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This work investigates which acid can mainly lead to the reduction of alcohols contents in insulating oil during transformer oil-paper insulation aging. In terms of the activation free energy barrier theory, the microscopic mechanisms for the preferential reactions of methanol and ethanol with formic, acetic, naphthenic and stearic acids are analyzed. It is revealed that the decrease in alcohols concentrations in the middle and late stages of transformer oil-paper insulation aging is mainly caused by the reaction between alcohols and naphthenic acid. The results are cross-validated by utilizing the frontier molecular orbital theory and accelerated thermal aging experiments. Additionally, it is observed that methanol is more susceptible to the effect of acids than ethanol in the middle and late stages of aging. The obtained conclusions, in this paper, could provide a theoretical basis for using alcohols in oil as aging indicators to characterize the full-stage aging status of transformer paper insulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this work was to investigate the influence of hydrogen bonds between fibres on static and dynamic strength properties of paper. A commercial bleached pinewood kraft pulp was soaked in water, refined in a PFI, and used to form paper webs in different solvents, such as water, methanol, ethanol, n-propanol and n-butanol, to determine the effect of their dipole moment on static and dynamic strength properties of resulting paper sheets. Paper which was formed in water, being the solvent of the highest dipole moment among the tested ones, showed the highest breaking length and tear resistance. When paper webs were formed in n-butanol, which was the least polar among the solvents, these parameters were reduced by around 75%. These results provide evidence of the importance of water in paper web formation and strong impact of hydrogen bonds between fibres on strength properties of paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ester compounds, widely found in pharmaceutical and natural products, play a crucial role in organic synthesis, prompting the development of numerous methods for their synthesis. An important chemical approach in synthesizing esters from carboxylic acids involves the activation of the carboxyl function, requiring the conversion of the hydroxyl group into a suitable leaving group. This paper presents the findings of our investigations into an efficient method for producing esters from carboxylic acids and alcohols, using the Lewis acid titanium tetrachloride. Titanium tetrachloride has proven highly effective as a coupling reagent for the one-pot formation of esters from carboxylic acids and alcohols operating under mild and neutral conditions. Notably, the reaction eliminates the need for bases, yielding carboxylic esters in high purity and yields. The method is efficient, even with long-chain carboxylic acids, and operates well with primary alcohols in dichloromethane. Steric hindrance, potentially present in carboxylic acids, has a moderate effect on the reaction. Alcohol substrates that easily form stable carbocations require, instead, the use of non-polar solvents like hexane for the reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports the performance of a molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) fed directly with liquid fuels referenced against results with hydrogen fuel in experiments conducted by the research team. Alcohols have greater energy density than pure hydrogen in normal conditions and, if presented as biofuels, the MCFC can be deemed a renewable energy source. For evaluation purposes various alcohols occurring in standard conditions in the liquid state were used for electricity generation in the MCFC: methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol and glycerol. Since these alcohols can be subjected to steam reforming when mixed with water in specific ratios, they can be delivered directly in the liquid state to the fuel cell, where hydrogen is released and used to produce electricity and heat. The alcohols were mixed with water in ratios of 1:2, 1:3, 1:4. The results were compared to the MCFC fed with pure hydrogen as a fuel. In terms of power referenced to hydrogen (100%), the maximums achieved were 78% for butanol, 80% for glycerol, 83% for propanol, 86% for ethanol and 93% for methanol in comparison to the same amount of hydrogen delivered to the fuel cell in ideal steam reforming situation. Threats such as carbon deposition on the fuel cell surface were also evaluated. • MCFC fed directly with various mixtures of alcohols and water have been studied. • The steam reforming of mixtures of alcohols and water generates energy. • Temperature and anode material provide the necessary conditions for steam reforming. • Maximum power compared to hydrogen fuel for various fuels ranges between 78 and 93%. • Carbon deposition in the anode channel of commercial units can be a problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogenation of aldehydes with heterogeneous manganese catalysts is an appealing approach for producing alcohols. In this paper, we report a novel and robust MnO/PN-800 catalyst for the hydrogenation of versatile biomass-derived platform molecules in the presence of molecular hydrogen as a reductant. The effect of catalyst concentration, the operating hydrogen pressure, and the reaction temperature on the catalyst activity was investigated in detail. Under the mild reaction conditions, the full conversion of furfuraldehyde, 5-Methyl-2-furaldehyde, and 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde (5-HMF) to their corresponding alcohols was achieved without any by-product formation. Additionally, other aromatic aldehydes bearing fluoro, chloro, and nitro moieties were also tolerated. The fresh and spent MnO/PN-800 catalyst was thoroughly characterized using XPS, powder-XRD, HR-TEM, N 2 adsorption-desorption, and Raman spectroscopy. Noteworthy, the MnO/PN-800 catalyst can be recovered by centrifugation and then reused directly in the subsequent hydrogenation reactions. Importantly the synthetic utility of this protocol up to ∼5 g-scale is realized. Finally, our novel MnO/PN-800 nanocatalyst was successfully employed for the direct synthesis of furfuryl alcohol in high yields from raw sugarcane bagasse. We believe that these findings will help to advance the manganese-catalyzed hydrogenation reactions. [Display omitted] • Waste biomass as a carbon support. • MnO/PN-800 as an efficient catalyst for hydrogenation of bio-based aldehydes. • Hydrogenation of FA, 5-MFA, and 5-HMF to their corresponding alcohols. • Synthesis of furfuryl alcohol from raw sugarcane biomass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The deinking of various types of newspapers has been necessitated by governmental regulations as well as increasing public interest in recycling paper taken from our natural environment. The increasing volume of newspaper makes it an important class of paper available for deinking. In this study, the effect of number of carbon atoms in alkyl chain of a simple deinking agent using different alcohols was developed. Four-step process involving pulping, washing, froth flotation, and another washing with a number of alcohols in pulping and flotation stages was employed. Conventional laboratory-scale flotation cell was used to study ink removal from pulp slurries obtained from water-based flexographic newsprint. Hydrodynamics conditions were constant and other chemicals dosages were chosen the same as optimum values cited in literatures. We report the brightness and intensity of ink spot of handsheets formed of deinked fibers as deinking efficiencies. Application of alcohols with any alkyl chain instead of hydrogen peroxide in flotation stage gives higher brightness. The highest brightness was achieved in the case of totally hydrogen peroxide free using alcohol in pulping and flotation stages. The brightness of final pulp increases with the number of carbon atoms in alkyl chain (C1–C7). Low concentration of deinking agent makes this combination of chemicals economical and environmental friendly. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In the present paper, we described the efficient enantioselective kinetic resolution (KR) of racemic diastereocontrolled secondary alcohols bearing a quaternary stereocenter using a commercially available chiral isothiourea organocatalyst. This methodology is a general KR leading to the enantiocontrol of acyclic quaternary stereocenter with high levels of stereoselectivity (s up to 185) on a large scope. The hydroxyl function can easily serve as a traceless group by oxidation or reduction process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A total of 26 volatile components were detected, divided into eight types. • Citronellyl acetate and phenylethyl alcohol were characteristic aroma components. • All eight volatile component types were detected in G-'YLH,' covered all types. • The ground-planted had more types of aroma compounds than the vase-inserted. In this paper, we explore the release of volatile components in different flowering stages between ground-planted and vase-inserted herbaceous peony. A dynamic headspace sampling technique combined with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) was used to qualitatively and quantitatively analyze the volatile components of ground-planted and vase-inserted flowers of Paeonia lactiflora 'Yulinhong,' Paeonia lactiflora 'Yingmohong,' Paeonia lactiflora 'Zhaocaixia,' Paeonia lactiflora 'Taohua Feixue,' Paeonia lactiflora 'Fenchi Jinyu,' and Paeonia lactiflora 'Lanju.' A total of 26 volatile components were detected in the four flowering stages of the herbaceous peony of the following eight types: alcohols; esters; aldehydes; ethers; hydrocarbons; phenols; ketones; terpenes. Among these, citronellyl acetate and phenylethyl alcohol were observed to have the highest content and were determined as characteristic aroma components of the six cultivars. All eight volatile component types were detected in G-'YLH,' covered all types; G-'LJ' contained five types, second only to G-'YLH,' G-'THFX' and V-'THFX' contained three and four types, respectively, and only two types were observed for V-'YMH' and V-'FCJY.' Comparisons of the volatile composition at different periods under ground-planted and vase-inserted conditions revealed G-'YLH' to exhibit the highest number of volatile components for both conditions, with seven and five types detected, respectively, followed by G-'YMH,' G-'ZCX,' G-'FCJY,' and G-'LJ.' This work provides a theoretical basis for further molecular biology research on new herbaceous peony scent cultivars and the development and application of herbaceous peony floral products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A wide variety of chemicals can be used as antibacterial agents to prevent contamination. Antiseptics and disinfectants are widely used in hospitals and are an essential element in combating and preventing nosocomial infections. A wide variety of active chemicals or biocides are present in these products. Disinfectants and antiseptics affect bacteria in many ways. The widespread use of antiseptics and disinfectants has contributed to the development of microbial resistance, in particular cross-resistance to antibiotics. In medical practice, antimicrobial agents must be selected taking into account the specific microorganisms, pH, solubility, toxicity, organic material present and last but not least the cost. No ideal antimicrobial chemical exists, however the correct choice and proper use of current substances will result in an adequate level of disinfection. This paper aims to review the main antimicrobial chemical agents, the mechanisms by which they act and their importance in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A solvatochromic dye monomer with an allyl group (ASCD) was polymerized together with methyl methacrylate (MMA) or styrene (St) to obtain hydrophobic fluorescent polymers. The wettability of the polymers to alcohols was examined by monitoring the fluorescence (FL) changes over time. On the one hand, when the ASCD-incorporated poly MMA (PMMA) film was exposed to liquid alcohols, a remarkable red-shift occurred instantly in the FL emission spectra for light alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, and propanol whereas for heavier alcohols, a blue-shift occurred first and subsequently a red-shift occurred gradually. On the other hand, the ASCD-incorporated poly St (PSt) film exhibited less significant FL change upon contact with the light alcohols owing to the relatively higher hydrophobicity. In contrast to the case of alcohols, the polymer films exhibited no FL response to water even after prolonged exposure. Particularly, the ASCD-incorporated PSt film showed a reversible and reproducible FL change during the repeated methanol and water contact cycle, indicating a high potential for use as a sensor to discriminate between light alcohol and water. Moreover, when the ASCD-incorporated PMMA was ground mechanically and added to the alcohols, the nanoparticle powder was dispersed very well in the alcohols. When the colloidal solution was deposited onto a paper as an ink, high-resolution FL images were obtained on the surface of the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Viscosity (η) of solutions of 1 -butanol, sec-butanol, isobutanol and tert-butanol were investigated in aqueous solution structures of ranged composition from 0.55 to 1 mol.dm-3 at 298.15 K. The data of (η/ηo) were evaluated based on reduced Jone - Dole equation; η/ηo =BC + 1. In the term of B value, the consequences based on solute-solvent interaction in aqueous solutions of alcohols were deliberated. The outcomes of this paper discloses that alcohols act as structure producers in the water. Additionally, it has shown that solute-solvent with interacting activity of identical magnitude is in water-alcohol system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of catalyst‐controlled site‐selective C(sp3)−H functionalization is a current major challenge in organic synthesis. This paper describes DFT‐guided identification of pentavalent silicate species as a novel bond‐weakening catalyst for the α‐C−H bonds of alcohols together with a photoredox catalyst and a hydrogen atom transfer catalyst. Specifically, Martin's spirosilane accelerated α‐C−H alkylation of alcohols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial smokes focusing on macroscopic or fluid properties of smoke have been available for a long time. This paper presents a simple method to generate fully customizable smoke-like atmospheres at microscopic scale (i.e. considering their constituent particles as discrete elements) using a different approach. Synthetic, reproducible media can be generated combining monodisperse microspheres with known geometrical and optical properties conveniently parameterized. The method is presented as a proof-of-concept, highlighting the design decisions along with their implications. Practical issues such as aerosol nebulization, particle carrier selection or the features of the medium chamber where the smoke-like atmosphere is to be tested are analyzed. A comparison between methanol and ethanol as carriers for polystyrene microsphere nebulization is also made. The method could be the seed for the obtention of standard reference media for calibration or standardized characterization of not only smoke detectors and exhaust smoke sensors but also other instruments relying on optical properties of dispersive media (dust in PV panels, public lighting, etc.). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For many disease conditions, tissue samples are colored with multiple dyes and stains to add contrast and location information for specific proteins to accurately identify and diagnose disease. This presents a computational challenge for digital pathology, as whole-slide images (WSIs) need to be properly overlaid (i.e. registered) to identify co-localized features. Traditional image registration methods sometimes fail due to the high variation of cell density and insufficient texture information in WSIs–particularly at high magnifications. In this paper, we proposed a robust image registration strategy to align re-stained WSIs precisely and efficiently. This method is applied to 30 pairs of immunohistochemical (IHC) stains and their hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) counterparts. Our approach advances the existing methods in three key ways. First, we introduce refinements to existing image registration methods. Second, we present an effective weighting strategy using kernel density estimation to mitigate registration errors. Third, we account for the linear relationship across WSI levels to improve accuracy. Our experiments show significant decreases in registration errors when matching IHC and H&E pairs, enabling subcellular-level analysis on stained and re-stained histological images. We also provide a tool to allow users to develop their own registration benchmarking experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The hydrogenation of FFR to FFA via APR of CH 3 OH using Pt@MT-450 catalyst. • Perfect conversion, selectivity, and recyclability of the catalyst. • The safe, mild condition without external hydrogen gas. It is a promising pathway to reduce the dependence on fossil fuels and obtain the bio-fuels or chemicals production from biomass derivatives. The conversion from furfural (FFR) to furfuryl alcohol (FFA) is an important industrial technology using the liquid-phase hydrogenation