Views on History in Medieval Alchemical Writings

Abstract

During the Middle Ages, the prevailing conception of the history of alchemy was that of a genealogical line of descent — both carnal and spiritual — where the original paternal figure was invested with the role of ensuring unity of knowledge. The relationship between this figure and its descendants was one of genus and species. On an epistemological level, the genealogy of knowledge entails the idea of an initial full revelation of knowledge, and its subsequent (partial) loss and recovery. Fundamentally, this view precludes the idea of progress. However, within the frame of history of salvation, alchemy was being assigned a particular role. In writings of, or associated with, Franciscan spirituals, it was meant to provide both material and spiritual support for fighting the Antichrist. From the early fourteenth century onwards, the adherence to a Christocentric and anthropocentric perspective favoured the idea of progress, in the sense that human knowledge of natural and artificial transformations was considered to be increasingly complete. This progress was considered primarily to be one of spiritual perfection, aimed at restoring the nature of man.     

Looking for an Order of Things: Textbooks and Chemical Classifications in Nineteenth Century France

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to reconsider the issue of the creativity of textbook writing by exploring the links between nineteenth-century French textbooks and the quest for a classification of elements. The first section presents the elegant combination of didactic and chemical constraints invented by eighteenth-century chemists: the order of learning — from the known to the unknown — and the order of things — from the simple to the complex — were one and the same. In section two we argue that the alleged coincidence did not help the authors of elementary textbooks required for the new schools set up by the French revolution. Hence the variety of classifications adopted in the early nineteenth century. A debate between natural and artificial classifications raised a tension in the 1830s without really dividing the chemical community. Rather it ended up with the adoption of a hybrid classification, combining the rival natural and artificial systems.     

Historical Roots of the "Mad Scientist": Chemists in Nineteenth-century Literature

Abstract

This paper traces the historical roots of the "mad scientist," a concept that has powerfully shaped the public image of science up to today, by investigating the representations of chemists in nineteenth-century Western literature. I argue that the creation of this literary figure was the strongest of four critical literary responses to the emergence of modern science in general and of chemistry in particular. The role of chemistry in this story is crucial because early nineteenth-century chemistry both exemplified modern experimental laboratory research and induced, due to its rapid growth, a ramification and fragmentation of knowledge that undermined former ideals of the unity of knowledge under the umbrella of metaphysics and religion. Because most writers considered contemporary chemistry an offspring of "wrong alchemy," all four responses drew on the medieval literary figure of the "mad alchemist" to portray chemists. Whereas early writers considered the quest for scientific knowledge to be altogether in vain, later writers pointed out the narrow-minded goals and views specifically of chemistry. A third response moved that criticism to a metaphysical and religious level, by relating chemistry to materialism, nihilism, atheism and hubris. The fourth response, the "mad scientist," elaborated on the hubris theme by attaching moral perversion to the "mad alchemist."     

The Role of Guest Molecules in the Self-assembly of Metal—ligand Clusters

Abstract

Understanding the self-assembly of nanoscale metal—ligand clusters is an important research area in supramolecular chemistry, especially, if one wishes to develop a truly predictive design strategy for synthesizing these nanoscale clusters. As the building blocks for forming these clusters have become larger and more complex, spacious clusters have been synthesized which often contain large cavities. These assemblies can house guest molecules which play a previously uncharacterized role in the self-assembly processes. We seek to analyze this role: do these guest molecules act as templates? Are the guest molecules necessary for cluster formation? Does the guest drive cluster assemble by forming a stable host—guest complex with the cluster? Must a truly rational design strategy for forming metal—ligand clusters incorporate the use of templates? The role of guest molecules in the self-assembly of nanoscale coordination clusters is reviewed in this article.     

