Synthesis and Crystal Structure of a New Salt of the Water‐Stable Hexathiohypodiphosphate Anion: [py2Li]4[P2S6] ·2 py

A new rare example of a synthetic route in solution to the hexathiohypodiphosphate anion P₂S₆⁴⁻ is presented. Starting from P₄S₃, Li₂S, and elemental sulfur in pyridine, this reaction yields yellow block‐shaped crystals of [py₂Li]₄[P₂S₆] · 2 py ( 1 ). The molecular structure of this hitherto unknown compound was determined by single crystal X‐ray diffraction and reveals a heteronorbornane skeleton within the Li₄P₂S₆ entity.     

HERFD XAS/ATR-FTIR batch reactor cell

An autoclave reactor was modified to perform simultaneously high energy resolution fluorescence detected X-ray absorption spectroscopy (HERFD XAS) and attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy measurements without altering the reactor design. This operando cell allows one to follow changes in the electronic and geometric structure of the catalyst with HERFD XAS and relate them to the simultaneously detected activity and reaction species with ATR-FTIR formed during the reaction in the liquid phase. The capability of the cell is demonstrated by two studies. The first shows the reduction of Au/CeO(2) precursors in different solvents. The second shows that mainly Au(0) is present in the hydrogenation of nitrobenzene over Au/CeO(2).     

Comparison and bounds for functionals of future lifetimes consistent with life tables

We derive a new crossing criterion of hazard rates to identify a stochastic order relation between two random variables. We apply this crossing criterion in the context of life tables to derive stochastic ordering results among three families of fractional age assumptions: the family of linear force of mortality functions, the family of quadratic survival functions and the power family. Further, this criterion is used to derive tight bounds for functionals of future lifetimes that exhibit an increasing force of mortality with given one-year survival probabilities. Numerical examples illustrate our findings.     

Redox kinetics of iron in alkali silicate glasses exposed to ionizing beams: Examples with the electron microprobe

We report herein on changes in the Fe³⁺/ΣFe ratios induced by the electromigration of alkali ions (Alk⁺s) in natural alkali silicate glasses by measuring the shift of the Fe Lα emission peak at the electron microprobe. The Fe³⁺ reduction to Fe²⁺ classically occurs by electron transfer (Fe³⁺ + e^? → Fe²⁺). The inward diffusion (to the bulk) of Alk⁺s is correlated with the outward diffusion (to the surface) of electrons transferred from a Fe²⁺ site to a neighboring Fe³⁺ site. This reduction process is somewhat different when iron is found at low amounts in glasses. In the latter case, Fe³⁺ is an efficient electron trap and its reduction to Fe²⁺ occurs by direct capture of a free electron. The Fe²⁺ oxidation is induced by the formation and the outward diffusion of O^2? interstitial ions produced at the sites of paired nonbridging oxygens after the departure of the charge compensating Alk⁺s. The accumulation of free oxygens beneath the surface makes Fe³⁺-rich oxide phases to precipitate as separate nanometer sized particles. Outgassing of atomic oxygens as bubbles is also observed.     

Light harvesting architectures for electron beam evaporated solid phase crystallized Si thin film solar cells: Statistical and periodic approaches

The fabrication of light trapping architectures for electron beam (e-beam) evaporated polycrystalline Si thin film solar cells is investigated based on tailored self-organized light scattering silica nanospheres and 2 dimensional periodic nanoimprinted structures on glass. A microscopic analysis reveals a unique correlation between the microstructure of high-rate e-beam evaporated Si and the substrate topography. These features provide the basis for the design of nanostructured Si that complies with its distinctive growth characteristics. A layer of self-organized nanospheres embedded in a sol–gel matrix and an anti-reflection coating is found to be an e-beam compatible light trapping approach for poly-Si solar cells, contributing to an increase of 50% in current collection. We developed a preparation process for arrays of equidistant free-standing Si crystals with remarkable optical absorption characteristics based on a nanoimprinted glass substrate by selectively etching e-beam evaporated Si. This periodic approach opens design possibilities for effective three-dimensional architectures for advanced photon management.     

Axial and equatorial ligand effects on biomimetic cysteine dioxygenase model complexes

Density functional theory (DFT) calculations are presented on biomimetic model complexes of cysteine dioxygenase and focus on the effect of axial and equatorial ligand placement. Recent studies by one of us [Y. M. Badiei, M. A. Siegler and D. P. Goldberg, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2011, 133, 1274] gave evidence of a nonheme iron biomimetic model of cysteine dioxygenase using an i-propyl-bis(imino)pyridine, equatorial tridentate ligand. Addition of thiophenol, an anion - either chloride or triflate - and molecular oxygen, led to several possible stereoisomers of this cysteine dioxygenase biomimetic complex. Moreover, large differences in reactivity using chloride as compared to triflate as the binding anion were observed. Here we present a series of DFT calculations on the origin of these reactivity differences and show that it is caused by the preference of coordination site of anion versus thiophenol binding to the chemical system. Thus, stereochemical interactions of triflate and the bulky iso-propyl substituents of the ligand prevent binding of thiophenol in the trans position using triflate. By contrast, smaller anions, such as chloride, can bind in either cis or trans ligand positions and give isomers with similar stability. Our calculations help to explain the observance of thiophenol dioxygenation by this biomimetic system and gives details of the reactivity differences of ligated chloride versus triflate.     

MCore: A non-hydrostatic atmospheric dynamical core utilizing high-order finite-volume methods

This paper presents a new atmospheric dynamical core which uses a high-order upwind finite-volume scheme of Godunov type for discretizing the non-hydrostatic equations of motion on the sphere under the shallow-atmosphere approximation. The model is formulated on the cubed-sphere in order to avoid polar singularities. An operator-split Runge–Kutta–Rosenbrock scheme is used to couple the horizontally explicit and vertically implicit discretizations so as to maintain accuracy in time and space and enforce a global CFL condition which is only restricted by the horizontal grid spacing and wave speed. The Rosenbrock approach is linearly implicit and so requires only one matrix solve per column per time step. Using a modified version of the low-speed AUSM⁺-up Riemann solver allows us to construct the vertical Jacobian matrix analytically, and so significantly improve the model efficiency. This model is tested against a series of typical atmospheric flow problems to verify accuracy and consistency. The test results reveal that this approach is stable, accurate and effective at maintaining sharp gradients in the flow.     

Detection and confirmation of saxitoxin analogues in freshwater benthic Lyngbya wollei algae collected in the St. Lawrence River (Canada) by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

The presence of cyanotoxins in benthic Lyngbya wollei algae samples collected in a fluvial lake along the St. Lawrence River, Canada, was investigated using a multi-toxins method. Hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) and reverse phased liquid chromatography (RPLC) were coupled to triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC-QqQMS) for quantification and to quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry (LC-QqTOFMS) for screening and confirmation. The presence of two saxitoxin analogues, LWTX-1 and LWTX-6, was confirmed in benthic Lyngbya wollei algae samples. Concentration of LWTX-1 was between 209 ± 5 and 279 ± 9 μg g^?1. No other targeted cyanotoxin (such as anatoxin-a, nodularin, microcystin-LR, microcystins-RR and saxitoxin) was found in the samples. The presence of LWTX-6 was observed by using a screening approach based on an in-house database of cyanotoxins, an algorithm of identification and high resolution mass spectrometry measurements on the precursor and product ions. This work demonstrates the need for more research on the fate of benthic cyanotoxins in aquatic ecosystems such the St. Lawrence River.     

Group additivity values for estimating the enthalpy of formation of organic compounds: an update and reappraisal. 2. C, H, N, O, S, and halogens

This study extends a previous publication on group additivity values (GAVs) for the elements C, H, and O, to include the elements nitrogen, sulfur, and the halogens. The present state and utility of the Benson additivity schemes for estimating the enthalpy of formation (Δ(f)H(0)) of organic compounds are again described, extending them to include more elements. Old and new GAVs for a wide variety of compounds are provided and are revised where necessary. When new terms are proposed, or old ones are significantly altered, the rationale for so doing is presented. GAV derived ring strain values for benzene and pyridine indicate that the aromatic stabilization of each is essentially the same. As before, the thermochemical consequences of replacing one functional group by another are also shown, thus permitting quick shortcuts to the estimation of new Δ(f)H(0) values.     

The cultural dimension of beliefs: an investigation of future primary teachers’ epistemological beliefs concerning the nature of mathematics in 15 countries

Beliefs constitute a central part of a person’s professional competencies and are crucial to the perception of situations as they influence our choice of actions. This paper focuses on epistemological beliefs about the nature of mathematics of future primary teachers from an international perspective. The data reported are part of a larger sample originating from the TEDS-M study which compares primary mathematics teacher education in 15 countries. In this paper we examine the pattern of beliefs of future teachers aiming to teach mathematics at primary level. We explore whether and to what extent beliefs concerning the nature of mathematics are influenced by cultural factors, in our case the extent to which a country’s culture can be characterized by an individualistic versus collectivistic orientation according to Hofstede’s terminology. In the first part of the paper, the literature on epistemological beliefs is reviewed and the role of culture and individualism/collectivism on the formation of beliefs concerning the nature of mathematics will be discussed. In the empirical part, means and distributions of belief ratings will be reported. Finally, multilevel analyses explore how much of the variation of belief preferences between countries can be explained by the individualistic orientation of a country.