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The stable shapes and structure formation in prestretched threads of a weak soft polymer gel with permanent cross-links under the action of capillary forces are studied theoretically here. Two cases are considered: when the thread is formed from a drop of gel located between the surfaces after they are moved apart and when it is fixed at the ends. In the first case, we identified three stages of the thread relaxation, characterized by highly different times and associated with the formation of the filament, its lateral compression accompanied by the release of solvent at its surface, and diffusion of the solvent to the terminal droplets. A general linear stability analysis is carried out for threads of any diameter and degree of prestretch, taking into account the effects of elasticity, interactions and inertia, and the corresponding dispersion relations are obtained. The thermodynamically stable beads-on-a-string structures are studied as well and a diagram of the state of the gel thread is presented. It reveals several regimes of different internal structures of gel threads along with phase transitions between them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Underground and submarine power cables are subjected to mechanical stress during installation and operation, which degrades the cable insulation and reduces the reliability of power transmission. Therefore, tests that can evaluate the mechanical properties of power cable insulation are very important. The purpose of this paper is to introduce an improved sampling method for the test sample, the peeling, for mechanical testing of power cable insulation and to evaluate the reliability of the method. The influence of the sampling method of the test sample on the mechanical property values was analyzed. The tensile strength and elongation of XLPE (cross-linked polyethylene) and PP (polypropylene) insulation prepared by the slice method and the peeling method were measured, and the surface of the test samples according to the sampling methods was photographed by SEM. The results show that the mechanical property of the cable insulation increased by more than 10% when the improved peeling method was used, and the precision of the peeling method was relatively better. The SEM analysis showed that the surface of the sliced test sample was rougher than the peeled test sample and was physically damaged. Therefore, the high reliability of the peeling method for mechanical testing of cable insulators was demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Acute subdural hematoma (aSDH) is associated with a high risk of epilepsy, a complication linked to poor outcomes. Craniotomy is a known risk factor, with an epilepsy incidence of approximately 25%. This study evaluated radiomic features from preoperative CT scans to predict epilepsy risk in aSDH patients undergoing craniotomy. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 178 adult aSDH patients treated between 2016 and 2022 identified 64 patients meeting inclusion criteria. Radiomic features (e.g., Feret diameter, elongation, flatness, surface area, and volume) from preoperative CT scans within 24 h of surgery were analyzed alongside clinical factors, including cardiac comorbidities, pupillary response, SOFA score, age, and anticoagulation status. Results: Of the 64 patients, 18 (28%) developed generalized seizures. Univariate analysis showed significant associations with Feret diameter (p = 0.045), elongation (p = 0.005), cardiac comorbidities (p = 0.017), and SOFA score (p = 0.036). ROC analysis showed excellent discriminatory ability for elongation (AUC = 0.82). Multivariate analysis identified elongation as an independent predictor (p = 0.003); elongation ≥ 1.45 increased seizure risk 7.78-fold (OR = 7.778; 95% CI = 1.969–30.723). Conclusions: Radiomic features, particularly elongation, may help predict epilepsy risk in aSDH patients undergoing craniotomy. Prospective validation is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present research, the PP/EPDM/TiO2 nanocomposite was fabricated using the fused filament fabrication process to improve the mechanical properties of the obtained samples. For this purpose, first the response surface methodology was used to investigate the effect of TiO2 content, nozzle temperature and printing speed on the responses of tensile strength and elongation. Then, the desirability function method was applied to find the optimal condition of the process parameters. The fracture surface of the tensile samples was also studied by scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis to find a relationship between the microstructure and mechanical properties of the fabricated samples. The results indicated that the highest elongation of samples (144.9%) was attained at a TiO2 content of 4 wt%, while the tensile strength of samples was maximized (24.6 MPa) at a TiO2 content of 2 wt% due to fine dispersion of the nanoparticles. An increase in the nozzle temperature from 200 to 225°C led to an enhancement in the tensile strength (11.2%) and elongation (15.7%) of samples because of the good viscosity of the filament, whereas the tensile strength (6.6%) and elongation (11.1%) of samples were decreased with the increase of nozzle temperature from 225 to 250°C because of the thermal degradation of filament. Moreover, when the printing speed raised from 20 to 40 mm/s, the tensile strength initially improved by 2.7% and then decreased by 1.2%, but the elongation continuously decreased by 6.3%. Nevertheless, the concurrent enhancement of the tensile strength and elongation has been obtained at a TiO2 content of 2.5 wt%, nozzle temperature of 227°C and printing speed of 28 mm/s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most published works related to gas metal arc welding processes focus on quality criteria, while energy consumed has not been