Graphene nanoplatelets composite membranes for thermal comfort enhancement in performance textiles

The advent of 2D nanostructured materials as advanced fillers for polymer matrix composites has opened the doors to a plethora of new industrial applications requiring both electric and thermal management. Unique properties, in fact, can arise from accurate selection and processing of 2D fillers and their matrix. Here, we report an innovative family of nanocomposite membranes based on polyurethane (PU) and graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs), designed to improve thermal comfort in functional textiles. GNP particles were thoroughly characterized (through Raman, atomic force microscopy, high-resolution TEM, scanning electron microscope), and showed high crystallinity (I_D/I_G = 0.127), low thickness (D50 < 6–8 layers), and high lateral dimensions (D50 ≈ 3 μm). When GNPs were loaded (up to 10% wt/wt) into the PU matrix, their homogeneous dispersion resulted in an increase of the in-plane thermal conductivity of composite membranes up to 471%. The thermal dissipation of membranes, alone or coupled with cotton fabric, was further evaluated by means of an ad hoc system designed to simulate a human forearm. The results obtained provide a new strategy for the preparation of membranes suitable for technical textiles, with improved thermal comfort.     

The interpretation of the English landscape garden between 1815 and 1840 through Xavier Kurten’s work in Piedmont (north-west Italy)

Xavier Kurten (?–1840) was a Prussian landscape gardener who worked for the Savoy family in the Piedmont region of Italy in the first half of the nineteenth century. He designed or redesigned all royal parks, creating a specific style based on the English naturalistic garden approach. This research was performed with the aim of investigating the development of the English landscape garden in Italy. Historical documents relating to Kurten’s biography and his work in Piedmont, including plans, were collected and analysed. We analyse and discuss the features that characterised his work: the relationship between the landscape—garden—house, the path system, the use of water, the vegetation, and the garden as a productive landscape. Kurten’s style is compared with the projects of William Kent and Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown.     

Effect of ultraviolet processing on selected properties of egg white

The effect of ultraviolet processing (10.6 and 63.7 kJ m(-2)) on selected properties of egg white (absorbance, particle size, protein fractions, free sulfhydryl content, immunoreactivity, viscosity, gelling and foaming properties) was investigated. Ultraviolet exposure induced the development of browning, the formation of large protein aggregates by disulfide exchange, and protein backbone cleavage. However, egg white proteins were differently sensitive to UV radiation. No changes in immunoreactivity, gelling temperature and gel firmness were observed. Independently on the UV dose, light treated egg white produced foams with higher stability. This effect was attributed to protein aggregates jamming in the fluid interstices between bubbles and/or to the higher viscosity of the aqueous phase. The latter was also associated to higher foam volume.     

Air exposure time of olive pastes during the extraction process and phenolic and volatile composition of virgin olive oil

The time of exposure of olive pastes to air contact (TEOPAC) during malaxation was studied as a processing parameter that could be used to control endogenous oxidoreductases, such as polyphenoloxidase, peroxidase, and lipoxygenase, which affect virgin olive oil quality. Phenolic and volatile compounds were analyzed in the oils obtained using progressive TEOPAC at three ripening stages of olives. Multivariate statistical analysis was applied to the raw data. The phenolic concentration of virgin olive oil progressively decreased with increasing IEOPAC. On the contrary, a positive relationship was found with the concentration of several volatile compounds responsible for virgin olive oil aroma. The effect of TEOPAC, however, was strictly related to fruit ripening.     

X-Ray Micro-Calorimeter Based on Si Thermistors for X-Ray Astronomy: Design and First Measurements

