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The selection of appropriate cutting tool (CT) is a critical part of machining. Selecting the right tool for the right job will enable customers to achieve economic machining, saving time and cost while delivering high-quality products. Nowadays, the complexity of CT and workpiece is increasing; this changes the input and output requirements for cutting tool selection paving way to automation. There are two types of CT selection methods, manual and automated CT selection. This article focuses on automated CT selection, which has different inputs and outputs based on the algorithm/AI technique used. The potential and promising aspects of CT selection could enhance the machining in terms of productivity, time, cost, and quality aspects. A comprehensive review of automated CT selection methods has been presented in this paper. The review surveys different automated CT selection methods in terms of inputs, outputs, and artificial intelligence (AI) techniques/different algorithms since most of the researchers have not focused on this perspective. It outlines the current status of research and application, which has the potential to improve the automated CT selection methods for the benefit of the manufacturing industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective:Longer telomeres are associated with better health and longevity. This research investigated the relationship between positive psychological dispositional traits and telomere length. Positive traits examined were typical high positive affect, typical low negative affect, life satisfaction, trait mindfulness, trait emotional intelligence, general self-efficacy and optimism. Design and Measures:One hundred and twenty women and men, with a mean age of 40.92, completed measures of positive characteristics and provided samples for telomere length analysis. Results:Together the positive dispositional characteristics explained significant variance in telomere length,R = .40. Among the individual characteristics, greater optimism and higher emotional intelligence were associated with longer telomeres after adjustment for age and gender and the association between optimism and telomere length remained significant after adjusting for age and gender as well as the other positive characteristics, with a partial correlationrof .30. Conclusion:These results in conjunction with previous research findings provide a platform for further exploration of biological pathways connecting positive characteristics such as optimism to telomere length and investigation of the impact of increasing a characteristic such as optimism on telomere functioning. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Mental health disorders have become worldwide health priorities. It is estimated that in the next 20 years they will account for a 16 trillion United State dollars (US$) loss. Up to now, the underlying pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders remains elusive. Altered cytoskeleton proteins expression that may influence the assembly, organization and maintenance of cytoskeletal integrity has been reported in major depressive disorders, schizophrenia and to some extent bipolar disorders. The use of quantitative proteomics, dynamic microscopy and super-resolution microscopy to investigate disease-specific protein signatures holds great promise to improve our understanding of these disorders. In this review, we present the currently available quantitative proteomic approaches use in neurology, gel-based, stable isotope-labelling and label-free methodologies and evaluate their strengths and limitations. We also reported on enrichment/subfractionation methods that target the cytoskeleton associated proteins and discuss the need of alternative methods for further characterization of the neurocytoskeletal proteome. Finally, we present live cell imaging approaches and emerging dynamic microscopy technology that will provide the tools necessary to investigate protein interactions and their dynamics in the whole cells. While these areas of research are still in their infancy, they offer huge potential towards the understanding of the neuronal network stability and its modification across neuropsychiatric disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stress is clearly associated with the quality of life and many diseases, including mental disorders, with cortisol being a recognized biomarker for stress. Polymorphisms of the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTT), which results in long and short forms, have been reported to be associated with depression among major depressive disorder (MDD) patients. We have previously shown that 5-HTTLPR and waking cortisol do not predict depression in a general population sample, however, psychological resilience is a defence against depression. Reelin is an emerging biomarker for psychological resilience that plays an active role in neuronal migration. It is responsible for cytoarchitechtonic pattern formation in brain and modulates the migration of newly generated postmitotic neurons from the ventricular zone. In mice, overexpression of reelin in the hippocampus has anti-depressant activity by increasing neurogenesis and improving learning. A number of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), methylation of the promoter and coding region of the reelin (RELN) gene have been identified which affect the level of RELN mRNA and protein expression. Thus RELN is a potential candidate as a biomarker of psychological resilience and we have developed a rapid high-resolution melting (HRM) PCR analysis technique for the RELN SNPs and loci using gDNA isolated from buccal cells to test this hypothesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim. Although both have shown significant effects upon depression in clinical samples, no direct comparison has been reported of the relative power of psychological resilience and the short form of the serotonin transporter gene 5-HTTLPR as predictors of depression in a community sample. Material and Methods. In a sample set by a priori power analysis, 67 adult females and 59 adult males were used to enable a comparison between a single genetic factor, childhood stressors, recent stressors, psychological resilience and depression. Results. None of genotype, childhood or recent stressors was significantly associated with depression scores, but resilience was a significant inverse predictor of depression scores and also of the presence of clinically significant depression. Discussion. These data suggest that measures of an individual's ability to resist or recover from stress may be useful in assessing vulnerability to depression when used with 'at risk' individuals in everyday practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the three years since the most recent meta-analysis of the association between the serotonin transported promoter polymorphism (5-HTTLPR), stress and the development of depression, another 27 studies have been published on this issue, which is an increase of 50% more studies than were previously reviewed. In addition, previous findings of inconsistency of results across studies argued for further exploration of this relationship. From the 81 studies identified to June 2013, the significant relationship between the short form of the 5-HTTLPR was confirmed ( p = .0000009), which is stronger than the relationship reported in the most recent meta-analysis in 2011. However, nearly 26% of the 81 studies reviewed failed to show any significant association between the 5-HTTLPR, stress and depression, and four studies found opposite results to those expected. Examination of the methodologies of all studies failed to indicate any flaws in the opposite or unequivocal studies, and the latter had larger sample sizes than those studies which supported the expected association, arguing that the null results were not an outcome of insufficient statistical power. The need to consider aspects of samples and measures of depression, particularly the presence of subtypes of depression in future research is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although some previous research has implicated the short form (ss) of the serotonin transporter 5-HTTLPR gene in the association between distal and proximal environmental stress and depression, over 38% of studies included in a recent meta-analysis failed to support that finding. Another variant of the 5-HTTLPT, the sl, has been relatively under-examined and may explain the inconsistency of the ss/ll dichotomy. In addition, a potential "buffer" variable between proximal and distal stress and depression -- psychological resilience -- may interact with the forms of the 5-HTTLPR. This study investigated the ways the three forms of the 5-HTTLPR interacted with distal and proximal stress, and psychological resilience, to predict depression. Methods: A volunteer community sample of 65 female and 55 male volunteers completed background, childhood stress (Adverse Childhood Events-ACE), recent stress (RLS), depression (Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale-ZSDS) and resilience (Connors-Davidson Resilience Scale-CD-RISC) questionnaires, plus gave a sample for genotyping to determine presence of ss, sl, or ll variants of the 5-HTTLPR. Results: Comparison of the regression equations for each 5-HTTLPR variant showed that the combination of ACE, RLS and CD-RISC significantly predicted ZSDS scores for the sl variant; ACE, CD-RISC (but not RLS) significantly predicted ZSDS for the ll variant; and none of these significantly predicted ZSDS for the ss variant. Conclusions: Previous inconsistent findings regarding the differences in the stress-depression interaction for the ss and ll may be explained by the more complex interaction effects of the sl variant with distal and recent stressors and psychological resilience (German J Psychiatry 2013; 16(3): 103-111). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We report scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and spectroscopy (STS) measurements on single layer Ti0.87O2 nanosheets deposited on Pt(200nm)/Si substrates. These nanosheets have a band gap of 3.8eV and are virtually invisible in conventional STM images. However, an impressive contrast is observed in the di/dz map, which allows for a clear identification of the nanosheets. The di/dz signal is obtained by adding a high frequency, small amplitude modulation to the z-piezo using a lock-in amplifier. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Despite growing data on antimicrobial lock therapy (ALT) in treating bacterial catheter-related bloodstream infections (CR-BSIs), ALT has not been established as a treatment option for CR-BSI caused by Candida albicans. Based on our finding that high-dose doxycycline exhibited antifungal activity against mature C. albicans biofilms, we evaluated additional antibacterial agents with Gram-positive activity [azithromycin, tigecycline (TIG) and vancomycin]. After screening these antibiotics, it was found that TIG had substantial antifungal activity against mature C. albicans biofilms. Therefore, TIG was assayed alone and in combination with fluconazole (FLC), amphotericin B (AmB) or caspofungin (CAS). TIG at 2048μg/mL resulted in a >50% reduction in the growth of planktonic C. albicans cells. TIG inhibited the formation of biofilms from 128μg/mL. Against mature biofilms, 2048μg/mL TIG reduced metabolic activity by 84.2%. Furthermore, addition of 512μg/mL TIG to FLC at all concentrations tested provided additional reduction in the metabolic activity of mature biofilms. However, this was not superior to 512μg/mL TIG alone. TIG at 512μg/mL increased the antifungal effect of lower concentrations of AmB (0.03125–0.25μg/mL), but at 0.03125μg/mL and 0.0625μg/mL this effect was not superior to 512μg/mL TIG alone. TIG inhibited the antifungal effect of higher concentrations of AmB (≥2μg/mL). TIG