THE COMPREHENSIVE STUDY OF THE ABASHEVO BATTLE AXE FROM THE MALO-KIZILSKOE UNFORTIFIED SETTLEMENT

В статье представлены результаты комплексного исследования медного боевого топора абашевской культуры, происходящего с территории Мало-Кизильского селища. Топор исследовался методами нейтронной томографии и радиографии, электронной сканирующей микроскопии; публикуются результаты его исследования методом ОЭСА. В результате установлено, что топор отлит из мышьяковистой меди месторождения Таш-Казган; специального воздействия на процесс охлаждения отливки не зафиксировано, отливка выполнена качественно, вредное воздействие растворимых примесей снивелировано, в металле выявлен малый процент литейных дефектов (0,18 % от его общего объема). Все это позволяет предположить его использование в качестве оружия ближнего боя, о чем косвенно свидетельствует и характер травм, зафиксированных на черепах из Пепкинского кургана. Радиоуглеродная AMS-дата для коллективного захоронения из этого могильника позволяет отнести время распространения подобного оружия в Среднем Поволжье к периоду к концу III или рубежу III-II тыс. до н. э. The paper reports on the comprehensive study of a copper battle axe attributed to the Abashevo culture which was discovered at the Malo-Kizilskoe open settlement. The battle axe was examined by neutron tomography and radiographic analysis, and electron scanning microscopy methods; the paper provides results of its examination by optical emission spectrometry. The analysis established that the axe was cast from the copperarsenic ore coming from the Tash-Kazgan deposit; special treatment during the cast cooling was not recorded, casting is of good quality. Harmful effect of dissoluble impurities was reduced to minimum, the metal shows a small percentage of recorded casting defects (0,18 % of its total volume). All this suggests that it was used as a close combat weapon which is also indirectly confirmed by the nature of injuries documented on the skulls from the Pepkino kurgan. The radiocarbon AMS-date of the multiple grave in this kurgan enables the authors to date the period when such weapons were used in the Middle Volga region to the end of III mill. BC or the transitional period from III to II mill. BC.

A Comparative Analysis of Chemical, Thermal, and Mechanical Post-Process of Fused Filament Fabricated Polyetherimide Parts for Surface Quality Enhancement

Additive manufacturing technologies are increasingly being used in production systems because they shorten product development time and production cost, but surface integrity remains a limitation to meet the standards set by conventional manufacturing. In this research article, two chemical, one thermal, and three mechanical finishing operations are proposed to post-process fused filament fabricated Ultem 9085 parts. Their effects on the parts’ surface quality and dimensional accuracy (changes in their width, height, length, and mass) are examined through optical and electron scanning microscopy, and the advantages and disadvantages of each method are discussed. Microscope evaluation has proven to be a powerful tool to observe apparent differences and understand the nature of different morphological changes. Results indicate that chemical and thermal treatments and ball burnishing are good candidates to significantly enhance the finish of the parts, despite requiring the use of solvents or provoking dimensional changes to the parts. The effects of abrasive mechanical treatments are more moderate at a macroscopic scale, but the surface of the filaments suffers the most remarkable changes.

May the Piezoresistivity of GNP-Modified Cement Mortar Be Related to Its Fractal Structure?

High piezoresistivity of cement-based composites tuned by conductible fillers provides a feasible way to develop self-sensing smart structures and buildings. However, the microstructural mechanisms remain to be properly understood. In the present work, the piezoresistivity of cement mortar with different dosages of graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) was investigated, and the microstructure was assessed by electron scanning microscopy (SEM) and mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP). Two surface fractal models were introduced to interpret the MIP data to explore the multi-scale fractal structure of the GNP-modified cement mortars. Results show that the incorporation of GNPs into cement mortar can roughen the fracture surfaces due to the GNPs’ agglomeration. Gauge factor (GF) rises and falls as GNP content increases from 0% to 1% with the optimal piezoresistivity observed at GNP = 0.1% and 0.05%. The GF values of the optimum mortar are over 50 times higher than those of the reference mortar. Fractal dimensions in macro and micro fractal regions change with GNP content. Analysis shows that the fractal dimensions in micro region decrease first and then increase with the increase of GF values. GNPs not only impact the fractal structure of cement mortar, but also alter the tunneling and contact effects that govern the piezoresistivity of composite materials.

