Development and Characterization of Novel Films Based on Sulfonamide-Chitosan Derivatives for Potential Wound Dressing

The objective of this study was to develop new films based on chitosan functionalized with sulfonamide drugs (sulfametoxydiazine, sulfadiazine, sulfadimetho-xine, sulfamethoxazol, sulfamerazine, sulfizoxazol) in order to enhance the biological effects of chitosan. The morphology and physical properties of functionalized chitosan films as well the antioxidant effects of sulfonamide-chitosan derivatives were investigated. The chitosan-derivative films showed a rough surface and hydrophilic properties, which are very important features for their use as a wound dressing. The film based on chitosan-sulfisoxazol (CS-S6) showed the highest swelling ratio (197%) and the highest biodegradation rate (63.04%) in comparison to chitosan film for which the swelling ratio was 190% and biodegradation rate was only 10%. Referring to the antioxidant effects the most active was chitosan-sulfamerazine (CS-S5) which was 8.3 times more active than chitosan related to DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging ability. This compound showed also a good ferric reducing power and improved total antioxidant capacity.     

Nonlinear four-way kinetic-excitation-emission fluorescence data processed by a variant of parallel factor analysis and by a neural network model achieving the second-order advantage: malonaldehyde determination in olive oil samples

Four-way data were obtained by recording the kinetic evolution of excitation-emission fluorescence matrices for the product of the Hantzsch reaction between the analyte malonaldehyde and methylamine. The reaction product, 1,4-disubstituted-1,4-dihydropyridine-3,5-dicarbaldehyde, is a highly fluorescent compound. The nonlinear nature of the kinetic fluorescence data has been demonstrated, and therefore the four-way data were processed with parallel factor analysis combined with a nonlinear pseudounivariate regression, based on a quadratic polynomial fit, and also with a recently introduced neural network methodology, based on the combination of unfolded principal component analysis, residual trilinearization, and radial basis functions. The applied chemometric strategies are not only able to adequately model the nonlinear data but also to successfully determine malonaldehyde in olive oil samples. This is possible since the experimentally recorded four-way data, modeled with the above-mentioned advanced chemometric approaches, permit the achievement of the second-order advantage. This allows us to predict the analyte concentration in a complex background, in spite of the nonlinear behavior and in the presence of uncalibrated interferences. The present work is a new example of the use of higher-order data for the resolution of a complex nonlinear system, successfully employed in the context of food chemical analysis.     

Influence of composition and particle size on spin dynamics and thermodynamic properties of magnetoresistive perovskites

The thermodynamic behavior and spin dynamics of the colossal magnetoresistive (CMR) perovskites of general formula La(1-x)(A)xMn(1-y)(B)yO3 (where A is an alkaline earth, and B = Al, In) have been studied in order to evidence the effect of composition and the influence of nanocrystallinity on the thermodynamic and magnetic characteristics. By using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, the behavior of the exchange coupling integral (J) between Mn spins and the polaron activation energy (Ea) have been investigated. The thermodynamic properties represented by the relative partial molar free energies, enthalpies and entropies of oxygen dissolution in the perovskite phase, as well as the equilibrium partial pressures of oxygen have been obtained by using solid electrolyte electrochemical cells method. The influence of the oxygen stoichiometry change on the thermodynamic properties was examined using the data obtained by a coulometric titration technique coupled with measurements of the electromotive force (EMF). The results were correlated with the average Mn valence values as determined by redox titration. The properties of the rare-earth manganites are strongly affected by the A- and B-site substitution and by the oxygen nonstoichiometry. New features related to the modifications in properties connected with the nanocrystalline state were evidenced. The correlation existing between the magnetic and thermodynamic characteristics were discussed in relation to significant changes in the overall concentration of defects.     

Integration of thin-film-fracture-based nanowires into microchip fabrication

One-step device fabrication through the integration of nanowires (NWs) into silicon microchips is still under intensive scientific study as it has proved difficult to obtain a reliable and controllable fabrication technique. So far, the techniques are either costly or suffer from small throughput. Recently, a cost-effective method based on thin-film fracture that can be used as a template for NW fabrication was suggested. Here, a way to integrate NWs between microcontacts is demonstrated. Different geometries of microstructured photoresist formed by using standard photolithography are analyzed. Surprisingly, a very simple "stripe" geometry is found to yield highly reproducible fracture patterns, which are convenient templates for fault-tolerant NW fabrication. Microchips containing integrated Au, Pd, Ni, and Ti NWs and their suitability for studies of conductivity and oxidation behavior are reported, and their suitability as a hydrogen sensor is investigated. Details of the fabrication process are also discussed.     

Unsupervised word sense disambiguation with N-gram features

The present paper concentrates on the issue of feature selection for unsupervised word sense disambiguation (WSD) performed with an underlying Naïve Bayes model. It introduces web N-gram features which, to our knowledge, are used for the first time in unsupervised WSD. While creating features from unlabeled data, we are “helping” a simple, basic knowledge-lean disambiguation algorithm to significantly increase its accuracy as a result of receiving easily obtainable knowledge. The performance of this method is compared to that of others that rely on completely different feature sets. Test results concerning nouns, adjectives and verbs show that web N-gram feature selection is a reliable alternative to previously existing approaches, provided that a “quality list” of features, adapted to the part of speech, is used.     

