RETRACTED: Vorotilo et al. Manufacturing of Conductive, Wear-Resistant Nanoreinforced Cu-Ti Alloys Using Partially Oxidized Electrolytic Copper Powder. 2020, , 1261.

The Editorial Office retracts the article, "Manufacturing of Conductive, Wear-Resistant Nanoreinforced Cu-Ti Alloys Using Partially Oxidized Electrolytic Copper Powder" [...

Animal Cellulose with Hierarchical Structure Isolated from Tunic as the Basis for High-Performance Pressure-Resistant Nanofiltration Membrane.

The structure and transport properties of the new Cellokon-AKH membrane based on animal cellulose obtained from tunic of ascidian were studied. The results of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), FTIR spectroscopy, and the X-ray diffraction data revealed significant differences in the structure and morphology of upper and lower surfaces of this layered film membrane based on animal cellulose. It was shown that the membrane surface is a network of intertwined cellulose fibers, with both denser and looser areas present on the lower surface compared to the completely uniform morphology of the main part of the upper surface.

Nano-graphite field-emission cathode for space electric propulsion systems.

Improving the thruster efficiency is a crucial challenge for the development of space electric propulsion systems, especially advanced air-breathing thrusters utilizing the surrounding rarefied atmosphere as fuel. A significant reduction in thruster power consumption can be achieved by using field emission (FE) cathodes that do not require heating and have the highest energy efficiency. In this work, we study FE from nano-graphite thin films, consisting of carbon nanostructures with a high aspect ratio, and demonstrate their suitability for use in the space electric propulsion systems.

Double dynamic hydrogels formed by wormlike surfactant micelles and cross-linked polymer.

Hypothesis: Interpenetrating networks consisting of a polymer network with dynamic cross-links and a supramolecular network allow obtaining hydrogels with significantly enhanced mechanical properties.

Experiments: Binary hydrogels composed of a dynamically cross-linked poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) network and a transient network of entangled highly charged mixed wormlike micelles (WLMs) of surfactants (potassium oleate and n-octyltrimethylammonium bromide) were prepared and studied by rheometry, SANS, USANS, cryo-TEM, and NMR spectroscopy.

Findings: Binary hydrogels show significantly enhanced rheological properties (a 3400-fold higher viscosity and 27-fold higher plateau modulus) as compared to their components taken separately.

Low-resolution structures of modular nanotransporters shed light on their functional activity.

Modular nanotransporters (MNTs) are multifunctional chimeric polypeptides for the multistep transport of locally acting cytotoxic agents into the nuclei of cancer target cells. MNTs consist of several polypeptide domains (functional modules) for the recognition of a cell-surface internalizable receptor, pH-dependent endosomal escape and subsequent transport into the nucleus through the nuclear pores. MNTs are a promising means for cancer treatment.

Disruption of Cationic/Anionic Viscoelastic Surfactant Micellar Networks by Hydrocarbon as a Basis of Enhanced Fracturing Fluids Clean-Up.

Studies of the effects produced by the solubilization of hydrophobic substances by micellar aggregates in water medium are quite important for applications of viscoelastic surfactant solutions for enhanced oil recovery (EOR), especially in hydraulic fracturing technology. The present paper aims at the investigation of the structural transformations produced by the absorption of an aliphatic hydrocarbon (n-decane) by mixed wormlike micelles of cationic (n-octyltrimethylammonium bromide, C8TAB) and anionic (potassium oleate) surfactants enriched by C8TAB. As a result of contact with a small amount (0.

Magnetic-field-assisted synthesis of anisotropic iron oxide particles: Effect of pH.

The synthesis of magnetite (FeO) nanorods using reverse co-precipitation of Fe and Fe ions in the presence of a static magnetic field is reported in this work. The phase composition and crystal structure of the synthesized material were investigated using electron diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. It was shown that the morphology of the reaction product strongly depends on the amount of OH ions in the reaction mixture, varying from FeO nanorods to spherical FeO nanoparticles.

Manufacturing of Conductive, Wear-Resistant Nanoreinforced Cu-Ti Alloys Using Partially Oxidized Electrolytic Copper Powder.

