BASF NanoSelect? Technology: Innovative Supported Pd- and Pt-based Catalysts for Selective Hydrogenation Reactions

An innovative BASF catalyst manufacturing technology (NanoSelect?) is introduced which allows production of heterogeneous catalysts with excellent control over metal crystallite sizes. NanoSelect? technology enabled the development of Pd catalysts which are lead-free Lindlar catalyst replacements in alkyne-to-cis-alkene hydrogenations. NanoSelect? Pt catalysts showed excellent chemoselectivity in substituted nitro-arene hydrogenation reactions without build-up of hydroxylamine intermediates. All NanoSelect? produced catalysts show markedly higher activity per gram of metal leading to ten-fold less use of precious metal.     

Case-base maintenance with multi-objective evolutionary algorithms

Case-Base Reasoning is a problem-solving methodology that uses old solved problems, called cases, to solve new problems. The case-base is the knowledge source where the cases are stored, and the amount of stored cases is critical to the problem-solving ability of the Case-Base Reasoning system. However, when the case-base has many cases, then performance problems arise due to the time needed to find those similar cases to the input problem. At this point, Case-Base Maintenance algorithms can be used to reduce the number of cases and maintain the accuracy of the Case-Base Reasoning system at the same time. Whereas Case-Base Maintenance algorithms typically use a particular heuristic to remove (or select) cases from the case-base, the resulting maintained case-base relies on the proportion of redundant and noisy cases that are present in the case-base, among other factors. That is, a particular Case-Base Maintenance algorithm is suitable for certain types of case-bases that share some indicators, such as redundancy and noise levels. In the present work, we consider Case-Base Maintenance as a multi-objective optimization problem, which is solved with a Multi-Objective Evolutionary Algorithm. To this end, a fitness function is introduced to measure three different objectives based on the Complexity Profile model. Our hypothesis is that the Multi-Objective Evolutionary Algorithm performing Case-Base Maintenance may be used in a wider set of case-bases, achieving a good balance between the reduction of cases and the problem-solving ability of the Case-Based Reasoning system. Finally, from a set of the experiments, our proposed Multi-Objective Evolutionary Algorithm performing Case-Base Maintenance shows regularly good results with different sets of case-bases with different proportion of redundant and noisy cases.     

Handle mergers and acquisitions with care: the fragility of trust between the IT-service provider and end-users

Information technology (IT) implementation continues to be a challenging process for many organizations. The challenge is heightened when systems are changed due to mergers and acquisitions (M&A). The recent focus on IT-service management highlights the importance of having positive relationships between IT-service providers and end-users. In an M&A situation, there is often little history, and thus limited basis for trust in the IT organization, yet systems often need to be changed in these situations. The current study examines the IT-service provider’s relationship with the end-user to ascertain the factors that influence that relationship and ultimately influence end-user attitudes toward the new system. We study a mandated implementation following an acquisition in the banking industry. The results highlight the important and fragile nature of trust in the IT-service provider. In addition, the results demonstrate that there are significant differences in what matters at what time during the implementation process.     

Making connections and building bridges: improving the bi-national planning process

Creating a continental transportation system that supports the efficient movement of goods between Canada and the United States is essential to the economies of both countries. However, 25 years after the passage of the Canada–US Free Trade Act and many agreements and accords later, poor connectivity, congestion and delays still plague many transborder corridors. Recent attempts to improve this situation involving several proposed new bridge projects have either been halted or significantly delayed over the last decade. This paper will review and critically examine the bi-national planning process that has been followed in an attempt to build a new bridge across the Detroit River, known as the Detroit River International Crossing (DRIC) project.     

Image coding based on maximum entropy partitioning for identifying improbable intensities related to facial expressions

In this paper we investigate information-theoretic image coding techniques that assign longer codes to improbable, imprecise and non-distinct intensities in the image. The variable length coding techniques when applied to cropped facial images of subjects with different facial expressions, highlight the set of low probability intensities that characterize the facial expression such as the creases in the forehead, the widening of the eyes and the opening and closing of the mouth. A new coding scheme based on maximum entropy partitioning is proposed in our work, particularly to identify the improbable intensities related to different emotions. The improbable intensities when used as a mask decode the facial expression correctly, providing an effective platform for future emotion categorization experiments.     

