The design of mosaic armour: The influence of tile size on ballistic performance

Silicon carbide square tiles of different areal geometries and manufactured via two different processing routes have been bonded to polycarbonate layers to evaluate their ballistic performance. Four ceramic tile sizes were tested: 85 mm, 60 mm, 50 mm and 33 mm. In each case the residual depth-of-penetration into a polycarbonate semi-infinite backing was recorded. To elucidate the penetration and failure mechanisms, a computational model using the JH-1 ceramic model [Holmquist TJ, Johnson GR. Response of silicon carbide to high velocity impact. J Appl Phys 2002;91:5858–66] of the projectile used in the experimental study penetrating into a silicon carbide-faced polycarbonate was implemented in the hydrocode AUTODYN-2D. This paper shows that there is a critical dimension of tile that should be used in a silicon carbide-based ceramic-faced mosaic armour system design to ensure optimum system performance when each tile is struck centrally.     

Prenylated Flavonoids with Potential Antimicrobial Activity: Synthesis,Biological Activity,and In Silico Study

Prenylated flavonoids are an important class of naturally occurring flavonoids with important biological activity, but their low abundance in nature limits their application in medicines. Here, we showed the hemisynthesis and the determination of various biological activities of seven prenylated flavonoids, named 7–13, with an emphasis on antimicrobial ones. Compounds 9, 11, and 12 showed inhibitory activity against human pathogenic fungi. Compounds 11, 12 (flavanones) and 13 (isoflavone) were the most active against clinical isolated Staphylococcus aureus MRSA, showing that structural requirements as prenylation at position C-6 or C-8 and OH at positions C-5, 7, and 4′ are key to the antibacterial activity. The combination of 11 or 12 with commercial antibiotics synergistically enhanced the antibacterial activity of vancomycin, ciprofloxacin, and methicillin in a factor of 10 to 100 times against drug-resistant bacteria. Compound 11 combined with ciprofloxacin was able to decrease the levels of ROS generated by ciprofloxacin. According to docking results of S enantiomer of 11 with ATP-binding cassette transporter showed the most favorable binding energy; however, more studies are needed to support this result.     

Synthesis, structural characterization and ethylene polymerization behavior of complex [Ph4P][CrCl3{HB(pz)3}] [HB(pz)3 = hydrotris(1-pyrazolyl)borate]

Reaction of CrCl₃(THF)₃ with K[HB(pz)₃] in THF leads to the formation of the complex K[CrCl₃{HB(pz)₃}] (1). The salt metathesis of complex 1 with [Ph₄P]Br in CH₂Cl₂ yields the complex [Ph₄P][CrCl₃{HB(pz)₃}](2). The structure of complex 2 · CHCl₃ has been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. In the anion the metal centre shows a distorted octahedral geometry with the hydrotris(1-pyrazolyl)borate bonded as N,N′,N″-donor tripod ligand and three chloride atoms completing the co-ordination sphere. Complex 2 in the presence of MAO leads to the formation of an active catalyst for the polymerization of ethylene.     

Biofilm formation capacity of Listeria monocytogens strains isolated from soft cheese from Costa Rica

Listeria monocytogenes is a bacteria associated with the production of severe infectious disease in human being, but also with the formation of biofilms in different surfaces related to the food production environment. Biofilm represents a serious problem in food industry, since it is a constant and important contamination source and also, bacteria present in it have an increased resistance towards physical and chemical agents of common use. The capacity of biofilm formation of L. monocytogenes strains previously isolated from soft cheese samples from Costa Rica was studied under different temperature and culture conditions. The microplate technique was performed using different culture media (BHIB, TSB 1:20 and cheese serum) and at different incubation temperatures (refrigeration, environmental and 35 degrees C). Biofilm formation capacity was classified according to the optical density obtained at 620 nm. None of the strains evaluated was classified as strong biofilm former under any of the variables studied, nevertheless, weak and moderate formers were detected. The results obtained show the influence of the nutrient content of the culture media used over biofilm formation; BHIB was the only culture media that allowed the expression of moderate biofilm forms, contrary to cheese serum that did not promote biofilm production. Biofilm formation is a multifactorial process, where adsorption level depends on several variables and its study must be promoted in order to develop methodologies that allow its reduction or elimination, so food industries may offer safe food products to consumers.     

Palladium(II) complexes bearing the new pincer ligand 3,5-bis(indazol-2-ylmethyl)toluene; synthesis and catalytic properties

The reaction of 3,5-bis(bromomethyl)toluene with 1H-indazole in toluene, in the presence of triethylamine, yields the ligand 3,5-bis(indazol-2-ylmethyl)toluene (1). Compound 1 reacts with Pd(OAc)₂ in refluxing acetic acid, followed by a metathetic reaction with lithium chloride and with [PdCl₂(cod)] (cod = 1,5-cyclooctadiene) in refluxing acetonitrile to give the complexes [PdCl{3,5-bis(indazol-2-ylmethyl)tolyl-N,C,N}] (2) and [PdCl₂{3,5-bis(indazol-2-ylmethyl)toluene-N,N}] (3), respectively. Compounds 1–3 were characterized by elemental analyses, mass spectra and IR and NMR (¹H, ¹³C) spectroscopies. The molecular structure of 1 was also determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The palladium(II) complexes (2,3) were tested as catalysts in ethylene polymerization and in C–C coupling reactions involving aryl halides substrates.     

