Meaningful activation energies for complex systems II

The validity of the Friedman method is assessed for systems of overlapping reactions. By means of mathematical analysis and numerical examples it is shown that, in the case of competitive reactions, the method gives the true value of the instantaneous mean activation energy. However, some error may be incurred if this method is applied to systems of independent reactions. The relative accuracy of the Friedman and Ozawa-Flynn-Wall methods is discussed in respect of complex systems of reactions.

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Zusammenfassung Die Gültigkeit der Friedman-Methode wird für Systeme von überlappenden Reaktionen einer Betrachtung unterzogen. Durch mathematische Analyse und numerische Beispiele wird gezeigt, daß im Falle kompetitiver Reaktionen die Methode den richtigen Wert der jeweiligen mittleren Aktivierungsenergie ergibt. Fehler können jedoch auftreten, wenn diese Methode auf Systeme voneinander unabhängiger Reaktionen angewandt wird. Die relative Genauigkeit der Methoden von Friedman und Ozawa-Flynn-Wall wird mit Hinsicht auf komplexe Reaktionssysteme diskutiert.

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The author wishes to thank the British Gas Corporation for permission to publish this work.     

A diastereoselective intramolecular hydroamination approach to the syntheses of (+)-, (+/-)-, and (-)-pinidinol

A diastereoselective, lanthanocene-catalyzed, intramolecular hydroamination reaction was applied to the preparation of 2,6-disubstituted piperidines. Various metal/ligand arrays in the catalysts were examined using a model substrate to allow optimization of the diastereoselectivity. It was determined that the relationship between metal size and ligand bulk plays an integral role in the transformation. The complex Cp2NdCH(TMS)2 converted 2-substituted 8-nonen-4-amines to 2,6-disubsituted piperidines with greater than 100:1 selectivity for the formation of the cis isomer. A short synthesis of pinidinol, an alkaloid isolated from various pine and spruce species, was then carried out to exploit this stereoselective reaction.     

Analysis of Compact Fluorescent Lights for Use by Patients with Photosensitive Conditions

Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is hazardous to patients with photosensitive skin disorders, such as lupus erythematosus, xeroderma pigmentosum and skin cancer. As such, these patients are advised to minimize their exposure to UVR. Classically, this is accomplished through careful avoidance of sun exposure and artificial tanning booths. Indoor light bulbs, however, are generally not considered to pose significant UVR hazard. We sought to test this notion by measuring the UV emissions of 19 different compact fluorescent light bulbs. The ability to induce skin damage was assessed with the CIE erythema action spectrum, ANSI S(λ) generalized UV hazard spectrum and the CIE photocarcinogenesis action spectrum. The results indicate that there is a great deal of variation amongst different bulbs, even within the same class. Although the irradiance of any given bulb is low, the possible daily exposure time is rather lengthy. This results in potential daily UVR doses ranging from 0.1 to 625 mJ cm⁻², including a daily UVB (290–320 nm) dose of 0.01 to 15 mJ cm⁻². Because patients are exposed continually over long time frames, this could lead to significant cumulative damage. It would therefore be prudent for patients to use bulbs with the lowest UV irradiance.     

Dermatological Risk of Indoor Ultraviolet Exposure from Contemporary Lighting Sources¶†‡§

Discussions of risks and implications of cutaneous exposure to indoor lighting, including hypothetical contribution to causality of melanoma, have mainly concentrated on ultraviolet (UV) A and B (UVA, UVB) spectral emissions from fluorescent bulbs. Only studies of quartz halogen lamps have suggested that users might sustain UVC‐induced injury. Examination of light sources in the home and school of a child with xeroderma pigmentosum revealed that several different types emitted surprising levels of UV. Our purpose was to assess the extent of UV emissions from a variety of commonly used light sources to identify potential dermatological risks. UV and visible spectral emissions of commercially obtained lamps of several types were measured using a calibrated spectral radiometer traceable to the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Indoor light sources including fluorescent, quartz halogen and even tungsten filament incandescent lamps provided UVA, UVB and sometimes UVC emissions. Intensities of some emissions were of similar magnitude to those in sunlight. Chronic exposure to indoor lighting may deliver unexpected cumulative UV exposure to the skin and eyes. Patients with UV‐exacerbated dermatoses should be cautioned about potential adverse reactions from indoor lighting.     

