Refractive index sensing using a linear graded plasmonic chain of metal nano-particles

We study the transmission efficiency of optical signals through a graded linear chain of spherical silver nano-particles placed parallel to a silver substrate by using the Green’s function formalisms and the dipole approximation. A sensor based on plasmon resonance shifts is also discussed. The obtained spectral sensitivity is more than 273.17?nm/RIU in the visible light region, which makes such a structure an excellent candidate for liquid detection.     

Catalytic and biological valorization of a supramolecular mononuclear copper complex based 4‐aminopyridine

Hydrothermal reaction of copper bromide with 4‐aminopyridine in DMF solution yields a new mononuclear copper complex [Cu(C₅H₆N₂)₄]2Br.2(C₃H₇NO) abbreviated Cu‐4AP‐Br . The product was characterized, structurally, by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis and, thermally, by DSC‐ATG measurement. The inorganic–organic hybrid compound Cu‐4AP‐Br crystallizes in the centrosymmetric space group Pbcn, exhibiting a supramolecular network. Simultaneous DSC‐ATG analysis shows that this compound remains stable up to 100 °C and then performs a successive decompositions accompanied with endothermic peaks. The complex Cu‐4AP‐Br was applied as a catalyst in the Heck coupling reaction under ultrasonic irradiation in various reaction conditions. The yields, obtained for a short period of time, allow us to consider this complex, generating selectivity on the external position of styrene with a preference of the trans form over cis, as an excellent catalyst for this type of reaction. Interestingly, Cu‐4AP‐Br displayed important antibacterial (Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative) and antioxidant activities (β‐carotene bleaching inhibition, scavenging effect on DPPH free radical, and reducing power).     

Gear fault diagnosis under non-stationary operating mode based on EMD,TKEO, and Shock Detector

Condition monitoring of gearboxes running under non-stationary operating conditions is a very difficult task. In this study, a signal processing technique is developed for damage detection of a bevel gearbox running under variable load and speed conditions. The proposed technique is applied on simulated vibration data computed through a dynamic model of bevel gearbox. The procedure used in this technique is based on the extraction of the shock related to the defect using the Shock Detector (SD) method. Firstly, vibration signals are decomposed into IMFs using Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD). Then, the Teager–Kaiser Energy Operator (TKEO) is used to assess the instantaneous energy of the signal. Afterwards, SD is applied to examine and quantify the shock contents of the TKEO signal, which reflect the effect of the defect.     

Crystal structure,phase transitions,and IR spectroscopic investigations of a new sulfate templated by diethylene triammonium

A novel organic sulfate (C₄H₁₆N₃)SO₄?HSO₄ has been prepared and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The structure consists of linked HSO₄^? and SO₄^2? anions assembled into clusters. Organic triple-protonated diethylene triammonium cations are interconnected to these clusters via N–H?O hydrogen bonds to create the three dimensional arrangement. The Hirshfeld surface and associated fingerprint plots of the compound were presented to explore the nature of intermolecular interactions and their relative contributions to building the solid-state architecture. TG-DTA and DSC studies showed the presence of two phase transitions. Infrared spectrum is reported and discussed on the basis of group theoretical analysis and on Density Functional Theory calculations.     

Tunisian Native Mentha pulegium L. Extracts: Phytochemical Composition and Biological Activities

Mint species (Lamiaceae family) have been used as traditional remedies for the treatment of several diseases. In this work, we aimed to characterize the biological activities of the total phenolic and flavonoid contents of Mentha pulegium L. extracts collected from two different regions of Tunisia. The highest amounts of total phenols (74.45 ± 0.01 mg GAE/g DW), flavonoids (28.87 ± 0.02 mg RE/g DW), and condensed tannins (4.35 ± 0.02 mg CE/g DW) were found in the Bizerte locality. Methanolic leaf extracts were subjected to HPLC-UV analysis in order to identify and quantify the phenolic composition. This technique allowed us to identify seven phenolic compounds: two phenolic acids and five flavonoid compounds, such as eriocitrin, hesperidin, narirutin, luteolin, and isorhoifolin, which were found in both extracts with significant differences between samples collected from the different regions (p < 0.05). Furthermore, our results showed that the methanolic extract from leaves collected from Bizerte had the highest antioxidant activities (DPPH IC₅₀ value of 16.31 μg/mL and 570.08 μmol Fe²⁺/g, respectively). Both extracts showed high radical-scavenging activity as well as significant antimicrobial activity against eight tested bacteria. The highest antimicrobial activities were observed against Gram-positive bacteria with inhibition zone diameters and MIC values ranging between 19 and 32 mm and 40 and 160 µg/mL, respectively. Interestingly, at 10 μg/mL, the extract had a significant effect on cell proliferation of U87 human glioblastoma cells. These findings open perspectives for the use of Mentha pulegium L. extract in green pharmacy, alternative/complementary medicine, and natural preventive therapies for the development of effective antioxidant, antibacterial, and/or antitumoral drugs.     

