Tradescantia (Tradescantia fluminensis) is the worst weed in New Zealand. By smothering and shading out seedlings, Tradescantia prevents forest regeneration. Current control methods are ineffective and simultaneously cause harm to native forest. In 2011 Neolema ogloblini, a Brazilian beetle was introduced into New Zealand as a biological control for Tradescantia. To be successful in New Zealand, a country with different environmental factors, the beetles’ ranges of preference (temperature and light intensity) had to be investigated. A gender specific trait also identified, to enable desired sex ratios within founding populations to be selected. [18] This would ensure that the beetles are not released in areas of physiological stress, and can be optimised to have the greatest impact on Tradscantia. To establish how the intensity of light affects the distribution and amount of Tradescantia eaten by N.ogloblini a choice chamber investigation was conducted. Different layers of shade cloth provided a range of light intensities 150-3450Lux (likely to be found under forest canopy where Tradescantia is problematic). Thirty beetles of a range of sizes and approximately same maturity were randomly distributed through the chambers. Each chamber contained a shoot of Tradescantia with 5 leaves. After a 24hour period the number of beetles in each chamber were counted and the amount of surface area of the leaves eaten measured. The effect of temperature on the amount of leaf surface area eaten was investigated by selecting 90 beetles of a range of sizes and withholding food for 24hours. Five beetles were placed in each of three containers containing two leaves. Each trial container was precooled/warmed to the test temperature before the beetles were added. Leaves of a similar size, shape, mass and maturity were used. All leaves were genetically identical and collected from the same location. Sets of three containers were held in the dark at the following temperatures for 24hours: 9°C, 15°C, 20°C, 25°C, 30°C and 35°C. The surface area of leaf eaten at each temperature (mm2) was calculated. Lastly, microscopic dissections were conducted, using 32 beetles ranging in size, to establish if length (measured from the top of the head to the base of the abdomen) could be used as a phenotypic marker to identify beetle gender. While only a very weak positive relationship between increasing light intensity and the number of beetles was found a significantly higher area of leaf was eaten at a light intensity of 3450Lux compared to 150Lux. The amount of leaf area eaten is significantly reduced at temperatures of 15˚C and below, and significantly increased at 35˚C. There is no significant difference in the amount of leaf area eaten when comparing temperatures between 20-30˚C. Females have on average a larger body length (median=4.92mm) than the males (median=4.215mm). Therefore, sites with warmer temperatures in dappled light conditions (3450Lux) should be prioritised for the release of N.ogloblini, as this is the location in New Zealand at which their use as a biological control will be optimised. Beetle length can be confidently used to select desired gender ratios.

本研究的主要目的是探討瓢蟲在空間中行走的軌跡是否存在著某些性質。我們定義瓢蟲分別繞y軸和z軸旋轉θ和 Φ，我們發現當旋轉次數n→∞ ，各收斂點P均位於球面S:(x-1/1-r2)2+y2+z2=(r/1-r2)2 上。接著我們探討當瓢蟲的仰角θ=cos-1r與-cos-1r時，不論轉向角Φ為幾度，瓢蟲分別收斂於固定點A(1, 0, r√1-r2/1-r2) 與B(1, 0, -r√1-r2/1-r2)。透過幾何證明，我們發現直線AB與y軸恰為球面S的配極直線。透過基底變換後，每個轉向點均位於一圓錐面x2+y2=a2(c-z/c)2 上，且繞行的原點O及轉向點Pn均位在一等角螺線G上，G:{x=artcostα y=artsintα(t∈R) z=c(1-rt) 。從高觀點來看，各轉向點是經過一個收縮的仿射變換而來，而收斂點 就是瓢蟲行走軌跡的點吸子(attractor)。最後，我們將軌跡呈現的圖形與自然現象連結。

By saving water you are saving lives including yours. All of us know that water is an invaluable and priceless gift. We can’t dispense it. The consumption of water differentiate from one country to another, we may use over quantities of water, in other countries people are thirsty living under the limits of poverty .It’s very important for agriculture, industry even human animals and plants can’t live without water. But people are careless, they consume a huge quantities of water in shower, washing car, gardening…. So that we thought to make this brilliant project F.W.S (frugal water system). This system is connected with you mobile phone by an application that shows you your water consuming and makes you control it. It record in every minute your consumption. This control system helps us to preserve water for the future generation. Besides, it tells you the price that you will pay and warns you if you pass the quantity of water that you should consume in a defined period. So you can also save your water bill. So we have to make this project works to let every person know that he is doing squandering water. With this system we can save planet resources of water. Finally, the water is as precious as our lives and with frugal water system, we will be able to monitor and control our water consumption. Also be alerted in the event of a leak or flooding. This project helps us to preserve water, reduce and avoid over-consumption. So we have to stand together against water squandering by making this project works.

