The substitution in layered double hydroxide-like phases (LDH) of composition $\begin{array}{cc}{\left({\text{Co}}_{1-y}^{2+}{\text{Cu}}_y^{2+}\right)}_2{\text{Al}}^{3+}{\left(\text{OH}\right)}_6{\text{Cl}}^{-}\cdot n{\text{H}}_{\text{2}}\text{O}& \left(0⩽y⩽1\right)\end{array}$ was studied by X-ray diffraction and X-ray absorption spectroscopy. It was found that the lamellar character is maintained over the entire range of the substitution. The local order for the composition {Co2Al} is typical of brucite-like sheets, whereas segregation into small domains may explain the results obtained when the percentage of Cu atoms is increased. The {Cu2Al} end-member material presents a local order around the Cu atoms closely related to the botallackite structure as present in basic layered Cu salts, with the presence of two distinct Cu-Cu distances.

We propose a numerical solution to incorporate in the simulation of a system of conservation laws boundary conditions that come from a microscopic modeling in the small mean free path regime. The typical example we discuss is the derivation of the Euler system from the BGK equation. The boundary condition relies on the analysis of boundary layers formation that accounts from the fact that the incoming kinetic flux might be far from the thermodynamic equilibrium.

Addition of methylated β-lactoglobulin (Met-BLG) in the medium of MDCK cell lines infected with influenza virus subtype H1N1 reduced hemagglutination activity (HA) in a concentration dependent manner. Antiviral activity of Met-BLG depended on its concentration, viral load, and duration of infection. Using 17 μg/ml of Met-BLG inhibited 50% of HA of H1N1 grown in MDCK cells at 1 MOI after 24 h incubation at 37°C and in 5% CO2. Extension of incubation time enhanced antiviral action since the same concentration of Met-BLG inhibited about 61% of viral activity after 48 h. This viral inhibition was accompanied by a protection of MDCK cells as observed by using neutral red or by direct microscope examination. Reduction of viral RNA replication upon the addition of Met-BLG (50 μg/ml) was observed by real time-PCR showing a reduction of viral log value of about 0·9. When viral stock solution was mixed with 25 μg/ml Met-BLG in absence of cell lines, the morphology and viability of virus particles were significantly affected as observed by electron microscopy, and the number of intact virus particles was reduced by roughly 65%.

The modelling and the numerical resolution of the electrical charging of aspacecraft in interaction with the Earth magnetosphere is considered. It involves the Vlasov-Poisson system, endowed with non standard boundary conditions. We discuss the pros and cons of several numerical methods for solving this system, using as benchmark a simple 1D model which exhibits the main difficulties of the original models.

Incorporation and subsequent stabilization of organic molecules into layered double hydroxide are investigated. Through two types of hybrid materials, organic dyes and aniline-based monomers interleaved between LDH materials of cation composition Zn2Al and Cu2Cr respectively, it is shown that the effect of the constrainment is revealed by the interactions different according to the molecule size and stacking as exemplified by dye molecules, orange 6 and green 25 acids and two aniline-based monomers, m-amino-4-benzenesulfonic and 3-aniline-1-propanesulfonic acids.

Interleaved monomers and polymers between the sheets of layered double hydroxide (LDH) (hydrotalcite-type) materials are considered as carbonaceous source. After a charring process constituted of a carbonisation and a subsequent demineralisation, carbonaceous materials of interesting textural properties were obtained. The initial preparation of the polymer LDH hybrid phase was found to strongly orientate the textural characteristics, microporous volume and creation of mesoporosity. Several methods to assess the microporosity, t-plot, αs and Dubinin-Astakhov, are compared. Specific surface area as high as 2300 m2/g measured by BET method and microporous volume of 1.07 mL/g were obtained. The carbonaceous materials tested as supercapacitor in acidic medium present capacitances in the range 60 - 120 F/g associated to a good behavior in cycling.

O-aminobenzenesulfonic acid is incorporated between the sheets of Cu2Cr(OH)6Cl. H2O hydrotalcite-type materials. After heating, a narrow ESR signal characterisitic of conductive polymer behavior is observed for the hybrid phase. The reaction of polymerization fails in absence of the confinement supplied by the LDH host structure and of air atmosphere. The nanocomposite presents an electrochemical behavior in agreement with the presence of large polyanilinesulfonate (PAniS) units, whereas the electropolymerization gives rise first to the formation of dimers. Spin density is found to be greater with the electropolymerization after few cycles than after the heat treatment.

Interleaved polystyrene sulfonate polymer between a layered double hydroxide of composition Zn2Al(OH)6Cl. nH2O are prepared either by direct exchange or by in-situ polymerization of the monomer. The latter is confirmed by 13C CP-MAS solid state NMR spectroscopy. This technique provides also clear evidence of the strong interaction between the incorporated monomer and the LDH inorganic framework. A shielding of the aromatic carbon attached to the sulfonate group is observed, this is transmitted through the carbonaceous skeleton to the vinylic carbon. The 2D structure is stabilized with the presence of organic moieties, and even more through the in-situ polymerization process, as exemplified with the conversion from Oh to Td aluminium cations environment. However the difference is diminished with the heating process. The exfoliation/restacking process is found to be here unappropriate, giving rise to ill-defined materials.