method with external hydrogen gas. However, the natural environment is threatened by the security of external hydrogen gas, toxicant catalyst, and the high energy consumption. Recently, in-situ hydrogenation is a novel method to converse FFR to FFA at mild reaction conditions to replace the dangerous external hydrogen gas. In this paper, we reported an efficient in-situ hydrogenation method via aqueous-phase reforming of methanol using Pt loading MgTiO 3 (perovskite-type material) at mild conditions. Pt nanoparticles were high dispersion on the nano-MgTiO 3 -450 surface, and CH 3 OH and H 2 O were reformed to produce hydrogen gas on the catalyst surface through the action of Pt nanoparticles. A part of active hydrogen could be involved in the reduction of Pt2+ to Pt0, resulting in the perfect recyclability of the Pt@MT-450 catalyst. The other part of active hydrogen were participated in the hydrogenation of FFR conversion to FFA under the interaction of Pt and Mg elements. The in-situ hydrogenation of FFR to FFA using Pt@MT-450 is an effectively pathway to reduce the reaction conditions than that with external hydrogen gas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The environmental DNA (eDNA) method is a detection technique that is rapidly gaining credibility as a sensitive tool useful in the surveillance and monitoring of invasive and threatened species. Because eDNA analysis often deals with small quantities of short and degraded DNA fragments, methods that maximize eDNA recovery are required to increase detectability. In this study, we performed experiments at different stages of the eDNA analysis to show which combinations of methods give the best recovery rate for eDNA. Using Oriental weatherloach (Misgurnus anguillicaudatus) as a study species, we show that various combinations of DNA capture, preservation and extraction methods can significantly affect DNA yield. Filtration using cellulose nitrate filter paper preserved in ethanol or stored in a -20°C freezer and extracted with the Qiagen DNeasy kit outperformed other combinations in terms of cost and efficiency of DNA recovery. Our results support the recommendation to filter water samples within 24hours but if this is not possible, our results suggest that refrigeration may be a better option than freezing for short-term storage (i.e., 3–5 days). This information is useful in designing eDNA detection of low-density invasive or threatened species, where small variations in DNA recovery can signify the difference between detection success or failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores how personality factors affect substance use disorders (SUDs) using explanatory item response modeling (EIRM). A total of 606 Chinese illicit drug users participated in our study. After removing the cases with missing values on the covariate measures, a final sample of 573 participants was used for data analysis. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) was used to measure the illicit drug users’ SUD level. Four personality factors–anxiety sensitivity, impulsivity, sensation seeking and hopelessness–along with gender and alcohol use were included in EIRM as person covariates. The results indicated that gender, alcohol use, and their interaction significantly predicted the SUD level. The only personality factor that strongly predicted the SUD level was sensation seeking. In addition, the interaction between gender and hopelessness was also found to be a significant predictor of the SUD level, indicating that the negative effect of hopelessness on SUD is stronger for women than for men. The findings suggest that sensation seeking plays an important role in influencing SUDs, and thus, it should be considered when designing intervention or screening procedures for potential illicit drug users. In addition, several DSM-5 SUD symptoms were found to exhibit differential effects by gender, alcohol use, and personality factors. The possible explanations were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Abstract The establishment of a miscible phase between CO 2 and crude oil can significantly improve CO 2 flooding efficiency. However, the minimum miscibility pressure (MMP) between CO 2 and crude oil is usually higher than the fracture pressure of the formation, how to reduce the MMP between CO 2 and crude oil is very important, and there are fewer related studies. Our inspiration for reducing MMP comes from the unique dispersion characteristics of CO 2 in alcohol, the intermolecular force of crude oil may decrease due to the existence of alcohols. In this paper, the CO 2 solubility and the oil volume expansion with adding a variety of alcohols (1-butanol, 1-pentanol and 1-hexanol) were measured by a visible high temperature and high pressure cell from 7 MPa to 20 MPa at 343.15 K. The MMP between CO 2 and crude oil is predicted by measuring the interfacial tension (IFT) between CO 2 and crude oil from 2 MPa to 43.3 MPa at 343.15 K. The results showed that the CO 2 solubility in crude oil and the oil volume expansion were greatly improved due to the addition of alcohols. Especially 1-butanol, 1-pentanol and 1-hexanol were mixed by 8:1:1(volume ratio), 5% (volume ratio) alcohols mixture was added to the crude oil, the CO 2 solubility in crude oil increased by 28.74% at 345.15 K and 19 MPa, and the volume expansion coefficient of crude oil also increased by 4.45% at 345.15 K and 14 MPa. It is encouraging to note that the MMP between CO 2 and crude oil decreases by 9.21% after adding 5% alcohols mixture into crude oil. This article is able to provide a new technique for reducing the MMP between CO 2 and crude oil in the field of enhanced oil recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The symbiosis between rhizobia and legumes is characterized by a complex molecular dialogue in which the bacterial NodD protein plays a major role due to its capacity to activate the expression of the nodulation genes in the presence of appropiate flavonoids. These genes are involved in the synthesis of molecules, the nodulation factors (NF), responsible for launching the nodulation process. Rhizobium tropici CIAT 899, a rhizobial strain that nodulates Phaseolus vulgaris, is characterized by its tolerance to multiple environmental stresses such as high temperatures, acidity or elevated osmolarity. This strain produces nodulation factors under saline stress and the same set of CIAT 899 nodulation genes activated by inducing flavonoids are also up-regulated in a process controlled by the NodD2 protein. In this paper, we have studied the effect of osmotic stress (high mannitol concentrations) on the R. tropici CIAT 899 transcriptomic response. In the same manner as with saline stress, the osmotic stress mediated NF production and export was controlled directly by NodD2. In contrast to previous reports, the nodA2FE operon and the nodA3 and nodD1 genes were up-regulated with mannitol, which correlated with an increase in the production of biologically active NF. Interestingly, in these conditions, this regulatory protein controlled not only the expression of nodulation genes but also the expression of other genes involved in protein folding and synthesis, motility, synthesis of polysaccharides and, surprinsingly, nitrogen fixation. Moreover, the non-metabolizable sugar dulcitol was also able to induce the NF production and the activation of nod genes in CIAT 899. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • The organic matter was from terrestrial and marine sources in SW sub-basin of SCS. • TOC, total n-alkanes, TFA decreased from the margins to the center of the sub-basin. • Correlation of TOC and TFA shows a balance of ocean production and deposition rates. Abstract Information about ocean evolution and material-energy exchange between the ocean and surrounding continents can be preserved in marine sediments. The Southwest Sub-basin, located among the Xisha Islands, the Zhongsha Islands, and the Nansha Islands, is an ideal tectonic unit to analyze the sedimentary environments of the South China Sea. In this paper, the distribution patterns of lipid biomarkers and their compound-specific stable carbon isotopes in surface sediments from the Southwest Sub-basin of the South China Sea were analyzed. Lipid biomarkers are composed of different proportions of aliphatic hydrocarbons, carboxylic acids, alcohols and series of sterols, indicating that the organic matter of the Southwest Sub-basin was derived from marine bacteria, algae and terrestrial higher plants. The average concentration of total organic carbon (TOC) in the study samples was 0.5 ± 0.16%. TOC, total n -alkanes, and total carboxylic acids (TFA) decreased gradually from the margins to the center of the sub-basin, whereas the content of total n- alkanols increased. The spatial distribution trends resulted from varying water