Evard Immanuel Hjelt (1855–1921): Finnish Chemist and Historian of Chemistry

Although today unjustly neglected abroad and often even in his native land, Edvard Immanuel Hjelt (1855–1921), was an exceptionally gifted, dedicated, and multifaceted individual who made important contributions to chemistry, the history of chemistry, politics, and the management of national and international affairs. Little information about him is available in English. The present article supplements the only two English sources available [1, pp 66–83; 2] and makes this chemist-statesman better known to those chemists and historians who do not read Swedish or Finnish.In this section we present articles by leading scientific historians that chronicle the important events, persons, and publications that make up the rich history of chemical science. The history, and the articles in this ection often make that very clear. Chemists and their research are always influenced by current events. These articles are intended to describe the setting in which important discoveries occurred and to humazine their discoveres.     

Research in the Spotlight

ELECTROPHORESIS and the Journal of Separation Science (JSS) are two complementary separation science journals published by Wiley‐VCH. For the reader to realize the full benefits from both Journals, a compilation of key research articles from JSS is reported here in this spotlight section. Similarly, JSS has created a spotlight section that compiles key research and review articles from ELECTROPHORESIS. Initially, this corner will be published bimonthly and may become a monthly publication later on. The abstracts listed below have been reduced in length to accommodate as many important papers as possible within the allotted space.     

Research in the Spotlight

ELECTROPHORESIS and the Journal of Separation Science (JSS) are two complementary separation science journals published by Wiley‐VCH. For the reader to realize the full benefits from both journals, a compilation of key research articles from JSS is reported here in this spotlight section. Similarly, JSS has created a spotlight section that compiles key research and review articles from ELECTROPHORESIS. Initially, this corner will be published bimonthly and may become a monthly publication later on. The abstracts listed below have been reduced in length to accommodate as many important papers as possible within the allotted space.     

Research in the Spotlight

ELECTROPHORESIS and the Journal of Separation Science (JSS) are two complementary separation science journals published by Wiley‐VCH. For the reader to realize the full benefits from both journals, a compilation of key research articles from JSS is reported here in this spotlight section. Similarly, JSS has created a spotlight section that compiles key research and review articles from ELECTROPHORESIS. Initially, this corner will be published bimonthly and may become a monthly publication later on. The abstracts listed below have been reduced in length to accommodate as many important papers as possible within the allotted space.     

Preface to special topic: a survey of some new developments in heterogeneous catalysis

This special topic section on heterogeneous catalysis contains essays on fast-evolving topics by several leading scientists in the field. In this preface, I outline those issues, raised in the special topic articles, that seemed most interesting to me. I selected those aspects that should be of greatest interest to physical chemists who are not experts in catalysis but might be interested in entering this exciting and important field of research.     

Research in the Spotlight

ELECTROPHORESIS and the Journal of Separation Science (JSS) are two complementary separation science journals published by Wiley‐VCH. For the reader to realize the full benefits from both journals, a compilation of key research articles from JSS is reported here in this spotlight section. Similarly, JSS has created a spotlight section that compiles key research and review articles from ELECTROPHORESIS. Initially, this corner will be published bimonthly and may become a monthly publication later on.     

Preface for the Special Column of the INRET 2006

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the editorial board of Journal of Natural Gas Chemistry for allowing me to write a preface for this special column. The articles appearing in this section are specially selected from the First International Conference on Natural Resources Engineering and Technology 2006 （INRET 2006）. In line with the theme of JNGC, the selected articles are focused on natural gas or low hydrocarbon conversions to important chemicals, fuels and materials. The conference was held on July 24-25, 2006 in Marriott Putrajaya, Malaysia. It was organized by the Chemical and Biotechnology （ChemBio） Focus Group, under the Research Management Centre, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.     

Ziegler-type hydrogenation catalysts made from group 8–10 transition metal precatalysts and AlR3 cocatalysts: A critical review of the literature

Ziegler-type hydrogenation catalysts (group 8–10 transition metal precatalysts plus AlR₃ cocatalysts) are one of the most important families of industrial hydrogenation catalysts, especially for polymer hydrogenation. Despite their ～40 year history of industrial use, there is a need for improved fundamental understanding in order to make further, rationally directed improvements in these catalysts. This review examines the existing literature on Ziegler-type hydrogenation catalysts, specifically: (i) the variables important to catalyst synthesis, (ii) the catalyst formation reaction mechanism, (iii) the compositional and structural nature of the active catalyst species, and (iv) the mechanism of catalytic hydrogenation. This review also (v) discusses the current approaches to the homogeneous versus heterogeneous catalysis question, with the goal of identifying if Ziegler-type hydrogenation catalysts are homogeneous (e.g., monometallic) versus heterogeneous (e.g., nanoclusters) as the true catalyst(s). A summary of the main insights from each section of the review is also given.     

