Review of the magnetocaloric effect in manganite materials

A thorough understanding of the magnetocaloric properties of existing magnetic refrigerant materials has been an important issue in magnetic refrigeration technology. This paper reviews a new class of magnetocaloric material, that is, the ferromagnetic perovskite manganites (R_1−xM_xMnO₃, where R=La, Nd, Pr and M=Ca, Sr, Ba, etc.). The nature of these materials with respect to their magnetocaloric properties has been analyzed and discussed systematically. A comparison of the magnetocaloric effect of the manganites with other materials is given. The potential manganites are nominated for a variety of large- and small-scale magnetic refrigeration applications in the temperature range of 100–375 K. It is believed that the manganite materials with the superior magnetocaloric properties in addition to cheap materials-processing cost will be the option of future magnetic refrigeration technology.     

Effect of substituents on the homo-1,4 addition of difluorocarbene to norbornadienes

Difluorocarbene reacts with 2-methoxy and 2-carbomethoxy-7,7-dimethylnorbornadiene to give homo-1,4 adducts only. The relative rates of addition are compared with that for 7,7-dimethylnorbornadiene and are found to be 2.63, 0.045 and 1.0 respectively. Consequently, an electrophilic process is operating. Difluoro, dichloro and dibromocarbenes react with 7,7-dimethylnorbornadiene exclusively on the endo face to give 1,2 and homo-1,4 adducts in ratios of ≈0.1, 0.5 and 0.7 respectively. The homo-cheletropic reaction, compared to the competing cyclopropanation, is increasingly sensitive to the bulk of the carbene partner.     

Nuclear charge radii of the carbon isotopes 12C, 13C and 14C

Muonic X-ray energies of the K-series of the carbon isotopes ¹³C and ¹⁴C have been determined relative to ¹²C. For the first time, muonic atom measurements using radioactive ¹⁴C have been performed. Model-independent equivalent nuclear charge radii R_k,α and their differences have been deduced. The R_k,α radii increase by 10(14) and 32(11) am respectively with the filling of the $\text{1}\text{p}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ neutron Subshell. The results are compared with recent elastic electron scattering data. The former natural carbon data have been reanalysed using a new value for the nuclear polarization. In terms of the rms charge radius, we then obtain $\text{〈r}{}^2\text{〉}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{= 2.472(16)}\text{fm}$ for the ¹²C isotope.     

Cumulative mechanical moments and microstructure deformation induced by growth shape in columnar solidification

The dynamical interaction between columnar interface microstructure and self-stress, resulting in unforeseen mechanical deformation phenomena, is brought to light by means of in situ and real-time synchrotron x-ray topography during directional solidification of dilute aluminum alloys. Beyond long-known local mechanical stresses, global mechanical constraints are found to be active. In particular, column rotation results from deformation caused by the mechanical moments associated with the very growth shape, namely, the cumulative torque acting together with the cumulative bending moment under gravity. A basic model allowing for a qualitative explanation of the observed distinctive features of the self-stress effects on microstructure dynamics is proposed.     

A New Lignan from the Leaves of Styrax annamensis

Chemistry of Natural Compounds - Phytochemical investigation of the ethyl acetate extract of Styrax annamensis leaves has led to the isolation and determination of a new lignan,...     

Reaction of phosphorylated 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylenecyclohexa-2,5-dien-1-ones with 2,2′-[1,3-phenylenebis(oxy)]-di(ethan-1-amine)

Russian Journal of Organic Chemistry - Dialkyl [(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-oxocyclohexa-2,5-dien-1-ylidene)methyl]phosphonates reacted with 2,2′-[1,3-phenylenebis(oxy)]di(ethan-1-amine)...     

Influence of variable thickness on stability of rectangular plate under compression

This paper analyzes the stability of the elastic rectangular thin plates with sinusoidal changes in the plate thickness. The buckling load is defined in a weighted residual approach for different boundary conditions. The influence of the plate thickness variation and the edge ratio on the critical loads is investigated. The results are compared to the case of uniform thickness.     

Anticancer Activity of Lesbicoumestan in Jurkat Cells via Inhibition of Oxidative Stress-Mediated Apoptosis and MALT1 Protease

This study explores the potential anticancer effects of lesbicoumestan from Lespedeza bicolor against human leukemia cancer cells. Flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy were used to investigate antiproliferative effects. The degradation of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma translocation protein 1 (MALT1) was evaluated using immunoprecipitation, Western blotting, and confocal microscopy. Apoptosis was investigated using three-dimensional (3D) Jurkat cell resistance models. Lesbicoumestan induced potent mitochondrial depolarization on the Jurkat cells via upregulated expression levels of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species. Furthermore, the underlying apoptotic mechanisms of lesbicoumestan through the MALT1/NF-κB pathway were comprehensively elucidated. The analysis showed that lesbicoumestan significantly induced MALT1 degradation, which led to the inhibition of the NF-κB pathway. In addition, molecular docking results illustrate how lesbicoumestan could effectively bind with MALT1 protease at the latter’s active pocket. Similar to traditional 2D cultures, apoptosis was markedly induced upon lesbicoumestan treatment in 3D Jurkat cell resistance models. Our data support the hypothesis that lesbicoumestan is a novel inhibitor of MALT1, as it exhibited potent antiapoptotic effects in Jurkat cells.     

Application of Co-Culture Technology to Enhance Protease Production by Two Halophilic Bacteria,Marinirhabdus sp. and Marinobacter hydrocarbonoclasticus

Although axenic microbial cultures form the basis of many large successful industrial biotechnologies, the production of single commercial microbial strains for use in large environmental biotechnologies such as wastewater treatment has proved less successful. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of the co-culture of two halophilic bacteria, Marinirhabdus sp. and Marinobacter hydrocarbonoclasticus for enhanced protease activity. The co-culture was significantly more productive than monoculture (1.6–2.0 times more growth), with Marinobacter hydrocarbonoclasticus being predominant (64%). In terms of protease activity, enhanced total activity (1.8–2.4 times) was observed in the co-culture. Importantly, protease activity in the co-culture was found to remain active over a much broader range of environmental conditions (temperature 25 °C to 60 °C, pH 4–12, and 10–30% salinity, respectively). This study confirms that the co-culturing of halophilic bacteria represents an economical approach as it resulted in both increased biomass and protease production, the latter which showed activity over arange of environmental conditions.