Because of the presence of an activated multiple carbon-carbon bond, α,β-unsaturated sulfones are high-reactive compounds which are widely used in organic synthesis. These compounds readily undergo the reactions of nucleophilic addition and pericyclic processes. At the current moment, a wide range of 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions with α,β-unsaturated sulfones as dipolarophilic systems is known. However the interaction of α,β-unsaturated sulfones with azinium ylides is less studied and limited to only a few examples. In the present study, the interaction between a number of stable isoquinolinium and pyridinium ylides with aliphatic and aromatic vinylsulfones has been investigated. We considered the regioselectivity of these reactions. Mostly cycloadditions of isoquinolinium ylides to α,β-unsaturated sulfones led to the mixtures of isomeric sulfonyltetrahydroindolizines in different ratios. Also we found several examples of high-regioselective addition. The stereochemical result of the cycloaddition was examined by methods of 2D correlational 1H-NOESY NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallographic analysis. The process of formation of major regioisomer of cycloaddition N-phenacylisoqunolinium ylide to ethylvinylsulfone was highly stereoselective. The series of new sulfonyltetrahydroindolizines with potential bioactivity were obtained. The structure of all products was proved by IR and 1H NMR

Donor–acceptor cyclopropanes (DACs), which can act as sources of 1,2- and 1,3-zwitterions in the presence of Lewis acids, are widely used in organic synthesis for the preparation of various carbo- and heterocyclic compounds, including natural compounds and their analogues. To date, many types of DACs reactivity have been identified. However, the chemistry of styrylmalonates (isomers of DACs, which can be easily generated from DACs) is almost undescribed and has a powerful synthetic potential. The use of styrylmalonates as synthetic equivalents of DACs allows us cardinally change the known reaction pathways of DACs. In this work, a new strategy for cascade assembly of substituted pyrenes based on the reactions of styrylmalonates with aldehydes in the presence of BF3•Et2O has been developed. Generation of formal 1,2-zwitterionic intermediates owing to complexation of dicarboxylate groups with BF3•Et2O is the driving force of the reaction discovered. This method makes it possible to assemble pyrenes or 5,6-dihydro-2H-pyran-2-ones in one synthetic stage from readily available starting compounds with high regio- and diastereoselectivity, and use these pyrenes in futher reactions. We’ve optimized conditions of the reaction and synthesized a number of various substituted pyrenes. Moreover, the reaction shows good results with various aromatic and heteroaromatic substituents. Pyrenes can be easily purified by crystallization. Every product was obtained selectively and determined by full set of physical-chemical methods, including X-ray analysis. 5,6-dihydro-2H-pyran-2-one skeleton is found in various natural compounds demonstrating a broad spectrum of biological activity, such as antiviral and antineoplastic.

The redox reactions of bacteria metabolism have been extrinsically studied. These mechanisms allow certain types of bacteria to be able to synthesize extremely valuable extracellular byproducts. Other types of bacteria are able to extract toxic metals from water by donating electrons directly to those aqueous metal ions, thus turning them into solid precipitates. However, the problem of these microorganisms is that their efficiency rates and production speeds are exceptionally low. This study focuses on the properties of electrotrophs, which are bacteria that can feed on pure electrons directly from an electrode (Rabaey et al 2010). Compared to normal organic-feeding bacteria, electrotrophs direct the majority of the electrons obtained to the production of metabolic byproducts (Nevin et al 2010). Therefore, when electrotrophs are employed in bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) their metabolic redox reaction efficiency rates are dramatically increased. This makes it possible to produce large quantities of valuable compounds such as hydrocarbons, plastics and medicine or efficiently remediating the environment (He et al 2016). Moreover, the usage of electricity as an energy source compared to conventional organic substrates is immensely cheaper (Rabaey et al 2010). However, not all bacteria are electrotrophs nor do all electrotrophs have favourable metabolic traits. Thus, there is a need for a novel procedure to turn conventional bacteria into electrotrophs which is a crucial step to making the BES an aggressive competitor in the sustainable energy industry.

