Abstract
A Fe
32
Cu
64
B
4
(FeCuB) alloy was obtained by using an induction furnace under an argon atmosphere. Parameters suitable in the casting processes like voltage, temperature and cooling times ...were optimized. Once the FeCuB alloy was melted and solidified, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and surface morphology analysis were performed through optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDX). The results showed that complete diffusion of the precursor elements (Fe, Fe2B, Cu) requires thermal homogenization treatments (2 and 4 hours) at 750° as suggested from phase diagram of FeCuB simulation. The XRD analysis revealed that the primary crystallization consists of a mixture of the fcc-FeCuB (79%) and bcc-FeCuB (21%), with a = 3.62Å, spatial group Fm-3m and a = 2.86Å, spatial group Im-3m respectively. Micrographic images show an average grain distribution of
∼
135
µ
m. Finally, long times of homogenization (4 hours) allow a greater uniformity and redistribution of grain boundaries, resulting in the formation of an equiaxed grain structure in the alloy.
Evidence to what it is identified in the literature as “active chlorine” in indirect oxidation processes occurring on Ti/ZrO2-RuO2-Sb2O3 anodes is provided in this study. To discriminate such ...behavior, different catalysts are prepared using the Pechini method varying ZrO2 content, at different Zr/Ru molar ratios: 1, 0.5 and 0.3. The characterization of the materials using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) reveals that no solid solution (Ru-Zr) or any doping that affects the crystalline phase of Zr are obtained, while Sb2O3 was surface-segregated from the bulk to the anode surface affecting the outmost 3–5 nm surface layers. There are enormous impacts on the catalytic activity and adsorption properties of the structures as ZrO2 content is increased. The presence of ZrO2 and Sb2O3 shrink the number of favorable oxygen adsorption sites in Ti/ZrO2-RuO2-Sb2O3 catalysts, whence the adsorption energies for oxygen-metal interactions became lower than for Ti/RuO2. Differential electrochemical mass spectroscopy (DEMS) and electrochemical experiments qualitatively indicate that a lower amount of ZrO2 in the ternary electrode induce a better catalysis towards the oxygen evolution reaction (OER, O2 production), while the ionic currents for CIO and HCIO species drop. This behavior suggests that chloride oxidation needs to encompass the mitigation of the OER as the percentage of ZrO2 is increased in the anode. Active chlorine could stem from HCIOads species since it was produced in larger amounts than CIO-ads according to the pH of the electrolyte, and in adequate levels to generate the degradation of organic compounds.
Multiferroic LuCrO3 perovskite-type structure (Pbnm) obtained via auto-ignition synthesis was characterized by a combination of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetric (TG) techniques, and ...through magnetization and permittivity measurements. Results showed that amorphous combustion powders were fully transformed to orthorhombic LuCrO3 structure at 1200 K after the first LuCrO4 crystallization at 700 K. The magnetic response displays thermal irreversibility between zero-field-cooling and field-cooling condition which is due to spin canted AF switching at 116 K. Accordingly, a hysteresis loop in the M(H) data confirms weak ferromagnetism in LuCrO3. On the other hand, the permittivity measurement shows a broad peak transition typical of relaxor-type ferroelectrics transition at ∼450 K. Electrical conductivity increases as temperature increases showing an anomaly around the diffuse phase transition. The diffuse phase transition and the formation of the charge carriers are discussed in terms of a local distortion around the Lu Site.
Display omitted
•Multiferroic LuCrO3 was successfully obtained via auto-ignition synthesis.•Amorphous powder is transformed first to LuCrO4 (700 K) and next to LuCrO3 (1100 K).•The CrO6 octahedra are tilted away and rotates from the ideal octahedral shape.•LuCrO3 exhibits a canted AFM transition (116 K) and a relaxor ferroelectric behavior.•Tilting and rotation of CrO6 octahedra influenced transport properties on LuCrO3.
A-site deficient rare-earth doped barium zirconate titanate (BZT) ceramics (Ba
1−
y
Ln
2
y/3
)Zr
0.09Ti
0.91O
3 (Ln
=
La, Pr, Nd, Gd) are obtained by a modified solid-state reaction method. ...Perovskite-like single-phase compounds were confirmed from X-ray diffraction data. Morphological analysis on sintered samples shows that the addition of rare-earth ions inhibits the growth of the grain and remarkably changes the grain morphology. The effect of rare-earth addition to BZT on phase transition and dielectric properties is analyzed. A dramatic fall in the transition temperature occurs when BZT ceramic is doped with rare-earths. Moreover, diffusivity degree of the phase transition increases and a relaxor-type behaviour is induced due to both the increment of the lanthanide content and the increase of the ionic radius of the dopant element. High values of dielectric tunability are obtained for lanthanum doped BZT. A direct relation between transition temperature and tunability is discussed. Conclusively, low permittivity and high tunability materials can be obtained by the adequate substitution of rare-earths into BZT ceramics.
