Small molecular logic systems can draw the outlines of objects via edge visualization

The recently-discovered ability of small logical molecules to recognize edges is exploited to achieve outline drawing from binary templates. Outlines of arbitrary curvature, several colours and thicknesses down to 1 mm are drawn in around 30 min or less by employing a common laboratory two-colour ultraviolet lamp. The outlines and the light dose-driven XOR logic with fluorescence output or ‘off–on–off’ action which is observed in the irradiated regions are modelled by combining foundational principles of photochemistry, acid–base neutralization and diffusion.     

Ligand and base additive effects on the reversibility of nucleophilic addition in palladium-catalyzed allylic aminations monitored by nucleophile crossover

A nucleophile crossover experiment was used to monitor the reversibility of nucleophilic addition of benzylamine to π-allylpalladium complexes. Dppe, dppp, dppb, and PHOX showed more crossover than PPh₃ and dppm in both DMF and dichloromethane. Crossover was inhibited by the addition of DBU or Cs₂CO₃, but much less elimination to diene side products was observed with Cs₂CO₃. Analysis of percent crossover vs. percent reaction completion using the PHOX ligand revealed that with added DBU or Cs₂CO₃ crossover only began occurring after 100% completion had been reached.     

A new method for the determination of the 34S/32S ratio of water-soluble sulphur in soil

A new method for the determination of the ³⁴S/³²S ratio of water-extractable sulphate in soil is described. Soils are extracted directly with deionized water, which is evaporated down. The remaining residue is then rehydrated and transferred to tin cups containing an adsorbent and mixed with an oxygen donor (V₂O₅). Samples are then analysed using a continuous flow isotope ratio mass spectrometer. The new method requires around 10?g soil per determination, compared to much larger amounts (up to kilograms) of soil required for the previous methods. Sample preparation and subsequent analysis is quick and efficient. The method is demonstrated using a number of soils collected from around the world to provide a range of determined δ³⁴S values. The δ³⁴S values of water-extractable sulphur were broadly similar to those of the soil total sulphur.     

A Computational Study of Vicinal Fluorination in 2,3‐Difluorobutane: Implications for Conformational Control in Alkane Chains

A comprehensive conformational analysis of both 2,3‐difluorobutane diastereomers is presented based on density functional theory calculations in vacuum and in solution, as well as NMR experiments in solution. While for 1,2‐difluoroethane the fluorine gauche effect is clearly the dominant effect determining its conformation, it was found that for 2,3‐difluorobutane there is a complex interplay of several effects, which are of similar magnitude but often of opposite sign. As a result, unexpected deviations in dihedral angles, relative conformational energies and populations are observed which cannot be rationalised only by chemical intuition. Furthermore, it was found that it is important to consider the free energies of the various conformers, as these lead to qualitatively different results both in vacuum and in solvent, when compared to calculations based only on the electronic energies. In contrast to expectations, it was found that vicinal syn‐difluoride introduction in the butane and by extension, longer hydrocarbon chains, is not expected to lead to an effective stabilisation of the linear conformation. Our findings have implications for the use of the vicinal difluoride motif for conformational control.     

Ageing of surface treated thermoplastic polyolefins

Thermoplastic polyolefin panels were treated with a flame, flame & water, and accelerated thermo molecular adhesion process (ATmaP) treatment. XPS, contact angle and adhesion test (pull off) results were acquired over a one year period to determine the changes in the elemental composition, surface energy and adhesion strength respectively over time. All surface-treated thermoplastic polyolefin samples showed a sharp decline in adhesion strength up to an ageing period totalling 6 months. The decline in adhesion strength was correlated with a decline in the nitrogen-containing constituents and C–O functional groups at the surface and a decline in surface energy for the flame & water-treated sample. There was no significant change in adhesion strength for all samples for ageing periods greater than 6 months. ATmaP-treated thermoplastic polyolefin outperformed the other two surface treatments in adhesion strength tests due to ATmaP retaining nitrogen-based functional groups (mainly nitrogen oxides) over the year long study. This retention of functionality allowed for a slower ageing process for ATmaP-treated surfaces in comparison to the other surface treatments.     

