CHIMIA
Not a member yet
8905 research outputs found
Sort by
Cisplatin and the Dissolution of Electrodes in Electrochemistry Experiments: Chemical Education
No full textCisplatin and related compounds are important for the treatment of cancers. Here, we discuss the discovery of its biological action and how this is of importance to electrocatalysis today
Studying Intracellular pH of Bacteria with Fluorescent Tools
Full text linkThis perspective discusses the relevance of studying the intracellular pH of pathogenic bacteria. Acidic environments trigger phenotype switches, increasing stress tolerance and antibiotic persistence – key challenges in treating bacterial infections. Understanding these phenotypic adaptations under clinically relevant stress conditions is important for elucidating bacterial survival mechanisms. Here, we discuss fluorescent tools to monitor pH homeostasis in bacterial cells and how advances in this field could shed light on pathogen resilience to antibiotics and human immune responses
Microalgae as Key to a Land-free Circular On-farm Feed Production System
Full text linkCurrently, all feed and food come from plant- or animal-based production systems. The potential of the natural biodiversity of microorganisms for the highly efficient production of nutrients has yet to be leveraged. We present an overarching concept that ranges from the development of a national collection of regional microalgae to the decentralised production of nutrient-rich biomass for animal feed production. The focus is on the substitution of classic plant-based feed to reduce competition for arable land, to increase the nutritive value of animal-based food, and to reduce methane emissions from ruminants. The photoautotrophic and mixotrophic cultivation of microalgae are well aligned with the goals of CO2 fixation and the later contribution to the valorisation of side streams from the food industry. We also present the initial results on strain adaptation to diverse cultivation conditions
Quantum Tunnelling in Triplet Carbenes Explained by Instanton Theory
Full text linkThe temperature-dependent reactivity of three triplet carbenes (denoted as C1, C2 and C3) were investigated using instanton theory. Experiments showed that C1undergoes an intramolecular reaction at very low temperatures, while C2 requires heating, and C3 remains stable despite heating. The reactions studied involved both hydrogen transfer and intersystem crossing, and therefore we considered sequential and concerted processes as possible candidates for the reaction mechanism. Calculations of instanton tunnelling pathways in conjunction with double-hybrid density functional theory showed that the sequential mechanism dominates the reaction at high temperatures while the concerted mechanism is the predominant channel at low temperatures. The observed temperature-dependent reactivity can thus be explained in terms of a crossover temperature where the mechanism switches. This study suggests a powerful way to control the reactivity of triplet carbenes solely by tuning temperature
Biomanufacturing as Key Technology for a Sustainable Bioeconomy
Full text linkScientific and technological advances have created new biomanufacturing opportunities by overcoming manufacturing challenges and problems in various industrial sectors step by step and thereby lead to sustainable value creation. Bottom-up biomanufacturing approaches can provide value to customers in a competitive environment and when located in a geographically well-connected ecosystem bring additional benefits, such as derisking of supply chains, reduction of complexity, or strategic autonomy. The strategic importance of biomanufacturing can also be seen by different top-down initiatives and platforms addressing common critical needs
Chemical Research Odyssey: From High School Foundations to University Frontiers
Full text linkPracticing research in high school is essential for preparing future university students, fostering critical thinking, and situating scientific knowledge within a broader context. However, such training remains rare in upper secondary education. Over the past 10 years, we have developed a research programme tailored for high school students, in which they create colorimetric sensors for analytes of societal importance using the simple strategy of indicator displacement assay (IDA). This initiative has led not only to publications, including in international journals, but also to awards and recognition at the Fall meeting of the Swiss Chemical Society (SCS), benefiting both our students and the broader scientific community. Each year, our students have presented their research at the SCS, gaining valuable experience in scientific communication. Moreover, the concept has extended beyond high school: the expertise gained in this program has directly contributed to initiating a PhD in the field of sensing. Taken together, these outcomes illustrate that such a visionary programme has great potential to be further developed and implemented in high schools. It therefore should be supported by institutions to promote excellence in science and chemistry. We hope that this article will inspire the scientific community to recognize and promote the importance of early research training in fostering excellence in science and chemistry
Shortcut to a First Degree: Chemical Education Highlights
No full textThe FHNW School of Life Sciences and aprentas have launched a shortened part-time study programme at the university of applied sciences which allows high-performing apprenticeship graduates to advance quickly
Ultrafast Multidimensional Spectroscopy: A Window into Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer and its Control
Full text linkThis perspective discusses the application of multidimensional spectroscopies in the study of electron transfer, proton transfer, and proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) processes in the excited state. By addressing vibrational modes intimately tied to the reaction coordinate, these techniques aim to probe, perturb, and ultimately steer photochemical reactions. Simultaneously, multidimensional spectroscopies will provide unparalleled insight into these processes, accessing observables not available to conventional ultrafast spectroscopy. Altogether, this approach allows us to move beyond simple observation towards active manipulation of fundamental chemical reactions in the excited state