A Unique Mn2Gd2 Tetranuclear Compound of p-tert-Butylthiacalix[4]arene

A calixarene complex with tetragonal (Mn2Gd2III)-Gd-II tetranuclear units was synthesized in solvothermal conditions, where the addition of a small amount of water was crucial for the formation of the target compound. In the structure, two tail-to-tail p-tert-butylthiacalixarenes are located in a C-shaped mode with a dihedral angle of 14.29 degrees but not in the conventional antiparallel arrangement and form a sandwich-like subunit with an in-between Mn2Gd2 unit. Both calixarenes assume similar cone shapes of C-2v symmetry but are pinched to different extents.

Rapid automated in-situ monitoring of total dissolved iron and total dissolved manganese in underground water by reverse-flow injection with chemiluminescence detection during the process of water treatment

Measurement of iron and manganese is very important in evaluating the quality of natural waters. We have constructed an automated Fe(II), total dissolved iron(TDI), Mn(II), and total dissolved manganese(TDM) analysis system for the quality control of underground drinking water by reverse flow injection analysis and chemiluminescence detection(rFIA-CL), The method is based on the measurement of the metal-catalyzed light emission from luminol oxidation by potassium periodate. The typical signal is a narrow peak, in which the height is proportional to light emitted and hence to the concentration of metal ions. The detection limits were 3 x 10(-6) mu g ml(-1) for Fe(II) and the linear range extents up to 1.0 x 10(-4) and 5 x 10(-6) mu g ml(-1) for Mn(II) cover a linear range to 1.0 x 10(-4) mu g ml(-1). This method was used for automated in-situ monitoring of total dissolved iron and total dissolved in underground water during water treatment. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.

Solution properties of doped polyaniline

Solution properties of polyaniline (PAn) doped by camphorsulfonic acid (CSA) were examined. PAn-CSA behaves like a polyelectrolyte to different extents depending on the solvent used. In an m-cresol/chloroform solution, PAn-CSA exhibits an expanded chain conformation because of its polyelectrolytic properties. Dilute and concentrated solution properties of PAn-CSA indicate that PAn-CSA is a semirigid polymer which has strong interchain interactions.

Immunoprotective analysis of VhhP2, a Vibrio harveyi vaccine candidate

VhhP2 is an Outer membrane protein identified in a pathogenic Vibrio harveyi strain, T4, isolated from diseased fish. When used as a Subunit Vaccine, purified recombinant VhhP2 affords high level of protection upon Japanese flounder against V harveyi challenge. Vaccination with VhhP2 induced the expression of a number of immune-related genes, especially those encoding immunoglobulin M (IgM) and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) II alpha. A VhhP2 surface display system, in the form of the fish commensal strain FIR harboring the vhhP2-expressing plasmid pJVP, was constructed. PF3/pJVP is able to produce and present recombinant VhhP2 on cell surface. Vaccination of fish with live PF3/pJVP via intraperitoneal injection elicited Strong immunoprotection. Vaccination of fish orally with live PF3/pJVP embedded in alginate microspheres also induced effective immunoprotection. In addition, a VhhP2-based surface display system was created, in which VhhP2 serves as a carrier for the Surface delivery of a heterologous Edwardsiella tarda immunogen, Et18, that is fused in-frame to VhhP2. DH5 alpha/pJVP18, which expresses and surface-displays the VhhP2-Et18 chimera, proved to be an effective vaccine that call protect fish against infections by V. harveyi and E. tarda to the extents comparable to those produced by vaccination with purified recombinant VhhP2 and Et18, respectively. These data suggest that VhhP2 may be applied as a vaccine and a vaccine carrier against infections by V. harveyi and other pathogens such as F. tarda. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The characteristics of BSRs and their derived heat flow on the profile 973 in the northeastern South China Sea

