Characterization of catalytic chemical vapor-deposited SiCN thin film coatings

Silicon carbonitride thin films of 480 to 730-nm thicknesses were grown on silicon substrate using ammonia and hexamethyldisilazane gas sources using catalytic chemical vapor deposition process. Compositions of silicon, carbon and nitrogen in the SiCN films were varied by changing the flow rate of ammonia gas. The effect of deposition conditions on the structural, optical and mechanical properties of SiCN thin films was examined. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis indicated that the higher flow rate of ammonia gas results in higher nitrogen and lower carbon content in the deposited thin films. The measurement of stress as a function of substrate temperature in the SiCN film showed that the stress changes from compressive to tensile in the range of 275°C to 325°C. With these preliminary characterization tests, it is expected that SiCN nano-thin films can be used for developing sensors for harsh environment

In vitro synergism of fosfomycin and clarithromycin antimicrobials against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius

BACKGROUND: Bacterial biofilms are of tremendous concern for clinicians, as they can compromise the ability of the immune system and antimicrobial therapy to resolve chronic and recurrent infections. Novel antimicrobial therapies or combinations targeted against biofilm establishment and growth subsequently represent a promising new option for the treatment of chronic infectious diseases. In this study, we treated bacterial biofilms produced by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MRSP) with a combination of fosfomycin and clarithromycin. We selected these agents, because they prevent biofilm formation and induce antimicrobial synergism that may also target other staphylococci. RESULTS: We determined that the combination of fosfomycin and clarithromycin better impairs S. pseudintermedius biofilm formation compared to treatment with either therapy alone (P < 0.05). Morphological examination of these biofilms via scanning electron microscopy demonstrated that fosfomycin alone does impact biofilm formation on orthopaedic implants. However, this activity is enhanced in the presence of clarithromycin. We propose that the bacteriostatic activity of clarithromycin is accentuated when fosfoymcin is present, as it may allow better penetration into the biofilm matrix, allowing fosfomycin access to sessile bacteria near the surface of attachment. CONCLUSIONS: Here, we demonstrate that the combination of fosfomycin and clarithromycin may be a useful therapy that could improve the clinical outcomes of treating antimicrobial resistant MRSP biofilms

Optical sensors based on polymeric nanofibers layers created by electrospinning

Porous materials have become ideal candidates for the creation of optical sensors that are able to reach extremely high sensitivities, due to both the possibility to infiltrate the target substances on them and to their large surface-to-volume ratio. In this work, we present a new alternative for the creation of porous optical sensors based on the use of polymeric nanofibers (NFs) layers fabricated by electrospinning. Polyamide 6 (PA6) NFs layers with average diameters lower than 30 nm and high porosities have been used for the creation of Fabry-Pérot optical sensing structures, which have shown an experimental sensitivity up to 1060 nm/RIU (refractive index unit). This high sensitivity, together with the low production cost and the possibility to be manufactured over large areas, make NFs-based structures a very promising candidate for the development of low-cost and high performance optical sensors.The Spanish government (TEC2015-63838-C3-1-R-OPTONANOSENS); Basque government (KK-2017/00089-μ4F)

Novel monitoring systems to obtain dairy cattle phenotypes associated with sustainable production

Improvements in production efficiencies and profitability of products from cattle are of great interest to farmers. Furthermore, improvements in production efficiencies associated with feed utilization and fitness traits have also been shown to reduce the environmental impact of cattle systems, which is of great importance to society. The aim of this paper was to discuss selected novel monitoring systems to measure dairy cattle phenotypic traits that are considered to bring more sustainable production with increased productivity and reduced environmental impact through reduced greenhouse gas emissions. With resource constraints and high or fluctuating commodity prices the agricultural industry has seen a growing need by producers for efficiency savings (and innovation) to reduce waste and costs associated with production. New data obtained using fast, in some cases real-time, and affordable objective measures are becoming more readily available to aid farm level monitoring, awareness, and decision making. These objective measures may additionally provide an accurate and repeatable method for improving animal health and welfare, and phenotypes for selecting animals. Such new data sources include image analysis and further data-driven technologies (e.g., infrared spectra, gas analysis), which bring non-invasive methods to obtain animal phenotypes (e.g., enteric methane, feed utilization, health, fertility, and behavioral traits) on commercial farms; this information may have been costly or not possible to obtain previously. Productivity and efficiency gains often move largely in parallel and thus bringing more sustainable systems

