Investigation of the reaction mechanism and kinetics of production of anhydrous sodium metaborate (NaBO2) by a solid-state reaction

In this study, the solid-state reaction mechanism and kinetics were investigated for production of anhydrous sodium metaborate (NaBO₂), an industrially and technologically important boron compound. To assess the kinetics of solid-state production of NaBO₂, the chemical reaction between borax (Na₂B₄O₇) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) was investigated by use of the thermal analysis techniques thermogravimetry (TG) and differential thermal analysis (DTA). DTA curves obtained under non-isothermal conditions at different heating rates (5, 10 and 20 °C/min), revealed five endothermic peaks corresponding to five solid-state reactions occurring at 70, 130, 295, 463, and 595 °C. The stages of the solid-state reaction used for production NaBO₂ were also analyzed by XRD, which showed that at 70 and 130 °C, Na₂B₄O₇ and NaOH particles contacted between the grains, and diffusion was initiated at the interface. However, there was not yet any observable formation of NaBO₂. Formation of NaBO₂ was initiated and sustained from 295 to 463 °C, and then completed at 595 °C; the product was anhydrous NaBO₂. Activation energies (E _a) of the solid-state reactions were calculated from the weight loss based on the Arrhenius model; it was found that in the initial stages of the solid-state reaction E _a values were lower than in the last three steps.     

Two-dimensional agnor evaluation as a prognostic variable in urinary bladder carcinoma: a different approach via total agnor area/nucleus area per cell

Traditional criterions are not sufficient to predict accurately the recurrence of transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the AgNORs via total AgNOR area/nucleus area (TAA/NA) for each cell as a prognostic parameter, in TCC of urinary bladder. Tumor tissues of 20 consecutive cases of male bladder cancer patients were divided into two groups as middle differentiated (LG) and high grade (HG). The extra-tumoral tissue (ETT) samples of 10 males served as control group. A second control group (HC) consisted of five healthy and normal bladder tissue samples. The 3 microm of sections from each paraffin embedded tumoral, extra-tumoral and normal tissue samples served as patient and control groups. After deparaffinization and rehydratation steps, silver (AgNO(3)) staining of nucleolar organizer regions-associated proteins (AgNORs) was performed. Instead of Giemsa stain, we used Hematoxylin for contra staining. The images of the 100 analyzable nuclei from each tissue sample, transferred by means of a video camera and video capture card from microscope and recorded onto a computer. Software was prepared in Delphi language for analysis. Mean (E+02) TAA/NA values of HC, ETT, LG and HG groups were 6.97+2.80, 5.70+1.82, 7.80+3.22 and 9.24+3.88, respectively. Statistical comparisons have shown significant differences between all groups.In conclusion, mean TAA/NA per cell has a potential to be a prognostic parameter. Therefore, further evaluation of big patient series will be useful.     

Thermal properties and kinetics of new-generation posterior bulk fill composite cured light-emitting diodes

In this study, the thermal behavior in terms of glass transition (T _g), degradation, and thermal stability of four commercial new-generation posterior bulk fill composites (Surefill SDR, Dentsply; Quixfill, Dentsply; Xtrabase, Voco; and Xtrafill, Voco) activated by light-emitting diodes (LEDs) was analyzed by thermogravimetric analysis (TG), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). The activation energies (E _a) for the decomposition of the dental resins were calculated based on the Kissinger and Doyle kinetic models from the peaks of the endothermic curves obtained when the specimens were heated at four different temperatures (5, 10, 15, and 20 °C min^?1) during DSC. The results show that the Xtrabase composite displayed the highest T _g (120 °C at a 5 °C min^?1 heating rate) and E _a (157.64 kJ mol^?1) values associated with thermal degradation from the main chain of the polymer.     