depths and the contribution of terrestrial organic matter. The concentration of TFA and the TFA/TOC revealed that the accumulation of organic matter in this area was generally low. The strong correlation between TOC and TFA of surface sediments in the study area may be related to a balance between the ocean production and ocean deposition rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increased mortality rate among the Acoli people of northern Uganda is anecdotally blamed on excessive consumption of cheap and widely available sachet-packaged alcohol in the region. In this paper, we quantify this perceived association by determining statistically the health risks associated with ingesting 20 heavy metals in 17 popular spirits products consumed in Acoli. Thirteen of these products were industrially packaged in sachets (locally known as ‘sachet,’ waragi, arege or moo lyec) and four were locally produced Lira-Lira spirits from Bolo, Awere and Teso Bar in the region and Nsambya in southern Uganda. A Scottish whisky purchased in San Diego (USA) was our reference. Risk assessment was performed according to standardized protocols developed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). Our results show that a strong correlation indeed exists between health risks and ingestion of spirits in Acoli. At >2.5 sachets/day for 240 day/year over a lifetime for example, the risk of developing cancer due to exposure to As, Pb and Cr alone is 1 in 102,041. This estimate excludes ethanol, a known carcinogen, and 17 heavy metals also studied due to lack of their cancer slope factors. The primary non-cancer related health risk factor in all samples tested is ethanol with unacceptably high health index of four. The Lira-Lira spirits, with 100–6000% copper above the US EPA limit for intake by oral ingestion in water, would be the ‘cleanest’ without copper and at par with the Scottish whisky. Collectively, we find that no amount of alcohol consumed in Acoli is safe. Preventive measures are therefore recommended to reduce mortality in Acoli in particular, and in Uganda in general. These measures should include public education, better public policies, creating productive economic activities other than brewing alcohol, and social activities that engage people away from drinking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The reasons for the persistence of risky sexual behaviours among adolescents and young adults in sub-Saharan Africa despite the increasing knowledge about the associated risks continue to attract scholarly debates. Drawing from a cross-sectional study conducted among male and female Nigerian university students, we examined the relationship between family structure, family support and transactional sex. Methods: A pre-validated questionnaire was administered to 800 male and female students selected using stratified sampling; however, we performed the analysis on 630 participants who had ever engaged in sex. Transactional sex was operationalised as self-reporting of giving or receiving money, gifts or favour in exchange for sex. We fitted a list-wise logistic regression model to examine the relationship between family structure, family support and transactional sex while controlling for essential covariates. Results: Of the 630 participants included in the analysis, 17.9% had given and 23.8% had received money, gift or favour in exchange for sex. Our bivariate analysis shows that individuals from polygamous families had higher odds of reporting that they have ever given (AOR: 1.89; CI: 1.05–3.39) or received (AOR: 1.85; CI: 1.85–3.19) money, gift or favour in exchange for sex; however, the relationship was not statistically significant after controlling for relevant covariates. After controlling for essential covariates, the odds of giving or receiving money, gift or favour in exchange for sex was 56% lower in individuals who received adequate family support compared to those who received no or insufficient family support. Conclusion: In conclusion, this paper lends support to the assertion that family structure and family support are protective factors against transactional sex among adolescents and young adults. Future surveys need to include a larger sample in order to explore the effect of single-parent and polygamous family on transactional sex in Nigeria where family formation is changing rapidly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose This paper aims to introduce constructed CeO2/TiO2 core/shell nanoparticle as sensitive substance organic compounds.Design/methodology/approach The CeO2 nanoparticles were synthesized by hydrothermal treatment. Then CeO2/TiO2 core/shell was fabricated by sol–gel method preparation of TiO2 in the presence of ceria nanoparticles and applied as the sensitive material to make a sensor.Findings Formation of the nanoparticles was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The synthesized sensor exhibited not only good sensitivity to volatile organic compounds at room temperature but also logarithm of sensitivity versus concentrations was linear.Research limitations/implications The sensor shows acceptable sensitivity to volatile organic compound at room temperature.Practical implications Experimental data revealed satisfactory reproducibility and short response and recovery times.Originality/value A radical mechanism for gas sensor reaction in two pathways was considered and activation energies were calculated by density functional theory (DFT) method to describe different sensitivities of tested volatile gases. The experimental results were consistent with the calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Halogen bond (XB)-driven enantioseparations involve halogen-centred regions of electronic charge depletion (σ-hole) as electrophilic recognition sites. The knowledge in this field is still in its infancy. Indeed, although the influence of halogens on enantioseparation have been often considered, only recently the function of electrophilic halogens (Cl, Br, I) as enantioseparations ‘drivers’ has been demonstrated by our groups. Further to these studies, in this paper we focus on some unexplored issues. First, as XB-driven chiral recognition mechanisms are at an early stage of comprehension, a theoretical investigation based on a series of 32 molecular dynamic (MD) simulations was performed by using polyhalogenated 4,4′-bipyridines and polysaccharide-based polymers as ligands and receptors, respectively. Enantiomer elution orders (EEOs) were derived from calculations and the theoretical model accounted for some analyte- and chiral stationary phase (CSP)-dependent experimental EEO inversions. Then, the function of halogen-centred σ-holes in competitive systems, presenting also hydrogen bond (HB) centres as recognition sites, was considered. In this regard, Pirkle’s enantioseparations of halogenated compounds performed on Whelk-O1 were theoretically re-examined and electrostatic potentials (EPs) associated with both σ-holes on halogens and HB centres were computed and compared. Then, the enantioseparation of halogenated 2-nitro-1-arylethanols was performed on cellulose tris(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate) (CDMPC) and the influence of halogen substituents on the chromatographic results was evaluated by correlating theoretical and experimental data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we outline how dihalohydration reactions of propargylic alcohols can be used to access a wide variety of useful halogenated building blocks. A novel procedure for dibromohydration of alkynes has been developed, and a selection of dichloro and dibromo diols and cyclic ethers were synthesized. The dihalohydration of homo‐propargylic alcohols provides a useful route to 3‐halofurans, which were shown to readily undergo cycloaddition reactions under mild conditions. Finally, a novel ring expansion of propargylic alcohols containing a cyclopropylalkyne provides access to halogenated alkenylcyclobutanes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alternative transportation fuels, preferably from renewable sources, include alcohols with up to five or even more carbon atoms. They are considered promising because they can be derived from biological matter via established and new processes. In addition, many of their physical-chemical properties are compatible with the requirements of modern engines, which make them attractive either as replacements for fossil fuels or as fuel additives. Indeed, alcohol fuels have been used since the early years of automobile production, particularly in Brazil, where ethanol has a long history of use as an automobile fuel. Recently, increasing attention has been paid to the use of non-petroleum-based fuels made from biological sources, including alcohols (predominantly ethanol), as important liquid biofuels. Today, the