The aim of our research is to produce superhydrophobic coatings on both glass and cloth substrates in order to achieve high contact angles and low sliding angles for self-cleaning. In addition, we aim to modify these coatings to be as transparent as possible so as not to interfere with the aesthetics of the objects which will be coated. To achieve this goal, we synthesised a solution using 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorooctyltriethoxysilane (a type of FAS), silica nanoparticles (SiO2), tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS), (3-glycidyloxypropyl) trimethoxysilane (Glymo) and deionised water. Using the convenient sol-gel method, coatings of 20% and 30% by weight of FAS-SiO2 nanoparticles were prepared on glass and cotton substrates. It was found that coatings containing 30% by weight of FAS-modified SiO2 nanoparticles on glass slide produced coatings with water contact angle as high as 162.8° and sliding angle as low as 4°. It can also be seen that for glass substrates, the hydrophobicity increased with an increase in percentage of FAS-modified SiO2 nanoparticles. Although the highest percentage transmittance was about 30%, texts and pictures beneath the coated glass slides were clearly readable. The cotton substrates also exhibited excellent hydrophobicity, with a water contact angle of 150° and sliding angle of 22°. Furthermore, the substrates showed good retention of colour and durability after simulated washing and 72 hours of ultraviolet (UV) weathering chamber test. These results show that the effects of washing and UV on the important properties of the cloth were insignificant.

Dronedarone is an anti-arrhythmic drug approved in 2009 for paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation. It is less toxic than its predecessor Amiodarone as it does not cause systemic toxicity but has the same pharmacological activity. However the administration of dronedarone to permanent AF and heart failure patients leads to increased risk of stroke and cardiac death. The exact mechanism of the toxicity is currently unknown. Extrahepatic Cytochrome P450 enzymes play a dominant role in organ-specific drug metabolism and toxicity. Cytochrome P450 2J2 (CYP2J2) enzyme, a predominant enzyme found in human cardiac myocytes, metabolizes endogenous arachidonic acid (AA) into epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) which play an important role in maintaining normal cardiac physiology. Inhibition of CYP2J2 and perturbation of AA metabolic pathway could result in exacerbation of cardiac failure. This research aims to find out whether dronedarone inhibits CYP2J2 in a suitable cell model (H9C2) using astemizole as a probe substrate. Our in-house studies using recombinant CYP2J2 enzyme have shown that dronedarone potently inhibits CYP2J2. Rat myoblast cells (H9C2) will be seeded in 12-well plate and differentiated for 4 days. The cells will be then treated with different concentrations of astemizole and incubated for 24 h. The cells will then be harvested, lysed, and the cell lysate will be analyzed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LCMS). Using multi-reaction monitoring (MRM) on the LCMS, astemizole concentration as well as its CYP2J2-specific metabolite O-desmethylastemizole concentrations will be measured. The presence of O-desmethylastemizole confirms the metabolism of astemizole by CYP2J2 in H9C2 cells. By plotting a Michaelis-Menten kinetics curve, we will be able to determine the Michaelis constant (KM) and maximum rate of reaction (Vmax). H9C2 cells will be then treated with fixed concentration of astemizole while varying the dronedarone concentration. A decrease in metabolite O-desmethylastemizole conce ntration, indicates inhibition of CYP2J2 metabolism by dronedarone. Using this data, Lineweaver-Burke graph will be plotted, to determine the mode and potency of the inhibition. Our preliminary studies showed that the KM value was 2.7μM. This study will be useful in understanding if dronedarone inhibits CYP2J2 which may lead to clinically significant drug-drug interactions, one of the dangers of polypharmacy. Finally this study will shed a new light on the mechanisms for dronedarone mediated cardiac failure exacerbation.

The growth of a city and the population movement has many correlations. However, the complex interaction causes difficulties in developing a mathematical model needed for analyzing the growth factor of a city and the movement factor of population. The model involving traditional equations cannot explain many phenomenon. The newly introduced data-science suggests possibilities to overcome these difficulties. Particularly, the abundant amount of accumulated data proposes a new solution for the problem we have. Throughout these steps, data-utilizing methodology, such as machine learning for artificial intelligence, are researched and developed with attention. In this research, data about accumulated for previous population movement and city growth are collected, and a mathematical science model based on data is developed to explain population movement and city growth by utilizing data analyzing methods such as machine learning. Especially, artificial neural network and stratified advance learning(deep learning) proves possibilities in solving many problems. This research aims to construct an artificial neural network appropriate for population movement and consequently use it in developing population movement model. Using this model, growth of many existing cities can be explained and furthermore, examining the population movement factor of a city and social factor necessary for city growth become possible. This model is expected to become the tool for resolving overpopulation and predicting and deciding factors needed for a new future city. In spite of decreasing population, it is still important to develop a model for population movement that well explains city growth and environment change.

