A visual uncertainty analytics approach for weather forecast similarity measurement based on fuzzy clustering

Journal of Visualization - Forecast calibration methods based on historical similar atmospheric state are effective means weather forecast accuracy. Conventional approaches search similar forecasts...     

Comparison of different methodologies for the computation of damped nonlinear normal modes and resonance prediction of systems with non-conservative nonlinearities

Nonlinear Dynamics - The nonlinear modes of a non-conservative nonlinear system are sometimes referred to as damped nonlinear normal modes (dNNMs). Because of the non-conservative...     

Effect of monomer hydrophilicity on ARGET–ATRP kinetics in aqueous mini-emulsion polymerization

Activators regenerated by electron transfer (ARGET) atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP)-based aqueous miniemulsion polymerization where the polymerization takes place in the stabilized monomer droplets is described. In this work, we compared styrene, n-butyl methacrylate (nBMA) and tert-butyl methacrylate (tBMA) and investigated the influence of their hydrophobicity on dispersity, molecular weight and particle stability based their partition coefficients (logP) (2.67, 2.23, and 1.86, respectively). Tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB) was used as a phase transfer agent for the controlled delivery of Cu²⁺-Br/tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (TPMA), a hydrophilic catalyst, into monomer droplets of varying hydrophobicity. The resulting dispersity and particle stability of each polymer is a function of its logP value, with the most hydrophobic monomer (styrene) displaying the narrowest dispersity and most control (Đ < 1.3), and the most hydrophilic polymer poly(tert-butyl methacrylate) (PtBMA) having reduced emulsion stability, determined by the observation of aggregate formation. Selected polymerization parameters, including effects of total ascorbic acid feed concentration and the monomer concentration and their effects on dispersity are reported. The controlled polymerizations of hydrophilic monomers using ARGET-ATRP in miniemulsion conditions and understanding the effect of monomer hydrophilicity on the emulsion stability will broaden the use of ARGET-ATRP in emulsion polymerization for the synthesis of polymer-grafted nanoparticles with hydrophilic corona.     

Fully Chemical Recyclable Poly(γ-butyrolactone)-based Copolymers with Tunable Structures and Properties

Chinese Journal of Polymer Science - The emerging chemical recyclable polymers, such as poly(γ-butyrolactone) (PGBL) and poly((R)-3,4-trans six-membered ring-fused GBL) (P((R)-M)), provide a...     

Dynamic mechanism of epileptic seizures generation and propagation after ischemic stroke

Nonlinear Dynamics - Epilepsy is the second largest neurological disease which seriously threatens human life and health. The one important reason of inducing epileptic seizures is ischemic stroke...     

Monitoring the Thiol/Thiophenol Molecule-Modulated Plasmon-Mediated Silver Oxidation with Dark-Field Optical Microscopy

Surface plasmon can trigger or accelerate many photochemical reactions, especially useful in energy and environmental industries. Recently, molecular adsorption has proven effective in modulating plasmon-mediated photochemistry, however the realized chemical reactions are limited and the underlying mechanism is still unclear. Herein, by using in situ dark-field optical microscopy, the plasmon-mediated oxidative etching of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs), a typical hot-hole-driven reaction, is monitored continuously and quantitatively. The presence of thiol or thiophenol molecules is found essential in the silver oxidation. In addition, the rate of silver oxidation is modulated by the choice of different thiol or thiophenol molecules. Compared with the molecules having electron donating groups, the ones having electron accepting groups accelerate the silver oxidation dramatically. The thiol/thiophenol modulation is attributed to the modulation of the charge separation between the Ag NPs and the adsorbed thiol or thiophenol molecules. This work demonstrates the great potential of molecular adsorption in modulating the plasmon-mediated photochemistry, which will pave a new way for developing highly efficient plasmonic photocatalysts.     

[Nb@Ge13/14]3−: New Family Members of Ge-Based Intermetalloid Clusters

During the past two decades, single-atom-centered medium-sized germanium clusters [M@Ge_n] (M=transition metals, n>12) have been extensively explored, both from theoretical perspectives and experimental gas-phase syntheses. However, the actual structural arrangements of the Ge₁₃ and Ge₁₄ endohedral cages are still ambiguous and have long remained an unresolved problem for experimental implementation. In this work, we successfully synthesize 13-/14-vertex Ge clusters [Nb@Ge₁₃]³⁻ ( 1 ) and [Nb@Ge₁₄]³⁻ ( 2 ), which are structurally characterized and exhibit unprecedented topologies, neither classical deltahedra nor 3-connected polyhedral structures. Theoretical analysis indicates that the major stabilization of the Ge backbones arises due to the substantial interaction of Ge 4p-AOs with the endohedral Nb 4d-AOs through three/four-center two-electron bonds with an enhanced electron density accumulated over the shortest Nb−Ge13 contact in 1 . Low occupancies of the direct two-center two-electron (2c–2e) Nb−Ge and Ge−Ge σ bonds point to a considerable degree of electron delocalization over the Ge cages revealing their electron deficiency.     

A New Carotane Sesquiterpenoid Derivative with Antifungal Activity from Gymnopus sp. 0612-9

Chemistry of Natural Compounds - A new carotane sesquiterpenoid, methyl gymnabloate (1), was isolated from the fermentation broth of the wild macrofungus Gymnopus sp. 0612-9. Its structure was...     

Bicomponent Cocatalyst Decoration on Flux-assisted CaTaO2N Single Crystals for Photocatalytic CO2 Reduction under Visible Light

Cubic-like CaTaO₂N photocatalysts with high crystallinity and uniform particle size were successfully prepared by the flux-assisted nitridation method. The growth of CaTaO₂N single crystals under different synthesis conditions was systematically investigated to understand the effects of the crystallinity and optical property on photocatalytic performance of CO₂ reduction. Moreover, the modification of CaTaO₂N single crystals with core-shell Ni−Ag bicomponent cocatalyst by two-step decoration process gave a 2.4 times higher amount of CO evolution than the deposition of sole Ag cocatalyst, because of the synergistic effects of bicomponent cocatalyst on the interfacial electron transfer and surface catalytic process. This study provides a valuable way to construct high-crystalline photocatalysts with effective bicomponent cocatalyst for visible-light-driven CO₂ reduction with H₂O.     

Validation of a robust and rapid liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometric method for the quantitative analysis of navitoclax

The Bcl-2 family small molecule inhibitor navitoclax is being clinically evaluated to treat multiple cancers including lymphoid malignancies and small cell lung cancer. A sensitive and reliable method was developed to quantitate navitoclax in human plasma using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry with which to perform detailed pharmacokinetic studies. Sample preparation involved protein precipitation using acetonitrile. Separation of navitoclax and the internal standard, navitoclax-d8, was achieved with a Waters Acquity UPLC BEH C₁₈ column using isocratic flow over a 3 min total analytical run time. A SCIEX 4500 triple quadrupole mass spectrometer operated in positive electrospray ionization mode was used for the detection of navitoclax. The assay range was 5–5,000 ng/ml and proved to be accurate (89.5–104.9%) and precise (CV ≤ 11%). Long-term frozen plasma stability for navitoclax at −70°C was at least 43 months. The method was applied for the measurement of total plasma concentration of navitoclax in a patient receiving a 250 mg daily oral dose.