Supergiant Barocaloric Effects in Acetoxy Silicone Rubber over a Wide Temperature Range: Great Potential for Solid-state Cooling

Solid-state cooling based on caloric effects is considered a viable alternative to replace the conventional vapor-compression refrigeration systems. Regarding barocaloric materials, recent results show that elastomers are promising candidates for cooling applications around room-temperature. In the present paper, we report supergiant barocaloric effects observed in acetoxy silicone rubber - a very popular, low-cost and environmentally friendly elastomer. Huge values of adiabatic temperature change and reversible isothermal entropy change were obtained upon moderate applied pressures and relatively low strains. These huge barocaloric changes are associated both to the polymer chains rearrangements induced by confined compression and to the first-order structural transition. The results are comparable to the best barocaloric materials reported so far, opening encouraging prospects for the application of elastomers in near future solid-state cooling devices.Comment: 19 pages, 7 figures, 2 table

Green synthesis of novel chalcone and coumarin derivatives via Suzuki coupling reaction

AbstractChalcones and coumarins are important naturally occurring plant constituents and display a wide range of pharmacological and biological activities. In an environmentally benign approach, synthesis of biphenyl chalcone and coumarin derivatives was successfully accomplished via Suzuki coupling by using PEG-400 as a solvent under microwave irradiation. Salient feature of this methodology includes: short reaction time, good to excellent yields, and prominent tolerance of different functional groups

C(sp3)−C(sp3) Cross‐Coupling of Alkyl Bromides and Ethers Mediated by Metal and Visible Light Photoredox Catalysis

We report a C(sp(3))-C(sp(3)) cross-coupling of alkyl bromides and alkyl chlorides with ethers by dual photoredox-nickel catalysis. The catalytic system comprises of the organic photocatalyst 1,2,3,5-tetrakis(carbazol-9-yl)-4,6-dicyanobenzene (4-CzIPN) and bench stable nickel (II) acetylacetonate in the presence of visible-light, providing the coupling products in up to 92% yield. Preliminary mechanistic studies suggest two catalytic cycles, as well as the photogeneration of bromine or chlorine radicals from halide atoms that are present in the structures of the coupling partners. The halide radical mediates the hydrogen atom transfer event, avoiding the need of an additional HAT catalyst

Fermentation of xylose-rich substrates by the haloarchaeon halorhabdus utahensis towards high value-added bioproducts [Poster]

ABSTRACT: Research that focuses on the use of high value-added bioproducts for industrial applications is essential for the implementation of sustainable approaches forecasting a bio-based economy. The effective use of biomass feedstocks, particularly lignocellulosic materials, in large-scale applications will evolve from innovative research aimed at the development and implementation of biorefineries established for specific feedstocks. In this context, an important step is the concept of fractionating biomass into its core constituents (cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin) for further enhanced valorization. Contrary to the valorization of cellulose fraction, which has been extensively studied, there is a gap in the valorization of the hemicellulose fraction (xylose- rich substrate) towards bioproducts. In this context, the present work aims to explore the ability of the haloarchaeon Halorhabdus utahensis (DSM-12940) to ferment xylose (or xylose-rich substrates) to high added-value bioproducts, such as pigments, exopolysaccharides (EPS) and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs).N/

Triple-q octupolar ordering in NpO_2

We report the results of resonant X-ray scattering experiments performed at the Np M_4,5 edges in NpO_2. Below T_0 = 25 K, the development of long-range order of Np electric quadrupoles is revealed by the growth of superlattice Bragg peaks. The electronic transition is not accompanied by any measurable crystallographic distortion, either internal or external, so the symmetry of the system remains cubic. The polarization and azimuthal dependence of the intensity of the resonant peaks is well reproduced assuming Templeton scattering from a triple-q longitudinal antiferroquadrupolar structure. Electric quadrupole order in NpO_2 could be driven by the ordering at T_0 of magnetic octupoles of Gamma_5 symmetry, splitting the Np ground state quartet and leading to a singlet ground state with zero dipole magnetic moment.Comment: 4 Pages, 3 Figures, submitted to Phys. Rev. Lett. v2: resubmitted after referee report

Functional impairment in people with interstitial lung diseases: is one measure enough?

