Influence of SiC microstructure on its corrosion behavior in molten FLiNaK salt

The influence of the microstructure on the corrosion rate of three monolithic SiC samples in FLiNaK salt at 900 °C for 250 h was studied. The SiC samples, labeled as SiC-1, SiC-2, and SiC-3, had corrosion rates of 0.137, 0.020, and 0.043 mg/cm²h, respectively. Compared with grain size and the presence of special grain boundaries (i.e., Σ3), the content of high-angle grain boundaries (HAGBs) appeared to have the strongest influence on the corrosion rate of SiC in FLiNaK salt, since the corrosion rate increased six times as the concentration of high-angle grain boundaries increased from 19 to 32% for SiC-2 and SiC-1, respectively. These results stress the importance of controlling the content of HAGBs during the production process of SiC.     

Role of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals in the Pathogenesis of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Comprehensive Review

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is considered the most common liver disorder, affecting around 25% of the population worldwide. It is a complex disease spectrum, closely linked with other conditions such as obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and metabolic syndrome, which may increase liver-related mortality. In light of this, numerous efforts have been carried out in recent years in order to clarify its pathogenesis and create new prevention strategies. Currently, the essential role of environmental pollutants in NAFLD development is recognized. Particularly, endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have a notable influence. EDCs can be classified as natural (phytoestrogens, genistein, and coumestrol) or synthetic, and the latter ones can be further subdivided into industrial (dioxins, polychlorinated biphenyls, and alkylphenols), agricultural (pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides), residential (phthalates, polybrominated biphenyls, and bisphenol A), and pharmaceutical (parabens). Several experimental models have proposed a mechanism involving this group of substances with the disruption of hepatic metabolism, which promotes NAFLD. These include an imbalance between lipid influx/efflux in the liver, mitochondrial dysfunction, liver inflammation, and epigenetic reprogramming. It can be concluded that exposure to EDCs might play a crucial role in NAFLD initiation and evolution. However, further investigations supporting these effects in humans are required.     

Babesia Bovis Ligand-Receptor Interaction: AMA-1 Contains Small Regions Governing Bovine Erythrocyte Binding

Apical membrane antigen 1 is a microneme protein which plays an indispensable role during Apicomplexa parasite invasion. The detailed mechanism of AMA-1 molecular interaction with its receptor on bovine erythrocytes has not been completely defined in Babesia bovis. This study was focused on identifying the minimum B. bovis AMA-1-derived regions governing specific and high-affinity binding to its target cells. Different approaches were used for detecting ama-1 locus genetic variability and natural selection signatures. The binding properties of twelve highly conserved 20-residue-long peptides were evaluated using a sensitive and specific binding assay based on radio-iodination. B. bovis AMA-1 ectodomain structure was modelled and refined using molecular modelling software. NetMHCIIpan software was used for calculating B- and T-cell epitopes. The B. bovis ama-1 gene had regions under functional constraint, having the highest negative selective pressure intensity in the Domain I encoding region. Interestingly, B. bovis AMA-1-DI (¹⁰⁰YMQKFDIPRNHGSGIYVDLG¹¹⁹ and ¹²⁰GYESVGSKSYRMPVGKCPVV¹³⁹) and DII (³⁰²CPMHPVRDAIFGKWSGGSCV³²¹)-derived peptides had high specificity interaction with erythrocytes and bound to a chymotrypsin and neuraminidase-treatment sensitive receptor. DI-derived peptides appear to be exposed on the protein’s surface and contain predicted B- and T-cell epitopes. These findings provide data (for the first-time) concerning B. bovis AMA-1 functional subunits which are important for establishing receptor-ligand interactions which could be used in synthetic vaccine development.     

BMS Derivatives C7-Linked to β-Cyclodextrin and Hyperbranched Polyglycerol Retain Activity against R5-HIV-1NLAD8 Isolates and Can Be Deemed Potential Microbicides

Amides from indole-3-glyoxylic acid and 4-benzoyl-2-methylpiperazine, which are related to entry inhibitors developed by Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS), have been synthesized with aliphatic chains located at the C7 position of the indole ring. These spacers contain an azido group suitable for the well-known Cu(I)-catalyzed (3+2)-cycloaddition or an activated triple bond for the nucleophilic addition of thiols under physiological conditions. Reaction with polyols (β-cyclodextrin and hyperbranched polyglycerol) decorated with complementary click partners has afforded polyol-BMS-like conjugates that are not cytotoxic (TZM.bl cells) and retain the activity against R5-HIV-1_NLAD8 isolates. Thus, potential vaginal microbicides based on entry inhibitors, which can be called of 4^th generation, are reported here for the first time.     

Evaluation of direct light processing for the fabrication of bioactive ceramic scaffolds: Effect of pore/strut size on manufacturability and mechanical performance

Bioactive ceramic scaffolds for bone regeneration consisting of a three-dimensional mesh of interpenetrating struts with square section were fabricated via Digital Light Processing (DLP). The ability of the technique to manufacture 3D porous structures from β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) powders with different dimensions of struts and pores was evaluated, identifying the possibilities and limitations of the manufacturing process. Small pore sizes were found to seriously complicate the elimination of excess slurry from the scaffold’s innermost pores. The effect of the strut/pore size on the mechanical performance of the scaffolds under compressive stresses was also evaluated, but no significant influence was found. Under compressive stresses, the structures resulted weaker when tested perpendicularly to the printing plane due to interlayer shear failure. Interlayer superficial grooves are proposed as potential failure-controlling defects, which could also explain the lack of a Weibull size effect on the mechanical strength of the fabricated DLP scaffolds.     

