Hierarchical LTL Zeolite as an Efficient and Sustainable Solid Acid Catalyst for Replacing HCl in the Production of Polyurethane Intermediates.

In many industrially important reactions, caustic mineral acid catalysts have been successfully replaced with green solid acids such as zeolites. In this context, extensive efforts have been devoted to replacing HCl to produce methylenedianiline (MDA), a key intermediate in polyurethane production. Unfortunately, limited success has been achieved thus far due to low activity, selectivity towards the desired 4,4'-MDA, and rapid catalyst deactivation.

Splitting of Hydrogen Atoms into Proton-Electron Pairs at BaO-Ru Interfaces for Promoting Ammonia Synthesis under Mild Conditions.

Ru catalysts promoted with alkali and alkaline earth have shown superior ammonia (NH) synthesis activities under mild conditions. Although these promoters play a vital role in enhancing catalytic activity, their function has not been clearly understood. Here, we synthesize a series of Ba-Ru/MgO catalysts with an optimal Ru particle size (∼2.

Comparison of programmed intermittent epidural bolus injection and continuous epidural injection in controlling nighttime pain and improving sleep quality after thoracotomy.

Background: Postoperative pain after open thoracotomy is known to be very severe and affects sleep quality. This study aimed to investigate the effects of a programmed intermittent epidural bolus injection versus continuous epidural injection for controlling nighttime pain and improving sleep quality after thoracotomy.

Methods: Seventy-six patients scheduled for open thoracotomy for lung cancer or other lung diseases were enrolled.

Photoacoustic imaging probe for detecting lymph nodes and spreading of cancer at various depths.

We propose a compact and easy to use photoacoustic imaging (PAI) probe structure using a single strand of optical fiber and a beam combiner doubly reflecting acoustic waves for convenient detection of lymph nodes and cancers. Conventional PAI probes have difficulty detecting lymph nodes just beneath the skin or simultaneously investigating lymph nodes located in shallow as well as deep regions from skin without any supplementary material because the light and acoustic beams are intersecting obliquely in the probe. To overcome the limitations and improve their convenience, we propose a probe structure in which the illuminated light beam axis coincides with the axis of the ultrasound.

Gain-switched Ti:sapphire laser-based photoacoustic imaging.

We demonstrate photoacoustic (PA) imaging using a compact gain-switched Ti:sapphire laser. Additionally, a simple laser configuration is provided. The Ti:sapphire laser is pumped using a frequency-doubled pulsed neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet pulse laser operating at a repetition rate of 10 Hz, with a pump energy of 37 mJ.