at 512μg/mL inhibited the antifungal activity of CAS at lower concentrations (0.25–8μg/mL). These data indicate that high-dose TIG is highly active in vitro against planktonic cells, forming biofilms and mature biofilms of C. albicans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Gram-negative anaerobe Dichelobacter nodosus is the causative agent of footrot in sheep. Different strains of D. nodosus cause disease of differing severities, ranging from benign to virulent. Virulent strains have greater twitching motility and secrete proteases that are more thermostable than those secreted by benign strains. We have identified polynucleotide phosphorylase (PNPase) as a putative virulence regulator and have proposed that PNPase expression is modulated by the adjacent integration of genetic elements. In this study, we compared PNPase activity in three virulent and four benign strains of D. nodosus and found that PNPase activity is lower in virulent strains. We disrupted the pnpA gene in three benign D. nodosus strains and two virulent strains and showed that deletion of the S1 domain of PNPase reduced catalytic activity. In all but one case, deletion of the PNPase S1 domain had no effect on the thermostability of extracellular proteases. However, this deletion resulted in an increase in twitching motility in benign, but not in virulent strains. Reconstruction of the pnpA gene in two mutant benign strains reduced twitching motility to the parental level. These results support the hypothesis that PNPase is a virulence repressor in benign strains of D. nodosus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the effect of the application of cutting fluid at high pressure during machining of titanium alloys. The application of high-pressure coolant during machining results in longer tool life and better surface finish on the machined material. In addition, the effect of coolant application pressure on the morphology of the machined chip has been investigated. A significant variation in the microstructure of the machined chip including the thickness of the shear bands and the serrated tooth structure for different coolant application pressures has been identified. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Keywords: Conjunctival tuberculosis; mediastinal mass; perilimbal nodules EN Conjunctival tuberculosis mediastinal mass perilimbal nodules 639 640 2 03/24/20 20200401 NES 200401 Ocular tuberculosis (TB) is rare.[[1]] TB most commonly presents as uveitis and phlyctenular conjunctivitis. Further evaluation of the patient revealed a mediastinal mass that later proved to be TB on biopsy pathology. In countries like India where TB is rampant being aware of such unusual presentation helps in the earlier detection of systemic TB. [Extracted from the article]

In this study, an in situ electro-plastic treatment (ISEPT) process was used to simultaneously eliminate porosity and brittleness in cold spray (CS) additive manufacturing (AM) of a grade 2 commercial purity titanium (CP Ti). The CS deposition conditions were optimized using a validated 3D CFD model to minimize oxidation while reducing porosity in the as-sprayed CP Ti. The ISEPT electric current and load were applied in the same direction (in situ) to improve the electro-plastic effect and to recrystallize CS CP Ti in an open-air environment. The rapid heating sourced from the applied current occurred at a temperature below 550 °C, the critical temperature for titanium oxidation, and at 24–30 mm/min deformation rate. The rapid nature of ISEPT treatment is associated with abolition of the necessary isothermal (oven) treatment for static recrystallization and corresponding time required for preheating in other rival thermomechanical treatments. The treated CP Ti structure exhibited transformation of CS splat structure to refined equiaxed grains. The porosity of the cold-sprayed structure was considerably reduced from 5 to as low as 0.1% after double ISEPT. The elongation was increased substantially from 0.5 for as-sprayed to 18% for the ISEPT-treated material. Similar improvements were observed in relation to CP Ti strength, hardness, and stiffness modulus. Results revealed that the ISEPT in the absence of controlled atmosphere contributed 0.06% to the Ti oxygen pick up, keeping the composition well within the acceptable range for CP Ti. The effect of ISEPT conditions on rapid elimination of porosity and progress of Ti recrystallization to cold-sprayed additively manufactured CP Ti has led to significant improvement in the material ductility in a short processing time at a relatively low temperature allowing elimination of costly controlled atmosphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-quality metal and alloy powder feedstock for powder metallurgy (PM) and additive manufacturing (AM) is typically expensive due to stringent physical and chemical requirements. The increasing demand for such powders drives innovation toward more sustainable and cost-effective production methods. In this study, we demonstrate the generation of discrete machining chips (MCs) with controlled characteristics during modulation-assisted drilling of Inconel-718 nickel superalloy. To achieve this, a full factorial experimental design, varying modulation frequency (fm) and amplitude (2A) (two factors: fm and 2A, multi-level: 7 and 5, respectively) was used to define discrete and continuous cutting regimes. Furthermore, the effect of individual modulation (fm and 2A) and machining parameters (drill tool diameter, D, and feed rate, h) on the characteristics of MCs was investigated systematically. The findings reveal direct linear relationships between the investigated parameters, i.e., D, fm, and 2A, on chip characteristics: length, width, and thickness, respectively. Specifically, the average chip length was 10–40% smaller than the length of each cutting edge of the drill tool; the average chip width reduces by 17 % when fm increases from 184 to 251 Hz. Similarly, the