436 results
Search Results
Now showing 1 - 10 of 436
- ItemEntwicklung eines Plasma-Emissionsdetektors für die Bestimmung von Schwermetall-Spezies für Anwendungen in der Umweltanalytik, Lebensmittel-Qualitätssicherung und Umweltmedizin : Schlussbericht ; (Bewilligungszeitraum: 01.02.2009 - 31.07.2012)(Greifswald : Leibniz-Institut für Plasmaforschung und Technologie, 2012) Wolfgang Buscher, Wolfgang Buscher; Ehlbeck, Jörg; Piechotta, Christian[no abstract available]
- ItemDifferent Radial Modification Profiles Observed on APPJ-Treated Polypropylene Surfaces according to the Distance between Plasma Outlet and Target(Basel : MDPI, 2022) do Nascimento, Fellype; Silva Leal, Bruno; Quade, Antje; Kostov, Konstantin GeorgievThe plasma jet transfer technique relies on a conductive wire at floating potential, which, upon entering in contact with a primary discharge, is capable of igniting a small plasma plume at the distal end of a long flexible plastic tube. In this work, two different long tube configurations were employed for the surface modification of polypropylene (PP) samples using argon as the working gas. One of the jet configurations has a thin copper (Cu) wire, which was installed inside the long tube. In the other configuration, the floating electrode is a metallic mesh placed between two plastic tubes in a coaxial arrangement. In the first case, the tip of the Cu wire is in direct contact with the working gas at the plasma outlet, whereas, in the second, the inner plastic tube provides an additional dielectric barrier that prevents the conductor from being in contact with the gas. Water contact angle (WCA) measurements on treated PP samples revealed that different surface modification radial profiles are formed when the distance (d) between the plasma outlet and target is changed. Moreover, it was found that the highest WCA reduction does not always occur at the point where the plasma impinges the surface of the material, especially when the d value is small. Through X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis, it was confirmed that the WCA values are directly linked to the oxygen-functional groups formed on the PP surfaces after the plasma treatment. An analysis of the WCA measurements along the surface, as well as their temporal evolution, together with the XPS data, suggest that, when the treatment is performed at small d values, the plasma jet removes some functional groups at the point where the plasma hits the surface, thus leading to peculiar WCA profiles.
- ItemAn Innovative Protocol for Metaproteomic Analyses of Microbial Pathogens in Cystic Fibrosis Sputum(Lausanne : Frontiers Media, 2021) Graf, Alexander C.; Striesow, Johanna; Pané-Farré, Jan; Sura, Thomas; Wurster, Martina; Lalk, Michael; Pieper, Dietmar H.; Becher, Dörte; Kahl, Barbara C.; Riedel, KatharinaHallmarks of cystic fibrosis (CF) are increased viscosity of mucus and impaired mucociliary clearance within the airways due to mutations of the cystic fibrosis conductance regulator gene. This facilitates the colonization of the lung by microbial pathogens and the concomitant establishment of chronic infections leading to tissue damage, reduced lung function, and decreased life expectancy. Although the interplay between key CF pathogens plays a major role during disease progression, the pathophysiology of the microbial community in CF lungs remains poorly understood. Particular challenges in the analysis of the microbial population present in CF sputum is (I) the inhomogeneous, viscous, and slimy consistence of CF sputum, and (II) the high number of human proteins masking comparably low abundant microbial proteins. To address these challenges, we used 21 CF sputum samples to develop a reliable, reproducible and widely applicable protocol for sputum processing, microbial enrichment, cell disruption, protein extraction and subsequent metaproteomic analyses. As a proof of concept, we selected three sputum samples for detailed metaproteome analyses and complemented and validated metaproteome data by 16S sequencing, metabolomic as well as microscopic analyses. Applying our protocol, the number of bacterial proteins/protein groups increased from 199-425 to 392-868 in enriched samples compared to nonenriched controls. These early microbial metaproteome data suggest that the arginine deiminase pathway and multiple proteases and peptidases identified from various bacterial genera could so far be underappreciated in their contribution to the CF pathophysiology. By providing a standardized and effective protocol for sputum processing and microbial enrichment, our study represents an important basis for future studies investigating the physiology of microbial pathogens in CF in vivo – an important prerequisite for the development of novel antimicrobial therapies to combat chronic recurrent airway infection in CF.
