A novel ceramic matrix composite based on YNbO4–TiO2 for microwave applications

This work presents the dielectric properties of YNbO₄ (YNO)–TiO₂ composites in the microwave range. X-ray diffraction analysis demonstrates that the addition of TiO₂ to YNO results in the formation of a Y(Nb_0.5Ti_0.5)₂O₆ phase. In the microwave range, the values of permittivity and dielectric loss did not present major changes with the increment of TiO₂. Moreover, the addition of TiO₂ results in an improvement in the thermal stability of YNO, with YNO63 demonstrating a resonant frequency of ?8.96 ppm.°C^?1. We utilised numerical simulations to evaluate the behaviour of these materials as dielectric resonator antennae and it is found that they exhibit a reflection coefficient below ?10 dB at the resonant frequency, with a realised gain of 4.94 – 5.76 dBi, a bandwidth of 665–1050 MHz and a radiation efficiency above 84%. Our results indicate that YNO–TiO₂ composites are interesting candidates for microwave operating devices.     

Point Charges and Polygonal Linkages

We investigate the critical points of Coulomb potential of point charges placed at the vertices of a planar polygonal linkage. It is shown that, for a collection of positive charges on a pentagonal linkage, there is a unique critical point in the set of convex configurations which is the point of absolute minimum. This enables us to prove that two controlling charges are sufficient to navigate between any two convex configurations of a pentagonal linkage.     

Parametric robust evaluation of the operating reliability of objects of the chemical branch of industry

The specific nature of a robust approach is considered for analyzing the reliability of objects of the chemical industry on the example of a model for variation of a stream of breakdowns (running time to breakdown) for machines and units during the whole service life using a robust Huber strategy and a Hampel influence function. The adequacy of the parametric model proposed is confirmed by the results of studies applied to pumping and compressor units for a series of chemical products.     

Survival of foot-and-mouth disease virus in sausage meat products (Italian salami)

Determination of the survival of foot- and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) in fresh meat from experimentally infected swine and in several types of sausage meat (Italian salami) produced according to the technology widely applied by the principal Italian producers has been carried out. The purpose of the experiment was to assess if typical Italian salami can be considered safe with regard to the spread of FMD through international trade. The results obtained showed: (a) high titers of FMDV were detected in both muscle and fat tissues from animals slaughtered at the peak of the experimental disease; and (b) FMDV was not detectable in the above tissues 72 h after slaughtering and the same applies to the different types of salami tested 7 days after production. The above results were obtained in tissue cultures and confirmed through piglet inoculation.     

Heat-resistant triazine compound

The cyclometrization of dicyanate ester of bisphenol A is analyzed for the purpose of producing the triazine compound on its basis. The core physicomechanical and electrophysical properties of the hardened compound are defined and the prospects of using the compound in high-voltage systems of insulation that can be applied at high temperatures are shown.     

Deoxyribonuclease treatment improves the homogeneity of single-stranded DNA preparations

The isolation of single-stranded (ss) phagemid DNA using standard protocols often results in impure preparations, which contain undesirable quantities of chromosomal and/or double-stranded (ds) phagemid DNA. Here we report a simple and efficient method for elimination of virtually all dsDNA by incubation of phagemid viral particles with deoxyribonuclease I. In addition to analyzing the ratio of linear-to-circular topological forms of ssDNA after deoxyribonuclease I treatment, we verified that no decrease in transformation efficiency occurred and demonstrated that ssDNA molecules covered by capsid proteins remained intact following such treatment.     

Ratio of glycan to teichoic acid in Actinomyces thermovulgaris cell wall

The molar ratio between glycan and teichoic acid was studied in the cell wall of Actinomyces thermovulgaris. A chain of teichoic acid consisting of 13 glycerophosphate units was found to correspond to 6--7 disaccharide units of glycan. The cell wall contains 31% of the glycan of the glycopeptide and 25% of teichoic acid. The content of glycan was calculated using the concentration of muramic acid in the wall. The cell wall was found to contain 1.02% of O-acetyl groups.     

Supramolecular Amphiphiles Based on Pillar[5]arene and Meroterpenoids: Synthesis,Self-Association and Interaction with Floxuridine

In recent years, meroterpenoids have found wide biomedical application due to their synthetic availability, low toxicity, and biocompatibility. However, these compounds are not used in targeted drug delivery systems due to their high affinity for cell membranes, both healthy and in cancer cells. Using the approach of creating supramolecular amphiphiles, we have developed self-assembling systems based on water-soluble pillar[5]arene and synthetic meroterpenoids containing geraniol, myrtenol, farnesol, and phytol fragments. The resulting systems can be used as universal drug delivery systems. It was shown by turbidimetry that the obtained pillar[5]arene/synthetic meroterpenoid systems do not interact with the model cell membrane at pH = 7.4, but the associates are destroyed at pH = 4.1. In this case, the synthetic meroterpenoid is incorporated into the lipid bilayer of the model membrane. The characteristics of supramolecular self-assembly, association constants and stoichiometry of the most stable pillar[5]arene/synthetic meroterpenoid complexes were established by UV-vis spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering (DLS). It was shown that supramolecular amphiphiles based on pillar[5]arene/synthetic meroterpenoid systems form monodisperse associates in a wide range of concentrations. The inclusion of the antitumor drug 5-fluoro-2′-deoxyuridine (floxuridine) into the structure of the supramolecular associate was demonstrated by DLS, 19F, 2D DOSY NMR spectroscopy.     

Critical influence of different diamagnetic ions on electromagnetic properties of BaFe12O19

The correlation between the electromagnetic properties of BaFe_12-xD_xO₁₉ (0.1?x?1.2) solid solutions (D = Al³⁺, In³⁺ and Ga³⁺) and the concentration of diamagnetic ions was investigated. The changes of electromagnetic properties of the investigated samples were explained using neutron powder diffraction and Mossbauer spectroscopy data. The diamagnetic ions with different ionic radii and electronic configurations were chosen. The transmission spectra of all the samples demonstrated a deep minimum in the frequency range 20–65?GHz which was associated with the natural ferromagnetic resonance. The resonance frequency $f_{\mathit{res}}$ and amplitude were changed by the substitution type and level. With increasing the substitution concentration, the resonance frequency increases from 51?GHz to 61?GHz and decreases from 50.5?GHz to 27?GHz for Al- and In-substituted samples, respectively. More complicated concentration dependences of resonance characteristics were obtained for Ga-substituted samples in a narrow range of 49–50.5?GHz. The value of $f_{\mathit{res}}$ had a minimum around x?=?0.6 and further increased to 50.5?GHz for x?=?1.2. It was concluded that the intrasublattice interactions were responsible for tailoring the magneto crystalline anisotropy and resonance parameters. More detailed investigations would require the development of phenomenological model on the basis of the electronic structure using Goodenough-Kanamori approaches.