ethanol fuel that is offered in the market is mainly made from sugar cane or corn. Its production as a first-generation biofuel, especially in North America, has been associated with publicly discussed drawbacks, such as reduction in the food supply, need for fertilization, extensive water usage, and other ecological concerns. More environmentally friendly processes are being considered to produce alcohols from inedible plants or plant parts on wasteland. While biofuel production and its use (especially ethanol and biodiesel) in internal combustion engines have been the focus of several recent reviews, a dedicated overview and summary of research on alcohol combustion chemistry is still lacking. Besides ethanol, many linear and branched members of the alcohol family, from methanol to hexanols, have been studied, with a particular emphasis on butanols. These fuels and their combustion properties, including their ignition, flame propagation, and extinction characteristics, their pyrolysis and oxidation reactions, and their potential to produce pollutant emissions have been intensively investigated in dedicated experiments on the laboratory and the engine scale, also emphasizing advanced engine concepts. Research results addressing combustion reaction mechanisms have been reported based on results from pyrolysis and oxidation reactors, shock tubes, rapid compression machines, and research engines. This work is complemented by the development of detailed combustion models with the support of chemical kinetics and quantum chemistry. This paper seeks to provide an introduction to and overview of recent results on alcohol combustion by highlighting pertinent aspects of this rich and rapidly increasing body of information. As such, this paper provides an initial source of references and guidance regarding the present status of combustion experiments on alcohols and models of alcohol combustion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents interactions between quercetin (3,3′,4′,5,7-pentahydroxyflavone) and its glycoside, rutin with short chain alcohols, methanol, ethanol and 1-propanol studied by the surface tension measurements. An attempt was made to investigate the effect of flavonoid and alcohol concentrations as well as temperature on the thermodynamic parameters of alcohols adsorption at the water-air interface that is the standard free enthalpy, enthalpy and entropy of adsorption as well as the infinite dilution activity coefficient. The obtained results show that the mixtures of quercetin with methanol and rutin with ethanol are characterized by the best adsorption properties but all studied systems become less structured after adsorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, major global institutions have amplified their efforts to address intimate partner violence (IPV) against women—a global health and human rights violation affecting 15–71% of reproductive aged women over their lifetimes. Still, some scholars remain concerned about the validity of instruments used for IPV assessment in population-based studies. In this paper, we conducted two validation analyses using novel data from 450 women-men dyads across nine villages in Northern Tanzania. , we examined the level of inter-partner agreement in reporting of men’s physical, sexual, emotional and economic IPV against women in the last three and twelve months prior to the survey, ever in the relationship, and during pregnancy. , we conducted a convergent validity analysis to compare the relative efficacy of men’s self-reports of perpetration and women’s of victimization as a valid indicator of IPV against Tanzanian women using logistic regression models with village-level clustered errors. We found that, for every violence type across the recall periods of the last three months, the last twelve months and ever in the relationship, at least one in three couples disagreed about IPV occurrences in the relationship. Couples’ agreement about physical, sexual and economic IPV during pregnancy was high with 86–93% of couples reporting concordantly. Also, men’s self-reported perpetration had statistically significant associations with at least as many validated risk factors as had women’s self-reported victimization. This finding suggests that men’s self-reports are at least as valid as women’s as an indicator of IPV against women in Northern Tanzania. We recommend more validation studies are conducted in low-income countries, and that data on relationship factors affecting IPV reports and reporting are made available along with data on IPV occurrences. Keywords: Intimate partner violence; measurement; validity; survey research; Tanzania. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transfer hydrogenation using inexpensive and safe hydrogen sources of alcohols and formic acid has been studied thoroughly over the decades. In particular, the asymmetric version offers the state-of-the-art methods to obtain optically active alcohols and amines, which are valuable synthetic intermediates in the field of pharmaceutical and agrochemical industry. This digest paper highlights the recent notable advances in homogeneous transfer hydrogenation using transition metal complexes, especially in direction to establish practical greener processes by upgrading the catalyst performance or by expanding the scope of reducible functional groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a growing necessity to integrate morphological and genetic studies. This paper proposes a new technique that allows DNA extraction of arthropods while still keeping intact the entire morphology of the specimens. The technique uses Proteinase K to dissolve protein tissues and preserve the chitinous exoskeleton of specimens. The method is fast, cheap, non-toxic, and allows for good morphological preparations of specimens retaining much of their tridimensional structure. The methodology works fine with specimens preserved in different kinds of media, such as for dry (pinned) specimens, and specimens preserved in Ethanol. In addition, it allows the extraction of DNA from fresh specimens, as well as from specimens preserved for a long time. The technique works well for morphological studies alone, but allows the generation of an associated genomic library at an individual-scale. Among the advantages of the new technique is the possibility of extracting DNA from the entire specimen (necessary for the study of diseases transmitted by arthropod vectors), while still keeping the morphology intact for correct taxonomic identification. In addition, in comparison with methods that extract DNA from small tissue samples (e.g., from legs or wings), the method allows for the extraction of a larger amount of DNA and is better suited for small specimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents chromatographic-mass spectrometric data on the individual composition of organic compounds in sapropel-like deposits of lakes in the steppe, forest-steppe, and three taiga natural climatic zones (NCZ) in Khakassia and western Siberia. Data on the individual composition of n-alkanes, carboxylic acids and their esters, thiophenes, phytol, phytone, steroids, and di- and triterpenoids and on their distribution in the sediments show systematic variations in the composition of the organic matter (OM) with increasing ambient temperature and the aridity of the climate. The concentrations of all groups of the compounds in lacustrine sediments decrease southward, and simultaneously esters with long (up to С) alkyl substituents appear. The concentrations of oxygen-bearing compounds increase among the acyclic structures and triterpenoids, as also do the concentrations of structures ketonic substituents among the steroids. The dominance of the carboxylic acids and their esters by high molecular weight homologues gives way to the dominance of palmic acid and its derivatives. Among n-alkanes, the dominance of С and С hydrocarbons typical of terrestrial plants gives way to a higher percentage of homologues С-С (macrophytes) and С (herbaceous plants). Among the tocopheroles, the concentration of the oxidized form of α-tocopherol (acetate) increases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Co/Al 2 O 3 nanocatalyst is introduced as an efficient and recyclable catalyst for the aerobic oxidation of alcoholes in a water media at reflux condition. The catalyst was prepared by co-precipitation and characterized by XRD, BET surface area, atomic absorption spectroscopy, SEM, TEM and EDS analysis. [Display omitted] • Preparation and characterization of Co/Al 2 O 3 nanocatalyst. • Efficient procedure for the aerobic oxidation of alcoholes in the presence Co/Al 2 O 3 nanocatalyst. • Aqueous conditions. In this paper the catalytic performance of a Co/Al 2 O 3 nanocatalyst is investigated on aerobic oxidation of alcohols in a water