Analysis of Organic Compounds in Antarctic Snow and Their Origin

Abstract

Organic compounds extractable with n-hexane were identified and quantitatively determined in pack, surface and deep snow samples taken at different depths and collected at several altitudes above sea level from Antarctica during the 1993/94 Italian expedition. The comparison between the composition of organic compounds in snow and the ones in pack and sea-water samples pointed out that the three matrices substantially contain the same biogenic and anthropogenic organic compounds. The contribution of marine aerosol to organic content in the snow is confirmed by the enrichment ratios calculated for the more representative classes of identified compounds (n-alkanes, phthalates and low molecular weight alkylbenzenes). The changes in the composition of organic compounds in snow as the altitude increases seem to depend on the dimensional spectrum of the aerosol. Thus, smallest particles, richest in surfactant material, reach the highest altitudes.     

Nanostructure and dielectric properties of a twist-bend nematic liquid crystal mixture

We present freeze-fracture transmission electron microscopy (FF-TEM), dielectric spectroscopy and electro-optic measurements on a dimeric liquid crystal mixture, which previously was proposed to form the twist-bend nematic (N_tb) phase. Our FF-TEM studies provide a direct image of a 10.5 nm periodic structure, consistent with the expected nanoscale, heliconical twist-bend modulation of the molecular orientation. Dielectric measurements in the 100 Hz to 10 MHz range reveal three nearly Debye-type dispersion processes in the nematic and the twist-bend phase. Low frequency 8 V/µm electric fields applied on planar cells cause the optical-scale stripe texture (another characteristic feature of the N_tb phase) to disappear. Higher (>16 V/µm) fields gradually realign the heliconical axis along the electric field; it relaxes back after the field removal.     

Chlorhexidine/losartan ionic pair binding and its nanoprecipitation: physico-chemical characterisation and antimicrobial activity

Chlorhexidine is a widely used, di-cationic, broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent and losartan is a well-known, anionic-specific antagonist of AT1 renin–angiotensin receptor that acts as an anti-hypertensive agent. The combination of these molecules gives a chlorhexidine di-losartanate (ClxLos₂) hydrophobic ion pair that spontaneously aggregates into nanoparticles (NPs). This work investigated the formation of ClxLos₂ NPs using the analysis of the solid state by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry and scanning electron microscopy and in aqueous environment by calorimetric, zeta potential and dynamic light scattering titrations. Furthermore, to demonstrate the potential antimicrobial activity of ClxLos₂, in vitro antibacterial tests were conducted against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 27664), Streptococcus viridans (ATCC 11563) and Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 14508). Based on these studies, it is proposed that ClxLos₂ could be used for controlled drug release based on ionic dissociation during dilution, thereby avoiding the use of any solid matrix.     

Informational analysis of seismic sequences by applying the Fisher Information Measure and the Shannon entropy: An application to the 2004–2010 seismicity of Aswan area (Egypt)

The interevent-time (IET) and interevent-distance (IED) series of seismic events occurred at Aswan area (Egypt) from 2004 to 2010 were investigated by means of the Fisher Information Measure and the Shannon entropy. The analysis was performed varying the depth and the magnitude thresholds. The results point out to an increase of level of organization and order with the decrease of magnitude threshold and the increase of depth threshold for the IET series, while the IED series are characterized by a level of uncertainty approximately constant with the threshold magnitude. The complexity measure, calculated as the product of the Fisher Information Measure and the Shannon entropy power, presents very similar pattern for both the types of seismic series, indicating an increasing complexity with the decrease of the threshold magnitude and the increase of the threshold depth.     

Synthesis and characterization of cellulose acetate from cellophane industry residues. Application as acetaminophen controlled-release membranes

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - Cellophane film production generates cellulosic residues from scraps, edges, and low-quality films. In this work, cellophane was used as a raw material...     

Calcium polyphosphate coacervates: effects of thermal treatment

The addition of calcium chloride eletrolyte to sodium polyphosphate solutions lead to Calcium polyphosphate coacervates. The effects of a thermal treatment were investigated with the objective to increase the relative stability of the obtained material. Thermogravimetry analysis indicates that coacervates became less hydrophilic and more thermally stable after the thermal treatment. Crystallization was identified through differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction. Morphological changes were observed after the thermal treatment by scanning electron microscopy. N₂ adsorption?Cdesorption isotherms suggest that both materials, thermally treated or not, display type IV isotherms, low superficial area and mesoporous structure. Stability experiments in solutions at different pH values show that the thermally treated calcium polyphosphate is relatively more stable than the non-treated coacervate.     

Green solvent approach for printable large deformation thermoplastic elastomer based piezoresistive sensors and their suitability for biomedical applications

Composites based on biocompatible thermoplastic elastomer styrene‐ethylene/butylene‐styrene (SEBS) as matrix and multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) as nanofillers show excellent mechanical and piezoresistive properties from low to large deformations. The MWCNT/SEBS composites have been prepared following a green solvent approach, to extend their range of applicability to biomedical applications. The obtained composites with 2, 4, and 5 wt % MWCNT content provide suitable piezoresistive response up to 80% deformation with a piezoresistive sensibility near 2.7, depending on the applied strain and MWCNT content. Composite sensors were also developed by spray and screen printing and integrated with an electronic data acquisition system with RF communication. The possibility to accurately control the composites properties and performance by varying MWCNT content, viscosity, and mechanical properties of the polymer matrix, shows the large potential of the system for the development of large deformation printable piezoresistive sensors. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2016 , 54, 2092–2103