- ItemInactivation of airborne bacteria by plasma treatment and ionic wind for indoor air cleaning(Hoboken, NJ : Wiley Interscience, 2020) Prehn, Franziska; Timmermann, Eric; Kettlitz, Manfred; Schaufler, Katharina; Günther, Sebastian; Hahn, VeronikaAirborne bacteria are a general problem in medical or health care facilities with a high risk for nosocomial infections. Rooms with a continuous airflow, such as operation theaters, are of particular importance due to a possible dissemination and circulation of pathogens including multidrug-resistant microorganisms. In this regard, a cold atmospheric-pressure plasma (CAP) may be a possibility to support usual disinfection procedures due to its decontaminating properties. The aim of this study was to determine the antimicrobial efficacy of a plasma decontamination module that included a dielectric barrier discharge for plasma generation. Experimental parameters such as an airflow velocity of 4.5 m/s and microbial contaminations of approximately 6,000 colony-forming units (cfu)/m3 were used to simulate practical conditions of a ventilation system in an operating theater. The apathogenic microorganism Escherichia coli K12 DSM 11250/NCTC 10538 and the multidrug-resistant strains E. coli 21181 and 21182 (isolated from patients) were tested to determine the antimicrobial efficacy. In summary, the number of cfu was reduced by 31–89% for the tested E. coli strains, whereby E. coli K12 was the most susceptible strain toward inactivation by the designed plasma module. A possible correlation between the number or kind of resistances and susceptibility against plasma was discussed. The inactivation of microorganisms was affected by plasma intensity and size of the plasma treatment area. In addition, the differences of the antimicrobial efficacies caused through the nebulization of microorganisms in front (upstream) or behind (downstream) the plasma source were compared. The presence of ionic wind had no influence on the reduction of the number of cfu for E. coli K12, as the airflow velocity was too high for a successful precipitation, which would be a prerequisite for an increased antimicrobial efficacy. The inactivation of the tested microorganisms confirms the potential of CAP for the improvement of air quality. The scale-up of this model system may provide a novel tool for an effective air cleaning process.
- ItemAuthor Correction: A combination of electrochemistry and mass spectrometry to monitor the interaction of reactive species with supported lipid bilayers (Scientific Reports, (2020), 10, 1, (18683), 10.1038/s41598-020-75514-7)(London : Nature Publishing Group, 2021) Ravandeh, M.; Kahlert, H.; Jablonowski, H.; Lackmann, J.-W.; Striesow, J.; Agmo Hernández, V.; Wende, K.Correction to: Scientific Reports https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-75514-7, published online 29 October 2020
- ItemComparative studies of low-intensity short-length arcs(Praha : Czech Technical University in Prague, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Department of Physics, 2019) Baeva, M.; Siewert, E.; Uhrlandt, D.We present results obtained by two non-equilibrium modelling approaches and experiments on low-intensity short-length arcs in argon at atmospheric pressure. The first one considers a quasi-neutral arc column combined with boundary conditions on the electrodes based on the energy balance in the space-charge sheaths. The second approach applies a unified description over the entire gap and solves the Poisson equation for the self-consistent electric field. The experiments provide the arc voltage.
- Item3D analysis of low-voltage gas-filled DC switch using simplified arc model(Praha : Czech Technical University in Prague, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Department of Physics, 2019) Gortschakow, S.; Gonzalez, D.; Yu, S.; Werner, F.Electro-magnetic simulations have been used for the visualization of distribution of Lorentz force acting on a DC switching arc in low-voltage contactor. A simplified plasma model (black-box model) was applied for the description of arc conductivity. Arc geometry was gained from the high-speed camera images. Influence of arc position, arc current and of external magnetic field has been studied. Results have been compared with optical observations of the arc dynamics.
- ItemROS Pleiotropy in Melanoma and Local Therapy with Physical Modalities(Austin, Tex. : Landes Bioscience, 2021) Sagwal, Sanjeev Kumar; Bekeschus, SanderMetabolic energy production naturally generates unwanted products such as reactive oxygen species (ROS), causing oxidative damage. Oxidative damage has been linked to several pathologies, including diabetes, premature aging, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer. ROS were therefore originally anticipated as an imperative evil, a product of an imperfect system. More recently, however, the role of ROS in signaling and tumor treatment is increasingly acknowledged. This review addresses the main types, sources, and pathways of ROS in melanoma by linking their pleiotropic roles in antioxidant and oxidant regulation, hypoxia, metabolism, and cell death. In addition, the implications of ROS in various physical therapy modalities targeting melanoma, such as radiotherapy, electrochemotherapy, hyperthermia, photodynamic therapy, and medical gas plasma, are also discussed. By including ROS in the main picture of melanoma skin cancer and as an integral part of cancer therapies, a greater understanding of melanoma cell biology is presented, which ultimately may elucidate additional clues on targeting therapy resistance of this most deadly form of skin cancer.