Processing of a recently acquired seismic line in the northeastern South China Sea by Project 973 has been conducted to study the character and the distribution of gas hydrate Bottom-Simulating Reflectors (BSRs) in the Hengchun ridge. Analysis of different-type seismic profiles shows that the distribution of BSRs can be revealed to some extents by single-channel profile in this area, but seismic data processing plays an important role to resolve the full distribution of BSRs in this area. BSR' s in the northeastern South China Sea have the typical characteristics of BSRs on worldwide continental margins: they cross sediment bed reflections, they are generally parallel to the seafloor and the associated reflections have strong amplitude and a negative polarity. The characteristics of BSRs in this area are obvious and the BSRs indicate the occurrence of gas hydrate-bearing sediments in the northeastern South China Sea. The depth of the base of the gas-hydrate stability zone was calculated using the phase stability boundary curve of methane hydrate and gas hydrate with mixture gas composition and compared with the observed BSR depth. If a single gradient geothermal curve is used for the calculation, the base of the stability zone for methane hydrate or gas hydrate with a gas mixture composition does not correspond to the depth of the BSRs observed along the whole seismic profile. The geothermal gradient therefore changes significantly along the profile. The geothermal gradient and heat flow were estimated from the BSR data and the calculations show that the geothermal gradient and heat flow decrease from west to east, with the increase of the distance from the trench and the decrease of the distance to the island arc. The calculated 2 heat flow changes from 28 to 64 mW/m(2), which is basically consistent with the measured heat flow in southwestern offshore Taiwan.

Periodical mixing of MORB magmas near East Pacific Rise 13N: evidence from modeling and zoned plagioclase phenocrysts

Thirty-six basalt samples from near East Pacific Rise 13N are analyzed for major and trace elements. Different types of zoned plagioclase phenocrysts in basalts are also backscatter imaged, and major element profiles scanned and analyzed for microprobe. Basalts dredged from a restricted area have evolved to different extents (MgO=9.38wt%-6.76wt%). High MgO basalts are modeled for crystallization to MgO of about 7wt%, and resulted in the Ni contents (28 ppm) that are generally lower than that in observed basalts (> 60 ppm). It suggests that low MgO basalts may have experienced more intensive magma mixing. High MgO (9.38wt%) basalt is modeled for self-"mixing-crystallization", and the high Ni contents in low MgO basalts can be generated in small scale and periodical self-mixing of new magma (high MgO). "Mixing-crystallization" processes that low MgO magmas experienced accord with recent 226Ra/230Th disequilibria studies for magma residence time, in which low MgO magmas have experienced more circles of "mixing-crystallization" in relatively longer residence time. Magma mixing is not homogeneous in magma chamber, however, low MgO magmas are closer to stable composition produced by periodical "mixing-crystallization", which is also an important reason for magma diversity in East Pacific Rise. Zoned plagioclase phenocrysts can be divided into two types: with and without high An# cores, both of which have multiple reversed An# zones, suggesting periodical mixing of their host magmas. Cores of zoned plagioclase in low MgO (7.45wt%) basalt differ significantly with their mantle in An#, but are similar in An# with microlite cores (products of equilibrium crystallization) in high MgO (9.38wt%) basalt, which further shows that plagioclase phenocryst cores in low MgO basalts may have formed in their parental magmas before entering into the magma chamber.

