Reversible crosslinking during thermal degradation of PVC

Summary PVC undergoes rapid crosslinking during thermal degradation. Diels-Alder addition of conjugated polyenes was proposed as a possible crosslinking mechanism by earlier authors. By the use of conditions favoring retro Diels-Alder reaction of crosslinks (treatment with maleic anhydride at elevated temperature) it was proved that crosslinks are largely reversible. Evidently Diels-Alder addition of the conjugated polyenes plays an important role in crosslinking during thermal degradation of PVC.     

Geometric models for measuring sediment wedge volume in retention check dams

Check dams play an important role worldwide in sediment retention, although their effectiveness is currently the subject of debate. In this study, 11 geometric models with their field methodology and equations are proposed to estimate the retained sediment quickly, easily and with a sufficient degree of approximation. The models were applied to a sample of check dams in the Saldaña badlands (Spain) in accordance with the shape of the valley to determine the volume of retained sediment and compare them with other widely used methods. Our geometric method gave lower volumes than topographic methods, but higher volumes than simple methods. This method is thus useful as a first approximation to estimate the sediment trapped by check dams and small silted dams, minimizing fieldwork, calculations and cost. Furthermore, it allows the selection of a better fit to the sediment wedge shape and higher accuracy than the simple methods used until now.     

Morphological rational operator for contrast enhancement

Contrast enhancement is an important task in image processing that is commonly used as a preprocessing step to improve the images for other tasks such as segmentation. However, some methods for contrast improvement that work well in low-contrast regions affect good contrast regions as well. This occurs due to the fact that some elements may vanish. A method focused on images with different luminance conditions is introduced in the present work. The proposed method is based on morphological transformations by reconstruction and rational operations, which, altogether, allow a more accurate contrast enhancement resulting in regions that are in harmony with their environment. Furthermore, due to the properties of these morphological transformations, the creation of new elements on the image is avoided. The processing is carried out on luminance values in the u'v'Y color space, which avoids the creation of new colors. As a result of the previous considerations, the proposed method keeps the natural color appearance of the image.     

Ethylene irradiation: a new route to grow graphene on low reactivity metals

A novel technique for growing graphene on relatively inert metals, consisting in the thermal decomposition of low energy ethylene ions irradiated on hot metal surfaces in ultrahigh vacuum, is reported. By this route, we have grown graphene monolayers on Cu(111) and, for the first time, on Au(111) surfaces. For both noble metal substrates, but particularly for Au(111), our scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy measurements provide sound evidence of a very weak graphene-metal interaction.     

Isolation of Bacteria with Antifungal Activity against the Phytopathogenic Fungi Stenocarpella maydis and Stenocarpella macrospora

Stenocarpella maydis and Stenocarpella macrospora are the causal agents of ear rot in corn, which is one of the most destructive diseases in this crop worldwide. These fungi are important mycotoxin producers that cause different pathologies in farmed animals and represent an important risk for humans. In this work, 160 strains were isolated from soil of corn crops of which 10 showed antifungal activity against these phytopathogens, which, were identified as: Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas spp., Pseudomonas fluorescens, and Pantoea agglomerans by sequencing of 16S rRNA gene and the phylogenetic analysis. From cultures of each strain, extracellular filtrates were obtained and assayed to determine antifungal activity. The best filtrates were obtained in the stationary phase of B. subtilis cultures that were stable to the temperature and extreme pH values; in addition they did not show a cytotoxicity effect against brine shrimp and inhibited germination of conidia. The bacteria described in this work have the potential to be used in the control of white ear rot disease.     

A regional planning system based on artificial intelligence concepts

In the paper we present a logic-based system that makes possible the comparison of the requirements of particular sectors (e.g. agriculture, industry, construction, mining, energy) and social requirements (e.g. living conditions, employment, education, culture) at the level of the territorial system. It is based on a hierarchical model of national, county and district level activities. Every level has its own goals and the problem is to find an acceptable solution for these goals. Its implementation depends upon a special extension of the logic-based programming language PROLOG, known as TSPROLOG. The basic function of a territorial system can be viewed as the reproduction of social resources on an increasing scale. The task (the basic activity) of the system is the production of the territorial conditions of living and of the way of life. During this process of production, the system takes up raw material, energy and information from its environment. The processes that take place in the system are determined by natural/human resources, social activities, markets of technical elements and technically utilized areas. The external and internal relations of the system are regulated by the market of transport activities.     

Synthesis and Evaluation of Novel Oxyalkylated Derivatives of 2′,4′-Dihydroxychalcone as Anti-Oomycete Agents against Bronopol Resistant Strains of Saprolegnia sp.

A series of novel oxyalkylchalcones substituted with alkyl groups were designed and synthesized, and the antioomycete activity of the series was evaluated in vitro against Saprolegnia strains. All tested O-alkylchalcones were synthesized by means of nucleophilic substitution from the natural compound 2′,4′-dihydroxychalcone (1) and the respective alkyl bromide. The natural chalcone (1) and 10 synthetic oxyalkylchalcones (2–11) were tested against Saprolegnia parasitica and Saprolegnia australis. Among synthetic analogs, 2-hydroxy,4-farnesyloxychalcone (11) showed the most potent activity against Saprolegnia sp., with MIC and MOC values of 125 µg/mL (similar to bronopol at 150 µg/mL) and 175 µg/mL, respectively; however, 2′,4′-dihydroxychalcone (1) was the strongest and most active molecule, with MIC and MOC values of 6.25 µg/mL and 12.5 µg/mL.     

Selective C−H Bond Functionalization of Unprotected Indoles by Donor-Acceptor Carbene Insertion

Copper catalysts containing alkoxydiaminophosphine (ADAP) ligand catalyze the selective C3−H functionalization of unprotected indoles upon carbene transfer from donor-acceptor diazo compounds, the N−H bond remaining unaltered during the transformation. Mechanistic studies, including DFT calculations, allows proposing the existence of two competitive pathways, none of them occurring through the formation of cyclopropane intermediates, at variance with previously reported systems.