Scope of the formal [3+2] cycloaddition for the synthesis of five-membered ring of functionalized indanes

We report our research about the synthesis of functionalized indanes in the pentagonal ring by a formal [3+2] cycloaddition using benzhydrols and styrene derivatives with electron-withdrawing groups joined to C-β, such as carboxyl, carboxymethyl, carbonyl of ketones, and nitro groups. We also report the configurational assignment of the indanic structures synthesized using several experiments of NMR.     

New polynuclear carbonyl ruthenium (II) complexes derived from 1,8‐naphthyridine

This work shows the synthesis and characterization of new carbonyl complexes derived of 1,8‐naphthyridine. Covalently bonded complex can be successfully employed in building of supramolecular structures. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Nanostructured thermoelectric oxides with low thermal conductivity

Complex metal oxides, such as e.g. perovskite‐type phases are developed as potential functional materials to improve the efficiency of thermoelectric converters. Among those, cobaltates with p‐type conductivity and n‐type manganates are considered for the realisation of a ceramic thermoelectric converter. Sintered pellets with the composition AMO_3–δ (A = Ln, RE; M = Co, Mn, Ni, Ti) and “Ca₃Co₄O₉ derivates” were synthesized and characterised concerning their thermoelectric properties in a broad temperature range. It was found that the Seebeck coefficient and the electrical conductivity do not depend on the dimensions of the crystallites, while the heat conductivity can be substantially lowered by decreasing the size of the crystalline domains in these systems. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Isobaric thermal expansivity behaviour against temperature and pressure of associating fluids

In order to study the influence of association on the isobaric thermal expansivity, this magnitude has been experimentally determined for a set of associating fluids within the temperature and pressure intervals (278.15 to 348.15) K and (5 to 55) MPa by means of calorimetric measurements. The 1-alcohol series, from methanol to 1-decanol, 2-pentanol, 3-pentanol, and 1-pentylamine were selected. With a view on checking the quality of the experimental data, they are compared with available literature values; good coherence was obtained for most of the studied liquids. The analysis of the experimental results reveals that the association capability presents a strong influence not only on the value of the isobaric thermal expansivity itself, but also on its behaviour against temperature and pressure.     

Synthesis of Chiral Aromatic Alcohols: Use of New C2-Symmetric RhIIICp∗, RuII(cymene), or RuII(benzene) Complexes Containing Chiral Diaminocyclohexane Ligand as Asymmetric Transfer Hydrogenation Catalyst

Abstract

Twelve chiral secondary alcohols were synthesized by asymmetric transfer hydrogenation (ATH) using C₂-symmetric bis(sulfonamide) ligand (2) derived from (1R,2R)-cyclohexane-1,2-diamine and complexed with [RhCl₂Cp?]₂, [RuCl₂(cymene)]₂, or [RuCl₂(benzene)]₂ and then used in situ in the reduction of prochiral ketones. The alcohols were obtained in 85–99% yield and 90–99% enantioselectivity with isopropanol as the hydrogen source. Two-fold rate enhancement and better yields were achieved (88–99%) with 80–99% enantioselectivity using the complex [RhCl₂Cp?]₂ and aqueous sodium formate as the hydrogen source.     

A new fuzzy based algorithm for solving stereo vagueness in detecting and tracking people

This paper describes a system capable of detecting and tracking various people using a new approach based on colour, stereo vision and fuzzy logic. Initially, in the people detection phase, two fuzzy systems are used to filter out false positives of a face detector. Then, in the tracking phase, a new fuzzy logic based particle filter (FLPF) is proposed to fuse stereo and colour information assigning different confidence levels to each of these information sources. Information regarding depth and occlusion is used to create these confidence levels. This way, the system is able to keep track of people, in the reference camera image, even when either stereo information or colour information is confusing or not reliable. To carry out the tracking, the new FLPF is used, so that several particles are generated while several fuzzy systems compute the possibility that some of the generated particles correspond to the new position of people. Our technique outperforms two well known tracking approaches, one based on the method from Nummiaro et al. [1] and other based on the Kalman/meanshift tracker method in Comaniciu and Ramesh [2]. All these approaches were tested using several colour-with-distance sequences simulating real life scenarios. The results show that our system is able to keep track of people in most of the situations where other trackers fail, as well as to determine the size of their projections in the camera image. In addition, the method is fast enough for real time applications.     

