Influence of Nb5+ ions on phase transitions and polar disorder above TC in PbZrO3 studied by Raman spectroscopy

Micro-Raman light scattering experiments on PbZrO₃ (PZO) single crystal doped with Nb⁵⁺ have been investigated. Special attention was paid to the paraelectric (PE) phase in which nominally forbidden first-order Raman spectra were detected at temperatures far above the phase transition T_C. Complex Raman spectra were observed in the vicinity of three structural phase transitions. These results mainly from the coexistence of phases with different symmetries in a wide temperature range below T_C. The Raman measurements have been compared with dielectric and optical observations and proved that polar nanoregions in a centrosymmetric lattice appear well above T_C. It was shown that doping ABO₃ perovskites with heterovalent ions like Nb⁵⁺ unbalances charge neutrality of the lattice and strongly extends the temperature range of polar regions. The investigations performed point out that in the PE matrix the interaction between electrons and lattice vibrations, as recently suggested for pure PZO, plays an important role.     

Hydrostatic pressure influence on electric relaxation response of bismuth manganite ceramics

Electrical impedance of bismuth manganite ceramics was studied under ambient and high hydrostatic pressure. Local disorder of crystal lattice was confirmed using XRD and DSC. Two relaxation processes were discerned. One was attributed to small polarons, which showed a changeover from variable range hopping features related to Fermi glass and structural disorder to the nearest neighbor hopping behavior in higher temperature range related to uniform distribution of energy levels. Hydrostatic pressure shortened relaxation times that would be interesting for applications. The second process, which was assigned to the nearest neighbor hopping of polarons, also exhibited a changeover to glassy features in a high-temperature range.     

Antitumor Effects of Vitamin D Analogs on Hamster and Mouse Melanoma Cell Lines in Relation to Melanin Pigmentation

Deregulated melanogenesis is involved in melanomagenesis and melanoma progression and resistance to therapy. Vitamin D analogs have anti-melanoma activity. While the hypercalcaemic effect of the active form of Vitamin D (1,25(OH)₂D₃) limits its therapeutic use, novel Vitamin D analogs with a modified side chain demonstrate low calcaemic activity. We therefore examined the effect of secosteroidal analogs, both classic (1,25(OH)₂D₃ and 25(OH)D₃), and novel relatively non-calcemic ones (20(OH)D₃, calcipotriol, 21(OH)pD, pD and 20(OH)pL), on proliferation, colony formation in monolayer and soft-agar, and mRNA and protein expression by melanoma cells. Murine B16-F10 and hamster Bomirski Ab cell lines were shown to be effective models to study how melanogenesis affects anti-melanoma treatment. Novel Vitamin D analogs with a short side-chain and lumisterol-like 20(OH)pL efficiently inhibited rodent melanoma growth. Moderate pigmentation sensitized rodent melanoma cells towards Vitamin D analogs, and altered expression of key genes involved in Vitamin D signaling, which was opposite to the effect on heavily pigmented cells. Interestingly, melanogenesis inhibited ligand-induced Vitamin D receptor translocation and ligand-induced expression of VDR and CYP24A1 genes. These findings indicate that melanogenesis can affect the anti-melanoma activity of Vitamin D analogs in a complex manner.     

Expression of RCAS1 Correlates with Urothelial Bladder Cancer Malignancy

RCAS1 is a protein that participates in regulation of the tumor microenvironment and its immune responses, all in order to evade the immune system. The aim of this study was to analyze RCAS1 expression in urothelial bladder cancer cells (and in fibroblasts and macrophages of the tumor stroma) and its relationship with the histological pattern of malignancy. Eighty-three postcystectomy patients were enrolled. We analyzed the histological maturity (grade), progress (pT stage), tissue invasion type (TIT), nonclassic differentiation number (NDN), and the ability to metastasize (pN). The expression of RCAS1 protein was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Indicators of histological malignancy were observed solely in association with the RCAS1 expression in cells in the border parts (BPs) of the tumor. Histological malignancy of the tumor, indicated by the pT and pN, and metastasis-free survival time, correlated significantly with RCAS1 expression in tumor neoplastic cells, whereas malignancy determined by grade, TIT, and NDN correlated with RCAS1 expression in fibroblasts and macrophages in the tumor microenvironment. These findings suggest that the increased RCAS1 expression depends on its cellular source and that RCAS1 expression itself is a component of various signaling pathways. The immune escape occurs within the tumor BPs, where the increase in the RCAS1 expression occurs within tumor cells and stromal cells in its microenvironment. We conclude that the histological pattern of tumor malignancy, indicated by grade, TIT, NDN, pT, and pN is a morphological indicator of immune escape.     

Nafion‐115/aromatic poly(etherimide) with isopropylidene groups/imidazole membranes for polymer fuel cells

Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) with Pt/C gas diffusion electrodes and graphite single‐serpentine monopolar plates were constructed based on an aromatic poly(etherimide) with isopropylidene groups (PI)/imidazole (Im) and a popular Nafion‐115 matrix. The electrochemical properties of PEMFCs were tested at 25 and 60°C. The maximum power density of 171 mW/cm² and the maximum current density of 484 mA/cm² were detected for Nafion‐115/PI membrane. For both constructed PEMFCs the efficiency at 0.6 V was found about 41%. Immersion of Nafion‐115 in PI or PI/Im increased the thermal stability and mechanical properties of membranes. Thermal, mechanical properties and morphology of membranes were characterized by TGA, and AFM techniques including force spectroscopy. Interactions between the components in composite membranes were established by FT‐IR. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42436.     

Hierarchical porous carbon templated with silica spheres of a diameter of 14 nm from pure chitosan or a chitosan/ZnCl<Subscript>2</Subscript> solution

Nitrogen-containing mesoporous carbons with the use of colloidal silica spheres of (14 nm) and chitosan as a carbon precursor were obtained. A removal of such small template particles from carbonized silica–chitosan composite is difficult and HF with a minimum concentration of 15 wt% should be used. By varying the silica-to-chitosan ratio, the porous characteristic of products is controlled. The modification by ZnCl₂ with a molar Zn-to-C (in chitosan mass) ratio of ‘6’ results in the development of microporosity; however it is accompanied by a significant reduction of mesopore volume (V_mes). The addition of ZnCl₂ in a ratio of ‘5.25’ and pH adjustment to 5.8 increase the volumes of micropores, small mesopores, BET surface area to 1975 m²/g, and preserve V_mes of 4.15 cm³/g. The novelty of the presented strategy is the creation of microporosity in the hard-templated materials by incorporating ZnCl₂ into the mixture of Ludox HS-40 template and chitosan precursor, as well as the investigation on how the pH of synthesis influences the final porosity. The pH of a silica–chitosan–zinc solution, equal to 3.9, provides some coordination of Zn²⁺ by –OH and –NH₂ groups, whereas pH adjustment to 5.8 results in the precipitation of a new template—Zn(OH)₂.     

Nonstationary convective drying of raspberries,assisted by microwaves and ultrasound

This study was conducted to investigate the drying characteristics and quality of raspberries dried in non-stationary conditions. Seven drying programs were carried out, including convective (CV) drying as a reference. The non-stationary-hybrid programs were based on continuous CV drying with intermittent microwave and ultrasound assistance. The Midilli–Kucuk model was used successfully to describe the drying kinetics of raspberry fruits. The comparison between moisture ratio, drying rate, diffusion coefficient, energy consumption, and quality analysis, showed that non-stationary-hybrid drying improves process kinetics and results in less color change, higher anthocyanin retention, and better texture profile analysis characteristics with optimal energy usage than other methods. In addition, the physical and microstructural changes occurred during different drying processes were discussed.     

Centreless burnishing and influence of its parameters on machining effects

The article presents the results of examining the centreless roller burnishing technology worked out by the authors. The structure and the construction details of a prototype device for the centreless burnishing of shafts were presented. The experiments were carried on using 41Cr4 steel workpieces. The effects of the workpiece hardness, the surface roughness before burnishing, the deformation multiplicity and the tool interference on the roughness and the geometric structure after burnishing were investigated. The significant influence of the above parameters was confirmed and described as a mathematical power model. It also showed a beneficial effect of centreless burnishing parameters on roughness and geometric structure of the surface.