Al Center Research Articles

Isolation of Cyclic Aluminium Polysulfides by Stepwise Sulfurization.

Despite the notable progress in aluminium chalcogenides, their sulfur congeners have rarely been isolated under mild conditions owing to limited synthetic precursors and methods. Herein, facile isolation of diverse molecular aluminium sulfides is achievable, by the reaction of N‐heterocyclic carbene‐stabilized terphenyl dihydridoaluminium (1) with various thiation reagents. Different to the known dihydridoaluminium 1Tipp , 1 features balanced stability and reactivity at the Al center. It is this balance that enables the first monomeric aluminium hydride hydrogensulfide 2, the six‐membered cyclic aluminium polysulfide 4 and the five‐membered cyclic aluminium polysulfide 6 to be isolated, by reaction with various equivalents of elemental sulfur. Moreover, a rare aluminium heterocyclic sulfide with Al−S−P five‐membered ring (7) was obtained in a controlled manner. All new compounds were fully characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. Their structures were confirmed by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction studies.

A Free Aluminylene with Diverse σ-Donating and Doubly σ/π-Accepting Ligand Features for Transition Metals*.

We report herein the synthesis, characterization, and coordination chemistry of a free N-aluminylene, namely a carbazolylaluminylene 2 b. This species is prepared via a reduction reaction of the corresponding carbazolyl aluminium diiodide. The coordination behavior of 2 b towards transition metal centers (W, Cr) is shown to afford a series of novel aluminylene complexes 3-6 with diverse coordination modes. We demonstrate that the tri-active ambiphilic Al center in 2 b can behave as: 1. a σ-donating and doubly π-accepting ligand; 2. a σ-donating, σ-accepting and π-accepting ligand; and 3. a σ-donating and doubly σ-accepting ligand. Additionally, we show ligand exchange at the aluminylene center providing access to the modulation of electronic properties of transition metals without changing the coordinated atoms. Investigations of 2 b with IDippCuCl (IDipp=1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene) show an unprecedented aluminylene-alumanyl transformation leading to a rare terminal Cu-alumanyl complex 8. The electronic structures of such complexes and the mechanism of the aluminylene-alumanyl transformation are investigated through density functional theory (DFT) calculations.

A Free Aluminylene with Diverse σ‐Donating and Doubly σ/π‐Accepting Ligand Features for Transition Metals**

AbstractWe report herein the synthesis, characterization, and coordination chemistry of a free N‐aluminylene, namely a carbazolylaluminylene 2 b. This species is prepared via a reduction reaction of the corresponding carbazolyl aluminium diiodide. The coordination behavior of 2 b towards transition metal centers (W, Cr) is shown to afford a series of novel aluminylene complexes 3–6 with diverse coordination modes. We demonstrate that the tri‐active ambiphilic Al center in 2 b can behave as: 1. a σ‐donating and doubly π‐accepting ligand; 2. a σ‐donating, σ‐accepting and π‐accepting ligand; and 3. a σ‐donating and doubly σ‐accepting ligand. Additionally, we show ligand exchange at the aluminylene center providing access to the modulation of electronic properties of transition metals without changing the coordinated atoms. Investigations of 2 b with IDippCuCl (IDipp=1,3‐bis(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)imidazol‐2‐ylidene) show an unprecedented aluminylene‐alumanyl transformation leading to a rare terminal Cu‐alumanyl complex 8. The electronic structures of such complexes and the mechanism of the aluminylene‐alumanyl transformation are investigated through density functional theory (DFT) calculations.

