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The isothermal and thermal cyclic oxidation behaviour of NiCoCrAlY coatings sprayed using high-velocity air fuel (HVAF) and high-velocity air (oxy) fuel (HVA(O)F) processes was compared at 1100 °C and 1120 °C on Ni-based superalloy substrates. The evolution of the NiAl (β) phase and thermally grown oxide (TGO) was systematically analysed as a function of time, up to 100 h. The TGO grew from 2 to 3 μm (after 20 h) to nearly 25 μm after 40 h and comprised a mixed oxide layer of α-Al2O3 and NiO after 40 h under isothermal oxidation. The Al content in the coating mid-zone remains unchanged at 8–10 wt%, however, the Al content in the β-depleted zone underneath the TGO drops to < 2 wt%, leading to a fully γ microstructure after 50 h of isothermal exposure. The β-depleted layer thickness increases with exposure time from 5 μm after 20 h to nearly 45 μm after 40 h. The key difference between HVAF and HVA(O)F coatings could be seen in the development, after isothermal exposure, of porosity in the case of HVAF, while the HVA(O)F remained dense. Thermal cyclic exposure after 20 h between room temperature and 1100 °C led to coating delamination in the case of HVAF coating, whereas HVA(O)F coatings remained intact. The delamination is attributed to the formation of pores in the vicinity of the grits. Overall, there seems little difference in the oxidation properties of the coatings between the two processes under isothermal exposure, whereas HVA(O)F shows better structural integrity after thermal cycling. The results in this manuscript are the first to show the behaviour of HVAF-based coating response to high-temperature heat treatment and the analysis thereof to look at the novel aspect of interchangeability of using these coatings for various high-temperature oxidation applications such as in gas turbines components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Spilosoma (= Spilarctia) obliqua (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae), once considered as a sporadic pest, is now considered as a major and polyphagous pest widely distributed throughout India. Recent outbreaks of this pest were manifested in both jute and sunnhemp. During a survey in and around adjoining villages of I.C.A.R-C.R.I.J.A.F, Barrackpore, an epizootic was observed in the field population of S. obliqua caused by a nucleopolyhedrosis virus. Hence, an attempt was made to isolate, characterize using electron microscopy and assess the efficacy of S. obliqua nucleopolyhedrosis virus under laboratory and field conditions. Results: Electron microscopic studies revealed typical baculovirus occlusion bodies of type nucleopolyhedrosis virus with tetrahedral and triangular in shape with the size ranging from 2.55 to 2.90 µm, with an average size of about 2.72 µm. Bioassay studies showed the larval mortality at low concentration of SpobNPV, i.e., 2.42 × 104 POBs/ml. The virus-infected S. obliqua was identified through the amplification of polyhedrin, polh gene sequences with the available sequences in public database, GenBank, NCBI. The sequence data generated for the polyhedrin gene were deposited in GenBank, and accession number was obtained, MN648213. Field experiment revealed 50.52, 63.25 and 82.91% larval reductions, respectively, at 2, 4 and 7 days after spray of S. obliqua nucleopolyhedrosis virus. Conclusion: The present study revealed that foliar application of S. obliqua nucleopolyhedrosis virus was very effective in causing mortality against S. obliqua larvae and thus can be used as an effective microbial bioagent in the integrated pest management of the caterpillar, S. obliqua. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complimentary role of organics as supplements to chemical fertilizers is important for keeping the soil healthy in order to harness the potential yield in rice. Therefore, a field experiment was carried out during the cropping year of 2020-2021 to ascertain the impact of inorganic and organic source fertilizers integration on rice production's yield and its economics in Cauvery deltaic region of Tamil Nadu. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with three replications. The experiment comprised of eight treatments viz., T1 - RDF + 12.5 t FYM (Farmer's practice), T2 - Vermicompost @ 5 t/ha + RDF, T3 - Coirpith compost @ 5 t/ha + RDF, T4 - Pressmud compost @ 5 t/ha + RDF, T5 - Poultry manure compost @ 5 t/ha + RDF, T6 - Goat manure compost @ 5 t/ha + RDF, T7 - Bone sludge compost @ 5 t/ha + RDF and T8 - Sewage sludge compost @ 5 t/ha + RDF was applied to see the effect of integration of both organic and inorganic sources of fertilizers on the yield and economics of rice (CR1009) cultivation. The present study's findings showed that the integrative application of vermicompost @ 5t ha-1 along with 100 per cent recommended dose of fertilizers (T2) excelled all treatments and gave significantly increased grain yield of 5792 kg ha-with a value of 37 per cent over control and benefit-cost ratio of 3.45. The integrated application of Vermicompost @ 5tha-1 along with 100 per cent recommended dose of NPK registered the highest values in yield attributes, yield and economic returns in rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cotton leafhopper, Amrasca biguttula biguttula (Ishida) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) is a major sucking insect pest of cotton in India. Indiscriminate use of pesticides has led to the development of resistance to most of the recommended pesticide groups. Though there are multiple mechanisms and principles of insecticide resistance development in insects, the gut bacterial-mediated degradation of insecticides is relatively less explored. In the present study, the gut bacteria of field-collected, insecticide-resistant population of A. biguttula biguttula were compared with a laboratory-reared susceptible population. Among the five culturable gut bacteria from the imidacloprid-resistant population, only Enterococcus silesiacus CLHG1a exhibited growth in the agar medium amended with 50 and 100 ppm of imidacloprid. The imidacloprid degrading capacity of E. silesiacus CLHG1a was further confirmed by HPLC analysis. E. silesiacus and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens CLHG2 showed higher esterolytic activity (0.348 and 0.309 µmoles/min/mg respectively). The esterase zymogram on native PAGE revealed a single major band. This study provides clear evidence