Nanoporous aluminosilicate-catalyzed telescoped acetalization-direct aldol reactions of acetals with 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds

Nanoporous aluminosilicate materials, synthesized by an evaporation-induced self-assembly process, catalyze the direct aldol reaction of acyclic acetals with a range of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds to produce the corresponding aldol addition products in high yield, rather than the expected Knoevenagel elimination products. By carrying out the reaction in the presence of either dimethoxy propane or the corresponding orthoester, it is possible to capitalize on the ability of these aluminosilicate materials to catalyze the corresponding acetalization reaction leading to the development of novel telescoped, acetalization-direct aldol addition reaction protocols

In the shadow of Paardeberg: Anglo-Canadian Identity and the South African War, 1896-1911

The Boer War was a significant moment in the development of Canadian identity and had a profound legacy for Anglo-Canadians. Though smaller in scale than the First World War, the South African War was Canada’s first foreign engagement and the largest military action since the War of 1812. This thesis looks to expose how the forces of imperialism and nationalism worked both in competition and conjunction in the wake of the Boer War to develop the Anglo-Canadian identity. It examines three key areas of impact: political, military, and cultural in order to demonstrate the significance of the war on the evolution of Canadian identity. The war was a massive political challenge for Prime Minister Laurier when it broke out in late 1899, with imperialist and nationalist factions having the potential to rupture the country irrevocably, and as such required a deft political solution. Following Canada’s involvement in the war, the dominion was able to be a major part in the renegotiation of Empire through the colonial conferences and by contributing to imperial defence. Defence became a vital space for inter-dominion and inter-imperial cooperation during the decade. Nationalism and imperialism worked collaboratively as the growth of Canada’s defence capabilities in both the Militia and fledgling navy were nationalist achievements for imperial ends. Finally, the experience of the war had profound cultural impacts. It both provided evidence for previously held beliefs and myths about national identity, while the memorialisation of the war was vital in identity construction. The war demonstrated to Anglo-Canadians the truth of the Militia Myth, that they were naturally good soldiers and important victories like Paardeberg were vital to this. However, the losses incurred in the fighting meant that the nationalist achievements of the soldiers were memorialised in imperial rhetoric to give greater symbolic meaning. Through memorialisation and experience in South Africa the British connection was maintained. The thesis tackles the standard nationalist narrative of colony-to-nation by reinserting the Boer War and elaborating on how the forces of imperialism and nationalism operated

Metal oxide catalysts for the low temperature selective oxidation of propane to iso-propanol

A range of Ga203/Mo03 and C03O4 catalysts have been prepared and tested for the oxidative dehydrogenation of propane to propene. The Ga2(VMo03 physical mixture demonstrated appreciable activity for propane conversion, with selectivity to propene comparable to existing known catalysts. The major products were propene and carbon dioxide with trace amounts of acrolein in some cases. The bulk C03O4 catalyst was active for the conversion of propane at temperatures as low as ambient. The conversion at such low temperatures was very low but the selectivity to propene was near 100%. At temperatures lower than 100 °C the catalyst showed rapid deactivation but at temperatures nearing 140 °C the catalyst was capable of steady state conversion. Further study led to the creation of a high surface area nano-crystalline C03O4 catalyst that was more active and selective than the original C03O4 sample. The catalyst activity was probed by varying the reaction conditions and it was demonstrated that the selectivity and activity could be improved by varying the flow rate, feed composition and catalyst preparation method. Further studies looked into combining the low temperature C03O4 catalyst with an acid hydration catalyst for the one step selective oxidation of propane to iso-propanol. The nano-crystalline sample was tested alongside various heteropolyacids and supported phosphoric acid catalyst. Co-feeding water had a negative effect on the activity of the nano-crystalline C03O4 catalyst but trace amounts of iso-propanol were found in the reaction product indicating that the process investigated was possible

Getting the most from venous occlusion plethysmography: proposed methods for the analysis of data with a rest/exercise protocol

In this methodological manuscript, we suggest a more detailed approach to processing venous occlusion plethysmography data, one which could provide additional physiological information. Six parameters are described, all of which are easily derived from a simple and reproducible experimental rest/exercise venous occlusion plethysmography protoco

Исследование коррозионных свойств биосовместимых покрытий на основе титана, осажденных методом реактивного магнетронного распыления

