Planar and non-planar solidification of optically organised smectic films

This letter describes an original freezing process that yields homogeneous solid films at ambient temperature with preservation of the layered structure of the chiral smectic phase. One of the most remarkable features of the process is its ability to provide complexly bent films with arbitrary three-dimensional shapes. Their optical homogeneity is observed in the planar as well as in the bent films. The method is very simple. After forming the films by spreading the liquid crystal above a hole in a glass slice placed over a hot stage, the film is heated from below. The hot film is exposed to ambient temperature. Then, a solid object at room temperature with a specifically adapted shape is immersed in the liquid film. The mechanical constraints imposed by the object curves the film and stabilises various solid two- and three-dimensional structures. Their homogeneous optical properties are due to long-range organisation of the molecular orientation (tilt), which combines with a complex helical arrangement of the frozen smectic layers.     

Formation of Hierarchical Lamellae‐in‐Lamella Nanostructures from Polymer Blends Via Controlled Nonequilibrium Freezing

The creation of hierarchical nanostructures in polymeric materials has been intensively studied due to the great potential to tailor their physicochemical properties. Although much success has been achieved over the past decades in block copolymers, hierarchical structure engineering in polymer blends remains a great challenge. Here, the formation of hierarchical lamellae‐in‐lamella nanostructures from polymer blends via controlled nonequilibrium freezing is reported. Polymer blends are first dissolved in molten hexamethylbenzene (HMB) to form a homogeneous melt. When cooled to below its melting temperature, the HMB is crystallized and depleted, and the polymers are directionally solidified. This process is rapid enough that phase separation of the polymer blends is kinetically trapped at the nanoscale level. Then, the polymer blend epitaxially crystallizes onto the HMB inside the nanophase, resulting in the hierarchical lamellae‐in‐lamella structure. This structure is stable under ambient conditions and tunable depending on the annealing temperature and blending ratio.

     

Selective separation of trace nickel(II) and gold(I) ions via hollow fiber supported liquid membrane enhanced by synergistic extractants D2EHPA/TBP

This work presents the selective and simultaneous separation of nickel (Ni²⁺) and gold ([Au(CN)₂]⁻) ions, in trace amounts, from alkaline solution via hollow fiber supported liquid membrane (HFSLM) technique. HFSLM is challengingly carried out in real rinse wastewater generated by the ENIG plating process. The influence of various chemical parameters, including the type of extractant and their concentrations, molar ratios of mixed extractant as well as type of strippant, are also studied. The organophosphorus extractant mixtures of D2EHPA and TBP provide a synergistic effect for target Ni²⁺ ions but has an antagonistic effect as regards the extraction of non-target [Au(CN)₂]⁻ ions. Compared to other inorganic acids, HCl is seen to be the most suitable strippant for the selective stripping. Results demonstrate that percentages of extraction and stripping of Ni²⁺ ions achieved 85.7 and 83.2%, respectively. In contrast, percentages of extraction and stripping of non-target [Au(CN)₂]⁻ ions attained 15.6 and 1.94%.     

Heterogeneous freezing on pyroelectric poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-trifluoroethylene) thin films

Active deicing of technical surfaces, such as for wind turbines and heat exchangers, currently requires the usage of heat or chemicals. Passive coating strategies that postpone the freezing of covering water would be beneficial in order to save costs and energy. One hypothesis is that pyroelectric active materials can achieve this because of the surface charges generated on these materials when they are subject to a temperature change. High-quality poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-trifluoroethylene) (P(VDF-TrFE)) thin films with a high crystallinity, prefererd edge-on orientation, low surface roughness, and comprised of the β-analogous ferroelectric phase were deposited by spin-coating. Freezing experiments with a cooling rate of 1 K min⁻¹ were made on P(VDF-TrFE) coatings in order to separate the effect of different parameters such as the poling direction, film thickness, used solvent, deposition process, underlying substrate, and annealing temperature on the achievable supercooling. The topography and the underlying substrate significantly changed the distribution of freezing temperatures of water droplets in contact with these thin films. In contrast, no significant effect of the thickness, morphology, or pyroelectric effect of the as-prepared domain-state on the freezing temperatures was found.     

Phytochemical and Biological Activity Studies on Nasturtium officinale (Watercress) Microshoot Cultures Grown in RITA® Temporary Immersion Systems

The main compounds in both extracts were gluconasturtiin, 4-methoxyglucobrassicin and rutoside, the amounts of which were, respectively, determined as 182.93, 58.86 and 23.24 mg/100 g dry weight (DW) in biomass extracts and 640.94, 23.47 and 7.20 mg/100 g DW in plant herb extracts. The antioxidant potential of all the studied extracts evaluated using CUPRAC (CUPric Reducing Antioxidant Activity), FRAP (Ferric Reducing Ability of Plasma), and DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) assays was comparable. The anti-inflammatory activity of the extracts was tested based on the inhibition of 15-lipoxygenase, cyclooxygenase-1, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and phospholipase A₂. The results demonstrate significantly higher inhibition of COX-2 for in vitro cultured biomass compared with the herb extracts (75.4 and 41.1%, respectively). Moreover, all the studied extracts showed almost similar antibacterial and antifungal potential. Based on these findings, and due to the fact that the growth of in vitro microshoots is independent of environmental conditions and unaffected by environmental pollution, we propose that biomass that can be rapidly grown in RITA^® bioreactors can serve as an alternative source of bioactive compounds with valuable biological properties.     