considered. In this study, key parameters of the gas metal arc welding (GMAW) operation of the AISI 1045 steel, including the current (I), voltage (V), flow rate (F), and nozzle stand-off distance (D) are optimized to minimize energy consumed (EC) and enhance the ultimate tensile strength (TS) as well as elongation (EL). The radial basis function network (RBFN) is employed to propose GMAW responses. The Entropy method, modified grey wolf optimizer (MGWO), and Multi-Attributive Border Approximation Area Comparison (MABAC) were utilized to compute the weights, generate feasible solutions, and determine the best optimality. As a result, the optimal I, V, F, and D were 137 A, 23 V, 12 L/min, and 12 mm, respectively. The EC was reduced by 5.8%, while the TS and EL were improved by 3.3% and 20.7%, respectively, at the optimality. The EC and EL models were primarily affected by the I, V, F, and D, respectively. The TS model was mainly influenced by the I, D, F, and V, respectively. The RBFN-MGWO could be employed to present non-linear data and achieve better optimal results, as compared to the traditional approach. The obtained outcomes could be used to produce high-quality welds with minimizing environmental impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of BIOAGRO is the property of Revista BIOAGRO and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Purpose. Based on existing criteria for predicting the suitability of metals and their alloys for manufacturing products from them by deformation or casting analysis develop a set of dimensionless parametric criteria and their quantitative scales. Their using will allow increasing the predicting accuracy of metals and alloys for their processing by pressure or casting suitability and feasibility. Methodology. The work uses phenomenological approach to systematic analysis results of metals and alloys mechanical and individual casting properties interpreting under uncertainty conditions, drawing on literature reference data, expert evaluation data and the authors’ own research results. The authors’ own data have been obtained experimentally using standard methods for mechanical properties determining and due to original authors’ method for technical purity metals and alloys based on them cast samples values of their absolutely hindered linear shrinkage determination during casting. Findings. The authors first proposed parametric dimensionless criteria and scales to them (criteria groups). Their application allows one, through such groups combinations, to assess suitability of any alloy or metal for its use possibility for products manufacturing by casting and/or pressure processing. Originality. For the first time dimensionless parametric criteria have been developed and proposed for use at initial stages of new alloys or technologies elaboration for products from them manufacturing as well as their quantitative scales for preliminary assessment (prognosis) of alloys processing feasibility by pressure or casting, regardless of their type and method. Practical value. Developed criteria and their quantitative scales using will allow alloys developers and specialized enterprises employees to save time and expenses both for alloy elaboration and for its implementation into production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Nanomodification significantly enhances the performance characteristics of composite materials, particularly those based on polymers. A wide range of materials from natural to artificially created are being studied as nanoobjects. At the same time, carbon nanostructures, such as fullerenes, graphene and carbon nanotubes, are of great interest from the perspective of comprehensively improving material performance. The use of carbon nanotubes for the modification of building materials for various functional purposes, even at low (less than 1% by mass) and ultra-low (less than 0.1% by mass) concentrations, demonstrates a remarkable capability to enhance a multitude of parameters. At the same time, there are technological challenges associated with the need for compound homogenization, requiring the use of ultrasonic processing and other techniques. A new approach to applying nanomodifiers, including single-walled graphene nanotubes, emerged after the launch of a new synthesis facility by OCSiAl in 2020, as well as the introduction of these nanotubes into polymer compounds in the form of masterbatches, which are nanotube concentrates. Methods and materials. This research involved a masterbatch based on single-walled carbon nanotubes TUBALL MATRIX M201 manufactured by OCSiAl.ru LLC. The polymers were made on the basis of low-viscosity epoxy resin Etal–247 and two hardeners manufactured by ENPTs EPITAL JSC –Etal-45M and Etal-1472. Tensile testing was performed on briquet specimens according to GOST 11262-2017. The tests involved AGS-X series bursting machine with TRAPEZIUM X software at a temperature of 23±2 °C and a relative air humidity of 50±5%. The mechanical properties (tensile and deformation) of the polymers were measured in three different moisture conditions: equilibrium-moisture, dry, and moisture-saturated. Results and discussion. The research revealed variations in ultimate tensile strength, tensile elongation and elongation at break, tensile modulus as a function of SGNT concentration and the moisture content of the studied polymers (series “without conditioning”, “moisture-saturated”, and “dried”). Mathematical models were developed to assess the effect of the nanomodifier and moisture content on changes in the properties of the polymers under study. The research has identified the optimal concentrations of the nanomodifier injected for enhancing the elastic and strength characteristics of epoxy polymers. Conclusion. The research indicates that masterbatches based on TUBALL MATRIX M201 single-walled carbon nanotubes hold potential for enhancing the properties of epoxy polymers.

