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To unveil and shape the molecular connectivity in (metallo)porphyrin–carbon nanotube hybrids are of main relevance for the multiple medicinal, photoelectronic, catalytic, and photocatalytic applications of these materials. Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were modified through 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions with azomethine ylides generated in situ and carrying pentafluorophenyl groups, followed by immobilization of the β-amino-tetraphenylporphyrinate Zn(II). The functionalities were confirmed via XPS and FTIR, whereas Raman spectroscopy showed disruptions on the graphitic carbon nanotube surface upon both steps. The functionalization extension, measured via TGA mass loss and corroborated via XPS, was 0.2 mmol·g−1. Photophysical studies attest to the presence of the different porphyrin–carbon nanotube connectivity in the nanohybrid. Significantly different emission spectra and fluorescence anisotropy of 0.15–0.3 were observed upon variation of excitation wavelength. Vis-NIR absorption and flash photolysis experiments showed energy/charge transfer in the photoactivated nanohybrid. Moreover, evidence was found for direct reaction of amino groups with a carbon nanotube surface in the presence of molecular dipoles such as the zwitterionic sarcosine amino acid.

The increasing use of photoselective nets (PNs) raises the question of their influence on pollen traits. We aimed to evaluate the effect of PNs (yellow, pearl, and grey) on the pollen of ‘Matua’ and ‘Tomuri’ Actinidia deliciosa cultivars. The pollen size and the exine were studied with a light microscopy and a scanning electron microscopy, and the fertility was analysed by a viability assay and in vitro germination. The total soluble proteins (TSPs) and sugars (TSSs) were quantified by colorimetric assays. The molecular structure of the pollen grain’s wall was analysed by a Raman spectroscopy. The pollen from the plants under the PNs had a larger width and area and a lower germination rate. No significant changes were observed in the exine’s microperforations. The TSP and TSS contents were influenced by the cultivar and PNs (particularly the pearl PN). The Raman spectra of the pollen from the plants grown under the nets presented some bands that significantly shifted from their original position, indicating differences in the vibration modes of the molecules, but no overall changes at their structural or organisation level were found. Our study showed that the PNs could influence several pollen traits, with the pearl PN inducing greater modifications. Our results also support the idea that cultivars affect the outcome of some characteristics.

Critical raw materials, such as graphite and lithium metal oxides (LMOs), with a high supply risk and high economic importance are present in spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). The recovery and recycling of these critical raw materials from LIBs will contribute to the circular economy model, reduce the environmental footprint associated with the mining of these materials, and lower their high supply risk. The main aim of this paper is to present a separation process to recover graphite from black mass (BM) from spent LIB. Simultaneously, LMO and copper (Cu) and aluminum (Al) foils were also recovered as by-products from the process. The process used a combination of simple and/or low environmental footprint technologies, such as sieving, sink-float, citric acid leaching, and milling through ultrasound and soft attrition, to allow separation of the LIB valuable components. Three graphite-rich products (with purities ranging between 74 and 88 wt.% total carbon and a combined yield of 14 wt.%) with three different sizes (<25 µm, <45 µm, and <75 µm), Cu and Al foil fragments, and an LMO-rich precipitate product are delivered. The developed process is simple, using low temperatures and weak acids, and using affordable and scalable equipment available in the market. Its advantage over other LIB recycling processes is that it can be implemented, so to speak, “in your backyard”.

In this study, we propose a predictive model for maceral discrimination based on Raman spectroscopic analyses of dispersed organic matter. Raman micro-spectroscopy was coupled with optical and Rock-Eval pyrolysis analyses on a set of seven samples collected from Mesozoic and Cenozoic successions of the Outer sector of the Carpathian fold and thrust belt. Organic petrography and Rock-Eval pyrolysis evidence a type II/III kerogen with complex organofacies composed by the coal maceral groups of the vitrinite, inertinite, and liptinite, while thermal maturity lies at the onset of the oil window spanning between 0.42 and 0.61 Ro%. Micro-Raman analyses were performed, on approximately 30–100 spectra per sample but only for relatively few fragments was it possible to perform an optical classification according to their macerals group. A multivariate statistical analysis of the identified vitrinite and inertinite spectra allows to define the variability of the organofacies and develop a predictive PLS-DA model for the identification of vitrinite from Raman spectra. Following the first attempts made in the last years, this work outlines how machine learning techniques have become a useful support for classical petrography analyses in thermal maturity assessment.

Scarlet fever is essentially a childhood disease, although it may occur in all ages. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential in preventing the spread of infection and progression to life-threatening complications. The case presented describes the clinical difficulty in the diagnosis of scarlet fever in an adult patient with acute involvement of the airway (oedematous laryngitis) and the need for emergent orotracheal intubation and eventually tracheotomy. A high degree of suspicion related to the airway involvement is of utmost importance in an emergency room setting.

