Development of Co-Cu-C-Mn Catalysts for the Synthesis of Higher Alcohols

Co-Cu catalysts represent a promising possibility to synthesize higher alcohols. In this study, novel carbon-embedded Co-Cu catalysts have been prepared and were tested in an 8-fold parallel reactor system. Moreover, the influence of Mn as a dopant on the catalytic performance has been studied. It was shown that Mn reduced the selectivity for methane and favored the formation of olefins. In contrast to Cu-free catalysts, Cu-containing catalysts have an improved selectivity for alcohols.     

Hydrogenation of Aromatic Nitrogroups with Precious Metal Powder Catalysts: Influence of Modifier on Selectivity and Activity

The development of new improved catalysts for the selective hydrogenation of aromatic nitrogroups is still a field of high interest for the chemical industry. Hydrogenation of aromatic nitrogroups to the corresponding aromatic amines is one of the most important applications for precious metal powder catalysts (PMPC). In this paper various commercial PMPC technologies such as palladium, platinum, platinum modified with copper and platinum modified with vanadium on activated carbon powder supports were compared to each other in regard to activity and selectivity for hydrogenation of 1-chloro-2-nitrobenzene. In this reaction, catalysts comprised of vanadium modified platinum on activated carbon showed excellent activities and selectivities towards 2-chloroaniline. Catalyst performance was affected by the ratio of platinum to vanadium and the properties of the carbon. The role of vanadium as an effective modifier to avoid accumulation of hazardous aromatic hydroxylamines was explained.     

Venom Alkaloid and Cuticular Hydrocarbon Profiles Are Associated with Social Organization,Queen Fertility Status,and Queen Genotype in the Fire Ant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Solenopsis invicta</Emphasis>

Queens in social insect colonies advertise their presence in the colony to: a) attract workers’ attention and care; b) gain acceptance by workers as replacement or supplemental reproductives; c) prevent reproductive development in nestmates. We analyzed the chemical content of whole body surface extracts of adult queens of different developmental and reproductive stages, and of adult workers from monogyne (single colony queen) and polygyne (multiple colony queens) forms of the fire ant Solenopsis invicta. We found that the composition of the most abundant components, venom alkaloids, differed between queens and workers, as well as between reproductive and non-reproductive queens. Additionally, workers of the two forms could be distinguished by alkaloid composition. Finally, sexually mature, non-reproductive queens from polygyne colonies differed in their proportions of cis-piperidine alkaloids, depending on their Gp-9 genotype, although the difference disappeared once they became functional reproductives. Among the unsaturated cuticular hydrocarbons characteristic of queens, there were differences in amounts of alkenes/alkadienes between non-reproductive polygyne queens of different Gp-9 genotypes, between non-reproductive and reproductive queens, and between polygyne and monogyne reproductive queens, with the amounts increasing at a relatively higher rate through reproductive ontogeny in queens bearing the Gp-9 b allele. Given that the genotype-specific piperidine differences reflect differences in rates of reproductive maturation between queens, we speculate that these abundant and unique compounds have been co-opted to serve in fertility signaling, while the cuticular hydrocarbons now play a complementary role in regulation of social organization by signaling queen Gp-9 genotype.     

Behavioral Activity of Stereoisomers and a New Component of the Contact Sex Pheromone of Female German Cockroach, Blattella germanica

(3S,11S)-3,11-Dimethylnonacosan-2-one is a major component of the courtship stimulating, contact sex pheromone of the female German cockroach. Although the four synthetic stereoisomers of this compound have been tested in behavioral assays, their relative activity remains unresolved. Using isolated male antennae dosed with synthetic test compounds to assay male behavior, we found that at high doses all four stereoisomers elicited responses from 100% of the males. However, at physiologically relevant doses similar to those found on the female antenna, the (3S,11S)-isomer was the least effective of the four stereoisomers at eliciting courtship responses in males. This is the first example of a natural stereoisomer having less bioactivity than related stereoisomers that do not occur naturally. Another component of the sex pheromone blend, 3,11-dimethylheptacosan-2-one, was previously purified from the female's epicuticule and behaviorally assayed, but its activity was not confirmed through synthesis. We now confirm that synthetic (3S,11S)-3,11-dimethylheptacosan-2-one elicits behavioral responses, but less so than its C29 homolog.     

