Unconventional mechanism and selectivity of the Pd-catalyzed C–H bond lactonization in aromatic carboxylic acid

The search for more effective and highly selective C–H bond oxidation of accessible hydrocarbons and biomolecules is a greatly attractive research mission. The elucidating of mechanism and controlling factors will, undoubtedly, help to broaden scope of these synthetic protocols, and enable discovery of more efficient, environmentally benign, and highly practical new C–H oxidation reactions. Here, we reveal the stepwise intramolecular SN2 nucleophilic substitution mechanism with the rate-limiting C–O bond formation step for the Pd(II)-catalyzed C(sp3)–H lactonization in aromatic 2,6-dimethylbenzoic acid. We show that for this reaction, the direct C–O reductive elimination from both Pd(II) and Pd(IV) (oxidized by O2 oxidant) intermediates is unfavorable. Critical factors controlling the outcome of this reaction are the presence of the η3-(π-benzylic)–Pd and K+–O(carboxylic) interactions. The controlling factors of the benzylic vs ortho site-selectivity of this reaction are the: (a) difference in the strains of the generated lactone rings; (b) difference in the strengths of the η3-(π-benzylic)–Pd and η2-(π-phenyl)–Pd interactions, and (c) more pronounced electrostatic interaction between the nucleophilic oxygen and K+ cation in the ortho-C–H activation transition state. The presented data indicate the utmost importance of base, substrate, and ligand in the selective C(sp3)–H bond lactonization in the presence of C(sp2)–H.

The Impact of Covid-19 on Higher Education: A Review on the Moroccan Case

The period 1999-2009 was considered as “the decade of education” in Morocco because of the main projects of the overhaul of the education system launched during this period. This period has seen profound reforms which affected the organization, pedagogy, and financial management of Moroccan universities to improve their performances and to offer the market a skilled workforce. In March 2020, Morocco recorded the first positive cases of Covid-19. Following this situation and in interaction with the international circumstances, the country has embarked on an anticipatory strategy to limit the spread of this new virus through confinement that lasted from March 20 to July 10, 2020, influencing the normal functioning of most sectors and disrupting the strategies of all sectors of activity. The higher education sector has not escaped the effects of the pandemic. Through this article, we wonder about the impact of covid-19 on Moroccan higher education, scientific research, and currents project launched in this sector. We found that the learning process in universities was the most negatively impacted by the pandemic, at the same time, the scientific research mission saw improvements in publications and research funding during the crisis. Finally, the article highlights lessons from this pandemic for the Moroccan higher education sector, which could be illustrative for other developing countries.

Exploring Heritage Archaeology at Indiana University

This article is an overview of a collaborative Indiana University (IU) Bicentennial Project designed to explore and raise awareness of the cultural heritage on IU’s historic Bloomington campus, protect the university’s archaeological resources, contribute to its teaching and research mission, and enhance documentation and interpretation of its historic house museum. The primary project partners were IU’s Glenn A. Black Laboratory of Archaeology and the Wylie House Museum, a unit of IU Libraries. Using state-of-the art remote sensing methods and traditional archaeological excavations, the project sought to locate the buried subterranean greenhouses at the home of first university president, Andrew Wylie. Historical research focused on the position of the Wylies and IU in the development of the city of Bloomington, particularly on the transition from subsistence farming in the mid-19th century to the development of leisurely gardening and floriculture later in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Through campus archaeological field school opportunities, internships, talks, exhibits, presentations on campus, and outreach opportunities throughout the university and Bloomington communities, the project contributed to the IU curriculum and promoted a better understanding of IU’s cultural heritage. Importantly, this campus archaeology project provided a unique opportunity to pursue place-based education and experiential learning that connected students, university, and community stakeholders to their local heritage.

Do universities matter for the location of foreign R&D?

This article explores the extent to which the regional higher education system (HES) influences the location of foreign research and development (R&D). To do so, we use a dataset with information on the location choices of new foreign R&D establishments within Spain from 2005 to 2013. Similarly, we use a multiple measure of the three university missions, distinguishing between research capacity training, scientific research, and technology transfer. We find that the probability of a foreign R&D establishment being located in a region is positively affected by the strength of the region’s HES missions, and more specifically by the quality of its scientific research, while its research training capacity and knowledge transfer activities do not seem to play a significant role. Moreover, the strength of the research mission has a positive influence on the location choice of foreign units conducting research activities but is weak to explain the location of those performing development activities. JEL CLASSIFICATION F21; F23; O32