Synthesis of nanometric β-barium metaborate powder from different borate solutions by ultrasound-assisted precipitation

In this study, the synthesis of barium metaborate powder (BaB₂O₄) was carried out by ultrasound-assisted precipitation using different borate solutions. Different solutions such as borax (Na₂B₄O₇, BD), boric acid (H₃BO₃, BA), and sodium metaborate (NaBO₂, SMB) were used in the synthesis and an ultrasonic immersion horn probe was used as the major source of ultrasound. The effect of reaction temperature and time, pH, and crystallization time on the BaB₂O₄ yield (%) was investigated. The ultrasound-assisted synthesis up to 90 % yield could be achieved using a 0.2 M BD solution at 80 °C, reacting for 5 min at pH 13 followed by 2 h of crystallization. Following crystallization, the obtained powder was heated up to 140, 250, 650, and 750 °C for 2.5 h, and it was shown that β-BaB₂O₄ nanometric powders were obtained after the 750 °C heat treatment.     

TEAD–YAP Interaction Inhibitors and MDM2 Binders from DNA-Encoded Indole-Focused Ugi Peptidomimetics

DNA-encoded combinatorial synthesis provides efficient and dense coverage of chemical space around privileged molecular structures. The indole side chain of tryptophan plays a prominent role in key, or “hot spot”, regions of protein–protein interactions. A DNA-encoded combinatorial peptoid library was designed based on the Ugi four-component reaction by employing tryptophan-mimetic indole side chains to probe the surface of target proteins. Several peptoids were synthesized on a chemically stable hexathymidine adapter oligonucleotide “hexT”, encoded by DNA sequences, and substituted by azide-alkyne cycloaddition to yield a library of 8112 molecules. Selection experiments for the tumor-relevant proteins MDM2 and TEAD4 yielded MDM2 binders and a novel class of TEAD-YAP interaction inhibitors that perturbed the expression of a gene under the control of these Hippo pathway effectors.     

Multiagent cooperation for solving global optimization problems: an extendible framework with example cooperation strategies

This paper proposes the use of multiagent cooperation for solving global optimization problems through the introduction of a new multiagent environment, MANGO. The strength of the environment lays in its flexible structure based on communicating software agents that attempt to solve a problem cooperatively. This structure allows the execution of a wide range of global optimization algorithms described as a set of interacting operations. At one extreme, MANGO welcomes an individual non-cooperating agent, which is basically the traditional way of solving a global optimization problem. At the other extreme, autonomous agents existing in the environment cooperate as they see fit during run time. We explain the development and communication tools provided in the environment as well as examples of agent realizations and cooperation scenarios. We also show how the multiagent structure is more effective than having a single nonlinear optimization algorithm with randomly selected initial points.     

含黄酮的三价铁配合物合成及其药理性质(英文)

3,3,4,7-四羟基黄酮与1,3-二环己基碳二亚胺在4-二甲胺吡啶存在下反应,得到2,2-双(3,3,4,7-四羟基黄酮)1,3-二环己基碳二亚胺。三价金属离子与上述合成得到的配体螯合,对此四面体结构的双核Fe(Ⅲ)配合物的血液学及病理学数据进行了讨论,同时研究了合成的配体作为螯合剂清除鼠肝胰组织中超载的铁的能力。结果表明作为口服药其作为双齿配体的螯合能力与市售用于治疗地中海贫血的药物"去铁敏"相近。     

Laser carbonitriding of alumina surface

Laser carbonitriding of alumina surfaces is examined. Temperature and stress fields developed during the laser heating of the substrate surface are predicted using the finite element method in line with the experimental conditions. The formation of Al(C, N) and AlN compounds in the surface region of irradiated workpiece is examined using X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD). The microstructural and morphological changes in the laser irradiated region are examined using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The microhardness of the resulting surface is measured and compared with the base material hardness. It is found that high temperature gradient is developed in the irradiated region, which in turn, results in high residual stress levels in this region. XPS and XRD data reveal the presence of Al (C, N) and AlN compounds in the surface region. The microhardness in the surface region of the laser treated workpiece increases significantly.