This work reports for the first time a quantum mechanical study of the interactions of a model benzodiazepine drug, i.e., nitrazepam, with various models of amorphous silica surfaces, differing in structural and interface properties. The interest in these systems is related to the use of mesoporous silica as carrier in drug delivery. The adopted computational procedure has been chosen to investigate whether silica-drug interactions favor the drug degradation mechanism or not, hindering the beneficial pharmaceutical effect. Computed structural, energetics, and vibrational properties represent a relevant comparison for future experiments. Our simulations demonstrate that adsorption of nitrazepam on amorphous silica is a strongly exothermic process in which a partial proton transfer from the surface to the drug is observed, highlighting a possible catalytic role of silica in the degradation reaction of benzodiazepines.Most of the previous research on recycled concrete aggregates (RCA) has focused on coarse RCA (CRCA), while much less has been accomplished on the use of fine RCA particles (FRCA). Furthermore, most RCA research disregards its unique microstructure, and thus the inferior performance of concrete incorporating RCA is often reported in the fresh and hardened states. To improve the overall behaviour of RCA concrete advanced mix design techniques such as equivalent volume (EV) or particle packing models (PPMs) may be used. However, the efficiency of these procedures to proportion eco-efficient FRCA concrete still requires further investigation. This work evaluates the overall fresh (i.e., slump and rheological characterization) and hardened states (i.e., non-destructive tests, compressive strength and microscopy) performance of sustainable FRCA mixtures proportioned through distinct techniques (i.e., direct replacement, EV and PPMs) and incorporating different types of aggregates (i.e., natural and manufactured sand) and manufacturing processes (i.e., crusher fines and fully ground). Results demonstrate that the aggregate type and crushing process may influence the FRCA particles' features. Yet, the use of advanced mix design techniques, particularly PPMs, may provide FRCA mixes with quite suitable performance in the fresh (i.e., 49% lower yield stress) and hardened states (i.e., 53% higher compressive strength) along with a low carbon footprint.Magnesium alloys, due to their unique properties, low density and high strength properties, are becoming more frequently used in industrial applications. However, a limitation of their use may be the need to ensure high abrasive wear resistance and corrosion resistance. Therefore, magnesium alloys are often protected by applying protective coatings. The paper presents the influence of the modification of the electrolyte composition, with or without the addition of borax, on the morphology (observed by SEM method) and phase composition (analyzed by EDS and XRD) of the formed layers on the AZ91 magnesium alloy, and their abrasive wear (determined with Ball-on-Disc method) and corrosion resistance (evaluated using the immersion method and by electrochemical tests), especially in chloride solutions. It has been clearly demonstrated that the modification of the electrolyte composition significantly impacts the final properties of the protective coatings on the AZ91 alloy formed by the plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) process. On the basis of the results, it was found that the new type of PEO coatings with the borax addition, compared to base PEO coatings, showed significantly higher abrasion resistance and an order of magnitude lower corrosion rate.In this work, the corrosion properties of 316L stainless steel (SS) obtained by selective laser melting (SLM) are analyzed. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/alc-0159.html The electrochemical results of samples manufactured with an energy density between 40 and 140 J/mm3 are compared using different hatch distances and laser speeds. The analysis correlates the impact of the microstructure and processing defects of SLM 316L stainless steel on its behavior against corrosion. The optimal manufacturing conditions were selected considering the electrochemical results. Although the samples obtained with an energy density close to 90 J/mm3 show a high resistance to corrosion, their performance depends on the combination of selected parameters, obtaining the best results for an intermediate laser speed and a low hatch distance. These manufacturing conditions produce a higher breakdown potential, a faster repassivation of the steel and reduce the current density on electrochemical test.This paper focuses on the search for novel insulating structures, and the generation of them by means of a state-of-the-art manufacturing method-3D printing. Bionic structures, which are successfully used in many branches of technology, were chosen as the source of inspiration for the research. The paper presents a design of spatial structures with a gyroid infill (e.g., TPMS), the shape of which reflects the bionic structure of the inside of a bone. For SLS printed single- and multi-layered structures, the design value of the thermal conductivity coefficient was determined through measurements and calculations. A statistical analysis was carried out to determine the effect of the direction of heat flow, as well as the internal structure and layering of the prototype materials, on the values of the thermal conductivity coefficient and the thermal resistance coefficient. On the basis of the multicriteria analysis, the composite's optimal composition according to the adopted optimization criteria was determined. The lowest possible thermal conductivity of the insulation was equal to 0.033 W/(m·K). The highest possible thermal resistance was equal to 0.606 m2·K/W. Thermal insulation made of the prototype insulating