Arabinosylated phenolics obtained from SO2‐steam‐pretreated sugarcane bagasse

A pentose‐rich hydrolysate fraction obtained by extraction of steam‐pretreated sugarcane bagasse was analysed with regard to dissolved phenolics. The liquid obtained after steam pretreatment (2% SO₂ (w/w) at 190 °C for 5 min) was divided into two parts: one containing dissolved compounds originating from hemicellulose (with xylose as the dominating compound), and the other containing predominantly dissolved compounds originating from lignin. Using nuclear magnetic resonance, the main dissolved compounds originating from lignin were identified as the glycosylated aromatics, 5‐O‐(trans‐feruloyl)‐L‐Arabinofuranose and 5‐O‐(trans‐coumaroyl)‐L‐Arabinofuranose, together with p‐coumaric acid and small amounts of more common free phenolics such as p‐hydroxybenzaldehyde, p‐hydroxybenzoic acid and vanillin. The phenolic compounds were analysed and quantified using reversed‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography. The findings show that SO₂ steam explosion opened up new degradation pathways during lignin degradation. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Synthesis,structure and electrochemical properties of the cationic complex tris-(imidazolidine-1,10-phenanthroline)iron(II)

The complex [Fe^II(Imz-phen)₃](PF₆)₂, (Imz-phen = imidazolidine-[4,5-f]-1,10-phenanthroline) has been prepared and characterized using X-ray diffraction, UV–vis and IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, fast atomic bombardment (FAB) mass spectrometry, and cyclic voltammetry. Its crystal lattice includes acetonitrile (π–π bound to phenanthroline), methanol, and water molecules. Scanning continuously between 1000 mV and 1650 mV in CH₃CN, a modified electrode that includes the iron (II) complex is obtained; after the 25th continuous cycle a stable film is formed that is electrocatalytically active in the reduction of sulfur oxoanions. When the electrocatalytic properties are evaluated in ethanol/water solution, the current achieved from the electroreduction of these sulfur species is linearly dependent on the respective concentrations, suggesting potential application in sulfite determination.     

The surprising potency of implicit egotism: A reply to Simonsohn.

This article addresses Simonsohn's (2011) critique of field studies of implicit egotism. We argue that Simonsohn provides no compelling theoretical reason to believe that implicit egotism should be valid only in the laboratory. In addition, we argue that a careful analysis of most of Simonsohn's studies of implicit egotism shows that they provide little or no power to reveal real effects of implicit egotism. We conclude that it is more constructive to try to identify theoretically derived moderators of implicit egotism than to try to document that it is always spurious in the field. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Bulk modulus of basic sodalite, Na8[AlSiO4]6(OH)2·2H2O, a possible zeolitic precursor in coal-fly-ash-based geopolymers

Synthetic basic sodalite, Na₈[AlSiO₄]₆(OH)₂·2H₂O, cubic, P43n, (also known as hydroxysodalite hydrate) was prepared by the alkaline activation of amorphous aluminosilicate glass, obtained from the phase separation of Class F fly ash. The sample was subjected to a process similar to geopolymerization, using high concentrations of a NaOH solution at 90 °C for 24 hours. Basic sodalite was chosen as a representative analogue of the zeolite precursor existing in Na-based Class F fly ash geopolymers. To determine its bulk modulus, high-pressure synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction was applied using a diamond anvil cell (DAC) up to a pressure of 4.5 GPa. A curve-fit with a truncated third-order Birch–Murnaghan equation of state with a fixed K'_o = 4 to pressure-normalized volume data yielded the isothermal bulk modulus, K_o = 43 ± 4 GPa, indicating that basic sodalite is more compressible than sodalite, possibly due to a difference in interactions between the framework host and the guest molecules.     

CO adsorption in PdxCoyXz (X = Au,Mo, Ni) tertiary alloy nanocatalysts for PEM fuel cells—a theoretical analysis

Application of tertiary alloy nanoparticles is becoming more important, however, the local structure of such alloyed particles, which is critical for tailoring their properties, is not yet very clearly understood. In this study, we present detailed theoretical analysis on the atomistic structure and CO adsorption in Pd₇₀Co₂₀X₁₀ (X=Au, Mo, Ni) tertiary composite alloys for their application in fuel cells toward oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Basic structure and the most stable configurations for all the three composites are determined. Quantum mechanical approaches and classic molecular dynamics methods are applied to model the structure and to determine the lowest energy configurations. Our theoretical results agree well with the experimental results of XRD patterns. Considering those structures as the base, simulations were performed to determine the magnitude of CO poisoning. The results obtained by ab‐initio calculations allow us to estimate the CO‐tolerance that these catalysts might have, along with those obtained for Pd‐Co‐Ni (70:20:10 atom %) tertiary alloy, and compared with commercial Pt (1 1 0) catalyst. From these results, a comparison has been made to show different CO adsorption strengths. This is the first step to fabricate an efficient engineering design that allows us to obtain high‐performance, low‐cost nanostructured catalysts. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.