Cathodic Deposition of Components in BiSbTe Ternary Compounds as Thermoelectric Films Using Choline-Chloride-Based Ionic Liquids

This paper reports electrodeposition of BiTe, SbTe, and BiSbTe films using ionic liquids based on choline chloride (ChCl) and malonic acid mixtures (1:1 moles) at 80°C to 85°C. The electrolyte contained bismuth and/or antinomy species and tellurium species with 1.5 mM to 50 mM concentrations; Pt sheet, Pt mesh, and Pt wire were used for working, auxiliary, and quasireference electrodes, respectively. Cyclic voltammograms revealed the beginning and cathodic peak of pure Te deposition; at more negative potentials simultaneous codeposition of binary or ternary compounds as limiting currents or a series of peaks were observed. Correspondingly, two or three dissolution (stripping) anodic peaks were observed. Nyquist and Bode impedance spectra show differences in Pt behavior due to its polarization at various cathodic potentials. Equivalent-circuit components providing the best fit to the data were calculated. Deposition of BiSbTe films on copper plates was also performed by electrolysis at controlled potentials or current pulses. Some measurements of Seebeck coefficients of the obtained films were carried out.     

Determination of danofloxacin in milk combining second-order calibration and standard addition method using excitation–emission fluorescence data

For this paper we propound a new procedure for fast detection and determination of danofloxacin (DANO) in commercial bovine milks. For this aim, a spectrofluorimetric method coupled with chemometric (PARAFAC) tools has been optimized. This method provides valuable information about the total amount of DANO in the selected sample in a short analysis time. After a cleanup step, consisting in protein precipitation in acidic medium, excitation–emission fluorimetric scans (EMMs) were recorded and a standard addition calibration method, using second order multivariate procedures, was applied. The analytical method has been validated according to the European Community directive related to the decision limit (CCα) and detection capability (CCβ). The obtained values, 7.3 and 12 ng mL⁻¹, respectively calculated are well below the MRL for DANO in milk (30 ng mL⁻¹). This procedure has been applied to different commercial milks in order to accomplish the strength of this methodology by PARAFAC standard addition. Recoveries around 100% were observed for all the samples. The high sensitivity of the fluorimetric technique and the fast cleanup step make this method an easy and fast way for quality and antibiotic residues surveys in commercial milks.     

Institutions and indicators – The discourse about indicators in the context of sustainability

In order to implement policies towardssustainable development indicators are widelydiscussed to promote action in this direction.In addition, in many strategic documents onsustainable development (e.g., EU documents) theimportance of the development and use ofindicators is pointed out. In this contextindicators are meant to be used to supportpolitical decision making as well as toevaluate measurements towards sustainabledevelopment. In this article the developmentand use of indicators is questioned consideringtheir contextualisation and, hence, theirrelationship to existing institutions.Incorporating some of the main results from ananalysis of a regeneration programme in theLondon Borough of Southwark and from theanalysis of the Climate Protection Programme inthe city of Vienna, which are two of the casestudies examined during an EU funded projectcalled PASTILLE (Promoting Action forSustainability through Indicators at the LocalLevel in Europe), indicators are seen asdynamic sites of conflict and co-operationbetween policy actors. Different groups ofactors have diverse expectations or objectionsto this instrument. Indicators are, forexample, tools to augment transparency.Concerning certain institutional traditionsthis characteristic could explain opposition tothem.Indicators are meant to be another opportunityfor shaping the network of relationships,forging new relationships or reinforcing oldones. They are perceived as a means by whichactors seek to exercise power, retain statusand strive towards policy goals. The stabilityand fluidity of existing structures ofgovernance will, therefore, be central factorsin determining the history and future ofindicators promoting actions towardssustainable development. To put it differently,the central question of our paper is how thenature of institutions of governance is shapingthe use and development of indicators.     

Heterogeneous Catalytic Transformation of Citronellal to Menthol in a Single Step on Ir-Beta Zeolite Catalysts

The synthesis of menthol from citronellal was studied on bifunctional Ir/Beta zeolite catalysts, prepared via impregnation of Beta zeolite with different concentrations of Ir. The results show that Beta zeolites, impregnated with Ir, catalyze the one-pot full conversion of citronellal to menthol by consecutive acid-catalyzed cyclization and Ir-catalyzed hydrogenation. The best results (95% selectivity for the menthol isomers, of which 75% is the desired (±)-menthol) were recorded on 3% Ir/Beta zeolite catalyst. In contrast with earlier studies, 0.05 g Ir/Beta catalyst per mL of substrate leads to complete and selective substrate transformation. The textural properties, acidity and hydrogenation function were studied by liquid N₂ adsorption–desorption, FT-IR, XPS and hydrogen chemisorption techniques. To clarify the mechanism of the cyclization of citronellal, tests were also performed using zeolites with different acidity and loaded with other metals (Pt, Pd, Rh, Ru).