramers doublet ground state. We consider that these phenomena are due to the existence of short-range magnetic correlations rather than the partial screening of the Yb moments by conduction electrons via the Kondo effect.

The Effects of Extraverted Temperament on Agoraphobia in Panic Disorder

PubMed Central

Rosellini, Anthony J.; Lawrence, Amy E.; Meyer, Joseph F.; Brown, Timothy A.

2010-01-01

Although situational avoidance is viewed as the most disabling aspect of panic disorder (PD), few studies have evaluated how dimensions of neurotic (i.e., NT; neuroticism, behavioral inhibition) and extraverted (i.e. ET; extraversion, behavioral activation) temperament may influence the presence and severity of agoraphobia (AG). Using logistic regression and structural equation modeling, the present study examined the unique effects of ET on situational avoidance in a sample of 274 outpatients diagnosed with PD with and without AG. Results showed low ET (i.e., introversion) to be associated with both the presence and severity of situational avoidance. Findings are discussed in regard to conceptualizations of conditioned avoidance, activity levels, sociability, and positive emotions within the context of PD with AG. PMID:20455614

Ag-doped Co3O4 catalyst derived from heterometallic MOF for syngas production by electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 in water

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Shi-Yuan; Yang, Yuan-Yuan; Zheng, Yue-Qing; Zhu, Hong-Lin

2018-07-01

Electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 to useful fuels or chemicals is a promising path for carbon recycling. In this study, a novel mixed-metallic MOF [Ag4Co2(pyz)PDC4][Ag2Co(pyz)2PDC2] was synthesized, and it transformed into Ag doped Co3O4 catalyst, which exhibits excellent electro-catalytic performance for reduction of CO2 in water to syngas (H2 + CO). The as-prepared Ag/Co3O4 material exhibits a high selectivity of CO in 0.1 M KHCO3 aqueous solution (CO2 saturated) with the corresponding faradaic efficiency up to 55.6%. Compared with the Ag/Co3O4 electrode, the maximum faradaic efficiency (FE) of CO of pure Co3O4 is 21.3% at - 1.8 V vs. SCE. The results show that the presence of Ag can improve the efficiency of CO significantly, thereby inhibiting the production of H2. The stability of the samples can be maintained for more than 10 h at - 1.8 V vs. SCE. The ratio of production between H2 and CO can be controlled by varying the potential values.

Determination of silver in personal care nanoproducts and effects on dermal exposure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wasukan, Nootcharin; Srisung, Sujittra; Kulthong, Kornphimol; Boonrungsiman, Suwimon; Maniratanachote, Rawiwan

2015-11-01

Silver (Ag) is one of the widely used nanomaterials in cosmetics, personal care, and household products. This research aimed to investigate the Ag concentration contained in 20 commercial nanoproducts using a simple and reliable procedure. The exposure and adverse effects of a single topical application of Ag on the skin were also evaluated. Herein, we demonstrated that the technique of wet acid digestion, extraction and detection of Ag with graphite furnace absorption spectrometry were effective for any and all nanoproduct matrices. The Ag morphology was characterized by scanning and transmission electron microscopy equipped with energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy. Penetration of Ag was evaluated using a polyethersulfone (PES) membrane through a Franz cell and reconstructed human epidermis (RhE) tissue. A skin irritation test was performed on RhE, an acceptable in vitro model which was in compliance with OECD test guideline 439. The results showed that the initial Ag concentration in the tested nanoproducts ranged between 0.0058 and 94 µg/g. However, particulate Ag was only found in two products, both of a liquid formulation. Silver penetration through a PES membrane (0.12-53 % by weight) was weakly correlated with the initial Ag concentration in each sample, but more so to the product formulation. The liquid products demonstrated the highest percent of average Ag penetration, followed by the semi-solid and solid formulations, respectively. In contrast, neither any Ag diffusion from these products into the RhE tissue nor any irritation or toxicity was detected. This study suggests a screening method to evaluate the Ag level in products and their potential adverse effects on the skin that could be incorporated as a part of risk assessment for nanotechnology products.

X-ray fluorescence investigation of gilded and enamelled silver: The case study of four medieval processional crosses from central Italy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ferretti, Marco; Polese, Claudia; Roldán García, Clodoaldo

2013-05-01

The presence of multilayered structures is common in such cultural artefacts as paintings, corroded metals, objects that underwent a whatever form of surface qualification. One of the most usual and complete ways to investigate such structures is observing a cross section, which requires sampling. There are however situations where at least part of the stratigraphic information can be derived non-destructively: the literature shows that X-ray fluorescence (XRF) has frequently been used, in recent years, for this purpose, with special regard to paintings and gilded metals. Aim of this paper is to further explore the suitability of XRF-based techniques to characterise multilayered structures. This is achieved by introducing improvements, with respect to previous works, in both equipment and data processing. The method, that has been developed for gilded and enamelled silver artefacts, relies on optimum excitation conditions provided for silver and on the relationship existing between the ratio AgKα/AgKβ of its fluorescence lines and the gilding thickness itself. The coating (gilding or enamel) thickness is derived by verifying the condition CKα,Ag = CKβ,Ag, where CKα,Ag and CKβ,Ag are the mass fractions of silver calculated on the lines AgKα and AgKβ, respectively. The calculations are carried out by PyMCA, a Fundamental Parameters code that implements the analysis of multilayered samples. As a case study we investigated in situ the four processional crosses of Borbona, Sant'Elpidio, Rosciolo and Forcella, made of a wood core with attached gilt and embossed silver sheets and enamelled silver plates. The analyses allowed to distinguish ancient restorations from original parts, to characterise the enamels and find their composition consistent with the dates of manufacturing and, as regards the cross of Rosciolo, to hypothesize the contribution of different "hands" in its manufacturing.

The Lumipulse G HBsAg-Quant assay for screening and quantification of the hepatitis B surface antigen.

PubMed

Yang, Ruifeng; Song, Guangjun; Guan, Wenli; Wang, Qian; Liu, Yan; Wei, Lai

2016-02-01

Qualitative HBsAg assay is used to screen HBV infection for decades. The utility of quantitative assay is also rejuvenated recently. We aimed to evaluate and compare the performance of a novel ultra-sensitive and quantitative assay, the Lumipulse assay, with the Architect and Elecsys assays. As screening methods, specificity was compared using 2043 consecutive clinical routine samples. As quantitative assays, precision and accuracy were assessed. Sera from 112 treatment-naïve chronic hepatitis B patients, four patients undergoing antiviral therapy and one patient with acute infection were tested to compare the correlations. Samples with concurrent HBsAg/anti-HBs were also quantified. The Lumipulse assay precisely quantified ultra-low level of HBsAg (0.004 IU/mL). It identified additional 0.98% (20/2043) clinical samples with trance amount of HBsAg. Three assays displayed excellent linear correlations irrespective of genotypes and S-gene mutations (R(2)>0.95, P<0.0001), while minor quantitative biases existed. The Lumipulse assay did not yield higher HBsAg concentrations in samples with concomitant anti-HBs. Compared with other assays, the Lumipulse assay is sensitive and specific for detecting HBsAg. The interpretation of the extremely low-level results, however, is challenging. Quantitative HBsAg results by different assays are highly correlated, but they should be interpreted interchangeably only after conversion to eliminate the biases. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A surface science compatible epifluorescence microscope for inspection of samples under ultra high vacuum and cryogenic conditions.

PubMed

Marquardt, Christian; Paulheim, Alexander; Rohbohm, Nils; Merkel, Rudolf; Sokolowski, Moritz

2017-08-01

We modified an epi-illumination light microscope and mounted it on an ultra high vacuum chamber for investigating samples used in a surface science experiment. For easy access and bake out, all optical components are placed outside the vacuum and the sample is imaged through a glass window. The microscope can be operated in reflection brightfield or epifluorescence mode to image the sample surface or fluorescent dye molecules adsorbed on it. The homemade sample mounting was made compatible for the use under the microscope; sample temperatures as low as 6 K can be achieved. The performance of the microscope is demonstrated on two model samples: Brightfield-images of a well-prepared Ag(100) surface show a macroscopic corrugation of the surface, although low energy electron diffraction data indicate a highly ordered crystalline surface. The surface shows macroscopic protrusions with flat regions, about 20-200 μm in diameter, in between. Fluorescence images of diluted 3,4,9,10-perylene tetracarboxylicacid dianhydride (PTCDA) molecules adsorbed on an ultrathin epitaxial KCl film on the Ag(100) surface show a shading effect at surface protrusions due to an inclined angle of incidence of the PTCDA beam during deposition. For some preparations, the distribution of the fluorescence intensity is inhomogeneous and shows a dense network of bright patches about 5 μm in diameter related to the macroscopic corrugation of the surface. We propose that such a light microscope can aid many surface science experiments, especially those dealing with epitaxial growth or fluorescent materials.

Evaluation of two 4th generation point-of-care assays for the detection of Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection.

PubMed

Stafylis, Chrysovalantis; Klausner, Jeffrey D

2017-01-01

Fourth generation assays detect simultaneously antibodies for HIV and the p24 antigen, identifying HIV infection earlier than previous generation tests. Previous studies have shown that the Alere Determine HIV-1/2 Combo has lower than anticipated performance in detecting antibodies for HIV and the p24 antigen. Furthermore, there are currently very few studies evaluating the performance of Standard Diagnostics BIOLINE HIV Ag/Ab Combo. To evaluate the performance of the Alere Determine HIV-1/2 Combo and the Standard Diagnostics BIOLINE HIV Ag/Ab Combo in a panel of frozen serum samples. The testing panel included 133 previously frozen serum specimens from the UCLA Clinical Microbiology & Immunoserology laboratory. Reference testing included testing for HIV antibodies by a 3rd generation enzyme immunoassay followed by HIV RNA detection. Antibody negative and RNA positive sera were also tested by a laboratory 4th generation HIV Ab/Ag enzyme immunoassay. Reference testing yielded 97 positives for HIV infection and 36 negative samples. Sensitivity of the Alere test was 95% (88-98%), while the SD Bioline sensitivity was 91% (83-96%). Both assays showed 100% (90-100%) specificity. No indeterminate or invalid results were recorded. Among 13 samples with acute infection (HIV RNA positive, HIV antibody negative), 12 were found positive by the first assay and 8 by the second. The antigen component of the Alere assay detected 10 acute samples, while the SD Bioline assay detected only one. Both rapid assays showed very good overall performance in detecting HIV infection in frozen serum samples, but further improvements are required to improve the performance in acute infection.

In vitro color evaluation of esthetic coatings for metallic dental implants and implant prosthetic appliances.

PubMed

Pecnik, Christina M; Roos, Malgorzata; Muff, Daniel; Spolenak, Ralph; Sailer, Irena

2015-05-01

The aim of this study was to characterize the optical properties of newly developed esthetic coatings for metallic implants and components for an improved peri-implant soft tissue appearance. Pig maxillae (n = 6) were used for the in vitro color evaluation of coated and uncoated samples. Three different coating systems (Ti-ZrO(2), Ti-Al-ZrO(2), and Ti-Ag-ZrO(2)) were deposited on titanium substrates, which exhibited different roughness (polished, machined, and sand-blasted) and interference colors (pink, yellow, and white). Spectrophotometric measurements were made of samples below three different mucosa thicknesses (1 mm, 2 mm, and 3 mm) and titanium served as negative control. Color difference ΔE was calculated using ΔL, Δa, and Δb values for each sample (in total 30 samples). ΔE values were significantly above the threshold value of 3.70 for sand-blasted Ti and Ti-ZrO(2) samples when tested below 1 mm thick soft tissue, hence resulted in a dark appearance of the soft tissues. In contrast, Ti-Al-ZrO(2) and Ti-Ag-ZrO(2) samples showed significant ΔL values below 1 mm, which indicates a brightening of the covering tissue. In general, ΔE values decreased with increasing thickness of the tissue. At 3 mm thick tissue, ΔE values were significantly below 3.70 for Ti-Al-ZrO(2) and Ti-Ag-ZrO(2) samples. The preferable substrate surface should be machined due increased color brightness, good soft tissue integration and improved adhesion between coating and substrates. Improvement of the optical appearance of the metal was achieved with the coating systems Ti-Al-ZrO(2) and Ti-Ag-ZrO(2). Darkening effects could not be observed for these systems, and partially light brightening of the tissue was observed. Advantageous colors were suggested to be pink and yellow. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Synthesis of Ag doped calcium phosphate particles and their antibacterial effect as additives in dental glass ionomer cements.

PubMed

Chen, Song; Gururaj, Satwik; Xia, Wei; Engqvist, Håkan

2016-11-01

Developing dental restorations with enhanced antibacterial properties has been a constant quest for materials scientists. The aim of this study was to synthesize silver doped calcium phosphate particles and use them to improve antibacterial properties of conventional glass ionomer cement. The Ag doped monetite (Ag-DCPA) and hydroxyapatite (Ag-HA) were synthesized by precipitation method and characterized using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. The antibacterial properties of the cements aged for 1 day and 7 days were evaluated by direct contact measurement using staphylococcus epidermis Xen 43. Ion concentrations (F - and Ag + ) and pH were measured to correlate to the results of the antibacterial study. The compressive strength of the cements was evaluated with a crosshead speed of 1 mm/min. The glass ionomer cements containing silver doped hydroxyapatite or monetite showed improved antibacterial properties. Addition of silver doped hydroxyapatite or monetite did not change the pH and ion release of F - . Concentration of Ag + was under the detection limit (0.001 mg/L) for all samples. Silver doped hydroxyapatite or monetite had no effect on the compressive strength of glass ionomer cement.

Negative differential resistance in electron tunneling in ultrathin films near the two-dimensional limit

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Batabyal, R.; Abdul Wasey, A. H. M.; Mahato, J. C.

We report on our observation of negative differential resistance (NDR) in electron tunneling conductance in atomic-scale ultrathin Ag films on Si(111) substrates. NDR was observed by scanning tunneling spectroscopy measurements. The tunneling conductance depends on the electronic local density of states (LDOS) of the sample. We show that the sample bias voltage, at which negative differential resistance and peak negative conductance occur, depends on the film thickness. This can be understood from the variation in the LDOS of the Ag films as a function of film thickness down to the two-dimensional limit of one atomic layer. First principles density functionalmore » theory calculations have been used to explain the results.« less

Evaluation of an enzyme immunoassay for detection of dengue virus NS1 antigen in human serum.

PubMed

Dussart, Philippe; Labeau, Bhety; Lagathu, Gisèle; Louis, Philippe; Nunes, Marcio R T; Rodrigues, Sueli G; Storck-Herrmann, Cécile; Cesaire, Raymond; Morvan, Jacques; Flamand, Marie; Baril, Laurence

2006-11-01

We evaluated a one-step sandwich-format microplate enzyme immunoassay for detecting dengue virus NS1 antigen (Ag) in human serum by use of Platelia Dengue NS1 Ag kits (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Marnes La Coquette, France). We collected 299 serum samples from patients with dengue disease and 50 serum samples from patients not infected with dengue virus. For the 239 serum samples from patients with acute infections testing positive by reverse transcription-PCR and/or virus isolation for one of the four dengue virus serotypes, the sensitivity of the Platelia Dengue NS1 Ag kit was 88.7% (95% confidence interval, 84.0% to 92.4%). None of the serum samples from patients not infected with dengue virus tested positive with the Platelia Dengue NS1 Ag kit. A diagnostic strategy combining the Platelia Dengue NS1 Ag test for acute-phase sera and immunoglobulin M capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for early-convalescent-phase sera increased sensitivity only from 88.7% to 91.9%. Thus, NS1 antigen detection with the Platelia Dengue NS1 Ag kit could be used for first-line testing for acute dengue virus infection in clinical diagnostic laboratories.

The airway antigen sampling system: respiratory M cells as an alternative gateway for inhaled antigens.

PubMed

Kim, Dong-Young; Sato, Ayuko; Fukuyama, Satoshi; Sagara, Hiroshi; Nagatake, Takahiro; Kong, Il Gyu; Goda, Kaoru; Nochi, Tomonori; Kunisawa, Jun; Sato, Shintaro; Yokota, Yoshifumi; Lee, Chul Hee; Kiyono, Hiroshi

2011-04-01

In this study, we demonstrated a new airway Ag sampling site by analyzing tissue sections of the murine nasal passages. We revealed the presence of respiratory M cells, which had the ability to take up OVA and recombinant Salmonella typhimurium expressing GFP, in the turbinates covered with single-layer epithelium. These M cells were also capable of taking up respiratory pathogen group A Streptococcus after nasal challenge. Inhibitor of DNA binding/differentiation 2 (Id2)-deficient mice, which are deficient in lymphoid tissues, including nasopharynx-associated lymphoid tissue, had a similar frequency of M cell clusters in their nasal epithelia to that of their littermates, Id2(+/-) mice. The titers of Ag-specific Abs were as high in Id2(-/-) mice as in Id2(+/-) mice after nasal immunization with recombinant Salmonella-ToxC or group A Streptococcus, indicating that respiratory M cells were capable of sampling inhaled bacterial Ag to initiate an Ag-specific immune response. Taken together, these findings suggest that respiratory M cells act as a nasopharynx-associated lymphoid tissue-independent alternative gateway for Ag sampling and subsequent induction of Ag-specific immune responses in the upper respiratory tract.

Prevalence of HBsAg/HBeAg amongst 1 936 801 couples preparing for pregnancy in rural China: An observational study.

PubMed

Liu, J; Zhang, S; Wang, Q; Shen, H; Zhang, M; Zhang, Y; Yan, D; Liu, M

2017-08-01

There are few extant studies on the prevalence of HBV infection in couples preparing for pregnancy. We assessed the prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) in couples preparing for pregnancy in rural China, and the association between HBV prevalence and the statuses of HBsAg/HBeAg and ALT in the spouses. We performed a nationwide cross-sectional study, using data from a health check-up program for 1 936 801 rural couples from 31 provinces preparing for pregnancy between 2010 and 2012. ELISA was used to test serologic samples, and we defined couples who were either discordant or both positive for HBsAg as "POSITIVE COUPLES" (PC). Amongst the 1 936 801 couples, 202 816 (10.47%; 95% CI, 10.43%-10.51%) were PC. HBeAg (high infectiousness) was detected in 56 474 (27.84%; 95% CI, 27.65%-28.04%) of 202 816 HBsAg-positive couples. Multivariate models showed that the prevalence of HBV infection in wives increased along with the positive statuses for HBsAg/HBeAg and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) of their husbands (adjusted odds ratio increased from 2.31 to 4.98), after adjustment for potential confounders. Similarly, the prevalence of HBV infection in husbands was associated with the positive statuses of HBsAg/HBeAg and ALT of their wives (adjusted odds ratio increased from 2.04 to 4.93). The prevalence of POSITIVE COUPLES in couples preparing for pregnancy in rural China was high, and the prevalence of HBV infection was independently associated with the positive statuses of HBsAg/HBeAg and ALT of the spouses. Instead of solely focussing on mothers prior to becoming pregnant, POSITIVE COUPLES should be taken as an important unit of care. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

The Acylated/Unacylated Ghrelin Ratio Is Similar in Patients With Acromegaly During Different Treatment Regimens.

PubMed

Muhammad, Ammar; Delhanty, Patric J D; Huisman, Martin; Visser, Jenny A; Jan van der Lelij, Aart; Neggers, Sebastian J C M M

2017-07-01

Data on plasma acylated ghrelin (AG) and unacylated ghrelin (UAG) levels in acromegaly are limited. High AG/UAG ratios are linked with type 2 diabetes, obesity, and hyperphagia (e.g., in Prader-Willi syndrome). To assess fasting plasma AG and UAG levels, and the AG/UAG ratio in acromegaly patients receiving combination treatment of long-acting somatostatin analogs (LA-SSAs) and pegvisomant (PEGV; n = 60). We used as controls acromegaly patients whose disease was controlled with PEGV monotherapy and medically naïve patients with active acromegaly. Fasting venous blood samples were collected and directly stabilized to inhibit deacylation of AG. Plasma AG and UAG levels were determined by double-antibody sandwich enzyme immunoassay, and the AG/UAG ratio was calculated. Plasma AG and UAG levels were significantly lower in patients with acromegaly receiving combination treatment [median, interquartile range (IQR): AG: 8.5 pg/mL, 2.9 to 21.1 pg/mL; UAG: 26.9 pg/mL, 11.2 to 42.1 pg/mL] compared with patients using PEGV alone [AG: 60.5 pg/mL (IQR, 58.8 to 77.4 pg/mL); UAG: 153.7 pg/mL (IQR, 127.3 to 196.0 pg/mL)] and medically naïve patients with acromegaly [AG: 24.0 pg/mL (IQR, 12.6 to 49.7 pg/mL); UAG: 56.3 pg/mL (IQR, 43.4 to 61.5 pg/mL)]. However, AG/UAG ratios were similar in all groups. Although plasma AG and UAG are suppressed during combination treatment with LA-SSAs and PEGV, the AG/UAG ratio remained similar. This shows that SSAs decrease both AG and UAG levels, which suggests that they do not alter metabolism significantly in acromegaly patients. Copyright © 2017 Endocrine Society

A Mass Spectrometry Study of Isotope Separation in the Laser Plume

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suen, Timothy Wu

Accurate quantification of isotope ratios is critical for both preventing the development of illicit weapons programs in nuclear safeguards and identifying the source of smuggled material in nuclear forensics. While isotope analysis has traditionally been performed by mass spectrometry, the need for in situ measurements has prompted the development of optical techniques, such as laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and laser ablation molecular isotopic spectrometry (LAMIS). These optical measurements rely on laser ablation for direct solid sampling, but several past studies have suggested that the distribution of isotopes in the ablation plume is not uniform. This study seeks to characterize isotope separation in the laser plume through the use of orthogonal-acceleration time-of-flight mass spectrometry. A silver foil was ablated with a Nd:YAG at 355 nm at an energy of 50 muJ with a spot size of 71 mum, for a fluence of 1.3 J/cm2 and an irradiance of 250 MW/cm2. Flat-plate repellers were used to sample the plume, and a temporal profile of the ions was obtained by varying the time delay on the high-voltage pulse. A spatial profile along the axis of the plume was generated by changing the position of the sample, which yielded snapshots of the isotopic composition with time. In addition, the reflectron time-of-flight system was used as an energy filter in conjunction with the repellers to sample slices of the laser plasma orthogonal to the plume axis. Mass spectrometry of the plume revealed a fast ion distribution and a slow ion distribution. Measurements taken across the entire plume showed the fast 109Ag ions slightly ahead in both space and time, causing the 107Ag fraction to drop to 0.34 at 3 mus, 4 mm from the sample surface. Although measurements centered on the near side of the plume did not show isotope separation, the slow ions on the far side of the plume included much more 109Ag than 107Ag. In addition to examining the isotope content of the ablation plume, this study has developed a mass spectrometry characterization technique that may be useful for investigating chemical reactions during laser ablation.

Equal intensity double plasmon resonance of bimetallic quasi-nanocomposites based on sandwich geometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chakravadhanula, V. S. K.; Elbahri, M.; Schürmann, U.; Takele, H.; Greve, H.; Zaporojtchenko, V.; Faupel, F.

2008-06-01

We report a strategy to achieve a material showing equal intensity double plasmon resonance (EIDPR) based on sandwich geometry. We studied the interaction between localized plasmon resonances associated with different metal clusters (Au/Ag) on Teflon AF (TAF) in sandwich geometry. Engineering the EIDPR was done by tailoring the amount of Au/Ag and changing the TAF thickness. The samples were investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and UV-visible spectroscopy. Interestingly, and in agreement with the dipole-surface interaction, the critical barrier thickness for an optimum EIDPR was observed at 3.3 nm. The results clearly show a plasmon sequence effect and visualize the role of plasmon decay.

Tunable plasmon resonance and enhanced second harmonic generation and upconverted fluorescence of hemispheric-like silver core/shell islands

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ding, Si-Jing; Nan, Fan; Yang, Da-Jie; Zhong, Yu-Ting; Hao, Zhong-Hua; Wang, Qu-Quan

2015-09-01

We investigate tunable plasmon resonance and enhanced second harmonic generation (SHG) and up-converted fluorescence (UCF) of the hemispheric-like silver core/shell islands. The Ag, Ag/Ag2O, and Ag/Ag2O/Ag island films are prepared by using a sputtering technique. The SHG and UCF of the Ag/Ag2O/Ag core/shell islands near the percolating regime is enhanced 2.34 and 3.94 times compared to the sum of two individual counterparts of Ag/Ag2O core/shell and Ag shell islands. The ratio of SHG intensity induced by p- and s-polarization is 0.86 for the initial Ag islands and increase to 1.61 for the Ag/Ag2O/Ag core/shell samples. The tunable intensity ratio of SHG to UCF of the Ag islands treated by thermal and laser annealing processes is also observed. The physical mechanism of the enhanced SHG and UCF in the Ag/Ag2O/Ag core/shell islands is discussed. Our observations provide a new approach to fabricate plasmon-enhanced optical nonlinear nanodevices with tunable SHG and UCF.We investigate tunable plasmon resonance and enhanced second harmonic generation (SHG) and up-converted fluorescence (UCF) of the hemispheric-like silver core/shell islands. The Ag, Ag/Ag2O, and Ag/Ag2O/Ag island films are prepared by using a sputtering technique. The SHG and UCF of the Ag/Ag2O/Ag core/shell islands near the percolating regime is enhanced 2.34 and 3.94 times compared to the sum of two individual counterparts of Ag/Ag2O core/shell and Ag shell islands. The ratio of SHG intensity induced by p- and s-polarization is 0.86 for the initial Ag islands and increase to 1.61 for the Ag/Ag2O/Ag core/shell samples. The tunable intensity ratio of SHG to UCF of the Ag islands treated by thermal and laser annealing processes is also observed. The physical mechanism of the enhanced SHG and UCF in the Ag/Ag2O/Ag core/shell islands is discussed. Our observations provide a new approach to fabricate plasmon-enhanced optical nonlinear nanodevices with tunable SHG and UCF. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c5nr03627e

Effect of Heat Treatments on Microstructures and Tensile Properties of Cu-3 wt%Ag-0.5 wt%Zr Alloy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Gang; Wang, ChuanJie; Zhang, Ying; Yi, Cen; Zhang, Peng

2018-03-01

The microstructures and tensile properties of Cu-3 wt%Ag-0.5 wt%Zr alloy sheets under different aging treatments are investigated in this research. As one kind of precipitate, Ag nanoparticles with coherent orientation relationship with matrix precipitate. However, after the peak-age point, most of Ag nanoparticles grow into short rod shape with the interface translating to semi-coherent, which leads to the lower strength of over-aging sample. The yield strength is estimated by considering solid solute, grain boundary and precipitation strengthening mechanisms. The result shows that the Ag precipitates provide the main strengthening role. Then a constitutive equation representing the evolution of dislocation density with plastic strain is built by considering work-hardening behavior coming from shearable and non-shearable precipitates which is mainly the particles containing Zr. The flow stress contributed by shearable particle hardening is higher than that of non-shearable one. Due to the coarsening of grain boundary precipitates and low rate of damage accumulation of these non-shearable particles, the micro-cracks nucleate easily at grain boundary which leads to intergranular fracture.

Aeolian contamination of Se and Ag in the North Pacific from Asian fossil fuel combustion.

PubMed

Ranville, Mara A; Cutter, Gregory A; Buck, Clifton S; Landing, William M; Cutter, Lynda S; Resing, Joseph A; Flegal, A Russell

2010-03-01

Energy production from fossil fuels, and in particular the burning of coal in China, creates atmospheric contamination that is transported across the remote North Pacific with prevailing westerly winds. In recent years this pollution from within Asia has increased dramatically, as a consequence of vigorous economic growth and corresponding energy consumption. During the fourth Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission baseline contaminant survey in the western Pacific Ocean from May to June, 2002, surface waters and aerosol samples were measured to investigate whether atmospheric deposition of trace elements to the surface North Pacific was altering trace element biogeochemical cycling. Results show a presumably anthropogenic enrichment of Ag and of Se, which is a known tracer of coal combustion, in the North Pacific atmosphere and surface waters. Additionally, a strong correlation was seen between dissolved Ag and Se concentrations in surface waters. This suggests that Ag should now also be considered a geochemical tracer for coal combustion, and provides further evidence that Ag exhibits a disturbed biogeochemical cycle as the result of atmospheric deposition to the North Pacific.

Highly Reflective Nonalloyed Ni/Ag/Pt Contact to Mg-Si Codoped p-GaN for Enhanced Efficiency of Light-Emitting Diodes.

PubMed

Oh, Munsik; Kim, Hyunsoo

2015-10-01

The authors report enhanced efficiency of GaN-based light-emitting diodes (LEDs) fabricated with highly reflective nonalloyed Ni/Ag/Pt contact. The Ni/Ag/Pt contact formed on the Mg-Si codoped p-GaN produced the low specific contact resistance of 7.9 x 10(-4) Ωcm2 under as-deposited condition, which is comparable to the reference reflector (annealed at 500 °C for 1 min in oxygen ambient). Current-voltage-temperature measurements and the secondary ion mass spectroscopy revealed that the ohmic mechanism of the nonalloyed Ni/Ag/Pt contact is due to the more generated deep-level states associated with Mg-Si codoping, which act as the efficient hopping centers for the carrier transport at the contact/p-GaN interface. Due to the absence of interfacial reaction, the nonalloyed Ni/Ag/Pt contact showed much higher optical reflectivity (93.4% at 450 nm) as compared to the annealed sample (57.7%), resulting in a 40.5% brighter light output power as compared to the reference LEDs.

Strong damping of the localized surface plasmon resonance of Ag nanoparticles by Ag2O.

PubMed

Wu, Qingmen; Si, Mengting; Zhang, Bing; Zhang, Kang; Li, Huanhuan; Mi, Longfei; Jiang, Yang; Rong, Yan; Chen, Junling; Fang, Yingcui

2018-07-20

By studying oxidation of AgNPs (Ag nanoparticles) and decomposition of the produced silver oxide, we demonstrate that the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of AgNPs was damped by Ag 2 O produced during oxygen plasma irradiation (OPI). The AgNPs were fabricated by evaporation of high pure silver under high vacuum. The oxidation was conducted in oxygen plasma generated by radio frequency glow discharging in vacuum, and the decomposition was performed by annealing the silver oxide in nitrogen ambient at temperatures ranging from room temperature to 450 °C. Samples were characterized by color, absorption spectra, surface enhanced Raman scattering, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and field emission scanning electron microscopy. The bandgap of the silver oxide was calculated. We propose that AgNPs are only partially oxidized into silver oxide during OPI, and the LSPR of the AgNPs left without being oxidation is strongly damped by the produced silver oxide. This LSPR damping is responsible for the transparency of the sample after OPI for 2 s.

Strong damping of the localized surface plasmon resonance of Ag nanoparticles by Ag2O

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Qingmen; Si, Mengting; Zhang, Bing; Zhang, Kang; Li, Huanhuan; Mi, Longfei; Jiang, Yang; Rong, Yan; Chen, Junling; Fang, Yingcui

2018-07-01

By studying oxidation of AgNPs (Ag nanoparticles) and decomposition of the produced silver oxide, we demonstrate that the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of AgNPs was damped by Ag2O produced during oxygen plasma irradiation (OPI). The AgNPs were fabricated by evaporation of high pure silver under high vacuum. The oxidation was conducted in oxygen plasma generated by radio frequency glow discharging in vacuum, and the decomposition was performed by annealing the silver oxide in nitrogen ambient at temperatures ranging from room temperature to 450 °C. Samples were characterized by color, absorption spectra, surface enhanced Raman scattering, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and field emission scanning electron microscopy. The bandgap of the silver oxide was calculated. We propose that AgNPs are only partially oxidized into silver oxide during OPI, and the LSPR of the AgNPs left without being oxidation is strongly damped by the produced silver oxide. This LSPR damping is responsible for the transparency of the sample after OPI for 2 s.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jordan, Jacob A.; Jubin, Robert Thomas

US regulations could require the removal of both iodine and tritium from the off-gas stream of a used nuclear fuel (UNF) reprocessing facility. Advanced tritium pretreatment is a pretreatment step that uses high concentrations of NOR2R in a gas stream to volatilize tritium and iodine from UNF prior to traditional dissolution. The gaseous effluent from this process would then require abatement to remove tritium and iodine, but high levels of NOR2R could have a detrimental effect on the ability of various solid sorbents to remove the volatile radionuclides. For tritium and iodine, the sorbents of interest are 3Å molecular sievemore » (3AMS) for tritium and reduced silver mordenite (AgP 0 PZ), silver-functionalized silica-aerogel (AgAerogel), and silver-nitrate-impregnated alumina (AgA) for iodine. Prior research has demonstrated that exposure to high concentrations of NOR2R can reduce the iodine loading capacity of AgP 0 PZ by > 90% when exposed for 1 week. Research in Japan has demonstrated that AgA is more robust to NOR2R exposure than AgZ. The testing described here was intended to assess the effects of high concentrations of NOR2R on the iodine capture capacity of AgA and the water adsorption capacity of 3AMS. To determine the effect of extended exposure of the sorbents to NOR2R, both 3AMS and AgA were aged in a 75% NOR2R environment prior to loading. The 3AMS samples were aged for 1, 4, and 5.5 weeks at 40°C. They were then loaded with water in a 10°C dew point stream (corresponding to a water concentration of ~12,000 ppmv) at 40°C. There was no significant change in the water adsorption capacity of the 3AMS upon exposure to 75% NOR2R. The AgA samples were aged for 1, 2, and 4 weeks at 150°C and were loaded with 50 ppmv IR2R at 150°C. The results show that the iodine capture capacity of AgA is reduced by exposure to high concentrations of NOR2R. The iodine capacity reductions were 16%, 36%, and 76% for 1, 2, and 4 week exposures, respectively. This is less of a capacity loss than that seen in similar testing with the AgP 0 PZ sorbent.« less

Automated Assume-Guarantee Reasoning for Omega-Regular Systems and Specifications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chaki, Sagar; Gurfinkel, Arie

2010-01-01

We develop a learning-based automated Assume-Guarantee (AG) reasoning framework for verifying omega-regular properties of concurrent systems. We study the applicability of non-circular (AGNC) and circular (AG-C) AG proof rules in the context of systems with infinite behaviors. In particular, we show that AG-NC is incomplete when assumptions are restricted to strictly infinite behaviors, while AG-C remains complete. We present a general formalization, called LAG, of the learning based automated AG paradigm. We show how existing approaches for automated AG reasoning are special instances of LAG.We develop two learning algorithms for a class of systems, called infinite regular systems, that combine finite and infinite behaviors. We show that for infinity-regular systems, both AG-NC and AG-C are sound and complete. Finally, we show how to instantiate LAG to do automated AG reasoning for infinite regular, and omega-regular, systems using both AG-NC and AG-C as proof rules

Influence of nanoscale Ag2Te precipitates on the thermoelectric properties of the Sn doped P-type AgSbTe2 compound

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mohanraman, Rajeshkumar; Sankar, Raman; Chou, Fang-Cheng; Lee, Chih-Hao; Iizuka, Yoshiyuki; Muthuselvam, I. Panneer; Chen, Yang-Yuan

2014-09-01

We report a maximal figure of merit (ZT) value of 1.1 at 600 K was obtained for the sample of which x = 0.03, representing an enhancement greater than 20% compared with a pristine AgSbTe2 sample. This favorable thermoelectric performance originated from the optimal Sn2+ substitution for Sb3+ in AgSbTe2, which not only increased electrical conductivity but also led to a substantial reduction in thermal conductivity that was likely caused by an enhanced phonon-scattering mechanism through the combined effects of lattice defects and the presence of Ag2Te nanoprecipitates dispersed in the matrix.

Single-step solvothermal synthesis of mesoporous Ag-TiO2-reduced graphene oxide ternary composites with enhanced photocatalytic activity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arif Sher Shah, Md. Selim; Zhang, Kan; Park, A. Reum; Kim, Kwang Su; Park, Nam-Gyu; Park, Jong Hyeok; Yoo, Pil J.

2013-05-01

With growing interest in the photocatalytic performance of TiO2-graphene composite systems, the ternary phase of TiO2, graphene, and Ag is expected to exhibit improved photocatalytic characteristics because of the improved recombination rate of photogenerated charge carriers and potential contribution of the generation of localized surface plasmon resonance at Ag sites on a surface of the TiO2-graphene binary matrix. In this work, Ag-TiO2-reduced graphene oxide ternary nanocomposites were successfully synthesized by a simple solvothermal process. In a single-step synthetic procedure, the reduction of AgNO3 and graphene oxide and the hydrolysis of titanium tetraisopropoxide were spontaneously performed in a mixed solvent system of ethylene glycol, N,N-dimethylformamide and a stoichiometric amount of water without resorting to the use of typical reducing agents. The nanocomposites were characterized by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, along with different microscopic and spectroscopic techniques, enabling us to confirm the successful reduction of AgNO3 and graphite oxide to metallic Ag and reduced graphene oxide, respectively. Due to the highly facilitated electron transport of well distributed Ag nanoparticles, the synthesized ternary nanocomposite showed enhanced photocatalytic activity for degradation of rhodamine B dye under visible light irradiation.With growing interest in the photocatalytic performance of TiO2-graphene composite systems, the ternary phase of TiO2, graphene, and Ag is expected to exhibit improved photocatalytic characteristics because of the improved recombination rate of photogenerated charge carriers and potential contribution of the generation of localized surface plasmon resonance at Ag sites on a surface of the TiO2-graphene binary matrix. In this work, Ag-TiO2-reduced graphene oxide ternary nanocomposites were successfully synthesized by a simple solvothermal process. In a single-step synthetic procedure, the reduction of AgNO3 and graphene oxide and the hydrolysis of titanium tetraisopropoxide were spontaneously performed in a mixed solvent system of ethylene glycol, N,N-dimethylformamide and a stoichiometric amount of water without resorting to the use of typical reducing agents. The nanocomposites were characterized by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, along with different microscopic and spectroscopic techniques, enabling us to confirm the successful reduction of AgNO3 and graphite oxide to metallic Ag and reduced graphene oxide, respectively. Due to the highly facilitated electron transport of well distributed Ag nanoparticles, the synthesized ternary nanocomposite showed enhanced photocatalytic activity for degradation of rhodamine B dye under visible light irradiation. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: XRD of GO, EDX analysis of AgTG composites, tables show the size of graphitic domains and peak area analysis, dye adsorption plot, UV-visible absorption spectra of dye at different times, and plots of ln(Ct/C0) vs. time with the corresponding fitting curves of different samples. See DOI: 10.1039/c3nr00579h

Formation of Ag nanoparticles and enhancement of Tb3+ luminescence in Tb and Ag co-doped lithium-lanthanum-aluminosilicate glass

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Piasecki, Patryk; Piasecki, Ashley; Pan, Zhengda; Mu, Richard; Morgan, Steven H.

2010-12-01

Tb3+ and Ag co-doped glass nano-composites were synthesized in a glass matrix Li2O-LaF3-Al2O3-SiO2 (LLAS) by a melt-quench technique. The growth of Ag nanoparticles (NPs) was controlled by a thermal annealing process. A broad absorption band peaking at about 420 nm was observed due to surface plasmon resonance (SPR) of Ag NPs. The intensity of this band grows with increasing annealing time. The transmission electron microscopic image (TEM) reveals the formation of Ag NPs in glass matrix. Photoluminescence (PL) emission and excitation spectra were measured for glass samples with different Ag concentrations and different annealing times. Plasmon enhanced Tb3+ luminescence was observed at certain excitation wavelength regions. Luminescence quenching was also observed for samples with high Ag concentration and longer annealing time. Our luminescence results suggest that there are two competitive effects, enhancement and quenching, acting on Tb3+ luminescence in the presence of Ag NPs. The enhancement of Tb3+ luminescence is mainly attributed to local field effects due to SPR. The quenching of luminescence suggests an energy transfer from Tb3+ ions to Ag NPs.

In Vitro Parallel Evaluation of Antibacterial Activity and Cytotoxicity of Commercially Available Silver-Containing Wound Dressings.

PubMed

Yunoki, Shunji; Kohta, Masushi; Ohyabu, Yoshimi; Iwasaki, Tetsuji

2015-01-01

This study evaluated the in vitro antibacterial activity and cytotoxicity of various commercially available silver-containing dressings (Ag dressing). Biohesive Ag (hydrocolloid, silver sulfadiazine), Aquacel® Ag (nonwoven fabric, ionic silver [Ag]), Algisite™ Ag (nonwoven fabric, Ag), Mepilex® Ag (foam, silver sulfate), and PolyMem® Ag (foam, nanocrystalline silver) were tested for characteristics of Ag release, antibacterial activity, and cytotoxicity. The release of Ag was investigated in cell culture medium at immersion periods of 6, 24, and 48 hours. The antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were accessed by a disc diffusion test. The cytotoxicity was evaluated using V79 cells, by an extraction method. The cytotoxicity was not a monotonic function of the antibacterial activity among the Ag dressings and could not be simply explained by Ag-release properties. Biohesive Ag was regarded as a slow-release Ag dressing, showing the lowest cytotoxicity, while the antibacterial activity was classified as "strong" or "significant" against the two species of bacteria. Aquacel Ag and Algisite Ag showed higher antibacterial activity and cytotoxic effects, which were supported by the higher Ag release. Mepilex Ag showed the highest release of Ag, and the cytotoxicity was the highest among the Ag dressings. However, the antibacterial activity was classified as "significant" or "no activity" for P. aeruginosa and S. aureus, respectively. PolyMem Ag showed the lowest Ag release, and the antibacterial activity classified as "significant" or "no activity" for S. aureus and P. aeruginosa, respectively, whereas the cytotoxicity was similar to those of Aquacel Ag and Algisite Ag. The efficacy and adverse effects of the Ag dressings revealed differences that should be considered by clinicians during wound management.

Mentha-Stabilized Silver Nanoparticles for High-Performance Colorimetric Detection of Al(III) in Aqueous Systems.

PubMed

Sharma, Rekha; Dhillon, Ankita; Kumar, Dinesh

2018-03-26

The present paper reports a facile and selective colorimetric method for the detection of potential environmental and health hazardous metal ions using green synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). Here the organic functional groups present in the plant extract (Mentha arvensis) are used as reductants and stabilizers in the synthesis of AgNPs. They also provide a suitable binding site to the (Al(III)) analyte in the detection mechanism. The leaf extract of Mentha arvensis was used to synthesize AgNPs at room-temperature and at 80 °C. The AgNPs synthesized at 80 °C exhibit excellent selective colorimetric detection of Al(III). The as-synthesized AgNPs have been characterized, and the synthesis, stabilization of NPs and detection mechanism has also been illustrated by using UV-vis, XPS, FTIR, TEM, EDX, SEM, AAS, and TGA analytical tools and techniques. The selectivity of detection probe was supported by the reaction between probe and metal ions followed first-order kinetics having the highest value of the regression coefficient (R 2  = 0.99) for Al(III) and the analysis of thermodynamic parameters. The prepared sensor showed a lower limit of detection (LOD) of 1 nM (S/N = 3.2) in real water samples. The proposed method can be successfully utilized for the detection of Al(III) from both drinking and real water samples at the nanomolar level.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Matyas, Josef; Fryxell, Glen E.; Robinson, Matthew J.

This is a letter report to complete level 3 milestone "Assess aging characteristics of silica aerogels" for DOE FCRD program. Recently, samples of Ag0-functionalized silica aerogel were aged in flowing dry air for up to 6 months and then loaded with iodine. This dry-air aging simulated the impact of long-term exposure to process gases during process idling. The 6-month aged sample exhibited an iodine sorption capacity of 32 mass%, which was 9 mass % lower than that for an un-aged Ag0-functionalized silica aerogel. In an attempt to understand this decrease in sorption capacity, we characterized physical properties of the agedmore » samples with Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) nitrogen adsorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and high resolution scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results showed no impact of aging on the aerogel microstructure or the silver nanoparticles in the aerogel, including their spatial distribution and morphology.« less

Surface crystallization behavior and physical properties of (GeTe4)85(AgI)15 chalcogenide glass

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Erwei; Wu, Bo; Zhao, Xuhao; Wang, Jingsong; Lin, Changgui; Wang, Xunsi; Li, Xing; Tian, Peijing

2017-11-01

Glass-ceramics embedded Te and α-GeTe particles were fabricated from (GeTe4)85(AgI)15 chalcohalide glass using an appropriate heat-treatment at fairly low temperatures ranging from 160 to 190 °C for different times. The crystallization behavior and physical properties of the obtained samples were studied in detail. The glass transition temperature of crystallized samples increases with the elongation of crystallization times. And the results of mechanical properties show that, compared with the base glass, the crystallized samples present improved thermal shock resistance and fracture toughness, and meanwhile still remain its good IR transmittance. This study could provide an initial observation of crystallization in telluride glasses, and be of good guidance to fabricate novel telluride glass-ceramics that operating in far-IR spectral region ranging from 2.5 μm to 25 μm.

Synthesis of Ag@TiO2 core-shells using a rapid microwave irradiation and study of their nonlinear optical properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karimipour, M.; Ebrahimi, M.; Abafat, Z.; Molaei, M.

2016-07-01

Ag@TiO2 core-shells were synthesized by employing oleylamine as capping agent and using a rapid microwave method. The shell growth was optimized first based on the variation of oleylamine content in the reaction solution. Thereafter the shell thickness was varied just by varying titanium isopropoxide (TiTP) with 25, 50, 100 and 200 μl as TiO2 precursor. The prepared core-shells were characterized by means of XRD, FTIR spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and UV-Vis spectroscopy. XRD analysis revealed a cubic crystal structure for Ag and Anatase phase for TiO2. TEM images clearly indicated that the size of Ag core is roughly 15 nm and with the increase of TiTP, the shell thickness increases and varies between 5 nm and 15 nm. UV-Vis spectroscopy indicated that the plasmon resonance of Ag nanoparticles shifts from 407 nm up to 454 nm with the increase of TiTP precursor. Using a low power laser diode at a 532 nm wavelength, the magnitude and the sign of the nonlinear refractive index were determined by the Z-scan technique and Sheik-Bahae model. The results show that the enhancement of nonlinear optical properties originates from the quality of TiO2 shell growth. The highest nonlinearity belongs to the sample synthesized with 100 μlit TiTP. Generally all the prepared Ag@TiO2 core-shells show both saturable and reverse saturable absorption. They exhibit also a considerable nonlinear absorption and nonlinear refractive index ranging from -4.21 × 10-7 to -3.51 × 10-6 which are comparable to the sole Ag and TiO2 nanoparticles.

Geochemistry and statistical analyses of porphyry system and epithermal veins at Hizehjan in northwestern Iran

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Radmard, Kaikhosrov; Zamanian, Hassan; Hosseinzadeh, Mohamad Reza; Khalaji, Ahmad Ahmadi

2017-12-01

Situated about 130 km northeast of Tabriz (northwest Iran), the Mazra'eh Shadi deposit is in the Arasbaran metallogenic belt (AAB). Intrusion of subvolcanic rocks, such as quartz monzodiorite-diorite porphyry, into Eocene volcanic and volcano-sedimentary units led to mineralisation and alteration. Mineralisation can be subdivided into a porphyry system and Au-bearing quartz veins within andesite and trachyandesite which is controlled by fault distribution. Rock samples from quartz veins show maximum values of Au (17100 ppb), Pb (21100 ppm), Ag (9.43ppm), Cu (611ppm) and Zn (333 ppm). Au is strongly correlated with Ag, Zn and Pb. In the Au-bearing quartz veins, factor group 1 indicates a strong correlation between Au, Pb, Ag, Zn and W. Factor group 2 indicates a correlation between Cu, Te, Sb and Zn, while factor group 3 comprises Mo and As. Based on Spearman correlation coefficients, Sb and Te can be very good indicator minerals for Au, Ag and Pb epithermal mineralisation in the study area. The zoning pattern shows clearly that base metals, such as Cu, Pb, Zn and Mo, occur at the deepest levels, whereas Au and Ag are found at higher elevations than base metals in boreholes in northern Mazra'eh Shadi. This observation contrasts with the typical zoning pattern caused by boiling in epithermal veins. At Mazra'eh Shadi, quartz veins containing co-existing liquid-rich and vapour-rich inclusions, as strong evidence of boiling during hydrothermal evolution, have relatively high Au grades (up to 813 ppb). In the quartz veins, Au is strongly correlated with Ag, and these elements are in the same group with Fe and S. Mineralisation of Au and Ag is a result of pyrite precipitation, boiling of hydrothermal fluids and a pH decrease.

Evaluation of HBsAg and anti-HBc assays in saliva and dried blood spot samples according HIV status.

PubMed

Flores, Geane Lopes; Cruz, Helena Medina; Potsch, Denise Vigo; May, Silvia Beatriz; Brandão-Mello, Carlos Eduardo; Pires, Marcia Maria Amendola; Pilotto, Jose Henrique; Lewis-Ximenez, Lia Laura; Lampe, Elisabeth; Villar, Livia Melo

2017-09-01

Influence of HIV status in HBV markers detection in saliva and dried blood spots (DBS) was not well established. This study aims to evaluate the performance of optimized commercial immunoassay for identifying HBsAg and anti-HBc in saliva and DBS according HIV status. A sum of 535 individuals grouped as HIV + , HBV + , HIV/HBV + and HIV/HBV- were recruited where 347 and 188 were included for HBsAg and anti-HBc evaluation, respectively. Serum, DBS collected in Whatman 903 paper and saliva obtained using salivette device were analyzed using EIA. Increased sample volume and ROC curve analysis for cut off determination were used for DBS and saliva testing. HBsAg detection in saliva and DBS exhibited sensitivities of 80.9% and 85.6% and specificities of 86.8% and 96.3%. Sensitivity of anti-HBc in saliva and DBS were 82.4% and 76.9% and specificities in saliva and DBS were 96.9% and 91.7%. Low sensitivities were observed for HBsAg (62%) and anti-HBc (47%) detection in saliva of HIV/HBV+ individuals. OD values were also lower for HBsAg detection in DBS and saliva of HIV/HBV+ individuals compared to their serum samples. Statistical significance was found for sensitivities in HBsAg detection between saliva and DBS demonstrating high sensitivity for DBS specimens. In conclusion, HIV status or antiretroviral treatment appears to interfere in the performance of HBsAg and anti-HBc detection in DBS and saliva samples using the adapted commercial EIA. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Eco-friendly microwave-assisted green and rapid synthesis of well-stabilized gold and core-shell silver-gold nanoparticles.

