Hydrodeoxygenation of Lignin-Based Compounds over Ruthenium Catalysts Based on Sulfonated Porous Aromatic Frameworks.

Bifunctional catalysts are a major type of heterogeneous catalytic systems that have been widely investigated for biomass upgrading. In this work, Ru-catalysts based on sulfonated porous aromatic frameworks (PAFs) were used in the hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of lignin-derived compounds: guaiacol, veratrole, and catechol. The relationship between the activity of metal nanoparticles and the content of acid sites in synthesized catalysts was studied.

Mitigating of Thin-Film Composite PTMSP Membrane Aging by Introduction of Porous Rigid and Soft Branched Polymeric Additives.

This work was focused on the mitigation of physical aging in thin-film composite (TFC) membranes (selective layer ~1 μm) based on polymer intrinsic microporosity (PTMSP) by the introduction of both soft, branched polyethyleneimine (PEI), and rigid, porous aromatic framework PAF-11, polymer additives. Self-standing mixed-matrix membranes of thicknesses in the range of 20-30 μm were also prepared with the same polymer and fillers. Based on 450 days of monitoring, it was observed that the neat PTMSP composite membrane underwent a severe decline of its gas transport properties, and the resultant CO permeance was 14% (5.

Cobalt(II) complexation with small biomolecules as studied by Co emission Mössbauer spectroscopy.

In the emission (Co) variant of Mössbauer spectroscopy (EMS), the Co radionuclide (with a half-life of 9months) is used that undergoes a nuclear decay Co→Fe via electron capture followed by the emission of a γ-quantum, the energy of which is modified by the chemical state and the close coordination environment of the parent Co atom. While EMS has been used largely in materials science and nuclear chemistry, its high sensitivity can also be of great advantage in revealing fine structural features and for speciation analysis of biological complexes, whenever the Co cation can be used directly as the coordinating metal or as a substitute for native cobalt or other metal ions. As such EMS applications are yet rare, in order to reliably interpret emission spectra of sophisticated Co-doped biosystems, model EMS studies of simple cobalt biocomplexes are necessary.

ACTN3 R577X polymorphism and team-sport performance: a study involving three European cohorts.

Objectives: To determine the association between the α-actinin-3 (ACTN3) R577X polymorphism and elite team-sport athletic status in three cohorts of European team-sport athletes.

Design: We compared the genotype and allele frequencies of the ACTN3 R577X (rs1815739) polymorphisms between team-sport athletes (n=205), endurance athletes (n=305), sprint/power athletes (n=378), and non-athletic controls (n=568) from Poland, Russia and Spain; all participants were unrelated European men.

Methods: Genomic DNA was extracted from either buccal epithelium or peripheral blood using a standard protocol.

The ACTN3 R577X polymorphism across three groups of elite male European athletes.

The ACTN3 R577X polymorphism (rs1815739) is a strong candidate to influence elite athletic performance. Yet, controversy exists in the literature owing to between-studies differences in the ethnic background and sample size of the cohorts, the latter being usually low, which makes comparisons difficult. In this case:control genetic study we determined the association between elite athletic status and the ACTN3 R577X polymorphism within three cohorts of European Caucasian men, i.