Effect of heat treatment on the structural and optical properties of tellurite glasses doped erbium

The 75TeO₂–20ZnO–4Na₂CO₃–1Er₂O₃ (in molar ratio) glass system was prepared by the conventional melt-quenching method. As such, the samples prepared were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffractrometry (XRD), Raman spectroscopy and infrared luminescence. DSC analyses were carried out on our glass at different heating rates between 5 and 20 °C/min. The result of the annealing temperature on the spectroscopic properties of Er³⁺ in tellurite glasses was discussed. The activation energy, for surface crystallization, was determined graphically from a Kissinger-type plot and had a value about 897.2 kJ/mol. Crystalline phases for both α-TeO₂, γ-TeO₂ and Zn₂Te₃O₈ system were determined by the XRD method and were confirmed by Raman spectroscopy characterizations after heat treatment. The effect of heat treatment on absorption spectra and luminescence properties in the tellurite glass was also investigated. With heat treatment, the ultraviolet absorption edge presented a redshift. As a result, the Judd–Ofelt (J–O) intensity parameters (Ω₂, Ω₄, Ω₆) were determined. The spontaneous emission probabilities of some relevant transitions, the branching ratio and the radiative lifetimes of several excited states of Er³⁺ were predicted using intensity J–O parameters. The near infrared emission that corresponds to Er³⁺: ⁴I_13/2→⁴I_15/2 can be significantly enhanced after heat treatment. Notably, it is found that the luminescence lifetime in the present system is much longer than that in most other glasses and glass ceramics. A comparative study on luminescence performance suggests that the obtained glass ceramic is a promising material for Er³⁺ doped fiber amplifiers.     

Evaporation of a reverse osmosis discharge studied by Pitzer model and solubility phase diagrams

Water desalination by reverse osmosis necessarily leads to the production of concentrates which generates a serious challenge to operators. Indeed, disposal of concentrates in natural environment cannot be considered because of the nature of the chemicals contained and their high concentrations. Thus, a specific treatment has to be achieved, which increases the cost of softened water. To prevent this drawback it is proposed the enhancement of the discharge by extracting several valuable salts such as sulfates or chlorides salts of sodium, magnesium and potassium which may counterbalance the treatment additional costs. For this purpose isothermal evaporation at 25 °C is suggested. In the present study, in addition to X-ray diffraction used to identify the various salts recovered, quinary and hexary diagrams were establish to draw the experimental crystallization paths. In addition, because the tested solutions can exhibit very high ionic strength, Pitzer model has been applied to describe the multicomponent systems for calculation of solubility products of the various electrolytes. The results obtained show on one hand good agreement between theoretical and experimental studies and, on the other hand that most salts recovered from the brine are of a high potential use.     

Isolation and Characterization of Putative Endophytic Bacteria Antagonistic to Phoma tracheiphila and Verticillium albo-atrum

A collection of 200 bacterial isolates recovered from citrus plants (Citrus limon, Citrus sinensis, and Citrus reticulata), Medicago truncatula and Laurus nobilis, was established. In vitro screening indicated that 28 isolates exhibited an inhibitory activity against the vascular pathogens Phoma tracheiphila and Verticillium albo-atrum. Isolates were screened according to their hydrolytic activities, plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) abilities, as well as for the presence of nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) genes responsible of the lipopeptide biosynthesis. The results were positive for 16 isolates which exhibited at least two PGPB activities and a single NRPS gene. Genetic diversity of the selected isolates was studied using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and repetitive element PCR (REP) tools that showed clustering of strains into three major groups (I, II, and III) (i, ii, and iii), respectively. Clustering was further confirmed by the 16S rDNA sequencing that assigned nine isolates to Bacillus velezensis, four isolates to Bacillus methyltrophicus, one isolate to Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, and two isolates to Bacillus mojavensis. Organ-bacterial genotype interaction as well as positive correlation with NRPS genes are discussed.     

Experimental cross section evaluation for innovative 99Mo production via the (α,n) reaction on 96Zr target

The high-specific activity ⁹⁹Mo accelerator-based production, via the (α,n) reaction on ⁹⁶Zr-enriched target, has been investigated in the present work. The excitation function measurement has been performed in the energy range 8–34 MeV at the ARRONAX facility, using the well-known stacked foils technique on natural zirconium as target. A general good agreement in the cross section trend has been observed, once compared to former measurements. A different (i.e. higher) peak value and a shift of about 2 MeV towards larger energies have however been found. Assuming a fully enriched ⁹⁶Zr target irradiated by an α-beam at suitable energy (E = 25 MeV), the ⁹⁹Mo production yield has thus been estimated. At last the alternative production routes, based on the ⁹⁶Zr(α,n)⁹⁹Mo and ¹⁰⁰Mo(p,x)⁹⁹Mo/^99mTc reactions, are compared.     

Crystal structure,NMR spectroscopy,electrical properties of catena-poly[(bis-glycinium-k 2 O:O)-di-μ-thiocyanate- k 2 N:S; k 2 S:N -cadmium (II)]

The crystal structure, the ¹¹¹Cd and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, and the complex impedance have been carried out on a new polymeric hybrid compound: [Cd(NH₃CH₂COO)₂(SCN)₂] _n . Crystal structure shows that in the title compound the cadmium atoms have a 2N2S2O-hexa-coordination sphere, exhibiting pseudo-octahedral geometry. The cadmium atoms are bridged by two thiocyanate ions generating 1D polymeric chains. ¹¹¹Cd and ¹³C MAS NMR spectroscopy show multiplets that result from ¹¹¹Cd, ¹⁴N and ¹³C, ¹⁴N spin–spin coupling, respectively. The AC impedance measurements were performed as a function of both frequency and temperature. The AC and DC electrical conduction have been studied. The activation energy associated with the bulk resistance determined from equivalent circuit was found close to that of the activation energy obtained from DC conductivity. The conduction mechanisms are attributed to the correlated barrier hopping model.     