Mechanical properties and thermal shock in thin ZrO2–Y2O3–Al2O3 films obtained by the sol-gel method

Thin multilayer coatings of ZrO₂–Y₂O₃–Al₂O₃ were prepared using the sol-gel method and dip-coating technique in order to advance in the study of what influence the incorporation of Al₂O₃ has on films of Y₂O₃-doped ZrO₂, investigating its role in the synthesis of the solutions and in the characteristics and properties of the coatings. After the characterization of the solutions used in the process, the microstructure of the films was studied and their mechanical behaviour and resistance to thermal shock were determined so as to optimize the characteristics and functionality of these coatings. With increased alumina content, 3YSZ-Al₂O₃ (20 mol%), the cubic phase of the zirconia disappeared completely at the sintering temperature used (700 °C), resulting in the tetragonal phase with Al in solution. There was also a decrease in the coatings' hardness and Young's modulus, and an increase in toughness and resistance to thermal shock. These results allow guidelines to be established for the design of multilayer structures that are, tougher, more resistant, and have improved surface properties.     

PUL-Mediated Plant Cell Wall Polysaccharide Utilization in the Gut Bacteroidetes

Plant cell wall polysaccharides (PCWP) are abundantly present in the food of humans and feed of livestock. Mammalians by themselves cannot degrade PCWP but rather depend on microbes resident in the gut intestine for deconstruction. The dominant Bacteroidetes in the gut microbial community are such bacteria with PCWP-degrading ability. The polysaccharide utilization systems (PUL) responsible for PCWP degradation and utilization are a prominent feature of Bacteroidetes. In recent years, there have been tremendous efforts in elucidating how PULs assist Bacteroidetes to assimilate carbon and acquire energy from PCWP. Here, we will review the PUL-mediated plant cell wall polysaccharides utilization in the gut Bacteroidetes focusing on cellulose, xylan, mannan, and pectin utilization and discuss how the mechanisms can be exploited to modulate the gut microbiota.     

高熵形状记忆合金的研究进展

高熵形状记忆合金是在等原子比NiTi合金的基础上,结合高熵合金的概念,逐渐发展起来的一种新型高温形状记忆合金。近年来,已开发出了综合性能优异的(TiZrHf)50(NiCoCu)50系和(TiZrHf)50(NiCuPd)50系高熵形状记忆合金,引起了广泛的关注和研究兴趣。本文从物相组成、微观组织、马氏体相变行为、形状记忆效应和超弹性等角度出发,综述了高熵形状记忆合金的研究进展,并对高熵形状记忆合金未来的研究重点进行了展望。     

Optimized microwave absorption properties by tailoring the morphology of carbon coated TiC nanoparticles by N2 pressure

Increasing the dielectric loss capacity plays an important role in enhancing the electromagnetic absorption performance of materials. It remains a challenge to simultaneously introduce multiple types of dielectric losses in the material. In this work, we show that the atomic and interfacial dipole polarizations can be simultaneously enhanced by substituting N species into both carbon coating layers and bulk TiC lattices of a core-shell TiC@C material. Additionally, substitution of N species results more exposed TiC(111) facets and refines the TiC grain sizes in the bulk material, which is beneficial for enhancing the scattering of the external electromagnetic waves. The maximum reflection loss of the N substituted TiC@C material is measured as ?47.1 dB with an effective absorbing bandwidth of 4.83 GHz at 1.9 mm, which illustrates a valuable way to further tuning the electromagnetic absorption performance of this type of materials.     

Characterization of precipitates formed in X7R 0603 BME-MLCC during sintering

In the current study two different batches of X7R-0603 BME-MLCCs displayed dissimilar electrical performance, despite having the same chemical composition, tape casting, and sintering conditions; with the only difference between them being the ore deposits where the raw materials were extracted from to synthesize the BaTiO₃. Specifically, they presented different electrical response to highly accelerated life tests (HALT). Although the chemical analysis of each slip showed the same composition, the trace elements of the BaTiO₃ sources could have acted as dopants or produced different secondary phases. A search for precipitates in the two samples was conducted by means of Scanning (SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) techniques. SEM observations confirmed the presence of precipitates formed within the structure of the MLCCs exhibiting the greatest decrement in their electrical resistance results during the HALT. In order to further characterize the observed precipitates, samples were prepared by Focused Ion Beam (FIB) lift-out method, to make TEM characterization of specific precipitates feasible. TEM studies were performed on the precipitates to obtain electron diffraction patterns and complementary Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDXS) chemical analysis. Based on the crystal and chemical data obtained, it can be concluded that the precipitates are a hexagonal anhydrous silicate oxyapatite phase with a stoichiometry of Ca₃Y₁₆Si₁₀O₁₃, and lattice parameters of a = 0.9353 nm and c = 0.6970 nm; this phase was not found in the JCPDS data base. Differences in raw materials coming from different ore deposits can produce undesired precipitates that affect the electrical performance of MLCCs.