Copyright of Mycosystema is the property of Mycosystema Editorial Board and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Plants known as obligate aerobes developed different mechanisms to overcome the damage incurred under oxygen limitation. One of the survival strategies to have commonly appeared in hydrophytic plants is the escape strategy, which accelerates plant axial organs' growth in order to escape hypoxic conditions as soon as possible. The present study aimed to distinguish the alterations in coleoptile elongation, viability and metabolic profiles in coleoptiles of slow- and fast-growing rice varieties. All the parameters were tested at 3, 5 and 7 days after sowing, to highlight changes during seedling development in normal and submerged conditions. The obtained results indicated that coleoptile elongation correlated with higher resistance to oxygen deprivation. GS-MS-based metabolic profiling indicated that coleoptiles of the fast-growing cultivar accumulated higher amounts of sugar phosphates, disaccharides, fatty acid derivatives and sterols, which are important for maintaining growth, membrane stability and viability. The slow-growing variety was characterized by a greater abundance of carboxylates, including lactate and phosphoric acid, indicating an energy crisis and cytosol acidification, leading to cell damage and low tolerance. Therefore, a metabolomics approach could be used for phenotyping (chemotyping) in the large-scale screening of newly developed varieties with higher tolerance to oxygen deprivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drug abuse continues to pose a significant challenge in HIV control efforts. In our investigation, we discovered that cocaine not only upregulates the expression of the DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) but also augments DNA-PK activation by enhancing its phosphorylation at S2056. Moreover, DNA-PK phosphorylation triggers the higher localization of the DNA-PK into the nucleus. The finding that cocaine increases the nuclear localization of the DNA-PK provides further support to our observation of enhanced DNA-PK recruitment at the HIV long terminal repeat (LTR) following cocaine exposure. By activating and facilitating the nuclear localization of the DNA-PK, cocaine effectively orchestrates multiple stages of HIV transcription, thereby promoting HIV replication. Additionally, our study demonstrates that the cocaine-induced DNA-PK promotes the hyper-phosphorylation of the RNA polymerase II (RNAP II) carboxyl-terminal domain (CTD) at Ser5 and Ser2 sites, enhancing both the initiation and elongation phases, respectively, of HIV transcription. The cocaine-mediated enhancement of transcriptional initiation is supported by its activation of cyclin-dependent kinase 7 (CDK7). Additionally, the induction of transcriptional elongation is marked by higher LTR recruitment and the increased phosphorylation of CDK9, which indicates the stimulation of positive transcriptional elongation factor b (P-TEFb). We demonstrate for the first time that cocaine, through DNA-PK activation, promotes the specific phosphorylation of TRIM28 at serine 824 (p-TRIM28, S824). This modification converts TRIM28 from a transcriptional inhibitor to a transactivator for HIV transcription. Additionally, we observed that the phosphorylation of TRIM28 (p-TRIM28, S824) promotes the transition from the pausing phase to the elongation phase of HIV transcription, thereby facilitating the production of full-length HIV genomic transcripts. This finding corroborates the previously observed enhanced RNAP II CTD phosphorylation at Ser2, a marker of transcriptional elongation, following cocaine exposure. Accordingly, upon cocaine treatment, we observed the elevated recruitment of p-TRIM28-(S824) at the HIV LTR. Overall, our results unravel the intricate molecular mechanisms underlying cocaine-induced HIV transcription and gene expression. These findings hold promise for the development of highly targeted therapeutics aimed at mitigating the detrimental effects of cocaine in individuals living with HIV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Precious Metals / Guijinshu is the property of Precious Metals Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Precipitation strengthening represents a crucial strengthening approach in the realm of metals, with particular significance for magnesium. In this study, a complex LPSO–precipitate structure, which is constituted of the principal secondary phases in Mg rare earth (RE) alloys, namely the Long-Period Stacking Ordered (LPSO) phase and the aging precipitate, was successfully fabricated within a Mg-11Y-1Al alloy. Subsequently, an in-depth investigation was conducted regarding the interaction between dislocations and this LPSO–precipitate structure under varying temperature conditions. The findings revealed that, at room temperature (RT), the aging precipitates effectively hindered the movement of basal dislocations, and the activation of non-basal dislocations is rather difficult, resulting in the alloy's high strength and low plasticity. When the temperature was elevated to 200 °C, although non-basal slip could be initiated, the LPSO–precipitate structure was capable of blocking both basal and non-basal slips. Consequently, the alloy still demonstrated high strength and low plasticity. As the temperature further increased to 250 °C, dislocations could cut through the aging precipitate particles, and the interior of the grains could provide partial deformation. Hence, the tensile elongation of the alloy was significantly enhanced, increasing from 4% to 12% as the temperature was elevated from 200 °C to 250 °C. These results suggest that the LPSO–precipitate structure still exerts a remarkable strengthening effect at 200 °C. When the temperature reaches 250 °C, the plasticity of the alloy is improved but its strength decreases. The research outcomes presented in this paper offer a novel