A decision support method for designing vegetation layers with minimised irrigation need

Annals of Operations Research - Selecting a vegetation layer design goes along with determining its future irrigation need. Therefore, it is essential to take a design decision that is minimising...     

Catalytic Asymmetric Syntheses of Alkylidenecyclopropanes from Allenoates with Donor-Acceptor and Diacceptor Diazo Reagents

The first diastereo- and enantioselective cyclopropanation reactions of electron-deficient allenes with donor-acceptor and diacceptor diazo reagents are described. The desired enantioenriched alkylidenecyclopropanes (ACPs) were obtained in high yields with high diastereo- and enantioselectivities in the presence of Rh₂((S)-TCPTAD)₄ or Rh₂((R)-BTPCP)₄ catalysts (up to 95 % yield, >95 : 5 d.r. and 99 : 1 e.r.). This methodology gave a direct access to ACPs bearing multiple electron-deficient substituents and allows to further expand the availability of ACPs chemistry. Interestingly, during the examination of the scope of this reaction, the asymmetric intramolecular C−H insertion reaction into tert-butyl group was observed as a side reaction with up to 94 : 6 e.r.     

Efficient Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting from a Discrete Hybrid Bismuth Bromide Ferroelectric Templated by Phosphonium Cation

Bismuth containing hybrid molecular ferroelectrics are receiving tremendous attention in recent years owing to their stable and non-toxic composition. However, these perovskite-like structures are primarily limited to ammonium cations. Herein, we report a new phosphonium based discrete perovskite-like hybrid ferroelectric with a formula [Me(Ph)₃P]₃[Bi₂Br₉] ( MTPBB ) and its mechanical energy harvesting capability. The Polarization-Electric field (P-E) measurements resulted in a well-defined ferroelectric hysteresis loop with a remnant polarization value of 2.1 μC cm⁻². Piezoresponse force microscopy experiments enabled visualization of the ferroelectric domain structure and evaluation of the piezoelectric strain coefficient (d₃₃) for an MTPBB single crystal and thin film sample. Furthermore, flexible devices incorporating MTPBB in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) matrix at various concentrations were fabricated and explored for their mechanical energy harvesting properties. The champion device with 20 wt % of MTPBB in PDMS rendered a maximum peak-to-peak open-circuit voltage of 22.9 V and a maximum power density of 7 μW cm⁻² at an optimal load of 4 MΩ. Moreover, the potential of MTPBB -based devices in low power electronics was demonstrated by storing the harvested energy in various electrolytic capacitors.     

On the Integration of Dielectrometry into Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy to Obtain Characteristic Properties of a Dielectric Thin Film

We demonstrate a novel impedimetric approach providing unprecedented insight into characteristic properties of dielectric thin films covering electrode surfaces. The concept is based on the joint interpretation of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) together with dielectrometry (DEM) whose informative value is mutually interconnected. The advantage lies in the synergistic compensation of individual shortcomings adversely affecting conventional impedimetric analysis strategies relying exclusively on either DEM or the traditional EIS approach, which in turn allows a reliable determination of thickness and permittivity values. The versatility of the method proposed is showcased by an in-situ growth-monitoring of a nanoporous, crystalline thin film (HKUST-1) on an interdigitated electrode geometry.     

Consolidation of composite cathodes with NCM and sulfide solid-state electrolytes by hot pressing for all-solid-state Li metal batteries

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - In this study, hot pressing was evaluated as a method of cell fabrication to increase the energy density of next-generation all-solid-state batteries with...     

Dextramabs: A Novel Format of Antibody-Drug Conjugates Featuring a Multivalent Polysaccharide Scaffold

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are multicomponent biomolecules that have emerged as a powerful tool for targeted tumor therapy. Combining specific binding of an immunoglobulin with toxic properties of a payload, they however often suffer from poor hydrophilicity when loaded with a high amount of toxins. To address these issues simultaneously, we developed dextramabs, a novel class of hybrid antibody-drug conjugates. In these architectures, the therapeutic antibody trastuzumab is equipped with a multivalent dextran polysaccharide that enables efficient loading with a potent toxin in a controllable fashion. Our modular chemoenzymatic approach provides an access to synthetic dextramabs bearing monomethyl auristatin as releasable cytotoxic cargo. They possess high drug-to-antibody ratios, remarkable hydrophilicity, and high toxicity in vitro.     

How to speed up the detection of aerobic microbial contaminations by using isothermal microcalorimetry

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - A sudden expansion is a classical problem which is happened in different industries such as energy conversion, environmental control, and chemical...     

Excitation of Langmuir and Ion–Acoustic Turbulence in the High-Latitude Ionosphere by a High-Power HF Radio Wave Simultaneously Below and Above the F2-Layer Maximum

Radiophysics and Quantum Electronics - We present the results of experimental studies of the generation peculiarities and features of the Langmuir and ion–acoustic turbulence in the F region...