Hydrothermal Carbonization of Biomass for Electrochemical Energy Storage: Parameters, Mechanisms, Electrochemical Performance, and the Incorporation of Transition Metal Dichalcogenide Nanoparticles.

Given the pressing climate and sustainability challenges, shifting industrial processes towards environmentally friendly practices is imperative. Among various strategies, the generation of green, flexible materials combined with efficient reutilization of biomass stands out. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) process as a sustainable approach for developing carbonaceous materials from biomass.

Online headspace monitoring of volatile organic compounds using proton transfer reaction-mass spectrometry: Application to the multiphase atmospheric fate of 2,4-hexadienedial.

Chemical processes in clouds have been suggested to contribute significantly to the mass of organic aerosol particles in the atmosphere. Experimental and theoretical evidence suggest that organic mass production in clouds can be substantial and depends on the concentration of organic precursor compounds available in the gas phase. The present study aims at studying the aqueous phase reactivity of one of these overlooked precursors, i.

A fast and efficient method for the analysis of α-dicarbonyl compounds in aqueous solutions: Development and application.

Among the highly oxygenated species formed in situ in the atmosphere, α-dicarbonyl compounds are the most reactive species, thus contributing to the formation of secondary organic aerosols that affect both air quality and climate. They are ubiquitous in the atmosphere and are easily transferred to the atmospheric aqueous phase due to their high solubility. In addition, α-dicarbonyl compounds are toxic compounds found in food in biochemistry studies as they can be produced endogenously through various pathways and exogenously through the Maillard reaction.

Long-term stable solid concentrated graphene dispersion assisted by a highly aromatic ionic liquid.

Hypothesis: The sonochemical exfoliation of graphite in solution has been demonstrated as a promising and easy technique for producing graphene dispersions. This is usually done in organic solvents and leads to unstable dispersions with very low graphene concentration. Ionic liquids (ILs) represent a versatile and safe alternative to traditional organic solvents.

Textural control of ionosilicas by ionic liquid templating.

Due to their unique self-assembly properties, ionic liquids (ILs) are versatile soft templates for the formation of mesoporous materials. Here, we report the use of ionic liquids as soft templates for the straightforward formation of mesoporous ionosilica phases. Ionosilicas are highly polyvalent functional materials that are constituted of ionic building blocks that are covalently immobilized within a silica hybrid matrix.

Experimental and modeling of tetracycline degradation in water in a flow-through enzymatic monolithic reactor.

In this work, the laccase from Trametes versicolor was immobilized in highly porous silica monoliths (0.6-cm diameter, 0.5-cm length).

When graphene meets ionic liquids: a good match for the design of functional materials.

Graphene is an attractive material that is characterized by its exceptional properties (i.e. electrical, mechanical, thermal, optical, etc.

TiO Suboxide Phases in TiO/C Nanocomposites Engineered by Non-hydrolytic Sol-Gel with Enhanced Electrocatalytic Properties.

We report a non-hydrolytic sol-gel (NHSG) route to engineer original mesoporous TiO@TiO/C nanocomposites. The synthetic approach is straightforward, solvent-free, additive-free, and meets the challenge of atom economy, as it merely involves TiCl and THF in stoichiometric amounts. We found that these nanocomposites present enhanced electrocatalytic properties towards the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in 0.

Genomic DNA PCR analysis to assess xenograft development in mouse mammary gland.

The mouse transplantation model remains the most relevant methodology to assess the functional capacities of mammary cells and is particularly appropriate for investigations regarding mammary stem cells, whatever the species studied. Following xenotransplantation in mice mammary fat pad, the development of the xenograft is commonly evaluated by immunohistology. Here, we present a simple and rapid method to control the species specificity of a xenograft based on genomic DNA PCR amplification.

Self-Limited Grafting of Sub-Monolayers via Diels-Alder Reaction on Glassy Carbon Electrodes: An Electrochemical Insight.

The grafting of molecular monolayers is critical for the functionalization of surfaces. In molecular electrochemistry, the surface modification of electrodes and the way molecules are attached to the electrode surface are highly critical to electron transfers and electrochemical reactions. In this paper, sub-monolayers were covalently grafted onto glassy carbon (GC) electrodes via Diels-Alder cycloaddition with two soluble dienophiles, that is, propargyl bromide and ethynyl ferrocene.

Puberty is a critical window for the impact of diet on mammary gland development in the rabbit.

Background: Nutritional changes can affect future lactation efficiency. In a rabbit model, an obesogenic diet initiated before puberty and pursued throughout pregnancy enhances mammary differentiation, but when started during the neonatal period can cause abnormal mammary development in early pregnancy. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of an unbalanced diet administered during the pubertal period only.

Dehydration of Alginic Acid Cryogel by TiCl vapor: Direct Access to Mesoporous TiO @C Nanocomposites and Their Performance in Lithium-Ion Batteries.

A new strategy for the synthesis of mesoporous TiO @C nanocomposites through the direct mineralization of seaweed-derived alginic acid cryogel by TiCl through a solid/vapor reaction pathway is presented. In this synthesis, alginic acid cryogel can have multiple roles; i) mesoporous template, ii) carbon source, and iii) oxygen source for the TiO precursor, TiCl . The resulting TiO @alginic acid composite was transformed either into pure mesoporous TiO by calcination or into mesoporous TiO @C nanocomposites by pyrolysis.

