Synthesis, structure, and characterization of 4,4′-(Anthracene-9,10-diylbis(ethyne-2,1-diyl))bis(1-methyl-1-pyridinium) Bismuth Iodide (C30H22N2)3Bi4I18, an air, water, and thermally stable 0D hybrid Perovskite with high photoluminescence ffficiency

4,4'-(Anthracene-9,10-diylbis(ethyne-2,1-diyl))bis(1-methyl-1-pyridinium) bismuth iodide (C30H22N2)3Bi4I18 (AEPyBiI) was obtained as a black powder by a very simple route by mixing an acetone solution of BiI3 and an aqueous solution of C30H22N2I2. This novel perovskite is air and water stable and displays a remarkable thermal stability up to nearly 300 °C. The highly conjugated cation C30H22N2 2+ is hydrolytically stable, being nitrogen atoms quaternarized, and this accounts for the insensitivity of the perovskite toward water and atmospheric oxygen under ambient conditions. The cation in aqueous solution is highly fluorescent under UV irradiation (emitting yellow-orange light). AEPyBiI as well is intensely luminescent, its photoluminescence emission being more than 1 order of magnitude greater than that of high-quality InP epilayers. The crystal structure of AEPyBiI was determined using synchrotron radiation single-crystal X-ray diffraction. AEPyBiI was extensively characterized using a wide range of techniques, such as X-ray powder diffraction, diffuse reflectance UV-vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopies, thermogravimetry-differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), elemental analysis, electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy (ESI-MS), and photoluminescence spectroscopy. AEPyBiI displays a zero-dimensional (0D) perovskite structure in which the inorganic part is constituted by binuclear units consisting of two face-sharing BiI6 octahedra (Bi2I9 3- units). The C30H22N2 2+ cations are stacked along the a-axis direction in a complex motif. Considering its noteworthy light-emitting properties coupled with an easy synthesis and environmental stability, and its composition that does not contain toxic lead or easily oxidable Sn(II), AEPyBiI is a promising candidate for environmentally friendly light-emitting devices

Structured cost analysis of robotic TME resection for rectal cancer:a comparison between the da Vinci Si and Xi in a single surgeon's experience

Background: Robotic-assisted surgery by the da Vinci Si appears to benefit rectal cancer surgery in selected patients, but still has some limitations, one of which is its high costs. Preliminary studies have indicated that the use of the new da Vinci Xi provides some added advantages, but their impact on cost is unknown. The aim of the present study is to compare surgical outcomes and costs of rectal cancer resection by the two platforms, in a single surgeon’s experience. Methods: From April 2010 to April 2017, 90 robotic rectal resections were performed, with either the da Vinci Si (Si-RobTME) or the da Vinci Xi (Xi-RobTME). Based on CUSUM analysis, two comparable groups of 40 consecutive Si-RobTME and 40 consecutive Xi-RobTME were obtained from the prospectively collected database and used for the present retrospective comparative study. Data costs were analysed based on the level of experience on the proficiency–gain curve (p–g curve) by the surgeon with each platform. Results: In both groups, two homogeneous phases of the p–g curve were identified: Si1 and Xi1: cases 1–19, Si2 and Xi2: cases 20–40. A significantly higher number of full RAS operations were achieved in the Xi-RobTME group (p < 0.001). A statistically significant reduction in operating time (OT) during Si2 and Xi2 phase was observed (p < 0.001), accompanied by reduced overall variable costs (OVC), personnel costs (PC) and consumable costs (CC) (p < 0.001). All costs were lower in the Xi2 phase compared to Si2 phase: OT 265 versus 290 min (p = 0.052); OVC 7983 versus 10231.9 (p = 0.009); PC 1151.6 versus 1260.2 (p = 0.052), CC 3464.4 versus 3869.7 (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Our experience confirms a significant reduction of costs with increasing surgeon’s experience with both platforms. However, the economic gain was higher with the Xi with shorter OT, reduced PC and CC, in addition to a significantly larger number of cases performed by the fully robotic approach

Multi-scale design of an architected composite structure with optimized graded properties

A design framework is here presented for the development of an architected solid with targeted mechanical properties thanks to an optimized porosity distribution. A 2D lattice of regular hexagons is considered as core element of a sandwich panel and a Bloch-Floquet-based approach is adopted to derive homogenized equivalent properties. The density distribution of the equivalent continuum is taken as objective function to be minimized in the optimization process. To this end, suitable constraints are designed to avoid empty regions and ensure a minimized density where required by the mechanical actions. A de-homogenization process is carried out on the optimized equivalent continuum to derive the configuration of regular hexagons with optimally varying wall thickness. Static and buckling responses of the optimized architected solid are compared with that of a 2D continuum whose material density distribution is determined through a classical topology optimization. It is shown that the architected 2D solid can absorb higher strain energy, with respect to classically optimized structures, which suffer a buckling-driven collapse below the elasticity threshold. The architected solid is also shown to have an improved energy absorption capability, that may increase considerably its performance, depending on the ductility of the adopted material