Characterisation of electrochemical immunosensor for detection of viable not-culturable forms of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Legionella pneumophila</Emphasis> in water samples

Legionella pneumophila may cause a fatal pneumonia in humans known as Legionnaires’ disease (LD). The strategies of L. pneumophila to adapt to and resist stressful environmental conditions include the ability to enter into a VBNC (viable but not culturable) state. The detection of L. pneumophila in environmental samples benefits from the use of standardised methods: for detection and enumeration following membrane filtration (AFNOR T90-431, ISO 11731) and detection and quantification by polymerase chain reaction PCR (AFNOR T90-471, ISO 12869). Culture is hampered by its inability to detect VBNC forms and PCR is unable to discriminate between live and dead bacteria. The present immunosensor was obtained by the immobilisation of a monoclonal anti-L. pneumophila antibody (MAb) on an indium-tin oxide (ITO) electrode by the self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) method using an aminosilane. The immunosensor was characterised by wettability (contact angle measurement), atomic force microscopy (AFM), confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). A limit of detection of 10 bacteria per mL was observed on artificial samples.     

Voltammetric Characterization of Grafted Polymer Modified with ZnO Nanoparticles on Glassy Carbon Electrode

In this study, a grafted polymer (GP) with ZnO nanoparticles (GP/ZnO NPs) was attached on the surface of glassy carbon electrode (GCE), in order to produce a new modified electrode (GP/ZnO NPs-GCE). The gamma irradiation method was used to grafted polystyrene (polymer) with acrylonitrile (monomer), while slow evaporation process was used to prepare the new modified electrode. The cyclic voltammetry (CV) of K₄[Fe(CN)₆] was used to study the electrochemical properties GP/ZnO NPs-GCE. The peak separation (ΔE_pa-c) was 500 mV between the redox peaks of Fe(II)/Fe(III) in an aqueous solution of 1 M KCl and the current ratio of redox current peaks (I_pa/I_pc) was ≈ 1 for the modified electrode. This indicated that the modified electrode has s good reversibility and conductivity, wherefore; it was applied in the voltammetric filed. It was found that the modified electrode GP/ZnO NPs-GCE have a reasonable solubility and stability at various pH medium. Additionally, the sensitivity of the electrochemical analysis by cyclic voltammetric (CV) method is extensively subjected to the pH medium and the scan rate (SR). A couple of redox current peaks of K₄[Fe(CN)₆] in KCl solution was observed with a reversible process: Fe³⁺/Fe²⁺. Finally a good diffusion coefficient of electroactive species (D) for the new modified electrode was found in this study by chronoamperometry method using Cottrell equation.     

New bioactive labdane diterpenoids from Marrubium aschersonii

A phytochemical investigation of the ethanol extract of Marrubium aschersonii Magnus (Lamiaceae) collected from Tunisia led to the isolation and identification of two new labdane diterpenoids, marrubaschs A (1) and B (2), along with two known compounds (3 and 4). Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including HRESIMS and NMR techniques. All compounds were evaluated for their inhibitory effects on the nitric oxide (NO) production induced by lipopolysaccharide in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. Compound 2 exhibited weak inhibition of NO production with an IC₅₀ value of 35 ± 1.0 μM.     

Elaboration,Structural, Vibrational,DSC Investigations and Hirshfeld Surface Analysis of New Organic–Inorganic Hybrid Compound: [H<Subscript>2</Subscript>mela]Cu<Subscript>2</Subscript>Br<Subscript>6</Subscript>

The present paper accounts for the synthesis, crystal structure, differential scanning calorimetry and vibrational spectroscopy of a new compound (1,3,5-triazinidium-2,4,6-triamine) hexabromidodicuprate (II) grown at room temperature by slow evaporation of aqueous solution. From X-ray diffraction data collected at room temperature, it is concluded that it crystallizes in the monoclinic system (P2₁/c space group). The anion and the cation are linked by N–H···Br hydrogen bonds. Furthermore, the room temperature IR and Raman spectra of the title compound were recorded and analyzed. The differential scanning calorimetric has also been investigated. Hirshfeld surfaces were used to confirm the existence of inter-molecular interactions in the compound.     

Ion mobility of ground and excited states of laser-generated transition metal cations

The application of ion mobility to separate the electronic states of first-, second-, and third-row transition metal cations generated by the laser vaporization/ionization (LVI) technique is presented. The mobility measurements for most of the laser-generated transition metal cations reveal the presence of two or three mobility peaks that correspond to ground and excited states of different electronic configurations. The similarity of the measured reduced mobilities for the metal cations generated by LVI, electron impact, and glow discharge ion sources indicates that the same electronic configurations are produced regardless of the ion source. However, in comparison with electron impact of volatile organometallic compounds, the LVI populates fewer excited states due to the thermal nature of the process. Significant contributions to the production and populations of excited states of Ni+, Nb+, and Pt+ cations have been observed in the presence of argon during the LVI process and attributed to the Penning ionization mechanism. The origin of the mobility difference between the ground and the excited states is mainly due to the different interaction with helium. The ratio of the reduced mobilities of the excited and ground states decreases as one goes from the first- to the second- to the third-row transition metal cations. This trend is attributed to the ion size, which increases in the order 6sd(n-1) > 5sd(n-1) > 4sd(n-1). This work helps to understand the mechanisms by which transition metal cations react in the gas phase by identifying the ground and excited states that can be responsible for their reactivity.