Response of the Ti and Al electron spin resonance signals in quartz to X-ray irradiation

Equivalent dose determination with electron spin resonance (ESR) involves laboratory irradiation of samples using a calibrated source. In this study, we investigated the response of the quartz ESR signals to irradiations from 50 kV or 200 kV X-ray sources by inter-comparison with 60Co gamma irradiation using seven quartz samples of different origins. For each sample, the equivalent X-ray irradiation time required to create the same concentration of defects as a known dose of 60Co gamma-ray was calculated. The effective dose rate was obtained from the given gamma dose (188 Gy) divided by the equivalent X-ray irradiation time; this is referred to as the ‘X-ray dose rate’ in this study. The X-ray dose rate estimates from different samples were relatively uniform. However, the dose rate calculated from the Al centre was on average ∼10% higher than that of the Ti centre, and more scattered among different samples especially for the low-energy X-ray source. The ratio of the dose rates, obtained from the two centres (Al/Ti) varied significantly between the samples; four sediment samples from Tajikistan, China, Chile and Greece yielded consistent dose rates from both centres for both sources, whereas the remaining three samples from Japan and Taiwan showed a dose rate up to 26% higher from the Al centre compared to the Ti centre. The cause of the higher effective dose rate for the Al centre for these three samples requires further investigations.

Can amyotrophic lateral sclerosis progression really pause? A cohort study using the medical research council scale

Objective: To assess the frequency and predictors of plateaus in ALS progression as assessed by the Medical Research Council (MRC) Scale. Methods: All patients attending the ALS Center of Turin, with a diagnosis between 2007 and 2014 were considered. At each visit, muscle strength was evaluated in several muscles and assessed using the MRC scale. Concomitant ALSFRSr scores were retrieved. Plateaus were calculated as a stable overall MRC or ALSFRSr score lasting at least 6, 12 or 18 months. Results: According to MRC scale scores, 122 (22.8%), 71 (13.2%) and 59 (11.0%) patients experienced a plateau lasting at least 6, 12 and 18 months. ALSFRSr scores revealed similar estimates [134, (25.0%), 89 (16.6%) and 67 (12.5%), respectively]. Plateaus were more frequent at high scores and appeared a median of 24.6 months (IQR 6.7–47.7) after the diagnosis. Only the predominant upper motor neuron phenotype (OR 4.06, 95% CI 2-06–8.10, p-value <0.001) and diagnostic delay OR 1.03, 95% CI 1.01–10.5, p-value = 0.005) were significantly correlated with their appearance. Discussion: Plateaus in ALS progression as assessed using either ALSFRSr or MRC scale are not infrequent and should be expected especially in less aggressive phenotypes. Similar results were found both using the MRC scale and the ALSFRSr scores, suggesting a comparable reliability of these scales in grasping the disease progression.

Arterial blood gas analysis: base excess and carbonate are predictive of noninvasive ventilation adaptation and survival in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Objective: To investigate the role of arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis parameters (blood carbon dioxide, pCO2; oxygen, pO2; carbonate, HCO3−; standard base excess, SBE) in monitoring respiratory function and ventilation compliance after noninvasive mechanical ventilation (NIV) adaptation, predicting survival in ALS patients. Methods: We selected the first ABG performed after NIV start in ALS patients followed from 2000 to 2015 in Turin ALS Center. Correlations between ABG parameters and survival were calculated. Risk for death/tracheostomy was computed at modifying ABG parameters by using Cox regression models, adjusted for the main prognostic factors. Kaplan–Meier curves were then performed and compared. Results: A total of 186 post-NIV ABGs were included. HCO3− and SBE showed a significant correlation with survival after NIV (respectively, R = −0.183, p = 0.018 and R = −0.200, p = 0.010). Risk for death/tracheostomy after NIV was significantly higher at increasing HCO3− and SBE blood levels, especially when HCO3− was >29 mmol/L and SBE >4 mmol/L (respectively, HR 1.466, 95% CI 1.068–2.011, p = 0.018 and HR = 1.411, 95% CI 1.030–1.32, p = 0.032). Survival in NIV was higher in patients with HCO3− < 29.0 mmol/L and SBE < 4.0 mmol/L. Conclusions: HCO3− and SBE blood levels are markers of ventilation compliance, tolerance and efficacy, being able to predict survival after NIV start in ALS.