Conventional and ultrasound-assisted methods for extraction of bioactive compounds from red araçá peel (Psidium cattleianum Sabine)

The present study aimed to maximize the conventional extraction and compare it with the ultrasound-assisted method for extracting bioactive compounds obtained from the red araçá peel. The behavior of anthocyanins related to the pre-treatment of the vegetal matrix, employed solvent, extraction kinetics of both methods, the levels of total phenolic compounds, flavonoids and carotenoids, as well as the antioxidant activity were evaluated. The ultrasound-assisted extraction (40 KHz −154 W and 90 min) had an increase of 12% in the levels of anthocyanins (121.85 Eq. mg of cyanidin-3-glycoside/100 g of peel) and a 25% reduction in time extraction compared to conventional extraction by maceration (116.81 Eq. mg of cyanidin-3-glycoside/100 g of peel) using 90% ethanol, for 2 h, pH 1.5, at 40 °C and mass/volume ratio 1 g/10 mL). Analyses of the total phenolic compounds, flavonoids and carotenoids presented promising results for the ultrasound-assisted and conventional extractions, respectively. Analyzes of total phenolic compounds, flavonoids and carotenoids, show promising results for ultrasound-assisted extractions, respectively, indicating that red araçá is rich in bioactive compounds beneficial to human health, in addition to being considered natural pigments that can be used in food.     

Preparation and Electrochemical Performance of Three-Dimensional Vertically Aligned Graphene by Unidirectional Freezing Method

Three-dimensional vertically aligned graphene (3DVAG) was prepared by a unidirectional freezing method, and its electrochemical performances were evaluated as electrode materials for zinc−ion hybrid supercapacitors (ZHSCs). The prepared 3DVAG has a vertically ordered channel structure with a diameter of about 20−30 μm and a length stretching about hundreds of microns. Compared with the random structure of reduced graphene oxide (3DrGO), the vertical structure of 3DVAG in a three−electrode system showed higher specific capacitance, faster ion diffusion, and better rate performance. The specific capacitance of 3DVAG reached 66.6 F·g⁻¹ and the rate performance reached 92.2%. The constructed 3DVAG zinc−ion hybrid supercapacitor also showed excellent electrochemical performance. It showed good capacitance retention up to 94.6% after 3000 cycles at the current density of 2 A·g⁻¹.     

Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins and Bamboo Leaf Flavonoids Improve the Quality of Bull Semen Cryopreservation

It is important to inhibit oxidative stress to maintain sperm motility during cryopreservation. The present study was performed to investigate the effects of supplementing oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPC) and bamboo leaf flavonoids (BLF) or their combination as an extender for Simmental bull semen freezing. OPC, BLF, or their combination were added to the frozen diluent of bovine semen. Afterwards, computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA), detection of membrane functionality, acrosome integrity, mitochondrial integrity, CAT, SOD, GSH-PX, MDA, and ROS were conducted. The results showed that adding 50 mg/L OPC or 4 mg/L BLF could improve the quality of frozen sperm. Compared with 50 mg/L OPC alone, the combination of 50mg/L OPC and 2 mg/L BLF significantly increased the kinematic parameters of sperm, and sperm CAT, GSH-PX and SOD levels (p < 0.05), whereas the MDA of sperm was decreased (p < 0.05). These results indicated that compared to the addition of 50 mg/L OPC alone, a combination of 50 mg/L OPC and 2 mg/L BLF could further improve the quality of frozen semen. The results could provide theoretical data support for the development of a new protective agent and are significant for the cryopreservation of bovine semen in the future.     

兔主动脉冻结过程中未冻水份额的研究

利用差示扫描量热仪(DSC)技术中的分步扫描(Stepwise scanning)法,研究了不同浓度的低温保护剂对主动脉血管冻结过程中未冻水份额的影响。研究结果表明:分步扫描量热技术可以用于血管材料冻结过程中未冻水份额的定量研究,而且具有较高楠度;随着低温保护剂二甲亚砜(DMSO)浓度的增大,血管的初始冻结点温度呈线性降低,但其冻结过程的未冻水份额显著增大,这是由于高浓度DMSO具有很强水合能力所致。     

Ultrasound-assisted immersion freezing reduces the structure and gel property deterioration of myofibrillar protein from chicken breast

The effects of air freezing (AF), immersion freezing (IF) and ultrasound-assisted immersion freezing (UF) at different power levels (125, 165, 205 and 245 W) on the structure and gel properties of the myofibrillar protein (MP) of chicken breast were investigated. UF at 165 W (UF-165) had no obvious negative impact on the primary structure of the MP and effectively reduced the change in the secondary and tertiary structure. In addition, UF-165 significantly reduced the losses in the elastic modulus (G′), gel strength, and gel water holding capacity (P < 0.05). According to low field nuclear magnetic resonance analysis, the T₂₁ and T₂₂ of the UF-165 MP gels were shorter than those of the AF and IF samples, which meant that the UF-165 reduced the mobility of the immobilized water and free water in MP gel. A scanning electron microscopy analysis showed that the appropriate ultrasonic power promoted the formation of a compact and homogeneous protein gel network. These results suggested that the appropriate ultrasonic power maintained the MP structure and reduced the loss of gel quality.