Electrospun protective self‐healing coatings for light alloys: A better understanding of the intrinsic potential of the technology

Polymeric coating systems exhibit high potentiality to provide an effective barrier against corrosion of metallic surfaces. However, these coatings can lose their protective characteristics because of their high susceptibility to damage. Thus, the addition of corrosion inhibitors is desirable and considered as an alternative route for active corrosion protection. In the present work, eco‐friendly electrospun coatings of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) loaded with cerium salts have been deposited onto aluminium 6082 alloy. Two different precursors of cerium (III) (i.e., cerium nitrate and cerium acetylacetonate) were added to the electrospinning solutions and the effectiveness of the resulting nanofibrous coatings was evaluated for the healing of generated defects. The microstructural features of the electrospun coatings have been investigated by scanning electron microscopy, infraredspectroscopy, and thermal analysis. Tensile tests were performed to assess the mechanical properties of the different fibrous coatings. The electrochemical behavior of both intact and damaged coatings was evaluated in 3 wt % NaCl solution by means of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. All the deposited PVA coatings loaded with cerium(III) salts showed remarkable corrosion resistance. In the case of artificially damaged coatings, a self‐healing effect, which stops the development of the corrosion process and provides a significant recovery of the corrosion resistance, has been observed only for coatings loaded with cerium III acetylacetonate. The release of cerium from damaged PVA fibers has been demonstrated by means of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The observed self‐healing effect has been ascribed to the formation of cerium hydroxide on the defective zone, which hindered the corrosion process. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42728.     

Cross-Comparison of Climate Change Adaptation Strategies Across Large River Basins in Europe, Africa and Asia

A cross-comparison of climate change adaptation strategies across regions was performed, considering six large river basins as case study areas. Three of the basins, namely the Elbe, Guadiana, and Rhine, are located in Europe, the Nile Equatorial Lakes region and the Orange basin are in Africa, and the Amudarya basin is in Central Asia. The evaluation was based mainly on the opinions of policy makers and water management experts in the river basins. The adaptation strategies were evaluated considering the following issues: expected climate change, expected climate change impacts, drivers for development of adaptation strategy, barriers for adaptation, state of the implementation of a range of water management measures, and status of adaptation strategy implementation. The analysis of responses and cross-comparison were performed with rating the responses where possible. According to the expert opinions, there is an understanding in all six regions that climate change is happening. Different climate change impacts are expected in the basins, whereas decreasing annual water availability, and increasing frequency and intensity of droughts (and to a lesser extent floods) are expected in all of them. According to the responses, the two most important drivers for development of adaptation strategy are: climate-related disasters, and national and international policies. The following most important barriers for adaptation to climate change were identified by responders: spatial and temporal uncertainties in climate projections, lack of adequate financial resources, and lack of horizontal cooperation. The evaluated water resources management measures are on a relatively high level in the Elbe and Rhine basins, followed by the Orange and Guadiana. It is lower in the Amudarya basin, and the lowest in the NEL region, where many measures are only at the planning stage. Regarding the level of adaptation strategy implementation, it can be concluded that the adaptation to climate change has started in all basins, but progresses rather slowly.     

Weather measurements traceability: An example at INRiM

A weather measurements station is installed at the Italian Institute of Metrology (INRiM) and used to measure and save temperature, pressure and air humidity values. The aim of the Institute is to provide weather measurements that are traceable to the national standards. A dedicated software for interfacing the station, for acquiring the measurements and collecting them into a data base was realized at the INRiM. Moreover, the sensors of the station were calibrated within a climatic chamber by comparison with the INRiM standard instruments. For the first time in Italy, a project for ensuring traceability to weather measurements is being conducted. The aim is also to promote the evaluation of the associated uncertainties, which are not provided by any Italian Meteorological Service, at present. Further developments of the activity will consist in making available through the Internet the instant measured values of the weather parameters, as well as a complete data base of the recordings, stored in daily, monthly and annually collected data archives.     

New electrochemical oscillator based on the cation-catalyzed reduction of nitroaromatic radical anions

Nitroaromatic compound bifenox (methyl 5-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)-2-nitrobenzoate) is used as a model system for a new NDR oscillator in the aprotic solvent acetonitrile. The reduction of bifenox yields the anion radical, which is further reduced by an overall addition of three electrons and four protons to the corresponding phenylhydroxylamine. The second reduction step is strongly influenced by the nature and concentration of the tetraalkylammonium salts used as the supporting electrolytes. At the low concentration of tetrahexylammonium hexafluorophosphate the anion radical reduction occurs at extremely negative potentials due to the double-layer effect on the negatively charged reactant. An addition of small amounts of the alkali metal cations (Li⁺, Na⁺ and K⁺) to such a system has a remarkable acceleration effect on the electron transfer rate since these ions undergo pairing with in situ generated anion radicals and the double-layer effect on the resulting particles of a diminished charge is much weaker. At potentials where alkali metal cations are reduced to the corresponding amalgams the acceleration ceases. As a result the current-potential curves show a negative slope. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy sensitively indicates the presence of the negative differential charge transfer resistance (NDR). The addition of a high external resistor in series with the electrochemical cell leads to the current oscillations at the stationary mercury electrode and to the current instabilities on the dropping mercury electrode. Described system is a new example of the NDR oscillator, in which the double-layer effect in connection with cationic catalysis rather than anionic catalysis plays a crucial role in the observation of NDR.     

