Modification of Polylactide Nonwovens with Carbon Nanotubes and Ladder Poly(silsesquioxane)

Electrospun nonwovens of poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) modified with multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) and linear ladder-like poly(silsesquioxane) with methoxycarbonyl side groups (LPSQ-COOMe) were obtained. MWCNT and LPSQ-COOMe were added to the polymer solution before the electrospinning. In addition, nonwovens of PLLA grafted to modified MWCNT were electrospun. All modified nonwovens exhibited higher tensile strength than the neat PLA nonwoven. The addition of 10 wt.% of LPSQ-COOMe and 0.1 wt.% of MWCNT to PLLA increased the tensile strength of the nonwovens 2.4 times, improving also the elongation at the maximum stress.     

Proteins and peptides voltammetry: Trends,potential, and limitations

Numerous biological processes are connected with the efficient electron transfer reactions in proteins and peptides. In this review, we discuss briefly the relevance and current challenges associated with the voltammetric analysis of peptides and proteins with and without a metal redox center. Special attention is paid to the integration of electrochemical methods with new nanomaterials which offers amplification of multiplexing capabilities for simultaneous and very sensitive examination of various proteins. After critically discussing the most interesting approaches in the proteins/peptides voltammetric analysis reported so far, for the single or multiplexed examination of such biomolecules with demonstrated applicability in the real-sample analysis, existing challenges still need to be addressed and future directions in this field will be pointed out.     

Pyridine solvated dioxouranium complex with salen ligand: Synthesis,characterization and luminescence properties

A new derivative of dioxouranium(VI) salen complex, [UO2(L)(pyridine)], where [L = N,N′-Bis(2-hydroxybenzylidene)-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediamine] is synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis (C, H, N), FT-IR, ESI-MS spectrometry, UV/Vis, fluorescence, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and thermal gravimetric (TG) study. Furthermore, the single crystal X-ray diffraction measurements of the complex were carried out at 100 and 273 K. The crystal structure measurements revealed that the complex has distorted pentagonal bipyramidal geometry with uranium atom located at the centre and bonded to two phenoxy oxygen and two azomethine nitrogen in tetradenate fashion and one nitrogen from pyridine making it seven coordinated. In addition, the photoluminescence property of the complex was also recorded.     

An infinite dimensional affine nil algebra with finite Gelfand-Kirillov dimension

The famous 1960's construction of Golod and Shafarevich yields infinite dimensional nil, but not nilpotent, algebras. However, these algebras have exponential growth. Here, we construct an infinite dimensional nil, but not locally nilpotent, algebra which has polynomially bounded growth.

     

Phase space dependence of the multiplicity distribution in π+ andpp collisions at 250 GeV/c

The charged particle multiplicity distribution has been studied for non-single-diffractive π⁺ p andpp collisions at \(\sqrt s = 22\) GeV, for full phase space as well as for intervals in rapidity, azimuthal angle and transverse momentum. In general, the multiplicity distribution is well described by a negative binomial. From comparison of the distribution for negative or positive particles to that of all charged particles, cascading is favoured as an interpretation over stimulated emission. Interesting consequences follow from a comparison of our results to those at collider energies and toe ⁺ e ^? data at comparable energy. Furthermore, evidence is given that the multiplicity distribution is not exactly of negative binomial type in every (connected or disconnected) phase space region.     

Supplementation with Magnesium Salts—A Strategy to Increase Nutraceutical Value of Pleurotus djamor Fruiting Bodies

The use of substrates supplemented with minerals is a promising strategy for increasing the nutraceutical value of Pleurotus spp. The current research was performed to analyze the effect of substrate supplementation with magnesium (Mg) salts on the Mg content, biomass, and chemical composition of pink oyster mushroom (Pleurotus djamor) fruiting bodies. Before inoculation, substrate was supplemented with MgCl₂ × 6 H₂O and MgSO₄, both salts were applied at three concentrations: 210, 420, and 4200 mg of Mg per 2 kg of substrate. The harvest period included three flushes. Substrate supplementation with 4200 mg of Mg caused the most significant decrease in mushroom productivity, of about 28% for both Mg salts. The dry matter content in fruiting bodies was significantly lower in the treatment in which 210 mg of Mg was applied as MgSO₄ in comparison to the control. Supplementation effectively increased the Mg content in fruiting bodies of P. djamor by 19–85% depending on the treatment, and significantly affected the level of remaining bioelements and anions. One hundred grams of pink oyster fruiting bodies, supplemented with Mg salts, provides more than 20% of the Mg dietary value recommended by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA); thus, supplementation can be an effective technique for producing mushrooms that are rich in dietary Mg. Although P. djamor grown in supplemented substrate showed lower productivity, this was evident only in the fresh weight because the differences in dry weight were negligible. Mg supplementation increased the antioxidant activity of the fruiting bodies, phenolic compounds, and some amino acids, including L-tryptophan, and vitamins (thiamine and l-ascorbic acid).     

An investigation of intermittency in proton-gold, oxygen-gold, sulphur-gold and sulphur-sulphur interactions at 200 GeV per nucleon

The intermittency phenomenon is investigated in proton-gold, oxygen-gold, sulphur-gold and sulphur-sulphur collisions at 200 GeV per nucleon. The data were taken with the NA 35 streamer chamber detector at the CERN SPS. The data samples are carefully corrected for double counting of tracks and for contamination from photon conversions, particle decays and secondary interactions. The analysis is carried out in terms of factorial moments, using a new definition, and of correlation integrals. Both methods show the presence of nonstatistical fluctuations (intermittency). The main conclusions are: The observation of the effect for pairs of hadrons with negative charges and its near absence for pairs of opposite charges is consistent with the assumption that Bose-Einstein correlations yield the dominant contribution. The intermittency effect is not proportional to (dn/dy)^–1 which would be expected in superposition models. The measured relation between the second and third factorial moment for negative hadrons indicates that genuine 3-particle correlations are small. The predictions of a Monte Carlo simulation which is based on the Lund Fritiof model with the inclusion of Bose-Einstein correlations agree with the experimental results.Deceased     

Conducting polymer membranes for low activity potentiometric ion sensing

Conducting polymer (CP) films, used as ion-sensing membranes under open circuit potentiometric conditions, are usually characterised with rather high detection limit, in the range of 10⁻⁴-10⁻⁵ mol dm⁻³. This effect is unfavourable, not only from the point of view of CP applications in potentiometry as ion sensitive membranes, but also when these materials are used as ion-to-electron transducers (solid contacts) for ion-selective electrodes. The theoretical considerations presented underline the crucial role of spontaneous processes of polymer charging/discharging—the source of observed high detection limit of sensors comprising CP layer under zero current conditions. Although the mechanism of occurring process is different from that observed for plastic, solvent polymeric based ion-selective electrodes, the ultimate result—alteration of activity of electrolyte at the membrane/solution interface leading to elevation of the detection limit—is the same.The method of estimation of parameters characterising spontaneous charge transfer processes is presented. The values obtained can be used to calculate the resulting polymer/solution interface activity of electrolyte ions, thus the detection limit of CP membrane can be theoretically predicted.A method of lowering of the detection limit of conducting polymer membranes, applying galvanostatic polarisation to compensate the spontaneous process of polymer charging/discharging, is presented.The experimental results obtained for poly(pyrrole), poly(N-methylpyrrole) and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) are in good accordance with predictions of the presented model.