Artificial Enzyme-Powered Microfish for Water-Quality Testing

We present a novel micromotor-based strategy for water-quality testing based on changes in the propulsion behavior of artificial biocatalytic microswimmers in the presence of aquatic pollutants. The new micromotor toxicity testing concept mimics live-fish water testing and relies on the toxin-induced inhibition of the enzyme catalase, responsible for the biocatalytic bubble propulsion of tubular microengines. The locomotion and survival of the artificial microfish are thus impaired by exposure to a broad range of contaminants, that lead to distinct time-dependent irreversible losses in the catalase activity, and hence of the propulsion behavior. Such use of enzyme-powered biocompatible polymeric (PEDOT)/Au-catalase tubular microengine offers highly sensitive direct optical visualization of changes in the swimming behavior in the presence of common contaminants and hence to a direct real-time assessment of the water quality. Quantitative data on the adverse effects of the various toxins upon the swimming behavior of the enzyme-powered artificial swimmer are obtained by estimating common ecotoxicological parameters, including the EC₅₀ (exposure concentration causing 50% attenuation of the microfish locomotion) and the swimmer survival time (lifetime expectancy). Such novel use of artificial microfish addresses major standardization and reproducibility problems as well as ethical concerns associated with live-fish toxicity assays and hence offers an attractive alternative to the common use of aquatic organisms for water-quality testing

Artificial Enzyme-Powered Microfish for Water-Quality Testing

We present a novel micromotor-based strategy for water-quality testing based on changes in the propulsion behavior of artificial biocatalytic microswimmers in the presence of aquatic pollutants. The new micromotor toxicity testing concept mimics live-fish water testing and relies on the toxin-induced inhibition of the enzyme catalase, responsible for the biocatalytic bubble propulsion of tubular microengines. The locomotion and survival of the artificial microfish are thus impaired by exposure to a broad range of contaminants, that lead to distinct time-dependent irreversible losses in the catalase activity, and hence of the propulsion behavior. Such use of enzyme-powered biocompatible polymeric (PEDOT)/Au-catalase tubular microengine offers highly sensitive direct optical visualization of changes in the swimming behavior in the presence of common contaminants and hence to a direct real-time assessment of the water quality. Quantitative data on the adverse effects of the various toxins upon the swimming behavior of the enzyme-powered artificial swimmer are obtained by estimating common ecotoxicological parameters, including the EC₅₀ (exposure concentration causing 50% attenuation of the microfish locomotion) and the swimmer survival time (lifetime expectancy). Such novel use of artificial microfish addresses major standardization and reproducibility problems as well as ethical concerns associated with live-fish toxicity assays and hence offers an attractive alternative to the common use of aquatic organisms for water-quality testing

Artificial Enzyme-Powered Microfish for Water-Quality Testing

We present a novel micromotor-based strategy for water-quality testing based on changes in the propulsion behavior of artificial biocatalytic microswimmers in the presence of aquatic pollutants. The new micromotor toxicity testing concept mimics live-fish water testing and relies on the toxin-induced inhibition of the enzyme catalase, responsible for the biocatalytic bubble propulsion of tubular microengines. The locomotion and survival of the artificial microfish are thus impaired by exposure to a broad range of contaminants, that lead to distinct time-dependent irreversible losses in the catalase activity, and hence of the propulsion behavior. Such use of enzyme-powered biocompatible polymeric (PEDOT)/Au-catalase tubular microengine offers highly sensitive direct optical visualization of changes in the swimming behavior in the presence of common contaminants and hence to a direct real-time assessment of the water quality. Quantitative data on the adverse effects of the various toxins upon the swimming behavior of the enzyme-powered artificial swimmer are obtained by estimating common ecotoxicological parameters, including the EC₅₀ (exposure concentration causing 50% attenuation of the microfish locomotion) and the swimmer survival time (lifetime expectancy). Such novel use of artificial microfish addresses major standardization and reproducibility problems as well as ethical concerns associated with live-fish toxicity assays and hence offers an attractive alternative to the common use of aquatic organisms for water-quality testing

Artificial Enzyme-Powered Microfish for Water-Quality Testing

We present a novel micromotor-based strategy for water-quality testing based on changes in the propulsion behavior of artificial biocatalytic microswimmers in the presence of aquatic pollutants. The new micromotor toxicity testing concept mimics live-fish water testing and relies on the toxin-induced inhibition of the enzyme catalase, responsible for the biocatalytic bubble propulsion of tubular microengines. The locomotion and survival of the artificial microfish are thus impaired by exposure to a broad range of contaminants, that lead to distinct time-dependent irreversible losses in the catalase activity, and hence of the propulsion behavior. Such use of enzyme-powered biocompatible polymeric (PEDOT)/Au-catalase tubular microengine offers highly sensitive direct optical visualization of changes in the swimming behavior in the presence of common contaminants and hence to a direct real-time assessment of the water quality. Quantitative data on the adverse effects of the various toxins upon the swimming behavior of the enzyme-powered artificial swimmer are obtained by estimating common ecotoxicological parameters, including the EC₅₀ (exposure concentration causing 50% attenuation of the microfish locomotion) and the swimmer survival time (lifetime expectancy). Such novel use of artificial microfish addresses major standardization and reproducibility problems as well as ethical concerns associated with live-fish toxicity assays and hence offers an attractive alternative to the common use of aquatic organisms for water-quality testing

