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Innate and adaptive immunity play a crucial role in allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) pathogenesis. We performed next-generation sequencing using the Illumina TruSight One panel (4,811 human disease-associated genes, at least 20 × coverage) and selected 22 known immune genes (toll-like receptors (TLRs), C-type lectin, interleukin-4 receptor, and others). We included ABPA (n = 18), asthma without ABPA (n = 12), and healthy controls (n = 8). We analyzed 3011 SNPs from 22 genes and identified 145 SNPs (13 genes) that were present only in the disease groups and absent in controls. The SNP frequency overall was significantly higher in ABPA than in asthmatics (89/145 [61.4%] vs. 56/145 [38.6%], p = 0.0001). The SNP frequency in the TLR10 gene was also significantly higher in ABPA than in asthma (p = 0.017). Association analysis further revealed three genes having significant associations. Of these, NOS3 and HLA-DQB1 are associated with antimicrobial activity and adaptive immunity. More extensive studies are required to confirm our findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed at enhancing the physico-chemical, nutritional, nutraceutical, and sensory characteristics of cookies by incorporating whole cereals (wheat and finger millet) flour and replacing sugar with jaggery as an alternate sweetener. A series of jaggery-based cookies using, refined flour (RF), RJC; wheat flour (WF), WJC; non-germinated finger millet (MF), WMJC, and germinated finger millet flour (GMF), WGMJC, were developed and compared with control sugar cookies. Further, cookies were analysed for their physico-chemical parameters (pH, spread ratio, colour, texture, and dough rheology), nutritional composition nutraceutical properties [total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant activities], sensory attributes, and shelf-life. Additionally, MF, GMF, WMJC, and WGMJC were also evaluated for total amino-acid (AA) and phytic acid contents. Incorporation of JP, WF, MF and GMF in cookies improved their physico-chemical, nutritional, and nutraceutical properties. The WGMJC cookies had the highest levels of TPC (2.87 µg GAE/mg), TFC (0.8 µg QE/mg), antioxidant activities (ABTS and DPPH IC50 of 11.75 mg/mL and 18.39 mg/mL, respectively), and AA content (193.33 mg/g), with lowest phytic acid content (69.3 mg/g). Shelf life studies conducted on jaggery cookies demonstrated a level of stability similar to that of control sugar cookies. This study emphasizes the formulation of nutritious functional cookies to meet the increasing demand for convenient, balanced, and health-conscious snack alternatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The escalating threat posed by metal contamination to both biota and the environment has become a significant global concern. These pollutants have the potential to enter the food chain and pose adverse health effects on human beings. Traditional methods of pollutant removal are often costly and time-consuming, necessitating the need for an eco-friendly and cost-effective approach such as phytoremediation. However, despite its widespread use, phytoremediation possesses inherent limitations, primarily its slow rate of remediation, often spanning several decades. To overcome these limitations, the use of nanoparticles in conjunction with phytoremediation has emerged as a rapid and environmentally friendly alternative that mitigates secondary environmental impacts such as greenhouse gas emissions, waste generation, and depletion of natural resources. Certain nanoparticles have been found to enhance the production of biomass in hyperaccumulator plants and assist in the scavenging of pollutants by augmenting antioxidant activities. This review provides insights into the mechanisms employed by plants during phytoremediation of contaminated soil, specifically focusing on the removal of heavy metals as well as highlighting the potential benefits derived from nanoparticle-assisted phytoremediation. Furthermore, future prospects for harnessing the full potential of nanoparticle-mediated phytoremediation are explored. While nano-phytoremediation holds promise as an effective soil cleanup strategy, further research and long-term studies are necessary to ensure its potential acceptability and effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-strength alloys can be efficiently welded utilizing laser beam welding because of their attributes, such as minimized fusion, heat-affected zone extensions, and minor deformation. Computational study of the laser material interaction process assists in analysing numerous process variables and their effect, which is challenging experimentally. This work developed a 3D numerical model for pulsed laser welding of high-carbon alloy steel. A hybrid 3D conical heat source model with a double ellipsoid and a 3D conical heat source model was employed to study laser–material interaction in the finite element modelling of the process. Post-processing of the simulation results for both the heat sources was compared to investigate the suitability of the volumetric heat source depicting experimental data. The analysis was carried out by comparing the models and calculating the dimensions of weld geometry for various process parameters. A suitable heat source for the weld geometry was identified using the isotherms. Commercial software (Comsol Multiphysics 5.6) is used to solve the conduction and heat flux equations using Finite Element Methods. By altering the welding speed at three different peak powers, the weld pool depth and width were calculated. The results were plotted and matched with the experimental data for the two different heat sources. Finally, the heat sources were compared to obtain the laser peak power for full-depth penetration of the weld joint. The simulations were further validated by comparing the experimental results of weld geometry at different laser peak power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead is ubiquitously distributed toxic heavy metal present in the environment without any biological function. The issue of lead pollution in soil has attracted widespread attention due to the rapid development of industrialization. The current study was designed to evaluate the effect of nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) on the phytoremediation of lead. Pot experiments were conducted to assess the potential of Tagetus erecta for the removal of lead (Pb) from contaminated soil (only lead) and along with zero valent iron nanoparticle amendments (Pb + nZVI). The nZVI were synthesized by the borohydride reduction method and characterized with the help of a scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and zeta sizer. Plantlets were exposed to 250 and 500 mg/kg Pb concentrations along with nZVI amendments at various dosages (100, 300, and 500 mg/kg) for 3 months. The plant morphological, physiological, and biochemical parameters along with bioconcentration and translocation factors were also determined during the pot experiments. One-way ANOVA and Tukey multiple comparison tests were performed for the determination of statistical analysis. The root length, shoot length, and biomass significantly (P < 0.05) increased by 39%, 34%, and 45%, respectively, in the pots having 500 mg/kg Pb + 500 mg/kg nZVI treatments in comparison to Pb-only treatment (500 mg/kg). Total protein content in plant parts was also significantly inclined, while proline content reduced significantly (P < 0.05) with the addition of nZVI. Similarly, the Pb accumulated in roots and shoots was 44% and 17% higher in nZVI-amended pots (500 mg/kg Pb + 500mg/kg nZVI). The values of a bioconcentration factor greater than one revealed that Tagetes erecta is a suitable hyperaccumulator plant species for removing lead from contaminated soil. Thus, it has been concluded that the association of nZVI in the phytoremediation process overcomes Pb stress and enhanced the uptake efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental costs associated with meat production have necessitated researchers and food manufacturers to explore alternative sources of high-quality protein, especially from plant origin. Proteins from peanuts and peanut-by products are high-quality, matching industrial standards and nutritional requirements. This review contributes to recent developments in the production of proteins from peanut and peanut meal. Conventional processing techniques such as hot-pressing kernels, use of solvents in oil removal, and employing harsh acids and alkalis denature the protein and damage its functional properties, limiting its use in food formulations. Controlled hydrolysis (degree of hydrolysis between 1 and 10%) using neutral and alkaline proteases can extract proteins and improve peanut proteins' functional properties, including solubility, emulsification, and foaming activity. Peanut proteins can potentially be incorporated into meat analogues, bread, soups, confectionery, frozen desserts, and cakes. Recently, pretreatment techniques (microwave, ultrasound, high pressure, and atmospheric cold plasma) have been explored to enhance protein extraction and improve protein functionalities. However, most of the literature on physicochemical pretreatment techniques has been limited to the lab scale and has not been analysed at the pilot scale. Peanut-derived peptides also exhibit antioxidant, anti-hypertensive, and anti-thrombotic properties. There exists a potential to incorporate these peptides into high-fat foods to retard oxidation. These peptides can also be consumed as dietary supplements for regulating blood pressure. Further research is required to analyse the sensory attributes and shelf lives of these novel products. In addition, animal models or clinical trials need to be conducted to validate these results on a larger scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Riboflavin (RF) is one kind of vitamin B, which has low bioavailability due to the low water solubility and the high photosensitivity during food processing and storage. The anti-solvent precipitation method was applied to fabricate a zein-sodium alginate (SA) binary complexes delivery system with the loading of RF, which was aimed to enhance the delivery efficiency, stability, and controlled release of RF in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The formation mechanism, physicochemical properties as well as the digestion behaviors were investigated. The incorporation of SA significantly increased the diameter and decreased the surface positive charge of the nanoparticles. The surface morphology of the nanoparticles was characterized using the scanning electron microscope. The FTIR analysis revealed that the electrostatic attraction was the dominant binding force in the formation of the zein-SA binary complexes nanoparticles. In addition, the study on the in vitro release process showed that the zein-SA nanoparticles could delay the release of the RF under the simulated GI tract conditions, which improved their oral bioavailability. In summary, the zein-SA nanoparticle is an effective vehicle for the oral delivery of RF as well as other vitamins and bioactives in the applications of food and nutrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Whether cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene mutations contribute to the high prevalence of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) in India remains unknown. We aimed to evaluate the occurrence of CFTR mutations in subjects with ABPA complicating asthma. Methods: We sequenced the CFTR gene using genomic DNA from blood on the Illumina NextSeq500 platform. Before undertaking zygosity analysis by genome analysis toolkit, the known or novel single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and indels were called. For rigorous analysis, we included only high-quality SNPs (scores > 500) and coverage ranging from 30 × 150x. Results: We included 18, 12, and eight adult participants of ABPA, asthma, and healthy controls, respectively. The frequency of SNPs was higher in asthmatic subjects than ABPA or healthy controls, albeit not statistically significant (9/12 [75%] vs. 11/18 [61.1%] vs. 3/8 [37.5%], p = 0.24). Of the 38 subjects, 23 yielded 50 variants (healthy controls [n = 5], ABPA [n = 22], asthma [n = 23]) corresponding to six SNPs not previously linked with ABPA. Of these, four SNPs (rs213950, rs200735475, rs1800113, and rs1800136) were catalogued in the NCBI database. We identified two novel SNPs (chr7:117250703, chr7:117282655) in four (ABPA [n = 1], asthma [n = 3]) subjects without corresponding reference SNP. Most SNPs (85.5%) were heterozygous. The frequency of SNPs was higher in ABPA subjects with high-attenuation mucus (52.2%) and bronchiectasis (39.1%) than serological ABPA (8.7%). Conclusions: Our study suggests the role of CFTR mutations in the pathogenesis of ABPA. The SNPs in the CFTR gene may contribute to disease severity in ABPA. Larger studies are required to confirm our findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the recent past, an image encryption