average chip thickness increases to 80% when 2A increases from 3.6 to 27.5 μm, confirming the generation of MCs having controllable characteristics. As established using a comprehensive comparative analysis, generated MCs (size range: 100–1200 μm) can be used as feedstock directly in press-and-sinter PM and solid-state friction-stir AM technologies. Additionally, the reusability of these MCs can be further enhanced by converting them into finer powder with a well-defined size distribution via ball milling (average particle size < 100 μm having angular morphology, in the present case), promoting a circular economy by repurposing high-value industrial machining waste into useful products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Guided ultrasonic waves are attractive for inspection of additively manufactured plate-like components. Illumination of a slit mask by a pulsed laser is one method by which guided ultrasonic waves can be generated. This work proposes a method for generating narrowband ultrasonic guided waves using an additively manufactured slit mask that is integrated onto the component during selective laser melting (SLM) process. Multiple guided wave modes with a dominant wavelength but with different frequencies were generated using the slit mask fabricated using AlSi12 material. The generated modes were identified using the time frequency response of the received signals and dispersion plots. Identifying the modes and its characteristics (frequency, wavelength, phase and group velocity) beforehand facilitates material and defect characterization. A multiphysics numerical model was developed to simulate laser generation of ultrasound and the model was validated using experimental results. The numerical model developed aided in understanding the physics of line arrayed laser ultrasonic generation and was used as a tool to optimize laser parameters. The developed model was used to study the effect of pulse width of the laser on Lamb wave mode generation. It was observed that a pulse width of 100 ns reduced the overall ultrasonic bandwidth to 4.5 MHz thereby limiting the modes to the fundamental modes A0 and S0 for the given wavelength of 0.8 mm. Rayleigh wave studies using a slit mask showed that the rate of decay of the fundamental frequency component was steeper than the rate of decay of the second harmonic component. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Additively manufactured components are gaining popularity in aerospace, automotive and medical engineering applications. Additive manufacturing (AM) offers tremendous cost advantages over traditional manufacturing methods. However, inter- and intra-layer defects are observed in AM components. Moreover, the lack of appropriate testing methods for assessing the integrity of AM components deters its use, despite the several functional advantages it has to offer. Non-destructive testing (NDT) forms the most common and convenient way of inspecting parts. In this paper, a laser ultrasonic technique for the inspection of AM components is proposed. The results demonstrate laser ultrasonic testing (LUT) as a promising method for the non-contact inspection of additive manufactured components. Furthermore, the results were validated using X-ray computed tomography (CT) and ultrasonic immersion testing (UIT). The sample used in this study was manufactured through selective laser melting (SLM) AM process with built-in holes representing defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large-scale industrial application of additively manufactured (AM) components in general, and specifically cold sprayed additive manufactured (CSAM), is limited due to the nature of this technology and the resulting product's porosity and embrittlement. To improve the final properties of additively manufactured material, many lengthy, complex, or expensive post-treatments have been proposed. Reducing the environmental impact, cost, and time required for additive manufacturing will allow for greater use in industrial applications. A novel thermomechanical treatment known as in situ electro-plastic treatment (ISEPT) is used in this study to treat CSAM Ti-6Al-4 V alloy known as grade 5 titanium. The Ti-6Al-4 V alloy has approximately three times the strength and hardness of commercial purity titanium (CP-Ti) with lower ductility and a dual-phase (α + β) microstructure that poses challenges during the CSAM process. Compared to CP-Ti, the results showed that CSAM Ti-6Al-4 V presented double the porosity and triple the number of ISEPT passes that presented ~ 2 µm ultra-fine grain microstructure. The ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of the ISEPT material was superior to that of CSAM Ti-6Al-4 V and increased from 184 to 1096 MPa with improved ductility rise from 1.1 up to 8.8%. Six ISEPT passes in air resulted in a slight increase in oxygen from 0.2% in the as-CSAM condition to 0.35%. Tensile properties of the ISEPT material were comparable to wrought Ti-6Al-4 V with 989 MPa UTS and 8.3% elongation. The ISEPT passes consolidated the CSAM (α + β) dual-phase Ti-6Al-4 V and allowed for the nucleation of equiaxed grains at the vicinity of former CSAM splat boundaries. The formation of lamellar colonies within the splat's inner regions was observed. The role of ISEPT conditions on the rapid elimination of porosity and the evolution of cold spray splat boundaries via dynamic recrystallization were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of cryogenic compressed air cooling on tool wear and cutting forces during cutting Ti–6Al–4V alloy has been investigated at two cutting speeds at which cutting tool fails as the result of gradual flank wear and catastrophic plastic deformation of the cutting edge, respectively, during dry machining. It is found that the application of cryogenic compressed air dramatically increased tool life compared with dry machining, and the increase in tool life was more significant at higher cutting speed