media at reflux condition. The catalyst was synthesized via a co-precipitation method and characterized by XRD, BET surface area, atomic absorption spectroscopy, SEM, TEM and EDS analysis. The catalyst exhibited a high efficiency on the oxidation of various alcohols into their corresponding carbonyl compounds at relatively short reaction time. Also the results exhibit a consistant activity after several consecutive runs of reaction and regeneration that demonstrates the stability and recyclability of the Co/Al 2 O 3 nanocatalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes a simple in-situ process of synthesizing highly dispersed palladium nanoparticles (PdNPs) using aqueous leaf extract of GarciniapedunculataRoxb as bio-reductant and starch (0.3%) as bio-stabilizer. The PdNPs are characterized by techniques like FTIR, TEM, SEM-EDX, XRD and XPS analysis. It is worthnoting thatwhen the synthesis of nanoparticles was carried out in absence of starch, agglomeration of particles has been noticed.The starch-assisted PdNPs showed excellent aqueous-phase catalytic activities for three important reactions: the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions of aryl halides (aryl bromides and iodides) with arylboronic acids; selective oxidations of alcohols to corresponding carbonyl compounds; and reduction of toxic Cr(VI) to nontoxic Cr(III). Our catalyst could be reused up to four cycles without much compromising with its activity. Furthermore, the material also demonstrated excellent antimicrobial and anti-biofilm activities against a novel multidrug resistant clinical bacterial isolate Cronobactersakazakii strain AMD04. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of PdNPswere found to be 0.06 and 0.12 mM respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interactions between microbes are central to the dynamics of microbial communities. Understanding these interactions is essential for the characterization of communities, yet challenging to accomplish in practice. There are limited available tools for characterizing diffusion-mediated, contact-independent microbial interactions. A practical and widely implemented technique in such characterization involves the simultaneous co-culture of distinct bacterial species and subsequent analysis of relative abundance in the total population. However, distinguishing between species can be logistically challenging. In this paper, we present a low-cost, vertical membrane, co-culture plate to quantify contact-independent interactions between distinct bacterial populations in co-culture via real-time optical density measurements. These measurements can be used to facilitate the analysis of the interaction between microbes that are physically separated by a semipermeable membrane yet able to exchange diffusible molecules. We show that diffusion across the membrane occurs at a sufficient rate to enable effective interaction between physically separate cultures. Two bacterial species commonly found in the cystic fibrotic lung, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Burkholderia cenocepacia, were co-cultured to demonstrate how this plate may be implemented to study microbial interactions. We have demonstrated that this novel co-culture device is able to reliably generate real-time measurements of optical density data that can be used to characterize interactions between microbial species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tall oil is a waste energy source that can be called as the extract of trees that emerge in paper mills. Fusel oil is a sugar molasses process waste which is a waste alcohol combination of high molecular alcohols. In this study, tall oil acids were mixed with 20% by volume of diesel fuel and alcohol (ethanol, methanol, isopropyl, n-butanol and fusel oil) were added to the same ratio and their effects on combustion, fuel line pressure, engine performance and emissions were investigated. The mixtures were tested by using a single-cylinder engine with compression-ignition, direct injection at constant engine speed (1800 rpm) and 2 Nm, 4 Nm, 6 Nm, 8 Nm engine torques. With the use of fuel mixtures, in-cylinder pressure values decreased in all conditions compared to D100 fuel. The highest drop in in-cylinder pressure values is 7.1% with DT20M20 fuel mixture. Fuel mixtures were found to be sprayed earlier than the injector compared to diesel fuel. BSCF the highest rate of increase was seen with the DT20M20 fuel mixture at 9%. All fuel mixtures have been found to produce reduction in CO and smoke opacity emissions and an increase in HC and NOx emissions. With D100 fuel, emission values measured at (CO) 0.35 ppm and (is) 46%, respectively, decreased to (CO) 0.24 ppm and (is) 33% with the DT20I20 fuel mixture under the same conditions. The highest NOx emission was 14.8% with DT20I20. HC emission using the DT20M20 fuel mixture was determined to be 83 ppm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have demonstrated that rapid evacuation, disrobing and emergency decontamination can enhance the ability of emergency services and acute hospitals to effectively manage chemically-contaminated casualties. The purpose of this human volunteer study was to further optimise such an “Initial Operational Response” by (1) identifying an appropriate method for performing improvised skin decontamination and (2) providing guidance for use by first responders and casualties. The study was performed using two readily available, absorbent materials (paper towels and incontinence pads). The decontamination effectiveness of the test materials was measured by quantifying the amount of a chemical warfare agent simulant (methyl salicylate) removed from each volunteer’s forearm skin. Results from the first study demonstrated that simulant recovery was lower in all of the dry decontamination conditions when compared to matched controls, suggesting that dry decontamination serves to reduce chemical exposure. Blotting in combination with rubbing was the most effective form of decontamination. There was no difference in effectiveness between the two absorbent materials. In the following study, volunteers performed improvised dry decontamination, either with or without draft guidelines. Volunteers who received the guidance were able to carry out improvised dry decontamination more effectively, using more of the absorbent product (blue roll) to ensure that all areas of the body were decontaminated and avoiding cross-contamination of other body areas by working systematically from the head downwards. Collectively, these two studies suggest that absorbent products that are available on ambulances and in acute healthcare settings may have generic applicability for improvised dry decontamination. Wherever possible, emergency responders and healthcare workers should guide casualties through decontamination steps; in the absence of explicit guidance and instructions, improvised dry decontamination may not be performed correctly or safely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A rapid growth in biodiesel production has naturally led to a surplus of crude glycerol generated. Due to the impurities present in the crude glycerol, expensive refining processes are often necessary in order for the crude glycerol to be used in the same applications as pure glycerol. As a result, the demand for crude glycerol is quite low, and biodiesel producers must find ways to dispose it. Disposal can be costly, detrimental to the environment, and wasteful. Exploration of crude glycerol utilization is of significance for not only reducing the negative impact on the environment but also for increasing the economic benefits of biodiesel production. This paper reviewed a number of valuable and practical applications of crude glycerol in the sector of renewable energy generation through processes such as fermentation, digestion, gasification, pyrolysis, liquefaction, combustion, and steam reforming. Studies indicated that an integration of crude glycerol to other systems for energy production is a promising option despite the impurities in crude glycerol, and some processes even benefit from their presence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oils, pure alcohols and alcohols mixtures have a complicated dielectric behavior. The strong electric field of the ions affects intensively the molecular interaction of solvents. Microwave heating resides in the characterization of dielectric properties. Classified as biodiesel precursors, advances in microwave technology of alcohols have a significant potential in improving the biodiesel production. In this context, this review provides basic knowledge on the dielectric properties theory and the heating phenomenon in the microwave fields. The main goal of the paper is to provide an organized summary of the main chemical and physical properties