Molecular Insights into the Stability of Titanium in Electrolytes Containing Chlorine and Fluorine Ions.

Titanium and its alloys are protected by a compact and stable passive film, which confers resistance to corrosion by the primary halogen chloride (Cl) while being less effective against fluoride (F). Although researchers have recognized different macroscopic corrosion effects of these halide ions on titanium, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unexplored. In this work, the bonding of Cl/F with stable passive films was studied in neutral and acidic (pH = 2.

Photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline using surface defective black TiO-ZnO heterojunction photocatalyst under visible light.

Fabrication of heterojunction and surface defective engineering, through the formation of oxygen vacancies, are among the various photocatalytic enhancement techniques. A combination of these techniques has the prospect of enhancing photocatalytic activities through improved light absorption capabilities and charge separation process of the photocatalysts. In this study, a heterojunction of black titanium oxide-zinc oxide (BTiO-ZnO) nanocomposite was synthesized using the conventional sol-gel approach, coupled with aluminum foil-assisted NaBH reduction.

Leaching and transformation of chemical additives from weathered plastic deployed in the marine environment.

Plastic pollution causes detrimental environmental impacts, which are increasingly attributed to chemical additives. However, the behaviour of plastic additives in the marine environment is poorly understood. We used a marine deployment experiment to examine the impact of weathering on the extractables profile, analysed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, of four plastics at two locations over nine months in Aotearoa/New Zealand.

The Uptake of Rare Trace Elements by Perennial Ryegrass ( L.).

Technological development has increased the use of chemical elements that have hitherto received scant scientific attention as environmental contaminants. Successful management of these rare trace elements (RTEs) requires elucidation of their mobility in the soil-plant system. We aimed to determine the capacity of (a common pasture species) to tolerate and accumulate the RTEs Be, Ga, In, La, Ce, Nd, and Gd in a fluvial recent soil.

A Direct Analysis of β--methylamino-l-alanine Enantiomers and Isomers and Its Application to Cyanobacteria and Marine Mollusks.

Of the wide variety of toxic compounds produced by cyanobacteria, the neurotoxic amino acid β--methylamino-l-alanine (BMAA) has attracted attention as a result of its association with chronic human neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS and Alzheimer's. Consequently, specific detection methods are required to assess the presence of BMAA and its isomers in environmental and clinical materials, including cyanobacteria and mollusks. Although the separation of isomers such as β-amino--methylalanine (BAMA), -(2-aminoethyl)glycine (AEG) and 2,4-diaminobutyric acid (DAB) from BMAA has been demonstrated during routine analysis, a further compounding factor is the potential presence of enantiomers for some of these isomers.

Temporal and spatial tracking of ultrafast light-induced strain and polarization modulation in a ferroelectric thin film.

Ultrashort light pulses induce rapid deformations of crystalline lattices. In ferroelectrics, lattice deformations couple directly to the polarization, which opens the perspective to modulate the electric polarization on an ultrafast time scale. Here, we report on the temporal and spatial tracking of strain and polar modulation in a single-domain BiFeO thin film by ultrashort light pulses.

Chemical data evaluation: general considerations and approaches for IUPAC projects and the chemistry community (IUPAC Technical Report).

The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) has a long tradition of supporting the compilation of chemical data and their evaluation through direct projects, nomenclature and terminology work, and partnerships with international scientific bodies, government agencies and other organizations. The IUPAC Interdivisional Subcommittee on Critical Evaluation of Data (ISCED) has been established to provide guidance on issues related to the evaluation of chemical data. In this first report we define the general principles of the evaluation of scientific data and describe best practices and approaches to data evaluation in chemistry.

Computation via Neuron-like Spiking in Percolating Networks of Nanoparticles.

The biological brain is a highly efficient computational system in which information processing is performed via electrical spikes. Neuromorphic computing systems that work on similar principles could support the development of the next generation of artificial intelligence and, in particular, enable low-power edge computing. Percolating networks of nanoparticles (PNNs) have previously been shown to exhibit critical spiking behavior, with promise for highly efficient natural computation.

Simulation-guided development of an optical calorimeter for high dose rate dosimetry.

