Thioether-NHC bidentate manganese complexes as efficient phosphine-free catalysts for hydrogenation at room temperature.

A series of four original phosphine-free thioether-NHC manganese complexes have been synthesised and fully characterized. These complexes have been applied as efficient catalysts for the hydrogenation of alkenes and ketones at room temperature, with low catalyst loadings (TON up to 900).

Direct and indirect effects of pesticide exposure on the gut microbiota of a farmland raptor.

Recent studies in humans have shown that certain pesticides could affect the composition and functions of the gut microbiota, an essential modulator of vertebrate physiology, leading to potential dysbiosis. However, this relationship remains largely unknown in wild birds despite the implications of pesticides in the current decline of farmland species. The present study sought to fill this gap by providing data on the association between pesticide concentrations in blood and gut microbiota characteristics in relation to individual traits in a farmland raptor, the Montagu's harrier (Circus pygargus).

Ultrasonic chemical synthesis of zinc-manganese ferrites with improved magnetic properties.

Zinc-Manganese spinel ferrites (ZnMnFeO) are nowadays very attractive magnetic materials for cancer diagnostic and therapy. With the help of intense ultrasonic waves, sonochemical synthesis method was used to prepare stoichiometric and chemically homogenous nanoparticles by varying the manganese content. The crystal structure along with the size and shape of the as-prepared nanoparticles were described using XRD, TEM and FT-IR techniques, while cations distribution was carefully investigated using XPS and Mössbauer spectroscopic techniques and supported with density functional theory calculations.

First evidence of age-dependent decreases in non-persistent pesticide mixtures in nestlings of a farmland raptor.

Intensive use of synthetic pesticides in conventional agriculture may harm non-target organisms through sublethal effects on life-history traits. Farmland birds are exposed throughout their life cycle, but the fate of non-persistent pesticide mixtures in wild birds remains unknown. In this study, we investigated changes in pesticide contamination levels in Montagu's harrier (Circus pygargus) nestlings during their growth.

Comparison of pesticide contamination between captive-reared and wild grey partridges: insights into environmental exposure disparities.

Pesticide contamination is often cited as a key factor in the global decline of farmland birds. However, the majority of studies on pesticide exposure in non-target fauna are not representative of what happens in nature because they are limited to artificial conditions. The aim of this study was to define and compare, for the first time, pesticide contamination in grey partridges (Perdix perdix) from two different contexts, i.

Exploiting Lignin Structure and Reactivity to Design Vitrimers with Controlled Ratio of Dynamic to Non-Dynamic Bonds.

Lignin is an abundant biobased feedstock, representing the first source of renewable aromatic structures. Thanks to its high functionality in aliphatic hydroxyls (Al-OH), phenolic hydroxyls (Ph-OH) and carboxylic acids (COOH), lignin is an attractive precursor to crosslinked polymer materials. Different biobased macromolecular architectures can be designed from lignins, whose end-of-life should also be considered in the context of a circular bioeconomy.

A toolbox for enzymatic modification of nucleic acids with photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an approved cancer treatment modality. Despite its high efficiency, PDT is limited in terms of specificity and by the poor solubility of the rather lipophilic photosensitizers (PSs). In order to alleviate these limitations, PSs can be conjugated to oligonucleotides.

Tailoring the pore structure of iron oxide core@stellate mesoporous silica shell nanocomposites: effects on MRI and magnetic hyperthermia properties and applicability to anti-cancer therapies.

Core-shell nanocomposites made of iron oxide core (IO NPs) coated with mesoporous silica (MS) shells are promising theranostic agents. While the core is being used as an efficient heating nanoagent under alternating magnetic field (AMF) and near infra-red (NIR) light and as a suitable contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the MS shell is particularly relevant to ensure colloidal stability in a biological buffer and to transport a variety of therapeutics. However, a major challenge with such inorganic nanostructures is the design of adjustable silica structures, especially with tunable large pores which would be useful, for instance, for the delivery of large therapeutic biomolecule loading and further sustained release.

Enhancing cellular affinity for skin disorders: Electrospun polyurethane/collagen nanofiber mats coated with phytoceramides.

Although the use of thermoplastic polyurethane (Tpu) nanofiber mats as wound dressings is of great interest due to their mechanical properties, they are hindered by their poor wettability and bioavailability. In this study, we aimed to improve the cellular affinity of Tpu nanofiber mats for skin disorders by incorporating extracted collagen (Col) from tendons and physically mixed with a layer of phytoceramides (Phyto) to produce TpuCol@X-Phyto mats in which the weight % of Phyto relatively to the weight of the solution was X = 0.5, 1.

Benign and Selective Amination of Lignins towards Aromatic Biobased Building Blocks with Primary Amines.

Lignin is a widely available second-generation biopolymer and the main potential source of renewable aromatic building blocks. Lignin-based polyamines offer great potential in applications based on chemical and materials sciences. However, common aminations techniques for lignin usually involve toxic chemicals and generate hindered and low reactivity amines.

Controlling conjugated polymer morphology by precise oxygen position in single-ether side chains.

