Indium(I) trifluoromethanesulfonate and other soluble salts for univalent indium chemistry

Herein we report the synthesis, structure and preliminary reactivity studies of a series of unusually soluble indium(i) salts that are improved alternatives to indium(i) halide reagents.     

Atomic level control over surface species via a molecular precursor approach: isolated Cu(I) sites and Cu nanoparticles supported on mesoporous silica

A nonaqueous molecular precursor grafting approach was employed for the generation of well-defined surface structures featuring Cu on a mesoporous silica support. X-ray absorption measurements (XANES and EXAFS) were used to determine that [CuOSi(OtBu)3]4 provided 100% isolated Cu(I) sites upon grafting (without thermal treatment), whereas [CuOtBu]4 gave isolated species with most of the original Cu-O-Cu linkages intact, but in a more relaxed straight chain form. Upon heating under inert conditions, the vast majority of Cu in the materials from [CuOSi(OtBu)3]4 remained as isolated Cu(I) sites (up to 88% isolation), with significant stabilization provided from the -OSi(OtBu)3 ligands. In stark contrast, approximately 100% of the Cu in the materials generated from [CuOtBu]4 was readily reduced upon heating, forming isolated Cu metal particles with an average diameter of 0.7 nm.     

Multicriteria Analysis Represented by Artificial Intelligence Techniques

This paper presents a possible representation of multicriteria analysis by means of artificial intelligence techniques. The decision process activities characterized by the existence of formal and technical knowledge were identified and attention was focused on the area of multicriteria outranking methods. The knowledge characteristics suggested the use of artificial intelligence techniques, based on a conceptualization in which the domain of discourse is the set of the multicriteria methodology concepts used in the analysed area of activities, and the relational set is the union of the admissible relations among the concepts and the relations elicited from experience. The suitable AI techniques were tested by implementing a knowledge-based interface between the outranking methods and a user who was not very familiar with this approach.     

Optical symmetry in liquid crystal displays

Some authors include in their articles polar plots showing the directional dependence of either transmission or contrast ratio of a liquid crystal display (LCD). In some cases those plots have a symmetry axis; here we explain when and why it occurs.     

Membrane-Permeant 3-OH-Phosphorylated Phosphoinositide Derivatives

No Abstract     

Atomic force microscopy characterization of the surface wettability of natural fibres

Natural fibres represent a readily available source of ecologically friendly and inexpensive reinforcement in composites with degradable thermoplastics, however chemical treatments of fibres are required to prepare feasible composites. It is desirable to characterize the surface wettability of fibres after chemical treatment as the polarity of cellulose-based fibres influences compatibility with a polymer matrix. Assessment of the surface wettability of natural fibres using conventional methods presents a challenge as the surfaces are morphologically and chemically heterogeneous, rough, and can be strongly wicking. In this work it is shown that under atmospheric conditions the adhesion force between an atomic force microscopy (AFM) tip and the fibre surface can estimate the water contact angle and surface wettability of the fibre. AFM adhesion force measurements are suitable for the more difficult surfaces of natural fibres and in addition allow for correlations between microstructural features and surface wettability characteristics.     

Introducing atmospheric attenuation within a diffusion model for room-acoustic predictions

This paper presents an extension of a diffusion model for room acoustics to handle the atmospheric attenuation. This phenomenon is critical at high frequencies and in large rooms to obtain correct acoustic predictions. An additional term is introduced in the diffusion equation as well as in the diffusion constant, in order to take the atmospheric attenuation into account. The modified diffusion model is then compared with the statistical theory and a cone-tracing software. Three typical room-acoustic configurations are investigated: a proportionate room, a long room and a flat room. The modified diffusion model agrees well with the statistical theory (when applicable, as in proportionate rooms) and with the cone-tracing software, both in terms of sound pressure levels and reverberation times.     

Molecular imaging by Mid-IR laser ablation mass spectrometry

Mid-IR laser ablation at atmospheric pressure (AP) produces a mixture of ions, neutrals, clusters, and particles with a size distribution extending into the nanoparticle range. Using external electric fields the ions can be extracted and sampled by a mass spectrometer. In AP infrared (IR) matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) experiments, the plume was shown to contain an appreciable proportion of ionic components that reflected the composition of the ablated target and enabled mass spectrometric analysis. The detected ion intensities rapidly declined with increasing distance of sampling from the ablated surface to ∼4 mm. This was rationalized in terms of ion recombination and the stopping of the plume expansion by the background gas. In laser ablation electrospray ionization (LAESI) experiments, the ablation plume was intercepted by an electrospray. The neutral particles in the plume were ionized by the charged droplets in the spray and enabled the detection of large molecules (up to 66 kDa). Maximum ion production in LAESI was observed at large (∼15 mm) spray axis to ablated surface distance indicating a radically different ion formation mechanism compared to AP IR-MALDI. The feasibility of molecular imaging by both AP IR-MALDI and LAESI was demonstrated on targets with mock patterns. Presented at the 9-th International Conference on Laser Ablation, 2007 Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain