Synthesis of bifunctional cyclic carbonates from CO2 catalysed by choline-based systems

Easily prepared choline iodide is an active catalyst for the synthesis of cyclic carbonates through the coupling reaction of CO₂ and epoxides using low pressure (1 MPa), moderate temperature (85 ºC) and green solvents (ethanol and propan-2-ol). The effects of reaction temperature, pressure, reaction time and amount of catalyst used were also investigated. The results showed moderate to high yields and excellent selectivities of cyclic carbonates with vinyl or acrylate groups under mild reaction conditions. The heterogenization of choline over a Merrifield resin gives access to a supported catalyst with good recyclability and reactivity that can be extended to a variety of terminal epoxide substrates.     

A New Cells‐Compatible Microfluidic Device for Single Channel Recordings

We report the fabrication of a microfluidic apparatus and the realization of a sensors based on PEDOT : PSS, a biocompatible semiconductor polymer used in substitution of standard electrodes for electrophysiological studies and for detection of nanopores in membrane. This gives the possibility to study the mechanisms of ions balance and molecular transport though cell membranes. In particular the apparatus is based on two chambers connected through an aperture in a PTFE sheet where lipid bilayer are formed using Montal‐Mueller method, and the pore‐forming proteins activity is detected by polymeric electrodes. This methodology could be applied to examine different membrane proteins for the purpose of biosensing, drug screening and nanopore technologies.     

Quantification of the effect of nonphotochemical quenching on the determination of in vivo chl a from phytoplankton along the water column of a freshwater reservoir

Nonphotochemical quenching (NPQ) is a well-known collection of different photoprotective mechanisms of plants and algae to avoid photodamage under an excess of light energy. In order to evaluate the overall effect of NPQ processes on the fluorometric determination of in vivo Chl a from a phytoplankton community dominated by diatoms, we compared the results obtained by two different fluorometric field devices with the total concentration of extracted Chl a measured by HPLC ( in vitro Chl a ). A different set of measurements were made to assess the performance of these fluorometers at high, moderate and low irradiance conditions. The Fbbe fluorometer, which is capable of distinguishing different algal groups according to their pigment content, allowed a better determination of in vivo Chl a under high irradiance conditions, with only a 10% mean difference from the in vitro Chl a concentration. In turn, the FMII fluorometer underestimated by as much as 50% the in vitro Chl a concentration under the same light conditions. As data from both fluorometers were in accordance with the in vitro Chl a values at moderate irradiance levels, the differences observed at high irradiances were attributed to the decrease in the yield of Chl a fluorescence caused by photoprotective NPQ processes. Accordingly, we estimated the effect of NPQ processes on the in vivo Chl a determination and the results allow us to provide an equation to correct this effect when in situ fluorometric measurements are carried out under high irradiance regimes. Our results demonstrate that under certain circumstances NPQ seriously compromises the results obtained by in situ fluorometric probes and highlight the need for a cautious interpretation of field data under such environmental conditions.     

UV‐Free Microfluidic Particle Fabrication at Low Temperature Using ARGET‐ATRP as the Initiator System

A new way to fabricate monodisperse polymer particles in a microfluidic device without UV‐light and without the need for high temperatures is described in this article. By applying an activator regeneration by electron transfer ‐ atom transfer radical polymerization (ARGET‐ATRP) initiator system in a co‐capillary microfluidic setup and by separating the monomer mixture in an initiator and a catalyst phase, a fast polymerization of the droplets at low temperature without premature curing and thus clogging of the capillaries can be achieved. The influence of the flow rates on the particle sizes and their polydispersity as well as the controlled character of the polymerization are investigated. The particle size is well adjustable, but the reaction is not controlled due to the high radical concentration needed for rapid polymerization. In addition, particles with incorporated UV‐dyes are produced as a proof of concept at low temperature.

     

Topological properties of commodities networks

This paper investigates the topological properties of the commodities networks. We have found that commodities form strong clusters and are homogeneous with relation to sector (metals, agriculture and energy). We also develop a dynamic approach suggesting that agriculture commodities are very important in the network, followed by metals and energy. Furthermore, the parameters that characterize the network seem to be changing over time.     

Generic-Type Results for Chaotic Dynamics in Equations with Periodic Forcing Terms

We prove that a class of equations containing the classical periodically forced pendulum problem displays the main features of chaotic dynamics for a set of forcing terms open and dense in suitable spaces. The approach is based on global variational methods.     

Polysialylated-neural cell adhesion molecule (PSA-NCAM) in the human trigeminal ganglion and brainstem at prenatal and adult ages

Background  

The polysialylated neuronal cell adhesion molecule (PSA-NCAM) is considered a marker of developing and migrating neurons and of synaptogenesis in the immature vertebrate nervous system. However, it persists in the mature normal brain in some regions which retain a capability for morphofunctional reorganization throughout life. With the aim of providing information relevant to the potential for dynamic changes of specific neuronal populations in man, this study analyses the immunohistochemical occurrence of PSA-NCAM in the human trigeminal ganglion (TG) and brainstem neuronal populations at prenatal and adult age.     

Vosperian and superconnected Abelian Cayley digraphs

A digraphX is said to be Vosperian if any fragment has cardinality either 1 or|V(X)| – d ⁺ (X) – 1.A digraph is said to be superconnected if every minimum cutset is the set of vertices adjacent from or to some vertex.In this paper we characterize Vosperian and superconnected Abelian Cayley directed graphs. Our main tool is a difficult theorem of J.H. Kemperman from Additive Group Theory.In particular we characterize Vosperian and superconnected loops network (also called circulants).     

Hydrogen related effects in a-Si:H studied by photothermal deflection spectroscopy

A study of thermal annealing of a-Si:H samples between 300 and 600°C has been carried out. At increasing annealing temperatures, the sub-gap absorption measured by PDS increases showing two inflections, centered at 375 and 550°C. The hydrogen content measured by thermal desorption spectroscopy evolves in the same temperature range, whereas the evolution of the hydrogen content deduced from the IR transmission spectra differs, decreasing sooner and vanishing already at about 450°C.