Sulfur isotope fractionation during incorporation of sulfur nucleophiles into organic compounds

34S enrichment is shown to occur during sulfurization reactions and for the first time conclusively attributed to an isotope equilibrium effect rather than selective addition of 34S enriched nucleophiles

Influence of Insecticides on Population of Major Insect Pests and Natural Enemies in Seedling Stage of Soybeans

Soybean aphid (Aphis glycines Matsumura) and soybean stem borer [Melanagromyza sojae (Zehntner)] are the major pest insects in the seedling stage of soybean, which cause 30% loss of soybean production in average year. The purpose of this experiment was to identify insecticides that have striking effects on aphids and with no clear injury on natural enemies. The overall target of the experiment was to protect natural enemies and apply them on keeping ecological balance in soybean field as well as to avoid eco-disastrous caused by chemical controlling happened in cotton field in North China and paddy rice field in the South.Originating text in Chinese.Citation: Wang, Qisheng, Shan, De'An, Ma, Zhenquan. (1993). Influence of Insecticides on Population of Major Insect Pests and Natural Enemies in Seedling Stage of Soybeans. Entomological Knowledge, 30, 333-335

Effects of Insecticides on Pest Populations and Their Natural Enemies in Soybean Field

In the 5-time field experiments and broad demonstrations, effects of volume and application formulae of several pesticides on the population densities of major inset pests and natural enemies in the soybean field were determined. Results from the Ducan’s multiple range test indicated that 300 g/ha of Omethoate (fine granule) and 45 g/ha of Fenvalerate in the seedling stage and 300 g/ha of Chloromethiuron suspensoid in the flowering stage may control pests and protect major natural enemies. Application of these pesticides in the corresponding soybean stages is an effective way that mediates the conflict between chemical and biological controls in the field. There are over 170 species of natural enemies whose hosts are known in the soybean field in China. These natural enemies play important roles in controlling the soybean pests. However, farmers still strongly rely on chemicals to control these pests because natural enemies are not able to timely curb the pest infestations when there is a pest outbreak. Frequent chemical application in a higher volume will ruin the ecological balance. The conflict between biological and chemical controls has become a hot issue in the soybean production worldwide. Our objectives in this study are to decide the effective low concentrations of commonly used pesticides, determine the effect of the third and fourth generations of pesticides on the major insect pests and natural enemies in the soybean field and propose feasible control methods by coordinating control and chemical controls.Originating text in Chinese.Citation: Qi, Yaoxun, Ma, Zhengquan, Shan, De'An, Gao, Xiaohua, Wang, Qisheng. (1987). Effects of Insecticides on Pest Populations and Their Natural Enemies in Soybean Field. Plant Protection (Institute of Plant Protection, CAAS, China), 13, 4-6

Methyl Chloride from Direct Methane Partial Oxidation: A High-Temperature Shilov-Like Catalytic System

The intention of this study is to demonstrate and evaluate the scientific and economic feasibility of using special solvents to improve the thermal stability of Pt-catalyst in the Shilov system, such that a high reaction temperature could be achieved. The higher conversion rate (near 100%) of methyl chloride from partial oxidation of methane under the high temperature ({approx} 200 C) without significant Pt0 precipitation has been achieved. High concentration of the Cl- ion has been identified as the key for the stabilization of the Pt-catalysts. H/D exchange measurements indicated that the over oxidation will occur at the elevated temperature, developments of the effective product separation processes will be necessary in order to rationalize the industry-visible CH4 to CH3Cl conversion

Semiconducting nonperovskite ferroelectric oxynitride designed ab initio

Recent discovery of HfO2-based and nitride-based ferroelectrics that are compatible to the semiconductor manufacturing process have revitalized the field of ferroelectric-based nanoelectronics. Guided by a simple design principle of charge compensation and density functional theory calculations, we discover HfO2-like mixed-anion materials, TaON and NbON, can crystallize in the polar Pca21 phase with a strong thermodynamic driving force to adopt anion ordering spontaneously. Both oxynitrides possess large remnant polarization, low switching barriers, and unconventional negative piezoelectric effect, making them promising piezoelectrics and ferroelectrics. Distinct from HfO2 that has a wide band gap, both TaON and NbON can absorb visible light and have high charge carrier mobilities, suitable for ferroelectric photovoltaic and photocatalytic applications. This new class of multifunctional nonperovskite oxynitride containing economical and environmentally benign elements offer a platform to design and optimize high-performing ferroelectric semiconductors for integrated systems