scheme has been proposed by Deb et al., based on the Logistic map, Arnold transformation, and word-oriented feedback shift register (wfsr). In this scheme, first the plain image is randomized and scrambled with the help of a Logistic map and Arnold transformation. Then, the pixels of an intermediate image are bit-wise XORed with output of the wfsr to obtain the cipher image. It is claimed that the scheme is secure against brute force and other existing cryptanalytical attacks. However, it is demonstrated that the scheme is not secure against chosen plaintext attack (CPA). In our study, first, the output sequence of wfsr, corresponding to the fixed key, is obtained by choosing one plain and cipher image pair. Subsequently, the composition of Logistic map and Arnold transformation is inverted with the help of four randomly chosen plain and cipher image pairs. After that, the plain image is retrieved from the cipher image in real-time with the help of recovered wfsr sequence and inverse of composite function. Mathematical proof and experimental validation is given. Based on this analysis, the reason for applicability of CPA is discussed. Finally, the original scheme is modified in such a way that it resists CPA and also maintains the qualities of the original scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the ever-increasing demand of construction and construction materials worldwide, concrete is the most extensively used material for construction purposes almost next to the water. Therefore, there is a dire need of clean, green and durable concrete. Recently, an environmentally friendly strategy has been employed to manufacture bio-concrete by the usage of microorganisms in the traditional concrete to enhance its durability and compressive strength. In this review, we discuss the role of microbes in influencing the various properties of concrete such as compressive strength, flexural strength and tensile strength by reducing the concrete porosity and diminishing water absorption. The mechanism of microbial-induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP) in the traditional concrete by the action of microbes which resulted in the formation of bio-concrete as an improved building material has also been discussed. Additionally, an in-depth comparative analysis of the performance of bio-concrete with the traditional concrete synthesized from various industrial wastes such as silica fume, rice husk ash and metakaolin in terms of different properties such as compressive strength, flexural strength and percentage water absorption has been presented. This review highlights the impact of usage of microbes in the conventional concrete to produce novel and eco-friendly bio-concrete in construction technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The present study aims to recover value-added products from fresh pineapple processing wastes in an integrated biorefinery. Methods: Bromelain, a therapeutic protease, was extracted from pineapple by-products via an aqueous, low-temperature process. Bromelain-free biomass was rich in insoluble fibre and was further fractionated into hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin. Results: The highest content of active bromelain was obtained from pineapple core waste of the different varieties namely, Smooth Cayenne (~ 1.9 ± 0.05 CDU/mg), Giant Kew (1.6 ± 0.05 CDU/mg) and MD2 (1.5 ± 0.1 CDU/mg). The activity of extracted bromelain was close to commercial stem bromelain (2.2 ± 0.1 CDU/mg, % purity of 95–96%). The fractionation of fibrous residue (97.2 ± 0.5 g/100 g of dry mass) was optimised, and maximum yield of hemicellulose (97.5 ± 0.2%) was obtained with 5% (w/v) alkali at the end of 1.5 h. The hemicellulose and cellulose-rich residues were further valorised into xylooligosaccharides (26.1 ± 0.4 g/100 g of hemicellulose) and glucose (85.3 ± 1.7 g/100 g of cellulose-rich residue), respectively. From one ton of fresh pineapple processing waste, ~ 1 kg bromelain, ~ 24 kg xylooligosaccharides, ~ 88 kg glucose and ~ 68 kg residual hemicellulose could be obtained. Conclusion: The proposed biorefinery concept not only addresses the environmental issues but also creates an opportunity to generate wealth in the form of products required for food and pharmaceutical industries from processing waste. As demand for more natural products is rising and consumers choice are prompted by healthy foods, conversion of pineapple waste into above mentioned valuable products creates a niche in food and therapeutics industry. Schematic for extraction of bromelain coupled with co-production of xylooligosaccharides and glucose from pineapple waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aluminum alloys find application in aerospace, automobile, and structural sectors. However, these alloys are susceptible to corrosion attack in chloride environments. Introducing a second species on the surface by surface composite fabrication can be a way to increase the corrosion resistance of the aluminum alloys. Here, we present corrosion studies on aluminum matrix surface composites fabricated using friction stir processing. The reinforcement of Mo particles is considered with varying percentage and distribution in the surface composite. The particle content and distribution are analyzed using SEM–EDS and optical image analysis. Based on the potentiodynamic polarization analysis, the surface composites exhibit improved corrosion resistance with higher corrosion potential and lower corrosion rate. Increase in corrosion resistance is observed for higher Mo content with homogenous distribution. While the base alloy exhibit mixed corrosion behavior, the surface composites show charge-transfer controlled corrosion behavior in the Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy. Reduced pitting in the Mo-rich areas is confirmed by microscopic analysis of the corroded material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study is aimed at evaluating the effect of different processing techniques on astringency reduction, nutrient retention, and sensory attributes in cashew apple fruit and its juice. Astringency attribute was measured by tannin content, while nutrition profile by ascorbic acid, total sugars, and antioxidant activity. Hot water, steaming, and microwave were selected as the source of heat application for treating whole fruit, where the process variables were the temperature and exposure time. The non-thermal technique selected to treat juice was by using bio coagulants, i.e., dried okra pod and drumstick seed powder, where the independent parameters were concentration and settling time. The processes were optimized using a multivariate approach coupled with full factorial design. The obtained results indicated that samples, with 42.6% tannin removal, were rated as being the least astringent. The use of dried okra pod powder under optimal conditions (0.3% concentration, 0.5 h settling time) was found to be the best in reducing astringency while retaining the nutrient and desirable sensory attributes. Maximum tannin removal (48.9 ± 1.6%) with minimum loss of ascorbic acid (8.1 ± 0.9%), total sugar (4.8 ± 0.5%) and antioxidant activity (11.1 ± 1.0) with high sensory score (92.7 ± 1.6%) was achieved with composite desirability of 0.85. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A number of dissociation techniques like depressurization, thermal stimulation, CO2 exchange, etc. have been reported and investigated for natural gas hydrates in literature. However, dissociation of hydrate reservoirs is a complex process that is actually governed by several parameters. Hence, when inspected closely, the dissociation characteristics are a reflection of how these parameters are interlinked with each other. The present study is designed to numerically simulate a matrix of 21 different cases, which comprises an in-depth analysis for thermal stimulation, drawdown pressure, permeability, intrinsic rate constant, and thermal conductivity. The focus of the current study is motivated by practical interest, which aims at deciphering the associated mechanisms with hydrate dissociation. Over the years, different researchers have outlined the role of mechanisms such as heat transfer (HT), fluid flow (FF), and dissociation (D). The governing mechanisms are deduced through mathematical fitting and plotting of thermodynamic parameters for deciphering associated mechanisms. A "characteristic exponent" is determined for each of the cases to identify and delineate the different mechanisms for each of the 21 cases. Further, energy conversion from hydrate and energy quantification has been described in detail. As such, this information pool about hydrate dissociation is vital and necessary for efficient energy harvesting from hydrate reservoirs from varied geological settings and composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most aero-engine components and structures are subjected to life critical fatigue loads during service. Near-α titanium alloy IMI 834 is one candidate aero-engine material that is used as high-pressure compressor discs due to its superior fatigue strength and creep resistance. The effect of heat treatment on the microstructure and high-cycle fatigue behaviour of the material has been studied and reported here. The alloy was solution-heat-treated at 1060 °C and subsequently quenched in different media. A strong effect of quench media (cooling rate) on high-cycle fatigue life has been observed. Fractographic investigations were performed to correlate the fracture micro-mechanism with heat treatment. Further, a generalized stress-life model has been deduced from the fatigue data and integrated with finite element analysis to develop a fatigue model for the alloy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural gas hydrates are seen as an alternative future energy source. They have also been valued for their carbon dioxide capturing capability, gas separation, desalination, natural gas storage and transportation. Developing economical and viable gas hydrate based technology is one of the most promising research areas of present decade. Successful commercialization of gas hydrate based technology is often curtailed due to slow formation rate. The present study evaluates biosurfactant as a kinetic promoter of methane hydrates formation in a fixed bed C type silica gel medium. Biosurfactant was produced by growing Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain A11 in glycerol supplemented mineral salt medium. Biosurfactant characterization with FTIR, NMR and MALDI-TOF spectroscopy reveled it to be a glycolipids type biosurfactant namely rhamnolipids. Saturating C type silica gel with of 100 ppm rhamnolipids solution enhanced the rate of methane hydrates formation by reducing the induction time. Mole of methane consumed and percentage of water to hydrate conversion was observed to be more in 1000 ppm rhamnolipids saturated C type silica gel as compared to quiescent water system and water saturated silica gel system. Overall results suggest that rhamonolipids produced by strain A11 in combination with silica gel can be utilized as environmentally safe kinetic promoter for methane hydrate formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hydrate reservoir of Andaman Basin in the Bay of Bengal is huge reserves of hydrates in India. In this study, we studied the mineralogical behavior of gas hydrate bearing sediments of Andaman Basin by X-ray Diffraction, Raman Spectroscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy. We also determined the physical properties such as pH, TDS, TOC, salinity, conductivity, water content, density and porosity of the hydrate bearing sediments. This work aims to analyze the physio-chemical and mineralogical properties of hydrate occupying sediments of Andaman Basin. The physio-chemical and mineralogical analysis of hydrate bearing sediments can provide the useful data for the methane production from Andaman Basin reservoir by adjusting the natural sediment properties and can help in designing a viable technology for the commercial production of gas from the hydrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A three-dimensional heat transfer and material flow-based model using experimentally measured thermo-physical properties has been developed for friction stir welding (FSW) of Cu-0.8Cr-0.1Zr alloy. CuCrZr alloy is a precipitation-hardened copper alloy with good electrical and thermal conductivity and moderate strength at elevated temperatures. The temperature-dependent specific heat, thermal conductivity, and yield strength of the alloy were determined experimentally to develop a reliable and accurate numerical model. The results from numerical model were validated by performing suitable experiments for numerous tool rotational speeds and welding speeds during joining of 3-mm-thick CuCrZr alloy on a dedicated FSW machine. The temperature evolution across the welds was measured using thermocouples. The results from the developed numerical model were validated by comparing it with the measured weld thermal cycles, peak temperatures, and thermo-mechanically-affected zone (TMAZ) for various welds. Validation was also supported with microstructural evidences from the weld nugget zone and TMAZ. The developed model showed the capability to simulate FSW of CuCrZr alloy and predict the important results with reasonably good accuracy [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work focuses on developing a framework for accurate prediction of thermodynamic conditions for single-component hydrates, namely CH4, CO2, N2, H2S, and C2H6 (coded in MATLAB). For this purpose, an exhaustive approach is adopted by incorporating eight different equations of states, namely Peng–Robinson, van der Waals, Soave–Redlich–Kwong, Virial, Redlich–Kwong, Tsai-Teja, Patel, and Esmaeilzadeh–Roshanfekr, with the well-known van der Waals–Platteeuw model. Overall, for I–H–V phase region, the Virial and van der Waals equation of state gives the most accurate predictions with minimum AAD%. For Lw–H–V phase region, Peng–Robinson equation of state is found to yield the most accurate predictions with overall AAD of 3.36%. Also, genetic programming algorithm is adopted to develop a generalized correlation. Overall, the correlation yields quick estimation with an average deviation of less than 1%. The accurate estimation yields a minimal AAD of 0.32% for CH4, 1.93% for C2H6, 0.77% for CO2, 0.64% for H2S, and 0.72% for N2. The same correlation can be employed for fitting phase equilibrium data for other hydrates too. The tuning parameter, n, is to be used for fine adjustment to the phase equilibrium data. The findings of this study can help for a better understanding of phase equilibrium and cage occupancy behavior of different gas hydrates. The accuracy in phase equilibria is intimately related to industrial applications such as crude oil transportation, solid separation, and gas storage. To date, no single correlation is available in the literature that can accurately predict phase equilibria for multiple hydrate species. The novelty of the present work lies in both the accuracy and generalizability of the proposed correlation in predicting the phase equilibrium data. The genetic programming generalized correlation is convenient for performing quick equilibrium prediction for industrial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study focuses on the effect of mono and combined addition of metallic and ceramic reinforcement particles on the microstructural and corrosion behavior of surface composites fabricated by friction stir processing. Molybdenum, possessing higher corrosion resistance compared to aluminum, is used as the metallic reinforcement, and boron carbide is used as ceramic reinforcement. Combined addition of boron carbide and molybdenum is used to study the effect of hybrid reinforcement on the corrosion behavior of Al 1050 surface composites. The effect of friction stir processing and reinforcement type on the electrochemical behavior of surface composites is analyzed through potentiodynamic polarization and impedance analysis. Reinforcement particles distributed on the Al matrix through friction stir processing affect the pitting corrosion behavior of surface composites. Post-corrosion microscopy analysis is carried out to understand the effect of the reinforcement particles on the pitting corrosion. The surface composites fabricated are free from any intermetallics. Surface composites with second processing pass showed better corrosion resistance due to more homogeneously distributed finer Mo particles in Al-Mo surface composites. Mono-reinforced surface composites exhibited an increase in the corrosion resistance, whereas the combined addition of reinforcements induced more galvanic effect in the surface composite leading to more severe corrosion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molybdenum-reinforced aluminum matrix surface composites have been fabricated using friction stir processing. The Mo reinforcement results in an increase in the hardness and a decrease in the grain size. The Mo particle size and its dependence on the tool rotational speed are important for fabrication of high-performance composites. However, the effect of the tool rotational speed on microstructure, particle size and distribution, and hardness is not known. Here, we present microstructural and microhardness analysis of Al-Mo surface composites for varying tool rotational speeds. Increase in tool rotational speed results in reduced particle size, better particle distribution, and reduced grain size. The surface hardness also increases with an increase in the tool rotational speed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integral mini-channels fabricated in the metal substrate by friction stir channeling process are different from conventional mini-channels due to irregular shape, and large surface roughness. The effect of axial wall conduction on heat transfer in such mini-channels is significant, which could limit their utilisation as cooling channels in heat transfer based applications. Hence, in this study, we present an experimental analysis of the thermo-hydraulic performance of a friction stir channel to identify the axial wall conduction effect using de-ionized water as working fluid. The thermo-hydraulic performance parameters are analysed in the range of Reynolds number of 500 to 2100. The local wall temperature distribution along the length of the mini-channel is found to be non-uniform due to the significant axial wall conduction effect. The distinct pattern of numerical heat flux distribution is used as evidence to confirm the presence of axial wall conduction effect which is implied by the local wall temperature distribution. The higher average heat transfer and flow characteristics compared to the theoretical predictions for conventional mini-channels are observed as a result of simultaneously developing flow and the presence of surface roughness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this era, advanced non-conducting materials are gaining importance due to their superior properties. However, it is difficult to micro-machine these materials inefficiency and also economically still persists with currently used advanced non-traditional machining processes. Non-traditional machining processes are typically unfeasible for quartz material owing to its properties such as high strength, high melting point, high temperature-resistance, chemical stability and brittleness. Traveling wire electrochemical discharge machining (TW-ECDM) process is newly developed non-traditional machining process and has great potential for machining of quartz