DNA molecular solvation in neat ionic liquids

DNA in ionic liquids: Room-temperature ionic liquids provide a molecular environment for biomolecular systems distinct from common molecular solvents such as water. The mechanism of DNA solvation and stabilization by RTIL cations and anions is described herein. The important role of anions and the hydrogen-bonding interactions of the cations with the DNA bases is stressed. The picture shows an example of such interactions. © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim

Increased NO2 concentration in the diesel engine exhaust for improved Ag/Al2O3 catalyst NH3-SCR activity

Increasing the NO2 availability in some aftertreatment systems enhance their performance in reducing pollutants from internal combustion (IC) engines but result in significant fuel economy and CO2 emissions penalties. The presence of NO2 in the engine exhaust gas enhances the regeneration of the Diesel Particulate Filters (DPFs) and can improve the activity of the catalysts in reducing NOx emissions in the selective catalytic reduction (SCRs) process. In this work the production and the role of the increased NO2 concentration in the Ag/Al2O3 catalyst for the SCR process of NOx removal at low exhaust gas temperatures under real engine operation has been investigated. We have increased the NO2 concentration available for the SCR process with (i) the addition of different NH3 and H2 mixtures upstream the SCR catalyst and/or (ii) by the use of a Pt based Diesel Oxidation Catalyst (DOC) in front of the Ag/Al2O3-SCR catalyst. In the case of NH3 and H2 mixtures additions, H2 enhances the NO2 production on the Ag/Al2O3 catalyst, leading in promoting the “Fast-SCR” like reaction by utilising the available NH3 mainly at low reaction temperature. The incorporation of the DOC in front of the Ag/Al2O3 showed the same effect as it enhanced the NO2 availability for the SCR process

Integrated p-NOI Structures on Nanoporous Material Designed for Biodetection

Pesticides are utilized to protect the crops, destroying or controlling any pest. Unfortunately, pesticides pollute the entire environment: plants, organisms, soil, and water. This chapter describes a paraoxon pesticide biosensor that includes nanostructures and porous materials integrated on silicon (Si), as convergent objectives of the green microelectronics strategy. The transducer element is in an interdigitated capacitive electrode that recently highlighted a special nanostructure—the planar nothing on insulator (p-NOI)—included in the capacitive detection system. The biodetection is based on the hydrolysis of the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzyme as biosensor receptor. So, the final application is an enzymatic biosensor that utilizes the nanoporous Si layer for the enzyme adsorption, with p-NOI capacitive transducer, for the environmental monitoring

Directly probing the effect of the solvent on a catalyst electronic environment using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

The electronic environment of the metal centre of a catalyst dissolved in ionic liquids has a determining effect on its catalytic efficiency in chemical reactions. However, the electronic environment of the ionic liquid-based metal centres can be influenced by not only their chemical state but also the solute–solvent interaction. In this work, we demonstrate that the anion of an ionic liquid can significantly influence the electronic environment of a metal centre. The metal centre electronic environment can be monitored by measuring the typical electron binding energies by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The correlation of the electronic environment of the metal centre with reaction performance provides a possibility to design and control a chemical reaction. In this work, we also illustrate a strategy for tuning the electronic environment of metal centres, by the selection of particular ionic liquid anions, to design a catalytic system and consequently to finally control the reaction performance of a model Suzuki cross coupling reaction

Tratamentele cu citostatice şi iradierile în tumorile canceroase I

Summary. Three studies recently published in American magazines (Financiarul, January 9, 2013) have explained why chemotherapy and ionizing irradiation, conventional treatments for malignant tumors in general and cancer in particular, is usually a total failure in terms of removal consumptive final serious this disease is reported on Foodmatters.tv. Based on numerous assessments of how cancer cells multiply and metastasis, scientists have confirmed that cancerous tumors / and not only generate their own stem cells that contribute to the development of new tumors (new cells) after previous cells were removed (destroyed by chemotherapy and ionizing radiation)

Synthesis and Thermophysical Properties of Ether Functionalized Sulfonium Ionic Liquids as Potential Electrolytes for Electrochemical Applications

International audienceDuring this work, a novel series of hydrophobic room temperature ionic liquids (ILs) based on five ether functionalized sulfonium cations bearing the bis{(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl}imide, [NTf2]− anion were synthesized and characterized. Their physicochemical properties, such as density, viscosity and ionic conductivity, electrochemical window, along with thermal properties including phase transition behavior and decomposition temperature, have been measured. All of these ILs showed large liquid range temperature, low viscosity, and good conductivity. Additionally, by combining DFT calculations along with electrochemical characterization it appears that these novel ILs show good electrochemical stability windows, suitable for the potential application as electrolyte materials in electrochemical energy storage devices

