Numerical solution of transport equations for plasmas with transport barriers

An approach to solve numerically transport equations for plasmas with spontaneously arising and arbitrarily located transport barriers, regions with a strongly reduced transfer of energy, is proposed. The transport equations are written in a form conserving heat flux and solved numerically by using piecewisely exact analytical solutions of linear differential equations. Compared to standard methods, this approach allows to reduce significantly the number of operations required to obtain a converged solution with a heat conductivity changing abruptly at a critical temperature gradient and to use large time steps in modeling the formation and dynamics of transport barriers. Computations for the tokamak JET are done.     

Drug self-assembly: A phenomenon at the nanometer scale with major impact in the structure–biological properties relationship and the treatment of disease

Under water-rich conditions, small amphiphilic and hydrophobic drug molecules self-assemble into supramolecular nanostructures. Thus, substantial modifications in their interaction with cellular structures and the ability to reach intracellular targets could happen. Additionally, drug aggregates could be more toxic than the non-aggregated counterparts, or vice versa. Moreover, since self-aggregation reduces the number of effective “monomeric” molecules that interact with the target, the drug potency could be underestimated. In other cases, the activity could be ascribed to the non-aggregated molecule while it stems from its aggregates. Thus, drug self-assembly could mislead from drug throughput screening assays to advanced preclinical and clinical trials. Finally, aggregates could serve as crystallization nuclei. The impact that this phenomenon has on the biological performance of active compounds, the inconsistent and often controversial nature of the published data and the need for recommendations/guidelines as preamble of more harmonized research protocols to characterize drug self-aggregation were main motivations for this review. First, the key molecular and environmental parameters governing drug self-aggregation, the main drug families for which this phenomenon and the methods used for its characterization are described. Then, promising nanotechnology platforms investigated to prevent/control it towards a more efficient drug development process are briefly discussed.     

Effect of different carbon dioxide concentrations and exposure times in stunning of slaughter pigs: Impact on animal welfare and meat quality

The objective of this study was to determine the impact of different slaughter procedures on animal welfare and meat quality. Before slaughter in a dip-lift, one-gondola system, 460 pigs were exposed to an atmosphere containing either 80% or 90% CO(2) for 70 or 100s, and at the longer exposure time with stun-to-stick intervals of either 25-35 or 40-50s. Clinical parameters (reflexes, catecholamines and lactate) showed deficiencies in animal welfare after stunning with 80% CO(2) for 70 and 100s, with an interval of 40-50s, and with 90% CO(2) for 70s. Stunning with 80% CO(2) for 70 or 100s always induced stress, as indicated by higher lactate levels, and reduced meat quality as indicated by low pH(24) values (5.4 in Musculus longissimus and 5.5 in Musculus semimembranosus) and low impedance (Py(24)) values, especially in combination with the longer stun-to-stick interval (40-50s). Stunning with 80% or 90% CO(2) in a dip-lift system was found to be acceptable for animal welfare (percentage of clinical reflexes) only in combination with the longer exposure time of 100s and the shorter stun-to-stick times of 25-35s. When 90% CO(2) was used, the longer stun-to-stick interval of 40-50s also gave results acceptable with regard to animal welfare. Generally, in comparison to 80% CO(2) stunning meat quality was superior (higher pH(24) and Py(24) values) after stunning with 90% CO(2).     

Electrochemically reduced titanocene dichloride as a catalyst of reductive dehalogenation of organic halides

We have studied a reaction between the reduced form of titanocene dichloride (Cp₂TiCl₂) and a group of organic halides: benzyl derivatives (4-XC₆H₄CH₂Cl, X = H, NO₂, CH₃; 4-XC₆H₄CH₂Br, X = H, NO₂, PhC(O); 4-XC₆H₄CH₂SCN, X = H, NO₂) as well as three aryl halides (4-NO₂C₆H₄Hal, Hal = Cl, Br; 4-CH₃O-C₆H₄Cl). It has been shown that the electrochemical reduction of Cp₂TiCl₂ in the presence of these benzyl halides leads to a catalytic cycle resulting in the reductive dehalogenation of these organic substrates to yield mostly corresponding toluene derivatives as the main product. No dehalogenation has been observed for aryl derivatives. Based on electrochemical data and digital simulation, possible schemes of the catalytic process have been outlined. For non-substituted benzyl halides halogen atom abstraction is a key step. For the reaction of nitrobenzyl halides the complexation of Ti(III) species with the nitro group takes place, with the electron transfer from Ti(III) to this group (owing to its highest coefficient in LUMO of the nitro benzyl halide) followed by an intramolecular dissociative electron redistribution in the course of the heterolytic CHal bond cleavage.The results for reduced titanocene dichloride centers immobilized inside a polymer film showed that the catalytic reductive dehalogenation of the p-nitrobenzyl chloride does occur but with a low efficiency because of the partial deactivation of the film due to the blocking of the electron charge transport between the electrode and catalytic centers.     

