Structural and magnetic properties of nanocrystalline Ni1−xCuxFe2O4 prepared through oxalates precursors

Spinel ferrites of the composition Ni_1−xCu_xFe₂O₄ (x = 0.0-1.0) have been prepared through the thermal decomposition of their respective impregnated oxalates. The oxalate decomposition process was followed using differential thermal analysis-thermogravimetry techniques (DTA-TG). The synthesized nanocrystallites were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The formation of single-phase ferrite is confirmed by XRD. Tetragonal deformation is observed for samples with composition x ? 0.7. The increase in the lattice parameter with increasing Cu content can be explained based on the relative ionic radius. The TEM image shows spherically non-agglomerated particles with an average crystallite size that agrees well with that obtained from XRD. FT-IR studies show two absorption bands (ν₁ and ν₂) near to 600 and 400 cm⁻¹ for the tetrahedral and octahedral sites, respectively. The hysteresis measurements were done using a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The cation distribution in these compositions is calculated from the magnetization data. With increasing Cu content, the saturation magnetization (M_s) was observed to decrease while the coercivity (H_c) increases. The possible reasons responsible for the composition dependence of the magnetic properties were discussed. The Curie temperature, measured through the temperature dependence of the dc-molar magnetic susceptibility, was found to decrease with increasing Cu content.     

The nature of 0 excitations in Er

Lifetimes of excited 0⁺ states in ¹⁶⁶Er have been measured with the (n,n′γ) reaction. The first and second excited 0⁺ states have no significant collective enhancements of their decays, and their properties are suggestive of pair-type excitations rather than those of a β vibration or phonon excitation built on the γ vibration. The third excited 0⁺ state at 1934 keV has an enhanced decay to the ground state band with B(E2; 0₄⁺ → 2_gsb⁺) = 8.8 ± 0.9 W.u., consistent with that expected for a β vibration.     

Effect of ferritic microstructure on local damage zone distance associated with fracture near notch

A deterministic approach is used to analyze cleavage failure near the notch root by application of a local fracture criterion. Micromechanism of fracture is assessed using finite element calculations. Two ferritic microstructures have been selected; they differ significantly in the carbide thickness as the fracture data scattered widely. Local damage zones are calculated from the normal stress distributions and compared with those from the notch root to the location of failure initiation. To this end, the static three-point bend Charpy V-notch specimens were used. Microfractography identifies the local damage zone distances and their locations with reference to the prevailing microstructures.     

Strong Electron-Phonon Interaction Effect in Quantum Dots

Strong-coupling polaron in a parabolic quantum dot is investigated by the Landau-Pekar variational treatment. The polaron binding energy and the average number of virtual phonons around the electron as a function of the effective confinement length of the quantum dot are obtained in Gaussian function approximation. It is shown that both the polaron binding energy and the average number of virtual phonons around the electron decrease with increasing the effective confinement length. The results indicate that the polaronic effects are more pronounced in quantum dots than those in two-dimensional and three-dimensional cases.     

Quaternization of Vinyl/Alkynyl Pyridine Enables Ultrafast Cysteine‐Selective Protein Modification and Charge Modulation

Quaternized vinyl‐ and alkynyl‐pyridine reagents were shown to react in an ultrafast and selective manner with several cysteine‐tagged proteins at near‐stoichiometric quantities. We have demonstrated that this method can effectively create a homogenous antibody–drug conjugate that features a precise drug‐to‐antibody ratio of 2, which was stable in human plasma and retained its specificity towards Her2+ cells. Finally, the developed warhead introduces a +1 charge to the overall net charge of the protein, which enabled us to show that the electrophoretic mobility of the protein may be tuned through the simple attachment of a quaternized vinyl pyridinium reagent at the cysteine residues. We anticipate the generalized use of quaternized vinyl‐ and alkynyl‐pyridine reagents not only for bioconjugation, but also as warheads for covalent inhibition and as tools to profile cysteine reactivity.     

A Validated LC–MS/MS Assay for the Simultaneous Quantification of the FDA-Approved Anticancer Mixture (Encorafenib and Binimetinib): Metabolic Stability Estimation

The concurrent use of oral encorafenib (Braftovi, ENF) and binimetinib (Mektovi, BNB) is a combination anticancer therapy approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) for patients with BRAFV600E/V600K mutations suffering from metastatic or unresectable melanoma. Metabolism is considered one of the main pathways of drug elimination from the body (responsible for elimination of about 75% of known drugs), it is important to understand and study drug metabolic stability. Metabolically unstable compounds are not good as they required repetitive dosages during therapy, while very stable drugs may result in increasing the risk of adverse drug reactions. Metabolic stability of compounds could be examined using in vitro or in silico experiments. First, in silico metabolic vulnerability for ENF and BNB was investigated using the StarDrop WhichP450 module to confirm the lability of the drugs under study to liver metabolism. Second, we established an LC–MS/MS method for the simultaneous quantification of ENF and BNB applied to metabolic stability assessment. Third, in silico toxicity assessment of ENF and BNB was performed using the StarDrop DEREK module. Chromatographic separation of ENF, BNB, and avitinib (an internal standard) was achieved using an isocratic mobile phase on a Hypersil BDS C₁₈ column. The linear range for ENF and BNB in the human liver microsome (HLM) matrix was 5–500 ng/mL (R² ≥ 0.999). The metabolic stabilities were calculated using intrinsic clearance and in vitro half-life. Furthermore, ENF and BNB did not significantly influence each other’s metabolic stability or metabolic disposition when used concurrently. These results indicate that ENF and BNB will slowly bioaccumulate after multiple doses.     

激子-声子相互作用对三阶非线性光学性质的影响

在对激子不作任何近似的条件下,对强耦合激子声子系统中非线性光学性质在理论上进行了研究,结果表明当信号光场频率与激子频率的失谐量等于光学声子的频率时,系统的非线性光学吸收和克尔系数显著增大,从而证明了激子声子的强相互作用对介质的非线性光学性质的影响相当大。并且,与对激子作代松马利夫(Dyson-Maleev)变换近似和玻色近似的结果进行仔细的比较,发现对激子不作近似时,这种影响将进一步增大。     

Thermogravimetric analyses revealed the bioenergy potential of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eulaliopsis binata</Emphasis>

The present study was focused on the thermal degradation of Eulaliopsis binata biomass produced on a salt-affected soil without any fertilizer or pesticide applications. The plant biomass was subjected to thermal degradation experiments at three heating rates, 10, 30 and 50 K min^?1. The kinetic analyses were performed through isoconversional models of Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose and Flynn–Wall–Ozawa, followed by the calculation of thermodynamic parameters of activation. The high heating value was calculated as 15.10 MJ mol^?1. The activation energy values of the grass were shown to be ranging from 118 through 240 kJ mol^?1. Energy difference of enthalpies of activation between the reagent and the activated complex was in accordance with activation energies. Pre-exponential factors indicated the reaction to follow first-order kinetics. Gibbs free energy for the grass was measured to be ranging from 171 to 174 kJ mol^?1. Our data have shown that E. binata biomass offers remarkable potential as a low-cost biomass for bioenergy.     

Bisucaberin biosynthesis: an adenylating domain of the BibC multi-enzyme catalyzes cyclodimerization of N-hydroxy-N-succinylcadaverine

The bisucaberin biosynthetic gene cluster has been identified in Vibrio salmonicida and a domain from within the BibC multienzyme encoded by the cluster has been shown to catalyse ATP-dependent dimerisation and macrocyclisation of N-hydroxy-N-succinylcadaverine to form bisucaberin.