Oxidation of aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons by OH radicals photochemically generated from H2O2 in ice

Oxidation of aromatic and saturated aliphatic hydrocarbons (c = 10(-3)-10(-5) mol L(-1)) by the hydroxyl radicals, photochemically produced from hydrogen peroxide (c = 10(-1)-10(-5) mol L(-1)), in frozen aqueous solutions was investigated in the temperature range of -20 to -196 degrees C. While aromatic molecules (benzene, phenol, naphthalene, naphthalen-2-ol, or anthracene) underwent primarily addition-elimination reactions to form the corresponding hydroxy compounds, saturated hydrocarbons (cyclohexane, butane, methane) were oxidized to alcohols or carbonyl compounds via hydrogen abstraction and termination reactions. The results suggest that these photoreactions, taking place in a highly concentrated liquid or solidified layers covering the ice crystals, are qualitatively similar to those known to occur in liquid aqueous solutions; however, that probability of any bimolecular reaction in the environment ultimately depends on organic contaminant concentrations and oxidants availability at specific locations of the ice matrix, temperature, wavelength, and photon flux. They, moreover, support hypotheses that oxidation of organic impurities in the snowpack can produce volatile hydroxy and carbonyl compounds, which may consequently be released to the atmosphere.     

The Role of B Cells in PE Pathophysiology: A Potential Target for Perinatal Cell-Based Therapy?

The pathophysiology of preeclampsia (PE) is poorly understood; however, there is a large body of evidence that suggests a role of immune cells in the development of PE. Amongst these, B cells are a dominant element in the pathogenesis of PE, and they have been shown to play an important role in various immune-mediated diseases, both as pro-inflammatory and regulatory cells. Perinatal cells are defined as cells from birth-associated tissues isolated from term placentas and fetal annexes and more specifically from the amniotic membrane, chorionic membrane, chorionic villi, umbilical cord (including Wharton’s jelly), the basal plate, and the amniotic fluid. They have drawn particular attention in recent years due to their ability to modulate several aspects of immunity, making them promising candidates for the prevention and treatment of various immune-mediated diseases. In this review we describe main findings regarding the multifaceted in vitro and in vivo immunomodulatory properties of perinatal cells, with a focus on B lymphocytes. Indeed, we discuss evidence on the ability of perinatal cells to inhibit B cell proliferation, impair B cell differentiation, and promote regulatory B cell formation. Therefore, the findings discussed herein unveil the possibility to modulate B cell activation and function by exploiting perinatal immunomodulatory properties, thus possibly representing a novel therapeutic strategy in PE.     

Cannabinoid-Induced Conditioned Place Preference,Intravenous Self-Administration,and Behavioral Stimulation Influenced by Ghrelin Receptor Antagonism in Rats

Cannabis/cannabinoids are widely used for recreational and therapy purposes, but their risks are largely disregarded. However, cannabinoid-associated use disorders and dependence are alarmingly increasing and an effective treatment is lacking. Recently, the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR1A) antagonism was proposed as a promising mechanism for drug addiction therapy. However, the role of GHS-R1A and its endogenous ligand ghrelin in cannabinoid abuse remains unclear. Therefore, the aim of our study was to investigate whether the GHS-R1A antagonist JMV2959 could reduce the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) and behavioral stimulation, the WIN55,212-2 intravenous self-administration (IVSA), and the tendency to relapse. Following an ongoing WIN55,212-2 self-administration, JMV2959 3 mg/kg was administered intraperitoneally 20 min before three consequent daily 120-min IVSA sessions under a fixed ratio FR1, which significantly reduced the number of the active lever-pressing, the number of infusions, and the cannabinoid intake. Pretreatment with JMV2959 suggested reduction of the WIN55,212-2-seeking/relapse-like behavior tested in rats on the twelfth day of the forced abstinence period. On the contrary, pretreatment with ghrelin significantly increased the cannabinoid IVSA as well as enhanced the relapse-like behavior. Co-administration of ghrelin with JMV2959 abolished/reduced the significant efficacy of the GHS-R1A antagonist in the cannabinoid IVSA. Pretreatment with JMV2959 significantly and dose-dependently reduced the manifestation of THC-induced CPP. The THC-CPP development was reduced after the simultaneous administration of JMV2959 with THC during conditioning. JMV2959 also significantly reduced the THC-induced behavioral stimulation in the LABORAS cage. Our findings suggest that GHS-R1A importantly participates in the rewarding/reinforcing effects of cannabinoids.     

Induced Pluripotency: A Powerful Tool for In Vitro Modeling

One of the greatest breakthroughs of regenerative medicine in this century was the discovery of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology in 2006 by Shinya Yamanaka. iPSCs originate from terminally differentiated somatic cells that have newly acquired the developmental capacity of self-renewal and differentiation into any cells of three germ layers. Before iPSCs can be used routinely in clinical practice, their efficacy and safety need to be rigorously tested; however, iPSCs have already become effective and fully-fledged tools for application under in vitro conditions. They are currently routinely used for disease modeling, preparation of difficult-to-access cell lines, monitoring of cellular mechanisms in micro- or macroscopic scales, drug testing and screening, genetic engineering, and many other applications. This review is a brief summary of the reprogramming process and subsequent differentiation and culture of reprogrammed cells into neural precursor cells (NPCs) in two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) conditions. NPCs can be used as biomedical models for neurodegenerative diseases (NDs), which are currently considered to be one of the major health problems in the human population.