that the bacterium E. silesiacus isolated from the gut of A. biguttula biguttula has the ability to degrade imidacloprid and may have played a role in the detoxification of pesticides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The study was aimed to evaluate the usage and effect of intra venous un-fractional heparin (IVUH) and Low Molecular Weight Nadroparin (LMWN) on the management and outcome of acute ischemic stroke patients. Materials And Methods: It was a Prospective observational pilot study, conducted in the department of Neurology, Kovai Medical Center and Hospital over a period of six months with total number of 36 subjects. Results: The mean NIHSS score before treatment was 15.5 and 3.3 after the treatment, the difference of means was tested by using paired't'testand the P value (< 0.05) was considered significant. The functional outcome by mRS after 2 months from the day of discharge was 86% (n=31) of patients had scores between 0-2, and 14% (n=5) of patients had a score of 3-6 indicates good and poor outcome respectively. Conclusion: It was observed that the treatment with IVUH and LMWN, were safe and associated with an apparent reduction in the risk of death and dependency by closely monitoring of aPTT with appropriate anticoagulant plasma level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crack growth in rocks with preexisting flaws is of real concern for many rock engineering applications. The present paper considers the flaw that has a narrow gap that eventually gets closed on loading. Crack growth behavior leads to different failure modes, and corresponding strength characteristics were studied with respect to flaw angle. An experimental study was carried out with gypsum specimens replicating rock, that considered single and double flaws subjected to uniaxial compression. Crack growth and stress behaviors were analyzed and compared. The study was later extended to include numerical analyses using ABAQUS that adopted the extended finite element method with a cohesive zone model to capture crack growth behavior. The numerical model successfully mimicked wing crack propagation similar to the experimental results. The appearance of shear cracks and their growth upon loading was also predicted and crack initiation stress with respect to wing- and shear cracks was investigated. No significant differences were observed for single flaw specimens. However, in the case of multiple flaws with nonparallel configurations, the effect of shielding had a significant impact on coalescence behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the maize, an important cereal crop cultivated in India after rice and wheat and is valued as food, feed, fodder and industrial raw material. It mentions the fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda has been reported as a devastating invasive insect pest of maize in America and Africa. It also mentions the phase-contrast microscope visualization of discharged body fluids showed abundant spherical particles.

Jute hairy caterpillar, Spilosoma (=Spilarctia) obliqua (Walker) (Arctiidae: Lepidoptera), is an irregular and polyphagous insect pest that occurs all over India. A severe natural viral epizootic was observed in the field population of S. obliqua in jute. The virus was characterized as Spilosoma obliqua nucleopolyhedrovirus (SpobNPV NBAIR1) based on morphological, biological, and molecular characterization. Under scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM), the occlusion bodies (OBs) of SpobNPV NBAIR1 appeared as both tetrahedral and triangular with the size ranged from 1.04-1.72 μm. The results on the bioassay studies revealed that the lowest LC50 value of 2.93 OBs/mm2 by leaf disc bioassay against the second instar S. obliqua showed its high virulence. The identity of SpobNPV was further confirmed by the amplification of polyhedrin gene (NCBI GenBank accession no. MK288145). Eleven species of lepidopteran insects, viz., Spodoptera litura, S. exigua, S. frugiperda, Helicoverpa armigera, Plutella xylostella, Amsacta albistriga, Maruca vitrata, Trichoplusia ni, Pieris brassicae, Agrotis ipsilon, and Bombyx mori, were not susceptible to the infection with SpobNPV NBAIR1. Field experiments on jute crop revealed 68.92, 78.59, and 93.16% reduction in larval population of S. obliqua at 3, 4, and 7 days post spray of SpobNPV NBAIR1 (1.5 × 1012 OBs/ha at 2 ml/l), respectively. The present study is a renewed effort in the management of S. obliqua by the new strain of SpobNPV NBAIR1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on biological invasions are quite frequent in recent years due to free trade and global warming. Topics include Fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda which is a highly migratory polyphagous insect pest, and FAW is one of the major production constraints of maize crop across the globe.

In recent times, plasma sprayed powder-solution precursor hybrid composite thermal barrier coatings have been developed to harness the dual benefits of both conventional atmospheric plasma spraying (APS) and solution precursor plasma spraying (SPPS) processes. In this study, hot corrosion behavior of plasma sprayed powder-solution precursor composite (PSP-SPC) YSZ TBCs in molten salt mixtures of 90 wt.% Na 2 SO 4  + 5 wt.% V 2 O 5  + 5 wt.% NaCl and 50 wt.% Na 2 SO 4  + 50 wt.% V 2 O 5 at 900 °C was investigated. The employed coating showed a bimodal microstructure comprising coarse splats derived from the powder feedstock as in the APS process and fine splats resulting from the solution precursor as typical of SPPS process. The PSP-SPC coatings showed a significantly higher resistance to spallation than APS, SPPS and EB-PVD coatings in both the salt environments. These coatings showed shorter life in vanadate environment compared to that of the chloride environments as the former promotes the formation of monoclinic ZrO 2 and YVO 4 phases more than the latter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Efficient analgesia and achieving hemodynamic stability is vital in patients undergoing thyroid surgery. Bilateral superficial cervical plexus block (BSCPB) is one of the commonly performed regional anaesthesia technique, but studies documenting the superiority of various local anaesthetic medication, as compared to placebo are scarce. To compare the efficacy of analgesia, intra and post-operative hemodynamic status between bilateral superficial cervical plexus block with 