as the plastic deformation of cutting edge that occurred during dry machining was suppressed during machining with cryogenic compressed air cooling. The improvement of tool life with application of cryogenic compressed air cooling during machining is attributed to the low temperature and high pressure of cryogenic air jet, which leads to the reduction in cutting temperature due to the enhanced cooling and reduction in tool-chip contact length. Low cutting temperature results in reducing wear rate, size of chip built-up edge and maintaining the strength of the cutting edge in order to resist plastic deformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work explores the generation of Lamb waves and their higher harmonics using a pattern source. An array of laser sources, when used with a short-pulsed laser, generate multiple Lamb modes in a plate-like component. The variation in duty ratio of the pattern source is found to influence the generation of fundamental modes and their harmonics. A two-dimensional finite element model is developed to simulate the narrowband Lamb wave generation process, and validated against targeted experiments. For a 'square-like' spatial profile of energy distribution, the second harmonic of the fundamental wave modes is fully suppressed at the duty ratio of 0.5, and the third harmonic of the fundamental wave modes is fully suppressed at duty ratios of 1/3 and 2/3. As the duty ratio increased from 0.2 to 0.8, the variation in amplitude of the fundamental modes is greater than that of the higher order modes. For duty ratio values less than 0.25 and greater than 0.75, the second harmonic component of the fundamental waves had approximately the same amplitude as the fundamental wave modes. Similarly, the third harmonic of the fundamental wave modes had the same amplitude or slightly higher amplitude than the higher order Lamb modes for duty ratio values less than 0.25 and greater than 0.75. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Titanium and its alloys are highly desirable materials for biomedical metallic implants due to their superior specific strength, excellent corrosion resistance, and exceptional biocompatibility. Among these alloys, Ti6Al4V is widely used in practical biomedical applications because it offers an excellent combination of strength, fracture toughness, and corrosion resistance. However, recent research has revealed limitations in its biocompatibility attributed to the presence of toxic elements such as Al and V. In addition, it has been reported that Ti6Al4V is costly due to the addition of Vanadium and has the potential for post-implant inflammation. As a result, researchers have been investigating new biomedical beta-Ti alloys using biocompatible, affordable, and easily accessible beta-stabilizers like Mo, Fe, and Cu, to achieve similar performance as Ti6Al4V alloys. The present study aims to develop a novel biomedical alloy through the arc melting method, to obtain an implant material possessing low elastic moduli, biocompatibility, and antibacterial properties to mitigate the risk of post-implant inflammation. Microstructural analysis was conducted using microscopy and x-ray diffraction, while the mechanical properties were evaluated through micro vickers hardness testing machine and elastic moduli measurement utilizing the impulse excitation technique. Cytotoxicity assessment was performed using the (Cell Counting Kit-8) CCK-8 method, followed by an examination of the alloy's antibacterial properties using the point counting method. β-Ti single phase was obtained in this study with the addition of ≥1% Fe and ≥1% Cu. The Ti-8Mo-2Fe-2Cu alloy was found to have the lowest elastic moduli of 95 GPa. Electrochemical measurements show that the Ti-8Mo-xFe-yCu alloys have a lower corrosion current density of around 0.319–2.317 µA/cm2 compared to Ti6Al4V of 16.543 µA/cm2. The Ti-8Mo-1Fe-3Cu, Ti-8Mo-3Fe-1Cu, and Ti-8Mo-3Fe-3Cu alloys have comparable biocompatibility with Ti6Al4V with the viability of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) above 75% and have a positive antibacterial response. Ti-8Mo-3Fe-3Cu alloy demonstrates the most favorable blend of microstructure, mechanical attributes, corrosion resistance, cell viability, and antibacterial properties as an alternate biomaterial for implant applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

316L stainless steel coatings were deposited on mild steel substrate using laser cladding technique. The mechanical, microstructural and corrosion properties of the coatings were performed and analysed using axial tensile testing, Vickers micro-hardness testing, optical as well as electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, fractography, dye penetrant testing and electrochemical potentiostat testing. Two types of coatings were studied; single-layer (1-L) and multi-layer (3-L). Both these coatings demonstrated good metallurgical bonding with low dilution with the substrate. The tensile strengths of both the 1-L and 3-L specimens were fairly similar; however, the ductility of the 3-L samples was significantly lower (by about 54%) compared to 1-L samples. Moreover, the 3-L specimens were found to be more susceptible to corrosion. This was attributed to the harder regions of the 3-L clad owing to the in situ tempering of the microstructure by the additional heat imparted through two sacrificial layers. In essence, it can be concluded from this study that a single-layer 316L stainless steel clad coating exhibits better corrosion resistance, whereas a multi-layer clad coating with sacrificial layers exhibits better coating hardness. These results are very important in determining the right coating type/strategy for the desired applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Titanium and its alloys have been used in a broad range of products such as biomedical implants due to their high specific strength, corrosion resistance, and biocompatibility. Improvement in microstructure