In this study, we conducted two heat treatment processes, namely double aging (DA) and solid solution followed by double aging (SA), on the Inconel 718 alloy fabricated by selective laser melting (SLM). The aim was to investigate the microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of Inconel 718 under different heat treatment conditions. To achieve this, we employed advanced techniques such as Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), x-ray diffraction (XRD), Tofwerk time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometer (TOF-SIMS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Our experimental findings reveal the presence of cellular high-density dislocation substructures in the as-received (AR) specimens, with a significant accumulation of Laves phase precipitates at grain boundaries and subgrain boundaries. After the DA treatment, the cellular substructure persists, with higher concentrations of γ\" and γ\' strengthened phases compared to AR specimen. Conversely, the SA specimen undergoes almost complete recrystallization, resulting in the dissolution of brittle Laves phases and a substantial increase in the content of strengthening phase γ\'\' and γ\'. As a consequence of the precipitation of the γ\'\' and γ\' strengthened phase and the modification of the microstructure, the material exhibits enhanced strength and hardness, albeit at the expense of reduced plasticity. The investigation of the relationship between heat treatment processes and precipitation behavior indicates that the SA heat treatment yields favorable mechanical properties that strike a balance between strength and plasticity.

This study shows how bacterial viruses (bacteriophages, phages) interact with calcium carbonate during precipitation from aqueous solution. Using electron microscopy, epifluorescence microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and image analysis, we demonstrate that bacteriophages can strongly influence the formation of the vaterite phase. Importantly, bacteriophages may selectively bind both amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) and vaterite, and indirectly affect the formation of structural defects in calcite crystallites. Consequently, the surface properties of calcium carbonate phases precipitating in the presence of viruses may exhibit different characteristics. These findings may have significant implications in determining the role of bacterial viruses in modern microbially-rich carbonate sedimentary environments, as well as in biomedical technologies. Finally, the phage-vaterite system, as a biocompatible material, may serve as a basis for the development of promising drug delivery carriers.

BACKGROUND: Enhancing the antibacterial properties of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) dental resins is crucial in preventing secondary infections following dental procedures. Despite the necessity for such improvement, a universally applicable method for augmenting the antibacterial properties of PMMA without compromising its mechanical properties and cytotoxicity remains elusive. Consequently, this study aims to address the aforementioned challenges by developing and implementing a composite material known as zinc oxide/graphene oxide (ZnO/GO) nanocomposites, to modify the PMMA.
METHODS: ZnO/GO nanocomposites were successfully synthesized by a one-step procedure and fully characterized by TEM, EDS, FTIR and XRD. Then the physical and mechanical properties of PMMA modified by ZnO/GO nanocomposites were evaluated through water absorption and solubility test, contact angle test, three-point bending tests, and compression test. Furthermore, the biological properties of the modified PMMA were evaluated by direct microscopic colony count method, crystal violet staining and CCK-8.
RESULTS: The results revealed that ZnO/GO nanocomposites were successfully constructed. When the concentration of nanocomposites in PMMA was 0.2 wt. %, the flexural strength of the resin was increased by 23.4%, the compressive strength was increased by 31.1%, and the number of bacterial colonies was reduced by 60.33%. Meanwhile, It was found that the aging of the resin did not affect its antibacterial properties, and CCK-8 revealed that the modified PMMA had no cytotoxicity.
CONCLUSIONS: ZnO/GO nanocomposites effectively improved the antibacterial properties of PMMA. Moreover, the mechanical properties of the resin were improved by adding ZnO/GO nanocomposites at a lower range of concentrations.

UNASSIGNED: This study compares propellant fuels\' specific thrust and impulse parameters using nanocarbon variant fuels from coconut shells and coal. Specific impulses and impulses are essential parameters that determine rocket performance. The specific thrust and impulses are influenced by fuel type, material composition, heat flow, and burning time parameters. The characteristics of nanocarbon as a fuel are proven to have high-value features and a long combustion time. This parameter is essential to add value to specific thrusts and impulses.
UNASSIGNED: The method to prove the quality of solid fuel material was done experimentally. The composition of the propellant fuel variant mixed with Ammonium Perchlorate (NH 4ClO 4) as an oxidizer through the printing process and sample testing was carried out using scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), combustion time, and specific impulse tests.
UNASSIGNED: Test results with the composition of CBK2 (Coconut Shell + NH 4ClO 4 + Binder + Al = 15: 70: 10: 5) produced a specific impulse of 267 seconds or an increase of 37 seconds without carbon. CBB2 (Coal + NH 4ClO 4 + Binder + Al = 15: 70: 10: 5) produced a specific impulse of 261 seconds or an increase of 31 seconds.
UNASSIGNED: The composition of nanocarbon as a solid fuel propellant has been proven to increase a rocket\'s thrust and specific impulses. After all the material variants have been tested for thrust and specific impulse, the best rocket propellant is CBK2.

Amorphous Indomethacin has enhanced bioavailability over its crystalline forms, yet amorphous forms can still possess a wide variety of structures. Here, Empirical Potential Structure Refinement (EPSR) has been used to provide accurate molecular models on the structure of five different amorphous Indomethacin samples, that are consistent with their high-energy X-ray diffraction patterns. It is found that the majority of molecules in amorphous Indomethacin are non-bonded or bonded to one neighboring molecule via a single hydrogen bond, in contrast to the doubly bonded dimers found in the crystalline state. The EPSR models further indicate a substantial variation in hydrogen bonding between different amorphous forms, leading to a diversity of chain structures not found in any known crystal structures. The majority of hydrogen bonds are associated with the carboxylic acid group, although a significant number of amide hydrogen bonding interactions are also found in the models. Evidence of some dipole-dipole interactions are also observed in the more structurally ordered models. The results are consistent with a distribution of Z-isomer intramolecular type conformations in the more disordered structures, that distort when stronger intermolecular hydrogen bonding occurs. The findings are supported by 1H and 2H NMR studies of the hydrogen bond dynamics in amorphous Indomethacin.

Green synthesis employs environmentally friendly, biodegradable substances for the production of nanomaterials. This study aims to develop an innovative method for synthesizing silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using a methanolic extract of Fomes fomentarius L. Fr. as the reducing agent and to assess the potential antibacterial properties of the resulting nanoparticles. The successful synthesis of AgNPs was confirmed through characterization techniques such as UV-visible (UV-Vis) spectrophotometry, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD). The UV-Vis analysis revealed an absorption peak at 423 nm, while FT-IR identified key phytochemical compounds involved in the reduction process. PXRD analysis indicated a face-centered cubic (fcc) structure with prominent peaks observed at 2θ = 38°, 44.6°, 64.6°, and 78°, confirming the crystalline nature of the AgNPs, with a crystallite diameter of approximately 24 nm, consistent with TEM analysis. The synthesized AgNPs demonstrated significant antibacterial activity, particularly against S. aureus, with higher efficacy against gram-positive bacteria.

A ZnO-Graphene oxide nanocomposite (Z-G) was prepared in order to exploit the biomedical features of each component in a single anticancer material. This was achieved by means of an environmentally friendly synthesis, taking place at a low temperature and without the involvement of toxic reagents. The product was physicochemically characterized. The ZnO-to-GO ratio was determined through thermogravimetric analysis, while scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy were used to provide insight into the morphology of the nanocomposite. Using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, it was possible to confirm that the graphene flakes were homogeneously coated with ZnO. The crystallite size of the ZnO nanoparticles in the new composite was determined using X-ray powder diffraction. The capacity of Z-G to enhance the toxicity of the anticancer drug Paclitaxel towards breast cancer cells was assessed via a cell viability study, showing the remarkable anticancer activity of the obtained system. Such results support the potential use of Z-G as an anticancer agent in combination with a common chemotherapeutic like Paclitaxel, leading to new chemotherapeutic formulations.

