S‐Alkylation of Soft Scorpionates

The alkylation reactions of soft scorpionates are reported. The hydrotris(S‐alkyl‐methimazolyl)borate dications (alkyl=methyl, allyl, benzyl), which were prepared by the reaction of Tm^Me anion and primary alkyl halides, have been isolated and structurally characterised. The reaction is, however, not universally successful. DFT analysis of these alkylation reactions (C?S versus B? H alkylation) indicates that the observed outcome is driven by kinetic factors. Extending the study to incorporate alternative imine thiones (mercaptobenzothiazole, bz; thiazoline, tz) led to the structural characterisation of di[aquo‐μ‐aquohydrotris(mercaptobenzothiazolyl)boratosodium], which contains sodium atoms in the κ³‐S,S,S coordination mode. Alkylation of Na[Tbz] and Na[tzTtz] leads to decomposition resulting in the formation of the simple S‐alkylated heterocycles. The analysis of the species involved in these reactions shows an inherent weakness in the B? N bond in soft scorpionates, which has implications for their use in more advanced chemistry.     

Subcentimeter depth resolution using a single-photon counting time-of-flight laser ranging system at 1550 nm wavelength

We demonstrate subcentimeter depth profiling at a stand off distance of 330 m using a time-of-flight approach based on time-correlated single-photon counting. For the first time to our knowledge, the photon-counting time-of-flight technique was demonstrated at a wavelength of 1550 nm using a superconducting nanowire single-photon detector. The performance achieved suggests that a system using superconducting detectors has the potential for low-light-level and eye-safe operation. The system's instrumental response was 70 ps full width at half-maximum, which meant that 1 cm surface-to-surface resolution could be achieved by locating the centroids of each return signal. A depth resolution of 4 mm was achieved by employing an optimized signal-processing algorithm based on a reversible jump Markov chain Monte Carlo method.     

Magnetically Aligned Supramolecular Hydrogels

The magnetic‐field‐induced alignment of the fibrillar structures present in an aqueous solution of a dipeptide gelator, and the subsequent retention of this alignment upon transformation to a hydrogel upon the addition of CaCl₂ or upon a reduction in solution pH is reported. Utilising the switchable nature of the magnetic field coupled with the slow diffusion of CaCl₂, it is possible to precisely control the extent of anisotropy across a hydrogel, something that is generally very difficult to do using alternative methods. The approach is readily extended to other compounds that form viscous solutions at high pH. It is expected that this work will greatly expand the utility of such low‐molecular‐weight gelators (LMWG) in areas where alignment is key.     

Skin Cancer Awareness Among 1 271 Black Africans in South Africa

Little is known about levels of awareness and perceptions of skin cancer among Africans living in Africa. This study assessed skin cancer awareness among 1271 deeply pigmented South Africans. Participants (n = 642 males vs n = 629 females) were aware of skin cancer (79%) with more females than males being aware of skin cancer (P = 0.02). Majority of all participants had never checked their skin for signs or symptoms of skin cancer (90%). Palms of hands and soles of feet were the least recognized anatomic sites for skin cancer development, despite these sites being the common sites for acral lentiginous melanoma in individuals with deeply pigmented skin. Results suggest a need for targeted skin cancer awareness among population groups with dark skin on identification, screening, and early detection, professional training for healthcare personnel and content on skin cancer in deeply pigmented skin in medical curricula.     

Intramolecular proton transfer in the isomerization of hydroxyacetone: Characterization based on reaction force analysis and the bond fragility spectrum

The mechanism of isomerization of hydroxyacetone to 2-hydroxypropanal is studied within the framework of reaction force analysis at the M06-2X/6-311++G(d,p) level of theory. Three unique pathways are considered: (a) a step-wise mechanism that proceeds through the formation of the Z-isomer of their shared enediol intermediate, (b) a step-wise mechanism that forms the E-isomer of the enediol, and (c) a concerted pathway that bypasses the enediol intermediate. Energy calculations show that the concerted pathway has the lowest activation energy barrier at 45.7 kcal mol⁻¹. The reaction force, chemical potential, and reaction electronic flux are calculated for each reaction to characterize electronic changes throughout the mechanism. The reaction force constant is calculated in order to investigate the synchronous/asynchronous nature of the concerted intramolecular proton transfers involved. Additional characterization of synchronicity is provided by calculating the bond fragility spectrum for each mechanism.     

