Dielectric properties of liquid crystalline dimer mixtures exhibiting the nematic and twist-bend nematic phases

A detailed investigation of the thermal and dielectric properties of a series of binary mixtures exhibiting the nematic ( N ) and twist-bend nematic ( N TB ) liquid crystal phases is presented. The mixtures consist of an achiral, dimeric liquid crystal CB7CB, which forms the nematic and twist-bend nematic phases, and a calamitic liquid crystal 5CB, which shows the nematic phase. As the concentration of the calamitic liquid crystal is increased, the transition temperatures decrease linearly, and the width of the nematic phase increases. The enthalpies of phase transitions obtained from DSC measurements show that on increasing the concentration of 5CB in the binary mixtures, the enthalpy associated with the N − N TB phase transitions reduces considerably compared to a clear first-order N − N TB transition in pure CB7CB. The real and imaginary parts of the dielectric permittivity are measured as a function of frequency from 100 Hz to 2 MHz in the nematic and twist-bend nematic phases in planar and homeotropic devices. A significant decrease in the average dielectric permittivity as a function of temperature for mixtures forming the N TB phase is observed. Measurements of the imaginary part of the dielectric permittivity show a relaxation peak in the measured frequency window for all of the mixtures exhibiting the N TB phase. The activation energy associated with this relaxation process is calculated and is shown to remain constant irrespective of the composition of the mixtures

Mesophase structure and behaviour in bulk and restricted geometry of a dimeric compound exhibiting a nematic-nematic transition

We present structural studies of a dimeric compound composed of a central heptyl spacer linking two mesogens consisiting of terphenyl units at which two adjacent fluoro groups are attached to each central ring. The terminal rings are linked to pentyl chains as terminal groups. The material exhibits a nematic-nematic transition and a low temperature modulated phase. The higher temperature nematic phase was found to exhibit an anomaly of the bend elastic constant similar to that of the dimers with N-Ntb phase sequence, and the physical properties of the low-temperature nematic phase are similar to those of the known Ntb materials. The structure of the low-temperature modulated smectic/columnar phase is described together with its ability to form freely suspended films and fibres. The relation of the modulated structure to the fibre formation and to the appearance of the labyrinthine instability in freely-suspended films is discussed

Framing Cutting-Edge Integrative Deep-Sea Biodiversity Monitoring via Environmental DNA and Optoacoustic Augmented Infrastructures

Deep-sea ecosystems are reservoirs of biodiversity that are largely unexplored, but their exploration and biodiscovery are becoming a reality thanks to biotechnological advances (e.g., omics technologies) and their integration in an expanding network of marine infrastructures for the exploration of the seas, such as cabled observatories. While still in its infancy, the application of environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding approaches is revolutionizing marine biodiversity monitoring capability. Indeed, the analysis of eDNA in conjunction with the collection of multidisciplinary optoacoustic and environmental data, can provide a more comprehensive monitoring of deep-sea biodiversity. Here, we describe the potential for acquiring eDNA as a core component for the expanding ecological monitoring capabilities through cabled observatories and their docked Internet Operated Vehicles (IOVs), such as crawlers. Furthermore, we provide a critical overview of four areas of development: (i) Integrating eDNA with optoacoustic imaging; (ii) Development of eDNA repositories and cross-linking with other biodiversity databases; (iii) Artificial Intelligence for eDNA analyses and integration with imaging data; and (iv) Benefits of eDNA augmented observatories for the conservation and sustainable management of deep-sea biodiversity. Finally, we discuss the technical limitations and recommendations for future eDNA monitoring of the deep-sea. It is hoped that this review will frame the future direction of an exciting journey of biodiscovery in remote and yet vulnerable areas of our planet, with the overall aim to understand deep-sea biodiversity and hence manage and protect vital marine resources

River water quality assessment using environmentric techniques : case study of Jakara River Basin.

akara River Basin has been extensively studied to assess the overall water quality and to identify the major variables responsible for water quality variations in the basin. A total of 27 sampling points were selected in the riverine network of the Upper Jakara River Basin. Water samples were collected in triplicate and analyzed for physicochemical variables. Pearson product-moment correlation analysis was conducted to evaluate the relationship of water quality parameters and revealed a significant relationship between salinity, conductivity with dissolved solids (DS) and 5-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), chemical oxygen demand (COD), and nitrogen in form of ammonia (NH4). Partial correlation analysis (r p) results showed that there is a strong relationship between salinity and turbidity (r p = 0.930, p = 0.001) and BOD5 and COD (r p = 0.839, p = 0.001) controlling for the linear effects of conductivity and NH4, respectively. Principal component analysis and or factor analysis was used to investigate the origin of each water quality parameter in the Jakara Basin and identified three major factors explaining 68.11 % of the total variance in water quality. The major variations are related to anthropogenic activities (irrigation agricultural, construction activities, clearing of land, and domestic waste disposal) and natural processes (erosion of river bank and runoff). Discriminant analysis (DA) was applied on the dataset to maximize the similarities between group relative to within-group variance of the parameters. DA provided better results with great discriminatory ability using eight variables (DO, BOD5, COD, SS, NH4, conductivity, salinity, and DS) as the most statistically significantly responsible for surface water quality variation in the area. The present study, however, makes several noteworthy contributions to the existing knowledge on the spatial variations of surface water quality and is believed to serve as a baseline data for further studies. Future research should therefore concentrate on the investigation of temporal variations of water quality in the basin

Carbon isotopes of Mesoproterozoic?Neoproterozoic sequences from Southern S?o Francisco craton and Ara?ua? Belt, Brazil : paleographic implications.

This paper addresses the carbon isotope variations observed on Mesoproterozoic and Neoproterozoic carbonates from the southeastern part of the Sa?o Francisco craton and Arac?ua?? Belt, Brazil. Carbonates were collected across sections of the Mesoproterozoic Espinhac?o Supergroup (Rio Pardo Grande Formation) and of the Neoproterozoic units of the Sa?o Francisco basin, including: (i) dolomites and marls of the Macau?bas Group (Domingas Formation); (ii) dolomite pebbles and carbonatic matrix of the diamictites of the Jequita?? Formation; (iii) limestones of the overlying Bambu?? Group. Limestones of the Espinhac?o Supergroup present a flat trend of positive d13CPDB values (varying betweenC1 andC2?), while samples of the Macau?bas Group present an upward trend of decreasing carbon isotopic values (fromC0.7 toK4.0?). The lower d13CPDB values of this latter unit were obtained on the upper part of the section. Dolostone pebbles and carbonates in the matrix of the diamictite also present negative d13CPDB values (K3.1 and K0.6?). Except for carbonatic pelites placed above the diamictites, that present d13CPDB of C7.7?, limestone samples of all the sections of the Bambu?? Group have d13CPDB values above C8?. The data presented here reveal significant differences between carbonates from the Espinhac?o and Macau?bas Groups, indicating that this latter unit may be correlated with the diamictites from the Jequita?? Formation, as already suggested by previous stratigraphic studies. The data also reveal the absence of the low positive d13CPDB carbonates (belowC3?) frequently present at the base of the Bambu?? Group, thus suggesting that the deposition of this unit in the Serra do Cabral and Jequita?? areas took place after the regional positive d13CPDB excursion observed in other parts of the basin. Hence, it is proposed that these areas were paleo-highs during the deposition of the lower portion of the Bambu?? Group sediments