В работе изучались свойства Ti-O-N покрытий, нанесенных на стальные подложки методом реактивного магнетронного напыления, такие как коррозионная стойкость, термическая устойчивость, а так же диффузионные процессы в физиологических растворах. Методами инфракрасной спектроскопии и атомно-эмиссионного анализа была установлена химическая инертность пленки, а так же потенциальная биологическая активность в виду обнаружения оксида азота в модельных растворах после контакта с покрытиями Ti-O-N.The properties of Ti-O-N coatings deposited on steel substrates by the method of reactive magnetron sputtering, such as corrosion resistance, thermal stability, as well as diffusion processes in physiological solutions were studied. By the methods of infrared spectroscopy and atomic emission analysis, the chemical inertness of the film was established, as well as the potential biological activity in the form of detection of nitrogen oxide in model solutions after contact with Ti-O-N coatings

The Role of Ejecta in the Small Crater Populations on the Mid-Sized Saturnian Satellites

We find evidence that crater ejecta play an important role in the small crater populations on the Saturnian satellites, and more broadly, on cratered surfaces throughout the Solar System. We measure crater populations in Cassini images of Enceladus, Rhea, and Mimas, focusing on image data with scales less than 500 m/pixel. We use recent updates to crater scaling laws and their constants to estimate the amount of mass ejected in three different velocity ranges: (i) greater than escape velocity, (ii) less than escape velocity and faster than the minimum velocity required to make a secondary crater (v_min), and (iii) velocities less than v_min. Although the vast majority of mass on each satellite is ejected at speeds less than v_min, our calculations demonstrate that the differences in mass available in the other two categories should lead to observable differences in the small crater populations; the predictions are borne out by the measurements we have made to date. Rhea, Tethys, and Dione have sufficient surface gravities to retain ejecta moving fast enough to make secondary crater populations. The smaller satellites, such as Enceladus but especially Mimas, are expected to have little or no traditional secondary populations because their escape velocities are near the threshold velocity necessary to make a secondary crater. Our work clarifies why the Galilean satellites have extensive secondary crater populations relative to the Saturnian satellites. The presence, extent, and sizes of sesquinary craters (craters formed by ejecta that escape into temporary orbits around Saturn before re-impacting the surface) is not yet well understood. Finally, our work provides further evidence for a "shallow" size-frequency distribution (slope index of ~2 for a differential power-law) for comets a few km diameter and smaller. [slightly abbreviated]Comment: Submitted to Icarus. 77 double-spaced pages, including 25 figures and 5 table

Reflecting to Rebuild and Strengthen Professional Development A Collection of ‘Post-Online’ Conversations

The file attached to this record is the author's versionThis monograph is a multi-authored collection consisting of our faculty’s post-online reflections. The objective was to gather thoughts and discussion around teaching and research during COVID-19. We aim to build and explore around ‘lived experiences’ to provide a reference point to help Continuous Professional Learning and Development (CPLD) activities. The section on ‘digital diaries’ consists of dialogues from staff categorised into varied themes. In the testimonies, staff have reflected around their challenges, targets, strengths, familiarity and how they managed to overcome difficulties and achieve goals. A special section, from the Centre for Urban Research on Austerity (CURA), is devoted to identifying how pandemic has intensified research challenges, highlighting the funding, time and location constraints on academic research

'To live and die [for] Dixie': Irish civilians and the Confederate States of America

Around 20,000 Irishmen served in the Confederate army in the Civil War. As a result, they left behind, in various Southern towns and cities, large numbers of friends, family, and community leaders. As with native-born Confederates, Irish civilian support was crucial to Irish participation in the Confederate military effort. Also, Irish civilians served in various supporting roles: in factories and hospitals, on railroads and diplomatic missions, and as boosters for the cause. They also, however, suffered in bombardments, sieges, and the blockade. Usually poorer than their native neighbours, they could not afford to become 'refugees' and move away from the centres of conflict. This essay, based on research from manuscript collections, contemporary newspapers, British Consular records, and Federal military records, will examine the role of Irish civilians in the Confederacy, and assess the role this activity had on their integration into Southern communities. It will also look at Irish civilians in the defeat of the Confederacy, particularly when they came under Union occupation. Initial research shows that Irish civilians were not as upset as other whites in the South about Union victory. They welcomed a return to normalcy, and often 'collaborated' with Union authorities. Also, Irish desertion rates in the Confederate army were particularly high, and I will attempt to gauge whether Irish civilians played a role in this. All of the research in this paper will thus be put in the context of the Drew Gilpin Faust/Gary Gallagher debate on the influence of the Confederate homefront on military performance. By studying the Irish civilian experience one can assess how strong the Confederate national experiment was. Was it a nation without a nationalism