PubMed

El-Naggar, Mehrez E; Shaheen, Tharwat I; Fouda, Moustafa M G; Hebeish, Ali A

2016-01-20

Herein, we present a new approach for the synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) individually and as bimetallic core-shell nanoparticles (AgNPs-AuNPs). The novelty of the approach is further maximized by using curdlan (CRD) biopolymer to perform the dual role of reducing and capping agents and microwave-aided technology for affecting the said nanoparticles with varying concentrations in addition to those affected by precursor concentrations. Thus, for preparation of AuNPs, curdlan was solubilized in alkali solution followed by an addition of tetrachloroauric acid (HAuCl4). The curdlan solution containing HAuCl4 was then subjected to microwave radiation for up to 10 min. The optimum conditions obtained with the synthesis of AuNPs were employed for preparation of core-shell silver-gold nanoparticles by replacing definite portion of HAuCl4 with an equivalent portion of silver nitrate (AgNO3). The portion of AgNO3 was added initially and allowed to be reduced by virtue of the dual role of curdlan under microwave radiation. The corresponding portion of HAuCl4 was then added and allowed to complete the reaction. Characterization of AuNPs and AgNPs-AuNPs core-shell were made using UV-vis spectra, TEM, FTIR, XRD, zeta potential, and AFM analysis. Accordingly, strong peaks of the colloidal particles show surface plasmon resonance (SPR) at maximum wavelength of 540 nm, proving the formation of well-stabilized gold nanoparticles. TEM investigations reveal that the major size of AuNPs formed at different Au(+3)concentration lie below 20 nm with narrow size distribution. Whilst, the SPR bands of AgNPs-AuNPs core-shell differ than those obtained from original AgNPs (420 nm) and AuNPs (540 nm). Such shifting due to SPR of Au nanoshell deposited onto AgNPs core was significantly affected by the variation of bimetallic ratios applied. TEM micrographs show variation in contrast between dark silver core and the lighter gold shell. Increasing the ratio of silver ions leads to significant decrease in zeta potential of the formed bimetallic core-shell. FT-IR discloses the interaction between CRD and metal nanoparticles, which could be the question of reducing and stabilizing metal and bimetallic nanoparticles. XRD patterns assume insufficient difference for the AuNPs and AgNPs-AuNPs core-shell samples due to close lattice constants of Ag and Au. Based on AFM, AuNPs and AgNPs-AuNPs core-shell exhibited good monodispersity with spherical particles possessing different sizes in the studied samples. The average sizes of both metal and bimetallic core-shell were found to be 52 and 45 nm, respectively. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The effect of nanoparticles size on photocatalytic and antimicrobial properties of Ag-Pt/TiO2 photocatalysts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zielińska-Jurek, Anna; Wei, Zhishun; Wysocka, Izabela; Szweda, Piotr; Kowalska, Ewa

2015-10-01

Ag-Pt-modified TiO2 nanocomposites were synthesized using the sol-gel method. Bimetallic modified TiO2 nanoparticles exhibited improved photocatalytic activity under visible-light irradiation, better than monometallic Ag/TiO2 and Pt/TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs). All modified powders showed localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) in visible region. The photocatalysts' characteristics by X-ray diffractometry (XRD), scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), nitrogen adsorption (BET method for specific surface area) showed that sample with the highest photocatalytic activity had anatase structure, about 93 m2/g specific surface area, maximum plasmon absorption at ca. 420 nm and contained small NPs of silver of 6 nm and very fine platinum NPs of 3 nm. The photocatalytic activity was estimated by measuring the decomposition rate of phenol in 0.2 mM aqueous solution under Vis and UV/vis light irradiation. It was found that size of platinum was decisive for the photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation, i.e., the smaller Pt NPs were, the higher was photocatalytic activity. While, antimicrobial activities, estimated for bacteria Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, and pathogenic fungi belonging to Candida family, were only observed for photocatalysts containing silver, i.e., Ag/TiO2 and Ag-Pt/TiO2 nanocomposites.

Major and trace element investigation of the Pine Mountain massif--The southernmost exposure of Grenville age crust in North America

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Salpas, P.A.; Daniell, N.

1992-01-01

The Pine Mountain massif is a 1.1 Ga basement massif exposed in Alabama and Georgia. The Whatley Mill Gneiss (WMG) constitutes a major exposure of rock in the Pine Mountain massif of eastern Alabama. Based on appearance in outcrop, the WMG can be divided into three distinct lithologies. The first is a massive augen gneiss (AG) consisting of K-spar augen in a finer grained matrix of biotite, K-spar, plagioclase, and quartz. The second lithology is a fine-grained gneiss (FG) composed predominantly of quartz with minor muscovite. The FG occurs sporadically as band of mylonite within the AG. The third lithologymore » is generally accepted to be the protolith of the AG. It is a relatively unfoliated and undeformed rock (UN) of sparse occurrence whose mineralogy is similar to that of the AG but also contains hornblende and rounded mafic inclusions of biotite gneiss. AG and FG samples were collected along a traverse through over 220 meters of stratigraphic thickness of the WMG and were analyzed for major element compositions by XRF and for trace element compositions by INAA. Relative to the AG samples, the FG samples are enriched in SiO[sub 2] and depleted in FeO and ferromagnesian trace elements such as Sc. REE concentrations are generally higher in the AG than in the FG but the sizes of the ranges in concentrations among both groups of rocks are similar. REE systematics indicate that the silica-rich fluid introduced into the AG during shearing appears to have made negligible contributions to the absolute and relative whole-rock REE concentrations but, instead, simply diluted the REE in the parent AG. Based upon the limited sampling of UN so far, deformation to produce the foliated AG, including augen formation, appears to have occurred isochemically.« less

Controlled synthesis of Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4}/BiVO{sub 4} composites with enhanced visible-light photocatalytic performance for the degradation of RhB and 2, 4-DCP

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Qi, Xuemei; School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University of Electric Power, Shanghai 200090; Gu, Miaoli

Highlights: • Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4}/BiVO{sub 4} composites were synthesized by in-situ precipitation method. • Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4}/BiVO{sub 4} is more efficient than pure Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4} and BiVO{sub 4} for RhB and 2, 4-DCP degradation. • Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4}/BiVO{sub 4} can act as a high performance and low cost photocatalyst. - Abstract: Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4}/BiVO{sub 4} composites were fabricated by in-situ precipitation method. Results showed that Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4}/BiVO{sub 4} composites exhibited higher photocatalytic activity than that of pure BiVO{sub 4} and Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4} sample under visible light irradiation. The effect of Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4}:BiVO{sub 4} ratio on themore » photocatalytic activity was systemically studied and the optimum molar ratio of Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4}:BiVO{sub 4} was 1:5. The Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4}/BiVO{sub 4}-5 exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity for the degradation of Rhodamine B (ca. 92% in 30 min) and 2, 4-dichlorophenol (ca. 84% in 180 min) under visible light irradiation. The enhanced photocatalytic activity could be mainly ascribed to the suitable Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4}/BiVO{sub 4} heterojunction interface and the smaller particles of Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4} compared to pure Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4} particles which could promote the separation of photoinduced electron-hole pairs. The Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4}/BiVO{sub 4} composite can significantly reduce the silver consumption compared to the pure Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4}. It is worth noting that Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4}/BiVO{sub 4} composite can act as a high performance and low cost visible-light-driven photocatalyst for environmental remediation.« less

Isolating and identifying atmospheric ice-nucleating aerosols: a new technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kreidenweis, S. M.; Chen, Y.; Rogers, D. C.; DeMott, P. J.

Laboratory studies examined two key aspects of the performance of a continuous-flow diffusion chamber (CFD) instrument that detects ice nuclei (IN) concentrations in air samples: separating IN from non-IN, and collecting IN aerosols to determine chemical composition. In the first study, submicron AgI IN particles were mixed in a sample stream with submicron non-IN salt particles, and the sample stream was processed in the CFD at -19°C and 23% supersaturation with respect to ice. Examination of the residual particles from crystals nucleated in the CFD confirmed that only AgI particles served as IN in the mixed stream. The second study applied this technique to separate and analyze IN and non-IN particles in a natural air sample. Energy-dispersive X-ray analyses (EDS) of the elemental composition of selected particles from the IN and non-IN fractions in ambient air showed chemical differences: Si and Ca were present in both, but S, Fe and K were also detected in the non-IN fraction.

Mineralogy, alteration patterns, geochemistry, and fluid properties of the Ag-Au epithermal deposit Nová Baňa, Slovakia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Majzlan, Juraj; Berkh, Khulan; Kiefer, Stefan; Koděra, Peter; Fallick, Anthony E.; Chovan, Martin; Bakos, František; Biroň, Adrián; Ferenc, Štefan; Lexa, Jaroslav

2018-02-01

In this contribution, we report new data on mineralogy, alteration patterns, geochemistry, fluid properties and source of fluids for the deposit Nová Baňa, one of the smaller epithermal deposits in the Middle Miocene Štiavnica andesite stratovolcano (Western Carpathians, Slovakia). Ore veins and the associated rocks were studied in samples from outcrops and old mines, grab samples, and bore holes from the central part of the deposit (ore structures Althandel, Jozef, Jakub, Vavrinec), northern part (Freischurf), SE part (Gupňa) and SW part (Šibeničný vrch). Pervasive hydrothermal alteration transformed the rock-forming minerals into a mixture of adularia and fine-grained quartz, with lesser amount of pyrite, Ti oxides and Fe oxides. This assemblage was further altered to omnipresent interstratified illite/smectite that was used in this study as a geothermometer, corroborating the results from the fluid inclusion work. Ore minerals comprise predominantly pyrite, sphalerite, galena but all sulfides are relatively sparse in the samples studied. Minerals of precious metals are electrum, Ag-tetrahedrite, acanthite, members of the polybasite-pearceite and pyrargyrite-proustite solid solution, and rare miargyrite, Hg-Ag tetrahedrite, and diaphorite. In the central part, we have found also some stibnite. In the SE part of the deposit, acanthite, uytenbogaardtite, and petrovskaite occur and seem to be related to supergene enrichment of the ores. In bulk ore samples, Zn usually dominates over Pb and Cu. The average Ag:Au ratio for the entire deposit is 64:1. The concentrations of precious metals in the grab samples reach maxima of 50 ppm Au and 570 ppm Ag in the SE part and 116 ppm Au and 1110 ppm Ag in the central part of the deposit. Fluid inclusions show signs of trapping of a heterogeneous fluid. In the central, northern and SE parts of the deposit, homogenization temperatures of 190-260 °C and consistently low salinities of <5 wt% NaCl eq were recorded. In the SW part, primary fluid inclusions gave homogenization temperatures of 160-180 °C and similar low salinities. The secondary inclusions, however, show salinities up to 24 wt% NaCl eq., interpreted as fluid boiling almost to dryness. Isotopic composition of quartz and clay minerals is recalculated to fluid composition of -5.6 to -0.6 ‰ δ18Ofluid and -80 to -36 ‰ δDfluid, indicating mixed character of hydrothermal fluids falling between the compositions of magmatic and meteoric waters, with predominance of meteoric waters. Assuming hydrostatic pressure in the fluids, the measured data suggest paleodepths of ore formation of 50-170 m in the SW part of the ore deposit, 130-420 m in the SE and N parts, and a range of 120-470 m for the central part. These observations, comparison with other epithermal deposits in the Central Slovak volcanic field, and additional data from published literature show that Nová Baňa is a low- to intermediate sulfidation epithermal deposit, genetically associated to late rhyolitic volcanic activity in this area.

Coprological survey of alimentary tract parasites in dogs from Zambia and evaluation of a coproantigen assay for canine echinococcosis

PubMed Central

Nonaka, N; Nakamura, S; Inoue, T; Oku, Y; Katakura, K; Matsumoto, J; Mathis, A; Chembesofu, M; Phiri, I G K

2011-01-01

Faecal samples were collected from the rectum of 540 domestic dogs from four districts (Lusaka, Katete, Petauke and Luangwa) in Zambia between 2005 and 2006 and prevalences of canine alimentary tract parasites were determined by coprological examination. Thirteen different ova and parasites including strongyle (43.3%), Spirocerca lupi (18.7%), taeniid (13.1%), Toxocara canis (7.6%), Sarcocystis sp.* (7.5%), Isospora sp.* (5.7%), Physaloptera sp.* (4.6%), Capillaria sp.* (2.8%), Dipylidium caninum (2.2%), Mesocestoides sp.* (2.0%), Ascaris sp.* (1.7%), Trichuris vulpis* (0.4%) and Schistosoma mansoni* (0.4%) were detected, Ascaris and Schistosoma probably originating from coprophagy. The species with asterisks and later-described Taenia multiceps are for the first time reported from dogs in Zambia. A coproantigen enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (CoproAg-ELISA) developed for Echinococcus spp. revealed 43 positive dogs and 37 of these harboured taeniid eggs. From 63 of the 71 taeniid egg-positive samples, eggs and DNA thereof were isolated and subjected to a multiplex polymerase chain reaction for differentiating E. granulosus sensu lato, E. multilocularis and Taenia spp. Amplicons indicative for Taenia spp. were obtained from 60 samples. Sequencing of amplicons spanning part of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene, which was possible with 38 samples, revealed 35 infections with T. hydatigena and 3 with T. multiceps. Therefore, the CoproAg-ELISA showed some positives, but concrete evidence for the existence of canine E. granulosus infection could not be established. Comparison of the results of the CoproAg-ELISA and Taenia species identification indicated that the CoproAg-ELISA cross-reacts with patent infections of T. hydatigena (57%) and T. multiceps (33%). PMID:22185947

Synthesis, characterization, bioactivity and antibacterial studies of silver doped calcium borosilicate glass-ceramics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kumar, Alesh; Mariappan, C. R.

2018-04-01

Bioactive glass-ceramics 45.8 mol% SiO- 45.8 CaO - 8.4 B2O3 doped with Ag2O were synthesized by sol-gel method. The glass-ceramic nature of samples was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra reveal the probable stretching and bending vibration modes of silicate and borate groups. UV-Visible spectra reveal the presence of Ag+ ions and metallic Ag in the glass matrix for Ag2O doped ceramic sample. Biocompatibility of the glass nature of samples was studied by soaking of samples in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium (DMEM) with subsequent XRD studies. It was found that bone-like apatite formation on the glasses after soaked in DMEM. Antibacterial studies of glass ceramics powder against gram positive and negative microorganisms were carried out.

Effects of amino acid substitutions in hepatitis B virus surface protein on virion secretion, antigenicity, HBsAg and viral DNA.

PubMed

Xiang, Kuan-Hui; Michailidis, Eleftherios; Ding, Hai; Peng, Ya-Qin; Su, Ming-Ze; Li, Yao; Liu, Xue-En; Dao Thi, Viet Loan; Wu, Xian-Fang; Schneider, William M; Rice, Charles M; Zhuang, Hui; Li, Tong

2017-02-01

As important virological markers, serum hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA levels show large fluctuations among chronic hepatitis B patients. The aim of this study was to reveal the potential impact and mechanisms of amino acid substitutions in small hepatitis B surface proteins (SHBs) on serum HBsAg and HBV DNA levels. Serum samples from 230 untreated chronic hepatitis B patients with genotype C HBV were analyzed in terms of HBV DNA levels, serological markers of HBV infection and SHBs sequences. In vitro functional analysis of the identified SHBs mutants was performed. Among 230 SHBs sequences, there were 39 (16.96%) sequences with no mutation detected (wild-type) and 191 (83.04%) with single or multiple mutations. SHBs consist of 226 amino acids, of which 104 (46.02%) had mutations in our study. Some mutations (e.g., sE2G, sL21S, sR24K, sT47A/K, sC69stop (sC69∗), sL95W, sL98V, and sG145R) negatively correlated with serum HBsAg levels. HBsAg and HBV DNA levels from this group of patients had a positive correlation (r=0.61, p<0.001). In vitro analysis showed that these mutations reduced extracellular HBsAg and HBV DNA levels by restricting virion secretion and antibody binding capacity. Virion secretion could be rescued for sE2G, sC69∗, and sG145R by co-expression of wild-type HBsAg. The serum HBsAg levels were lower in untreated CHB patients with novel SHBs mutations outside the major antigenic region than those without mutations. Underlying mechanisms include impairment of virion secretion and lower binding affinity to antibodies used for HBsAg measurements. The hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) is a major viral protein of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) secreted into patient blood serum and its quantification value serves as an important marker for the evaluation of chronic HBV infection and antiviral response. We found a few new amino acid substitutions in HBsAg associated with lower serum HBsAg and HBV DNA levels. These different substitutions might impair virion secretion, change the ability of HBsAg to bind to antibodies, or impact HBV replication. These could all result in decreased detectable levels of serum HBsAg. The factors affecting circulating HBsAg level and HBsAg detection are varied and caution is needed when interpreting clinical significance of serum HBsAg levels. Clinical trial number: NCT01088009. Copyright © 2016 European Association for the Study of the Liver. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Bioreduction potentials of dried root of Zingiber officinale for a simple green synthesis of silver nanoparticles: Antibacterial studies.

PubMed

Judith Vijaya, J; Jayaprakash, N; Kombaiah, K; Kaviyarasu, K; John Kennedy, L; Jothi Ramalingam, R; Al-Lohedan, Hamad A; V M, Mansoor-Ali; Maaza, M

2017-12-01

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) using an extract of dried Zingiber officinale (ginger) root as a reducing and capping agent in the presence of microwave irradiation was herein reported for the first time. The formation of symmetrical spheres is confirmed from the UV-Visible spectrum of Ag NPs. Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy confirms the formation of the Ag NPs. X-ray diffraction analysis was utilized to calculate the crystallite size of Ag NPs and the value was found to be 10nm. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy and high-resolution scanning electron microscopy were used to investigate the morphology and size of the synthesized samples. The sphere like morphology is confirmed from the images. The purity and crystallinity of Ag NPs is confirmed by energy-dispersive X-Ray analysis and selected area electron diffraction respectively. The electrochemical behavior of the synthesized Ag NPs was assessed by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and shows the redox peaks in the potential range of -1.1 to +1.1V. Agar diffusion method is used to examine the antibacterial activity of Ag NPs. For this purpose, two gram positive and two gram negative bacteria were studied. This single step approach was found to be simple, short time, cost-effective, reproducible, and eco-friendly. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Serum HBV RNA as a Predictor of Peginterferon Alfa-2a (40KD) Response in Patients With HBeAg-Positive Chronic Hepatitis B.

PubMed

van Bömmel, Florian; van Bömmel, Alena; Krauel, Alexander; Wat, Cynthia; Pavlovic, Vedran; Yang, Lei; Deichsel, Danilo; Berg, Thomas; Böhm, Stephan

2018-05-08

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) RNA is a novel serum biomarker that has the potential to predict treatment response in patients with chronic hepatitis B. We explored whether HBV RNA serum levels can predict hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion in patients treated with peginterferon alfa-2a. Serum samples from HBeAg-positive patients previously treated with peginterferon alfa-2a in two large randomized controlled trials were retrospectively analyzed. HBV RNA levels were measured using a real-time polymerase chain reaction assay. Ability of individual biomarkers to predict HBeAg seroconversion at 24 weeks post-treatment was evaluated using receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analyses. The study included 131 subjects (70% male, 96% Asians, 35% HBV genotypes B and 61% C), 76 treated with peginterferon alfa-2a alone and 55 in combination with LAM. Median HBV RNA levels were significantly lower, at all time points, in patients achieving HBeAg seroconversion. Levels of HBV RNA at treatment weeks 12 and 24 showed good ability to predict HBeAg seroconversion (AUROC scores >0.75, p<0.001). A HBV RNA cutoff of >5.5 log10 copies/mL identified 30% of non-responders at week 12 (negative predictive value >90%). Serum HBV RNA is an early predictor of HBeAg seroconversion in patients treated with peginterferon alfa-2a.

AgGaSe2 thin films grown by chemical close-spaced vapor transport for photovoltaic applications: structural, compositional and optical properties.

PubMed

Merschjann, C; Mews, M; Mete, T; Karkatzinou, A; Rusu, M; Korzun, B V; Schorr, S; Schubert-Bischoff, P; Seeger, S; Schedel-Niedrig, Th; Lux-Steiner, M-Ch

2012-05-02

Thin films of chalcopyrite AgGaSe(2) have been successfully grown on glass and glass/molybdenum substrates using the technique of chemical close-spaced vapor transport. The high crystallinity of the samples is confirmed by grazing-incidence x-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, and optical transmission/reflection spectroscopy. Here, two of the three expected direct optical bandgaps are found at 1.77(2) and 1.88(6) eV at 300 K. The lowest bandgap energy at 4 K is estimated to be 1.82(3) eV. Photoluminescence spectroscopy has further revealed the nature of the point defects within the AgGaSe(2), showing evidence for the existence of very shallow acceptor levels of 5(1) and 10(1) meV, and thus suggesting the AgGaSe(2) phase itself to exhibit a p-type conductivity. At the same time, electrical characterization by Hall, Seebeck and four-point-probe measurements indicate properties of a compensated semiconductor. The electrical properties of the investigated thin films are mainly influenced by the presence of Ag(2)Se and Ga(2)O(3) nanometer-scaled surface layers, as well as by Ag(2)Se inclusions in the bulk and Ag clusters at the layers' rear side. © 2012 IOP Publishing Ltd

Biomimetic fabrication of antibacterial calcium phosphates mediated by polydopamine.

PubMed

Forte, Lucia; Torricelli, Paola; Bonvicini, Francesca; Boanini, Elisa; Gentilomi, Giovanna Angela; Lusvardi, Gigliola; Della Bella, Elena; Fini, Milena; Vecchio Nepita, Edoardo; Bigi, Adriana

2018-01-01

In this work we developed new antibacterial composite materials using polydopamine (PDA) to trigger the deposition of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) onto calcium phosphates, namely octacalcium phosphate (OCP) and α-tricalcium phosphate (αTCP). Functionalization of OCP and αTCP with a self-polymerized polydopamine layer was obtained by soaking the calcium phosphates in dopamine solution. The PDA surface of functionalized calcium phosphates (OCPd and αTCPd) promoted the deposition of AgNPs by reducing silver ions when soaked in a silver nitrate solution. The amount of deposited AgNPs can be modulated by varying the concentration of silver nitrate solution and the type of substrate. The results of in vitro tests carried out with osteoblast-like MG63 cells indicate that the combination of AgNPs with OCP provides more biocompatible materials than those obtained using αTCP as substrate. In particular, the study of osteoblast activity and differentiation was focused on the samples OCPdAg5 (silver content=8.2wt%) and αTCPdAg5 (silver content=4.7wt%), which did not show any cytotoxicity, and compared with those obtained on pure OCP and αTCP. The results demonstrate that the AgNPs loaded materials support osteoblast viability and differentiation, whereas they significantly inhibit the growth of relevant antibiotic-resistant pathogenic bacteria. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Structural and optoelectronic studies on Ag-CdS quantum dots

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ibrahim Mohammed S., M.; Gubari, Ghamdan M. M.; Huse, Nanasaheb P.; Dive, Avinash S.; Sharma, Ramphal

2018-05-01

In the present study, we have successfully deposited CdS quantum dot thin films and Ag doped CdS on a glass slide by simple and economical chemical bath deposition at room temperature. The X-ray diffraction method analysis reveals that CdS thin films exhibit hexagonal structure when compared with standard JCPDS data. The estimated average crystallite size of the quantum dots and resulted in the least crystallite size of ˜9 nm. a comparison between the optical and electrical properties of the films before and after doping Ag was made through measuring and analyzing the curves for UV and I-V. From UV absorption spectra we observed that the samples exhibited a band edge near ˜400 nm with a slight deviation with the presence of excitonic peak for both CdS and Ag doped CdS. The presence of excitonic peak may be referred to the formation of quantum dots. The calculated band gap energy of thin films was found to be 3.45 eV and 3.15 eV for both CdS and Ag doped CdS thin films respectively, where the optical absorption spectra of Ag doped CdS nanoparticles also exhibit shift with respect to that of CdS quantum dots thin films. The photosensitive of CdS thin films show an increase in photocurrent when Ag doped CdS.

Microleakage and antibacterial properties of ZnO and ZnO:Ag nanopowders prepared via a sol-gel method for endodontic sealer application

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shayani Rad, M.; Kompany, A.; Khorsand Zak, A.; Javidi, M.; Mortazavi, S. M.

2013-09-01

One of the most important problems in dentistry is the microleakage, whether apical or coronal, which may cause failure of root canal therapy. The aim of this study is to prepare suitable sealer to decrease the microleakage of the root canals as well as having good antibacterial property. Pure ZnO and ZnO:Ag nanopowders were synthesized via sol gel method using gelatin as polymerization agent calcined at different temperatures of 500, 600, and 700 °C for 8 h. The prepared samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction and transition electron microscopy. The microleakage and antibacterial properties of the prepared samples were investigated and compared with zinc oxide eugenol (ZOE) and epoxy resin sealer (AH26), which are commonly used in dentistry as sealers. The results showed that the synthesized pure ZnO and ZnO:Ag nanopowders exhibit better microleakage and antibacterial properties in comparison with ZOE and AH26 sealers, and therefore are more suitable filling materials to be used as sealer in root canal treatment.

Colorimetric Detection of Mercury(II) Ion in Aqueous Solution Using Silver Nanoparticles.

PubMed

Firdaus, M Lutfi; Fitriani, Ikka; Wyantuti, Santhy; Hartati, Yeni W; Khaydarov, Renat; McAlister, Jason A; Obata, Hajime; Gamo, Toshitaka

2017-01-01

Novel green-chemistry synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) is introduced as a low-cost, rapid and easy-to-use analytical method for mercury ion detection. Aqueous fruit extract of water apple (Syzygium aqueum) was used for the first time as bioreductant to synthesize stable AgNPs. The prepared AgNPs have a yellowish-brown color with a surface plasmon resonance peak at 420 nm. The addition of Hg(II) ions then changes the AgNPs color to colorless. The color change was in proportion to the concentration of Hg(II) ions. The presence of other metal ions in the system was also evaluated. The proposed method shows good selectivity and sensitivity towards Hg(II) ions. Using UV-visible spectrophotometry, the detection limit of the developed method was 8.5 × 10 -7 M. The proposed method has been successfully applied for determination of Hg(II) ions in tap and lake water samples with precision better than 5%.

Salivary sIg-A response against the recombinant Ag38 antigen of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Indonesian strain.

PubMed

Raras, Tri Yudani Mardining; Sholeh, Gamal; Lyrawati, Diana

2014-01-01

An evaluation of the humoral response based on secretory immunoglobulin A levels in the saliva of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) acid-fast bacillus-positive (TB-AFB+) patients against a recombinant 38 kDa antigen (Ag38-rec) is reported. A total of 60 saliva samples consist of 30 TB-AFB+ patients and 30 healthy controls were tested against 500 ng of semi-purified antigen using the dot blot method. Results showed that the protein antigen could differentiate between healthy individuals and TB-AFB(+) patients. Whole saliva demonstrated better reactivity than centrifuged saliva. The Ag38-rec protein indicated statistically comparable sensitivity (80% versus 90%), but lower specificity (36.6% versus 70%) compared with purified protein derivative (PPD). Surprisingly, both antigens similarly recognized secretory immunoglobulin A in the saliva of the healthy group (50% versus 50%, respectively). These findings suggest that the Ag38-rec protein originating from a local strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis may be used for TB screening, however require purity improvement.

Facile formation of Ag{sub 2}WO{sub 4}/AgX (X = Cl, Br, I) hybrid nanorods with enhanced visible-light-driven photoelectrochemical properties

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Li, Jingjing; Yu, Caiyun; Zheng, Changcheng

2015-01-15

Highlights: • Ag{sub 2}WO{sub 4}/AgX hybrid nanorods were prepared by a facile in-situ anion exchange reaction. • Ag{sub 2}WO{sub 4} nanorods and different X{sup −} ions were reacted in water at room temperature. • The hybrids possess significantly enhanced photoelectrochemical properties. • Ag{sub 2}WO{sub 4}/AgBr hybrids exhibit the highest photocatalytic activity among three samples. • The active species tests were also investigated to confirm photocatalytic mechanism. - Abstract: In this work, we demonstrated a general strategy for the preparation of a series of uniform Ag{sub 2}WO{sub 4}/AgX (X = Cl, Br, I) hybrid nanorods by a facile in-situ anion exchangemore » reaction occurring at room temperature between pregrown Ag{sub 2}WO{sub 4} nanorods and different X{sup −} ions in water. Compared with Ag{sub 2}WO{sub 4} nanorods, further investigation has revealed that the as-prepared hybrid nanorods possess significantly enhanced photocurrent response and photocatalytic activity in degrading methyl orange (MO) under visible-light irradiation. In particular, the Ag{sub 2}WO{sub 4}/AgBr hybrid nanorods exhibit the highest photocatalytic activity among the three kinds of samples. The active species tests indicate that superoxide anion radicals and photogenerated holes are responsible for the enhanced photocatalytic performance.« less

Performance evaluation of LUMIPULSE G1200 autoimmunoanalyzer for the detection of serum hepatitis B virus markers.

PubMed

Choi, Seung Jun; Park, Yongjung; Lee, Eun Young; Kim, Sinyoung; Kim, Hyon-Suk

2013-05-01

We evaluated recently introduced automated immunoassay analyzer LUMIPULSE G1200 (Fujirebio, Inc., Tokyo, Japan) for detecting serologic hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers by comparison with the results by ARCHITECT i4000SR (Abbott, Abbott Park, IL). Precision performance was evaluated over 20 days. HBV surface antigen (HBsAg), HBV e antigen (HBeAg), antibodies to HBV core antigen (anti-HBc), antibodies to HBeAg (anti-HBe), and antibodies to HBsAg (anti-HBs) in a total of 1,000 serum samples were assessed by the two analyzers. Discrepant results were retested by COBAS e411 (Roche Diagnostics, Mannheim, Germany). LUMIPULSE showed excellent precision performance of total imprecision less than 3.5% coefficient of variation. The qualitative results between the two analyzers were agreed with each other in 92.0-99.8% of the specimens according to the different HBV markers. The degrees of reactions for HBeAg were moderately correlated between the two analyzers (r = 0.60), and those of other HBV markers were well correlated (r = 0.80 or greater). However, there were 183 discrepancies among 1,000 cases, and most of them showed degree of reaction around the cutoff values. LUMIPULSE G1200 showed well-concordant results with ARCITHECT for hepatitis B serologic tests. However, results near the cutoff values would need to be retested with other immunoassay or molecular methods, when the serological profiles of HBV markers are unusual or are not correlated to the clinical conditions of the patient, due to discrepancies between the immunoassay analyzers. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Development of Proxies for Vent Fluid Trace Metal Concentrations and pH through Study of Sulfide Chimney Linings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Evans, G. N.; Tivey, M. K.; Seewald, J.; Rouxel, O. J.; Monteleone, B.

2016-12-01

Analyses of trace elements (Ag, As, Co, Mn, and Zn) hosted in the chalcopyrite linings of `black smoker' chimneys using secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) have been combined with data for trace metal concentrations in corresponding vent fluids to investigate fluid-mineral partitioning of trace elements. Goals of this research include development of proxies for fluid chemistry based on mineral trace element content. The use of SIMS allows for the measurement of trace elements below the detection limits of electron microprobe and at the necessary spatial resolution (20 microns) to examine fine-grained and mixed-mineral samples. Results indicate that the chalcopyrite linings of many `black smoker' chimneys are homogeneous with respect to Ag, Mn, Co, and Zn. Minerals picked from samples exhibiting homogeneity with respect to specific elements were dissolved and analyzed by solution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for use as working standards. Results also document a strong correlation between the Ag content of chalcopyrite and the Ag:Cu ratio of the corresponding hydrothermal fluid. This supports systematic partitioning of Ag into chalcopyrite as a substitute for Cu, providing a proxy for fluid Ag concentration. Additionally, the Ag content of chalcopyrite correlates with fluid pH, particularly at pH>3, and thus represents an effective proxy for fluid pH. Application of these proxies to chimney samples provides an opportunity to better identify hydrothermal conditions even when fluids have not been sampled, or not fully analyzed.

Synthesis of High Valence Silver-Loaded Mesoporous Silica with Strong Antibacterial Properties

PubMed Central

Chen, Chun-Chi; Wu, Hsin-Hsien; Huang, Hsin-Yi; Liu, Chen-Wei; Chen, Yi-Ning

2016-01-01

A simple chemical method was developed for preparing high valence silver (Ag)-loaded mesoporous silica (Ag-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)-SBA-15), which showed strong antibacterial activity. Ag-EDTA-SBA-15 exhibited stronger and more effective antibacterial activity than commercial Ag nanoparticles did, and it offered high stability of high valence silver in the porous matrix and long-lasting antibacterial activity. The synthesized materials were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Ag existed in both surface complexation and Ag particles. EDTA anchored within a porous structure chelated Ag ions in higher oxidation states and prevented their agglomeration and oxidation reduction. The XRD results showed that most Ag in the Ag-EDTA-SBA-15 existed in higher oxidation states such as Ag(II) and Ag(III). However, the XPS and TEM results showed that Ag easily reduced in lower oxidation states and agglomerated as Ag particles on the exterior layer of the SBA-15. PMID:26742050

Characterization and antibacterial activity of silver exchanged regenerated NaY zeolite from surfactant-modified NaY zeolite.

PubMed

Salim, Mashitah Mad; Malek, Nik Ahmad Nizam Nik

2016-02-01

The antibacterial activity of regenerated NaY zeolite (thermal treatment from cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB)-modified NaY zeolite and pretreatment with Na ions) loaded with silver ions were examined using the broth dilution minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) method against Escherichia coli (E. coli ATCC 11229) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus ATCC 6538). X-ray diffraction (XRD), attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and chemical elemental analyses were used to characterize the regenerated NaY and AgY zeolites. The XRD patterns indicated that the calcination and addition of silver ions on regenerated NaY zeolite did not affect the structure of the regenerated NaY zeolite as the characteristic peaks of the NaY zeolite were retained, and no new peaks were observed. The regenerated AgY zeolite showed good antibacterial activity against both bacteria strains in distilled water, and the antibacterial activity of the samples increased with increasing Ag loaded on the regenerated AgY zeolite; the regenerated AgY zeolite was more effective against E. coli than S. aureus. However, the antibacterial activity of the regenerated AgY was not effective in saline solution for both bacteria. The study showed that CTAB-modified NaY zeolite materials could be regenerated to NaY zeolite using thermal treatment (550°C, 5h) and this material has excellent performance as an antibacterial agent after silver ions loading. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Multiplex analysis of plasma cytokines/chemokines showing different immune responses in active TB patients, latent TB infection and healthy participants.

PubMed

Yao, Xiangyang; Liu, Yongliang; Liu, Yang; Liu, Wei; Ye, Zhizhong; Zheng, Chao; Ge, Shengxiang

2017-12-01

Interferon gamma release assays (IGRAs) have been widely used to diagnose Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection. However, IGRAs cannot discriminate between active TB patients and latent TB infection (LTBI), and the sensitivity of IGRAs for MTB infection is suboptimal. Here, we analyzed cytokines/chemokines in MTB antigen-stimulated and -unstimulated plasma samples to identify host biomarkers that are associated with active TB and MTB infection. Active TB patients, subjects with LTBI and healthy participants were recruited. Seventy-one soluble cytokines and chemokines were tested using Luminex liquid array-based multiplexed immunoassays. For the 71 examined factors, our results indicated that the unstimulated levels of IL-8 Nil , IP-10 Nil , MIP-1a Nil , and sIL-2Ra Nil and the antigen stimulated levels of IL-8 (Ag-Nil) , VEGF (Ag-Nil) , and MCP-3 (Ag-Nil) were potential biomarkers for differentiating between active TB and LTBI, with AUCs of 0.8, 0.86, 0.755, 0.845, 0.825, 0.812 and 0.75, respectively. The G-CSF (Ag-Nil) , GM-CSF (Ag-Nil) , IL-1a (Ag-Nil) , IL-2 (Ag-Nil) , IP-10 (Ag-Nil) , BCA-1 (Ag-Nil) and Eotaxin-1 (Ag-Nil) responses were significantly higher in patients with active TB and LTBI compared with healthy participants (p < 0.05), with AUCs of 0.922, 0.902, 0.908, 1.0, 0.937, 0.919 and 0.935, respectively. Our preliminary data suggest that unstimulated or stimulated levels of cytokines and chemokines could be used as host biomarkers for diagnosing active TB as well as additional biomarkers, except IFN-γ, for MTB infection. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Assessment of infectiousness of male Malaysian blood donors.

PubMed

So-Har, T; Gladys, L C; Ramli, N

1983-01-01

HBeAg and anti-HBe were determined in the blood of 189 male blood donors. The incidence of HBsAg was 6.9% while that for HBeAg and anti-HBe was 1.6 and 18%, respectively. Of the 13 samples positive for HBsAg, two (15.4%) were positive for HBe while six (46.2%) were positive for anti-HBe. One specimen was negative for HBsAg but was positive for HBeAg and anti-HBe. The observations are discussed.

Infrared extinction and microwave absorption properties of hybrid Fe3O4@SiO2@Ag nanospheres synthesized via a facile seed-mediated growth route.

PubMed

Chen, Yongpeng; Li, Shichuan; Wei, Xuebin; Tang, Runze; Zhou, Zunning

2018-06-21

Fe3O4@SiO2@Ag ternary hybrid nanoparticles were synthesized via a facile seed-mediated growth route. X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) measurements were used to characterize the as-prepared product. The results indicated that the nanoparticles exhibited excellent magnetic properties and an extremely dense structure with Ag layer thicknesses of 30 nm, 40 nm, and 50 nm. Furthermore, the microwave shielding effectiveness exceeded 20 dB over almost the entire frequency range (2-18 GHz), and the effectiveness obviously improved as the thickness of the Ag layer increased. In addition, the IR extinction coefficient of the nanoparticles was calculated by a finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method, which showed that the nanoparticles can inherit the extinction performance of pure silver when the Ag shell thickness was 30 nm. Specifically, after assembling into chains, the peak position of the IR extinction curves displayed a significant redshift and an intensity increase as the number of nanoparticles increased in the chain, which dramatically promoted the IR extinction capability. As a result, the Fe3O4@SiO2@Ag nanoparticles are expected to be used as a new multispectral interference material. © 2018 IOP Publishing Ltd.

A selective and sensitive optical sensor for dissolved ammonia detection via agglomeration of fluorescent Ag nanoclusters and temperature gradient headspace single drop microextraction.

PubMed

Dong, Jiang Xue; Gao, Zhong Feng; Zhang, Ying; Li, Bang Lin; Li, Nian Bing; Luo, Hong Qun

2017-05-15

In this paper, a simple sensor platform is presented for highly selective and sensitive detection of dissolved ammonia in aqueous solutions without pretreatment based on temperature gradient headspace single drop microextraction (HS-SDME) technique, and fluorescence and UV-vis spectrophotometry are utilized with the Ag nanoclusters (Ag NCs) functioned by citrate and glutathione as the probe. The sensing mechanism is based on the volatility of ammonia gas and the active response of Ag NCs to pH change caused by the introduction of ammonia. High pH can make the Ag NCs agglomerate and lead to the obvious decrease of fluorescence intensity and absorbance of Ag NCs solution. Moreover, the presented method exhibits a remarkably high selectivity toward dissolved ammonia over most of inorganic ions and amino acid, and shows a good linear range of 10-350μM (0.14-4.9mgNL -1 ) with a low detection limit of 336nM (4.70μgNL -1 ) at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3. In addition, the practical applications of the sensor have been successfully demonstrated by detecting dissolved ammonia in real samples. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

One-pot ultrasonic-assisted method for preparation of Ag/AgCl sensitized ZnO nanostructures as visible-light-driven photocatalysts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Naghizadeh-Alamdari, Sara; Habibi-Yangjeh, Aziz; Pirhashemi, Mahsa

2015-02-01

Ultrasonic-assisted method was applied for preparation of Ag/AgCl sensitized ZnO nanostructures by one-pot procedure in water without using any post preparation treatments. The resultant nanocomposites were characterized by XRD, EDX, SEM, DRS, XPS, BET, and PL techniques. In the nanocomposites, ZnO and AgCl have wurtzite hexagonal and cubic crystalline phases, respectively and their surface morphologies remarkably change with increasing mole fraction of silver chloride. The EDX and XPS techniques show that the prepared samples are extremely pure. Ability of the nanocomposites for absorption of visible-light irradiation enhanced with increasing AgCl content. Photocatalytic examination of the nanocomposites was carried out using aqueous solution of methylene blue under visible-light irradiation. The degradation rate constant on the nancomposite rapidly increases with mole fraction of silver chloride up to 0.237. Enhancing activity of the nanocomposite was attributed to its ability for absorbing visible light and separation of electron-hole pairs. Furthermore, influence of ultrasonic irradiation time, calcination temperature, catalyst weight, pH of solution, and scavengers of reactive species on the degradation activity was investigated and the results were discussed. Finally, the photocatalyst has good activity after five successive cycles.

Controlled growth of standing Ag nanorod arrays on bare Si substrate using glancing angle deposition for self-cleaning applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singh, Dhruv P.; Singh, J. P.

2014-03-01

A facile approach to manipulate the hydrophobicity of surface by controlled growth of standing Ag nanorod arrays is presented. Instead of following the complicated conventional method of the template-assisted growth, the morphology or particularly average diameter and number density (nanorods cm-2) of nanorods were controlled on bare Si substrate by simply varying the deposition rate during glancing angle deposition. The contact angle measurements showed that the evolution of Ag nanorods reduces the surface energy and makes an increment in the apparent water contact angle compared to the plain Ag thin film. The contact angle was found to increase for the Ag nanorod samples grown at lower deposition rates. Interestingly, the morphology of the nanorod arrays grown at very low deposition rate (1.2 Å sec-1) results in a self-cleaning superhydrophobic surface of contact angle about 157° and a small roll-off angle about 5°. The observed improvement in hydrophobicity with change in the morphology of nanorod arrays is explained as the effect of reduction in solid fraction within the framework of Cassie-Baxter model. These self-cleaning Ag nanorod arrays could have a significant impact in wide range of applications such as anti-icing coatings, sensors and solar panels.

Impact of aerobic exercise on haemostatic indices in paediatric patients with haemophilia.

PubMed

Kumar, Riten; Bouskill, Vanessa; Schneiderman, Jane E; Pluthero, Fred G; Kahr, Walter H A; Craik, Allison; Clark, Dewi; Whitney, Karen; Zhang, Christine; Rand, Margaret L; Carcao, Manuel

2016-06-02

This study investigated the impact of aerobic exercise on laboratory assessments of haemostatic activity in boys (5-18 years of age) with haemophilia A (HA) or B (HB), examining the hypothesis that laboratory coagulation parameters temporarily improve with exercise. Thirty subjects meeting eligibility criteria (19 HA; 11 HB; mean age: 12.8 years) were invited to participate. They underwent a replacement factor washout period and were advised against strenuous activity for three days prior to the planned intervention. At study visit, baseline blood samples were drawn prior to exercise on a stationary cycle ergometer, aiming to attain 3 minutes (min) of cycling at 85 % of predicted maximum heart rate. Blood work was repeated 5 min (t5) and 60 min (t60) post exercise completion. Samples were assessed for platelet count (PC), factor VIII activity ( C), von Willebrand antigen (VWF:Ag), ristocetin cofactor activity (VWF:RCo) and platelet function analysis (PFA-100); maximum rate of thrombus generation (MRTG) in blood was measured via thromboelastography and plasma peak thrombin generation (PTG) via calibrated automated thrombography. Mean duration of exercise was 13.9 (± 2.6) min. On average, t5 samples showed significant elevation, relative to baseline in PC, FVIII:C, VWF:Ag, VWF:RCo and PTG, while C, VWF:Ag, VWF:RCo and MRTG were significantly elevated in t60 samples. Within the cohort, participants with severe HA showed no change in C levels with exercise. The greatest improvement in haemostatic indices was observed in post-adolescent males with mild-moderate HA, who thus represent the group most likely to benefit from a reduction of bleeding risk in the setting of exercise.

Association of The Common CYP1A1*2C Variant (Ile462Val Polymorphism) with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) in Patients Undergoing Imatinib Therapy

PubMed Central

Lakkireddy, Samyuktha; Aula, Sangeetha; AVN, Swamy; Kapley, Atya; Rao Digumarti, Raghunadha; Jamil, Kaiser

2015-01-01

Objective Cytochrome P450 is one of the major drug metabolizing enzyme families and its role in metabolism of cancer drugs cannot be less emphasized. The association be- tween single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in CYP1A1 and pathogenesis of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) has been investigated in several studies, but the results observed vary based on varied risk factors. The objective of this study was to investigate the risk factors associated with the CYP1A1*2C [rs1048943: A>G] polymorphism in CML patients and its role in therapeutic response to imatinib mesylate (IM) affecting clinico-pathological parameters, in the Indian population. Materials and Methods In this case-control study, CYP1A1*2C was analysed in CML patients. After obtaining approval from the Ethics Committee of oncology hospital, we collected blood samples from 132 CML patients and 140 matched controls. Genom- ic DNA was extracted and all the samples were analysed for the presence of the CYP1A1*2C polymorphism using allele-specific polymerase chain reaction, and we examined the relationship of genotypes with risk factors such as gender, age, phase of the disease and other clinical parameters. Results We observed a significant difference in the frequency distribution of CYP1A1*2C genotypes AA (38 vs. 16%, P=0.0001), AG (57 vs. 78%, P=0.0002) and GG (5 vs. 6%, P=0.6635) between patients and controls. In terms of response to IM therapy, significant variation was observed in the frequencies of AA vs AG in major (33 vs 67%) and poor (62 vs 31%) hematological responders, and AA vs AG in major (34 vs. 65%) and poor (78 vs. 22%) cytogenetic responders. However, the patients with the GG homozygous genotype did not show any significant therapeutic outcome. Conclusion The higher frequency of AG in controls indicates that AG may play a protec- tive role against developing CML. We also found that patients with the AG genotype showed favorable treatment response towards imatinib therapy, indicating that this polymorphism could serve as a good therapeutic marker in predicting response to such therapy. PMID:26464823

Association of The Common CYP1A1*2C Variant (Ile462Val Polymorphism) with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) in Patients Undergoing Imatinib Therapy.

PubMed

Lakkireddy, Samyuktha; Aula, Sangeetha; Avn, Swamy; Kapley, Atya; Rao Digumarti, Raghunadha; Jamil, Kaiser

2015-01-01

Cytochrome P450 is one of the major drug metabolizing enzyme families and its role in metabolism of cancer drugs cannot be less emphasized. The association be- tween single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in CYP1A1 and pathogenesis of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) has been investigated in several studies, but the results observed vary based on varied risk factors. The objective of this study was to investigate the risk factors associated with the CYP1A1*2C [rs1048943: A>G] polymorphism in CML patients and its role in therapeutic response to imatinib mesylate (IM) affecting clinico-pathological parameters, in the Indian population. In this case-control study, CYP1A1*2C was analysed in CML patients. After obtaining approval from the Ethics Committee of oncology hospital, we collected blood samples from 132 CML patients and 140 matched controls. Genom- ic DNA was extracted and all the samples were analysed for the presence of the CYP1A1*2C polymorphism using allele-specific polymerase chain reaction, and we examined the relationship of genotypes with risk factors such as gender, age, phase of the disease and other clinical parameters. We observed a significant difference in the frequency distribution of CYP1A1*2C genotypes AA (38 vs. 16%, P=0.0001), AG (57 vs. 78%, P=0.0002) and GG (5 vs. 6%, P=0.6635) between patients and controls. In terms of response to IM therapy, significant variation was observed in the frequencies of AA vs AG in major (33 vs 67%) and poor (62 vs 31%) hematological responders, and AA vs AG in major (34 vs. 65%) and poor (78 vs. 22%) cytogenetic responders. However, the patients with the GG homozygous genotype did not show any significant therapeutic outcome. The higher frequency of AG in controls indicates that AG may play a protec- tive role against developing CML. We also found that patients with the AG genotype showed favorable treatment response towards imatinib therapy, indicating that this polymorphism could serve as a good therapeutic marker in predicting response to such therapy.

Transport Properties Of PbI2 Doped Silver Oxysalt Based Amorphous Solid Electrolytes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shrisanjaykumar Jayswal, Manishkumar

Solid electrolytes are a class of materials that conduct electricity by means of motion of ions like Ag+, Na+, Li +, Cu+, H+, F-, O -2 etc. in solid phase. The host materials include crystalline, polycrystalline, glasses, polymers and composites. Ion conducting glasses are one of the most sought after solid electrolytes that are useful in various electrochemical applications like solid state batteries, gas sensors, supercapacitors, electrochromic devices, to name a few. Since the discovery of fast silver ion transport in silver oxyhalide glasses at the end of the 1960s, many glasses showing large ionic conductivity up to 10-4 10-2 S/cm at room temperature have been developed, chiefly silver and copper ion conductors. The silver ion conducting glasses owe their high ionic conductivity mainly to stabilized alpha-AgI. AgI, as we know, undergoes a structural phase transition from wurtzite (beta phase) at room temperature to body centered cubic (alpha phase) structure at temperatures higher than 146 °C. The alpha-AgI possesses approximately six order of higher ionic conductivity than beta-AgI. The high ionic conductivity of alpha-AgI is attributed to its molten sublattice type of structure, which facilitates easy Ag+ ion migration, like a liquid. And hence, several attempts have been made to stabilize it at room temperature in crystalline as well as non-crystalline hosts like oxide and non-oxide glasses. Recently, in order to stabilize AgI in glasses, instead of directly doping it, indirect routes have also been explored. Where, a metal iodide salt along with silver oxide or silver phosphate is taken and an exchange reaction permitted by Hard and Soft, Acid and Base (HSAB) principle occurs between the two and AgI and metal oxide form in the glass forming melt. Work done in the present thesis has been organized in seven chapters as follows: Chapter 1: A review and background information of different solid electrolyte materials and their development is presented. Along with that a detailed review on fast ion conducting glasses is included. At the end of the chapter, the aim of the present work has been given. Chapter 2: A discussion about various theoretical models to explain fast ion conduction mechanism in superionic conductors in general and superionic conducting glasses in particular is given. In addition to that, impedance spectroscopy and its various formalisms are discussed. Chapter 3: This chapter describes the method of preparation of the glass samples and various characterizations and techniques to study their various properties. Chapter 4: Physical properties of the prepared glass samples are studied and discussed in this chapter. The glass samples are found to be fully amorphous as exhibited by x-ray diffraction studies. The density of the prepared samples is increasing consistently with increasing PbI 2 content in the glass. For glass series (a), the molar volume also increases with PbI2 content. However, for glass series (b) and (c), molar volume is reducing with increasing PbI2 content, showing that glass is getting compacted with increasing PbI2 content. Chapter 5: Transport properties of the prepared glass samples have been investigated using impedance spectroscopy and its various formalisms. The chapter discusses DC conductivity, AC conductivity, dielectric permittivity and modulus analysis of the obtained impedance spectra. The sigma' spectra were scaled using Summerfield scaling law using sigmaDCT as the scaling factor for frequency axis and a well defined Time-Temperature Superposition (TTS) is observed as a function of temperature. The dielectric spectra show the presence of a dielectric relaxation in all glass samples. The dielectric permittivity, epsilon', spectra were scaled using the scaling law given by Sidebottom. The modulus spectra exhibit non-Debye relaxation of Ag+ ions and could be explained using KWW (Kohlrausch-Williams-Watts) decay function. Scaling analysis of the modulus spectra as a function of temperature suggest of invariance of ion relaxation process with changing temperatures. Chapter 6: Solid state battery studies: This chapter discusses about "solid state batteries" prepared by using the best conducting glass composition, from each glass Battery discharge characteristics, polarization measurements and other battery parameters like battery capacity, power density, energy, specific power etc. have been evaluated and summarized. Chapter 7: A summary of the work done and future prospects are discussed. (Abstract shortened by ProQuest.).

Sudden adult death syndrome in m.3243A>G-related mitochondrial disease: an unrecognized clinical entity in young, asymptomatic adults.

PubMed

Ng, Yi Shiau; Grady, John P; Lax, Nichola Z; Bourke, John P; Alston, Charlotte L; Hardy, Steven A; Falkous, Gavin; Schaefer, Andrew G; Radunovic, Aleksandar; Mohiddin, Saidi A; Ralph, Matilda; Alhakim, Ali; Taylor, Robert W; McFarland, Robert; Turnbull, Douglass M; Gorman, Gráinne S

2016-08-21

To provide insight into the mechanism of sudden adult death syndrome (SADS) and to give new clinical guidelines for the cardiac management of patients with the most common mitochondrial DNA mutation, m.3243A>G. These studies were initiated after two young, asymptomatic adults harbouring the m.3243A>G mutation died suddenly and unexpectedly. The m.3243A>G mutation is present in ∼1 in 400 of the population, although the recognized incidence of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) disease is ∼1 in 5000. Pathological studies including histochemistry and molecular genetic analyses performed on various post-mortem samples including cardiac tissues (atrium and ventricles) showed marked respiratory chain deficiency and high levels of the m.3243A>G mutation. Systematic review of cause of death in our m.3243A>G patient cohort showed the person-time incidence rate of sudden adult death is 2.4 per 1000 person-years. A further six cases of sudden death among extended family members have been identified from interrogation of family pedigrees. Our findings suggest that SADS is an important cause of death in patients with m.3243A>G and likely to be due to widespread respiratory chain deficiency in cardiac muscle. The involvement of asymptomatic relatives highlights the importance of family tracing in patients with m.3243A>G and the need for specific cardiac arrhythmia surveillance in the management of this common genetic disease. In addition, these findings have prompted the derivation of cardiac guidelines specific to patients with m.3243A>G-related mitochondrial disease. Finally, due to the prevalence of this mtDNA point mutation, we recommend inclusion of testing for m.3243A>G mutations in the genetic autopsy of all unexplained cases of SADS. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology.

Effect of second introduced phase on magnetic and magnetotransport properties of (1-x)La0.7Sr0.3Mn0.9Co0.1O3/x% Ag (x=0%, 2%, 4%) nanocomposites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shah, Hiral D.; Bhalodia, J. A.

2018-05-01

The structural, magnetic and magnetotransport properties of (1-x)La0.7Sr0.3Mn0.9Co0.1O3(LSMCO)/x% Ag (x=0%, 2%, 4%) nanocomposites were investigated to explore the role of second introduced phase. (1-x) LSMCO/x% Ag (x=0%, 2%, 4%) nanocomposites are prepared via solid-state reaction method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and SEM analysis indicated that x% of Ag are not substituted into the main LSMCO phase and remains an additive to the second phase at grain boundaries [1]. The structural parameters and the reliability factors for all the samples were successfully determined by the Rietveld refinement. Magnetization and transport properties of (1-x)LSMCO/x% Ag nanocomposites have been reported. Resistivity of the composite samples increases with Ag content in comparison with the pure LSMCO, and suppressed with applied magnetic field in all the composite samples [2]. The metal-insulator transition (TMI) and accompanied paramagnetic-ferromagnetic transition (TC) temperatures decrease with increase in Ag content. The electrical resistivity of the experimental results is explored by theoretical model below TMI. The maximum MR was observed to be 55% in the x=4% sample at 5 K temperature under 7 T magnetic field, this value is larger than that of pure LSMCO (19% at 5 K and 7 T), which is encouraging for practical application. Summarily, the addition of Ag in LSMCO improves MR% values significantly due to the more grain boundary contribution and result in better physical properties of the parent manganite system.

Study of conduction behavior in Pr0.67Sr0.03Ag0.30MnO3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bhat, Masroor Ahmad; Modi, Anchit; Pandey, Devendra K.; Gaur, N. K.

2018-05-01

In this paper, we report the conduction mechanism in Pr0.67Sr0.03Ag0.30MnO3 system synthesized via conventional solid state reaction route. The structural information was carried by X - Ray diffraction using Rietveld refinement which confirms the secondary phase of the sample. The SEM image shows the formation of double phase composite because of limited reaction of silver with parent compound. The resistivity behavior indicates the semiconducting behavior. The electronic nature can be estimated by means of variable range hopping (VRH) and small polaron hopping (SPH) model showing that the enhancement of double exchange interaction suppress the band gap and boost the carrier delocalization of charge carriers.

A Lower Olfactory Capacity Is Related to Higher Circulating Concentrations of Endocannabinoid 2-Arachidonoylglycerol and Higher Body Mass Index in Women.

PubMed

Pastor, Antoni; Fernández-Aranda, Fernando; Fitó, Montserrat; Jiménez-Murcia, Susana; Botella, Cristina; Fernández-Real, Jose M; Frühbeck, Gema; Tinahones, Francisco J; Fagundo, Ana B; Rodriguez, Joan; Agüera, Zaida; Langohr, Klaus; Casanueva, Felipe F; de la Torre, Rafael

2016-01-01

The endocannabinoid (eCB) system can promote food intake by increasing odor detection in mice. The eCB system is over-active in human obesity. Our aim is to measure circulating eCB concentrations and olfactory capacity in a human sample that includes people with obesity and explore the possible interaction between olfaction, obesity and the eCB system. The study sample was made up of 161 females with five groups of body mass index sub-categories ranging from under-weight to morbidly obese. We assessed olfactory capacity with the "Sniffin´Sticks" test, which measures olfactory threshold-discrimination-identification (TDI) capacity. We measured plasma concentrations of the eCBs 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) and N-arachidonoylethanolamine or anandamide (AEA), and several eCB-related compounds, 2-acylglycerols and N-acylethanolamines. 2-AG and other 2-acylglycerols fasting plasma circulating plasma concentrations were higher in obese and morbidly obese subjects. AEA and other N-acylethanolamine circulating concentrations were lower in under-weight subjects. Olfactory TDI scores were lower in obese and morbidly obese subjects. Lower TDI scores were independently associated with higher 2-AG fasting plasma circulating concentrations, higher %body fat, and higher body mass index, after controlling for age, smoking, menstruation, and use of contraceptives. Our results show that obese subjects have a lower olfactory capacity than non-obese ones and that elevated fasting plasma circulating 2-AG concentrations in obesity are linked to a lower olfactory capacity. In agreement with previous studies we show that eCBs AEA and 2-AG, and their respective congeners have a distinct profile in relation to body mass index. The present report is the first study in humans in which olfactory capacity and circulating eCB concentrations have been measured in the same subjects.

Performance of hepatitis B assays on the Bayer ADVIA Centaur Immunoassay System.

PubMed

van Helden, Josef; Denoyel, Gérard; Karwowska, Sylwia; Reamer, Randy; Schmalz, John; Wright, Ted; Preisel-Simmons, Barbara

2004-01-01

Bayer HealthCare LLC, Diagnostics Division, has developed several new assays on the ADVIA Centaur immunoassay system for the detection of markers of hepatitis B virus infection in human serum and plasma. This panel includes assays for: hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), a confirmatory test method for HBsAg, antibodies to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs), IgM and IgG antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc Total) and IgM antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc IgM). These assays employ magnetic particle separation technology with direct chemiluminescence for optimal assay performance. All of the assays are fully automated, require sample volumes ranging from 15 microl to 100 microl (with the exception of the ADVIA Centaur HBsAg Confirmatory Assay, which requires 2 x 100 microl), and have throughputs of up to 240 tests per hour. The five ADVIA Centaur HBV assays were tested in extensive performance evaluations conducted at two sites in Europe. The performance evaluations, which included samples from HBV-infected individuals, blood donors, hospitalized/clinical patients, and HBV vaccinees (for Anti-HBs evaluation), generated performance data in support of obtaining the Communautés Européennes (CE) mark for European market distribution. The HBV performance evaluations resulted in an overall diagnostic specificity > 99%, i.e. 99.94% for the ADVIA Centaur HBsAg Assay, 100% for the ADVIA Centaur Anti-HBs Assay, 100% for the ADVIA Centaur HBc IgM Assay and 99.94% for the ADVIA Centaur HBc Total Assay. All of the ADVIA Centaur assays showed a very good diagnostic sensitivity on these populations with 100% for the ADVIA Centaur HBsAg Assay, 99.0% for the ADVIA Centaur Anti-HBs Assay, 98.53% for the ADVIA Centaur HBc IgM Assay and 100% for the ADVIA Centaur HBc Total Assay. The ADVIA Centaur HBsAg Confirmatory Test confirmed 100% of the positive HBsAg samples. Testing of interfering substances and potential cross-reacting samples for all ADVIA Centaur HBV assays resulted in no change in interpretation of the results. Assay performance was further evaluated using HBV seroconversion panels with comparable or better results when compared to the comparison assays. The performance evaluation data demonstrate that the ADVIA Centaur HBV assays are specific and sensitive automated immunoassays for detection of antigens and antibodies to hepatitis B virus with performance that is comparable to those of currently marketed assays. Additionally, these assays have the advantage of being available on the ADVIA Centaur immunoassay system, which provides for the flexibility of high throughput and full automation.

[NIR-SERS Spectra Detection of Cytidine on Nano-Silver Films].

PubMed

Zhang, De-qing; Liu, Ren-ming; Zhang, Guo-qiang; Zhang, Yan; Xiong, Yang; Zhang, Chuan-yun; Li, Lun; Si, Min-zhen

2016-03-01

The polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) protected silver glass-like nanostructure (PVA-Ag-GNS) with high surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) activity was prepared and employed to detect the near-infrared surface enhanced Raman scattering (NIR-SERS) spectra of cytidine aqueous solution (10(-2)-10(-8) mol x L(-1)). In the work, the near-infrared laser beam (785 nm) was used as the excitation light source. The experiment results show that high-quality NIR-SERS spectra were obtained in the ranges of 300 to 2 000 cm(-1) and the detection limit of cytidine aqueous solution was down to 10(-7) mol x L(-1). Meanwhile, the PVA-Ag-GNS shows a high enhancement factor (EF) of -10(8). In order to test the optical reproducibility of PVA-Ag-GNS, ten samples of cytidine aqueous solution (10(-2)-10(-5) mol x L(-1)) had been dropped onto the surface of PVA-Ag-GNS respectively. Meanwhile, these samples were measured by the portable Raman spectrometer. As a result, the PVA-Ag-GNS demonstrated good optical reproducibility in the detection of cytidine aqueous solution. In addition, to explain the reason of enhancement effect, the ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) extinction spectrum and scanning electron microscope (SEM) of cytidine molecules adsorbed on the surface of PVA-Ag-GNS were measured. There is plasmon resonance band at 800 nm in the UV-Vis extinction Spectrum of the compound system. Therefore, when the near-infrared laser beam (785 nm) was used as excitation light source, the compound system may produce strongly surface plasmon resonance (SPR). According to the SEM of PVA-Ag-GNS, there are much interstitial between the silver nanoparticles. So NIR-SERS is mainly attributed to electromagnetic (EM) fields associated with strong surface plasmon resonance. At last, the geometry optimization and pre-Raman spectrum of cytidine for the ground states were performed with DFT, B3LYP functional and the 6-311G basis set, and the near-infrared laser with wavelength of 785 nm was employed in the pre-Raman spectrum calculation process. The calculation results without imaginary frequency and the results match pretty well with the experimental Raman spectrum. At the same time, the assignations of Raman bands and adsorption behaviors of cytidine molecules on the surface of PVA-Ag-GNS are also discussed. According to our experiment and calculations, cytidine molecules mainly adsorbed on silver nanoparticles via the ribose moiety and amino group may get close to the local electromagnetic field.

M3FT-17OR0301070211 - Preparation of Hot Isostatically Pressed AgZ Waste Form Samples

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jubin, Robert Thomas; Bruffey, Stephanie H.; Jordan, Jacob A.

The production of radioactive iodine-bearing waste forms that exhibit long-term stability and are suitable for permanent geologic disposal has been the subject of substantial research interest. One potential method of iodine waste form production is hot isostatic pressing (HIP). Recent studies at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have investigated the conversion of iodine-loaded silver mordenite (I-AgZ) directly to a waste form by HIP. ORNL has performed HIP with a variety of sample compositions and pressing conditions. The base mineral has varied among AgZ (in pure and engineered forms), silver-exchanged faujasite, and silverexchanged zeolite A. Two iodine loading methods, occlusion andmore » chemisorption, have been explored. Additionally, the effects of variations in temperature and pressure of the process have been examined, with temperature ranges of 525°C–1,100°C and pressure ranges of 100–300 MPa. All of these samples remain available to collaborators upon request. The sample preparation detailed in this document is an extension of that work. In addition to previously prepared samples, this report documents the preparation of additional samples to support stability testing. These samples include chemisorbed I-AgZ and pure AgI. Following sample preparation, each sample was processed by HIP by American Isostatic Presses Inc. and returned to ORNL for storage. ORNL will store the samples until they are requested by collaborators for durability testing. The sample set reported here will support waste form durability testing across the national laboratories and will provide insight into the effects of varied iodine content on iodine retention by the produced waste form and on potential improvements in waste form durability provided by the zeolite matrix.« less

Ag@AgHPW as a plasmonic catalyst for visible-light photocatalytic degradation of environmentally harmful organic pollutants

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhou, Wenhui; Cao, Minhua, E-mail: caomh@bit.edu.cn; Li, Na

2013-06-01

Graphical abstract: Ag@Ag{sub x}H{sub 3−x}PW12O40 (Ag@AgHPW) nanoparticles (NPs), a new visible-light driven plasmonic photocatalyst, are prepared by a green photoreduction strategy without the addition of any surfactant, which show a high activity and stability for the degradation of methyl blue (MB) under visible light irradiation. - Highlights: • A new visible-light driven photocatalyst Ag@Ag{sub x}H{sub 3−x}PW{sub 12}O{sub 40} was designed. • The photocatalyst shows a high activity for the degradation of methyl blue. • The high activity can be ascribed to the synergy of photoexcited AgHPW and Ag. - Abstract: Ag@Ag{sub x}H{sub 3−x}PW{sub 12}O{sub 40} (Ag@AgHPW) nanoparticles (NPs), a newmore » visible-light driven plasmonic photocatalyst, are prepared by a green photoreduction strategy without the addition of any surfactant. They show strong absorption in the visible region because of the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of Ag NPs. This plasmonic photocatalyst shows a high activity and stability for the degradation of methyl blue (MB) under visible light irradiation, which could be attributed to the highly synergy of photoexcited Ag{sub x}H{sub 3−x}PW{sub 12}O{sub 40} (AgHPW) and plasmon-excited Ag NPs and the confinement effects at interfaces between polyoxometalates (POMs) and silver. POM anions have redox ability and high photocatalytic activity, whereas Ag NPs could effectively accelerate the separation of electrons and holes, both of which contribute to their high activity.« less

Japanese Reference Panel of Blood Specimens for Evaluation of Hepatitis C Virus RNA and Core Antigen Quantitative Assays

PubMed Central

Murayama, Asako; Sugiyama, Nao; Watashi, Koichi; Masaki, Takahiro; Suzuki, Ryosuke; Aizaki, Hideki; Mizuochi, Toshiaki; Wakita, Takaji

2012-01-01

An accurate and reliable quantitative assay for hepatitis C virus (HCV) is essential for measuring viral propagation and the efficacy of antiviral therapy. There is a growing need for domestic reference panels for evaluation of clinical assay kits because the performance of these kits may vary with region-specific genotypes or polymorphisms. In this study, we established a reference panel by selecting 80 donated blood specimens in Japan that tested positive for HCV. Using this panel, we quantified HCV viral loads using two HCV RNA kits and five core antigen (Ag) kits currently available in Japan. The data from the two HCV RNA assay kits showed excellent correlation. All RNA titers were distributed evenly across a range from 3 to 7 log IU/ml. Although the data from the five core Ag kits also correlated with RNA titers, the sensitivities of individual kits were not sufficient to quantify viral load in all samples. As calculated by the correlation with RNA titers, the theoretical lower limits of detection by these core Ag assays were higher than those for the detection of RNA. Moreover, in several samples in our panel, core Ag levels were underestimated compared to RNA titers. Sequence analysis in the HCV core region suggested that polymorphisms at amino acids 47 to 49 of the core Ag were responsible for this underestimation. The panel established in this study will be useful for estimating the quality of currently available and upcoming HCV assay kits; such quality control is essential for clinical usage of these kits. PMID:22495557

Using sub-micron silver-nanoparticle based films to counter biofilm formation by Gram-negative bacteria

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gillett, A. R.; Baxter, S. N.; Hodgson, S. D.; Smith, G. C.; Thomas, P. J.

2018-06-01

Composite films comprised of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) grown using a low-cost straightforward chemical bath based method have been deposited on glass microscope slides to investigate their potential as a sacrificial antibacterial coating. The as-deposited films have been characterised using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and optical profilometry. These suggested that the films were relatively uniform in coverage. Chemical composition of the AgNP films has been studied by using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The XPS analysis indicated that the Ag was in a metallic form able to sustain plasmon behaviour, and that low levels of residual nanoparticle precursors were present. Particle size was characterised using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) which showed an average particle size of 10.6 nm. The effectiveness of the films as an antibacterial coating was tested against Escherichia coli. The AgNP film was determined to be effective in the killing of E. coli cells over a 24 h period when compared to equivalent samples that contained no silver. Of particular note was that only minimal bacterial growth was detected over the first 12 h of testing, up to 78.6 times less than the control samples, suggesting the film is very efficient at slowing initial biofilm formation. The use of AgNP based films that have been synthesised using a novel low-cost, low-temperature and highly upscalable method is demonstrated as a promising solution for the deployment of silver as an effective sacrifical antimicrobial coating to counter the formation of potentially hazardous Gram negative biofilms.

Rapid screening of the antimicrobial efficacy of Ag zeolites.

PubMed

Tosheva, L; Belkhair, S; Gackowski, M; Malic, S; Al-Shanti, N; Verran, J

2017-09-01

A semi-quantitative screening method was used to compare the killing efficacy of Ag zeolites against bacteria and yeast as a function of the zeolite type, crystal size and concentration. The method, which substantially reduced labor, consumables and waste and provided an excellent preliminary screen, was further validated by quantitative plate count experiments. Two pairs of zeolite X and zeolite beta with different sizes (ca. 200nm and 2μm for zeolite X and ca. 250 and 500nm for zeolite beta) were tested against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Candida albicans (C. albicans) at concentrations in the range 0.05-0.5mgml -1 . Reduction of the zeolite crystal size resulted in a decrease in the killing efficacy against both microorganisms. The semi-quantitative tests allowed convenient optimization of the zeolite concentrations to achieve targeted killing times. Zeolite beta samples showed higher activity compared to zeolite X despite their lower Ag content, which was attributed to the higher concentration of silver released from zeolite beta samples. Cytotoxicity measurements using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) indicated that Ag zeolite X was more toxic than Ag zeolite beta. However, the trends for the dependence of cytotoxicity on zeolite crystal size at different zeolite concentrations were different for the two zeolites and no general conclusions about zeolite cytotoxicity could be drawn from these experiments. This result indicates a complex relationship, requiring the necessity for individual cytotoxicity measurements for all antimicrobial applications based on the use of zeolites. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The {alpha}-particle excited scintillation response of the liquid phase epitaxy grown LuAG:Ce thin films

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Prusa, P.; Cechak, T.; Mares, J. A.

2008-01-28

Liquid phase epitaxy grown Lu{sub 3}Al{sub 5}O{sub 12}:Ce (LuAG:Ce) 20 {mu}m thick films and plate cut from the bulk Czochralski-grown LuAG:Ce crystal were prepared for comparison of photoelectron yield (PhY) and PhY dependence on shaping time (0.5-10 {mu}s). {sup 241}Am ({alpha} particles) was used for excitation. At the 0.5 {mu}s shaping time, the best film shows comparable PhY with the bulk sample. PhY of bulk material increases noticeably more with shaping time than that of the films. Energy resolution of films is better. Influence of Pb{sup 2+} contamination in the films (from the flux) and antisite Lu{sub Al} defect inmore » bulk material is discussed.« less

The Morphology of Silver Layers on SU8 polymers prepared by Electroless Deposition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dutta, Aniruddha; Yuan, Biao; Heinrich, Helge; Grabill, Chris; Williams, Henry; Kuebler, Stephen; Bhattacharya, Aniket

2010-03-01

Silver was deposited onto the functionalized surface of polymeric SU-8 where gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs) act as nucleation sites using electroless metallization chemistry. Here we report on the evolution of the nanoscale morphology of deposited Ag studied by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). In TEM of sample cross sections correlations between the original gold and the silver nanoparticles were obtained while plan-view TEM results showed the distribution of nanoparticles on the surface. Scanning TEM with a high-angle annular dark field detector was used to obtain atomic number contrast. The morphology of the deposited Ag was controlled through the presence and absence of gum Arabic. The thickness and height fluctuations of the Ag layer were determined as a function of time and a statistical analysis of the growth process was conducted for the initial deposition periods.

Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Stabilized with Mussel-Inspired Protein and Colorimetric Sensing of Lead(II) and Copper(II) Ions

PubMed Central

Cheon, Ja Young; Park, Won Ho

2016-01-01

This articles reports a simple and green method for preparing uniform silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), for which self-polymerized 3,4-dihydroxy-l-phenylalanine (polyDOPA) is used as the reducing and stabilizing agent in aqueous media. The AgNPs functionalized by polyDOPA were analyzed by UV–Vis spectroscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Raman spectrophotometry, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. The results revealed that the polyDOPA-AgNPs with diameters of 25 nm were well dispersed due to the polyDOPA. It was noted that the polyDOPA-AgNPs showed selectivity for Pb2+ and Cu2+ detection with the detection limits for the two ions as low as 9.4 × 10−5 and 8.1 × 10−5 μM, respectively. Therefore, the polyDOPA-AgNPs can be applied to both Pb2+ and Cu2+ detection in real water samples. The proposed method will be useful for colorimetric detection of heavy metal ions in aqueous media. PMID:27916894

Evaluation of Die-Attach Bonding Using High-Frequency Ultrasonic Energy for High-Temperature Application

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Jong-Bum; Aw, Jie-Li; Rhee, Min-Woo

2014-09-01

Room-temperature die-attach bonding using ultrasonic energy was evaluated on Cu/In and Cu/Sn-3Ag metal stacks. The In and Sn-3Ag layers have much lower melting temperatures than the base material (Cu) and can be melted through the heat generated during ultrasonic bonding, forming intermetallic compounds (IMCs). Samples were bonded using different ultrasonic powers, bonding times, and forces and subsequently aged at 300°C for 500 h. After aging, die shear testing was performed and the fracture surfaces were inspected by scanning electron microscopy. Results showed that the shear strength of Cu/In joints reached an upper plateau after 100 h of thermal aging and remained stable with aging time, whereas that of the Cu/Sn-3Ag joints decreased with increasing aging time. η-Cu7In4 and (Cu,Au)11In9 IMCs were observed at the Cu/In joint, while Cu3Sn and (Ag,Cu)3Sn IMCs were found at the Cu/Sn-3Ag joint after reliability testing. As Cu-based IMCs have high melting temperatures, they are highly suitable for use in high-temperature electronics, but can be formed at room temperature using an ultrasonic approach.

A highly sensitive capillary electrophoresis immunoassay strategy based on dual-labeled gold nanoparticles enhancing chemiluminescence for the detection of prostate-specific antigen.

PubMed

Li, Shuting; Shi, Min; Zhao, Jingjin; Zhang, Liangliang; Huang, Yong; Zhao, Shulin

2017-07-01

An enzyme and antibody dual labeled gold nanoparticles enhancing chemiluminescence strategy was developed for highly sensitive CE immunoassay (IA) of prostate-specific antigen (PSA). In this work, gold nanoparticles were labeled with horseradish peroxidase and antiprostate specific antigen-antibody, and used as the marker (Ab * ). After PSA (antigen, Ag) was added into the system, a noncompetitive immune reaction was happen between Ab * and Ag to form an immune complex (Ag-Ab * ). Subsequently, the obtained Ag-Ab * and unreacted Ab * were separated by CE, and the chemiluminescence intensity of Ag-Ab * was used to estimate PSA concentration. The calibration curve showed a good linearity in the range of 0.25-10 ng/mL. Based on a S/N of 3, the detection limit for PAS was estimated to be 0.092 ng/mL. Proposed CE method was applied for PSA quantification in human serum samples from healthy volunteers and patients with prostate cancer. The obtained results demonstrated that the proposed CE method may serve as an alternative tool for clinical analysis of PSA. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Characterization of crystallographic properties of thin films using X-ray diffraction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zoo, Yeongseok

2007-12-01

Silver (Ag) has been recognized as one of promising candidates in Ultra-Large Scale Integrated (ULSI) applications in that it has the lowest bulk electrical resistivity of all pure metals and higher electromigration resistance than other interconnect materials. However, low thermal stability on Silicon Dioxide (Si02) at high temperatures (e.g., agglomeration) is considered a drawback for the Ag metallization scheme. Moreover, if a thin film is attached on a substrate, its properties may differ significantly from that of the bulk, since the properties of thin films can be significantly affected by the substrate. In this study, the Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (CTE) and texture evolution of Ag thin films on different substrates were characterized using various analytical techniques. The experimental results showed that the CTE of the Ag thin film was significantly affected by underlying substrate and the surface roughness of substrate. To investigate the alloying effect for Ag meatallization, small amounts of Copper (Cu) were added and characterized using theta-2theta X-ray Diffraction (XRD) scan and pole figure analysis. These XRD techniques are useful for investigating the primary texture of a metal film, (111) in this study, which (111) is the notation of a specific plane in the orthogonal coordinate system. They revealed that the (111) textures of Ag and Ag(Cu) thin films were enhanced with increasing temperature. Comparison of texture profiles between Ag and Ag(Cu) thin films showed that Cu additions enhanced (111) texture in Ag thin films. Accordingly, the texture enhancement in Ag thin films by Cu addition was discussed. Strained Silicon-On-Insulator (SSOI) is being considered as a potential substrate for Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (CMOS) technology since the induced strain results in a significant improvement in device performance. High resolution X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques were used to characterize the perpendicular and parallel strains in SSOI layers. XRD diffraction profiles generated from the crystalline SSOI layer provided a direct measurement of the layer's strain components. In addition, it has demonstrated that the rotational misalignment between the layer and the substrate can be incorporated within the biaxial strain equations for epitaxial layers. Based on these results, the strain behavior of the SSOI layer and the relation between strained Si and SiO2 layers are discussed for annealed samples.

Geochemistry of the Patricia Zn-Pb-Ag Deposit (paguanta, NE Chile)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chinchilla Benavides, D.; Merinero Palomares, R.; Piña García, R.; Ortega Menor, L.; Lunar Hernández, R.

2013-12-01

The Patricia Zn-Pb-Ag ore deposit is located within the Paguanta mining project, situated at the northern end of the Andean Oligocene Porphyry Copper Belt of Chile. The sulfide mineralization occurs as W-E oriented veins hosted in volcanic rocks, mainly andesite (pyroclastic, ash and lavas), of Upper Cretaceous to Middle Tertiary age. The ore mineralogy (obtained by EMPA analyses) comprises in order of abundance, pyrite, sphalerite (5.5 - 10.89 wt % Fe, 9.8-19 % molar FeS and 0.52 wt % Cd), galena, arsenopyrite, chalcopyrite and Ag-bearing sulfosalts. The veins show a zoned and banded internal structure with pyrite at the edges and sphalerite in the center. The Ag occurs mostly as Ag-Cu-Sb sulfosalts, in order of abundance: series freibergite - argentotennantite -polybasite and stephanite. Other minor Ag phases such as argentite, pyrargirite and diaphorite were also identified. These Ag phases are typically associated with the base-metal sulfides. Freibergite occurs filling voids within sphalerite, chalcopyrite and at the contact between sphalerite and galena. Polybasite, stephanite, pyrargirite and argentite are mostly in close association with freibergite. In the case of diaphorite, it commonly occurs filling voids between galena crystals or as inclusions within galena. Some minor Ag-bearing sulfosalts are also identified between pyrite crystals. The alteration minerals are dominated by chlorite, illite and kaolinite. The gangue minerals consist of quartz and carbonates identified by XRD as kutnahorite. We obtained linear correlation statistically significant only for Ag, As Au, Cd, Cu, Pb, Sb and Zn and therefore we generated an enhanced scatter plot matrix of these elements. Bulk rock analyses (ICP/MS and XRF) of drill cores show that Ag is strongly and positively correlated with Pb and As, moderately with Cd, Sb, Au and Zn and weakly with Cu, while Au is moderately and positively correlated with Ag, As, Cd, Sb and Zn and weakly with Cu and Pb. These results are consistent with bulk rock analyses of selected and mineralized samples were similar correlations have been obtained. Ag positive correlations indicate that the formation of Ag-bearing minerals is mainly associated with galena, arsenopyrite and sphalerite occurrence. Au positive correlations indicate that this element occurs in close relationship with Ag-bearing minerals, arsenopyrite and sphalerite. The weak correlation between Cu and Ag and Au indicate that the formation of chalcopyrite is not related with the main stages of Ag-Au mineralization. The main conclusion of this study is that geochemical analyses along drill cores that cut mineralization confirm that the occurrence of Ag and Au in the Paguanta deposit is associated with the formation of galena, arsenopyrite and sphalerite. This study also confirm previous conclusions suggesting that the Patricia Pb-Zn-Ag ore deposit probably represents an example of epithermal mineralization of intermediate sulfidation state, with periods of lower sulfidation state during sphalerite deposition.

Effects of Silver Nanoparticles on Multiple Drug-Resistant Strains of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa from Mastitis-Infected Goats: An Alternative Approach for Antimicrobial Therapy.

PubMed

Yuan, Yu-Guo; Peng, Qiu-Ling; Gurunathan, Sangiliyandi

2017-03-06

Recently, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been widely used in various applications as antimicrobial agents, anticancer, diagnostics, biomarkers, cell labels, and drug delivery systems for the treatment of various diseases. Microorganisms generally acquire resistance to antibiotics through the course of antibacterial therapy. Multi-drug resistance (MDR) has become a growing problem in the treatment of infectious diseases, and the widespread use of broad-spectrum antibiotics has resulted in the development of antibiotic resistance by numerous human and animal bacterial pathogens. As a result, an increasing number of microorganisms are resistant to multiple antibiotics causing continuing economic losses in dairy farming. Therefore, there is an urgent need for the development of alternative, cost-effective, and efficient antimicrobial agents that overcome antimicrobial resistance. Here, AgNPs synthesized using the bio-molecule quercetin were characterized using various analytical techniques. The synthesized AgNPs were highly spherical in shape and had an average size of 11 nm. We evaluated the efficacy of synthesized AgNPs against two MDR pathogenic bacteria, namely, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus , which were isolated from milk samples produced by mastitis-infected goats. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of AgNPs against P. aeruginosa and S. aureus were found to be 1 and 2 μg/mL, respectively. Our findings suggest that AgNPs exert antibacterial effects in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Results from the present study demonstrate that the antibacterial activity of AgNPs is due to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), and leakage of proteins and sugars in bacterial cells. Results of the present study showed that AgNP-treated bacteria had significantly lower lactate dehydrogenase activity (LDH) and lower adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels compared to the control. Furthermore, AgNP-treated bacteria showed downregulated expression of glutathione (GSH), upregulation of glutathione S-transferase (GST), and downregulation of both superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). These physiological and biochemical measurements were consistently observed in AgNP-treated bacteria, thereby suggesting that AgNPs can induce bacterial cell death. Thus, the above results represent conclusive findings on the mechanism of action of AgNPs against different types of bacteria. This study also demonstrates the promising use of nanoparticles as antibacterial agents for use in the biotechnology and biomedical industry. Furthermore, this study is the first to propose the mode of action of AgNPs against MDR pathogens isolated from goats infected with subclinical mastitis.

A new method for collection of nitrate from fresh water and the analysis of nitrogen and oxygen isotope ratios

USGS Publications Warehouse

Silva, S.R.; Kendall, C.; Wilkison, D.H.; Ziegler, A.C.; Chang, Cecily C.Y.; Avanzino, R.J.

2000-01-01

A new method for concentrating nitrate from fresh waters for ??15N and ??18O analysis has been developed and field-tested for four years. The benefits of the method are: (1) elimination of the need to transport large volumes of water to the laboratory for processing; (2) elimination of the need for hazardous preservatives; and (3) the ability to concentrate nitrate from fresh waters. Nitrate is collected by, passing the water-sample through pre-filled, disposable, anion exchanging resin columns in the field. The columns are subsequently transported to the laboratory where the nitrate is extracted, converted to AgNO3 and analyzed for its isotope composition. Nitrate is eluted from the anion exchange columns with 15 ml of 3 M HCl. The nitrate-bearing acid eluant is neutralized with Ag2O, filtered to remove the AgCl precipitate, then freeze-dried to obtain solid AgNO3, which is then combusted to N2 in sealed quartz tubes for ?? 15N analysis. For ?? 18O analysis, aliquots of the neutralized eluant are processed further to remove non-nitrate oxygen-bearing anions and dissolved organic matter. Barium chloride is added to precipitate sulfate and phosphate; the solution is then filtered, passed through a cation exchange column to remove excess Ba2+, re-neutralized with Ag2O, filtered, agitated with activated carbon to remove dissolved organic matter and freeze-dried. The resulting AgNO3 is combusted with graphite in a closed tube to produce CO2, which is cryogenically purified and analyzed for its oxygen isotope composition. The 1?? analytical precisions for ??15N and ??18O are ?? 0.05%o and ??0.5???, respectively, for solutions of KNO3 standard processed through the entire column procedure. High concentrations of anions in solution can interfere with nitrate adsorption on the anion exchange resins, which may result in isotope fractionation of nitrogen and oxygen (fractionation experiments were conducted for nitrogen only; however, fractionation for oxygen is expected). Chloride, sulfate, and potassium biphthalate, an organic acid proxy for dissolved organic material, added to KNO3 standard solutions caused no significant nitrogen fractionation for chloride concentrations below about 200 mg/l (5.6 meq/l) for 1000 ml samples, sulfate concentrations up to 2000 mg/1 (41.7 meq/l) in 100 ml samples, and Potassium biphthalate for concentrations up to 200 mg/l carbon in 100 ml samples. Samples archived on the columns for up to two years show minimal nitrogen isotope fractionation.

Evaluation of the accuracy of the EasyTest™ malaria Pf/Pan Ag, a rapid diagnostic test, in Uganda.

PubMed

Chong, Chom-Kyu; Cho, Pyo Yun; Na, Byoung-Kuk; Ahn, Seong Kyu; Kim, Jin Su; Lee, Jin-Soo; Lee, Sung-Keun; Han, Eun-Taek; Kim, Hak-Yong; Park, Yun-Kyu; Cha, Seok Ho; Kim, Tong-Soo

2014-10-01

In recent years, rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) have been widely used for malaria detection, primarily because of their simple operation, fast results, and straightforward interpretation. The Asan EasyTest™ Malaria Pf/Pan Ag is one of the most commonly used malaria RDTs in several countries, including Korea and India. In this study, we tested the diagnostic performance of this RDT in Uganda to evaluate its usefulness for field diagnosis of malaria in this country. Microscopic and PCR analyses, and the Asan EasyTest™ Malaria Pf/Pan Ag rapid diagnostic test, were performed on blood samples from 185 individuals with suspected malaria in several villages in Uganda. Compared to the microscopic analysis, the sensitivity of the RDT to detect malaria infection was 95.8% and 83.3% for Plasmodium falciparum and non-P. falciparum, respectively. Although the diagnostic sensitivity of the RDT decreased when parasitemia was ≤500 parasites/µl, it showed 96.8% sensitivity (98.4% for P. falciparum and 93.8% for non-P. falciparum) in blood samples with parasitemia ≥100 parasites/µl. The specificity of the RDT was 97.3% for P. falciparum and 97.3% for non-P. falciparum. These results collectively suggest that the accuracy of the Asan EasyTest™ Malaria Pf/Pan Ag makes it an effective point-of-care diagnostic tool for malaria in Uganda.

Evaluation of the Accuracy of the EasyTest™ Malaria Pf/Pan Ag, a Rapid Diagnostic Test, in Uganda

PubMed Central

Chong, Chom-Kyu; Cho, Pyo Yun; Na, Byoung-Kuk; Ahn, Seong Kyu; Kim, Jin Su; Lee, Jin-Soo; Lee, Sung-Keun; Han, Eun-Taek; Kim, Hak-Yong; Park, Yun-Kyu; Cha, Seok Ho

2014-01-01

In recent years, rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) have been widely used for malaria detection, primarily because of their simple operation, fast results, and straightforward interpretation. The Asan EasyTest™ Malaria Pf/Pan Ag is one of the most commonly used malaria RDTs in several countries, including Korea and India. In this study, we tested the diagnostic performance of this RDT in Uganda to evaluate its usefulness for field diagnosis of malaria in this country. Microscopic and PCR analyses, and the Asan EasyTest™ Malaria Pf/Pan Ag rapid diagnostic test, were performed on blood samples from 185 individuals with suspected malaria in several villages in Uganda. Compared to the microscopic analysis, the sensitivity of the RDT to detect malaria infection was 95.8% and 83.3% for Plasmodium falciparum and non-P. falciparum, respectively. Although the diagnostic sensitivity of the RDT decreased when parasitemia was ≤500 parasites/µl, it showed 96.8% sensitivity (98.4% for P. falciparum and 93.8% for non-P. falciparum) in blood samples with parasitemia ≥100 parasites/µl. The specificity of the RDT was 97.3% for P. falciparum and 97.3% for non-P. falciparum. These results collectively suggest that the accuracy of the Asan EasyTest™ Malaria Pf/Pan Ag makes it an effective point-of-care diagnostic tool for malaria in Uganda. PMID:25352698

Nano-photo active cellulosic fabric through in situ phytosynthesis of star-like Ag/ZnO nanocomposites: Investigation and optimization of attributes associated with photocatalytic activity.

PubMed

Aladpoosh, Razieh; Montazer, Majid

2016-05-05

In this study, nano-photo active cellulosic fabric was prepared through in situ phytosynthesis of star-like Ag/ZnO nanocomposites using the ashes of Seidlitzia rosmarinus plants so-called Keliab. This is provided alkali media as a vital condition for synthesis of nanocomposites, further increasing the reduce-ability of cellulosic chains by activation of hydroxyl groups. The intermolecular dehydrolysis of intermediates ions under thermal and alkaline conditions leads to formation of Ag/ZnO heterostructure. Various analytical techniques were employed to confirm Ag/ZnO nanocomposites on the cotton fabric. The surface morphology, crystal phase and chemical structure of the treated fabrics were characterized by field emission and scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM and SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Moreover, influence of precursors: silver nitrate, zinc acetate and Keliab solution on attributes associated with photocatalytic activities including self-cleaning, whiteness and wettability was investigated via central composite design (CCD). The treated cotton samples exhibited self-cleaning activities through methylene blue degradation under day-light exposure along with improved wettability and whiteness. The prepared sample in optimized conditions showed good antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli with enhanced fabric tensile strength. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Crystallization kinetics of Mg–Cu–Yb–Ca–Ag metallic glasses

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tsarkov, Andrey A., E-mail: tsarkov@misis.ru; WPI Advanced Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University, Katahira 2-1-1, Aoba-Ku, Sendai 980-8577; Zanaeva, Erzhena N.

The paper presents research into a Mg–Cu–Yb system based metallic glassy alloys. Metallic glasses were prepared using induction melting and further injection on a spinning copper wheel. The effect of alloying by Ag and Ca on the glass forming ability and the kinetics of crystallization of Mg–Cu–Yb system based alloys were studied. The differential scanning calorimeter and X-ray diffractometer were used to investigate the kinetics of crystallization and the phase composition of the samples. An indicator of glass forming ability, effective activation energy of crystallization, and enthalpy of mixing were calculated. An increase of the Ca and Ag content hasmore » a positive effect on the glass forming ability, the effective activation energy of crystallization, and the enthalpy of mixing. The highest indicators of the glass forming ability and the thermal stability were found for alloys that contain both alloying elements. The Ag addition suppresses precipitation of the Mg{sub 2}Cu phase during crystallization. A dual-phase glassy-nanocrystalline Mg structure was obtained in Mg{sub 65}Cu{sub 25}Yb{sub 10} and Mg{sub 59.5}Cu{sub 22.9}Yb{sub 11}Ag{sub 6.6} alloys after annealing. Bulk samples with a composite glassy-crystalline structure were obtained in Mg{sub 59.5}Cu{sub 22.9}Yb{sub 11}Ag{sub 6.6} and Mg{sub 64}Cu{sub 21}Yb{sub 9.5}Ag{sub 5.5} alloys. A thermodynamic database for the Mg–Cu–Yb–Ca–Ag system was created to compare the process of crystallization of alloys with polythermal sections of the Mg–Cu–Yb–Ca–Ag phase diagram. - Highlights: • New alloy compositions based on Mg–Cu–Yb system were developed and investigated. • Increasing content of Ag and Ca leads to improving GFA. • Bulk samples with a composite glassy-crystalline structure were obtained. • Thermodynamic database for Mg–Cu–Yb–Ca–Ag system was created.« less

Reversible emission evolution from Ag activated zeolite Na-A upon dehydration/hydration

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lin, Hui, E-mail: linh8112@163.com, E-mail: fujii@eedept.kobe-u.ac.jp; Imakita, Kenji; Fujii, Minoru, E-mail: linh8112@163.com, E-mail: fujii@eedept.kobe-u.ac.jp

2014-11-24

Reversible emission evolution of thermally treated Ag activated zeolite Na-A upon dehydration/hydration in vacuum/water vapor was observed. The phenomenon was observed even for the sample with low Ag{sup +}-Na{sup +} exchanging (8.3%), indicating that the emission from Ag activated zeolites may not come from Ag clusters while from the surrounding coordinated Ag{sup +} ions or Ag{sup 0} atoms. It was disclosed that the characteristic yellow-green emission at ∼560 ± 15 nm is strongly associated with the coordinating water molecules to the Ag{sup +} ions or Ag{sup 0} atoms, which is clear evidence for that the efficient emission from Ag activated zeolites may notmore » originate from the quantum confinement effect.« less

Nanostructured KTaTeO6 and Ag-doped KTaTeO6 Defect Pyrochlores: Promising Photocatalysts for Dye Degradation and Water Splitting

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Venkataswamy, Perala; Sudhakar Reddy, CH.; Gundeboina, Ravi; Sadanandam, Gullapelli; Veldurthi, Naveen Kumar; Vithal, M.

2018-03-01

In this study, the nanostructured parent KTaTeO6 (KTTO) and Ag-doped KTaTeO6 (ATTO) catalysts with defect pyrochlore structure were prepared by solid-state and ion-exchange methods, respectively. The synthesized materials were characterized by various techniques to determine their chemical composition, morphology and microstructural features. The XRD studies show that both KTTO and ATTO have cubic structure (space group Fd3m) with high crystallinity. The doping of Ag altered the BET surface area of parent KTTO. The nano nature of the samples was studied by TEM images. A considerable red-shift in the absorption edge is observed for ATTO compared to KTTO. Incorporation of Ag+ in the KTTO lattice is clearly identified from EDX, elemental mapping and XPS results. Degradation of methyl violet and solar water splitting reactions were used to access the photocatalytic activity of KTTO and ATTO. The results obtained suggest that compared to KTTO, the ATTO showed higher photocatalytic activity in both cases. The favourable properties such as high surface area, more surface hydroxyl groups, stronger light absorption in visible region and narrower band gap energy were supposed to be the reasons for the high activity observed in ATTO.

Extending the honey bee venome with the antimicrobial peptide apidaecin and a protein resembling wasp antigen 5.

PubMed

Van Vaerenbergh, M; Cardoen, D; Formesyn, E M; Brunain, M; Van Driessche, G; Blank, S; Spillner, E; Verleyen, P; Wenseleers, T; Schoofs, L; Devreese, B; de Graaf, D C

2013-04-01

Honey bee venom is a complex mixture of toxic proteins and peptides. In the present study we tried to extend our knowledge of the venom composition using two different approaches. First, worker venom was analysed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and this revealed the antimicrobial peptide apidaecin for the first time in such samples. Its expression in the venom gland was confirmed by reverse transcription PCR and by a peptidomic analysis of the venom apparatus tissue. Second, genome mining revealed a list of proteins with resemblance to known insect allergens or venom toxins, one of which showed homology to proteins of the antigen 5 (Ag5)/Sol i 3 cluster. It was demonstrated that the honey bee Ag5-like gene is expressed by venom gland tissue of winter bees but not of summer bees. Besides this seasonal variation, it shows an interesting spatial expression pattern with additional production in the hypopharyngeal glands, the brains and the midgut. Finally, our immunoblot study revealed that both synthetic apidaecin and the Ag5-like recombinant from bacteria evoke no humoral activity in beekeepers. Also, no IgG4-based cross-reactivity was detected between the honey bee Ag5-like protein and its yellow jacket paralogue Ves v 5. © 2013 Royal Entomological Society.

Synthesis, characterizations and anti-bacterial activities of pure and Ag doped CdO nanoparticles by chemical precipitation method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sivakumar, S.; Venkatesan, A.; Soundhirarajan, P.; Khatiwada, Chandra Prasad

2015-02-01

In the present study, synthesized pure and Ag (1%, 2%, and 3%) doped Cadmium Oxide (CdO) nanoparticles by chemical precipitation method. Then, the synthesized products were characterized by thermo gravimetric-differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, Ultra violet-Vis diffused reflectance spectroscopy (UV-Vis-DRS), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy dispersive X-rays (EDX) spectroscopy, and anti-bacterial activities, respectively. The transition temperatures and phase transitions of Cd(OH)2 to CdO at 400 °C was confirmed by TG-DTA analysis. The XRD patterns show the cubic shape and average particle sizes are 21, 40, 34, and 37 nm, respectively for pure and Ag doped samples. FT-IR study confirmed the presence of CdO and Ag at 677 and 459 cm-1, respectively. UV-Vis-DRS study shows the variation on direct and indirect band gaps. The surface morphologies and elemental analysis have been confirmed from SEM and with EDX. In addition, the synthesized products have been characterized by antibacterial activities against Gram-positive and negative bacteria. Further, the present investigation suggests that CdO nanoparticles have the great potential applications on various industrial and medical fields of research.

Synthesis of Ag-Cu-Pd alloy thin films by DC-magnetron sputtering: Case study on microstructures and optical properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rezaee, Sahar; Ghobadi, Nader

2018-06-01

The present study aims to investigate optical properties of Ag-Cu-Pd alloy thin films synthesized by DC-magnetron sputtering method. The thin films are deposited on the glass and silicon substrates using Argon gas and Ag-Cu-Pd target. XRD analysis confirms the successful growth of Ag, Cu, and Pd NPs with FCC crystalline structure. Moreover, UV-visible absorption spectroscopy is applied to determine optical properties of the prepared samples which are affected by changes in surface morphology. The existence of single surface plasmon resonance (SPR) peak near 350 nm proves the formation of silver nanoparticles with a slight red shift through increasing deposition time. Ineffective thickness method (ITM) and Derivation of ineffective thickness method (DITM) are applied to extract optical band gap and transition type via absorption spectrum. SEM and AFM analyses show the distribution of near-spherical nanoparticles covering the surface of thin films. Furthermore, thickness variation affects the grain size. In addition, TEM image reveals the uniform size distribution of nanoparticles with an average particle size of about 15 nm. The findings show that increasing grain size and crystallite order along with the decrease of structural defect and disorders decrease optical band gap from 3.86 eV to 2.58 eV.

Polymorphisms of the OXTR gene explain why sales professionals love to help customers

PubMed Central

Verbeke, Willem; Bagozzi, Richard P.; van den Berg, Wouter E.; Lemmens, Aurelie

2013-01-01

Polymorphisms of the OXTR gene affect people's social interaction styles in various social encounters: carriers of the OXTR GG, compared to the OXTR AA/AG in general, are more motivated to interact socially and detect social salience. We focus on sales professionals operating in knowledge intensive organizations. Study 1, with a sample of 141 sales people, shows that carriers of the OXTR GG allele, compared to the OXTR AA/AG allele, are more motivated to help customers than to manipulatively impose goods/services on them. Study 2, using genomic functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) on a sample of 21 sales professionals processing facial pictures with different emotional valences, investigates key nuclei of social brain regions (SBRs). Compared to OXTR AA/AG carriers, OXTR GG carriers experience greater effective connectivity between SBRs of interest measured by Granger causality tests using univariate Haugh tests. In addition, the multivariate El-Himdi and Roy tests demonstrate that the amygdala, prefrontal cortex, and pars opercularis (inferior frontal gyrus) play key roles when processing emotional expressions. The bilateral amygdala and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) show significantly greater clout—influence on other brain regions—for GG allele carriers than non-carriers; likewise, the bilateral pars opercularis, left amygdala, and left mPFC are more receptive to activity in other brain regions among GG allele carriers than AG/AA allele carriers are. Thus, carriers of the OXTR GG allele are more sensitive to changes in emotional cues, enhancing social salience. To our knowledge, this is the first study on how insights from imaging genetics help understanding of the social motivation of people operating in a professional setting. PMID:24348351

Polymorphisms of the OXTR gene explain why sales professionals love to help customers.