Optical Calorimetry (OC) is based on interferometry and provides a direct measurement of spatially resolved absorbed dose to water by measuring refractive index changes induced by radiation. The purpose of this work was to optimize and characterize in software an OC system tailored for ultra-high dose rate applications and to build and test a prototype in a clinical environment. A radiation dosimeter using the principles of OC was designed in optical modelling software.

Visible light-responsive materials: the (photo)chemistry and applications of donor-acceptor Stenhouse adducts in polymer science.

Donor-acceptor Stenhouse adduct (DASA) photoswitches have gained a lot of attention since their discovery in 2014. Their negative photochromism, visible light absorbance, synthetic tunability, and the large property changes between their photoisomers make them attractive candidates over other commonly used photoswitches for use in materials with responsive or adaptive properties. The development of such materials and their translation into advanced technologies continues to widely impact forefront materials research, and DASAs have thus attracted considerable interest in the field of visible-light responsive molecular switches and dynamic materials.

The use of in silico molecular modelling to screen potential estrogen mimics as part of medicines and agrochemicals development and product license applications.

Estrogen mimics are a diverse group of synthetic and naturally occurring compounds that can interact with estrogen receptors (ERs) in animals, including humans. These interactions rely on key structural features of 17b-estradiol (E2) and if these molecular features are in a similar spatial arrangement on other compounds, they are likely to elicit an agonist (i.e.

Synthesis of nitrogen mustards on cobalt(III).

Bis(bidentate) and bis(tridentate) Co(III) complexes of -(2-hydroxyethyl)ethane-1,2-diamine (heen), 2-[(2-aminoethyl)amino]ethan-1-olate (heen-H), or -(2-chloroethyl)ethane-1,2-diamine (ceen) ligands have been synthesised, and a range of reaction conditions established for their syntheses by different routes. They can all be ultimately derived from (OC-6-12')-[Co(heen)(NO)]NO and provide access to the amine chloride nitrogen mustard complex, (OC-6-12')-[Co(ceen)(Cl)]Cl. Although complex isomeric mixtures were obtained from the reaction of (OC-6-12')-[Co(heen)(NO)]NO under different reaction conditions, ultimately, the amine chlorido configuration around the Co(III) metal centre of the (OC-6-12')-[Co(ceen)(Cl)]Cl complex was favoured.

Viscosity and diffusion in life processes and tuning of fundamental constants.

Viewed as one of the grandest questions in modern science, understanding fundamental physical constants has been discussed in high-energy particle physics, astronomy and cosmology. Here, I review how condensed matter and liquid physics gives new insights into fundamental constants and their tuning. This is based on two observations: first, cellular life and the existence of observers depend on viscosity and diffusion.

The high optical brightness of the BlueWalker 3 satellite.

Large constellations of bright artificial satellites in low Earth orbit pose significant challenges to ground-based astronomy. Current orbiting constellation satellites have brightnesses between apparent magnitudes 4 and 6, whereas in the near-infrared Ks band, they can reach magnitude 2 (ref. ).

Cooperation towards nobility: equipping first-row transition metals with an aluminium sword.

The exploration for noble metals substitutes in catalysis has become a highly active area of research, driven by the pursuit of sustainable chemical processes. Although the utilization of base metals holds great potential as an alternative, their successful implementation in predictable catalytic processes necessitates the development of appropriate ligands. Such ligands must be capable of controlling their intricate redox chemistry and promote two-electron events, thus mimicking well-established organometallic processes in noble metal catalysis.

Fast dynamics and high effective dimensionality of liquid fluidity.

Fluidity, the ability of liquids to flow, is the key property distinguishing liquids from solids. This fluidity is set by the mobile transit atoms moving from one quasi-equilibrium point to the next. The nature of this transit motion is unknown.

CO2-mineralization and carbonation reactor rig: Design and validation for in situ neutron scattering experiments-Engineering and lessons learned.

CO2 mineralization via aqueous Mg/Ca/Na-carbonate (MgCO3/CaCO3/Na2CO3) formation represents a huge opportunity for the utilization of captured CO2. However, large-scale mineralization is hindered by slow kinetics due to the highly hydrated character of the cations in aqueous solutions (Mg2+ in particular). Reaction conditions can be optimized to accelerate carbonation kinetics, for example, by the inclusion of additives that promote competitive dehydration of Mg2+ and subsequent agglomeration, nucleation, and crystallization.

