Evaluation of some non-toxic thiadiazole derivatives as bronze corrosion inhibitors in aqueous solution

The inhibiting effect of four innoxious thiadiazole derivatives (2-mercapto-5-amino-1,3,4-thiadiazole (MAT), 2-mercapto-5-acetylamino-1,3,4-thiadiazole (MAcAT), 2-mercapto-5-methyl-1,3,4-thiadiazole (MMeT) and 2-mercapto-5-phenylamino-1,3,4-thiadiazole (MPhAT)) on bronze corrosion in an aerated solution of 0.2 g L⁻¹ Na₂SO₄ + 0.2 g L⁻¹ NaHCO₃ at pH 5 was studied by potentiodynamic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.The corrosion parameters determined from the polarisation curves indicate that the addition of the investigated thiadiazole derivatives decreases both cathodic and anodic current densities, due to an inhibition of the corrosion process, through the adsorption of thiadiazoles on the bronze surface. The inhibiting effect of the investigated organic compounds appears to be more pronounced on the anodic process than on the cathodic one and, except for the case MPhAT, it is enhanced by the increases of the inhibitors’ concentration.The adsorption of the thiadiazole derivatives on bronze was confirmed by the presence of the nitrogen atoms in the EDX spectra of the bronze exposed to inhibitor-containing solutions.The magnitude of polarisation resistance values and, consequently, the inhibition efficiencies are influenced by the molecular structure of thiadiazole derivatives. The strongest inhibition was noticed in the presence of compounds with phenyl amino- or amino-functionalities in their molecules. The maximum protection efficiencies were obtained by addition of: 5 mM MAT (95.9%), 1 mM MAcAT (95.7%), 5 mM MMeT (92.6%) and 0.1 mM MPhAT (97%). EIS measurements also revealed that the inhibitor effectiveness of the optimal concentrations of thiadiazole is time-dependent.     

Novel Models of Crohn’s Disease Pathogenesis Associated with the Occurrence of Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Intestinal Cells

Crohn’s disease remains one of the challenging problems of modern medicine, and the development of new and effective and safer treatments against it is a dynamic field of research. To make such developments possible, it is important to understand the pathologic processes underlying the onset and progression of Crohn’s disease at the molecular and cellular levels. During the recent years, the involvement of mitochondrial dysfunction and associated chronic inflammation in these processes became evident. In this review, we discuss the published works on pathogenetic models of Crohn’s disease. These models make studying the role of mitochondrial dysfunction in the disease pathogenesis possible and advances the development of novel therapies.     

Morphological and Biological Evaluations of Human Periodontal Ligament Fibroblasts in Contact with Different Bovine Bone Grafts Treated with Low-Temperature Deproteinisation Protocol

Several types of deproteinised bovine bone mineral (DBBM) are available on the market, and each one is obtained with a thermic and chemical process that can differ, achieving different results. Currently, several protocols using low temperature are suggested to reduce the possible particle crystallisation during the production process. This study aimed to evaluate the biomorphological reaction of periodontal fibroblast cultures in contact with different DBBM particles treated with a low-temperature protocol (Thermagen^®) and without exposure to sodium hydroxide (NaOH). Morphological evaluation was performed using light, confocal laser, and scanning electron microscopy, and the biological reaction in terms of proliferation was performed using an XTT proliferation assay at 24 h (T1), 72 h (T2), and 7 days (T3). The morphological analysis highlighted how the presence of the materials stimulated a change in the morphology of the cells into a polygonal shape, surface reactions with the thickening of the membrane, and expression of actin. In particular, the morphological changes were appreciable from T1, with a progressive increase in the considered morphological characteristics at T2 and T3 follow-ups. The proliferation assay showed a statistical significance between the different experimental materials and the negative control in T2 and T3 follow-ups. The post hoc analysis did not reveal any differences between the materials. In conclusion, the grafts obtained with the low-temperature extractions protocol and not exposed to NaOH solution showed positive morphological reactions with no differences in the sizes of particles.     

Segmentation and Hashing of Time Series in Stock Market Prediction

In this paper, we associate each time series of a stock price (TS-P) in a stock market with a time series of hash codes (TS-HC) that indicate price increase or decrease for each element of the TS-P. As noted, in this case hash codes represent integer numbers and their sequence allows to identify the same (typical) groups of TS-P elements in the stock price dynamics. We describe the procedures for transforming an initial time series and calculating the hash codes. The main properties of a sequence of hash codes are established. Finally, we suggest an analysis and prediction method for a stock price trajectory using segmentation and hashing data.     

Biochemical purification of waste water containing side products from addtive manufacture

Translated from Khimiya i Tekhnologiya Topliv i Masel, No. 12, pp. 30–31, December, 1990.     

Kinetics of copper electrodeposition in the presence of triethyl-benzyl ammonium chloride

Quasi-steady state hydrodynamic voltammetry at a rotating-disc electrode and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were used to investigate the influence of triethyl-benzyl-ammonium (TEBA) chloride on the kinetics of copper electrodeposition from sulphate acidic electrolytes. SEM and X-ray diffraction analysis were used to examine the morphology and the structure of copper deposits. The kinetic parameters (i ₀, _c, k ₀), obtained by both Tafel and Koutecky–Levich interpretations lead to the conclusion that TEBA acts as an inhibitor of copper electrodeposition process, as a consequence of its adsorption on the electrode surface. The influence of TEBA on the kinetics of copper electrodeposition was explained in terms of a reaction model confirmed by the simulated impedance spectra. TEBA acts only as a blocking agent competing for adsorption active sites of the cathodic surface with cuprous ions without changing the reaction pathway corresponding to the absence of the additive.     

Effect of different organic additives on the shape,size and scintillation properties of Bi4Ge3O12 powders synthesized by the microwave-hydrothermal method

A route for production of fine Bi₄Ge₃O₁₂ (BGO) powder is sought after to lower the cost of scintillation devices and make their shapes more versatile. A systematic study of highly dispersed BGO crystallization under the hydrothermal-microwave (HTMW) conditions was carried out in the present work. Anionic, cationic and non-ionic surfactants, chelating agents and polyols were used to modify the synthesis and their respective effects on phase composition and morphology were determined. It was shown that chelating agents or other additives that are capable of forming complexes with the bismuth ions allow the production of smaller, non-aggregated particles and have the procedure be scaleable. BGO powders of various morphology were synthesized and study of the optical properties of the product discovered their advantages over traditional single-crystal material. The BGO powders obtained in optimal HTMW conditions are characterized by the presence of a single intense fast scintillation component with a flash time of about 11 ns which is by an order of magnitude less than that observed in single-crystal BGO (327 ns). This suggests the suitability of these powders for the production of scintillation materials with improved properties. This material is promising for creating highly sensitive composite detectors with a high rate of counting events.     

Natural selection of academic papers

Academic papers, like genes, code for ideas or technological innovations that structure and transform the scientific organism and consequently the society at large. Genes are subject to the process of natural selection which ensures that only the fittest survive and contribute to the phenotype of the organism. The process of selection of academic papers, however, is far from natural. Commercial for-profit publishing houses have taken control over the evaluation and access to scientific information with serious consequences for the dissemination and advancement of knowledge. Academic authors and librarians are reacting by developing an alternative publishing system based on free-access journals and self-archiving in institutional repositories and global disciplinary libraries. Despite the emergence of such trends, the journal monopoly, rather than the scientific community, is still in control of selecting papers and setting academic standards. Here we propose a dynamical and transparent peer review process, which we believe will accelerate the transition to a fully open and free-for-all science that will allow the natural selection of the fittest ideas.