- ItemThe HIPPO Transducer YAP and Its Targets CTGF and Cyr61 Drive a Paracrine Signalling in Cold Atmospheric Plasma-Mediated Wound Healing(London: Hindawi, 2019) Shome, Debarati; von Woedtke, Thomas; Riedel, Katharina; Masur, KaiReactive species play a pivotal role in orchestrating wound healing responses. They act as secondary messengers and drive redox-signalling pathways that are involved in the homeostatic, inflammatory, proliferative, and remodelling phases of wound healing. The application of Cold Atmospheric Plasma (CAP) to the wound site produces a profusion of short- and long-lived reactive species that have been demonstrated to be effective in promoting wound healing; however, knowledge of the mechanisms underlying CAP-mediated wound healing remains scarce. To address this, an in vitro coculture model was used to study the effects of CAP on wound healing and on paracrine crosstalk between dermal keratinocytes and fibroblasts. Using this coculture model, we observed a stimulatory effect on the migration ability of HaCaT cells that were cocultured with dermal fibroblasts. Additionally, CAP treatment resulted in an upregulation of the HIPPO transcription factor YAP in HaCaTs and fibroblasts. Downstream effectors of the HIPPO signalling pathway (CTGF and Cyr61) were also upregulated in dermal fibroblasts, and the administration of antioxidants could inhibit CAP-mediated wound healing and abrogate the gene expression of the HIPPO downstream effectors. Interestingly, we observed that HaCaT cells exhibited an improved cell migration rate when incubated with CAP-treated fibroblast-conditioned media compared to that observed after incubation with untreated media. An induction of CTGF and Cyr61 secretion was also observed upon CAP treatment in the fibroblast-conditioned media. Finally, exposure to recombinant CTGF and Cyr61 could also significantly improve HaCaT cell migration. In summary, our results validated that CAP activates a regenerative signalling pathway at the onset of wound healing. Additionally, CAP also stimulated a reciprocal communication between dermal fibroblasts and keratinocytes, resulting in improved keratinocyte wound healing in coculture. © 2020 Debarati Shome et al.
- ItemMixed Ionic-Electronic Conductivity, Redox Behavior and Thermochemical Expansion of Mn-Substituted 5YSZ as an Interlayer Material for Reversible Solid Oxide Cells(Basel : MDPI, 2021) Natoli, Alejandro; Arias-Serrano, Blanca I.; RodrÃguez-Castellón, Enrique; Å»urawska, Agnieszka; Frade, Jorge R.; Yaremchenko, Aleksey. A.Manganese-substituted 5 mol.% yttria-stabilized zirconia (5YSZ) was explored as a prospective material for protective interlayers between electrolyte and oxygen electrodes in reversible solid oxide fuel/electrolysis cells. [(ZrO2)0.95(Y2O3)0.05]1−x[MnOy]x (x = 0.05, 0.10 and 0.15) ceramics with cubic fluorite structure were sintered in air at 1600 °C. The characterization included X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM)/energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), thermogravimetry and dilatometry in controlled atmospheres, electrical conductivity measurements, and determination of oxygen-ion transference numbers by the electromotive force (EMF) technique. Mn-substituted 5YSZ solid solutions exhibit variable oxygen nonstoichiometry with manganese cations in a mixed 2+/3+ oxidation state under oxidizing conditions. Substitution by manganese gradually increases the extent of oxygen content variation on thermal/redox cycling, chemical contribution to thermal expansion and dimensional changes on reduction. It also deteriorates oxygen-ionic conductivity and improves p-type electronic conductivity under oxidizing conditions, leading to a gradual transformation from predominantly ionic to prevailing electronic transport with increasing x. Mn2+/3+→Mn2+ transformation under reducing atmospheres is accompanied by the suppression of electronic transport and an increase in ionic conductivity. All Mn-substituted 5YSZ ceramics are solid electrolytes under reducing conditions. Prolonged treatments in reducing atmospheres, however, promote microstructural changes at the surface of bulk ceramics and Mn exsolution. Mn-substituted 5YSZ with 0.05 ≤ x < 0.10 is considered the most suitable for the interlayer application, due to the best combination of relevant factors, including oxygen content variations, levels of ionic/electronic conductivity and thermochemical expansion.