A Comparative Density Functional Theory Study of Hydrogen Storage in Cellulose and Chitosan Functionalized by Transition Metals (Ti, Mg, and Nb).

The focus of this work is hydrogen storage in pristine cellulose, chitosan, and cellulose. Chitosan doped with magnesium, titanium, and niobium is analyzed using spin unrestricted plane-wave density functional theory implemented in the Dmol3 module. The results of this study demonstrate that hydrogen interaction with pure cellulose and chitosan occurred in the gas phase, with an adsorption energy of Eb = 0.095 eV and 0.090 eV for cellulose and chitosan, respectively. Additionally, their chemical stability was determined as Eb= 4.63 eV and Eb = 4.720 eV for pure cellulose and chitosan, respectively, by evaluating their band gap. Furthermore, the presence of magnesium, titanium, and niobium on cellulose and chitosan implied the transfer of an electron from metal to cellulose and chitosan. Moreover, our calculations predict that cellulose doped with niobium is the most favorable medium where 6H2 molecules are stored compared with molecules stored in niobium-doped chitosan with Tmax = 818 K to release all H2 molecules. Furthermore, our findings showed that titanium-doped cellulose has a storage capacity of five H2 molecules, compared to a storage capacity of four H2 molecules in titanium-doped chitosan. However, magnesium-doped cellulose and chitosan have insufficient hydrogen storage capacity, with only two H2 molecules physisorbed in the gas phase. These results suggest that niobium-doped cellulose and chitosan may play a crucial role in the search for efficient and inexpensive hydrogen storage media.

Effect of silylating agents on the superhydrophobic and self-cleaning properties of siloxane/polydimethylsiloxane nanocomposite coatings on cellulosic fabric filters for oil-water separation.

A new facile approach for preparing two nonfluorinated hybrid organic-inorganic siloxane/polydimethylsiloxane nanocomposite coatings for cotton fabrics is presented using two distinct silylating agents. The first coated fabric was prepared predominantly via trimethylsilyl modification using hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) while higher amounts of trimethoxy(octadecyl)silane (TMOS) further enhanced the superhydrophobicity of the second coating matrix. Unlike HMDS with substituted silyl (Me3Si) groups, TMOS consists of hydrolysable trimethoxy silyl ((MeO)3Si) chemical groups that allowed for the formation of nanosilica with Si-O-Si linkages needed to foster stable coatings. After characterization and testing, these coated fabrics demonstrated varying responses to harsh solvents and thermal conditions. Both sets of coated fabrics exhibited unique capacities for self-cleaning and oil-water separation as superhydrophobic filters due to (a) their low surface energy silylated hybrid polysiloxane chemical groups, (b) their highly reduced surface wettability and (c) nanopatterned surface morphologies. In this study, coated superhydrophobic cotton fabrics revealed a higher static aqueous contact angle of more than 150° and sliding hysteresis angle of less than 5°. Coated fabrics with 30 mg TMOS/10 mg HMDS (CMF3) and 30 mg HMDS/10 mg TMOS (CTF3) exhibited optimal superhydrophobicity. Both fabrics also retained percentage separation efficiencies over 90% for both chloroform-water and toluene-water mixtures. However, CTF3 displayed with a recorded separation efficiency less than 90° after five filtration cycles.

Tailoring the capability of carbon nitride (C3N) nanosheets toward hydrogen storage upon light transition metal decoration.

To nurture the full potential of hydrogen (H2) as a clean energy carrier, its efficient storage under ambient conditions is of great importance. Owing to the potential of material-based H2 storage as a promising option, we have employed here first principles density functional theory calculations to study the H2 storage properties of recently synthesized C3N monolayers. Despite possessing fascinating structural and mechanical properties C3N monolayers weakly bind H2 molecules. However, our van der Waals corrected simulations revealed that the binding properties of H2 on C3N could be enhanced considerably by suitable Sc and Ti doping. The stabilities of Sc and Ti dopants on a C3N surface has been verified by means of reaction barrier calculations and ab initio molecular dynamics simulations. Upon doping with C3N, the existence of partial positive charges on both Sc and Ti causes multiple H2 molecules to bind to the dopants through electrostatic interactions with adsorption energies that are within an ideal range. A drastically high H2 storage capacity of 9.0 wt% could be achieved with two-sided Sc/Ti doping that ensures the promise of C3N as a high-capacity H2 storage material.

Comparison of Para-Selles Bailenger/Kop-Color Fumouze, Para-Selles-Iodésine/Kop-Color II Fumouze diagnostic kits with conventional microscopic methods in identifying intestinal parasitic diseases in Senegal.

