Renormalization Group on hierarchical lattices in finite dimensional disordered Ising and Blume-Emery-Griffiths Models

Renormalization group on hierarchical lattices is often considered a valuable tool to understand the critical behavior of more complicated statistical mechanical models. In presence of quenched disorder, however, in many model cases predictions obtained with the Migdal-Kadanoff bond removal approach fail to quantitatively and qualitatively reproduce critical properties obtained in the mean-field approximation or by numerical simulations in finite dimensions. In order to critically review this limitation we analyze the behavior of Ising and Blume-Emery-Griffiths models on more complicated hierarchical lattices. We find that, apart from some exceptions, the different behavior appears not only limited to Midgal-Kadanoff-like cells but is associated right to the hierarchization of Bravais lattices in small cells also when in-cell loops are considered.Comment: 36 pages, 18 figures, 10 table

Improvement of the mechanical and thermal characteristics of open cell aluminum foams by the electrodeposition of Cu

Abstract Recently aluminum foaming has been of much interest due to its characteristics properties of light weight structure. Metallic foams are highly porous materials which present complex structure of three-dimensional open cells. This aspect causes strong limitations in mass transport due to electro-deposition technology. In this work, the electro-deposition of copper on aluminum open-cell foams substrates was developed, in order to enhance the thermal and mechanical properties of these cellular materials. The mechanical and thermal characterization of the produced samples was lead through compression and conductivity tests. On the basis of the experimental results, analytical models are proposed to predict the quantity and the quality characteristics of the coating

Turning renewable feedstocks into a valuable and efficient chiral phosphate salt catalyst

Solketal, the chiral acetonide of glycerol, has been employed as the starting material in the design of a novel punctually chiral phosphate sodium salt for catalytic applications in organic and asymmetric synthesis. The racemate and the two enantiomers of the substrate are economic and commercially available, straightforwardly prepared in high yields from naturally occurring feedstocks. Therefore, remarkably, both enantiomers of the final catalyst can be synthesized by simple procedures in high yield and in compliance with several principles of green chemistry. To further demonstrate the usefulness of the novel catalyst, its application in a solventless protocol for cyanohydrin synthesis from a series of aldehydes has been presented

Pectin-Based Formulations for Controlled Release of an Ellagic Acid Salt with High Solubility Profile in Physiological Media

Among bioactive phytochemicals, ellagic acid (EA) is one of the most controversial because its high antioxidant and cancer-preventing effects are strongly inhibited by low gastrointestinal absorption and rapid excretion. Strategies toward an increase of solubility in water and bioavailability, while preserving its structural integrity and warranting its controlled release at the physiological targets, are therefore largely pursued. In this work, EA lysine salt at 1:4 molar ratio (EALYS), exhibiting a more than 400 times increase of water solubility with respect to literature reports, was incorporated at 10% in low methoxylated (LM) and high methoxylated (HM) pectin films. The release of EA in PBS at pH 7.4 from both film preparations was comparable and reached 15% of the loaded compound over 2 h. Under simulated gastric conditions, release of EA from HM and LM pectin films was minimal at gastric pH, whereas higher concentrations-up to 300 μM, corresponding to ca. 50% of the overall content-were obtained in the case of the HM pectin film after 2 h incubation at the slightly alkaline pH of small intestine environment, with the enzyme and bile salt components enhancing the release. EALYS pectin films showed a good prebiotic activity as evaluated by determination of short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) levels following microbial fermentation, with a low but significant increase of the effects produced by the pectins themselves. Overall, these results highlight pectin films loaded with EALYS salt as a promising formulation to improve administration and controlled release of the compound

electro deposition of cu on open cell aluminum foams

This manuscript deals with the electro-deposition of Cu on aluminum foams. Metallic foams are highly porous materials which present complex structure of three-dimensional open cells. This aspect causes strong limitations in mass transport due to electro-deposition technology. Experimental tests were performed to study the influence of the operational parameters on the overall performance of the coated aluminum foams. The experimental findings revealed that the manufactured metal foams were characterized by a high thermal conductivity and low process costs, making these materials very promising in many technological fields. On the basis of the experimental results, analytical models are proposed to predict the quantity and the quality characteristics of the coating