Micro-management: curbing chronic wound infection

Chronic wounds, including pressure ulcers, foot ulcers and venous leg ulcers have a detrimental impact on the health and well-being of an estimated 2% of people in the UK. Chronic wounds are normally colonised by bacteria and in some instances bacterial load increases sufficiently for infection to ensue. Once a chronic wound becomes infected it is difficult to resolve and a combination of continuous inflammation and bacterial proliferation makes these wounds difficult to manage. A state of prolonged inflammation can occur as a result of impaired homeostatic pathways which are exacerbated by bacterial growth. Chronic, infected wounds can persist for many months or even years, sometimes requiring surgical intervention in the form of regular debridement or amputation when other strategies such as antimicrobial treatments fail. The complex relationships between both oral microbiota and the host have been extensively characterised, including the shift from health to disease, and has allowed for the development of numerous control strategies. This knowledge combined with contemporary studies of chronic infected wounds can be used to develop an understanding of the relationship between the host and microorganism in the chronic wound environment. Such information has the potential to inform wound management including strategies to control infection and promote wound healing

Perspectives on utilization of edible coatings and nano-laminate coatings for extension of postharvest storage of fruits and vegetables

It is known that in developing countries, a large quantity of fruit and vegetable losses results at postharvest and processing stages due to poor or scarce storage technology and mishandling during harvest. The use of new and innovative technologies for reducing postharvest losses is a requirement that has not been fully covered. The use of edible coatings (mainly based on biopolymers) as a postharvest technique for agricultural commodities has offered biodegradable alternatives in order to solve problems (e.g., microbiological growth) during produce storage. However, biopolymer-based coatings can present some disadvantages such as: poor mechanical properties (e.g., lipids) or poor water vapor barrier properties (e.g., polysaccharides), thus requiring the development of new alternatives to solve these drawbacks. Recently, nanotechnology has emerged as a promising tool in the food processing industry, providing new insights about postharvest technologies on produce storage. Nanotechnological approaches can contribute through the design of functional packing materials with lower amounts of bioactive ingredients, better gas and mechanical properties and with reduced impact on the sensorial qualities of the fruits and vegetables. This work reviews some of the main factors involved in postharvest losses and new technologies for extension of postharvest storage of fruits and vegetables, focused on perspective uses of edible coatings and nano-laminate coatings.María L. Flores-López thanks Mexican Science and Technology Council (CONACYT, Mexico) for PhD fellowship support (CONACYT Grant Number: 215499/310847). Miguel A. Cerqueira (SFRH/BPD/72753/2010) is recipient of a fellowship from the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT, POPH-QREN and FSE Portugal). The authors also thank the FCT Strategic Project of UID/ BIO/04469/2013 unit, the project RECI/BBB-EBI/0179/2012 (FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-027462) and the project ‘‘BioInd Biotechnology and Bioengineering for improved Industrial and AgroFood processes,’’ REF. NORTE-07-0124-FEDER-000028 Co-funded by the Programa Operacional Regional do Norte (ON.2 – O Novo Norte), QREN, FEDER. Fundação Cearense de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico – FUNCAP, CE Brazil (CI10080-00055.01.00/13)

Politics of nanotechnologies in food and agriculture

The chapter discusses the reasons for the delay in the regulatory intervention concerning nanotechnologies used in the agriculture and food sectors. The main finding is that unregulated introduction of nanoinnovation into the food system is due to the current neoliberal food policy and to the power struggles that characterize the economic, social and political dynamics within the global supply chain. Therefore, it is necessary to put the ‘question concerning technology’ at the center of the regulatory debate in order to implement a regulatory system able to face nanorisks. Which means looking at the way in which technology controls power relationships within society. Attention should be shifted from efficiency to power issues, and new technologies should be assessed from a political rather than an economic or ethical perspective

Soft X-ray phase nano-microscopy of micrometre-thick magnets

Imaging of nanoscale magnetic textures within extended material systems is of critical importance both to fundamental research and technological applications. Whilst high resolution magnetic imaging of thin nanoscale samples is well-established with electron and soft X-ray microscopy, the extension to micrometer-thick systems with hard X-rays currently limits high resolution imaging to rare-earth magnets. Here we overcome this limitation by establishing soft X-ray magnetic imaging of micrometer-thick systems using the pre-edge phase X-ray Magnetic Circular Dichroism signal, thus making possible the study of a wide range of magnetic materials. By performing dichroic spectro-ptychography, we demonstrate high spatial resolution imaging of magnetic samples up to 1.7 {\mu}m thick, an order of magnitude higher than conventionally possible with absorption-based techniques. This new regime of magnetic imaging makes possible the study of extended non rare-earth systems that have until now been inaccessible, from magnetic textures for future spintronic applications to non-rare-earth permanent magnets