and mechanical properties of commercially pure (CP) titanium is usually performed by cold rolling and controlled atmosphere heat treatment. However, this is an energy-intensive, expensive, and a multi-stage process to achieve the desired properties. Hence, to address these challenges, in this study, the effects of an in situ electro-plastic treatment (ISEPT) on the microstructure evolution of CP titanium have been studied. The deformation load and electric current in this treatment were applied in the same direction (in situ) to maximize the electro-plastic effect. Simultaneous electric current and strain application created a condition for dynamic recrystallization to occur at low temperature and under atmospheric conditions, thus reducing the cost and energy for manufacturing in a single process. The rapid heating and cooling prevented the oxidation of titanium to a large degree, eliminating the requirements for costly inert gas or vacuum. The results showed rapid recrystallization of CP titanium at 3.2 mm/s roller surface speed. Recrystallization led to a reduction in average grain size to 7 μm with 18% increase in microhardness. Pre-cold rolling of the CP-Ti structure enhanced grain refinement due to the introduction of dislocations and the applied electric current interactions. The SEM and XRD investigations revealed the relationship between the ISEPT treatment and the evolution of microstructure in CP-Ti. The effect of specimen geometry on the ISEPT was discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhancing crop yield to accommodate the ever-increasing world population has become critical, and diminishing arable land has pressured current agricultural practices. Intensive farming methods have been using more pesticides and insecticides (biocides), culminating in soil deposition, negatively impacting the microbiome. Hence, a deeper understanding of the interaction and impact of pesticides and insecticides on microbial communities is required for the scientific community. This review highlights the recent findings concerning the possible impacts of biocides on various soil microorganisms and their diversity. This review's bibliometric analysis emphasised the recent developments' statistics based on the Scopus document search. Pesticides and insecticides are reported to degrade microbes' structure, cellular processes, and distinct biochemical reactions at cellular and biochemical levels. Several biocides disrupt the relationship between plants and their microbial symbionts, hindering beneficial biological activities that are widely discussed. Most microbial target sites of or receptors are biomolecules, and biocides bind with the receptor through a ligand-based mechanism. The biomarker action mechanism in response to biocides relies on activating the receptor site by specific biochemical interactions. The production of electrophilic or nucleophilic species, free radicals, and redox-reactive agents are the significant factors of biocide's metabolic reaction. Most studies considered for the review reported the negative impact of biocides on the soil microbial community; hence, technological development is required regarding eco-friendly pesticide and insecticide, which has less or no impact on the soil microbial community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of thermal interface resistance is an important design problem for the optimisation of heat transfer systems. For thermoelectric generators (TEG), it can limit the ability to convert thermal energy directly to electrical energy. This paper describes an experimental and numerical study of the influence of thermal interface resistance on TEG module performance. A test apparatus was constructed to evaluate TEGs under varying temperature and heat source/sink conditions. The effect of heat source/sink interface finish grades, corresponding to medium quality (N8-N6) and very fine (N5-N4) surface finishes, at varying clamp forces, is evaluated. Then the application of cold spray additive manufactured copper, as a novel method of TEG module thermal interfacing is explored. Experimental data is accompanied with numerical analysis using TEG ideal equations and the effective material properties approach with the incorporation of temperature dependency and fabrication quality factors to improve modelling accuracy. A system of simultaneous heat flow equations is then established to numerically solve for the presence of thermal interface resistance. The results show that high clamp forces (3600 N) and very fine finish grades were sufficient to minimise thermal interface resistance to the range 0–5.98 × 10 − 5 m 2 K W − 1 , representing a loss of 0–9.9% in maximal achievable power. For the cold spray thermally interfaced TEG module, resistance estimates were lower and in the range 0–5.4 × 10 − 6 m 2 K W − 1 , corresponding to a 0–1.0% loss in power. • Heat source/sink surfaces, with varying finishes (N8-N4) and clamp forces, are evaluated for influence on thermoelectric generator (TEGs) performance. • Cold spray additive manufacturing is proposed and experimentally evaluated as a novel method of TEG heat source/sink thermal interfacing. • A system of heat flow equations are used to solve for the presence of thermal interface resistance (R T I R) at TEG heat source/sink interfaces. • High clamp forces (3600 N) and very fine finishes (N4) minimised R T I R to the range 0–5.98 × 10 − 5 m 2 K W − 1 , representing a loss of 0–9.9% in maximal achievable TEG power. • R T I R estimates for the cold spray thermally interfaced TEGs were lower and in the range 0–5.4 × 10 − 6 m 2 K W − 1 , corresponding to a 0–1% loss in power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a result of the widespread use of Ti6Al4V ELI in the medical industry for implants that are subjected to high loads, these biomedical implants must be accurately machined to prevent unfavourable joint or muscular inflammatory conditions. This oftentimes involve drilling holes