A Novel Reactivity of Phosphanylalumane (>P-Al

The reversible addition of olefins to a phosphanylalumane, P-Al single-bond species, was investigated. The P-Al bond added to ethylene and relatively small terminal alkenes (propylene and hex-1-ene) at room temperature to give the corresponding alkene adducts. Heating the terminal alkene adducts released the corresponding alkenes and regenerated the P-Al bond, but no release of ethylene was observed even under vacuum conditions. The reactivity of ethylene adduct as a new saturated C2 vicinal P/Al-based FLP was also investigated. The ethylene adduct was found to undergo complexation with nitriles to give the corresponding nitrile adducts to the Al center, which retained the ethylene tether as in the case of the corresponding P/B-based FLP. However, the reactivity of ethylene toward CO2 and benzaldehyde differed from that of the P/B system giving the corresponding adducts.

Non-hydrolytic sol–gel route to a family of hybrid mesoporous aluminosilicate ethanol dehydration catalysts

Hybrid materials are intensely studied for potential applications in heterogeneous catalysis. Organic groups at the catalyst surface can modify not only its hydrophilicity, but also acidity, hydrothermal stability, porosity, etc. In some cases, tuning such properties leads to improved catalytic performance. Often, however, the organic moieties are limited to methyl groups introduced via post-grafting. Here, a series of mesoporous hybrid aluminosilicate materials was prepared in one pot by non-hydrolytic sol–gel (NHSG). Aromatic, aliphatic, pendant, and bridging organic groups were incorporated. The presence of the organic groups in the bulk and at the outermost surface of the materials was verified by solid-state NMR, IR, ToF–SIMS, and XPS. The hybrid aluminosilicates were tested as catalysts in the gas phase ethanol dehydration to ethylene, and most of them outperformed the inorganic catalyst benchmark. While a direct influence of surface hydrophobicity (as probed by water sorption and water contact angle measurements) appeared unlikely, characterization of acidity (IR-pyridine) revealed that the improved performance for hybrid catalysts could be correlated with a modification of the acidic properties. The latter are determined by the quality of the dispersion of Al centers in the form of isolated sites in the hybrid silica matrix, which itself appears to be influenced by the presence of organic groups in the non-aqueous synthesis. All in all, this study establishes a "ranking" for a variety of organic groups in terms of their influence on the catalyst activity.

Zeolite‐Supported Rhenium Catalysts for the Deoxydehydration of 1,2‐Hexanediol to 1‐Hexene

AbstractFor the first time ammonium perrhenate (APR) supported on zeolites of the types H‐β, H‐ZSM‐5 and H−Y were shown to be efficient catalysts for the deoxydehydration (DODH). They catalyzed the transformation of 1,2‐hexanediol (1,2‐HDO) to 1‐hexene in the presence of 3‐octanol as reductant and solvent with productivities up to 0.24 mol1‐hexene ⋅ gRe−1 ⋅ h−1. The productivity decreased with increasing Si : Al ratio, independent of the zeolite structure. Catalyst characterization indicates Re‐species to preferably bind to the Al centers of the support, resulting in a higher amount of active metal centers.

Gamma radiation effects on quartz Al and Ti center electron spin resonance signal intensity: Implications for quartz provenance discrimination

Abstract Quartz is one of the most common rock-forming minerals and crystallizes over a wide range of temperature and pressure conditions. This diversity of quartz crystallization environments is reflected by trace-element compositional variations, which can be used to distinguish between different source sediments. Trace elements that are incorporated into the quartz lattice form corresponding paramagnetic centers (impurity centers, such as Al and Ti centers), which can be detected using the electron spin resonance (ESR) method. However, whether the quartz impurity center ESR signal intensity (quartz ESR-SI) can be used for quartz sediment provenance tracing remains uncertain. In the present study, five present-day (modern) fluvial sediments from the Songhua, Yellow, Yangtze, Huai, and Pearl rivers in China and eight ancient fluvial sand lenses from the Yichang Gravel Layer (YGL) located in the middle Yangtze River were sampled for major- and trace-element determinations by ICP-OES and ICP-MS for the purpose of provenance discrimination. A total of 1404 ESR spectra were also collected to evaluate the effect of γ-ray dose (varying from 50 to 50 000 Gy) on quartz ESR-SI to establish the relationship between quartz element contents and quartz ESR-SIs and thereby to assess the potential utility of quartz ESR-SI for sediment provenance analysis. Results indicate that: (1) quartz collected from the different studied locations can be distinguished by element contents; (2) the quartz Al center ESR-SI increases with increasing γ-ray dose from 50 to 50 000 Gy; (3) the quartz Ti center ESR-SI increases within a γ-ray dose of 10 000 Gy and decreases beyond 10 000 Gy; (4) quartz Al and Ti center ESR-SIs are closely related to the contents of Al and Ti in quartz; and (5) a plot of quartz Ti center ESR-SI vs. Al center ESR-SI using data for a γ-ray dose range of 4000–7000 Gy is the best indicator of fluvial sediment provenance using the ESR method.