Zoogeography of epigean freshwater Amphipoda (Crustacea) in Romania: fragmented distributions and wide altitudinal variability

Inland epigean freshwater amphipods of Romania are diverse and abundant for this region has a favourable geographical position between the Balkans and the Black Sea. Excluding Ponto-Caspian species originating in brackish waters and freshwater subterranean taxa, there are 11 formally recognized epigean freshwater species recorded from this country. They belong to 3 genera, each representing a different family: Gammarus (Gammaridae, 8 species or species complexes), Niphargus (Niphargidae, 2 epigean species) and Synurella (Crangonyctidae, one species). Their large-scale distribution patterns nevertheless remain obscure due to insufficient data, consequently limiting biogeographical interpretations. We provide extensive new data with high resolution distribution maps, thus improving the knowledge of the ranges of these taxa. Gammarus species display substantial altitudinal variability and patchy, fragmented distribution patterns. They occur abundantly, particularly in springs and streams, from lowlands to sub-mountainous and mountainous regions. In the light of recent molecular research, we hypothesize that the complex geomorphological dynamics of the Carpathian region dur-ing the Late Tertiary probably contributed to their allopatric distribution pattern. Contrasting with Gammarus, the genera Niphargus and Synurella exhibit low altitudinal variability, broad ecological valences and overlapping distributions, being widespread throughout the lowlands. The current distribution of N. hrabei and N. valachicus seems to be linked to the extent of the Paratethys during the Early Pliocene or Pleistocene. We further discuss the taxonomic validity of two syn-onymized and one apparently undescribed taxon, and provide an updated pictorial identification key that includes all taxa and forms discussed in our study. The mosaic distribution of epigean freshwater amphipod species in Romania shows that this region is particularly suitable for phylo- and biogeographical analyses of this group. Zoogeography of epigean freshwater Amphipoda (Crustacea) in Romania: fragmented distributions and wide altitudinal variability (PDF Download Available). Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/269250979_Zoogeography_of_epigean_freshwater_Amphipoda_Crustacea_in_Romania_fragmented_distributions_and_wide_altitudinal_variability [accessed Apr 20, 2016].We kindly thank Marius G. Berchi, Miklos Balint and Bogdan Horia for providing material, and to all the students that helped during the field work. An anonymous reviewer provided helpful comments on a previous version of the manuscript. This work was financially supported by the University Research National Council Agency of Romania (CNCS-UEFISCDI), exploratory research projects PCE-4 1458/2008 as well as by the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education, project N N303 579439. DCC was also supported by the Charles University in Prague (projects GAUK 1398214 and SVV 260088)

Modelling of Batch Lactic Acid Fermentation in the Presence of Anionic Clay

U radu je provedena šaržna fermentacija mlijeka inokuliranog mliječno-kiselim bakterijama u statičnoj kulturi, te u ultrazvučnoj kupelji provedena uz dodatak hidrotalcita (gline). Ispitan je utjecaj temperature (t=38-43 °C), omjera gline i mlijeka (R=1-7,5 g/L) te ultrazvuka (ν=0 i 35 kHz) na dinamiku procesa. Odabran je matematički model koji opisuje kinetiku fermentacije i procijenjuje parametre prema eksperimentalno dobivenim podacima, a odnos je između eksperimentalnih i simuliranih podataka bio dobar. Stoga je zaključeno da se model može primijeniti za predviđanje dinamike šaržne mliječno-kisele fermentacije prema vrijednostima varijabli dobivenih u ovom eksperimentu. Provedena je statistička analiza pomoću 23 faktorskog plana, da bi se primjenom eksperimentalnog i regresijskog modela utvrdio utjecaj faktora t, R i ν na kinetiku fermentacije.Batch fermentation of milk inoculated with lactic acid bacteria was conducted in the presence of hydrotalcite-type anionic clay under static and ultrasonic conditions. An experimental study of the effect of fermentation temperature (t=38–43 °C), clay/milk ratio (R=1–7.5 g/L) and ultrasonic field (ν=0 and 35 kHz) on process dynamics was performed. A mathematical model was selected to describe the fermentation process kinetics and its parameters were estimated based on experimental data. A good agreement between the experimental and simulated results was achieved. Consequently, the model can be employed to predict the dynamics of batch lactic acid fermentation with values of process variables in the studied ranges. A statistical analysis of the data based on a 23 factorial experiment was performed in order to express experimental and model-regressed process responses depending on t, R and ν factors