How has Covid-19 Affected Published Academic Research? A Content Analysis of Journal Articles Mentioning the Virus

Purpose Methods to tackle Covid-19 have been developed by a wave of biomedical research but the pandemic has also influenced many aspects of society, generating a need for research into its consequences, and potentially changing the way existing topics are investigated. This article investigates the nature of this influence on the wider academic research mission. Design/methodology/approach This article reports an inductive content analysis of 500 randomly selected journal articles mentioning Covid-19, as recorded by the Dimensions scholarly database on 19 March 2021. Covid-19 mentions were coded for the influence of the disease on the research. Findings Whilst two thirds of these articles were about biomedicine (e.g. treatments, vaccines, virology), or health services in response to Covid-19, others covered the pandemic economy, society, safety, or education. In addition, some articles were not about the pandemic but stated that Covid-19 had increased or decreased the value of the reported research or changed the context in which it was conducted. Research limitations The findings relate only to Covid-19 influences declared in published journal articles. Practical implications Research managers and funders should consider whether their current procedures are effective in supporting researchers to address the evolving demands of pandemic societies, particularly in terms of timeliness. Originality/value The results show that although health research dominates the academic response to Covid-19, it is more widely disrupting academic research with new demands and challenges.

Multi-degree-of-freedom liner development: Concept to flight test

The emphasis on increased turbofan fuel efficiency requires advanced turbofan designs that will integrate higher engine bypass ratios and shorter nacelles. The resulting acoustic signature of these designs will have a more broadband character as well as a smaller available area for liner installation. This two-fold impact compels a need for an improvement in the state of the art in liner technology. Increasing the acoustic absorption efficacy over a broader frequency range is a means to address this need. An acoustic liner development and optimization process was conceived and employed to achieve and demonstrate an improved broadband liner design concept. A series of increasing technology readiness level liner studies were conducted to enhance the optimization methodology while validating the concept. This progression spanned several NASA Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate programs/projects due to its relevance. This article reviews the development and evaluation process of the multi-degree-of-freedom liner technology concept from formation through simple experimental models to a flight test over an approximate 10-year period, focusing on the discrete tests comprising the development.

Exploring community engaged research experiences and preferences: a multi-level qualitative investigation

Background Community engagement may make research more relevant, translatable, and sustainable, hence improving the possibility of reducing health disparities. The purpose of this study was to explore strategies for community engagement adopted by research teams and identify areas for enhancing engagement in future community engaged research. Methods The Community Engagement Program of the Johns Hopkins Institute for Clinical and Translational Research hosted a forum to engage researchers and community partners in group discussion to reflect on their diverse past and current experiences in planning, implementing, and evaluating community engagement in health research. A total of 50 researchers, research staff, and community partners participated in five concurrent semi-structured group interviews and a whole group wrap-up session. Group interviews were audiotaped, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using content analysis. Results Four themes with eight subthemes were identified. Main themes included: Community engagement is an ongoing and iterative process; Community partner roles must be well-defined and clearly communicated; Mutual trust and transparency are central to community engagement; and Measuring community outcomes is an evolving area. Relevant subthemes were: engaging community partners in various stages of research; mission-driven vs. “checking the box”; breadth and depth of engagement; roles of community partner; recruitment and selection of community partners; building trust; clear communication for transparency; and conflict in community engaged research. Conclusion The findings highlight the benefits and challenges of community engaged research. Enhanced capacity building for community engagement, including training and communication tools for both community and researcher partners, are needed.

Il «faticato peregrinaggio» di Isidoro Carini negli archivi e nelle biblioteche di Spagna (1881-1882)

The Relazione by Isidoro Carini about his research mission in Spain (1881-1882) and the events of its publication allow to reconstruct the beginnings of both the use of spanish sources for the Sicilian and Italian medieval history and of the context of the Sicilian medieval historiography at the end of the 19th Century.

Mission Composition and Mechanisms of Peacekeeping

This chapter introduces the analytical and theoretical framework for the entirety of the book. First, it establishes three key concepts for this research: mission composition, diversity, and distance. These concepts are used to explore whether and how differences within peacekeepers, between the peacekeepers and the local populations, and as well as between the leaders of the operation affect the performances of the operation. Second, it reviews the current analytical toolbox of peacekeeping missions and highlights the limitations of only conceptualizing peacekeeping missions as present or absent and in terms of mission size. Third, it presents four new mechanisms through which mission diversity shapes its effectiveness: Informative Trust, Informative Communicability, Resolve Deterrence, and Skilled Persuasion.