Development of boundary element method to dynamic problems for porous media

Biot's consolidation theory is extended to a general class of viscoelastic bodies defined by Riemann-Stieltjes integral convolutions. From a new reciprocity theorem, proved for the governing equations including the inertia terms, the basic integral representations of the displacement fields and pore pressure are obtained. It is shown that, in the absence of internal inputs, a formulation of the dynamic problem in terms of the boundary unknown fields only is possible.     

Some remarks on the behaviour of the solution in dynamic processes for rate-type models

This work examines a dynamic problem in the study of semilinear rate-type models for which the plastic rate of deformation depends also on a parameter . The continuous dependence of the solution with respect to is obtained and the problem of finite time stability is also discussed. In the case when is interpreted as the absolute temperature, the dynamic problem is studied in the context of a Cattaneo-type heat law and also using the classical Fourier law. In the case when is interpreted as an internal state variable an existence and uniqueness result is obtained using a fixed point method and the finite time stability is also investigated.     

Characterization of β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex with procaine hydrochloride by 1H NMR and ITC

The inclusion of local anesthetic drug procaine hydrochloride by β-cyclodextrin was investigated by 1D and 2D proton NMR spectroscopy and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) at 298 K. The stoichiometry of the complex was determinate by the method of continuous variation, using the chemical induced shift of both host and guest protons. The association constant K, of the obtained complex was calculated and found to be 293.17 M^?1. Rotating frame NOE spectroscopy, was used to ascertain the solution geometry of the host–guest complex. The result reveals that the procaine molecule penetrates into the β-cyclodextrin cavity with the aromatic ring. The energetics of complexation process is investigated by ITC technique. The analysis indicates that the complexation of procaine by β-CD is an exothermic process and show that both enthalpy and entropy contribute to the binding process. The obtained value for the association constant is in good agreement with that obtained from NMR.     

Fatty Acid Ethyl Esters (FAEE): A New,Green and Renewable Solvent for the Extraction of Carotenoids from Tomato Waste Products

Currently there is a drive towards the minimisation and reclamation of valuable materials from the waste products of the food and beverage industry. This can be achieved through the extraction of residual nutraceuticals from such materials. Tomato pomace contains carotenoids and other chemicals which can be extracted directly into edible oils to improve the health-giving properties of such oils. We report here a novel green solvent, fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE), which is significantly more effective than sunflower oil and hexane for the extraction of lycopene and beta-carotene from tomato skin waste. FAEE are a non-toxic renewable resource that is environmentally friendly and to our knowledge has never been used as a vegetal extraction fluid. The efficiency of FAEE extraction was significantly improved relative to both sunflower oil and hexane under ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) conditions. In addition, FAEE have the additional and significant advantage that once enriched with the extracted nutraceuticals can be used directly as a food additive.     

Colloidal nano-MOFs nucleate and stabilize ultra-small quantum dots of lead bromide perovskites

The development of synthetic routes to access stable, ultra-small (i.e. <5 nm) lead halide perovskite (LHP) quantum dots (QDs) is of fundamental and technological interest. The considerable challenges include the high solubility of the ionic LHPs in polar solvents and aggregation to form larger particles. Here, we demonstrate a simple and effective host–guest strategy for preparing ultra-small lead bromide perovskite QDs through the use of nano-sized MOFs that function as nucleating and host sites. Cr₃O(OH)(H₂O)₂(terephthalate)₃ (Cr-MIL-101), made of large mesopore-sized pseudo-spherical cages, allows fast and efficient diffusion of perovskite precursors within its pores, and promotes the formation of stable, ∼3 nm-wide lead bromide perovskite QDs. CsPbBr₃, MAPbBr₃ (MA⁺ = methylammonium), and (FA)PbBr₃ (FA⁺ = formamidinium) QDs exhibit significantly blue-shifted emission maxima at 440 nm, 446 nm, and 450 nm, respectively, as expected for strongly confined perovskite QDs. Optical characterization and composite modelling confirm that the APbBr₃ (A = Cs, MA, FA) QDs owe their stability within the MIL-101 nanocrystals to both short- and long-range interfacial interactions with the MOF pore walls.

We demonstrate a simple and effective host–guest strategy for preparing ultra-small lead bromide perovskite QDs through the use of nano-sized MOFs that function as nucleating and host sites.     

Janus-type isopropyl groups revealed by 1H-NMR spectra of alkylpyridines with lanthanide shift reagents (LSR)

Two Isomeric pyridines were designed and prepared : 2-isopropyl-4,5,6-trimethyl-(3) and 2-isopropyl-3,4,6-trimethyl-pyridine (7); the latter, with a buttressed isopropyl, leads to much lower induced shifts by Eu(dpm)₃ and Pr(dpm)₃ than the former, owing to the conformation in which the Janus-type iPr group how to the LSR a t-butyl-like face.     

Reductive electrosynthesis of crystalline metal-organic frameworks

Electroreduction of oxoanions affords hydroxide equivalents that induce selective deposition of crystalline metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) on conductive surfaces. The method is illustrated by cathodic electrodeposition of Zn(4)O(BDC)(3) (MOF-5; BDC = 1,4-benzenedicarboxylate), which is deposited at room temperature in only 15 min under cathodic potential. Although many crystalline phases are known in the Zn(2+)/BDC(2-) system, MOF-5 is the only observed crystalline MOF phase under these conditions. This fast and mild method of synthesizing MOFs is amenable to direct surface functionalization and could impact applications requiring conformal coatings of microporous MOFs, such as gas separation membranes and electrochemical sensors.     

The standard enthalpies of formation of some dibenzoannelated cycloalkanols

The heats of combustion of trans-9,10-bis-hydroxymethyl-9,10-dihydrophenanthrene, trans-5-hydroxymethyl-5,6-dihydro-7H-dibenzo[a,c]cyclohepten-6-ol, 5-hydroxymethyl-5,6-dihydro-7H-di-benzo[a,c]cycloheptene, 6-hydroxymethyl-5,6-dihydro-7H-dibenzo[a,c]cycloheptene, 5H-dibenzo-[a,d]cyclohepten-5-ol and 5H-10,11-dihydrodibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten-5-ol were measured by means of a Gallenkamp adiabatic bomb calorimeter. Uncertainties in the determination of the heats of combustion ranged between 0.2 and 0.3%. The enthalpies of formation and atomization for the six compounds were derived. The experimental values of the heats of atomization were compared with those calculated using the Allen–Skinner bond energy scheme. Conclusions about energetic contributions which stabilize the structure of the investigated compounds were drawn.     

The sonochemical coating of cotton withstands 65 washing cycles at hospital washing standards and retains its antibacterial properties

Hospital-acquired nosocomial infections are a major health, and consequently financial issue, in the world healthcare system. The problem of bacterial infections in general, and in hospitals in particular, has led to extensive scientific and industrial efforts to fabricate antibacterial textiles. A sonochemical coating machine was developed and built and its ability to coat antibacterial nanoparticles (NPs) onto 40–50 meter length of materials on a roll to roll basis at a speed of 22 cm/min. Cotton coated sonochemically with copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) was found to maintain its antibacterial properties even after 65 cycles of washings according to hospital protocols of hygienic washing (75 °C). This demonstrates the good quality and high stability of this sonochemically produced NPs coating on textiles. Durable antibacterial textiles such as these may be suitable for wide spread use in future hospital environments where hygiene control is of paramount importance.