0.5% bupivacaine and a control group (normal saline) in thyroid surgeries. Materials and methods: The current study was a randomized double-blinded controlled trial conducted with prior ethical approval. The study population included, people undergoing thyroid surgery under general anaesthesia, randomized to either 0.5% Bupivacaine or normal saline groups. The post-operative pain was assessed by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). The intra and postoperative hemodynamic parameters were compared. Unpaired t-test, Mann-Whitney U test was used appropriately. Results: A total of 58 patients included in the final analysis, with 29 subjects in each group. Both the study groups were comparable, with respect to various baseline parameters. The highest difference in the mean visual analogue score was observed in the immediate post-operative period (mean difference 4.03, 95 CI 3.4 to 4.66, p value < 0.001). This difference even though was variable and lower compared to the immediate post-operative value, was sustained throughout the post-operative period. At 24 hours, post-operative period the mean difference in visual analogue score was 1.55 (95% CI 0.93 to 2.16, p value < 0.001). All these differences in the mean visual analogue scores were statistically significant at p value < 0.05. No major hemodynamic fluctuations were observed in either of the study groups and no statistically significant difference was observed with respect to various hemodynamic parameters. Conclusions: The data and statistical analysis suggest that Bilateral Superficial Cervical Plexus Block with bupivacaine did not alter the intraoperative hemodynamic parameters and was effective in reducing the pain during the postoperative period. No significant adverse effects were noted both during surgery and postoperative period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we demonstrate the microstructure dependency of erosion behaviour of laser clad, detonation sprayed and atmospheric plasma sprayed chromium carbide based coatings. The final chromium carbide content in all the coatings was a strong function of rapid solidification rate associated with the processes. In the laser clad coating majority of the chromium carbides re-solidified while in the thermally sprayed coatings chromium carbide re-solidification was hindered to a large extent. Hence, the final chromium carbide content in the thermally sprayed coating decreased with increased extent of particle melting during spraying. Decarburisation and oxidation during thermal spraying lead to the formation of chromium carbides with lower carbon content and chromium oxide(s). Laser clad and detonation sprayed coatings, with higher chromium carbide content, showed lower erosion rates and exhibited fewer brittle erosion events. Embrittlement due to excessive dissolution of chromium carbides into the matrix and poor splat bonding were found to be the reasons for higher erosion rate of the plasma sprayed coating. Scanning electron microscopy and quantification of single erodent impact events clearly established ductile material removal in the laser clad and detonation sprayed coating and brittle material removal in the plasma sprayed coating as the dominant mechanism(s). A good agreement was found between solid particle erosion testing and nano impact testing results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this present work Phosphorus-doped Triglycine sulfate (TGSP) crystals were grown by the slow evaporation method. The grown crystals were characterized by to XRD, FTIR and UV–vis analysis. The XRD analysis confirms the formation of TGSP crystals and shows monoclinic structure. The lattice parameters are found to be a = 9.53 Å, b = 12.68 Å and c = 5.17 Å. FTIR spectrum comfirmed the functional group presents in the TGSP crystals. The crystals exhibited 74% transparency in the entire visible region observed in UV–vis spectrum. The micro hardness values of the TGSP crystal increases with increase the load upto 100 g, no cracks were observed upto this load. The Mayer index confirms the grown crystals soft. TG/DTA analysis is found an endothermic peak at 230 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The components in an integrated steel plant are invariably exposed to harsh working environments involving exposure to high temperatures, corrosive gases, and erosion/wear conditions. One such critical component in the blast furnace is the tuyere, which is prone to thermal damage by splashing of molten metal/slag, erosive damage by falling burden material, and corrosion from the ensuing gases. All the above, collectively or independently, accelerate tuyere failure, which presents a potential explosion hazard in a blast furnace. Recently, thermal spray coatings have emerged as an effective solution to mitigate such severe operational challenges. In the present work, five different coatings deposited using detonation spray and air plasma spray techniques were comprehensively characterized. Performance evaluation involving thermal cycling, hot corrosion, and erosion tests was also carried out. Based on the studies, a coating system was suggested for possible tuyere applications and found to yield substantial improvement in service life during actual field trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal spraying employing either solution precursor or suspension feedstock offers an exciting opportunity to obtain coatings with microstructures and characteristics that differ vastly compared to those conventionally produced using spray-grade powders. Both solution precursor plasma spray and suspension plasma spray techniques have been explored extensively in recent years for depositing wide ranging ceramic coatings for various functional applications. Encouraged by the properties achieved using the above solution-based feedstocks, a hybrid approach involving dual injection of solutions and powders, either simultaneously or sequentially, has been proposed and demonstrated to yield novel coating architectures. Although prior work on such hybrid processing is very limited, this overview seeks to present the concept, outline associated challenges, and demonstrate its efficacy to realize coatings with exciting and unusual properties using some illustrative examples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper describes the role of process conditions in developing phase-pure α-AlO coatings using solution precursor plasma spraying. Different