Nanocrystalline silicon oxide (nc-SiOx:H) is a multipurpose material with its varied application in solar cells as a transparent front contact, intermediate reflector, back reflector layer and even tunnel layer for passivating contacts, owing to easy tailoring of its optical properties. In this work, we systematically investigate the influence of gas mixture (SiH4, CO2, PH3 and H2), RF power and process pressure on the optical, structural and passivation properties of thin n-type nc-SiOx:H films prepared in an industrial, high throughput, plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) reactor. We provide a detailed description of the n-type nc-SiOx:H material develop-ment using various characterization techniques (SEM, EDX, Raman spectroscopy, and spectro-scopic ellipsometry) with a focus on the relationship between the material properties and the pas-sivation they provide to n-type c-Si wafers characterized by their effective carrier lifetime (τeff). Further, we also outline the parameters to be kept in mind while developing different n-type nc-SiOx:H layers for different solar cell applications. We report a tunable optical gap (1.8 – 2.3 eV) for our n-type nc-SiOx:H films as well as excellent passivation properties with τeff up to 3.5 ms (iVoc ~ 715 mV) before annealing. Oxygen content plays an important role in determining the crystallinity and hence passivation quality of the deposited nanocrystalline silicon oxide films.

Density functional theory (DFT) calculations of hydrogen adsorption on titanium nitride had previously shown that hydrogen may adsorb on both titanium and nitrogen sites with a moderate adsorption energy. Further, the diffusion barrier was also found to be low. These findings may qualify TiN, a versatile multifunctional material with electronic conductivity, as electrode material for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). This was the main impetus of this work which aims to experimentally and theoretically investigate the electrocatalytic properties of TiN-layers that were processed on Ti substrate using reactive ion sputtering. The properties are discussed focusing on the role of oxygen defects introduced during the sputtering process on the HER. Based on DFT calculations, it is shown that these oxygen defects alter the electronic environment of the Ti atoms which entails a low hydrogen adsorption energy in the range of -0.1 eV; this leads to HER performances that match those of Pt-NPs in acidic media. When a few nanometr thick layer of Pd-NPs is sputtered on-top of the TiN-layer, the performance is drastically reduced. This is interpreted in terms of oxygen defects being scavenged by the Pd-NPs near the surface which is thought to reduce the hydrogen adsorption sites.

The use of edible films has become a topic of great interest in the food and environmental sectors, due to their potential to prevent food deterioration and their biodegradability. In this context, this study aimed to develop and characterize edible films based on camu-camu residue, gelatin and glycerol, evaluating their solubility, thermal, degradability, antioxidant and water vapor permeability properties of the gelatin matrix. This is the first study incorporating camu-camu into a gelatin and glycerol matrix. The films produced with the incorporation of camu-camu residue proved to be manageable and soluble, with the presence of some non-soluble residues, providing a shine and a well-presented appearance. In the biodegradation results the samples 03 and 04 appeared to degrade the most, being two of the three most affected samples in the triplicate. The films showed degradation modifications from the third day of the experiment. In the germination and plant growth analysis, Sample 04 showed satisfactory development compared to other samples, making it the sample with the best overall result in the analyses. These results demonstrate that the produced materials have potential for food packaging applications.

Edible films were produced combining pectin (P) matrix with chitosan nanoparticle (CSNP), polysorbate 80 (T80), and garlic essential oil (GEO) as an antimicrobial agent. The CSNP were analyzed for their size and stability, and the films, throughout their contact angle, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), mechanical and thermal properties, WVP and antimicrobial activity. Four filming-forming suspension were investigated: PGEO (control); PGEO@T80; PGEO@CSNP; PGEO@T80@CSNP. The average particle size was 317nm with zeta potential reaching +21.4 mV, which indicated colloidal stability. The wettability of the films exhibited values of 65°, 43°, 78°, 64° respectively. In antimicrobial tests, the films containing GEO showed inhibition only by contact for S.aureus. For E. coli, the inhibition occurred only in films containing CSNP and by direct contact in the culture. The results indicate a promising alternative for designing stable antimicrobial nanoparticles for application in novel food active packaging.

The effect of doublet state metalloradical complex in a solar cell inside the common active layer poly(3-hexylthiophene)/ [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (P3HT/PC60BM) is explored. In this work is demonstrated that the role of the Bis-[1,3-Bis-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-4,5-dichloroimidazol-2-ylidene]palladium(I) hexafluoridophosphate dopant, [Pd(IPrCl)2][PF6], is crucial because, by having a stable unpaired electron in the molecule, it significantly improves the optoelectronic performance of the devices. We found the optimal concentration of this molecule in the active layer, and we demonstrated that the presence of this additive in the active layer helps to significantly improve the morphology of the device. The improvements in optoelectronic and morphological parameters are associated with a remarkable increase of photocurrent generation due to more favourable mechanisms of charge separation at the donor/acceptor (D/A) interfaces of the active layer and reduced recombinations. Moreover, the presence of this additive improves the stability of the unencapsulated solar cell against photochemical degradation produced by sunlight.

In this study, nanostructured cerium-doped TiO2 (Ce-TiO2) films with the addition of different amounts of cerium (0.00, 0.08, 0.40, 0.80, 2.40, and 4.10 wt. %) were deposited on a borosilicate glass substrate, by flow coating sol-gel process. After flow coating, deposited films were dried at the temperature of 100 °C for 1 h, followed by calcination at the temperature of 450 °C for 2 h. For the characterization of sol-gel TiO2 films, the following analytic techniques were used: X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermal gravimetry (TG), differential thermal analysis (DTA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Sol-gel derived Ce-TiO2 films were used for photocatalytic degrada-tion of the ciprofloxacin (CIP). The influence of the amount of Ce in TiO2 films, the duration of the photocatalytic decomposition, and the irradiation type (UV-A and simulated solar light) on the CIP degradation were monitored. Kinetics parameters (reaction kinetics constants and the half-life) of the CIP degradation, as well as photocatalytic degradation efficiency, were determined. The best photocatalytic activity was achieved by the TiO2 film doped with 0.08 wt.% Ce, under both UV-A, and solar irradiation.

The structure and physicochemical properties of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and PVA/glycerol films have been investigated by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetry/differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA), and advanced scanning probe microscopy (SPM). In the pure PVA films, SPM allowed us to observe ribbon-shaped domains with a different frictional and elastic contrast, which apparently originated from a correlated growth or assembly of PVA crystalline nuclei located within individual PVA clusters. The incorporation of 1.0 wt.% glycerol led to modification in shape of those domains from ribbon-like in pure PVA to rounded in PVA/glycerol 1.0 wt.% films; changes in the relative intensities of the XRD peaks and a decrease of the amorphous halo in the XRD pattern were also detected, while the DTA peak corresponding to the melting point remained at almost the same temperature. For higher glycerol content, FT-IR revealed additional glycerol-characteristic peaks presumably related to the formation of glycerol aggregates, and XRD, FT-IR, and DTA all indicated a reduction in crystallinity. For more than 2.0 wt.% glycerol, the plasticization of the films complicated the acquisition of SPM images without tip-induced surface modification. Our study contributes to the understanding of crystallinity in PVA and how it is altered by a plasticizer such as glycerol.

Walls-like structured monoclinic WO3 thin films were obtained by spray deposition method for further integration in gas sensors. For sensing applications, it is very important to achieve a high surface-to-volume ratio surface together with a proper thin films structure. The present communication reports on the effect of the sprayed solution volume variation (as a thickness variation element) on the detailed Raman spectroscopy for WO3 thin films with different thicknesses grown from precursor solutions with two different concentrations. Detailed analysis of the two series of samples shows that the growing thickness strongly affects the films morphology while their crystalline structure is only slightly affected. The Raman analysis contribute to refining the structural features clarifications. It was observed that, for both concentrations, the increase in thickness seems to slightly affect the stoichiometry of material and, in association with surface morphology variations, provide new possibilities for fine tuning of films properties towards enhanced as sensing applications. Further studies are ongoing.

The paper presents an error model of a measurement chain containing link performing discrete wavelet transform algorithm which is most often the last stage of measurement signal processing. The goal is to determine the uncertainty budget of the input quantities of the wavelet transform algorithm. The error model takes into account parts of analog, analog-to-digital and digital processing, describing the properties of subsequent fragments of the chain using their transmittance and processing functions. The proposed model enables the description of both deterministic and non-deterministic properties of signal errors. The proposed model was validated using an example measurement chain created for this purpose.

The copper deposition on the platinum and palladium nanoelectrode has been studied using cyclic voltammetry. The use of nanoelectrode platinum and palladium are defined in the study of heavy metals. The noble nanoelectrode of metal has a typical silicone processing structure. In comparison to the nanoelectrodes, the geometry of the electrode series is complex and balanced. Nanoelectrodes of platinum are found effective in detecting heavy metal. There was regular analysis of the use of the sensors. The identification constraints down to the ng /L level was accomplished by refined electrode geometry and the stripping procedures. The process was used for the study of water sample determination. Another heavy metal ion attack voltammetric reaction was studied. The SEM picture clearly observed and characterized the nanoparticle electrode by X-ray diffraction and cyclic voltammetry.

This study explored the effects of cryogenic treatment on the microstructure, hardness, and wear-resistance of diamond-like carbon (DLC) by cryogenically treating NAK 80 mold steel coated with DLC. Raman spectroscopy analyzed the structure of the DLC film. Nanoindenter analyzed the hardness and Young’s modulus of the film, and their relationship determined the wear resistance. Wear test assessed the wear rate and friction coefficient of the DLC film. The results showed that cryogenic treatment increased the rate of carbide precipitation and refined the grain structure. Raman spectroscopy indicated that the Raman intensity rate (I_D/I_G) of treated DLC films was smaller than those without cryogenic treatment. When the sp3 bond increased, the hardness and wear-resistance of the DLC film also increased.

The inclusion of spent hemp biomass (SHB), an extracted byproduct from industrial cannabidiol (CBD) production, in the diets of dairy cows and lambs appear to be safe with minor effects on the metabolism, including a decrease of circulating cholesterol and increase bilirubinemia, both associated with liver metabolism. Those effects could be consequence of the presence of cannabinoids, particularly Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and CBD in the SHB. This study aimed to study the transcriptional profile of the liver of dairy cows and lambs fed SHB. Dairy cows received SHB or alfalfa pellet for four weeks of intervention (IP) and four weeks of withdrawal periods (WP). Finishing lambs were fed a control diet (CON), 10% (LH2) or 20% (HH2) SHB for 2 months or 1 month followed by 1-month SHB withdrawal (LH1 and HH1, respectively). RNA sequencing was performed, and the mRNA was annotated using the latest reference genomes. The RNAseq data were filtered, normalized for library size and composition, and statistically analyzed by DESeq2. The bioinformatic analysis was performed by using DAVID, Gene Set Enrichment (GSE) analysis, and the Dynamic Impact Approach. Using a 0.2 FDR cut-off, we identified only ≤24 differentially expressed genes (DEG) in the liver by feeding SHB in dairy cows and a larger number of DEG in lambs (from 71 in HH1 vs. CON to 552 in LH1 vs. CON). The KEGG analysis demonstrated that feeding SHB in dairy cows and lambs had relatively minor to moderate metabolic alterations in dairy cows and lambs mainly associated with amino acids and lipid metabolism whereas cholesterol synthesis was overall activated in lambs. GSE analysis identified activation of PPAR signaling pathway only in dairy cows. We found an opposite effect on activation of metabolism of drug and xenobiotics by cytochrome P450 enzymes in dairy cows and lambs receiving less SHB but an inhibition in HH2 lambs. Immune system-related pathways were inhibited by feeding SHB in lambs, but the impact was minor. Cumulatively, inclusion of SHB containing cannabinoids in dairy and lambs demonstrate very little effects on the alteration of transcriptomic profile of the liver.

In the frame of our diversity-oriented research on multitarget small molecule anticancer agents, utilizing convergent synthetic sequences terminated by Sonogashira coupling reactions, a preliminary selection of representative alkyne-tethered vindoline hybrids was synthesized. The novel hybrids with additional pharmacophoric fragments of well-documented anticancer agents, including FDA-approved tyrosine-kinase inhibitors (imatinib and erlotinib) or ferrocene or chalcone units, were evaluated for their antiproliferative activity on malignant cell lines MDA-MB-231 (triple negative breast cancer), A2780 (ovarian cancer), HeLa (human cervical cancer) and SH-SY5Y (neuroblastoma) as well as human embryonal lung fibroblast MRC-5 served as reference non-malignant cell line for the assessment of the therapeutic window of the tested hybrids. The biological assays identified a trimethoxyphenyl-containing chalcone-vindoline hybrid (36) as a promising lead compound exhibiting submicromolar activity on A2780 cells with a marked therapeutic window. These results suggest that ovarian cancer might be considered as a prioritized target of treatment with 36.