ceramics. Coated wire has been used to reduce the wire breakage and improves the efficiency. The input important input parameters have been selected for this process as applied voltage, electrolyte concentration and wire speed. Taguchi robust design was perform to identify the optimal parametric conditions using L9 orthogonal array. Signal to noise (S/N) ratio and ANOVA were used to find the optimal parametric conditions and relative contribution of the input parameters respectively. Also, the surface finish was analyzed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). First time, coated wire with diameter of 0.15 mm has been used during TW-ECDM process. These obtained results present in this article will provide new guidelines to the micro-manufacturers, engineers and researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molybdenum (Mo), possessing higher hardness compared to aluminum (Al), is used for the surface hardness improvement in Al 1050 alloy. Al-Mo surface composites are developed using friction stir processing with different tool shoulder diameters. Single groove composite (SGC) and double groove composite (DGC) samples are processed with 22-, 20-, and 18-mm shoulder diameter tools to study the effect of tool shoulder diameter and Mo content on the surface hardness of Al-Mo surface composites. Microhardness increased from 26 to 51 Hv on the top surface and 52 Hv on the cross section surface, in 18 DGC. The surface hardness of the composite samples increased with decrease in tool shoulder diameter due to the combined effect of grain refinement and Mo reinforcement particles. Unprocessed Al 1050 base alloy possessed an average grain size of ~ 99 µm. The grain size in the processed samples reduced with decrease in tool shoulder diameter. Surface composites processed with 22-, 20-, and 18-mm tools exhibited an average grain size of ~ 23, ~ 22, and ~ 21 µm, respectively. The amount of Mo particles incorporated in the composite material increased with decrease in tool shoulder diameter. Microstructural analysis confirmed that the FSP groove method incorporated about ~ 8 wt pct Mo in 22 SGC and ~ 12 wt pct in 22 DGC, respectively. The amount of Mo particles in 20 SGC and 20 DGC is ~ 17 wt pct and ~ 22 wt pct, respectively, whereas 18 SGC and 18 DGC possessed ~ 27 wt pct and ~ 31 wt pct Mo particles. Mechanical shearing through severe plastic deformation during the friction stir processing reduced the average Mo particle size in the surface composites. Molybdenum is distributed in its elemental form in the Al-Mo surface composites without any intermetallic formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A heat transfer numerical model is developed for friction stir welding of dissimilar materials Al 6061 and AZ31 alloy. Thermo-physical properties were experimentally determined for the stir zone and compared with the base alloys. Experimentally determined thermo-physical properties of the stir zone are not strictly the average values of the base alloys but exhibit a complex relationship with the microstructural features and the intermixing of Al and Mg in the weld region. The numerical model is employed to predict the temperature distribution on the advancing and retreating side. A good agreement between computed and experimentally measured results was obtained at 24-mm, 20-mm, and 16-mm tool shoulder diameter. The proposed model can be used to predict the thermal cycle, peak temperature, and thermo-mechanically affected zone for welding of dissimilar materials on friction stir welding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study reports the microwave absorption characteristics of La3+-Na+ substituted barium hexaferrites with chemical composition: Ba(1−2x)LaxNaxFe10CoTiO19 and Ba(1−2x)LaxNaxFe10Co0.5TiMn0.5O19 (0.00 ≤ x ≤ 0.25) respectively in Ka-band frequencies. The electromagnetic characteristics such as complex permittivity, complex permeability, and microwave absorption properties were studied using Vector Network Analyzer in 26.5–40.0 GHz frequency band. Dielectric properties showed almost constant variation with increase in frequency. Magnetic permeability spectra observed wavy variation with frequency. Comparing the electromagnetic properties of two series, it is observed that Co–Ti–Mn series observes higher values of electromagnetic properties in comparison to Co–Ti series. For composition x = 0.15 of Ba(1−2x)LaxNaxFe10Co0.5TiMn0.5O19 series, −55.33 dB reflection loss at 30 GHz frequency with −10 dB absorption bandwidth around 3.51 GHz has been observed. Thus, these materials can be employed as effective absorbers for Ka-band microwave absorbers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of Ba(1−2x)LaxNaxFe10CoTiO19 hexaferrite samples with x = 0.00–0.25 (step size 0.05) were prepared by using conventional solid-state reaction technique. The magnetic properties of the hexaferrites have been investigated at room temperature by employing a vibrating sample magnetometer. There is an overall decrease in saturation magnetization from 70.64 to 57.83 emu/g with an increase in doping concentration from x = 0.00–0.25. The microwave measurements were done utilizing vector network analyzer in the k-band (18.0–26.5 GHz) frequency range. The electromagnetic measurements revealed that the gross tangent loss is maximum for x = 0.10 sample. The microwave absorption measurements show that sample x = 0.10 with 1.4 mm thickness exhibits a reflection loss of − 26.59 dB (99.78% signal absorption) and 7.65 GHz bandwidth. Thus, it is considered for thin single-layer broadband microwave absorber applications in 18.0–26.5 GHz frequency range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High thermal and electrical conductivities, corrosion resistance and relatively good strength lead to use of copper and its alloys for several engineering applications. Copper alloys also find application in the nuclear industry for manufacturing storage canisters for spent nuclear fuel. Conventional fusion welding of copper and its alloys is difficult due to high-energy input requirement and various weld defects such as porosity, solidification cracks and distortion. Friction stir welding (FSW) has been proposed as an alternative way of joining copper as it is a solid-state joining process avoiding most of the fusion welding defects. Numerical models are very useful in understanding a welding process, and various models have been developed for FSW of steels, aluminum and titanium alloys. However, such models are not available for copper and its alloys. Here we present a three-dimensional heat transfer numerical model for FSW of copper. The model uses finite element method to calculate the three-dimensional distribution of temperature due to frictional heat generation at the tool and workpiece interface. The computed results are validated with the measured temperatures using a thermocouple near the tool shoulder. The experimentally welded samples are found to be defect free and acceptable based on radiographic testing. The tensile strength of these samples is measured and compared with strength of the base material. The variation in the peak temperature and weld joint strength is studied as a function of the rotation speed. This validated numerical model can be developed further by including material flow calculation for joining of copper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lanthanum and sodium co-substituted barium hexaferrite Ba(1−2x)LaxNaxFe10CoTiO19 (x = 0.00, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20 and 0.25) samples were prepared using a conventional solid state reaction route. Structural, morphological, electrical and microwave absorption properties of synthesized hexaferrites were investigated using various instruments including x-ray diffractometer (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), impedance analyzer and vector network analyzer. Single phase formation was confirmed by XRD analysis. Unit cell volume decreased with increase in concentration. Average grain size as estimated from SEM micrographs lies in 0.73-1.15 μm range. The DC resistivity decreased with increase in La-Na concentration. The dielectric parameters were measured in the 10 kHz-1 MHz frequency range. At lower frequencies, dielectric constant (ε′) and tangent loss (tan δ) values were high, which decreased with increases in frequency. Electromagnetic and microwave absorption properties were evaluated theoretically in the X-band (8.2-12.4 GHz) for different sample thicknesses. The microwave absorption analysis suggests that the sample with composition Ba0.80La0.10Na0.10Fe10CoTiO19 could be an effective microwave absorbing candidate for microwave applications in the X-band frequency range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

M-type Barium Hexaferrite Ba(1−2x)LaxNaxFe10Co0.5TiMn0.5O19 (x = 0.00-0.25 in steps of 0.05) samples have been synthesized by means of solid state reaction technique. The average crystallite size was depicted in 60.8-81.9 nm range from XRD analysis. High precision impedance analyzer was used in 10 kHz-1 MHz depicts an increase in AC conductivity and increase in dielectric parameters (ε′ and ε″) of the samples with an increase in the frequency of the applied signal as well as substitution amount (x). Vector Network Analyzer (VNA) measurement in X-band frequencies give the dielectric constant values in 5.5-7.1 and dielectric loss values in 0.01-1.2 range. The values of magnetic permeability and magnetic loss lies in 1.08-1.5 and 0.0-0.5 range respectively. The occurrence of peaks in reflection loss (RL) plots is observed at those frequencies where there exists an impedance matching between free space and sample material. The reflection loss of the sample Ba0.9La0.05Na0.05Fe10Co0.5TiMn0.5O19 is observed to be maximum amongst all the samples with a value of − 35.43 dB and − 10 dB bandwidth of 1.092 GHz. The large RL suggests that the composition Ba0.9La0.05Na0.05Fe10Co0.5TiMn0.5O19 could be a potential contender for microwave absorbing material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Friction stir welding (FSW) of high melting point metallic (HMPM) materials has limited application due to tool wear and relatively short tool life. Tool wear changes the profile of the tool pin and adversely affects weld properties. A quantitative understanding of tool wear and tool pin profile is crucial to develop the process for joining of HMPM materials. Here we present a quantitative wear study of H13 steel tool pin profile for FSW of CuCrZr alloy. The tool pin profile is analyzed at multiple traverse distances for welding with various tool rotational and traverse speeds. The results indicate that measured wear depth is small near the pin root and significantly increases towards the tip. Near the pin tip, wear depth increases with increase in tool rotational speed. However, change in wear depth near the pin root is minimal. Wear depth also increases with decrease in tool traverse speeds. Tool pin wear from the bottom results in pin length reduction, which is greater for higher tool rotational speeds, and longer traverse distances. The pin profile changes due to wear and result in root defect for long traverse distance. This quantitative understanding of tool wear would be helpful to estimate tool wear, optimize process parameters, and tool pin shape during FSW of HMPM materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ability to predict the manner in which a recipient’s immune system would respond to a transplanted graft by analyzing cytokine profiles of the “allograft antigen sensitized” recipient lymphocytes in vitro might provide a means to identify patients at risk to adverse clinical endpoints.Methods: Cytokine/chemokine gene expression profiles of peripheral blood mononuclear cells co-cultured with allograft antigen-pulsed macrophages were studied in 49 renal transplant recipients—12 with acute cellular rejection (ACR) with or without antibody-mediated rejection (AMR), 7 with AMR (without ACR), and 30 with stable allografts (SA). An 86-gene inflammatory cytokines and receptors PCR array was used to measure fold changes in gene expression between pulsed and un-pulsed cultures.Results: On linear discriminant analysis and multivariate analysis of variance, a gene set comprising C3, CCL3, IL1B, TOLLIP, IL10, CXCL5, ABCF1, CCR3, IL10RB, CXCL1, and IL1R1 differentiated the ACR-AMR from the SA group. Similarly, a gene set comprising IL10, C3, IL37, IL1B, CCL3, CARD18, and TOLLIP differentiated the AMR from the SA group. No significant difference was found between the ACR-AMR vs AMR groups.Conclusion: Distinct post in vitro stimulation cytokine profiles at the time of transplantation thus correlated with the occurrence of post-transplantation rejection episodes which indicated feasibility of this in vitro model to assess the recipient’s anti-graft response at an early stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Double substituted M-type barium hexaferrites were synthesized using conventional solid state reaction method. Vector Network Analyzer was used to analyze the microwave absorption properties of synthesized