of alcohols and links them to their corresponding research studies dealing with dielectric properties measurements. The review covers the dielectric constant and loss factor variations observed with temperature and frequency, the relaxation time and the tangent loss of various mixtures found in the literature. Moreover, the review provides an updated database for organic solvents and alcohols to account for their abilities to couple in microwave radiation. The aim of the work is building a rigid bridge between chemico-physical and dielectric properties so it can make an essential step towards improving biofuels production. This review opens new perspectives for further investigation of dielectric properties that are interesting for microwave heating studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a detailed study on the sensitivity and selectivity of α-Fe 2 O 3 thin films produced by deposition of Fe and post-deposition annealed at two temperatures of 600 °C and 800 °C with flow of oxygen for application as a sensor for toxic gases including CO, H 2 S, NH 3 and NO 2 and alcohols such as C 3 H 7 OH, CH 3 OH, and C 2 H 5 OH. The crystallographic structure of the samples was studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) method while an atomic force microscope (AFM) was employed for surface morphology investigation. The electrical response of the films was measured while they were exposed to various toxic gases and alcohols in the temperature range of 50–300 °C. The sample annealed at higher temperature showed higher response for different gases and alcohols tested in this work which can be due to the higher resistance of this sample. Results also indicated that the α-Fe 2 O 3 thin films show higher selectivity to NO 2 gas relative to the other gases and alcohols while the best sensitivity is obtained at 200 °C. The α-Fe 2 O 3 thin film post-deposition annealed at 800 °C also showed a good stability and reproducibility and a detection limit of 10 ppm for NO 2 gas at the operating temperature of 200 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purposes: The objectives of this paper are to study the impact of low level isopropyl alcohol exposure on blood pressure and to explore its potential mechanism. Methods: This cross-sectional study was based on a prospective occupational cohort in south China, which focusing on occupational risk factors related cardiovascular health problems. A total of 283 participants (200 low isopropyl alcohol exposed workers and 83 controls) was finally enrolled in this study. Linear regression models were used to analyze the relationship between arterial blood pressures and low level isopropyl alcohol exposure. We used mediation method to explore possible mediated roles of neurogenic factors. Results: Systolic blood pressure (SBP, 123±10 vs. 118±11), diastolic blood pressure (DBP, 79±7 vs. 74±7) and mean blood pressure (MBP, 93±8 vs. 89±9) were different between the exposed group and the control group (p < 0.01). After adjusting for covariates, the difference was still significant. Besides, isopropyl alcohol and smoking had an interactive effect on DBP and MBP (p < 0.05). Furthermore, we observed a mediated effect of 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5-HIAA) on isopropyl alcohol exposure induced arterial blood pressure increase, which accounted for about 25%. Conclusions: Our results suggest that low level isopropyl alcohol exposure is a potential risk factor for the increased arterial blood pressure and 5-HIAA partly mediates the association between low level isopropyl alcohol exposure and arterial blood pressures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In mineral flotation, frothers are used to produce fine bubbles, reduce bubble rise velocity, and stabilize the froth, three properties that enhance the flotation process. These properties depend on the frother structure and this paper is part of an investigation into the frother structure-property relationship. The property here is bubble rise velocity and the structural variation is alkyl chain length of two frother families, alcohols and polyglycols. Single bubble rise velocity profiles were determined in a 350 cm column. Velocity at 300 cm as a function of concentration is determined and as a measure of the impact of structure on reduction in bubble rise velocity the concentration at minimum velocity (CMV) is estimated. The effect of increasing alkyl chain length is to decrease CMV by about ca. 90% in alcohols and ca. 70% in polyglycols for every one carbon addition. Taking log CMV as a function of the number of carbons in the alkyl chain gives a series of self-similar linear plots. An argument relating bubble rise velocity to surfactant molecule packing on the bubble surface is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) fermentation by clostridia has shown promise for industrial-scale production of biobutanol. However, the continuous ABE fermentation suffers from low product yield, titer, and productivity. Systems analysis of the continuous ABE fermentation will offer insights into its metabolic pathway as well as into optimal fermentation design and operation. For the ABE fermentation in continuous Clostridium acetobutylicum culture, this paper presents a kinetic model that includes the effects of key metabolic intermediates and enzymes as well as culture pH, product inhibition, and glucose inhibition. The kinetic model is used for elucidating the behavior of the ABE fermentation under the conditions that are most relevant to continuous cultures. To this end, dynamic sensitivity analysis is performed to systematically investigate the effects of culture conditions, reaction kinetics, and enzymes on the dynamics of the ABE production pathway. The analysis provides guidance for future metabolic engineering and fermentation optimization studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Interventions to prevent rape perpetration must be designed to address its drivers. This paper seeks to extend understanding of drivers of single and multiple perpetrator rape (referred to here as SPR and MPR respectively) and the relationships between socio-economic status, childhood trauma, peer pressure, other masculine behaviours and rape. Method: 1370 young men aged 15 to 26 were interviewed as part of the randomised controlled trial evaluation of Stepping Stones in the rural Eastern Cape. We used multinomial to compare the characteristics of men who reported rape perpetration at baseline. We used structural equation modelling (SEM) to examine pathways to rape perpetration. Results: 76.1% of young men had never raped, 10.0% had perpetrated SPR and 13.9% MPR. The factors associated with both MPR and SPR (compared to never having raped) were indicators of socio-economic status (SES), childhood trauma, sexual coercion by a woman, drug and alcohol use, peer pressure susceptibility, having had transactional sex, multiple sexual partners and being physically violent towards a partner. The SEM showed the relationship between SES and rape perpetration to be mediated by gender inequitable masculinity. It was complex as there was a direct path indicating that SES correlated with the masculinity variable directly such that men of higher SES had more gender inequitable masculinities, and indirect path mediated by peer pressure resistance indicated that the former pertained so long as men lacked peer pressure resistance. Having a higher SES conveyed greater resistance for some men. There was also a path mediated through childhood trauma, such that men of lower SES were more likely to have a higher childhood trauma exposure and this correlated with a higher likelihood of having the gender inequitable masculinity (with or without the mediating effect of peer pressure resistance). Discussion: Both higher and lower socio-economic status were associated with raping. Prevention of rape perpetration must focus on changing men’s gender ideals, entitlements and inequitable practices. Reducing poverty and adverse childhood experiences should also be of benefit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thickening of the integument as a mechanism of resistance to insecticides is a well recognised phenomenon in the insect world and, in recent times, has been found in insects exhibiting pyrethroid-resistance. Resistance to pyrethroid insecticides in the common bed bug, Cimex lectularius L., is widespread and has been frequently inferred as a reason for the pest’s resurgence. Overexpression of cuticle depositing proteins has been demonstrated in pyrethroid-resistant bed bugs although, to date, no morphological analysis of the cuticle has been undertaken in order to confirm a phenotypic link. This paper describes examination of the cuticle thickness of a highly pyrethroid-resistant field strain collected in Sydney, Australia, in