Coal solubilization by enhanced enzyme activity in organic solvents

Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology - Both oxidative and reductive enzymes can be utilized to enhance coal solubilization in aqueous and organic media. Aerobic solubilization was carried out...     

An asynchronous high‐speed synchrotron shutter

A high‐repetition‐rate mechanical shutter with asynchronous control and sub‐millisecond operation has been developed and tested for specialist X‐ray systems in the field of medical diagnostics and radiation therapy. Capacitor‐coupled linear voice coil actuators are utilized to achieve opening and closing speeds as fast as 700 µs for an aperture height of 4 mm. The design allows for asynchronous control, permitting slave operation of the shutter, a feature that is distinctly suitable for a number of applications including particle image velocimetry, where high‐frame‐rate operation must be accurately synchronized and triggered by the image acquisition sequence of the detector or timing device. The design and construction of the shutter also makes it ideal, with simple and limited modifications, for applications requiring larger apertures, in particular wide beams as found in many synchrotron beamlines.     

Syntheses of Molybdenum and Tungsten Imido Alkylidene Complexes that Contain a Bidentate Oxo/Thiolato Ligand

3,3′,5,5′-Tetra-tert-butyl-2′-sulfanyl[1,1′-biphenyl]-2-ol (H₂[^tBu₄OS]) was prepared in 24 % yield overall from the analogous biphenol using standard techniques. Addition of H₂[^tBu₄OS] to Mo(NAr)(CHCMe₂Ph)(2,5-dimethylpyrrolide)₂ led to formation of Mo(NAr)(CHCMe₂Ph)[^tBu₄OS], which was trapped with PMe₃ to give Mo(NAr)(CHCMe₂Ph)[^tBu₄OS](PMe₃) ( 1 (PMe₃)). An X-ray crystallographic study of 1 (PMe₃) revealed that two structurally distinct square pyramidal molecules are present in which the alkylidene ligand occupies the apical position in each. Both 1 (PMe₃)_A and 1 (PMe₃)_B are disordered. Mo(NAd)(CHCMe₂Ph)(^tBu₄OS)(PMe₃) ( 2 (PMe₃); Ad=1-adamantyl) and W(NAr)(CHCMe₂Ph)(^tBu₄OS)(PMe₃) ( 3 (PMe₃)) were prepared using analogous approaches. 1 (PMe₃) reacts with ethylene (1 atm) in benzene within 45 minutes to give an ethylene complex Mo(NAr)(^tBu₄OS)(C₂H₄) ( 4 ) that is isolable and relatively stable toward loss of ethylene below 60 °C. An X-ray study shows that the bond distances and angles for the ethylene ligand in 4 are like those found for bisalkoxide ethylene complexes of the same general type. Complex 1 (PMe₃) in the presence of one equivalent of B(C₆F₅)₃ catalyzes the homocoupling of 1-decene, allyltrimethylsilane, and allylboronic acid pinacol ester at ambient temperature. 1 (PMe₃), 2 (PMe₃), and 3 (PMe₃) all catalyze the ROMP of rac-endo,exo-5,6-dicarbomethoxynorbornene (rac-DCMNBE) in the presence of B(C₆F₅)₃, but the polyDCMNBE that is formed has a random structure.     

Fluid polling systems

We study N-queues single-server fluid polling systems, where a fluid is continuously flowing into the queues at queue-dependent rates. When visiting and serving a queue, the server reduces the amount of fluid in the queue at a queue-dependent rate. Switching from queue i to queue j requires two random-duration steps: (i) departing queue i, and (ii) reaching queue j. The length of time the server resides in a queue depends on the service regime. We consider three main regimes: Exhaustive, Gated, and Globally-Gated. Two polling procedures are analyzed: (i) cyclic and (ii) probabilistic. Under steady-state, we derive the Laplace–Stieltjes transform (LST), mean, and second moment of the amount of flow at each queue at polling instants, as well as at an arbitrary moment. We further calculate the LST and mean of the “waiting time” of a drop at each queue and derive expressions for the mean total load in the system for the various service regimes. Finally, we explore optimal switching procedures.     

Developing Interdisciplinary Units: Strategies and Examples

The authors use a common theme of SHARKS to illustrate the process of developing an interdisciplinary unit for middle school instruction. A model is presented for teams to use in developing integrated curriculum. Focusing on a central theme or topic, a web of disciplines and key concepts is developed. As activities evolve, a concept map is created to illustrate the relationships and integration of ideas and activities.     

Visible light-induced charge storage, on-demand release and self-photorechargeability of WO3 film

Tungsten oxide (WO(3)) electrodes subjected to a positive bias are self-photorecharged with alkali cations in the electrolyte during visible light illumination. Upon photoexcitation, part of the photogenerated charges generated by WO(3) is stabilized by the cations and stored in situ within the WO(3) framework. This light-induced storage of charges is subsequently utilized in dark conditions in an on-demand manner and is able to be recharged in the successive illumination cycles. The amount of charges stored is shown to be dependent on the cation ionic radii and the presence of these intercalated cations is verified by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS). This self-photorecharge and on-demand charge-release phenomena demonstrate the ability of WO(3) to supply photoexcited charges under dark condition in a photoelectrochemical reaction with greater flexibility.     

Electrochemical studies on ion-selective polymer membrane electrodes

The selectivity and response of neutral carrier based polymer membrane electrodes are investigated via exchange current measurements for systems containing valinomycin, dibenzo-18-crown-6, and plasticizer alone in a polyvinyl chloride matrix. Using a transient galvanostatic step method, apparent exchange current densities of 1.3 X 10^?3 A/cm², 5.4 X 10^?6 A/cm², and 2.2 X 10^?9 A/cm² were obtained with K⁺ as the primary ion for the three types of membranes, respectively. Preliminary results indicate that the exchange current data obtained with this technique are complementary to the potentiometric response observed for the membranes studied.     

A Buchwald–Hartwig Protocol to Enable Rapid Linker Exploration of Cereblon E3-Ligase PROTACs**

A palladium-catalysed Buchwald–Hartwig amination for lenalidomide-derived aryl bromides was optimised using high throughput experimentation (HTE). The substrate scope of the optimised conditions was evaluated for a range of alkyl- and aryl- amines and functionalised aryl bromides. The methodology allows access to new cereblon-based bifunctional proteolysis targeting chimeras with a reduced step count and improved yields.