partitions with a gyroidal structure is characterized by good insulating parameters.The kinetics and dynamics of the stiff and flexible tines with the duckfoot and the coulter after impact with stones embedded in compacted soil were examined. The beak of the duckfoot was positioned in the axis of the row of stones embedded in the soil at the depth of stones thickness. The coulter covered the stone or impact the edge of the stone halfway along its length. The tools worked at a speed of 0.83-2.22 m·s-1 and a working depth of 0.05-0.10 m. The results of specific parameters were compared to the response of the tools to loads in soil without stones. For both soil conditions, the kinetics of the flexible tine was 24 times more reactive, and the dynamic loads were two times lower than for the stiff tine. The responses of both tines were suppressed along with the working depth because of the more favorable place of impact of the duckfoot beak with the stone. Along with the working speed, for a stiff tine, the specific accelerations decreased significantly, by ten times, and the specific forces increased slightly, by 1.6 times. Among the two systems of setting the coulter, the impact of the cutting edge of the coulter with the stone in the middle of its length was more unfavorable than the work of the coulter covering the stone.Oxide metallurgy technology plays an important role in inclusion control and is also applied to improve the weldability of high strength steel. Based on the requirements of the weldability in high strength steel, the influencing factors of weld heat affected zone (HAZ) as well as the development and application status of oxide metallurgy technology are summarized in this review. Moreover, the advantages and difficulties in the application of rare earth (RE) oxide metallurgy technology are analyzed, combined with the performance mechanism of RE and its formation characteristics of fine and high melting point RE inclusions with distribution dispersed in liquid steel. With the weldability diversities of different high strength steels, the research status of weldability of high strength steel with high carbon equivalent and the effects of RE on the microstructure and properties of HAZ are discussed, and some suggestions about further research in the future are proposed.The use of nanomedicines for cancer treatment has been widespread. Fullerenes have significant effects in the treatment of solid tumors. Here, we are going to study the effects of hydroxylated fullerene C60(OH)n(n = 18-22) treatment on chronic myeloid leukemia cell proliferation and investigate its toxicity. The results showed that hydroxylated fullerene C60(OH)n (n = 18-22) at low concentrations (less than 120 μM) not only had apparent toxic side effects, but also promoted the growth of K562 cells, while a high concentration of C60(OH)n had different degrees of inhibition on K562 cells. When the concentration is higher than 160 μM, the K562 cells showed morphological changes, the mitochondrial membrane potential decreased, the cell cycle was blocked in the stage of G2-phase, and cell apoptosis occurred, which may cause apoptosis, autophagy, and a variety of other damage leading to cell death. Meanwhile, it also indicated that its inhibition of solid tumors might be related to the tumor microenvironment; we verified the safety of fullerene without apparent cellular toxicity at a specific concentration.The development of polyamides has increased in recent years due to scientific research and the aim of the industry to find materials characterized by good frictional behavior at high temperatures, high loads and high speeds. The wide areas of application of polyamides in the mechanical contacts with relative motions offered new development opportunities for polyamides (PA), such as PA66, PA46 and PTFE mixed PA46. One of the applications of these polyamides in mechanical contacts with relative motions is the contact between the timing chains and the active part of the tensioning guides. For a comparison with a previous study of friction of PA66, PA46 and PTFE mixed PA46, performed on a pin-on-disk tribometer, this study is based on performing tests on the same materials, on the tensioning guide of a silent chain used as a timing chain in combustion engines, with lubricating conditions much closer to the application field. The diagrams comparatively present the variation of the percentage of frictional losses for PTFE mixed PA46, PA46 and PA66 polyamides mounted on tensioning guides in contact with chains. The results clearly show that the PTFE mixed PA46 polyamide has smaller frictional losses than the PA46 and the PA66 polyamides, but the influence of speed and tensioning is also important. A comparison with the previous study is also useful for making a decision on using a polyamide for the guide of a timing chain.The current context provides, worldwide, the need to identify solutions for the thermal efficiency of constructions, through sustainable and innovative methods and products. A viable solution is to produce thermal insulating products by carding-folding technology, using natural fibres and recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) and polyester (rPES) waste, converted to fibres. This paper presents experimental results obtained after testing several thermal insulation composite products produced using a mix of sheep wool, cellulose, rPET and rPES fibres. The results of the research demonstrate the thermal insulation properties but, at the same time, identify the benefits of using such materials on the quality of the air in the interior space (the ability to adjust humidity and reduce the concentration of harmful substances). At the same time, the advantages of using sheep wool composite mattresses concerning their resistance to insect attack is demonstrated when compared with ordinary thermal insulation materials.