response to time-to-knockdown upon forced exposure to a pyrethroid insecticide. Mean cuticle thickness was positively correlated to time-to-knockdown, with significant differences observed between bugs knocked-down at 2 hours, 4 hours, and those still unaffected at 24 hours. Further analysis also demonstrated that the 24 hours survivors possessed a statistically significantly thicker cuticle when compared to a pyrethroid-susceptible strain of C. lectularius. This study demonstrates that cuticle thickening is present within a pyrethroid-resistant strain of C. lectularius and that, even within a stable resistant strain, cuticle thickness will vary according to time-to-knockdown upon exposure to an insecticide. This response should thus be considered in future studies on the cuticle of insecticide-resistant bed bugs and, potentially, other insects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to estimate the cumulative effect of childhood household dysfunction (CHD) on alcohol related illness and death later in life and to test the interaction between CHD and socioeconomic background. The study utilised Swedish national registers including data of a Swedish national cohort born 1973–82 (n = 872 912), which was followed from age 18 to 29–40 years. Cox regression analyses were used to calculate hazard ratios (HR) for alcohol related illness or death in young adulthood. The CHD measure consisted of seven indicators: parental alcohol/drug misuse, mental health problems, criminality, death, divorce, social assistance, and child welfare interventions. Childhood socioeconomic position (SEP) was indicated by parental occupational status. Outcomes were alcohol related inpatient hospital care, specialised outpatient care or deaths. Using the highest socioeconomic group without CHD experience as a reference, those in the same socioeconomic group with one indicator of CHD had HRs of 2.1 [95% CI: 1.7–2.5], two CHD indicators 5.6 [4.4–7.1], three or more indicators 9.4 [7.1–12.4] for retrieving inpatient care. Socioeconomic disadvantage further increased the risks–those with low socioeconomic background and three CHD indicators or more had a HR of 12.5 [10.9–14.3]. Testing for interaction suggests that the combined HRs deviates from additivity [Synergy index: 1.6, 95% CI: 1.4–1.9]. The results for outpatient care were similar, but not as pronounced. In conclusion, this Swedish national cohort study shows that childhood household dysfunction is strongly and cumulatively associated to alcohol related illness later in life and that it interacts with socioeconomic disadvantage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigations on the relationship of toxicities between species play an important role in the understanding of toxic mechanisms to environmental organisms. In this paper, the toxicity data of 949 chemicals to fish and 1470 chemicals to V. fischeri were used to investigate the modes of action (MOAs) between species. The results show that although there is a positive interspecies correlation, the relationship is poor. Analysis on the excess toxicity calculated from toxic ratios (TR) shows that many chemicals have close toxicities and share the same MOAs between the two species. Linear relationships between the toxicities and octanol/water partition coefficient (log KOW) for baseline and less inert compounds indicate that the internal critical concentrations (CBRs) approach a constant both to fish and V. fischeri for neutral hydrophobic compounds. These compounds share the same toxic mechanisms and bio-uptake processes between species. On the other hand, some hydrophilic compounds exhibit different toxic effects with greatly different log TR values between V. fischeri and fish species. These hydrophilic compounds were identified as reactive MOAs to V. fischeri, but not to fish. The interspecies correlation is improved by adding a hydrophobic descriptor into the correlation equation. This indicates that the differences in the toxic ratios between fish and V. fischeri for these hydrophilic compounds can be partly attributed to the differences of bioconcentration between the two species, rather than the differences of reactivity with the target macromolecules. These hydrophilic compounds may more easily pass through the cell membrane of V. fischeri than the gill and skin of fish, react with the target macromolecules and exhibit excess toxicity. The compounds with log KOW > 7 exhibiting very low toxicity (log TR < –1) to both species indicate that the bioconcentration potential of a chemical plays a very important role in the identification of excess toxicity and MOAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The alkylation of heterocyclic compounds is important for the synthesis of various biologically active compounds. In this paper, we present the development of a Pd/C-catalyzed alkylation of heterocyclic compounds using alcohols as the alkylating agents. This method gives the corresponding alkylated heterocyclic compounds in high yields (up to 99%). The commercially available catalyst can be recovered and reused five times without significant loss of catalytic efficiency, and the turnover number (TON) was as high as 900. Moreover, the reaction could be scaled up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reported a potential analytical technique based on NMR spectroscopy for the determination of quality of olive oil. The model compounds with active hydrogen, including free sterols, free aliphatic alcohols, phenolics, and free fatty acids were determined by 19F NMR upon derivation with 4-fluorobenzoyl chloride. Integration of the appropriate signals of the derivatives of the compounds in the corresponding 19F NMR spectrum allows for the quantification of these compounds. 37 Samples of commercial olive oil and 5 samples of other plant oils were determined by 19F NMR. The amount of diglycerides and the ratio of 1,2-diglycerides to the total amount of diglycerides were analyzed to monitor whether extra virgin olive oil was adulterated with low price olive oil and other plant oils or not. The results showed that the total diglyceride content should not be higher than 2.5% and the ratio (D) of 1,2-diglycerides to total diglycerides should be higher than 0.35 for extra virgin olive oil. This method is an easier, simpler, safer, faster and more reliable technique for the determination of the quality of olive oil and can also be extended to monitoring the quality of ordinary edible oils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A direct synthesis of α-alkylated arylacetamides from arylacetonitriles and primary alcohols has been accomplished for the first time. In the presence of the rhodium complex [Rh(cod)Cl]2/triphenylphosphine/potassium hydroxide system, the desired α-alkylated arylacetamides were obtained in 74-92% yield under microwave conditions. The experimental results in this paper are in sharp contrast with previous reports, where the coupling of arylacetonitriles and primary alcohols produced the α-alkylated arylacetonitriles. Mechanistic investigations show that arylacetonitriles are first α-alkylated with primary alcohols to produce α-alkylated arylacetonitriles, which are further hydrated with the water resulting from the α-alkylation step to produce α-alkylated arylacetamides. More importantly, this research shows the potential of developing completely atom-economical reactions that involve the hydrogen autotransfer (or hydrogen borrowing) process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an experimental study of the alcohols–gasoline and gasoline–alcohols dual-fuel spark ignition (DFSI) combustion for knock suppression and higher engine efficiency using a gasoline engine with high compression ratio. Alcohols–gasoline DFSI is organized using a port fuel injection (PFI) of high oxygenated, high latent heat of vaporization, and high octane alcohol fuel to suppress knock and a direct injection (DI) of high energy density and high volatility fuel to extend engine load, while gasoline–alcohols DFSI is organized by gasoline PFI and alcohol DI. Three different alcohols were studied, including methanol, ethanol, and hydro-ethanol. The engine was naturally aspirated and operated at stoichiometric condition. In each test, the percentage of alcohol injection was varied from 0 to 100%. The effects of these two combustion modes on knock-limit extension, fuel economy, and combustion characteristics were investigated. Both alcohols–gasoline DFSI and gasoline–alcohols DFSI are promising approaches of using alternative alcohol fuels in practical gasoline engines with significant improvement in engine efficiency and knock suppression. Gasoline–alcohols DFSI exhibits better anti-knock performance and achieves higher fuel efficiency than alcohols–gasoline DFSI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]