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The unsustainable use of resources and the rising demand for traditional concrete have disrupted ecological equilibrium, necessitating the adoption of a more appropriate and long-lasting alternative. One such substitute for cement in concrete production is geopolymer concrete, although this material is prone to cracking and fracturing due to its low tensile strength, leading to costly repairs or even structural collapse. Fiber-reinforced concrete has recently been widely adopted as a construction material to counteract these issues. This research examined the crack proliferation and fracture toughness of geopolymer concrete comprising different fibers using a cracked Brazilian disc. Four different fibers were used, such as polypropylene and steel fiber (short and long), at a dosage of 1.5% by volume. Fracture toughness was computed for various modes (I, II, and I/II) of fractures, and crack propagation from cracked specimens was studied. A different angle of inclination (0, 15, 28, 83, 60, 75, and 90 degrees) was used to conduct the Brazilian disc test on the specimens with respect to the preexisting crack direction. The findings indicate that the increasing loading angle increased the load-carrying capacity. The fracture toughness values of specimens under all three modes ranged from 0.26 to 1.75 MPa.m1/2. Additionally, long polypropylene and steel fibers exhibit higher fracture toughness than short fibers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To avoid the potential risks associated with all hazardous wastes, it is important that containment methods are intended to prevent the migration of liquid hazardous wastes or leaks containing hazardous components. Therefore, impermeable barriers were used to prevent contamination. In this study, geotechnical tests were performed on samples by mixing rubber and bentonite with silica fume at certain percentages. The aim of the experimental studies is to evaluate the applicability of certain proportions of silica fume, rubber, and bentonite mixtures as impermeable liner material. Possible cracks in bentonite during drying are reduced by the use of silica fume. Absorption of dynamic effects that may occur on the impermeable barrier layer is achieved by adding waste rubber in a uniform size. Several geotechnical tests were performed to examine the mixed rubber and bentonite with silica fumes. Looking at the results of the whole that mixed rubber and bentonite with silica fume yielded usable results and a blend for construction of a liner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Buffaloes are raised by small farm holders primarily as source of draft power owing to its resistance to hot climate, disease, and stress conditions. Over the years, transformation of these animals from draft to dairy was deliberately carried out through genetic improvement program leading to the development of buffalo-based enterprises. Buffalo production is now getting more attention and interest from buffalo raisers due to its socioeconomic impact as well as its contribution to propelling the livestock industry in many developing countries. Reproduction of buffaloes, however, is confronted with huge challenge and concern as being generally less efficient to reproduce compared with cattle due to both intrinsic and extrinsic factors such as poor estrus manifestation, silent heat, marked seasonal infertility, postpartum anestrus, long calving interval, delayed puberty, inherently low number of primordial follicles in their ovaries, high incidence of atresia, and apoptosis. Assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) are major interventions for the efficient utilization of follicle reserve in buffaloes. The present review focuses on estrus and ovulation synchronization for fixed time artificial insemination, in vitro embryo production, intracytoplasmic sperm injection, cryopreservation of oocytes and embryos, somatic cell nuclear transfer, the factors affecting utilization in various ARTs, and future perspectives in buffaloes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve the performance and increase the lifetime of oil‐filled transformers, the thermal and dielectric properties of the transformer oil should be enhanced. Recently, nanotechnology was used as an effective science in the field of transformer oil development. In this study, barium titanate (BT) nanoparticles were inserted into the base transformer oil by a concentration of 0.005 g/L as an individual nanofluid sample (INFS). This insertion enhances the heat transfer coefficient by 33% but the breakdown voltage (BDV) was decreased by >10%. To overcome this problem of dielectric properties degradation, other three hybrid nanofluid samples (HNFS) were prepared using three different types of metal oxide (MO) nanoparticles; titania, alumina, and silica. These samples were prepared by adding a concentration 0.01 g/L of MO nanoparticles together with 0.005 g/L of BT nanoparticles into the oil. The thermal and dielectric properties of HNFS were measured to study the behaviour of nanoparticles hybridisation on transformer oil properties. HNFS using titania nanoparticles provided the best composition regarding either BDV or heat transfer coefficient. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) technique was used to evaluate the particle size distribution of hybrid nanoparticles and to clarify the corresponding physical mechanisms behind the obtained enhancement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interaction of Ru3(CO)12 with a novel family of monodentate V‐shaped Schiff base ligands (L1–4; L1: (E)‐1‐(4‐((4‐bromobenzylidene)amino)phenyl)ethanone, L2: (E)‐1‐(3‐(4‐(dimethylamino)benzylideneamino)phenyl)ethanone, L3: (E)‐1‐(4‐(4‐(dimethylamino)benzylideneamino)phenyl)ethanone, L4: (E)‐1‐(3‐(3,4‐dimethoxybenzylideneamino)phenyl)ethanone) in air under atmospheric pressure afforded the novel complexes [Ru(CO)3(L1–4)2]. The parent ligands and their complexes were characterized using elemental analyses and spectroscopic techniques. In addition, the structure of the representative ligand L1 was determined using single‐crystal X‐ray analysis. The stereochemistry and theoretical optimization of the three‐dimensional geometry of the ligands and their complexes were justified. In vitro antimicrobial screening against bacterial stains Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus and fungus Candida albicans was conducted. Cytotoxicity of the compounds as anti‐tumour agents was evaluated against liver carcinoma (HepG2), breast carcinoma (MCF7) and colon carcinoma (HCT‐116) cell lines relative to cisplatin and doxorubicin. The complexes showed variable in vitro cytotoxic activities against the three studied cell lines, with IC50 values less than those of cis‐platin, and thus appear to be building blocks for promising anti‐tumour agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studying the effect of adding nanosized ZrO2 to mineral transformer oil on the AC breakdown voltage is presented. The study is carried out considering different concentration levels of nanosized ZrO2. These concentrations are 0, 0.001, 0.002, 0.003 and 0.006%w. The AC breakdown voltage of both nanofilled and base oil is measured according ASTM D1816 standard at room temperature. The evaluation is carried out based on AC breakdown voltage for the nanofilled and base oil considering average and Weibull statistical techniques. Both 50 and 10% breakdown voltage probabilities are obtained and analysed for all samples. Also, the effect of temperature (to take the effect of real operating conditions) on breakdown voltage of base and nanofilled oil is experimentally evaluated. The studied temperatures are 50, 80 and 130°C. The obtained results show that the performance of nanoparticles is significantly affected by increasing the temperature of nanofilled transformer oil. Finally, a proposed mechanism for the effect of temperature on the nanofluids breakdown strength is introduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contents The enormous production potential of buffaloes has never been accomplished due to various reproductive insufficiencies. Among them, post-partum anoestrus, a multifactorial disorder, is predominant but any genetic association is yet to be established. This study focused to identify novel polymorphisms in heat-shock protein 70 ( HSP70) gene and its possible association with post-partum anoestrus in Murrah buffaloes. A 579-bp fragment from 5′ untranslated region of HSP70 gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction from blood genomic DNA of 614 animals maintained under similar management conditions. In phase-I experiment, custom sequencing and restriction enzyme ( RE) digestion of the amplified fragment were performed in 40 buffaloes with similar post-partum oestrous conditions over previous consecutive three or more gestations-20 animals each showing post-partum anoestrus (>120 days after parturition) and normal cyclicity (<65 days after parturition). While in phase- II experiment, herd screening by RE analysis was performed in remaining 574 animals. Four transversions at T-75G, C+31G, T+38G and C+97A and three transition mutations at T-153C, T+33C and A+44G positions were observed. Polymorphism at T+38G site revealed significant ( p < .05) variation, where homozygous G was present only in post-partum anoestrous animals while nucleotide T was present randomly in both groups of phase-I animals whereas phase- II experiments revealed homozygous G in 55 animals. Regression analysis in relation to average post-partum interval against genotypic frequencies at T+38G also depicted significant association. HSP70 gene polymorphism at T+38G position can therefore be used as genetic marker for excluding probable post-partum anoestrous buffaloes from herd for breeding programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contents The aim of this study was to investigate the reproductive and productive performance of pure Egyptian ( PE) buffaloes and their crosses with Italian buffaloes. In this study, 2969 dairy buffaloes were used (1599 PE; 615 F1 crosses, 50% PE and 50% Italian buffaloes; and 755 backcross [ BC], 75% PE and 25% Italian buffaloes). When compared to PE, the BC and F1 had a significantly lower incidence of calving difficulty (odds ratio [ OR] = 0.18, p < .0001 and .34, p < .0001, respectively) in conjunction with a lesser incidence of stillbirth ( OR = 0.06, p < .0001 and 0.43, p < .0001, respectively). Backcross buffaloes were also noted to have a lower rate of not conceived after first insemination ( OR = 0.74, p < .0001) in comparison with PE. The cross F1 buffaloes were superior in terms of productive traits, whereas PE buffaloes were best in most of the reproductive traits (days of non-pregnant p = .001, service per conception p < .0001 and calf weight p = .01). Although the study results appeared to indicate towards a contrary association between milk production and reproductive traits, BC was similar to F1 in terms of production and similar to PE in terms of reproductive traits. Thus, the farmers should be encouraged to breed BC animals in their herds for enhancing milk yield to meet with the market demands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents theoretical as well as experimental studies in order to obtain interpretations about the role of nanoparticles in the breakdown mechanism of transformer oil. The published breakdown mechanisms for nanofilled transformer oil are briefly discussed in order to highlight the points of agreement and disagreement with these mechanisms. Moreover, a proposed breakdown mechanism for nanofilled oil is presented depending on a proposed particle charging mechanism that is theoretically discussed and experimentally validated. Finally, the obtained experimental results prove the efficacy of the proposed theoretical mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]