The family of GFP-like proteins: structure, function, photophysics and biosensor applications. Introduction and perspective

In this issue, we offer a symposium-in-print that is focused on several new advancements in fundamental research related to the family of GFP (green fluorescent protein)-like proteins. A few applied aspects are also included to illustrate the impact this amazing set of colored proteins has made on our understanding of cell biology at the molecular level. The six articles presented here cut across several disciplines ranging from biological function to protein structure to photophysical aspects. These highly original pieces of work include both experimental and computational approaches, and will provide the reader with significant insight into current, state-of-the-art research activities in this very dynamic and fast-paced field. In the first part of this perspective, I will give a brief overview of the history and salient features of GFPs, cite some examples that illustrate their impact on biotechnology, and provide a brief review of the structural and chemical features that lend these proteins their fascinating appearance. In the second part, I will introduce each of the peer-reviewed contributions of the participating authors.     

Comment on "An alternative Avrami equation to evaluate kinetic parameters of the interaction of Hg(II) with thin chitosan membranes," by E.C.N. Lopes, F.S.C. dos Anjos, E.F.S. Vieira, and A.R. Cestari

A history of using and applying Ho's pseudo-second-order kinetic expression for adsorption systems is presented. A reference section in a paper is important to researchers interested in the paper's statement and in following the study or finding useful information from the paper. This section is as important as the core of a paper. This comment offers information on citing the original idea of pseudo-second-order kinetic expression.     

Plant cohesins, common themes and unique roles

Cohesin complexes are critical for holding sister chromatids together during nuclear division. They also play important roles in the compaction of chromosomes and their bipolar attachment to the spindle, DNA double strand break repair, and the regulation of gene expression. Studies on sister chromatid cohesion in a wide range of organisms have shown that the proteins involved, and the general events of this important process are conserved between yeast, plants and animals. However, species-specific differences have been identified. In this review a general overview of cohesins, their roles and mechanisms of action is presented, followed by a review of our current state of knowledge on plant cohesins. While plants utilize the same general set of cohesin proteins and similar processes to establish and release sister chromatid cohesion, they also exhibit a number of unique features that are likely to provide interesting new insights into the roles of these important proteins.     

Rolf Huisgen,Eminent Chemist and Polymath (1920–2020): In His Own Words and In His Publication Metrics

As a compliment to several other publications that present and honor Rolf Huisgen's research achievements, the first part of this paper reveals the human side of this eminent chemist. From excerpts from many of his personal and professional writings, Huisgen's personality and philosophies of life are revealed. Also revealed is Huisgen functioning as a historian of chemistry. The second part of this paper examines the scientometrics of Huisgen's publication history. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Huisgen's career experienced a major transition in terms of publication metrics and the influence these papers had on the organic chemistry community. This was the result of his research into 1,3‐dipolar cycloadditions. Citations to his scientific contributions are well spread over many of his papers, demonstrating his constant work and the building up of a research topic, which continued after his official retirement in 1988. In fact, 17 % of his more than 600 publications appeared after 1988. The majority of Huisgen's papers were co‐authored with his many graduate and postdoctoral students. Consistent with the trend of that era, Huisgen was the sole author of most of his Review articles, and not just those of his many plenary lectures, and it is those Review articles that proved to be his most cited publications. This demonstrates the power and influence of Review articles—secondary sources, in the vocabulary of historians and sociologists of science. In those Review articles, Huisgen principally described the state of the art of 1,3‐dipolar cycloadditions—his golden offspring.     

Quasienantiomers and quasiracemates: new tools for identification, analysis, separation, and synthesis of enantiomers

The old adage “never mix pure organic compounds” holds in spades for enantiomers. After going to all the trouble to make enantiopure molecules, who in their right mind would ever mix them to make a racemate? Quasienantiomers are almost enantiomers, but not quite. Yet unlike enantiomers, the interest is not so much in separating them but in mixing them to make quasiracemates. This backwards thinking opens new possibilities for identification, analysis, separation and synthesis of enantiomers. A short history is provided, the terms are defined and illustrated, and recent applications of quasienantiomers, quasiracemates and related species are reviewed.     

Analytical Chemistry,Past, Present and Future*This paper is dedicated to the Editorial Board of Analytical Letters.

ABSTRACT

Analytical Chemistry as a science has its own history as well as an important present and a sure future.

The aim of this paper is to demonstrate the role of Analytical Chemistry as a science and of Chemical Analysis as an art in the development of human society.

The correlation between method and instrument hyphenated by the sample is discussed along a long period of active Analytical Chemistry.

The connection between theory of Analytical Chemistry and the practice of chemical analysis enables us to be sure of the future of Analytical Chemistry.

