Using an electrical potential to reversibly switch surfaces between two states for dynamically controlling cell adhesion

Smart surfaces presenting both antifouling molecules with a charged functional group at their distal end, and molecules that are terminated by RGD peptides for cell adhesion, were fabricated and characterized (see picture). By applying potentials of +300 or -300?mV, the surfaces could be dynamically switched to make the peptide accessible or inaccessible to cells.     

Amphiphilic folded dendrimer discs and their thermosensitive self-assembly in water

Folded dendrimers with peripheral ether side chains show a thermally induced hierarchical aggregation process, in which the transition temperature and the dimensions of the aggregates can readily be tuned via the generation number (see figure).     

Photoluminescence spectroscopy of pure pentacene, perfluoropentacene, and mixed thin films

We report detailed temperature dependent photoluminescence (PL) spectra of pentacene (PEN), perfluoropentacene (PFP), and PEN:PFP mixed thin films grown on SiO(2). PEN and PFP are particularly suitable for this study, since they are structurally compatible for good intermixing and form a model donor/acceptor system. The PL spectra of PEN are discussed in the context of existing literature and compared to the new findings for PFP. We analyze the optical transitions observed in the spectra of PEN and PFP using time-dependent density functional theory calculations. Importantly, for the mixed PEN:PFP film we observe an optical transition in PL at 1.4 eV providing evidence for coupling effects in the blend. We discuss a possible charge-transfer (CT) and provide a tentative scheme of the optical transitions in the blended films.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic/tandem mass spectrometric identification of the phototransformation products of tebuconazole on titanium dioxide

Tebuconazole is a widely used fungicide. The formation of by-products on irradiated titanium dioxide as a photocatalyst was evaluated. Several species derived from tebuconazole degradation were identified and characterized by HPLC/MS(n). A pattern of reactions accounting for the observed intermediates is proposed. Different parallel pathways are operating (and through these pathways the transformation of the molecule proceeds), leading to a wide range of intermediate compounds. All these molecules are more hydrophylic than tebuconazole. The main steps involved are (1) the hydroxylation of the molecule with the formation of three species having [M + H](+) 324; the hydroxylation occurs on the C-1 carbon and on the aromatic ring in the two ortho-positions; (2) the cleavage of a C--C bond with the release of the tert-butyl moiety and the formation of a species having m/z 250; analogously to step 1, also on this species a further hydroxylation reaction occurs; (3) through the loss of the triazole moiety with the formation of a structure with m/z 257.     

Miniaturized sensor module for in-situ control of waters

A new sensor module is developed for the in-situ control of waters, especially surface waters. Complex miniaturized sensor technology is used for the determination of the parameters pO₂, pH, pNO₃, pCl, pPO₄, pNH₃ or pNH₄ and conductivity. Miniaturization of sensors results in small sample volumes and small volumes of calibration solution required. Results of testing this sensor module are described. The special features of this apparatus are its compact construction and its optimum functioning capability under flow conditions.     

Environmental accounting for the lagoon of Venice and the case of fishing

This paper presents the application of the eMergy evaluation, introduced by H.T. Odum as an efficient methodology of environmental accounting. The results of this analysis are a part of a wider sustainability assessment for the Province of Venice realized in 2003. Within a territorial sustainability analysis, it is necessary to implement an environmental accounting method, which is able: to precisely consider the boundaries of the investigated system (spatial scale); to arbitrarily separate the life of the investigated system into periods (temporal scale); to account for both economic and natural support to a given territorial system in order to implement a sustainable management of resources; to assess all the items supporting the system on the basis of a physical unit that is objective (while the traditional economic evaluation method is based on individual preferences, hence it is subjective). The Province of Venice is a very complex system due, on one hand, to the heavy and consolidated presence of industrial activity since the beginning of the 20th century and, on the other hand, to the principal natural ecosystem which characterizes it: the lagoon, the largest wetland in the Mediterranean Sea. The role of the lagoon, as a provider of resources and services is represented by the analysis of two aspects: the lagoon as an ecosystem on the basis of the evaluation of all flows that cyclically support its biotic activity and the lagoon as a productive system on the basis of the contribution of both natural and "economic" inputs that support human activity. In particular, the case of clam fishing will be presented to put on evidence the importance of natural inputs that are systematically neglected by the traditional accounting methodologies.     

The complex of a bivalent derivative of galanthamine with torpedo acetylcholinesterase displays drastic deformation of the active-site gorge: implications for structure-based drug design

Bifunctional derivatives of the alkaloid galanthamine, designed to interact with both the active site of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and its peripheral cation binding site, have been assayed with Torpedo californica AChE (TcAChE), and the three-dimensional structures of their complexes with the enzyme have been solved by X-ray crystallography. Differences were noted between the IC(50) values obtained for TcAChE and those for Electrophorus electricus AChE. These differences are ascribed to sequence differences in one or two residues lining the active-site gorge of the enzyme. The binding of one of the inhibitors disrupts the native conformation of one wall of the gorge, formed by the loop Trp279-Phe290. It is proposed that flexibility of this loop may permit the binding of inhibitors such as galanthamine, which are too bulky to penetrate the narrow neck of the gorge formed by Tyr121 and Phe330 as seen in the crystal structure.     

Thermally induced sign change of Soret coefficient for dilute and semidilute solutions of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) in ethanol

We studied the thermal diffusion behavior of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNiPAM) in ethanol in a temperature range from T = 14.0 degrees C to T = 40.0 degrees C by means of thermal diffusion forced Rayleigh scattering. The obtained Soret coefficient S(T) of PNiPAM was positive for lower temperatures (T < 34 degrees C), while S(T) showed a negative value for higher temperatures (T > 34 degrees C). This means PNiPAM molecules move to the cold side for temperatures T < 34 degrees C, whereas they move to the warm side for T > 34 degrees C. This is the first nonaqueous polymeric system for which a sign change with temperature has been observed. We performed static and dynamic light scattering experiments in the same temperature range. The second virial coefficient determined from dilute solutions by static light scattering (SLS) was positive in the comparable temperature range. The results of SLS for the semidilute solution showed a strong repulsion among PNiPAM chains which was enhanced by increasing temperature. These results imply that the observed thermally induced sign change of S(T) does not depend on the intermolecular interactions among PNiPAM chains.