Water–gas shift reaction catalyzed by mononuclear ruthenium complexes containing bipyridine and phenanthroline derivatives

Ruthenium complexes of the type [RuL(CO)₂Cl₂], [RuL₂Cl₂], [RuL₂(CO)(H₂O)](PF₆)₂, [RuL₂Cl]₂(PF₆)₂, [RuL₂(CO)Cl](PF₆), and [RuL₂(CO₃)]·3H₂O (where L is a bipyridine or phenanthroline derivative) dissolved in aqueous 2‐ethoxyethanol, and in a basic medium of KOH, triethylamine, or trimethylamine, catalyze the water‐gas shift reaction under mild conditions (P_CO = 0.9 atm at 100 °C). Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Helium mediated deposition: modeling the He-TiO2(110)-(1×1) interaction potential and application to the collision of a helium droplet from density functional calculations

This paper is the first of a two-part series dealing with quantum-mechanical (density-functional-based) studies of helium-mediated deposition of catalytic species on the rutile TiO(2)(110)-(1×1) surface. The interaction of helium with the TiO(2)(110)-(1×1) surface is first evaluated using the Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof functional at a numerical grid dense enough to build an analytical three-dimensional potential energy surface. Three (two prototype) potential models for the He-surface interaction in helium scattering calculations are analyzed to build the analytical potential energy surface: (1) the hard-corrugated-wall potential model; (2) the corrugated-Morse potential model; and (3) the three-dimensional Morse potential model. Different model potentials are then used to study the dynamics upon collision of a (4)He(300) cluster with the TiO(2)(110) surface at zero temperature within the framework of a time-dependent density-functional approach for the quantum fluid [D. Mateo, D. Jin, M. Barranco, and M. Pi, J. Chem. Phys. 134, 044507 (2011)] and classical dynamics calculations. The laterally averaged density functional theory-based potential with an added long-range dispersion interaction term is further applied. At variance with classical dynamics calculations, showing helium droplet splashing out of the surface at impact, the time evolution of the macroscopic helium wave-function predicts that the helium droplet spreads on the rutile surface and leads to the formation of a thin film above the substrate. This work thus provides a basis for simulating helium mediated deposition of metallic clusters embedded within helium nanodroplets.     

Multiplexed paper test strip for quantitative bacterial detection

Rapid, sensitive, on-site detection of bacteria without a need for sophisticated equipment or skilled personnel is extremely important in clinical settings and rapid response scenarios, as well as in resource-limited settings. Here, we report a novel approach for selective and ultra-sensitive multiplexed detection of Escherichia coli (non-pathogenic or pathogenic) using a lab-on-paper test strip (bioactive paper) based on intracellular enzyme (β-galactosidase (B-GAL) or β-glucuronidase (GUS)) activity. The test strip is composed of a paper support (0.5 × 8 cm), onto which either 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-β-D: -glucuronide sodium salt (XG), chlorophenol red β-galactopyranoside (CPRG) or both and FeCl(3) were entrapped using sol-gel-derived silica inks in different zones via an ink-jet printing technique. The sample was lysed and assayed via lateral flow through the FeCl(3) zone to the substrate area to initiate rapid enzyme hydrolysis of the substrate, causing a change from colorless-to-blue (XG hydrolyzed by GUS, indication of nonpathogenic E. coli) and/or yellow to red-magenta (CPRG hydrolyzed by B-GAL, indication of total coliforms). Using immunomagnetic nanoparticles for selective preconcentration, the limit of detection was ~5 colony-forming units (cfu) per milliliter for E. coli O157:H7 and ~20 cfu/mL for E. coli BL21, within 30 min without cell culturing. Thus, these paper test strips could be suitable for detection of viable total coliforms and pathogens in bathing water samples. Moreover, inclusion of a culturing step allows detection of less than 1 cfu in 100 mL within 8 h, making the paper tests strips relevant for detection of multiple pathogens and total coliform bacteria in beverage and food samples.