PubMed

Verbeke, Willem; Bagozzi, Richard P; van den Berg, Wouter E; Lemmens, Aurelie

2013-01-01

Polymorphisms of the OXTR gene affect people's social interaction styles in various social encounters: carriers of the OXTR GG, compared to the OXTR AA/AG in general, are more motivated to interact socially and detect social salience. We focus on sales professionals operating in knowledge intensive organizations. Study 1, with a sample of 141 sales people, shows that carriers of the OXTR GG allele, compared to the OXTR AA/AG allele, are more motivated to help customers than to manipulatively impose goods/services on them. Study 2, using genomic functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) on a sample of 21 sales professionals processing facial pictures with different emotional valences, investigates key nuclei of social brain regions (SBRs). Compared to OXTR AA/AG carriers, OXTR GG carriers experience greater effective connectivity between SBRs of interest measured by Granger causality tests using univariate Haugh tests. In addition, the multivariate El-Himdi and Roy tests demonstrate that the amygdala, prefrontal cortex, and pars opercularis (inferior frontal gyrus) play key roles when processing emotional expressions. The bilateral amygdala and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) show significantly greater clout-influence on other brain regions-for GG allele carriers than non-carriers; likewise, the bilateral pars opercularis, left amygdala, and left mPFC are more receptive to activity in other brain regions among GG allele carriers than AG/AA allele carriers are. Thus, carriers of the OXTR GG allele are more sensitive to changes in emotional cues, enhancing social salience. To our knowledge, this is the first study on how insights from imaging genetics help understanding of the social motivation of people operating in a professional setting.

Growth and optical properties of silver nanostructures obtained on connected anodic aluminum oxide templates.

PubMed

Giallongo, G; Durante, C; Pilot, R; Garoli, D; Bozio, R; Romanato, F; Gennaro, A; Rizzi, G A; Granozzi, G

2012-08-17

Ag nanostructures are grown by AC electrodeposition on anodic alumina oxide (AAO) connected membranes acting as templates. Depending on the thickness of the template and on the voltage applied during the growth process, different Ag nanostructures with different optical properties are obtained. When AAO membranes about 1 μm thick are used, the Ag nanostructures consist in Ag nanorods, at the bottom of the pores, and Ag nanotubes departing from the nanorods and filling the pores almost for the whole length. When AAO membranes about 3 μm thick are used, the nanostructures are Ag spheroids, at the bottom of the pores, and Ag nanowires that do not reach the upper part of the alumina pores. The samples are characterized by angle resolved x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and UV-vis and Raman spectroscopies. A simple NaOH etching procedure, followed by sonication in ethanol, allows one to obtain an exposed ordered array of Ag nanorods, suitable for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy, while in the other case (3 μm thick AAO membranes) the sample can be used in localized surface plasmon resonance sensing.

Growth and optical properties of silver nanostructures obtained on connected anodic aluminum oxide templates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Giallongo, G.; Durante, C.; Pilot, R.; Garoli, D.; Bozio, R.; Romanato, F.; Gennaro, A.; Rizzi, G. A.; Granozzi, G.

2012-08-01

Ag nanostructures are grown by AC electrodeposition on anodic alumina oxide (AAO) connected membranes acting as templates. Depending on the thickness of the template and on the voltage applied during the growth process, different Ag nanostructures with different optical properties are obtained. When AAO membranes about 1 μm thick are used, the Ag nanostructures consist in Ag nanorods, at the bottom of the pores, and Ag nanotubes departing from the nanorods and filling the pores almost for the whole length. When AAO membranes about 3 μm thick are used, the nanostructures are Ag spheroids, at the bottom of the pores, and Ag nanowires that do not reach the upper part of the alumina pores. The samples are characterized by angle resolved x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and UV-vis and Raman spectroscopies. A simple NaOH etching procedure, followed by sonication in ethanol, allows one to obtain an exposed ordered array of Ag nanorods, suitable for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy, while in the other case (3 μm thick AAO membranes) the sample can be used in localized surface plasmon resonance sensing.

Improving the visible light photocatalytic activity of mesoporous TiO2 via the synergetic effects of B doping and Ag loading

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tian, Baozhu; Shao, Zhimang; Ma, Yunfei; Zhang, Jinlong; Chen, Feng

2011-11-01

B-doped together with Ag-loaded mesoporous TiO2 (Ag/B-TiO2) was prepared by a two-step hydrothermal method in the presence of boric acid, triblock copolymer surfactant, and silver nitrate, followed by heat treatment. The obtained samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and nitrogen adsorption-desorption. It was revealed that all samples consist of highly crystalline anatase with mesoporous structure. For Ag/B-TiO2, B was doped into TiO2 matrix in the form of both interstitial B and substitutional B while Ag was deposited on the surface of B-TiO2 in the form of metallic silver. Compared with the single B-doped or Ag-loaded TiO2 one, mesoporous Ag/B-TiO2 exhibits much higher visible light photocatalytic activity for the degradation of Rhodamine 6G, which can be ascribed to the synergistic effects of B doping and Ag loading by narrowing the band gap of the photocatalyst and preventing the fast recombination of the photogenerated charge carriers, respectively.

Three-dimensional Ag2O/Bi5O7I p-n heterojunction photocatalyst harnessing UV-vis-NIR broad spectrum for photodegradation of organic pollutants.

PubMed

Chen, Yannan; Zhu, Gangqiang; Hojamberdiev, Mirabbos; Gao, Jianzhi; Zhu, Runliang; Wang, Chenghui; Wei, Xiumei; Liu, Peng

2018-02-15

Ag 2 O nanoparticles-loaded Bi 5 O 7 I microspheres forming a three dimensional Ag 2 O/Bi 5 O 7 I p-n heterojunction photocatalyst with wide-spectrum response were synthesized in this study. The results of transmission electron microscopy observations revealed that the Ag 2 O nanoparticles with the diameter of ca. 10-20nm were distributed on the surfaces of Bi 5 O 7 I nanosheets. The as-synthesized Ag 2 O/Bi 5 O 7 I exhibited an excellent wide-spectrum response to wavelengths ranging from ultraviolet (UV) to near-infrared (NIR), indicating its potential for effective utilization of solar energy. Compared with pure Bi 5 O 7 I, the Ag 2 O/Bi 5 O 7 I composite also demonstrated excellent photocatalytic activity for the degradation of Bisphenol A and phenol in aqueous solution under visible LED light irradiation. Among samples, the 20% Ag 2 O/Bi 5 O 7 I composite photocatalyst showed the highest photocatalytic activity for the degradation of Bisphenol A and phenol in aqueous solution. In addition, the 20% Ag 2 O/Bi 5 O 7 I composite also exhibited a photocatalytic activity for the degradation of Bisphenol A under NIR light irradiation. The improved photocatalytic activity is attributed to the formation of a p-n heterojunction between Ag 2 O and Bi 5 O 7 I, allowing the efficient utilization of solar energy (from UV to NIR) and high separation efficiency of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. The present work is desirable to explore a possible avenue for the full utilization of solar energy. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Facile synthesis of S-Ag nanocomposites and Ag2S short nanorods by the interaction of sulfur with AgNO3 in PEG400

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Yan-Li; Xie, Xin-Yuan; Liang, Ming; Xie, Shu-Ming; Chen, Jie-Mei; Zheng, Wen-Jie

2016-06-01

A facile, eco-friendly and inexpensive method to prepare Ag2S short nanorods and S-Ag nanocomposites using sublimed sulfur, AgNO3, PVP and PEG400 was studied. According to x-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy of the Ag2S, the products are highly crystalline and pure Ag2S nanorods with diameters of 70-160 nm and lengths of 200-360 nm. X-ray diffraction of the S-Ag nanocomposites shows that we obtained cubic Ag and S nanoparticles. Transmission electron microscopy shows that the molar ratio of PVP to Ag+ plays an important role in controlling the size and morphology of the S-Ag nanocomposites. When the molar ratio of PVP to Ag+ was 10:1, smaller sizes, better dispersibility and narrower distribution of S-Ag nanocomposites with diameters of 10-40 nm were obtained. The formation mechanism of the S-Ag nanocomposites was studied by designing a series of experiments using ultraviolet-visible measurement, and it was found that S nanoparticles are produced first and act as seed crystals; then Ag+ becomes Ag nanocrystals on the surfaces of the S nanoparticles by the reduction of PVP. PEG400 acts as a catalyzer, accelerating the reaction rate, and protects the S-Ag nanocomposites from reacting to produce Ag2S. The antimicrobial experiments show that the S-Ag nanocomposites have greater antimicrobial activity on Staphylococcus aureus, Aspergillus niger and blue mold than Ag nanoparticles.

Templated-synthesis of hierarchical Ag-AgBr hollow cubes with enhanced visible-light-responsive photocatalytic activity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kong, Chuncai; Ma, Bo; Liu, Ke; Pu, Fangzhao; Yang, Zhimao; Yang, Sen

2018-06-01

A facile Cu2O-templated approach is demonstrated for the synthesis of hierarchical Ag-AgBr hollow nanucubes. The structural and morphological characterizations show that the as-prepared hollow Ag-AgBr nanocubes consist of dense nanotips, which exhibited an excellent photocatalytic activity under visible light due to the strong surface plasmon resonance (SPR) of Ag nanosturctures and the synergistic effect between Ag and AgBr. The photodegradation ability was evaluated by the degradation of the methyl orange (MO) dye under visible-light irradiation, showing that more than 90% of the MO could be decomposed in 20 min.

Ag out-surface diffusion in crystalline SiC with an effective SiO 2 diffusion barrier

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Xue, H.; Xiao, H. Y.; Zhu, Z.

2015-05-07

For applications of tristructural isotropic (TRISO) fuel particles in high temperature reactors, release of radioactive Ag isotope ( 110mAg) through the SiC coating layer is a safety concern. In order to understand the diffusion mechanism, Ag ion implantations near the surface and in the bulk were performed by utilizing different ion energies and energy-degrader foils. High temperature annealing was carried out on the as-irradiated samples to study the possible out-surface diffusion. Before and after annealing, Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS) and secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) measurements were employed to obtain the elemental profiles of the implanted samples. Our results suggestmore » little migration of buried Ag in the bulk, and an out-diffusion of the implanted Ag in the near-surface region of single crystal SiC. It is also found that a SiO 2 layer, which was formed during annealing, may serve as an effective barrier to reduce or prevent Ag out diffusion through the SiC coating layer.« less

Ag Out-surface Diffusion In Crystalline SiC With An Effective SiO2 Diffusion Barrier

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Xue, H.; Xiao, Haiyan Y.; Zhu, Zihua

2015-09-01

For applications of tristructural isotropic (TRISO) fuel particles in high temperature reactors, release of radioactive Ag isotope (110mAg) through the SiC coating layer is a safety concern. To understand the diffusion mechanism, Ag ion implantations near the surface and in the bulk were performed by utilizing different ion energies and energy-degrader foils. High temperature annealing was carried out on the as-irradiated samples to study the possible out-surface diffusion. Before and after annealing, Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS) and secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) measurements were employed to obtain the elemental profiles of the implanted samples. The results suggest little migration ofmore » buried Ag in the bulk, and an out-diffusion of the implanted Ag in the near-surface region of single crystal SiC. It is also found that a SiO2 layer, which was formed during annealing, may serve as an effective barrier to reduce or prevent Ag out diffusion through the SiC coating layer.« less

Reductions in Circulating Endocannabinoid Levels in Individuals with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Following Exposure to the World Trade Center Attacks

PubMed Central

Hill, Matthew N.; Bierer, Linda M.; Makotkine, Iouri; Golier, Julia A.; Galea, Sandro; McEwen, Bruce S.; Hillard, Cecilia J.; Yehuda, Rachel

2013-01-01

Endocannabinoid (eCB) signaling has been identified as a modulator of adaptation to stress, and is integral to basal and stress-induced glucocorticoid regulation. Furthermore, interactions between eCBs and glucocorticoids have been shown to be necessary for the regulation of emotional memories, suggesting that eCB function may relate to the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). To examine this, plasma eCBs were measured in a sample (n=46) drawn from a population-based cohort selected for physical proximity to the World Trade Center (WTC) at the time of the 9/11 attacks. Participants received a structured diagnostic interview and were grouped according to whether they met diagnostic criteria for PTSD (no PTSD, n=22; lifetime diagnosis of PTSD = 24). eCB content (2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) and anandamide (AEA)) and cortisol were measured from 8 a.m. plasma samples. Circulating 2-AG content was significantly reduced among individuals meeting diagnostic criteria for PTSD. The effect of reduced 2-AG content in PTSD remained significant after controlling for the stress of exposure to the WTC collapse, gender, depression and alcohol abuse. There were no significant group differences for AEA or cortisol levels; however, across the whole sample AEA levels positively correlated with circulating cortisol, and AEA levels exhibited a negative relationship with the degree of intrusive symptoms within the PTSD sample. This report shows that PTSD is associated with a reduction in circulating levels of the eCB 2-AG. Given the role of 2-AG in the regulation of the stress response, these data support the hypothesis that deficient eCB signaling may be a component of the glucocorticoid dysregulation associated with PTSD. The negative association between AEA levels and intrusive symptoms is consistent with animal data indicating that reductions in AEA promote retention of aversive emotional memories. Future work will aim to replicate these findings and extend their relevance to clinical pathophysiology, as well as to neuroendocrine and molecular markers of PTSD. PMID:24035186

Silver contents and Cu/Ag ratios in Martian meteorites and the implications for planetary differentiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Zaicong; Becker, Harry

2017-11-01

Silver and Cu show very similar partitioning behavior in sulfide melt-silicate melt and metal-silicate systems at low and high pressure-temperature (P-T) experimental conditions, implying that mantle melting, fractional crystallization and core-mantle differentiation have at most modest (within a factor of 3) effects on Cu/Ag ratios. For this reason, it is likely that Cu/Ag ratios in mantle-derived magmatic products of planetary bodies reflect that of the mantle and, in some circumstances, also the bulk planet composition. To test this hypothesis, new Ag mass fractions and Cu/Ag ratios in different groups of Martian meteorites are presented and compared with data from chondrites and samples from the Earth's mantle. Silver contents in lherzolitic, olivine-phyric and basaltic shergottites and nakhlites range between 1.9 and 12.3 ng/g. The data display a negative trend with MgO content and correlate positively with Cu contents. In spite of displaying variable initial Ɛ143Nd values and representing a diverse spectrum of magmatic evolution and physiochemical conditions, shergottites and nakhlites display limited variations of Cu/Ag ratios (1080 ± 320, 1 s, n = 14). The relatively constant Cu/Ag suggests limited fractionation of Ag from Cu during the formation and evolution of the parent magmas, irrespectively of whether sulfide saturation was attained or not. The mean Cu/Ag ratio of Martian meteorites thus reflects that of the Martian mantle and constrains its Ag content to 1.9 ± 0.7 ng/g (1 s). Carbonaceous and enstatite chondrites display a limited range of Cu/Ag ratios of mostly 500-2400. Ordinary chondrites show a larger scatter of Cu/Ag up to 4500, which may have been caused by Ag redistribution during parent body metamorphism. The majority of chondrites have Cu/Ag ratios indistinguishable from the Martian mantle value, indicating that Martian core formation strongly depleted Cu and Ag contents, but probably did not significantly change the Cu/Ag ratio of the mantle compared to bulk Mars. Bulk Mars is richer in moderately volatile elements than Earth, however, the Martian mantle displays a much stronger depletion of the moderately volatile elements Cu and Ag, e.g., by a factor of 15 for Cu. This observation is consistent with experimental studies suggesting that core formation at low P-T conditions on Mars led to more siderophile behavior of Cu and Ag than at high P-T conditions as proposed for Earth. In contrast, Cu/Ag ratios of the mantles of Mars and Earth (Cu/AgEarth = 3500 ± 1000) display only a difference by a factor of 3, which implies restricted fractionation of Cu and Ag even at high P-T conditions. The concentration data support the notion that siderophile element partitioning during planetary core formation scales with the size of the planetary body, which is particularly important for the differentiation of large terrestrial planets such as Earth. Collectively, the Ag and Cu data on magmatic products from the mantles of Mars and Earth and the data on chondrites confirm experimental predictions and support the limited fractionation of Cu and Ag during planetary core formation and high-temperature magmatic evolution, and probably also in early solar nebular processes.

Negatively charged silver nanoparticles with potent antibacterial activity and reduced toxicity for pharmaceutical preparations.

PubMed

Salvioni, Lucia; Galbiati, Elisabetta; Collico, Veronica; Alessio, Giulia; Avvakumova, Svetlana; Corsi, Fabio; Tortora, Paolo; Prosperi, Davide; Colombo, Miriam

2017-01-01

The discovery of new solutions with antibacterial activity as efficient and safe alternatives to common preservatives (such as parabens) and to combat emerging infections and drug-resistant bacterial pathogens is highly expected in cosmetics and pharmaceutics. Colloidal silver nanoparticles (NPs) are attracting interest as novel effective antimicrobial agents for the prevention of several infectious diseases. Water-soluble, negatively charged silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized by reduction with citric and tannic acid and characterized by transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, zeta potential, differential centrifuge sedimentation, and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. AgNPs were tested with model Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria in comparison to two different kinds of commercially available AgNPs. In this work, AgNPs with higher antibacterial activity compared to the commercially available colloidal silver solutions were prepared and investigated. Bacteria were plated and the antibacterial activity was tested at the same concentration of silver ions in all samples. The AgNPs did not show any significant reduction in the antibacterial activity for an acceptable time period. In addition, AgNPs were transferred to organic phase and retained their antibacterial efficacy in both aqueous and nonaqueous media and exhibited no toxicity in eukaryotic cells. We developed AgNPs with a 20 nm diameter and negative zeta potential with powerful antibacterial activity and low toxicity compared to currently available colloidal silver, suitable for cosmetic preservatives and pharmaceutical preparations administrable to humans and/or animals as needed.

Evaluation of cell proliferation in malignant and potentially malignant oral lesions

PubMed Central

Madan, Mani; Chandra, Shaleen; Raj, Vineet; Madan, Rohit

2015-01-01

Aims: To evaluate the cell proliferation rate by the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and argyrophilic nucleolar organizing region (AgNOR) counts and to assess its usefulness as a marker for malignant potential in oral epithelial lesions. Materials and Methods: The study group included 30 cases of leukoplakia, 15 nondysplastic (NDL), 15 dysplastic (DL), 15 cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and 5 cases of normal oral mucosa. Formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissues were subjected to immunohistochemical staining for PCNA and AgNOR technique. The PCNA labeling index (LI) and the AgNOR dots were evaluated for the entire sample. Statistical Analysis Used: ANOVA, Tukey honestly significant difference, Pearson's correlation. Results: In this study, the AgNOR count of OSCC was lower than the DL lesions moreover the AgNOR counts were found to be higher in normal mucosa as compared to the DL and the NDL epithelium. The study results also showed that the mean AgNOR count failed to distinguish between DL and NDL lesions. Overall we observed increased PCNA expression from normal epithelium to NDL to DL lesion. Conclusions: Based on the findings of the present study on oral epithelial precancerous and cancerous lesions we conclude that mean AgNOR count alone cannot be a valuable parameter to distinguish between the normal, NDL, DL epithelium and OSCC but, on the other hand, we found out that PCNA can be a useful biomarker for delineating normal epithelium from DL epithelium and OSCC. PMID:26980956

Evaluation of cell proliferation in malignant and potentially malignant oral lesions.

PubMed

Madan, Mani; Chandra, Shaleen; Raj, Vineet; Madan, Rohit

2015-01-01

To evaluate the cell proliferation rate by the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and argyrophilic nucleolar organizing region (AgNOR) counts and to assess its usefulness as a marker for malignant potential in oral epithelial lesions. The study group included 30 cases of leukoplakia, 15 nondysplastic (NDL), 15 dysplastic (DL), 15 cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and 5 cases of normal oral mucosa. Formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissues were subjected to immunohistochemical staining for PCNA and AgNOR technique. The PCNA labeling index (LI) and the AgNOR dots were evaluated for the entire sample. ANOVA, Tukey honestly significant difference, Pearson's correlation. In this study, the AgNOR count of OSCC was lower than the DL lesions moreover the AgNOR counts were found to be higher in normal mucosa as compared to the DL and the NDL epithelium. The study results also showed that the mean AgNOR count failed to distinguish between DL and NDL lesions. Overall we observed increased PCNA expression from normal epithelium to NDL to DL lesion. Based on the findings of the present study on oral epithelial precancerous and cancerous lesions we conclude that mean AgNOR count alone cannot be a valuable parameter to distinguish between the normal, NDL, DL epithelium and OSCC but, on the other hand, we found out that PCNA can be a useful biomarker for delineating normal epithelium from DL epithelium and OSCC.

Effect of phase assemblage of precursor on the fabrication process and properties of Bi2223 tape sheathed with Ag-alloy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nakamura, Y.; Shioiri, T.; Kurihara, C.; Machida, T.; Inada, R.; Oota, A.

2008-09-01

The use of alloy sheath is effective to increase the strength of Ag-sheathed Bi2223 tapes. However, the Jc value of alloy sheathed tapes was not high enough since the undesired reaction to form impurity phases and the change in formation rate of Bi2223 were disturbed by the microstructure of the filaments . In this study, the effect of 2223 contents in precursor on the formation and property of Bi2223 tapes sheathed with Ag-Mg alloy was investigated. The conversion rate of Bi2223 from Bi2212 was increased by the addition of Bi2223 phase in precursor but the conversion rate in Ag-Mg alloy sheathed tapes was slower than that in the Ag-Cu alloy sheathed tapes. This reduction of conversion speed of Bi2223 may be attributed to the decrease in the growth rate of Bi2223 crystals in Ag-Mg alloy sheath. Since the tapes with small Bi2223 crystals after first sintering showed many outgrowths after final sintering, the formation of outgrowth would be caused in the case of small crystal size. The Jc value of 2.2 × 10 4 A/cm 2 was achieved in the samples using the precursor with 10 wt.% 2223. The high Jc value can be achieved by the proper control of precursor condition including the contents of Bi2223 and corresponding heat treatment pattern in Ag-Mg alloy sheathed tapes.

Non-surgical periodontal therapy decreases serum elastase levels in aggressive but not in chronic periodontitis.

PubMed

Eickholz, Peter; Siegelin, Yasemin; Scharf, Susanne; Schacher, Beate; Oremek, Gerhard M; Sauer-Eppel, Hildegund; Schubert, Ralf; Wohlfeil, Martin

2013-04-01

Assessment of the effect of non-surgical periodontal therapy (SRP) on serum inflammatory parameters in patients with untreated aggressive (AgP) and chronic (ChP) periodontitis. Overall, 31 ChP and 29 AgP were examined clinically prior to and 12 weeks after SRP (subgingival scaling of all pockets within 2 days) with systemic antibiotics for patients positive for Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (14 AgP, 9 ChP). Blood was sampled prior to, one day, 6, and 12 weeks after the first SRP visit. Serum elastase, C-reactive protein (CRP), lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP), interleukin (IL) 6, 8, and leukocyte counts were assessed. At baseline, serum elastase, CRP, and LBP were significantly (p < 0.01) higher in AgP than ChP. Serum elastase, CRP, LBP, and IL-6 were significantly (p < 0.001) elevated one day after scaling in both groups. Both groups showed significant clinical improvement (p < 0.001). A significant difference was observed regarding change of serum elastase 12 weeks after SRP between AgP and ChP (p = 0.015). Multiple regression analysis revealed AgP, African origin, and bleeding on probing to be associated with more pronounced elastase reduction. CRP reduction was associated with African origin, systemic antibiotics, and baseline probing pocket depth. SRP results in serum elastase reduction in AgP but not in ChP. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

Negatively charged silver nanoparticles with potent antibacterial activity and reduced toxicity for pharmaceutical preparations

PubMed Central

Salvioni, Lucia; Galbiati, Elisabetta; Collico, Veronica; Alessio, Giulia; Avvakumova, Svetlana; Corsi, Fabio; Tortora, Paolo; Prosperi, Davide; Colombo, Miriam

2017-01-01

Background The discovery of new solutions with antibacterial activity as efficient and safe alternatives to common preservatives (such as parabens) and to combat emerging infections and drug-resistant bacterial pathogens is highly expected in cosmetics and pharmaceutics. Colloidal silver nanoparticles (NPs) are attracting interest as novel effective antimicrobial agents for the prevention of several infectious diseases. Methods Water-soluble, negatively charged silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized by reduction with citric and tannic acid and characterized by transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, zeta potential, differential centrifuge sedimentation, and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy. AgNPs were tested with model Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria in comparison to two different kinds of commercially available AgNPs. Results In this work, AgNPs with higher antibacterial activity compared to the commercially available colloidal silver solutions were prepared and investigated. Bacteria were plated and the antibacterial activity was tested at the same concentration of silver ions in all samples. The AgNPs did not show any significant reduction in the antibacterial activity for an acceptable time period. In addition, AgNPs were transferred to organic phase and retained their antibacterial efficacy in both aqueous and nonaqueous media and exhibited no toxicity in eukaryotic cells. Conclusion We developed AgNPs with a 20 nm diameter and negative zeta potential with powerful antibacterial activity and low toxicity compared to currently available colloidal silver, suitable for cosmetic preservatives and pharmaceutical preparations administrable to humans and/or animals as needed. PMID:28408822

A simple and inexpensive point-of-care test for hepatitis B surface antigen detection: serological and molecular evaluation.

PubMed

Gish, R G; Gutierrez, J A; Navarro-Cazarez, N; Giang, K; Adler, D; Tran, B; Locarnini, S; Hammond, R; Bowden, S

2014-12-01

Early identification of chronic hepatitis B is important for optimal disease management and prevention of transmission. Cost and lack of access to commercial hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) immunoassays can compromise the effectiveness of HBV screening in resource-limited settings and among marginalized populations. High-quality point-of-care (POC) testing may improve HBV diagnosis in these situations. Currently available POC HBsAg assays are often limited in sensitivity. We evaluated the NanoSign(®) HBs POC chromatographic immunoassay for its ability to detect HBsAg of different genotypes and with substitutions in the 'a' determinant. Thirty-seven serum samples from patients with HBV infection, covering HBV genotypes A-G, were assessed for HBsAg titre with the Roche Elecsys HBsAg II quantification assay and with the POC assay. The POC assay reliably detected HBsAg at a concentration of at least 50 IU/mL for all genotypes, and at lower concentrations for some genotypes. Eight samples with substitutions in the HBV 'a' determinant were reliably detected after a 1/100 dilution. The POC strips were used to screen serum samples from 297 individuals at risk for HBV in local clinical settings (health fairs and outreach events) in parallel with commercial laboratory HBsAg testing (Quest Diagnostics EIA). POC testing was 73.7% sensitive and 97.8% specific for detection of HBsAg. Although the POC test demonstrated high sensitivity over a range of genotypes, false negatives were frequent in a clinical setting. Nevertheless, the POC assay offers advantages for testing in both developed and resource-limited countries due to its low cost (0.50$) and immediately available results. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Memristive switching induced by 100 MeV Ag7+ ion irradiation in Ag/La0.7Sr0.3MnO3/Ag planar structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bhavsar, K. H.; Joshi, U. S.; Mistry, B. V.; Khan, S. A.; Avasthi, D. K.

2011-09-01

Resistive random access memory is one of the candidate technologies for the promising next generation non-volatile memories with fast switching speed, low power consumption and non-destructive readout. The swift heavy ion (SHI)-induced resistive switching behavior of Ag/La0.7Sr0.3MnO3/Ag planar structures, grown on SiO2 substrates by the chemical solution deposition technique, has been investigated. Five identical samples were irradiated by 100 MeV Ag7+ ions with fluence values ranging from 1×1011 to 5×1013 ions/cm2 at the Materials Science beamline of the IUAC, New Delhi. Upon irradiation, systematic amorphization and grain elongation was observed in the grazing incidence X-ray diffraction and atomic force microscopy, respectively. Four-terminal I-V curves indicate typical non-ohmic behavior of pristine Ag/La0.7Sr0.3MnO3/Ag planar geometry at room temperature for several voltage-sweeping cycles. On the other hand, well-defined hysteresis loops with sharp on-off transition in the I-V curves were observed for the sample irradiated with 100 MeV Ag7+ ions at 1×1012 ions/cm2, indicating that the sample possesses low resistance state and high resistance state. A symmetrical resistance ratio (R high/R low) of ∼ 330% at-1.7 V has been achieved. The resistance switching is bipolar and may be attributed to SHI-induced defects in the device. Such defect-induced resistive switching has recently been proposed theoretically, and our results are direct evidence of the phenomenon.

Molecular epidemiology and genotyping of hepatitis B virus of HBsAg-positive patients in Oman.

PubMed

Al Baqlani, Said Ali; Sy, Bui Tien; Ratsch, Boris A; Al Naamani, Khalid; Al Awaidy, Salah; Busaidy, Suleiman Al; Pauli, Georg; Bock, C-Thomas

2014-01-01

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major global health burden with distinct geographic public health significance. Oman is a country with intermediate HBV carrier prevalence; however, little is known about the incidence of HBV variants in circulation. We investigated the HBV genotype distribution, the occurrence of antiviral resistance, and HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) escape mutations in HBsAg-positive patients in Oman. Serum samples were collected from 179 chronically HBV-infected patients enrolled in various gastroenterology clinics in Oman. HBV genotypes were determined by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. Mutations in the HBV polymerase and the HBsAg gene were characterized by mutational analysis. HBV genotypes D (130/170; 76.47%) and A (32/170; 18.28%) are predominant in Oman. The HBV genotypes C and E were less frequent (each 1.18%), while the HBV genotypes B, G, F, and H were not detected. Four patients revealed HBV genotype mixtures (HBV-A/D and D/C). The analyses of vaccine escape mutations yield that 148/170 (87.06%) HBV sequences were wild type. 22/170 (12.94%) HBV sequences showed mutations in the "a" determinant of the HBsAg domain. Two patients showed the described HBV vaccine escape mutation sP120T. 8/146 (5.48%) HBV isolates harbored mutations in the HBV polymerase known to confer resistance against antiviral therapy. Especially the lamivudine resistance mutations rtL180M/rtM204V and rtM204I were detected. This study shows the distribution of HBV genotypes, therapy resistance, and vaccine escape mutations in HBV-infected patients in Oman. Our findings will have a major impact on therapy management and diagnostics of chronic HBV infections in Oman to control HBV infection in this intermediate HBV-endemic country.

A study of silver species on silver-exchanged ETS-10 and mordenite by XRD, SEM and solid-state 109Ag, 29Si and 27AI NMR spectroscopy.

PubMed

Liu, Yan; Chen, Fu; Wasylishen, Roderick E; Xu, Zhenghe; Sawada, James; Kuznicki, Steven M

2012-08-01

Silver zeolites, especially Ag-ETS-10 and Ag-mordenite, actively bind xenon and iodine, two prime contaminants common to nuclear accidents. The evolution of silver species on silver exchanged ETS-10 (Ag/ETS-10) and mordenite (Ag/Mor) has been investigated by exposing the materials to a series of activation conditions in Ar, air and H2. The samples were characterized by XRD, SEM and solid-state 109Ag, 29Si and 27AI MAS NMR. The silver reduction and structural evolution have been illustrated by those techniques. The effectiveness of one sample of each type of sieve was tested for its ability to trap mercury from a gas stream. However, the results from this study demonstrate that the adsorption characteristics of silver-loaded sieves cannot necessarily be predicted using a full complement of structural characterization techniques, which highlights the importance of understanding the formation and nature of silver species on molecular sieves.

The synthesis of four-layer gold-silver-polymer-silver core-shell nanomushroom with inbuilt Raman molecule for surface-enhanced Raman scattering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiang, Tao; Wang, Xiaolong; Zhou, Jun

2017-12-01

A facial two-step reduction method was proposed to synthesize four-layer gold-silver-polymer-silver (Au@Ag@PSPAA@Ag) core-shell nanomushrooms (NMs) with inbuilt Raman molecule. The surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) intensity of 4MBA adhered on the surface of Au core gradually increased with the modification of middle Ag shell and then Ag mushroom cap due to the formation of two kinds of ultra-small interior nanogap. Compared with the initial Au nanoparticles, the SERS enhancement ratio of the Au@Ag@PSPAA@Ag NMs approached to nearly 40. The novel core-shell NMs also exhibited homogeneous SERS signals for only one sample and reproducible signals for 10 different samples, certified by the low relative standard deviation values of less than 10% and 15% for the character peaks of 4-mercaptobenzoic acid, respectively. Such a novel four-layer core-shell nanostructure with reliable SERS performance has great potential application in quantitative SERS-based immunoassay.

Thermoelectric Properties of Texture-Controlled (GeTe) x (AgSbTe2)100- x ( x = 75, 80, 85, and 90) Alloys Fabricated by Gas-Atomization and Hot-Extrusion Processes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Hyo-Seob; Dharmaiah, Peyala; Hong, Soon-Jik

2018-06-01

In this study, p-type (GeTe) x (AgSbTe2)100- x : TAGS- x (where x = 75, 80, 85, and 90) thermoelectric materials were fabricated by a combination of gas atomization and a hot-extrusion process, and the effects of chemical composition on microstructure, thermoelectric, and mechanical properties were investigated. The extruded samples exhibited higher relative densities (> 99%), and a significant orientation degree parallel to the extrusion direction with fine and homogeneous microstructure was observed. The hardness of extruded samples was around 200-260 kgf/mm2, which indicates that they have much better mechanical properties than most other TE materials. The power factor of the extruded samples showed excellent values; the maximum power factor achieved was 3.81 × 10-3 W/mK2 for TAGS-90 at 723 K due to an effective combination of the Seebeck coefficient and electrical conductivity.

A portable microevaporator for low temperature single atom studies by scanning tunneling and dynamic force microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rust, H.-P.; König, T.; Simon, G. H.; Nowicki, M.; Simic-Milosevic, V.; Thielsch, G.; Heyde, M.; Freund, H.-J.

2009-11-01

Here, we present a microevaporator setup for single adatom deposition at low temperature, which is a prerequisite for most single atom studies with scanning probe techniques. The construction of the microevaporator is based on the tungsten filament of a modified halogen lamp, covered with the required adsorbate. Very stable evaporation conditions were obtained, which were controlled by the filament current. The installation of this microevaporator on a manipulator enabled its transportation directly to the sample at the microscope kept at 5 K. In this way, the controlled deposition of Li onto Ag(100), Li, Pd, and Au onto MgO/Ag(001) as well as Au onto alumina/NiAl(110) at low temperature has been performed. The obtained images recorded after the deposition show the presence of single Li/Au atoms on the sample surfaces as a prove for successful dispersion of single atoms onto the sample surface using this technique.

Qidong hepatitis B virus infection cohort: a 25-year prospective study in high risk area of primary liver cancer.

PubMed

Chen, Taoyang; Qian, Gengsun; Fan, Chunsun; Sun, Yan; Wang, Jinbing; Lu, Peixin; Xue, Xuefeng; Wu, Yan; Zhang, Qinan; Jin, Yan; Wu, Yiqian; Gan, Yu; Lu, Jianquan; Kensler, Thomas W; Groopman, John D; Tu, Hong

2018-01-01

Qidong hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection cohort (QBC) is a prospective community-based study designed to investigate causative factors of primary liver cancer (PLC) in Qidong, China, where both PLC and HBV infection are highly endemic. Residents aged 20-65 years, living in seven townships of Qidong, were surveyed using hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) serum test and invited to participate in QBC from June 1991 to December 1991. A total of 852 and 786 participants were enrolled in HBsAg-positive and HBsAg-negative sub-cohorts in May 1992, respectively. All participants were actively followed up in person, received HBsAg, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) tests and upper abdominal ultrasonic examination, and donated blood and urine samples once or twice a year. The total response rate was 99.6%, and the number of incident PLC was 201 till the end of February 2017. The ratio of incidence rates was 12.32 (95% confidence interval[CI]=7.16-21.21, P < 0.0001) in HBsAg-positive arm compared with HBsAg-negative arm. The relative risk of PLC was 13.25 (95% CI=6.67-26.33, P < 0.0001) and 28.05 (95% CI=13.87-56.73, P < 0.0001) in the HBsAg+/HBeAg- group and the HBsAg+/HBeAg+ group, respectively, as compared to the HBsAg-/HBeAg- group. A series of novel PLC-related mutations including A2159G, A2189C and G2203W at the C gene, A799G, A987G and T1055A at the P gene of HBV genome were identified by using samples from the cohort. The mutation in hepatitis B virus (HBV) basal core promoter region of HBV genome has an accumulative effect on the occurrence of PLC. In addition, the tripartite relationship of aflatoxin exposure, P53 mutation and PLC was also investigated. Dynamic prediction model for PLC risk by using its long-term follow-up information and serial blood samples for QBC was developed. This model is expected to improve the efficiency of PLC screening in HBV infection individuals.

CW and tunable performances of Yb3+:LuAG transparent ceramics with different doping concentrations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ma, Chaoyang; Zhu, Jiangfeng; Liu, Kai; Wen, Zicheng; Ma, Ran; Long, Jiaqi; Yuan, Xuanyi; Cao, Yongge

2017-07-01

We report the CW laser operation and wavelength tunability of 10 at%, 15 at% and 20 at% Yb3+-doping LuAG ceramics pumped at 970 nm. The absorption saturation effects were taken into account herein. For 10 at% Yb3+-doping sample, the maximum slop efficiency and output power was 60.7% and 1.8 W, respectively. Furthermore, the slop efficiencies of 52.3% (15 at%) and 46.5% (20 at%) were reported. What's more, the maximum optical-to-optical efficiency for our samples was determined to be 40.1%, 36.8%, and 33.1% at the incident pump power of 4 W, respectively. The round-trip cavity loss of the laser system based on our Yb3+:LuAG ceramics were evaluated. The tuning curve of a 20 at% Yb3+:LuAG ceramic extended from 1018 nm up to 1062 nm, and that of 10 at% and 15 at% samples became much more broader, making Yb3+:LuAG ceramics possible candidates for ultrashort pulse generation.

Testosterone and androstanediol glucuronide among men in NHANES III.

PubMed

Duan, Chuan Wei; Xu, Lin

2018-03-09

Most of the androgen replacement therapies were based on serum testosterone and without measurements of total androgen activities. Whether those with low testosterone also have low levels of androgen activity is largely unknown. We hence examined the association between testosterone and androstanediol glucuronide (AG), a reliable measure of androgen activity, in a nationally representative sample of US men. Cross-sectional analysis was based on 1493 men from the Third National Health and Nutrition examination Survey (NHANES III) conducted from 1988 to 1991. Serum testosterone and AG were measured by immunoassay. Kernel density was used to estimate the average density of serum AG concentrations by quartiles of testosterone. Testosterone was weakly and positively correlated with AG (correlation coefficient = 0.18). The kernel density estimates show that the distributions are quite similar between the quartiles of testosterone. After adjustment for age, the distributions of AG in quartiles of testosterone did not change. The correlation between testosterone and AG was stronger in men with younger age, lower body mass index, non-smoking and good self-rated health and health status. Serum testosterone is weakly correlated with total androgen activities, and the correlation is even weaker for those with poor self-rated health. Our results suggest that measurement of total androgen activity in addition to testosterone is necessary in clinical practice, especially before administration of androgen replacement therapy.

Facile fabrication of Ag3VO4/attapulgite composites for highly efficient visible light-driven photodegradation towards organic dyes and tetracycline hydrochloride

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Luo, Yuting; Luo, Jie; Duan, Guorong; Liu, Xiaoheng

2017-12-01

An efficient one-dimensional attapulgite (ATP)-based photocatalyst, Ag3VO4/ATP nanocomposite, was fabricated by a facile deposition precipitation method with well-dispersed Ag3VO4 nanoparticles anchored on the surface of natural ATP fibers. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and UV-visible diffused reflectance spectroscopy (UV-vis DRS) were employed to investigate the morphologies, structure, and optical property of the prepared photocatalysts. The photocatalytic experiments indicated that the Ag3VO4/ATP nanocomposites exhibited enhanced visible light-driven photocatalytic activity towards the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB), methyl orange (MO), and tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH), of which the 20 wt% Ag3VO4/ATP sample showed superb photocatalytic performance. As demonstrated by N2 adsorption-desorption, photocurrent measurements, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and photoluminescence (PL) spectra analyses, the improved photocatalytic activity arose from the enlarged surface area, the facilitated charge transfer, and the suppressed recombination of photogenerated charge carriers in Ag3VO4/ATP system. Furthermore, radical scavengers trapping experiments and recycling tests were also conducted. This work gives a new insight into fabrication of highly efficient, stable, and cost-effective visible light-driven photocatalyst for practical application in wastewater treatment and environmental remediation.

Visualisation of morphological interaction of diamond and silver nanoparticles with Salmonella Enteritidis and Listeria monocytogenes.

PubMed

Sawosz, Ewa; Chwalibog, André; Mitura, Katarzyna; Mitura, Stanisław; Szeliga, Jacek; Niemiec, Tomasz; Rupiewicz, Marlena; Grodzik, Marta; Sokołowska, Aleksandra

2011-09-01

Currently, medicine intensively searches for methods to transport drugs to a target (sick) point within the body. The objective of the present investigation was to evaluate morphological characteristics of the assembles of silver or diamond nanoparticles with Salmonella Enteritidis (G-) or Listeria monocytogenes (G+), to reveal possibilities of constructing nanoparticle-bacteria vehicles. Diamond nanoparticles (nano-D) were produced by the detonation method. Hydrocolloids of silver nanoparticles (nano-Ag) were produced by electric non-explosive patented method. Hydrocolloids of nanoparticles (200 microl) were added to bacteria suspension (200 microl) in the following order: nano-D + Salmonella E.; nano-D + Listeria monocytogenes; nano-Ag + Salmonella E; nano-Ag + Listeria monocytogenes. Samples were inspected by transmission electron microscopy. Visualisation of nanoparticles and bacteria interaction showed harmful effects of both nanoparticles on bacteria morphology. The most spectacular effect of nano-D were strong links between nano-D packages and the flagella of Salmonella E. Nano-Ag were closely attached to Listeria monocytogenes but not to Salmonella E. There was no evidence of entering nano-Ag inside Listeria monocytogenes but smaller particles were placed inside Salmonella E. The ability of nano-D to attach to the flagella and the ability of nano-Ag to penetrate inside bacteria cells can be utilized to design nano-bacteria vehicles, being carriers for active substances attached to nanoparticles.

Size- and Shape-Dependent Antibacterial Studies of Silver Nanoparticles Synthesized by Wet Chemical Routes

PubMed Central

Raza, Muhammad Akram; Kanwal, Zakia; Rauf, Anum; Sabri, Anjum Nasim; Riaz, Saira; Naseem, Shahzad

2016-01-01

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) of different shapes and sizes were prepared by solution-based chemical reduction routes. Silver nitrate was used as a precursor, tri-sodium citrate (TSC) and sodium borohydride as reducing agents, while polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) was used as a stabilizing agent. The morphology, size, and structural properties of obtained nanoparticles were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV-visible spectroscopy (UV-VIS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. Spherical AgNPs, as depicted by SEM, were found to have diameters in the range of 15 to 90 nm while lengths of the edges of the triangular particles were about 150 nm. The characteristic surface plasmon resonance (SPR) peaks of different spherical silver colloids occurring in the wavelength range of 397 to 504 nm, whereas triangular particles showed two peaks, first at 392 nm and second at 789 nm as measured by UV-VIS. The XRD spectra of the prepared samples indicated the face-centered cubic crystalline structure of metallic AgNPs. The in vitro antibacterial properties of all synthesized AgNPs against two types of Gram-negative bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli were examined by Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion susceptibility method. It was noticed that the smallest-sized spherical AgNPs demonstrated a better antibacterial activity against both bacterial strains as compared to the triangular and larger spherical shaped AgNPs. PMID:28335201

Ultrasensitive determination of DNA sequences by flow injection chemiluminescence using silver ions as labels.

PubMed

Zheng, Lichun; Liu, Xiuhui; Zhou, Min; Ma, Yongjun; Wu, Guofan; Lu, Xiaoquan

2014-10-27

We presented a new strategy for ultrasensitive detection of DNA sequences based on the novel detection probe which was labeled with Ag(+) using metallothionein (MT) as a bridge. The assay relied on a sandwich-type DNA hybridization in which the DNA targets were first hybridized to the captured oligonucleotide probes immobilized on Fe3O4@Au composite magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), and then the Ag(+)-modified detection probes were used to monitor the presence of the specific DNA targets. After being anchored on the hybrids, Ag(+) was released down through acidic treatment and sensitively determined by a coupling flow injection-chemiluminescent reaction system (Ag(+)-Mn(2+)-K2S2O8-H3PO4-luminol) (FI-CL). The experiment results showed that the CL intensities increased linearly with the concentrations of DNA targets in the range from 10 to 500 pmol L(-1) with a detection limit of 3.3 pmol L(-1). The high sensitivity in this work may be ascribed to the high molar ratio of Ag(+)-MT, the sensitive determination of Ag(+) by the coupling FI-CL reaction system and the perfect magnetic separation based on Fe3O4@Au composite MNPs. Moreover, the proposed strategy exhibited excellent selectivity against the mismatched DNA sequences and could be applied to real samples analysis. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Mechanism of strong visible light photocatalysis by Ag2O-nanoparticle-decorated monoclinic TiO2(B) porous nanorods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Paul, Kamal Kumar; Ghosh, Ramesh; Giri, P. K.

2016-08-01

We report on the ultra-high rate of photodegradation of organic dyes under visible light illumination on Ag2O-nanoparticle-decorated (NP) porous pure B-phase TiO2 (TiO2(B)) nanorods (NRs) grown by a solvothermal route. The as-grown TiO2(B) NRs are found to be nanoporous in nature and the Ag2O NPs are uniformly decorated over its surface, since most of the pores work as nucleation sites for the growth of Ag2O NPs. The effective band gap of the TiO2(B)/Ag2O heterostructure (HS), with a weight ratio of 1:1, has been significantly reduced to 1.68 eV from the pure TiO2(B) band gap of 2.8 eV. Steady state and time-resolved photoluminescence (PL) studies show the reduced intensity of visible PL and slower recombination dynamics in the HS samples. The photocatalytic degradation efficiency of the TiO2(B)/Ag2O HS has been investigated using aqueous methyl orange and methylene blue as reference dyes under visible light (390-800 nm) irradiation. It is found that photodegradation by the TiO2(B)/Ag2O HS is about one order of magnitude higher than that of bare TiO2(B) NRs and Ag2O NPs. The optimized TiO2(B)/Ag2O HS exhibited the highest photocatalytic efficiency, with 88.2% degradation for 30 min irradiation. The corresponding first order degradation rate constant is 0.071 min-1, which is four times higher than the reported values. Furthermore, cyclic stability studies show the high stability of the HS photocatalyst for up to four cycles of use. The major improvement in photocatalytic efficiency has been explained on the basis of enhanced visible light absorption and band-bending-induced efficient charge separation in the HS. Our results demonstrate the long-term stability and superiority of the TiO2(B)/Ag2O HS over the bare TiO2(B) NRs and other TiO2-based photocatalysts for its cutting edge application in hydrogen production and environmental cleaning driven by solar light photocatalysis.

Separation and preconcentration of Ag(I) in aqueous samples by flotation as an ion-associate using iodide and ferroin followed the determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry.

PubMed

Hosseini, Mohammad Saeid; Hashemi-Moghaddam, Hamid; Kardan-Moghaddam, Gholamreza

2007-01-01

A simple method for separation/preconcentration and determination of Ag(I) in aqueous samples is described. The method is based on formation of an ion-associate between Ag(I)-iodide complex and ferroin, which can be floated at the interface of the aqueous/n-heptane phases. The flotation process was carried out using 500-ml aliquot of the aqueous solution and the floated layer was dissolved in 5 ml of 1 M HNO3 containing methanol (50% v/v) as the solvent. The Ag(I) content was then determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). The method so could be considered as an enrichment process, was achieved to a quantitative feature, when the pH of the solution was adjusted to 4 and the concentrations of iodide and ferroin were about 3.2 x 10(-4) M and 6.25 x 10(-5) M, respectively. The LOD and RSD (n = 7) were obtained 1.0 x 10(-8) M and 2.4%, respectively. It was found that a large number of cations and anions even at high considerably foreign ion/Ag(I) ratios were not interfered. The method was applied satisfactorily to recovery of Ag(I) from different aqueous samples.

Fluorescent pH sensor based on Ag@SiO2 core-shell nanoparticle.

PubMed

Bai, Zhenhua; Chen, Rui; Si, Peng; Huang, Youju; Sun, Handong; Kim, Dong-Hwan

2013-06-26

We have demonstrated a novel method for the preparation of a fluorescence-based pH sensor by combining the plasmon resonance band of Ag core and pH sensitive dye (HPTS). A thickness-variable silica shell is placed between Ag core and HPTS dye to achieve the maximum fluorescence enhancement. At the shell thickness of 8 nm, the fluorescence intensity increases 4 and 9 times when the sensor is excited at 405 and 455 nm, respectively. At the same time, the fluorescence intensity shows a good sensitivity toward pH value in the range of 5-9, and the ratio of emission intensity at 513 nm excited at 455 nm to that excited at 405 nm versus the pH value in the range of 5-9 is determined. It is believed that the present pH sensor has the potential for determining pH real time in the biological sample.

Glass-like phonon scattering from a spontaneous nanostructure in AgSbTe2.

PubMed

Ma, J; Delaire, O; May, A F; Carlton, C E; McGuire, M A; VanBebber, L H; Abernathy, D L; Ehlers, G; Hong, Tao; Huq, A; Tian, Wei; Keppens, V M; Shao-Horn, Y; Sales, B C

2013-06-01

Materials with very low thermal conductivity are of great interest for both thermoelectric and optical phase-change applications. Synthetic nanostructuring is most promising for suppressing thermal conductivity through phonon scattering, but challenges remain in producing bulk samples. In crystalline AgSbTe2 we show that a spontaneously forming nanostructure leads to a suppression of thermal conductivity to a glass-like level. Our mapping of the phonon mean free paths provides a novel bottom-up microscopic account of thermal conductivity and also reveals intrinsic anisotropies associated with the nanostructure. Ground-state degeneracy in AgSbTe2 leads to the natural formation of nanoscale domains with different orderings on the cation sublattice, and correlated atomic displacements, which efficiently scatter phonons. This mechanism is general and suggests a new avenue for the nanoscale engineering of materials to achieve low thermal conductivities for efficient thermoelectric converters and phase-change memory devices.

Ferromagnetic signal in nanosized Ag particles.