Electrochemotherapy with Mitomycin C Potentiates Apoptosis Death by Inhibiting Autophagy in Squamous Carcinoma Cells

We investigated the chemosensitizing effect of electroporation (EP), which, using electrical pulses, permeabilizes cancer cells to drugs. The study involved two human hypopharyngeal and tongue carcinoma cell lines. The surface and intracytoplasmic expression of P-gp were evaluated by flow cytometry, demonstrating that both lines were intrinsically resistant. After establishing the optimal dose of mitomycin C (MMC) to be used, in combination with EP, we showed, by both MTT assay and optical and electron scanning microscopy, the potentiating cytotoxic effect of EP with MMC compared to single treatments. Flow cytometry showed that the cytotoxicity of EP + MMC was due to the induction of apoptosis. In addition to verifying the release of cytochrome C in EP + MMC samples, we performed an expression analysis of caspase-3, caspase-9, Akt, pAkt, HMGB1, LC3I, LC3II, p62, Beclin1, and associated proteins with both apoptotic and autophagic phenomena. Our results were confirmed by two veterinary patients in whom the EP + MMC combination was used to control margins after the resection of corneal squamous carcinoma. In conclusion, we affirmed that the effect for which EP enhances MMC treatment is due to the inhibition of the autophagic process induced by the drug in favor of apoptosis.

Research of the developed gel intracorneal colored implants for keratopigmentation based on various materials. Experimental study

Purpose. Evaluation of the impact of the developed intracorneal gel stained implants for keratopigmentation based on various materials on the donor human cornea during organotypic cultivation. Material and methods. Three experimental samples of intracorneal gel stained implants were investigated: sample 1 based on sodium hyaluronate with organic pigment, sample 2 based on collagen hydrolyzate with inorganic pigment, and sample 3 based on hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) with organic pigment. To determine the toxicity of the studied implants the apoptosis of keratocytes was determined in cryostat sections of the cornea. The method of immunohistochemistry was used to study apoptosis. Scanning electron microscopy was used to visualize the corneal structures in the presence of implants. Results. During the investigation we showed that a gel implant based on a collagen hydrolyzate and a pigment with an inorganic toner (28% in the composition) causes a weak expression of the initiator proteins of apoptosis Caspasa 8 and Cytochrome C, and there is no expression of the BAX and effector proteins Caspasa 3/7. It was revealed that samples No. 1 and No. 3 undergo partial dissolution and washout from the intrastromal tunnel, sample No. 2 based on collagen hydrolyzate has a dense structure and remains in the corneal tunnel throughout the entire cultivation period, for at least 7 days, which is showed using an electron-scanning microscopy. The proposed collagen hydrolyzate gel implant can be considered compact and non-toxic. Conclusion. As a result of organotypic cultivation for 7 days showed the best results intracorneal colored implant № 2 based hydrolyzate of collagen and inorganic toner. Intracorneal colored implant based on collagen hydrolyzate has a more compact and dense structure than the accompanying experimental samples. Key words: keratopigmentation, aniridia, intracorneal colored implant.

Regarding the Formation of Wood Material Fire Protection and the Mechanism of its Action

The theoretical aspects of wood material fire protection formation by esterification reactions are considered in the article. The reactivity of polysaccharides and polymers from which wood material is composed has been confirmed by the FTIR method. The IR spectra of the original standard samples of lignin and microcrystalline cellulose were taken and after treatment with solutions with concentrations of 10% of the mass. orthophosphoric (Н3РО4) and oxyethylene diphosphonic (CH3C(OH)(H2PO3)2) acids. Electron scanning microscopy revealed the crystallization of inorganic salts on the wood material surface, which play the role of flame retardants, as well as a film of organopolymer (polyhexamethylene guanidine polyphosphate), which forms a foamed layer of coke when heated. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and gas chromatography (GC) methods show the mechanism of action of fire protection provided to wood material. The formation of foamed coke is visually shown and the results on the effectiveness of fire protection on the example of wood material treatment with a mixture of diammonium phosphate and ammonium sulfate are obtained.