precursor combinations were employed and two key parameters, namely plasma power and substrate pre-heat temperature, were varied. Detailed studies of in-flight formed particles and splat characteristics were found to correlate well with the AlO coating characteristics. The AlO-forming precursor formulation was also found to be crucial in determining the phase constitution of the deposited coatings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes the development of a new and innovative configuration based on single channel with cavities plate type wall-coated microreformer (dimensions: 90 mm × 50 mm × 30 mm). Microchannels are patterned on the SS plate and fabricated to make a vaporizer unit. The reformer is in the form of two SS plates placed one above the other. The water–methanol mixture enters from the top cover plate and gets vaporised in the channels cut on the vaporiser plate. The mixture then flows through the reformer plates on which the cavities are engraved to enhance mixing of water–methanol vapors. The catalyst is deposited on the fins of the reformer plates using a new promising technique for depositing nanostructured films namely, Solution Precursor Plasma Spray (SPPS) technique. The performance of the microreformer unit is investigated at various operating conditions of inlet feed flow rate, molar ratio of water to methanol and reforming temperature. The developed microreformer unit is able to generate enough hydrogen to produce a power output of 27 W. The proposed design can also overcome the issue of shape and size of manifolds and ensure equi-flow distribution for multiple microchannel type microreformer designs and appears simple and suitable from fabrication viewpoint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to investigate the mechanism by which Bacillus strains confer plant protection. Bacillus subtilis strain Bs was identified as potential bacterial antagonist against cardamom capsule rot pathogen, Phytophthora meadii. This strain was tested for its ability to induce defense related enzymes viz., peroxidase (PO), polyphenoloxidase (PPO) and total phenols against P. meadii in cardamom plants. Cardamom plants treated with bacterial antagonist and challenge inoculated with P. meadii showed higher levels of defense related enzymes and phenols compared to antagonist alone, pathogen alone and untreated plants. B. subtilis strain Bs induced higher activities of total phenols (182 μg g-1 of tissue), PO (2.81 change in OD min-1 g-1 of tissue) and PPO activity (1.01 change in OD min-1 g-1) in cardamom plants treated with P. meadii. The present study clearly indicated that the bacterial antagonist B. subtilis has the ability to induce defense related enzymes in cardamom plants against P. meadii. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel approach hybridizing the conventional atmospheric plasma spraying and the solution precursor plasma spraying techniques has been explored to develop nanocomposite coatings. The above hybrid processing route involves simultaneous feeding of an appropriate solution precursor and commercially available spray-grade powder feedstock to realize microstructures comprising nanostructured and micron-sized features, which are unique in thermal spraying. The attractive prospects offered by this hybrid technique for deposition of nanocomposite coatings are specifically highlighted in this paper through a case study. Plasma sprayed Mo-alloy coatings are known for their good tribological characteristics and widely used in many applications. Further augmentation in performance of these coatings is expected through incorporation of distributed nanostructured oxide phases in the microstructure. Successful development of such coatings using a spray-grade Mo-alloy powder and a suitable oxide-forming solution precursor has been demonstrated. Splat formation under varied processing conditions has been comprehensively investigated and related to microstructure and tribological behavior of the coatings to assess the efficacy of the above nanocomposite coatings for wear resistant applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoparticles of PbSe, Cu2Se, and CdSe are prepared for two equimolar concentrations (0.05 M and 0.1 M) by precipitation method at 130°C. The obtained nanoparticles were characterized by x-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and UV-visible analysis to study the structural, morphological, and optical properties and are discussed in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A novel approach of hybridizing the conventional atmospheric plasma spraying (APS) technique with the solution precursor plasma spray (SPPS) route to achieve thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) with tailored configurations is presented. Such a hybrid process can be conveniently adopted for forming composite, multi-layered and graded coatings employing simultaneous and/or sequential feeding of solution precursor as well as powder feedstock, yielding distinct TBC microstructures that bear promise to further extend coating durability. TBC specimens generated using conventional APS technique, the SPPS method and through APS-SPPS hybrid processing have been comprehensively characterized for microstructure, phase constitution, hardness and thermal cycling life, and the results were compared to demonstrate the advantages that can ensue from hybrid processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The present work represents a significant new approach in the field of thermal spraying to deposit nanostructured phase-pure α-Al2O3 coatings in a single step. In order to understand the mechanism of coating formation, a detailed investigation of in flight formed particles and splat morphologies has been carried out. A plausible deposition mechanism has been proposed based on the understanding derived from the above studies that can form the basis for developing novel ceramic coatings employing the solution precursor plasma spray technique. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] Spherical shape and 99% purity of biosilica were identified in SEM–EDS. [•] The XRD patterns were analyzed and compared the phase nature of ashes and biosilica. [•] The functional groups of biosilica were recorded by FTIR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Deposition of pure spinel phase, photocatalytic zinc ferrite films on SS-304 substrates by solution precursor plasma spraying (SPPS) has been demonstrated for the first time. Deposition parameters such as precursor solution pH, concentration, film thickness, plasma power and gun-substrate distance were found to control physico-chemical properties of the film, with respect to their crystallinity, phase purity, and morphology. Alkaline precursor conditions (7

Abstract: We have synthesized and characterized donor–π–spacer–acceptor type molecules in which 1,3,4-oxadiazoles are π-spacers, triphenylamines are the donors and cyanoacetic acid are the acceptors for use as sensitizers in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Detailed absorption, emission, electrochemical, photoelectrochemical and computational studies have been carried out on five novel derivatives. The dyes have an absorption range of 377–388nm, and an emission in the range of 494–540nm. There is a large charge transfer from the donor side to the acceptor side on excitation. The propeller shape of the triphenylamine and the bulky substituents on it help in reducing the dye-aggregation on TiO2 surface. The dyes exhibited good overall conversion efficiency (2.79–3.21%). Plane wave calculations indicate that the dye has a reasonably strong binding to the TiO2 surface and the generated DOS picture shows an overlap of the molecular orbitals of the dye and the TiO2 bands. We conclude that the dyes have a promising role as sensitizers in DSSC. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The flow field at the rotor exit of a low aspect ratio axial flow fan for different tip geometries and for different flow coefficients is measured in the present study. The following configurations are tested: (1) rotor without partial shroud, designated as rotor (wos), (2) rotor with partial shroud, designated as rotor (ws), and (3) rotor with perforated (perforations in the shape of discrete circular holes) partial shroud, designated as rotor (wps). From steady state measurements, the performance of rotor (wps) is found to be the best. Both the rotors with partial shrouds have stalled at a higher flow coefficient compared to that of rotor (wos). From periodic flow measurements, it is concluded that the low velocity region near the tip section is considerably reduced with the use of partial shrouds with perforations. The extent of this low velocity region for both rotor (wos) and rotor (wps) increases with decreasing flow coefficient due to increased stage loading. This core of low momentum fluid has moved inwards of the annulus and towards the pressure side as the flow coefficient decreases. The extent of the low momentum fluid is smaller for rotor (wps) than that of rotor (wos) at all flow coefficients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Chrysotile, a variety of serpentine mineral was investigated by vibrational and magnetic resonance spectroscopic methods. The SEM photograph of the sample shows that chrysotile is made up of thin and flexible fibrils, classified as asbestos. The calculated lattice parameters were a =5.1961±0.0053Å, b =9.2365±0.0107Å, c =14.6208±0.0039Å; β =90.15±0.19°; Z =4, with space group C2/m. Three bands observed in the highest wavenumber region (3689 and 3648cm−1) originate from the stretching vibrations of the two crystallographically different OH groups. The Raman spectrum shows bending vibrations of the SiO4 tetrahedra at 390 and 348cm−1. Substitution of the Si ions in SiO4 tetrahedra by Al ions leads to low-field shifts in the 29Si NMR spectrum and the resonance line corresponding to Q3 (1 Al) was observed at −89ppm. This result was supported by the resonance line at ≈57ppm in 27Al NMR spectrum. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the tribological performance of 200μm thick TiMo(CN)–28Co and TiMo(CN)–36NiCo coatings obtained using the detonation spray coating system. Towards the above purpose, the detonation spray coating conditions were optimized to obtain the best coating properties (low porosity, high wear resistance) by varying two of the important coating process variables, i.e., oxygen to fuel ratio and gas volume. In both the coatings it was observed that the best tribological performance and also the lowest porosity were obtained at intermediate OF ratios. However, the coatings with the highest hardness did not exhibit the best tribological performance. A comparison of the tribological performance of the optimized TiMo(CN) type coatings with that of optimized WC–Co coatings revealed that the abrasion resistance of TiMo(CN) type coatings is comparable to that of WC–Co coatings. However, the erosion and sliding wear resistance of TiMo(CN) type coatings were considerably lower than that of WC–Co coatings. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), time-resolved fluorescence and anisotropy decays were determined in large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs) of egg phosphatidylcholine with the FRET pair N-(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl)-1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-ethanolamine as donor and lissamine rhodamine B 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine as acceptor, using 2-ps pulses from a Ti:sapphire laser on LUVs with incorporated plant growth regulators: triacontanol (TRIA) and jasmonic acid (JA). FRET efficiency, energy transfer rate, rotation correlation time, microviscosity, and diffusion coefficient of lateral diffusion of lipids were calculated from these results. It was observed that TRIA and JA differentially modulated all parameters studied. The effect of JA in such modulations was always partially reversed by TRIA. Also, the generalized polarization of laurdan fluorescence indicated that JA enhances the degree of hydration in lipid bilayers to a larger extent than does TRIA. Solid-state (31)P magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of LUVs showed two chemical shifts, at 0.009 and -11.988 ppm, at low temperatures (20 degrees C), while at increasing temperatures (20-60 degrees C) only one (at -11.988 ppm) was prominent and the other (0.009 ppm) gradually became obscure. However, LUVs with TRIA exhibited only one of the shifts at 0.353 ppm even at lower temperatures and JA did not affect the chemical shifts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single crystals of the organometallic material tetra(thiourea)copper(I) chloride (TTCC) were grown from aqueous solution. It is interesting to observe that Co2+-doping influences the efficiency of some of the physical properties