Comprehensive research into the production of a ceramic-reinforced polymer material from highdensity polyethylene or polypropylene and β-Si
3
N
4
powder was conducted. The incorporation of silicon ...nitride ceramic particles (5 and 10 vol.%) into the polymers to make polymer–ceramic filaments was studied step by step. High-quality polypropylene–ceramic filaments could be obtained at an extrusion temperature of 150°C with an extrusion speed of 20 cm/min and polyethylene–ceramic filaments at 160°C and 30 cm/min. Data on the shape and size distribution of Si
3
N
4
particles were used to simulate the elementary volume of the filaments to determine the mechanical properties of the composites applying a 2D finite-element model. The reinforcement of the polypropylene/polyethylene-matrix material by 10 vol.% Si
3
N
4
particles was not sufficient because the composite elastic modulus increased insignificantly and the critical strain decreased substantially to incorporate a greater volume of hard particles to improve the elastic modulus. To assess the quality of the polymer–ceramic filaments, parts of different shape (washer and auger) from reinforced and unreinforced filaments were designed and printed. The printed polymer–ceramic parts demonstrated a smooth surface and had no ledges or discontinuous areas. The mechanical (Vickers and Brinell hardness) and tribological (volume wear) properties of the materials were examined. Wear tests of the polyethylene–Si
3
N
4
composite showed that its wear resistance tended to improve with increasing ceramic content of the filament. The low abrasive wear of the Si
3
N
4
-reinforced polypropylene/polyethylene material and the behavior of ceramic particles in contact with the indenter indicate that the composite has high fracture resistance in 3D printing.
The ongoing changes in the legal regulations for banks to conduct financial monitoring make the research on the risk-oriented approach implementation in the Ukrainian banking sector relevant. The ...declining share of information bearing the signs of internal financial monitoring in the total amount of information provided by banks highlights the need to further improve the methods used to assess suspicious financial transactions conducted by banks and the risks associated with them, given the effectiveness of their detection and depth of consequences. The article is aimed to improve the risk-oriented approach in the primary financial monitoring by banks through the substantiated elements composing the system of significant risks associated with money laundering and terrorist financing. While substantiating the elements composing the system of significant risks associated with money laundering and terrorist financing, it is crucial to consider the international risk management standards based on the assessment of threats, vulnerability to threats and their consequences for the bank and national security at all levels. Implementing the following steps: threat identification considering the type and jurisdiction of customers and types of financial transactions and channels for their implementation, justification of banks’ vulnerability to middle and high level threats, significant consequences of money laundering and terrorist financing risks allowed presenting in detail the areas of interest for the bank risk management. The research determined financial transactions subject to the recommendation to use high, increased and traditional prudence while identifying and verifying transactions. The proposed banks’ prudence areas built in reliance on the analysis of the legal framework for combating money laundering and terrorist financing, statistics provided by the State Financial Monitoring Service and the NBU allow banking institutions to focus on the risks posed by money laundering and terrorist financing, which have a significant impact on their activities. Further research should focus on forming a mathematical tool for assessing the bank’s risks in the financial monitoring of money laundering and terrorist financing.
Keywords: risk, bank, financial monitoring, money laundering, terrorist financing.
Formulas: 1; fig.: 5; tabl.: 3; bibl.: 20.
The production of intricate samples from polymer–ceramic composites employing fused deposition modeling was studied. The samples were subjected to high-temperature heat treatment in microwave ...furnaces to yield titanium nitride ceramics. The conditions for making polymer–ceramic materials from polypropylene and titanium nitride powders and 3D printing conditions for associated intricate parts were examined. The TiN–polypropylene composite was produced at a temperature of 190°C through extrusion of a previously prepared homogeneous mixture with a reinforcement content of 10, 20, 40, 46, 50, and 60 vol.% TiN. Using fused deposition modeling, a gear-shaped part made of the polymer–ceramic material was printed. The printed samples with 20 and 40 vol.% TiN were heat-treated in microwave furnaces in air in a carbon black backfill and in a nitrogen flow. Following the heat treatment in microwave furnaces, the samples preserved their initial shape. The composite samples treated in a carbon black backfill in air exhibited a porosity of ~38% and those treated in a nitrogen flow showed a porosity of ~22%. The samples subjected to microwave heat treatment in a carbon black backfill in air underwent sintering and partial oxidation. After microwave heat treatment in a nitrogen flow, the titanium nitride samples showed higher density and bimodal structure with titanium nitride grains varying from several micrometers to 400–200 nm. The microhardness of the samples heat-treated in a carbon black backfill was 6.5–8.5 GPa and that of the samples treated in a nitrogen flow was 16 GPa.