Light-colored and transparent polyimide (PI) films with good high-temperature dimensional stability are highly desired for advanced optoelectronic applications. However, in practice, the simultaneous achievement of good optical and thermal properties in one PI film is usually difficult due to the inter-conflicting molecular design for the polymers. In the present work, a series of PI-SiO2 nanocomposite films (ABTFCPI) were developed based on the PI matrix derived from hydrogenated pyromellitic anhydride (HPMDA) and an aromatic diamine containing benzanilide and trifluoromethyl substituents in the structure, 2,2'-bis(trifluoromethyl)-4,4'-bis[4-(4-aminobenzamide)]biphenyl (ABTFMB). The inorganic SiO2 fillers were incorporated into the nanocomposite films with the form of colloidal nanoparticles dispersed in the good solvent of N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc) for the PI matrix. The derived ABTFCPI nanocomposite films showed good film-forming ability, flexible and tough nature, good optical transparency, and good thermal properties with the loading amounts of SiO2 up to 30 wt% in the system. The ABTFCPI-30 film with the SiO2 content of 30 wt% in the film showed the optical transmittance of 79.6% at the wavelength of 400 nm (T400) with a thickness of 25 μm, the yellow index (b*) of 2.15, and the 5% weight loss temperatures (T5%) of 491 oC, which are all comparable to those the pristine ABTFCPI-0 matrix without filler (T400=81.8%; b*=1.77; T5%=492 oC). Meanwhile, the ABTFCPI-30 film exhibited obviously enhanced high-temperature dimensional stability with the linear coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE) of 25.4×10-6/K in the temperature range of 50 to 250 oC, which is much lower than that of the AMTFCPI-0 film (CTE=32.7×10-6/K).

Magneto-optic (MO) imaging and sensing are at present the most developed practical applications of thin-film MO garnet materials. However, future component and system-level sensors and imagers technology improvements are still necessary in order to improve sensitivity for a range of established and also the forward-looking applications. These improvements are expected to originate from new material system development. We propose a set of technological modifications for the RF-magnetron sputtering deposition and crystallization annealing of magneto-optic bismuth-substituted iron-garnet films and investigate the improved material properties. Results show that standard crystallization annealing for the as-deposited ultrathin (sputtered 10 nm thick, amorphous phase) films resulted in more than a factor of two loss in the magneto-optical activity of the films in visible spectral region, compared to the liquid-phase grown epitaxial films. Results also show that an additional 10 nm-thick metal-oxide (Bi2O3) protective layer above the amorphous film results in ~2.7 times increase in the magneto-optical quality of crystallized iron-garnet films. On the other hand, the effects of post-deposition oxygen (O2) plasma treatment on the magneto-optical (MO) properties of Bismuth substituted iron garnet thin films material is investigated. Results show that, in the visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum (at 532 nm), the O2 treated (up to 3 minutes) garnet films retain higher specific Faraday rotation and figure of merit than those of non-treated garnet films.

This study aims at investigating the catalytic performance of Pd, Pd/Pt, and Pd/Au nanocatalysts toward the 2-propanol electro-oxidation reaction (2POR) in an alkaline medium. The catalyst components (Pd, Pt, and Au) were sequentially electrodeposited onto a glassy carbon (GC) electrode surface and further characterized using electrochemical (cyclic voltammetry (CV)) and materials (Field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) coupled with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX)) characterization methods. The Pd/Au/GC catalyst showed the highest catalytic activity in terms of the highest oxidation current (0.386 mA) and the highest stability in terms of the highest obtained current after 1800 s of continuous electrolysis. This behaviour was attributed to the enhancement in the charge transfer kinetics where the Pd/Au/GC catalysts acquired the lowest charge transfer resistance (Rct, 1.85 kΩ) during the 2POR.

The noble metals palladium and silver find use in many high performance applications, and their alloys (PdAg), known for more than sixty years, are industrially important, finding use in many fields including hydrogen purification and separation, numerous facets of catalysis, and in fuel cells. In recent years, interest in these materials has grown significantly, particularly in energy generating applications and due to their performance as solid-state chemical sensors for a range of small molecules. PdAg thin films can be prepared using traditional physical methods such as cold rolling, or more modern and controllable chemical or physical deposition techniques such as electrodeposition or chemical vapour deposition. Despite the wide-reaching uses of PdAg, several recent advancements in materials preparation, such as additive manufacturing, better known as 3-D printing, remain unexplored for this material due to the differing chemistries of the two elements. In this review, we explore the manufacturing methods commonly employed for the preparation of PdAg thin films, the common and niche applications of these materials, and opportunities for the future development of these two aspects, with an emphasis on how preparation of thin films can utilise additive manufacturing approaches.

When present in specific amounts in the air, the colorless, odorless, and tasteless gases monoxide and carbon dioxide may either replace oxygen in red blood cells (CO) or increase the respiratory rate causing cardiac arrhythmias (CO2), leading to death. Commercial sensors take around 8 h to detect levels of CO (50 PPM), causing moderate poisoning. SnO2 presents controlled interactions with the atmosphere using conductance and vacancy adjustments to capture electrical properties. However, the selectivity of gas detection by SnO2 can still be improved, thus also increasing the application possibilities. The present study aimed to optimize the sensing of CO and CO2 in SnO2 using palladium functionalization. The vapor-liquid-solid method synthesized a network of SnO2 nanobelts decorated with palladium nanoparticles. The sensitivity of the sensors for CO and CO2 were evaluated, characterizing parameters such as response time, a wide range of CO and CO2 concentrations, and temperature. In the seventh measurement cycle, the sensor response for different concentrations of gases in consecutive cycles showed a sensitivity of up to 125% for CO in 60 s. Furthermore, we observed increased sensor sensitivity with material doping with nanoparticles from 130 ppm to 1360 ppm in 30 seconds to CO. Conclusion: The results provide a better understanding of the sensitivity of SnO2 in palladium-decorated nanoparticles, offering insights for detecting low CO concentrations quickly. The behavior of these doped nanosensors showed us the importance of considering them as a practical possibility for detecting these gases of importance to human health.

The construction of carbon-carbon bonds by direct involvement of two unactivated carbon-hydrogen bonds, without any directing group, ensures an high atom economy of the entire process. Here it is described a simple protocol for the Pd(II)/Cu(II)-promoted intermolecular cross-dehydrogenative coupling (CDC) of 5-arylimidazoles, benzimidazoles, benzoxazole and 4,5-diphenylimidazole at their C-2 position with functionalized styrenes. This specific CDC, known as Fujiwara-Moritani reaction or oxidative Heck coupling, allowed also the C-4 alkenylation of the imidazole nucleus when both 2 and 5 positions are occupied.

Generalized stacking fault energies of palladium alloys were calculated using the density functional theory. The stacking fault energy of palladium alloys is correlated with the valence electron of the transition metal element. The twinning tendency is also modified by the presence of an alloying element in the plane of deformation. The obtained results suggest that Pd –transition metal alloys with elements such as Cr, Mo, W, Mn, Re are expected to exhibit high work hardening rate due to the tendency to emit of the partial dislocations and mechanical twins, which results in increased strength and ductility.

: The crystallization conditions from the solution play an important role in determining the mor-phology, phase composition, and photovoltaic properties of perovskite films. Post-processing of the obtained films can have a crucial role in increasing the grain size of perovskite and enhancing its crystallinity. It has been shown that the formation of crystal nuclei can be utilized to accelerate crystallization. In this case, crystallization occurs through the growth of seed crystals created in the solution, enabling the formation of relatively large crystals. For the deposition of CH3NH3PbI3 hybrid halide perovskite films from a solution of the perovskite in dimethylformamide the spin coating technique was employed. Pre-crystallization was achieved by annealing the films at a temperature of 100 or 110 °C. The dissolution process involved adding a drop of dimethylformamide onto the substrate surface and allowing it to partially dissolve the perovskite film. Subsequently, residual solvent was removed through spin coating. The mor-phological analysis of the perovskite film surface after recrystallization at temperatures ranging from 80 to 130 °C was performed. The infrared transmission spectra of the obtained perovskite films were investigated, and their light absorption characteristics were studied through transmission spectra. The perovskite structure in the obtained films was confirmed by the peaks observed in the X-ray diffraction patterns.

The article presents the results of cyanide leaching of gold-containing concentrate using the trichlorocyanuric acid (TCCA) oxidizer. Gold-containing concentrate obtained from a gold tailings sample from a gold recovery factory (GRF) in one of the deposits of Kazakhstan that was not previously studied for concentrability. According to X-ray phase analysis and energy dispersive spectrometry (DSM) data, the main compounds in the tailings sample under study are: pyrite FeS2, quartz SiO2, calcite CaCO3, albite NaAlSi3O8, muscovite KAl2Si3AlO10(OH)8, dolomite CaMg(CO3)2, and oxidized iron compounds. Microscopic studies have established the presence of gold grains in free form, ranging in size from 0.9-10.2 mkm Au-ultrafine and fine gold. Obtaining a gold-containg concentrate with a gold content of 15.95 g / t is possible according to the enrichment scheme, which includes centrifugal separation, classification according to the fineness class -0.05 mm, additional grinding of hydrocyclone sands to a fineness of 90.0-95.0% of the class finer than 0.050 mm, and control centrifugal separation. Since pyrite in technogenic raw materials is the main gold-containing mineral, this paper presents studies on the oxidizability of pyrite with the TCCA oxidizer. The results of studies on the oxidation of pyrite using the TCCA oxidizer show that the products of its hydrolysis oxidize pyrite with the formation of various iron compounds on its surface. Pretreatment of gold-containing concentrate with oxidizer TCCA for 3 hours before the cyanidation process (20 hours) allows to increase the recovery of gold in the solution by 5.8 %.

Polymer inclusion membranes (PIMs), which contained cellulose tri-acetate used as a polymer base, a plasticizer in the form of o-NPOE, and meso-tetra methyl tetrakis-[methyl-2-(4-acetlphenoxy)] calix[4]pyrrole (KP) used as a carrier, were prepared and tested for the effective purification of aqueous solutions of methylene blue dye. The scanning electron microscope (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) were used to define the microstructure and surface of PIMs. Experimental results showed that with the increased concentration of methylene blue in an aqueous solution, the removal percentage also increased. Further observation also showed that the flux increased with the rise of the source phase pH values from 3 to 10. The carrier and plasticizer content in the membrane significantly influenced the membrane’s transport properties. The optimal composition of the membrane in per cent by weight was for KP: 74% plasticizer; 18% support; 8% carrier. It was shown that the membrane with optimal composition showed good reusability and enabled the easy and spontaneous separation of methylene blue from aqueous solutions.

Rubella infection is typically mild or asymptomatic except when infection occurs during pregnancy. Infection in early pregnancy can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, or congenital rubella syndrome. Only individuals that are still susceptible to rubella infection during child-bearing age are vulnerable to this burden. Rubella containing vaccine (RCV) is safe and effective, providing life-long immunity. However, average age-at-infection increases with increasing vaccination coverage, which could potentially lead to increased disease burden as well, if the absolute risk of infection during child-bearing age increases. Dynamics of rubella transmission were explored using EMOD, a software tool for building stochastic, agent-based infection models. Simulations of pre-vaccine, endemic transmission of rubella virus introduced RCV at varying levels of coverage to determine the expected future trajectories of disease burden. Introducing RCV reduces both rubella virus transmission and disease burden for a period of around 15 years. Increased disease burden is only possible more than a decade post-introduction, and only for contexts with low current burden and high transmission intensity. Low or declining rubella virus transmission intensity is concurrently associated with both greater disease burden and greater vaccine effectiveness. The risk of increasing burden through vaccination only exists for locations with persistently high infectivity, high connectivity, and high fertility. A trade-off between the risk of a small, future burden increase and a large, immediate burden decrease strongly favors RCV introduction.

The aim of this study was to investigate the physicochemical characterization and biological activities of chitosan (CH) based composite films with the incorporation of chestnut flower essential oil (CFEO). The composite films were prepared by casting method and characterized in terms of structural, morphological and mechanical properties via FT-IR, XRD, UV, SEM and TGA. The results proved the significantly increased water vapor permeability (WVP), heat resistance, antibacterial and antioxidant capabilities of CH-CFEO films. The incorporation of CH and CFEO enhanced the UV blocking, which made the film shield almost all UV light. Films with the tensile strength of 6.37 ± 0.41 MPa and elongation at break of 22.57 ± 0.35% were got with 6 mg mL-1 CFEO. Subsequently, the fruit preservation experiments also confirmed that the composite films could effectively extend the shelf life of bananas through their excellent water vapor and oxygen barrier. These desirable performances enable our newly developed composite films to be a remarkable packaging material to solve the fresh fruit preservation dilemma.

The article describes synthesis of aminoorgano-functionalized silica as a perspective material for catalysis application. The amino groups have electron donor properties valuable for metal chemical state of palladium. So presence of electron donor groups is important for increasing of catalysts stability. The research is devoted to investigation of silica amino-modified support influence on activity and stability of palladium species in 4-nitroaniline hydrogenation process. A series of catalysts with different supports such as SiO2, SiO2-C3H6-NH2 (amino-functionalized silica), γ-Al2O3 and activated carbon were studied. The catalytic activity was studied in the hydrogenation of 4-nitroaniline to 1,4-phenylenediamine. The catalysts were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and pulse chemisorption of hydrogen. The 5 wt. % Pd/SiO2-C3H6-NH2 catalyst exhibited the highest catalytic activity for 4-nitroaniline hydrogenation with 100% conversion and 99% selectivity with respect to 1,4-phenylenediamine.

Giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) are membrane model used to study membrane properties. Electroformation is one of the methods used to produce GUVs. During electroformation protocol dry lipid film is formed. Drying of the lipid film induce Cholesterol (Chol) demixing artifact, in which Chol forms anhydrous crystals, where these crystals does not participate in formation of vesicles. This leads to a lower Chol concentration in the vesicle bilayers compared to the Chol concentration in the initial lipid solution. To address this problem, we propose novel electroformation protocol that includes rapid solvent exchange, plasma cleaning and spin-coating methods to produce GUVs. We tested the protocol focusing on vesicles with high Chol content using different spin-coating durations and vesicle types deposition. Additionally, we compared the novel protocol using completely dry lipid film. The optimal spin-coating duration for vesicles made out of phosphatidylcholine/Chol mixture was 30 s. Mulitlamellar vesicles (MLVs), large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs) obtained by extrusion of MLVs through 100 nm membrane pores and LUVs obtained by extrusion of previously obtained LUVs through 50 nm membrane pores were deposited on electrode for 1.5/1 Chol/phosphatidylcholine lipid mixture and the results were compared. Electroformation using all three deposited vesicle types gave a high GUVs yield, but deposition of LUVs obtained by extrusion of MLVs through 100 nm membrane pores gave the most reproducible results. Using deposition of these LUVs, we produced GUVs with high yield for 6 different Chol concentrations (from 0 % to 71.4%). Using protocol that includes dry lipid film GUVs yield was lower and Chol demixing artifact was induced, proving that the lipid film should never undergo drying when Chol content is high.

The surface characterization of indium tin oxide (ITO) films was processed by oxygen (O2) plasma gas using a magnetron sputtering method of varying O2-plasma gas from 20 sccm to 100 sccm for potentially fostering in electronic devices applications on dye-sensitize solar cells (DSSC) in this work. In order to gain an outstanding performance rate with high-quality thin films, the affect of correlation between the electrical, optical, and morphology properties was significantly investigated. Clearly, the content of investigation exhibited that the films properties was changed by variation of the gas composition. These changes have contemporary relevance to the sputtering gas during the deposition process. To conclude, the greatest electrical properties was displayed by O2 -plasma gas flow rate of 20 sccm, which showed the lowest resistivity. In addition to this, the final products were practically fabricated to active layers for dye-sensitize solar cells (DSSC) applications. The highest efficiency of DSSC device was indicated of approximately 0.35% which was located by 40 sccm of the O2-plasma gas. Consequently, the study could be a possibility way of preparing ITO thin films with improved special properties of substantial applications for solar cells devices in the near future.

Citrus waste has been used as a source of bioplastic research in different ways. Because the juice industry produces significant amounts of residue each year, it would be advantageous to use the byproducts in the creation of new materials. For many years, researchers have been investigating an environmentally friendly way to take citrus and other organic waste and turn it into polymers that may be used, for instance, to produce bio-based and biodegradable films for food packaging. The goal of this study is to create biofilms from orange (OW) and ginger waste (GW) using an ultrafine grinder and study the films' properties. Since pectin has the ability to gel and because cellulosic fibres are strong, citrus waste has been studied for its potential to produce biofilms. After being washed, dried, and milled, orange and ginger waste were shaped into films using a casting process. Tensile testing was used to determine the mechanical properties of biofilms, while dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used to determine their thermal properties. As the number of grinding cycles increased, the suspension's viscosity increased from 29 to 57 mPa.s for OW and from 217 to 376 mPa.s for GW while the particle size in the suspension significantly decreased. For OW and GW films, the highest tensile strength was 17 MPa and 15 MPa, respectively. The maximum strain obtained among all films was 4.8%. All the tested films were stable up to 150°C, and maximum degradation occurs after 300°C.

PdRe/Al2O3 catalysts are highly selective for hydrogenation of furfural to furfuryl alcohol (FAL). Moreover, synergy between the metals can result in greater specific activity (higher turnover frequency, TOF) than exhibited by either metal alone. Bimetallic catalyst structure depends strongly on the metal precursors employed and their addition sequence to the support. In this work, PdRe/Al2O3 catalysts were prepared by: (i) co impregnation (CI) and sequential impregnation (SI) of  Al2O3 using HReO4 and Pd(NO3)2, (ii) SI using NH4ReO4 and [Pd(NH3)4(NO3)2], (iii) HReO4 addition to a reduced and passivated Pd/Al2O3 catalyst, and (iv) impregnation with the double complex salt (DCS), [Pd(NH3)4(ReO4)2]. Raman spectroscopy and temperature-programmed reduction (TPR) evidence larger supported PdO crystallites in catalysts prepared using Pd(NO3)2 than [Pd(NH3)4(NO3)2]. Surface [ReO4]- species detected by Raman exhibit TPR peak temperatures from ranging 85 to 260°C (versus 375°C for Re/Al2O3). After H2 reduction at 400°C, the catalysts were characterized by chemisorption, temperature-programmed hydride decomposition (TPHD), CO diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS), and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) with energy-dispersive x-ray (EDX) spectroscopy. The CI catalyst containing supported Pd-Re alloy crystallites had a TOF similar to Pd/Al2O3 but higher (61%) FAL selectivity. In contrast, catalysts prepared by methods (ii-iv) containing supported Pd-Re nanoparticles exhibit higher TOFs and up to 78% FAL selectivity.

Exploring for green and affordable protection of perishable fruit like cherry tomato is of significance. Here the protective efficacy and its underpinnings of coating with oleaster gum, alone or incorporated with cuminal, on cherry tomatoes stored at ambient temperature were investigated. The composite coating of oleaster gum with 0.1% cuminal reduced decay, respiration rate, weight loss, and softening of the fruit and decelerated their decreases of total soluble solids, titratable acidity, and soluble proteins, and therefore maintained their marketability. Furthermore, it reduced the accumulation of O•− 2and H2O2 in fruit, and mitigated cell membrane lipid oxidation and permeabilization, thereby retarding their senescence. Instrumentally, it elevated the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase, and ascorbate peroxidase and the levels of ascorbic acid and glutathione. This potentiation of the fruit antioxidant system makes the composite coating a promising approach to keeping the postharvest quality of perishable fruit.

Climate change, increasing global food needs, and decreasing global resources brought a new era to human every-day live with a strong turn to circular economy and sustainability. Food packaging and preservation is an important global sector where enchanced research is carried out. New methods such as active packaging and chemical preservatives replacement are of major interest. Many researchers were published studies about active packaging films, replacement of chemical preservatives with natural originated extracts, and novel incorporation procedures. Sequentially to our and other scientists’ previous work, in this paper we present the results of the improvement which was achieved by incorporating the developed nanohybrid of natural-halloysite/carvacrol-extract, the pure natural carvacrol extract and the commonly used low-density-polyethylene. The well known corona-treatment procedure was employed to produced the optimum final film and the results shown that the low-density-polyethylene incorporated with natural-halloysite/carvacrol-extract nanohybrid and coated external with extra carvacrol extract exhibited aproximatelly 100% higher Young-Modulus values, slightly decreased ultimate strength by 20%, and almost stable elonation at break properties. The water-vapor and oxygen barrier increased by 40%. Finally, the antioxidant activity of the corrona-treated film increased by 28% compared to the similar but untreated product because of the lower release rate of the carvacrol.

In this study, a new type of temperature sensor device was developed. The circular electrode of the thermal sensitive sensor was modified with TMT and O₂ plasma to enhance the conductivity by forming a thin SnOxCy layer on the electrode surface. The Nano-Au particles were subjected to O₂ plasma pretreatment to form peroxide groups on the surface. The thermally sensitive sensor was made by mixing the above-treated Nano-Au particles with N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) to form solution and then UV-induced grafting polymerization of the NIPAAm-containing solution onto the electrode substrate. The composite hydrogels on the electrode introduce thermo-sensitive polymeric surface films for temperature sensing. Using ambient environment resistance test to measure the resistance, the LCST (lower critical solution temperature) of Nano-Au (MUA) mixed with NIPAAm hydrogel was found to be 32 °C. At ambient temperatures higher than LCST, the electrode resistance decreases linearly.

In the study of relativistic jets one of the key open questions is their interaction with the environment on the microscopic level. Here, we study the initial evolution of both electron–proton (e^- - p⁺) and electron–positron (e^±) relativistic jets containing helical magnetic fields, focusing on their interaction with an ambient plasma. We have performed simulations of "global" jets containing helical magnetic fields in order to examine how helical magnetic fields affect kinetic instabilities such as the Weibel instability, the kinetic Kelvin-Helmholtz instability (kKHI) and the Mushroom instability (MI). In our initial simulation study these kinetic instabilities are suppressed and new types of instabilities can grow. In the e^- - p⁺ jet simulation recollimation-like instability occurs and jet electrons are strongly perturbed. In the e^± jet simulation a recollimation-like instability occurs at early times followed by a kinetic instability and the general structure is similar to a simulation without helical magnetic field. Simulations using much larger systems are required in order to thoroughly follow the evolution of global jets containing helical magnetic fields.

In this study, a new nitrogen-enriched multiwall carbon nanotube is prepared and utilized to stabilize palladium species. After the characterization of this new composite, it was applied as a catalyst in the reduction of nitroarenes and hydrodesulfurization of dibenzothiophene. Using this newly established catalyst, a wide range of aromatic compounds were reduced to the corresponding amines under a very low amount of Pd (0.005 mol%) in short reaction times. Also, dibenzothiophene (a major pollutant in fuel oil) was very efficiently transformed using this catalyst. Its robustness was studied in the recycling process where, after 20 runs in the reduction of 4-nitrotoluene and 5 times in the desulfurization of dibenzothiophene, the activity of the catalyst remained intact. According to the E-factor calculations, the present Pd catalyst meets the standards of green chemistry.

The objective of this study is to investigate the aquatic-toxic effects of glyoxal-containing cellulose ether with four different glyoxal concentrations (0, 1.4, 2.3 and 6.3%) in response to global chemical regulations, e.g., European Union Classification, Labeling and Packaging (EU CLP). Tests of the aquatic-toxic effects of glyoxal-containing cellulose ether on 11 freeze-dried microbial strains, Microcystis aeruginosa, Daphnia magna and zebrafish embryos were designed as an initial stage for toxicity screening, and were performed with the standardized toxicity test guidelines. Glyoxal-containing cellulose ether showed no significant toxic effects in the toxicity tests for the 11 freeze-dried microbial strains, Daphnia magna and zebrafish embryos. Alternatively, 6.3% glyoxal-containing cellulose ether led to more than a 60% reduction of Microcystis aeruginosa growth after 7 days of exposure. Approximately 10% developmental abnormalities (e.g., bent spine) in zebrafish embryos were also observed in the group exposed to 6.3% glyoxal-containing cellulose ether after 6 days of exposure. These results imply that <6.3% glyoxal-containing cellulose ether results in non-toxic effects on the acute toxicity of aquatic organisms. However, ≥6.3% glyoxal-containing cellulose ether may affect the health of aquatic organisms with long-term exposure. In order to better evaluate the eco-safety of cellulosic products contained in glyoxal, further studies regarding the toxic effects of glyoxal-containing cellulose ether with long-term exposure are required. The results from this study allow us to evaluate the auatic-toxic effects of glyoxal-containing cellulosic products, under EU chemical regulations, on the health of aquatic organisms.

Today, enhancing food preservation and safety in the spirit of the bioeconomy suggests the use of biodegradable polymers such as poly-L-lactic acid (PLA) in food packaging and the replacement of chemical additives with natural antioxidant/antibacterial agents such as essential oils and their derivatives. Herein a novel carvacrol (CV) @ natural zeolite (NZ) nanohybrid was developed by employing a new vacuum adsorption desorption method which results in the adsorption of a high CV amount on NZ equal to 61.7 %wt. This CV@NZ nanohybrid was successfully dispersed in a PLA/triethyl citrate (TEC) matrix via a melt-extrusion process to obtain PLA/TEC/xCV@NZ nanocomposite films with 5, 10 and 15 CV@NZ %wt. content. PLA/TEC/xNZ films were also de-veloped for comparison. The overall study resulted in a biodegradable active film with the fol-lowing properties: 10%wt. CV@NZ content (PLA/TEC/10CV@NZ), self-healable properties, 22% higher tensile strength and 40% higher elongation at break, 45% higher water barrier and 40% higher oxygen barrier than pure PLA/TEC matrix. This film also provides high CV release content, high CV control release rate as well as significant antioxidant activity and antibacterial activity against the food pathogens Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella enterica spp. enterica serovar Typhimurium. This film not only succeeds in extending the shelf-life of fresh pork minced, as shown by total variable count measurements in four days, but also prevents lipid oxidation of fresh minced pork and maintains the minced meat in higher nutritional conditions, as revealed by the heme iron content determination, and in a much better and acceptable sensory condition than the commercial packaging paper.