perspective for the precise tailoring of mechanical properties through precipitation strengthening within Mg-RE alloys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intense precipitations caused by global climate change will result in the occurrence of greater frequencies and longer durations of flooding, influencing the survival and yields of wetland plants. Alisma orientale (Samuel.) Juz., an important traditional medicine with edible scape and inflorescence, naturally grows in wetlands and artificially cultivates in paddy fields prone to flood in China. However, we lack understanding of the effect of complete submergence on A. orientale. Here, experiments with four durations of complete submergence including 5 days (ds), 10 ds, 15 ds and 20 ds followed by 20 ds recovery were performed. In the submergence experiments, the number of, length of and biomass of surviving leaves and the total biomass and new blade biomass were measured; in recovery experiments, number and length of surviving leaves were measured. A. orientale grew out longer new leaves during complete submergence, with a dramatic decline in the biomass of both the leaves and tubers as well as the total biomass at the ends of the submergence experiments. The A. orientale plants had a high survival rate after submergence. The duration of submergence did not influence the time for A. orientale needed to start regrowing. At the end of recovery period, the submerged A. orientale plants generated more leaves, had more surviving leaves, had shorter new leaves and a shorter total length of surviving leaves than the control plants. This study highlights that A. orientale plants can resist at least 20 ds of complete submergence caused by flooding and regrow rapidly after submergence and improves our understanding of the flooding tolerance mechanisms of A. orientale plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: to investigate the effects of vessel geometry on steno-occlusive and dilatative common iliac artery (CIA) pathologies. Methods: this single-center, retrospective study included 100 participants, namely 60 participants with a unilateral, isolated CIA pathology who were divided into three pathology-based groups (a stenosis group, n = 20, an occlusion group, n = 20, and an aneurysm group, n = 20) and 40 participants without a CIA pathology (control group). All participants underwent abdominal and pelvic computed tomography angiography. The aortoiliac region of the participants was reconstructed into three-dimensional models. Elongation parameters (tortuosity index (TI) and absolute average curvature (AAC)) and bifurcation parameters (iliac take-off angle, iliac planarity angle, and bifurcation angle) were determined using an in-house-written piece of software. Demographic data, anthropometric data, cardiovascular risk factor data, and medical history data were obtained from participants' electronic health records. The following statistical methods were used: one-way ANOVA, chi-square test, t-tests, Wilcoxon test, Kruskal–Wallis test, and multivariate linear regression. Results: in the occlusion group, both TI and AAC values were significantly higher on the contralateral side than on the ipsilateral side (both p < 0.001), whereas in the aneurysm group the AAC values were significantly higher on the ipsilateral side than on the contralateral side (p = 0.001). The ipsilateral and contralateral TI and AAC values of the iliac arteries were significantly higher in the aneurysm group than in the other three groups (all p < 0.001). Age significantly affected all of the elongation parameters except for the TI of the infrarenal aorta (all p < 0.010 except the TI of the infrarenal aorta). In addition, the AAC values for the iliac arteries were significantly associated with obesity (ipsilateral iliac artery, p = 0.045; contralateral iliac artery, p = 0.047). Aortic bifurcation parameters did not differ significantly either within each group (ipsilateral versus contralateral side) or between the individual groups. Conclusions: occlusions tend to develop in relatively straight iliac arteries, whereas unilateral, isolated CIA aneurysms are more likely to occur in elongated aortoiliac systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enterococcus faecalis incorporates and elongates exogeneous short‐ and medium‐chain fatty acids to chains sufficiently long to enter membrane phospholipid synthesis. The acids are activated by the E. faecalis fatty acid kinase (FakAB) system and converted to acyl‐ACP species that can enter the fatty acid synthesis cycle to become elongated. Following elongation the acyl chains are incorporated into phospholipid by the PlsY and PlsC acyltranferases. This process has little effect on de novo fatty acid synthesis in the case of short‐chain acids, but a greater effect with medium‐chain acids. Incorporation of exogenous short‐chain fatty acids in E. faecalis was greatly increased by overexpression of either AcpA, the acyl carrier protein of fatty acid synthesis, or the phosphate acyl transferase PlsX. The PlsX of Lactococcus lactis was markedly superior to the E. faecalis PlsX in incorporation of short‐chain but not long‐chain acids. These manipulations also allowed unsaturated fatty acids of lengths too short for direct transfer to the phospholipid synthesis pathway to be elongated and support growth of E. faecalis unsaturated fatty acid auxotrophic strains. Short‐ and medium‐chain fatty acids can be abundant in the human gastrointestinal tract and their elongation by E. faecalis would conserve energy and carbon by relieving the requirement for total de novo synthesis of phospholipid acyl chains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of α casing in beta titanium can be detrimental to various forming applications and can be eliminated through chemical milling. The effect of the chemical milling process on the removal of alpha casing from the surface of beta titanium has been investigated