Highly Efficient Ru-Based Catalysts for Lactic Acid Conversion to Alanine.

The primary objective of this research was to develop efficient solid catalysts that can directly convert the lactic acid (LA) obtained from lignocellulosic biomass into alanine (AL) through a reductive amination process. To achieve this, various catalysts based on ruthenium were synthesized using different carriers such as multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), beta-zeolite, and magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs). Among these catalysts, Ru/MNP demonstrated a remarkable yield of 74.

COVID-19 Detection and Diagnosis Model on CT Scans Based on AI Techniques.

The end of 2019 could be mounted in a rudimentary framing of a new medical problem, which globally introduces into the discussion a fulminant outbreak of coronavirus, consequently spreading COVID-19 that conducted long-lived and persistent repercussions. Hence, the theme proposed to be solved arises from the field of medical imaging, where a pulmonary CT-based standardized reporting system could be addressed as a solution. The core of it focuses on certain impediments such as the overworking of doctors, aiming essentially to solve a classification problem using deep learning techniques, namely, if a patient suffers from COVID-19, viral pneumonia, or is healthy from a pulmonary point of view.

CT Detection of an Anomalous Left Circumflex Coronary Artery from Pulmonary Artery (ALXCAPA) in 81-Year-Old Female Patient.

Background: The left circumflex coronary artery from the pulmonary artery is a very rare congenital anomaly with few cases described, so far, worldwide.

Case Report: An 81-year-old female presented complaining of dyspnea. The transthoracic echocardiogram revealed severe degenerative aortic stenosis in addition to a hypertrophied left ventricle with normal function and no wall motion abnormalities.

A framework for validating AI in precision medicine: considerations from the European ITFoC consortium.

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to transform our healthcare systems significantly. New AI technologies based on machine learning approaches should play a key role in clinical decision-making in the future. However, their implementation in health care settings remains limited, mostly due to a lack of robust validation procedures.

Optimized Nb-Based Zeolites as Catalysts for the Synthesis of Succinic Acid and FDCA.

Nb(0.05 moles%)-zeolites prepared via a post synthesis methodology (BEA, Y, ZSM-5), or a direct sol-gel method (Silicalite-1) were investigated in the hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) oxidation by both molecular oxygen, in aqueous phase, and organic peroxides, in acetonitrile. The catalysts prepared through the post synthesis methodology (i.

Functionalised heterogeneous catalysts for sustainable biomass valorisation.

Efficient transformation of biomass to value-added chemicals and high-energy density fuels is pivotal for a more sustainable economy and carbon-neutral society. In this framework, developing potential cascade chemical processes using functionalised heterogeneous catalysts is essential because of their versatile roles towards viable biomass valorisation. Advances in materials science and catalysis have provided several innovative strategies for the design of new appealing catalytic materials with well-defined structures and special characteristics.

Nb-Based Zeolites: Efficient bi-Functional Catalysts for the One-Pot Synthesis of Succinic Acid from Glucose.

The one-pot production of succinic acid from glucose was investigated in pure hot water as solvent using Nb (0.02 and 0.05 moles%)-Beta zeolites obtained by a post-synthesis methodology.

Graphene oxide as a catalyst for the diastereoselective transfer hydrogenation in the synthesis of prostaglandin derivatives.

Modification of GO by organic molecules changes its catalytic activity in the hydrogen transfer from i-propanol to enones, affecting the selectivity to allyl alcohol and diastereoselectivity to the resulting stereoisomers. It is noteworthy the system does not contain metals and is recyclable.

Unprecedented Catalytic Wet Oxidation of Glucose to Succinic Acid Induced by the Addition of n-Butylamine to a Ru(III) Catalyst.

A new pathway for the catalytic wet oxidation (CWO) of glucose is described. Employing a cationic Ru@MNP catalyst, succinic acid is obtained in unprecedently high yield (87.5 %) for a >99.

One-Step Pyrolysis Preparation of 1.1.1 Oriented Gold Nanoplatelets Supported on Graphene and Six Orders of Magnitude Enhancement of the Resulting Catalytic Activity.

Pyrolysis of chitosan films containing Au(3+) renders 1.1.1 oriented Au nanoplatelets (20 nm lateral size, 3-4 nm height) on a few layers of N-doped graphene (Au/fl-G), while the lateral sides were 0.

Heterogeneous Diastereoselective Catalysis--A Powerful Strategy Toward C(15) Stereoselectivity from PGF2α Analogues Structure.

A major trend in fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals is the synthesis of molecules with increased complexity. This trend translates the aim of organic syntheses to conditions in which high degrees of chemo-, regio- and stereoselectivity can be provided. In this context, the chemoselective hydrogenation of one functional group in the presence of other reactive groups is a frequently encountered problem in fine chemicals manufacture.

High catalytic activity of oriented 2.0.0 copper(I) oxide grown on graphene film.

Metal oxide nanoparticles supported on graphene exhibit high catalytic activity for oxidation, reduction and coupling reactions. Here we show that pyrolysis at 900 °C under inert atmosphere of copper(II) nitrate embedded in chitosan films affords 1.1.

Direct synthesis of sorbitol and glycerol from cellulose over ionic Ru/magnetite nanoparticles in the absence of external hydrogen.

A sweet catalyst: A catalyst formed of Ru/functionalized silica-coated magnetite nanoparticles is highly efficient in the one-pot production of sorbitol and glycerol, starting from cellulose and in the absence of an external hydrogen source. The ease of recoverability of the catalyst from the solid residues, and its reuse without loss of activity or selectivity for several runs, is an important green element of the process.

Sn-doped hydroxylated MgF₂ catalysts for the fast and selective saccharification of cellulose to glucose.

TIN, TAILORED, NOT SOLDER, BUT CAT: Doped hydroxylated fluorides, prepared by a modified sol-gel method, offer enhanced acidity and improved stability against water, and efficiency in the degradation of cellulose. These materials extend the portfolio of acid catalysts for fast and selective hydrolysis of biomass to glucose, which offers a feedstock for bioethanol production.

Cyclisation of citronellal over heterogeneous inorganic fluorides--highly chemo- and diastereoselective catalysts for (+/-)-isopulegol.

Based on a fluorolytic sol-gel synthesis, nanoscopic metal fluorides and partly hydroxylated metal fluorides were synthesized; varying the F : OH ratio inside these solids yielded catalysts with different combinations and variable strength Lewis and Brønsted acid sites, which demonstrated unexpected catalytic properties for the diastereoselective synthesis of (+/-)-isopulegol.

Novel sol-gel synthesis of acidic MgF(2-x)(OH)(x) materials.

Novel magnesium fluorides have been prepared by a new fluorolytic sol-gel synthesis for fluoride materials based on aqueous HF. By changing the amount of water at constant stoichiometric amount of HF, it is possible to tune the surface acidity of the resulting partly hydroxylated magnesium fluorides. These materials possess medium-strength Lewis acid sites and, by increasing the amount of water, Brønsted acid sites as well.