Fluorine-containing compounds gained significant attention during the past decade1. About 20% of novel pharmaceuticals and 40% of novel agrochemicals every year contain at least one fluorine atom in the molecule. For a long time the most frequently used was trifluoromethyl group, but nowadays the most promising is the chemistry of partially-fluorinated groups. For example, the difluoromethyl substituent (CHF2) exhibits unique pharmacoforic properties capable of serving as lipophilic hydrogen bond donor thus being bioisosteric to hydroxyl group2. There are several general approaches for the formation of a required fluorinated fragment, one of them is direct nucleophilic fluoroalkylation. This approach is well-developed for trifluoromethylation reactions, such as addition of CF3-anion equivalents to C=O, C=N and electron-deficient C=C bonds or metal-catalyzed substitution in haloarenes3. However the similar difluoromethylation processes are still quite challenging. Herein we present a novel and convenient protocol for the synthesis of β-CF2H functionalized carbonyl compounds and carbinols by nucleophilic difluoromethylation of electron-deficient olefines. The process is based on a 1,4-addition of in situ generated4 phosphorus ylide Ph3P=CF2 2 to the arylidene Meldrum's acid conjugates 1. The resulting phosphobetaines 3 are hydrolized/protodephosphorilated without isolation, giving β-CF2H substituted carboxylic acids 4. The latter may be easily transformed to the corresponding ethers 5 and alcohols 6 without preliminary purification.

Riding around on a flat tire is no fun. It feels really bumpy. But a square wheel may be the ultimate flat tire. There's no way it can roll over a flat, smooth road without jolting the rider again and again. Here, I have constructed a bicycle with square wheels. It's a weird contraption, but you can ride it perfectly smoothly. My secret is the shape of the road over which the wheels roll. A square wheel can roll smoothly, keeping the axle moving in a straight line and at a constant velocity, if it travels over evenly spaced bumps of just the right shape. This special shape is called an inverted catenary. A catenary is the curve describing a rope or chain hanging loosely between two supports. Turn the curve upside down, and you get an inverted catenary--just like one of the bumps in my road. Make the road out of a whole bunch of those bumps all in a row, and you can take your square-wheeled bike for a quick spin. Just as a square rides smoothly across a roadbed of linked inverted catenaries, other regular polygons, including pentagons and hexagons, also ride smoothly over curves made up of appropriately selected pieces of inverted catenaries. As the number of a polygon's sides increases, these catenary segments get shorter and flatter. Ultimately, for an infinite number of sides (in effect, a circle), the curve becomes a straight, horizontal line. In the end, I conclude with possible enhancements in the project that might take us to a whole new world.