Introduction: Interstitial lung diseases (ILD) comprehend a large group of lung diseases that include disease settings associated with sustained progression and leading to respiratory failure, decreased functional status and premature death. Functional status can be defined as an individual’s ability to perform normal daily activities required to meet basic needs, fulfill usual roles and maintain health and well-being. It includes functional capacity, i.e., an individual’s maximum capacity to perform daily life activities in a standardized environment; and functional performance, i.e., the activities people actually do during the course of their daily life. Decreased functional status is the most frequent reported impact by people with ILD and is associated with increased dependence on others, exacerbations and hospital admissions. Yet, little is known how functional status is impaired in people with ILD. Objectives: To explore functional impairments in people with ILD. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with people with ILD. Age, sex, body mass index (BMI) and lung function were collected. Functional capacity was assessed with the 1-minute sit-tostand test (1-minSTS), the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and quadriceps maximum voluntary contraction (QMVC). Functional performance was assessed with the London Chest Activities of Daily Living (LCADL). Participants’ functional capacity was classified as impaired if the 1-minSTS, 6MWT and/or QMVC values were below 70% of predicted. Participants’ functional performance was considered impaired if above the cut-off point of 28% of the LCADL. Descriptive statistics were performed. Results: In total, 156 people with ILD (65 ± 13 years; 51.9% female; BMI 28.7 ± 6.1 kg/m2 ; FVC 79.2 ± 20.1%predicted; DLCO 55.4 ± 21.2%predicted) participated. ILD diagnosis included fibrosis hypersensitivity pneumonitis (43%), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (24%), connective tissue disease-associated ILD (14%), dust-related (1%) and others (17%). Functional capacity was impaired in 55.3%, 23.8% and 41.8% of the sample assessed with the 1-minSTS, 6MWT and QMVC, respectively. Functional performance was impaired in 48.5% of people with ILD. Conclusions: A large proportion of people with ILD show impairments in functional status, i.e., in capacity, in performance or in both. Lack of impairment in one measure does not rule out functional status impairment. Patient-centered and comprehensive assessment of functional status seems vital to guide individually tailored interventions and improve this meaningful domain for the daily life of ILD patients.publishe

Pharmacogenetic: screening relevant polymorphisms on antiretroviral therapy in a HIV Portuguese population

Poster presented at the 15th European AIDS Conference. Barcelona, 21-24 October 2015"Several factors cause heterogeneity of response to antiretroviral therapy. Genetic polymorphisms, particularly in metabolizing enzyme, cytochrome P450 isoenzymes and transport proteins MDR, MRP and SLC, may cause pharmacokinetic variability in some ARVs, leading to viral failure, drug toxicity and may explain the interpatient variability for drug absorption pathways.

Magnetic Susceptibility of Multiorbital Systems

Effects of orbital degeneracy on magnetic susceptibility in paramagnetic phases are investigated within a mean-field theory. Under certain crystalline electric fields, the magnetic moment consists of two independent moments, e.g., spin and orbital moments. In such a case, the magnetic susceptibility is given by the sum of two different Curie-Weiss relations, leading to deviation from the Curie-Weiss law. Such behavior may be observed in d- and f-electron systems with t_{2g} and Gamma_8 ground states, respectively. As a potential application of our theory, we attempt to explain the difference in the temperature dependence of magnetic susceptibilities of UO_2 and NpO_2.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Transcriptional and metabolic effects of glucose on Streptococcus pneumoniae sugar metabolism

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a strictly fermentative human pathogen that relies on carbohydrate metabolism to generate energy for growth. The nasopharynx colonised by the bacterium is poor in free sugars, but mucosa lining glycans can provide a source of sugar. In blood and inflamed tissues glucose is the prevailing sugar. As a result during progression from colonisation to disease S. pneumoniae has to cope with a pronounced shift in carbohydrate nature and availability. Thus, we set out to assess the pneumococcal response to sugars found in glycans and the influence of glucose (Glc) on this response at the transcriptional, physiological and metabolic levels. Galactose (Gal), N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) and mannose (Man) affected the expression of 8 to 14% of the genes covering cellular functions including central carbon metabolism and virulence. The pattern of end-products as monitored by in vivo 13C-NMR is in good agreement with the fermentation profiles during growth, while the pools of phosphorylated metabolites are consistent with the type of fermentation observed (homolactic vs. mixed) and regulation at the metabolic level. Furthermore, the accumulation of α-Gal6P and Man6P indicate metabolic bottlenecks in the metabolism of Gal and Man, respectively. Glc added to cells actively metabolizing other sugar(s) was readily consumed and elicited a metabolic shift towards a homolactic profile. The transcriptional response to Glc was large (over 5% of the genome). In central carbon metabolism (most represented category), Glc exerted mostly negative regulation. The smallest response to Glc was observed on a sugar mix, suggesting that exposure to varied sugars improves the fitness of S. pneumoniae. The expression of virulence factors was negatively controlled by Glc in a sugar-dependent manner. Overall, our results shed new light on the link between carbohydrate metabolism, adaptation to host niches and virulence