Observation of superconductivity in the noncentrosymmetric nodal chain semimetal Ba5In4Bi5

The combination with superconductivity and topological nontrivial band structure provides a promising route towards novel quantum states such as topological superconductivity. Here, we report the first observation of superconductivity (4.1 K) in Ba5In4Bi5 single crystal, a noncentrosymmetric topological semimetal featuring nodal chain loops at the high-symmetry points R and X. The magnetization, resistivity, and specific heat capacity measurements reveal that Ba5In4Bi5 is a moderately coupled type-II Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer superconductor. Bulk superconductivity is suggested from the magnetic susceptibility and specific heat measurements. The results show that Ba5In4Bi5 provides a new platform for exploring the relationship of superconductivity and topological nontrivial band topology

Using Ionic Liquids in Selective Hydrocarbon Conversion Processes

This is the Final Report of the five-year project Using Ionic Liquids in Selective Hydrocarbon Conversion Processes (DE-FC36-04GO14276, July 1, 2004- June 30, 2009), in which we present our major accomplishments with detailed descriptions of our experimental and theoretical efforts. Upon the successful conduction of this project, we have followed our proposed breakdown work structure completing most of the technical tasks. Finally, we have developed and demonstrated several optimized homogenously catalytic methane conversion systems involving applications of novel ionic liquids, which present much more superior performance than the Catalytica system (the best-to-date system) in terms of three times higher reaction rates and longer catalysts lifetime and much stronger resistance to water deactivation. We have developed in-depth mechanistic understandings on the complicated chemistry involved in homogenously catalytic methane oxidation as well as developed the unique yet effective experimental protocols (reactors, analytical tools and screening methodologies) for achieving a highly efficient yet economically feasible and environmentally friendly catalytic methane conversion system. The most important findings have been published, patented as well as reported to DOE in this Final Report and our 20 Quarterly Reports

Cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, and diabetes mortality burden of cardiometabolic risk factors from 1980 to 2010: A comparative risk assessment

Background: High blood pressure, blood glucose, serum cholesterol, and BMI are risk factors for cardiovascular diseases and some of these factors also increase the risk of chronic kidney disease and diabetes. We estimated mortality from cardiovascular diseases, chronic kidney disease, and diabetes that was attributable to these four cardiometabolic risk factors for all countries and regions from 1980 to 2010. Methods: We used data for exposure to risk factors by country, age group, and sex from pooled analyses of population-based health surveys. We obtained relative risks for the effects of risk factors on cause-specific mortality from meta-analyses of large prospective studies. We calculated the population attributable fractions for each risk factor alone, and for the combination of all risk factors, accounting for multicausality and for mediation of the effects of BMI by the other three risks. We calculated attributable deaths by multiplying the cause-specific population attributable fractions by the number of disease-specific deaths. We obtained cause-specific mortality from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors 2010 Study. We propagated the uncertainties of all the inputs to the final estimates. Findings: In 2010, high blood pressure was the leading risk factor for deaths due to cardiovascular diseases, chronic kidney disease, and diabetes in every region, causing more than 40% of worldwide deaths from these diseases; high BMI and glucose were each responsible for about 15% of deaths, and high cholesterol for more than 10%. After accounting for multicausality, 63% (10·8 million deaths, 95% CI 10·1-11·5) of deaths from these diseases in 2010 were attributable to the combined effect of these four metabolic risk factors, compared with 67% (7·1 million deaths, 6·6-7·6) in 1980. The mortality burden of high BMI and glucose nearly doubled from 1980 to 2010. At the country level, age-standardised death rates from these diseases attributable to the combined effects of these four risk factors surpassed 925 deaths per 100 000 for men in Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Mongolia, but were less than 130 deaths per 100 000 for women and less than 200 for men in some high-income countries including Australia, Canada, France, Japan, the Netherlands, Singapore, South Korea, and Spain. Interpretation: The salient features of the cardiometabolic disease and risk factor epidemic at the beginning of the 21st century are high blood pressure and an increasing effect of obesity and diabetes. The mortality burden of cardiometabolic risk factors has shifted from high-income to low-income and middle-income countries. Lowering cardiometabolic risks through dietary, behavioural, and pharmacological interventions should be a part of the global response to non-communicable diseases. Funding: UK Medical Research Council, US National Institutes of Health. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd