In this study, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) oxidation was carried out via both the catalytic and the photocatalytic approach. Special attention was devoted to the preparation of the TiO₂-based catalysts, since this oxide has been widely used for catalytic and photocatalytic application in alcohol oxidation reactions. Thus, in the catalytic process, the colloidal heterocoagulation of very stable sols, followed by the spray-freeze-drying (SFD) approach, was successfully applied for the preparation of nanostructured porous TiO₂-SiO₂ mixed-oxides with high surface areas. The versatility of the process made it possible to encapsulate Pt particles and use this material in the liquid-phase oxidation of HMF. The photocatalytic activity of a commercial titania and a homemade oxide prepared with the microemulsion technique was then compared. The influence of gold, base addition, and oxygen content on product distribution in the photocatalytic process was evaluated.

In this work, four different 4 cm²-sized nanostructured Cu-based electrocatalysts have been designed by a one-step electrodeposition process of Cu metal on a three-dimensional carbonaceous membrane. One consisted of Cu⁰, and the other three were obtained by further simple oxidative treatments. Morphological, structural, and electrochemical investigations on the four materials were carried out by scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, linear sweep voltammetry, and potential-controlled electrolysis. All the electrocatalysts showed promising catalytic activities toward CO₂ electroreduction in liquid phase, with a remarkable selectivity toward acetic acid achieved when using the oxidized materials. In particular, the best electrocatalytic activity was observed for the Cu₂O-Cu⁰ catalyst, working at a relatively low potential (−0.4 V vs RHE), which exhibited a stable and low current density of 0.46 mA cm^–2 and a productivity of 308 μmol g_cat^–1 h^–1. These results were attributed to the nanostructured morphology that is characterized by many void spaces and by a high surface area, which should guarantee a large number of Cu^I and Cu⁰ catalytic active sites. Moreover, kinetic analyses and preliminary studies about catalyst regeneration highlighted the stability of the best-performing catalyst.

Infection after insertion of a breast prosthesis is an uncommon but feared complication. Previously reported infection rates vary and include reconstructive and cosmetic patients. We sought to define the infection rate and the presentation of postoperative infection in the patient with aesthetic breast augmentation. A prospective analysis was undertaken of 288 patients who underwent aesthetic breast augmentation with textured silicone gel-filled implants between 1998 and 2002. Patients were monitored for clinical findings of infection, and microbiological analyses were performed for each case of infection. "Early infection" was defined as signs and symptoms of infection beginning 20 days or less post-surgery; "late infection" was defined as all cases with an onset more than 20 days post-surgery. Treatment was classified as antibiotic therapy only, conservative surgical intervention (with or without implant salvage), or implant explantation and replacement. Early infectious complications occurred in 6 of 288 women (2.08%). Late infection complications occurred in 10 of 288 women (3.47%). Late infection occurred more often and was more severe than early infection (P < .05). For the late infection group, the length of time to infection onset was between 20 and 280 days (average, 82 days). The length of time to infection was shown to be bimodal and organism-related. The group of infections caused by Enterobacter species had a significantly longer time of onset (P < .05) than the group caused by Staphylococcus aureus. There is strong evidence that late infections can occur in patients who have undergone aesthetic breast augmentation using textured silicone gel-filled implants. Further studies are needed to determine whether similar late infection rates affect patients with aesthetic breast augmentation who receive saline-filled implants.

Rh-structured catalysts for the catalytic partial oxidation of CH₄ to syngas were prepared by electrosynthesis of Rh-containing hydrotalcite-type (HT) compounds on FeCrAlloy foams followed by calcination at 900 °C. During the calcination the simultaneous decomposition of the layered HT structure and formation of the protective FeCrAlloy outer shell in alumina occurred. Here, we studied the role of the coating-metallic support interaction in the properties of the catalysts after calcination, H₂ reduction, and catalytic tests, by a combination of electron (FEG-SEM/EDS) and synchrotron X-ray (XRF/XRPD and XRF/XANES) microscopic techniques. The characterization of crystalline phases in the metallic support and coating and distribution of Rh active species was carried out on several samples prepared by modifying the Rh content in the electrolytic solution (Rh/Mg/Al = 11.0/70.0/19.0, 5.0/70.0/25.0, 0/70.0/30.0 atomic ratio). A sample was also prepared with no aluminum in the electrolytic solution (Rh/Mg/Al = 13.6/86.4/0.0 atomic ratio) and calcined at 550 and 900 °C. The interaction between the elements of the metallic support and the catalytic coating increased the film adhesion during the thermal treatment and catalytic tests and modified the catalyst crystalline phases. A chemical reaction between Al coming from the foam and Mg in the coating occurred during calcination at high temperature leading to the formation of spinel phases in which rhodium is solved, together with some Rh₂O₃ and Rh⁰. The metallic support was oxidized forming the corundum scale and chromium oxides, moreover ι-Al₂O₃ was identified. For the Rh_11.0Mg_70.0Al_19.0 catalyst the inclusion of Rh in the spinel phase decreased its reducibility in the H₂ pretreatment. The reduction continued during catalytic tests by feeding diluted CH₄/O₂/He gas mixtures, evidenced by the catalyst activation. While under concentrated gas mixtures the deactivation occurred, probably by oxidation.