Chemical Inputs (chemical + input)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


New Heterodimetallic Platinum(II) Complexes Potentially Useful as Molecular Switches

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF INORGANIC CHEMISTRY, Issue 10 2008
Sonia Pérez
Abstract Four types of platinum(II) complexes of general formulae [Pt(FcCH=NC6H4OH-2)Cl2(L)] [Fc = (,5 -C5H5)Fe(,5 -C5H4), L = dmso (2) or PhCN (3)], [Pt(FcCH=NC6H4O-2)Cl(dmso)] (4), [Pt{(,5 -C5H3CH=NC6H4O-2)Fe(,5 -C5H5)}(L)] [L = dmso (5) or PPh3 (6)] or [Pt{(,5 -C5H3CH=NC6H4OH-2)Fe(,5 -C5H5)}Cl(L)] [L = dmso (7) or PPh3 (8)] have been prepared. These compounds differ in the mode of binding of the ligand: (N) (in 2 and 3), (N,O), (in 4), [C(sp2, ferrocene),N,O]2, (in 5 and 6) or [C(sp2, ferrocene),N], (in 7 and 8). NMR, UV/Vis and electrochemical studies of 2 and 4,8 reveal that these products can be grouped in three pairs [(2c, 4b), (5, 7) and (6, 8)], and one of the compounds of each pair can be easily converted into its partner by a H+/OH, chemical input. The results obtained revealed that these transformations, that affect the spectroscopic and electrochemical properties, are reversible and robust. A study of the relevancy of the mode of binding of compounds 2 and 4,8 upon their potential utility of the new platinum(II) complexes as molecular switches is reported. (© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008) [source]


A Simple Fluorescent Ion-Pair Binding Host that Acts as an "If-Then" Logic Gate

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF INORGANIC CHEMISTRY, Issue 26 2009
Sara Jane Dickson
Abstract A donor-acceptor-type carbazole pyridine derivative behaves as an "if-then" fluorescent molecular logic gate using chemical inputs in the form of copper(II) cations and nitrate anions. (© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009) [source]


Effects of ground cover (straw and compost) on the abundance of natural enemies and soil macro invertebrates in vineyards

AGRICULTURAL AND FOREST ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 3 2007
Linda J. Thomson
Abstract 1,Herbicides are commonly applied under grapevines in Australia to remove weeds and thereby to avoid water loss through transpiration. 2,Interest in sustainability promotes a reduction in chemical inputs, including herbicides, leading to trials with surface mulches to suppress weeds. 3,Surface mulches may also influence the abundance of a range of invertebrates. Potentially, an increase in natural enemies will contribute to pest control and encourage a reduction in pesticide application. 4,We used three trapping methods and direct soil sampling to assess invertebrates at ground level, in the canopy and in the soil to determine the influence of mulch on natural enemies, potential pests and soil macroinvertebrates, including earthworms. 5,Collections sorted to family demonstrated that the addition of straw or compost mulches increased natural enemies collected with pitfall traps and soil organisms. However, there was no clear indication of the overall superiority of either mulch. 6,Abundance of ground beetles, parasitoid Hymenoptera and spiders collected with pitfall traps were increased by the addition of mulches. In the canopy, predatory and parasitic Diptera and predatory Hemiptera increased after mulching. 7,Earthworms collected by hand sorting soil increased with straw mulching. 8,No influence on pests was detected. Although Lepidoptera and Sigmurethra, collected in pitfall traps, increased with straw mulching, neither included pest species. 9,The results are discussed with reference to the potential economic impact of mulches. [source]


AN APPLICATION OF MULTI-CRITERIA DECISION MAKING INCORPORATING STOCHASTIC PRODUCTION FRONTIERS: A CASE STUDY OF ORGANIC COFFEE PRODUCTION IN KONA, HAWAII

NATURAL RESOURCE MODELING, Issue 1 2010
TADAYOSHI MASUDA
Abstract In this paper, we develop a land use allocation model to search for the optimal ratio of organic (nonchemical) and conventional (chemical-use) farming acreage. The idea is to incorporate stochastic production frontiers (SPFs) to a multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) model as technological constraints. The objectives of this model are to maximize net returns, minimize chemical inputs, and optimize organic inputs given environmental and ecological concerns. The compromise solutions suggest the desirable ratio of organic and conventional farming acreage and targetable operations for each farming system to improve regional welfare. This method was applied to the Kona coffee belt, Hawaii, and the analysis determined the optimal proportion of organic and conventional Kona coffee farming fields as 0.265 to 0.735 in terms of optimizing community benefits or regional welfare. [source]


High-solids biphasic CO2,H2O pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass

BIOTECHNOLOGY & BIOENGINEERING, Issue 3 2010
Jeremy S. Luterbacher
Abstract A high pressure (200,bar) CO2,H2O process was developed for pretreating lignocellulosic biomass at high-solid contents, while minimizing chemical inputs. Hardwood was pretreated at 20 and 40 (wt.%) solids. Switchgrass, corn stover, big bluestem, and mixed perennial grasses (a co-culture of big bluestem and switchgrass) were pretreated at 40 (wt.%) solids. Operating temperatures ranged from 150 to 250°C, and residence times from 20,s to 60,min. At these conditions a biphasic mixture of an H2O-rich liquid (hydrothermal) phase and a CO2 -rich supercritical phase coexist. Following pretreatment, samples were then enzymatically hydrolyzed. Total yields, defined as the fraction of the theoretical maximum, were determined for glucose, hemicellulose sugars, and two degradation products: furfural and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural. Response surfaces of yield as a function of temperature and residence time were compared for different moisture contents and biomass species. Pretreatment at 170°C for 60,min gave glucose yields of 77%, 73%, and 68% for 20 and 40 (wt.%) solids mixed hardwood and mixed perennial grasses, respectively. Pretreatment at 160°C for 60,min gave glucan to glucose yields of 81% for switchgrass and 85% for corn stover. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2010;107: 451,460. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source]


All-Optical Integrated Logic Operations Based on Chemical Communication between Molecular Switches

CHEMISTRY - A EUROPEAN JOURNAL, Issue 1 2009
Serena Silvi Dr.
Abstract Molecular logic gates process physical or chemical "inputs" to generate "outputs" based on a set of logical operators. We report the design and operation of a chemical ensemble in solution that behaves as integrated AND, OR, and XNOR gates with optical input and output signals. The ensemble is composed of a reversible merocyanine-type photoacid and a ruthenium polypyridine complex that functions as a pH-controlled three-state luminescent switch. The light-triggered release of protons from the photoacid is used to control the state of the transition-metal complex. Therefore, the two molecular switching devices communicate with one another through the exchange of ionic signals. By means of such a double (optical,chemical,optical) signal-transduction mechanism, inputs of violet light modulate a luminescence output in the red/far-red region of the visible spectrum. Nondestructive reading is guaranteed because the green light used for excitation in the photoluminescence experiments does not affect the state of the gate. The reset is thermally driven and, thus, does not involve the addition of chemicals and accumulation of byproducts. Owing to its reversibility and stability, this molecular device can afford many cycles of digital operation. [source]