108 research outputs found
Atmospheric pressure plasma treatment of polyurethane foams for heavy metals removal from water
No full textPlasma‐Based Technologies for Halide Perovskite Photovoltaics
No full textPlasma-based technologies are at the frontier of material processing for several applications, from packaging to agronomy to photovoltaics. These processes allow for a fine-tuning of material properties by engineering deposition, interaction with the substrate, and final surface characteristics at the atomistic level. As metal halide perovskite (MHP) solar cells enter the path toward commercialization, plasma processing can be seen as a powerful material manipulation tool already settled within industrially relevant procedures. In this perspective, the impact that these methods can have on different aspects of perovskite solar cells technology is envisioned, focusing on the direct interaction between plasma and MHPs. The use of plasma processes is foreseen for the deposition or crystallization of MHPs films, for treating their surface, as well as for the creation of suitable coatings either on top of perovskite layer and/or as encapsulants of the whole solar converting devices
Roman Marble Collections in the Earth Sciences Museum of the University of Bari (Italy): A Valuable Heritage to Support Provenance Studies
No full textThe Earth Sciences Museum of the University of Bari (Italy) boasts the presence of a precious and complete nineteenth-century collection of white marbles and colored stones used by the Romans to embellish their buildings and, afterward, reuse in new buildings and artworks for their high symbolic and aesthetic value. This collection, arranged by Francesco and Filippo Belli, consists of 577 samples and a printed inventory and other documents, which allowed to reconstruct the history of the collection. Another collection of 29 marble samples was donated to the museum in 2010 by the Armenise family. Both collections represent a very useful reference tool in provenance studies for marble pieces at the archaeological and artistic sites and for samples of other collections. The systematic organization of these collections and their sharing among scholars, especially through the web network, is clearly essential. The work presented here focuses on the most recent discoveries about Belli’s collection, on the results of the identification of Armenise’s marbles and stones, and above all, on the actions undertaken in recent years in order to valorize this museum’s heritage. Specifically, both collections were reorganized following novel insights about lithotypes and the provenance of each sample, a detailed database including data on each sample was created, and a website reporting information and images of the two collections was built in order to guarantee the correct dissemination of data
The effect of different cold atmospheric plasma sources and treatment modalities on the generation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species in water
No full textReactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) can be generated in liquids by different cold plasma processes. These species can influence cell biology and pathological states, and trigger wound healing, disinfection, and cancer treatments. The optimization of plasma sources' configurations and experimental conditions is fundamental to dose‐produced RONS in liquids. This research is a case study comparing RONS generation (H2O2 and NO2−) in water, after exposure to two different atmospheric pressure cold dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma sources: a plasma jet‐DBD and a planar‐ DBD operating in contact with the liquid and in remote, respectively. The data demonstrate that the reactor geometry and the treatment modality strongly impact the generation of the active species in water
„Wylewy w pustkę”. Korespondencja Stanisława Vincenza z Kazimierzem Wierzyńskim w perspektywie intymistycznej
No full textThe main purpose of the article is to show the specificity of Stanisław Vincenz’s epistolary art from the perspective of intimism. The author introduces the nature of editorial work, presents the role of correspondence in the life of the author of Połonina, and outlines the numerous thematic areas of his letters. The commentary is also a kind of introduction to the correspondence of Stanisław Vincenz and Kazimierz Wierzyński, which spanned the years 1954–1956. The editorial treatment of the letters was based on photocopies from the Polish Library in London and the Stanisław Vincenz Archive at the Ossoliński National Institute in Wrocław.Głównym celem artykułu jest ukazanie specyfiki sztuki epistolarnej Stanisława Vincenza w ujęciu intymistycznym. Autorka przybliża charakter pracy edytorskiej, przedstawia rolę korespondencji w życiu autora „Połoniny” oraz nakreśla liczne zakresy tematyczne pisanych przez niego listów. Komentarz stanowi także swoisty wstęp do lektury korespondencji Stanisława Vincenza i Kazimierza Wierzyńskiego obejmującej lata 1954–1956. Opracowanie edytorskie listów zostało przygotowane na podstawie fotokopii pochodzących z Biblioteki Polskiej w Londynie oraz Archiwum Stanisława Vincenza w Zakładzie Narodowym im. Ossolińskich we Wrocławiu
Biodegradable carbon-based ashes/maize starch composite films for agricultural applications
No full textThe aim of this work is the development and characterization of biodegradable thermoplastic recycled carbon ashes/maize starch (TPAS) composite films for agricultural applications. A proper plasticizer, that is, glycerol, was added to a commercial maize starch in an amount of 35 wt. %. Carbon-based ashes were produced by the biomass pyro-gasification plant CMD ECO 20, starting from lignocellulosic wastes. The ashes were added to glycerol and maize native starch at different amounts ranging from 7 wt. % to 21 wt. %. The composite was mixed at 130 ffiC for 10 min and then molded. The effect of the different amounts of carbon based ashes on the thermal and physical-mechanical properties of the composite was assessed by using several techniques, such as rheology, wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), moisture absorption, degradation and mechanical tests. The presence of the carbon waste ashes allows to improve thermal and durability performances of the thermoplastic starch (TPS) films. It reduces the water absorption of starch matrix and strongly decreases the deterioration of starch, independently from fillers amount, enhancing the lifetime of the TPS films in outdoor conditions. In addition, the waste carbon ashes/maize starch films present an advantage in comparison to those of neat starch; it can biodegrade, releasing the plant nutrients contained in the ashes into the soil. In conclusion, this approach for recycling carbon waste ashes increases the efficiency of industrial waste management, along with a reduction of its impact on the environment
Topographical modification of titanium using diatom biosilica to promote human mesenchymal stem cell proliferation and osteogenic differentiation
No full textSilica-based biomaterials have gained significant attention in the fields of orthopedics and dentistry due to their favorable properties that promote bone regeneration and integration. Techniques such as surface coatings or functionalization can be applied to silica-based biomaterials to further enhance the biological interactions with various composites and hybrid systems, enhancing the properties of polymers, ceramics, and metals used in implants. Diatoms microalgae are fascinating organisms that provide an innovative approach to source silica-based materials sustainably. Diatom-derived biosilica has been proved to be valuable for applications in various fields such as catalysis, drug delivery, environmental remediation. This study explores the potential of Navicula (N.) pelliculosa, a benthic diatom, to self-assemble on smooth titanium (Ti) surfaces. This self-adhesion phenomenon and subsequent topographical modification of the titanium surface are exploited to enhance the growth and osteogenic differentiation of hMSCs. By culturing hMSCs on titanium surfaces that have been nanotextured with the hierarchical silica texture of N. pelliculosa, increase in calcium deposition is observed within the extracellular matrix, along with elevated collagen production and upregulation of RUNX2, SP7, and COL1A1. These results indicate that the diatom's structure may serve as an effective bioactive interface to facilitate stem cell behavior and promote bone tissue engineering
Nanostructured iron oxide thin films deposited by RF sputtering as catalysts for the heterogeneous solar photo-Fenton reaction
No full textNanostructured iron oxide coatings have been deposited by plasma sputtering by different approaches, with and without thermal annealing, with the aim of preparing supported catalysts for solar photo-Fenton. Depending on the experimental conditions explored (O2 content in the feed, annealing or bilayer approach) the phase composition of iron oxide changes and the surface nanostructure as well. The evaluation of methylene blue degradation in photo-Fenton reaction indicates a good performance of the investigated materials. Degradation percentage between 84 and 97% have been obtained in 180 min with a constant reaction rate as high as 18.0 × 10−3 min−1, with the best result for a bilayer sample obtained without thermal annealing. This preliminary investigation highlights that the photoactivity of the coatings is related not only to the content of α-Fe2O3, but also to the presence of developed nanostructures on the coating surface, making the material more active. The proposed method for producing supported catalyst based on photo-Fenton reaction is straightforward, and the possibility to reuse the catalyst up to ten reaction cycles is demonstrated