Production of Anti-Methicillin-Resistant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Staphylococcus</Emphasis> Activity from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus subtilis</Emphasis> sp. Strain B38 Newly Isolated from Soil

B38 bacterial strain, isolated from Tunisian soil showed a strong antimicrobial activity. Based on biochemical characterization and 16S rDNA sequence analysis, B38 strain was identified as Bacillus subtilis. Cell culture supernatant showed antibacterial activity against clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus species and several Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Antifungal activity against phytopathogenic fungi was also observed. Antibacterial activity production started at early exponential growth phase, and maximum activity was reached at the stationary phase. This antibacterial activity was neither affected by proteases, lipase, and organic solvents, nor by surfactants. It was stable over a wide pH range and still active after autoclaving at 121 °C during 20 min. Thin layer chromatography followed by bioautography assay allowed the detection of four active spots with R _f values of 0.30, 0.47, 0.70, and 0.82. The single spot with R _f 0.30 showed antifungal activity, whereas the spots with R _f values of 0.47, 0.70, and 0.82 exhibited antibacterial activity.     

Luminescent properties of Yb-doped monoclinic yttrium polyphosphates

Yb³⁺-doped monoclinic yttrium polyphosphate Y(PO₃)₃ powder compounds were synthesized and were characterized by X-ray diffraction, IR absorption spectroscopy and Raman scattering spectroscopy.An attempt to use Yb³⁺ ion as structural probe is carried out to investigate the site occupation. Yb³⁺ emission and fluorescence decay studies were carried out both at low and room temperatures. The interpretation of electronic energy level positions has been done by using the comparison of emission spectra with those of vibronic sideband energy positions from Raman scattering spectroscopy.The spectroscopic results are discussed and correlated with the data of the already known monoclinic structure of Y(PO₃)₃ where four slightly different octahedral sites are available for the trivalent rare earth ion.     

Purification and Characterization of a Cu,Zn-SOD from Garlic (Allium sativum L.). Antioxidant Effect on Tumoral Cell Lines

Crude garlic extract contains one Mn-superoxide dismutase designated as SOD1 and two Cu,Zn superoxide dismutases as SOD2 and SOD3. The major isoform SOD2 was purified to homogeneity by Sephacryl S200-HR gel filtration, DEAE Sepharose ion exchange chromatography, and chromatofocusing using PBE 94. SOD2 was purified 82-fold with a specific activity of 4,960 U/mg protein. This enzyme was stable in a broad pH range from 5.0 to 10.0 and at various temperatures from 25 to 60°C. The native molecular mass of SOD2 estimated by high performance liquid chromatography on TSK gel G2000SW column was 39 kDa. Sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis showed a single band near 18 kDa, suggesting that native enzyme was homodimeric. The isoelectric point as determined by chromatofocusing was 5. Analysis of its N terminal amino acid sequence revealed high sequence homology with several other cytosolic Cu,Zn-SODs from plants. Exposure of cancer cell lines to garlic Cu,Zn-SOD2 led to a significant decrease in superoxide content with a concomitant rise in intracellular peroxides, indicating that the enzyme is active in mammalian cells and could, therefore, be used in pharmacological applications.     

Enhancement of Exochitinase Production by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus licheniformis</Emphasis> AT6 Strain and Improvement of N-Acetylglucosamine Production

A strain producing chitinase, isolated from potato stem tissue, was identified as Bacillus licheniformis by biochemical properties and 16S RNA sequence analysis. Statistical experimental designs were used to optimize nine independent variables for chitinase production by B. licheniformis AT6 strain in submerged fermentation. Using Plackett–Burman design, (NH₄)₂SO₄, MgSO₄.7H₂O, colloidal chitin, MnCl₂ 2H₂O, and temperature were found to influence chitinase production significantly. According to Box–Behnken response surface methodology, the optimal fermentation conditions allowing maximum chitinase production were (in gram per liter): (NH₄)₂SO₄, 7; K₂HPO₄, 1; NaCl, 1; MgSO₄.7H₂O, 0.1; yeast extract, 0.5; colloidal chitin, 7.5; MnCl₂.2H₂O, 0.2; temperature 35 °C; pH medium 7. The optimization strategy led to a 10-fold increase in chitinase activity (505.26 ± 22.223 mU/mL versus 50.35 ± 19.62 mU/mL for control basal medium). A major protein band with a molecular weight of 61.9 kDa corresponding to chitinase activity was clearly detected under optimized conditions. Chitinase activity produced in optimized medium mainly releases N-acetyl glucosamine (GlcNAc) monomer from colloidal chitin. This enzyme also acts as an exochitinase with β-N-acetylglucosaminidase. These results suggest that B. licheniformis AT6 secreting exochitinase is highly efficient in GlcNAc production which could in turn be envisaged as a therapeutic agent or as a conservator against the alteration of several ailments.