Efficient and Scalable Kinetic Resolution of Racemic 4‐Formyl[2.2]paracyclophane via Asymmetric Transfer Hydrogenation

Herein we wish to report a new non‐enzymatic kinetic resolution of racemic 4‐formyl[2.2]paracyclophane based on Noyori asymmetric transfer hydrogenations (KR‐ATH). Our approach, which provides an efficient access to enantiopure (R_p)‐ and (S_p)‐4‐formyl[2.2]paracyclophane (>99% ee, 39% and 41% isolated yields, respectively), is operationally simple and can be run on the gram‐scale thus confirming the practical applicability of this method.

     

Growth of carbon nanotube forests on carbon fibers with an amorphous silicon interface

Aligned multi-walled carbon nanotube forests were grown by chemical vapour deposition on carbon fibers by the use of an amorphous Si interface. The Si layer creates a barrier, hindering the Fe catalyst diffusion into the carbon fibers. This method provides a way to tailor the thermal, electrical and mechanical properties of the fiber-resin interface of a polymer composite.     

Properties of rice bran oil‐derived functional ingredients

Lipid ingredients that demonstrate high stability and positive health profiles without the use of trans‐fats are needed in the food supply. Rice bran oil can be fractionated at low temperatures to create a series of spreads that show promise as functional ingredients. A rice bran oil‐derived spread can extend the fry life of soybean oil and can also be incorporated into baked goods such as bread and granola as a trans‐fat free alternative to butter or shortening.     

Lean heptane and propane combustion in a non-catalytic parallel-plate counter-flow reactor

Small scale lean combustors, in conjunction with mechanical and electrical conversion devices, have the potential to meet increasing portable power needs. This study examines the combustion of lean premixed fuels in a mesoscale, heat-recirculating parallel-plate counter-flow reactor. The reactor utilizes internal heat recirculation to produce temperatures in excess of the adiabatic flame temperature, known as superadiabatic combustion. As a result of these elevated temperatures, burning velocities above adiabatic values and extension of flammability limits, including stable operation at very lean equivalence ratios, may be attained. Combustor stability and emissions of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and unburned hydrocarbons have been previously studied for lean combustion of methane in the counter-flow reactor. This study examines lean combustion of two increasingly complex fuels, propane and heptane, due to the logistical importance of both gaseous and liquid fuels. Stability ranges and emissions measurements are presented for the counter-flow reactor operating on these fuels, and the results are compared to previously measured emissions for lean methane. Stability ranges of the counter-flow reactor operating on lean propane and heptane are also compared to those in the rich regime. Further analysis of the results for lean methane, propane and heptane combustion utilizes peak reactor wall temperatures as an indicator of favorable operating conditions, and highlights the importance of superadiabatic operation for achieving large turn-down ratios and low levels of emissions.     

How to get residents/owners in housing cooperatives to agree on sustainable renovation

What factors increase the chance that residents/owners in housing cooperatives agree on sustainable energy efficient renovation? Based on 30 qualitative interviews with professional advisors in cooperative housing associations and chairman/board and residents in three chosen case studies, an analysis of opportunities and barriers for making a common decision on renovation is performed. Success criteria and barriers are found on the societal level as well as on the organizational/individual level. The barriers and success criteria identified on the societal level are: knowledge level on energy-efficient renovation among relevant actors, owner structure of the housing cooperative, and existing regulations and incentives. On the organizational and individual level, the following categories influencing renovation processes were identified: the time frame and organization of the process, understanding the residents` needs, economy, the information given, and the existence of available exemplary projects and role models. Based on the results of the study, ten guidelines that contribute to more successful decision making processes and increase the chances of sustainable energy efficient renovation in housing cooperatives are presented.     

Family ties in tough times: How young adults and their parents view the U.S. economic crisis.

The present intergenerational study examined the perceived impact of the recent U.S. economic crisis on a sample of 68 young adult–parent dyads. The relative contribution of perceived economic pressure, reports of adult child–parent relationship quality, and concerns about the economic future in accounting for variation in self-reports of psychological distress for adult children and their middle-aged parents were examined. Parents' concerns about their children's economic future accounted for variation in their reports of anxiety and depressed mood above and beyond that of perceived economic pressures and their views of the parent–child relationship. In contrast, for young adults, reports of personal economic pressure were generally related to self-reported anxiety and depressed mood. Implications of findings for research and practice are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of weight cycling and metabolic control in male outpatients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Examined the effects of losing and regaining or gaining and relosing body weight in weight cycling (WC) vs weight maintenance (WM) on metabolic control. Ss were 327 adult male outpatient veterans (mean age 62.8 yrs) with non–insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus who were followed an average of 3.4 yrs. When compared with WM, WC, whether defined as a categorical or as a continuous variable, was not associated with deficits in metabolic control or increased need for hypoglycemic medication. Ss who weight cycled had fasting serum glucose and hemoglobin A1c levels comparable to those who remained within 10% of their initial body weights, and these levels of metabolic control were obtained with similar classes and dosages of hypoglycemic medication. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A physics informed emulator for laser-driven radiating shock simulations

This work discusses the uncertainty quantification aspect of quantification of margin and uncertainty (QMU) in the context of two linked computer codes. Specifically, we present a physics based reduction technique to deal with functional data from the first code and then develop an emulator for this reduced data. Our particular application deals with conditions created by laser deposition in a radiating shock experiment modeled using the Lagrangian, radiation-hydrodynamics code Hyades. Our goal is to construct an emulator and perform a sensitivity analysis of the functional output from Hyades to be used as an initial condition for a three-dimensional code that will compute the evolution of the radiating shock at later times. Initial attempts at purely statistical data reduction techniques, were not successful at reducing the number of parameters required to describe the Hyades output. We decided on an alternate approach using physical arguments to decide what features/locations of the output were relevant (e.g., the location of the shock front or the location of the maximum pressure) and then used a piecewise linear fit between these locations. This reduced the number of outputs needed from the emulator to 40, down from the O(1000) points in the Hyades output. Then, using Bayesian MARS and Gaussian process regression, we were able to build emulators for Hyades and study sensitivities to input parameters.     

Modeling improvements in booster seat use: a discrete choice conjoint experiment

Automobile crashes are the leading cause of death in children aged 1–14 years. Many children, however, are not properly restrained in safety seats that reduce serious injury and death. This study used a discrete choice conjoint experiment to study factors influencing the decision to use booster seats. Parents of 1714 children aged 4–9 years from nine Canadian provinces completed choice tasks presenting experimentally varied combinations of 15 4-level booster seat promotion attributes. Latent class analysis yielded three segments of parents. The choices of the Benefit Sensitive segment (50%) were most sensitive to the injury prevention benefits of booster seats. The choices of parents in the Context Sensitive segment (33.5%) were more likely to be influenced by installation complexity, oppositional behavior, and the prospect that their child may be teased for riding in booster seats. Parents in the High Risk segment (16.5%) were younger, less educated, and less knowledgeable about vehicle safety legislation. They anticipated fewer benefits, expected more barriers and were less likely to use booster seats. Simulations suggest that consistent enforcement coupled with advertising focusing on injury prevention and the use of booster seats by other parents would increase adoption.