Injectivity of sections of convex harmonic mappings and convolution theorems

In the article the authors consider the class ${\mathcal H}_0$ of sense-preserving harmonic functions $f=h+\overline{g}$ defined in the unit disk $|z|<1$ and normalized so that $h(0)=0=h'(0)-1$ and $g(0)=0=g'(0)$, where $h$ and $g$ are analytic in the unit disk. In the first part of the article we present two classes $\mathcal{P}_H^0(\alpha)$ and $\mathcal{G}_H^0(\beta)$ of functions from ${\mathcal H}_0$ and show that if $f\in \mathcal{P}_H^0(\alpha)$ and $F\in\mathcal{G}_H^0(\beta)$, then the harmonic convolution is a univalent and close-to-convex harmonic function in the unit disk provided certain conditions for parameters $\alpha$ and $\beta$ are satisfied. In the second part we study the harmonic sections (partial sums) $$s_{n, n}(f)(z)=s_n(h)(z)+\overline{s_n(g)(z)},$$ where $f=h+\overline{g}\in {\mathcal H}_0$, $s_n(h)$ and $s_n(g)$ denote the $n$-th partial sums of $h$ and $g$, respectively. We prove, among others, that if $f=h+\overline{g}\in{\mathcal H}_0$ is a univalent harmonic convex mapping, then $s_{n, n}(f)$ is univalent and close-to-convex in the disk $|z|< 1/4$ for $n\geq 2$, and $s_{n, n}(f)$ is also convex in the disk $|z|< 1/4$ for $n\geq2$ and $n\neq 3$. Moreover, we show that the section $s_{3,3}(f)$ of $f\in {\mathcal C}_H^0$ is not convex in the disk $|z|<1/4$ but is shown to be convex in a smaller disk.Comment: 16 pages, 3 figures; To appear in Czechoslovak Mathematical Journa

Synthesis, densification, and cation inversion in high entropy (Co,Cu,Mg,Ni,Zn)Al2O4 spinel

The synthesis, densification behavior, and crystallographic site occupancy were investigated for four different spinel-based ceramics, including a high-entropy spinel (Co0.2Cu0.2Mg0.2Ni0.2 Zn0.2)Al2O4. Each composition was reacted to form a single phase, but analysis of X-ray diffraction patterns revealed differences in cation site occupancy with the high-entropy spinel being nearly fully normal. Densification behavior was investigated and showed that fully dense ceramics could be produced by hot pressing at temperatures as low as 1375°C for all compositions. Vickers’ hardness values were at least 10 GPa for all compositions. The cations present in the high-entropy spinel appear to have a stabilizing effect that led to nearly normal site occupancy compared to full cation inversion behavior of nickel aluminate spinel. This is the first report that compares cation site occupancy of a high-entropy spinel to conventional spinel ceramics

Mechanical Activation and Cation Site Disorder in MgAl2O4

The synthesis and crystallographic site occupancy were investigated for MgAl2O4 with and without mechanical activation of the precursor powders. Heating to 1200 °C or higher resulted in the formation of a single spinel phase regardless of whether the powders were mechanically activated or not. Neutron diffraction analysis was used to determine cation site occupancy and revealed that mechanical activation resulted in a lower degree of cation site inversion compared to the nonactivated materials, which indicated that the powders were closer to thermodynamic equilibrium. This is the first study to characterize the effects of mechanical activation on crystallographic site occupancy in magnesium aluminate spinel using neutron diffraction. © 2022 by the authors

R-Phycocyanin from red algae Porphyra spp: Binding of selected heavy metal ions

Phycobiliproteins are major photosynthetic accessory pigments in cyanobacteria and red algae. Their vivid colours arise from covalently attached tetrapyrrole chromophores. The exciting characteristic of tetrapyrrole chromophores is the ability to bind metal ions. Heavy metals are among the most abundant and most dangerous environmental pollutants, and their removal from the environment is a crucial challenge. Therefore, utilizing PBPs-metal binding properties could be helpful in heavy metal detection and/or removal. The main aim of this study is to characterize the binding of selected heavy metal ions (Hg2+, Pb2+, Cd2+) to R-phycocyanin (R-PC) isolated and purified from red algae Porphyra spp.The protein fluorescence quenching approach revealed the strong binding affinity of R-PC to Hg2+ (Kd~0.1 μM), while protein binding to Pb2+ and Cd2+ is lower (Kd~3 μM) but still in the high to moderate range. Circular dichroism spectroscopy demonstrated the ability of Hg2+, Pb2+ and Cd2+ to slightly -helical content) in R-PC. Our results indicatethat R-PC could beexploited as a potential biosensor for heavy metal ions detection (especially Hg2+) in aquatic systems as well as in their removal from the environment (e.g. waste-water management)

Preparation and characterization of ZrB2-TiB2 based composites for hypersonic systems

