Induced Membrane Curvature Bypasses Clathrin's Essential Endocytic Function

During clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME), flat plasma membrane is rapidly remodeled to produce a nanometer-scale spherical vesicle. The mechanisms underlying this shape change are not known, but it has been hypothesized that the clathrin coat stabilizes membrane curvature. Here, we used nanopatterning to produce glass-like substrates with U-shaped features mimicking membrane shapes induced by fibrillar materials such as collagen. These substrates bend the ventral plasma membranes of cells grown on them into shapes characteristic of the energetically-unfavorable U-shaped intermediate stage of CME. This induced plasma membrane curvature recruits the endocytic machinery, enhances endocytic site maturation, and partially bypasses clathrin's role in CME, supporting the conclusion that clathrin's essential endocytic function is to stabilize membrane curvature.

Glass Micro Balls Based on Glass Domestic Waste for Road Construction

The glass micro balls based on glass domestic waste for road construction were obtained. Glass micro balls will reduce the contamination of road marking and increase its light-reflective ability at night. Colorless and colored container glass, as well as lead crystal, was chosen as the starting material for producing glass micro balls. An electric arc plasmotron UPU-8M was used to produce glass micro balls. Pre-crushed fractionated glass together with plasma-forming gas – argon was fed to the powder feeder and from the feeder to the plasma burner. Under the influence of high plasma temperatures, about 9000-12000K, the particles were melted, followed by cooling in the outgoing flow of plasma-forming gases. Due to high-temperature plasma exposure, partial evaporation of alkaline oxides and lead oxide occurred. Glass micro balls were enriched with the oxides of silicon, aluminum and calcium. This helped to increase the acid and alkali resistance of glass micro balls. The micro hardness, density, and refractive index of glass micro balls were studied. It is shown that glass micro balls have an ideal spherical shape and are x-ray amorphous. Glass micro balls are recommended for use in road construction as a reflective element of road marking.

Capabilities and Limitations of Fire-Shaping to Produce Glass Nozzles

Microfluidic devices for drop and emulsion production are often built using fire-shaped (or fire-polished) glass nozzles. These are usually fabricated manually with inexpensive equipment. The shape limitations and poor reproducibility are pointed as the main drawbacks. Here, we evaluate the capabilities of a new fire-shaping approach which fabricates the nozzle by heating a vertical rotating capillary at the Bottom of a Lateral Flame (BLF). We analyze the effect of the heating conditions, and the capillary size and tolerances. The shape reproducibility is excellent for nozzles of the same size produced with the same conditions. However, the size reproducibility is limited and does not seem to be significantly affected by the heating conditions. Specifically, the minimum neck diameter standard deviation is 3%. Different shapes can be obtained by changing the heating position or the capillary dimensions, though, for a given diameter reduction, there is a minimum nozzle length due to the overturning of the surface. The use of thinner (wall or inner diameter) capillaries allows producing much shorter nozzles but hinders the size reproducibility. Finally, we showed an example of how the performance of a microfluidic device is affected by the nozzle shape: a Gas Dynamic Virtual Nozzle (GDVN) built with a higher convergent rate nozzle works over a wider parametric range without whipping.

Prospects for the use of diabases of the crystal base of Belarus to obtain silicate materials

The paper presents the study results of diabases of rare-earth and beryllium-containing deposit of the Republicof Belarusin order to determine their suitability for the production of silicate materials and products for various purposes. The data obtained allowed developing raw compositions and optimizing the technological parameters to produce glass, mineral fibers, glass ceramics, stone casting, ceramic bricks and tiles, as well as porous aggregates. The regularities of structure and phase formation during high-temperature treatment of raw compositions of silicate materials using diabases are established. The results of the work allow us to establish the features of the production of silicate materials containing diabase as main raw material of compositions, to increase mineral and raw-materials base of Belarusand to improve the environmental situation in mining enterprises.

Mechanochemical Synthesis of Mixed Metal, Mixed Linker GlassForming Metal–Organic Frameworks

Current methodologies to produce glass forming metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) rely on non-scalable solvothermal syntheses which have high energy requirements, relatively low yields and large tetratogenic solvent usage. Here we use a mechanochemical method to produce glass-forming MOFs, ZIF-62 and ZIF-UC-5, in 30 minutes at room temperature, using microlitre quantities of solvent and stoichiometric amounts of organic linkers. This method facilitates the accurate synthesis of ZIF-62 structures containing both Co and Zn, allowing the effect of metal-ion dopant upon melting temperature to be studied for the first time. Further to this, we present variable organic linker ratio series of IF-62 and of ZIF-UC-5. The specific composition of the materials in the series is made possible by the mechanochemical method. We also present a greener solvothermal method to form ZIF-62, which is capable of producing crystalline materials of suffcient quality for single crystal diffraction experiments.<br><br>

Mechanochemical Synthesis of Mixed Metal, Mixed Linker GlassForming Metal–Organic Frameworks

Current methodologies to produce glass forming metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) rely on non-scalable solvothermal syntheses which have high energy requirements, relatively low yields and large tetratogenic solvent usage. Here we use a mechanochemical method to produce glass-forming MOFs, ZIF-62 and ZIF-UC-5, in 30 minutes at room temperature, using microlitre quantities of solvent and stoichiometric amounts of organic linkers. This method facilitates the accurate synthesis of ZIF-62 structures containing both Co and Zn, allowing the effect of metal-ion dopant upon melting temperature to be studied for the first time. Further to this, we present variable organic linker ratio series of IF-62 and of ZIF-UC-5. The specific composition of the materials in the series is made possible by the mechanochemical method. We also present a greener solvothermal method to form ZIF-62, which is capable of producing crystalline materials of suffcient quality for single crystal diffraction experiments.<br><br>

Mechanochemical synthesis of mixed metal, mixed linker, glass-forming metal–organic frameworks

Methods to produce glass forming metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) rely on solvothermal syntheses which have high energy requirements, low yields and large teratogenic solvent usage. We present mechanochemical methods to overcome these issues.

Crystallization Peculiarities of White Glass-Enamel Coatings for Steel Products

The aim of the research was to study the influence of small additives on the crystallization of titanium-containing phases in glass and the influence of the process parameters on the whiteness of the covering glass enamel coatings. A number of compositions of initial glasses (frits) were synthesized to produce glass coatings with high whiteness. Their physical and chemical properties were analyzed. A titanium-containing glass enamel coatings were developed, the composition of which contains compounds that promote bulk crystallization, which ensures a high whiteness index.