PubMed

Jo, Younghun; Jung, Myung-Hwa; Kyum, Myung-Chul; Lee, Sung-Ik

2007-11-01

A new technique using an inductively coupled plasma reactor equipped with a liquid-nitrogen cooling system was developed to prepare Ag nanoparticles. The magnetic signal from these Ag particles with diameters of 4 nm showed, surprisingly, a signal with combined ferromagnetic and diamagnetic components, in contrast to the signal with only one diamagnetic component from bulk Ag. The same technique was used to prepare the Ag/Cu nanoparticles, which are Ag nanoparticles coated with a Cu layer. Compared to the Ag nanoparticles, these showed a greatly enhanced superparamagnetic signal in addition to the same value of the ferromagnetism. The comparison between the Ag and the Ag/Cu nanoparticles indicated that the ferromagnetic components are a common feature of Ag nanoparticles while the greatly enhanced paramagnetic component of Ag/Cu, which dominates over the background diamagnetic component from the Ag core, is from the outer Cu shell.

Large-Scale Evaluation of the Immuno-Mycologics Lateral Flow and Enzyme-Linked Immunoassays for Detection of Cryptococcal Antigen in Serum and Cerebrospinal Fluid

PubMed Central

Hansen, Jessica; Slechta, E. Susan; Gates-Hollingsworth, Marcellene A.; Neary, Brandon; Barker, Adam P.; Bauman, Sean; Kozel, Thomas R.

2013-01-01

Cryptococcosis is a systemic infection caused by the pathogenic yeasts Cryptococcus neoformans and C. gattii. Detection of cryptococcal capsular antigen (CrAg) in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) plays an important diagnostic role. We prospectively compared the new Immuno-Mycologics Inc. (IMMY) lateral flow assay (LFA) and enzyme immunoassay (EIA) to our current CrAg test (Premier EIA; Meridian Bioscience Inc.). Discordant samples were retested with the latex-Cryptococcus antigen test (IMMY) and using serotype-specific monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). A total of 589 serum and 411 CSF specimens were tested in parallel. Qualitative agreement across assays was 97.7%. In all, 56 (41 serum and 15 CSF) samples were positive and 921 (527 serum and 394 CSF) samples were negative by all three assays. The 23 discrepant specimens were all Meridian EIA negative. Of 23 discordant specimens, 20 (87.0%) were positive by both the IMMY LFA and EIA, 2 were LFA positive only, and 1 was EIA positive only. Eleven discrepant specimens had adequate volume for latex agglutination (LA) testing; 8 were LA positive, and 3 were LA negative. LA-negative samples (2 CSF samples and 1 serum) had low IMMY LFA/EIA titers (≤1:10). Serotype-specific MAb analysis of the LA-positive samples suggested that these specimens contained CrAg epitopes similar to those of serotype C strains. In conclusion, the IMMY assays showed excellent overall concordance with the Meridian EIA. Assay performance differences were related to issues of analytic sensitivity and possible serotype bias. Incomplete access to patient-level data combined with low specimen volumes limited our ability to fully resolve discrepant results. PMID:23114703

Large-scale evaluation of the immuno-mycologics lateral flow and enzyme-linked immunoassays for detection of cryptococcal antigen in serum and cerebrospinal fluid.

PubMed

Hansen, Jessica; Slechta, E Susan; Gates-Hollingsworth, Marcellene A; Neary, Brandon; Barker, Adam P; Bauman, Sean; Kozel, Thomas R; Hanson, Kimberly E

2013-01-01

Cryptococcosis is a systemic infection caused by the pathogenic yeasts Cryptococcus neoformans and C. gattii. Detection of cryptococcal capsular antigen (CrAg) in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) plays an important diagnostic role. We prospectively compared the new Immuno-Mycologics Inc. (IMMY) lateral flow assay (LFA) and enzyme immunoassay (EIA) to our current CrAg test (Premier EIA; Meridian Bioscience Inc.). Discordant samples were retested with the latex-Cryptococcus antigen test (IMMY) and using serotype-specific monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). A total of 589 serum and 411 CSF specimens were tested in parallel. Qualitative agreement across assays was 97.7%. In all, 56 (41 serum and 15 CSF) samples were positive and 921 (527 serum and 394 CSF) samples were negative by all three assays. The 23 discrepant specimens were all Meridian EIA negative. Of 23 discordant specimens, 20 (87.0%) were positive by both the IMMY LFA and EIA, 2 were LFA positive only, and 1 was EIA positive only. Eleven discrepant specimens had adequate volume for latex agglutination (LA) testing; 8 were LA positive, and 3 were LA negative. LA-negative samples (2 CSF samples and 1 serum) had low IMMY LFA/EIA titers (≤1:10). Serotype-specific MAb analysis of the LA-positive samples suggested that these specimens contained CrAg epitopes similar to those of serotype C strains. In conclusion, the IMMY assays showed excellent overall concordance with the Meridian EIA. Assay performance differences were related to issues of analytic sensitivity and possible serotype bias. Incomplete access to patient-level data combined with low specimen volumes limited our ability to fully resolve discrepant results.

Optical properties of ordered ZnO/Ag thin films on polystyrene spheres

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Xiu; Chen, Xiuyan; Xin, Zhiqing; Li, Luhai; Xu, Yanfang

2017-08-01

A thorough research of the optical properties of ZnO/Ag structures sputtered by RF on PS colloidal crystal molds with different diameters is reported. The influences of the period of the substrates on the performance of ZnO thin films were studied. The results of scanning electron microscopic, X-ray diffraction patterns and UV-vis absorption spectroscopy indicated that the ZnO/Ag thin films were well-covering on PS colloidal crystal molds. The diameter of the polystyrene particles significantly influenced the PL spectrum intensity of ZnO/Ag by affecting the interferences of light. After adding PS colloidal crystal molds with different diameters, all the samples show two luminescent regions, namely a strong, narrow UV emission peak and a wide, weak visible emission band. However, the signal of UV emission increases more significantly. In particular, the maximum enhancement occurs when the diameter is 300 nm. This work proposes an effective way to improve ZnO light emission based on a simple, rapid and cost effective method to fabricate ordered periodic substrates by preparing single layer polystyrene microspheres masks.

Silver-doped manganese dioxide and trioxide nanoparticles inhibit both gram positive and gram negative pathogenic bacteria.

PubMed

Kunkalekar, R K; Prabhu, M S; Naik, M M; Salker, A V

2014-01-01

Palladium, ruthenium and silver-doped MnO2 and silver doped Mn2O3 nanoparticles were synthesized by simple co-precipitation technique. SEM-TEM analysis revealed the nano-size of these synthesized samples. XPS data illustrates that Mn is present in 4+ and 3+ oxidation states in MnO2 and Mn2O3 respectively. Thermal analysis gave significant evidence for the phase changes with increasing temperature. Antibacterial activity of these synthesized nanoparticles on three Gram positive bacterial cultures (Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538, Streptococcus epidermis ATCC 12228, Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633) and three Gram negative cultures (Escherichia coli ATCC 8739, Salmonella abony NCTC 6017 and Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 1003) was investigated using a disc diffusion method and live/dead assay. Only Ag-doped MnO2 and Ag-doped Mn2O3 nanoparticles showed antibacterial property against all six-test bacteria but Ag-doped MnO2 was found to be more effective than Ag-doped Mn2O3. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Highly sensitive and selective detection of Pb2+ using a turn-on fluorescent aptamer DNA silver nanoclusters sensor.

PubMed

Zhang, Baozhu; Wei, Chunying

2018-05-15

A novel turn-on fluorescent biosensor has been constructed using C-PS2.M-DNA-templated silver nanoclusters (Ag NCs) with an average diameter of about 1 nm. The proposed approach presents a low-toxic, simple, sensitive, and selective detection for Pb 2+ . The fluorescence intensity of C-PS2.M-DNA-Ag NCs enhances significantly in the presence of Pb 2+ , which is attributed to the special interaction between Pb 2+ and its aptamer DNA PS2.M. Pb 2+ induces the aptamer to form G-quadruplex and makes two darkish DNA/Ag NCs located at the 3' and 5' terminus close, resulting in the fluorescence light-up. Moreover, Pb 2+ can be detected as low as 3.0 nM within a good linear range from 5 to 50 nM (R = 0.9862). Furthermore, the application for detection of Pb 2+ in real water samples further demonstrates the reliability of the sensor. Thus, this sensor system shows a potential application for monitoring Pb 2+ in environmental samples. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Template synthesis of Ag/AgCl microrods and their efficient visible light-driven photocatalytic performance

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chen, Hua; Xiao, Liang; Huang, Jianhua, E-mail: jhhuang@zstu.edu.cn

2014-09-15

Highlights: • Preparation ofAg/AgCl microrods by reaction of Ag{sub 2}WO{sub 4} microrods with NaCl solution. • Generation of metallic Ag is induced by the ambient light in the synthesis process. • Ag/AgCl shows excellent visible light-driven photodegradation of organic dyes. - Abstract: Ag/AgCl microrods, aggregated by nanoparticles with a diameter ranging from 100 nm to 2 μm, were prepared by an ion-exchange reaction at 80 °C between Ag{sub 2}WO{sub 4} template and NaCl solution. The existence of metallic Ag species was confirmed by XRD, DRS and XPS measurements. Ag/AgCl microrods showed excellent photocatalytic activity for the degradation of rhodamine Bmore » and methylene blue under visible light irradiation. The degradation rate constants of rhodamine B and methylene blue are 0.176 and 0.114 min{sup −1}, respectively. The cycling photodegradation experiments suggest that Ag/AgCl microds could be employed as stable plasmonic photocatalysts for the degradation of organic dyes under visible light irradiation.« less

Evaluation of SD BIOLINE H. pylori Ag rapid test against double ELISA with SD H. pylori Ag ELISA and EZ-STEP H. pylori Ag ELISA tests.

PubMed

Negash, Markos; Kassu, Afework; Amare, Bemnet; Yismaw, Gizachew; Moges, Beyene

2018-01-01

Helicobacter pylori antibody titters fall very slowly even after successful treatment. Therefore, tests detecting H. pylori antibody lack specificity and sensitivity. On the other hand, H. pylori stool antigen tests are reported as an alternative assay because of their reliability and simplicity. However, the comparative performance of H. pylori stool antigen tests for detecting the presence of the bacterium in clinical specimens in the study area is not assessed. Therefore, in this study we evaluated the performance of SD BIOLINE H. pylori Ag rapid test with reference to the commercially available EZ- STEP ELISA and SD BIOLINE H. pylori Ag ELISA tests. Stool samples were collected to analyse the diagnostic performance of SD BIOLINE H. pylori Ag rapid test kit using SD H. pylori Ag ELISA kit and EZ- STEP ELISA tests as a gold standard. Serum samples were also collected from each patient to test for the presence of H. pylori antibodies using dBest H. pylori Test Disk. Sensitivity, specificity, predictive values and kappa value are assessed. P values < 0.05 were taken statistically significant. Stool and serum samples were collected from 201 dyspeptic patients and analysed. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of the SD BIOLINE H. pylori Ag rapid test were: 95.6% (95% CI, 88.8-98.8), 92.5% (95%CI, 89-94.1%), 86.7% (95% CI, 80.5-89.6), and 97.6% (95% CI, 993.9-99.3) respectively. The performance of SD BIOLINE H. pylori Ag rapid test was better than the currently available antibody test in study area. Therefore, the SD BIOLINE Ag rapid stool test could replace and be used to diagnose active H. pylori infection before the commencement of therapy among dyspeptic patients.

Luminescence properties of pure and doped CaSO4 nanorods irradiated by 15 MeV e-beam

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Salah, Numan; Alharbi, Najlaa D.; Enani, Mohammad A.

2014-01-01

Calcium sulfate (CaSO4) doped with proper activators is a highly sensitive phosphor used in different fields mainly for radiation dosimetry, lighting and display applications. In this work pure and doped nanorods of CaSO4 were produced by the co-precipitation technique. Samples from this material doped with Ag, Cu, Dy, Eu and Tb were exposed to different doses of 15 MeV e-beam and studied for their thermoluminesence (TL) and photoluminescence (PL) properties. Color center formation leading to PL emissions were investigated before and after e-beam irradiation. The samples doped with rare earths elements (i.e. Dy, Eu and Tb) were observed to have thinner nanorods than the other samples and have higher absorption in the UV region. The Ag and Tb doped samples have poor TL response to e-beam, while those activated by Cu, Dy and Eu have strong glow peaks at around 123 °C. Quite linear response curves in the whole studied exposures i.e. 0.1-100 Gy were also observed in Cu and Dy doped samples. The PL results show that pure CaSO4 nanorods have active color centers without irradiation, which could be enriched/modified by these impurities mainly rare earths and further enhanced by e-beam irradiation. Eu3+ → Eu2+ conversion is clearly observed in Eu doped sample after e-beam irradiation. These results show that these nanorods might be useful in lighting and display devices development.

Determination of trace heavy metals in harvested rainwater used for drinking in Hebron (south West Bank, Palestine) by ICP-MS.

PubMed

Malassa, Husam; Al-Rimawi, Fuad; Al-Khatib, Mahmoud; Al-Qutob, Mutaz

2014-10-01

Rainwater samples harvested for drinking from the west part of Hebron (south of West Bank in Palestine), the largest city in the West Bank, were analyzed for the content of different trace heavy metals (Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Mo, Ag, Cd, Bi, and Pb) by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). This study was conducted to determine the water quality of harvested rainwater used for drinking of south West Bank (case study, Hebron area). A total of 44 water samples were collected in November 2012 from 44 house cisterns used to collect rainwater from the roofs of houses. The samples were analyzed for their pH, temperature, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, and different heavy metal contents. The pH of all water samples was within the US Environmental Protection Agency limits (6.5-8.5), while some water samples were found to exceed the allowed WHO limit for total dissolved solids (TDSs) in drinking water. Results showed that concentrations of the heavy metals vary significantly between the 44 samples. Results also showed that the concentration of five heavy metals (Cr, Mn, Ni, Ag, and Pb) is higher than the WHO limits for these heavy metals in drinking water. Overall, our findings revealed that harvested rainwater used for drinking of this part of south West Bank is contaminated with heavy metals that might affect human health.

The cobas p 630 instrument: a dedicated pre-analytic solution to optimize COBAS® AmpliPrep/COBAS® TaqMan® system workflow and turn-around-time.

PubMed

Vallefuoco, L; Sorrentino, R; Spalletti Cernia, D; Colucci, G; Portella, G

2012-12-01

The cobas p 630, a fully automated pre-analytical instrument for primary tube handling recently introduced to complete the Cobas(®) TaqMan systems portfolio, was evaluated in conjunction with: the COBAS(®) AmpliPrep/COBAS(®) TaqMan HBV Test, v2.0, COBAS(®) AmpliPrep/COBAS(®) TaqMan HCV Test, v1.0 and COBAS(®) AmpliPrep/COBAS(®) TaqMan HIV Test, v2.0. The instrument performance in transferring samples from primary to secondary tubes, its impact in improving COBAS(®) AmpliPrep/COBAS(®) TaqMan workflow and hands-on reduction and the risk of possible cross-contamination were assessed. Samples from 42 HBsAg positive, 42 HCV and 42 HIV antibody (Ab) positive patients as well as 21 healthy blood donors were processed with or without automated primary tubes. HIV, HCV and HBsAg positive samples showed a correlation index of 0.999, 0.987 and of 0.994, respectively. To assess for cross-contamination, high titer HBV DNA positive samples, HCV RNA and HIV RNA positive samples were distributed in the cobas p 630 in alternate tube positions, adjacent to negative control samples within the same rack. None of the healthy donor samples showed any reactivity. Based on these results, the cobas p 630 can improve workflow and sample tracing in laboratories performing molecular tests, and reduce turnaround time, errors, and risks. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Assessing toxicant effects in a complex estuary: A case study of effects of silver on reproduction in the bivalve, Potamocorbula amurensis, in San Francisco Bay

USGS Publications Warehouse

Brown, C.L.; Parchaso, F.; Thompson, J.K.; Luoma, S.N.

2003-01-01

Contaminant exposures in natural systems can be highly variable. This variability is superimposed upon cyclic variability in biological processes. Together, these factors can confound determination of contaminant effects. Long term, multidisciplined studies with high frequency sampling can be effective in overcoming such obstacles. While studying trace metal contamination in the tissues of the clam, Potamocorbula amurensis, in the northern reach of San Francisco Bay, an episode of high Ag concentrations was identified (maximum of 5.5 ??g g-1) at two mid-estuary sites. High concentrations were not seen in clams up-estuary (maximum of 1.92 ??g g-1) from these sites and were reduced down-estuary (maximum of 2.67 ??g g-1). Silver is not common naturally in the environment, so its elevated presence is usually indicative of anthropogenic influences such as municipal and industrial discharge. Monthly sampling of reproductive status of clams characterized the reproductive cycle and differences in the patterns of reproductive activity that corresponded to changes in Ag tissue concentrations. The proportion of reproductive clams was less than 60% during periods when tissue concentrations were high (generally >2 ??g g-1). When tissue concentrations of Ag decreased (???1 ??g g-1), the proportion of reproductive clams was 80 to 100%. A comparison between the annual proportion of reproductive clams and annual Ag tissue concentrations showed a significant negative correlation. No other measured environmental variables were correlated with reproductive impairment. The weight-of-evidence approach strongly supports a cause and effect relationship between Ag contamination and reduced reproductive activity in P. amurensis.

Assessment of heavy metal pollution, distribution and source apportionment in the sediment from Feni River estuary, Bangladesh.

PubMed

Islam, Md Saiful; Hossain, M Belal; Matin, Abdul; Islam Sarker, Md Shafiqul

2018-07-01

Heavy metal pollution in sediment resources may pose serious threat to ecosystem and human health through food web. In this study, surface sediment samples of 10 stations along the Feni River estuary were analyzed to profile the accumulation, sources and pollution levels of heavy metals. The results revealed that the average contents (μg g -1 ) of eight selected heavy metals followed the order of Mn (37.85) > Cr (35.28) > Ni (33.27) > Co (31.02) > Pb (6.47) > Ag (1.09) > As (0.85) > Hg (0.71), and the concentrations varied spatially and seasonally with relatively higher levels at upward stations and during the rainy season. According to sediment quality guidelines (SQGs), the sediment samples were heavily contaminated with Ag and Hg, and moderately with Co. Threshold effect concentration (TEC) and probable effect concentration (PEC) values indicated that the concentration of only Ni and Cr were likely to occasionally exhibit adverse effects on the ecosystem. Enrichment factor (EF), geo-accumulation index (I geo ) and contamination factor (CF) analyses revealed that Ag, Co and Hg were at moderate to high pollution levels and the rests (As, Cr, Ni, Pb and Mn) were at no to low pollution levels. Potential ecological risk index (PERI) also showed that Ag, Co and Hg were the most potential ecological risk factor being determined in this studied area. Correlation matrix combined with multivariate principal component analysis and cluster analysis suggest that Ag, Co, Ni and Hg originated from anthropogenic sources (agrochemicals, silver nanoparticles anti-microbial agent, silver plating), whereas As, Cr, Pb and Mn primarily originated from natural geological background. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Assessing toxicant effects in a complex estuary--A case study of effects of silver on reproduction in the bivalve, Potamocurbula amurensis, in San Francisco Bay

USGS Publications Warehouse

Brown, Cynthia L.; Parchaso, Francis; Thompson, Janet K.; Luoma, Samuel N.

2003-01-01

Contaminant exposures in natural systems can be highly variable. This variability is superimposed upon cyclic variability in biological processes. Together, these factors can confound determination of contaminant effects. Long term, multidisciplined studies with high frequency sampling can be effective in overcoming such obstacles. While studying trace metal contamination in the tissues of the clam, Potamocorbula amurensis, in the northern reach of San Francisco Bay, an episode of high Ag concentrations was identified (maximum of 5.5 µg g−1) at two mid-estuary sites. High concentrations were not seen in clams up-estuary (maximum of 1.92 µg g−1) from these sites and were reduced down-estuary (maximum of 2.67 µg g−1). Silver is not common naturally in the environment, so its elevated presence is usually indicative of anthropogenic influences such as municipal and industrial discharge. Monthly sampling of reproductive status of clams characterized the reproductive cycle and differences in the patterns of reproductive activity that corresponded to changes in Ag tissue concentrations. The proportion of reproductive clams was less than 60% during periods when tissue concentrations were high (generally >2 µg g−1). When tissue concentrations of Ag decreased (≤1 µg g−1), the proportion of reproductive clams was 80 to 100%. A comparison between the annual proportion of reproductive clams and annual Ag tissue concentrations showed a significant negative correlation. No other measured environmental variables were correlated with reproductive impairment. The weight-of-evidence approach strongly supports a cause and effect relationship between Ag contamination and reduced reproductive activity in P. amurensis.

DC electrical conductivity of Ag2O-TeO2-V2O5 glassy systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Souri, D.; Tahan, Z. Esmaeili; Salehizadeh, S. A.

2016-04-01

In the present article, samples of xAg2O-40TeO2-(60 - x)V2O5 ternary tellurite glasses with 0 ≤ x ≤ 50 (in mol%) have been prepared using the melt-quenching technique. XRD analysis, density measurement by Archimedes' law, determination of reduced vanadium ions by titration method, and electrical conductivity measurement by using four-probe methods have been done for these glasses. The mixed electronic-ionic conduction of these glasses has been investigated over a wide temperature range of 150-380 K. The experimental results have been analyzed with different theoretical models of hopping conduction. The analysis shows that at high temperatures the conductivity data are consistent with Mott's model of phonon-assisted polaronic hopping, while Mott's variable-range hopping model and Greaves' hopping model are valid at low temperatures. The temperature dependence of the conductivity has been also interpreted in the framework of the percolation model proposed by Triberis and Friedman. The analysis of the conductivity data also indicates that the hopping in these tellurite glasses occurs in the non-adiabatic regime. In each sample, based upon the justified transport mechanism, carrier density and mobility have been determined at different temperatures. The values of oxygen molar volume indicate the effect of Ag2O concentration on the thermal stability or fragility of understudied samples.

Synthetic Control of Crystallite Size of Silver Vanadium Phosphorous Oxide (Ag 0.50VOPO 4·1.9H 2O): Impact on Electrochemistry

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Huie, Matthew M.; Marschilok, Amy C.; Takeuchi, Esther S.

Here, this report describes a synthetic approach to control the crystallite size of silver vanadium phosphorous oxide, Ag 0.50VOPO 4·1.9H 2O, and the impact on electrochemistry in lithium based batteries. Ag 0.50VOPO 4·1.9H 2O was synthesized using a stirred hydrothermal method over a range of temperatures. X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used to confirm the crystalline phase and the crystallite size sizes of 11, 22, 38, 40, 49, and 120 nm. Particle shape was plate-like with edges <1 micron to >10 microns. Under galvanostatic reduction the samples with 22 nm crystallites and 880 nm particles produced the highest capacity, ~25% moremore » capacity than the 120 nm sample. Notably, the 11 nm sample resulted in reduced delivered capacity and higher resistance consistent with increased grain boundaries contributing to resistance. Under intermittent pulsing ohmic resistance decreased with increasing crystallite size from 11 nm to 120 nm implying that electrical conduction within a crystal is more facile than between crystallites and across grain boundaries. Finally, this systematic study of material dimension shows that crystallite size impacts deliverable capacity as well as cell resistance where both interparticle and intraparticle transport are important.« less

Probing the distribution and contamination levels of 10 trace metal/metalloids in soils near a Pb/Zn smelter in Middle China.

PubMed

Li, Zhonggen; Feng, Xinbin; Bi, Xiangyang; Li, Guanghui; Lin, Yan; Sun, Guangyi

2014-03-01

The horizontal and vertical distribution patterns and contamination status of ten trace metal/metalloids (Ag, Bi, Co, Cr, Ge, In, Ni, Sb, Sn, Tl) in soils around one of the largest Chinese Pb-Zn smelter in Zhuzhou City, Central China, were revealed. Different soil samples were collected from 11 areas, including ten agricultural areas and one city park area, with a total of 83 surface soil samples and six soil cores obtained. Trace metal/metalloids were determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry after digestion by an acid mixture of HF and HNO3. The results showed that Ag, Bi, In, Sb, Sn, and Tl contents decreased both with the distance to the Pb-Zn smelter as well as the soil depth, hinting that these elements were mainly originated from the Pb-Zn smelting operations and were introduced into soils through atmospheric deposition. Soil Ge was influenced by the smelter at a less extent, while the distributions of Co, Cr, and Ni were roughly even among most sampling sites and soil depths, suggesting that they were primarily derived from natural sources. The contamination status, as revealed by the geo-accumulation index (I geo), indicated that In and Ag were the most enriched elements, followed by Sb, Bi, and Sn. In general, Cr, Tl, Co, Ni, and Ge were of an uncontaminated status.

Synthetic Control of Crystallite Size of Silver Vanadium Phosphorous Oxide (Ag 0.50VOPO 4·1.9H 2O): Impact on Electrochemistry

DOE PAGES

Huie, Matthew M.; Marschilok, Amy C.; Takeuchi, Esther S.; ...

2017-04-12

Here, this report describes a synthetic approach to control the crystallite size of silver vanadium phosphorous oxide, Ag 0.50VOPO 4·1.9H 2O, and the impact on electrochemistry in lithium based batteries. Ag 0.50VOPO 4·1.9H 2O was synthesized using a stirred hydrothermal method over a range of temperatures. X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used to confirm the crystalline phase and the crystallite size sizes of 11, 22, 38, 40, 49, and 120 nm. Particle shape was plate-like with edges <1 micron to >10 microns. Under galvanostatic reduction the samples with 22 nm crystallites and 880 nm particles produced the highest capacity, ~25% moremore » capacity than the 120 nm sample. Notably, the 11 nm sample resulted in reduced delivered capacity and higher resistance consistent with increased grain boundaries contributing to resistance. Under intermittent pulsing ohmic resistance decreased with increasing crystallite size from 11 nm to 120 nm implying that electrical conduction within a crystal is more facile than between crystallites and across grain boundaries. Finally, this systematic study of material dimension shows that crystallite size impacts deliverable capacity as well as cell resistance where both interparticle and intraparticle transport are important.« less

Antibacterial properties of Ag-exchanged Philippine natural zeolite-chitosan composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Taaca, Kathrina Lois M.; Olegario, Eleanor M.; Vasquez, Magdaleno R.

2017-12-01

Zeolites are microporous minerals composed of silicon, aluminum and oxygen. These aluminosilicates consist of tetrahedral units which produce open framework structures to generate a system of pores and cavities of molecular dimensions. Zeolites are naturally abundant and can be mined in most parts of the world. In this study, natural zeolites (NaZ) which are locally-sourced here in the Philippines were investigated to determine its properties. An ion-exchange process was utilized, using the zeolite to silver (Ag) solution ratio of 1:20 (w/v), to incorporate Ag into the zeolite framework. Characterizations such as XRD, AAS, and Agar diffusion assay were used to evaluate the properties of the synthesized Ag-exchanged zeolites (AgZ). X-ray diffraction revealed that both NaZ and AgZ have peaks mostly corresponding to the clinoptilolite structure, with some trace peaks of the mordenite and quartz. Absorption spectroscopy revealed that the ion exchange process added about 0.61188g of silver into the zeolite structure. This Ag content was seen to be enough to make the AgZ sample exhibit an antibacterial effect where clearing zones against E. coli and S. aureus were observed in the agar diffusion assay, respectively. The AgZ sample was also tested as ceramic filler to a polymer matrix-chitosan. The diffusion assay revealed presence of antibacterial activity to the polymer composite with AgZ fillers. These results indicate that the Philippine natural zeolite, incorporated with metals such as Ag, can be used as an antibacterial agent and can be developed as a ceramic filler to improve the antibacterial property of composite materials for biomedical application.

Spectrophotometric determination of L-cysteine by using polyvinylpyrrolidone-stabilized silver nanoparticles in the presence of barium ions.

PubMed

Bamdad, Farzad; Khorram, Fateme; Samet, Maryam; Bamdad, Kourosh; Sangi, Mohammad Reza; Allahbakhshi, Fateme

2016-05-15

In this article a simple and selective colorimetric probe for cysteine determination using silver nano particles (AgNPS) is described. The determination process was based upon the surface plasmon resonance properties of polyvinylpyrrolidone-stabilized AgNPS. Interaction of AgNPS with cysteine molecules in the presence of barium ions induced a red shift in the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) maximum of AgNPs, as a result of nanoparticle aggregation. Consequently, yellow color of AgNP solution was changed to pink. The linear range for the determination of cysteine was 3.2-8.2 μM (R=0.9965) with a limit of detection equal to 2.8 μM (3σ). The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of cysteine in human plasma samples. Acceptable recovery results of the spiked samples confirmed the validity of the proposed method. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Spectrophotometric determination of L-cysteine by using polyvinylpyrrolidone-stabilized silver nanoparticles in the presence of barium ions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bamdad, Farzad; Khorram, Fateme; Samet, Maryam; Bamdad, Kourosh; Sangi, Mohammad Reza; Allahbakhshi, Fateme

2016-05-01

In this article a simple and selective colorimetric probe for cysteine determination using silver nano particles (AgNPS) is described. The determination process was based upon the surface plasmon resonance properties of polyvinylpyrrolidone-stabilized AgNPS. Interaction of AgNPS with cysteine molecules in the presence of barium ions induced a red shift in the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) maximum of AgNPs, as a result of nanoparticle aggregation. Consequently, yellow color of AgNP solution was changed to pink. The linear range for the determination of cysteine was 3.2-8.2 μM (R = 0.9965) with a limit of detection equal to 2.8 μM (3σ). The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of cysteine in human plasma samples. Acceptable recovery results of the spiked samples confirmed the validity of the proposed method.

Influence of Thermal Treatment on the Antimicrobial Activity of Silver-Doped Biological Apatite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Popa, Cristina Liana; Ciobanu, Carmen Steluta; Voicu, Georgeta; Vasile, Eugenia; Chifiriuc, Mariana Carmen; Iconaru, Simona Liliana; Predoi, Daniela

2015-12-01

In this paper, we report the structural and morphological properties of silver-doped hydroxyapatite (AgHAp) with a silver concentration x Ag = 0.5 before and after being thermal treated at 600 and 1000 °C. The results obtained by X-Ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Raman spectroscopy suggest that the structure of the samples changes gradually, from hydroxyapatite (AgHAp_40) to a predominant β-TCP structure (AgHAp_1000), achieved when the thermal treatment temperature is 1000 °C. In the AgHAp_600 sample, the presence of two phases, HAp and β-TCP, was highlighted. Also, scanning electron microscopy studies suggest that the shape and dimension of the nanoparticles begin to change when the temperature increases. The antimicrobial activity of the obtained compounds was evaluated against Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans strains.

Enhanced photoelectrochemical and photocatalytic activity in visible-light-driven Ag/BiVO{sub 4} inverse opals

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Fang, Liang, E-mail: lfang@suda.edu.cn, E-mail: dawei.cao@tu-ilmenau.de; Nan, Feng; Yang, Ying

2016-02-29

BiVO{sub 4} photonic crystal inverse opals (io-BiVO{sub 4}) with highly dispersed Ag nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared by the nanosphere lithography method combining the pulsed current deposition method. The incorporation of the Ag NPs can significantly improve the photoelectrochemical and photocatalytic activity of BiVO{sub 4} inverse opals in the visible light region. The photocurrent density of the Ag/io-BiVO{sub 4} sample is 4.7 times higher than that of the disordered sample without the Ag NPs, while the enhancement factor of the corresponding kinetic constant in photocatalytic experiment is approximately 3. The improved photoelectrochemical and photocatalytic activity is benefited from two reasons: onemore » is the enhanced light harvesting owing to the coupling between the slow light and localized surface plasmon resonance effect; the other is the efficient separation of charge carriers due to the Schottky barriers.« less

Characteristics of escape mutations from occult hepatitis B virus infected patients with hematological malignancies in South Egypt.

PubMed

Elkady, Abeer; Iijima, Sayuki; Aboulfotuh, Sahar; Mostafa Ali, Elsayed; Sayed, Douaa; Abdel-Aziz, Nashwa M; Ali, Amany M; Murakami, Shuko; Isogawa, Masanori; Tanaka, Yasuhito

2017-03-28

To investigate the prevalence and virological characteristics of occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections in patients with hematological malignancies in South Egypt. Serum samples were collected from 165 patients with hematological malignancies to monitor titers of HBV DNA, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and antibodies to HBV core (anti-HBc) and surface antigens. Serum samples negative for HBsAg and positive for anti-HBc were subjected to nucleic acid extraction and HBV DNA detection by real-time polymerase chain reaction. DNA sequences spanning the S region were analyzed in cases with occult HBV infection. In vitro comparative study of constructed 1.24-fold wild type and S protein mutant HBV genotype D clones was further performed. HBV DNA was detected in 23 (42.6%) of 54 patients with hematological malignancies who were HBsAg negative, but anti-HBc positive, suggesting the presence of occult HBV infection. The complete HBV genome was retrieved from 6 occult HBV patients, and P120T and S143L were detected in 3 and 2 cases, respectively. Site directed mutagenesis was done to produce 1.24-fold genotype D clones with amino acid mutations T120 and L143. The in vitro analyses revealed that a lower level of extracellular HBsAg was detected by chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay (CLEIA) with the clone containing T120 mutation, compared with the wild type or the clone with S143L mutation despite the similar levels of extracellular and intracellular HBsAg detected by Western blot. Southern blot experiments showed that the levels of intracellular HBV DNA were not different between these clones. Occult HBV infection is common in patients with hematological malignancies and associated with P120T and S143L mutations. 120T mutation impairs the detection of HBsAg by CLEIA.

Characteristics of escape mutations from occult hepatitis B virus infected patients with hematological malignancies in South Egypt

PubMed Central

Elkady, Abeer; Iijima, Sayuki; Aboulfotuh, Sahar; Mostafa Ali, Elsayed; Sayed, Douaa; Abdel-Aziz, Nashwa M; Ali, Amany M; Murakami, Shuko; Isogawa, Masanori; Tanaka, Yasuhito

2017-01-01

AIM To investigate the prevalence and virological characteristics of occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections in patients with hematological malignancies in South Egypt. METHODS Serum samples were collected from 165 patients with hematological malignancies to monitor titers of HBV DNA, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and antibodies to HBV core (anti-HBc) and surface antigens. Serum samples negative for HBsAg and positive for anti-HBc were subjected to nucleic acid extraction and HBV DNA detection by real-time polymerase chain reaction. DNA sequences spanning the S region were analyzed in cases with occult HBV infection. In vitro comparative study of constructed 1.24-fold wild type and S protein mutant HBV genotype D clones was further performed. RESULTS HBV DNA was detected in 23 (42.6%) of 54 patients with hematological malignancies who were HBsAg negative, but anti-HBc positive, suggesting the presence of occult HBV infection. The complete HBV genome was retrieved from 6 occult HBV patients, and P120T and S143L were detected in 3 and 2 cases, respectively. Site directed mutagenesis was done to produce 1.24-fold genotype D clones with amino acid mutations T120 and L143. The in vitro analyses revealed that a lower level of extracellular HBsAg was detected by chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay (CLEIA) with the clone containing T120 mutation, compared with the wild type or the clone with S143L mutation despite the similar levels of extracellular and intracellular HBsAg detected by Western blot. Southern blot experiments showed that the levels of intracellular HBV DNA were not different between these clones. CONCLUSION Occult HBV infection is common in patients with hematological malignancies and associated with P120T and S143L mutations. 120T mutation impairs the detection of HBsAg by CLEIA. PMID:28396718

Ethanol extraction preparation of American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L) and Korean red ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer): differential effects on postprandial insulinemia in healthy individuals.

PubMed

De Souza, Leanne R; Jenkins, Alexandra L; Jovanovski, Elena; Rahelić, Dario; Vuksan, Vladimir

2015-01-15

Ginsenosides are the proposed bioactive constituent of ginseng, especially for the attenuation of postprandial glycemia (PPG). The efficacious proportion of total and specific ginsenosides, remains unknown. Alcohol extraction of whole ginseng root can be used to selectively manipulate the ginsenoside profile with increasing alcohol concentrations producing high yields of total ginsenosides and varying their individual proportions. We aimed to compare the acute efficacy of different ethanol-extraction preparations of American ginseng (AG) and Korean red ginseng (KRG), with their whole-root origins, on PPG and insulin parameters in healthy adults. Following an overnight fast, 13 healthy individuals (Gender: 5M:8F, with mean ± SD, age: 28.9 ± 9.2 years, BMI: 26.3 ± 2.7 kg/m(2) and fasting plasma glucose: 4.21 ± 0.04 mmol/L) randomly received 3g of each of the following 10 different ginseng treatments on separate visits: whole root KRG and AG; 30%, 50% or 70% ethanol extracts of KRG and AG and 2 cornstarch placebos. Treatments were consumed 40 min prior to a 50 g oral glucose challenge test with capillary blood samples collected at baseline, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90 and 120 min. Insulin samples were collected at 0, 30, 60 and 120 min. There was no difference in attenuation of PPG among the tested ginseng preparations. Measures of Insulin Sensitivity Index (ISI) showed increased insulin sensitivity (IS) with KRG-30% and AG-50% extracts compared to placebo (p<0.05). The insulin sensitizing effects of KRG-30% and AG-50% extracts suggest that other root parts, including other ginsenosides not typically measured, may influence PPG and insulin parameters. There is potential for AG and KRG extracts to modulate IS, an independent predictor of type 2 diabetes. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Exploring the doping effects of Ag in p-type PbSe compounds with enhanced thermoelectric performance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Shanyu; Zheng, Gang; Luo, Tingting; She, Xiaoyu; Li, Han; Tang, Xinfeng

2011-11-01

In this study, we prepared a series of Ag-doped PbSe bulk materials by a melting-quenching process combined with a subsequent spark plasma sintering process, and systematically investigated the doping effects of Ag on the thermoelectric properties. Ag substitution in the Pb site does not introduce resonant levels near the valence band edge or detectable change in the density of state in the vicinity of the Fermi level, but moves the Fermi level down and increases the carrier concentration to a maximum value of ~4.7 × 1019 cm-3 which is still insufficient for heavily doped PbSe compounds. Nonetheless, the non-monotonic variation in carrier concentration with increasing Ag content indicates that Ag doping reaches the solution limit at ~1.0% and the excessive Ag presumably acts as donors in the materials. Moreover, the large energy gap of the PbSe-based material wipes off significant 'roll-over' in the Seebeck coefficient at elevated temperatures which gives rise to high power factors, being comparable to p-type Te analogues. Consequently, the maximum ZT reaches ~1.0 for the 1.5% Ag-doped samples with optimized carrier density, which is ~70% improvement in comparison with an undoped sample and also superior to the commercialized p-type PbTe materials.

Serological markers of Hepatitis B and C among juvenile immigrants from Albania settled in Greece.

PubMed

Milionis, Charalampos

2010-12-01

Greece is a place of settlement for a large number of immigrants, particularly from Albania, which constitute special community groups for public health policies. This study was designed to assess the seroprevalence of serological markers for Hepatitis B and C among juvenile immigrants from Albania settled in Greece. The study population included 504 subjects, 418 males and 86 females, aged 10-23 years old who have emigrated from Albania to Pogoniani-Greece and participated voluntarily in vaccination programmes against Hepatitis B. The serum samples were examined with enzyme immune assays for the immunological markers HBsAg, anti-HBc, anti-HBs and anti-HCV. HBsAg positive samples were further tested for IgM anti-HBc, HBeAg and anti-HBe. Among the examined subjects, 40.5% were found positive for anti-HBc, indicating an HBV contamination. Specifically, 11.7% were carriers of HBsAg, whereas 28.8% were negative for HBsAg but positive for anti-HBc. Only 6.5% was positive exclusively for anti-HBs. The rest (53.0%) presented no positive serological markers. Among the HBsAg positive patients, 8.5% were found positive for HBeAg, while 5.1% was positive for IgM anti-HBc. Finally, only 0.6% of the sample presented antibodies against HCV. The examined migratory population is described by a high prevalence of Hepatitis B. Therefore, specific public health measures are necessary. However, no data was found that indicate potential public health dangers regarding hepatitis C.

Preparation of airborne Ag/CNT hybrid nanoparticles using an aerosol process and their application to antimicrobial air filtration.

PubMed

Jung, Jae Hee; Hwang, Gi Byoung; Lee, Jung Eun; Bae, Gwi Nam

2011-08-16

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been widely used in a variety of applications because of their unique structure and excellent mechanical and electrical properties. Additionally, silver (Ag) nanoparticles exhibit broad-spectrum biocidal activity toward many different bacteria, fungi, and viruses. In this study, we prepared Ag-coated CNT hybrid nanoparticles (Ag/CNTs) using aerosol nebulization and thermal evaporation/condensation processes and tested their usefulness for antimicrobial air filtration. Droplets were generated from a CNT suspension using a six-jet collison nebulizer, passed through a diffusion dryer to remove moisture, and entered a thermal tube furnace where silver nanoparticles were generated by thermal evaporation/condensation at ∼980 °C in a nitrogen atmosphere. The CNT and Ag nanoparticle aerosols mixed together and attached to each other, forming Ag/CNTs. For physicochemical characterization, the Ag/CNTs were introduced into a scanning mobility particle sizer (SMPS) for size distribution measurements and were sampled by the nanoparticle sampler for morphological and elemental analyses. For antimicrobial air filtration applications, the airborne Ag/CNT particles generated were deposited continuously onto an air filter medium. Physical characteristics (fiber morphology, pressure drop, and filtration efficiency) and biological characteristics (antimicrobial tests against Staphylococcus epidermidis and Escherichia coli bioaerosols) were evaluated. Real-time SMPS and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) data showed that Ag nanoparticles that were <20 nm in diameter were homogeneously dispersed and adhered strongly to the CNT surfaces. Because of the attachment of Ag nanoparticles onto the CNT surfaces, the total particle surface area concentration measured by a nanoparticle surface area monitor (NSAM) was lower than the summation of each Ag nanoparticle and CNT generated. When Ag/CNTs were deposited on the surface of an air filter medium, the antimicrobial activity against test bacterial bioaerosols was enhanced, compared with the deposition of CNTs or Ag nanoparticles alone, whereas the filter pressure drop and bioaerosol filtration efficiency were similar to those of CNT deposition only. At a residence time of 2 h, the relative microbial viabilities of gram-positive S. epidermidis were ∼32, 13, 5, and 0.9% on the control, CNT-, Ag nanoparticle-, and Ag/CNT-deposited filters, respectively, and those of gram-negative E. coli were 13, 2.1, 0.4, and 0.1% on the control, CNTs, Ag nanoparticles, and Ag/CNTs, respectively. These Ag/CNT hybrid nanoparticles may be useful for applications in biomedical devices and antibacterial control systems.

Controlled graphene oxide assembly on silver nanocube monolayers for SERS detection: dependence on nanocube packing procedure

PubMed Central

Banchelli, Martina; Tiribilli, Bruno; Pini, Roberto; Dei, Luigi

2016-01-01

Summary Hybrid graphene oxide/silver nanocubes (GO/AgNCs) arrays for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) applications were prepared by means of two procedures differing for the method used in the assembly of the silver nanocubes onto the surface: Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) transfer and direct sequential physisorption of silver nanocubes (AgNCs). Adsorption of graphene oxide (GO) flakes on the AgNC assemblies obtained with both procedures was monitored by quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) technique as a function of GO bulk concentration. The experiment provided values of the adsorbed GO mass on the AgNC array and the GO saturation limit as well as the thickness and the viscoelastic properties of the GO film. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements of the resulting samples revealed that a similar surface coverage was achieved with both procedures but with a different distribution of silver nanoparticles. In the GO covered LB film, the AgNC distribution is characterized by densely packed regions alternating with empty surface areas. On the other hand, AgNCs are more homogeneously dispersed over the entire sensor surface when the nanocubes spontaneously adsorb from solution. In this case, the assembly results in less-packed silver nanostructures with higher inter-cube distance. For the two assembled substrates, AFM of silver nanocubes layers fully covered with GO revealed the presence of a homogeneous, flexible and smooth GO sheet folding over the silver nanocubes and extending onto the bare surface. Preliminary SERS experiments on adenine showed a higher SERS enhancement factor for GO on Langmuir–Blodgett films of AgNCs with respect to bare AgNC systems. Conversely, poor SERS enhancement for adenine resulted for GO-covered AgNCs obtained by spontaneous adsorption. This indicated that the assembly and packing of AgNCs obtained in this way, although more homogeneous over the substrate surface, is not as effective for SERS analysis. PMID:26925348

Dose-response association between hepatitis B surface antigen levels and liver cancer risk in Chinese men and women.

PubMed

Yang, Yang; Gao, Jing; Li, Hong-Lan; Zheng, Wei; Yang, Gong; Zhang, Wei; Ma, Xiao; Tan, Yu-Ting; Rothman, Nathaniel; Gao, Yu-Tang; Chow, Wong-Ho; Shu, Xiao-Ou; Xiang, Yong-Bing

2016-07-15

We aimed at evaluating the risk of liver cancer in different levels of HBsAg among Chinese men and women. We carried out a nested case-control study including 363 cases and 3,511 controls in two population-based cohorts in Shanghai. Plasma samples collected at enrollment were quantified for HBsAg levels using the Architect QT assay. Conditional logistic regression was performed to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for liver cancer, with adjustment for potential confounders. HBsAg was detected in 6.29% of control subjects overall (7.02% in men and 4.98% in women). HBsAg levels were positively associated with liver cancer risk in a dose-response manner (ptrend  < 0.001). Such association showed a significant gender disparity. With increasing levels of HBsAg, liver cancer risks rose more steeply in men than in women. In men, the adjusted ORs increased from 7.27 (95% CI: 3.49-15.15) at the lowest detectable level of HBsAg (5-9 IU/ml) to 7.16 (95% CI: 3.21-15.96), 34.30 (95% CI: 16.94-69.44), and 47.33 (95% CI: 23.50-95.34) at the highest level of HBsAg (≥1,000 IU/ml) compared to those negative for HBsAg. The corresponding ORs were much lower for women, from 1.37 (95% CI: 0.25-7.47), 3.81 (95% CI: 1.09-13.28), 7.36 (95% CI: 2.41-22.46) and 16.86 (95% CI: 7.24-39.27), respectively. HBsAg quantification has potential to distinguish individuals at different risks of liver cancer. Men with the lowest detectable level of HBsAg should still pay attention to their liver cancer risks, but those with a higher level may be given a higher priority in future liver cancer surveillance program. © 2016 UICC.

Low molecular weight chitosan-coated silver nanoparticles are effective for the treatment of MRSA-infected wounds.

PubMed

Peng, Yinbo; Song, Chenlu; Yang, Chuanfeng; Guo, Qige; Yao, Min

2017-01-01

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are being widely applied as topical wound materials; however, accumulated deposition of silver in the liver, spleen, and other main organs may lead to organ damage and dysfunction. We report here that low molecular weight chitosan-coated silver nanoparticles (LMWC-AgNPs) are effective against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), have better biocompatibility, and have lower body absorption characteristics when compared with polyvinylpyrrolidone-coated silver nanoparticles (PVP-AgNPs) and silver nanoparticles without surface stabilizer (uncoated-AgNPs) in a dorsal MRSA wound infection mouse model. LMWC-AgNPs were synthesized by reducing silver nitrate with low molecular weight chitosan as a stabilizer and reducing agent, while PVP-AgNPs were synthesized using polyvinylpyrrolidone as a stabilizer and ethanol as a reducing agent. AgNPs with different surface stabilizers were identified by UV-visible absorption spectrometry, and particle size was determined by transmission electron microscopy. UV-visible absorption spectra of LMWC-AgNPs, PVP-AgNPs and uncoated-AgNPs were similar and their sizes were in the range of 10-30 nm. In vitro experiments showed that the three types of AgNPs had similar MRSA-killing effects, with obvious effect at 4 μg/mL and 100% effect at 8 μg/mL. Bacteriostatic annulus experiments also showed that all the three types of AgNPs had similar antibacterial inhibitory effect at 10 μg/mL. Cell counting kit-8 assay and Hoechst/propidium iodide (PI) staining showed that LMWC-AgNPs were significantly less toxic to human fibroblasts than PVP-AgNPs and uncoated-AgNPs. Treatment of mice with MRSA wound infection demonstrated that the three types of AgNPs effectively controlled MRSA wound infection and promoted wound healing. After continuous application for 14 days, LMWC-AgNPs-treated mice showed significantly reduced liver dysfunction as demonstrated by the reduced alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels and liver deposition of silver, in comparison to mice treated with uncoated-AgNPs or PVP-AgNPs. Our results demonstrated that LMWC-AgNPs had good anti-MRSA effects, while harboring a better biocompatibility and lowering the body's absorption characteristics.

Electrohydrodynamic spinning of random-textured silver webs for electrodes embedded in flexible organic solar cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yoon, Dai Geon; Chin, Byung Doo; Bail, Robert

2017-03-01

A convenient process for fabricating a transparent conducting electrode on a flexible substrate is essential for numerous low-cost optoelectronic devices, including organic solar cells (OSCs), touch sensors, and free-form lighting applications. Solution-processed metal-nanowire arrays are attractive due to their low sheet resistance and optical clarity. However, the limited conductance at wire junctions and the rough surface topology still need improvement. Here, we present a facile process of electrohydrodynamic spinning using a silver (Ag) - polymer composite paste with high viscosity. Unlike the metal-nanofiber web formed by conventional electrospinning, a relatively thick, but still invisible-to-naked eye, Ag-web random pattern was formed on a glass substrate. The process parameters such as the nozzle diameter, voltage, flow rate, standoff height, and nozzle-scanning speed, were systematically engineered. The formed random texture Ag webs were embedded in a flexible substrate by in-situ photo-polymerization, release from the glass substrate, and post-annealing. OSCs with a donor-acceptor polymeric heterojunction photoactive layer were prepared on the Ag-web-embedded flexible films with various Ag-web densities. The short-circuit current and the power conversion efficiency of an OSC with a Ag-web-embedded electrode were not as high as those of the control sample with an indium-tin-oxide electrode. However, the Ag-web textures embedded in the OSC served well as electrodes when bent (6-mm radius), showing a power conversion efficiency of 2.06% (2.72% for the flat OSC), and the electrical stability of the Ag-web-textured patterns was maintained for up to 1,000 cycles of bending.

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles in xylan solution via Tollens reaction and their detection for Hg(2+).