hexaferrites. The complex permittivity and complex permeability of the composite samples have been measured in Ka-band (26.5-40.0 GHz) frequency range. The dielectric constant ( ε′) of all the samples lies in the range 4.2-7.5 and decreases with the substitution of impurity ions. The values of the dielectric loss ( ε″) spectra are almost flat in complete frequency band for the doped samples ( x = 0.05-0.25), which lies in the range 0.25-2.25. The permeability ( μ′) decreases with frequency for the doped samples and lies between 0.85 and 1.4. The magnetic loss ( μ″) spectra for the doped samples x = 0.05-0.25 register a loss between 0.00 and 0.21 in whole frequency band. The prepared samples can absorb more than 99% of microwave signal at specific frequencies in the Ka-band. The sample with composition BaLaNaFeCoZrO shows reflection loss (RL) = −47.55 dB at thickness 3.0 mm with −10 dB bandwidth of 5.13 GHz, while shows RL −25.29 dB with −10 dB bandwidth of 6.75 GHz at thickness 2.6 mm. The results show that with the change in absorber thickness, there is a shift in matching frequency. The material is expected to find relevance in reduction of radar signatures and electro-magnetic interference suppression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

La-Na-substituted Co-Zr barium hexaferrites were fabricated using the conventional ceramic sintering method. Characterization techniques like X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), vibration sample magnetometry (VSM) and vector network analysis (VNA) were used to analyze structural, magnetic and microwave absorption properties of prepared ferrites. The results show that the magnetoplumbite structures for all the samples have been formed. The magnetic properties such as saturation magnetization ( M ), remanence ( M ) and coercivity ( H ) were calculated from hysteresis loops obtained using a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). Also the present investigation demonstrates that microwave absorber using BaLaNaFeCoZrO ferrite can be fabricated for the applications in frequency band from 8.2 to 12.4 GHz, with a reflection loss less than −10 dB for specific frequencies, by controlling the molar ratio of the substituted ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of hexaferrite samples with chemical composition BaLaNaFeCoZrO have been prepared by standard solid state reaction technique. The pellets of circular shape were prepared and sintered at 1250 °C in air for 3 h. Characterization using X-ray diffractometer and Scanning Electron Microscope shows predominant hexagonal magnetoplumbite (M) structure pertaining to space group 194-P63/mmc. The dielectric properties of samples were investigated in 100 Hz to 1 MHz frequency range at room temperature. Dielectric analysis of these hexaferrites shows the decrease in dielectric constant and increase in dielectric loss with increase in lanthanum-sodium doping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims/hypothesis: We examined whether or not the association of physical activity with type 2 diabetes incidence differs according to several types of genetic susceptibility. Methods: In a large prospective cohort with 821 incident cases of type 2 diabetes, we examined interactions of physical activity with: (1) each of 65 type 2 diabetes-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs); (2) a genetic risk score (GRS) comprising all 65 SNPs; (3) two GRSs comprised of SNPs implicated in insulin resistance (IR) and insulin secretion; (4) GRSs for fasting insulin (FI) and fasting glucose. Results: We found a significant interaction of physical activity and the type 2 diabetes GRS ( p = 0.016), suggesting a weaker protective effect of physical activity in those at high genetic risk. Based on the interactions observed with the IR GRS ( p = 0.046) and the FI GRS ( p = 0.042), it appears that the overall type 2 diabetes GRS interaction most likely occurs through genetic susceptibility to IR as opposed to insulin secretion. Furthermore, this interaction was more pronounced in women ( p = 0.0025) than in men ( p = 0.46). No single SNP stood out as displaying a strong interaction with physical activity. Conclusions/interpretation: We conclude that although physical activity appears to have an overall protective effect on type 2 diabetes, this putative effect is weakest among individuals with high genetic risk for type 2 diabetes and IR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We used ultrafiltration (UF) to evaluate membrane filtration characteristics of thin stillage and determine solids and nutrient compositions of filtered streams. To obtain thin stillage, corn was fermented using laboratory methods. UF experiments were conducted in batch mode under constant temperature and flow rate conditions. Two regenerated cellulose membranes (10 and 100 kDa molecular weight cutoffs) were evaluated with the objective of retaining solids as well as maximizing permeate flux. Optimum pressures for 10 and 100 kDa membranes were 207 and 69 kPa, respectively. Total solids, ash, and neutral detergent fiber contents of input TS streams of dry grind and E-Mill processes were similar; however, fat and protein contents were different ( p < 0.05). Retentate obtained from conventional thin stillage fractionation had higher mean total solids contents (27.6% to 27.8%) compared to E-Mill (22.2% to 23.4%). Total solids in retentate streams were found similar to those from commercial evaporators used in industry (25% to 35% total solids). Fat contents of retentate streams ranged from 16.3% to 17.5% for the conventional process. A 2% increment in fat concentration was observed in the E-Mill retentate stream. Thin stillage ash content was reduced 60% in retentate streams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A case of ileocecal intussusception following inversion appendectomy during a Ladd's procedure for malrotation is presented. In this case, the inverted ischemic appendiceal remnant was presumed to have acted as the leadpoint for the intussusception. The advantages and complications of inversion appendectomy, along with technical considerations are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subcutaneous zygomycosis is an unusual disorder caused by a rare fungus, Basidiobolus ranarum. We report this entity in a 4- yr- old boy. Biopsy showed the Splendore Hoeppli phenomenon and the culture yielded Basidiobolus ranarum. The child responded to saturated solution of potassium iodide within 1 month of starting treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]