PestLCI 2.0 sensitivity to soil variations for the evaluation of pesticide distribution in Life Cycle Assessment studies.

Pesticides are commonly applied in conventional agricultural systems, but they can lead to serious environmental contamination. The calculation of on-field pesticide emissions in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) studies is challenging, because of the difficulty in the calculation of the fate of pesticides and, therefore, several literature approaches based on different dispersion models have been developed. PestLCI 2.

Ultrasensitive Ethene Detector Based on a Graphene-Copper(I) Hybrid Material.

Ethene is a highly diffusive and relatively unreactive gas that induces aging responses in plants in concentrations as low as parts per billion. Monitoring concentrations of ethene is critically important for transport and storage of food crops, necessitating the development of a new generation of ultrasensitive detectors. Here we show that by functionalizing graphene with copper complexes biologically relevant concentrations of ethene and of the spoilage marker ethanol can be detected.

Extremely bulky copper(i) complexes of [HB(3,5-{1-naphthyl}pz)] and [HB(3,5-{2-naphthyl}pz)] and their self-assembly on graphene.

The synthesis and characterization, using NMR (H and C), infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray crystallography, of the ethene and carbon monoxide copper(i) complexes of hydridotris(3,5-diphenylpyrazol-1-yl)borate ([Tp]) and the two new ligands hydridotris(3,5-bis(1-naphthyl)pyrazol-1-yl)borate ([Tp]) and hydridotris(3,5-bis-(2-naphthyl)pyrazol-1-yl)borate ([Tp]) are described. X-ray crystal structures are presented of [Cu(Tp)(CH)] and [Cu(Tp)(CH)]. The compound [Cu(Tp)(CH)] features interactions between the protons of the ethene ligand and the π-electron clouds of the phenyl substituents that make up the binding pocket surrounding the copper(i) center.

Highly tunable fluorinated trispyrazolylborates [HB(3-CF3-5-{4-RPh}pz)3](-) (R = NO2, CF3, Cl, F, H, OMe and NMe2) and their copper(I) complexes.

The ethene and carbon monoxide adducts of copper(I) with seven trispyrazolylborate ligands ([HB(3-CF3-5-{4-RPh}pz)3](-); R = NO2 (4a), CF3 (4b), Cl (4c), F (4d), H (4e), OMe (4f) and NMe2 (4g)) were synthesized and characterized. The ligands were synthesized from their corresponding pyrazoles and sodium tetrahydridoborate and were obtained as solvent adducts of their sodium salts after workup. When the pyrazole with the most electron-withdrawing substituent (R = NO2) is used the asymmetric ligand [HB(3-CF3-5-{4-NO2Ph}pz)2(3-{4-NO2Ph}-5-CF3pz)](-) (4a') is formed as the major product.

N-donor functionalized N-heterocyclic carbene nickel(II) complexes in the Kumada coupling.

The synthesis and characterization of novel nickel(II) complexes bearing two bidentate N-heterocyclic carbene ligands functionalized with anionic N-donor moieties are described. Two different N-donor groups are employed, namely amido and benzimidazolato moieties. The solid-state structures of three of these complexes have been determined by X-ray crystallography.

Does suggestive information cause a confirmation bias in bullet comparisons?

Several researchers have argued that the confirmation bias, the tendency to selectively gather and process information such that it fits existing beliefs, is a main threat to objective forensic examinations. The goal of the present study was to empirically investigate whether examiners making bullet comparisons are indeed vulnerable to this bias. In the first experiment, six qualified examiners evaluated 6 sets of bullets that were presented to them twice.

Effect of fluoride mouthrinsing on caries lesion development in shark enamel: an in situ caries model study.

Shark enamel consists of nearly pure fluorapatite and has been shown to demineralize in an in situ caries model. The present study was conducted to investigate whether additional fluoride supplementation in the form of mouthrinsing would inhibit lesion development in shark enamel. The study slabs of shark enamel were mounted in dental appliances.

The role of 'CaF2-like' material in topical fluoridation of enamel in situ.

In this paper the role and importance of 'CaF2-like' material deposited on enamel (Fon) by means of an APF gel and the varnishes Duraphat and Fluor Protector are described and discussed. The amount of Fon, determined by KOH extraction, is a measure of the amount of CaF2-like material on the enamel surface. Fluoride in the enamel (Fin), determined by etching, is the amount of F- bound in the solid enamel.

'Calcium fluoride-like' material formed in partially demineralized human enamel in vivo owing to the action of fluoridated toothpastes.

In this paper are presented the results of a chemical analysis of partially demineralized enamel lesions positioned under plaque in vivo for 3 weeks. During the experimental period the samples were brushed with fluoridated or non-fluoridated toothpaste systems. After the experiment the fluoride and protein uptake was determined.

Microradiographic study of demineralization of shark enamel in a human caries model.

The aim of the present study was to compare the resistance of fluoroapatite (shark enamel) and hydroxyapatite (human enamel) against a high caries challenge in a human in vivo model. Two samples of shark enamel and human enamel were each placed in removable appliances in six children and carried for 1 month and a plaque retentive device was placed over each enamel sample. The results showed that the mean total mineral loss (delta Z) was 1680 vol% micron in human enamel and 965 vol% micron in shark enamel.