Structure and conductivity of yttria and scandia‐doped zirconia crystals grown by skull melting

In this paper a detailed study of the (ZrO₂)_1‐x(Y₂O₃)_x (x=0.025–0.15), (ZrO₂)_1‐x(Sc₂O₃)_x (x = 0.06 – 0.11) and (ZrO₂)_1‐x‐y(Sc₂O₃)_x(Y₂O₃)_y (x=0.07 – 0.11; y=0.01 – 0.04) solid solution crystals grown by skull melting technique is presented. The structure, phase composition, and ion conductivity of the obtained crystals were investigated by X‐ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, Raman scattering spectroscopy, and impedance spectroscopy. Maximum conductivity as (ZrO₂)_1‐x(Y₂O₃)_x and (ZrO₂)_1‐x(Sc₂O₃)_x solid solution crystals is observed for the compositions containing 10 mol% stabilizing oxide, and the conductivity of 10ScSZ is ~3 times higher than for 10YSZ. Experiments on crystal growth (ZrO₂)_1‐x‐y(Sc₂O₃)_x(Y₂O₃)_y solid solutions showed that uniform, transparent crystals 7Sc3YSZ, 7Sc4YSZ, 8Sc2YSZ, 8Sc3YSZ, 9Sc2YSZ, 9Sc3YSZ, 10Sc1YSZ, and 10Sc2YSZ are single phase crystal containing t″ phase. It is established that a necessary condition of melt growth of (ZrO₂)_1‐x‐y(Sc₂O₃)_x(Y₂O₃)_y single‐phase crystals is the total concentration of the stabilizing oxides from 10 to 12 mol%. The addition of Y₂O₃ affects the (ZrO₂)_1‐x‐y(Sc₂O₃)_x(Y₂O₃)_y solid solution conductivity different ways and depends on the Sc₂O₃ content in the starting composition. The effects of structure, phase composition, concentration, and type of stabilizing oxides on the electrical characteristics of obtained crystals are discussed.     

Synthesis of 2(E),6(E)-bis(chloromethylidene)-4-thiomorpholinamine-1-oxide and its hydrazones

An efficient method for preparation of earlier unknown S-oxide of 2(E),6(E)-bis(chloromethylidene)-4-thiomorpholinamine by oxidation of 2(E),6(E)-bis(chloromethylidene)-4-thiomorpholinamine hydrochloride with hydrogen peroxide in H₂O or EtOH/H₂O followed by the reaction mixture neutralization with Na₂CO₃ has been described. Interaction of the S-oxide with acetaldehyde, butanal, benzaldehyde, 4-methoxybenzaldehyde and 4-pyridinecarboxaldehyde in EtOH, C₆H₆, in the mixture of acetonitrile and ethanol or ethanol and benzene affords the unknown hydrazones, N-organylmethylidene-2(E),6(E)-bis(chloromethylidene)-4-thiomorpholinamine-1-oxides.     

An iron-based T 1 contrast agent made of iron-phosphate complexes: In vitro and in vivo studies

A new iron-based T ₁ contrast agent consisting of a complex of iron ions coordinated to phosphate and amine ligands (Fe_(phos) in short) has been characterized by spectroscopic and magnetic measurements. NMR relaxation studies showed r ₁ values to be dependent on the phosphate salt concentration, K₂HPO₄, present in the medium. r ₁ reaches a maximum value of 2.5 mM^?1 s^?1 for measurements carried out at 7 T and 298 K. ³¹P MRS, Mössbauer spectroscopy and magnetic measurements of Fe_(phos) solutions suggest paramagnetic Fe³⁺ ions present in the studied iron–phosphate complex. In vitro and in vivo toxicity experiments with C6 cells and CD1 mice, respectively, demonstrated lack of toxicity for Fe_(phos) at the highest dose tested in the MRI experiments (12 mM iron for C6 cells and 0.32 mmol iron/kg for mice). Finally, T ₁ weighted images of brain tumours in mice have shown positive contrast enhancement of Fe_(phos) for tumour afflicted regions in the brain.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Zea Mays</Emphasis>: Benzoxazolinone Detoxification Under Sulfur Deficiency Conditions—A Complex Allelopathic Alliance Including Endophytic <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium Verticillioides</Emphasis>

