Reactivity of sodium pentaphospholide towards C≡E (E = C, N, P, As) triple bonds

White phosphorus (P4) reacts with two equivalents of sodium in refluxing diglyme to give the sodium salt of the aromatic pentaphospholide anion [cyclo-P5], which is considered as the inorganic analog of the classical cyclopentadienyl anion [Cp]. Indeed, [cyclo-P5] forms sandwich complexes with the η5-coordination mode similar to isolobal [Cp]. However, due to the presence of the energetically and sterically accessible lone pairs on the phosphorus atoms, an additional η1-coordination is also feasible. Apart from the coordination to different transition metal centers little is known about the chemical behavior of [cyclo-P5]. In this work, the reactivity of the pentaphospholide anion towards alkynes, nitriles, phosphaalkynes, and arsaalkynes is studied. The reaction of [cyclo-P5] with the unsaturated compounds results in the formation of novel or barely explored five-membered 6π-electron aromatic heterocycles: 1,2,3-triphospholide anions, 1,2,4-triphospholide anions, 1,2,3,4-tetraphospholide anions, and 1-aza-2,3,4-triphospholide anions. These heterocycles react with [CpFe(η6-Toluene)]PF6 or FeCl2(DME) to give the corresponding (aza)phosphaferrocenes. The novel compounds are characterized by mutinuclear NMR spectroscopy, single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis (SC-XRD) and cyclic voltammetry. Additionally, the selected species are analyzed quantum chemically

Talent in the Cold? Creative Capital and the Economic Future of the Canadian North

The concept of the creative economy provides an alternative perspective on regional development in the Canadian North. Most studies in the economic geography of talent and creativity have focused on large metropolitan centres, but from the path-creation perspective, the creative class is no less important in the northern frontier area, where it acts as the agent of economic transformation and revitalization. I used both traditional and newly developed creative class metrics based on the four-sector model of the creative class to analyze creative capital in northern towns. Although the creative class is weak in the Canadian North, I identify a group of six leading communities that constitute the creative core of the North (Yellowknife, NT; Whitehorse, YT; Inuvik, NT; Fort Smith, NT; Smithers, BC; and Iqaluit, NU). These communities have high levels of creative capital and can compete nationally in terms of quality of place to attract the creative labor force. A dozen others could be considered lesser centres of creativity. Not surprisingly, single-industry towns in the Canadian North have the weakest creative class and therefore much less potential for regional reinvention. Some characteristics of the creative class observed in northern communities are similar to those found in metropolitan areas, but others are distinctive. In the periphery, entrepreneurship and leadership appear to be more important elements than formal education. Creativity is found to be positively associated with the aboriginality of the population. Northern communities should consider adopting policies that will stimulate the growth of creative capital by developing the education and business skills, leadership ability, entrepreneurial competency, and artistic talent of their residents.Le concept de l’économie de la créativité nous donne une perspective différente du développement régional du Nord canadien. La plupart des études portant sur la géographie économique propre au talent et à la créativité se concentrent sur les grands centres métropolitains. Cependant, d’après la perspective de la création, la classe créative n’est pas moins importante dans les régions pionnières du Nord, là où elle joue le rôle d’agent de transformation et de revitalisation économique. J’ai recouru aux métriques de la classe créative traditionnelle et aux métriques de la classe créative nouvellement formée reposant sur le modèle à quatre secteurs de la classe créative pour analyser le capital créatif des collectivités du Nord. Bien que la classe créative soit faible dans le Nord canadien, j’ai cerné un groupe de six collectivités principales qui constituent le noyau créatif du Nord (Yellowknife, T.N.-O.; Whitehorse, Yukon; Inuvik, T.N.-O.; Fort Smith, T.N.-O.; Smithers, C.-B.; et Iqaluit, Nunavut). Le capital créatif de ces collectivités est considérable et celles-ci peuvent livrer concurrence à l’échelle nationale en matière de qualité de l’endroit pour attirer une main-d’oeuvre créatrice. Une douzaine d’autres collectivités pourraient être considérées comme des centres de créativité moins importants. Fait non surprenant, les collectivités du Nord canadien centrées sur une seule industrie ont la classe créative la plus faible et par conséquent, elles possèdent des possibilités de réinvention régionale beaucoup moins grandes. Certaines caractéristiques de la classe créative observées dans les collectivités du Nord sont semblables à celles se trouvant dans les régions métropolitaines, tandis que d’autres sont distinctes. En périphérie, l’entreprenariat et le leadership semblent prendre plus d’importance que la scolarité officielle. La créativité est positivement liée au caractère autochtone de la population. Les collectivités du Nord devraient considérer l’adoption de politiques visant à stimuler la croissance du capital créatif en mettant au point des programmes d’études et des compétences en affaires, en leadership et en entreprenariat, ainsi qu’en mettant en valeur le talent artistique des gens de la région