extensively. Chemical milling is performed at different solution concentration ratios, and the specimens are characterized using Vickers hardness and surface roughness. The optimum results for chemical milling with a high material removal rate of 3.85 mm3/min are obtained with HF (10%) and HNO3 (10%). The effect of chemical milling on the mechanical strength of beta titanium is studied through tensile tests at room temperature and at increased temperature (200 °C). The maximum percentage of elongation obtained after chemical milling is around 24.4%, compared to 1.7% observed with the as-received specimen. Comprehensive analysis through optical microscopy, XRD, and EBSD confirmed the successful removal of the α casing from the β-Ti alloy at both 0.7- and 0.5-mm chemical milling depths. The effectiveness of the chemical milling process is further investigated through fractography analysis of the tensile-tested specimens. Chemical milling with the specified solution proves to be an effective method for enhancing α casing removal and mechanical performance of β-Ti alloys, making it a promising technique for various industrial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of the Chinese Society of Rare Earths is the property of Editorial Department of Journal of the Chinese Society of Rare Earths and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The production of low-alloy advanced high-strength steels such as the dual-phase (DP) steel with ferritic-bainitic microstructure using a hot strip mill is challenging in terms of consistent mechanical properties-based DP steel without violating the hot strip mill rolling capacity. In the present study, the Artificial Neural Network (ANN) technique was employed to develop tensile strength, yield strength and %Elongation models which can cater to complex relationships between the DP steel mechanical properties as a function of steel composition and rolling parameters. Furthermore, ANN models were used to predict the Nb effect on the mechanical properties of the DP steel. Model prediction and validation confirmed that niobium has a notable influence on mechanical properties. Finally. Nb's role during hot rolling was reviewed and justified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present data on the ability for organogenesis in 22 genotypes of grapevine and developed a direct organogenesis protocol for the cultivar Podarok Magaracha and the rootstock Kober 5BB. The protocol does not require replacement of culture media and growth regulators, and the duration is 11 weeks. The cultivation of explants occurs on modified MS medium with the addition of 2.0 mg L−1 benzyladenine and indole-3-butyric acid (0.15 mg L−1 for the rootstock Kober 5BB or 0.05 mg L−1 for the cultivar Podarok Magaracha). The direct organogenesis protocol consists of three time periods: (1) culturing explants for 2 weeks in dark conditions for meristematic bulk tissue, (2) followed by 4 weeks of cultivation in light conditions for regeneration, and (3) 5 weeks of cultivation in dark conditions for shoot elongation. Based on this protocol, conditions for the Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of the Podarok Magaracha cultivar were developed with an efficiency of 2.0% transgenic plants per 100 explants. Two stably transformed lines with integration into the genome of the pBin35SGFP plasmid construction, confirmed by Southern blotting, were obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) are remnants of ancient parasitic infections and comprise sizable portions of most genomes. Although epigenetic mechanisms silence most ERVs by generating a repressive environment that prevents their expression (heterochromatin), little is known about mechanisms silencing ERVs residing in open regions of the genome (euchromatin). This is particularly important during embryonic development, where induction and repression of distinct classes of ERVs occur in short temporal windows. Here, we demonstrate that transcription-associated RNA degradation by the nuclear RNA exosome and Integrator is a regulatory mechanism that controls the productive transcription of most genes and many ERVs involved in preimplantation development. Disrupting nuclear RNA catabolism promotes dedifferentiation to a totipotent-like state characterized by defects in RNAPII elongation and decreased expression of long genes (gene-length asymmetry). Our results indicate that RNA catabolism is a core regulatory module of gene networks that safeguards RNAPII activity, ERV expression, cell identity, and developmental potency.

The mechanical properties, texture transformation, and mechanism of Al–Cu–Mn alloy during annealing were studied using three-dimensional orientation distribution function (ODF), electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results showed that the increase in yield strength after annealing at 200 °C is due to the decrease in the proportion of P and M textures and the increase in the proportion of Goss texture. The increase in the change rate of mechanical properties observed during annealing at 250 and 350 °C can be attributed to the higher proportion of M and P textures and the reduced proportion of Goss textures. Among them, the proportion of M texture increased significantly, and the Goss texture decreased significantly after annealing at 350 °C. This is because the structural energy density (Ev) value of the Goss texture is higher than that of the M texture at 250 °C and 350 °C. The Goss texture is in an unstable state of high energy order. The deformed Goss texture is unstable at high temperatures, leading to conversion into M and other textures. The EBSD and TEM analysis revealed that the hardness is mainly related to the change in dislocation density. When the annealing temperature is increased from 250 to 350 °C, the hardness is significantly reduced from 62 HV to 52 HV, and the dislocation density is reduced from 4.0 × 1014 ρ/m−2 to 2.4 × 1014 ρ/m−2.

