Investigation of Methods for Separating Thorium and Rare-Earth Elements in Nitric-Acid Leaching Solutions for Loparite Concentrate

Atomic Energy - The possibility and efficacy of purifying a solution of rare-earth elements after nitric-acid decomposition of loparite concentrate from thorium by means of sorption on VP-1AP...     

Synthesis and Properties of New Cleavable Cationic Surfactants Containing Carbonate Groups

A novel series of cleavable alkyltrimethylammonium surfactants with different hydrocarbon chain lengths (C8–16) were synthesized. A carbonate break site inserted between the polar head and the hydrocarbon chain makes these compounds hydrolyzable. The reagents used are renewable, (bio)degradable, or reusable. The hydrolysis of these cleavable surfactants will lead to the generation of fatty alcohols and choline, which is an essential biological nutrient. The surface activities in aqueous solution of the synthesized carbonates fulfill the requirement of being good surfactants. In addition, the cleavable compounds containing n-decyl and n-dodecyl chains showed similar or higher antimicrobial activities when compared to a non-cleavable analog.     

Adsorption of anionic dye on eco-friendly synthesised reduced graphene oxide anchored with lanthanum aluminate: Isotherms,kinetics and statistical error analysis

In the present study we made an effort to deploy eco-friendly synthesized reduced graphene oxide/Lanthanum Alluminate nanocomposites (RGO-LaAlO₃) and Lanthanum Alluminate (LaAlO₃) as adsorbents to remove dye from the synthetic media. XRD, SEM, BET surface area and EDX have been used to characterize the above-mentioned adsorbents. The impacts of different factors like adsorbent dosage, the concentration of adsorbate and PH on adsorption were studied. The best fit linear and nonlinear equations for the adsorption isotherms and kinetic models had been examined. The sum of the normalized errors and the coefficient of determination were used to determine the best fit model. The experimental data were more aptly fitted for nonlinear forms of isotherms and kinetic equations. Pseudo-second-order and Freundlich isotherm model fits the equilibrium data satisfactorily. Methyl orange (MO) has been used as model dye pollutant and maximum adsorption capacity was found to be 469.7 and 702.2 mg g^?1 for LaAlO₃ and RGO-LaAlO₃, respectively.     

The structure,vacancy characteristics,and magnetic properties of GdMn1-xCrxO3 ceramics

To investigate the evolution of the structural and enhanced magnetic properties of GdMnO₃ systems induced by the substitution of Mn with Cr, polycrystalline GdMn_1-xCr_xO₃ samples were synthesized via solid-state reactions. XRD characterization shows that all GdMn_1-xCr_xO₃ compounds with single-phase structures crystallize well and that Cr³⁺ ions entering the lattice sites of GdMnO₃ induce structural distortion. SEM results indicate that the grain size of the synthesized samples (a few microns) decreases as the Cr substitution concentration increases. Positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy reveals that vacancy-type defects occur in GdMn_1-xCr_xO₃ ceramics and that the vacancy size and concentration clearly change with the Cr content. The temperature and field dependence of the magnetization curves show that Cr substitution significantly influences the magnetic ordering of the gadolinium sublattice, improving the weak ferromagnetic transition temperature and magnetization of GdMn_1-xCr_xO₃. The enhanced magnetization of GdMn_1-xCr_xO₃ is closely related to the vacancy defect concentration.     

Evaluation of Non-Ambiguous Critical Micelle Concentration of Surfactants in Relation to Solution Behaviors of Pure and Mixed Surfactant Systems: A Physicochemical Documentary and Analysis