Multipolar origin of bound states in the continuum

Metasurfaces based on resonant subwavelength photonic structures enable novel ways of wavefront control and light focusing, underpinning a new generation of flat-optics devices. Recently emerged all-dielectric metasurfaces exhibit high-quality resonances underpinned by the physics of bound states in the continuum that drives many interesting concepts in photonics. Here we suggest a novel approach to explain the physics of bound photonic states embedded into the radiation continuum. We study dielectric metasurfaces composed of planar periodic arrays of Mie-resonant nanoparticles ("meta-atoms") which support both symmetry protected and accidental bound states in the continuum and employ the multipole decomposition approach to reveal the physical mechanism of the formation of such nonradiating states in terms of multipolar modes generated by isolated meta-atoms. Based on the symmetry of the vector spherical harmonics, we identify the conditions for the existence of bound states in the continuum originating from the symmetries of both the lattice and the unit cell. Using this formalism we predict that metasurfaces with strongly suppressed spatial dispersion can support the bound states in the continuum with the wavevectors forming a line in the reciprocal space. Our results provide a new way of designing high-quality resonant photonic systems based on the physics of bound states in the continuum.Comment: 13 pages, 7 figures, 2 table

Benefit Sharing in the Arctic: A Systematic View

Benefit sharing is a key concept for sustainable development in communities affected by the extractive industry. In the Arctic, where extractive activities have been growing, a comprehensive and systematic understanding of benefit sharing frameworks is especially critical. The goal of this paper is to develop a synthesis and advance the theory of benefit sharing frameworks in the Arctic. Based on previously published research, a review of literature, a desktop analysis of national legislation, as well as by capitalizing on the original case studies, this paper analyzes benefit sharing arrangements and develops the typology of benefit sharing regimes in the Arctic. It also discusses the examples of various regimes in Russia, Alaska, and Canada. Each regime is described by a combination of principles, modes, mechanisms, and scales of benefit sharing. Although not exhaustive or entirely comprehensive, this systematization and proposed typologies appear to be useful for streamlining the analysis and improving understanding of benefit sharing in the extractive sector. The paper has not identified an ideal benefit sharing regime in the Arctic, but revealed the advantages and pitfalls of different existing arrangements. In the future, the best regimes -in respect to sustainable development would support the transition from benefit sharing to benefit co-management

Using Erlang in Research and Education in a Technical University

This paper addresses the problem of using functional programming (FP) languages for research and education purposes. In order to identify problems associated with usage of FP languages, such as Erlang, an experiment consisting of two surveys was performed. The rst survey was anonymous, and aimed at establishing whether the participants prefer object-oriented or functional coding. The second one was a survey after students have nished an Erlang course. The results of these two surveys demonstrate that functional programming is underrated without apparent reasons. Possible steps to address this problem are suggested

Gate-tunable electroluminescence in Aviram-Ratner-type molecules: Kinetic description

Project No. 0116U002067 Grant No. 871284A theoretical study of the mechanisms of electroluminescence (EL) generation in photoactive molecules with donor and acceptor centers linked by saturated σ-bonds (molecules of the Aviram-Ratner-type) is presented. The approach is based on the kinetics of single-electron transitions between many-body molecular states. This study shows that the EL polarity arises due to asymmetric coupling of molecular orbitals of the photochromic part of the molecule to the electrodes. The gate voltage controls the power of the EL through the occupancy of the excited singlet state. The shifting of the orbital energies forms a resonant or a non-resonant path for the transmission of electrons through the molecule. The action of the gate voltage is reflected in specific critical voltages. An analytical dependence of the critical voltages on the energies of molecular states involved in the formation of EL, as well as on the gate voltage, was derived for both positive and negative polarities. Conditions under which the gate voltage lowers the absolute value of the bias voltage that is responsible for the activation of the resonance mechanism of EL formation were also established. This is an important factor in control of EL in molecular junctions.publishersversionpublishe

Towards understanding benefit sharing between extractive industries and indigenous/local communities in the arctic

The aim of this Special Issue is to provide a comprehensive view of the benefit sharing and compensation mechanisms for the Indigenous Peoples and local communities in the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions due to industrial resource extraction. The papers cover the following topics: (1) Benefit-sharing frameworks in the Arctic. (2) Corporate social responsibility standards and benefit sharing by extractive industries in the Arctic. (3) Benefit sharing and international and national legislation. (4) The practice of implementing legislation to support Indigenous and local interests. (5) The methodologies for assessing compensation to Indigenous communities from extractive industries.</p

On state of understanding for bioresources of Antarctic, their status and commercial using

Modern state of biological resources in Antarctic is considered using comprehensive systemic analysis of historical and present data of Russian and international fisheries researches, catch data, scientific observations made by Russia and other CCAMLR countries, and materials from CCAMLR database. Distribution and abundance of krill and toothfish is presented for the main fishing grounds in 2013-2014. Legal treatment is given for current and projected state of the bioresources accessible for Russian fishery. Scientific recommendations for rational exploitation of the resources by Russian fishing fleet are presented for the season of 2014/15 and further