Meaningful activation energies for complex systems

It is known that the application of an inappropriate kinetic method to the thermal analysis of complex systems can lead to misleading results. To avoid this problem, the new parameter instantaneous mean activation energy is introduced and the Ozawa-Flynn-Wall method is assessed as a means of obtaining it. It is concluded that good results can generally be obtained by this method, provided that the various reactions occurring in the complex system are of the same type. The pyrolysis of coal is considered as a possible application of the method.

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Zusammenfassung Es ist bekannt, da\ die Anwendung einer ungeeigneten kinetischen Methode bei der thermischen Analyse komplexer Systeme zu falschen Ergebnissen führen kann. Um dieses Problem zu vermeiden, wird der neue Parameter momentane mittlere Aktivierungsenergie eingeführt. Die Ozawa-Flynn-Wall-Methode wird als zur Bestimmung dieses Parameters geeignet angesehen. Es wird der Schlu\ gezogen, da\ mit dieser Methode im allgemeinen gute Ergebnisse zu erhalten sein sollten, vorausgesetzt, da\ die in komplexen Systemen verlaufenden verschiedenen Reaktionen vom gleichen Typ sind. Die Pyrolyse von Kohle wird als mögliche Anwendung dieser Methode angesehen.

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The author wishes to thank the British Gas Corporation for permission to publish this work.     

Darkness at noon: sunscreens and vitamin D3

We are assured by responsible scientific and governmental organizations that sunscreens should be routinely worn to reduce skin cancer risk. We are also advised that wearing sunscreens will not hinder our ability to produce sufficient previtamin D3 (preD3) from casual sunlight exposure. We report the examination of a series of 166 solar spectra, obtained on different days throughout a year, evaluated for erythemic and preD3 effectiveness and the relative effects of recommended Sun protection factor (SPF) 15 sunscreen. The results show that the sunscreen is much more effective in blocking the formation of preD3, than its labeled SPF for preventing sunburn. In fact with sunscreen applied only miniscule amounts of preD3 are predicted to be made outdoors even with extensive exposure. This raises important questions regarding the safest way to use sunlight exposure to promote healthy vitamin D3 levels and suggests the need to modify the public safety "Safe Sun" messages.     

Meta-analysis of Microbial Fuel Cells Using Waste Substrates

Microbial fuel cell experimentation using waste streams is an increasingly popular field of study. One obstacle to comparing studies has been the lack of consistent conventions for reporting results such that meta-analysis can be used for large groups of experiments. Here, 134 unique microbial fuel cell experiments using waste substrates were compiled for analysis. Findings include that coulombic efficiency correlates positively with volumetric power density (p < 0.001), negatively with working volume (p < 0.05), and positively with percentage removal of chemical oxygen demand (p < 0.005). Power density in mW/m² correlates positively with chemical oxygen demand loading (p < 0.005), and positively with maximum open-circuit voltage (p < 0.05). Finally, single-chamber versus double-chamber reactor configurations differ significantly in maximum open-circuit voltage (p < 0.005). Multiple linear regression to predict either power density or maximum open-circuit voltage produced no significant models due to the amount of multicollinearity between predictor variables. Results indicate that statistically relevant conclusions can be drawn from large microbial fuel cell datasets. Recommendations for future consistency in reporting results following a MIAMFCE convention (Minimum Information About a Microbial Fuel Cell Experiment) are included.     

Examination of Solar Simulators Used for the Determination of Sunscreen UVA Efficacy

The U.S. FDA recently proposed both in vivo and in vitro UVA efficacy tests for sunscreen products with the lower result used to establish the sunscreen's labeled UVA protection claim. The FDA stated their rationale for dual tests was concern that the in vivo test method overemphasizes UVA-2 (320–340 nm) photoprotection. We attribute FDA's observation to the relative lack, compared to sunlight, of UVA-1 (340–400 nm) radiation in the current JCIA UVA solar simulator specification, allowing the method to generate higher UVA protection factors than sunscreens will provide in sunlight. Our work is based upon comparisons of Air Mass 1.0 sunlight to variously filtered UVA solar simulators. Sources near the JCIA UVA-2/UVA limits (8–20%) had a goodness of fit to solar UVA of only 67–79%. We propose that instead of using ratios of UVA-2 to UVA the standard should be a goodness of fit to the UVA region of an Air Mass 1 solar reference spectrum. As the spectral distribution of solar UVA varies much less than UVB, sunlight of reasonable zenith angles of ≤60° will have similar spectral shapes and approximate risk spectrum. Goodness of fit to this spectrum will produce UVA protection values predictive to those actually achieved in sunlight of different zenith angles.