ZrB2 ceramics are considered potential materials for hypersonic systems in view of the melting point exceeding 3000 °C and excellent ablation resistance. Second phases, including SiC or CrB2, further improve the oxidation behavior, whereas a lighter phase, like TiB2 can decrease the overall weight. In this work, a powder mixture containing ZrB2, TiB2, CrB2 and SiC was mechanically activated using high energy ball-milling. Sintering was performed by hot pressing following different thermal cycles, and subsequent annealing to remove oxide phases and reduce micro-cracking. The microstructure and hardness of the dense ceramics are compared in relationship to the thermal history. Fully dense ceramics were obtained with different oxide-phases amount depending on the sintering cycle and hardness approaching 24 GPa were achieved. Future works will explore the strength and oxidation resistance of this multi-phase system to check its suitability for hypersonic systems

The Removal of Ni2+ and Cd2+ -ions onto Synthetic Mineral Based Composite Functionalized by Polyethylenimine

This study presents the synthesis of porous cordierite- based ceramics and its surface activation by polyethylenimine/nano-CeO2 for the heavy metal removal. The synthesis was carried out by the addition of following powders: MgO, Al2O3, and SiO2 in 2:2:5 molar ratios, respectively. The oxide(s) mixture was further processed in two sequential stages: i) ball milled in the ethanol for 40 minutes and palletized under the pressure of 3 t/cm2, as a pre-sintering process, and ii) the pallets were further sintered for 2h in the air atmosphere at 1350 oC, under a heating rate of 20 oC/min. The sintered mineral composite was crashed and sieved, and mixed with 20 wt % of nanocellulose, as a pore forming agent. Nanocellulose mixture was pressed into pallets under 5 t/cm2 and sintered at 700 oC, under a heating rate of 5 oC/ min. The obtained synthetic cordierite was further tested as the adsorbent activated by polyethylenimine/ nano-CeO2 for the removal of Ni2+ and Cd2+ -ions. The adsorption isotherms, kinetics models, and thermodynamic parameters were also analyzed, manifesting that the adsorption is a spontaneous and endothermic process. The phase composition of the pristine and activated cordierite was analyzed by the X-ray diffraction method (XRD), Fourier transformation infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). This work has shed light on the mechanism of heavy metals removal from the aquatic medium using the novel hybrid (nano)synthesized material

The prothrombin factor ii g20210a mutation with pulmonary thromboembolism and a normal level of fibrin degradation products

Diagnosis of pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) usually includes clinical pretest probability assessment, testing for specific degradation products of cross-linked fibrin (D-dimer) and imaging studies. Patients with radiological findings attributable to pulmonary infarction and normal D-dimer level, may present a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. A 37-year-old Caucasian female had episodes of hemoptysis, and bilateral pulmonary nodular infiltrates on chest radiograph and computerized tomography. The plasma D-dimer level was normal, perfusion lung scan was not conclusive and histological examination of an open lung biopsy revealed recent thrombotic pulmonary infarction. She deteriorated and more perfusion defects were detected on perfusion lung scan. Genetic analysis revealed her to be a carrier of the prothrombin factor II (FII) G20210A mutation

Interdisciplinary crossover for rapid advancements: Collaboration between medical and engineering scientists with the focus on Serbia

Napretku medicine su poslednjih decenija veoma mnogo doprineli pronalasci iz različitih oblasti inženjerstva. Polovinom dvadesetog veka uspostavlja se nova naučna oblast, biomedicinsko inženjerstvo (BI), koje se do sada razvilo u veoma složenu naučnu disciplinu koja je zahtevala i poseban obrazovni profil. Na univerzitetima širom sveta, kao i na nekoliko univerziteta u Srbiji ustanovljeni su različiti programi iz oblasti biomedicinskog inženjerstva. Takođe, u nekoliko naučnih institucija u Srbiji sprovode se intenzivna istraživanja u ovoj oblasti. U ovom radu prikazani su rezultati istraživanja nekoliko grupa naučnika iz oblasti inženjerstva i medicine sa ciljem da se ilustruje koliko je široko polje istraživanja u oblasti biomedicinskog inženjerstva i kakve su mogućnosti njihove primene u dijagnostici i lečenju različitih bolesti.Over the past decades, development of engineering sciences has vastly contributed to advancements in medicine by production of numerous devices for diagnostics and treatment. In the middle of the 20th century, a new scientific field, biomedical engineering (BE), was established, which has developed into an extremely complex scientific discipline requiring a distinctive educational profile. Various study programs in BE have been established at universities around the world but also at several universities in Serbia. Also, intensive research in this field is performed at several scientific institutions in Serbia. In the present paper, short summaries of the research results of several groups of engineers and medical doctors are presented as an illustration of the wide field of BE research and possibilities of its application in diagnosis and therapy of various diseases