Nanoparticles based on novel amphiphilic polyaspartamide copolymers

In this article, the synthesis of two amphiphilic polyaspartamide copolymers, useful to obtain polymeric nanoparticles without using surfactants or stabilizing agents, is described. These copolymers were obtained starting from α,β-poly-(N-2-hydroxyethyl)-dl-aspartamide (PHEA) by following a novel synthetic strategy. In particular, PHEA and its pegylated derivative (PHEA-PEG₂₀₀₀) were functionalized with poly(lactic acid) (PLA) through 1,1′-carbonyldiimidazole (CDI) activation to obtain PHEA–PLA and PHEA-PEG₂₀₀₀–PLA graft copolymers, respectively. These copolymers were properly purified and characterized by ¹H-NMR, FT-IR, and Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC) analyses, which confirmed that derivatization reactions occurred. Nanoparticles were obtained from PHEA–PLA and PHEA-PEG₂₀₀₀–PLA graft copolymers by using the high pressure homogenization-solvent evaporation method, avoiding the use of surfactants or stabilizing agents. Polymeric nanoparticles were characterized by dimensional analysis, before and after freeze-drying process, and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Zeta potential measurements and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) analysis demonstrated the presence of PEG and/or PHEA onto the PHEA-PEG₂₀₀₀–PLA and PHEA–PLA nanoparticle surface, respectively.     

Cerium effect on the phase structure, phase stability and redox properties of Ce-doped strontium ferrates

Nanostructured perovskite-type Sr_1−aCe_aFeO_3−x, (0?a<0.15) powders have been prepared by citrate-nitrate smoldering auto-combustion. Their phase structure and stability, surface and morphological properties, reduction behavior and interaction with oxygen have been investigated by X-ray Powder Diffraction combined with Rietveld Analysis, ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopies, N₂-adsorption method, Temperature Programmed Reduction and Oxidation experiments. Our results reveal that citrate-nitrate auto-combustion method is effective in obtaining single phase Sr_1−aCe_aFeO_3−x. The Sr_1−aCe_aFeO_3−x structure is cubic only for a?0.06, while for a<0.06 remains tetragonal. Moreover, for a?0.06 after semi-reductive treatment under inert gas, an expanded cubic phase is obtained instead of the brownmillerite-type structure, which is known to have ordered vacancies. Stabilization of octahedral Fe³⁺ by cerium doping appears to be the main factor in determining the structural properties of Sr_1−aCe_aFeO_3−x. The highest oxygen consumption for Ce-doped SrFeO₃ occurs for a=0.06. Preliminary impedance measurements show that Sr_0.94Ce_0.06FeO_3−x has the lowest area-specific resistance.     

Degradation of stone materials in the archaeological context of the Greek–Roman Theatre in Taormina (Sicily, Italy)

In the present work results on the degradation phenomena of stone materials in the Ancient Theatre of Taormina, one of the most important Greek–Roman monuments of Sicily, are reported. Artificial stone materials in different conservation conditions were investigated. Samples of salt efflorescences from brick walls and degraded setting mortars were taken from the open gallery in “summa cavea”. The chemical, physical and structural characterization was performed by means of X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF), both in situ and ex situ.     

Conservative methods for the Toda lattice equations

We are concerned with the numerical integration of the Todalattice equations by using different conservative methods. Numericalexperiments suggest that the global error for isospectral schemesdecreases exponentially with time but it is almost constantfor either symplectic or more general integrators. We providea theoretical explanation for these experimental findings.