Search results for "Calcium"
showing 10 items of 1740 documents
Dynamic studies on living cells with an atomic force fluorescence microscope
2001
Analysis of the reaction of bone structure to mechanical stimulation is a key issue in understanding the origins of osteoporosis and mechanical adaptation of living bone to external forces. This is thought to be regulated on a cellular level. We have investigated quantitative mechanical stimulation of single bone cells and their immediate intracellular calcium responses using a combination of an atomic force microscope (AFM) and a fluorescence microscope, developed in our laboratory. The force stimulation system can apply quantified forces in the pico- and nano-newton regime on exactly defined positions of a cell. We present here the first measurements using this system on the mechanically …
Two-photon high-speed light-sheet volumetric imaging of brain activity during sleep in zebrafish larvae
2020
Although it is well known that zebrafish display the behavioural signature of sleep, the neuronal correlates of this state are not yet completely understood, due to the complexity of the measurements required. For example, when performed with visible excitation light, functional imaging can disrupt the day/night cycle due to the induced visual stimulation. To address this issue, we developed a custom-made two-photon light-sheet microscope optimized for high-speed volumetric imaging. By employing infra-red light (not visible to the larva) for excitation, we are able to record wholebrain neuronal activity with high temporal- and spatial-resolution without affecting the sleep state. In two-pho…
Formation of calcium containing minerals in the low temperature dolomite ceramics
2011
In order to elaborate low temperature dolomite ceramics, potentially suitable for the production of building materials, local low carbonate clay and dolomite siftings were used as a raw materials. Relationship between mechanical properties, mineral composition and firing temperature kept in the range of 600-800° C were established. According to the obtained data it was detected that the optimal burning temperature, giving the highest crushing strength (40 MPa) was around 700-750° C, optimal proportion of dolomite and clay expressed as ratio between CaO and Al2O3 - 2.5 wt%. Gradual formation of C3A occurs during firing, yielding C4AHX, i.e. mainly C4AH13 after hydratation of obtained composi…
Shear characterization of CaCO3-filled linear low density polyethylene
1988
Shear properties of CaCO3-filled linear low density polyethylene have been determined over a wide range of filler loading. The viscosity rises with the filler loading especially at low shear rates and a yield value appears for CaCO3-contents larger than 5%. The decrease of the die-swell ratios of the filled samples indicates a reduction of the melt elasticity.
Charge State of Silver Halide Colloids Determines the Antibacterial Activity in Amorphous Calcium Phosphate
2013
Removal of bacteria is important not only at implantation, but after long-term implant/prosthesis use. This requires strategies that employ different approaches for combating bacteria. Halides have the potential of an additional mechanism, and together with silver may provide a more powerful antibacterial strategy. Silver iodide was synthesized as colloids with a positive and negative charge and incorporated into an amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) to provide a possible greater antibacterial action. Colloids were characterized by FTIR spectroscopy and the charge measured by zeta potential. Phase analysis by X-ray diffraction patterns confirmed the formation of b-AgI nanoparticles. Minimum …
Fluoride-induced precipitates on enamel surface and subsurface areas visualised by electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy
1997
The present study examined the enamel surface after in vitro topical treatments with a neutral 2% NaF solution. For minimising the risk of artefacts, samples were inspected without pre-treatment as fresh, naturally wet specimens by complementary techniques: variable pressure electron microscopy (VP-SEM) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). VP-SEM provided information on the surface morphology, whereas CLSM allowed non-destructive visualisation of subsurface areas. Neutral NaF solutions induced globular precipitates on the enamel surfaces. If the globules formed may be described as "calcium fluoride like material", the additional information of this experiment is that, after intera…
The Effect of Calcium Carbonate on the Photo-Oxidative Behavior of Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)
2020
The aim of this work is to evaluate the influence of nanosized CaCO3 on the photo-oxidation of poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT)-based nanocomposites. The PBAT/CaCO3 nanocomposites are prepared by using a corotating twin-screw extruder with 0, 2, and 5 wt% of CaCO3. The films are obtained by film blowing process. Specimens of the nanocomposites and that of the pure polymer are subjected to accelerated aging with a cycle of 8 h of light at a temperature of 55 °C followed by 4 h condensation at 45 °C to evaluate the effects of the CaCO3 addition on the photo-oxidation of PBAT. The results indicate that the modulus and tensile strength of the nanocomposites are increased significa…
Merging models of biomineralisation with concepts of nonclassical crystallisation: is a liquid amorphous precursor involved in the formation of the p…
2012
16 pages; International audience; The calcitic prisms of Pinna nobilis (Pinnidae, Linnaeus 1758) are shown to be perfect examples of a mesocrystalline material. Based on their ultrastructure and on the occurrence of an amorphous transient precursor during the early stages of prism formation, we provide evidence for the pathway of mesocrystallisation proposed by Seto et al. (2012), which proceeds not by self-organized oriented attachment of crystalline nano-bricks but by aggregation of initially amorphous nanogranules which later transform by epitaxial nucleation to a threedimensional array of well aligned nanocrystals. We further fathom the role of a liquid amorphous calcium carbonate in bi…
High Photoluminescence Quantum Yields in Organic Semiconductor-Perovskite Composite Thin Films.
2017
One of the obstacles towards efficient radiative recombination in hybrid perovskites is a low exciton binding energy, typically in the orders of tens of meV. It has been shown that the use of electron-donor additives can lead to a substantial reduction of the non-radiative recombination in perovskite films. Herein, the approach using small molecules with semiconducting properties, which are candidates to be implemented in future optoelectronic devices, is presented. In particular, highly luminescent perovskite-organic semiconductor composite thin films have been developed, which can be processed from solution in a simple coating step. By tuning the relative concentration of methylammonium l…
Accelerated weathering of PP based nanocomposites: Effect of the presence of maleic anhydryde grafted polypropylene
2013
Polymer nanocomposites are currently a topic of great interest. The increasing importance they are gaining also in the standpoint of industrial applications, is giving concerns regarding their environmental stability and, in general, their behaviour in outdoor applications, under direct solar irradiation. Papers available in the literature have highlighted the different influences of different nanosized fillers, in particular clay-based nanofillers; however, few data are available regarding other nanosized fillers. Furthermore, the research on polymer nanocomposites has clearly pointed out that the use of compatibilizers is required to improve the mechanical performance and the dispersion o…