Selective oxidation of alcohols by combinatorial catalysis

High-throughput synthesis and screening of polyoxometalate (POM) and supported-metal libraries have been developed for the selective aerobic oxidation of alcohols to the corresponding aldehydes/ketones in the liquid phase. Libraries consisting of 96 catalysts were prepared in multi-well reactors and screened for catalytic activity using TLC, GC and NMR detection methods. Promising hits identified in the high-throughput primary screens were successfully scaled up and optimized in conventional laboratory test units. Isolated yields confirm high selectivities of more than 90% with quantitative conversions. Substrates tested include primary and secondary alcohols. Specific results will be presented for hydroxymethyl-substituted heterocycles and bicyclo-octanols.     

Attributes of packaging and influences on waste

An important area of focus for the reduction of domestic waste is packaging and food packaging specifically. At some point in the life of packaging in the consumers' home, the packaging goes through a transition from something of use, of value and of worth to the consumer to something that is no longer any of these. Being able to indentify attributes of packaging that might have an impact on this transitional point to change the use or value so that the packaging is re‐used, recycled or composted rather than being landfilled is very important in successfully diverting packaging waste from landfill. This research aimed to conduct a variety of tests to indentify attributes of packaging that have an influence on the eventual waste route and to determine what that influence was. The research included an extensive literature study looking at consumer test methods, current waste and packaging waste studies, and packaging design literature. This was followed by a series of four tests: ‘bin raids’, ‘digital diary’, ‘visual survey’ and ‘ethnography’. These tests were designed to determine how consumers would treat specific examples of packaging in an end‐of‐life scenario and what influences those decisions. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Gecko‐Inspired Dry Adhesive for Robotic Applications

Most geckos can rapidly attach and detach from almost any kind of surface. This ability is attributed to the hierarchical structure of their feet (involving toe pads, setal arrays, and spatulae), and how they are moved (articulated) to generate strong adhesion and friction forces on gripping that rapidly relax on releasing. Inspired by the gecko's bioadhesive system, various structured surfaces have been fabricated suitable for robotic applications. In this study, x–y–z asymmetric, micrometer‐sized rectangular flaps composed of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) were fabricated using massively parallel micro‐electromechanical systems (MEMS) techniques with the intention of creating directionally responsive, high‐to‐low frictional‐adhesion toe pads exhibiting properties similar to those found in geckos. Using a surface forces apparatus (SFA), the friction and adhesion forces of both vertical (symmetric) and angled/tilted (x–y–z asymmetric) microflaps under various loading, unloading and shearing conditIons were investigated. It was found that the anisotropic structure of tilted microflaps gives very different adhesion and tribological forces when articulated along different x–y–z directions: high friction and adhesion forces when articulated in the y–z plane along the tilt (+y) direction, which is also the direction of motion, and weak friction and adhesion forces when articulated against the tilt (–y) direction. These results demonstrate that asymmetric angled structures, as occur in geckos, are required to enable the gecko to optimize the requirements of high friction and adhesion on gripping, and low frictional‐adhesion on releasing. These properties are intimately coupled to a (also optimum) articulation mechanism. We discuss how both of these features can be simultaneously optimized in the design of robotic systems that can mimic the gecko adhesive system.     

Rebound and disinvestment effects in refined oil consumption and supply resulting from an increase in energy efficiency in the Scottish commercial transport sector

In this paper, we use an energy–economy–environment computable general equilibrium (CGE) model of the Scottish economy to examine the impacts of an exogenous increase in energy augmenting technological progress in the domestic commercial Transport sector on the supply and use of energy. We focus our analysis on Scottish refined oil, as the main type of energy input used in commercial transport activity. We find that a 5% increase in energy efficiency in the commercial Transport sector leads to rebound effects in the use of oil-based energy commodities in all time periods, in the target sector and at the economy-wide level. However, our results also suggest that such an efficiency improvement may cause a contraction in capacity in the Scottish refined oil supply sector. This ‘disinvestment effect’ acts as a constraint on the size of rebound effects. However, the magnitude of rebound effects and presence of the disinvestment effect in the simulations conducted here are sensitive to the specification of key elasticities of substitution in the nested production function for the target sector, particularly the substitutability of energy for non-energy intermediate inputs to production.     