Impact of exposure to diesel exhaust during pregnancy on mammary gland development and milk composition in the rabbit.

Exposure to fine-particulate air pollution is a major global health concern because it is associated with reduced birth weight and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Here we have investigated the potential for exposure to diesel exhaust during pregnancy to influence mammary gland development and milk composition. Female rabbits were therefore exposed by nose-only inhalation to either diluted diesel exhaust fumes (1 mg/m3) or clean air for 2h/day, 5 days/week, from the 3rd to the 27th days of pregnancy.

Alginic acid aquagel as a template and carbon source in the synthesis of LiTiO/C nanocomposites for application as anodes in Li-ion batteries.

We report here a simple process for the synthesis of LiTiO(LTO)/carbon nanocomposites by a one-pot method using an alginic acid aquagel as a template and carbon source, and lithium acetate and TiO nanoparticles as precursors to the LTO phase. The carbon content can be tuned by adjusting the relative amount of alginic acid. The obtained materials consist of nanosized primary particles of LTO (30 nm) forming micron-sized aggregates covered by well-dispersed carbon (from 3 to 19 wt%).

New approach for immobilization of 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane and TiO nanoparticles into cellulose for BJ1 skin cells proliferation.

In the present study, tosylcellulose (TC) was used as a key intermediate for the selective coupling with 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APTMS) affording amino-propylsilane-grafted tosylcellulose (TC-Si). Solid state C NMR and FT-IR analyses confirmed the coupling and self-condensation of APTMS along TC. The changes in the surface morphology of the functionalized cellulose were identified by SEM imaging.

Rational design of novel water-soluble ampholytic cellulose derivatives.

The development of new biocompatible, biodegradable functionalized biopolymers that can serve as scaffold for tissue regeneration or work as carriers for different bioactive molecules such as drugs, proteins, and enzymes remains a continuous challenge that need to be extensively explored. For this purpose, three water-soluble cellulose derivatives; namely 4(celluloseamino) butyric acid (CABA) 2(celluloseamino) succinic acid (CASA), and 3(celluloseamino) propane sulfonic acids (CAPSA) were synthesized from microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) via esterification with tosyl chloride that was followed by nucleophilic substitution by the proper aminoalkyl acid derivative. The products were characterized by elemental analyses, FTIR, C NMR spectroscopy.

Ethers as Oxygen Donor and Carbon Source in Non-hydrolytic Sol-Gel: One-Pot, Atom-Economic Synthesis of Mesoporous TiO -Carbon Nanocomposites.

Mesoporous TiO -carbon nanocomposites were synthesized using an original non-hydrolytic sol-gel (NHSG) route, based on the reaction of simple ethers (diisopropyl ether or tetrahydrofuran) with titanium tetrachloride. In this atom-economic, solvent-free process, the ether acts not only as an oxygen donor but also as the sole carbon source. Increasing the reaction temperature to 180 °C leads to the decomposition of the alkyl chloride by-product and to the formation of hydrocarbon polymers, which are converted to carbon by pyrolysis under argon.

Expanding the biomass derived chemical space.

Biorefinery aims at the conversion of biomass and renewable feedstocks into fuels and platform chemicals, in analogy to conventional oil refinery. In the past years, the scientific community has defined a number of primary building blocks that can be obtained by direct biomass decomposition. However, the large potential of this "renewable chemical space" to contribute to the generation of value added bio-active compounds and materials still remains unexplored.

Chemical modification of the cocoa shell surface using diazonium salts.

The outer portion of the cocoa bean, also known as cocoa husk or cocoa shell (CS), is an agrowaste material from the cocoa industry. Even though raw CS is used as food additive, garden mulch, and soil conditioner or even burnt for fuel, this biomass material has hardly ever been investigated for further modification. This article proposes a strategy of chemical modification of cocoa shell to add value to this natural material.

[The pathway approach and the coordination of care].

The pathway approach is promoted by health authorities but is still limited by highly technical professional practices and partitioned organisations. Effective coordination requires professionals to put it into practice and the authorities in charge of delivering healthcare to allow it. This evolution must also be combined with closer collaboration with the patient.

Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube/Cellulose Composite: From Aqueous Dispersions to Pickering Emulsions.

A mild and simple way to prepare stable aqueous colloidal suspensions of composite particles made of a cellulosic material (Sigmacell cellulose) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) is reported. These suspensions can be dried and redispersed in water at pH 10.5.

[INFORMATION ABOUT HOSPITALS AND THE ORGANISATION OF THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM: EVALUATION OR CLASSIFICATION? THE USERS' POINT OF VIEW].

Until recently users felt that the French healthcare system was the best in the world and consequently all of the actors, structures and organisations were of a similar level of excellence and competence. Patients were often directed by their general practitioner or by the opinion of their friends and family. This feeling of homogenity of the quality of the hospitals or healthcare professionals has disappeared.

[The user, a stakeholder in the functioning of the hospital].

The French commission for relations with users and the quality of patient management (CruqPC) is a body which favours, in hospitals, the joint perspective of medical staff, nurses, administrative representatives and users regarding issues relating to the reception of users and the quality and safety of care. Its functioning is however disparate. Its place and its missions need to evolve.