Extra Virgin Olive Oil Components and Oxidative Stability from Olives Grown in Tunisia

The effects of the contents of lipids, pigments, α-tocopherol and phenols were studied in relation to the antioxidant capacity of five virgin olive oils obtained from five olive cultivars planted in Tunisia (Arbequina, Koroneiki, Leccino, Oueslati and Chemchali). The antioxidant capacities were evaluated by two different radical scavenging activities: radical scavenging activity by the DPPH assay (RSA-DPPH) and total antioxidant status by the ABTS test (TAA-ABTS). The highest contents of antioxidant compounds (75.96, 10.34, 6.32, 15.39 and 241.52 mg kg⁻¹ for oleic acid, O/L ratio, carotenes, chlorophylls and total phenols, respectively) were found for the Koroneiki cultivar except for α-tocopherol and o-diphenols, which had the highest contents (369 and 160.7 mg kg⁻¹, respectively) in the Leccino and Chemchali cultivars (cvs). Furthermore, the highest antioxidant capacity in virgin olive oil was observed in the Koroneiki cultivar (0.24 mmol TE kg⁻¹) followed by the Chemchali and Leccino cvs (0.22 and 0.13 mmol TE kg⁻¹) for the TAA-ABTS test. However, the RSA-DPPH activity was higher for the Chemchali cultivar (19.9%) than for the Koroneiki and Leccino cvs (18.4 and 13.5%, respectively). Correlation between these capacities and the oil composition revealed that they were mainly influenced by the carotene content, followed by chlorophyll and phenolic contents where the ABTS test was more pronounced. Then, the antioxidant capacity of the virgin olive oils was correlated with polar components and the lipid profile which are important for its shelf life.     

CuII Pyrazolyl-Benzimidazole Dinuclear Complexes with Remarkable Antioxidant Activity

Three dinuclear coordination complexes generated from 1-n-butyl-2-((5-methyl-1H-pyrazole-3-yl)methyl)-1H-benzimidazole ( L ), have been synthesized and characterized spectroscopically and structurally by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Reaction with iron(II) chloride and then copper(II) nitrate led to a co-crystal containing 78 % of [Cu(NO₃)(μ-Cl)( L’ )]₂ ( C₁ ) and 22 % of [Cu(NO₃)(μ-NO₃)( L’ )]₂ ( C₂ ), where L was oxidized to a new ligand L^’ . A mechanism is provided. Reaction with copper chloride led to the dinuclear complex [Cu(Cl)(μ-Cl)( L) ]₂ ( C₃ ). The presence of N−H⋅⋅⋅O and C−H⋅⋅⋅O intermolecular interactions in the crystal structure of C₁ and C₂ , and C−H⋅⋅⋅N and C−H⋅⋅⋅Cl hydrogen bonding in the crystal structure of C₃ led to supramolecular structures that were confirmed by Hirshfeld surface analysis. The ligands and their complexes were tested for free radical scavenging activity and ferric reducing antioxidant power. The complex C₁ / C₂ shows remarkable antioxidant activities as compared to the ligand L and reference compounds.     

Characterization of endotoxic indicative organic matter (2-keto-3deoxyoctulosonic acid) in raw and biologically treated domestic wastewater

The aim of this research is to characterize the organic matter showing endotoxicity in domestic wastewater. It is assumed that endotoxicity is caused by lipo-polysaccharide (LPS), particularly large and hydrophobic molecules. In this study, a batch experiment (decay test for 12 h) was conducted to confirm whether LPS is the cause of endotoxicity or not. 2-keto-3deoxyoctulosonic acid (KDO) was used as an indicator of presence of LPS.A size and structural characterization of several samples from raw and domestic wastewater was also carried out in order know which fractions are causing endotoxicity. Endotoxin and KDO patterns were found to be similar, peaking at the same time. Thus, organic matter showing endotoxicity, such as LPS was released in the decay test. Moreover, the organic matter released from bacteria during decay test was partly biodegradable. Results from size characterization (Molecular Weight Distribution) showed that the majority of endotoxin (up to 82%), in domestic sewage and secondary effluents,is composed of molecules larger than 100 kDa and less than 0.1 μm. Similarly, structural characterization (hydrophobic and hydrophilic) showed that the majority of endotoxin, ranging from 59% to 83% of the total endotoxicity, is hydrophobic fractions. Therefore, removing large and hydrophobic molecules from wastewater can be an effective way to achieve a significant decrease in its endotoxicity.     

