Manganese-based bifunctional electrocatalysts for zinc-air batteries

Manganese-based materials have been attractive candidates for zinc-air batteries in the recent years. This is as a result of their natural abundance, low cost and level of toxicity. However, this review shows that the application still faces some challenges. In our opinion, continual fundamental information on strategies for improving the catalytic activity/performance could promote the commercialization of low cost with relatively high operating voltages profile of manganese-based materials for zinc-air batteries.     

The Mth Coherent State

In this article, we propose a new kind of quantum states based on acting the number operator M times \( {\hat{n}}^M \) on the coherent state. We term this state the Mth coherent state, based on the value of the power M. We find that it is strongly similar to the coherent state as the analysis of the photonic statistical distributions and the overlap with the coherent state illustrate. Also, we find that it asymptotically reaches the minimum uncertainty and has a localized behavior in the Husimi function. However, in contrast to coherent state, the Mth coherent state has strong nonclassical features such as antibunching and squeezing for a relatively long range. Other parameters and measurements are discussed and studied. Finally, we highlight the similarity between the higher orders of the near coherent states and the Mth coherent states in order to potentially generate our proposed state.

     

А kinеtiс аnаlysis fоr prоduсtiоn of саlсium bоrоgluсоnаtе frоm colemanite

In this paper, the kinetic model of colemanite dissolution in gluconic acid solutions was carried out in a batch reactor. The effects of the particle size, reaction temperature, stirring speed, gluconic acid concentration, and solid/liquid ratio on colemanite dissolution were experimentally studied. The empirical parameters were the gluconic acid concentration (0.05-0.2 M), the temperature (20-50°C), the solid/liquid ratio (0.05/500-1.5/500 g⋅L⁻¹), particle size (193.5-1000 μm), and stirring speed (400-700 rpm). The kinetic models for heterogeneous solid-liquid reactions were used with the dissolution data in evaluating the kinetic. The dissolution of colemanite in gluconic acid solutions was controlled by diffusion through the product layer. The activation energy was found to be 8.39 kJ⋅mol⁻¹. The rate expression associated with the dissolution rate of colemanite depending on the parameters chosen may be summarized as follows:      

An overview of boron nitride based polymer nanocomposites

Recently, boron nitride (BN) based materials have received significant attention in both academic and industrial sectors due to its interesting properties like large energy band gap, good resistance to oxidation, excellent thermal conductivity, thermal stability, chemical inertness, significant mechanical property and widespread applications. This review article deals with the preparation and properties of boron nitride and its nanocomposites with various polymers. Diverse polymers have been explored for the preparation of boron nitride filled polymer nanocomposites by adopting different mixing methods. Properties of the resulting polymer nanocomposites mainly depend up on filler size and dispersion, mixing conditions and type of interaction between polymer matrix and the filler. Herein, the structure, preparation and properties of various boron nitride based polymer nanocomposites are reviewed in detail along with a brief overview of different classes of BN nanomaterials.     

Preparation and separation properties of oxalylurea‐bridged silica membranes

Two new bridged alkoxysilanes, bis(triethoxysilylalkyl)‐N,N′‐oxalylureas (alkyl = methyl or n‐propyl), bearing a highly rigid and polar oxalylurea unit in the bridges, were employed as precursors of bridged silica membranes. The gas and water separation performance of the membranes prepared from the precursors using the sol–gel process was investigated. Interestingly, the membrane properties depended on the alkyl chain length. The membrane containing methylene units (alkyl = methyl) was porous and rather hydrophilic but the other with longer propylene units (alkyl = n‐propyl) was non‐porous and more hydrophobic. High H₂/SF₆ gas permeance ratios of 3100 and 1700, and NaCl rejections of 89 and 85% for 2000 ppm aqueous NaCl were obtained using the membranes containing methyl and n‐propyl, respectively. The membrane with alkyl = methyl also showed a high CO₂/N₂ permeance ratio of 20.6 at 50°C. These results indicate the potential applications of the membranes as gas and water separation materials. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Betulin,a Newly Characterized Compound in Acacia auriculiformis Bark,Is a Multi-Target Protein Kinase Inhibitor

