The paper presents research of metallic glass based on a Mg72Zn24Ca4 alloy. Metallic glass was prepared using induction melting and further injection on a spinning copper wheel. The X-ray diffractometer and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) were used to investigate the phase transformation of the amorphous ribbon. The heat released in the crystallization process, during isothermal annealing, based on the differential scanning calorimeter investigation, was determined to be 166.18 Jg-1. The effect of isothermal annealing temperature on the kinetics of the amorphous alloy crystallization process using differential scanning calorimeter was investigated. For this purpose, two isothermal annealing temperatures were selected. The incubation time decreases as the temperature of the isothermal annealing increases from 300 to 252 seconds. The same relationship is visible in the case of duration of the phase transformation, which also decreases as the temperature of the isothermal annealing increases from 360 to 228 seconds. The obtained results show a significant influence of isothermal annealing temperature on the degree of phase transformation.
The effects of Mg and Ca on sulfide modification of sulphur steel were studied to elucidate the difference between micromagnesium treatment and micro-calcium treatment for the inclusion of sulphur steel. The results show that the inclusions in the steel appeared with an oxide core of Al2O3 and MnS wrapped. After the addition of Mg, the core was changed to spinel, and the MnS coating was changed to Mn-Mg-S. After Ca was added, the core was changed to Ca-Al-O, and the MnS coating was changed to Mn-Ca-S. The Mg content was higher than Ca content in the sulfides of the steel. Therefore, Mg was more effective than Ca in terms of sulfide modification with the same content of Mg and Ca in steel, but the yielding rate of Mg was lower than that of Ca. The Mg content in the oxide core was higher than Mg of the coating of the inclusions in the steel treated with Mg or Mg-Ca. In contrast, the Ca content in the oxide core was lower than Ca of the coating of the inclusions in the steel treated with Ca or Mg-Ca. MnS formed and precipitated during the melt solidification process. The complex sulfide (Mg-Mn-S) was precipitated around MgO·Al2O3 in the Mg treated steel during the cooling process. CaS inclusion was precipitated on the CaO·Al2O3 inclusions in the liquid Ca-treated steel. Thus, CaS was formed first, whereas MnS was formed during the cooling process, followed by the formation of complex sulfide (CaS+MnS), which finally precipitated around CaO·Al2O3 in the Ca-treated steel.
This study set out to investigate, for the first time, the distribution and colocalization pattern of cocaine-and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) and one of the calcium binding-proteins: parvalbumin (PV) in the chinchilla’s hippocampus proper (HP). HP, consisting of Ammon’s horn (CA) and the dentate gyrus (DG), is an important component of the limbic system, involved in learning and memory processes. CA showed a higher immunoreactivity of CART (-IR) compared to DG. CART-IR neurons were mainly observed in the molecular layer of DG and in the pyramidal layer of CA. CART-IR fibers were present in the granular layer; in the hilus numerous mossy fibers were detected, while in the molecular layer CART-IR fibers were not found. In all CA fields (CA1-CA3), CART-IR fibers were only present in the lacuno- sum-molecular layer. Immunofluorescence with double- labeling showed that only CART-IR cells stained positive for PV, whereas in CART-IR fibers there was no PV-positive reaction. Our research supplements missing knowledge about the distribution and colocalization pattern of CART with PV in the chinchilla’s hippocampus, and also provides a better understanding of the similarities and differences among individuals of the same species and also with other mammals.
In recent years, two developments revolutionized the molecular genetics. The first one is an enormously improved technique of the DNA sequencing. It is now possible to obtain in couple of hours and on the low cost, the full sequence of the human genome. The second one is the invention of the CRISPR-Cas technique, which allows the precise manipulations of genomes of living organisms. This technique was already successfully applied to “repair” human genes responsible for hereditary diseases. To some astonishment, applications of genetic engineering to humans does not bring protests of general public, while similar manipulations pf plants genomes are considered an dangerous. In Poland and in some other countries, parliaments introduced an extremely restrictive laws, which in practice makes cultivation of GM plants outside laboratories impossible. This is caused by the ignorance of the general public and by opposition of catholic church which considers genetic modifications of all organisms as contradictory with Gods will. The most common modification of plants is an introduction into their genomes of the single gene from the bacterium Bacillus thuringensis, what make the plant resistant to harmful insects. According to WHO, neither the manipulation mentioned above, nor manipulations of the other kind, do not pose any danger to humans.
The influence of adjuvants on the efficacy of the plant growth regulators: chlormequat chloride (CCC) and prohexadione-calcium was investigated in winter wheat in 2002 and 2003. Field trials were carried out in the Agricultural Experimental Farm in Winna Góra. The plant growth regulators were applied alone at normal rate and at a r educed rate with and without adjuvants. Two adjuvants were used: Adpros 85 SL, a methylated rapeseed oil and Break-Thru S-240, an organosilicone surfactant. Crop height, lodging, yield and quality of the harvested crop were assessed. Physicochemical properties of spray solution were measured. Adjuvants improved the biological activity of both, CCC and prohexadione-calcium, especially when reduced doses were applied. Efficacy of the plant growth regulators used at normal rate without adjuvant and at reduced rates with adjuvants was similar. Break-Thru S-240 increased the efficacy of CCC and prohexadione-calcium more compared to Adpros 85 SL measured in terms of reduction of plant heigh.
