Potentiometric sensors with plastized poly(vinyl chloride) membranes selective to penicillin antibiotics: Properties and applications

Potentiometric sensors with plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) membranes based on β-lactam–tetraalkylammonium ion associates sensitive to penicillin antibiotics are proposed. The physicochemical characteristics (solubility product constants and dissociation constants) of active membrane components and the electrode, transport, and selective properties of the membranes of liquidand solid-contact sensors have been studied. The quantitative characteristics of membrane transport (penetrability, ion flux, and transport rate) have been evaluated. The main charge carriers in the membranes and at the membrane/solution interface have been determined from the membrane transport characteristics. The potentiometric sensors are shown to be applicable to the determination of penicillin antibiotics in biological fluids (blood serum and oral fluid) from patients with urinary tract infection.     

Measuring equipment and test bench to control evolution of acoustic-deformation and heat fields induced in solids under failure by fluids

The authors have developed a procedure and a test bench for studying evolution of various nature physical fields in modeling geomedium fracture by fluids. The test bench performs synchronous recording of macro- and micro-deformation, heat and acoustic emission induced in physical models of geomedium under loading to discontinuity. The experimental procedure has been trialed. The analysis of the synchronized test data allows a conclusion on the existence of time–space relationship between different nature physical fields induced during failure of solids.     

Production technology for low-carbon,low-sulfur boron steel

A technology for slag formation in the ladle–furnace unit is considered; the slag is based on the CaO–SiO₂–MgO–Al₂O₃–B₂O₃ system. This technology permits both microalloying of the steel with boron (reduced from the oxide phase) and desulfurization of the steel. The resulting boron content in the steel is 0.001–0.008%; the sulfur content in low-alloy steel and pipe steel is low (0.004–0.010%); and the consumption of manganese ferroalloys is reduced to 0.5 kg/t for 08кп steel and 1.4 kg/t for 09Г2C steel. In addition, the proposed technology increases the strength of the rolled steel, without loss in its plasticity; and reduces the environmental impact thanks to the replacement of fluorspar by colemanite.     

Effect of spatial constraints on the phase evolution of YFeO3-based nanopowders under heat treatment of glycine-nitrate combustion products

Formation and structural transformations of yttrium orthoferrite crystals have been studied using X-ray diffractometry, Mössbauer spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy combined with electron microdiffraction. Said processes have been studied under heat treatment of glycine-nitrate combustion products. There have been identified formations of three structural yttrium orthoferrite modifications – amorphized hexagonal <h₁>-YFeO₃ (P6₃cm) and nanocrystalline hexagonal h₂-YFeO₃ (P6₃/mmc), as well as nanocrystalline orthorhombic o-YFeO₃ (Pbnm), which are selectively formed depending on available three-dimensional confinements. Based on the analysis of changes in the fluid and size composition formulation, it has been proposed mechanism for formation and transformation of YFeO₃ nanocrystals, including growth stage of h₂-YFeO₃ crystals due to amorphized phase of <h₁>-YFeO₃ up to critical size of about 15?nm and their subsequent transformation into orthorhombic form o-YFeO₃.     

Covalent triazine framework with efficient photocatalytic activity in aqueous and solid media

Covalent triazine frameworks (CTFs) have been recently employed for visible light-driven photocatalysis due to their unique optical and electronic properties. However, the usually highly hydrophobic nature of CTFs, which originates from their overall aromatic backbone, leads to limitations of CTFs for applications in aqueous media. In this study, we aim to extend the range of the application media of CTFs and design hybrid material of a CTF and mesoporous silica (SBA-15) for efficient photocatalysis in aqueous medium. A thiophene-containing CTF was directly synthesized in mesopores of SBA-15. Due to the high surface area and the added hydrophilic properties by silica, the hybrid material demonstrated excellent adsorption of organic molecules in water. This leads not only to high photocatalytic performance of the hybrid material for the degradation of organic dyes in water, but also for efficient photocatalysis in solvent-free and solid state. Furthermore, the reusability, stability and easy recovery of the hybrid material offers promising metal-free heterogeneous photocatalyst for broader applications in different reaction media.     

Milk from cows fed a diet with a high forage:concentrate ratio improves inflammatory state,oxidative stress,and mitochondrial function in rats

Excessive energy intake may evoke complex biochemical processes characterized by inflammation, oxidative stress, and impairment of mitochondrial function that represent the main factors underlying noncommunicable diseases. Because cow milk is widely used for human nutrition and in food industry processing, the nutritional quality of milk is of special interest with respect to human health. In our study, we analyzed milk produced by dairy cows fed a diet characterized by a high forage:concentrate ratio (high forage milk, HFM). In view of the low n-6:n-3 ratio and high content of conjugated linoleic acid of HFM, we studied the effects of this milk on lipid metabolism, inflammation, mitochondrial function, and oxidative stress in a rat model. To this end, we supplemented for 4 wk the diet of male Wistar rats with HFM and with an isocaloric amount (82 kJ, 22 mL/d) of milk obtained from cows fed a diet with low forage:concentrate ratio, and analyzed the metabolic parameters of the animals. Our results indicate that HFM may positively affect lipid metabolism, leptin:adiponectin ratio, inflammation, mitochondrial function, and oxidative stress, providing the first evidence of the beneficial effects of HFM on rat metabolism.     

The Role of Excitation Photons Energy in the Photoinduced Carrier Dynamics in InGaAs/InAlAs Superlattice Heterostructures

Technical Physics Letters - The influence of excitation photons energy on the relaxation times of photoexcited carriers is studied. The involved relaxation mechanisms are evaluated and the...