Inside Solomon’s House: An Archaeological Study of the Old Ashmolean Chymical Laboratory in Oxford

Abstract

This paper is based on the archaeological and analytical study of the laboratory remains from the Officina Chimica of the Old Ashmolean Museum in Oxford. Following a contextualisation of this laboratory, founded in the wake of Bacon’s utopian idea of Solomon’s Temple, it is argued that the assemblage is likely to date from the late seventeenth century and thus be connected to the work of Robert Plot, Christopher White, and, indirectly, Robert Boyle. The analytical study of the equipment reveals that the chymists at the Old Ashmolean obtained crucibles from the best manufacturers in Europe, and that they used these and other utensils for experiments involving mercury, sulphur, zinc, lead glass, manganese, and antimony. The importance of these elements for early modern chymistry is discussed in the light of relevant historical sources, including some of Boyle’s chymical texts. Altogether, these finds illustrate some of the rich diversity of experiments that took place in one of the most prominent laboratories of the period, showing strong connections with longstanding alchemical concerns as well as with cutting-edge research and development ventures.     

N-(二茂铁酰胺基)硫脲类阴离子受体

我们将N-(苯甲酰胺基)硫脲类阴离子识别受体研究拓展至N-(二茂铁酰胺基)硫脲, 设计合成了N-(二茂铁甲酰胺基)-N'-(取代苯基)硫脲(3a～3e, 取代基X＝p-OCH₃, p-CH₃, H, m-Br, m-CF₃), 其中二茂铁基系芳香性的电化学活性基团、“—NH—”为连接臂．研究的目的是进一步理解 “—NH—”连接臂的特性和3a～3e作为阴离子的电化学响应受体的可行性. 我们发现, 3a～3e分子中的N'-苯环取代基不影响其半波电位(0.31V vs. Ag/AgNO₃); 二茂铁环芳香质子和酰胺基—NH质子的核磁化学位移不受取代基的影响, 而N'-苯基芳香质子和硫脲—NH质子的化学位移显著地受制于取代基; 说明受体3分子中酰肼基N—N单键高度扭曲, 阻碍了N'-苯环取代基电子效应传递至二茂铁基. 我们观察到乙腈中3的氧化电位因阴离子如CH₃CO₂^－和F^－的结合负移200 mV, 二茂铁基芳香质子的化学位移向高场移动, 意味着阴离子结合诱导了受体3分子中酰肼基N—N单键构型变化, 使阴离子结合信息得以传递至二茂铁环. 吸收光谱滴定实验表明, 乙腈中3a～3e与阴离子结合时在约315 nm处出现新的吸收峰, 光谱红移达5820 cm^－1, 阴离子如CH₃CO₂^－和F^－的结合常数在10⁶ mol^－1•L, 均远高于传统的二苯基硫脲类受体(1); 我们还发现, 尽管1和3a～3e分子中硫脲—NH质子酸性对取代基的依赖性相近, 3a～3e之阴离子结合常数的取代基效应强于1. 我们认为, 这是由于N—N键的变构作用导致3a～3e的吸收光谱红移、阴离子结合常数和阴离子结合常数的取代基效应远高于传统的N,N'-二苯基硫脲类受体, 因而体现了“—NH—”连接臂的独特性质.     

The Present Relationships of Sulfuric Acid Concentration to Acid Dewpoint for Flue Gases

Abstract

Interpretation of flue gas acid dewpoints in terms of sulfuric acid concentrations has relied heavily upon Mullers¹ work. A more recent work by additional authors indicates disagreement with Muller's curves. This work involves the study of the acid dewpoint-acid concentration relationship using a commercially available acid dewpoint meter. The study involves generating a steady-state, high temperature, sulfuric acid gas stream using a newly designed acid generation system. By using an absorption reference method, dewpoint as a function of acid concentration and moisture are compared with previous authors. The relationship established is then used along with the previous works to interpret some actual flue gas dewpoints to simultaneous flue gas acid measurements.     

