Organoindium precursor purification by new sorbents based on titanium and zirconium phosphates

High purity requirements for organometallic precursors have recently become critical in the field of III–V semiconductor films obtained by chemical vapour deposition techniques. Traditional purification routes employing physical methods need to be replaced by ones which are more rapid and effective. Such a route is described in this paper. This involves the elimination of any traces of impurity by applying several combinations of sorbents. In this way, complete elimination of lithium impurities introduced during precursor synthesis has been achieved by the use of titanium or zirconium phosphate sorbents (usually used as acidic ion exchangers in aqueous media). The method also preserves the stability of the organoindium precursor which is normally extremely sensitive to moisture. A possible explanation for these observations is given

Tools of financial management of reputational risks

This study is devoted to the issues of financial management of reputational risks. The authors consider the tools for internal and external factors monitoring and analysis; identify and classify the company’s stakeholders according to their influence degree; suggest the methods of determining external and internal factors influence on the company’s business reputation. Besides they suggest using aggregated (net assets) and disaggregated (net liabilities) indicators of property obtained according to a zero-balance sheet as a criterion for assessing changes in the company’s goodwill.peer-reviewe

Meixner Wavelet Transform: A Tool for Studying Stationary Discrete-Time Stochastic Processes

A general approach to analyzing discrete stochastic processes in the context of spectral analysis in the Laplace domain is considered. It is shown that a multichannel algorithm, which may be used for determining a discrete Laplace transform of the correlation function corresponding to a stationary discrete-time stochastic process, may be designed on the basis of Meixner wavelets.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/45795/1/11175_2004_Article_463362.pd

Greening Education as a Basis for Training of Competent Specialist

Экологизация образования как способ закрепления экологической культуры в культуре общечеловеческой и основа подготовки компетентных специалистов в самых разных сферах человеческой деятельности является одним из наиболее эффективных путей решения глобальных экологических проблем. Формирование экологических компетенций на самых ранних ступенях образования сможет не только изменить сложившуюся, близкую к катастрофической, экологическую ситуацию, но и определить вектор развития для будущего системы «человек природа».Greening education as a way to consolidate the ecological culture in the humanities culture and the basis for training competent specialists in various areas of human activity, is one of the most effective ways to solve global environmental problems. The formation of environmental competencies at the earliest stages of education can not only change the current, close to the catastrophic environmental situation, but also determine the vector of development for the future of the "man nature" system

Theory of Laplace Analysis of Non-Gaussian Noise

An algorithm for directly calculating third-order noise operation spectra, which includes no evaluation of the third-order correlation function as a preliminary stage, is found. For the Ershler–Randles circuit, an expression is found, which links bispectra of the equilibrium electrode potential fluctuation determined in the imaginary and real axes of the Laplace plane. Advantages of using the Laplace space in studies of the fine non-Gaussian structure of random time series are discussed.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/45797/1/11175_2004_Article_491780.pd

Recycled polypropylene matrix nanocomposites reinforced with silane functionalized geopolymer concrete waste

The objective of this work is the processing of recycled polypropylene (rPP) matrix and geopolymer concrete waste (GCW) to develop novel sustainable nanocomposites for engineering applications. Specimens of these nanocomposites were produced from GCW added in proportions of 20, 40 and 50 wt% to rPP. The pulverized waste, with nanometric particles, was used as neat, GCW, or as surface functionalized with vinyl trimethoxy silane (GCW/VTS). Separately, both GCW and GCW/VTS were mixed with rPP by means of extrusion reactive extrusion and injection processing before final molding of specimens. The composition microstructure, thermal stability and tensile properties of the specimens were studied by wide angle X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetry, differential scanning calorimetry, water absorption, tensile tests, and field emission gun scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy. The main findings were an increased thermal stability and enhanced elastic modulus with incorporation of both GCW and GCW/VTS. A high degree of interaction between GCW filler and rPP matrix, including the first time observed mechanism of PP nanofilaments adhesion, is responsible for a negligible water absorption. A decrease in the crystallinity suggests an interference of GCW in the rPP arrangement of macromolecular chains. (C) 2020 Published by Elsevier B.V.Peer reviewe

Eco-friendly recycled polypropylene matrix composites incorporated with geopolymer concrete waste particles

Civil construction wastes have been incorporated into polymers for recycling as novel engineering composites. In the present work eco-friendly composites with recycled polypropylene (rPP) matrix incorporated with geopolymer concrete waste particles, wither plain (GCW) or surface-modified with oleic acid (AGC) were investigated. The geopolymer concrete waste particles were mixed with polymer powder to provide an effective dispersion between the different materials. Composites were produced by an initial reactive extrusion processing followed by injection molding. These novel composites with amount of 20, 40 and 50 wt% of GCW particles, both plain as-received and surface-modified, were technically evaluated by tensile tests, statistically analyzed by ANOVA, as well as by water absorption as per ASTM standards. Surface dispersion of nanoparticles was revealed by atomic force microscopy. Microstructural analysis was performed by scanning electron microscopy. The results indicated that these sustainable GCW particles incorporated into rPP matrix exhibit superior processability and water absorption less than 0.01%. The rPP/AGC composites present relatively higher elastic modulus, 629 MPa, as compared to the neat rPP, with 529 MPa. These properties suggest potential sustainable applications in building construction using waste materials.Peer reviewe

