Fixed points of dynamic processes of set-valued F-contractions and application to functional equations

The article is a continuation of the investigations concerning F-contractions which have been recently introduced in [Wardowski in Fixed Point Theory Appl. 2012:94,2012]. The authors extend the concept of F-contractive mappings to the case of nonlinear F-contractions and prove a fixed point theorem via the dynamic processes. The paper includes a non-trivial example which shows the motivation for such investigations. The work is summarized by the application of the introduced nonlinear F-contractions to functional equations

Ion-beam mixing and solid-state reaction in Zr-Fe multilayers

Vapor-deposited Zr-Fe multilayered thin films with various wavelengths and of overall composition either 50% Fe or Fe-rich up to 57% Fe were either irradiated with 300 keV Kr ions at temperatures from 25 K to 623 K to fluences up to 2 {times} 10{sup 16} cm{sup {minus}2}, or simply annealed at 773 K in-situ in the Intermediate Voltage Electron microscope At Argonne National Laboratory. Under irradiation, the final reaction product is the amorphous phase in all cases studied, but the dose to amorphization depends on the temperature and on the wavelength. In the purely thermal case (annealing at 773 K), the 50-50 composition produces the amorphous phase but for the Fe-rich multilayers the reaction products depend on the multilayer wavelength. For small wavelength, the amorphous phase is still formed, but at large wavelength the Zr-Fe crystalline intermetallic compounds appear. These results are discussed in terms of existing models of irradiation kinetics and phase selection during solid state reaction

On the psychological aspects of pregnancies with indications for early prenatal diagnosis

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[Activity of oral lactoferrin into systematic iron homeostasis in pregnant women suffering from iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia]

L'abstract è stato pubblicato in bulgaro. La traduzione dal testo inglese è la seguente: Iron is an essential element for living organisms. Its acquisition occurs in the duodenum in which is reduced by reductase and, then, is transported by DMT1 into host cells in whichis sequestered by ferritin. The export of iron is carried out by ferroportin after the new oxidation by haefestin. This mechanism is perturbed by inflammation and, in particular, by IL-6. Recently, lactoferrin, an iron binding glycoprotein, is emerging as an important natural compound able to exert a significant antiinflammatory activity against IL-6 thus restoring iron transport mechanism. The oral administration of 100 mg of lactoferrin two times a day before meals significantly increases the haematological parameters in pregnant women suffering from iron deficiency or iron deficiency anaemia

Low Risk Synthesis of Energetic poly(3-azidomethyl-3-methyloxetane) from Tosylated Precursors

Azidated oxetanic polymers such as poly(3-azidomethyl-3- methyl oxetane), are under investigation as “energetic” binder to be used as an alternative to polybutadiene in solid rocket propellants. The classic synthetic route for the production of the polymer is through an azidated monomer where the N3 functionality has been previously introduced by nucleophilic displacement of a suitable, usually a halogen, leaving group. However, this could involve critical steps with manipulation of a highly unstable liquid monomer. Here it is shown that the azidation can be performed as the final step of the preparation by substitution of the tosyl group in a preformed polymer. The procedure assures good yield and purity of the product and satisfactory rate of reaction, being the energetic functionality always kept in a safe form, which shows low shock and friction sensitivity. Poly(3-azidomethyl-3-methyl oxetane)was prepared by azidation of poly(3-tosyloxymethyl-3-methyl oxetane)in dimethylsulfoxide, testing several operating conditions. Moreover, hypothesizing a second order kinetics, the rate constant and the activation energy for the azidation step have been estimated

Safety and efficacy of lactoferrin versus ferrous sulphate in curing iron deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia in hereditary thrombophilia pregnant women: an interventional study

Objective Evaluate the safety and efficacy of bovine lactoferrin (bLf) versus the ferrous sulphate standard intervention in curing iron deficiency (ID) and ID anaemia (IDA) in pregnant women affected by hereditary thrombophilia (HT). Design Interventional study. Setting Secondary-level hospital for complicated pregnancies in Rome, Italy. Population 295 HT pregnant women (≥18 years) suffering from ID/IDA. Methods Women were enrolled in Arm A or B in accordance with their personal choice. In Arm A, 156 women received oral administration of 100 mg of bLf twice a day; in Arm B, 139 women received 520 mg of ferrous sulphate once a day. Therapies lasted until delivery. Main outcome measures Red blood cells, haemoglobin, total serum iron, serum ferritin (haematological parameters) were assayed before and every 30 days during therapy until delivery. Serum IL-6, key factor in inflammatory and iron homeostasis disorders, was detected at enrolment and after therapy at delivery. Possible maternal, foetal, and neonatal adverse effects were assessed. Results Haematological parameters were significantly higher in Arm A than in Arm B pregnant women (P ≤ 0.0001). Serum IL-6 significantly decreased in bLf-treated women and increased in ferrous sulphate-treated women. BLf did not exert any adverse effect. Adverse effects in 16.5 % of ferrous sulphate-treated women were recorded. Arm A women experienced no miscarriage compared to five miscarriages in Arm B women. Conclusions Differently from ferrous sulphate, bLf is safe and effective in curing ID/IDA associated with a consistent decrease of serum IL-6. The absence of miscarriage among bLf-treated women provided an unexpected benefit. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT01221844. © 2014 Springer Science+Business Media New York