Divergent Synthesis of Monosubstituted and Unsymmetrical 3,6‐Disubstituted Tetrazines from Carboxylic Ester Precursors

Since tetrazines are important tools to the field of bioorthogonal chemistry, there is a need for new approaches to synthesize unsymmetrical and 3‐monosubstituted tetrazines. Described here is a general, one‐pot method for converting (3‐methyloxetan‐3‐yl)methyl carboxylic esters into 3‐thiomethyltetrazines. These versatile intermediates were applied to the synthesis of unsymmetrical tetrazines through Pd‐catalyzed cross‐coupling and in the first catalytic thioether reduction to access monosubstituted tetrazines. This method enables the development of new tetrazine compounds possessing a favorable combination of kinetics, small size, and hydrophilicity. It was applied to a broad range of aliphatic and aromatic ester precursors and to the synthesis of heterocycles including BODIPY fluorophores and biotin. In addition, a series of tetrazine probes for monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) were synthesized and the most reactive one was applied to the labeling of endogenous MAGL in live cells.     

Active Inference: Applicability to Different Types of Social Organization Explained through Reference to Industrial Engineering and Quality Management

Active inference is a physics of life process theory of perception, action and learning that is applicable to natural and artificial agents. In this paper, active inference theory is related to different types of practice in social organization. Here, the term social organization is used to clarify that this paper does not encompass organization in biological systems. Rather, the paper addresses active inference in social organization that utilizes industrial engineering, quality management, and artificial intelligence alongside human intelligence. Social organization referred to in this paper can be in private companies, public institutions, other for-profit or not-for-profit organizations, and any combination of them. The relevance of active inference theory is explained in terms of variational free energy, prediction errors, generative models, and Markov blankets. Active inference theory is most relevant to the social organization of work that is highly repetitive. By contrast, there are more challenges involved in applying active inference theory for social organization of less repetitive endeavors such as one-of-a-kind projects. These challenges need to be addressed in order for active inference to provide a unifying framework for different types of social organization employing human and artificial intelligence.     

Synthesis of regioselectively brominated cellulose esters and 6-cyano-6-deoxycellulose esters

The control of regiochemistry in the synthesis of polysaccharide derivatives is one of the most significant scientific challenges in the field. Its importance is only further highlighted by the individual successes in synthesis of regioselectively substituted derivatives, in particular cellulose esters and ethers, over the last 20 years. The availability of these samples and studies of their properties versus randomly substituted analogs has shown clearly that properties like solubility, aggregation phenomena, and optical properties depend heavily on the regiochemistry of substitution. We report here on the one-pot synthesis of novel 6-bromo-6-deoxy-2,3-O-acylcellulose derivatives, which as more organic soluble derivatives of 6-bromo-6-deoxycellulose should allow broader exploitation of the highly regioselective cellulose 6-bromination chemistry. We illustrate the potential of these new derivatives by conversion to 6-cyano-6-deoxycellulose esters.     

Narrow band quantitative and multivariate electroencephalogram analysis of peri-adolescent period

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: The peri-adolescent period is a crucial developmental moment of transition from childhood to emergent adulthood. The present report analyses the differences in Power Spectrum (PS) of the Electroencephalogram (EEG) between late childhood (24 children between 8 and 13 years old) and young adulthood (24 young adults between 18 and 23 years old). RESULTS: The narrow band analysis of the Electroencephalogram was computed in the frequency range of 0--20 Hz. The analysis of mean and variance suggested that six frequency ranges presented a different rate of maturation at these ages, namely: low delta, delta-theta, low alpha, high alpha, low beta and high beta. For most of these bands the maturation seems to occur later in anterior sites than posterior sites. Correlational analysis showed a lower pattern of correlation between different frequencies in children than in young adults, suggesting a certain asynchrony in the maturation of different rhythms. The topographical analysis revealed similar topographies of the different rhythms in children and young adults. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) demonstrated the same internal structure for the Electroencephalogram of both age groups. Principal Component Analysis allowed to separate four subcomponents in the alpha range. All these subcomponents peaked at a lower frequency in children than in young adults. CONCLUSIONS: The present approaches complement and solve some of the incertitudes when the classical brain broad rhythm analysis is applied. Children have a higher absolute power than young adults for frequency ranges between 0-20 Hz, the correlation of Power Spectrum (PS) with age and the variance age comparison showed that there are six ranges of frequencies that can distinguish the level of EEG maturation in children and adults. The establishment of maturational order of different frequencies and its possible maturational interdependence would require a complete series including all the different ages.