into the implants for joint assembly during surgery. It is well known that titanium is a very difficult to machine material and therefore, requires appropriate cooling and lubrication during machining. With the help of SEM and line-scan EDS analysis, the current study focuses on analysing various sustainable machining techniques, such as electrostatic minimum quantity lubrication (EMQL) and liquid carbon dioxide (LCO 2 cryogenic coolant), while drilling Ti6Al4V ELI (Grade 23) holes in terms of hole surface quality, wear mechanisms, and chip morphology. Poor surface quality of the hole was produced under EMQL cutting, with around 42–71% larger surface roughness values (R z) compared to cryogenic LCO 2 conditions. The hole surface consisted of different defects such as adhesion, microfractures, smearing etc., as a residue of the drilling operation under both EMQL and cryogenic LCO 2 conditions. Tool life was significantly improved under LCO 2 cutting environment (approximately by 416%) in comparison with EMQL technique. Adhesion and abrasion were found to be the main tool wear modes. Likewise, the machined chips exhibited cracks and adhered particles further demonstrating that EMQL coolant did not provide sufficient lubrication and heat extraction capability. Cryogenic LCO 2 coolant outperformed EMQL lubrication for all machinability indicators, according to the study, making it a superior cutting environment for machining Ti6Al4V. Moreover, cryogenic LCO 2 coolant dissipates into air during the machining process rendering it a sustainable and environmentally friendly machining coolant fluid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The energy absorption behavior of origami bellows under tension is investigated. • The finite element modeling is validated against a quasi-static test. • A stable tensile process with high plateau force is obtained. • Non-rigid deploying mechanism of origami bellow under tension is observed. • Pre-folding angle, unit width and wall thickness have effects on mechanical behavior. Thin-walled tubes with origami patterns exhibit good energy absorption capacity under axial tension. In this study, the tensile behavior of thin-walled tubes with pleated patterns, known as origami bellows, was first systematically investigated. A parametric study was performed to assess the impact of origami patterns and wall thicknesses on the energy absorption performance and deformation mechanism of origami bellows. The experimental and numerical results showed that a desirable tensile process without excessive initial peak force, followed by a stable and high plateau force, can be obtained. The non-rigid deployment mechanism of origami bellows under tension is observed. The specific energy absorption of the origami bellows increases as the unit width decreases provided that the value of the unit width is less than a critical value. The mean tensile force increased with the pre-folding angle, with a maximum increase of 16% in the cases studied, and increased as the wall thickness increased to a power of 1.67. This study provides a new avenue for constructing an energy absorber with good energy-absorption performance under tensile loading. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon-centric adsorbents (CCA) are diverse forms, from simple biochar (BC) to graphene derivatives, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and activated carbon (AC), which have been vastly explored for their removal of a plethora of pollutants, including heavy metals (HM). The prominent features of CCA are their operational attributes like extensive surface area, the occurrence of flexible surface functional groups, etc. This work offers a comprehensive examination of contemporary research on CCA for their superior metal removal aptitude and performances in simulated solutions and wastewater flows; via portraying the recent research advances as an outlook on the appliances of CACs for heavy metal adsorption for removal via distinct forms like AC, BC, Graphene oxide (GO), and CNTs. The bibliometric analysis tool was employed to highlight the number of documents, country-wise contribution, and co-occurrence mapping based on the Scopus database. The coverage of research works in this review is limited to the last 5 years (2017–2021) to highlight recent progress and prospects in using CCAs such as AC, BC, GO, and CNTs to remove HM from aqueous media, which makes the review unique. Besides an overview of the common mechanisms of CACs, the future scope of CAC, especially towards HM mitigation, is also discussed in this review. This review endorses that further efforts should be commenced to enhance the repertory of CCAs that effectively eliminate multiple targeted metals in both simulated and real wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• C u - Al 2 O 3 bi-layered composites are manufactured using cold spray copper deposition. • Al 2 O 3 substrates are laser-textured to create different ordered surface topographies. • Thermal interface resistance (TIR) at the C u - Al 2 O 3 interface is measured using light-flash analysis. • The lowest measured range was 1. 5610 − 6 − 1. 