塔里木盆地轮南地区三叠系油气地质模型及油气预测研究

As an important measure to understand oil and gas accumulation during petroleum exploration and development, Petroleum geological model is an integrated system of theories and methods, which includes sedimentology, reservoir geology, structural geology, petroleum geology and other geological theories, and is used to describe or predict the distribution of oil and gas. Progressive exploration and development for oil and gas is commonly used in terrestrial sedimentary basin in China for the oil and gas generation, accumulation and exploitation are very intricate. It is necessary to establish petroleum geological model, adaptive to different periods of progressive exploration and development practice. Meanwhile there is lack of an integrated system of theories and methods of petroleum geological model suitable for different exploration and development stages for oil and gas, because the current different models are intercrossed, which emphasize their different aspects. According to the characteristics of exploration and development for the Triassic oil and gas pool in Lunnan area, Tarim Basin, the Lunnan horst belt was selected as the major study object of this paper. On the basis of the study of petroleum geological model system, the petroleum geological models for different exploration and development stages are established, which could be applied to predict the distribution of oil and gas distribution. The main results are as follows. (1) The generation-accumulation and exploration-development of hydrocarbon are taken as an integrated system during the course of time, so petroleum exploration and development are closely combined. Under the guidance of some philosophical views that the whole world could be understood, the present writer realizes that any one kind of petroleum geological models can be used to predict and guide petroleum exploration and development practice. The writer do not recognize that any one kind of petroleum geological models can be viewed as sole model for guiding the petroleum exploration and development in the world. Based on the differences of extents and details of research work during various stage of exploration and development for oil and gas, the system of classification for petroleum geological models is established, which can be regarded as theoretical basis for progressive petroleum exploration and development. (2) A petroleum geological model was established based on detailed researches on the Triassic stratigraphy, structure, sedimentology and reservoir rocks in the Lunnan area, northern Tarim Basin. Some sub-belt of hydrocarbon accumulation in the Lunnan area are divided and the predominate controlling factors for oil and gas distribution in the Lunnan area are given out. (3) Geological models for Lunnan and Jiefangqudong oil fields were rebuilt by the combinations of seismology and geology, exploration and development, dynamic and static behavior, thus finding out the distribution of potential zones for oil and gas accumulations. Meanwhile Oil and gas accumulations were considered as the important unit in progressive exploration and development, and the classification was made for Lunnan Triassic pools. Petroleum geological model was created through 3D seismic fine interpretation and detailed description of characteristics of reservoir rocks and the distribution of oil and gas, especially for LN3 and LN26 well zones. The possible distribution of Triassic oil traps and their efficiency in the Lunnan area has been forecasted, and quantitative analysis for original oil(water) saturation in oil pools was performed. (4) The concept of oil cell is proposed by the writer for the first time. It represents the relatively oil-rich zones in oil pool, which were formed by the differences of fluid flows during the middle stage of reservoir development. The classification of oil cells is also given out in this paper. After the studies of physical and numerical modeling, the dominant controlling factors for the formation of various oil cells are analyzed. Oil cells are considered as the most important hydrocarbon potential zones after first recovery, which are main object of progressive development adjustment and improvement oil recovery. An example as main target of analysis was made for various oil cells of Triassic reservoir in the LN2 well area. (5) It is important and necessary that the classification of flow unit and the establishment of geological model of flow unit based on analysis of forecast for inter-well reservoir parameters connected with the statistical analysis of reservoir character of horizontal wells. With the help of self-adaptive interpolation and stochastic simulation, the geological model of flow units was built on the basis of division and correlation of flow units, with which the residual oil distribution in TIII reservoir in the LN2 well area after water flooding can be established.

水库滑坡复活机理及其发展趋势预测研究

Various numbers of ancient landslides of various scales are frequently distributed on both banks of reservoirs, especially large reservoirs, both in China and abroad. During inundation and operation of theses reservoirs, some of the landslides are reactivated, which caused losses of people's lives and properties to various extents, some even disasters. Systematic studies are, however, very few on the reservoir-induced reactivation mechanism and development tendency prediction. Based on investigation of reservoir-induced reactivation phenomena of ancient landslides and relevant existing research problems, a systematic study is carried out on the field identification, induced reactivation mechanism, development tendency prediction, risk decision-making and treatment of reservoir-related ancient landslides, through analysis of large numbers of engineering geological investigation results, scientific experimental and research results, in combination with prevention and treatment practices of reservoir-related landslides both in China and abroad, and a series of research results have been obtained. 1. On the basis of study of the distribution features, genesis mechanism of ancient landslides on river banks, a set of scientific methods are summarized on field identification of ancient landslides, and a significant method named "lithologic sequence method" or "indicator layer method", is proposed, which is proved to be very useful. 2. A detail study is made on the reservoir-induced hydraulic effects and material mechanic effects (or softening effects) on the ancient landslide through model and case studies, which concludes that the magnitude and properties of reservoir-induced hydraulic effects are related to the shapes of sliding planes, water content and permeability of landslide materials and variation rate and magnitude of reservoir levels; the magnitude of material mechanic effects are related to the material composition (including mineral composition and grain size), natural water content and saturation state of sliding zones. Also a sensitive analysis is made on the factors that are related to the stabilities of the landslides, which indicate that the stability of a landslide is more sensitive to the groundwater head h_w in the slides and the inner friction angleψof sliding zones than others. 3. The joint inducing mechanism of rainfall and reservoir is also discussed in the paper through model analysis and case study, which proves that reservoir inundation increases firstly the sensitivity of a landslides to rainfall through reduction of its stability or cracking deformation which will increase the rainfall infiltration to the slide body, and then rainfall triggers reactivation or intensifies the reservoir-induced deformation of a landslide. 4. Based on rheologic test results of sliding zones of several reservoir-related ancient landslides, the rheologic characteristics of sliding zones have been discussed in detail and several typical rheologic models have been set up, which well explains the dynamic process of slide deformation. The response types to reservoir inundation and development tendency of reservoir -related ancient landslide are discussed in the paper based on field investigation results. And prediction methods for reservoir-related landslides have been studied based on the Mate-Synthetic principle of quantitative and qualitative analysis, as well as combination of computation and internal mechanism analysis, and a rheologic analytical method is proposed which is proved very useful for prediction of the landslide development tendency. 6. In disaster-prevention and treatment of reservoir-related landslides, risk decision-making has been proved very significant both in engineering and economics. Based on the practices in disaster-prevention and treatment of reservoir-related landslides both in China and abroad, the disaster-prevention risk decision-making for reservoir-related landslides has been proposed in terms of philosophy, methods and procedures, and well put into practice. A summary is also made through case study of the experiences of treatment of reservoir-related landslides both in China and abroad in terms of principle, methods and technical lines. 7 A detail study is made as a case study of the reactivated Maoping ancient landslide on the left bank of the Geheyan Reservoir on Qingjiang river in Hubei province, China, including its field identification features, reservoir-induced reactivation characteristics and mechanism, development tendency prediction and proposed counter measures based on risk analysis.

