The first molecular-based studies of microbes in snow and on glaciers have only recently been performed on the vast Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS). Aeolian microbial seeding is hypothesized to impact on glacier surface community compositions. Localized melting of glacier debris (cryoconite) into the surface ice forms cryoconite holes, which are considered 'hot spots' for microbial activity on glaci...

The article proposes the use of the mechatronic surface sensor (MSS) to detect surface contamination. This methodology is based on the analysis of the vibration response of the monitored surface. In the present work a comparison between the responses of the MSS to different structural deposits build-up (Pseudomonas fluorescens biofilm--formed under turbulent and laminar flow and a silica deposi...

Bacterial biofilms are complex multicellular communities that are often associated with the emergence of large-scale patterns across the biofilm. How bacteria self-organize to form these structured communities is an area of active research. We have recently determined that the emergence of an intricate network of trails that forms during the twitching motility mediated expansion of Pseudomonas ...

Understanding the numerous factors that can affect biofilm formation and stability remain poorly understood. One of the major limitations is the accurate measurement of biofilm stability and cohesiveness in real-time when exposed to changing environmental conditions. Here we present a novel method to measure biofilm strength: interfacial rheology. By culturing a range of bacterial biofilms on a...

Lakes are dynamic and complex ecosystems that can be influenced by physical, chemical, and biological processes. Additionally, individual lakes are often chemically and physically distinct, even within the same geographic region. Here we show that differences in physicochemical conditions among freshwater lakes located on (and around) the same island, as well as within the water column of each ...

background and aims:nosocomial infections cause considerable morbidity and mortality and pose high financial burden on healthcare systems. although surface contact, surgical incisions, wounds and catheters are responsible for a high percentage of nosocomial infections, bacterial and fungal air contaminations in hospitals have an important role in development of hospital infections. the purpose ...

silver is composed of a large percentage of silver oxide due to their large ratio of surface to bulk silver atoms. silver nanoparticles have been a potent antibacterial, antifungal, anti-viral and anti-inflammatory agent. a simple, eco-friendly, inexpensive biosynthetic method was employed to synthesize silver nanoparticles.  the present study aimed at the comparative study of silver nanopartic...

The object of this study was to investigate the relationship between the staining behavior of the carious dentin by the caries detector solution and the structural characteristics of the dentin. Using 160 human extracted caries teeth, the ground and polished sectioned surface and the cutting surface of the caries cavities were prepared. The surface stained by the detector solution was examined ...

BACKGROUND The present study assessed microbial contamination in Italian dental surgeries. METHODS An evaluation of water, air and surface microbial contamination in 102 dental units was carried out in eight Italian cities. RESULTS The findings showed water microbial contamination in all the dental surgeries; the proportion of water samples with microbial levels above those recommended decr...

At the Bermuda Atlantic Time-Series Study (BATS) site, the field observations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) dynamics indicate that seasonally produced "semilabile" DOC is resistant to rapid microbial degradation in the surface waters but available for microbial remineralization once it is delivered into the mesopelagic zone after convective overtum. In this study, we employed an experimenta...