Cyanex 301 and LIX 63 can seletively extract Pd(II) over Pt(IV) from strong hydrochloric acid solutions. Therefore, solvent extraction experiments have been performed by extractant mixtures containing either Cyanex 301 or LIX 63 and the extraction behavior of Pd(II) was compared. Among the mixture of Cyanex 301, the highest synergistic enhancement coefficient was achieved by mixing Cyanex 301 and TOPO. However, it was very diffiuclt to strip the Pd(II) from the loaded mixture. Among the mixture of LIX 63, the mixture of LIX 63 and Alamine 336/TOPO enhanced the extraction of Pt(II). Although the synergistic coefficient by Cyanex 301 + TOPO was higher than that by LIX 63 + Alamine 336, the Pd(II) in the loaded mixture of LIX 63 and Alamine 336 was easily stripped by thiourea.

Diarrhea remains one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide, especially among children. Recent epidemiological studies conducted in developing countries identified Shigella species as the most predominant pathogenic bacteria responsible for diarrhea. Antimicrobial therapy is necessary for Shigella infections; however, the rapid emergence of resistance against existing antimicrobials in Shigella spp. poses a serious global health problem. To identify alternative antimicrobial compounds with activity against Shigella species, the pathogens responsible for bacterial diarrhea. In this study, we have applied antibacterial phenotypic screening to identify potent anti-Shigella compounds across a broad chemical diversity, including selected acetaminophen derivatives containing benzothiazoles backbone, and their combination with certain antibiotics. In continuation to our effort in searching potent antimicrobial compounds, we have found this time around that two acetaminophen derivatives containing benzothiazoles backbone (4a and 4b) could inhibit the growth of Shigella flexneri with common MIC value of 12.5 µg/ml. These compounds were established through a time-kill kinetics’ study to be bactericidal. Meanwhile, the 2-aminobenzothiazoles (1a and 1b) used for the synthesis of compounds 4 (a & b) were found to be poorly active (MIC: 100 µg/ml) against this pathogen. Combination studies of 4a and 4b with the least susceptible antibiotics (ceftriaxone and cotrimoxazole) demonstrated synergistic anti-Shigella activity. The present study demonstrates that the azobenzothiazole dyes 4 (a & b) can be repurposed as potential anti-Shigella compounds, which can serve as scaffolds for the development of new agents against infectious diarrhea caused by Shigella and other enteric pathogens, especially in developing countries.

This study introduces a novel nanocomposite coating composed of PANI/CeO2 nanocomposite films, aimed at addressing corrosion protection needs. Analysis through FTIR spectra and XRD patterns confirms the successful formation of the nanocomposite films. Notably, the PANI/CeO2 nanocomposite films exhibit a hydrophilic nature. The bandgap energy of the PANI composite film measures at 3.74 eV, while the introduction of CeO2 NPs into the PANI matrix reduces the bandgap energy to 3.67 eV. Furthermore, the electrical conductivity of the PANI composite film is observed to be 0.40 S.cm-1, with the incorporation of CeO2 NPs leading to an increase in electrical conductivity to 1.07 S.cm-1. To evaluate its efficacy, electrochemical measurements were conducted to assess the corrosion protection performance. Results indicate a high protection efficiency of 92.25% for the PANI/CeO2 nanocomposite film.

Due to the widespread application of (hetero)arylazoles, the development of straightforward functional group-tolerant synthetic methods that enable selective heteroaromatic elaboration under mild conditions aroused considerable attention. Over the last years we were interested in studies aimed to broaden the substrate scope of the direct functionalization of azoles and, in particular, to develop efficient synthetic protocols for the carbon-carbon bond forming reaction by selective palladium-catalyzed Csp2-H bond activation of imidazole derivatives. During these studies, we discovered that the outcome of the Pd-catalyzed arylation of imidazoles with aryl bromides is deeply influenced by the nature of the reaction solvent. Specifically, it is well known that the Pd-catalyzed direct arylation of imidazoles with aromatic halides selectively leads to C-5 monoarylation products when polar aprotic solvents such as DMF (or DMA) are used as a reaction medium, but these solvents are coded as dangerous according to EHS (Environmental, Health, Safety) parameters. Instead, the use of aromatic solvents as the reaction medium for direct arylations, although some of them show good EHS values, is poorly reported, probably due to their low solvent power against reagents and their potential involvement in undesired side reactions. So, with the intention of filling this gap, in this paper, we have developed a selective C-5 arylation procedure in anisole as the solvent, discovering also the unprecedented role of benzoic acid as a promoter of the coupling.

To improve efficacy and safety of sunscreen emulsions, UV‐filter skin permeation could be kept as low as possible by reducing UV‐filter content or changing emulsion composition. In this work, different lipid phase ratio (12, 14 and 16% w/w) were assessed for their ability to affect the technological and sensory properties of O/W emulsions in which bemotrizinol (BMTZ), a broad spectrum sunscreen agent, was incorporated free or loaded into nanostructured lipid nanocarriers (NLC) to reduce its release from the vehicle and, hence, its skin permeation. The following technological properties were evaluated in vitro by suitable methodologies: spreadability, viscosity, pH, occlusion factor, BMTZ release, sun protection factor (SPF). Sensory attributes were assessed by trained panelists in three different phases: before/during pick‐up, rub‐in, after application. Raising the lipid phase ratio led to an increase of viscosity and to a corresponding drop of spreadability while the incorporation of BMTZ‐loaded NLC determined a decrease of occlusion factor and an increase of SPF. No BMTZ release was observed from all emulsions. Sensory attributes were mainly affected by lipid phase ratio. These results suggest that lipid phase ratio and BMTZ incorporation into NLC could contribute to determine technological and sensory properties of O/W emulsions.

A two-stage pilot plant study has been completed that evaluated the performance of a reverse osmosis (RO) membrane process for the treatment of a feedwater that consisted of a blend of nanofiltration (NF) concentrate and brackish groundwater. Membrane performance was assessed by monitoring the process operation, collecting water quality data, and documenting the blended feedwater’s impact on fouling due to a combination of, or solely caused by, plugging, scaling, microbiological, or organic means. Fluorescence and biological activity reaction tests were used to identify the types of organics and microorganisms present in the blended feedwater. Additionally, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS) were used to analyze suspended matter that collected on the surfaces of cartridge filters used in the pilot’s pretreatment system. SEM and EDS were also used to evaluate solids collected on the surfaces of 0.45-µm silver filter pads after filtering known volumes of NF concentrate and RO feedwater blends. Water quality analyses confirmed that the blended feedwater contained little to no dissolved oxygen, and the blended feedwater was absent of a significant amount of particulate matter as defined by silt density index and turbidity measurements. However, water quality results suggested that the presence of sulfate, sulfide, iron, anaerobic bacteria, and humic acid organics likely contributed to the formation of pyrite observed on some of the membrane surfaces autopsied at the conclusion of pilot operations. It was determined that first-stage membrane productivity was impacted by the location of cartridge filter pretreatment; however, second-stage productivity was maintained with no observed flux decline during the entire pilot operation’s timeline. Study results indicated that the operation of an RO process treating a blend of NF concentrate and brackish groundwater could maintain a sustainable and productive operation that provided a practical zero-discharge process operation while the dilution of RO feedwater salinity would lower overall production costs.

This paper presents the results of the study of carbon films deposited on substrates of quartz, mica and silicon by the method of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). This study has identified the dependences of the intensities of the EPR signal, the g- factor, and the line width on the temperature of carbon films on various substrates with perpendicular and parallel arrangement of the sample plane relative to the orientation of the magnetic field are presented. The results of this study show that the dependence of the line width on temperature measurements does not change under both conditions for recording the EPR spectra. The research has also shown that with increasing temperature, the normalized intensity of the EPR signal line increases when carbon is deposited on various substrates (quartz, mica, and silicon) by the method of plasma decomposition of a mixture of CH4 and H2.

2-Pyridone ligand-facilitated palladium-catalyzed direct C–H bond functionalization via the transient directing group strategy has become an attractive topic. Here we report a Pd-catalyzed direct β-C(sp3) –H arylation reaction of tertiary aliphatic aldehydes by using an α-amino acid as a transient directing group in combination with a 2-pyridone ligand.

A series of (benzoimidazol-2-ylmethyl)amine palladium(II) complexes have been employed as catalysts in the homogenous hydrogenation of alkenes and alkynes under mild conditions. A correlation between the catalytic activity and the nature of the ligand was established. Kinetic studies of the hydrogenation reactions of styrene established pseudo-first-order dependence on styrene substrate. On the other hand, partial orders with respect to H2 and catalyst concentrations were obtained consistent with the formation of palladium(II) monohydride species as the active species. The nature of the solvent used influenced the hydrogenation reactions, where coordinating solvents resulted in lower catalytic activities. Density functional theory investigations provided valuable insights into the reactivity trends and influence of complex structure on the hydrogenation reactions.

This research has developed a process for producing ZnO thin film from DEZn deposited onto a PET substrate with low-pressure, high-frequency Ar + O2 plasma using a chemical vapor deposition technique. The aim is to study the film production conditions that affect electrical properties, optical properties, and thin film surfaces. This work highlights the use of plasma energy produced from a mixture of gases between Ar + O2. Plasma production is stimulated with an RF power supply to deliver high chemical energy and push ZnO atoms from the cathode inside the reactor onto the substrate through surface chemical reactions. The results showed that increasing the RF power in plasma production affected the chemical reactions on the substrate surface of film formation. The film preparation at RF power 300 W will give the thickest films. The film has a continuous columnar formation, and the surface has a granular structure. This results in the lowest electrical resistivity of 1.8 x 10-4 Ω-cm. In addition, when fabricated into a DSSC device, the device tested the PCE value and showed the highest value at 5.68%. This is due to the very rough surface nature of the ZnO film, which increases the scattering and storage of sunlight, making cells more efficient. Therefore, the benefit of this research is that it will be a highly efficient prototype of thin film production technology using a chemical process that reduces production costs and can be used in the industrial development of solar cells.

A number of chemical modifications were carried out in order to synthesize new compounds based on the triterpenoid betulonic acid. Triazolation reactions were carried out for the synthesis of new 1,2,3-triazole derivatives based on betulonic acid. Chemical changes were made on the carbonyl group at the C-3 position of the initial molecule and on the carboxyl and hydroxyl groups at the C-28 position. Chromatographic methods were used to separate and purify the formed products. Spectroscopic (NMR-, mass-) methods were used to establish the structure of synthesized compounds. As a result of the chemical transformations carried out, a number of new derivatives of betulonic acid were obtained. All synthesized compounds were tested for antimicrobial and cytotoxic activity. As a result, compounds with pronounced antimicrobial activity were identified.

As a derivative of graphene, graphene oxide (GO) was initially developed by chemists to emulate some of the key properties of graphene, but it was soon recognized as a unique material in its own right, addressing an application space that is not accessible to chemical vapor deposition based materials. Over the past decade, GO has emerged as a new frontier material with tremendous advances in its material fabrication and quality control over its properties. These in turn have led to rapid progress in GO based photonics, electronics, and optoelectronics concepts and devices, evoking new science and paving the way for many technological breakthroughs with exceptional performance. Here, we review the unique fundamental characteristics of GO, its thin film fabrication methods, patterning techniques, and mechanisms for tuning its material properties. This latter capability in particular has enabled novel advanced functional photonic, electronic, and optoelectronic devices. Understanding these insights is essential for designing and tailoring GO properties for state-of-the-art applications including solar energy harvesting, energy storage, medical diagnosis, image displays, and optical communications. We conclude by discussing the open challenges and exciting opportunities of this field, together with future prospects for major technological advancements and breakthroughs.

We present the results on photothermal (PT) and heat conductive properties of nanogranular silicon (Si) films synthesized by evaporation of colloidal droplets (drop-casting) of 100 ± 50 nm sized crystalline Si nanoparticles (NP) deposited on glass substrates. Finite difference time domain (FDTD) and finite element mesh (FEM) modeling of absorbed light intensity and photo-induced spatial temperature distribution across the Si NP films were well correlated with the local temperatures measured by micro-Raman spectroscopy and used for determination of heat conductivities in the films of various thicknesses. Cubic-to-hexagonal phase transition in these films caused by laser heating was found to be heavily influenced by the film thickness and heat conductive properties of glass substrate, on which the films were deposited. Heat conductivities across the drop-casted Si nanogranular films were found to be in the range of lowest heat conductivities of other types of nanostructurely voided Si films due to enhanced phonon scattering across inherently voided topology, weak NP-NP and NP-substrate interface bonding within nanogranular Si films.

1,2-Dihydroisoquinolines are important compounds due to their biological and medicinal activities, and numerous approaches to their synthesis have been reported. In this study, a palladium-catalyzed cascade cyclization-coupling of trisubstituted allenamides containing a bromoaryl moiety with arylboronic acids is described. The reaction proceeds via intramolecular cyclization, followed by transmetallation with the arylboronic acid of the resulting allylpalladium intermediate. A variety of substituted 1,2-dihydroisoquinolines were concisely obtained using this methodology because the allenamides, as reaction substrates, were prepared from readily available propargylamines in one step.

The article presents a technology for producing nitrogen-containing nanoporous biocarbon with high degree of elemental composition homogeneity, confirmed by electron spectroscopy. The research explores the relationship among the electronic characteristics of supramolecular nanoporous carbon, its porous structure, and the capacitance at its interface with the electrolyte. The obtained biocarbon is characterized by micro and mesopores, as evidenced by the results of studies by the method of nitrogen adsorption/desorption. The specific area of the available porous surface was found to be 1247 m2/g. Comparing this result with the data of small-angle X-ray scattering, we conclude that micropores are open while mesopores remain closed. This material was found to have a saturation magnetization σs of 1.4 A∙m2∙kg-1 and a coercive force Hc of 10 kA/m. The impedance studies of electrochemical cells of supercapacitors made of the experimental biocarbon were carried out. Equivalent electrical circuits of the studied electrochemical processes were constructed and characterized.

Objective: To provide mechanistic evidence for the epidemiological link between long-term use of alcohol containing mouthwashes and oral cancer.Methods: Human epithelial keratinocytes were exposed for 30 seconds to concentrations of ethanol commonly present in mouthwashes. After a recovery period, cell viability was assessed with the MTT assay.Results: A marked cytotoxic effect was observed for ethanol concentrations of 20% and above. Conclusions: The cytotoxicity of ethanol can explain the epidemiological association between mouthwash use and oral cancer. Recent findings indicate that the risk of developing cancer in a tissue is strongly determined by the number of stem cell divisions accumulated by the tissue during a person's lifetime; cell division is a major source of mutations and other cancer-promoting errors. Since cell death activates the division of stem cells, the cytotoxicity of ethanol on the cells lining the oral mucosa will promote the division of the stem cells located in deeper layers to produce new cells to regenerate the damaged epithelium. If we regularly use mouthwashes containing cytotoxic concentrations of ethanol, we will force the stem cells of the oral cavity to divide more often than usual and our risk of developing oral cancer will probably increase.Clinical significance: Many mouthwashes contain percentages of ethanol above 20%. Because ethanol is not crucial to prevent and reduce gingivitis and plaque, members of the dental team should consider the potential risk of oral cancer associated with frequent use of alcohol containing mouthwashes when advising their patients.

The research that we are referring to examines the morphological, structural, and optical characteristics of kesterite (Cu1-xAgx)2ZnSnS4 (CAZTS) thin films, which are produced using a process known as thermal evaporation (TE). The study's main goal was to determine how different Ag contents affect the characteristics of CAZTS systems. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman Spectroscopy: were used to confirm the crystal structure of the CAZTS thin films. Using a mathematical model of spectroscopic ellipsometry, the refractive index (n) represented the part of the complex refractive index, the extinction coefficient (k) portrayed the imaginary one, and also the energy band gap of the fabricated films were all calculated. The energy band gap of the thin films was also calculated. This is a crucial parameter for solar cell applications, as it determines the wavelength of light that the material can absorb. The energy band gap was found to decrease from 1.74 eV to 1.55 eV with increasing Ag content. The ITO/n-CdS/p-CAZTS/Mo heterojunction was well constructed, and the primary photovoltaic characteristics of the n-CdS/p-CAZTS junctions were examined for use in solar cells. Different Ag contents of the CAZTS layers were used to determine the dark and illumination (current-voltage) characteristics of the heterojunctions. The study's findings collectively point to CAZTS thin layers as potential absorber materials for solar cell applications.

NiV2O6 thin films were grown on glass slides with varying thicknesses using the nebulizer spray pyrolysis. The impact of thickness on the thin films' optical, structural, morphological, and electrical characteristics was systematically investigated. The X-ray diffraction and micro-Raman analysis confirmed the formation of the triclinic NiV2O6 system. Surface morphology and roughness variations in the as-deposited NiV2O6 films were studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and a profilometer. Optical properties, including optical band gap (Eg), extinction coefficient (k), absorption coefficient (α), and refractive index (n), were determined through optical reflectance and transmittance measurements. The optical energy gap of the as-deposited NiV2O6 films decreased from 2.3 eV to 1.9 eV with increased layer thickness. Furthermore, the photo-detectivity of the films demonstrated an enhancement corresponding to the prolonged spray time. The sensitivity values obtained for visible irradiation are 328, 511, and 433 for samples S1, S2, and S3, respectively. The obtained results are imputed to the specific porous microstructure.

There is currently much interest in avoiding precious metals in Catalysis. The devel-opment of nickel catalysts to replace palladium in the Mizoroki-Heck reaction is a relevant case in this line of research since both elements share many chemical features. This contri-bution focuses on -Phenyl elimination in alkylnickel complexes. This is the microscopic reverse of olefin insertion (or carbometallation), a fundamental step of the Heck cycle that is usually considered irreversible and selectivity-determining. However, the potential reversibil-ity of carbometallation is generally concealed by the facile beta-hydrogen elimination that follows. Where -hydrogen elimination is hindered, beta-aryl elimination may ensue. We have previously shown that cationic 2-methyl-2-phenylpropyl (neophyl) palladium com-plexes supported by bidentate ligands experience -Ph elimination, which can be seen as an example of olefin de-insertion. In this contribution, we report that -phenyl elimination can also occur in their nickel analogs, in which case fast hydrolyses of the resulting phenyl product can follow the reaction. We investigated the mechanism of these processes and compared their feasibility for nickel and palladium catalysts using DFT calculations. These results are relevant information for the design of nickel-based catalysts for the Heck reac-tion.

Natural cytokinins are a promising group of cytoprotective and anti-tumor agents. In this research, we synthesized a set of novel cytokinin analogs with alkyl substituents at various positions of the aromatic moiety, as well as with oxygen-containing groups, and tested their antiproliferative activity in MDA-MB-231, A-375, and U-87 MG cell lines, and cytoprotective properties in H2O2 and CoCl2 models. Two amino-linked compounds were anti-proliferative with the ability to act synergistically with doxorubicin, and two carbamate-based ones were cytoprotective. According to the molecular docking data, anti-proliferation was based on the A2AR and APRT inhibition and cytoprotection on the CDK2 inhibition. The obtained results are promising for the development of novel anti-cancer therapeutics.

In this study, various diamine monomers were used to synthesize aramid polymer films via a low-temperature solution condensation reaction with diacid chloride. For diamines with relatively high basicity, the reaction system became opaque because amine salt formation inhibited polymer synthesis. Meanwhile, low-basicity diamines with strong electron-withdrawing groups, such as CF3 and sulfone, were smoothly polymerized without amine salt formation to provide highly viscous solutions. The acid byproduct HCl generated during polymerization was removed by adding propylene oxide to the reaction vessel and converting the acid into highly volatile inert substances. The resulting solutions were used as varnishes without any additional purification, and polymer films with an excellent appearance were easily obtained through a conventional casting and convection drying process. The films neither tore nor broke when pulled or bent by hand; furthermore, even when heated up to 400°C, they did not decompose or melt. Moreover, polymers prepared from 2,2-bis (trifluoromethyl) benzidine (TFMB) and bis (4-aminophenyl) sulfone (pAPS) did not exhibit glass transition until decomposition. The prepared polymer films showed a high elastic modulus of more than 4.1 GPa and a high tensile strength of more than 52 MPa. In particular, TFMB-, pAPS-, and 2,2-bis (4-aminophenyl) hexafluoropropane-based polymer films were colorless and transparent, with very high light transmittances of 95%, 96%, and 91%, respectively, at 420 nm and low yellow indexes of 2.4, 1.9, and 4.3, respectively.

As a novel post-harvesting strategy, edible films and coatings for fruits and vegetables offer preservation measures to meet the growing needs of hunger and agricultural management. Albeit edible films and coatings would differ in their processing and physio-mechanical characteristics, but functionality is distinctly the same as they are designed to improve shelf-life, barrier, and nutritional properties of the food. With emerging concerns on sustainability, biomacromolecules have been widely considered for preparing edible films and coatings, which are Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) substances. Biopolymers, including polysaccharides, proteins, and lipids are the main sources of preparing edible films and coatings. These biomacromolecules make stable colloidal dispersions that deliver processing convenience with various formulation, blending, casting, coating, and film-forming methods. However, biopolymers based edible films and coating require improvements for their extended performance due to several structural and barrier limitations. Therefore, preparing blends and composites, incorporating target molecules to introduce different functionalities, and designing complex multilayers are among the many recent research approaches developed to overcome those limitations. Thereby ensuring enhanced food preservation and extended shelf-life, essential requirements of food waste management without or with minimal influence on the texture, flavor, and nutritional value of food and vegetables.

Finishing coatings in the wood-based composites industry not only influence the final appearance of the product but also serve to protect against fungi, and molds, and reduce the release of harmful substances, particularly formaldehyde and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Carbon-rich materials, such as those derived from birch bark extraction, specifically suberin acids, can fulfil this role. Previous research has demonstrated that adding suberin acid residues (SAR) at 20% and 50% by weight significantly enhances the gas barrier properties of surface finishing materials based on poly(lactide) (PLA) and polycaprolactone (PCL), particularly in terms of Total VOC (TVOC) and formaldehyde emissions. This study aims to explore whether these properties can be further improved through the incorporation of nano-zinc oxide (nano-ZnO). Previous research has shown that these nanoparticles possess strong resistance to biological factors and can positively affect the characteristics of nanofilms applied as surface protection. The study employed PLA and PCL finishing layers blended with SAR powder at 10% w/w and included 2% and 4% nano-zinc oxide nanoparticles. The resulting blends were milled to create a powder, which was subsequently pressed into 1 mm thick films. These films were then applied to raw particleboard surfaces. TVOC and formaldehyde emission tests were conducted. Additionally, the fungal resistance of the coated surfaces was assessed. The results showed that PLA/SAR and PCL/SAR composites with the addition of nano-zinc oxide nanoparticles exhibited significantly improved barrier properties, offering a promising avenue for developing biodegradable, formaldehyde-free coatings in the furniture industry with enhanced features. Furthermore, by utilizing SAR as a post-extraction residue, this project aligns perfectly with the concept of upcycling.

In this work, the use of graphite-like carbon nitride (g-C3N4) with improved texture characteristics for the synthesis of supported palladium catalysts of dehydrogenation of nitrogen-containing heterocycles was studied. This process is key to the creation of liquid organic carrier technology (LOHC) using N-heterocycles as reversibly hydrogenated/dehydrogenated substrates. For the preparation of g-C3N4-mca supports with advanced textural characteristics, well-established technology of the melamine cyanurate complex carbonization and standard techniques of adsorption precipitation together with wet impregnation were used for the synthesis of Pd-containing systems. The activity of the synthesized catalysts was studied in decahydroquinoline dehydrogenation. The high weight content of extractable hydrogen (7.2 wt %) and the high extraction rate, respectively, make it possible to consider these substances as the most promising N-heterocyclic compounds for this technology. It was shown that an increase in the specific surface area of g-C3N4 allows for achieving a slightly lower, but comparable fineness of palladium particles for the 1 wt% Pd/MCA-500 sample, compared to the standard 1 wt% Pd/C. In this case, the catalytic activity of 1 wt% Pd/MCA-500 in dehydrogenation of both substrates exceeded the analogous parameter for catalysts supported by nitrogen free supports. This regularity is presumably associated with the electron-donor effect of surface nitrogen, which favorably affects the dehydrogenation rate as well as the stability of catalytic systems.

Diamond-like carbon (DLC) films have a promising tribological application in green precision manufacturing, but their toughness represents a serious issue in the way of their application perspective. The film thickness is on the micrometer scale and makes conventional methods unsuitable for its toughness characterization. The absence of an accepted method for characterizing the DLC toughness has hindered the related research on the development of toughening methods and understanding the mechanism. This work intends to explore a relatively simple and acceptable characterization method to measure the film toughness. Moreover, toughening mechanisms of DLC films are proposed during the characterization to reveal the toughening mechanism. The toughness can be fully characterized through combining impact toughness and scratch toughness. The impact toughness can be obtained by observing the size of the indentation and the crack state around the indentation in the impact experiment. The scratch toughness could be assessed by combining the scratch morphology and Crack Propagation Resistance (CPRS). The improvement of film toughness should be carried out from two aspects: preventing microcrack initiation and suppressing crack propagation. Appropriate doping of non-carbide metal particles can effectively improve the toughness of the film, and there are seven main factors affecting the toughening of the film. Five toughening mechanisms of non-carbide metals from film preparation to test stage are revealed during the investigation of the change patterns.

Highly macroporous thin films of WO₃ were fabricated on transparent conductive substrates by application of a polymeric organic paste loaded with an amine/tungstate complex. After spin-coating and annealing at 550^oC, the resulting yellow films are found to be comprised of channeled array of clustered nanoparticles. These channels are confirmed by scanning electron microscopy to extend through the entire length of the coating. The high porosity of the material enables the insertion of a co-catalyst into the internal structure of the film. These internally functionalized composites demonstrate good photosensitivity and stability in neutral electrolyte.

