Production and Heat Treatment of Ti6–Al5.5–V–1.8Sn Powder Titanium Alloy

The mechanical properties of Ti6–Al5.5–V–1.8Sn powder titanium alloy are investigated as a function of its structure, which, in turn, depends on its production and heat treatment (quenching and aging).     

Facile development,characterization, and optimization of new metformin-loaded nanocarrier system for efficient colon cancer adjunct therapy

Purpose: Metformin hydrochloride (MF) repurposing as adjuvant anticancer therapy for colorectal cancer (CRC) proved effective. Several studies attempted to develop MF-loaded nanoparticles (NPs), however the entrapment efficiency (EE%) was poor. Thus, the present study aimed at the facile development of a new series of chitosan (CS)-based semi-interpenetrating network (semi-IPN) NPs incorporating Pluronic^® nanomicelles as nanocarriers for enhanced entrapment and sustained release of MF for efficient treatment of CRC.

Methods: The NPs were prepared by ionic gelation and subsequently characterized using FTIR, DSC, TEM, and DLS. A full factorial design was also adopted to study the effect of various formulation variables on EE%, particle size, and zeta-potential of NPs.

Results: NPs had a spherical shape and a mean particle size ranging between 135 and 220?nm. FTIR and DSC studies results were indicative of successful ionic gelation with the drug being dispersed in its amorphous form within CS-Pluronic^® matrix. Maximum EE% reaching 57.00?±?12.90% was achieved using Pluronic^®-123 based NPs. NPs exhibited a sustained release profile over 48?h. The MF-loaded NPs sensitized RKO CRC cells relative to drug alone.

Conclusion: The reported results highlighted the novel utility of the developed NPs in the arena of colon cancer treatment.     

The influence of transition metals – Fe,Co, Cu on transformation of organic matters from Domanic rocks in hydrothermal catalytic system

Character of conversion of organic matter from Domanic rocks of Pervomaiskoye field (Tatarstan) of Semiluki horizon of upper Devonian deposits in the hydrothermal-catalytic system at temperature of 300?°C in carbon dioxide medium was studied with the application of complex of oil-soluble precursors of catalysts containing Fe, Co, and Cu. In presence of catalysts complex, content of organic extract increases, in which content of hydrocarbon fractions, saturated and aromatic hydrocarbons, increases 1.5 times, while resins content decreases by two times. As result of kerogen destruction in products of experiments, the content of asphaltenes and carbonaceous substances such as carbenes and carboides increase.     

Properties of a Ceramic Pyroelectric X-Ray Generator as Dependent on Residual-Gas Pressure

The properties of X-ray emission from a pyroelectric accelerator based on ferroelectric ceramics have been experimentally studied, including the maximum energy of X-ray photons and their maximum yield generated by accelerated electrons at various pressures of residual gas in the generator chamber. The maximum X-ray yield and maximum energy of X-ray photons and accelerated electrons have been observed at a residual-gas pressure of around several millitorr.     

Chemical-Spectroscopic Determination of the Isotope Composition and Gravimetric Content of Uranium in Uranium–Aluminum Alloys and Products of Their Processing

Conditions of chemical separation of Al macroamounts and U microamounts, followed by atomic emission spectroscopic determination of the isotope composition and gravimetric content of U, were studied. An algorithm was developed for constructing calibration plots to determine the ²³⁵U/²³⁸U isotope ratio in various samples from nuclear fuel reprocessing. Optimum conditions of the spectral analysis for the U content were found by mathematical design of the experiment: NaCl content 2%, current 18 А, and exposure time 40 s. With the use of these conditions and of a specially developed form of carbon electrode, the uranium detection limit was decreased from 10^–3 to 10^–5%.     

Structured Methods for Improving Flow Measurement Accuracy in Pipelines

Measurement Techniques - The issue of the development and creation of intelligent flow rate sensors of free-flowing and fluid substances carried on pipelines is considered timely during this era of...     

Breaking a Couple: Disulfide Reducing Agents

Cysteine is present in a large number of natural and synthetic (bio)molecules. Although the thiol side chain of Cys can be in a free form, in most cases it forms a disulfide bond either with a second Cys (bridge) or with another thiol, as in the case of protecting groups. Efficient reduction of these disulfide bridges is a requirement for many applications of Cys-containing molecules in the fields of chemistry and biochemistry. Here we review reducing methods for disulfide bonds, taking into consideration the solubility of the substrates when selecting the appropriate reducing reagent.     

Multiple Chemical Features Impact Biological Performance Diversity of a Highly Active Natural Product-Inspired Library

A systematic, diversity-oriented synthesis approach was employed to access a natural product-inspired flavonoid library with diverse chemical features, including chemical properties, scaffold, stereochemistry, and appendages. Using Cell Painting, the effects of these diversity elements were evaluated, and multiple chemical features that predict biological performance diversity were identified. Scaffold identity appears to be the dominant predictor of performance diversity, but stereochemistry and appendages also contribute to a lesser degree. In addition, the diversity of chemical properties contributed to performance diversity, and the driving chemical property was dependent on the scaffold. These results highlight the importance of key chemical features that may inform the creation of small-molecule, performance-diverse libraries to improve the efficiency and success of high-throughput screening campaigns.