Spatial analysis of the impact of UVGI technology in occupied rooms using ray-tracing simulation

The use of Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation (UVGI) devices in the upper zones of occupied buildings has gained increased attention as one of the most effective mitigation technologies for the transmission of COVID-19. To ensure safe and effective use of upper-room UVGI, it is necessary to devise a simulation technique that enables engineers, designers, and users to explore the impact of different design and operational parameters. We have developed a simulation technique for calculating UV-C fluence rate within the volume of the upper zone and planar irradiance in the lower occupied zone. Our method is based on established ray-tracing light simulation methods adapted to the UV-C wavelength range. We have included a case study of a typical hospital patient room. In it, we explored the impact of several design parameters: ceiling height, device location, room configuration, proportions, and surface materials. We present a spatially mapped parametric study of the UV-C irradiance distribution in three dimensions. We found that the ceiling height and mounting height of the UVGI fixtures combined can cause the largest variation (up to 22%) in upper zone fluence rate. One of the most important findings of this study is that it is crucial to consider interreflections in the room. This is because surface reflectance is the design parameter with the largest impact on the occupant exposure in the lower zone: Applying materials with high reflectance ratio in the upper portion of the room has the highest negative impact (over 700% variation) on increasing hot spots that may receive over 6 mJ/cm² UV dose in the lower occupied zone.     

Others' anger makes people work harder not smarter: The effect of observing anger and sarcasm on creative and analytic thinking.

The authors examine whether and how observing anger influences thinking processes and problem-solving ability. In 3 studies, the authors show that participants who listened to an angry customer were more successful in solving analytic problems, but less successful in solving creative problems compared with participants who listened to an emotionally neutral customer. In Studies 2 and 3, the authors further show that observing anger communicated through sarcasm enhances complex thinking and solving of creative problems. Prevention orientation is argued to be the latent variable that mediated the effect of observing anger on complex thinking. The present findings help reconcile inconsistent findings in previous research, promote theory about the effects of observing anger and sarcasm, and contribute to understanding the effects of anger in the workplace. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Who is afraid of STDP? Termination in STDP and therapist's personality.

The termination phase of Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (STDP) is considered to be of major importance for the success of treatment as a whole. It encompasses the essential conflicts experienced by both therapist and patient in relation to the issues of separation, loss, and imperfection. This article discusses the personality characteristics and personal defenses that assist or hinder the therapist in successfully practicing this mode of dynamic therapy. It also aims at inspiring the psychotherapist to examine his or her attraction or repulsion to working as a short-term psychotherapist, thereby promoting insight, and enabling him or her to broaden his or her therapeutic repertoire. Vignettes from two cases are presented, highlighting some expressions of countertransference and their influence on the process of termination. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The Influence of Task Instruction on Action Coding: Constraint Setting or Direct Coding?

In 3 experiments, the authors manipulated response instructions for 2 concurrently performed tasks. Specifically, the authors' instructions described left and right keypresses on a manual task either as left versus right or as blue versus green keypresses and required either "left" versus "right" or "blue" versus "green" concurrent verbalizations. When instructions for responses on the 2 tasks were in terms of location (Experiment 1) or color (Experiments 2a and 2b), then compatible responses on the tasks were faster than incompatible responses. However, when the verbal task required "left" versus "right" responses but instructions for manual keypresses referred to blue versus green (Experiments 3a and 3b), then no response compatibility effects were observed. These results suggest that response labels used in the instruction directly determine the codes that are used to control responding. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Photolysis of aqueous H2O2: quantum yield and applications for polychromatic UV actinometry in photoreactors

Methanol is used to measure the yield of *OH radicals produced in the photolysis of H2O2 in aqueous solutions. The UV photolysis of H202 generates *OH radicals, which in the presence of methanol, oxygen, and phosphate buffer form formaldehyde, namely, phi(HCHO) = phi(*OH). The quantum yield of *OH has been redetermined in view of literature inconsistencies resulting in phi(*OH) = 1.11 +/- 0.07 in the excitation range of 205-280 nm. The constancy of phi(*OH) and the ease and sensitivity of the formaldehyde product analysis makes the H2O2/CH3OH system suitable for polychromatic UV actinometry. In addition, the relatively low cost of the main components and the possibility of destroying the methanol before disposal qualify the system for both monochromatic and polychromatic actinometry in a large volume of water. The H2O2/CH3OH system was applied in different commercial UV photoreactors.     

Research on and Development of Inquiry‐Type Chemistry Laboratories in Israel

Over a period of more than 60 years, the chemistry laboratory has been extensively and comprehensively researched and hundreds of research papers, reviews, and doctoral dissertations have been published, investigating the laboratory as a unique learning environment. However, there were challenges and pedagogical questions regarding its educational effectiveness and benefits for teaching and learning chemistry. At the beginning of the 21^st century there was a call to rethink (and research) the goals for learning chemistry in the laboratory. This is especially applicable in an era in which we are trying to enhance the goal of teaching “chemistry for all students” and/or for the benefit of what is fondly called “future citizens”. Working for more than 15 years with colleagues and students, we researched the potential of establishing an inquiry‐type chemistry laboratory for developing high‐order learning skills, namely, skills for the future or skills for life, including metacognitive and argumentative skills, and the ability of students to ask relevant questions resulting from an inquiry‐type chemistry laboratory.