We must consider that to do science it is necessary to know the history of science as well as to make research to be used not only in the present, but also in the near future.

Surely, Analytical Chemistry as a real scientific area will be on the top of sciences in the next century.     

INAA determination of major and trace elements in loess,paleosol and precipitation layers in a pleistocene Loess Section,China

Instrumental neutron activation analysis was used for the determination of 31 major and trace elements in 32 samples from the Xinji Loess Section, Shaanxi Province, China. Interferences, including those from uranium fission products, were evaluated and corrections applied where necessary. The 39.7-meter deep section comprises of Lishi Loess of the middle Pleistocene (Q₂) and Malan Loess of the late Pleistocene (Q₃). The section is characterized by the presence of 5 layers of paleosol, and each paleosol is underlain by a precipitation layer. When the elemental abundances are converted to a carbonate-free basis, there is little compositional difference among the carbonate-free fractions of loess, paleosol and precipitation layers. This indicates that dissolution of carbonate minerals by downward-moving surface water was an important process in paleosol formation while other minerals were not severely weathered and elemental fractionation was minimal. The parent materials of the paleosol and precipitation layers closely resemble the loess layers in their elemental abundances, which suggests that all layers in the section have a compositionally similar source.     

Insight into the Progress on Natural Dyes: Sources,Structural Features,Health Effects,Challenges, and Potential

(1) Background: Dyes play an important role in food, medicine, textile, and other industries, which make human life more colorful. With the increasing demand for food safety, the development of natural dyes becomes more and more attractive. (2) Methods: The literature was searched using the electronic databases PubMed, Web of Science, and SciFinder and this scoping review was carried out following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). (3) Results: 248 articles were included in this review. This review summarizes the research progress on natural dyes in the last ten years. According to structural features, natural dyes mainly include carotenoids, polyphenols, porphyrins, and alkaloids, and some of the newest dyes are summarized. Some pharmacological activities of carotenoids, anthocyanin, curcumin, and betalains in the last 10 years are summarized, and the biological effects of dyes regarding illumination conditions. The disadvantages of natural dyes, including sources, cost, stability, and poor bioavailability, limit their application. Here, some feasible strategies (potential resources, biotechnology, new extraction and separation strategies, strategies for improving stability) are described, which will contribute to the development and utilization of natural dyes. (4) Conclusion: Natural dyes show health benefits and potential in food additives. However, it is necessary for natural dyes to pass toxicity tests and quality tests and receive many regulatory approvals before their final entry into the market as food colorants or as drugs.     

Partitioning in Aqueous Two-Phase Systems: Fundamentals,Applications and Trends

Over the last years, aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS) regained an increasing interest due to their potential in the downstream processing of biomolecules. After many years with only a few articles published, a lot of effort and work has been put into studying these systems for the partitioning of a range of compounds including proteins, organic low-molecular weight molecules or metal ions. Although several research and review articles appeared, a background review on ATPS partitioning fundamentals is needed. In this article, partitioning theories and main effects of several important factors for partitioning, such as molecular weight of the polymer, effect of added salts, pH, electrical charges, and temperature on phase diagrams, tie-line lengths, interfacial tension and settling time of the two aqueous phases are extensively reviewed. The trend in ATPS research is given compiling the recent 2008–2013 research articles published in the field.     

Carbon nanotubes,science and technology part (I) structure,synthesis and characterisation

Since their discovery in 1991 by the Japanese scientist “Sumio Iijima”, carbon nanotubes have been of great interest, both from a fundamental point of view and for future applications. Different types of carbon nanotubes can be produced in various ways. Economically feasible large-scale production and purification techniques are still under development. Carbon nanotubes are discussed in this review in terms of history, types, structure, synthesis and characterisation methods. Carbon nanotubes have attracted the fancy of many scientists worldwide. The unique and unusual properties of these structures make them a unique material with a whole range of promising applications.     

Critical evaluation of microextraction pretreatment techniques – Part 1: Single drop and sorbent‐based techniques

Sample pretreatment techniques or preconcentration constitute a very important step before the analysis of environmental, clinical, pharmaceutical, and other complex samples. Thanks to extraction techniques it is possible to achieve higher method sensitivities and selectivities. Miniaturization microextraction methods make them more environmentally friendly and only small amounts of samples are required. In the past 30 years, a number of microextraction methods have been developed and used and are documented in thousands of articles. Many reviews have been written focusing on their use in specified professional fields or on the latest trends. Unfortunately, no uniform nomenclature has been introduced for these methods. Therefore, this review attempts to classify all the essential microextraction techniques and describes their advantages, disadvantages, and the latest innovations. The methods are divided into two main groups: single drop and sorbent‐based techniques according to the type of extraction phase.