High-throughput RNA-sequencing can determine the impact of nutrients and their combinations on gene transcription levels in osteocytes, and clarify the biological pathways associated with their ...impact on bone tissues. Previously, we reported that resveratrol (RES) and peonidin-3-O-glucoside (POG) increased osteoblastogenesis, as well as reduced osteoclastogenesis in transgenic teleost fish models. Here, we perform whole-genome transcriptomic profiling of osteoblasts treated with POG or RES to provide a comprehensive understanding of alterations in gene expression and the molecular mechanisms involved. Cultured human fetal osteoblastic hFOB 1.19 cells were treated with the test compounds, and then RNA was used to prepare RNA-seq libraries, that were sequenced using a NovaSeq 6000. Treatment with POG or RES increased osteoblast proliferation and reduced apoptosis. Transcriptomic profiling showed that of the 29,762 genes investigated, 3177 were differentially expressed (1481 upregulated, 1696 downregulated, FDR ≤ 0.05) in POG-treated osteoblasts. In the RES-treated osteoblasts, 2288 genes were differentially expressed (DGEs, 1068 upregulated, 1220 downregulated, FDR ≤ 0.05). Ingenuitysup.® Pathway Analysis (IPA) of DGEs from RES or POG-treated osteoblasts revealed significant downregulation of the apoptosis, osteoarthritis and HIF1α canonical pathways, and a significant reduction in Rankl mRNA expression. The data suggest that RES and POG have both anabolic and anticlastogenic effects.
Introduction: In previous work, we have shown the synergistic effects of combinations of vitamins A, D2, and D3 in reducing the proliferation of HCT-116 colon cancer cells. This combination also ...induced apoptosis and altered gene expression patterns as determined by transcriptomic profiling. Aims: The aims of this study were to investigate the effects of vitamins A and D in HCT-116 Crl:NU(NCr)-Foxn1nu mouse xenographs. Also, to determine potential mechanisms of action using miRNA-seq and correlated these data with results from RNA-seq.Methods: HCT-116 colon cancer cells were cultured and used for the xenograph study. Crl:NU(NCr)-Male Foxn1nu mice were injected subcutaneously with HCT-116-cells (1 X 106 in 100 µl 50% Matrigel and Sterile PBS), and after 7 days, were treated with vitamin A and D in feed for 21 days. The mice were imaged on day 28, sacrificed and the tumors were excised and measured. RNA was isolated from the HCT-116 cells and tumors, and RNA-seq and miRNA-seq were performed.Results: There was a concentration-dependent reduction in the HCT-116 colon cancer cell viability after treatment with vitamin A and D combinations. In Crl:NU(NCr)-Foxn1nu mice injected with HCT-116 colon tumor cells, treatment with vitamin A (25,000 IU) and vitamin D (4,000 IU) or vitamin A (35,000 IU) and vitamin D (5,000 IU) for 21 days significantly reduced tumor growth by ~38% and ~58%, respectively (p < 0.001). In the HCT-116 cells and excised tumors, treatment upregulated the expression of Bim, Bax, p53, and PTEN, and downregulated AXIN2, ID2 and DDX20 mRNAs, all well-known pro-apoptotic proteins, tumor suppressors, and molecules involved in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis of miRNA-seq paired with RNA-seq showed correlations between miRNAs expression and expression of these genes. For example, miRNA-mRNA correlation pairing showed that treatment downregulated miR-30c-3p and miR-125b-3p which was associated with upregulated TP53. Upregulation of the tumor suppressor PTEN was associated with the downregulation of eleven miRNAs, including oncogenic miR17 and miR21.Conclusion: The results suggest that the combinations of vitamins A and D reduced the HCT-116 tumor burden in mice and altered the expression of miRNAs directly associated with genes in the apoptosis, tumor suppression, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition pathways. The data supports the hypothesis that vitamin A and D combinations impact multiple cancer signaling pathways and thus may be more effective in the treatment and prevention of cancer, as well as reducing cancer metastasis. Keywords: apoptosis, cholcalciferol, colon cancer, DDX20, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, ergocalciferol, p53, RNA-seq, miRNA-seq, PTEN, synergism, transcriptome
PDF