Electroactive conducting polymers for corrosion control

There is an intensive effort underway to develop new corrosion control coatings for structural metals. In part, this effort has been motivated by the desire to replace chromium(VI)-containing coatings currently used for corrosion control of iron and aluminum alloys. Cr(VI) has been shown to be hazardous to the environmental and to human health, and its use in many countries will be sharply curtailed in the coming years. Electroactive conducting polymers (ECPs) represent a class of interesting materials currently being explored for use in corrosion control coating systems, possibly as a replacement for Cr(VI)-based coatings. The electroactivity and the electronic conductivity (or semiconductivity) of ECPs set them apart from traditional organic coatings. As with chromate, interesting and potentially beneficial interactions of ECPs with active metal alloys such as steel and aluminum are anticipated, with concomitant alteration of their corrosion behavior. A review of this active research area will be presented in two parts. Here in Part 1, a general introduction to the topic of corrosion control by ECPs will be presented, including an overview of corrosion and its control by traditional methods, an introduction to ECPs and their properties, and a discussion of the processing issues surrounding the use of ECPs as coatings. Part 1 also includes a review of the literature on the use of ECPs as coatings (or components of coatings) on non-ferrous active metals, principally aluminum and aluminum alloys, although some work on zinc, copper, silver, titanium and silicon will also be described. In Part 2 of this review (to be published in the next issue of this journal), the rather extensive literature on the use of ECPs for the corrosion control of ferrous alloys (steels) will be reviewed. Electronic Publication     

廉价光学监视卫星的可行性

英国防卫评价研究局（DERA）已就该国卫星的研究方向调整为廉价的光学遥感卫星进行了可行性研究,这项研究是由英国国防部（MoD)和大不列颠国家空间中心联合发起,并由DERA空间部,萨里卫星技术有限公司（SSTL）,卢瑟福－阿普顿实验室（RAL）和曼德拉－马科尼空间部等四个单位联合进行研究评价的。其主要目的是验证能否以接近实时成像的速度,迅速提供有用的信息,为了获得廉价卫星的这种设计能力,即它能从600km高空获得分辨率为2．5m的图像,因此,有人提出,他们将证明廉价卫星的图像分辨率能进展和提高到1m,通过卫星飞行的机动性控制而得到的时间延迟积分（TDI）可被用来增加停留时间和信噪比（SNR）,要求卫星在所有三个轴向都能作3维旋转。他们简要地提出了对望远镜的光学设计,一种改进而超前的微型卫星运载舱结构能够支持这种仪器,建造一颗实验卫星的财政预算大约是1000万英镑,亦即1600万美元,因为这些卫星的成本低廉,所以可以建立卫星群,以便非常及时地提供高分辨率的图像,通讯系统的设计是这项研究的一个组成部分,对于采用类似方法,建造图像分辨率为1m,成本较低的微小卫星来说,这种微型卫星应是其能力的标志。     

Locally Welded Silver Nano‐Network Transparent Electrodes with High Operational Stability by a Simple Alcohol‐Based Chemical Approach

As an indispensable aspect of emerging flexible optoelectronics, flexible transparent electrodes, especially those comprised of metal nanowires, have attracted great attentions recently. Welding the nanowire junctions is an effective strategy for reducing the sheet resistance and improving the operational stability of flexible nanowire electrode in practical applications. Herein, a simple alcohol‐based solution approach is proposed to weld crossed silver nanowires by chemically growing silver “solder” at the junctions of the nanowires, forming transparent silver nano‐network electrodes with improved electrical conductivity and operational stability. Remarkably, silver nano‐networks can be rapidly formed by this simple approach under ambient condition and room temperature, requiring no assistance from heat, light, electrical current, or mechanical pressure. Furthermore, our results show that the nano‐network electrode formed from large diameter nanowires offers a better operational stability, whose trend is opposite to that of the untreated electrodes. To demonstrate the potential application of the highly stable silver nano‐network from large diameter nanowires, organic solar cells fabricated on the nano‐network electrode incorporated with silicon dioxide nanoparticles achieve comparable performance to the ITO control device. Consequently, strategy demonstrated in this work can contribute to low‐cost and highly stable transparent electrodes in emerging flexible optoelectronics.