PubMed

Luo, Yuqiong; Shen, Suqin; Luo, Jiwen; Wang, Xiaoying; Sun, Runcang

2015-01-14

This work reported a facile and green method to prepare highly stable and uniformly distributed Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs), in which a biopolymer xylan was used as the stabilizing and reducing agent via the Tollens reaction under microwave irradiation. Different variables were evaluated to optimize the reaction conditions. Complete characterization was performed using UV-Vis, XRD, TEM, size distribution analysis and XPS. The results revealed that AgNPs were well dispersed with diameters of 20-35 nm due to the packing of xylan. The optimal conditions were as follows: microwave irradiation temperature was 60-70 °C, microwave power was 800 W, microwave time was 30 min, the ratio of xylan to AgNO3 was 50 mg: 0.13 mmol, and ammonia concentration was 2%. In addition, the AgNPs were collected via high-speed centrifugal separation, and the supernatant was tested by HPAEC, GPC, FT-IR, and NMR. By comparing the structure of xylan before and after the reaction, the reaction mechanism was discussed. It was noted that the xylan-AgNPs composites showed high selectivity and sensitivity for Hg(2+) detection. The other 15 metal ions used had no obvious effect on the detection of Hg(2+), and the limit of detection (LOD) was 4.6 nM, which is lower than the allowed maximum level of 30 nM for drinking water by WHO. In addition, the xylan-AgNPs composites can be applied for Hg(2+) detection in real water samples. This study provides a novel way for the high-value utilization of a rich biomass resource, and a green method for the synthesis of AgNPs for the selective and sensitive detection of harmful heavy metals.

Azimuthal correlation and collective behavior in nucleus-nucleus collisions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mali, P.; Mukhopadhyay, A., E-mail: amitabha-62@rediffmail.com; Sarkar, S.

2015-03-15

Various flow effects of nuclear and hadronic origin are investigated in nucleus-nucleus collisions. Nuclear emulsion data collected from {sup 84}Kr + Ag/Br interaction at an incident energy of 1.52 GeV per nucleon and from {sup 28}Si + Ag/Br interaction at an incident energy of 14.5 GeV per nucleon are used in the investigation. The transverse momentum distribution and the flow angle analysis show that collective behavior, like a bounce-off effect of the projectile spectators and a sidesplash effect of the target spectators, are present in our event samples. From an azimuthal angle analysis of the data we also see amore » direct flow of the projectile fragments and of the produced charged particles. On the other hand, for both data samples the target fragments exhibit a reverse flow, while the projectile fragments exhibit an elliptic flow. Relevant flow parameters are measured.« less

Efficacy and safety of nucleoside analogues in preventing vertical transmission of the hepatitis B virus from father to infant.

PubMed

Cao, L-H; Zhao, P-L; Liu, Z-M; Sun, S-C; Xu, D-B; Zhang, J-D; Shao, Z-H

2015-12-02

We examined the efficacy and safety of nucleoside analogues in preventing the vertical transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV) from father to infant. We included 201 patients who visited the liver clinic of our hospital. The patients were positive for HBV surface antigen (HBsAg), HBeAg, anti-HBc, and HBV DNA; 189 patients (94%) had abnormal liver function. In all couples, the fathers were HBV DNA-negative and had normal liver function, and the mothers were anti-HB-positive before pregnancy. The control group comprised 188 couples who visited our hospital during the same time period. The fathers in the control group were positive for HBsAg, HBeAg, anti-HBc, and HBV DNA. The mothers were HBsAg-negative and anti-HBs-positive. No infants in the case group were HBsAg-positive and HBV DNA-positive, and all were anti-HBs-positive, indicating that father to infant HBV vertical transmission was prevented in the case group. In the control group, 147 of 188 newborns (78.2%) were anti-HBs-positive at birth, 28 (14.9%) were HBV DNA-positive, and 19 (10.1%) were HBsAg-positive. A significant difference was observed between the two groups. No statistically significant difference was observed in the gestational age, birth weight, birth length, 1-min and 8-min Apgar score, jaundice, other internal and surgical diseases, delivery mode, and other birth information between the neonates born to couples in the case and control groups; there were no fetal malformations and stillbirths in the two groups. Our results showed that administration of antiretroviral therapy to HBV DNA-positive fathers before pregnancy can cause a decrease in the viral load and prevent father to infant HBV vertical transmission. The use of antiviral nucleoside analogues before pregnancy was safe in fathers, and the fathers who wanted children could continue to use anti-viral therapy. The sample size in our study was small, and further studies with a large sample size and longer follow-up time are required for determining the use of nucleoside analogues from the point view of prenatal and postnatal care.

The porous TiO2 nanotubes/Ag3PO4 heterojunction for enhancing sunlight photocatalytic activity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chi, Chunyan; Pan, Jiaqi; You, Mingzhu; Dong, Zongjun; Zhao, Weijie; Song, Changsheng; Zheng, Yingying; Li, Chaorong

2018-03-01

The porous TiO2 nanotubes/Ag3PO4 heterojunction are synthesized via simple electrospining and chemical co-deposition method. The results of SEM, XRD, TEM and XPS imply that the Ag3PO4 nanoparticles have been introduced on to the surface of TiO2 nanotubes successfully. Compared with the unmodified samples, the photocatalytic activity of the as-prepared porous TiO2 nanotubes/Ag3PO4 heterojunction exhibit a remarkable enhancement by the degradation of methylene blue (MB) under the sunlight. Further, the Z-Scheme structure of the samples and the porous-tubular structure of the TiO2 are considered as the main reasons for the enhancement.

High fluorescence emission silver nano particles coated with poly (styrene-g-soybean oil) graft copolymers: Antibacterial activity and polymerization kinetics.

PubMed

Hazer, Baki; Kalaycı, Özlem A

2017-05-01

Autoxidation of poly unsaturated fatty acids makes negative effect on foods. In this work, this negative effect was turned to a great advantage using autoxidized soybean oil as a macroperoxide nanocomposite initiator containing silver nano particles in free radical polymerization of vinyl monomers. The synthesis of soybean oil macro peroxide was carried out by exposing soybean oil to air oxygen with the presence of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) at room temperature. Autoxidized soybean oil macroperoxide containing silver nanoparticles (Agsbox) successfully initiated the free radical polymerization of styrene in order to obtain Polystyrene (PS)-g-soybean oil graft copolymer containing Ag NPs. Both autoxidized soybean oil and PS-g-sbox with Ag NPs showed a surface plasmon resonance and high fluorescence emission. Overall rate constant (K) of styrene polymerization initiated by autoxidized soybean oil macroperoxide with Ag NPs was found to be K=1.95.10 -4 Lmol -1 s -1 at 95°C. Antibacterial efficiency was observed in the PS-g-soybean oil graft copolymer film samples containing Ag NPs. 1 H NMR and GPC techniques were used for the structural analysis of the fractionated polymeric oils. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Development of a persistent superconducting joint between Bi-2212/Ag-alloy multifilamentary round wires

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Peng; Trociewitz, Ulf P.; Davis, Daniel S.; Bosque, Ernesto S.; Hilton, David K.; Kim, Youngjae; Abraimov, Dmytro V.; Starch, William L.; Jiang, Jianyi; Hellstrom, Eric E.; Larbalestier, David C.

2017-02-01

Superconducting joints are one of the key components needed to make Ag-alloy clad Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+x (Bi-2212) superconducting round wire (RW) successful for high-field, high-homogeneity magnet applications, especially for nuclear magnetic resonance magnets in which persistent current mode operation is highly desired. In this study, a procedure for fabricating superconducting joints between Bi-2212 RWs during coil reaction was developed. Melting temperatures of Bi-2212 powder with different amounts of Ag addition were investigated by differential thermal analysis so as to provide information for selecting the proper joint matrix. Test joints of 1.3 mm dia. wires heat treated in 1 bar flowing oxygen using the typical partial melt Bi-2212 heat treatment (HT) had transport critical currents I c of ˜900 A at 4.2 K and self-field, decreasing to ˜480 A at 14 T evaluated at 0.1 μV cm-1 at 4.2 K. Compared to the I c of the open-ended short conductor samples with identical 1 bar HT, the I c values of the superconducting joint are ˜20% smaller than that of conductor samples measured in parallel field but ˜20% larger than conductor samples measured in perpendicular field. Microstructures examined by scanning electron microscopy clearly showed the formation of a superconducting Bi-2212 interface between the two Bi-2212 RWs. Furthermore, a Bi-2212 RW closed-loop solenoid with a superconducting joint heat treated in 1 bar flowing oxygen showed an estimated joint resistance below 5 × 10-12 Ω based on its field decay rate. This value is sufficiently low to demonstrate the potential for persistent operation of large inductance Bi-2212 coils.

Effects of ion- and electron-beam treatment on surface physicochemical properties of polylactic acid

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pukhova, I. V.; Savkin, K. P.; Laput, O. A.; Lytkina, D. N.; Botvin, V. V.; Medovnik, A. V.; Kurzina, I. A.

2017-11-01

We describe our investigations of the surface physicochemical and mechanical properties of polylactic acid modified by silver, argon and carbon ion implantation to doses of 1 × 1014, 1 × 1015 and 1 × 1016 ions/cm2 at energies of 20 keV (for C and Ar) and 40 keV (for Ag), and by electron beam treatment with pulse-width of 100-300 μs in 50 μs increments at a beam energy 8 keV. Carbonyl bonds (sbnd Cdbnd O) related IR peak was reduced after ion and electron beam irradiation. Molecular weight of PLA decreases twice and does not depend on the nature of the bombarding particles. The microhardness of treated samples decreases by a factor of 1.3, and the surface conductivity increases by 6 orders of magnitude after ion implantation, and increases only modestly after electron beam treatment. Atomic force microscopy shows that surface roughness increases with irradiation dose. Samples irradiated with Ag to a dose of 1 × 1016 ions/cm2 show the greatest roughness of 190 nm.

Ag loading induced visible light photocatalytic activity for pervoskite SrTiO3 nanofibers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Yeqiu; He, Tao

2018-06-01

The synthesis and photocatalytic activities of Ag-SrTiO3 nanofibers were reported in this work. The fabricated Ag-SrTiO3 nanofibers were characterized by TG-DSC, XRD, IR, XPS, SEM, TEM, DRS and ESR techniques. The XRD and IR results show that Ag-SrTiO3 nanofibers have a perovskite structure after the heat treatment at 700 °C. The XPS result shows that Ag element exists as Ag0 in the fabricated Ag-SrTiO3 nanofibers. The SEM and TEM images indicate the obtaining of nanofibers with porous structure. The photocatalytic activity of Ag-SrTiO3 nanofibers was evaluated by degrading RhB and MB under visible light irradiation. The Ag-SrTiO3 nanofibers show excellent photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation because of the surface plasmon resonance effect of Ag0. In the photocatalysis process of RhB and MB, lots of hydroxyl radicals were generated, which plays the key role in the decomposition of organic pollutants.

Ag loading induced visible light photocatalytic activity for pervoskite SrTiO3 nanofibers.

PubMed

Wu, Yeqiu; He, Tao

2018-06-15

The synthesis and photocatalytic activities of Ag-SrTiO 3 nanofibers were reported in this work. The fabricated Ag-SrTiO 3 nanofibers were characterized by TG-DSC, XRD, IR, XPS, SEM, TEM, DRS and ESR techniques. The XRD and IR results show that Ag-SrTiO 3 nanofibers have a perovskite structure after the heat treatment at 700°C. The XPS result shows that Ag element exists as Ag 0 in the fabricated Ag-SrTiO 3 nanofibers. The SEM and TEM images indicate the obtaining of nanofibers with porous structure. The photocatalytic activity of Ag-SrTiO 3 nanofibers was evaluated by degrading RhB and MB under visible light irradiation. The Ag-SrTiO 3 nanofibers show excellent photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation because of the surface plasmon resonance effect of Ag 0 . In the photocatalysis process of RhB and MB, lots of hydroxyl radicals were generated, which plays the key role in the decomposition of organic pollutants. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effect of deposition time of sputtering Ag-Cu thin film on mechanical and antimicrobial properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Purniawan, A.; Hermastuti, R.; Purwaningsih, H.; Atmono, T. M.

2018-04-01

Metallic implants are important components in biomedical treatment. However, post-surgery infection often occurs after installation of implant. The infections are usually treated by antibiotics, but it still causes several secondary problems. As a prevention treatment, the surgical instruments and implants must be in a sterile condition. This action is still not optimal too because the material still can attract the bacteria. From material science point of view, it can be anticipated by developing a type of material which has antibacterial properties or called antimicrobial material. Silver (Ag) and Copper (Cu) have antimicrobial properties to prevent the infection. In this research, the influence of deposition time of Ag-Cu thin film deposition process as antimicrobial material with Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) RF Sputtering method was analyzed. Deposition time used were for 10, 15 and 20 minutes in Argon gas pressure around 3 x 10-2 mbar in during deposition process. The morphology and surface roughness of Ag-Cu thin film were characterized using SEM and AFM. Based on the results, the deposition time influences the quality morphology that the thin films have good homogeneity and complete structure for longer deposition time. In addition, from roughness measurement results show that increase deposition time decrease the roughness of thin film. Antimicrobial performance was analyzed using Kirby Bauer Test. The results show that all of sample have good antimicrobial inhibition. Adhesion quality was evaluated using Rockwell C Indentation Test. However, the results indicate that the Ag-Cu thin film has low adhesion strength.

Polymorphism of μ-Opioid Receptor Gene (OPRM1:c.118A>G) Might Not Protect against or Enhance Morphine-Induced Nausea or Vomiting

PubMed Central

Chen, Li-Kuei; Chen, Shiou-Sheng; Huang, Chi-Hsiang; Yang, Hong-Jyh; Lin, Chen-Jung; Chien, Kuo-Liong; Fan, Shou-Zen

2013-01-01

A cohort, double blind, and randomized study was conducted to investigate the effect of a single nucleotide polymorphism of the μ-opioid receptor at nucleotide position 118 (OPRM1:c.118A>G) on the association with the most common side effects (nausea or vomiting) induced by intravenous patient control analgesia (IVPCA) with morphine, including incidence and severity analysis. A total of 129 Taiwanese women undergoing gynecology surgery received IVPCA with pure morphine for postoperative pain relief. Blood samples were collected and sequenced with high resolution melting analysis to detect three different genotypes of OPRM1 (AA, AG, and GG). All candidates 24 h postoperatively will be interviewed to record the clinical phenotype with subjective complaints and objective observations. The genotyping after laboratory analysis showed that 56 women (43.4%) were AA, 57 (44.2%) were AG, and 16 (12.4%) were GG. The distribution of genotype did not violate Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium test. There was no significant difference neither between the severity and incidence of IVPCA morphine-induced side effects and genotype nor between the association between morphine consumption versus genotype. However, there was significant difference of the relation between morphine consumption and the severity and incidence of IVPCA morphine-induced nausea and vomiting. The genetic analysis for the severity and incidence of IVPCA morphine-induced nausea or vomiting showed no association between phenotype and genotype. It might imply that OPRM1:c.118A>G does not protect against IVPCA morphine-induced nausea or vomiting. PMID:23431434

Ag-ZnO nanostructure for ANTA explosive molecule detection

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Shaik, Ummar Pasha; Sangani, L. D. Varma; Gaur, Anshu

2016-05-23

Ag/ZnO nanostructure for surface enhanced Raman scattering application in the detection of ANTA explosive molecule is demonstrated. A highly rough ZnO microstructure was achieved by rapid thermal annealing of metallic Zn film. Different thickness Ag nanostructures are decorated over these ZnO microstructures by ion beam sputtering technique. Surface enhanced Raman spectroscopic studies carried out over Ag/ZnO substrates have shown three orders higher enhancement compared to bare Ag nanostructure deposited on the same substrate. The reasons behind such huge enhancement are discussed based on the morphology of the sample.

Development and Validation of Chronopotentiometric Method for Imidacloprid Determination in Pesticide Formulations and River Water Samples

PubMed Central

Đurović, Ana; Stojanović, Zorica; Kravić, Snežana; Grahovac, Nada; Bursić, Vojislava; Vuković, Gorica; Suturović, Zvonimir

2016-01-01

A new electrochemical method for determination of imidacloprid using chronopotentiometry on thin film mercury and glassy carbon electrode was presented. The most important experimental parameters of chronopotentiometry were examined and optimized with respect to imidacloprid analytical signal. Imidacloprid provided well-defined reduction peak in Britton-Robinson buffer on thin film mercury electrode at −1.0 V (versus Ag/AgCl (KCl, 3.5 mol/L)) and on glassy carbon electrode at −1.2 V (versus Ag/AgCl (KCl, 3.5 mol/L)). The reduction time was linearly proportional to concentrations from 0.8 to 30.0 mg/L on thin film mercury electrode and from 7.0 to 70.0 mg/L on glassy carbon electrode. The detection limits were 0.17 mg/L and 0.93 mg/L for thin film mercury and glassy carbon electrode, respectively. The estimation of method precision as a function of repeatability and reproducibility showed relative standard deviations values lower than 3.73%. Recovery values from 97.3 to 98.1% confirmed the accuracy of the proposed method, while the constancy of the transition time with deliberated small changes in the experimental parameters indicated a very good robustness. A minor influence of possible interfering compounds proved good selectivity of the method. Developed method was applied for imidacloprid determination in commercial pesticide formulations and river water samples. PMID:27042181

One pot light assisted green synthesis, storage and antimicrobial activity of dextran stabilized silver nanoparticles.

PubMed

Hussain, Muhammad Ajaz; Shah, Abdullah; Jantan, Ibrahim; Tahir, Muhammad Nawaz; Shah, Muhammad Raza; Ahmed, Riaz; Bukhari, Syed Nasir Abbas

2014-12-03

Green synthesis of nanomaterials finds the edge over chemical methods due to its environmental compatibility. Herein, we report green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) mediated with dextran. Dextran was used as a stabilizer and capping agent to synthesize Ag NPs using silver nitrate (AgNO3) under diffused sunlight conditions. UV-vis spectra of as synthesized Ag nanoparticles showed characteristic surface plasmon band in the range from ~405-452 nm. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) studies showed spherical Ag NPs in the size regime of ~50-70 nm. Face centered cubic lattice of Ag NPs was confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD). FT-IR spectroscopy confirmed that dextran not only acts as reducing agent but also functionalizes the surfaces of Ag NPs to make very stable dispersions. Moreover, on drying, the solution of dextran stabilized Ag NPs resulted in the formation of thin films which were found stable over months with no change in the plasmon band of pristine Ag NPs. The antimicrobial assay of the as synthesized Ag NPs showed remarkable activity. Being significantly active against microbes, the Ag NPs can be explored for antimicrobial medical devices.

Preparation of NO 2-Aged Silver-Functionalized Silica-Aerogel and Silver Mordenite Samples

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jordan, Jacob A.; Bruffey, Stephanie H.

2016-10-01

Reprocessing used nuclear fuel can result in the volatilization of radioactive gaseous species, including 129I, into the various process off-gas streams. In order to comply with US regulatory requirements, plant off-gas streams must be treated to remove the iodine prior to discharging the off-gas into the environment. The performance of available gas removal methods depends not only on the concentration of the volatile radioisotope of interest, but also on other constituents that could be present in the reprocessing off-gas streams. Some of the constituents, such as NOx produced during fuel dissolution, are known to have deleterious effects on the capturemore » performance of silver-based sorbents used for iodine removal. Commercially available reduced silver mordenite (AgZ) has an iodine saturation concentration of 7.0-9.0 wt%, and its iodine sorption capacity is reduced by 20-50% as a result of NO2 aging. Silverfunctionalized silica aerogel (AgAerogel), an alternative for iodine capture, has an initial iodine saturation of 29.0 wt% and its iodine capacity is only reduced by 15% from NO2 aging. Understanding the differences in aging behavior between AgZ and AgAerogel is critical to determining the behavior of these sorbents under realistic off-gas conditions. To assist in future technical studies on this topic, samples of both AgZ and AgAerogel were aged with NO2. In the experiment, 10.2190 g of AgZ and 10.1771 g of AgAerogel were exposed to a static 0.75% NO 2/dry air blend for a period of 28 days. The samples were then removed and stored under argon until needed for future experiments.=« less

[Improvement of sensitivity in the second generation HCV core antigen assay by a novel concentration method using polyethylene glycol (PEG)].

PubMed

Higashimoto, Makiko; Takahashi, Masahiko; Jokyu, Ritsuko; Syundou, Hiromi; Saito, Hidetsugu

2007-11-01

A HCV core antigen (Ag) detection assay system, Lumipulse Ortho HCV Ag has been developed and is commercially available in Japan with a lower detection level limit of 50 fmol/l, which is equivalent to 20 KIU/ml in PCR quantitative assay. HCV core Ag assay has an advantage of broader dynamic range compared with PCR assay, however the sensitivity is lower than PCR. We developed a novel HCV core Ag concentration method using polyethylene glycol (PEG), which can improve the sensitivity five times better than the original assay. The reproducibility was examined by consecutive five-time measurement of HCV patients serum, in which the results of HCV core Ag original and concentrated method were 56.8 +/- 8.1 fmol/l (mean +/- SD), CV 14.2% and 322.9 +/- 45.5 fmol/l CV 14.0%, respectively. The assay results of HCV negative samples in original HCV core Ag were all 0.1 fmol/l and the results were same even in the concentration method. The results of concentration method were 5.7 times higher than original assay, which was almost equal to theoretical rate as expected. The assay results of serially diluted samples were also as same as expected data in both original and concentration assay. We confirmed that the sensitivity of HCV core Ag concentration method had almost as same sensitivity as PCR high range assay in the competitive assay study using the serially monitored samples of five HCV patients during interferon therapy. A novel concentration method using PEG in HCV core Ag assay system seems to be useful for assessing and monitoring interferon treatment for HCV.

The influence of Pb and Ag doping on the Jc(H,T) dependence and the mechanical properties of Bi-2212 textured rods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sotelo, A.; Madre, M. A.; Diez, J. C.; Rasekh, Sh; Angurel, L. A.; Martínez, E.

2009-03-01

Textured rods of Bi-2212 based materials with nominal compositions Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ, Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ+1 wt% Ag, Bi1.6Pb0.4Sr2CaCu2O8+δ, and Bi1.6Pb0.4Sr2CaCu2O8+δ+3 wt% Ag were fabricated using a laser floating zone (LFZ) melting method. The electrical, magnetic, and mechanical properties of the resulting rods after annealing were characterized. Pb doping results in the decrease of the transport critical current density, Jc,t (from 4.4 × 107 to 6 × 106 A m-2 at 65 K and self-field) as well as in the worsening of the mechanical properties, by about 35% compared to the undoped samples. In contrast, Ag doping results in the improvement of both the critical current density and mechanical strength. In this regard we have observed an increase of Jc,t (65 K) from 4.4 × 107 for Bi-2212 to 7.2 × 107 A m-2 for Bi-2212/Ag and from 6 × 106 for Bi(Pb)-2212 to 8 × 106 A m-2 for Bi(Pb)-2212/Ag. These described effects are related to the microstructural observations, since Pb doping dramatically reduces the texture while Ag doping improves it. Moreover, for samples with Ag addition, an intergrowth of Bi-2223 inside the Bi-2212 grains is observed, which would explain the improved superconducting properties of these samples.

One-pot electrodeposition of cobalt flower-decorated silver nanotrees for oxygen reduction reaction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cho, Yun-Bin; Moon, Sinyoung; Lee, Chongmok; Lee, Youngmi

2017-02-01

In this paper, we demonstrate a simple fabrication of bimetallic silver (Ag) and cobalt (Co) nanostructures (AgCo) with various Ag to Co relative contents via electrochemical co-deposition. A series of AgCo catalysts was electrodeposited on glassy carbon (GC) electrodes at -0.57 V vs. SCE in the deposition solutions, containing Ag precursor, Co precursor, Triton X-100, and 0.3 M KNO3 aqueous solution, with various Ag to Co precursor concentration ratios (1:x, x was varied from 3 to 11). The films, deposited with the total deposition charge of 0.042C, were denoted as Ag1Cox. SEM and TEM analyses showed that Ag1Cox formed a structure consisted of flower-like Co grown on tree-like Ag backbones while it had more Co flowers with a greater x. The ORR activities were examined in 0.1 M NaOH solution with rotating disk electrode (RDE) voltammetry and Ag1Co7 showed the best catalytic activity. The co-deposition mechanism was further investigated by varying the deposition time of Ag1Co7. At the early stage of deposition, Ag-tree branches were formed predominantly, followed by the growth of flower-like Co nanostructures on the Ag nanotrees: More Co flowers were produced on Ag backbones with longer deposition time, being attributed to both a less negative reduction potential of Ag+ to Ag than Co2+ to Co and promoted Co2+ reduction on the initially formed Ag surface. Ag1Co7 electrodeposited for 200 s, consisted of ∼14% Co, showed the greatest ORR catalytic activity which was better or comparable to noble metal Pt.

Highly reliable Ag/Zn/Ag ohmic reflector for high-power GaN-based vertical light-emitting diode.

PubMed

Yum, Woong-Sun; Jeon, Joon-Woo; Sung, Jun-Suk; Seong, Tae-Yeon

2012-08-13

We report the improved performance of InGaN/GaN-based light-emitting diodes (LEDs) through Ag reflectors combined with a Zn middle layer. It is shown that the Zn middle layer (5 nm thick) suppresses the agglomeration of Ag reflectors by forming ZnO and dissolving into Ag. The Ag/Zn/Ag contacts show a specific contact resistance of 6.2 × 10(-5) Ωcm(2) and reflectance of ~83% at a wavelength of 440 nm when annealed at 500 °C, which are much better than those of Ag only contacts. Blue LEDs fabricated with the 500 °C-annealed Ag/Zn/Ag reflectors show a forward voltage of 2.98 V at an injection current of 20 mA, which is lower than that (3.02 V) of LEDs with the annealed Ag only contacts. LEDs with the 500 °C-annealed Ag/Zn/Ag contacts exhibit 34% higher output power (at 20 mA) than LEDs with the annealed Ag only contacts.

Directional Etching of Silicon by Silver Nanostructures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sharma, Pradeep; Wang, Yuh-Lin

2011-02-01

We report directional etching of nanostructures (nanochannels and nanotrenches) into the Si(100) substrates in aqueous HF and H2O2 solution by lithographically defined Ag patterns (nanoparticles, nanorods, and nanorings). The Effect of Ag/Si interface oxide on the directional etching has been studied by etching Ag/SiOx/Si samples of known interface oxide thickness. Based on high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) imaging and TEM-energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectra of the Ag/Si interfaces, we propose that maintenance of the sub-nanometer oxide at the Ag/Si interfaces and Ag-Si interaction are the key factors which regulate the directional etching of Si.

Solid phase extraction of trace amounts of Ag, Cd, Cu, and Zn in environmental samples using magnetic nanoparticles coated by 3-(trimethoxysilyl)-1-propantiol and modified with 2-amino-5-mercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole and their determination by ICP-OES.

PubMed

Mashhadizadeh, Mohammad Hossein; Karami, Zahra

2011-06-15

A fast, sensitive, and simple method using magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) coated by 3-(trimethoxysilyl)-1-propantiol and modified with 2-amino-5-mercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole, as an adsorbent has been successfully developed for extraction, preconcentration, and determination of trace amounts of Ag, Cd, Cu, and Zn from environmental samples. The prepared nanoparticles were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). These magnetic nanoparticles can be easily dispersed in aqueous samples and retrieved by the application of external magnetic field via a piece of permanent magnet. The main factors affecting the extraction efficiency such as pH value, sample volume, eluent concentration and volume, ultrasonication time, and coexisting ions have been investigated and established. Under the optimal conditions, high concentration factors (194, 190, 170, and 182) were achieved for Ag, Cd, Cu, and Zn with relative standard deviations of 5.31%, 4.03%, 3.62%, and 4.20%, respectively. The limits of detection for Ag, Cd, Cu, and Zn were as low as 0.12, 0.12, 0.13 and 0.11 ng mL(-1). The prepared sorbent was applied for preconcentration of trace amounts of Ag, Cd, Cu, and Zn in the various water samples with satisfactory results. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Isomorphism and solid solutions among Ag- and Au-selenides

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Palyanova, Galina A.; Seryotkin, Yurii V.; Kokh, Konstantin A.; Bakakin, Vladimir V.

2016-09-01

Au-Ag selenides were synthesized by heating stoichiometric mixtures of elementary substances of initial compositions Ag2-xAuxSe with a step of х=0.25 (0≤х≤2) to 1050 °С and annealing at 500 °C. Scanning electron microscopy, optical microscopy, electron microprobe analysis and X-ray powder diffraction methods have been applied to study synthesized samples. Results of studies of synthesized products revealed the existence of three solid solutions with limited isomorphism Ag↔Au: naumannite Ag2Se - Ag1.94Au0.06Se, fischesserite Ag3AuSe2 - Ag3.2Au0.8Se2 and gold selenide AuSe - Au0.94Ag0.06Se. Solid solutions and AgAuSe phases were added to the phase diagram of Ag-Au-Se system. Crystal-chemical interpretation of Ag-Au isomorphism in selenides was made on the basis of structural features of fischesserite, naumannite, and AuSe.

Adolescent booster with hepatitis B virus vaccines decreases HBV infection in high-risk adults.

PubMed

Wang, Yuting; Chen, Taoyang; Lu, Ling-Ling; Wang, Minjie; Wang, Dongmei; Yao, Hongyu; Fan, Chunsun; Qi, Jun; Zhang, Yawei; Qu, Chunfeng

2017-02-15

Neutralizing antibodies (anti-HBs) after immunization with hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccines against HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) wane after 10-15years. We analyzed the effect of an adolescent booster given to vaccination-protected children born to mothers with different HBsAg-carrying status against HBV infection in their mature adulthood. A total of 9793 individuals, who were HBsAg-negative at childhood (baseline) and donated blood samples, both during childhood and adulthood, from the vaccination group in "Qidong Hepatitis B Intervention Study", were enrolled. Among them 7414 received a one-dose, 10μg-recombinant HBV vaccine booster at 10-14years of age. At endpoint (23-28years of age), we determined the HBV serological markers and quantified their serum HBV-DNA in each of the chronic HBV-infected adults. Fifty-seven adults were identified as chronic HBV infection, indicated by HBsAg(+)&anti-HBc(+) for more than 6months. The individuals who were born to HBsAg-positive mothers (high-risk adults) had significantly increased risk of developing chronic HBV infections in adulthood compared with those who were born to HBsAg-negative mothers; the adjusted odds ratio (OR) was 12.56, 95%CI:7.14-22.08. The seronegative status of anti-HBs at 10-11years of age significantly increased the risk of HBV infections among the high-risk adults. When HBsAg(-)&anti-HBc(+) children who were born to HBsAg-positive mothers 70% of them remained as the status and 10% of them developed HBsAg(+)&anti-HBc(+). While when they were born to HBsAg-negative mothers 1.05% HBsAg(-)&anti-HBc(+) children developed HBsAg(+)&anti-HBc(+) and 24.74% of them remained as the status in 12-18years. One dose of adolescent booster showed significant protection on high-risk adults from chronic HBV infection; P for trend was 0.015. Maternal HBsAg-positive status was an independent risk factor for vaccination-protected children to develop HBV breakthrough infection in adulthood. Adolescent boosters might be appropriate for high-risk individuals who were born to HBsAg-positive mothers when their serum anti-HBs<10mIU/ml. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Immobilization of Ag nanoparticles/FGF-2 on a modified titanium implant surface and improved human gingival fibroblasts behavior.

PubMed

Ma, Qianli; Mei, Shenglin; Ji, Kun; Zhang, Yumei; Chu, Paul K

2011-08-01

The objective of this study was to form a rapid and firm soft tissue sealing around dental implants that resists bacterial invasion. We present a novel approach to modify Ti surface by immobilizing Ag nanoparticles/FGF-2 compound bioactive factors onto a titania nanotubular surface. The titanium samples were anodized to form vertically organized TiO(2) nanotube arrays and Ag nanoparticles were electrodeposited onto the nanotubular surface, on which FGF-2 was immobilized with repeated lyophilization. A uniform distribution of Ag nanoparticles/FGF-2 was observed on the TiO(2) nanotubular surface. The L929 cell line was used for cytotoxicity assessment. Human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) were cultured on the modified surface for cytocompatibility determination. The Ag/FGF-2 immobilized samples displayed excellent cytocompatibility, negligible cytotoxicity, and enhanced HGF functions such as cell attachment, proliferation, and ECM-related gene expression. The Ag nanoparticles also exhibit some bioactivity. In conclusion, this modified TiO(2) nanotubular surface has a large potential for use in dental implant abutment. Copyright © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Simple and rapid silver nanoparticles based antioxidant capacity assays: Reactivity study for phenolic compounds.

PubMed

Della Pelle, Flavio; Scroccarello, Annalisa; Sergi, Manuel; Mascini, Marcello; Del Carlo, Michele; Compagnone, Dario

2018-08-01

A single-step, rapid (10 min), sensitive silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) based spectrophotometric method for antioxidant capacity (AOC) assay has been developed. The assay is based on the ability of natural polyphenols to reduce Ag(I) and stabilize the produced AgNPs(0) at room temperature. Localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of AgNPs at ≈420 nm is then measured. Using different conditions of pH (8.4) and temperature (45 °C) a further assay based on the production of AgNPs with selectivity for flavonols was also developed. The reactivity of the two AgNPs based assays vs. 15 polyphenols belonging to different chemical classes and 9 different samples has been studied and compared with ABTS, Folin and AuNPs based methods for AOC. The proposed assays had good reproducibility (RSD ≤ 13) and are simple, sensitive and cost effective. Moreover, used in conjunction with the classical AOC assays, can improve the information on the polyphenolic pool of food samples. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Mapping of the spatial distribution of silver nanoparticles in root tissues of Vicia faba by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS).

PubMed

Krajcarová, L; Novotný, K; Kummerová, M; Dubová, J; Gloser, V; Kaiser, J

2017-10-01

The manuscript presents a procedure for optimal sample preparation and the mapping of the spatial distribution of metal ions and nanoparticles in plant roots using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) in a double-pulse configuration (DP LIBS) in orthogonal reheating mode. Two Nd:YAG lasers were used; the first one was an ablation laser (UP-266 MACRO, New Wave, USA) with a wavelength of 266nm, and the second one (Brilliant, Quantel, France), with a fundamental wavelength of 1064nm, was used to reheat the microplasma. Seedlings of Vicia faba were cultivated for 7 days in CuSO 4 or AgNO 3 solutions with a concentration of 10µmoll -1 or in a solution of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with a concentration of 10µmoll -1 of total Ag, and in distilled water as a control. The total contents of the examined metals in the roots after sample mineralization as well as changes in the concentrations of the metals in the cultivation solutions were monitored by ICP-OES. Root samples embedded in the TissueTek medium and cut into 40µm thick cross sections using the Cryo-Cut Microtome proved to be best suited for an accurate LIBS analysis with a 50µm spatial resolution. 2D raster maps of elemental distribution were created for the emission lines of Cu(I) at 324.754nm and Ag(I) at 328.068nm. The limits of detection of DP LIBS for the root cross sections were estimated to be 4pg for Cu, 18pg for Ag, and 3pg for AgNPs. The results of Ag spatial distribution mapping indicated that unlike Ag + ions, AgNPs do not penetrate into the inner tissues of Vicia faba roots but stay in their outermost layers. The content of Ag in roots cultivated in the AgNP solution was one order of magnitude lower compared to roots cultivated in the metal ion solutions. The significantly smaller concentration of Ag in root tissues cultivated in the AgNP solution also supports the conclusion that the absorption and uptake of AgNPs by roots of Vicia faba is very slow. LIBS mapping of root sections represents a fast analytical method with sufficient precision and spatial resolution that can provide very important information for researchers, particularly in the fields of plant science and ecotoxicology. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effect of Ag as a surfactant on the thermal stability in Cu/Co multilayers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gupta, M.; Gupta, A.; Amir, S. M.; Stahn, J.; Zegenhagen, J.

2010-02-01

In the present work we studied the effect of Ag as a surfactant in Cu/Co multilayers prepared by ion beam sputtering. Two identical samples of Cu/Co multilayers with 0.2nm Ag on a Cu buffer layer and without this Ag layer were deposited on Si substrates. It is known that Cu has a lower free energy than Co, and therefore, the Cu/Co interfaces are not symmetric. Addition of Ag alters the kinetics and thermodynamics of the growth and triggers the layer by layer growth as Ag floats on the growing front balancing the surface free energy of Cu and Co. It was found that with addition of Ag surfactant the thermal stability of Cu/Co multilayer improves.

Colorimetric recognition of 6-benzylaminopurine in environmental samples by using thioglycolic acid functionalized silver nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zheng, Mingda; He, Jiang; Wang, Yingying; Wang, Chenge; Ma, Shuang; Sun, Xiaohan

2018-03-01

A simple and selective colorimetric sensor thioglycolic acid capped silver nanoparticles (TGA-AgNPs) was developed for the detection of 6-benzylaminopurine (6-BAP). The synthesized TGA-AgNPs were characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and transmission electron microscopic (TEM) techniques. The TGA-AgNPs as a sensor for binding 6-BAP through hydrogen-bonding and π-π bonding that causes large conjugate clusters, resulting in a color change from yellow to reddish orange. The surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band of TGA-AgNPs at 397 nm is red-shifted to 510 nm, which confirms that 6-BAP induces the aggregation of TGA-AgNPs. Under the optimized conditions, a linear relationship between the absorption ratio (A510 nm/A397 nm) and 6-BAP concentration was found in the range of 4-26 μM. The detection limit of 6-BAP was 0.2 μM, which is lower than the other analytical techniques. Moreover, the proposed sensor was successfully applied for the detection of 6-BAP in environmental samples with good recoveries. The proposed assay provides a simple and cost-effective method for the analysis of 6-BAP in vegetable and water samples.

Determination of fluoxetine in pharmaceutical and biological samples based on the silver nanoparticle enhanced fluorescence of fluoxetine-terbium complex.

PubMed

Lotfi, Ali; Manzoori, Jamshid L

2016-11-01

In this study, a simple and sensitive spectrofluorimetric method is presented for the determination of fluoxetine based on the enhancing effect of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on the terbium-fluoxetine fluorescence emission. The AgNPs were prepared by a simple reduction method and characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. It was indicated that these AgNPs have a remarkable amplifying effect on the terbium-sensitized fluorescence of fluoxetine. The effects of various parameters such as AgNP and Tb 3+ concentration and the pH of the media were investigated. Under obtained optimal conditions, the fluorescence intensity of the terbium-fluoxetine-AgNP system was enhanced linearly by increasing the concentration of fluoxetine in the range of 0.008 to 19 mg/L. The limit of detection (b + 3s) was 8.3 × 10 -4 mg/L. The interference effects of common species found in real samples were also studied. The method had good linearity, recovery, reproducibility and sensitivity, and was satisfactorily applied for the determination of fluoxetine in tablet formulations, human urine and plasma samples. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Recyclable patterning of silver nanowire percolated network for fabrication of flexible transparent electrode

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yoo, Byungwook; Kim, Youngmin; Han, Chul Jong; Oh, Min Suk; Kim, Jong-Woong

2018-01-01

Recent studies have revealed that silver nanowires (AgNWs) are a promising material for highly flexible transparent electrodes. Here we introduce a novel photoinduced recyclable approach to AgNW patterning to overcome the issue of loss of material during fabrication of AgNW patterns, which is a leading factor in the high fabrication costs of AgNW-based electrodes. Our patterning scheme involves the selective irradiation of an AgNW/polymer composite with high-intensity pulsed light, followed by immersion of the sample in a liquid and an ultrasonication treatment. The nanowires that detach during sonication could be recycled, and the recycled AgNWs achieved comparable performance to that of pristine AgNWs. The recycled AgNWs were also superior to commercial indium tin oxide films and other competing materials. We successfully demonstrated a high performance transparent heater by employing the recyclable patterning method and recycled AgNWs.

Simple and Sensitive Colorimetric Assay for Pb2+ Based on Glutathione Protected Ag Nanoparticles by Salt Amplification.

PubMed

Chen, Zhang; Li, Huidong; Chu, Lin; Liu, Chenbin; Luo, Shenglian

2015-02-01

A simple and sensitive colorimetric assay for Pb2+ detection has been reported using glutathione protected silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) by salt amplification. The naked AgNPs aggregate under the influence of salt. Glutathione (GSH) can bind to AgNPs via Ag-S bond, helping AgNPs to against salt-induced aggregation. However, GSH binding to AgNPs can be compromised by the interaction between Pb2+ and GSH. As a result, Pb2+-mediated aggregation of AgNPs under the influence of salt is reflected by the UV-Visible spectrum, and the qualitative and quantitative detection for Pb2+ is accomplished, with the detection range 0.5-4 µM and a detection limit of 0.5 µM. At the same time, Pb2+ in real water sample is detected. Furthermore, the high selectivity and low cost of the assay means it is promising for enviromental applications.

Electrohydrodynamic printing of silver nanowires for flexible and stretchable electronics.

PubMed

Cui, Zheng; Han, Yiwei; Huang, Qijin; Dong, Jingyan; Zhu, Yong

2018-04-19

A silver nanowire (AgNW) based conductor is a promising component for flexible and stretchable electronics. A wide range of flexible/stretchable devices using AgNW conductors has been demonstrated recently. High-resolution, high-throughput printing of AgNWs remains a critical challenge. Electrohydrodynamic (EHD) printing has been developed as a promising technique to print different materials on a variety of substrates with high resolution. Here, AgNW ink was developed for EHD printing. The printed features can be controlled by several parameters including AgNW concentration, ink viscosity, printing speed, stand-off distance, etc. With this method, AgNW patterns can be printed on a range of substrates, e.g. paper, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), glass, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), etc. First, AgNW samples on PDMS were characterized under bending and stretching. Then AgNW heaters and electrocardiogram (ECG) electrodes were fabricated to demonstrate the potential of this printing technique for AgNW-based flexible and stretchable devices.

Large enhancement of UV luminescence emission of ZnO nanoparticles by coupling excitons with Ag surface plasmons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuiri, Probodh K.; Pramanik, Subhamay

2018-04-01

For an emitter based on bandgap emission, defect mediated emission has always been considered as the most important loss. Here, a novel approach which can overcome such emission loss is proposed using films of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) on Ag NPs embedded in silica. The effects of the size of Ag NPs on the enhancement of ultra-violet (UV) photoluminescence (PL) of ZnO NPs for such a system have been studied. For the ZnO NPs without Ag NPs, two emission bands have been seen: one in the UV region and the other one in the visible region. This UV PL emission intensity has been seen to increase significantly with a drastic reduction of the visible PL emission intensity in the case of the sample containing ZnO NPs on silica embedded Ag NPs. A linear increase in UV emission with increase in the size of Ag NPs has been found. For the largest size of Ag NPs (˜10 nm, considered in the present study), the PL emission enhancement becomes about 4 times higher than that of sample without Ag NPs. The observed enhancement of the UV PL emission was caused by coupling between spontaneous emission in ZnO and surface plasmons of Ag. The larger Ag NPs provided a larger scattering cross section in coupling surface plasmons to light leading to an increase in UV emission. Thus, it is possible to convert the useless defect emission to the useful excitonic emission with a large enhancement factor.

Regulation of plasma agouti-related protein and its relationship with hunger in lean and obese men.

PubMed

Hazell, Tom J; Sawula, Laura; Edgett, Brittany A; Walsh, Jeremy J; Gurd, Brendon J

2016-12-01

Agouti-related protein (AgRP) is an orexigenic (appetite stimulating) neuropeptide suggested to exert tonic control over long-term energy balance. While some have speculated AgRP is not involved in the episodic (i.e. meal to meal energy intake) control, acute decreases in plasma agouti-related protein (AgRP) following a meal have been observed in humans in a role consistent with episodic control for AgRP. Whether changes in plasma AgRP are associated with episodic, and/or tonic changes in appetite has yet to be directly examined. The present study examined the relationship between agouti-related protein (AgRP), leptin and the regulation of appetite following a 48-h fast and an acute meal challenge. Blood samples were obtained from young lean and obese men before and after a 48 h fast (lean n = 10; obese n = 7). Fasting resulted in an increase in AgRP and a decrease in leptin with these changes being greater in lean than obese. In addition, blood samples were obtained from lean men before and 1, 2, 3 and 4 h after a meal (n = 8). Following a meal, AgRP was reduced from 2 to 4 h, a change that was dissociated from both leptin and subjective measures of hunger and satiety. These results demonstrate that AgRP is not associated with changes in hunger or satiety, and can change without corresponding changes in leptin. This suggests that AgRP may not be involved in the episodic control of appetite and the release of AgRP may involve signals other than leptin. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The effects of nucleation and solidification mechanisms on the microstructure and thermomechanical response of tin silver copper solder joints

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arfaei, Babak

This work examines the nucleation mechanism of Sn in SnAgCu alloys and its effect on the microstructure of those solder joints. The nucleation rate of Sn in a SAC alloy was obtained by simultaneous calorimetric examination of the isothermal solidification of 88 flip chip Sn-Ag-Cu solder joints. Qualitative agreement with classic nucleation theory was observed, although it was concluded that the spherical cap model cannot be applied to explain the structure of nucleus. It was shown that the solidification temperature significantly affects the microstructure; samples that undercooled less than approximately 40oC revealed one or three large Sn grains, while interlaced twinning was observed in the samples that solidified at lower temperatures. In order to better understand the effect of microstructure on the thermomechanical properties of solder joints, a study of the dependence of room temperature shear fatigue lifetime on Sn grain number and orientation was conducted. This study examined the correlations of variations in fatigue life of solder balls with the microstructure of Sn-Ag-Cu solder. The mean fatigue lifetime was found to be significantly longer for samples with multiple Sn grains than for samples with single Sn grains. For single grain samples, correlations between Sn grain orientation (with respect to the loading direction) and lifetime were observed, providing insight on early failures in SnAgCu solder joints. Correlations between the lifetimes of single Sn grained, SAC205 solder joints with differences in Ag3Sn and Cu6Sn5 precipitate microstructures were investigated. It was found that Ag3Sn precipitates were highly segregated from Cu6Sn 5 precipitates on a length scale of approximately twenty microns. Furthermore, large (factor of two) variations of the Sn dendrite arm size were observed within given samples. Such variations in values of dendrite arm size within a single sample were much larger than observed variations of this parameter between individual samples. Few significant differences were observed in the average size of precipitates in different samples. While the earliest and latest lifetimes of single Sn grained samples were correlated with Sn grain orientation, effects of precipitate microstructure on lifetimes were not clearly delineated.

Levels and complexity of IgA antibody against oral bacteria in samples of human colostrum.

PubMed

Petrechen, L N; Zago, F H; Sesso, M L T; Bertoldo, B B; Silva, C B; Azevedo, K P; de Lima Pereira, S A; Geraldo-Martins, V R; Ferriani, V P L; Nogueira, R D

2015-01-01

Streptococcus mutans (SM) have three main virulence antigens: glucan binding protein B (gbpB), glucosyltransferase (Gtf) and antigens I/II (Ag I/II) envolved in the capacity of those bacteria to adhere and accumulate in the dental biofilm. Also, the glycosyltransferases 153 kDa of Streptococcus gordonii (SGO) and 170kDa of Streptococcus sanguinis (SSA) were important antigens associated with the accumulation of those bacterias. Streptococcus mitis (SMI) present IgA1 protease of 202 kDa. We investigated the specificity and levels IgA against those antigens of virulence in samples of human colostrum. This study involved 77 samples of colostrum that were analyzed for levels of immunoglobulian A, M and G by Elisa. The specificity of IgA against extracts of SM and initials colonizators (SSA, SMI, SGO) were analyzed by the Western blot. The mean concentration of IgA was 2850.2 (±2567.2) mg/100 mL followed by IgM and IgG (respectively 321.8±90.3 and 88.3±51.5), statistically different (p<0.05). Results showed that the majority of samples had detectable levels of IgA antibodies to extracts of bacteria antigens and theirs virulence antigens. To SM, the GbpB was significantly lower detected than others antigens of SM (p<0.05). High complexities of response to Ags were identified in the samples. There were no significant differences in the mean number of IgA-reactive Ags between the antigens (p>0.4). So, the breast milk from first hours after birth presented significant levels of IgA specific against important virulence of antigens those oral streptococci, which can disrupt the installation and accumulation process of these microorganisms in the oral cavity. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Low Cryptococcus Antigen Titers as Determined by Lateral Flow Assay Should Be Interpreted Cautiously in Patients without Prior Diagnosis of Cryptococcal Infection.

PubMed

Dubbels, Marie; Granger, Dane; Theel, Elitza S

2017-08-01

Detection of Cryptococcus antigen (CrAg) is invaluable for establishing cryptococcal disease. Multiple different methods for CrAg detection are available, including a lateral flow assay (LFA). Despite excellent performance of the CrAg LFA, we have observed multiple cases of low-titer (≤1:5) positive CrAg LFA results in patients for whom cryptococcosis was ultimately excluded. To investigate the accuracy of low-titer positive CrAg LFA results, we performed chart reviews for all patients with positive CrAg LFA results between June 2014 and December 2016. During this period, serum and/or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from 3,969 patients were tested with the CrAg LFA, and 55 patients (1.5%) tested positive. Thirty-eight of those patients lacked a history of cryptococcal disease and were the focus of this study. Fungal culture or histopathology confirmed Cryptococcus infection for 20 patients (52.6%), and CrAg LFA titers in serum and CSF samples ranged from 1:5 to ≥1:2,560. For the 18 patients (47.4%) without culture or histopathological confirmation, the CrAg LFA results were considered true-positive results for 5 patients (titer range, 1:10 to ≥1:2,560), due to clinical improvement with targeted therapy and decreasing CrAg LFA titers. The remaining 13 patients had CrAg LFA titers of 1:2 ( n = 11) or 1:5 ( n = 2) and were ultimately diagnosed with an alternative condition ( n = 11) or began therapy for possible cryptococcosis without improvement ( n = 2), leading to an overall CrAg LFA false-positive rate of 34%. We recommend careful clinical correlation prior to establishing a diagnosis of cryptococcal infection for patients with first-time positive CrAg LFA titers of 1:2. Copyright © 2017 American Society for Microbiology.

CdO nanorods and Cd(OH)2/Ag core/satellite nanorods: Rapid and efficient sonochemical synthesis, characterization and their magnetic properties.