Fluorinated aluminum(III) porphyrins: Synthesis, spectroscopy, electrochemistry and photochemistry

A series of fluorinated free-base porphyrins (H2TPPF[Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] = 0, 8, 12, 20, 24) and the corresponding aluminum(III) porphyrin (AlTPPF[Formula: see text]-Ph, [Formula: see text] = 0, 8, 12, 20, 24) derivatives have been synthesized and their spectroscopic, redox and optical properties were investigated. The absorption studies show that the spectral shapes of investigated porphyrins are sensitive to the degree of fluorination on the meso-phenyl units. Analogously, the fluorescence quantum yields and singlet-state lifetimes depend on the number of fluorine atoms, and decrease by increasing the number of fluorine atoms. The H2TPPF[Formula: see text] and AlTPPF[Formula: see text]-Ph ([Formula: see text] = 8, 12, 20, 24) derivatives exhibited lower fluorescence intensities compared to the H2TPP and AlTPP, respectively. However, the AlTPPF[Formula: see text]-Ph ([Formula: see text] = 0, 8, 12, 20, 24) derivatives yield relatively a strong fluorescence compared to the well-known ZnTPP. As predicted, the redox potentials are shifted to the more positive side by increasing the fluorine atoms. The Lewis acidity of AlTPPF[Formula: see text]-Ph was quantified by using the absorption and fluorescence titrations with the Lewis base [Formula: see text]-methylimidazole (Me-Im). The titration data suggests that the Lewis acidity of the Al center rises when increasing the number of fluorine atoms on the porphyrin. Together, the high fluorescence quantum yields, high-potentials, unique optical and redox properties suggest that the investigated porphyrins could be potential sensitizers to mimic various components of artificial photosynthetic systems for the production of solar fuels.

Reaction mechanism for fluorination reactions with hydroxylated alumina sites: Pathways promoting aluminum combustion.

Density functional theory calculations were used to reveal the mechanism for the fluorination reaction of active Lewis acid sites on alumina structures, which is important in understanding the pyrophoric processes involving Al particles. In this reaction, hydroxyl groups of active sites are replaced by fluorine anions. Alumina structures were represented by three aluminum aqua hydroxo clusters (labeled AlOOH), in which the Al atom had different coordination spheres, particularly four, five, or six. The F-bearing molecules HF, CH3F, and CF4 were taken as reactants for the fluorination reactions. The overall reaction was represented by four reaction steps as follows: (i) formation of the reaction complex, (ii) activation of the transition state (TS), (iii) deactivation of the TS with a formation of the product complex, and (iv) its decomplexation to individual products. The active reaction center of the TS structure is four-membered, in which two bonds break heterolytically and two form. The lowest reaction barriers were observed for the HF molecule, while the two other molecules had significantly higher reaction barriers. Similarly, the largest overall reaction energies (in absolute value) were found for HF, especially for the five- and six-coordinated Al centers. While the positive charge on the Al center remained almost constant throughout the reaction steps, large charge changes were observed for carbon bearing molecules with a formation of the carbenium cations in the TS step. Realizing the important role of HF in promoting exothermic reactions will enable new molecular design strategies for transforming energy release properties of aluminum powder fuels.