Synthesis and antitumour activity of a palladium compound, [Bis (quinoline) palladium (II) chloride] (coded as NH1) alone and in combination along with its proposed mechanism of action has been described in the present study. Antitumour activity has been performed in seven different cancer cell lines using colorimetric 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The investigated palladium compound demonstrated superiority over clinical standard cisplatin against drug resistant ovarian cancer cell lines. NH1 also demonstrates 4.4 times greater activity than cisplatin against breast cancer model. Binary sequenced combination study showed that NH1 in combination with curcumin is mostly additive to antagonistic. However, combination of NH1 with 6-shogaol demonstrated synergism depending on dose and sequence. Proteomic study revealed that changes in expression of 14 proteins were significantly associated with anticancer mechanism of NH1. In vivo anticancer activity of NH1 at a dose of 0.75 mg/kg was also evaluated using Erlich Ascites Carcinoma (EAC) cell lines in Swiss-albino mice model. Preliminary toxicity study in Swiss-albino mice proved that NH1 is comparatively less toxic at both of the administered doses, either 2.5 mg/kg or 5 mg/kg. However, cisplatin demonstrated significant toxicity at both of the administered doses. Biochemical investigations also supported that NH1 demonstrated lesser toxicity profile towards liver or kidney compared to clinical standard cisplatin.

Herein, we report a stimuli responsive hydrogel with inhibitory activity against Escherichia coli prepared by chemical crosslinking of carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCs) and hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC). The hydrogels were prepared by esterification of chitosan (Cs) with monochloroacetic acid to produce CMCs which was then chemically crosslinked to HEC using citric acid as the crosslinking agent. To impart a stimuli responsiveness property to the hydrogels, polydiacetylene-zinc oxide (PDA-ZnO) nanosheets were synthesized in-situ during the crosslinking reaction followed by photopolymerization of the resultant composite. To achieve this, ZnO was anchored on carboxylic groups in 10,12-pentacosadiynoic acid (PCDA) layers to restrict movement of alkyl portion of PCDA during crosslinking CMCs and HEC hydrogels. This was followed by irradiating the composite with UV radiation to photopolymerize the PCDA to PDA within the hydrogel matrix so as to impart thermal and pH responsiveness to the hydrogel. From the results obtained, the prepared hydrogel had a pH dependant swelling capacity as it absorbed more water in acidic media as compared to basic media. Incorporation of PDA-ZnO resulted in a thermochromic composite responsive to pH evidenced by a visible colour transition from pale purple to pale pink. Upon swelling, PDA-ZnO-CMCs-HEC hydrogels had inhibitory activity against E. coli attributed to the slow release of the ZnO nanoparticles as compared to CMCs-HEC hydrogels.

Ecological ternary cements (ECP) were perpared with powders of phosphogypsum (PG), fly ash (FA) and portland cement (PC). The evolution mechanism of the hydration product structure was characterized through macro and micro experiments.The thermodynamic characteristics of solid phase, solid solution phase and aqueous solution in process of hydration about phosphogypsum-fly ash-cement ternary cementitious system were studied based on the Gibbs-free-energy C-S-H thermodynamic model and GEM-Selektor software, and compared with experimental results. The results show that in the hydration reaction the thermodynamic interaction between mineral single-phase and hydration products plays an important role in the spatio-temporal distribution of ions in the cementitious system. The values of CaO、SiO2Hand H2Ohyd gradually increased with the increase of Ca/Si ratio, while the values of CaOext and H2OOH showed a positive proportional relationship, and the values of SiO2H and SiO2 showed an inverse proportional relationship. GEM-Selektor is accurate in the simulation calculation of the total amount of AFt and AFm mineral phases which quantitatively analysis the correlation between C-S-H gels formation and C3S with complex decomposition ion groups.

The damage caused by global warming is rapidly increasing, and its adverse effects become more evident with each passing day. Although it is known that the use of alternative binder materials in concrete would decrease this negative effect, reluctance to new composites continues. Waste use plays a vital role in sustainability studies. In this study, pure cement paste was prepared and enriched with carbon fiber. This study investigated the wide range of volume fraction of carbon fiber in cement-based composites. Two different industrial wastes, marble dust, and bottom ash were chosen and mixed with cement and four different (0.3%, 0.75%, 1.5%, and 2.5%) carbon fiber volume fractions. Based on physical, mechanical, and durability tests at 7, 28, and 56-days of curing, the composites were resistant to sulfate and seawater attack. The 0.75% carbon fiber addition seems to be an optimum volume percentage beyond which both physical and mechanical properties were adversely affected. The composites with 0.75% carbon fiber have reached 48.4 MPa and 47.2 MPa at 56-days of curing for marble dust and bottom ash mixture groups, respectively.

In this contribution we present work on rapid thermal annealing of as-electrodeposited thin films of Cu2ZnSnS4. The treatment was carried out in cold wall tubular reactor in dynamic conditions with variations of temperature, speed and time of the specific elements of the process. The effect of annealing was investigated by X-ray diffractometry, Raman scattering and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The phase composition of the films in dependence on conditions of treatment was analysed and have been shown that in slow and prolonged high-temperature process the low temperature binaries react completely and only Kesterite and ZnS is left. In addition, structural investigations by XRD have shown gradual decrease of crystallite sizes when the temperature level and duration of the high-temperature segment increases and respectively increase in the strain, due to formation of the phases in non-equilibrium conditions. In opposite, when the speed of dynamic segments in the process decreases the both crystallite size and strain of the Kesterite decreases non-monotonically. The grain sizes of Kesterite, presented by SEM investigations, have shown increase when the temperature and the duration increase, respectively the speed decreases with exemption at higher temperature near 750 C. The set of experiments gave idea by scrupulous analysis of Raman data to elucidate the track for fine manipulating of the defects in the structure of CZTS thin films having in mind the dependences of the ratios of Q = I287/I303 and Q’= I338/(I366+I374) on the process variables.

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are effective supports for nano metals and together they represent hybrids that combine unique properties of both. A microwave induced reaction was used to deposit nano palladium on carboxylated and octadecylamine functionalized multiwall CNTs, which were used to carry out C-C coupling reactions in DMF and toluene. These hybrids showed excellent catalytic activity with yield as high as 99.8% while its enhancement with respect to commercially available Pd/C catalyst reached as high as 109%, and the reactions times were significantly lower. Polarity of the functionalized form was found to be a significant factor with the polar carboxylated CNT showing better activity in DMF while the relatively nonpolar octadecyl amine was better in toluene. The results suggest the possibility of tailor making functionalized CNT when used as catalyst supports

Renewable nanocellulose materials received increased attention owing to their small dimensions, high specific surface area, high mechanical characteristics, biocompatibility, and compostability. Nanocellulose coatings are among many interesting applications of these materials to functionalize different by composition and structure surfaces, including plastics, polymer coatings, and textiles with broader applications from food packaging to smart textiles. Variations in porosity and thickness of nanocellulose coatings are used to adjust a load of functional molecules and particles into the coatings, their permeability, and filtration properties. Mechanical stability of nanocellulose coatings in a wet and dry state are critical characteristics for many applications. In this work, nanofibrillated and nanocrystalline cellulose coatings deposited on the surface of polymer films and textiles made of cellulose, polyester, and nylon are studied using atomic force microscopy, ellipsometry, and T-peel adhesion tests. Methods to improve coatings adhesion and stability using physical and chemical cross-linking with added polymers and polycarboxylic acids are analyzed in this study. The paper reports on the effect of the substrate structure and ability of nanocellulose particles to intercalate into the substrate on the coating adhesion.

High-density polyethylene (HDPE) waste poses a significant environmental challenge due to its non-biodegradable nature and the vast quantities generated annually. However, conventional recycling methods are energy-intensive and often yield low-quality products. Herein, HDPE waste is upcycled into anti-aging superhydrophobic thin films suitable for outdoor applications. A two-layer spin-casting method combined with heating-induced crosslinking is utilized to produce an exceptionally rough superhydrophobic surface, featuring a root mean square (RMS) roughness of 50 nm, an average crest height of 222 nm, an average trough depth of –264 nm, and a contact angle (CA) of 148°. To assess durability, weathering tests were conducted, revealing the films' susceptibility to degradation under harsh conditions. The films' resistance to environmental factors is improved by incorporating a UV absorber, maintaining their hydrophobic properties and mechanical strength. Our research demonstrates a sustainable method for upcycling waste into high-performance, weather-resistant superhydrophobic films.

Starch is a biopolymer with wide potential for the generation of new biodegradable packages due to its high availability and low price. However, due to its weak functional properties, it is necessary to limit the interaction of some hydroxyl, and to evaluate blends with other polymers to improve their performance. Glycerol plasticized acetylated corn starch films were developed by the casting method, and the impact of incorporating chitosan (TPS:CH) at various proportions (75:25, 50:50, and 25:75 v/v) was studied. The effect of the chitosan ratios on the films' physical, mechanical, water vapor barrier, and thermal properties was evaluated. Chitosan protonated amino groups promote the formation of intermolecular bonds, improving the tensile strength, the thermal stability, the water adsorption capacity, and the gas barrier of starch films. Where the film composed of TPS25-CH75 was the one that presented the best barrier to water vapor. These composite films are a good option for development of biodegradable packaging.

We present organic, diamagnetic materials based on structurally simple (hetero-) tolane derivatives. They form crystalline thin-film aggregates that are suitable for Faraday rotation (FR) spectroscopy. The resulting new materials are characterized appropriately by common spectroscopic (NMR, UV-Vis), microscopy (POM), and XRD techniques. The spectroscopic studies give extremely high FR activities thus makes these materials promising candidates for future practical applications. Other than a proper explanation, we insist in the complexity of designing efficient FR materials starting off from single molecules.

In Nature, it is common for living plants and non-living plant tissues to consist of materials with anisotropic multilayer and non-homogenous structure. The structure of tissues determines their self-shaping and self-folding capabilities in response to a stimulus in order to activate different functionalities. Predetermined movements are realized according to changes in environmental conditions, which trigger the fibrous anisotropic structure of the plants’ material. In this study, we present the fabrication process of low-cost anisotropic multilayer materials that are capable of realizing complex movements caused by small temperature changes (<40 ^oC). The mismatch in the thermo-mechanical properties between three or more anisotropic thin layers creates responsive materials that alter their shape owing to the developed internal stresses. Isotropic layers can perform only bending movements, whereas anisotropic multilayer materials can perform bending, twisting or complex combined modes. The movements of the material can be controlled by forming anisotropic homogenous metallic strips over an anisotropic polymer. As a result, inexpensive responsive materials can be developed to passively react to a very broad range of thermal requirements. We studied the major parameters that affect the sensitivity of the developed materials, as well as their failure modes and crack formation under thermal fatigue conditions.

Due to the linear property around an acetylenic carbon, the introduction of such an atom to a small cycle would result in high ring strain. Currently, the smallest isolated rings are five-membered, including metallacycloalkynes and metallapentalynes. Both types contain at least one unusual small bond angle around the acetylenic carbon, thus exhibiting abnormal reactivities. This feature article gives a comprehensive overview on these two kind complexes. The synthesis and reactivities are extensively described, the source of stability is presented, and the future prospect is discussed. The article aims to provide a better development for the chemical diversity of five-membered metallacycloalkynes and metallapentalynes.

Antimicrobial and anti-viral materials have attracted significant interest in recent years due to increasing occurrences of nosocomial infections and pathogenic microbial contamination. One method to address this is the combination of photoactive compounds that can produce reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radicals to disinfect microbes, with carrier materials that meet the application requirements. Using anthraquinone (AQ) and cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) as the photoactive and carrier components respectively, this work demonstrates the first covalent incorporation of AQ onto CNCs. The morphology and the photoactive properties were investigated, revealing the structural integrity of the CNCs, and high degree of photoactivity of AQ-CNC materials upon UVA exposure. The AQ-CNCs also exhibited an unexpected persistent generation of ROS under darkness, which adds advantages for antimicrobial applications.

Variant H3.3, along with H2A.Z, is notably enriched at promoter regions and is commonly associated with transcriptional activation. However, the specific molecular mechanisms through which H3.3 influences chromatin dynamics at transcription start sites, and its role in gene regulation, remain elusive. Using a combination of biochemistry and cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), we show that the inclusion of H3.3 alone does not induce discernible changes in nucleosome DNA dynamics. Conversely, the presence of both H3.3 and H2A.Z enhances DNA flexibility similarly to H2A.Z alone. Interestingly, our findings suggest that the presence of H3.3 in the H2A.Z nucleosome provides slightly increased protection to DNA near the superhelical location (SHL) -5.5/5.5. These results imply that while H2A.Z at active promoters promotes the formation of more accessible nucleosomes with increased DNA accessibility to facilitate transcription, the simultaneous presence of H3.3 offers an additional mechanism to fine-tune nucleosome accessibility and the chromatin environment.

Summary: PURPOSE. Development of a drainless energy-saving technology for the processing of high-moisture iron-containing sludge from metallurgical production. RESEARCH METHOD. The regularities of the combined process of chemical dehydration of high-moisture iron-containing sludge by powdered waste of lime and dolomite, hardening and agglomeration by pressing in a single technological cycle on the developed experimental plant were studied. In the course of laboratory studies, the temperature of the mass, the rate of dehydration, the chemical composition of the mixtures, the appearance of the resulting briquettes, the weight loss during agglomeration-humidity of the mixtures, and mechanical strength of the briquettes were measured. RESULTS. New patterns have been established that have made it possible to develop a nonfiring method for producing iron-containing materials and self-healing briquettes. The essence of his method, which is one of the main provisions of scientific novel provisions, is to combine dehydration and self-hardening of the mixture with the process of shaping by applying external pressure to the hardening mixture in molds to obtain agglomerated material in the form of briquettes in a single technological cycle. The proposed technology does not require drying or firing, and a set of strength properties occurs as the material is cooled in air during the day. A new energy-efficient and drainless method for the production of iron-containing briquettes has been developed, which combines the processes of chemical dehydration and agglomeration in one technological cycle. CONCLUSION. The proposed project and technology will allow organization of production for the processing of high-moisture iron-containing sludge and the production a complex iron-containing material as a secondary metal-containing raw material for metallurgical plants for the production of steel and rolled metal. and dolomite dust from dry gas cleaning as dehydrating and binding materials, as well as screening of coke and coal as a reducing agents. The proposed technology also solves the problems of environmental pollution and land acquisition for the storage of production waste.

We describe a dataset that contains job description published on a popular online website in the information and technology sector. As the website focus mainly on United Kingdom based jobs, the data have a specific focus on this country. It contains 11.501 job vacancies and 13 related meta data information. The dataset is suitable for HR analysis using machine learning techniques such as natural language processing and neural networks.

In a large variety of organisms, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are primary defences against pathogens. BP100 (KKLFKKILKYL-NH2), a short, synthetic, and cationic AMP, is active against bacteria and displays low toxicity towards eukaryotic cells. BP100 acquires an α-helical conformation upon interaction with membranes and increases membrane permeability. Despite the volume of information available, the mechanism of action of BP100, the selectivity of its biological effects, and its applications are far from consensual. In this work, we synthesized a fluorescent BP100 analog containing naphthalimide linked to its N-terminal end, Napht-BP100 (Napht-AAKKLFKKILKYL-NH2). The fluorescence properties of naphthalimides, especially their spectral sensitivity to microenvironment changes, are well established, and their biological activities against different types of cells are known. A wide variety of techniques were used to demonstrate that a-helical Napht-BP100 was bound and permeabilized POPC and POPG LUV. Napht-BP100, different from that observed for BP100, was bound to, and permeabilized POPC LUV. With zwitterionic (POPC) and negatively charged (POPG) containing LUVs, membrane surface high peptide/lipid ratios triggered complete disruption of the liposomes in a detergent-like manner. This disruption was driven by charge neutralization, lipid aggregation, and membrane destabilization. Napht-BP100 also interacted with double-stranded DNA, indicating that this peptide could also affect other cellular processes in addition to membrane destabilization. Napht-BP100 showed superior antibacterial activity, increased hemolytic activity compared to BP100, and may constitute an efficient antimicrobial agent for dermatological use. By conjugating BP100 and naphthalimide antimicrobial properties, Napht-BP100 was bound more efficiently to the bacterial membrane and could destabilize the membrane and enter the cell by interacting with its cytoplasm- exposed DNA.

In the study of QSAR/QSPR, due to high degree of predictability of pharmaceutical properties, the eccentric-connectivity index has very important place among the other topological descriptors, In this paper, we compute the exact formulas of eccentric-connectivity index and its corresponding polynomial, total eccentric-connectivity index and its corresponding polynomial, first Zagreb eccentricity index, augmented eccentric-connectivity index, modified eccentric-connectivity index and its corresponding polynomial for a class of phosphorus containing dendrimers.

New advances in creating effective and affordable copper-based catalysts for water splitting represent a promising strategy for driving sustainable energy technologies. However, ma- terials containing copper are susceptible to corrosion and agglomeration. In this study, we describe a synthesis route to produce olamine-functionalized CuO nanoparticles using the Hot Injection method. Nanoparticles were obtained and subsequently deposited on FTO substrates, undergoing thermal treatment at 500°C and 600°C in atmospheres containing O2 and N2, aiming to enhance the adhesion of the active material to the substrate and modify its oxidation state. Microstructural properties were analyzed using XRD, SEM, and TEM, while electrochemical properties were studied using CV, LSV, and EIS. Electrodes treated thermally in an N2 atmosphere at 600°C exhibited higher ESCA, indicating a greater area of active sites exposed to surface reactions and, therefore, superior catalytic activity in Hy- drogen Evolution Reaction (HER). These findings show an interesting strategy for avoiding rapid electron-hole recombination and, consequently, CuO corrosion. For Oxygen Evolution Reaction (OER), samples treated thermally in O2 atmosphere at 500°C and 600°C appear to be more effective.

The manuscript presents the optical properties of directly deposited films of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) prepared by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis technology. Four samples were produced, with an AuNPs deposition time of 15 min, 30 min, 1h and 4h on the glass substrate. The morphological characterization of the deposited films showed that the size of the first deposited AuNPs is between 10 and 20 nm, while with a longer duration of the deposition process, larger clusters of AuNPs grow by coalescence and aggregation. The prepared layers were optically characterised with Ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV-vis) and ellipsometry. The ellipsometric measurements showed an increasingly denser and thicker effective thickness of the AuNPs layers. The extinction spectra display a clear local surface plasmonic resonance (LSPR) signature (peak 520-540 nm), indicating the presence of isolated particles in all samples. For all AuNPs layers, the imaginary part of both ε// and ε⏊ is dominated by a central peak around 2.2 eV corresponding to the LSPR of isolated particles and a high-energy shoulder due to Au interband transitions. It is shown that, as the density of particles increases, the extinction cross section grows over the whole spectral range where measurements are taken. Thus response can be explained with an enhanced electromagnetic response among AuNPs, that can be connected to the increase of particle density but also by the formation of clusters and irregular structures.

As a rapidly expanding family of two-dimensional (2D) materials, MXenes have recently gained considerable attention due to their appealing properties. Here, by developing a solution-based coating method that enables transfer-free and layer-by-layer film coating, we investigate the layer-dependent nonlinear optical absorption of Ti₃C₂T_x films ‒ an important member of the MXene family. By using the Z-scan technique, we characterize the nonlinear absorption of the prepared MXene films consisting of different numbers of monolayers. The results show that there is a strong and layer-dependent nonlinear absorption behavior, transitioning from revisable saturable absorption (RSA) to saturable absorption (SA) as the layer number increases from 5 to 30. Notably, the nonlinear absorption coefficient β varies significantly within this range, changing from ~7.13 × 10² cm/GW to ~-2.69 × 10² cm/GW. We also characterize the power-dependent nonlinear absorption of the MXene films at various incident laser intensities, and a decreasing trend in β is observed for increasing laser intensity. These results reveal the intriguing layer-dependent nonlinear optical properties of 2D MXene films, highlighting their versatility and potential for implementing high-performance nonlinear photonic devices.

As one of the representatives of emerging metallic transition metal dichalcogenides, niobium ditelluride (NbTe₂) has attracted intensive interest recently due to its distorted lattice structure and unique physical properties. Here, we report on the ultrafast carrier dynamics in NbTe₂ measured using time-resolved pump-probe transient reflection spectroscopy. A thickness-dependent carrier relaxation time is observed, exhibiting a clear increase in the fast and slow carrier decay rates for thin NbTe₂ flakes. In addition, pump power dependent measurements indicate that the carrier relaxation rates are power-independent, with the peak amplitude of the transient reflectivity increasing linearly with pump power. Isotropic relaxation dynamics in NbTe₂ is also verified by performing polarization-resolved pump-probe measurements. These results provide an insight into the light-matter interactions and charge carrier dynamics in NbTe₂ and will pave the way for its applications to photonic and optoelectronic devices.

Integrated photonic devices operating via optical nonlinearities offer a powerful solution for all-optical information processing, yielding processing speeds that are well beyond that of electronic processing as well as providing the added benefits of compact footprint, high stability, high scalability, and small power consumption. The increasing demand for high-performance nonlinear integrated photonic devices has facilitated the hybrid integration of novel materials to address the limitations of existing integrated photonic platforms, such as strong nonlinear optical absorption or an inadequate optical nonlinearity. Recently, graphene oxide (GO), with its large optical nonlinearity, high flexibility in altering its properties, and facile fabrication processes, has attracted significant attention, enabling many hybrid nonlinear integrated photonic devices with improved performance and novel capabilities. This paper reviews the applications of GO to nonlinear integrated photonics. First, an overview of GO’s optical properties and the fabrication technologies needed for its on-chip integration is provided. Next, the state-of-the-art GO nonlinear integrated photonic devices are reviewed, together with comparisons of the nonlinear optical performance of different integrated platforms incorporating GO. Finally, the challenges and perspectives of this field are discussed.

In this study, a flexible strain sensor is devised using corrugated poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) thin film. In the previous studies, the P3HT-based photoactive thin film was shown to generate direct current (DC) under broadband light, and the generated DC voltage varied with applied tensile strain. Yet, the mechanical resiliency and strain sensing range of the P3HT-based thin film strain sensor were limited due to relatively more brittle thin film constituent—poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-polystyrene(sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) conductive thin film as a bottom electrode. To address this issue, it is aimed to design mechanically resilient strain sensor using corrugated thin film constituents. Buckling is induced to form corrugation in the thin films by applying pre-strain to the substrate, where the thin films are deposited, and releasing the pre-strain afterwards. It is known that corrugated thin film constituents exhibit different optical and electronic properties from non-corrugated ones. Therefore, to optimize design of the flexible strain sensor, it was studied to understand how the applied pre-strain and thickness of the PEDOT:PSS thin film affect the optical and electrical properties. Also, pre-strain effect on light absorptivity of the corrugated P3HT-based thin films was studied. In addition, strain effect was investigated on the optical and electrical properties of the corrugated thin film constituents. Finally, flexible strain sensors are fabricated by following the design guideline, which is suggested from the studies on the corrugated thin film constituents, and DC voltage strain sensing capability was validated. As a result, flexible strain sensor exhibited tensile strain sensing range up to 5% at frequency up to 15 Hz with maximum gage factor ~7.

Conjugated polymers (CPs) offer potentials for sustainable semiconductor devices due to their low cost, and inherent molecular self-assembly. Enhanced crystallinity and molecular orientation in thin films of solution-processable CPs have significantly improved organic electronic device per-formance. In this work, three methods namely spin-coating, dip-coating, and unidirectional float-ing-film transfer method (UFTM) were utilized with their parametric optimization for fabricating RR-P3HT films. These films were then utilized for their characterization via optical and micro-structural analysis to elucidate dominant roles of molecular orientation, and crystallinity in con-trolling charge transport in organic field-effect transistors (OFETs). OFETs fabricated by RR-P3HT thin films using spin-coating and dip-coating displayed field-effect mobility (μ) of 8.0 × 10-4 cm2V-1s-1 and 1.3 × 10-3 cm2V-1s-1, respectively. This two-time enhancement in (µ for dip-coated films was attributed to its enhanced crystallinity. Interestingly, UFTM films based OFETs demon-strated μ of 7.0 × 10-2 cm2V-1s-1, >100 times increment as compared to its spin-coated counterpart This superior device performance is attributed to synergistic influence of higher crystallinity and molecular orientation. Since the crystallinity of dip-coated and UFTM-thin films are similar ~50 times improved µ of UFTM thin films suggest a dominant role of molecular orientation as com-pared to crystallinity in controlling the charge transport.

Polyanilines are a class of conductive polymers that have attracted significant interest in the field of organic electronics due to their unique properties. In this article, the fluorescence spectroscopy and photovoltaic properties of polyaniline-based thin films and copolymers are investigated. The study focuses on understanding the relationship between the composition and structure of polyanilines and their optical and electrical properties. The article discusses the results of experiments on the photoluminescent properties of S1-S9 copolymers in a DMSO solution and of thin-film photoresistors based on polyanilines. The findings reveal that the photovoltaic properties of the thin films depend on the conditions of their fabrication and their surface morphology. The solubility of polyanilines is excellent, making the production of electronic components compatible with modern printing technologies in organic electronics. The work also points out that the photoconductivity of polyanilines can be improved by incorporation of additional molecular groups into the polymer matrix. Overall, this study sheds light on the potential of polyanilines as promising materials for organic electronics and provides insights into how their properties can be optimized for specific applications.

The authors recently proposed a method for on-site dosimetry by a combination of radiochromic film and portable colorimeter. To test and expand the applicability of this method, dosimetric properties of radiochromic reactions were examined for six combinations of two popular Gafchromic films (EBT3 and EBT-XD) and three commercially-available portable colorimeters (nix pro2, nix spectro2 and Spectro1 Pro; abbreviated to “NixP”, “NixS” and “SpoP”, respectively). EBT3 and EBT-XD were irradiated with 160 kV X-rays at 0.3 to 40Gy and 1 to 80 Gy, respectively, and the radiation-induced color levels of RGB and CMMK components were measured with the three colorimeters. Angle dependence was examined by reading at 15° intervals. As results, it was judged that all combinations would work effectively as tools for on-site dosimetry. NixP and NixS showed advantages that they were applicable to a wider dose range for both films, while Spo1 worked better in a lower dose range. On the other hand, Spo1 had an advantageous feature of no angular dependence in reading films, while NixP and NixS showed significant angle-dependent changes. These differences were presumed to attribute to the different geometries of LED light emission; it came from all directions (ring-shape source) in Spo1, 4 directions in NixP, and 8 directions in NixS. These findings would expand the applicability of the proposed on-site dosimetry method to various occasions.