of TTCC. Presence of Co2+ ions in the doped specimen is confirmed by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and chemical tests. FTIR studies reveal that the binding of thiourea with copper chloride occurs through sulphur. Doping results in reduction in the intensity of XRD peaks. SEMreveals that doping results in layered growth of the crystal. DSC confirms slight variations in the decomposition pattern. Mechanical stability of the doped specimen is much better than TTCC. Optical transparency is slightly enhanced by doping and a wide transmission in the visible region is observed. TTCC is non-linear optics (NLO) inactive and the second harmonic generation (SHG) efficiency is not influenced much by the added dopant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The traditional kanban system with a fixed number of cards does not work satisfactorily in an unstable environment. In the adaptive kanban-type pull control mechanism, the number of kanbans are allowed to change with respect to the inventory and backorder level. It is required to set the threshold values at which cards are added or deleted, which is a part of the design. Previous studies used local search and meta-heuristic methods to design the adaptive kanban system for single stage. In a multi-stage system the cards are circulated within the stage and their presence at designated positions will signal to the neighboring stages about the inventory. In this work, a model of the multi-stage system to traditional and adaptive kanban system is developed. A GA-based search is employed to set the parameters of the system. The results are compared with a traditional kanban system and found signs of improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Natural sulforaphane has been of increasing interest for nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries due to its anti-cancer effect. The sulforaphane contents of 14 different major European Brassica oleracea L. varieties (cauliflower Alverda, cauliflower di Jesi, cauliflower Minaret, broccoli Ramoso calabrese, white cabbage, palm cabbage Cuor di Bue, broccoli Primor, savoy cabbage riccio d’Asti, broccoli Eolo, Delicato, cauliflower Nuvola, cauliflower Palla di neve, San martino, Velox) and four different Brassica rapa L. varieties (turnip Senza Testa, cima di rapa 40, cima di rapa 90, cima di rapa 120) which are cultivated in Italy, were analysed during two different developmental stages (3rd and 9th day after germination) of the seedlings. A quantitative determination of sulforaphane in Brassica species seedlings was established by HPLC. The highest amount of sulforaphane (2.21mg/gdw) was found in San martino 3-day old seedlings. Seedlings of this European Brassica variety may be considered as a potential new source of natural sulforaphane. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Phytosterols (PS) from nine samples of olive oil from Olea europaea L., the Carolea, Cassanese and Coratina mono-cultivars, have been analyzed by gas chromatography. Coratina virgin olive oil (VOO) from the month of November showed highest contents of β-sitosterol (5491mgkg−1) and Δ5 avenasterol (1767mgkg−1). Olive pomace oil had the lowest total content of all PS, when compared to VOO. These results suggests that, PS can be an important regulatory factor for the functional quality of olive oil along the agro-industry chain from the orchard to nutraceutical. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Effect of solvents, buffer solutions of different pH and β-cyclodextrin on the absorption and fluorescence spectra of 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxybenzoic acid [HDMB] have been investigated. The inclusion complex of β-CD with HDMB is investigated by UV–vis, fluorometry, FTIR, 1H NMR, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and semiempirical methods. The thermodynamic parameters (ΔG, ΔH and ΔS) of inclusion process are also determined. The Stokes shifts of HDMB correlated with various solvent polarity scales, suggest that the HDMB molecule is more polar and the change in dipole moment is large in the S1 state. The pK a and values of neutral-monoanion and monoanion–dianion equilibria have been determined with fluorimetric titrations and Förster cycle methods and compared. β-Cyclodextrin studies shows that HDMB forms a 1:1 inclusion complex with β-CD. A mechanism is proposed to explain the inclusion process. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Summary: The study was performed in order to investigate a simple, efficient, reliable and rapid method of extracting and quantifying natural vitamin E for pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) as well as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. Lyophilized Corylus avellana L. nut samples were powdered by high-speed milling with Waring blender for 40s. α-Tocopherol was extracted from the nut tissue powder using dehydrated hexane fortified with 0.01% butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT, co-antioxidant). The rate of α-tocopherol accumulation showed differences among nut samples collected in different areas of Italy. Sarda Piccola nut biofactory contained higher amount (81.17μg/g d.w) of α-tocopherol than other-local eleven Italian cultivar nuts. These results provide insight into the biofactory basis for α-tocopherol accumulation in hazelnut and give the suitable cultivar tissues to establish pilot-scale bioreactors production of natural bioactive vitamin E. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The contents of soluble biophenols such as protocatechuic, gentisic, vanillic, caffeic, syringic, p-coumaric, ferulic, salicylic, and cinnamic acids were screened and quantified from the adventitious roots of Panax ginseng by HPLC-MS. Control adventitious roots which showed the greatest accumulation of ferulic acid (0.09 mg/g DW) were observed in our experiments. An increase in the total soluble biophenol content of adventitious roots was observed 5 days after treatment with elicitor 200 µM/L methyl jasmonate (MeJa) i.e., 35 to 40 days of inoculation. Among the biophenols investigated, the salicylic acid content was higher (0.44 mg/g DW) in MeJa treated adventitious root culture in the bioreactor. MeJa might apparently increase soluble biophenols production in adventitious roots by enhancing the biosynthesis pathway from phenylalanine to salicylic acid and other simple biophenols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Freeze-dried