Increased worsening of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients during Covid-19-related lockdown in France

Covid-19-related lockdown (LD) in France precluded in-person follow-up in referral ALS centers. ALS patients’ evolution and worsening before and during LD were studied to analyze its impact. A total of 84 patients were identified. The monthly rate of ALSFRS-R decline during LD was 1.06 ± 1.42 and was significantly increased compared to the pre-LD period, 0.58 ± 0.73, corresponding to an 83% increase (p = 0.007). Weight loss was unchanged between pre-LD and LD, gender and site of onset did not influence the rates of change of ALSFRS-R score. Several factors may be implicated in this increased severity of ALS during LD, such as psychological consequences of LD, interruptions of physiotherapy and speech therapy, or in-patient visits both to the tertiary center and the GP. Physicians and health authorities should be aware of that, in order to prevent the consequences of future sanitary restrictions.

Cooperative Heterometallic Catalysts for Lactide Ring-Opening Polymerization: Combining Aluminum with Divalent Metals.

While homometallic (salen)Al catalysts display excellent performance in lactide ring-opening polymerization (ROP), heterometallic (salen)Al complexes have yet to be reported. Herein, we describe four heterobimetallic (salen)Al catalysts and show that the choice of the heterometal is key. Cooperative Al/Mg and Al/Zn combinations improved the catalyst activity by a factor of up to 11 compared to the mono-Al analogue, whereas the mono-Mg and mono-Zn analogues were completely inactive. In contrast, Al/Li and Al/Ca heterocombinations stunted the polymerization rate. Kinetic and computational studies suggest that Al/Mg and Al/Zn cooperativity arises from the close intermetallic proximity facilitating chloride bridging (thus enhancing initiation), which promotes a rigid square pyramidal geometry around the Al center and further increases the available monomer coordination sites. This work also translates the use of ab initio molecular dynamics calculations to ROP, introducing a useful method of investigating catalyst flexibility and revealing that ligand strain and molecular rigidity can enhance heterometallic catalyst performance.

The crystal structure of the deca-aluminum alkoxide cluster Al10O4(OH)8 L 14 (L = 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexa-fluoro-propan-2-olate).

In the title centrosymmetric cluster compound, hexa-kis-(μ2-1,1,1,3,3,3-hexa-fluoro-propan-2-olato)octa-kis-(1,1,1,3,3,3-hexa-fluoro-propan-2-olato)octa-μ2-hydroxido-di-μ4-oxido-di-μ3-oxido-deca-aluminium, [Al10(C3HF6O)14(OH)8O4] (C42H22Al10F84O26), there is a central μ4-OAl4 moiety, which has six edges of which three contain μ(O)-1,1,1,3,3,3-hexa-fluoro-propan-2-olate (L) ligands and two contain μ-OH groups each bridging two Al atoms along an edge. The sixth edge is occupied by a group containing a fifth aluminium atom [bis-μ(OH)-, μ3(O)-AlL]. This last μ3(O) group generates a centrosymmetric Al2O2 dimer, thus the μ3(O) atom is linked to two Al atoms in the asymmetric unit as well as a third Al atom through a center of inversion. Three of the hexa-fluoro-propyl groups of the C3HF6O- ligands are disordered and each was refined with two conformations with occupancies of 0.770 (3)/0.230 (3), 0.772 (3)/0.228 (3) and 0.775 (3)/0.225 (3). The five unique Al centers have coordination numbers varying from four to six with bond angles that show considerable distortions from regular geometry: for the four-coordinate atom, τ4' = 0.886, while three Al atoms are five-coordinate (τ5 values = 0.098, 1.028, and 0.338) and one is distorted six-coordinate with O-Al-O bond angles ranging from 74.22 (9) to 171.59 (12)°. The geometry about the central O atom in the OAl4 block is significantly distorted tetra-hedral (τ4' = 0.630) with Al-O-Al angles ranging from 95.50 (9) to 147.74 (13)°. The extended structure features numerous O-H⋯O, O-H⋯F, C-H⋯O and C-H⋯F hydrogen bonds and short F⋯F contacts.