The aim of this study was to determine whether the serum concentration of the phosphate (Pi) and the Ca x P value correlate with the IRIS stage of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in cats and, thus, whether they can be used as markers of the disease progression. Another aim was to assess whether the concentration of Ca in blood needs to be corrected based on the albumin concentration. The study was performed on 165 cats divided into five groups: the healthy group – C and study groups: I, II, III and IV with cats assigned to the groups based on the IRIS scale. Blood was collected from all the animals. The product of Ca x Pi, Cacorr and the product of Cacorrx Pi were calculated based on the obtained results. Despite no differences between groups I-III, there was a clear upward trend in the Pi concentration, in the Ca x Pi and in the Cacorr x Pi with CKD progression. In group IV, the Pi concentration and the Ca x Pi as well as the Cacorr x Pi value were significantly higher than the other groups. The concentration of Ca and its albumin-corrected serum values did not differ significantly. The serum concentration of Pi and the Ca x P product cannot be used as indicators of CKD progression in cats, but they may be used as additional elements in the diagnosis of stage IV CKD. The results also suggest that the serum calcium concentrations do not need to be albumin-corrected in cats.
The effect of plastic deformation process on the dissolution rate of biocompatible Mg alloys was investigated. Two biocompatible MgLi1Ca0,2Zn1 and MgLi1Ca1Zn1 alloys were selected for the study. The alloys were deformed on a 100T press at a temperature of 350°C by conventional extrusion and by the equal channel angular extrusion process (ECAE). The grain size analysis showed a high degree of the grain refinement from approximately 110 mm in the initial state to 2.8 mm after the 3rd pass of the ECAE process. Compared to as-cast state, the degree of strengthening has increased after plastic forming. The results of biodegradation tests have shown a significant increase in corrosion rate after both conventional extrusion and ECAE, although after subsequent ECAE passes, this rate was observed to slightly decrease in the MgLi1Ca1Zn1 alloy. Based on the results of macro- and microstructure examinations, the corrosion progress in samples after the extrusion process was described.
The aim of the paper is to study the effect of zinc addition on the corrosion behavior of Ca65–xMg17.5Zn17.5+x (x = 0, 2.5, 5 at.%) alloys in simulated physiological fluids at 37°C. The electrochemical measurements allowed to determine a corrosion potential, which showed a positive shift from –1.60 V for Ca65Mg17.5Zn17.5 alloy to –1.58 V for Ca60Mg17.5Zn22.5 alloy, adequately. The more significant decrease of hydrogen evolution was noticed for Ca60Mg17.5Zn22.5 alloy (22.4 ml/cm2) than for Ca62.5Mg17.5Zn20 and Ca65Mg17.5Zn17.5 samples (29.9 ml/cm2 and 46.4 ml/cm2), consequently. The corrosion products after immersion tests in Ringer’s solution during 1 h were identified by X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy as calcium, magnesium oxides, carbonates, hydroxides and calcium hydrate.
In this paper, explain the preparation of CaTiO3 ceramics synthesized by the solid-state reaction method. Calcium carbonate and titanium dioxide were high energy mixed in stoichiometric amounts, and the obtained mixture was calcined at different temperatures (800, 900, 1000 and 1300ºC) for 2 h. The obtained samples were characterized by measurement of particle size, Energy Dispersive X-Ray (EDX) Analysis; differential thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction and SEM images. XRD patterns indicated that CaTiO3 ceramics with the structure of perovskite is obtained from calcined powders at 1,300°C for 2 h. SEM images show the formation of a very fine and homogeneous morphology. The measured values of electrical resistivity were within the typical range of insulating materials and approach values corresponding to insulating ceramics.
The discovery of (BaxCa1-x)(ZryTi1-x)O3 lead-free ceramics drawn a lot of attention to those novel materials because of their excellent piezoelectric properties. However, quite a little attention has been paid to other features of the material. This article reports a wide range of research, including composition, structure and microstructure, dielectric response and impedance spectroscopy in order to systematize and expand knowledge about this peculiar ceramics and strontium doping effect on its properties. In order to test that influence a series of samples with various strontium concentration, precisely the admixtures of 0.02, 0.04 and 0.06 mol% were prepared, as well as basic ceramics to compare obtained results.
CaO sorbent dissolved in chloride molten salts was investigated to identify its CO2 capture property. Various molten salt systems with different melting points (CaCl2, LiCl, LiCl-CaCl2, and LiCl-KCl) were used to control the operation temperature from 450 to 850ºC in order to determine the effect of the operation temperature on the chemical reaction between CaO and CO2. The CaO sorbent showed the best performance at 550ºC in the LiCl-CaCl2 molten salt (conversion ratio of 85.25%). This temperature is lower than typical operation temperature of the solid-state CaO sorbent (~700ºC).