Architectural Engineering Curriculum at Illinois Institute of Technology

Illinois Institute of Technology started a bachelor of science degree program in architectural engineering in the fall of 1995. The program's curriculum requires the students to take 136 semester credit hours during a period of eight semesters, with the option for specialization in one of the three main areas of architectural engineering. To share the experience worldwide with schools that intend to offer similar bachelor degrees, this paper presents the architectural engineering curriculum at Illinois Institute of Technology. It discusses the objectives of the curriculum, the constraints upon its structure, as well as the challenges that face the establishment of an architectural engineering program.     

Active Fiber Bragg Grating Hydrogen Sensors for All-Temperature Operation

The use of liquid hydrogen as a fuel requires low-cost multipoint sensing of hydrogen gas for leak detection and location well below the 4% explosion limit of hydrogen. Herein is presented a multipoint in-fiber hydrogen sensor capable of hydrogen detection below 0.5% concentration with a response time of less than 10 s. Our solution entails use of a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) coated with a layer of hydrogen-absorbing palladium which, in turn, induces strain in the FBG in the presence of hydrogen. Infrared power laser light is used to induce heating in the palladium coating which dramatically decreases sensor response time and increases the sensor's sensitivity at low temperatures. This technology promises an inexpensive fiber solution for a multipoint hydrogen detection array with only one fiber feed-through     

Polymerization kinetics of indene, methyl methacrylate and acrylonitrile and characterization of their terpolymer

The free radical terpolymerization of indene (In), methyl methacrylate (MMA) and acrylonitrile (AN) has been investigated. The rate of polymerization of all the binary systems involved has been measured dilatometrically for the homogeneous polymerization. The reactivity ratios of the three binary systems were calculated and were found to be equal to 0.031 and 0.397 for In/AN copolymers and 0.02 and 3.82 for In/MMA copolymers and finally 0.152 and 1.20 for AN/MMA copolymers. The rate of terpolymerization in bulk has been measured as well as the relationship between the monomer mixture composition and the obtained terpolymer in order to construct the compositional triangle. Also the effect of initiator concentration on the rate of terpolymerization was investigated. The activation energy of terpolymerization was determined. The terpolymers were characterized by spectral and thermo-gravimetric analyses. The data indicates that polyindene improves the thermal stability of the prepared terpolymers.     

Multispectral photodetection using low-cost sputtered NiO/Ag/ITO heterostructure: From design concept to elaboration

High-performance multispectral photodetectors (PDs) are highly attractive for the emerging optoelectronic applications. In this work, a new broadband PD based on p-NiO/Ag/n-ITO heterostructure was fabricated by RF magnetron sputtering technique at room temperature. The tri-layered structure offering multispectral detection property was first identified using theoretical calculations based on combined FDTD and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) techniques. The crystal structure of the elaborated sensor was analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) method. The device optical properties were investigated by UV–Vis–NIR spectroscopy. The NiO/Ag/ITO heterostructured PD shows a high average absorbance of 63% over a wide spectrum range of [200 nm–1100nm]. Compared with NiO and ITO thin-films, the performances of the heterostructured device are considerably enhanced. It was found that the prepared PD with NiO/Ag/ITO heterostructure merges the benefits of multispectral photodetection with reduced optical losses and efficient transfer of photo-induced carrier. The device demonstrated a high I_ON/I_OFF ratio of 78 dB and an enhanced responsivity under UV, visible and NIR lights (171 mA/W at 365 nm, 67 mA/W at 550 nm and 93 mA/W at 850 nm). The broadband photodetection property enabled by the optimized NiO/Ag/ITO heterostructure opens a new route for the elaboration of low-cost devices that can offer multiple sensing purposes, which are highly suitable for optoelectronic applications.