小学儿童对复合时距认知发展的实验研究

The purpose of this study was to explore the development of the cognitive processing on temporal continuity (duration) in primary school children with the information processing approach. The results showed: (1) The performances of cognitive processing on compound duration developed increasingly with age. (2) The intervals of duration, the method of display, the varieties of display had effects on cognitive processing of compound duration; however, the effective ways and extents varied with the specific tasks. (3) The primary school children could use cognitive strategies initially, the effectiveness and the flexibility of strategies developed increasingly with age.

普通话重音的知觉及其声学表现

This research, mainly by using perceptual experiment and relating its results to the acoustic correlates, investigated the acoustic correlates of mandarin prominences of prosodic word、prosodic phrase、sentence and their mutual influences. The results are as follow: (1) for the prominence of prosodic word, according the order of the extents to which these acoustic correlates contribute to the perception of the prominence, its acoustic correlates are duration、pitch、spectral tilt、energy and pitch-change, the results also have showed that the perception of the prominence is influenced by some non-acoustic factors; (2) for the prominence of prosodic phrase, baseing on the experimental results, the existing of prosodic phrase prominence in mandarian has been proposed, and the experiments proved that the prosodic phrase prominence fall on the semantic focus of the phrase typically; (3) for the prominence of sentence, the experimental results show that, the lengthening of duration, similar with the pitch-change, mainly localised on the prosodic head of the domain on which the sentence prominence emphisize, and this lengthening would, in different levels, spread on other syllables in the phonetic constituents which contain the prosodic head, and this pattern of lengthening of duration does not vary with changing of domain of sentence prominence, that means, in mandarin sentence, there is generally no acoustic cues which can been used in the perception of the domain of sentnece prominence; (4) for the acoustic cues of mutual influences of the prominences of different levels, the experiment have proved that, not only the pitch-change but also the lengthening of duration are subjective to melodic grid law. In the last part of the dissertation, I have tried to given an explantion about the above experimental results from psylogical view point.

