25CN-NBOH: A Selective Agonist for in vitro and in vivo Investigations of the Serotonin 2A Receptor

4-(2-((2-hydroxybenzyl)amino)ethyl)-2,5-dimethoxybenzonitrile (25CN-NBOH) was first reported as a potent and selective serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT_2AR) agonist in 2014, and it has since found extensive use as a pharmacological tool in a variety of in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo studies. 25CN-NBOH is readily available from a synthetic perspective using standard chemical transformations, and displays favorable physiochemical properties in terms of stability and solubility. Due to its superior selectivity for 5-HT_2AR, 25CN-NBOH has been used to investigate the effects of selective 5-HT_2AR activation in vivo, and has thus become an important pharmacological tool for the exploration of 5-HT_2AR signaling in a range of animal models. In the present review, we outline the discovery of 25CN-NBOH, its pharmacological profile and major findings from studies where it has been used.     

Ilmenite with addition of NiO as oxygen carrier for chemical-looping combustion

The naturally occurring mineral ilmenite, FeTiO₃, has been examined as oxygen carrier for chemical-looping combustion. NiO-based particles have been used as an additive, in order to examine if it is possible to utilize the catalytic properties of metallic Ni to facilitate decomposition of hydrocarbons into more reactive combustion intermediates such as CO and H₂. Firstly, ilmenite was examined by oxidation and reduction experiments in a batch fluidized-bed reactor. These experiments indicated moderate reactivity between ilmenite and CH₄, which was used as reducing gas. However, adding 5 wt.% of NiO-based particles to the ilmenite improved the conversion of CH₄ greatly, resulting in an increase in combustion efficiency with a factor of 3. Secondly, 83 h of chemical-looping combustion experiments were conducted in a small circulating fluidized-bed reactor, using ilmenite as oxygen carrier and natural gas as fuel. A wide range of process parameters and different levels of NiO addition were examined. Occasionally, there were problems with the circulation of solids between the air reactor and fuel reactor, but most of the time the experiments worked well. The products were mostly CO₂, H₂O and unconverted CH₄. Adding small amounts of NiO-based particles to the reactor increased the conversion of the fuel considerably. For the base case conducted at 900°, the combustion efficiency was 76% for pure ilmenite and 90% for the corresponding experiments with 1 wt.% NiO-based particles added to the reactor. The properties of ilmenite were found to change considerably during operation. Used particles had lower density, were more reactive and more porous than fresh particles. These changes appear to have been physical, and no unexpected chemical phases could be identified.     

A mechanistic study of electrodeposition of bismuth telluride on stainless steel substrates

Miniaturization of Bi₂Te₃ compounds is of great interest in semiconductor industries due to their distinct anisotropic thermoelectric properties at room temperature. The aim of the present work was to investigate the mechanism of the electrodeposition of Bi₂Te₃ compounds on stainless steel substrates and relate the morphology and composition of the resulting deposits to experimental parameters. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) experiments in acidic solutions containing Bi³⁺ and/or HTeO₂⁺ ions show that the deposition potential for the Bi₂Te₃ compound is more positive than either of the single elements alone. A detailed mechanism of the co-deposition was obtained by varying the concentrations of the two elements and evaluating the corresponding morphological and compositional changes of the deposits. The results show that the deposition of Te is kinetically hindered and that Bi deposition plays a major role during the co-deposition.     

A review of catalytic partial oxidation of methane to synthesis gas with emphasis on reaction mechanisms over transition metal catalysts

Catalytic partial oxidation of methane has been reviewed with an emphasis on the reaction mechanisms over transition metal catalysts. The thermodynamics and aspects related to heat and mass transport is also evaluated, and an extensive table on research contributions to methane partial oxidation over transition metal catalysts in the literature is provided.Presented are both theoretical and experimental evidence pointing to inherent differences in the reaction mechanism over transition metals. These differences are related to methane dissociation, binding site preferences, the stability of OH surface species, surface residence times of active species and contributions from lattice oxygen atoms and support species.Methane dissociation requires a reduced metal surface, but at elevated temperatures oxides of active species may be reduced by direct interaction with methane or from the reaction with H, H₂, C or CO.The comparison of elementary reaction steps on Pt and Rh illustrates that a key factor to produce hydrogen as a primary product is a high activation energy barrier to the formation of OH. Another essential property for the formation of H₂ and CO as primary products is a low surface coverage of intermediates, such that the probability of O–H, OH–H and CO–O interactions are reduced.The local concentrations of reactants and products change rapidly through the catalyst bed. This influences the reaction mechanisms, but the product composition is typically close to equilibrated at the bed exit temperature.     

Snowmobile fatalities aspects on preventive measures from a 25-year review

During October 1973 through May 1998, 157 snowmobile fatalities were autopsied in Northern Sweden, including 131 riders, 15 passengers, six occupants with unknown position and five victims pulled by a snowmobile. Most fatalities occurred during March and April (41%), on weekends/holidays (75%), between 18:00 and 02:00 h (59%), during darkness (63%), in clear weather (84%) and at leisure time (94%). The median age was 39 years and 92% were men. The most common causes of death were blunt trauma (53%) and drowning (38%). A total of 64% were inebriated by alcohol, with a mean blood alcohol concentration of 1.7 g/l. More inebriated victims were found during weekends/holidays than on weekdays (75 vs. 51%) and during nighttime than during daytime (92 vs. 52). Driving into water was the most common event (38%) followed by collisions with immobile objects (20%). Alcohol and speeding were the most common contributors to the crashes, while flotation snowmobile suit and helmet use were considered to be the most important injury prevention factors.     

Coke formation during cracking of hydrocarbons. I. The effect of pre-sulphiding on coke formation on a nickel-chromium-iron alloy under steam cracking conditions

Studies have been carried out on the effect of pre-sulphiding a nickel-chromium-iron alloy on coke formation under steam cracking conditions. Pre-sulphiding has no great effect on the gaseous product spectrum as long as some sulphur is present, but the coking rate is dependent on the amount of sulphur pre-deposited. Small amounts of sulphur reduce the coke formation, but the coking rate increases with increasing amounts of pre-deposited sulphur. As the sulphur content increases still further, coke formation passes through a maximum. A tentative explanation of these observations is advanced in terms of the effect of metal sulphides on the established mechanism of coke formation. Initial sulphiding is suggested to increase grain boundary penetration by coke and to result in the accumulation of iron sulphide on the surface. Eventually this may act to seal off grain boundaries, thereby inhibiting further coke formation.