Potassium binding adjacent to cationic transition metal fragments: unusual heterobimetallic adducts of a calix[4]arene-based thione ligand

The synthesis of cationic rhodium and iridium complexes of a bis(imidazol-2-thione) functionalised calix[4]arene ligand and their surprising capacity for potassium binding is described. In both cases uptake of the alkali metal into the calix[4]arene cavity occurs despite adverse electrostatic interactions associated with close proximity to the transition metal fragment (Rh+∙∙∙K+ = 3.715(1) Å, Ir+∙∙∙K+ = 3.690(1) Å). The formation and constituent bonding of these unusual heterobimetallic adducts has been interrogated through extensive solution and solid-state characterisation, examination of the host-guest chemistry of the ligand and its upper-rim unfunctionalised calix[4]arene analogue, and computationally using DFT-based energy decomposition analysis (EDA)

Iridium complexes of the conformationally rigid IBioxMe4Ligand : hydride complexes and dehydrogenation of cyclooctene

A method for accessing the formally 14 VE iridium(III) hydride fragment {Ir(IBioxMe4)2(H)2}+ (2), containing the conformationally rigid NHC ligand IBioxMe4, is reported. Hydrogenation of trans-[Ir(IBioxMe4)2(COE)Cl] (1) in the presence of excess Na[BArF4] leads to the formation of dimeric [{Ir(IBioxMe4)2(H)2}2Cl][BArF4] (3), which is structurally fluxional in solution and acts as a reservoir of monomeric 2 in the presence of excess halogen ion abstractor. Stable dihydride complexes trans-[Ir(IBioxMe4)2(2,2′-bipyridine)(H)2][BArF4] (4) and [Ir(IBioxMe4)3(H)2][BArF4] (5) were subsequently isolated through in situ trapping of 2 using 2,2′-bipyridine and IBioxMe4, respectively, and fully characterized. Using mixtures of 3 and Na[BArF4] as a latent source of 2, the reactive monomeric fragment’s reactivity was explored with excess ethylene and cyclooctene, and trans-[Ir(IBioxMe4)2(C2H4)2][BArF4] (6) and cis-[Ir(IBioxMe4)2(COD)][BArF4] (7) were isolated, respectively, through sacrificial hydrogenation of the alkenes. Complex 6 is notable for the adoption of a very unusual orthogonal arrangement of the trans-ethylene ligands in the solid state, which has been analyzed computationally using energy and charge decomposition (EDA-NOCV). The formation of 7 via transfer dehydrogenation of COE highlights the ability to partner IBioxMe4 with reactive metal centers capable of C–H bond activation, without intramolecular activation. Reaction of 7 with CO slowly formed trans-[Ir(IBioxMe4)2(CO)2][BArF4] (8), but the equivalent reaction with bis-ethylene 6 was an order of magnitude faster, quantifying the strong coordination of COD in 7

Rhodium(I) and Iridium(I) complexes of the conformationally rigid IBioxMe4Ligand : computational and experimental studies of unusually tilted NHC coordination geometries

Computational methods have been used to analyze distorted coordination geometries in a coherent range of known and new rhodium(I) and iridium(I) complexes containing bioxazoline-based NHC ligands (IBiox). Such distortions are readily placed in context of the literature through measurement of the Cnt(NHC)–CNCN–M angle (ΘNHC; Cnt = ring centroid). On the basis of restricted potential energy calculations using cis-[M(IBioxMe4)(CO)2Cl] (M1; M = Rh, Ir), in-plane (yawing) tilting of the NHC was found to incur significantly steeper energetic penalties than orthogonal out-of-plane (pitching) movement, which is characterized by noticeably flat potential energy surfaces. Energy decomposition analysis (EDA) of the ground-state and pitched structures of M1 indicated only minor differences in bonding characteristics. In contrast, yawing of the NHC ligand is associated with a significant increase in Pauli repulsion (i.e., sterics) and reduction in M→NHC π back donation, but is counteracted by supplemental stabilizing bonding interactions only possible due to the closer proximity of the methyl substituents with the metal and ancillary ligands. Aided by this analysis, comparison with a range of carefully selected model systems and EDA, distorted coordination modes in trans-[M(IBioxMe4)2(COE)Cl] (M2; M = Rh, Ir) and [M(IBioxMe4)3]+ (M3; M = Rh, Ir) have been rationalized. Steric interactions were identified as the major contributing factor and are associated with a high degree of NHC pitching. In the case of Rh3, weak agostic interactions also contribute to the distortions, particularly with respect to NHC yawing, and are notable for increasing the bond dissociation energy of the distorted ligands. Supplementing the computational analysis, an analogue of the formally 14 VE Rh(I) species Rh3 bearing the cyclohexyl-functionalized IBiox6 ligand ([Rh(IBiox6)3]+, Rh3-Cy) was prepared and found to exhibit an exceptionally distorted NHC ligand (ΘNHC = 155.7(2)°) in the solid state

Pregnant women with bronchial asthma benefit from progressive muscle relaxation: A randomized, prospective, controlled trial