EXPERIMENT 1---The effect of NaCl and Glucose Concentration on the efficiency of the cell I. Introduction Experiment on different concentrations of standard glucose solution (ranged from 0.125 M to 1.000 M) and standard sodium chloride solution (ranged from 0.250 M to 4.000 M) were done. We investigated the full concentration effect, which included both concentration of glucose solution and sodium chloride solution on the fuel cell’s output voltage, current and power. II. Procedures 1. Add 25.0 cm3 of Glucose solution of the tested concentration to the beaker representing the anode, and add 25.0 cm3 of distilled water to the beaker representing the cathode. 2. Add 50.0 cm3 of 0.250 M NaCl (aq) to both beakers representatively. 3. Fold a piece of filter paper and soak in fully into NaCl (aq) at cathode. 4. Clean and place the silver wires into the beakers representatively, and connect the air pump to the cathode. 5. Connect the cell to two multi-meters, each acting as a voltmeter and an ammeter respectively 6. Take the readings of multi-meters after 30 seconds. 7. Repeat steps 1 to 6 twice for the second and third reading of the cell. 8. Take average value among three values as the final reading of the cell. 9. Repeat steps 1 to 8 by replacing the NaCl (aq) with concentrations of 0.000 M, 0.500 M, 1.000 M, 2.000 M and 4.000 M, and the standard glucose solution with concentrations of 0.000 M, 0.125 M, 0.250 M, 0.500 M, 0.750 M and 1.000 M. III. Result of Experiment 1 When glucose concentration is increased from 0.000 M to 0.250 M, the output power increases, it is found that power generated is maximized at glucose concentrations between 0.125 M and 0.250 M. However, with further increase in glucose concentration from 0.250 M to 1.000 M, the power generated decreases. This shows that high concentration of glucose inhibits the generation of electricity, while higher concentration of sodium chloride solution can increase the output. EXPERIMENT 2---The effect of temperature on the efficiency of the cell I. Introduction In this experiment, the second effect - temperature on the fuel cell’s output voltage, current and power was investigated. In order to get a significant result, the effect of temperature on these measures with fixed 0.250 M glucose solution and sodium chloride solution concentrations varied from 0.500 M to 4.000 M had been investigated. II. Procedures 1. Add 25.0 cm3 of Glucose solution of the tested concentration (0.25 M) to the beaker representing the anode, and add 25.0 cm3 of distilled water to the beaker representing the cathode. 2. Add 50.0 cm3 of 0.500 M NaCl (aq) to both beakers representatively. 3. Fold a piece of filter paper and soak in fully into NaCl (aq) at cathode. 4. Clean and place the silver wires into the beakers respectively, and connect the air pump to the cathode. 5. Connect the cell to two multi-meters, each acting as a voltmeter and an ammeter respectively 6. Take the readings of multi-meters after 30 seconds. 7. Repeat steps 1 to 6 twice for the second and third reading of the cell. 8. Take average value among three values as the final reading of the cell. 9. Repeat steps 1 to 8 by varying the temperature from 42℃ to 32℃. 10. Repeat steps 1 to 9 by replacing the NaCl solution of 0.000 M, 1.000 M, 2.000 M, and 4.000 M respectively. III. Result of Experiment 2 The results showed a consistent trend and relationship of the effect of temperature on the output current, voltage and power of the fuel cell for 4 different concentrations of sodium chloride solution with fixed 0.25 M glucose solution. Generally, the results showed that the output power increases with temperature. EXPERIMENT 3---The effect of dialysis tubing and Nafion 117 on the efficiency of the cell I. Introduction Semi-permeable membrane separating glucose and oxygen, ensure the glucose oxidation only occurs at the anode, and preventing glucose oxidation occurs at the cathode, responds to maximize power output. Experimental study on two kinds of membranes, dialysis membranes and Nafion 117 films were done, by studying their fuel cell output voltage, current and power effects. Previous experiments showed that the optimal output of the battery is at 0.250 M glucose solution, Therefore, experimental conditions for glucose concentration is fixed on 0.250 M and sodium chloride solution concentration varies from 0.500 to 4.000 M. II. Procedures The Effect of Dialysis Tubing on voltage and current of the fuel cell 1. Pour 50 cm3 1.000 M NaCl (aq) to each compartment of the beaker separated by dialysis tubing. 2. Pour 0.250 M Glucose Solution into the compartment representing anode. 3. Connect the cell to two multimeters, which act as a voltmeter and ammeter respectively 4. Take the reading of the multimeters after 30 seconds 5. Repeat steps 1 to 4 twice for the second and third reading of the cell. 6. Take average value among three values as the final reading of the cell. 7. Repeat steps 1 to 6 with NaCl (aq) with concentration of 0.000 M, 0.250 M, 0.500 M, 2.000 M and 4.000 M to obtain the remaining data. The Effect of Nafion 117 on voltage and current of the fuel cell 1. Add 50 cm3 1.000 M NaCl (aq) and 50 cm3 of 0.250 M of glucose solution to the beaker. 2. Add 1.000 M NaCl (aq) to the Nafion 117 membrane pouch, and silver plate was put inside to become the anode. 3. Connect the cell to two multimeters, which act as a voltmeter and ammeter respectively 4. Take the reading of the multimeters after 30 seconds 5. Repeat steps 1 to 4 twice for the second and third reading of the cell. 6. Take average value among three values as the final reading of the cell. 7. Repeat steps 1 to 6 with NaCl (aq) with concentration of 0.000 M, 0.250 M, 0.500 M, 2.000 M and 4.000 M to obtain the remaining data. III. Result of Experiment 3 The result had shown that when the solution does not contain glucose (i.e. Glucose concentration equals to 0.000 M), Nafion 117 Membrane Cells have similar power outputs compared to the dialysis tubing cells. However, in 0.250 M glucose solution, the output of Nafion 117 membrane cell is about 1 to 5 times more compared to that of dialysis tubing cell. According to the experiment results, it was found out that the power output was maximized when the concentration of glucose solution and NaCl (aq) are 0.250 M and 4.000 M respectively. Under this concentration, the out of Nafion 117 membrane cell was 1336.68 nW which was 5 times higher than that of dialysis tubing cell. Hence, adopting Nafion 117 as the selectively membrane can greatly enhance the output of cell. It is believed that the special structure of Nafion 117 has limited the movement of glucose molecules, and prevented their oxidation at cathode. This has enhanced the oxidation of glucose at anode, and thus increased the power output of the cell.