olive fruits from Italian cultivars such as Carolea, Cassanese, and Coratina were analyzed by HPLC-MS. During different stages of maturation of olive fruits, the biophenolic (antioxidant) composition was examined. Twelve biophenolic compounds, viz. hydroxytyrosol, tyrosol, oleoside 11-methyl ester, demethyloleuropein, verbascoside, demethylligstoside, oleacin, oleuropeindiale, demethyloleuropeindiale, oleuropein, ligstroside, and elenolate were identified by HPLC-MS. Oleuropein, the major olive fruit soluble biophenolic fraction, decreased significantly during fruit maturation and showed significant differences between olive cultivars. Coratina drupes extracted from October month contained a higher amount of biophenols than other mono-cultivar extracted drupes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phenylalanine and tyrosine play a central role inGloriosa superbaL. calluses for the production of colchicine. The lack of biosynthetic precursors and signal inducing enzyme activity are responsible for the lower production of colchicine in vitro. B 5 medium nutrient grown calluses have a low content of colchicine, indicating that an optimal precursors level is required to increase PAL and TAL activity for colchicine accumulation. These results suggest that precursors are an important regulatory factor in colchicine accumulation inin vitro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient protocol was developed for regeneration of healthy plant derived from six categories of explants from both in vivo and in vitro raised plants, viz. roots, corm buds (dormant and nondormant), young leaves, stems, pedicels, and shoot tips from aerial shoots. MS medium supplemented with various concentrations and combinations of auxin, cytokinin, and organic acids was used. 98% of callus induction occurred in nondormant corm bud explants. The greatest number of multiple shoots (57) was observed in corm-derived calluses. Vigorous root formation occurred in all cases when multiple shoots were derived. Histomorphogenetic studies revealed that not only the origin of shoot and root buds in in vitro systems, but the morphology and structure of leaves resemble those of in vivo plants too. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, Ag-doped Cu2ZnSnSe4 (CZTSe) thin films were deposited on FTO substrate by thermal evaporation method. The structural, morphological, optical and electrical properties of the (Cu1-xAgx)2ZnSnSe4 thin films were analyzed. The XRD analysis shows tetragonal crystal structure for CZTSe thin films, and the peak shift reveals the incorporation of the Ag into CZTSe crystal structure. Raman spectra show the presence of binary phases. SEM images show irregular shaped particles, and EDS spectra show non-stoichiometric nature. The optical spectra reveal good optical absorption in the visible region, and it is increased for Ag-doped films. Hall effect analysis shows p-type conductivity for CZTSe, whereas Ag-doped CZTSe sample provokes n-type conductivity. The result is also supported by the Mott–Schottky plots. The film x = 0.5 Ag doping concentration exhibits higher band bending in the dark which is essential for increasing Voc of the photoelectrochemical cell. The carrier concentration is found to be 1018 –1020 cm−3 for (Cu1-xAgx)2ZnSnSe4 thin films. The photoelectrochemical performance of the films was analyzed. Among the films, x = 0.5 Ag-doped film shows 3.02% photoconversion efficiency (PCE). The solar cells Glass/FTO/(Cu1−xAgx)2ZnSnSe4/Cu2ZnSnSe4/Ag were fabricated, and their PCE has been analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of reaction times and temperatures on the electrochemical capacitance characteristics of NiCo2O4 nanoparticles (NPs) are investigated. The hydrothermal reaction temperatures and times play critical parts in the creation of unique hierarchical NCO based on morphological evolution in this work. The calcination temperature 400 °C was fixed using TG-DTA study. The crystal structure and phase identification is investigated from XRD analysis. FTIR peaks in the region of 700-500 cm−1 confirmed the presence of the Ni-O and Co-O bond. The spherical-like nanostructure NiCo2O4 particles are visualized from SEM, HR-SEM and HR-TEM analyses. From the EDS spectra, the atomic percentage composition of the elements namely, Ni, Co and O were observed. The optimized sample was subjected to a VSM and CV analyses, which revealed that it is superparamagnetic nature (Ms = 4.8298 emu/g) and Pseudocapacitive behaviour with highest capacitance value of 534 Fg−1 with the lower scan rate of 10 mVs−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is an attempt to study the effect of bamboo leaf ash (BLA) substitution on quartz in the ceramic insulator sintered at 1250 °C for 2 h. The Physico-mechanical properties, structural, morphological and dielectric characteristics of the ceramic samples were examined by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Differential thermal analysis (DTA), Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and dielectric measurement techniques respectively. The study revealed that 10% BLA replacement was better in physico-mechanical performance than the commercial ceramic insulator attributed to the increase of secondary mullite crystals in the BLA reinforced treated sample. Also the incorporation of BLA showed no harmful effect in the ceramic matrix. • The lowest value of the water absorption is due to its high densification. • Increase of the dielectric strength could be attributed to growth of secondary mullite. • Mullite increases while quartz decreases in the BLA reinforced ceramic insulator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new potential source of natural vitamin E from thirteen samples of Corylus avellana L. leaves was screened: the major Italian cultivar — Tonda romana (collected from Latium and Sardinia localities); ten local genotypes from Sardinia — Moro seme, Suconcale, Moro, Sarda grossa, Sarda grossa seme, Sarda schiacciata, Coccoredda, Sarda lunga, Sarda piccola and Sarda tardiva; wild genotype — Selvatico from Latium. The determination was performed after optimizing the high-efficiency pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) conditions of α-tocopherol from Italian hazelnut tree green leaves. Moro from Sardinia showed the highest content of α-tocopherol (237.4±0.3 µg/g d.w). Leaves of this genotype may be considered as a potential new