Application of natural receptors in sensors and assays

Biosensors are analytical devices that use a biological or biologically derived material immobilized at a physicochemical transducer to measure one or more analytes. Although there are a large number of reviews on biosensors in general, there has been little systematic information presented on the application of natural receptors in sensor technology. This perspective discusses broadly the fundamental properties of natural receptors, which make them an attractive option for use as biorecognition elements in sensor technology. It analyses the current situation by reference to typical examples, such as the application of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor and G protein-linked receptors in affinity sensors and analyses the problems that need to be resolved prior to any commercialization of such devices.     

The production of single strand and double strand breaks in DNA in aqueous solution by vacuum UV photons below 10 eV

The mechanisms of break formation in fully hydrated DNA have been investigated using monochromatic photons below 10 eV. This has been achieved by developing a novel 'wet cell' for irradiating DNA in aqueous solution. Our preliminary data show that 7-10 eV photons readily induce strand breaks even though almost all of the energy is absorbed in the water. Therefore, the mechanism for the induction of single and double strand breaks (SSBs and DSBs) most likely involves indirect damage by OH radicals and is substantiated by data from studies in the presence of the OH radical scavenger Tris, which showed a substantial protective effect. The dose-effect curve for DSB induction is seen to be linear, or near-linear, indicating the involvement of 1-hit mediated induction of DSBs. These data point to single-event induction of DSBs being a significant pathway with all radiation types.     

Affordance as context

The concept of affordance is relatively easy to define, but has proved to be remarkably difficult to engineer. This paradox has sparked numerous debates as to its true nature. The discussion presented here begins with a review of the use of the term from which emerges evidence for a two-fold classification—simple affordance and complex affordance. Simple affordance corresponds to Gibson's original formulation, while complex affordances embody such things as history and practice. In trying to account for complex affordance, two contrasting, but complementary philosophical treatments are considered. The first of these is Ilyenkov's account of significances which he claims are ‘ideal’ phenomena. Ideal phenomena occupy are objective characteristics of things and are the product of human purposive activity. This makes them objective, but not independent (of any particular mind or perception) hence their similarity to affordances.

The second perspective is Heidegger's phenomenological treatment of ‘familiarity’ and ‘equipment’. As will be seen, Heidegger has argued that familiarity underpins our ability to cope in the world. A world, in turn, which itself comprises the totality of equipment. We cope by making use of equipment. Despite the different philosophical traditions both Ilyenkov and Heidegger have independently concluded that a thing is identified by its use and that use, in turn, is revealed by way of its affordances/significances. Finally, both authors—Heidegger directly and Ilyenkov indirectly—equate context and use, leading to the conclusion that affordance and context are one and the same.     

一种新型的移动增值服务——动态电话簿

今天的手机采用相对简单的接口就可以进行电话呼叫。虽然相对于传统固定电话拨号略微复杂了一些,但是移动电话接口还是包括了内置电话录和其它崭新的功能。然而,通信远不限于语音通话。现在我们的手机上有文本消息、一键通、图像邮件和多用户游戏。而我们的P C电脑支持即时通信     

The premier CG and A digital media issue

A growing part of the computer graphics field (its science, algorithms, products, and applications) deals with either dynamic situations, digital media, or both. As a result, it's challenging for computing professionals to fully understand, or experience the applications for, dynamic and digital media when the expression of computer graphics is confined to printed articles. IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications has embarked on an experiment in bringing digital media content to our readers-not to replace our print publication but to augment it with a new method of communication. High-quality print articles can do an excellent job of telling the how, but in many instances, digital media can better express the what dimension of understanding graphics. Another goal of CG&A is to provide a professionally reviewed channel for researchers and practitioners of computer graphics. Digital media publication may better serve the needs of a community whose contribution is best expressed or understood through interactive or dynamic content, or whose preferred method of communication isn't the printed word.