We have used resonant soft x-ray scattering to study the effects of discommensuration on the hole Wigner crystal (HC) in the spin ladder Sr(14-x)CaxCu24O41 (SCCO). As the hole density is varied the HC forms only with the commensurate wave vectors L(L) = 1/5 and L(L) = 1/3; for incommensurate values it "melts." A simple scaling between L(L) and temperature is observed, tau1/3/tau1/5 = 5/3, indic...

objective(s): pseudomonas aeruginosa is a nosocomial pathogen resistant to most antimicrobial treatments. furthermore, it persists in adverse environments thereby forming biofilms on various surfaces. researchers have therefore focused on antibiofilm strategies using nanoparticles due to their unique physicochemical properties. superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (sionps) have recently s...

OBJECTIVES To assess the cytotoxic potential of Salvadora persica (S. persica) extracts on human gingival fibroblast (HGF) cells. METHODS This study was conducted between January and May 2012 in collaboration with Dental Caries Research Chair, College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Extracts of S. persica using hexane, ethylacetate, and ethanol as solvents at concent...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE The resistance of Candida species to antifungals represents a major challenge for therapeutic and prophylactic strategies. This study evaluated photodynamic therapy (PDT) mediated by Curcumin (CUR) against clinical isolates of C. albicans, C. tropicalis, and C. glabrata, both in planktonic and biofilm forms. STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS Suspensions of Candida we...

Magnetic graphene oxide modified with 1-amine-3-methyl imidazole chloride ionic liquid (LI-MGO) was prepared through chemical co-precipitation and modified using 1-amine-3-imidazolium chloride ionic liquid. The as-prepared LI-MGO was characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FT-IR). The adsorption properties ...

We investigate the role of hyaluronic acid (HA) on S. pneumoniae in vitro biofilm formation and evaluate gene expressions of virulence and/or biofilm related genes. Biofilms were grown in medium supplied with HA derived from capsule of Streptococcus equi. The biomasses of biofilms were detected by crystal-violet (CV) microtiter plate assay, and the morphology was viewed under scanning electron ...

In previous work, we described a protocol for measuring biofilm formation on opaque and non-opaque surfaces using reflected light. In the present work, we used the reflectance assay to assess biofilm formation for 14 strains of Enterococcus and compared our results with those obtained using a Crystal Violet (CV) assay. In general, the results for the two assays were in agreement: both identifie...

Healthcare-associated infections pose a serious risk for patients, staff, and visitors and are a severe burden on the National Health Service, costing at least £1 billion annually. Antimicrobial surfaces significantly contribute toward reducing the incidence of infections as they prevent bacterial adhesion and cause bacterial cell death. Using a simple, easily upscalable swell-encapsulation-shr...

In this study, magnetic graphene oxide (MGO) nanomaterials were synthesized based on covalent binding of amino Fe3O4 nanoparticles onto the graphene oxide (GO), and the prepared MGO was successfully applied as support for the immobilization of laccase. The MGO-laccase was characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). Compared with free laccas...

Microorganisms are not commonly found in the planktonic state but predominantly form dual- and multispecies biofilms in almost all natural environments. Bacteria in multispecies biofilms cooperate, compete or have neutral interactions according to the involved species. Here, the development of mono- and dual-species biofilms formed by Staphylococcus aureus and other foodborne pathogens such as ...