By introducing disordered molecules into a crystal structure, the motion of the disordered molecules easily induces the formation of multidimensional frameworks in functional crystal materials, allowing for structural phase transitions and the realization of various dielectric properties within a certain temperature range. Here, we prepared a novel ionic complex [C7H8N3]3[Fe(NCS)6]·H2O (1) between 2-aminobenzimidazole and ferric isothiocyanate from ferric chloride hexahydrate, ammonium thiocyanate, and 2-aminobenzimidazole using the evaporation of the solvent method. The main components, the single-crystal structure, and the thermal and dielectric properties of the complex were characterized using infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, powder XRD, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, variable-temperature and variable-frequency dielectric constant tests, etc. The analysis results indicated that compound 1 belongs to the P21/n space group. Within the crystal structure, the [Fe(NCS)6]3- anion formed a two-dimensional hydrogen-bonded network with the organic cation through S···S interactions and hydrogen bonding. The disorder-order motion of the anions and cations within the crystal and the deformation of the crystal frameworks lead to a significant reversible isostructural phase transition and multiaxial dielectric anomalies of compound 1 at approximately 240 K.

This study aims to improve the photocatalytic properties of titanium dioxide nanorods (TNRs) and other related nanostructures (dense nanorods, needle-like nanorods, nanoballs, and nanoflowers) by modifying them with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). This preparation is carried out using a two-step method: sol-gel dip-coating deposition combined with hydrothermal crystal growth. Further modification with AgNPs was achieved through the photoreduction of Ag+ ions under UV illumination. The investigation explores the impact of different growth factors on the morphological development of TiO2 nanostructures by modulating (i) the chemical composition, the water:acid ratio, (ii) the precursor concentration involved in the hydrothermal process, and (iii) the duration of the hydrothermal reaction. Morphological characteristics, including the length, diameter, and nanorod density of the nanostructures, were analyzed using scanning electron microscope (SEM). The chemical states were determined through use of the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) technique, while phase composition and crystalline structure analysis was performed using the Grazing Incidence X-ray Diffraction (GIXRD) method. The results indicate that various nanostructures (dense nanorods, needle-like nanorods, nanoballs, and nanoflowers) can be obtained by modifying these parameters. The photocatalytic efficiency of these nanostructures and Ag-coated nanostructures was assessed by measuring the degradation of the organic dye rhodamine B (RhB) under both ultraviolet (UV) irradiation and visible light. The results clearly show that UV light causes the RhB solution to lose its color, whereas under visible light RhB changes into rhodamine 110, indicating a successful photocatalytic transformation. The nanoball-like structures\' modification with the active metal silver (TNRs 4 Ag) exhibited high photocatalytic efficiency under both ultraviolet (UV) and visible light for different chemical composition parameters. The nanorod structure (TNRs 2 Ag) is more efficient under UV, but under visible-light photocatalyst, the TNRs 6 Ag (dense nanorods) sample is more effective.

Silver nanoparticles were successfully incorporated into a melamine-based polymer, resulting in the synthesis of (Ag NPs@Bipy-PAN) through a reverse double solvent approach. The synthesised Ag NPs@Bipy-PAN polymer underwent extensive characterisation through Powder X-ray Diffraction (PXRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy and Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) and Thermal Gravimetric Analysis. PXRD analysis confirmed the successful encapsulation of Ag nanoparticles and provided insights into the amorphous nature of the polymer following encapsulation. SEM and EDX analyses further corroborated the presence and distribution of Ag nanoparticles on the polymer surface. The biological efficacy of the Ag NPs@Bipy-PAN polymer was evaluated through antibacterial, anti-breast cancer, and biocompatibility assays. The results demonstrated notable antibacterial and anticancer activities, with significant efficacy against bacterial strains and breast cancer cells. Biocompatibility assessments indicated acceptable compatibility, particularly at a concentration of 2.5 mg/mL, compared to untreated control cells. These findings suggest that Ag NPs@Bipy-PAN has considerable potential as a candidate for cancer-targeted and antimicrobial drug delivery systems. The incorporation of silver nanoparticles into the melamine-based polymer enhances the safety profile of these systems in in vivo conditions, making them a viable option for advanced therapeutic applications.