Synthesis, Structure, and Characterization of 4,4′-(Anthracene-9,10-diylbis(ethyne-2,1-diyl))bis(1-methyl-1-pyridinium) Bismuth Iodide (C₃₀H₂₂N₂)₃Bi₄I₁₈, an Air, Water, and Thermally Stable 0D Hybrid Perovskite with High Photoluminescence Efficiency

4,4′-(Anthracene-9,10-diylbis­(ethyne-2,1-diyl))­bis­(1-methyl-1-pyridinium) bismuth iodide (C30H22N2)3Bi4I18 (AEPyBiI) was obtained as a black powder by a very simple route by mixing an acetone solution of BiI3 and an aqueous solution of C30H22N2I2. This novel perovskite is air and water stable and displays a remarkable thermal stability up to nearly 300 °C. The highly conjugated cation C30H22N22+ is hydrolytically stable, being nitrogen atoms quaternarized, and this accounts for the insensitivity of the perovskite toward water and atmospheric oxygen under ambient conditions. The cation in aqueous solution is highly fluorescent under UV irradiation (emitting yellow-orange light). AEPyBiI as well is intensely luminescent, its photoluminescence emission being more than 1 order of magnitude greater than that of high-quality InP epilayers. The crystal structure of AEPyBiI was determined using synchrotron radiation single-crystal X-ray diffraction. AEPyBiI was extensively characterized using a wide range of techniques, such as X-ray powder diffraction, diffuse reflectance UV–vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopies, thermogravimetry-differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), elemental analysis, electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy (ESI-MS), and photoluminescence spectroscopy. AEPyBiI displays a zero-dimensional (0D) perovskite structure in which the inorganic part is constituted by binuclear units consisting of two face-sharing BiI6 octahedra (Bi2I93– units). The C30H22N22+ cations are stacked along the a-axis direction in a complex motif. Considering its noteworthy light-emitting properties coupled with an easy synthesis and environmental stability, and its composition that does not contain toxic lead or easily oxidable Sn­(II), AEPyBiI is a promising candidate for environmentally friendly light-emitting devices

Strategies for dephenolization of raw olive mill wastewater by means of Pleurotus ostreatus

The reduction of polyphenols content in olive-mill wastewater (OMW) is a major issue in olive-oil manufacturing. Although researchers have pointed out the potential of white-rot fungus in dephenolizing OMW, the results available in the literature mainly concern pre-treated (sterilized) OMW. This paper deals with the reduction of polyphenols content in untreated OMW by means of a white-rot fungus, Pleurotus ostreatus. Dephenolization was performed both in an airlift bioreactor and in aerated flasks. The process was carried out under controlled non-sterile conditions, with different operating configurations (batch, continuous, biomass recycle) representative of potential industrial operations. Total organic carbon, polyphenols concentration, phenol oxidase activity, dissolved oxygen concentration, oxygen consumption rate and pH were measured during every run. Tests were carried out with or without added nutrients (potato starch and potato dextrose) and laccases inducers (i.e., CuSO4). OMW endogenous microorganisms were competing with P. ostreatus for oxygen during simultaneous fermentation. Dephenolization of raw OMW by P. ostreatus under single batch was as large as 70%. Dephenolization was still extensive even when biomass was recycled up to six times. OMW pre-aeration had to be provided under continuous operation to avoid oxygen consumption by endogenous microorganisms that might spoil the process. The role of laccases in the dephenolization process has been discussed. Dephenolization under batch conditions with biomass recycle and added nutrients proved to be the most effective configuration for OMW polyphenols reduction in industrial plants (42-68% for five cycles)

La traducción del teatro áureo en Italia, desde el siglo XIX hasta nuestros días. Constantes y variables en la formación de un canon

This essay aims to provide an over view of the Italian translations of Spanish Golden Age theatre from the 19th centur y to the present, identifying above all the differ-ences in the approach to Spanish texts compared to previous centuries and the distinc-tive features of each historical-cultural period within this long span of time. Romantic translations (a period marked by the great collections of theatrical texts by Monti and La Cecilia) were characterised by their marked preference for religious and honour-based dramas and for the works of Calderón; while the 20th centur y saw a general reworking of the corpus of translated texts, with a stable presence of Calderón and the recover y of the dramas on peasant honour by Lope de Vega. The emergence and affirmation of the poetic translation is highlighted, from the early experiments of the 1920s to the general acceptance of our days, and the role hispanists and writers played in this choice. An analysis of the corpus of translation collections in the 20th and 21st centuries, as well as of the many individual translations, also shows how the canon of the Spanish Golden Age theatre has changed both on the academic and editorial side