X-ray Astronomy provides a unique window on a wide variety of astrophysical phenomena. The currently operating X-ray space observatories perform X-ray spectral imaging with the use of CCDs. When available, cryogenic X-ray microcalorimeter arrays will far outperform CCDs in terms of spectral resolution, energy bandwidth and count rate. Experience has been gained with Infra-Red bolometer arrays at CEA-LETI (Grenoble) in collaboration with the CEA-SAp (Saclay); taking advantage of this background, we are now developing an X-ray spectro-imaging camera for the next generation space astronomy missions, using silicon technology (implanted and high temperature diffused thermistors). Each pixel of this array detector is made of a tantalum absorber bound, by indium bump hybridization, to a silicon thermistor. The absorber array is bound to the thermistor array in a single automatic step. The thermo-mechanical link, provided by hybridization, is being improved in terms of thermal capacitance. Finally, our main effort is in developing arrays of silicon thermistors with negligible excess 1/f noise. The thermistor has been simulated with the 2D simulator ATHENA (SILVACO International). We studied the effects of the implants and their thermal treatment on both vertical and lateral dopant distributions at the edges of the thermistor. Prototypes have been created following the procedure optimized by the ATHENA simulation. We present the status of the development and results of measurements performed on these four main building blocks required to create a detector array up to 32×32 pixels in size.      

Antennal fine morphology of the threatened beetle Osmoderma eremita (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), revealed by scanning electron microscopy

The aim of this study was to characterize the antennal morphology of Osmoderma eremita, a threatened scarab beetle inhabiting tree hollows. O. eremita males produce a sex pheromone, (R)‐(+)‐γ‐decalactone, responsible mainly for the attraction of females but also other males. Gross and fine morphology of microstructures including sensilla, microsculpture and pores were analyzed using Scanning Electron Microscopy. The antenna of O. eremita showed the typical lamellicorn shape of scarab beetles, with a basal scape, a pedicel, a funicle composed of five antennomeres and a club composed of three lamellae. Six different subtypes of sensilla chaetica (Ch.1 ? 6), Böhm sensilla (Bo), one subtype of sensilla basiconica (Ba.1), two subtypes of sensilla coeloconica (Co.1 ? 2), two subtypes of sensilla placodea (Pl.1 ? 2), pores and peculiar folds were described. The two sexes did not show any significant differences in the occurrence and number of the sensilla placodea, known to be responsible for the pheromone reception. Instead, some sexual differences were found on the occurrence and topology of three different microstructures: (1) one subtype of sensillum chaeticum (Ch.2) occurring on the pedicel only in males; (2) a characteristic pore occurring on the funicle only in males; (3) a peculiar fold occurring on different antennomeres of the funicle in the two sexes, on the fourth in males and on the fifth in females. A comparison between sensilla of O. eremita and those of other Scarabaeoidea is provided. Microsc. Res. Tech. 79:178–191, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Comparative in vitro and in vivo study of a nitroxyl derivative of 5-fluorouracil (magnizil) on human gastrointestinal tumors

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: There is much interest in nitroxyl derivatives of cytotoxic agents. We evaluated the potential activity of magnizil, a derivative of 5-fluorouracil, on human gastrointestinal tumors in 3 different in vitro and in vivo experimental models. METHODS: The activities of magnizil and 5-fluorouracil were comparatively determined in vitro on the HT29 cell line by a clonogenic assay and on tumor clinical specimens by an antimetabolic assay. The activity of both the drugs against human tumors was also assessed in mice with the subrenal capsule assay. RESULTS: A similar cytotoxic activity was found for magnizil and 5-fluorouracil on the HT29 cell line. As regards human tumors, a lower activity was observed for the nitroxyl derivative than for 5-fluorouracil, with response rates of 25% and 50%, respectively, at comparable concentrations. Moreover, among the tumors transplanted in the subrenal capsule of mice, two were sensitive to magnizil and 3 to 5-fluorouracil. CONCLUSIONS: Even though experimental results on human tumors indicate a somewhat lower activity for magnizil than the parent compound, its low toxicity and the possibility to clinically use high doses suggest the opportunity to further investigate the potential of this new anticancer agent on larger series of colorectal cancers in experimental systems.     

The joy buzzer in experimentation.

This article describes a novel piece of psychological apparatus recently used in a human factors study relating to the evaluation of a weapons system: the joy buzzer. The use of this novel piece of apparatus proved most successful for the problem under investigation. No doubt, there are many similar applications for the use of the joy buzzer in the field of applied psychology. It is hoped that other novel pieces of instrumentation will be similarly revealed for use in psychological experimentation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)