PubMed

Abbas, Mohamed; Tawfik, Wael; Chen, Jiangang

2018-01-01

We have designed an efficient and direct sonochemical method for the facile synthesis of Cd(OH) 2 , CdO, and Cd(OH) 2 /Ag core/satellite nanorods. A Cd(OH) 2 nanorod was synthesized with a one-pot, environmentally-friendly aqueous sonochemical reaction, followed by calcination at 500°C to produce CdO nanorods. Thirty minutes of re-ultrasonicated CdO nanorods in the presence of the Ag precursor was sufficient for phase transformation from the cubic structure of CdO to the monoclinic crystalline structure of Cd(OH) 2 , accompanied by deposition of Ag nanodots on the surface to form Cd(OH) 2 /Ag core/satellite nanorods. X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, N 2 Brunauer-Emmett-Teller adsorption-desorption, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy measurements confirmed the successful formation of the various phases and the unique morphology of the nanorods/satellites. We also measured the magnetic properties using a vibrating sample magnetometer at room temperature, and the produced nanorods showed weak unsaturated ferromagnetic properties with a magnetic moment values of 0.105 and 0.076emu/g for CdO and Cd(OH) 2 /Ag NRs, respectively. In conclusion, our one-pot, cost-effective, sonochemical approach holds promise for the synthesis of various oxides and core/satellite nanoparticles. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Investigating Associations Between Proliferation Indices, C-kit, and Lymph Node Stage in Canine Mast Cell Tumors.

PubMed

Krick, Erika Lauren; Kiupel, Matti; Durham, Amy C; Thaiwong, Tuddow; Brown, Dorothy C; Sorenmo, Karin U

Previous studies have evaluated cellular proliferation indices, KIT expression, and c-kit mutations to predict the clinical behavior of canine mast cell tumors (MCTs). The study purpose was to retrospectively compare mitotic index, argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs)/nucleus, Ki-67 index, KIT labeling pattern, and internal tandem duplication mutations in c-KIT between stage I and stage II grade II MCTs. Medical records and tumor biopsy samples from dogs with Grade II MCTs with cytological or histopathological regional lymph node evaluation were included. Signalment, tumor location and stage, and presence of a recurrent versus de novo tumor were recorded. Mitotic index, AgNORs/nucleus, Ki-67, KIT staining pattern, and internal tandem duplication mutations in exon 11 of c-KIT were evaluated. Sixty-six tumors (51 stage I; 15 stage II) were included. Only AgNORs/nucleus and recurrent tumors were significantly associated with stage (odds ratio 2.8, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.0-8.0, P = .049; odds ratio 8.8, 95% CI 1.1-69.5; P = .039). Receiver-operator characteristic analysis showed that the sensitivity and specificity of AgNORs/cell ≥ 1.87 were 93.3% and 27.4%, respectively, (area under the curve: 0.65) for predicting stage. Recurrent tumors and higher AgNORs/nucleus are associated with stage II grade II MCTs; however, an AgNOR cutoff value that reliably predicts lymph node metastasis was not determined.

Errors in calculated oncotic pressure of dog plasma.

PubMed

Gabel, J C; Scott, R L; Adair, T H; Drake, R E; Traber, D L

1980-12-01

Several equations to calculate plasma oncotic pressure (pi) from the total protein concentration (C) have been previously described. These equations were derived empirically from samples with a wide range of C obtained by diluting or concentrating normal plasma samples. To test these equations over a range of naturally occurring C, we measured C and pi of plasma samples from 40 dogs. C ranged from 5.3 to 8.7 g/dl and averaged 6.5 +/- 0.1 (mean +/- SE) and pi averaged 17.9 +/- 0.3 mmHg. The regression equation was pi = 78.14 + 1.67 C (r = 0.74). pi increased with C much less than predicted with the commonly used equations. The albumin-to-globulin concentration ratios (A/G), determined in 27 of the dogs, decreased with increasing C (A/G = 1.56-0.128 C, r = 0.62). The lower A/G at the higher C's could cause the lower than predicted increase in pi with C, because the equations were developed from data in which A/G was constant.

Quantitative and qualitative assessment of argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions in normal, premalignant and malignant oral lesions.

PubMed

Khushbu, Buddhdev P; Chalishazar, Monali; Kale, Hemant; Baranwal, Malay; Modi, Tapan

2017-01-01

The aim of the study was to assess the cell proliferation and biologic aggressiveness of the lesions by evaluating the significance of number and dispersal pattern of Argyrophillic Nucleolar organizing Regions (AgNORs) using silver colloid technique in normal mucosa, premalignant and malignant lesions. In-vitro study, lab setting. The study sample consisted of five groups each with a sample size of 10 and a control group. Group I (Control), Group II (Oral Submucous Fibrosis - Mild dysplasia), Group III (Oral Submucous Fibrosis - Moderate dysplasia), Group IV (Leukoplakia - Mild dysplasia), Group V (Leukoplakia - Moderate dysplasia) and Group VI (Squamous cell carcinoma). Two sections were cut, of which one was stained with H/E stain for histopathological analysis and the second one with Silver nitrate for AgNOR counting and grading. The data obtained were analyzed both qualitatively and qualititavely. Student's Unpaired T test and One- way ANOVA. The Mean AgNOR count increased in the following ascending order: i.e OSMF with mild dysplasia, leukoplakia with mild dysplasia, OSMF with moderate dysplasia, leukoplakia with moderate dysplasia and squamous cell carcinoma. Qualititatively, Type II AgNOR pattern was found to be the predominant one in all the samples. Type III AgNOR pattern was found to be increasing with the increase in the grade of dysplasia. AgNOR quantity is proportional to the proliferative activity of the cell and does not necessarily always indicate malignancy. It is the qualitative characteristics of AgNOR that help to differentiate the premalignant and malignant lesions.

Simple electro-assisted immobilization of ciprofloxacin on carbon nanotube modified electrodes: its selective hydrogen peroxide electrocatalysis.

PubMed

Sornambikai, Sundaram; Kumar, Annamalai Senthil

2014-09-01

Ciprofloxacin (Cf) is a synthetic fourth generation fluoroquinolone class antibiotic used for the treatment of gram-positive, gram-negative and mycobacterium species infections. Electrochemical characteristic of the Cf antibiotic on carbon nanotube modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE/CNT) in pH 7 phosphate buffer solution has been investigated. Electrochemically oxidized radical byproduct of the Cf drug, which is formed as intermediate, gets immobilized on the GCE/CNT (GCE/Cf@CNT) and showed stable and well defined surface confined redox peak at -0.220 V versus Ag/AgCl. Control electrochemical experiment with unmodified GCE failed to show any such immobilization and redox features. Physicochemical characterizations of the Cf@CNT by transmission electron microscope, scanning electron microscope, infrared spectroscopy, UV-Vis and gas chromatography coupled mass spectroscopic analyses of Cf@CNT collectively revealed presence of native form of the Cf antibiotic molecule onto the CNT. The interaction between the Cf molecule and the CNT tubes are revealed from the decreased intensity in the Raman spectrum. The GCE/Cf@CNT showed excellent electrocatalytic response to hydrogen peroxide reduction reaction in pH 7 phosphate buffer solution. Amperometric i-t analysis for the detection of H2O2 showed a current linearity plot upto [H2O2] = 200 μM at an applied potential - 0.1 V versus Ag/AgCl with a current sensitivity value 678 μA mM(-1) cm(-2). No interferences were noticed with ascorbic acid, uric acid, cysteine and nitrite. The present study can be highly helpful to understand the interaction between the Cf and H2O2 in physiological systems and for the removal of Cf from the antibiotic polluted water samples especially in the aquaculture and agricultural systems.

Recrystallization Behavior in Mixed Solder Joints of BGA Components during Thermal Shock

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tan, Shihai; Han, Jing; Guo, Fu

2018-03-01

Sn-37Pb and Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu solder pastes printed onto a board were attached to ball grid array (BGA) samples using Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu solder balls. Before thermal shock, the initial grain orientations on the cross-section were obtained by scanning electron microscopy equipped with an electron backscattered diffraction system. Three mixed solder joints (two from the corner and another from the middle of the BGA component) and three lead-free solder joints (at the same positions) were selected to investigate the recrystallization behavior under thermal shock (TS) cycling conditions. All of the mixed and lead-free solder joints were initially single crystal. The results showed that recrystallization occurred in both the mixed and lead-free solder joints after 200 TS. For the mixed solder joints, more recrystallization was observed and the location of samples had a significant influence on their recrystallization behavior, while location was not as important for the lead-free samples after 200 TS in this study. Both the mixed and lead-free solder joints at the corner of BGA components showed the poorest reliability. According to misorientation distribution maps and subgrain rotation behaviors, the reliability of mixed solder joints was much poorer than that of lead-free solder joints.

Exon skipping of AGAMOUS homolog PrseAG in developing double flowers of Prunus lannesiana (Rosaceae).

PubMed

Liu, Zhixiong; Zhang, Dandan; Liu, Di; Li, Fenglan; Lu, Hai

2013-02-01

KEY MESSAGE : Two transcript isoforms of AGAMOUS homologs, from single and double flower Prunus lannesiana, respectively, showed different functions. The Arabidopsis floral homeotic C function gene AGAMOUS (AG) confers stamen and carpel identity. Loss of AG function results in homeotic conversions of stamens into petals and formation of double flowers. In order to present a molecular dissection of a double-flower cultivar in Prunus lannesiana (Rosaceae), we isolated and identified a single-copy gene, AG homolog from two genetically cognate P. lannesiana bearing single and double flowers, respectively. Sequence analysis revealed that the AG homolog, prseag-1, from double flowers showed a 170-bp exon skipping as compared to PrseAG (Prunus serrulata AGAMOUS) from the single flowers. Genomic DNA sequence revealed that abnormal splicing resulted in mutant prseag-1 protein with the C-terminal AG motifs I and II deletions. In addition, protein sequence alignment and phylogenetic analyses revealed that the PrseAG was grouped into the euAG lineage. A semi-quantitative PCR analysis showed that the expression of PrseAG was restricted to reproductive organs of stamens and carpels in single flowers of P. lannesiana 'speciosa', while the prseag-1 mRNA was highly transcribed throughout the petals, stamens, and carpels in double flowers from 'Albo-rosea'. The transgenic Arabidopsis containing 35S::PrseAG displayed extremely early flowering, bigger stamens and carpels and homeotic conversion of petals into staminoid organs, but ectopic expression of prseag-1 could not mimic the phenotypic ectopic expression of PrseAG in Arabidopsis. In general, this study provides evidences to show that double flower 'Albo-rosea' is a putative C functional ag mutant in P. lannesiana.

Plasmonic Ag coated Zn/Ti-LDH with excellent photocatalytic activity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Yanping; Zhu, Runliang; Zhu, Gangqiang; Wang, Miaomiao; Chen, Yannan; Zhu, Jianxi; Xi, Yunfei; He, Hongping

2018-03-01

Nowadays, two-dimensional (2D) nanosheets, such as layered double hydroxides (LDH), have received considerable attention for their potential to meeting clean energy demand and solving environmental problems. In this work, novel and efficient photocatalysts of plasmonic Ag nanoparticles coated Zn/Ti-LDH nanosheets have been synthesized through low-temperature reduction method. The structural characteristics of the as-prepared products were investigated by a series of characteristic methods The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) images showed that Ag nanoparticles were distributed on the surface of Zn/Ti-LDH uniformly. The UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS) showed that the absorbance of Ag/LDH in visible-light region enhanced markedly and presented a broad band at 500-600 nm, which was resulted from the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effect of Ag nanoparticles. The photocatalytic activities of Ag/LDH were evaluated by degradation of Rhodamine-B (RhB) and NO. The photocatalytic experiments showed that Ag/LDH had higher photocatalytic activity than that of pure LDH, and 2%Ag/LDH exhibited the highest photocatalytic activity. In addition, the 2%Ag/LDH exhibited high photochemical stability after multiple reaction runs. The obtained results from photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopic measurement and transient photocurrent (I-V) analysis both revealed the existence of Schottky barriers between LDH and Ag nanoparticles. The electron spin resonance (ESR) showed that rad OH were the dominant active species in the photo-degradation process. The enhanced photocatalytic performance of the composite should be ascribed to both the SPR effect of Ag nanoparticles in visible light and the Schottky barriers between LDH and Ag nanoparticles.

Two dimensional Z-scheme AgCl/Ag/CaTiO3 nano-heterojunctions for photocatalytic hydrogen production enhancement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiang, Ziyuan; Pan, Jiaqi; Wang, Beibei; Li, Chaorong

2018-04-01

The two dimensional(2D) Z-scheme AgCl/Ag/Ca/TiO3 nano-heterojunction is synthesized via simple preparation of hydrothermal-chemical co-deposition method. The results of SEM, EDS, elemental mapping, XRD, TEM, XPS and Raman shift imply that the AgCl/Ag nanoparticles have deposited on the surfaces of CaTiO3 nanosheets successfully. Compared with the unmodified samples, the photocatalytic activity of the as-prepared 2D AgCl/Ag/CaTiO3 nano-heterojunction exhibits a remarkable enhancement by the hydrogen production. Further, the photocatalytic process has been studied and the mechanism of the photocatalytic hydrogen production enhancement has been provided, which could be ascribed to the Z-scheme heterojunction and 2D lamellar structure of the CaTiO3.

Effect of Ti seed layers on structure of self-organized epitaxial face-centered-cubic-Ag(001) oriented nanodots

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kamiko, M.; Nose, K.; Suenaga, R.

2013-12-28

The influence of Ti seed layers on the structure of self-organized Ag nanodots, obtained with a Ti seed-layer-assisted thermal agglomeration method, has been investigated. The samples were grown on MgO(001) single crystal substrates by RF magnetron sputter deposition. The samples were deposited at room temperature and post-annealed at 350 °C for 4 h while maintaining the chamber vacuum conditions. The results of atomic force microscopy (AFM) observations indicated that the insertion of the Ti seed layer (0.6–5.0 nm) between the MgO substrate and Ag layer promotes the agglomeration process, forming the nanodot array. Comparisons between the AFM images revealed thatmore » the size of the Ag nanodots was increased with an increase in the Ti seed layer thickness. The atomic concentration of the film surface was confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The XPS result suggested that the nanodot surface mainly consisted of Ag. Moreover, X-ray diffraction results proved that the initial deposition of the Ti seed layer (0.6–5.0 nm) onto MgO(001) prior to the Ag deposition yielded high-quality fcc-Ag(001) oriented epitaxial nanodots. The optical absorbance spectra of the fabricated Ag nanodots with various Ti seed layer thicknesses were obtained in the visible light range.« less

Role of silver nanotube on conductivity, dielectric permittivity and current voltage characteristics of polyvinyl alcohol-silver nanocomposite film

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mukherjee, P. S.; Das, A. K.; Dutta, B.; Meikap, A. K.

2017-12-01

A comprehensive study on the prevailing conduction mechanism, dielectric relaxation and current voltage behaviour of Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) - Silver (Ag) nanotube composite film has been reported. Introduction of Ag nanotubes enhances the conductivity and dielectric permittivity of film. Film shows semiconducting behaviour with two activation energies. The dc conductivity of the nanocomposite film obeys the adiabatic small polaron model. The dielectric permittivity can be analysed by modified Cole-Cole model. A non-Debye type asymmetric behaviour has been observed in the sample. The back to back Schottky diode concept has been used to describe the current-voltage characteristic of the composite film.

Tunable and highly reproducible surface-enhanced Raman scattering substrates made from large-scale nanoparticle arrays based on periodically poled LiNbO3 templates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Xiaoyan; Kitamura, Kenji; Yu, Qiuming; Xu, Jiajie; Osada, Minoru; Takahiro, Nagata; Li, Jiangyu; Cao, Guozhong

2013-10-01

This work describes novel surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates based on ferroelectric periodically poled LiNbO3 templates. The templates comprise silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), the size and position of which are tailored by ferroelectric lithography. The substrate has uniform and large sampling areas that show SERS effective with excellent signal reproducibility, for which the fabrication protocol is advantageous in its simplicity. We demonstrate ferroelectric-based SERS substrates with particle sizes ranging from 30 to 70 nm and present tunable SERS effect from Raman active 4-mercaptopyridine molecules attached to AgNPs when excited by a laser source at 514 nm.

Laser fabrication of Ag-HA nanocomposites on Ti6Al4V implant for enhancing bioactivity and antibacterial capability.

PubMed

Liu, Xiangmei; Man, H C

2017-01-01

For titanium alloy implants, both surface bioactivity and antibacterial infection are the two critical factors in determining the success of clinical implantation of these metallic implants. In the present work, a novel nanocomposite layer of nano-silver-containing hydroxyapatite (Ag-HA) was prepared on the surface of biomedical Ti6Al4V by laser processing. Analysis using SEM, EDS and XRD shows the formation of an Ag-HA layer of about 200μm fusion bonded to the substrate. Mineralization tests in simulated body fluid (SBF) showed that laser fabricated Ag-HA nanocomposite layer favors the deposition of apatite on the surface of the implants. Antibacterial tests confirmed that all Ag-HA nanocomposite layers can kill bacteria while a higher Ag content would lower the cytocompatibility of these coatings. Cell viability decreases when the Ag content reaches 5% in these coatings, due to the larger amount of Ag leached out, as confirmed by ion release evaluation. Our results reveal that laser fabricated Ag-HA nanocomposite coatings containing 2% Ag show both excellent cytocompatibility and antibacterial capability. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Biosynthesis, characterization, and evaluation of bioactivities of leaf extract-mediated biocompatible silver nanoparticles from an early tracheophyte, Pteris tripartita Sw.

PubMed Central

Baskaran, Xavierravi; Geo Vigila, Antony Varuvel; Parimelazhagan, Thangaraj; Muralidhara-Rao, Doulathabad; Zhang, Shouzhou

2016-01-01

The objective of the study was to characterize silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) and their bioactivities in early tracheophytes (Pteridophyta). Aqueous leaf extract of a critically endangered fern, Pteris tripartita Sw., was used for one-step green synthesis of Ag-NPs. The biosynthesized Ag-NPs were characterized using ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. Morphologically, the Ag-NPs showed hexagonal, spherical, and rod-shaped structures. Size distributions of Ag-NPs, calculated using Scherrer’s formula, showed an average size of 32 nm. Ag-NPs were studied for in vitro antioxidant, antimicrobial, and in vivo anti-inflammatory activities. Ag-NPs exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity in carrageenan-induced paw volume tests performed in female Wistar albino rats. Furthermore, Ag-NPs showed significant antimicrobial activity against 12 different microorganisms in three different assays (disk diffusion, time course growth, and minimum inhibitory concentration). This study reports that colloidal Ag-NPs can be synthesized by simple, nonhazardous methods, and that biosynthesized Ag-NPs have significant therapeutic properties. PMID:27895478

Higher baseline viral diversity correlates with lower HBsAg decline following PEGylated interferon-alpha therapy in patients with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B.

PubMed

Li, Hu; Zhang, Li; Ren, Hong; Hu, Peng

2018-01-01

Viral diversity seems to predict treatment outcomes in certain viral infections. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between baseline intra-patient viral diversity and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) decline following PEGylated interferon-alpha (Peg-IFN-α) therapy. Twenty-six HBeAg-positive patients who were treated with Peg-IFN-α were enrolled. Nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR), cloning, and sequencing of the hepatitis B virus S gene were performed on baseline samples, and normalized Shannon entropy (Sn) was calculated as a measure of small hepatitis B surface protein (SHBs) diversity. Multiple regression analysis was used to estimate the association between baseline Sn and HBsAg decline. Of the 26 patients enrolled in the study, 65.4% were male and 61.5% were infected with hepatitis B virus genotype B. The median HBsAg level at baseline was 4.5 log 10 IU/mL (interquartile range: 4.1-4.9) and declined to 3.0 log 10 IU/mL (interquartile range: 1.7-3.9) after 48 weeks of Peg-IFN-α treatment. In models adjusted for baseline alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and HBsAg, the adjusted coefficients (95% CI) for ΔHBsAg and relative percentage HBsAg decrease were -1.3 (-2.5, -0.2) log 10 IU/mL for higher SHBs diversity (Sn≥0.58) patients and -26.4% (-50.2%, -2.5%) for lower diversity (Sn<0.58) patients. Further analysis showed that the "a" determinant upstream flanking region and the first loop of the "a" determinant (nucleotides 341-359, 371-389, and 381-399) were the main sources of higher SHBs diversity. Baseline intra-patient SHBs diversity was inverse to HBsAg decline in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients receiving Peg-IFN-α monotherapy. Also, more sequence variations within the "a" determinant upstream flanking region and the first loop of the "a" determinant were the main sources of the higher SHBs diversity.

AgFNS overexpression increase apigenin and decrease anthocyanins in petioles of transgenic celery.

PubMed

Tan, Guo-Fei; Ma, Jing; Zhang, Xin-Yue; Xu, Zhi-Sheng; Xiong, Ai-Sheng

2017-10-01

Apigenin and anthocyanin biosyntheses share common precursors in plants. Flavone synthase (FNS) converts naringenin into apigenin in higher plants. Celery is an important edible and medical vegetable crop that contains apigenin in its tissues. However, the effect of high AgFNS gene expression on the apigenin and anthocyanins contents of purple celery remains to be elucidated. In this study, the AgFNS gene was cloned from purple celery ('Nanxuan liuhe purple celery') and overexpressed in this purple celery to determine its influence on anthocyanins and apigenin contents. Results showed that the AgFNS gene was 1068bp, which encodes 355 amino acid residues. Evolution analysis showed that the AgFNS protein belongs to the FSN I type. In AgFNS transgenic celery, the anthocyanins content in petioles was lower than that wild-type celery plants. Apigenin content increased in the petioles of AgFNS transgenic celery. The transcript levels of the AgPAL, AgC4H, AgCHS, and AgCHI genes were up-regulated, whereas those of the AgF3H, AgF3'H, AgDFR, AgANS, and Ag3GT genes were down-regulated in the petioles of AgFNS transgenic plants compared with wild-type celery plants. This work provides basic knowledge about the function of the AgFNS gene in the anthocyanin and apigenin biosyntheses of celery. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Oral vaccination with salmonella simultaneously expressing Yersinia pestis F1 and V antigens protects against bubonic and pneumonic plague.

PubMed

Yang, Xinghong; Hinnebusch, B Joseph; Trunkle, Theresa; Bosio, Catharine M; Suo, Zhiyong; Tighe, Mike; Harmsen, Ann; Becker, Todd; Crist, Kathryn; Walters, Nancy; Avci, Recep; Pascual, David W

2007-01-15

The gut provides a large area for immunization enabling the development of mucosal and systemic Ab responses. To test whether the protective Ags to Yersinia pestis can be orally delivered, the Y. pestis caf1 operon, encoding the F1-Ag and virulence Ag (V-Ag) were cloned into attenuated Salmonella vaccine vectors. F1-Ag expression was controlled under a promoter from the caf1 operon; two different promoters (P), PtetA in pV3, PphoP in pV4, as well as a chimera of the two in pV55 were tested. F1-Ag was amply expressed; the chimera in the pV55 showed the best V-Ag expression. Oral immunization with Salmonella-F1 elicited elevated secretory (S)-IgA and serum IgG titers, and Salmonella-V-Ag(pV55) elicited much greater S-IgA and serum IgG Ab titers than Salmonella-V-Ag(pV3) or Salmonella-V-Ag(pV4). Hence, a new Salmonella vaccine, Salmonella-(F1+V)Ags, made with a single plasmid containing the caf1 operon and the chimeric promoter for V-Ag allowed the simultaneous expression of F1 capsule and V-Ag. Salmonella-(F1+V)Ags elicited elevated Ab titers similar to their monotypic derivatives. For bubonic plague, mice dosed with Salmonella-(F1+V)Ags and Salmonella-F1-Ag showed similar efficacy (>83% survival) against approximately 1000 LD(50) Y. pestis. For pneumonic plague, immunized mice required immunity to both F1- and V-Ags because the mice vaccinated with Salmonella-(F1+V)Ags protected against 100 LD(50) Y. pestis. These results show that a single Salmonella vaccine can deliver both F1- and V-Ags to effect both systemic and mucosal immune protection against Y. pestis.

The potential use of a layer-by-layer strategy to develop LDPE antimicrobial films coated with silver nanoparticles for packaging applications.

PubMed

Azlin-Hasim, Shafrina; Cruz-Romero, Malco C; Cummins, Enda; Kerry, Joseph P; Morris, Michael A

2016-01-01

Commercial low-density polyethylene (LDPE) films were UV/ozone treated and coated using a layer-by-layer (LbL) technique by alternating the deposition of polyethyleneimine (PEI) and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) polymer solutions and antimicrobial silver (Ag). The effects of the initial pH of the PEI/PAA polymer solutions alternating layers (pH 10.5/4 or 9/6.5) on the antimicrobial activity of the developed LbL coatings combined with Ag against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria were investigated. The results from fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and toluidine blue O assay showed that LDPE LbL coated using PEI/PAA polymer solutions with initial pH of 10.5/4 significantly increased the presence of carboxylic acid groups and after Ag attachment the coating had higher antimicrobial activity against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria compared to the LDPE LbL coated using PEI/PAA polymer solutions with initial pH of 9/6.5. The LDPE LbL coated films using non-modified pH PEI/PAA polymer solutions decreased the water contact-angle indicating an increased hydrophilicity of the film, also increased the tensile strength and roughness of LDPE LbL coated films compared to uncoated LbL samples. The LDPE LbL coated films attached with Ag(+) were UV/ozone treated for 20 min to oxidise Ag(+) to Ag(0). The presence of Ag(0) (Ag nanoparticles (NPs)) on the LDPE LbL coated films was confirmed by XRD, UV-vis spectrophotometer and colour changes. The overall results demonstrated that the LbL technique has the potential to be used as a coating method containing antimicrobial Ag NPs and that the manufactured films could potentially be applied as antimicrobial packaging. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Surfactant-mediated growth of cobalt on magnesium oxide(111)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Johnson-Steigelman, Harry Trevor

Monolayer films of Co have been deposited using an electrostatic electron-beam evaporator on single-crystal MgO(111)-( 3x3 ) R 30° and MgO(111)-(1x1) substrates held at room temperature (RT), with subsequent annealing of temperatures 400°C to 800°C. These films have been characterized using low-energy electron diffraction (LEED), x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Upon RT deposition of Co, the LEED pattern of the substrate disappears and the XPS signal of MgO features reduce in intensity. After short anneals of 400°C, the LEED pattern returns and the MgO features increase in intensity. AFM images suggest that islanding has occurred at the surface. This conclusion is supported by the behavior of thicker films of Co on MgO(111), which showed pronounced changes in the MgO related XPS features. The behavior of the Mg 2p and O 1s features were analyzed and compared to previously reported reconstructions of the MgO(111)-(1x1) and MgO(111)-( 3x3 ) R 30° surfaces. Ag was examined as a potential surfactant to aid in the growth of smooth Co films. Ag was deposited onto MgO(111)-( 3x3 ) R 30° substrates and investigated using XPS, LEED, and AFM. It was found that Ag formed islands upon annealing. Despite the fact that Ag formed islands, it was found that the presence of Ag did have a surfactant effect upon the thin-film growth of Co on Ag/MgO(111)-( 3x3 ) R 30° substrates with 1-2 ML of Ag. Co islands were still present, but much more smooth than islands formed without the Ag surfactant. XPS peak intensity changes and AFM suggest strongly that Ag floated to the top of these samples at temperatures above 400°C. The Co growth mode appears to be Volmer-Weber island growth, as seen in AFM.

Eco-friendly synthesis of silver nanoparticles and its larvicidal property against fourth instar larvae of Aedes aegypti.

PubMed

Ali, Zainal Abidin; Roslan, Muhammad Aidil; Yahya, Rosiyah; Wan Sulaiman, Wan Yusoff; Puteh, Rustam

2017-03-01

In this study, larvicidal activity of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) synthesised using apple extract against fourth instar larvae of Aedes aegypti was determined. As a result, the AgNPs showed moderate larvicidal effects against Ae. aegypti larvae (LC 50  = 15.76 ppm and LC 90  = 27.7 ppm). In addition, comparison of larvicidal activity performance of AgNPs at high concentration prepared using two different methods showed that Ae. aegypti larvae was fully eliminated within the duration of 2.5 h. From X-ray diffraction, the AgNP crystallites were found to exhibit face centred cubic structure. The average size of these AgNPs as estimated by particle size distribution was in the range of 50-120 nm. The absorption maxima of the synthesised Ag showed characteristic Ag surface plasmon resonance peak. This green synthesis provides an economic, eco-friendly and clean synthesis route to Ag.

The Impact of Anticipatory Grief on Caregiver Burden in Dementia Caregivers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Holley, Caitlin K.; Mast, Benjamin T.

2009-01-01

Purpose: Interest in anticipatory grief (AG) has typically focused on terminal diseases such as cancer. However, the issues involved in AG are unique in the context of dementia due to the progressive deterioration of both cognitive and physical abilities. The current study investigated the nature of AG in a sample of dementia caregivers and…

Asymmetric Flow Field Flow Fractionation Online with Single Particle – Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry: Detection and Quantification of Silver Nanoparticles in Aqueous Samples

EPA Science Inventory

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are increasingly being used in many consumer products as disinfectants. Through the use of these products, AgNPs could likely enter aquatic environments. Because recent studies have shown that AgNPs are toxic to various species, including microorgan...

Cropping Systems and Cultural Practices Determine the Rhizoctonia Anastomosis Groups Associated with Brassica spp. in Vietnam

PubMed Central

Soltaninejad, Saman; Höfte, Monica

2014-01-01

Ninety seven Rhizoctonia isolates were collected from different Brassica species with typical Rhizoctonia symptoms in different provinces of Vietnam. The isolates were identified using staining of nuclei and sequencing of the rDNA-ITS barcoding gene. The majority of the isolates were multinucleate R. solani and four isolates were binucleate Rhizoctonia belonging to anastomosis groups (AGs) AG-A and a new subgroup of A-F that we introduce here as AG-Fc on the basis of differences in rDNA-ITS sequence. The most prevalent multinucleate AG was AG 1-IA (45.4% of isolates), followed by AG 1-ID (17.5%), AG 1-IB (13.4%), AG 4-HGI (12.4%), AG 2-2 (5.2%), AG 7 (1.0%) and an unknown AG related to AG 1-IA and AG 1-IE that we introduce here as AG 1-IG (1.0%) on the basis of differences in rDNA-ITS sequence. AG 1-IA and AG 1-ID have not been reported before on Brassica spp. Pathogenicity tests revealed that isolates from all AGs, except AG-A, induced symptoms on detached leaves of several cabbage species. In in vitro tests on white cabbage and Chinese cabbage, both hosts were severely infected by AG 1-IB, AG 2-2, AG 4-HGI, AG 1-IG and AG-Fc isolates, while under greenhouse conditions, only AG 4-HGI, AG 2-2 and AG-Fc isolates could cause severe disease symptoms. The occurrence of the different AGs seems to be correlated with the cropping systems and cultural practices in different sampling areas suggesting that agricultural practices determine the AGs associated with Brassica plants in Vietnam. PMID:25372406

Influence of hardness on the bioavailability of silver to a freshwater snail after waterborne exposure to silver nitrate and silver nanoparticles.

PubMed

Stoiber, Tasha; Croteau, Marie-Noële; Römer, Isabella; Tejamaya, Mila; Lead, Jamie R; Luoma, Samuel N

2015-01-01

The release of Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) into the aquatic environment is likely, but the influence of water chemistry on their impacts and fate remains unclear. Here, we characterize the bioavailability of Ag from AgNO(3) and from AgNPs capped with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP AgNP) and thiolated polyethylene glycol (PEG AgNP) in the freshwater snail, Lymnaea stagnalis, after short waterborne exposures. Results showed that water hardness, AgNP capping agents, and metal speciation affected the uptake rate of Ag from AgNPs. Comparison of the results from organisms of similar weight showed that water hardness affected the uptake of Ag from AgNPs, but not that from AgNO(3). Transformation (dissolution and aggregation) of the AgNPs was also influenced by water hardness and the capping agent. Bioavailability of Ag from AgNPs was, in turn, correlated to these physical changes. Water hardness increased the aggregation of AgNPs, especially for PEG AgNPs, reducing the bioavailability of Ag from PEG AgNPs to a greater degree than from PVP AgNPs. Higher dissolved Ag concentrations were measured for the PVP AgNPs (15%) compared to PEG AgNPs (3%) in moderately hard water, enhancing Ag bioavailability of the former. Multiple drivers of bioavailability yielded differences in Ag influx between very hard and deionized water where the uptake rate constants (k(uw), l g(-1) d(-1) ± SE) varied from 3.1 ± 0.7 to 0.2 ± 0.01 for PEG AgNPs and from 2.3 ± 0.02 to 1.3 ± 0.01 for PVP AgNPs. Modeling bioavailability of Ag from NPs revealed that Ag influx into L. stagnalis comprised uptake from the NPs themselves and from newly dissolved Ag.

Influence of hardness on the bioavailability of silver to a freshwater snail after waterborne exposure to silver nitrate and silver nanoparticles

USGS Publications Warehouse

Stoiber, Tasha L.; Croteau, Marie-Noele; Romer, Isabella; Tejamaya, Mila; Lead, Jamie R.; Luoma, Samuel N.

2015-01-01

The release of Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) into the aquatic environment is likely, but the influence of water chemistry on their impacts and fate remains unclear. Here, we characterize the bioavailability of Ag from AgNO3 and from AgNPs capped with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP AgNP) and thiolated polyethylene glycol (PEG AgNP) in the freshwater snail, Lymnaea stagnalis, after short waterborne exposures. Results showed that water hardness, AgNP capping agents, and metal speciation affected the uptake rate of Ag from AgNPs. Comparison of the results from organisms of similar weight showed that water hardness affected the uptake of Ag from AgNPs, but not that from AgNO3. Transformation (dissolution and aggregation) of the AgNPs was also influenced by water hardness and the capping agent. Bioavailability of Ag from AgNPs was, in turn, correlated to these physical changes. Water hardness increased the aggregation of AgNPs, especially for PEG AgNPs, reducing the bioavailability of Ag from PEG AgNPs to a greater degree than from PVP AgNPs. Higher dissolved Ag concentrations were measured for the PVP AgNPs (15%) compared to PEG AgNPs (3%) in moderately hard water, enhancing Ag bioavailability of the former. Multiple drivers of bioavailability yielded differences in Ag influx between very hard and deionized water where the uptake rate constants (kuw, l g-1 d-1 ± SE) varied from 3.1 ± 0.7 to 0.2 ± 0.01 for PEG AgNPs and from 2.3 ± 0.02 to 1.3 ± 0.01 for PVP AgNPs. Modeling bioavailability of Ag from NPs revealed that Ag influx into L. stagnalis comprised uptake from the NPs themselves and from newly dissolved Ag.

Fluid inclusion chemistry of adularia-sericite epithermal Au-Ag deposits of the southern Hauraki Goldfield, New Zealand

USGS Publications Warehouse

Simpson, Mark P.; Strmic Palinkas, Sabina; Mauk, Jeffrey L.; Bodnar, Robert J.

2015-01-01

LA-ICP-MS analyses show that in some cases different fluid inclusion assemblages (FIAs) within a single sample trapped fluids with variable chemistries. These differences likely reflect modification of a single parent fluid through mineral dissolution and precipitation, water/rock interactions, boiling and vapor loss, conductive cooling, and mixing.

Impact assessment of silver nanoparticles on plant growth and soil bacterial diversity.

PubMed

Pallavi; Mehta, C M; Srivastava, Rashmi; Arora, Sandeep; Sharma, A K

2016-12-01

The present study was carried out to investigate the impact of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on the growth of three different crop species, wheat (Triticum aestivum, var. UP2338), cowpea (Vigna sinensis, var. Pusa Komal), and Brassica (Brassica juncea, var. Pusa Jai Kisan), along with their impact on the rhizospheric bacterial diversity. Three different concentrations (0, 50 and 75 ppm) of AgNPs were applied through foliar spray. After harvesting, shoot and root parameters were compared, and it was observed that wheat was relatively unaffected by all AgNP treatments. The optimum growth promotion and increased root nodulation were observed at 50 ppm treatment in cowpea, while improved shoot parameters were recorded at 75 ppm in Brassica. To observe the impact of AgNPs on soil bacterial community, sampling was carried out from the rhizosphere of these crops at 20 and 40 days after the spraying of AgNPS. The bacterial diversity of these samples was analyzed by both cultural and molecular techniques (denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis). It is clearly evident from the results that application of AgNPs changes the soil bacterial diversity and this is further influenced by the plant species grown in that soil. Also, the functional bacterial diversity differed with different concentrations of AgNPs.

Physicochemical and antibacterial characterization of ionocity Ag/Cu powder nanoparticles

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Nowak, A., E-mail: ana.maria.nowak@gmail.com; Silesian Center for Education and Interdisciplinary Research, 75 Pułku Piechoty 1A, 41-500 Chorzów; Szade, J.

Metal ion in bimetallic nanoparticles has shown vast potential in a variety of applications. In this paper we show the results of physical and chemical investigations of powder Ag/Cu nanoparticles obtained by chemical synthesis. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) experiment indicated the presence of bimetallic nanoparticles in the agglomerated form. The average size of silver and copper nanoparticles is 17.1(4) nm (Ag) and 28.9(2) nm (Cu) basing on the X-ray diffraction (XRD) data. X-ray photoelectron (XPS) and Raman spectroscopies revealed the existence of metallic silver and copper as well as Cu{sub 2}O and CuO being a part of the nanoparticles. Moreover,more » UV–Vis spectroscopy showed surface alloy of Ag and Cu while Time of Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectroscopy (ToF-SIMS) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX) showed heterogeneously distributed Ag structures placed on spherical Cu nanoparticles. The tests of antibacterial activity show promising killing/inhibiting growth behaviour for Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. - Highlights: • Ag/Cu nanoparticles were obtained in the powder form. • The average size of nanoparticles is 17.1(4) nm (Ag) and 28.9(2) nm (Cu). • Ag/Cu powder nanoparticle shows promising antibacterial properties.« less

Development of carbon dots modified fluorescent molecular imprinted Polymer@Ag/AgCl nanoparticle for hepatocellular carcinoma marker

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karfa, Paramita; Madhuri, Rashmi; Sharma, Prashant K.

2017-05-01

In this work, a sensitive and selective fluorescent molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) was developed for detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) biomarker i.e. alpha feto protein (AFP) using Ag/AgCl as platform. Here, the carbon dots and Ag/AgCl nanoparticles were functionalized with vinyl groups and used as functional monomer for synthesis of AFP-imprinted polymer. The imprinted polymer shows a linear range of 3.96 ng mL-1 to 80.0 ng mL-1 with detection limit of 0.42 ng mL-1.The adsorption property of the MIP@Ag/AgCl was studied and shows the high affinity binding towards their target analyte without any cross-reactivity and false-positive or false-negative results.

Historic and current hepatitis B viral DNA and quantitative HBsAg level are not associated with cirrhosis in non-Asian women with chronic hepatitis B.

PubMed

Harkisoen, S; Arends, J E; van den Hoek, J A R; Whelan, J; van Erpecum, K J; Boland, G J; Hoepelman, A I M

2014-12-01

Some studies done in Asian patients have shown that serum levels of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA predict the development of cirrhosis. However, it is unclear whether this also applies for non-Asian patients. This study investigated historic and current HBV DNA and quantitative hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) levels as predictors of cirrhosis in non-Asian women with chronic HBV. A retrospective cohort study of non-Asian women with chronic HBV was performed. Among other variables, HBV DNA and quantitative HBsAg levels were measured in stored historic serum samples obtained during pregnancy (period 1990-2004) and current serum samples (period 2011-2012) to determine any association with liver cirrhosis by liver stiffness measurement (LSM). One hundred and nineteen asymptomatic, treatment-naïve non-Asian women were included; the median number of years between the historic sample and the current sample was 17 (interquartile range (IQR) 13-20). The median historic log HBV DNA and quantitative log HBsAg levels were 2.5 (IQR 1.9-3.4) IU/ml and 4.2 (IQR 3.6-4.5) IU/ml, respectively. LSM diagnosed 14 patients (12%) with F3-F4 fibrosis, i.e. stiffness >8.1kPa. No association of cirrhosis was found with historic HBV DNA (relative risk (RR) 0.34, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.05-2.44) or with the quantitative HBsAg level (HBsAg level >1000 IU/ml, RR 0.35, 95% CI 0.11-1.11). Multivariable analysis identified alcohol consumption (odds ratio (OR) 6.4, 95% CI 1.3-30.1), aspartate aminotransferase >0.5 times the upper limit of normal (OR 15.4, 95% CI 1.9-122.6), and prothrombin time (OR 12.0, 95% CI 1.2-120.4), but not HBV DNA or quantitative HBsAg level, to be independent predictors of the presence of cirrhosis. Neither historic nor current HBV DNA or the quantitative HBsAg level is associated with the development of HBV-related cirrhosis in non-Asian women. Copyright © 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Significant contribution of subtype G to HIV-1 genetic complexity in Nigeria identified by a newly developed subtyping assay specific for subtype G and CRF02_AG

PubMed Central

Heipertz, Richard A.; Ayemoba, Ojor; Sanders-Buell, Eric; Poltavee, Kultida; Pham, Phuc; Kijak, Gustavo H.; Lei, Esther; Bose, Meera; Howell, Shana; O'Sullivan, Anne Marie; Bates, Adam; Cervenka, Taylor; Kuroiwa, Janelle; Akintunde, Akindiran; Ibezim, Onyekachukwu; Alabi, Abraham; Okoye, Obumneke; Manak, Mark; Malia, Jennifer; Peel, Sheila; Maisaka, Mohammed; Singer, Darrell; O’Connell, Robert J.; Robb, Merlin L.; Kim, Jerome H.; Michael, Nelson L.; Njoku, Ogbonnaya; Tovanabutra, Sodsai

2016-01-01

Abstract While abundant sequence information is available from human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) subtypes A, B, C and CRF01_AE for HIV-1 vaccine design, sequences from West Africa are less represented. We sought to augment our understanding of HIV-1 variants circulating in 6 Nigerian cities as a step to subsequent HIV-1 vaccine development. The G/CRF02_AG multi-region hybridization assay (MHA) was developed to differentiate subtype G, CRF02_AG and their recombinants from other subtypes based on 7 HIV-1 segments. Plasma from 224 HIV-1 infected volunteers enrolled in a cohort examining HIV-1 prevalence, risk factor, and subtype from Makurdi (30), Abuja (18), Enugu (11), Kaduna (12), Tafa (95), and Ojo/Lagos (58) was analyzed using MHA. HIV-1 genomes from 42 samples were sequenced to validate the MHA and fully explore the recombinant structure of G and CRF02_AG variants. The sensitivity and specificity of MHA varied between 73–100% and 90–100%, respectively. The subtype distribution as identified by MHA among 224 samples revealed 38% CRF02_AG, 28% G, and 26% G/CRF02_AG recombinants while 8% remained nontypeable strains. In envelope (env) gp120, 38.84% of the samples reacted to a G probe while 31.25% reacted to a CRF02 (subtype A) probe. Full genome characterization of 42 sequences revealed the complexity of Nigerian HIV-1 variants. CRF02_AG, subtype G, and their recombinants were the major circulating HIV-1 variants in 6 Nigerian cities. High proportions of samples reacted to a G probe in env gp120 confirms that subtype G infections are abundant and should be considered in strategies for global HIV-1 vaccine development. PMID:27512845

Spryite, {{Ag}}8({{{As}}_{0.5}^{3 +} {{As}}_{0.5}^{5 +}}){{S}}6: structure determination and inferred absence of superionic conduction of the first As3+-bearing argyrodite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bindi, Luca; Keutsch, Frank N.; Morana, Marta; Zaccarini, Federica

2017-01-01

We report data on the composition and crystal structure of the first As3+-bearing natural argyrodite, spryite. Spryite has the formula ({{{Ag}}_{7.98} {{Cu}}_{0.05}})_{Σ = 8.03} ({{{As}}_{0.31}^{5 +} {{Ge}}_{0.36} {{As}}_{0.31}^{3 +} {{Fe}}_{0.02}^{3 +}})_{Σ = 1.00} {{S}}_{5.97}, ideally {{Ag}}8 ({{{As}}_{0.5}^{3 +} {{As}}_{0.5}^{5 +}}){{S}}6. The crystal studied was found in a sample from the Uchucchacua polymetallic deposit, Oyon district, Cajatambo, Lima Department, Peru. The structure was refined in the space group Pna21 up to R = 0.0782 using 2099 observed reflections [2 σ( I) level]. Spryite is intimately twinned with six twin domains. The structure solution showed that As3+ and As5+ coexist in the new mineral, which represents the first case ever discovered in either a mineral or a synthetic compound belonging to a sulfide/sulfosalt group. High-temperature in situ X-ray diffraction experiments indicated that no phase transitions occur in the temperature range investigated and that the mineral does not show any evidence of fast ionic conduction.

Expanded Analysis of Hot Isostatic Pressed Iodine-Loaded Silver-Exchanged Mordenite

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jubin, R. T.; Bruffey, S. H.; Patton, K. K.

2014-09-30

Reduced silver-exchanged mordenite (Ag0Z) is being evaluated as a potential material to control the release of radioactive iodine that is released during the reprocessing of used nuclear fuel into the plant off-gas streams. The purpose of this study was to determine if hot pressing could directly convert this iodine loaded sorbent into a waste form suitable for long-term disposition. The minimal pretreatment required for production of pressed pellets makes hot pressing a technically and economically desirable process. Initial scoping studies utilized hot uniaxial pressing (HUPing) to prepare samples of non-iodine-loaded reduced silver exchanged mordenite (Ag0Z). The resulting samples were verymore » fragile due to the low pressure (~ 28 MPa) used. It was recommended that hot isostatic pressing (HIPing), performed at higher temperatures and pressures, be investigated. HIPing was carried out in two phases, with a third and final phase currently underway. Phase I evaluated the effects of pressure and temperature conditions on the manufacture of a pressed sample. The base material was an engineered form of silver zeolite. Six samples of Ag0Z and two samples of I-Ag0Z were pressed. It was found that HIPing produced a pressed pellet of high density. Analysis of each pressed pellet by scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectrophotometry (SEM-EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) demonstrated that under the conditions used for pressing, the majority of the material transforms into an amorphous structure. The only crystalline phase observed in the pressed Ag0Z material was SiO2. For the samples loaded with iodine (I-Ag0Z) iodine was present as AgI clusters at low temperatures, and transformed into AgIO4 at high temperatures. Surface mapping and EDS demonstrate segregation between silver iodide phases and silicon dioxide phases. Based on the results of the Phase I study, an expanded test matrix was developed to examine the effects of multiple source materials, compositional variations, and an expanded temperature range. Each sample was analyzed with the approach used in Phase I. In all cases, there is nothing in the SEM or XRD analyses that indicates creation of any AgI-containing silicon phase, with the samples being found to be largely amorphous. Phase III of this study has been initiated and is the final phase of scoping tests. It will expand upon the test matrix completed in Phase II and will examine the durability of the pressed pellets through product consistency testing (PCT) studies. Transformation of the component material into a well-characterized iodine-containing mineral phase would be desirable. This would limit the additional experimental testing and modeling required to determine the long-term stability of the pressed pellet, as much of that information has already been learned for several common iodine-containing minerals. However, this is not an absolute requirement, especially if pellets produced by hot isostatic pressing can be demonstrated through initial PCT studies to retain iodine well despite their amorphous composition.« less

Cyclen dithiocarbamate-functionalized silver nanoparticles as a probe for colorimetric sensing of thiram and paraquat pesticides via host-guest chemistry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rohit, Jigneshkumar V.; Kailasa, Suresh Kumar

2014-11-01

We have developed a simple and rapid colorimetric method for on-site analysis of thiram and paraquat using cyclen dithiocarbamate-functionalized silver nanoparticles (CN-DTC-Ag NPs) as a colorimetric probe. The synthesized CN-DTC-Ag NPs were characterized by UV-Visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, and transmission electron microscopic techniques. The CN-DTC molecules provide good supramolecular self assembly on the surfaces of Ag NPs to encapsulate thiram and paraquat selectively via "host-guest" chemistry, resulting in red-shift in surface plasmon resonance peak of CN-DTC-Ag NPs from 396 to 530 nm and 510 nm and color change from yellow to pink for thiram and to orange for paraquat, which can be naked-eye detected. The present method shows good linearity in the range of 10.0-20.0 µM and of 50.0-250 µM with limits of detection 2.81 × 10-6 M and 7.21 × 10-6 M for thiram and paraquat, respectively. This method was proved as a promising tool for on-site and real-time monitoring of thiram and paraquat in environmental water, potato, and wheat samples.

Solution-Processable transparent conducting electrodes via the self-assembly of silver nanowires for organic photovoltaic devices.

PubMed

Tugba Camic, B; Jeong Shin, Hee; Hasan Aslan, M; Basarir, Fevzihan; Choi, Hyosung

2018-02-15

Solution-processed transparent conducting electrodes (TCEs) were fabricated via the self-assembly deposition of silver nanowires (Ag NWs). Glass substrates modified with (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) and (3-mercaptopropyl)trimethoxysilane (MPTES) were coated with Ag NWs for various deposition times, leading to three different Ag NWs samples (APTES-Ag NWs (PVP), MPTES-Ag NWs (PVP), and APTES-Ag NWs (COOH)). Controlling the deposition time produced Ag NWs monolayer thin films with different optical transmittance and sheet resistance. Post-annealing treatment improved their electrical conductivity. The Ag NWs films were successfully characterized using UV-Vis spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, optical microscopy and four-point probe. Three Ag NWs films exhibited low sheet resistance of 4-19Ω/sq and high optical transmittance of 65-81% (at 550nm), which are comparable to those of commercial ITO electrode. We fabricated an organic photovoltaic device by using Ag NWs as the anode instead of ITO electrode, and optimized device with Ag NWs exhibited power conversion efficiency of 1.72%. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Influence of particle coating and matrix constituents on the cloud point extraction efficiency of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) and application for monitoring the formation of Ag-NPs from Ag(+).

PubMed

Hartmann, Georg; Baumgartner, Tanja; Schuster, Michael

2014-01-07

For the quantification of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) in environmental samples using cloud point extraction (CPE) for selective enrichment, surface modification of the Ag-NPs and matrix effects can play a key role. In this work we validate CPE with respect to the influence of different coatings and naturally occurring matrix components. The Ag-NPs tested were functionalized with inorganic and organic compounds as well as with biomolecules. Commercially available NPs and NPs synthesized according to methods published in the literature were used. We found that CPE can extract almost all Ag-NPs tested with very good efficiencies (82-105%). Only Ag-NPs functionalized with BSA (bovine serum albumin), which is a protein with the function to keep colloids in solution, cannot be extracted. No or little effect of environmentally relevant salts, organic matter, and inorganic colloids on the CPE of AgNPs was found. Additionally we used CPE to observe the in situ formation of Ag-NPs produced by the reduction of Ag(+) with natural organic matter (NOM).