This study evaluates the impact of drafting systems and variables on yarn quality, emphasising tenacity and elongation. The study tries to determine the best drafting system setup and how spacer size and roller load affect yarn qualities. The investigation used PK 1500 3/3, 1600 4/4, and 1500 4/4 drafting systems. The front top roller load and spacer size varied for yarn samples. We examined and analysed yarn tenacity and elongation to evaluate their impacts. Statistics were used to evaluate the results and find relationships between drafting system setups and yarn quality. The PK 1500 3/3 drafting system produced the best average yarn tenacity, followed by PK 1600 4/4 and PK 1500 4/4. Spacer size had a smaller effect on tenacity than front top roller load, increasing and then decreasing with load. The 3/3 system was most affected by the front top roller load. The drafting system and overhang affected yarn elongation more than the front roller load, back roller load, and spacer size. The PK 1500 3/3 process produced the highest-breaking-elongation yarn. Lower R² results suggest ring frame specifications have a greater impact on yarn quality than roving quality. The research helps optimise drafting system settings and emphasises ring frame process parameters. The foundation for future research on textile manufacturing yarn quality factors is laid by this research.

Bifilms have been proposed to be critical for forming casting defects. The reduced pressure test (RPT) and bifilm index (BI) have been widely studied and used in industry for melt quality assessment. However, the BI remains challenged in predicting the mechanical properties. This work investigated the usage of RPT for elongation prediction by analyzing the melt in two foundries. The results showed that the BI could be valid when the bifilms exist as fully inflated pores. In reality, bifilms present as pores with various morphology and distribution, generating local stress concentrations under tension. Consequently, the parameter areaeff, which considers the pores’ morphology and distribution, was proposed, and the resultant f eff showed a good correlation with the elongation of the castings. These results guide the foundry to predict the elongation of the final castings and give directions for further research on the bifilm defects.

In this study, a tunicated onion (Allium cepa) bulb leaf biochar-filled PVA-based composites were developed and characterized. The main aim of this study was to find the effect of tunicated onion bulb leaf biochar addition in activated and non-activated form into the PVA and its EMI shielding effect against high frequency bands. The composites were prepared by solution casting method and analyzed according to the ASTM standards. The results of this investigation reveal that the incorporation of non-activated biochar particle yields a maximum dielectric constant of 4.7, 2.1, 0.4, and 0.2 with a dielectric loss of 0.42, 0.44, 0.58, and 0.56 at 8, 12, 16, and 20 GHz for 5 vol.% of biochar in PVA (PB3). But the addition of activated biochar at 1, 3, and 5 vol.% increased the EMI shielding effect. The EMI shielding values are improved by 26%, 34%, 52%, and 40% at 8, 12, 16, and 20 GHz, for PB13 composite on compare with plain PVA. Similarly, the composite designation PB2 has highest tensile strength of 58 MPa, hardness of 74 shore-D, and the % of elongation of 84. SEM fractography reveals that the inclusion of activated biochar improved the interaction between matrix and particle with higher toughness. These agriculture wastes derived biochar-based flexible PVA EMI shielding composites could be used in telecommunication, aviation, medical gadgets, and electronic industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lamellarity and shape are important factors in the formation of vesicles and determine their role in biological systems and pharmaceutical applications. Cardiolipin (CL) is a major lipid in many biological membranes and exerts a great influence on their structural organization due to its particular structure and physico-chemical properties. Here, we used small-angle X-ray and neutron scattering to study the effects of CL with different acyl chain lengths and saturations (CL 14:0 , CL 18:1 , CL 18:2) on vesicle morphology and lamellarity in membrane models containing mixtures of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine with different acyl chain lengths and saturations (C 14:0 and C 18:1). Measurements were performed in the presence of Phosphate Buffer Saline (PBS), at 37 °C, to better reflect physiological conditions, which resulted in strong effects on vesicle morphology, depending on the type and amount of CL used. The presence of small quantities of CL (from 2.5%) reduced inter-membrane correlations and increased perturbation of the membrane, an effect which is enhanced in the presence of matched shorter saturated acyl chains, and mainly unilamellar vesicles (ULV) are formed. In extruded vesicles, employed for SANS experiments, flattened vesicles are observed partly due to the hypertonic effect of PBS, but also influenced by the type of CL added. Our experimental data from SAXS and SANS revealed a strong dependence on CL content in shaping the membrane microstructure, with an apparent optimum in the PC:CL mixture in terms of promoting reduced correlations, preferred curvature and elongation. However, the use of PBS caused distinct differences from previously published studies in water in terms of vesicle shape, and highlights the need to investigate vesicle formation under physiological conditions in order to be able to draw conclusions about membrane formation in biological systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conventional method made polymer