Effects of reverse cold rolling on the microstructure, texture and mechanical properties of AA1100 aluminium alloys

In this work the microstructure, texture and mechanical properties during different stages of reverse cold rolling (RCR) process on aluminium alloy AA1100-H14 were analysed. Microstructure was observed using optical and electron scanning microscopy. Texture was analysed using X-ray diffraction (macrotexture) and electron back-scattering diffraction (microtexture) techniques. Tensile test and microhardness measurements were carried out. Results showed that a high deformation using RCR was obtained in samples of annealed state leading to maximum values of tensile strength and hardness, along with a reduction of ductility. Intensity of -fibres decreased producing unstable textures {112} <110> while microstructure exhibited refinement of grain, with enlarged morphology.

Dielectric Properties Bi₂MgTaNbO₉

A phase-pure mixed oxide of the composition Bi2MgNbTaO9 with a pyrochlore structure was obtained by the ceramic synthesis method. The sample was characterized by the methods of X-ray phase and EDS analyzes, electron scanning microscopy. The electrical properties of samples of different thicknesses were investigated by impedance spectroscopy. The unit cell parameter is a = 1.0544 nm (sp. gr. Fd3m). As a result of modeling the impedance hodographs, an equivalent circuit is proposed that satisfactorily describes the electrical behavior of the sample. Bi2MgNbTaO9 is characterized by a high activation energy of 1.28 eV; moderately high dielectric constant ~62–71 and dielectric loss tangent ~0.003 at 1 MHz and 18 °С. No ionic transfer was detected. The investigated ceramics can be used to create multilayer ceramic capacitors

SEED MEDIATED SYNTHESIS OF HEXAGONAL S-DOPED ZnO NANOROD AND ITS PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

Sulfur-doped zinc oxide (S-ZnO) nanorod has been successfully synthesized via the seed-mediated hydrothermal method with different sulfur concentrations (0%, 1%, 2.5%). This research aims to study the influence of the concentration of sulfur on the structure, morphology, and optical properties of ZnO as a promising material in a wide range of applications. Crystal structure, morphology, and optical properties of the samples were characterized using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Field Emission Electron Scanning Microscopy (FESEM), and UV-Vis Spectroscopy, respectively. The XRD pattern shows the strongest peak at 2θ = 34.43° for crystal orientation of (002). The crystallinity properties of the S-ZnO sample are higher compared to the ZnO sample. The FESEM images of the 1% S-ZnO sample exhibit the highest nanorod density arrangement. The optical absorbance of the higher sulfur dopant possesses a higher optical absorption peak on the UV-Vis spectrum. The results indicate that S doping to ZnO can alter the structural, morphological, and optical properties of ZnO.

Evaluation of the Effect of Hyaluronic Acid–Based Biomaterial Enriched With Tenascin-C on the Behavior of the Neural Stem Cells

One of the most important natural extracellular constituents is hyaluronic acid (HA) with the potential to develop a highly organized microenvironment. In the present study, we enriched HA hydrogel with tenascin-C (TN-C) and examined the viability and survival of mouse neural stem cells (NSCs) using different biological assays. Following NSCs isolation and expansion, their phenotype was identified using flow cytometry analysis. Cell survival was measured using MTT assay and DAPI staining after exposure to various concentrations of 50, 100, 200, and 400 nM TN-C. Using acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining, we measured the number of live and necrotic cells after exposure to the combination of HA and TN-C. MTT assay revealed the highest NSCs viability rate in the group exposed to 100 nM TN-C compared to other groups, and a combination of 1% HA + 100 nM TN-C increased the viability of NSCs compared to the HA group after 24 hours. Electron scanning microscopy revealed the higher attachment of these cells to the HA + 100 nM TN-C substrate relative to the HA substrate. Epifluorescence imaging and DAPI staining of loaded cells on HA + 100 nM TN-C substrate significantly increased the number of NSCs per field over 72 hours compared to the HA group ( P < 0.05). Live and dead assay revealed that the number of live NSCs significantly increased in the HA + 100 TN-C group compared to HA and control groups. The enrichment of HA substrate with TN-C promoted viability and survival of NSCs and could be applied in neural tissue engineering approaches and regenerative medicine.