To determine the frequency of NOD2 gene c.3019-3020insC (rs5743293) and c.2104C>T (rs2066844) allelic variants in the patients with Crohn's disease (CD), colorectal cancer (CRC) and in the control ...groups and to study the association of these mutations with the onset time of the diseases, gender and surgical interventions.
The diagnoses of CD and CRC were established based on standard clinical examination and laboratory tests. Molecular genetic study of a frameshift 3020insC mutations of NOD2 gene were performed in 54 patients with CD; missense R702W mutations of the NOD2 gene - in 41 CD patients and 38 healthy controls. In CRC group, 3020insC mutation was tested in 48 patients, R702W mutation - in 40 patients and 40 healthy controls. PCR-RFLP technique was used to identify the mutations.
The frequency of the minor allele (M) of 3020insC mutation of NOD2 gene in the patients with CD was significantly higher than in the control group (р = 0.01). The age at CD onset in females carrying 3020insC mutation was significantly lower (22.5 ± 1.6 years) when compared with females without the mutation (32.7 ± 2.5 years) (p = 0.002). There was no significant difference in the allele frequencies and genotype distributions of R702W mutation in the patients with CD in comparison with the controls. The mean age at CD onset in the patients carrying R702W mutation was significantly lower (28.4 ± 1.4 years) compared with the patients without the mutation (39.4 ± 2.8 years) (p < 0.01). Surgical interventions for CD was required in 40.0% of 3020insC mutation carriers. Among patients with CRC, only 4.2% carried 3020insC mutation and 20.0% R702W mutation. Our study suggests that R702W and 3020insC mutations are not associated with the risk of CRC in Ukrainian patients. There was no statistically significant difference in mean age at CRC onset in patients with/without R702W mutation. Only one patient with CRC had two mutations.
The earlier age at CD onset was associated with 3020insC mutation, but only in female patients. The association between R702W mutation and the earlier age of CD onset was found. Patients with 3020insC mutation showed a trend to a higher frequency of surgical interventions for CD.
The 6-O sulfation states of cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) are dynamically regulated to control the growth and specification of embryonic progenitor lineages. However, mechanisms ...for regulation of HSPG sulfation have been unknown. Here, we report on the biochemical and Wnt signaling activities of QSulf1, a novel cell surface sulfatase. Biochemical studies establish that QSulf1 is a heparan sulfate (HS) 6-O endosulfatase with preference, in particular, toward trisulfated IdoA2S-GlcNS6S disaccharide units within HS chains. In cells, QSulf1 can function cell autonomously to remodel the sulfation of cell surface HS and promote Wnt signaling when localized either on the cell surface or in the Golgi apparatus. QSulf1 6-O desulfation reduces XWnt binding to heparin and HS chains of Glypican1, whereas heparin binds with high affinity to XWnt8 and inhibits Wnt signaling. CHO cells mutant for HS biosynthesis are defective in Wnt-dependent Frizzled receptor activation, establishing that HS is required for Frizzled receptor function. Together, these findings suggest a two-state "catch or present" model for QSulf1 regulation of Wnt signaling in which QSulf1 removes 6-O sulfates from HS chains to promote the formation of low affinity HS-Wnt complexes that can functionally interact with Frizzled receptors to initiate Wnt signal transduction.
PDF