Identification and Composition of Clasper Scent Gland Components of the Butterfly Heliconius erato and Its Relation to Mimicry

The butterfly Heliconius erato occurs in various mimetic morphs. The male clasper scent gland releases an anti-aphrodisiac pheromone and additionally contains a complex mixture of up to 350 components, varying between individuals. In 114 samples of five different mimicry groups and their hybrids 750 different compounds were detected by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Many unknown components occurred, which were identified using their mass spectra, gas chromatography/infrared spectroscopy (GC/IR)-analyses, derivatization, and synthesis. Key compounds proved to be various esters of 3-oxohexan-1-ol and (Z)-3-hexen-1-ol with (S)-2,3-dihydrofarnesoic acid, accompanied by a large variety of other esters with longer terpene acids, fatty acids, and various alcohols. In addition, linear terpenes with up to seven uniformly connected isoprene units occur, e. g. farnesylfarnesol. A large number of the compounds have not been reported before from nature. Discriminant analyses of principal components of the gland contents showed that the iridescent mimicry group differs strongly from the other, mostly also separated, mimicry groups. Comparison with data from other species indicated that Heliconius recruits different biosynthetic pathways in a species-specific manner for semiochemical formation.     

Smart ultrasonic sensors systems: potential of aluminum nitride thin films for the excitation of the ultrasound at high frequencies

We investigated the potential of the aluminum nitride films to excite ultrasonic waves at frequencies >50?MHz. The deposition process of the aluminum nitride thin film layers on silicon substrates was investigated and optimized regarding their piezoelectric behavior. Large single element transducers were deposited on silicon substrates with aluminum electrodes, under different parameters for the magnetron sputter process, like pressure and bias voltage. Special test setup and a measuring station were created to characterize the sensors. Acoustical measurements were carried out in pulse echo mode up to 500?MHz and the values of piezoelectric charge constant (d₃₃) were determined. As a result, two parameter sets were found for the sputtering process to obtain an excellent piezoelectric charge constant of about 7.2?pC/N maximum. Then the sputtering process with these parameters was used to deposit sensors on various substrate materials and with different electrode sizes.     

Relationships between glucose, energy intake and dietary composition in obese adults with type 2 diabetes receiving the cannabinoid 1 (CB1) receptor antagonist, rimonabant

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Weight loss is often difficult to achieve in individuals with type 2 diabetes and anti-obesity drugs are often advocated to support dietary intervention. Despite the extensive use of centrally acting anti-obesity drugs, there is little evidence of how they affect dietary composition. We investigated changes in energy intake and dietary composition of macro- and micronutrients following therapy with the endocannabinoid receptor blocker, rimonabant. METHODS: 20 obese patients with type 2 diabetes were studied before and after 6 months dietary intervention with rimonabant. Dietary intervention was supervised by a diabetes dietician. Five-day food diaries were completed at baseline and at 6 months and dietary analysis was performed using computer software (Dietplan 6). RESULTS: After 6 months, (compared with baseline) there were reductions in weight (107+/-21Kg versus 112+/-21, p<0.001, 4% body weight reduction), and improvements in HbA1c (7.4+/-1.7 versus 8.0+/-1.6%, p<0.05) and HDL cholesterol. Intake of energy (1589+/-384 versus 2225+/-1109kcal, p<0.01), carbohydrate (199+/-74 versus 273+/-194g, p<0.05), protein (78+/-23 versus 98+/-36g, p<0.05), fats (55+/-18 versus 84+/-39g, p<0.01) and several micronutrients were reduced. However, relative macronutrient composition of the diet was unchanged. Improvement in blood glucose was strongly correlated with a reduction in carbohydrate intake (r = 0.76, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In obese patients with type 2 diabetes, rimonabant in combination with dietary intervention led to reduced intake of energy and most macronutrients. Despite this, macronutrient composition of the diet was unaltered. These dietary changes (especially carbohydrate restriction) were associated with weight loss and favourable metabolic effects.