Rapid synthesis of SBA-15 rods with variable lengths, widths, and tunable large pores

Dispersed SBA-15 rods have been synthesized with varying lengths, widths, and pore sizes in a low-temperature synthesis in the presence of heptane and NH(4)F. The pore size of the material can systematically be varied between 11 and 17 nm using different hydrothermal treatment times and/or temperatures. The particle length (400-600 nm) and width (100-400 nm) were tuned by varying the HCl concentration. All the synthesized materials possess a large surface area of 400-600 m(2)/g and a pore volume of 1.05-1.30 cm(3). A mechanism for the effect of the HCl concentration on the particle morphology is suggested. Furthermore, it is shown that the reaction time can be decreased to 1 h, with well-retained pore size and morphology. This work has resulted in SBA-15 rods with the largest pore size reported for this morphology.     

A linear single-molecule magnet based on [Ru(III)(CN)6]3-

We report the synthesis, structure and magnetic properties of the first molecular cluster and single-molecule magnet to incorporate [Ru(III)(CN)(6)](3-). Frequency-domain Fourier-transform THz-EPR (FDFT THz-EPR) and magnetic susceptibility measurements indicate strongly anisotropic Mn-Ru exchange interactions.     

Visible-light photoredox catalyzed oxidative Strecker reaction

An aerobic photocatalytic oxidative cyanation of tertiary amines providing valuable α-aminonitriles in good to excellent yields was developed. Mild reaction conditions and low catalyst loading are attractive features of the protocol.     

Comparison of echolocation clicks from geographically sympatric killer whales and long-finned pilot whales (L)

The source characteristics of biosonar signals from sympatric killer whales and long-finned pilot whales in a Norwegian fjord were compared. A total of 137 pilot whale and more than 2000 killer whale echolocation clicks were recorded using a linear four-hydrophone array. Of these, 20 pilot whale clicks and 28 killer whale clicks were categorized as being recorded on-axis. The clicks of pilot whales had a mean apparent source level of 196 dB re 1 μPa pp and those of killer whales 203 dB re 1 μPa pp. The duration of pilot whale clicks was significantly shorter (23 μs, S.E.=1.3) and the centroid frequency significantly higher (55 kHz, S.E.=2.1) than killer whale clicks (duration: 41 μs, S.E.=2.6; centroid frequency: 32 kHz, S.E.=1.5). The rate of increase in the accumulated energy as a function of time also differed between clicks from the two species. The differences in duration, frequency, and energy distribution may have a potential to allow for the distinction between pilot and killer whale clicks when using automated detection routines for acoustic monitoring.     

Phase-to-phase and phase-to-amplitude transfer characteristics of a nondegenerate-idler phase-sensitive amplifier

For the first time to our knowledge, the phase-to-phase and phase-to-amplitude transfer functions of a nondegenerate-idler phase-sensitive fiber optic parametric amplifier are experimentally measured. Additionally, analytically and numerically obtained transfer curves show excellent agreement with the experimental curves. The experimental results were obtained by imposing a linear phase modulation onto the signal and idler wave simultaneously, and detecting the input and output signal using a self-homodyne coherent receiver.     

Pretreatment of Chicken Feather Waste for Improved Biogas Production

This study deals with the utilization of chicken feather waste as a substrate for anaerobic digestion and improving biogas production by degradation of the compact structure of the feather keratin. In order to increase the digestibility of the feather, different pretreatments were investigated, including thermal pretreatment at 120 °C for 10 min, enzymatic hydrolysis with an alkaline endopeptidase [0.53–2.66 mL/g volatile solids (VS) feathers] for 0, 2, or 24 h at 55 °C, as well as a combination of these pretreatments. The effects of the treatments were then evaluated by anaerobic batch digestion assays at 55 °C. The enzymatic pretreatment increased the methane yield to 0.40 Nm³/kg VS_added, which is 122 % improvement compared to the yield of the untreated feathers. The other treatment conditions were less effective, increasing the methane yield by 11–50 %. The long-term effects of anaerobic digestion of feathers were examined by co-digestion of the feather with organic fraction of municipal solid waste performed with and without the addition of enzyme. When enzyme was added together with the feed, CH₄ yield of 0.485 Nm³/kg VS^?1 d^?1 was achieved together with a stable reactor performance, while in the control reactor, a decrease in methane production, together with accumulation of undegraded feather, was observed.     

Irreversible investments with delayed reaction: an application to generation re-dispatch in power system operation

In this article we consider how the operator of an electric power system should activate bids on the regulating power market in order to minimize the expected operation cost. Important characteristics of the problem are reaction times of actors on the regulating market and ramp-rates for production changes in power plants. Neglecting these will in general lead to major underestimation of the operation cost. Including reaction times and ramp-rates leads to an impulse control problem with delayed reaction. Two numerical schemes to solve this problem are proposed. The first scheme is based on the least-squares Monte Carlo method developed by Longstaff and Schwartz (Rev Financ Stud 14:113–148, 2001). The second scheme which turns out to be more efficient when solving problems with delays, is based on the regression Monte Carlo method developed by Tsitsiklis and van Roy (IEEE Trans Autom Control 44(10):1840–1851, 1999) and (IEEE Trans Neural Netw 12(4):694–703, 2001). The main contribution of the article is the idea of using stochastic control to find an optimal strategy for power system operation and the numerical solution schemes proposed to solve impulse control problems with delayed reaction.     

Enantio‐ and Diastereoselective Access to Distant Stereocenters Embedded within Tetrahydroxanthenes: Utilizing ortho‐Quinone Methides as Reactive Intermediates in Asymmetric Brønsted Acid Catalysis

A protocol for the highly enantioselective synthesis of 9‐substituted tetrahydroxanthenones by means of asymmetric Brønsted acid catalysis has been developed. A chiral binol‐based N‐triflyphosphoramide was found to promote the in situ generation of ortho‐quinone methides and their subsequent reaction with 1,3‐cyclohexanedione to provide the desired products with excellent enantioselectivities. In addition, a highly enantio‐ and diastereoselective Brønsted acid catalyzed desymmetrization of 5‐monosubstituted 1,3‐dicarbonyl substrates with ortho‐quinone methides gives rise to valuable tetrahydroxanthenes containing two distant stereocenters.