Benzoxazolinone detoxification is similar in plants grown under sulfur deficiency conditions and in control plants grown with an optimal S supply. However, when S-deficient plants were treated with metolachlor before benzoxazolin-2(3H)-one (BOA) incubation, detoxification was reduced, as indicated by a lower accumulation of the detoxification products BOA-6-O-glucoside and glucoside carbamate and by a loss of BOA-6-OH glucosyltransfease activity. Root colonizing microorganisms and the endophytic fungus Fusarium verticillioides participated in benzoxazolinone detoxification by converting the compound to 2-acetamidophenol (AAP) or O-hydroxyphenyl malonamic acid (OHPMA), a process accompanied by the appearance of phenoxazinone. Maize roots, however, absorbed AAP and OHPMA only in traces. Absorbed traces of OHPMA stimulated maize radicle growth, and traces of AAP stimulated cress. Phenoxazinone inhibited the growth of cress radicles at concentrations higher than 500 μM, whereas maize radicles were hardly affected. F. verticillioides did not convert benzoxazolinone to any known microbial degradation product when the medium of maize seedlings was inoculated with the fungus under sterile condition. Plant–fungus interactions seem to be important in plant survival of allelopathic attacks. This study points to a complicated network of allelopathic interactions that are influenced by biotic and abiotic factors, including herbicides.     

Complex Transposon Insertion as a Novel Cause of Pompe Disease

Pompe disease (OMIM#232300) is an autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorder caused by mutations in the GAA gene. According to public mutation databases, more than 679 pathogenic variants have been described in GAA, none of which are associated with mobile genetic elements. In this article, we report a novel molecular genetic cause of Pompe disease, which could be hardly detected using routine molecular genetic analysis. Whole genome sequencing followed by comprehensive functional analysis allowed us to discover and characterize a complex mobile genetic element insertion deep in the intron 15 of the GAA gene in a patient with infantile onset Pompe disease.     

Stem Cell Therapy Enhances Motor Activity of Triceps Surae Muscle in Mice with Hereditary Peripheral Neuropathy

Impaired motor and sensory functions are the main features of Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSCs) therapy is one of the possible treatments for this disease. It was assumed that MSCs therapy can improve the contractile properties of the triceps surae (TS) muscles in mice with hereditary peripheral neuropathy. Murine adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (AD-MSCs) were obtained for transplantation into TS muscles of FVB-C-Tg(GFPU)5Nagy/J mice. Three months after AD-MSCs transplantation, animals were subjected to electrophysiological investigations. Parameters of TS muscle tension after intermittent high frequency electrical sciatic nerve stimulations were analyzed. It was found that force of TS muscle tension contraction in animals after AD-MSCs treatment was two-time higher than in untreated mice. Normalized values of force muscle contraction in different phases of electrical stimulation were 0.3 ± 0.01 vs. 0.18 ± 0.01 and 0.26 ± 0.03 vs. 0.13 ± 0.03 for treated and untreated animals, respectively. It is assumed that the two-fold increase in TS muscle strength was caused by stem cell therapy. Apparently, AD-MSCs therapy can promote nerve regeneration and partial restoration of muscle function, and thus can be a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of peripheral neuropathies.     

A 3D optical metamaterial made by self-assembly

Optical metamaterials have unusual optical characteristics that arise from their periodic nanostructure. Their manufacture requires the assembly of 3D architectures with structure control on the 10-nm length scale. Such a 3D optical metamaterial, based on the replication of a self-assembled block copolymer into gold, is demonstrated. The resulting gold replica has a feature size that is two orders of magnitude smaller than the wavelength of visible light. Its optical signature reveals an archetypal Pendry wire metamaterial with linear and circular dichroism.     

Support nanostructure boosts oxygen transfer to catalytically active platinum nanoparticles

Interactions of metal particles with oxide supports can radically enhance the performance of supported catalysts. At the microscopic level, the details of such metal-oxide interactions usually remain obscure. This study identifies two types of oxidative metal-oxide interaction on well-defined models of technologically important Pt-ceria catalysts: (1) electron transfer from the Pt nanoparticle to the support, and (2) oxygen transfer from ceria to Pt. The electron transfer is favourable on ceria supports, irrespective of their morphology. Remarkably, the oxygen transfer is shown to require the presence of nanostructured ceria in close contact with Pt and, thus, is inherently a nanoscale effect. Our findings enable us to detail the formation mechanism of the catalytically indispensable Pt-O species on ceria and to elucidate the extraordinary structure-activity dependence of ceria-based catalysts in general.     

Receptor-mediated endocytosis of nanoparticles of various shapes

Cellular uptake through endocytosis is crucial for drug delivery and nanomedicine. However, the conditions under which passive endocytosis (i.e., not ATP driven) takes place are not well understood. We report MD simulations of the passive uptake of ligand-coated nanoparticles with varying size, shape, coverage, and membrane-binding strength. We find that the efficiency of passive endocytosis is higher for spherocylindrical particles than for spheres and that endocytosis is suppressed for particles with sharp edges.     

Cyanides,Arsenic, and Noble Metals in Abandoned Gold Ore Cyanidation Tailings and Surface Waters in a Permafrost Region (Transbaikal Territory,Russia)

Mine Water and the Environment - Geochemical and geophysical investigations were performed in an area of the Darasun ore cyanidation tailings impoundment, which is located in a permafrost region....