C2-Selective silylation of pyridines by a rhodium-aluminum complex.

We have developed a C2-selective mono-silylation of a variety of pyridines using a Rh-Al complex. Both the site- and mono-selectivity are controlled via the pyridine coordination to the Lewis-acidic Al center prior to the activation of the pyridine C(2)-H bond at the proximal Rh center. A reaction mechanism is proposed based on several mechanistic studies, including the isolation of a (2-pyridyl)silylrhodium intermediate.

In English

Powders where the γ≈α-Al2O3-nano phases are the priority precursors for catalysts for heterogeneous catalysis with the maximum content of surface 5-coordinated Al centers for Pt attachment. Hydrogenated nano powders (~8 nm) of γ-, γ '-, θ-, κ-Al2O3 soluble in hydrochloric acid were obtained from the processing of aluminum boride powders with an icosahedral structure. Samples, which underwent a step-by-step and single heating of 50-100K heat treatment for 2 hours at temperatures of 570-1470K, were received in quantity of 34. The specific surface area of SВET, m2g-1 was measured by the thermal nitrogen desorption express method of gas chromatography through the GC-1 device. X-ray (phase and coherent), fluorescence and phase chemical-analytical evaluation of the samples were performed. The thermokinetic characteristics of the processes are calculated using the exponential Arrhenius law. Dimensional characteristics of crystallites (10.4-48 nm); specific surface area of powders (213-8.6 m2g-1, SВET); thermokinetic parameters of α-Al2O3 crystallite growth process (V α-Al2O3 - 1.44 10-3 - 6.67 10-3 nm s-1; E α-Al2O3 = 38.7±2.1kJ mol-1; A0 = 0.16±0.0 s-1 along the temperature line 1220-1470K were determined and calculated. The process of dehydration of two OH-groups occurs in the region 570-720K Ea H2O ↑ = 30.5 ± 0.5 kJ mol-1 A0 = 1.33±0.3 s-1. The last group of OH at temperatures of 820 -1070К and a rate of 2.13 10-4 - 4.93 10-4 mol s-1 Ea H2O ↑ = 13.2 ± 0.8 kJ mol-1 A0 = 16.9 ± 0.9 s-1. The activation energy of the phase transition is Ea., γ → α-Al2O3 = 23.9 ± 1.0 kJ mol-1 A0 = 2.01 ± 0.72 s-1 (770-970K) and Ea., γ → α-Al2O3 = 83.5 ± 0.8 kJ mol-1 A0 =(2,05±0,95) 103 s-1 (1070-1170K). It agrees well with the known heat of conversion Eа, γ→α-Al2O3 = 85 kJ mol-1. The TK of γ≈α-Al2O3-nano phases is at 1170K.

Early Referral to an ALS Center Reduces Several Months the Diagnostic Delay: A Multicenter-Based Study.

Objective: To analyze those factors contributing to the diagnostic delay in ALS.Methods: Consecutive ALS patients were categorized as those studied in departmental hospitals and those studied in a referral ALS center. Demographic and clinical variables, together with data of the diagnostic pathway were collected. Multivariable models were used to assess their effect in the time between symptoms onset and the first neurologist visit (time symptoms-neurologist), in the time between the first neurologist visit and the diagnosis (time neurologist-diagnosis) and in the diagnostic delay.Results: 166 ALS patients with a median diagnostic delay of 11.53 months (IQR: 6.68, 15.23) were included. The median diagnostic delay was 8.57 months (5.16, 11.61) in the referral center vs. 12.08 months (6.87, 16.8) in departmental centers. Bulbar onset, fast progression rate, upper motor neuron predominant phenotype and an early referral to the neurologist were associated with a shorter time between symptoms–neurologist. Being studied in a referral center was associated with a shorter time between neurologist–diagnosis. Comorbidities, familial ALS, bulbar onset, early referral to the neurologist and being studied in a referral center were associated with a shorter diagnostic delay. For patients studied in departmental hospitals, fast progression rate was also strongly associated with a shorter time between neurologist–diagnosis and diagnostic delay.Conclusion: Unmodifiable factors (comorbidities, familial ALS, bulbar onset, and progression rate) as well as modifiable factors (early referral to the neurologist and the evaluation in an ALS referral center) have an independent effect in the diagnostic delay. The universalization of ALS Units is probably the most efficient measure to reduce the diagnostic delay.