Background: Asthma is a serious medical problem in pregnancy and is often associated with stress, anger and poor quality of life. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) on change in blood pressure, lung parameters, heart rate, anger and health-related quality of life in pregnant women with bronchial asthma. Methods: We treated a sample of 64 pregnant women with bronchial asthma from the local population in an 8-week randomized, prospective, controlled trial. Thirty-two were selected for PMR, and 32 received a placebo intervention. The systolic blood pressure, forced expiratory volume in the first second, peak expiratory flow and heart rate were tested, and the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory and Health Survey (SF-36) were employed. Results: According to the intend-to-treat principle, a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure and a significant increase in both forced expiratory volume in the first second and peak expiratory flow were observed after PMR. The heart rate showed a significant increase in the coefficient of variation, root mean square of successive differences and high frequency ranges, in addition to a significant reduction in low and middle frequency ranges. A significant reduction on three of five State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory scales, and a significant increase on seven of eight SF-36 scales were observed. Conclusions: PMR appears to be an effective method to improve blood pressure, lung parameters and heart rate, and to decrease anger levels, thus enhancing health-related quality of life in pregnant women with bronchial asthma. Copyright (c) 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel

Pathogenesis of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in sheep

The pathogenesis of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in sheep was studied by immunohistochemical detection of scrapie-associated prion protein (PrPSc) in the gastrointestinal, lymphoid and neural tissues following oral inoculation with BSE brain homogenate. First accumulation of PrPSc was detected after 6 months in the tonsil and the ileal Peyer’s patches. At 9 months postinfection, PrPSc accumulation involved all gut-associated lymphoid tissues and lymph nodes as well as the spleen. At this time point, PrPSc accumulation in the peripheral neural tissues was first seen in the enteric nervous system of the caudal jejunum and ileum and in the coeliac-mesenteric ganglion. In the central nervous system, PrPSc was first detected in the dorsal motor nucleus of the nervus Vagus in the medulla oblongata and in the intermediolateral column in the spinal cord segments T7–L1. At subsequent time points, PrPSc was seen to spread within the lymphoid system to also involve all non-gut-associated lymphoid tissues. In the enteric nervous system, further spread of PrPSc involved the neural plexi along the entire gastrointestinal tract and in the CNS the complete neuraxis. These findings indicate a spread of the BSE agent in sheep from the enteric nervous system through parasympathetic and sympathetic nerves to the medulla oblongata and the spinal cord

Mobile HTS SQUID System for Eddy Current Testing of Aircraft

In Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE), eddy current techniques are commonly used for the detection of hidden material defects in metallic structures. Conventionally, one works with an excitation coil generating a field at a distinct frequency. The eddy currents are deviated by materials flaws and the resulting distorted field is sensed by a secondary coil. Because of the law of induction, this technique has its limitations in the low frequency range. This leads to a decrease of the Probability of flaw Detection (POD) in larger depths

Self-similarity of Mean Flow in Pipe Turbulence

Based on our previous modified log-wake law in turbulent pipe ‡flows, we invent two compound similarity numbers (Y;U), where Y is a combination of the inner variable y+ and outer variable , and U is the pure exect of the wall. The two similarity numbers can well collapse mean velocity profile data with different moderate and large Reynolds numbers into a single universal profile. We then propose an arctangent law for the buffer layer and a general log law for the outer region in terms of (Y;U). From Milikan’s maximum velocity law and the Princeton superpipe data, we derive the von Kármán constant = 0:43 and the additive constant B=6. Using an asymptotic matching method, we obtain a self-similarity law that describes the mean velocity profile from the wall to axis; and embeds the linear law in the viscous sublayer, the quartic law in the bursting sublayer, the classic log law in the overlap, the sine-square wake law in the wake layer, and the parabolic law near the pipe axis. The proposed arctangent law, the general log law and the self-similarity law have been compared with the high-quality data sets, with diffrent Reynolds numbers, including those from the Princeton superpipe, Loulou et al., Durst et al., Perry et al., and den Toonder and Nieuwstadt. Finally, as an application of the proposed laws, we improve the McKeon et al. method for Pitot probe displacement correction, which can be used to correct the widely used Zagarola and Smits data set

Determination of the b quark mass at the M_Z scale with the DELPHI detector at LEP

An experimental study of the normalized three-jet rate of b quark events with respect to light quarks events (light= \ell \equiv u,d,s) has been performed using the CAMBRIDGE and DURHAM jet algorithms. The data used were collected by the DELPHI experiment at LEP on the Z peak from 1994 to 2000. The results are found to agree with theoretical predictions treating mass corrections at next-to-leading order. Measurements of the b quark mass have also been performed for both the b pole mass: M_b and the b running mass: m_b(M_Z). Data are found to be better described when using the running mass. The measurement yields: m_b(M_Z) = 2.85 +/- 0.18 (stat) +/- 0.13 (exp) +/- 0.19 (had) +/- 0.12 (theo) GeV/c^2 for the CAMBRIDGE algorithm. This result is the most precise measurement of the b mass derived from a high energy process. When compared to other b mass determinations by experiments at lower energy scales, this value agrees with the prediction of Quantum Chromodynamics for the energy evolution of the running mass. The mass measurement is equivalent to a test of the flavour independence of the strong coupling constant with an accuracy of 7 permil.Comment: 24 pages, 10 figures, Accepted by Eur. Phys. J.