In a forensic investigation, the analysis of earth materials such as sediments and soils have been used as evidence at a court of law, relying on the study of properties such as color, particle size distribution and mineral identification, among others. In addition, the analysis of the organic composition of sediments and soils is of particular value, since these can be used as complementary independent evidence to the inorganic component. To investigate the usefulness of organic indicators in sediment characterization and discrimination, seventy-seven samples were collected during a period of one year in two river beaches located at the southern bank of the Douro River estuary in the North of Portugal. Isotopes of total carbon, pollen and plant wax-marker analyses were performed. In both beaches, an increase of the organic matter concentrations was noticeable, moving landward, related with the higher cover of associated plant material. The results obtained showed that the combination of all the techniques adopted showed a clear discrimination between samples from the two beaches, and also showed a differentiation of samples in relation to distance from the river in both beaches. The results also show that seasonality in these beaches was not a determining factor for discrimination, at the times considered. In addition, the effects of time was not marked.

Cigarettes are part of a collection of objects found everywhere and smoked by a large part of the population. Cigarette butts can be an essential piece of evidence in identifying a certain suspect/witness, as they can suggest the positive identification or exclusion of one or more brands by comparison or even DNA analysis. The main objective of this study is to test the capability of Handheld X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (HHXRF) to analyze the elemental concentration of individual cigarette ash of several tobacco brands and investigate if it is further possible to discriminate the different brands based on their ash’s elemental concentration. This study reveals the capability of HHXRF to discriminate tobacco brands based on their ashes' elemental concentration, with the great advantage of the analyses being non-destructive and can be carried out on a small sample. In addition, this equipment can measure the ash's elemental concentrations on-site, allowing for less contamination and sample loss. •Handheld X-ray fluorescence (HHXRF) is a non-destructive technique.•HHXRF can discriminate tobacco brands based on their ashes' elemental concentration.•This technique is suitable to use on-site with less contamination and sample loss.•Minor elements are important to discriminate and cluster the different cigarettes.

[...]coal combustion fly ashes are considered to be potential sources of Al, Na, Ge, Ga, Li, REE and yttrium [4, 5], while the extraction of ferrous and nonferrous metals and glass from municipal solid waste ashes has been a common practice since the 1990s [6]. [8] reminds us that while being a potential secondary raw material, coal fly ash is still a material whose landfilling or utilization must take into consideration hazardous elements such as radionuclides hosted in coal minerals like uraninite, monazite and zircon, which end up concentrated in fly ash. Many coal-burning power plants will close in the near future in Europe and the U.S. due to CO2 regulations and the energy transition, and a shortage in coal fly ash has already been announced [12]. [...]a more rational and better use of coal fly in concrete is a topic of increasing interest, and the paper by Haustein and Kuryłowicz-Cudowska [10] demonstrates that investigations to improve concrete strength and decrease its porosity can still be made via characterization with advanced techniques and the use of specific size-fractions of fly ash microspheres.

This reflection is situated in the area of ​​studies on academic writing, in which Graça Pinto investigates with benefit to all of us, her students. Knowing that, as Coutinho (2019, p.83) says, “knowledge does not have an effective existence apart from the linguistic and textual condition that configures it,” it is worth knowing the texts through which students textualize their knowledge in a university context, an area in which Graça Pinto has occupied part of her research work, focusing on the study of how students express, in text, what they have learned, reformulating and retextualizing this knowledge (Pinto, 2014). Graça Pinto's option combines, with the desire to investigate the writing that is produced in higher education, the concern to intervene, improving the student performance.

Textile supercapacitors (TESCs) are an emerging energy storage solution to power smart gadgets integrated on clothes. Herein, efficient solid-state TESCs with different active areas (2–8 cm2) were produced based on cotton fabrics coated with industrial grade multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as electrodes and a safe polyelectrolyte. The textile electrodes were fabricated by an optimized eco-friendly scalable dip-pad-dry process. The lowest electrical resistance (2.62 Ω cm−2) and most uniform coating of the electrodes were achieved using 10 mg mL−1 CNTs dispersion and 8 dip-pad-dry steps. The TESCs exhibited a specific capacitance of 8.01 F g−1 (9.18 F cm−2) and high cyclability (5000 cycles). The energy and power densities were tuned by changing the electrode area: the largest TESC presented the highest energy density of 6.30 Wh kg−1, which was 14× higher than those of other EDLC-type carbon-based TESCs reported in the literature; the smallest TESC presented the highest power density of 2.72 kW kg−1, being 49× higher than the values reported for comparable systems. Finally, a sensor was powered for 47 min by coupling two TESCs in series (14 cm2). This work demonstrated the ability to produce efficient TESCs using industrial grade MWCNTs by processes implemented in the Textile Industry, boosting technological transfer for high-tech applications.