Impact of human activities on benthic biotopes and species

Executive Summary 1. The Marine Life Information Network (MarLIN) has been developed since 1998. Defra funding has supported a core part of its work, the Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Sub-programme. This report relates to Biology and Sensitivity work for the period 2001-2004. 2. MarLIN Biology and Sensitivity research takes information on the biology of species to identify the likely effects of changing environmental conditions linked to human activities on those species. In turn, species that are key functional, key structural, dominant, or characteristic in a biotope (the habitat and its associated species) are used to identify biotope sensitivity. Results are displayed over the World Wide Web and can be accessed via a range of search tools that make the information of relevance to environmental management. 3. The first Defra contract enabled the development of criteria and methods of research, database storage methods and the research of a wide range of species. A contract from English Nature and Scottish Natural Heritage enabled biotopes relevant to marine SACs to be researched. 4. Defra funding in 2001-2004 has especially enabled recent developments to be targeted for research. Those developments included the identification of threatened and declining species by the OSPAR Biodiversity Committee, the development of a new approach to defining sensitivity (part of the Review of Marine Nature Conservation), and the opportunity to use Geographical Information Systems (GIS) more effectively to link survey data to MarLIN assessments of sensitivity. 5. The MarLIN database has been developed to provide a resource to 'pick-and-mix' information depending on the questions being asked. Using GIS, survey data that provides locations for species and biotopes has been linked to information researched by MarLIN to map the likely sensitivity of an area to a specified factor. Projects undertaken for the Irish Sea pilot (marine landscapes), in collaboration with CEFAS (fishing impacts) and with the Countryside Council for Wales (oil spill response) have demonstrated the application of MarLIN information linked to survey data in answering, through maps, questions about likely impacts of human activities on seabed ecosystems. 6. GIS applications that use MarLIN sensitivity information give meaningful results when linked to localized and detailed survey information (lists of species and biotopes as point source or mapped extents). However, broad landscape units require further interpretation. 7. A new mapping tool (SEABED map) has been developed to display data on species distributions and survey data according to search terms that might be used by an environmental manager. 8. MarLIN outputs are best viewed on the Web site where the most up-to-date information from live databases is available. The MarLIN Web site receives about 1600 visits a day. 9. The MarLIN approach to assessing sensitivity and its application to environmental management were presented in papers at three international conferences during the current contract and a 'touchstone' paper is to be published in the peer-reviewed journal Hydrobiologia. The utility of MarLIN information for environmental managers, amongst other sorts of information, has been described in an article in Marine Pollution Bulletin. 10. MarLIN information is being used to inform the identification of potential indicator species for implementation of the Water Framework Directive including initiatives by ICES. 11. Non-Defra funding streams are supporting the updating of reviews and increasing the amount of peer review undertaken; both of which are important to the maintenance of the resource. However, whilst MarLIN information is sufficiently wide ranging to be used in an 'operational' way for marine environmental protection and management, new initiatives and the new biotopes classification have introduced additional species and biotopes that will need to be researched in the future. 12. By the end of the contract, the Biology and Sensitivity Key Information database contained full Key Information reviews on 152 priority species and 117 priority biotopes, together with basic information on 412 species; a total of 564 marine benthic species.

Ranking of length-class seasonal and regional effects on dietary compositions of the co-occurring Pagrus auratus (Sparidae) and Pseudocaranx georgianus (Carangidae)

Using an effective combination of multivariate testing and ordination analyses, this study compares the extents to which the diets of two co-occurring fish species (Pagrus auratus and Pseudocaranx georgianus) are related to body size (length class), season and region and the rank order importance of those effects. Thus, volumetric dietary compositions were determined for these species on the lower west coast of Australia, where both are abundant, and for P. auratus from the mid west coast and P. georgianus from the south coast. The diet of P. auratus on the lower west coast was strongly related to body size and slightly less to season. With increasing body size, its diet shifted from predominantly ophiuroids to larger prey, such as brachyuran crabs, teleosts, echinoids and ultimately asteroids, probably reflecting a shift from foraging over soft sediments to areas over and around reefs. Seasonal changes on the lower west coast were restricted mainly to small P. auratus, while larger fish underwent seasonal changes further north. Analyses using a common size range of medium to larger P. auratus demonstrated that dietary composition differed more between regions than seasons. The relationships between diet and length class of P. georgianus on both the lower west and south coasts were less pronounced than for P. auratus and seasonal changes were restricted to the south coast, where amphipod consumption increased markedly in summer. The diet of P. georgianus was related far more to region than length class and season, with more small teleosts, small crabs, carideans and littorinids and less amphipods, isopods and small bivalves being ingested on the lower west than south coasts. Although crabs and teleosts were important typifying prey of P. auratus and P. georgianus, when co-occurring, the former predator tended to ingest greater volumes of larger and often less mobile prey. This reflects differences in dentition, jaw morphology and feeding behaviour and reduces the potential for competition for food resources. The results imply that P. auratus and P. georgianus are opportunistic feeders and that the effects of length class, season and region on dietary composition and their rank orders can vary markedly between species and for length class and season between regions for the same species.

How well do ecosystem indicators communicate the effects of anthropogenic eutrophication?