Castles of Pearls, Cuts in the Intestines: Preliminary Observations on Metaphors of Emotions in Korean Kinyǒ Poetry
No full textThis article is part of a broader research project on «Emotions and States of Minds in East Asia, through Textual Analysis», led and coordinated by Prof. Paolo Santangelo of Naples University «L’Orientale». The final product of this project will appear in an Encyclopedia of Emotions and States of Minds. The article has been presented in a slightly modified form during an International Conference on «Perceptions of Bodily Sensations and Emotions in South and East Asian Cultures», held at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice on 27-28 May, 2004. The poems included in this article are part of a sijo (short poems in vernacular Korean) and hansi (poetry in Classical Chinese) anthology of kisaeng’s poetry entitled Canti dal padiglione azzurro (Songs from the Blue Pavillion, Armando Caramanica Editore, 2005) compiled, annotated and translated into Italian by the author
Intymistyka Stanisława Vincenza w perspektywie tekstologiczno-edytorskiej
No full textConsidering the legacy of Stanisław Vincenz as the literature of a personal document leads to isolating three groups of texts. While the memoires of his friends are journalistic or literary in character, the writer’s correspondence reveals a private dialogue. The third group is made up of Dialogues with the Soviets, an interview conducted by John Marbach and the notes of his second wife, Irena Vincenz, published in “Regiony” magazine as Conversations with Stanisław Vincenz. Vincenz’s texts are marked by restraint, which results from both the poetics of letters, lectures and soliloquies, as well as the practice of dictating the majority of his epistolary statements to his wife. This mediation changed the communicative situation: it introduced a witness, listener and co-author of the letter (a second subject). The most complete reflection of the writer’s personality, registering a wide range of emotions, are also the double-subjective notes of Irena Vincenz and the mixed-genre drafts in which the stream of workshop materials blends with diary notes. The study of Vincenz’s expressed intimacy requires the recognition of subjectivity in individual texts, their situational contexts and material representation, and, above all, the reservoir of written records. The analysis of messages and the reconstruction of writing practices and authorial habits allows for accurate description of the history of a particular artifact: such way of conduct is identical to the assumptions of the anthropology of writing, but it promises the best results in a textological and editorial perspective.Rozpatrywanie spuścizny Stanisława Vincenza w kategoriach literatury dokumentu osobistego prowadzi do wyodrębnienia trzech grup tekstów. Wspomnienia przyjaciół mają charakter publicystyczny albo literacki, korespondencja pisarza odsłania prywatny dialog. Trzecią grupę tworzą Dialogi z Sowietami, interview przeprowadzony przez Johna Marbacha oraz zapiski drugiej żony, Ireny Vincenzowej, ogłoszone w „Regionach” jako Rozmowy ze Stanisławem Vincenzem. Teksty Vincenza naznaczone są powściągliwością, co wynika zarówno z poetyki listów, wykładów czy solilokwiów, jak i praktyki dyktowania żonie większości wypowiedzi epistolarnych. To pośrednictwo zmieniało sytuację komunikacyjną: wprowadzało świadka, słuchacza i współtwórcę/współautora listu (drugi podmiot). Najpełniejszym odbiciem osobowości pisarza, rejestrującym szeroką skalę emocji, są również dwupodmiotowe zapiski Ireny Vincenzowej oraz zmieszane gatunkowo bruliony, w których strumień materiałów warsztatowych zlewa się z notatkami diariuszowymi. Badanie Vincenzowskiej intymności wyrażonej wymaga rozpoznania podmiotowości w poszczególnych tekstach, ich kontekstów sytuacyjnych i materialnego upostaciowania oraz – przede wszystkim – zasobu utrwaleń zapisowych. Analiza przekazów i rekonstrukcja praktyk piśmiennych i nawyków autorskich pozwala na trafne opisanie dziejów konkretnego artefaktu – takie postępowanie tożsame jest z założeniami antropologii pisma, lecz najlepsze efekty obiecuje w perspektywie tekstologiczno-edytorskiej
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