source for natural α-tocopherol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ladakh (Jammu and Kashmir) is the coldest arid region of India, where apricot is a major fruit grown across the region. In recent years, severe infestation by the defoliating caterpillar, brown-tail moth, Euproctis chrysorrhoea (L.) (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae), on apricot trees has been reported in and around the Batalik sector. During field surveys, dead larvae of the brown-tail moth infected with a nucleopolyhedrovirus (NPV) were found. Electron microscopic studies revealed the typical baculovirus occlusion bodies (OBs) with polyhedral structures. Under a scanning electron microscope (SEM), the OBs of Euproctis NPV appeared to have crystalline structures of variable shapes and sizes which varied from 1.016 to 1.596 μm. Most of the OBs were tetrahedral and few were of hexagonal in shape. The transmission electron microscope (TEM) images of the OBs revealed the tetrahedral shape. The leaf disc bioassay showed the LC50 of 1 × 104 OBs/ml against second instar larvae of Euproctis chrysorrhoea. The 95% fiducial limits ranged from 1.416 to 2.887. This is the first report of NPV from the brown-tail moth in India from the Ladakh region. NPV being safe and environmentally friendly could be an ideal component for the integrated pest management (IPM) approach to controlling the pest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The durability of industrial components exposed to high temperatures can be increased by depositing high-velocity air-fuel (HVAF) sprayed Cr 3 C 2 -based coatings. The uniform embedding of wear-resistant Cr 3 C 2 within an oxidation-resistant binder matrix allows HVAF-sprayed Cr 3 C 2 -based coatings to be widely used in high-temperature environments. However, consolidating these coatings demands an optimum particle velocity and temperature combination, primarily dependent on the spray torch design. Understanding the role of spray torch variants with altered combustion chamber and nozzle designs is essential, which might influence the coating (splat) formation mechanism and the resultant wear performance. Accordingly, Cr 3 C 2 –25NiCr and Cr 3 C 2 –30NiCrMoNb were sprayed using different HVAF torches (high-power AK06 and low-power AK05-ID (inner diameter): generate different energy (thermal + kinetic) output) to understand the role of the binder as well as the torch design. The deposited coatings were comprehensively compared based on splat morphology, microstructure, mechanical properties, room and high-temperature erosion and sliding wear behavior. Subsequently, a detailed post-wear analysis was performed to decipher the associated wear mechanism. As inferred from the results, Cr 3 C 2 –25NiCr coatings deposited through a high-power AK06 spray torch displayed preferable microstructure, properties and superior wear resistance. The study also offered new insights into HVAF-ID torch-deposited coatings. [Display omitted] • The spray torch design significantly influenced the coating microstructure and properties. • AK06 spray torch deposited coatings with desirable microstructure and properties. • Regardless of testing conditions, AK06 sprayed coatings offered lesser wear rates. • Cr 3 C 2 –25NiCr coatings displayed comparatively better erosion/sliding wear resistance. • Heat-sensitive and challenging geometries could be coated using an AK05-ID torch. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Nanostructured CuAl 2 O 4 nanoparticles were prepared by hydrothermal method using aluminum nitrate and copper nitrate precursors. • The hydrothermal temperature and morphology play a critical role in photocatalytic activity. • The results suggest that the prepared CuAl 2 O 4 nanoparticles are good potential candidates for photocatalytic and antibacterial applications. Nanostructured CuAl 2 O 4 nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared by the hydrothermal method using aluminum nitrate and copper nitrate precursors. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirms the formation of spinel CuAl 2 O 4 NPs. The average crystallite size of synthesized NPs decreased with increasing reaction time. The field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) studies revealed the cubic structure of CuAl 2 O 4 NPs. The binding energy of Cu2+ and Al3+ ions was identified by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The bandgap of synthesized NPS was found to increase with increasing reaction time. For photocatalytic measurements, the synthesized NPs were examined by degradation of Rhodamine B dye, and a maximum efficiency of 75 % was found for calcinated NPs synthesized at a reaction time of 12 h. Moreover, antibacterial activity results revealed that a better inhibition rate was found in S. aureus against human pathogenic bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The modern turbines aimed to work at enhanced efficiencies demand the use of a novel high-performance thermal barrier coating (TBC) which may be susceptible to multiple failure modes. Specifically, ingestion of calcium–magnesium–alumino–silicate (CMAS) or volcanic ash (VA) at elevated temperatures induce accelerated deterioration of conventional yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) TBCs. The ability to form an impervious and rapidly crystallizing rare earth-based apatite layer upon interaction with CMAS/VA salt favors the choice of rare earth zirconates (REZs) as novel TBCs. Among diverse REZs, Yb2Zr2O7 (YbZ) exhibits ideal TBC characteristics. A detailed insight into YbZ coating characteristics and performance is vitally needed to qualify these materials for TBC applications. Accordingly, in this study indigenously developed YbZ and commercial YSZ were deposited by air plasma spraying. Subsequently, the VA infiltration resistance of deposited coatings was comprehensively compared up to 1350 °C. The SEM analysis of VA-infiltrated YSZ and YbZ coatings revealed the thickness of the infiltration zone and the corresponding mechanism. YbZ coatings displayed significantly better VA infiltration resistance attributed to forming an impervious Yb-apatite-based arresting layer and pinning the further seepage of the VA salt front. Besides, VA rapidly infiltrated YSZ coatings, which failed to form an arresting layer. Overall, the study provides essential insights and thrust in developing next-generation TBCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]