Topical treatment of experimental cutaneous leishmaniasis in golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) with formulations containing pentamidine

Current treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) relies mainly on pentavalent antimonials salts and second-line drugs include pentamidine and amphotericin B, but these therapies have side effects and require parenteral administration. The aim of this work was to evaluate the topical formulations containing pentamidine isethionate (PI) in the experimental treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL). Golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) were infected in the nose with Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis. Six treatment groups received different topical treatments of anhydrous or hydrating emulsions, for a maximum of 10 days, with an application of 50 mg day(-1). After treatment tissue samples of lesions were evaluated by histology, transmission electron microscopy and biopsy cultivation. Compared with untreated group, topical treatment with hydrating emulsion with 10% PI and usnic acid (ACE5AU) showed significantly decrease in volume lesion (P= 0.028) on 20th day after the end of the treatment with reduction of 27.37%. Topical treatment with anhydrous emulsion with 10% PI and usnic acid (ACPU) reduces parasite burden in Golden hamsters. This study demonstrated the potential of topical treatment to reduce the number of parasites that could be combined with others drugs and to have a faster and more effective treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis.Peer reviewe

The Cytotoxicity of the Ajoene Analogue BisPMB in WHCO1 Oesophageal Cancer Cells Is Mediated by CHOP/GADD153

Garlic is a food and medicinal plant that has been used in folk medicine since ancient times for its beneficial health effects, which include protection against cancer. Crushed garlic cloves contain an array of small sulfur-rich compounds such as ajoene. Ajoene is able to interfere with biological processes and is cytotoxic to cancer cells in the low micromolar range. BisPMB is a synthetic ajoene analogue that has been shown in our laboratory to have superior cytotoxicity to ajoene. In the current study we have performed a DNA microarray analysis of bisPMB-treated WHCO1 oesophageal cancer cells to identify pathways and processes that are affected by bisPMB. The most significantly enriched biological pathways as assessed by gene ontology, KEGG and ingenuity pathway analysis were those involving protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the unfolded protein response. In support of these pathways, bisPMB was found to inhibit global protein synthesis and lead to increased levels of ubiquitinated proteins. BisPMB also induced alternate splicing of the transcription factor XBP-1; increased the expression of the ER stress sensor GRP78 and induced expression of the ER stress marker CHOP/GADD153. CHOP expression was found to be central to the cytotoxicity of bisPMB as its silencing with siRNA rendered the cells resistant to bisPMB. The MAPK proteins, JNK and ERK1/2 were activated following bisPMB treatment. However JNK activation was not critical in the cytotoxicity of bisPMB, and ERK1/2 activation was found to play a pro-survival role. Overall the ajoene analogue bisPMB appears to induce cytotoxicity in WHCO1 cells by activating the unfolded protein response through CHOP/GADD153.Peer reviewe

Synthesis, molecular docking studies, and larvicidal activity evaluation of new fluorinated neonicotinoids against Anopheles darlingi larvae

Anopheles darlingi is the main vector of malaria in Brazil, characterized by a high level of anthropophilia and endophagy. Imidacloprid, thiacloprid, and acetamiprid are the most widespread insecticides of the neonicotinoid group. However, they produce adverse effects on the non-target insects. Flupyradifurone has been marketed as an alternative to non-fluorinated neonicotinoids. Neonicotinoids containing trifluoroacethyl substituent reveal increased insecticidal activity due to higher hydrophobicity and metabolic stability. We synthesized novel neonicotinoid insecticides containing fluorinated acceptor groups and their interactions were estimated with the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) binding site by molecular docking studies, to evaluate their larvicidal activity against A. darlingi, and to assess their outdoor photodegradation behavior. New neonicotinoid analogues were prepared and characterized by NMR and mass-spectrometry. The synthesized molecules were modelled by time-dependent density functional theory and analyzed, their interaction with nAChR was investigated by molecular docking. Their insecticide activity was tested on Anopheles larvae collected in suburban area of Manaus, Brazil. Four new fluorinated neonicotinoid analogs were prepared and tested against 3rd instars larvae of A. darlingi showing high larvicidal activity. Docking studies reveal binding modes of the synthesized compounds and suggest that their insecticidal potency is governed by specific interactions with the receptor binding site and enhanced lipophilicity. 2-Chloro-5-(2-trifluoromethyl-pyrrolidin-1-ylmethyl)pyridine 5 showed fast degradation in water maintaining high larvicidal activity. All obtained substances possessed high larvicidal activity in low concentrations in 48 hours of exposure, compared to commercial flupyradifurone. Such activity is connected to a unique binding pattern of the synthesized compounds to insect’s nAChR and to their enhanced bioavailability owing to introduction of fluorinated amino-moieties. Therefore, the compounds in question have a high potential for application as control agents for insects transmitting tropical diseases, and they will be less persistent in the environment.Peer reviewe