4910 − 9 m 2 K/W, for a temperature range of 20–500 ∘ C, and a corresponding adhesion strength of 16.79 MPa. • The results suggest some correlation between Al 2 O 3 substrate surface topography and the TIR, and an inverse relationship with adhesion strength. The removal of heat across composite structures comprising a metal-ceramic interface is a common engineering challenge. To maximise heat removal, it is essential that the thermal interface resistance is minimised. This paper describes an experimental study of the thermal interface resistance between copper-alumina bi-layered composites. Samples are prepared using a novel cold spray copper particle deposition process on alumina substrates. To facilitate particle adhesion and enhance heat transfer contact area, substrates were textured with an ordered crosshatch pattern, using a micro-machining ablation laser, at different powers. Thermal resistance measurements were made using the transient light-flash method for bi-layered materials, using a NETZSCH LFA 467 hyper-flash analyser. The results show that the developed process produces a copper-alumina interface with a very low thermal resistance. In addition, the results suggest some correlation between substrate surface topography and the resistance, and an inverse relationship with the interface adhesion shear strength. The lowest measured resistance range was 1.56 × 10 − 6 − 1.49 × 10 − 9 m 2 · K / W , for a temperature range of 20 − 500 ∘ C , and a corresponding adhesion strength of 16.79 MPa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Bulk samples in the as-deposited state showed very poor mechanical properties due to low inter-particle bond strength. • Horizontally-built samples showed lowest pitting corrosion resistance compared to other samples. • Considerable anisotropy in both mechanical as well as corrosion properties were observed for samples printed in two different orientations. • Particle shape generated by cold spray process exhibits an influence on the strength of horizontally and vertically build deposits. • Post-build heat treatment significantly improved the strength, ductility, and corrosion resistance of the CSAM parts. Aluminium 6061 alloy (Al6061) is one of the widely used materials in the aluminium alloy family for structural applications owing to its high strength-to-weight ratio and high corrosion resistance. Al6061 components are traditionally manufactured using conventional processes such as casting, forging, rolling, and machining, which typically involved high scrap/waste generation. However, with the advent of advanced additive manufacturing (AM) processes, there is an opportunity to reconsider component design to near-net shapes with reduced material wastage. Although mechanical and corrosion properties of Al6061 fabricated with conventional processes is well understood, very little information is known about AMed Al6061. This study investigates the effect of build orientation and heat treatment on the mechanical and corrosion properties of Al6061 samples manufactured by cold spray additive manufacturing (CSAM) process. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this work is the first to explore both the mechanical and corrosion properties of Al6061 alloy print-parts fabricated using this unique CSAM system. Due to the lack of metallurgical bonding between powder particles, as-deposited samples - regardless of their build orientation, exhibited lower strength and ductility compared to the wrought counterparts. Particle shape generated by cold spray process exhibits an influence on the strength of horizontally and vertically build deposits. Expectedly, heat treatment significantly improved the mechanical properties by inducing metallurgical bonding at prior particle boundaries. As for corrosion resistance, horizontally-built samples exhibited the highest pit depth and pit penetration rate compared to the other conditions, which suggested a higher susceptibility to pitting corrosion owing to more strain-hardened particle sites available for corrosive attack. Heat treatment on as-deposited samples produced strain-free grains; thus, eliminating areas prone to corrosive environmental attack, leading to improvement in pitting corrosion resistance. Investigating post-processing heat treatment is crucial to improve the mechanical properties of as-deposited samples to a level similar to the ones of wrought condition. This research work is essential for selecting the correct processing routes and their parameters to manufacture components exposed to corrosive environments. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Tensile strength decreases with repair depth, but fatigue life remains similar. • Additive technique equivalent to current grind-out method for low cycle fatigue. • High cycle fatigue lower due to defects and local softening via in-situ tempering. • Layer delay strategy for in-situ tempering out performs track delay method. • Track delay leads to severe localised cracking at soft bands between tracks. Laser directed energy deposition repair provides significant advantage over current grind-out repair methods for 300 M steel, with samples containing 40% deposit producing equivalent low cycle fatigue behaviour to unfilled 10% grind-outs, though with reduced tensile strength. High cycle fatigue is associated with crack initiation at defects or locally softened regions due to in-situ tempering. While deposition strategy influences the degree of tempering, both layer and track delay strategies produce equally soft regions leading to similar fatigue limits regardless of fill depth. Layer delay specimens perform better overall due to more uniform tempering, which prevents concentrated crack growth and premature failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selective laser melting (SLM) is a powder bed fusion type metal additive manufacturing process which is being applied to manufacture highly customised and value-added parts in biomedical, defence, aerospace, and automotive industries. Aluminium alloy is one of the widely used metals in manufacturing parts in SLM in these sectors due to its light weight, high strength, and corrosion resistance properties. Parts used in such applications can be subjected to severe dynamic loadings and high temperature conditions in service. It is important to understand the mechanical response of such products produced by SLM under different loading and operating conditions. This paper presents a comprehensive review of the latest research carried out in understanding the mechanical properties of aluminium alloys processed by SLM under static, dynamic, different build orientations, and heat treatment conditions with the aim of identifying research gaps and future research directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]