Anthropogenic eutrophication affects the Mediterranean, Black, North and Baltic Seas to various extents. Responses to nutrient loading and methods of monitoring relevant indicators vary regionally, hindering interpretation of ecosystem state changes and preventing a straightforward pan-European assessment of eutrophication symptoms. Here we summarize responses to nutrient enrichment in Europe's seas, comparing existing time-series of selected pelagic (phytoplankton biomass and community composition, turbidity, N:P ratio) and benthic (macro flora and faunal communities, bottom oxygen condition) indicators based on their effectiveness in assessing eutrophication effects. Our results suggest that the Black Sea and Northern Adriatic appear to be recovering from eutrophication due to economic reorganization in the Black Sea catchment and nutrient abatement measures in the case of the Northern Adriatic. The Baltic is most strongly impacted by eutrophication due to its limited exchange and the prevalence of nutrient recycling. Eutrophication in the North Sea is primarily a coastal problem, but may be exacerbated by climatic changes. Indicator interpretation is strongly dependent on sea-specific knowledge of ecosystem characteristics, and no single indicator can be employed to adequately compare eutrophication state between European seas. Communicating eutrophication-related information to policy-makers could be facilitated through the use of consistent indicator selection and monitoring methodologies across European seas. This work is discussed in the context of the European Commission's recently published Marine Strategy Directive.

Characterisation and evaluation of novel surfactant bacterial anti-adherent coatings for endotracheal tubes designed for the prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia.

It is accepted that ventilator-associated pneumonia is a frequent cause of morbidity and mortality in intensive care patients. This study describes the physicochemical properties of novel surfactant coatings of the endotracheal tube and the resistance to microbial adherence of surfactant coated endotracheal tube polyvinylchloride (PVC). Organic solutions of surfactants containing a range of ratios of cholesterol and lecithin (0:100, 25:75, 50:50, 75:25, dissolved in dichloromethane) were prepared and coated onto endotracheal tube PVC using a multiple dip-coating process. Using modulated temperature differential scanning calorimetry it was confirmed that the binary surfactant systems existed as physical mixtures. The surface properties of both surfactant-coated and uncoated PVC, following treatment with either pooled human saliva or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), were characterised using dynamic contact angle analysis. Following treatment with saliva, the contact angles of PVC decreased; however, those of the coated biomaterials were unaffected, indicating different rates and extents of macromolecular adsorption from saliva onto the coated and uncoated PVC. The advancing and receding contact angles of the surfactant-coated PVC were unaffected by sonication, thereby providing evidence of the durability of the coatings. The cell surface hydrophobicity and zeta potentials of isolates of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, following treatment with either saliva or PBS, and their adherence to uncoated and surfactant-coated PVC (that had been pre-treated with saliva) were examined. Adherence of S. aureus and Ps. aeruginosa to surfactant-coated PVC at each successive time period (0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8 h) was significantly lower than to uncoated PVC, the extent of the reduction frequently exceeding 90%. Interestingly, the microbial anti-adherent properties of the coatings were dependent on the lecithin content. Based on the impressive microbial anti-adherence properties and durability of the surfactant coating on PVC following dip coatings, it is proposed that these systems may usefully reduce the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia when employed as luminal coatings of the endotracheal tube.

Liquid marble formation using hydrophobic powders

This work aims to investigate and quantitatively measure “liquid marble” phenomena using hydrophobic powders (granules). The hydrophobic powders based on a copper substrate were prepared by a silver deposition technique of particle sizes 9 µm, 20 µm and 320 µm and of contact angle with water approaching 160°. The hydrophobic powder poly-methylmethacralate (PMMA) particle size 42 µm and contact angle of 120° was also used to determine the effect of powder density on liquid marble stability. The experimental investigations indicated that for successful formation of liquid marbles a number of variables in addition to hydrophobicity need to be considered, namely: powder density; powder particle size; powder shape; liquid marble formation technique. It was found that liquid marbles were formed using all four powders to varying extents, with a low powder particle size forming more stable liquid marbles. In a series of gravimetric tests, adhered powder mass on liquid marbles was found to be directly proportional to the water droplet surface area. A more complete coverage of the water drops were found with PMMA powder than the hydrophobic granules. Moreover, a further procedure was developed to increase the mechanical strength of the liquid marble, by polymerising methylmethacrylate (MMA) on the surface of a PMMA powder – liquid marble, with the aim of maintaining water within a more robust PMMA – liquid marble shell. This technique may prove to be a novel way of encapsulating drug compounds, such as gentamicin sulphate, for PMMA bone cement.