matrix composites found voids, inconsistency, and limited production reasons advanced fabrication techniques are referred to for polymer composite production. With the benefits of complex shape production, the hot compression moulding process is suitable for polymer composite fabrication, and thermo-plastic polymer grade polypropylene (PP) is the source of automotive components, including door panels, bumpers, and interior trim reasons. The PP based composites are fabricated with alkali-treated Curaua fiber (ACF) as 0, 6, 12, and 18 percentage of its weight (wt%) through hot compression method followed by 100 MPa compression pressure. The fabricated polypropylene composites like PP, PP/6% ACF, PP/12% ACF, and PP/18% ACF characteristics such as microstructure, interfacial strength, flexural strength, tensile stress, elongation at break, and fracture toughness are investigated. The effect of ACF fiber blend and compression processing on the behaviour of composites are compared. Microstructural studies revealed that the ACF is effectively dispersed in the PP matrix influences better composite behaviour, and the composite sample of PP/18% of ACF exploited superior interfacial strength, flexural strength, tensile stress, elongation at break, and fracture toughness, which values are 9.8 ± 0.1 MPa, 79 ± 1 MPa, 67 ± 2 MPa, 136 ± 2%, and 1.48 MPam0.5. It is more than the characteristics of PP prepared without ACF. However, the hot compression processing for PP and ACF found better enhancement in interfacial strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of laser beam welding (LBW) process parameters on the characteristics of Nd:YAG laser butt welding 1.5 mm thick 2205 duplex stainless steel. Specifically, the study focuses on the depth of penetration, bead width, ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and elongation. To achieve this, a parametric study is conducted using a central composite design (CCD) with response surface methodology (RSM) to establish mathematical regression equations that identify the key process parameters and their effects on the responses. The investigations showed that the size of the meltpool at the fusion zone (FZ) increases as the laser power increases. This leads to the formation of wider and deeper weld beads, ultimately leading to stronger and more flexible joints. Similarly, pulse width and scanning speed have a significant impact on the weld bead geometry, UTS, and elongation. It is observed that the FZ is free of any visible cracks, voids, or porosity. The LBW process parameters have been optimized to reduce operating costs by lowering the line energy, without compromising the welding quality. The optimal UTS value for the welded joint is around 865 MPa, which is almost equivalent to 99% of the UTS of the 2205 duplex stainless steel base material (BM). To obtain high-quality welded joints, it is recommended to use a laser power ranging from 423 to 425 W, scanning speed of 5.3 mm/s and pulse width of 5.4 ms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A destructive degradation model was applied on films made from different concentrations of starch, glycerol and nanoclay using various elongation levels as a stress variable at different stress times and stretch cycles. The log tensile quotient (logarithm of the tensile strength to the corresponding break cycle) was recorded as the response variable. The log tensile quotient increased, and the log exact break time decreased, as the elongation level increased. The treatment containing the highest starch and nanoclay and lowest glycerol content proved to be the most resistant to stress conditions and the most versatile in relation to the varying log tensile quotients, while the treatments containing the lowest nanoclay and highest glycerol contents, regardless of the starch concentration, manifested the lowest log tensile quotient at higher levels of log exact break time. According to multiple regression findings, the break cycle governed mostly the stress conditions in the degradation model, followed by the sample ID and the log exact break time. The term log tensile quotient, attempted for the first time on data concerning biodegradable films enhanced with nanoclay, seems very promising for deeper research due to its ability to retrieve predictive information from survival equations and to discriminate the difference between film structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The friction stir welding of A365 and AZ91C alloys was conducted in this study to assess the effect of tilt angle, linear velocity and rotating speed on the elongation, hardness and tensile strength using the response surface method. Then, the weld microstructure was investigated by SEM, TEM and EDS analysis to deeply investigate the structure of A365–AZ91C weld. It was realized that the grain size of weld joint has grown and the crack and tunnel were formed when the rotating speed improved from 1000 to 2000 rpm, which produced a decline in the hardness and strength and a rise in the elongation. Moreover, an increment of linear velocity up to 60 mm/min led to the refinement of the weld microstructure, which was followed by an enhancement in the strength and hardness of the weld, whereas the elongation deteriorated. In the case of tilt angle, the highest elongation and strength were detected at a tilt angle of 2∘, but the highest hardness was observed at a tilt angle of 4∘ because of the nucleation of Al3Mg2 and Al 1 2 Mg 1 7 intermetallics. Results of optimization exhibited that the concurrent improvement of the strength, hardness and elongation can be acquired with the tilt angle of 3∘, rotating speed of 1600 rpm and linear velocity of 53 mm/min. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surgical sutures play a crucial role in wound closure, facilitating the tissue-healing process across various fields of medicine. The objective of this study was to analyse the impact of seasoning time during the initial days/weeks of seasoning in Ringer's solution on the mechanical properties of five commercial absorbable sutures: SafilQuick+®, Novosyn®, MonosynQuick®, Monosyn® and Monoplus®, each with different absorption periods. The results demonstrated that the SafilQuick+ and MonosynQuick sutures lost strength within 9–12 days, as evidenced by statistically significant changes in tensile strength. In contrast, the Novosyn and Monoplus sutures did not exhibit significant changes in strength during the study period. Statistical analysis confirmed significant differences in the behaviour of the individual sutures, highlighting the importance of selecting appropriate suture material in the context of the specific medical procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultrasound speckle tracking enables in vivo measurement of soft tissue deformation or strain, providing a non-invasive diagnostic tool to quantify tissue health. However, adoption into new fields is challenging since algorithms need to be tuned with gold-standard reference data that are expensive or impractical to acquire. Here, we present a novel optimization approach that only requires repeated measurements, which can be acquired for new applications where reference data might not be readily available or difficult to get hold of. Soft tissue motion was captured using ultrasound for the medial collateral ligament (MCL) of three quasi-statically loaded porcine stifle joints, and medial ligamentous structures of a dynamically loaded human cadaveric knee joint. Using a training subset, custom speckle tracking algorithms were created for the porcine and human ligaments using surrogate optimization, which aimed to maximize repeatability by minimizing the normalized standard deviation of calculated strain maps for repeat measurements. An unseen test subset was then used to validate the tuned algorithms by comparing the ultrasound strains to digital image correlation (DIC) surface strains (porcine specimens) and length change values of the optically tracked ligament attachments (human specimens). After 1500 iterations, the optimization routine based on the porcine and human training data converged to similar values of normalized standard deviations of repeat strain maps (porcine: 0.19, human: 0.26). Ultrasound strains calculated for the independent test sets using the tuned algorithms closely matched the DIC measurements for the porcine quasi-static measurements (R > 0.99, RMSE < 0.59%) and the length change between the tracked ligament attachments for the dynamic human dataset (RMSE < 6.28%). Furthermore, strains in the medial ligamentous structures of the human specimen during flexion showed a strong correlation with anterior/posterior position on the ligaments (R > 0.91). Adjusting ultrasound speckle tracking algorithms using an optimization routine based on repeatability led to robust and reliable results with low RMSE for the medial ligamentous structures of the knee. This tool may be equally beneficial in other soft-tissue displacement or strain measurement applications and can assist in the development of novel ultrasonic diagnostic tools to assess soft tissue biomechanics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cork, the outermost tissue of bark, plays an important role in protecting trees from the surrounding environment and is used for various purposes, including flooring and insulation materials for buildings. This study focused on the amount and distribution of hydrophobic substances such as suberin and lignin in cork, as well as moisture conditions, to understand the mechanical properties of Cerasus jamasakura cork. Strips of cork were subjected to tensile tests after exposure to various moisture conditions (water-saturated, air-dried and oven-dried), and also after the desuberinisation and delignification of specimens. Cork with a high moisture content showed significant strain to the tensile load, whereas oven-dried specimens showed little toughness. The increased toughness of cork at higher moisture contents was due to the continued elongation in the plastic region, especially in the inner cork. The fibre length of the highly deformed cork differed significantly before and after the tensile test. Tensile tests of cork after desuberinisation and delignification indicated that the removal of suberin caused an earlier reduction in tensile properties than the removal of lignin. The presence of suberin in cork, distributed mainly in the inner cork, is believed to affect the tensile properties of cork. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of Al or Cu content on the microstructure and mechanical properties of continuous casting and extrusion Zn alloys has been studied by a room temperature tensile test, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscope. With the increase in Al content, the microstructure of continuous casting and extrusion Zn alloys slightly coarsens, and the lamellar eutectic structure increases. The changes in the above structural factors result in a slight decrease in strength and a significant increase in the elongation of Zn-Al alloys. The strength of Zn alloys increases as the Cu content increases due to the increased content and size of the second phase in the Zn alloys. This means that the mechanical properties of Zn alloys can be adjusted by a continuous casting and extrusion process, and the improvement of equipment capacity can improve the structure and morphology of the alloys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]