The purpose of this work is to investigate the protein kinase inhibitory activity of constituents from Acacia auriculiformis stem bark. Column chromatography and NMR spectroscopy were used to purify and characterize betulin from an ethyl acetate soluble fraction of acacia bark. Betulin, a known inducer of apoptosis, was screened against a panel of 16 disease-related protein kinases. Betulin was shown to inhibit Abelson murine leukemia viral oncogene homolog 1 (ABL1) kinase, casein kinase 1ε (CK1ε), glycogen synthase kinase 3α/β (GSK-3 α/β), Janus kinase 3 (JAK3), NIMA Related Kinase 6 (NEK6), and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 kinase (VEGFR2) with activities in the micromolar range for each. The effect of betulin on the cell viability of doxorubicin-resistant K562R chronic myelogenous leukemia cells was then verified to investigate its putative use as an anti-cancer compound. Betulin was shown to modulate the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathway, with activity similar to that of imatinib mesylate, a known ABL1 kinase inhibitor. The interaction of betulin and ABL1 was studied by molecular docking, revealing an interaction of the inhibitor with the ABL1 ATP binding pocket. Together, these data demonstrate that betulin is a multi-target inhibitor of protein kinases, an activity that can contribute to the anticancer properties of the natural compound and to potential treatments for leukemia.     

Multifunctional iron thiocarboxylate complexes: synthesis,reactivity and structure of CpFe(CO)<Subscript>2</Subscript>SCO-3,5-C<Subscript>6</Subscript>H<Subscript>4</Subscript>(COCl)<Subscript>2</Subscript>

A controlled substitution reaction of the chlorine atoms of 1,3,5-benzenetricarbonyl trichloride by the organoiron fragment (CpFe(CO)₂S) has been achieved. The complexes CpFe(CO)₂SCO-3,5-C₆H₃(COCl)₂ (1), 1,3-[CpFe(CO)₂SCO]₂-5-C₆H₃COCl (2) and 1,3,5-[CpFe(CO)₂SCO]₃C₆H₃ (3) were prepared from the reaction of (μ-S _x )[CpFe(CO)₂]₂ (x = 3, 4) with 1,3,5-C₆H₃(COCl)₃ in a 1:1, 2:1, or 3:1 metal to ligand molar ratio. The reactions of (1) with amines, thiols, and carboxylic acids produce the trifunctional mono-iron complexes CpFe(CO)₂SCO-3,5-C₆H₃(COY)₂ [Y = NR₂ (4), SR (5), OCOR (4)]. The X-ray structure determination of (1) is reported.     

Effect of Different Crosslinking Strategies on Physical Properties and Biocompatibility of Freestanding Multilayer Films Made of Alginate and Chitosan

Freestanding multilayer films prepared by layer‐by‐layer technique have attracted interest as promising materials for wound dressings. The goal is to fabricate freestanding films using chitosan (CHI) and alginate (ALG) including subsequent crosslinking to improve the mechanical properties of films while maintaining their biocompatibility. Three crosslinking strategies are investigated, namely use of calcium ions for crosslinking ALG, 1‐ethyl‐3‐(‐3‐dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide combined with N‐hydroxysuccinimide for crosslinking ALG with CHI, and Genipin for crosslinking chitosan inside the films. Different characteristics, such as surface morphology, wettability, swelling, roughness, and mechanical properties are investigated showing that films became thinner, exhibited rougher surfaces, had lower water uptake, and increased mechanical strength after crosslinking. Changes of wettability are moderate and dependent on the crosslinking method. In vitro cytotoxicity and cell attachment studies with human dermal fibroblasts show that freestanding CHI‐ALG films represent a poorly adhesive substratum for fibroblasts, while studies using incubation of plastic‐adherent fibroblast beneath floating films show no signs of cytotoxicity in a time frame of 7 days. Results from cell experiments combined with film characteristics after crosslinking, indicate that crosslinked freestanding films made of ALG and CHI may be interesting candidates for wound dressings.     

A Facile Synthesis of 2‐Methyl‐3‐oxoindoline‐2‐carboxylates Utilizing Aza‐Brook Rearrangement as a Crucial Step

Synthesis of 2‐methyl‐3‐oxoindoline‐2‐carboxylates is developed using a bis(trimethylsilyl)aluminum chloride‐induced aza‐Brook rearrangement as a crucial step. Regarding the organoaluminum species, use of readily available tris(trimethylsilyl)aluminum·ether complex was not suitable for the present cyclization. After a series of examination of the reaction conditions, the aza‐Brook rearrangement and the subsequent cyclization with 2 equivalens of bis(trimethylsilyl)aluminum chloride were found to be the most effective. An application to the synthesis of a potential intermediate of duocarmycin A is also described, in which ozonolysis of the styrenyl moiety and the Barton–McCombie deoxygenation of the hydroxymethyl group were successfully carried out.