Informe sobre la producción científica de Venezuela en revistas iberoamericanas de acceso abierto en redalyc.org, 2005-2011

Objetivo: Proporcionar información sobre el Perfil de Producción Científica de Venezuela en revistas del acervo redalyc.org para el periodo 2005-2011, con el fin de conocer cuáles son tanto las tendencias como el comportamiento de las estrategias de comunicación y de colaboración que registran los artículos producidos por los investigadores venezolanos.Método: Se estudia la producción científica de 800 revistas iberoamericanas de acceso abierto durante 2005-2011, a partir de un modelo de análisis centrado en entidades de producción y comunicación, las cuales permiten generar un Perfil de Producción Científica según los indicadores de: Producción (P), Producción en Colaboración (PC) y Colaboración (C), aplicados a un núcleo de 145,515 artículos científicos que forman parte del acervo redalyc.org.Resultados: La producción científica de Venezuela asciende a 7,394 artículos que corresponden a una aportación de 5.1% sobre el total analizado, de los cuales 23.4% fueron publicados en revistas extranjeras, y donde poco más de la mitad corresponde al área de ciencias sociales (54.2%), seguida de ciencias con 35.3%, mientras que artes y humanidades alcanza 5.3% y multidisciplinaria 5.2%. Las instituciones venezolanas con mayor aporte a la producción científica son la Universidad de Zulia (LUZ), la Universidad Central de Venezuela (UCV) y la Universidad de los Andes (ULA); mientras que 60.7% de los trabajos firmados por autores nacionales se han realizado en colaboración, principalmente de tipo nacional e institucional (61.7%), y donde la participación de autores del extranjero se vincula prioritariamente con México, Colombia, España y Chile, que en conjunto representan el 71.3% de la producción de Venezuela en colaboración con otros países

Transmittance and optical constants of Lu films in the 3–1800 eV spectral range

The optical constants n and k of lutetium (Lu) films were obtained in the 3-1800 eV range from transmittance measurements performed at room temperature. These are the first experimental optical constant data of Lu in the whole range. Thin films of Lu with various thicknesses were deposited by evaporation in ultrahigh vacuum conditions and their transmittance was measured in situ. Lu films were deposited onto grids coated with a thin, C support film. Transmittance measurements were used to obtain the extinction coefficient k of Lu films. The refractive index n of Lu was calculated with Kramers-Krönig analysis. k data were extrapolated both on the high and on the low-energy sides by using experimental and calculated k values available in the literature. Lu, similar to other lanthanides, has a low-absorption band below the O 2,3 edge onset; the lowest absorption was measured at ∼25.1 eV. Therefore, Lu is a promising material for filters and multilayer coatings in the energy range below the O 2,3 edge in which most materials have a large absorption. Good consistency of the data was obtained through f and inertial sum rules

Transmittance and optical constants of Sr films in the 6–1220 eV spectral range

Strontium (Sr) is a material with low-absorption bands in the extreme ultraviolet (EUV), which makes it a potential candidate for band pass filters and multilayer coatings. Yet, a better knowledge of the optical properties of Sr is required for these developments. The optical constants n and k of Sr thin films have been obtained in the 6-1220 eV range from transmittance measurements performed at room temperature. These are the first experimental optical constant data of Sr in most of the range. Thin films of Sr with various thicknesses were deposited by evaporation in ultrahigh vacuum conditions, and their transmittance was measured in situ. Sr films were deposited onto grids coated with a thin C support film. Transmittance measurements were used to directly obtain the extinction coefficient k of Sr films. The refractive index n of Sr was calculated with Kramers-Kronig analysis. For this, k data were extrapolated both on the high-and on the low-energy sides by using experimental and calculated k data available in the literature. It was found that, similar to other alkaline-earth metals, Sr has a low absorption band in the EUV, which for Sr is below its N-2,N-3 edge, with a minimum at similar to 18.5 eV, a range where most materials in nature have a large absorption. A second spectral range of interest for the low absorption of Sr is below its M-4,M-5 edge at 132 eV. In spite of these remarkable properties, Sr is a very reactive material and the stability of coatings encompassing Sr may be an issue. Good consistency of the data resulted from the application of f and inertial sum rules. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics