Carbocatalysis: The State of “Metal‐Free” Catalysis

The rise in global demand for crucial chemical compounds has driven immense research in the fundamental science of catalysis. Graphene and its derivatives (chemically modified graphene, CMGs) have recently emerged as a new class of heterogeneous catalyst that promises economically viable and greener routes to these compounds. Although CMGs possess unique catalytic properties, the actual active sites are often points of discussion. Current minimal understanding on the possible effects of metallic impurities on the electrocatalytic performances of these CMGs calls forth the need to raise awareness on possible metallic impurities misrepresenting the actual chemical catalytic performances of the CMGs. This Minireview highlights the latest advances in the application of CMGs as catalysts, with an emphasis on the possible effects of metallic impurities on CMG catalysis.     

Artomandin, a new xanthone from Artocarpus kemando (Moraceae)

A new furanodihydrobenzoxanthone, artomandin (1), together with three other flavonoid derivatives, artoindonesianin C, artonol B, and artochamin A, as well as β-sitosterol were isolated from the stem bark of Artocarpus kemando. The structures of these compounds were determined on the basis of spectral evidence. All of these compounds displayed inhibition effects to a very susceptible degree in cancer cell line tests. Compound 1 also exhibited significant antioxidant capacity in the free radical 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl tests.     

Formation of liquid crystal/gel emulsions to nano-emulsions constructed by polyalkoxylated fatty alcohol (PAFA)-based mixed surfactant systems

In the construction of ternary phase diagrams, the polyalkoxylated fatty alcohol (PAFA)-based mixed surfactant systems including PAFA-AS (alkyl sulfonate), PAFA-CB (cocamidopropyl betaine) and PAFA-APG (alkyl polyglucosides) were used to develop self-standing liquid crystal/gel emulsions containing rapeseed oil methyl esters (ROME) and water. The formation of liquid crystal/gel emulsions are observed at semi-dilute regions of the phase diagrams. A pre-emulsion was chosen from each of PAFA-AS, PAFA-CB and PAFA-APG systems for minor modification with sodium silicate. Upon aqueous dilution of the modified pre-emulsions to weight fractions (Φ_w) of 0.8 and 0.6 and with an isothermal shaker agitation, the samples demonstrate dramatic increases in apparent viscosity with flow resistance and shear thinning behaviour. In oscillatory amplitude study, the emulsions show linear viscoelastic (LVE) plateau (G’>G”) and strain softening region (G”>G’) indicating the samples promote a viscoelastic behaviour. Further affirmation by Cole-Cole plots reveal the emulsion samples behave as a Maxwell fluid. The optical microscope study verifies the emulsions of PAFA-AS, PAFA-CB and PAFA-APG systems comprising of multilamellar vesicles, bicontinuous cubic phase and multilamellar phase, respectively. Upon aqueous dilution of the liquid crystal/gel emulsions with an isothermal agitation, the formation of nano-emulsion droplets is confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering studies. The nano-emulsions display spherical and elliptical shapes with mean droplet sizes are in the range of 158.37 to 206.43?nm and zeta potential values are in the range of –12.07 to –32.79?mV.     

A new explanation of the Balmer decrement in quasars

The very steep Balmer decrement, one of the most important puzzles in quasars, has been satisfactorily explained by use of a new theory of Cerenkov line emission.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of the 1,4-diketo and 1,4-diketo-2,3-dihydroxy metabolites of lonapalene in rat urine

Individual high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) methods have been developed for the determination of two major metabolites of lonapalene in rat urine. The highly unstable and polar 1,4-diketo-2,3-dihydroxy metabolite (II) is extracted from urine by two extraction columns (phenyl followed by silica), further purified by means of HPLC with a fully end-capped C18 HPLC column and quantified by an ultraviolet detector at 280 nm. Ascorbic acid is used as an antioxidant during extraction and overnight injection of II. Urine samples for total II (free plus conjugated) determination are incubated with arylsulfatase and beta-glucuronadase prior to extraction. The 1,4-diketo metabolite (III) is extracted from urine with a C18 extraction column, further purified with a C18 HPLC column, and quantified by an ultraviolet detector at 260 nm. The detection limit for both metabolites is 100 ng/ml of urine (signal-to-noise = 2.5). The methods were used to analyze urine samples from a long-term toxicology study of lonapalene in rats and to determine the linearity of dose-concentration relationships for both metabolites.     

Multispectral optical imaging combined in situ with XPS or ToFSIMS and principal component analysis

All X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF‐SIMS) instruments have optical cameras to image the specimen under analysis, and often to image the sample holder as it enters the system too. These cameras help the user find the appropriate points for analysis of specimens. However they seldom give as good images as stand‐alone bench optical microscopes, because of the limited geometry, source/analyser solid angle and ultra‐high‐vacuum (UHV) design compromises. This often means that the images displayed to the user necessarily have low contrast, low resolution and poor depth‐of‐field. To help identify the different regions of the samples present we have found it useful to perform multispectral imaging by illuminating the sample with narrow‐wavelength‐range light emitting diodes (LEDs). By taking an image under the illumination of these LEDs in turn, each at a successively longer wavelength, one can build up a set of registered images that contain more information than a simple Red–Green–Blue image under white‐light illumination. We show that this type of multispectral imaging is easy and inexpensive to fit to common XPS and ToF‐SIMS instruments, using LEDs that are widely available. In our system we typically use 14 LEDs including one emitting in the ultraviolet (so as to allow fluorescent imaging) and three in the near infra‐red. The design considerations of this system are discussed in detail, including the design of the drive and control electronics, and three practical examples are presented where this multispectral imaging was extremely useful. Copyright © 2016 The Authors Surface and Interface Analysis Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.     

Über die Fouriersche Entwicklung der singulären Funktion bei einer Lebesgueschen Zerlegung

Ohne ZusammenfassungDiese Arbeit wurde von der Naturwissenschaftlichen Fakultät der Universität München als Dissertation (D 19) angenommen. Für die Anregung und viele Ratschläge von Herrn Prof.Caratheodory danke ich herzlich.