Dielectric performance of pyrochlore-type Bi2MgNb2-xTaxO9 ceramics: The effects of tantalum doping

The solid solutions based on the pyrochlore-type system Bi₂MgNb_2-xTa_xO₉ were formed in the compositional range х = 0–2.0 (Bi_1·6Mg_0·8Nb_1.6-tTa_tO_7.2, t = 0–1.6). The Rietveld method was used to refine the structure for Bi₂MgNb_2-xTa_xO₉ (x = 0, 1.0, 2.0). The increasing tantalum content led to the slight decrease in the cubic unit cell parameters from 10.56934 (4) Å for x = 0 and 10.54607 (3) Å for x = 2 (sp.gr. Fd-3m:2). At the same time, tantalum additions suppressed grain growth in the pyrochlore ceramics during sintering and made it possible to obtain materials with an average grain size of 1–2 μm (Bi_1·6Mg_0·8Ta_1·6O_7.2). The increase in the Ta⁵⁺ concentration led to the decrease in the dielectric permeability from 104 (Bi_1·6Mg_0·8Nb_1·6O_7.2) to 20 (Bi_1·6Mg_0·8Ta_1·6O_7.2) at room temperature, while the dielectric loss tangent remained lower than 0.002, which is due to the small grain size and the high porosity of the samples. An increase in temperature has practically no effect on the values of the dielectric permittivity in the entire frequency range. The samples have weak through conductivity. The activation energies of electrical conductivity varied in the range of 0.84–1.00 eV, and the less tantalum, the lower the activation energy. The electrical properties of the samples at 200 Hz to 1 MHz are described by the simplest parallel scheme.     

Efficient watermarking technique for protection and authentication of document images

Multimedia Tools and Applications - In this paper, a hashing based watermarking technique for the protection and authentication of document image is proposed. Message Digest 5 (MD5) hashing is...     

Tailored-Made Polydopamine Nanoparticles to Induce Ferroptosis in Breast Cancer Cells in Combination with Chemotherapy

Ferroptosis is gaining followers as mechanism of selective killing cancer cells in a non-apoptotic manner, and novel nanosystems capable of inducing this iron-dependent death are being increasingly developed. Among them, polydopamine nanoparticles (PDA NPs) are arousing interest, since they have great capability of chelating iron. In this work, PDA NPs were loaded with Fe³⁺ at different pH values to assess the importance that the pH may have in determining their therapeutic activity and selectivity. In addition, doxorubicin was also loaded to the nanoparticles to achieve a synergist effect. The in vitro assays that were performed with the BT474 and HS5 cell lines showed that, when Fe³⁺ was adsorbed in PDA NPs at pH values close to which Fe(OH)₃ begins to be formed, these nanoparticles had greater antitumor activity and selectivity despite having chelated a smaller amount of Fe³⁺. Otherwise, it was demonstrated that Fe³⁺ could be released in the late endo/lysosomes thanks to their acidic pH and their Ca²⁺ content, and that when Fe³⁺ was co-transported with doxorubicin, the therapeutic activity of PDA NPs was enhanced. Thus, reported PDA NPs loaded with both Fe³⁺ and doxorubicin may constitute a good approach to target breast tumors.     

Entity linking systems for literature reviews

Scientometrics - Computer-assisted methods and tools can help researchers automate the coding process of literature reviews and accelerate the literature review process. However, existing...     

Structural,optical and electronic characteristics of Cu and Mg-doped nano MnS sample prepared by molten salt solid state reaction

Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics - Nano Mn0.95M0.05S (M ≡ Cu, Mg) samples were produced using molten salt solid state reaction method. Rietveld analysis of X-ray...     

Influence of the Corrosion Process on Thermotechnical Characteristics of Heat Pipes of Low-Temperature Range

Journal of Engineering Physics and Thermophysics - Results of investigation into the influence of a corrosion process on thermotechnical characteristics of heat pipes of low-temperature range are...     

Magnetically Modified Waste Bark of Aegle marmelos Tree as a Promising Biosorbent for Uranium(VI) Sorption

Radiochemistry - Magnetically modified waste bark of the Aegle marmelos tree was prepared by using green synthesis method and was used in a batch system for U(VI) removal from aqueous solution. The...     

Wall Rock Alteration,Uranium Mineralization,and Potentiality of Uranium and Iron Dissolution from Mineralized Abu Rusheid Gneiss Rock,South Eastern Desert,Egypt

Radiochemistry - Ferrugination, sericitization, desulfitization, chloritization, and kaolinitization of hydrothermal origin are the main wall rock alterations occurring within the NNW shear zones...     

Extracellular Vesicles and Asthma—More Than Just a Co-Existence

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membranous structures, which are secreted by almost every cell type analyzed so far. In addition to their importance for cell-cell communication under physiological conditions, EVs are also released during pathogenesis and mechanistically contribute to this process. Here we summarize their functional relevance in asthma, one of the most common chronic non-communicable diseases. Asthma is a complex persistent inflammatory disorder of the airways characterized by reversible airflow obstruction and, from a long-term perspective, airway remodeling. Overall, mechanistic studies summarized here indicate the importance of different subtypes of EVs and their variable cargoes in the functioning of the pathways underlying asthma, and show some interesting potential for the development of future therapeutic interventions. Association studies in turn demonstrate a good diagnostic potential of EVs in asthma.     

Organizing Production at High-Tech Enterprises in the Digital Era

Russian Engineering Research - The modernization of manufacturing by the comprehensive application of digital technology—in both production and management—is considered. Principles are...