Telehealth approach for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients: the experience during COVID-19 pandemic.

Specialized multidisciplinary ALS care has been shown to extend survival and improve patient's and caregiver's quality of life. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the management of patients suddenly changed and telemedicine has been proven to be as effective as outpatient care. We elaborate the experience with Telemedicine of a Tertiary ALS Center from an Italian geographical area with high infectious risk during the COVID-19 pandemic. 19 patients were evaluated in telemedicine by a multidisciplinary team including a neurologist (clinical evaluation, intercurrent events, and drug prescriptions); a dietician (diet and weight monitoring); a psychologist (psychological assessment and support); and a physiotherapist (physiotherapy treatment and device prescription). Telemedicine was performed using the online platform "IoMT Connected Care Platform (Ticuro Reply)." All patients reported a positive perception of talking face to face with healthcare professionals and were satisfied with how the team understood their problems. During video televisits, there was a change in the patient's medication regimen in 11/19; 2/19 required pneumological evaluation and started NIV; and 9/16 patients required prescription of devices. The mean monthly decline of ALSFRS-R before televisit was 0.88 (SD 1.17) and during televisit of 0.49 (SD 0.75). Bodyweight and daily caloric content remain stable. Reduction in HADS scores and stability in ALSAQ-40 were observed. Our study positively reproduced the multidisciplinary approach currently used with ALS patients, trying to stabilize the functional and metabolic status and improving the psychological one. Future directions include a personalized telemedicine program according to the patient's needs.

Nanoporous-Based Sensors for Electrical Detection of Gaseous Pollutants

The advanced in situ detection of gaseous pollutants, such as NOx or SOx, is of great interest in many applications, such as the automotive and coal industries. Here, we leverage the previous successful development of impedance spectroscopy-based sensors for the detection of gaseous I2 to develop a novel sensor for the detection of these gaseous pollutants. During initial development of an I2 sensor, a metal-organic framework (MOF ZIF-8) material was utilized as an adsorbent layer deposited onto Pt interdigitated electrodes. The MOF was demonstrated to selectively adsorb I2, irreversibly, from a complex gas stream with a (>105x) change in measured impedance across the electrodes1. Further studies aimed at developing a robust sensor examined other materials, including zeolites2 and additional MOFs. It was demonstrated that utilizing MFM-300(X) (X= Al, Fe, In or Sc metal center) active materials enabled a reversible electrical response via gas adsorption/desorption3. The current work is focused on exploring these same nanoporous phases (MOFs, zeolites, etc.) for the real-time detection of NOx. The down-selection of candidate materials from bulk synthesis and gas selectivity testing will be discussed. Methods for deposition of these materials onto the Pt interdigitated electrodes and initial sensor performance during controlled gas exposures will be presented. Acknowledgements Sandia National Laboratories is a multi-mission laboratory managed and operated by National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Honeywell International Inc., for the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration under contract DE-NA0003525. This paper describes objective technical results and analysis. Any subjective views or opinions that might be expressed in the paper do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Department of Energy or the United States Government. References 1) Small, L.J and Nenoff, T.M., ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces, 2017, 9 (51), 44649-44655.2) Small, L.J.; Krumhansl, J.L.; Rademacher, D.X.; Nenoff, T.M. Micro. Meso. Mater., 2019, 280, 82-87.3) Small, L.J.; Hill, R. C.; Krumhansl, J. L.; Schindelholz, M. E.; Chen, Z.; Chapman, K.W.; Zhang, X.; Yang, S.; Schroder, M.; Nenoff, T.M., ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 2019, 11(31), 27982-27988.