Artificial biomineralisation and metallic soaps

In this thesis, geometry is used as a basis for conducting experiments aimed at growing and arranging inorganic minerals on curved interfaces. Mineralisation is directed using crystalline and liquid-crystalline metallic soaps and surfactant/water systems as templates.¶ A review of the history, syntheses, structure and liquid crystallinity of metallic soaps and other amphiphiles is presented as a foundation to understanding the interfacial architectures in mesostructured template systems in general. ..

Recent Changes in Drug Abuse Scenario: The Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS) Phenomenon

copyright 2019 by the authors. Articles in this book are Open Access and distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license, which allows users to download, copy and build upon published articles, as long as the author and publisher are properly credited, which ensures maximum dissemination and a wider impact of our publications. The book as a whole is distributed by MDPI under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND.Final Published versio

On the colour of wing scales in butterflies: Iridescence and preferred orientation of single gyroid photonic crystals

Lycaenid butterflies from the genera Callophrys, Cyanophrys and Thecla have evolved remarkable biophotonic gyroid nanostructures within their wing scales that have only recently been replicated by nanoscale additive manufacturing. These nanostructures selectively reflect parts of the visible spectrum to give their characteristic non-iridescent, matte-green appearance, despite a distinct blue–green–yellow iridescence predicted for individual crystals from theory. It has been hypothesized that the organism must achieve its uniform appearance by growing crystals with some restrictions on the possible distribution of orientations, yet preferential orientation observed in Callophrys rubi confirms that this distribution need not be uniform. By analysing scanning electron microscope and optical images of 912 crystals in three wing scales, we find no preference for their rotational alignment in the plane of the scales. However, crystal orientation normal to the scale was highly correlated to their colour at low (conical) angles of view and illumination. This correlation enabled the use of optical images, each containing up to 104–105 crystals, for concluding the preferential alignment seen along the Embedded Image at the level of single scales, appears ubiquitous. By contrast, Embedded Image orientations were found to occur at no greater rate than that expected by chance. Above a critical cone angle, all crystals reflected bright green light indicating the dominant light scattering is due to the predicted band gap along the Embedded Image direction, independent of the domain orientation. Together with the natural variation in scale and wing shapes, we can readily understand the detailed mechanism of uniform colour production and iridescence suppression in these butterflies. It appears that the combination of preferential alignment normal to the wing scale, and uniform distribution within the plane is a near optimal solution for homogenizing the angular distribution of the Embedded Image band gap relative to the wings. Finally, the distributions of orientations, shapes, sizes and degree of order of crystals within single scales provide useful insights for understanding the mechanisms at play in the formation of these biophotonic nanostructures.The Berzelii Center EXSELENT on Porous Materials, the Swedish Research Council (VR), the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (SSF—Future Research Leaders 5 program) and the FYF, The Association for Surface Chemistry Research are gratefully acknowledged for funding

Rare inland reindeer lichens at Mima Mounds in southwest Washington State

Isolated populations of four reindeer lichen species and varieties co-occur in a unique relict prairie habitat at Mima Mounds Natural Area Preserve, southwest Washington State, USA. The prairie is the type locality for mima mounds, unusual geologic features providing topographical variation that influences vegetation patterns. Reindeer lichens (Cladonia subgenus Cladina) are very rare in inland valley habitats of the western states outside of Alaska; one study species, C. ciliata, is apparently rare in North America and is not known south of the site. The current study establishes distributional, ecological, chemotypic, and phylogenetic analyses for the study species. We found that topography was not as important as recent fire history in explaining reindeer lichen distribution; in the future, prescribed fire is likely to benefit reindeer lichens so long as it preserves pockets of refugia as propagule sources. We also detected moderate air pollution stress, which is projected to have impacts on lichen abundances and community compositions in the near future. Chemotype analysis revealed 6 reindeer lichen chemotypes, of which 2 are rare (C. ciliata var. tenuis and C. portentosa subsp. pacifica f. decolorans). Phylogenetic analyses supported previous species concepts, showing C. portentosa is distinct from the closely-related group that includes C. rangiferina and two varieties of C. ciliata. We suggested that the four target taxa described herein may benefit from continued future monitoring and cataloging as state sensitive species

Preparation of Active Proteins, Vaccines and Pharmaceuticals as Fine Powders using Supercritical or Near-Critical Fluids

Supercritical or near-critical fluid processes for generating microparticles have enjoyed considerable attention in the past decade or so, with good success for substances soluble in supercritical fluids or organic solvents. In this review, we survey their application to the production of protein particles. A recently developed process known as CO2-assisted nebulization with a Bubble Dryer® (CAN-BD) has been demonstrated to have broad applicability to small-molecule as well as macromolecule substances (including therapeutic proteins). The principles of CAN-BD are discussed as well as the stabilization, micronization and drying of a wide variety of materials. More detailed case studies are presented for three proteins, two of which are of therapeutic interest: anti-CD4 antibody (rheumatoid arthritis), α1-antitrypsin (cystic fibrosis and emphysema), and trypsinogen (a model enzyme). Dry powders were formed in which stability and activity are maintained and which are fine enough to be inhaled and reach the deep lung. Enhancement of apparent activity after CAN-BD processing was also observed in some formulation and processing conditions

Erratum to: 36th International Symposium on Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s13054-016-1208-6.]