Recently, polar side chains have emerged as a functional tool to enhance conjugated polymer doping properties by improving the polymer miscibility with polar chemical dopants and facilitate solvated ion uptake. In this work, we design and investigate a novel family of side chains containing a single ether function, enabling the modulation of the oxygen atom position along the side chain. A meticulous investigation of this new polymer series by differential scanning calorimetry, fast scanning chip calorimetry and X-ray scattering shows that polymers bearing single-ether side chains can show high degree of crystallinity under proper conditions.

Unveiling Key Interface Characteristics of Ni/Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia Solid Oxide Cell Electrodes in HO Electroreduction Using Operando X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy.

Nickel/yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) composites are the most commonly used fuel electrodes for solid oxide cells. While microstructural changes of Ni/YSZ during operational conditions have been thoroughly investigated, there is limited knowledge regarding Ni/YSZ surface chemistry under working conditions. In this study, we examine the interaction between Ni/YSZ electrodes and water vapor under open circuit and polarization conditions, utilizing near ambient pressure soft and hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopies.

Organic farming reduces pesticide load in a bird of prey.

Human activities have led to the contamination of all environmental compartments worldwide, including bird species. In birds, both the environment and maternal transfer lead to high inter-brood variability in contamination levels of pollutants, whereas intra-brood variability is generally low. However, most existing studies focused on heavy metals or persistent compounds and none, to our knowledge, addressed the variability in contamination levels of multiple pesticides and the factors influencing it.

Smart chitosan nanogel for targeted doxorubicin delivery, ensuring precise release, and minimizing side effects in Ehrlich ascites carcinoma-bearing mice.

In recent decades, bio-polymeric nanogels have become a forefront in medical research as innovative in-vivo drug carriers. This study introduces a pH-sensitive chitosan nanoparticles/P(N-Isopropylacrylamide-co-Acrylic acid) nanogel (CSNPs/P(NIPAm-co-AAc)), making significant advancements. The nanogel effectively encapsulated doxorubicin hydrochloride (Dx.

Synthesis of Cross-Linked and Sterilized Water-Soluble Electrospun Nanofiber Biomatrix of Streptomycin-Imbedded PVA/CHN/β-CD for Wound Healing.

The diagnosis and prognosis of chronic wounds are demanding and require objective assessment. Because of their potential medicinal applications, the syntheses of biopolymeric chitosan (CHN) structure and PVA-based mixed electrospun nanofibers with biomimetic features were thoroughly investigated. This study created different formulas, including a guest molecule and capping agent, using supporting PVA as a vehicle.

No-observed-adverse-effect-level (NOAEL) assessment as an optimized dose of cholinesterase reactivators for the treatment of exposure to warfare nerve agents in mice.

Despite the international convention on the prohibition of chemical weapons ratified in 1997, the threat of conflicts and terrorist attacks involving such weapons still exists. Among these, organophosphorus-nerve agents (OPs) inhibit cholinesterases (ChE) causing cholinergic syndrome. The reactivation of these enzymes is therefore essential to protect the poisoned people.

Synthesis and Assessment of Novel Sustainable Antioxidants with Different Polymer Systems.

Antioxidants are essential to the polymer industry. The addition of antioxidants delays oxidation and material degradation during their processing and usage. Sustainable phenolic acids such as 4-hydroxybenzoic acid or 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid were selected.

Evaluation of the Hydrophilic/Hydrophobic Balance of 13X Zeolite by Adsorption of Water, Methanol, and Cyclohexane as Pure Vapors or as Mixtures.

Adsorption isotherms of pure vapors and vapor mixtures of water, methanol, and cyclohexane were studied using a synthesized 13X zeolite (FAU topology), by means of a DVS gravimetric vapor analyzer. These results were validated by GCMC calculations. The surface chemistry of the adsorbent was characterized by the thermodesorption of ammonia, and its textural properties were studied using nitrogen physisorption.

Spontaneous Modulation Doping in Semi-Crystalline Conjugated Polymers Leads to High Conductivity at Low Doping Concentration.

The possibility to control the charge carrier density through doping is one of the defining properties of semiconductors. For organic semiconductors, the doping process is known to come with several problems associated with the dopant compromising the charge carrier mobility by deteriorating the host morphology and/or introducing Coulomb traps. While for inorganic semiconductors these factors can be mitigated through (top-down) modulation doping, this concept has not been employed in organics.

Heterogeneous Oriented Structure model of thermoelectric transport in conducting polymers.

Understanding transport phenomena in conducting polymers (CP) is a main issue in order to optimize their performance and despite intense investigations, the influence of their microstructure remains controversial. By analyzing the thermoelectric measurements performed on highly oriented and non-oriented CP films, we show that an Heterogeneous Oriented Structure (HOSt) model considering both ordered and disordered domains is able to account for the thermoelectric transport in CP. This model unveils the key role of the crystallinity, the anisotropy and the alignment degree of these domains.

Direct Evidence of Dynamic Metal Support Interactions in Co/TiO Catalysts by Near-Ambient Pressure X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy.

The interaction between metal particles and the oxide support, the so-called metal-support interaction, plays a critical role in the performance of heterogenous catalysts. Probing the dynamic evolution of these interactions under reactive gas atmospheres is crucial to comprehending the structure-performance relationship and eventually designing new catalysts with enhanced properties. Cobalt supported on TiO (Co/TiO) is an industrially relevant catalyst applied in Fischer-Tropsch synthesis.