Application of electrophoretic deposition for inner surface coating of porous ceramic tubes

The direct coating of a nano-porous alumina layer on the inner surface of micro-porous alumina tubes was performed by electrophoretic deposition (EPD). A thin layer of polypyrrole (Ppy) was synthesized on the inside wall of the porous tubes by the chemical polymerization of pyrrole (Py) to give the wall electric conduction for the EPD electrode. The bimodal suspension of alumina powders with 0.6 μm and 30 nm average particle sizes was selected to control the nano-porous structure. The thickness of the coating layer was controlled by altering the applied voltage and deposition time. The interfacial connection of the coated layer and the substrate was observed by SEM before and after sintering. The pore size of the coated layer was characterized by its pore size distribution.     

Ionic liquids as electrolytes

Salts having a low melting point are liquid at room temperature, or even below, and form a new class of liquids usually called room temperature ionic liquids (RTIL). Information about RTILs can be found in the literature with such key words as: room temperature molten salt, low-temperature molten salt, ambient-temperature molten salt, liquid organic salt or simply ionic liquid. Their physicochemical properties are the same as high temperature ionic liquids, but the practical aspects of their maintenance or handling are different enough to merit a distinction. The class of ionic liquids, based on tetraalkylammonium cation and chloroaluminate anion, has been extensively studied since late 1970s of the XX century, following the works of Osteryoung. Systematic research on the application of chloroaluminate ionic liquids as solvents was performed in 1980s. However, ionic liquids based on aluminium halides are moisture sensitive. During the last decade an increasing number of new ionic liquids have been prepared and used as solvents. The general aim of this paper was to review the physical and chemical properties of RTILs from the point of view of their possible application as electrolytes in electrochemical processes and devices. The following points are discussed: melting and freezing, conductivity, viscosity, temperature dependence of conductivity, transport and transference numbers, electrochemical stability, possible application in aluminium electroplating, lithium batteries and in electrochemical capacitors.     

Chemical modification of jute fibers for the production of green-composites

Natural fiber reinforced composites is an emerging area in polymer science. Fibers derived from annual plants are considered a potential substitute for non-renewable synthetic fibers like glass and carbon fibers. The hydrophilic nature of natural fibers affects negatively its adhesion to hydrophobic polymeric matrices. To improve the compatibility between both components a surface modification has been proposed. The aim of the study is the chemical modification of jute fibers using a fatty acid derivate (oleoyl chloride) to confer hydrophobicity and resistance to biofibers. This reaction was applied in swelling and non-swelling solvents, pyridine and dichloromethane, respectively. The formation of ester groups, resulting from the reaction of oleoyl chloride with hydroxyl group of cellulose were studied by elemental analysis (EA) and Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The characterization methods applied has proved the chemical interaction between the cellulosic material and the coupling agent. The extent of the reactions evaluated by elemental analysis was calculated using two ratios. Finally electron microscopy was applied to evaluate the surface changes of cellulose fibers after modification process.     

不同分析方法在剖析塑料食品包装成分中的应用

为了剖析塑料食品包装材料的成分,采用热裂解气相色谱质谱联用仪(Py/GC-MS)、电感耦合等离子体发射光谱仪(ICP-OES)、气相色谱质谱联用仪(GC-MS)3种仪器对3种塑料食品包装进行了测试。测试结果表明Py/GC-MS可以鉴定材料的成分;ICP-OES可以测试出样品中的元素信息,并由此推断包装中所含添加剂;GC-MS可剖析塑料食品包装中的化学添加剂成分。因此,3种分析方法协同作用可以从微观角度监控塑料食品包装材料的安全性。     

金莲花浸膏的热裂解行为及单料烟加香应用研究

在模拟卷烟点燃过程条件下对金莲花浸膏进行了热裂解,以气相色谱-质谱法测定其在不同温度（300、600、900 ℃）下的裂解产物,并进行单料烟加香研究。结果表明,在300、600、900 ℃的金莲花浸膏热解产物中分别鉴定出28、29和31种成分,裂解产物主要为酸类、酯类、醇类、酚类、醛类和酮类等对烟草香味有利的香味物质。金莲花浸膏具有改善和修饰单料烟吸味、丰满烟气、减轻刺激性的作用。