Electromechanical properties of ternary BiFeO<Subscript>3</Subscript>−0.35BaTiO<Subscript>3</Subscript>–BiGaO<Subscript>3</Subscript> piezoelectric ceramics

In the present work, composition dependent crystal structure, ferroelectric, piezoelectric, and temperature dependent dielectric properties of the BiGaO₃-modified (1–x)(0.65Bi_1.05FeO₃–0.35BaTiO₃) (BFBT35–xBG, where x?=?0.00–0.03) lead-free ceramics were systematically investigated by solid-state reaction method, followed by water quenching process. The substitution of BG successfully diffuses into the lattice of the BFBT ceramics, without changing the pseudo-cubic structure of the samples. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results revealed that the average grain size was increased with BG-content in BFBT system. The BFBT–xBG ceramics showed a maximum in permittivity (?_max) at temperatures (T_max) above 500 °C in the compositional range of 0.00?≤?x?≤?0.03. The electro-strain is measured to be 0.125% (d^*₃₃ ~ 250 pm/V) under unipolar fields (5 kV/mm) for BFBT–0.01BG ceramics. The same composition (x?=?0.01), large static piezoelectric constant (d₃₃ ~ 165 pC/N) and electromechanical coupling factor (k_p ~ 25%) were obtained. The above investigated characterizations suggests that BFBT–BG material is favorable for piezoelectric and high temperature applications.     

Losses of power in asynchronous traction engines of prospective electric rolling stock

Powered by autonomous voltage inverters, asynchronous traction engines of prospective electric rolling stock show signs of deterioration in current and voltage, which decreases the efficiency and power factors of these engines compared with corresponding indicators for engines powered by sine voltage power generators. As a result of harmonic analysis of curves of output voltage and current of two-level autonomous voltage inverters with amplitude pulse-width output voltage modulation, performed in the MatLab/Simulink and Mathcad software package, it was found out that the use of pulse-width modulation of autonomous inverter output voltage in a DTA-1200A prospective asynchronous traction engine leads to only a minor impairment of its energy indicators. At the same time, the use of multilevel autonomous voltage inverters, which require more complex and expensive converter electric equipment, is currently hardly justified.     

Production of middle distillate through hydrocracking of paraffin wax over Pd/SiO2–Al2O3 catalysts

Pd/SiO₂–Al₂O₃ catalysts (Pd/SA-X) with different SiO₂ contents (X, wt%) were prepared for use in the production of middle distillate (C₁₀–C₂₀) through hydrocracking of paraffin wax. The effect of SiO₂ content of Pd/SA-X catalysts on their physicochemical properties and catalytic performance in the hydrocracking of paraffin wax was investigated. High surface area and well-developed mesopores of Pd/SA-X catalysts improved the dispersion of Pd species on the SiO₂–Al₂O₃ support. Acidity of Pd/SA-X catalysts determined by NH₃-TPD experiments showed a volcano-shaped trend with respect to SiO₂ content. Conversion of paraffin wax increased with increasing acidity of the catalyst, while selectivity for middle distillate decreased with increasing acidity of the catalyst. Yield for middle distillate showed a volcano-shaped curve with respect to acidity of the catalyst. This indicates that acidity of Pd/SA-X catalysts played an important role in determining the catalytic performance in the hydrocraking of paraffin wax. Among the catalyst tested, Pd/SA-69 with moderate acidity showed the highest yield for middle distillate.     

Novel chains constructed from heterotrinuclear units and 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethane formulated as [M2M′(O2CPh)6](bpa) (M = Co,Zn, M′ = Co,Cd): Their catalytic activity

Three novel heterometallic complexes containing two bridging ligands bpa and benzoate, formulated as [M₂M′(O₂CC₆H₅]_n(bpa)_n (bpa = 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethane, M₂M′ = Zn₂Co (1), Zn₂Cd (2), and Co₂Cd (3)), have been synthesized. All three compounds show one-dimensional structures containing linear heteronuclear coordination units linked by bridging bpa ligands. Reactivity study of the compounds 1–3 for the transesterification of a variety of esters has shown that they are very efficient and 2 is the best among them.     

Bisnaphthalimidopropyl Derivatives as Inhibitors of Leishmania SIR2 Related Protein 1

The NAD⁺‐dependent deacetylases, namely sirtuins, are involved in the regulation of a variety of biological processes such as gene silencing, DNA repair, longevity, metabolism, apoptosis, and development. An enzyme from the parasite Leishmania infantum that belongs to this family, LiSIR2RP1, is a NAD⁺‐dependent tubulin deacetylase and an ADP‐ribosyltransferase. This enzyme's involvement in L. infantum virulence and survival underscores its potential as a drug target. Our search for selective inhibitors of LiSIR2RP1 has led, for the first time, to the identification of the antiparasitic and anticancer bisnaphthalimidopropyl (BNIP) alkyl di‐ and triamines (IC₅₀ values in the single‐digit micromolar range for the most potent compounds). Structure–activity studies were conducted with 12 BNIP derivatives that differ in the length of the central alkyl chain, which links the two naphthalimidopropyl moieties. The most active and selective compound is the BNIP diaminononane (BNIPDanon), with IC₅₀ values of 5.7 and 97.4 μM against the parasite and human forms (SIRT1) of the enzyme, respectively. Furthermore, this compound is an NAD⁺‐competitive inhibitor that interacts differently with the parasite and human enzymes, as determined by docking analysis, which might explain its selectivity toward the parasitic enzyme.