New analysis of the optimization of electromagnetic shielding properties using conducting polymers and a multi‐objective approach

Recently, an approach was proposed to optimize multi‐layer shields of polyaniline–polyurethane (PAni/PU) conducting composites in the microwave band. Though by this method shields for different applications can be obtained which are light‐weight and offer a low percolation threshold, the full potential of the design process could not be tapped since the underlying optimization problem includes only one objective. In this work we go one step beyond and re‐formulate the design problem as a multi‐objective optimization problem (MOP). To be more precise, we involve simultaneously the shielding efficiency as well as the weight and the cost of the material—i.e. all the requirements for modern shielding materials—within the optimization process. After having stated the model we present two possible ways to approximate the solution set—the so‐called Pareto set—and address the related and important decision‐making problem. All steps are demonstrated on a particular three‐layered composite in order to show the applicability of the novel approach. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Developing Chemical Instrumentation for Environmental Use in the Late Twentieth Century: Detecting Lead in Paint Using Portable X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry

Abstract

This article deals with latter twentieth-century, portable X-ray fluorescence (PXRF) spectrometry, particularly the emergence of hand-held PXRF instrumentation in the early to middle 1990s. Hand-held PXRF spectrometers provided more convenient, nondestructive chemical analyses in the field, factory, and home. They resulted from attempts to measure lead concentrations in paint in response to US governmental legislation requiring abatement of lead-based paint in residences. The context also included governmental grant support and the organisation of instrumental testing procedures. At the heart of the story were Niton Corporation LLC and Radiation Monitoring Devices, Inc. (RMD). They devised different, although ultimately successful, hand-held PXRF spectrometers with which to detect lead-based paint. By the late 1990s, Niton's expanding hand-held PXRF product line was establishing an imposing presence of the new technology in chemical instrumentation. The scientific, technological and commercial dimensions of the accomplishments at Niton and Radiation Monitoring Devices, Inc. — along with the effects on their activities of lead inspectors and governmental largesse — dominate this account at the interface of environmental history and the history of chemical instrumentation.     

From Candles to Cabinets: “Familiar Chemistry” in Early Victorian Britain

Abstract

“Familiar chemistry” flourished in early Victorian Britain. This set of texts an practices advocated drawing scientific lessons from the habitual activities of daily life, in which the hidden chemical contents of common objects and quotidian processes were revealed. Through sensory interactions in the family environment — enlightening conversation and hands-on explorations — a wide range of phenomena could be introduced to childish bodies and minds. A close reading of texts such as Albert J. Bernays' Household Chemistry (1852), alongside a consideration of everyday artefacts, as well as novel specialist objects such as Robert Best Ede's “Youth's Laboratory” (ca. 1837–1845), allows a discussion of this educational style, and an introduction of this new analytic category. In particular, I argue, familiar chemistry succeeded by reworking the popular literary genre of the familiar introduction with an emphasis on embodied interactions with emphatically real things, and gave a central role to the familial domestic context. From candles to cabinets, and beyond, in this article I will demonstrate that familiar chemistry provides a new perspective on scientific education and participation in the nineteenth century.     

Ab Initio Study of Ring Flipping of the Overcrowded Peri-Substituted Naphthalenes

Ab inintio molecular orbital and density functional theory method were used to investigate the structural and dynamic behavior of 1,8-di-tert-butyl naphthalene (1), 1,8-bis(trimethylsilyl)naphthalene (2), 1,8-bis(trimethylgermyl)naphthalene (3), and 1,8-bis(trimethylstannyl)naphthalene (4). HF/3-21G//HF/3-21G results revealed that the ring flipping barrier height of compound 1–4 is 92.59, 32.13, 26.76, and 15.46 kJ mol^?1 respectively. The obtained results show that the transition state structure for ring flipping of the bulky-groups is in a planar form with naphthalene ring. Contrary to compound 1, the ring flipping of compounds 2–4 occurred easily at room temperature. Also, MP2/3-21G//HF/3-21G energy calculation, show that the enantiomerization energy of compounds 1–4 are 97.99, 33.24, 26.80, and 15.38 kJ·mol^?1 respectively. The required energy for ring inversion of compounds 1–4 are 85.09, 27.26, 21.54, and 10.21 kJ mol^?1 respectively, as calculated by B3LYP/3-21G//HF/3-21G method. It can be concluded that the lower energy barrier of the ring flipping of compounds 2–4 is related to the increasing of the bond lengths of Si—C, Ge—C, and Sn—C, in contrast to C—C bond.     