Critical micelle concentration (CMC) is a fundamental physical parameter of surfactant aggregation in solution. The CMC is determined by different methods, tensiometry, conductometry, microcalorimetry, fluorimetry, and so on. However, it is known that though CMC is reported as a single value, in reality, micelle formation occurs over a narrow range of concentration for different experimental procedures produce different results. We shall discuss about a unique procedure of measuring correct CMC applicable to all potential methods used in practice. This is essential for the evaluation of thermodynamic properties of the micelle forming process in pure and mixed states in terms of solution theories. As we in this short documentary want to deal with various aspects of Milton Rosen's research—wherein we have also worked—a few other facets of surfactant chemistry research, besides the micelle formation, are also briefly discussed. In mixed surfactant systems, synergistic effects in various surfactant properties like detergency, foaming, solubilization, and so on are found whereas in some others non-synergistic effects are observed. Dehydration of micelles with an increase in temperature or by the addition of hydrophilic substances may cause clouding to the system. Soluble amphiphilic systems produce Gibbs monolayer at the air/water interface; insoluble amphiphiles form Langmuir monolayers. A documentary of the above aspects will be herein presented and discussed. We mention that this article is neither an original research article nor a review article. This is a mixture of the two: a documentary of both original research and some review of our works presented in memory of Prof. Milton Rosen.     

Virus-Based Nanoreactors with GALT Activity for Classic Galactosemia Therapy

Enzymatic nanoreactors were obtained by galactose-1-phosphate uridylyl-transferase (GALT) encapsulation into plant virus capsids by a molecular self-assembly strategy. The aim of this work was to produce virus-like nanoparticles containing GALT for an enzyme-replacement therapy for classic galactosemia. The encapsulation efficiency and the catalytic constants of bio-nanoreactors were determined by using different GALT and virus coat protein ratios. The substrate affinity of nanoreactors was slightly lower than that of the free enzyme; the activity rate was 16 % of the GALT free enzyme. The enzymatic nanoreactors without functionalization were internalized into different cell lines including fibroblast and kidney cells, but especially into hepatocytes. The enzymatic nanoreactors are an innovative enzyme preparation with potential use for the treatment of classic galactosemia.     

Influence of the Impaction Angle on the Triboelectric Charging of Aerosol Nanoparticles

A low pressure impactor is used to measure triboelectric charging behavior of metallic nanoparticles. Ag nanoparticles, produced by spark discharge, were impacted onto Pt sputtered targets. The influence of the impaction angle and impaction velocity on the triboelectric charging was investigated. While for perpendicular impaction the charge transfer behavior of previous work was confirmed, the oblique impaction revealed new phenomena. Additional charge transfer was observable, which increases with obliqueness. The possibility of mass transfer between particle and target due to the high-energy collisions was also investigated. SEM characterization and Auger spectroscopy indicate mass transfer from the particle to the target surface.     

κ-Opioid Signaling in the Lateral Hypothalamic Area Modulates Nicotine-Induced Negative Energy Balance

Several studies have reported that nicotine, the main bioactive component of tobacco, exerts a marked negative energy balance. Apart from its anorectic action, nicotine also modulates energy expenditure, by regulating brown adipose tissue (BAT) thermogenesis and white adipose tissue (WAT) browning. These effects are mainly controlled at the central level by modulation of hypothalamic neuropeptide systems and energy sensors, such as AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). In this study, we aimed to investigate the kappa opioid receptor (κOR)/dynorphin signaling in the modulation of nicotine’s effects on energy balance. We found that body weight loss after nicotine treatment is associated with a down-regulation of the κOR endogenous ligand dynorphin precursor and with a marked reduction in κOR signaling and the p70 S6 kinase/ribosomal protein S6 (S6K/rpS6) pathway in the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA). The inhibition of these pathways by nicotine was completely blunted in κOR deficient mice, after central pharmacological blockade of κOR, and in rodents where κOR was genetically knocked down specifically in the LHA. Moreover, κOR-mediated nicotine effects on body weight do not depend on orexin. These data unravel a new central regulatory pathway modulating nicotine’s effects on energy balance.     

Metallocene QACs: The Incorporation of Ferrocene Moieties into monoQAC and bisQAC Structures

Inspired by the incorporation of metallocene functionalities into a variety of bioactive structures, particularly antimicrobial peptides, we endeavored to broaden the structural variety of quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) by the incorporation of the ferrocene moiety. Accordingly, 23 ferrocene-containing mono- and bisQACs were prepared in high yields and tested for activity against a variety of bacteria, including Gram-negative strains and a panel of clinically isolated MRSA strains. Ferrocene QACs were shown to be effective antiseptics with some displaying single-digit micromolar activity against all bacteria tested, demonstrating yet another step in the expansion of structural variety of antiseptic QACs.