Three-Dimensional mesoporous TiO2 scaffolds of anatase phase possess inherent eximious optical behavior that are beneficial in designing photoelectrodes for solar energy conversion applications. However, substantial efforts have been devoted in maximizing the UV and/or visible light absorption efficiency, and suppressing the annihilation of photogenerated charged species in pristine mesoporous TiO2 structure for improved solar illumination conversion efficiencies. This study provides the fundamental insights into Mxene functionalized mesoporous TiO2 as photoelectrode for the first time. This novel combination of Mxene functionalized TiO2 electrodes with and without TiCl4 treatments have been successfully optimized to intensify the process of photon absorption, charge segregation and photocurrent, resulting in superior photoelectrode performance. The photocurrent measurements of prepared photoelectrodes are significantly enhanced upon increased contents of Mxene due to improved absorption efficiency within the visible region as verified by UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy. Moreover, as evident through structural analysis, the anatase phase of TiO2 is well grown due to increased contents of Mxene and post-deposition heat treatments. Consequently, an appreciable coverage of well-developed grains on FTO surface observed in SEM images. Thereby, the newly fabricated conductive mesoporous TiO2 photoelectrodes are potential candidates for photoinduced energy conversion and storage purposes.

With superior optical properties, high flexibility in engineering its material properties, and strong capability for large-scale on-chip integration, graphene oxide (GO) is an attractive solution for on-chip integration of two-dimensional (2D) materials to implement functional integrated photonic devices capable of new features. Over the past decade, integrated GO photonics, representing an innovative merging of integrated photonic devices and thin GO films, has experienced significant development, leading to a surge in many applications covering almost every field of optical sciences. This paper reviews the recent advances in this emerging field, providing an overview of the optical properties of GO as well as methods for the on-chip integration of GO. The main achievements made in GO hybrid integrated photonic devices for diverse applications are summarized. The open challenges as well as the potential for future improvement are also discussed.

Silica nanoparticles synthesized solely from organosilanes naturally possess a greater number of organic functionalities than silica nanoparticles surface modified with organosilanes. We report the synthesis of organically modified silica (ORMOSIL) nanoparticles with mesoporous and surface rough morphology and with high surface area, made solely from vinyltrimethoxy silane. We chemically modified these vinyl silica nanoparticles using bromination and hydroboration, and demonstrated the high accessibility and reactivity of the vinyl groups with an ~85% conversion of the functional groups for bromination of both particle types, a ~60% conversion of the functional groups for hydroboration of surface rough particles and a 90% conversion of the functional groups for hydroboration of mesoporous particles. We determined that the mesoporous vinyl silica nanopar-ticles, while having a surface area that lies between the non-porous and surface rough vinyl silica nanoparticles, provide the greatest accessibility to the vinyl groups for boronation and allow in-corporating up to 3.1 × 106 B atoms per particle, making the resulting materials attractive for boron neutron capture therapy.

Fosmidomycin (FOS) is a naturally occurring compound active against the enzyme DXR in the MEP pathway, and using it as a template for lead structure design is an effective strategy in developing new active compounds. In this work, by replacing the hydroxamate unit of FOS with pyrazole, isoxazole and the related heterocycles that also have the metal ion binding affinity, while retaining the monophosphonic acid in FOS or replacing it with a bisphosphonic acid group, heterocycle-containing mono- and bisphosphonic acid compounds as FOS analogs were designed. The key steps involved in the facile synthesis of these FOS analogs include the Michael addition of diethyl vinylphosphonate or tetraethyl vinylidenebisphosphonate to β-dicarbonyl compounds and the subsequent cyclic condensation with hydrazine or hydroxylamine. Two additional isoxazolinone-bearing FOS analogs were synthesized by the Michaelis-Becker reaction with diethyl phosphite as a key step. The bioactivity evaluation on model plants demonstrated that several compounds have better herbicidal activities compared to FOS, with the most active compound showing a 3.7-fold inhibitory activity on Arabidopsis thaliana, while on the root and stalk of Brassica napus L. and Echinochloa crus-galli in pre-emergence inhibitory activity test, the activities of this compound were found to be 3.2- and 14.3-, 5.4- and 9.4-fold, respectively, and in post-emergency activity test on Amaranthus retroflexus and Echinochloa crus-galli, 2.2- and 2.0-fold inhibition activities were displayed. Despite the significant herbicidal activity, this compound exhibited a DXR inhibitory activity lower than that of FOS but comparable to that of other non-hydroxamate DXR inhibitors, and the dimethylallyl pyrophosphate rescue assay gave no statistical significance, suggesting a different target might be involved in the inhibiting process. This work demonstrates that using bioisosteric replacement can be considered a valuable strategy for discovering new FOS analogs that may have high herbicidal activity.

Amino acid sequences of native proteins are generally not palindromic. The protein molecule obtained as a result of reading the amino acid sequence backwards, i.e., a retro-protein, having the same amino acid composition and the same hydrophobicity profile as the native sequence may behave as a different molecule. Here we have used R4, a directed evolution product of Scfv-13, a protein that binds β-galactosidase, and report the properties of the retro-R4 (rR4). rR4 remains a binding protein and its new target is Glutamine-fructose-6-phosphate aminotransferase (GLMS), a native E. coli protein. Additionally, a tight junction immunoglobulin domain- containing membrane protein, junctional adhesion molecule A (JAMA) retro-protein retains the ability to drive cell-cell interactions. Thus, protein engineering suggests a new potential application to retro-proteins of the immunoglobulin superfamily.

Microalgae are abundant components of biosphere rich in low molecular weight carbohy-drate-containing natural products (glycoconjugates). Glycoconjugates take a part in processes of photosynthesis, provide producers with important biological properties, influence other organ-isms and known by biological activities. Some of them, for example glycosylated toxins and ar-senicals, are detrimental and can be transferring via food chains into higher organisms including humans. So far, the studies on a series of particular groups of microalgal glycoconjugates were not comprehensively discussed in special reviews. In this review, a special focus was made on the isolation, structure determination, properties and approaches to the search for new bioactive metabolites. Analysis of literature data concerning structures, functions and biological activities of ribosylated arsenicals, galactosylated and sulfoquinovosylated lipids, phosphoglycolipids, gly-coside derivatives of toxins, and other groups of glycoconjugates was carried out and discussed. The discovery of a great variety of new carbohydrate-containing metabolites, important biological roles some of them, participation in regulation of microalgal blooms via viral infections as well as the detection of potent immunomodulatory activity, shown by these type metabolites could be attributed to the most interesting recent achievements. Structures, properties and biological roles of glycoconjugates from microalgae attract a great attention growing year to year.

The use of spirocycles in drug discovery and medicinal chemistry has been booming in the last two decades. This has clearly translated in the landscape of approved drugs. Among two dozen clinically used medicines containing a spirocycle, 50% have been approved in the 21st century. The present review focuses on the notable synthetic routes to such drugs invented in industry and academia and is intended to serve as a useful reference source of synthetic as well as general drug information for researchers engaging in the design of new spirocyclic scaffolds for medicinal use or embarking upon analog syntheses inspired by the existing approved drugs.

Materials based on Mg2+-containing phosphates are gaining great relevance in the field of bone tissue repair via regenerative medicine methods. Magnesium ions, together with condensed phosphate ions, play a significant role in the process of bone remodeling, affecting the early stage of bone regeneration through active participation in the process of osteosynthesis. Here we pro-vide a comprehensive overview of the usage of biomaterials based on magnesium phosphate and magnesium calcium phosphate in bone reconstruction. The role of magnesium ions in angiogene-sis, an important process associated with osteogenesis, is considered. Finally, the biological properties of magnesium phosphates for bone regeneration are summarized. They show promis-ing results in terms of use as bone replacement material.

Bovine whey cheese (WC) is a product from southern European countries that presents some challenges: their elaboration process involves high energy inputs, the yield is low and WC has a short shelf-life. The application of ultrafiltration to bovine whey before its manufacture and the employment of protective cultures can reduce these disadvantages. The aim of this work was to manufacture whey cheeses using ultrafiltrated (UF) concentrated bovine cheese whey with added probiotics or probiotics plus protective cultures. Three types of WC were produced: control, without any addition (C); with the addition of the probiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus (LA5); with the addition of Lactobacillus acidophilus plus a protective culture containing Lactobacillus paracasei and Lactobacillus rhamnosus (LA5FQ4). The WCs were stored under refrigerated conditions for 28 days. The products with added cultures presented a lower pH and a higher titratable acidity when compared to the control. Sample LA5 presented the lowest pH and the highest titratable acidity while LA5FQ4 presented intermediate values. Slight differences were observed between products regarding color parameters, chiefly as a result of storage time. The samples with added cultures were firmer when compared to the control, showing LA5 cheeses the highest values at the end of the storage. Lactobacilli and lactococci counts were of the order of log 8-9 CFU/g for the products with added cultures. Lower levels of yeasts and moulds were detected on the sample with the protective culture (LA5FQ4), that by the end of storage presented counts one log cycle lower than C and LA5. Hence, it is evident the beneficial impact of the protective culture on the shelf life of the product. In what concerns to sensory evaluation, LA5FQ4 cheeses obtained the highest scores regarding all parameters evaluated. It could be concluded that the use of UF associated to the addition of protective cultures can be very useful to reduce the energy consumption of the process, prolong the shelf life of WC, and to improve its sensory properties.

Now day; the interest for the synthesis of heterocyclic compounds containing hydroquinoline fragments has increased tremendously due to their wide variety of pharmaceutical and industrial applications. This work details the synthesis of linear and fused heterocyclic systems containing hydroquinoline fragments and the pharmacological activity spectra of the synthesized compounds was predicted by in silico method using Prediction of Activity Spectra of Substances (PASS) program. 1,2,2,4-tetramethyl-1,2-dihydroquinoline-6-carbaldehyde 5a was reacted for three hours with a system of hydroxylammonium chloride/pyridinium chloride/toluene to produce 1,2,2,4-tetramethyl-1,2-dihydroquinoline-6-nitrile 7. N-benzyl-2,2,4-trimethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline-6-carbaldehyde 6b and iodine reacted at room temperature in aqueous ammonia water, followed by aq. treatment with Na2S2O3 and produced N-benzyl-2,2,4-trimethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline-6-nitrile 8. 30-60% 2-phenyl-1,3-oxazol-5(4H)-ones 9a,b; 10a,b were synthesized via the condensation reaction of N-alkylhydroquinoline-6-carbaldehydes 5a,b; 6a,b with hippuric acid in acetic acid. When activated 7-methylazolopyrimidines 11a,b were reacted with N-alkyl-2,2,4-trimethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline-6-carbaldehydes 6a,b, the reaction produced 60–70% yield of 7-[(E)-2,2,4-trimethylhydroquinolin-6-ylidenemethyl]azolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-6-yl carboxylic acids 12a,b. The condensation reaction of 7-hydroxy-1,2,2,4-tetramethyl-1,2-dihydroquinoline 3h with dimethylacetylenedicarboxylate (DMAD) and ethylacetoacetate afforded methyl (Z)-2-(5,7,7,8-tetramethyl-2-oxo-7,8-dihydrofuro[3,2-g]quinolin-3(2H)-ylidene)acetate 16 and 4,6,8,8,9-pentamethyl-8,9-dihydro-2H-pyrano[3,2-g]quinolin-2-one 17, respectively. The condensation reaction of 6-formyl-7-hydroxy-1,2,2,4-tetramethyl-1,2-dihydroquinoline 5e with methylene active compounds ethylcyanoacetate/dimethyl-3-oxopentanedioate/ ethylacetoacetate/diethylmalonate/Meldrum’s acid afforded 3-substituted dihydroquinoline containg coumarins 19 & 21. A pentacyclic coumarin 22 was obtained via the random condensation reaction of malononitrile with 5e in the presence of catalytic amount of piperidine in ethanol. The potential biological activities of the synthesized compounds were evaluated using PASS computer program. According to the prognosis, (E)-4-(N-alkylhydroquinolin-6-yl)-3-buten-2-ones, 13a, b & 14 showed high probability of being active (Pa) as the Gluconate 2-dehydrogenase inhibitor, Anti-allergic, Anti-asthmatic, and Anti-arthritic with the Pa value of 0.849-0.870. It was also found out that hydroquinolinecarbonitrile compounds 7 & 8 have a propensity to act as a good progesterone antagonists, anti-allergic, anti-asthmatic, and anti-arthritic (Pa = 0.276-0.827). Among the coumarin moieties containing hydroquinolines, compounds 17, 19a, and 19c were predicted to be good progesterone antagonists with the Pa values of 0.710, 0.630 and 0.615; respectively.