The effect of copper and silver on the properties of Au-ZnO catalyst and its activity in glycerol oxidation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaskow, Iveta; Decyk, Piotr; Sobczak, Izabela

2018-06-01

The goal of this work was to use ZnO as a support for gold and copper (Au-Cu system) or gold and silver (Au-Ag system) and comparison of the effect of copper and silver on the properties of gold and its activity in glycerol oxidation with oxygen in the liquid phase. The samples prepared were fully characterized by XRD, TEM techniques and UV-vis, XPS, ESR spectroscopic methods. It was found that the introduction of copper and silver changed the electronic state of gold loaded on ZnO by the electron transfer between metals. Three different metallic gold species were identified in calcined catalysts: (Au°)δ- (Au-ZnO), (Au°)η- (AuCu-ZnO) and (Au°)γ- (AuAg-ZnO), where δ-,η-,γ- indicate a different partial negative charge on metallic gold and γ > δ > η. The results showed that (Au°)η- centers (metallic gold with the lowest negative charge) formed on AuCu-ZnO were the most active in glycerol oxidation. The increase in the negative charge on metallic gold loaded on AuAg-ZnO reduced the gold activity in silver containing sample. The glyceric acid adsorption and desorption rate influenced the selectivity of the catalysts.

Dual-Selective and Dual-Enhanced SERS Nanoprobes Strategy for Circulating Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells Detection.

PubMed

Pang, Yuanfeng; Wang, Chongwen; Xiao, Rui; Sun, Zhiwei

2018-05-11

The detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from a blood sample can be a very powerful noninvasive approach for the early detection and therapy of liver cancer. However, the extreme rarity of tumor cells in blood containing billions of other cells makes the capture and identification of CTCs with sufficient sensitivity and specificity a real challenge. Here, a magnetically assisted surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) biosensor for HCC CTC detection is reported for the first time. The biosensor consists of two basic elements: anti-ASGPR antibody-Fe 3 O 4 @Ag magnetic nanoparticles and anti-GPC3 antibody-Au@Ag@DTNB nanorods. According to the dual-selectivity of the anti-ASGPR and anti-GPC3 antibodies and the dual-enhancement SERS signal of the MNPs silver shell and the Au@Ag NRs SERS tags, a limit of detection of 1 cell mL -1 for HCC CTC in human peripheral blood samples with a linear relationship from 1 to 100 cells mL -1 can be obtained. The system shows good performance in real serum, which suggests it may be a promising tool for HCC clinical diagnosis. © 2018 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Nanoporous Au: An experimental study on the porosity of dealloyed AuAg leafs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grillo, R.; Torrisi, V.; Ruffino, F.

2016-12-01

We present a study on the fraction of porosity for dealloyed nanoporous Au leafs. Nanoporous Au is attracting great scientific interest due to its peculiar plasmonic properties and the high exposed surface (∼10 m2/g). As examples, it was used in prototypes of chemical and biological devices. However, the maximization of the devices sensitivity is subjected to the maximization of the exposed surface by the nanoporous Au, i. e. maximization of the porosity fraction. So, we report on the analyses of the porosity fraction in nanoporous Au leafs as a function of the fabrication process parameters. We dealloyed 60 μm-thick Au23Ag77 at.% leafs and we show that: a) for dealloying time till to 6 h, only a 450 nm-thick surface layer of the leafs assumes a nanoporous structure with a porosity fraction of 32%. For a dealloying time of 20 h the leafs result fragmented in small black pieces with a porosity fraction increased to 60%. b) After 600 °C-30 minutes annealing of the previous samples, the nanopores disappear due to the Au/residual Ag inter-diffusion. c) After a second dealloying process on the previously annealed samples, the surface nanoporous structure is, again, obtained with the porosity fraction increased to 50%.

Magnetomotive room temperature dicationic ionic liquid: a new concept toward centrifuge-less dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction.

PubMed

Beiraghi, Asadollah; Shokri, Masood; Seidi, Shahram; Godajdar, Bijan Mombani

2015-01-09

A new centrifuge-less dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction technique based on application of magnetomotive room temperature dicationic ionic liquid followed by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS) was developed for preconcentration and determination of trace amount of gold and silver in water and ore samples, for the first time. Magnetic ionic liquids not only have the excellent properties of ionic liquids but also exhibit strong response to an external magnetic field. These properties provide more advantages and potential application prospects for magnetic ionic liquids than conventional ones in the fields of extraction processes. In this work, thio-Michler's ketone (TMK) was used as chelating agent to form Ag/Au-TMK complexes. Several important factors affecting extraction efficiency including extraction time, rate of vortex agitator, pH of sample solution, concentration of the chelating agent, volume of ionic liquid as well as effects of interfering species were investigated and optimized. Under the optimal conditions, the limits of detection (LOD) were 3.2 and 7.3ngL(-1) with the preconcentration factors of 245 and 240 for Au and Ag, respectively. The precision values (RSD%, n=7) were 5.3% and 5.8% at the concentration level of 0.05μgL(-1) for Au and Ag, respectively. The relative recoveries for the spiked samples were in the acceptable range of 96-104.5%. The results demonstrated that except Hg(2+), no remarkable interferences are created by other various ions in the determination of Au and Ag, so that the tolerance limits (WIon/WAu or Ag) of major cations and anions were in the range of 250-1000. The validated method was successfully applied for the analysis of Au and Ag in some water and ore samples. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Therapygenetics: anterior cingulate cortex-amygdala coupling is associated with 5-HTTLPR and treatment response in panic disorder with agoraphobia.

PubMed

Lueken, Ulrike; Straube, Benjamin; Wittchen, Hans-Ulrich; Konrad, Carsten; Ströhle, Andreas; Wittmann, André; Pfleiderer, Bettina; Arolt, Volker; Kircher, Tilo; Deckert, Jürgen; Reif, Andreas

2015-01-01

Variation in the 5'-flanking promoter region of the serotonin transporter gene SLC6A4, the 5-HTT-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) has been inconclusively associated with response to cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT). As genomic functions are stronger related to neural than to behavioural markers, we investigated the association of treatment response, 5-HTTLPR and functional brain connectivity in patients with panic disorder with agoraphobia (PD/AG). Within the national research network PANIC-NET 231 PD/AG patients who provided genetic information underwent a manualized exposure-based CBT. A subset of 41 patients participated in a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) add-on study prior to treatment applying a differential fear conditioning task. Neither the treatment nor the reduced fMRI sample showed a direct effect of 5-HTTLPR on treatment response as defined by a reduction in the Hamilton Anxiety Scale score ≥50 % from baseline to post assessment. On a neural level, inhibitory anterior cingulate cortex (ACC)-amygdala coupling during fear conditioning that had previously been shown to characterize treatment response in this sample was driven by responders with the L/L genotype. Building upon conclusive evidence from basic and preclinical findings on the association of the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism with emotion regulation and related brain connectivity patterns, present findings translate these to a clinical sample of PD/AG patients and point towards a potential intermediate connectivity phenotype modulating response to exposure-based CBT.

Direct electrochemical oxidation of S-captopril using gold electrodes modified with graphene-AuAg nanocomposites

PubMed Central

Pogacean, Florina; Biris, Alexandru R; Coros, Maria; Lazar, Mihaela Diana; Watanabe, Fumiya; Kannarpady, Ganesh K; Al Said, Said A Farha; Biris, Alexandru S; Pruneanu, Stela

2014-01-01

In this paper, we present a novel approach for the electrochemical detection of S-captopril based on graphene AuAg nanostructures used to modify an Au electrode. Multi-layer graphene (Gr) sheets decorated with embedded bimetallic AuAg nanoparticles were successfully synthesized catalytically with methane as the carbon source. The two catalytic systems contained 1.0 wt% Ag and 1.0 wt% Au, while the second had a larger concentration of metals (1.5 wt% Ag and 1.5 wt% Au) and was used for the synthesis of the Gr-AuAg-1 and Gr-AuAg-1.5 multicomponent samples. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy analysis indicated the presence of graphene flakes that had regular shapes (square or rectangular) and dimensions in the tens to hundreds of nanometers. We found that the size of the embedded AuAg nanoparticles varied between 5 and 100 nm, with the majority being smaller than 20 nm. Advanced scanning transmission electron microscopy studies indicated a bimetallic characteristic of the metallic clusters. The resulting Gr-AuAg-1 and Gr-AuAg-1.5 samples were used to modify the surface of commonly used Au substrates and subsequently employed for the direct electrochemical oxidation of S-captopril. By comparing the differential pulse voltammograms recorded with the two modified electrodes at various concentrations of captopril, the peak current was determined to be well-defined, even at relatively low concentration (10−5 M), for the Au/Gr-AuAg-1.5 electrode. In contrast, the signals recorded with the Au/Gr-AuAg-1 electrode were poorly defined within a 5×10−6 to 5×10−3 M concentration range, and many of them overlapped with the background. Such composite materials could find significant applications in nanotechnology, sensing, or nanomedicine. PMID:24596464

High Cryptococcal Antigen Titers in Blood Are Predictive of Subclinical Cryptococcal Meningitis Among Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Patients.

PubMed

Wake, Rachel M; Britz, Erika; Sriruttan, Charlotte; Rukasha, Ivy; Omar, Tanvier; Spencer, David C; Nel, Jeremy S; Mashamaite, Sello; Adelekan, Adeboye; Chiller, Tom M; Jarvis, Joseph N; Harrison, Thomas S; Govender, Nelesh P

2018-02-10

High mortality rates among asymptomatic cryptococcal antigen (CrAg)-positive patients identified through CrAg screening, despite preemptive fluconazole treatment, may be due to undiagnosed cryptococcal meningitis. Symptoms were reviewed in CrAg-positive patients identified by screening 19233 individuals with human immunodeficiency virus infection and CD4 cell counts <100/µL at 17 clinics and 3 hospitals in Johannesburg from September 2012 until September 2015, and at 2 hospitals until June 2016. Cerebrospinal fluid samples from 90 of 254 asymptomatic patients (35%) and 78 of 173 (45%) with headache only were analyzed for cryptococcal meningitis, considered present if Cryptococcus was identified by means of India ink microscopy, culture, or CrAg test. CrAg titers were determined with stored blood samples from 62 of these patients. The associations between blood CrAg titer, concurrent cryptococcal meningitis, and mortality rate were assessed. Cryptococcal meningitis was confirmed in 34% (95% confidence interval, 25%-43%; 31 of 90) of asymptomatic CrAg-positive patients and 90% (81%-96%; 70 of 78) with headache only. Blood CrAg titer was significantly associated with concurrent cryptococcal meningitis in asymptomatic patients (P < .001) and patients with headache only (P = .003). The optimal titer for predicting cryptococcal meningitis was >160 (sensitivity, 88.2%; specificity, 82.1%); the odds ratio for concurrent cryptococcal meningitis was 34.5 (95% confidence interval, 8.3-143.1; P < .001). About a third of asymptomatic CrAg-positive patients have concurrent cryptococcal meningitis. More effective clinical assessment strategies and antifungal regimens are required for CrAg-positive patients, including investigation for cryptococcal meningitis irrespective of symptoms. Where it is not possible to perform lumbar punctures in all CrAg-positive patients, blood CrAg titers should be used to target those most at risk of cryptococcal meningitis. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Milestone Report - M3FT-15OR03120215 - Recommend HIP Conditions for AgZ

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bruffey, Stephanie H.; Jubin, Robert Thomas

2015-09-18

The purpose of this study was to continue research to determine if HIPing could directly convert I-Ag 0Z into a suitable waste form. Fiscal year (FY) 2015 work completed studies of Phase IIA, IIB, and IIC samples. Product consistency testing (PCT) of Phase IIA samples resulted in iodine release below detection limit for six of twelve samples. This is promising and indicates that a durable waste form may be produced through HIPing even if transformation of the zeolite to a distinct mineral phase does not occur. From PCT results of Phase IIA samples, it was determined that future pressing shouldmore » be conducted at a temperature of 900°C. Phase IIC testing continued production of samples to examine the effects of multiple source materials, compositional variations, and an expanded temperature range. The density of each sample was determined and x-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns were obtained. In all cases, there was nothing in the XRD analyses to indicate the creation of any AgI-containing silicon phase; the samples were found to be largely amorphous.« less

Core-shell structure disclosed in self-assembled Cu-Ag nanoalloy particles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tchaplyguine, M.; Andersson, T.; Zhang, Ch.; Björneholm, O.

2013-03-01

Core-shell segregation of copper and silver in self-assembled, free nanoparticles is established by means of photoelectron spectroscopy in a wide range of relative Cu-Ag concentrations. These conclusions are based on the analysis of the photon-energy-dependent changes of the Cu 3d and Ag 4d photoelectron spectra. The nanoparticles are formed from mixed Cu-Ag atomic vapor created by magnetron sputtering of a bimetallic sample in a gas-aggregation cluster source. Even at similar Cu and Ag fractions in the primary vapor the surface of the nanoparticles is dominated by silver. Only at low Ag concentration copper appears on the surface of nanoparticles. For the latter case, a threefold decrease in the Ag 4d spin-orbit splitting has been detected. The specific component distribution and electronic structure changes are discussed in connection with the earlier results on Cu-Ag macroscopic and surface alloys.

Ag induced electromagnetic interference shielding of Ag-graphite/PVDF flexible nanocomposites thinfilms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kumaran, R.; Alagar, M.; Dinesh Kumar, S.; Subramanian, V.; Dinakaran, K.

2015-09-01

We report Ag nanoparticle induced Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) shielding in a flexible composite films of Ag nanoparticles incorporated graphite/poly-vinylidene difluoride (PVDF). PVDF nanocomposite thin-films were synthesized by intercalating Ag in Graphite (GIC) followed by dispersing GIC in PVDF. The X-ray diffraction analysis and the high-resolution transmission electron microscope clearly dictate the microstructure of silver nanoparticles in graphite intercalated composite of PVDF matrix. The conductivity values of nanocomposites are increased upto 2.5 times when compared to neat PVDF having a value of 2.70 S/cm at 1 MHz. The presence of Ag broadly enhanced the dielectric constant and lowers the dielectric loss of PVDF matrix proportional to Ag content. The EMI shielding effectiveness of the composites is 29.1 dB at 12.4 GHz for the sample having 5 wt. % Ag and 10 wt. % graphite in PVDF.

Synthesis of Ag-ZnO with multiple rods (multipods) morphology and its application in the simultaneous photo-catalytic degradation of methyl orange and methylene blue.

PubMed

Arab Chamjangali, M; Bagherian, G; Javid, A; Boroumand, S; Farzaneh, N

2015-11-05

In this study, the photo-decolorization of a mixture of methylene blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO) was investigated using Ag-ZnO multipods. The photo-catalyst used, ZnO multipods, was successfully synthesized. The surface of ZnO microstructure was modified by deposition of different amounts of Ag nanoparticles (Ag NPs) using the photo-reduction method. The as-prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV-Vis and atomic absorption spectroscopy. The photo-catalytic efficiency of Ag-ZnO is mainly controlled by the amount of Ag NPs deposited on the ZnO surface. The results obtained suggest that Ag-ZnO containing 6.5% Ag NPs, has the highest photo-catalytic performance in the simultaneous photo-degradation of dyes at a shorter time. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Clinical relevance of total HCV core antigen testing for hepatitis C monitoring and for predicting patients' response to therapy.

PubMed

Maynard, M; Pradat, P; Berthillon, P; Picchio, G; Voirin, N; Martinot, M; Marcellin, P; Trepo, C

2003-07-01

To study the correlation between total Hepatitis C virus (HCV) Core antigen (Ag) and HCV-RNA, and to assess the proficiency of HCV Core Ag testing in monitoring and predicting virologic response during and after pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) and ribavirin combination therapy. A total of 307 samples from treated and untreated patients were used to assess the correlation between the total HCV Core Ag test and quantitative HCV-RNA assays (Superquant, and Quantiplex branched DNA 2.0 assay). Twenty-four patients received combination therapy for 48 weeks. Blood samples were collected at day 0, and week 2, 4, 12, 24, 48 and 72 for virologic evaluation. A linear relation exists between total HCV Core Ag and HCV-RNA levels. At 3 months the positive predictive value (PPV) of response to therapy was 100% with either HCV Core Ag or HCV-RNA. For HCV Core Ag the negative predictive value (NPV) was 100% whereas for HCV-RNA the NPV was 80% (P > 0.05). At month 1, the PPV was 95% and 100% when determined by HCV Core Ag and HCV-RNA, respectively. The NPV value was 100% for HCV Core Ag and 33% for HCV-RNA (P = 0.005). HCV Core Ag quantification could be useful in clinical practice to predict a sustained virological response early during therapy (4 weeks), reaching an optimal performance at month 3. The determination of total HCV Core Ag levels in serum, constitutes an accurate and reliable alternative to HCV-RNA for monitoring and predicting treatment outcome in patients receiving PEG-IFN/Ribavirin combination therapy.

Is HCV core antigen a reliable marker of viral load? An evaluation of HCV core antigen automated immunoassay

PubMed Central

Hadziyannis, Emilia; Minopetrou, Martha; Georgiou, Anastasia; Spanou, Fotini; Koskinas, John

2013-01-01

Background Hepatitis C viral (HCV) load detection and quantification is routinely accomplished by HCV RNA measurement, an expensive but essential test, both for the diagnosis and treatment of chronic hepatitis C (CHC). HCV core antigen (Ag) testing has been suggested as an attractive alternative to molecular diagnostics. The aim of the study was to evaluate an automated chemiluminescent immunoassay (CLIA) for HCV core Ag measurement in comparison to quantitative HCV RNA determination. Methods HCV Ag was measured in 105 anti-HCV positive patients, from which 89 were HCV RNA positive with CHC and 16 HCV RNA negative after spontaneous HCV clearance. Viral load was quantified with branched DNA (bDNA, Versant, Siemens). Sera were stored at -70°C and then tested with the Architect HCV Ag test (Abbott Laboratories), a two-step CLIA assay, with high throughput and minimal handling of the specimens. Statistical analysis was performed on logarithmically transformed values. Results HCV-Ag was detectable and quantifiable in 83/89 and in grey zone in 4/89 HCV RNA positive sera. HCV-Ag was undetectable in all 16 HCV RNA negative samples. The sample with the lowest viral load that tested positive for HCV-Ag contained 1200 IU/mL HCV RNA. There was a positive correlation between HCV RNA and HCV-Ag (r=0.89). The HCV RNA/ HCV Ag ratio varied from 1.5 to 3.25. Conclusion The HCV core Ag is an easy test with comparable sensitivity (>90%) and satisfactory correlation with the HCV RNA bDNA assay. Its role in diagnostics and other clinical applications has to be determined based on cost effectiveness. PMID:24714621

Biogenic silver nanoparticles: efficient and effective antifungal agents

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Netala, Vasudeva Reddy; Kotakadi, Venkata Subbaiah; Domdi, Latha; Gaddam, Susmila Aparna; Bobbu, Pushpalatha; Venkata, Sucharitha K.; Ghosh, Sukhendu Bikash; Tartte, Vijaya

2016-04-01

Biogenic synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) by exploiting various plant materials is an emerging field and considered green nanotechnology as it involves simple, cost effective and ecofriendly procedure. In the present study AgNPs were successfully synthesized using aqueous callus extract of Gymnema sylvestre. The aqueous callus extract treated with 1nM silver nitrate solution resulted in the formation of AgNPs and the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) of the formed AgNPs showed a peak at 437 nm in the UV Visible spectrum. The synthesized AgNPs were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD). FTIR spectra showed the peaks at 3333, 2928, 2361, 1600, 1357 and 1028 cm-1 which revealed the role of different functional groups possibly involved in the synthesis and stabilization of AgNPs. TEM micrograph clearly revealed the size of the AgNPs to be in the range of 3-30 nm with spherical shape and poly-dispersed nature; it is further confirmed by Particle size analysis that the stability of AgNPs is due its high negative Zeta potential (-36.1 mV). XRD pattern revealed the crystal nature of the AgNPs by showing the braggs peaks corresponding to (111), (200), (220) and (311) planes of face-centered cubic crystal phase of silver. Selected area electron diffraction pattern showed diffraction rings and confirmed the crystalline nature of synthesized AgNPs. The synthesized AgNPs exhibited effective antifungal activity against Candida albicans, Candida nonalbicans and Candida tropicalis.

Characterization and mosquitocidal potential of neem cake-synthesized silver nanoparticles: genotoxicity and impact on predation efficiency of mosquito natural enemies.

PubMed

Chandramohan, Balamurugan; Murugan, Kadarkarai; Panneerselvam, Chellasamy; Madhiyazhagan, Pari; Chandirasekar, Ramachandran; Dinesh, Devakumar; Kumar, Palanisamy Mahesh; Kovendan, Kalimuthu; Suresh, Udaiyan; Subramaniam, Jayapal; Rajaganesh, Rajapandian; Aziz, Al Thabiani; Syuhei, Ban; Alsalhi, Mohamad Saleh; Devanesan, Sandhanasamy; Nicoletti, Marcello; Wei, Hui; Benelli, Giovanni

2016-03-01

Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) serve as important vectors for a wide number of parasites and pathogens of huge medical and veterinary importance. Aedes aegypti is a primary dengue vector in tropical and subtropical urban areas. There is an urgent need to develop eco-friendly mosquitocides. In this study, silver nanoparticles (AgNP) were biosynthesized using neem cake, a by-product of the neem oil extraction from the seed kernels of Azadirachta indica. AgNP were characterized using a variety of biophysical methods, including UV-vis spectrophotometry, FTIR, SEM, EDX, and XRD analyses. Furthermore, the neem cake extract and the biosynthesized AgNP were tested for acute toxicity against larvae and pupae of the dengue vector Ae. aegypti. LC50 values achieved by the neem cake extract ranged from 106.53 (larva I) to 235.36 ppm (pupa), while AgNP LC50 ranged from 3.969 (larva I) to 8.308 ppm (pupa). In standard laboratory conditions, the predation efficiency of a Carassius auratus per day was 7.9 (larva II) and 5.5 individuals (larva III). Post-treatment with sub-lethal doses of AgNP, the predation efficiency was boosted to 9.2 (larva II) and 8.1 individuals (larva III). The genotoxic effect of AgNP was studied on C. auratus using the comet assay and micronucleus frequency test. DNA damage was evaluated on peripheral erythrocytes sampled at different time intervals from the treatment; experiments showed no significant damages at doses below 12 ppm. Overall, this research pointed out that neem cake-fabricated AgNP are easy to produce, stable over time, and can be employed at low dosages to reduce populations of dengue vectors, with moderate detrimental effects on non-target mosquito natural enemies.

Combined use of vancomycin-modified Ag-coated magnetic nanoparticles and secondary enhanced nanoparticles for rapid surface-enhanced Raman scattering detection of bacteria.

PubMed

Wang, Chongwen; Gu, Bing; Liu, Qiqi; Pang, Yuanfeng; Xiao, Rui; Wang, Shengqi

2018-01-01

Pathogenic bacteria have always been a significant threat to human health. The detection of pathogens needs to be rapid, accurate, and convenient. We present a sensitive surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) biosensor based on the combination of vancomycin-modified Ag-coated magnetic nanoparticles (Fe 3 O 4 @Ag-Van MNPs) and Au@Ag nanoparticles (NPs) that can effectively capture and discriminate bacterial pathogens from solution. The high-performance Fe 3 O 4 @Ag MNPs were modified with vancomycin and used as bacteria capturer for magnetic separation and enrichment. The modified MNPS were found to exhibit strong affinity with a broad range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. After separating and rinsing bacteria, Fe 3 O 4 @Ag-Van MNPs and Au@Ag NPs were synergistically used to construct a very large number of hot spots on bacteria cells, leading to ultrasensitive SERS detection. The dominant merits of our dual enhanced strategy included high bacterial-capture efficiency (>65%) within a wide pH range (pH 3.0-11.0), a short assay time (<30 min), and a low detection limit (5×10 2 cells/mL). Moreover, the spiked tests show that this method is still valid in milk and blood samples. Owing to these capabilities, the combined system enabled the sensitive and specific discrimination of different pathogens in complex solution, as verified by its detection of Gram-positive bacterium Escherichia coli , Gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus , and methicillin-resistant S. aureus . This method has great potential for field applications in food safety, environmental monitoring, and infectious disease diagnosis.

Combined use of vancomycin-modified Ag-coated magnetic nanoparticles and secondary enhanced nanoparticles for rapid surface-enhanced Raman scattering detection of bacteria

PubMed Central

Pang, Yuanfeng; Xiao, Rui; Wang, Shengqi

2018-01-01

Background Pathogenic bacteria have always been a significant threat to human health. The detection of pathogens needs to be rapid, accurate, and convenient. Methods We present a sensitive surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) biosensor based on the combination of vancomycin-modified Ag-coated magnetic nanoparticles (Fe3O4@Ag-Van MNPs) and Au@Ag nanoparticles (NPs) that can effectively capture and discriminate bacterial pathogens from solution. The high-performance Fe3O4@Ag MNPs were modified with vancomycin and used as bacteria capturer for magnetic separation and enrichment. The modified MNPS were found to exhibit strong affinity with a broad range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. After separating and rinsing bacteria, Fe3O4@Ag-Van MNPs and Au@Ag NPs were synergistically used to construct a very large number of hot spots on bacteria cells, leading to ultrasensitive SERS detection. Results The dominant merits of our dual enhanced strategy included high bacterial-capture efficiency (>65%) within a wide pH range (pH 3.0–11.0), a short assay time (<30 min), and a low detection limit (5×102 cells/mL). Moreover, the spiked tests show that this method is still valid in milk and blood samples. Owing to these capabilities, the combined system enabled the sensitive and specific discrimination of different pathogens in complex solution, as verified by its detection of Gram-positive bacterium Escherichia coli, Gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus, and methicillin-resistant S. aureus. Conclusion This method has great potential for field applications in food safety, environmental monitoring, and infectious disease diagnosis. PMID:29520142

Monolayer graphene on nanostructured Ag for enhancement of surface-enhanced Raman scattering stable platform

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dai, Zhigao; Mei, Fei; Xiao, Xiangheng; Liao, Lei; Wu, Wei; Zhang, Yupeng; Ying, Jianjian; Wang, Lingbo; Ren, Feng; Jiang, Changzhong

2015-03-01

We have reported that the Ag nanostructure-based substrate is particularly suitable for surface-enhanced Raman scattering when it is coated with monolayer graphene, an optically transparent and chemistry-inertness material in the visible range. Ag bowtie nanoantenna arrays and Ag nanogrids were fabricated using plasma-assisted nanosphere lithography. Our measurements show that atmospheric sulfur containing compounds are powerless to break in the monolayer graphene to vulcanize the surfaces of the Ag bowtie nanoantenna arrays and Ag nanogrids by various means, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Furthermore, the Ag nanostructure substrate coated with the monolayer graphene film shows a larger enhancement of Raman activity and the electromagnetic field than the uncoated substrate. Compared with those of bare Ag nanostructures, the averaged EFs of graphene-film-coated Ag nanostructures were estimated to be about 21 and 5 for Ag bowtie nanoantenna arrays and nanogrids after one month later in air, respectively. These observations are further supported by theoretical calculations.

High Prevalence and Significance of Hepatitis D Virus Infection among Treatment-Naïve HBsAg-Positive Patients in Northern Vietnam

PubMed Central

Sy, Bui Tien; Ratsch, Boris A.; Toan, Nguyen Linh; Song, Le Huu; Wollboldt, Christian; Bryniok, Agnes; Nguyen, Hung Minh; Luong, Hoang Van; Velavan, Thirumalaisamy P.; Wedemeyer, Heiner; Kremsner, Peter G.; Bock, C.-Thomas

2013-01-01

Background Hepatitis D virus (HDV) infection is considered to cause more severe hepatitis than hepatitis B virus (HBV) monoinfection. With more than 9.5 million HBV-infected people, Vietnam will face an enormous health burden. The prevalence of HDV in Vietnamese HBsAg-positive patients is speculative. Therefore, we assessed the prevalence of HDV in Vietnamese patients, determined the HDV-genotype distribution and compared the findings with the clinical outcome. Methods 266 sera of well-characterized HBsAg-positive patients in Northern Vietnam were analysed for the presence of HDV using newly developed HDV-specific RT-PCRs. Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis were performed for HDV-genotyping. Results The HDV-genome prevalence observed in the Vietnamese HBsAg-positive patients was high with 15.4% while patients with acute hepatitis showed 43.3%. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated a predominance of HDV-genotype 1 clustering in an Asian clade while HDV-genotype 2 could be also detected. The serum aminotransferase levels (AST, ALT) as well as total and direct bilirubin were significantly elevated in HDV-positive individuals (p<0.05). HDV loads were mainly low (<300 to 4.108 HDV-copies/ml). Of note, higher HDV loads were mainly found in HBV-genotype mix samples in contrast to single HBV-infections. In HBV/HDV-coinfections, HBV loads were significantly higher in HBV-genotype C in comparison to HBV-genotype A samples (p<0.05). Conclusion HDV prevalence is high in Vietnamese individuals, especially in patients with acute hepatitis B. HDV replication activity showed a HBV-genotype dependency and could be associated with elevated liver parameters. Besides serological assays molecular tests are recommended for diagnosis of HDV. Finally, the high prevalence of HBV and HDV prompts the urgent need for HBV-vaccination coverage. PMID:24205106

A visible-light-driven core-shell like Ag2S@Ag2CO3 composite photocatalyst with high performance in pollutants degradation.

PubMed

Yu, Changlin; Wei, Longfu; Zhou, Wanqin; Dionysiou, Dionysios D; Zhu, Lihua; Shu, Qing; Liu, Hong

2016-08-01

A series of Ag2S-Ag2CO3 (4%, 8%, 16%, 32% and 40% Ag2S), Ag2CO3@Ag2S (32%Ag2S) and Ag2S@Ag2CO3 (32%Ag2S) composite photocatalysts were fabricated by coprecipitation or successive precipitation reaction. The obtained catalysts were analyzed by N2 physical adsorption, powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and photocurrent test. Under visible light irradiation, the influences of Ag2S content and core-shell property on photocatalytic activity and stability were evaluated in studies focused on the degradation of methyl orange (MO) dye, phenol, and bisphenol A. Results showed that excellent photocatalytic performance was obtained over Ag2S/Ag2CO3 composite photocatalysts with respect to Ag2S and Ag2CO3. With optimal content of Ag2S (32 wt%), the Ag2S-Ag2CO3 showed the highest photocatalytic degradation efficiency. Moreover, the structured property of Ag2S/Ag2CO3 greatly influenced the activity. Compared with Ag2S-Ag2CO3 and Ag2CO3@Ag2S, core-shell like Ag2S@Ag2CO3 demonstrated the highest activity and stability. The main reason for the boosting of photocatalytic performance was due to the formation of Ag2S/Ag2CO3 well contacted interface and unique electron structures. Ag2S/Ag2CO3 interface could significantly increase the separation efficiency of the photo-generated electrons (e(-)) and holes (h(+)), and production of OH radicals. More importantly, the low solubility of Ag2S shell could effectively protect the core of Ag2CO3, which further guarantees the stability of Ag2CO3. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Molecular Epidemiology and Genotyping of Hepatitis B Virus of HBsAg-Positive Patients in Oman

PubMed Central

Al Naamani, Khalid; Al Awaidy, Salah; Busaidy, Suleiman Al; Pauli, Georg; Bock, C.-Thomas

2014-01-01

Background Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major global health burden with distinct geographic public health significance. Oman is a country with intermediate HBV carrier prevalence; however, little is known about the incidence of HBV variants in circulation. We investigated the HBV genotype distribution, the occurrence of antiviral resistance, and HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) escape mutations in HBsAg-positive patients in Oman. Methods Serum samples were collected from 179 chronically HBV-infected patients enrolled in various gastroenterology clinics in Oman. HBV genotypes were determined by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. Mutations in the HBV polymerase and the HBsAg gene were characterized by mutational analysis. Results HBV genotypes D (130/170; 76.47%) and A (32/170; 18.28%) are predominant in Oman. The HBV genotypes C and E were less frequent (each 1.18%), while the HBV genotypes B, G, F, and H were not detected. Four patients revealed HBV genotype mixtures (HBV-A/D and D/C). The analyses of vaccine escape mutations yield that 148/170 (87.06%) HBV sequences were wild type. 22/170 (12.94%) HBV sequences showed mutations in the “a” determinant of the HBsAg domain. Two patients showed the described HBV vaccine escape mutation sP120T. 8/146 (5.48%) HBV isolates harbored mutations in the HBV polymerase known to confer resistance against antiviral therapy. Especially the lamivudine resistance mutations rtL180M/rtM204V and rtM204I were detected. Conclusion This study shows the distribution of HBV genotypes, therapy resistance, and vaccine escape mutations in HBV-infected patients in Oman. Our findings will have a major impact on therapy management and diagnostics of chronic HBV infections in Oman to control HBV infection in this intermediate HBV-endemic country. PMID:24835494

A Bayesian Meta-Analysis on Prevalence of Hepatitis B Virus Infection among Chinese Volunteer Blood Donors

PubMed Central

Liu, Guang-ying; Zheng, Yang; Deng, Yan; Gao, Yan-yan; Wang, Lie

2013-01-01

Background Although transfusion-transmitted infection of hepatitis B virus (HBV) threatens the blood safety of China, the nationwide circumstance of HBV infection among blood donors is still unclear. Objectives To comprehensively estimate the prevalence of HBsAg positive and HBV occult infection (OBI) among Chinese volunteer blood donors through bayesian meta-analysis. Methods We performed an electronic search in Pub-Med, Web of Knowledge, Medline, Wanfang Data and CNKI, complemented by a hand search of relevant reference lists. Two authors independently extracted data from the eligible studies. Then two bayesian random-effect meta-analyses were performed, followed by bayesian meta-regressions. Results 5957412 and 571227 donors were identified in HBsAg group and OBI group, respectively. The pooled prevalence of HBsAg group and OBI group among donors is 1.085% (95% credible interval [CI] 0.859%∼1.398%) and 0.094% (95% CI 0.0578%∼0.1655%). For HBsAg group, subgroup analysis shows the more developed area has a lower prevalence than the less developed area; meta-regression indicates there is a significant decreasing trend in HBsAg positive prevalence with sampling year (beta = −0.1202, 95% −0.2081∼−0.0312). Conclusion Blood safety against HBV infection in China is suffering serious threats and the government should take effective measures to improve this situation. PMID:24236110

In vitro assessment of stainless steel orthodontic brackets coated with titanium oxide mixed Ag for anti-adherent and antibacterial properties against Streptococcus mutans and Porphyromonas gingivalis.

PubMed

Fatani, Eman Jameel; Almutairi, Hamed H; Alharbi, Ali O; Alnakhli, Yasser Obaidallah; Divakar, Darshan Devang; Muzaheed; Alkheraif, Abdulaziz Abdullah; Khan, Aftab Ahmed

2017-11-01

Orthodontic brackets made from stainless steel were introduced in dentistry, though they have less ability in reducing enamel demineralization and are not successful in preventing microbial as well as biofilm growth. In this study, we evaluated the significant role of different brackets in reducing enamel demineralization indirectly. Results from different tests indicate the significant reduction in adhesion, biofilm formation and slow growth of tested bacterial species on brackets coated with Ag + TiO2 and found to be statistically significant lower than control. There was no loss in cell viability in all brackets indicating that the cells are biocompatible with different bracket materials. Scanning electron microscopy showed less bacteria attached with the surface coated with Ag + TiO2 indicated that bacteria were losing adherent nature on coated surface. In conclusion, TiO2+Ag coating on stainless steel brackets possessed anti-adherent properties and also have demonstrable antibacterial properties therefore helps in preventing dental caries and plaque accumulation indirectly. The cell compatibility of TiO2+Ag coated brackets is superior to the uncoated samples therefore can be used in orthodontics as it not only provide suitable antimicrobial activity and resistance to biofilm formation but also sustained the cell viability of human gingival fibroblast (HGF) cell lines. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Antibacterial Efficacy of Silver Nanoparticles on Endometritis Caused by Prevotella melaninogenica and Arcanobacterum pyogenes in Dairy Cattle.

PubMed

Gurunathan, Sangiliyandi; Choi, Yun-Jung; Kim, Jin-Hoi

2018-04-16

Bovine postpartum diseases remain one of the most significant and highly prevalent illnesses with negative effects on the productivity, survival, and welfare of dairy cows. Antibiotics are generally considered beneficial in the treatment of endometritis; however, frequent usage of each antibiotic drug is reason for the emergence of multidrug resistance (MDR) of the pathogenic microorganisms, representing a major impediment for the successful diagnosis and management of infectious diseases in both humans and animals. We synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with an average size of 10 nm using the novel biomolecule apigenin as a reducing and stabilizing agent, and evaluated the efficacy of the AgNPs on the MDR pathogenic bacteria Prevotella melaninogenica and Arcanobacterium pyogenes isolated from uterine secretion samples. AgNPs inhibited cell viability and biofilm formation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Moreover, the metabolic toxicity of the AgNPs was assessed through various cellular assays. The major toxic effect of cell death was caused by an increase in oxidative stress, as evidenced by the increased generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde, protein carbonyl content, and nitric oxide. The formation of ROS is considered to be the primary mechanism of bacterial death. Therefore, the biomolecule-mediated synthesis of AgNPs shows potential as an alternative antimicrobial therapy for bovine metritis and endometritis.

Sulfur geochemistry of hydrothermal waters in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA. III. An anion-exchange resin technique for sampling and preservation of sulfoxyanions in natural waters

USGS Publications Warehouse

Druschel, G.K.; Schoonen, M.A.A.; Nordstorm, D.K.; Ball, J.W.; Xu, Y.; Cohn, C.A.

2003-01-01

A sampling protocol for the retention, extraction, and analysis of sulfoxyanions in hydrothermal waters has been developed in the laboratory and tested at Yellowstone National Park and Green Lake, NY. Initial laboratory testing of the anion-exchange resin Bio-Rad??? AG1-X8 indicated that the resin was well suited for the sampling, preservation, and extraction of sulfate and thiosulfate. Synthetic solutions containing sulfate and thiosulfate were passed through AG1-X8 resin columns and eluted with 1 and 3 M KCl, respectively. Recovery ranged from 89 to 100%. Comparison of results for water samples collected from five pools in Yellowstone National Park between on-site IC analysis (U.S. Geological Survey mobile lab) and IC analysis of resin-stored sample at SUNY-Stony Brook indicates 96 to 100% agreement for three pools (Cinder, Cistern, and an unnamed pool near Cistern) and 76 and 63% agreement for two pools (Sulfur Dust and Frying Pan). Attempts to extract polythionates from the AG1-X8 resin were made using HCl solutions, but were unsuccessful. Bio-Rad??? AG2-X8, an anion-exchange resin with weaker binding sites than the AG1-X8 resin, is better suited for polythionate extraction. Sulfate and thiosulfate extraction with this resin has been accomplished with KCl solutions of 0.1 and 0.5 M, respectively. Trithionate and tetrathionate can be extracted with 4 M KCl. Higher polythionates can be extracted with 9 M hydrochloric acid. Polythionate concentrations can then be determined directly using ion chromatographic methods, and laboratory results indicate recovery of up to 90% for synthetic polythionate solutions using AG2-X8 resin columns. ?? The Royal Society of Chemistry and the Division of Geochemistry of the American Chemical Society 2003.

The successful incorporation of Ag into single grain, Y-Ba-Cu-O bulk superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Congreve, Jasmin V. J.; Shi, Yunhua; Dennis, Anthony R.; Durrell, John H.; Cardwell, David A.

2018-07-01

The use of RE-Ba-Cu-O [(RE)BCO] bulk superconductors, where RE = Y, Gd, Sm, in practical applications is, at least in part, limited by their mechanical properties and brittle nature, in particular. Alloying these materials with silver, however, produces a significant improvement in strength without any detrimental impact on their superconducting properties. Unfortunately, the top seeded melt growth technique, used routinely to process bulk (RE)BCO superconductors in the form of large, single grains required for practical applications, is complex and has a large number of inter-related variables, so the addition of silver increases the complexity of the growth process even further. This can make successful growth of this system extremely challenging. Here we report measurements of the growth rate of YBCO-Ag fabricated using a new growth technique consisting of continuous cooling and isothermal hold process. The resulting data form the basis of a model that has been used to derive suitable heating profiles for the successful single grain growth of YBCO-Ag bulk superconductors of up to 26 mm in diameter. The microstructure and distribution of silver within these samples have been studied in detail. The maximum trapped field at the top surface of the bulk YBCO-Ag samples has been found to be comparable to that of standard YBCO processed without Ag. The YBCO-Ag samples also exhibit a much more uniform trapped field profile compared to that of YBCO.

Microstructure, mechanical properties, bio-corrosion properties and antibacterial properties of Ti-Ag sintered alloys.

PubMed

Chen, Mian; Zhang, Erlin; Zhang, Lan

2016-05-01

In this research, Ag element was selected as an antibacterial agent to develop an antibacterial Ti-Ag alloy by a powder metallurgy. The microstructure, phase constitution, mechanical properties, corrosion resistance and antibacterial properties of the Ti-Ag sintered alloys have been systematically studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), compressive test, electrochemical measurements and antibacterial test. The effects of the Ag powder size and the Ag content on the antibacterial property and mechanical property as well as the anticorrosion property have been investigated. The microstructure results have shown that Ti-Ag phase, residual pure Ag and Ti were the mainly phases in Ti-Ag(S75) sintered alloy while Ti2Ag was synthesized in Ti-Ag(S10) sintered alloy. The mechanical test indicated that Ti-Ag sintered alloy showed a much higher hardness and the compressive yield strength than cp-Ti but the mechanical properties were slightly reduced with the increase of Ag content. Electrochemical results showed that Ag powder size had a significant effect on the corrosion resistance of Ti-Ag sintered alloy. Ag content increased the corrosion resistance in a dose dependent way under a homogeneous microstructure. Antibacterial tests have demonstrated that antibacterial Ti-Ag alloy was successfully prepared. It was also shown that the Ag powder particle size and the Ag content influenced the antibacterial activity seriously. The reduction in the Ag powder size was benefit to the improvement in the antibacterial property and the Ag content has to be at least 3wt.% in order to obtain a strong and stable antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. The bacterial mechanism was thought to be related to the Ti2Ag and its distribution. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Microwave-assisted solvothermal synthesis of flower-like Ag/AgBr/BiOBr microspheres and their high efficient photocatalytic degradation for p-nitrophenol

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Li, Tingting, E-mail: tingtingli1983@hotmail.com; State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, Hunan University, Changsha 410082; Department of Environment and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Jiangxi Province for Ecological Diagnosis, Remediation and Pollution Control, Nanchang Hangkong University, Nanchang 330063

Flower-like Ag/AgBr/BiOBr microspheres were successfully fabricated by the approach of microwave-assisted solvothermal and in situ photo-assisted reduction. A reactive ionic liquid 1-hexadecyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide ([C{sub 16}mim]Br) was employed as Br source in the presence of surfactant polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). The photocatalytic activity of Ag/AgBr/BiOBr towards the decomposition of p-nitrophenol under visible light irradiation was evaluated. The results indicated that Ag/AgBr/BiOBr showed enhanced photocatalytic activity towards p-nitrophenol, comparing with P25, BiOBr and Ag/AgBr. More than 96% of p-nitrophenol was decomposed in 3.5 h under visible-light irradation. The excellent photocatalytic activity of flower-like Ag/AgBr/BiOBr microspheres can be attributed to the large specific surface area,more » strong visible-light absorption, suitable energy band structure and surface plasmon resonance effect of Ag nanoparticles. The possible photocatalytic mechanism was proposed based on the active species test and band gap structure analysis. - Graphical abstract: The photocatalytic reaction mechanisms of the as-prepared Ag/AgBr/BiOBr. Display Omitted - Highlights: • Successful synthesis of flower-like Ag/AgBr/BiOBr microspheres. • The Ag/AgBr/BiOBr showed much higher photocatalytic activity towards p-nitrophenol as compared to BiOBr and Ag/AgBr. • The reasons for the excellent photocatalytic activity are the large specific surface area, strong visible-light absorption and surface plasmon resonance effect of Ag nanoparticles. • The O{sub 2}·{sup −}, Br{sup 0} and photogenerated h{sup +} play key roles in the photocatalytic degradation process.« less

Ag Transport Through Non-Irradiated and Irradiated SiC

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Szlufarska, Izabela; Morgan, Dane; Blanchard, James

Silicon carbide is the main barrier to diffusion of fission products in the current design of TRistuctural ISOtropic (TRISO) coated fuel particles, and Ag is one of the few fission products that have been shown to escape through this barrier. Because the SiC coating in TRISO is exposed to radiation throughout the lifetime of the fuel, understanding of how radiation changes the transport of the fission products is essential for the safety of the reactor. The goals of this project are: (i) to determine whether observed variation in integral release measurements of Ag through SiC can be explained by differencesmore » in grain size and grain boundary (GB) types among the samples; (2) to identify the effects of irradiation on diffusion of Ag through SiC; (3) to discover phenomena responsible for significant solubility of Ag in polycrystalline SiC. To address these goals, we combined experimental analysis of SiC diffusion couples with modeling studies of diffusion mechanisms through bulk and GBs of this material. Comparison between results obtained for pristine and irradiated samples brings in insights into the effects of radiation on Ag transport.« less

Fracture toughness of esthetic dental coating systems by nanoindentation and FIB sectional analysis.

PubMed

Pecnik, Christina Martina; Courty, Diana; Muff, Daniel; Spolenak, Ralph

2015-07-01

Improving the esthetics of Ti-based dental implants is the last challenge remaining in the optimization process. The optical issues were recently solved by the application of highly and selectively reflective coatings on Ti implants. This work focuses on the mechanical durability of these esthetic ceramic based coating systems (with and without adhesion layers). The coating systems (Ti-ZrO2, Ti-Al-ZrO2, Ti-Ti-Al-ZrO2, Ti-Ag-ZrO2, Ti-Ti-Ag-ZrO2, Ti-Bragg and Ti-TiO2-Bragg) were subjected to nanoindentation experiments and examined using scanning electron microscopy and focused ion beam cross sectional analysis. Three coating systems contained adhesion layers (10nm of Ti or 60nm of TiO2 layers). The fracture toughness of selected samples was assessed applying two different models from literature, a classical for bulk materials and an energy-based model, which was further developed and adjusted. The ZrO2 based coating systems (total film thickness<200nm) followed a circumferential cracking behavior in contrast to Bragg coated samples (total film thickness around 1.5μm), which showed radial cracking emanating from the indent corners. For Ti-ZrO2 samples, a fracture toughness between 2.70 and 3.70MPam(1/2) was calculated using an energy-based model. The classical model was applied to Bragg coated samples and their fracture toughness ranged between 0.70 and 0.80MPam(1/2). Furthermore, coating systems containing an additional layer (Ti-Ti-Al-ZrO2, Ti-Ti-Ag-ZrO2 and Ti-TiO2-Bragg) showed an improved adhesion between the substrate and the coating. The addition of a Ti or TiO2 layer improved the adhesion between substrate and coating. The validity of the models for the assessment of the fracture toughness depended on the layer structure and fracture profile of the samples investigated here (classical model for thick coatings and energy-based model for thin coatings). Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Dendritic Ag-Fe nanocrystalline alloy synthesized by pulsed electrodeposition and its characterization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Santhi, Kalavathy; Revathy, T. A.; Narayanan, V.; Stephen, A.

2014-10-01

Synthesis of dendrite shaped Ag-Fe alloy nanomaterial by pulsed electrodeposition route was investigated. The alloy samples were deposited at different current densities from electrolytes of different compositions to study the influence of current density and bath composition on metal contents in the alloy, which was determined by ICP-OES analysis. The XRD studies were carried out to determine the structure of these samples. Magnetic characterization at room temperature and during heating was carried out to understand their magnetic behaviour and to confirm the inferences drawn from the XRD results. The XPS spectra proved the presence of Fe and Ag in the metallic form in the alloy samples. The FESEM and TEM micrographs were taken to view the surface morphology of the nanosized particles.

Effects of Ag Nanoparticles on Growth and Fat Body Proteins in Silkworms (Bombyx mori).

PubMed

Meng, Xu; Abdlli, Nouara; Wang, Niannian; Lü, Peng; Nie, Zhichao; Dong, Xin; Lu, Shuang; Chen, Keping

2017-12-01

Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs), a widely used non-antibiotic, antibacterial material, have shown toxic and other potentially harmful effects in mammals. However, the deleterious effects of AgNPs on insects are still unknown. Here, we studied the effects of AgNPs on the model invertebrate organism Bombyx mori. After feeding silkworm larvae different concentrations of AgNPs, we evaluated the changes of B. mori body weights, survival rates, and proteomic differences. The results showed that low concentrations (<400 mg/L) of AgNPs promoted the growth and cocoon weights of B. mori. Although high concentrations (≥800 mg/L) of AgNPs also improved B. mori growth, they resulted in silkworm death. An analysis of fat body proteomic differences revealed 13 significant differences in fat body protein spots, nine of which exhibited significantly downregulated expression, while four showed significantly upregulated expression. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction results showed that at an AgNP concentration of 1600 mg/L, the expression levels of seven proteins were similar to the transcription levels of their corresponding genes. Our results suggest that AgNPs lowered the resistance to oxidative stress, affected cell apoptosis, and induced cell necrosis by regulating related protein metabolism and metabolic pathways in B. mori.

Isomorphism and solid solutions among Ag- and Au-selenides

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Palyanova, Galina A.; Seryotkin, Yurii V.; Novosibirsk State University

Au-Ag selenides were synthesized by heating stoichiometric mixtures of elementary substances of initial compositions Ag{sub 2−x}Au{sub x}Se with a step of x=0.25 (0≤x≤2) to 1050 °C and annealing at 500 °C. Scanning electron microscopy, optical microscopy, electron microprobe analysis and X-ray powder diffraction methods have been applied to study synthesized samples. Results of studies of synthesized products revealed the existence of three solid solutions with limited isomorphism Ag↔Au: naumannite Ag{sub 2}Se – Ag{sub 1.94}Au{sub 0.06}Se, fischesserite Ag{sub 3}AuSe{sub 2} - Ag{sub 3.2}Au{sub 0.8}Se{sub 2} and gold selenide AuSe - Au{sub 0.94}Ag{sub 0.06}Se. Solid solutions and AgAuSe phases were added tomore » the phase diagram of Ag-Au-Se system. Crystal-chemical interpretation of Ag-Au isomorphism in selenides was made on the basis of structural features of fischesserite, naumannite, and AuSe. - Highlights: • Au-Ag selenides were synthesized. • Limited Ag-Au isomorphism in the selenides is affected by structural features. • Some new phases were introduced to the phase diagram Ag-Au-Se.« less