Property Tuning in N-Methylpyrrole Azo-Photoswitches via Modification of the Peripheral Substituents.

Differently substituted pyrrole-azo‑benzene molecular photoswitches were prepared in a straightforward synthetic way. Their fundamental properties were investigated by XRD analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, cyclic voltammetry, UV‑Vis absorption spectroscopy, Hyper-Rayleigh Scattering, and NMR spectroscopy; the experimental results were further corroborated by DFT calculations. Thermal robustness, the HOMO/LUMO levels, and the absorption properties were altered mostly by substituting the N‑methylpyrrole moiety and further fine-tuned by modifying the benzene substituents.

Use of by-products from the industrial distillation of lavandin (Lavandula x intermedia) essential oil as effective bioherbicides.

Weeds are one of the main problems causing losses in agricultural crops, which are nowadays mainly combated by the massive use of chemical herbicides. The development of new effective, sustainable, environmentally and health-friendly bioherbicides is a fundamental need worldwide. In this work, hydrolates and lavandin distilled straws produced during the distillation of the essential oil of lavandin (Lavandula x intermedia) were tested as potential bioherbicides.

Effects of Manganese Carbonate Addition on the Carbocatalytic Properties of Lignocellulosic Waste for Use in the Degradation of Acetaminophen.

A carbon-based material was synthesized using potato peels (BPP) and banana pseudo-stems (BPS), both of which were modified with manganese to produce BPP-Mn and BPS-Mn, respectively. These materials were assessed for their ability to activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS) in the presence of MnCO to degrade acetaminophen (ACE), an emerging water contaminant. The materials underwent characterization using spectroscopic, textural, and electrochemical techniques.

Using machine learning to detect noncredible cognitive test performance.

Advanced algorithmic methods may improve the assessment of performance validity during neuropsychological testing. This study investigated whether unsupervised machine learning (ML) could serve as one such method. Participants were 359 adult outpatients who underwent a neuropsychological evaluation for various referral reasons.

Polygenic and Polyenvironment Interplay in Schizophrenia-Spectrum Disorder and Affective Psychosis; the EUGEI First Episode Study.

Background: Multiple genetic and environmental risk factors play a role in the development of both schizophrenia-spectrum disorders and affective psychoses. How they act in combination is yet to be clarified.

Methods: We analyzed 573 first episode psychosis cases and 1005 controls, of European ancestry.