Dinuclear silver(I) complexes for the design of metal-ligand networks based on triazolopyrimidines

Silver(I) coordination complexes with the versatile and biomimetic ligands 1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine (tp), 5,7-dimethyl-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine (dmtp) and 7-amine-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine (7atp) all feature dinuclear [Ag(2)(μ-tp)(2)](2+) building units (where tp is a triazolopyrimidine derivative), which are the preferred motif, independently of the counter-anion used. According to AIM (atoms in molecules) and ELF (electron localization function) analyses, this fact is due to the great stability of these dinuclear species. The complexes structures range from the dinuclear entities [Ag(2)(μ-tp)(2)(CH(3)CN)(4)](BF(4))(2) (1), [Ag(2)(μ-tp)(2)(CH(3)CN)(4)](ClO(4))(2) (2), [Ag(2)(μ-7atp)(2)](ClO(4))(2) (3) and [Ag(2)(μ-dmtp)(2)(CH(3)CN)](PF(6))(ClO(4)) (4) over the 1D polymer chain [Ag(2)(μ-CF(3)SO(3))(2)(μ-dmtp)(2)](n) (5) to the 3D net {[Ag(2)(μ(3)-tp)(2)](PF(6))(2)·～6H(2)O}(n) (6) with NbO topology.     

Catalytic ammonia reforming: alternative routes to net-zero-carbon hydrogen and fuel

Ammonia is an energy-dense liquid hydrogen carrier and fuel whose accessible dissociation chemistries offer promising alternatives to hydrogen electrolysis, compression and dispensing at scale. Catalytic ammonia reforming has thus emerged as an area of renewed focus within the ammonia and hydrogen energy research & development communities. However, a majority of studies emphasize the discovery of new catalytic materials and their evaluation under idealized laboratory conditions. This Perspective highlights recent advances in ammonia reforming catalysts and their demonstrations in realistic application scenarios. Key knowledge gaps and technical needs for real reformer devices are emphasized and presented alongside enabling catalyst and reaction engineering fundamentals to spur future investigations into catalytic ammonia reforming.

Ammonia is a promising net-zero-carbon energy vector whose hydrogen content is accessible via multiple catalytic pathways. This perspective highlights advances in NH₃ reforming catalysis and opportunities for reaction engineering of reformer devices.     

Chronic Treatment with Melatonin Improves Hippocampal Neurogenesis in the Aged Brain and Under Neurodegeneration

Adult hippocampal neurogenesis is altered during aging and under different neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases. Melatonin shows neurogenic and neuroprotective properties during aging and neuropathological conditions. In this study, we evaluated the effects of chronic treatment with melatonin on different markers of neurodegeneration and hippocampal neurogenesis using immunohistochemistry in the aged and neurodegenerative brains of SAMP8 mice, which is an animal model of accelerated senescence that mimics aging-related Alzheimer’s pathology. Neurodegenerative processes observed in the brains of aged SAMP8 mice at 10 months of age include the presence of damaged neurons, disorganization in the layers of the brain cortex, alterations in neural processes and the length of neuronal prolongations and β-amyloid accumulation in the cortex and hippocampus. This neurodegeneration may be associated with neurogenic responses in the hippocampal dentate gyrus of these mice, since we observed a neurogenic niche of neural stem and progenitor/precursors cells in the hippocampus of SAMP8 mice. However, hippocampal neurogenesis seems to be compromised due to alterations in the cell survival, migration and/or neuronal maturation of neural precursor cells due to the neurodegeneration levels in these mice. Chronic treatment with melatonin for 9 months decreased these neurodegenerative processes and the neurodegeneration-induced neurogenic response. Noticeably, melatonin also induced recovery in the functionality of adult hippocampal neurogenesis in aged SAMP8 mice.     

Analytical applications of some flotation techniques-a review

A review is given of the principles and more recent applications of foam flotation.     

Very efficient, reusable copper catalyst for carbene transfer reactions under biphasic conditions using ionic liquids

[reaction: see text] The complex {[HC(3,5-Me(2)pz)(3)]Cu(NCMe)}BF(4) catalyzes the transfer of the :CHCO(2)Et unit from ethyl diazoacetate to several saturated and unsaturated substrates with very high yields and under biphasic conditions using the ionic liquid [bmim][PF(6)] and hexane as the reaction medium. The catalyst has been tested for several cycles of recovery and reuse without any loss of activity.     

Angular spectrum of diffracted wave fields with apochromatic correction

We report on compensation of diffraction-induced angular dispersion of ultrashort pulses up to a second order. A strategy for chromatic correction profits from high dispersion of kinoform-type zone plates. Ultraflat dispersion curves rely on a saddle point that may be tuned at a prescribed wavelength. Validity of our approach may reach the few-cycles regime.     

Estimation of plasmid concentration in batch culture of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis> DH5α via simple state observer

The aim of this paper is to present an alternative state observer structure for online estimation purposes of the key dynamical variables in a class of batch culture for plasmid production; the latter has been extremely attractive to be used as DNA vaccines or gene therapy. A mathematical model for culture of Escherichia coli DH5α-harboring plasmid was considered a benchmark system for the application of the proposed estimation methodology. Local observability analysis revealed that the system is partially observable for plasmid concentration considering only the biomass concentration in the batch culture as the measured variable. The proposed observer is designed with a simple proportional–integral feedback of the measured biomass concentration, where under the proposed design, the observer gain´s array can compensate the main nonlinearities of the estimation error dynamics. The convergence of estimated variables to the real ones is mathematically analyzed, reaching an asymptotic behavior. Numerical experiments were performed, where a comparison with a standard extended Luenberger observer was done and the proposed estimation methodology revealed a satisfactory performance.     

Fast-atom bombardment mass spectrometry of brassinosteroid analogs

Positive ion fast-atom bombardment mass spectra of brassinosteroid analogs have been systematically obtained for the first time. The spectra of six brassinosteroid analogs and their corresponding 22S,23S isomers included the protonated molecule in medium to high relative intensity. The fragmentation pattern is dominated by side chain cleavage. There is a marked preferential loss of acetic acid from the [M + H]⁺ ion of 5α-hydrogen-3β-acetylated derivatives compared to the 5α-hydroxy-3β-acetylated analogs.