Fire retardancy behavior of PLA based nanocomposites

To understand and improve the fire retardancy behavior of polylactic acid, we have incorporated two structurally different additives, sepiolite and organically modified montmorillonite. A novel approach (combination of electrospinning and extrusion/injection molding) is employed to address critical issues like char enhancement as well as the homogeneity/uniformity of the inorganic barrier during combustion of polymer nanocomposites. Fundamental knowledge is gained on the mechanisms of fire retardancy, particularly with samples of different thicknesses (thermally thin versus thermally intermediate/thick). Volumetric imaging of the residues provided a deeper understanding of the formation or the evolution of the inorganic barrier. Considerable insight on the dependency of biodegradation on the environment (primarily) and on the compromising effect of high aspect ratio nanoparticles is also obtained. This knowledge has a broader scientific impact and is critical to design the new generation of eco-benign flame retardant and biodegradable polymer nanocomposites.     

Two-sex Branching Models with Random Control on the Number of Progenitor Couples

In this paper we introduce a class of two-sex branching models where, in each generation, a random control on the number of progenitor couples in the population is considered. For such a class, several probabilistic results are established. Also assuming offspring probability distribution belonging to the bivariate power series family, Bayes estimators for the mean vector and the covariance matrix of the offspring distribution are proposed. A computational method to determine highest posterior density credibility sets is stated. As illustration, a simulated example is provided.     

Synthesis, structure and reactivity of homobimetallic Rh(I) and Ir(I) complexes of s- and as-indacene-diide

The Rh(COD) and Ir(COD) homobimetallic complexes of s-indacene-diide, 2,6-dimethyl-s-indacene-diide, as-indacene-diide, and 2,7-dimethyl-as-indacene-diide have been synthesized from the di-lithium salts of the dianions and metal dimers [M(μ-Cl)L₂]₂ (M = Rh, Ir; L₂ = COD, NBD, (ethylene)₂, (CO)₂ as mixtures of syn and anti isomers. The syn/anti ratio depends on the nature of the ancillary ligands at the metal and on the s or as geometry of the bridging ligand. In the reaction of the 2,7-dimethyl-as-indacene-diide-[M(COD)]₂ species with CO, the higher reactivity of the syn isomers has been justified on the basis of a greater instability of the ground state due to steric interactions between the COD groups. Bis-η¹ metal-bonded intermediates have been identified in the carbonylation of iridium derivatives; on the other hand, the formation of the bis-η⁵ mixed complexes syn and anti-{2,7-dimethyl-as-indacene-diide-[Rh(COD)][Rh(CO)₂]} and their reactivity strongly support the existence of metal---metal interaction in the rhodium derivatives.     

Nanosensor for Sensitive Detection of the New Psychedelic Drug 25I-NBOMe

This work reports the synthesis, characterization, and sensing behavior of a hybrid nanodevice for the detection of the potent abuse drug 25I-NBOMe. The system is based on mesoporous silica nanoparticles, loaded with a fluorescent dye, functionalized with a serotonin derivative and capped with the 5-HT_2A receptor antibody. In the presence of 25I-NBOMe the capping antibody is displaced, leading to pore opening and rhodamine B release. This delivery was ascribed to 5-HT_2A receptor antibody detachment from the surface due to its stronger coordination with 25I-NBOMe present in the solution. The prepared nanodevice allowed the sensitive (limit of detection of 0.6 μm ) and selective recognition of the 25I-NBOMe drug (cocaine, heroin, mescaline, lysergic acid diethylamide, MDMA, and morphine were unable to induce pore opening and rhodamine B release). This nanodevice acts as a highly sensitive and selective fluorometric probe for the 25I-NBOMe illicit drug in artificial saliva and in sweets.     

Equilibrium and Kinetic Study of l- and d-Valine Adsorption in Supramolecular-Templated Chiral Mesoporous Materials

Adsorption kinetic studies are conducted to investigate the potential to use chiral mesoporous materials nanoporous guanosine monophosphate material-1 (NGM-1) and nanoporous folic acid material-1 (NFM-1) for the enantiomeric separation of l- and d-valine. A pseudo-second-order (PSO) kinetic model is applied to test the experimental adsorption equilibrium isotherms, according to both the Langmuir and Freundlich models and the characteristic parameters for each model are determined. The calcined versions of both NGM-1 and NFM-1 fit the Langmuir model with maximum sorption capacities of 0.36 and 0.26 g/g for the preferred adsorption enantiomers, d-valine and l-valine, respectively. Experimental results and the analysis of adsorption models suggest a strong adsorbate–adsorbent interaction, and the formation of a monolayer of tightly packed amino acid on the internal mesopore surface for the preferred enantiomers.     

Synthesis and Structural Characterization of Zinc Complexes with Sulfonamides containing 8‐Aminoquinoleine

Sulfonamides obtained by reaction of 8‐aminoquinoline with benzenesulfonyl, toluene‐4‐sulfonyl and naphthalene‐2‐sulfonyl chlorides have been used to synthetize coordination compounds with Zn^II with a ZnL₂ composition. Determination of the crystal structures for the resulting complexes by X‐ray diffraction shows a distorted tetrahedral environment for the Zn²⁺ ions, sulfonamides acting as bidentate ligands through the nitrogen atoms from the sulfonamidate and quinoline groups. FT‐IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR and mass spectra of these compounds are also discussed.     

On Lusin's condition for the inverse function

Sia ? una funzione invertibile, continua e quasi ovunque differenziabile, da un aperto di IR ⁿ in IR ⁿ . Allora ?^?1soddisfa alla condizione di Lusin (N) se e solo se lo Jacobiano di ? è quasi ovunque diverso da zero.     

Regiospecific synthesis of 1-arylpyrazoles

A new regiospecific synthesis of 1-aryl-substituted pyrazoles by reaction of aryl-hydrazines with β-aminoenones is reported.