Antarctic evidence for an abrupt northward shift of the Southern Hemisphere westerlies at 32 ka BP.

High-resolution ice core records from coastal Antarctica are particularly useful to inform our understanding of environmental changes and their drivers. Here, we present a decadally resolved record of sea-salt sodium (a proxy for open-ocean area) and non-sea salt calcium (a proxy for continental dust) from the well-dated Roosevelt Island Climate Evolution (RICE) core, focusing on the time period between 40-26 ka BP. The RICE dust record exhibits an abrupt shift towards a higher mean dust concentration at 32 ka BP.

Constraints on fundamental physical constants from bio-friendly viscosity and diffusion.

The problem of understanding fundamental physical constants and their values was discussed in particle physics, astronomy, and cosmology. Here, I show that an additional unexpected insight comes from condensed matter physics and liquid physics in particular: Fundamental constants have a biofriendly window constrained by biofriendly viscosity and diffusion setting the motion in essential life processes in and across cells. I also show that bounds on viscosity, diffusion, and the fundamental velocity gradient in a biochemical machine can all be varied while keeping the fine-structure constant and the proton-to-electron mass ratio intact, with no implication for the production of heavy nuclei in stars.

On-Surface Synthesis and Characterization of a High-Spin Aza-[5]-Triangulene.

Triangulenes are a class of open-shell triangular graphene flakes with total spin increasing with their size. In the last years, on-surface-synthesis strategies have permitted fabricating and engineering triangulenes of various sizes and structures with atomic precision. However, direct proof of the increasing total spin with their size remains elusive.

Abnormal myosin post-translational modifications and ATP turnover time associated with human congenital myopathy-related RYR1 mutations.

Aim: Conditions related to mutations in the gene encoding the skeletal muscle ryanodine receptor 1 (RYR1) are genetic muscle disorders and include congenital myopathies with permanent weakness, as well as episodic phenotypes such as rhabdomyolysis/myalgia. Although RYR1 dysfunction is the primary mechanism in RYR1-related disorders, other downstream pathogenic events are less well understood and may include a secondary remodeling of major contractile proteins. Hence, in the present study, we aimed to investigate whether congenital myopathy-related RYR1 mutations alter the regulation of the most abundant contractile protein, myosin.

Impact of accelerated weathering on the leaching kinetics of stabiliser additives from microplastics.

The release of additives from microplastics is known to harm organisms. In the environment, microplastics are exposed to weathering processes which are suspected to influence additive leaching kinetics, the extent and mechanism of which remain poorly understood. We examined the impact of weathering on stabiliser additive leaching kinetics using environmentally relevant accelerated weathering and leaching procedures.

Advanced Catalyst Design and Reactor Configuration Upgrade in Electrochemical Carbon Dioxide Conversion.

Electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO RR) driven by renewable energy shows great promise in mitigating and potentially reversing the devastating effects of anthropogenic climate change and environmental degradation. The simultaneous synthesis of energy-dense chemicals can meet global energy demand while decoupling emissions from economic growth. However, the development of CO RR technology faces challenges in catalyst discovery and device optimization that hinder their industrial implementation.

The Potential of Myrtaceae Species for the Phytomanagement of Treated Municipal Wastewater.

The use of native plants in land application systems for treated municipal wastewater (TMW) can contribute to ecological restoration. However, research on the potential of native species to manage the nutrients and contaminants contained in TMW is scarce. At a 10-hectare field site irrigated with TMW at >4000 mm yr, we investigated the distribution of nutrients and trace elements in the soil-plant system, comparing the New Zealand native Myrtaceae species and with pasture.

Insights from coherence in students' scientific reasoning skills.

Improving scientific reasoning enables students to navigate the challenges of learning science. Teachers use Lawson's classroom test of scientific reasoning (LCTSR) to measure scientific reasoning. The LCTSR is a two-tiered assessment that uses content-based questions and explanation statements.