A Review of methods for the Determination of Hold-up Volume in Modern Liquid Chromatography

Abstract

Arguably, the most important parameter in modern liquid chromatography is the hold-up (or dead) volume, V_M, the volume of mobile phase contained within the chromatographic system between the sample injector and the detector. Without this knowledge many dependent parameters such as capacity factor (k), selectivity (α), and resolution (R_g) cannot be computed (104, 15, 78). These data are of the utmost importance for the optimization of conditions for the separation of complex mixtures and the identification of solute bands.     

Living Carbocationic Polymerization. LIX. The Synthesis of Novel Asymmetric Telechelic Polyisobutylenes

Abstract

The synthesis of novel asymmetric telechelic polyisobutylenes (PIB) carrying a CH₃OCO— headgroup and a —CH₂C(CH₃)₂C1 tailgroup by the use of novel initiators mediating the living carbocationic polymerization (LC⁺Pzn) of isobutylene (IB) is described. Subsequently, the parent headgroup has been quantitatively converted into a HOCO— group, and the parent tailgroup into a —pC₆H₄OH group. Scheme 1 summarizes the synthesis routes to the initiators, as well as the polymerizations and functionalizations leading to various asymmetric telechelic PIBs. The CH₃OCO— headgroup of the initiator most likely functions as an internal electron donor during the LC⁺Pzn of IB.     

In silico study of cancer stage-specific DNA methylation pattern in White breast cancer patients based on TCGA dataset

BackgroundBreast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer among women. As current breast cancer treatments are still ineffective, we assess the methylation pattern of White breast cancer patients across cancer stage based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset. Significant hypermethylation and hypomethylation can regulate the gene expression, thus becoming potential biomarkers in breast cancer tumorigenesis.MethodsDNA methylation data was downloaded using TCGA Assembler 2 based on race-specific metadata of TCGA - Breast Invasive Carcinoma (TCGA-BRCA) project from Genomic Data Commons (GDC) Data Portal. After the data was divided into each cancer stage, duplicated data of each patient was removed using OMICSBind, while differentially-expressed probes were identified using edgeR. The resulting probes were validated based on correlation and regression analysis with the gene expression, ANOVA between cancer stages, ROC curve per stage, as well as databases.ResultsBased on the White dataset, we found 66 significant hypermethylated genes with logFC > 1.8 between Stage I-III. From this number, three epigenetic-regulated, stage-specific genes are proposed to be the detection biomarkers of breast cancer due to significant aberrant gene expression and/or low mutation ratio among breast cancer patients: ABCC9 (Stage III), SHISA3 (Stage II), and POU4F1 (Stage I-II).ConclusionsOur study shows that ABCC9, SHISA3, and POU4F1 are potential stage-specific detection biomarkers of breast cancer for White individuals, whereas their roles in other races need to be studied further.     

Distilling Reliable Remedies: Hieronymus Brunschwig's Liber de arte distillandi (1500) Between Alchemical Learning and Craft Practice

Abstract

Hieronymus Brunschwig's Liber de arte distillandi, written in German and first published in Strasbourg in 1500, was the first printed manual on the distillation of medicinal waters. Although influential among early modern audiences and well known to modern scholars, its intriguing blend of intellectual and practical traditions has thus far received little attention. This paper identifies these strands in Brunschwig's technical instructions and shows how they intertwine in the production of reliable remedies. Exploring the intellectual dimension of Brunschwig's work, I argue that his concept of distillation is shaped by an alchemical understanding of matter, especially by the writings on ‘quintessence’ of the fourteenth-century alchemist John of Rupescissa. To realise this concept in the workshop, Brunschwig emphasises the central importance of the body and its senses to ensure true craftsmanship. Brunschwig's printed manual was as much a product of skilled artisanal practices as the distilled waters it describes, and I argue that it was shaped by the same concerns about technical precision and reliability.     

Study on the Solidification Process of HgTl Amalgam at 28.2 At.% Tl

Abstract

By means of a toroidal oscillating viscometer, logarithmic decrements of dampings have been measured in presence or absence of HgTl amalgam at 28.2 atomic percent thallium, at different temperatures, ranging from — 16.5°C to +6.5°C, with fluctuations every 0.25°C.