In the context of controlling intestinal parasites, accurate diagnosis is essential. Our objective was to evaluate the performance of new diagnostic kits compared to conventional microscopic methods in identifying intestinal parasites. Faeces collected in rural area in Senegal were subjected to several detection techniques. Thus, the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of new diagnostic techniques were compared to conventional merthiolate-iodine-formalin, conventional Bailenger and modified Ritchie. Furthermore, the kappa coefficient was calculated to evaluate the correlation between the new kit and those of modified Ritchie. Out of the 117 patients examined, 102 presented with a parasite, or prevalence of 87.1%. The Fumouze techniques proved to be as effective as the conventional methods in detecting flagellates and helminths with sensitivities ranging from 97 to 100%. However, conventional techniques were slightly more sensitive in identifying Endolimax nana and Blastocystis hominis. The correlation was nearly perfect (k = 0.83 and 1), respectively between Bailenger Fumouze, Iodesine Fumouze and modified Ritchie in identifying helminths while it was just acceptable (k = 0.27 and 0.28) in identifying B. hominis. The modified Ritchie technique routinely used in our laboratory remains a good diagnostic tool. However, the use of kit techniques was interesting when reading the pellet after concentration and the Colour KOP staining was a considerable contribution to the diagnosis of the vegetative forms. Therefore, it would be interesting to determine the cost of a stool test using Fumouze kit techniques to provide the most cost effective way.

Yellow fever and dengue fever serotype 3 viruses cocirculation in Côte d'Ivoire in 2008

Abstract Aim of study. To describe the emergence of dengue 3 virus in Côte d'Ivoire during a yellow fever outbreak which occurred in 2008. Materials and methods. Sera from suspected cases of yellow fever as well as contacts of yellow fever confirmed cases and imported dengue fever cases were tested for immunoglobulin M (IgM) antiyellow fever virus and anti-dengue virus (for IgM antibodies to yellow fever and dengue viruses) and by a specific real time RT-PCR (Bio-Rad) for yellow fever virus and dengue virus viral RNA detection. Results. Of the 511 sera from suspected cases of yellow fever tested, 21 (4.1%) were confirmed positive for yellow fever virus antibody, while 33 (7.6%) of the 432 sera tested were positive for dengue virus antibody. Thirteen viremic subjects, one for yellow fever virus and 12 for dengue 3 virus, were detected by RT-PCR. The majority of the confirmed cases of yellow fever (85%) and dengue 3 fever (93%)were adults, and resided in the city of Abidjan and its regions. Conclusion. These results indicate the existence of transmission foci of these arboviruses diseases in Cˆote d'Ivoire and the essential contribution of molecular tests for their diagnosis

Prevalence of molecular markers of drug resistance in an area of seasonal malaria chemoprevention in children in Senegal.

BACKGROUND: In sub-Saharan Africa, malaria is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality especially in children. In Senegal, seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) previously referred to as intermittent preventive treatment in children (IPTc) is a new strategy for malaria control in areas of high seasonal transmission. An effectiveness study of SMC, using sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) plus amodiaquine (AQ), was conducted in central Senegal from 2008 to 2010 to obtain information about safety, feasibility of delivery, and cost effectiveness of SMC. Here are report the effect of SMC delivery on the prevalence of markers of resistance to SP and AQ. METHODS: This study was conducted in three health districts in Senegal with 54 health posts with a gradual introduction of SMC. Three administrations of the combination AQ + SP were made during the months of September, October and November of each year in children aged less than 10 years living in the area. Children were surveyed in December of each year and samples (filter paper and thick films) were made in 2008, 2009 and 2010. The prevalence of mutations in the pfdhfr, pfdhps, pfmdr1 and pfcrt genes was investigated by sequencing and RTPCR in samples positive by microscopy for Plasmodium falciparum. RESULTS: Mutations at codon 540 of pfdhps and codon 164 of pfdhfr were not detected in the study. Among children with parasitaemia at the end of the transmission seasons, the CVIET haplotypes of pfcrt and the 86Y polymorphism of pfmdr1 were more common among those that had received SMC, but the number of infections detected was very low and confidence intervals were wide. The overall prevalence of these mutations was lower in SMC areas than in control areas, reflecting the lower prevalence of parasitaemia in areas where SMC was delivered. CONCLUSION: The sensitivity of P. falciparum to SMC drugs should be regularly monitored in areas deploying this intervention. Overall the prevalence of genotypes associated with resistance to either SP or AQ was lower in SMC areas due to the reduced number of parasitaemia individuals.