Reactive powder composites Cu-(0-15%)TiH containing up to 5% native CuO were manufactured by high energy ball milling and then hot-pressed to produce bulk nanostructured copper-matrix alloys reinforced by CuTiO inclusions. Two high-energy ball-milling (HEBM) protocols were employed for the fabrication of Cu-Ti alloys: single-stage and two-stage ball milling, resulting in an order of magnitude refinement of TiH particles in the reactive mixtures. Single-stage HEBM processing led to the partial retention of Ti in the microstructure of hot-pressed specimens as the α-Ti phase and formation of fine-grained (100-200 nm) copper matrix interspersed with 5-20 nm CuTiO precipitates, whereas the two-stage HEBM led to the complete conversion of TiH into the CuTiO phase during the hot pressing but produced a coarser copper matrix (1-2 μm) with 0.

Protective Dps-DNA co-crystallization in stressed cells: an in vitro structural study by small-angle X-ray scattering and cryo-electron tomography.

Under severe or prolonged stress, bacteria produce a nonspecific DNA-binding protein (Dps), which effectively protects DNA against damaging agents both in vitro and in vivo by forming intracellular biocrystals. The phenomenon of protective crystallization of DNA in living cells has been intensively investigated during the last two decades; however, the results of studies are somewhat contradictory, and up to now, there has been no direct determination of a Dps-DNA crystal structure. Here, we report the in vitro analysis of the vital process of Dps-DNA co-crystallization using two complementary structural methods: synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering in solution and cryo-electron tomography.

Pervaporation membranes of a simplex type with polyelectrolyte layers of chitosan and sodium hyaluronate.

Self-supporting multilayer films containing a polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) were prepared by the sequential layering of sodium hyaluronate (HA, MW 5.4 × 10) and chitosan (CS, MW 1.6 × 10, the degree of deacetylation 0.

Retinoic acid co-treatment aggravates severity of dioxin-induced skin lesions in hairless mice via induction of inflammatory response.

Exposure to toxic halogenated polyaromatic hydrocarbons, of which 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is the most potent, induces diverse skin pathologies in humans, including chloracne, hyperkeratosis, hamartomas, etc. While the toxic effects of TCDD have been extensively studied, effective approaches to their treatment are still lacking. Retinoids are commonly used in therapy of acneiform skin diseases.

Dissection of the deep-blue autofluorescence changes accompanying amyloid fibrillation.

Pathogenesis of numerous diseases is associated with the formation of amyloid fibrils. Extrinsic fluorescent dyes, including Thioflavin T (ThT), are used to follow the fibrillation kinetics. It has recently been reported that the so-called deep-blue autofluorescence (dbAF) is changing during the aggregation process.

Two-Ply Composite Membranes with Separation Layers from Chitosan and Sulfoethylcellulose on a Microporous Support Based on Poly(diphenylsulfone-N-phenylphthalimide).

Two-ply composite membranes with separation layers from chitosan and sulfoethylcellulose were developed on a microporous support based on poly(diphenylsulfone--phenylphthalimide) and investigated by use of X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy methods. The pervaporation properties of the membranes were studied for the separation of aqueous alcohol (ethanol, propan-2-ol) mixtures of different compositions. When the mixtures to be separated consist of less than 15 wt % water in propan-2-ol, the membranes composed of polyelectrolytes with the same molar fraction of ionogenic groups (-NH₃⁺ for chitosan and -SO₃ for sulfoethylcellulose) show high permselectivity (the water content in the permeate was 100%).

Fabrication and mechanical properties of composite based on β-chitin and polyacrylic acid.

Squid β-chitin has been exfoliated in aqueous acrylic acid (AA), after which a composite film of chitin microfibrils in polyacrylic acid (PAA) has been prepared by in situ polymerization of the AA. The segregated chitin fibrils in the composite are 4-6nm in diameter, with an aspect ratio >250. After drying cast films of the composites containing 1, 2 and 3% (w/w) chitin at 140°C for four hours, there was a dramatic resistance to swelling in water, in that the dried films showed only small changes in shape and properties after four hours immersed in water.

Impact of Salt Co- and Counterions on Rheological Properties and Structure of Wormlike Micellar Solutions.

Rheological properties of aqueous solutions of long-tailed cationic surfactant erucyl bis-(hydroxyethyl)methylammonium chloride (EHAC) were examined as a function of concentration C of different inorganic salts (KCl, CaCl, and LaCl) at a fixed surfactant concentration of 0.6 wt %. The structural evolution of micelles was followed by small-angle neutron scattering and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy.