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In poultry farming, the most important factor during their growth and production is for the birds to be free from any disease. Unmonitored and uncontrolled temperature and humidity within the cage can lead to reduced productivity and high rate of mortality. Diseases such as: avian influenza, Newcastle, fowl paralysis, semolina and so on may wipe up an entire farm in few minutes. This research used K- nearest neighbor (KNN) algorithm and developed a model to monitor such factors automatically. In the model, digital camera was deployed in the cage that records the behavior of the fowls. The model was trained on the normal behavior of a healthy/unhealthy fowl based on the clinical signs so that any abnormal sign reported immediately by the system. The experimental results show that the model can report the various diseases sign in poultry farms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The preparation of cubic boron nitride (CBN) grinding tools using laser cladding has the advantages of strong bonding, short time consumption and customizable abrasive arrangement. In this paper, a two-step laser cladding method was used to prepare CBN abrasive blocks with the aim of reducing laser damage to CBN grits during the laser cladding process. The cross-sectional morphology of CBN abrasive blocks under different laser power conditions was characterized, and the relationship among laser power, preparation method, and forming quality of Cu–Sn–Ti/CBN cladding layer was investigated. Then, the microstructure at the Cu–Sn–Ti/CBN interface under different laser power conditions was characterized, and the main phase compositions at the Cu–Sn–Ti/CBN interface were analyzed. Finally, the grinding tests were carried out on CBN abrasive blocks. The results show that as the laser power increases from 250 W to 400 W, the fracture ratio of CBN grits increases dramatically from 4.3 % to 17.3 %. TiN, TiB 2 , and TiB compounds are all detected at the Cu–Sn–Ti/CBN interface under different laser power conditions. The mass loss of the TC4 wheel caused by the CBN abrasive block initially increases and then decreases as the laser power increases from 250 W to 400 W. The CBN abrasive block has the optimum material removal performance at the laser power of 300 W using two-step laser cladding. The results provide a theoretical basis for the preparation of high-performance CBN grinding tools using laser cladding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work deals with the optimization of the machining process of EN-GJL-250 gray cast iron with a CBN/Tin-coated insert. The multiobjective optimization was performed by four methods, in order to find the optimal cutting conditions (cutting speed (Vc), feed rate (f), and depth of cut (ap)) that would satisfy the goals of improving surface quality, minimizing power consumption, and maximizing productivity simultaneously. The aim is to evaluate the performance of different techniques, namely desirability function approach, Grey relational analysis, technique of order preference similarity to the ideal solution (TOPSIS), and nondominated sorting genetic algorithm coupled with TOPSIS. The outcomes revealed that the methods propose different solutions, where significant divergences were mainly observed in power consumption and material removal rate objectives. This raises the issue of selecting the most appropriate optimization method for industrial needs and confirms the need for further efforts in this field, i.e. optimization of the machining process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the B-C-N-Ti quaternary superhard composite was prepared by high pressure and high temperature sintering with diamond, cubic boron nitride (cBN) and titanium (Ti) as starting materials. The characterization results show that Ti reacts with diamond and cBN to form TiC0.7N0.3 and TiB2 under high pressure and high temperature, which acts as the binding additives for diamond and cBN grains. The addition of appropriate amount of Ti can effectively improve the toughness of the sintered composite specimen. The formation of TiC0.7N0.3 and TiB2 ceramics and cBN coated the diamond grains and greatly enhanced the oxidation ability. When the molar ratio of diamond, cBN and Ti is 2:1:0.10 and sintered at 12 GPa and 2 000 °C for 5 min, the specimen exhibits the best performance with Vickers hardness of (49.0±1.2) GPa, fracture toughness of (14.2±0.6) MPa·m1/2 and oxidation temperature of 921 °C under air condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CaBi 2 Nb 2 O 9 (CBN) with the Aurivillius phase has a high Curie temperature (T C) and remarkable fatigue resistance, which has great potential for application as high-temperature sensors. However, due to its low piezoelectric properties, its practical application remains a great challenge. In this paper, Ca 1- x Ce x Bi 2 Nb 2 O 9 ceramics were prepared by the direct reaction sintering (DRS) and conventional preparation (CP) methods, respectively. The experimental results indicate that Ce doping can increase the piezoelectric coefficient d 33 of CBN ceramics by about two times. Among them, the grain size of the samples prepared by the DRS method is finer and more uniform, and the d 33 value of DRS samples is about 3.6–9.4 % higher than that of CP samples. The DRS sample Ca 0·97 Ce 0·03 Bi 2 Nb 2 O 9 has a d 33 value of 18.9 pC/N, a T C of 948 °C, and a resistivity of 1.1 × 105 Ω cm at 600 °C. This study shows that DRS method is an effective densification method, which can prepare CBN-based ceramics with excellent comprehensive properties, and provides an innovative preparation route to explore CBN-based ceramics with excellent piezoelectric properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High‐toughness Al2O3–Ti(C,N) composites reinforced by cBN particles were prepared by the new oscillating pressure sintering technique. The density, phase, and microstructure evolution of the Al2O3–Ti(C,N)‐cBN composites sintered at different temperatures were studied, and their effects on the mechanical properties were investigated. The results show that when the sintering temperature increases from 1300 to 1500°C, the heat preservation time shortens, whereas the density and interface bonding strength of the composites increase. In addition, cBN particles can play the role of crack bridging and be pulled out when the composites fracture, improving the toughness of the Al2O3–Ti(C,N)–cBN composites. However, when the sintering temperature further rises to 1600°C, a new phase of TiB2 forms, and the solid solubility of C and N in Ti(C,N) increases, leading to a decrease in density and mechanical properties. As a result, when the Al2O3–Ti(C,N)–cBN composite is sintered at 1500°C, its mechanical properties reach the maximum values of 21.5 GPa, 5.7 MPa m1/2, and 731 MPa for hardness, fracture toughness, and flexural strength, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Titanium alloy is an essential material for preparing aerospace engines because of its excellent performance. However, the poor wear resistance of titanium alloy restricts its further development as a critical engine material. This study aimed to use laser cladding and particle enhancement technologies to enhance the surface wear resistance of titanium alloy. (NiCoCr) 94 Al 3 Ti 3 +hBN, (NiCoCr) 94 Al 3 Ti 3 +cBN, and (NiCoCr) 94 Al 3 Ti 3 +hBN + cBN were prepared on the surface of titanium alloy, and the wear resistance mechanism of single-phase self-lubricating particles, single-phase hard particles, and self-lubricating and hard biphasic particles was investigated. The results showed that the microhardness of the biphase-reinforced coating was 1083.8 HV0.5, which was higher than that of the self-lubricating particle-reinforced coating and hard-particle-reinforced coating by 368.4 HV0.5 and 149.8 HV0.5, respectively. The friction coefficient of the biphase-reinforced coating was 0.4208, which was lower than that of the self-lubricating particle-reinforced coating and hard-particle-reinforced coating by 0.0224 and 0.0686, respectively. The wear rate of the biphase-reinforced coating was 0.076 mm3/NM, and the wear resistance of the biphase-reinforced coating was 3.42 and 1.37 times that of the self-lubricating particle-reinforced coating and hard-particle-reinforced coating, respectively. hBN relied on its own decomposition to promote the coating to present a layered unstable structure to achieve a wear reduction effect, cBN relied on its own hardness to resist wear and played a wear-resistant role, whereas biphase-reinforced coating had a hard wear resistance and formed a lubricating film to enhance the wear resistance of the coating. The comprehensive performance of the dual-phase wear-resistant coating reinforced by hard particles and self-lubricating particles was better than that of single-phase wear-resistant coating, providing a reference for developing wear-resistant coating integrating hardness and self-lubrication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on the performance evaluation of CBN and ceramic tools in dry machining of gray cast iron EN GJL-350. The machining factors taken into account during turning are: cutting speed (Vc), feed rate (f), depth of cut (ap), and cutting tool material (CBN, white ceramic, mixed ceramic, and silicon nitride). The first part of this investigation concerns the evaluation of the four cutting materials performance used in terms of tool wear evolutions, 2D and 3D surface roughness and cutting forces variation according to working parameters. The second part exposes the results according to L32 Taguchi design of experiment. Statistical treatment by ANOVA allowed to quantify the impact of the input factors on the performance parameters, namely the surface roughness (Ra), the cutting force (Fz), the cutting power (Pc), and the specific cutting energy (Ecs). The response surface methodology (RSM), and the artificial neural network (ANN) approach were adopted to develop mathematical models for predicting the different output parameters. The results of the two methods were compared and discussed. A multi-criteria optimization was performed using the desirability function (DF) approach. The genetic algorithm (GA) was also applied to find pareto fronts. The results found show that CBN is the most efficient material in terms of lower tool wear, surface roughness and cutting forces. The DF method allowed to find an optimal combination (Vc = 660 m/min, f = 0.13 mm/rev, ap = 0.232 mm, and the CBN material) leading to a compromise between the minimization of (Ra, Fz, Pc, and Ecs) and the maximization of (MRR). The Pareto fronts found by the (GA) method make it possible to propose a multitude of solutions according to the desired objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the debate surrounding the abbreviation for cucurbituril, a type of macrocycle. The different abbreviations, such as Q[n], Qn, CB[n], or CBn, reflect variations in pronunciation and stress patterns of the word. The article argues that both stress patterns are acceptable in English and suggests adhering to the original pronunciation with stress on the first syllable. It emphasizes the importance of clarity and cohesion in academic terminology and abbreviations. The article also examines the use of abbreviations in the natural sciences, specifically focusing on the abbreviation for cucurbituril. The author presents data showing that "CB" is used in 92% of cases, while "Q" is used in 8% of cases, and argues for "CB" to become the sole abbreviation due to its higher usage. However, they also acknowledge the argument for using "Q" as a shorter abbreviation. The article concludes by discussing the potential confusion that can arise from different abbreviations and the use of brackets. [Extracted from the article]

The paper provides an analysis of the impact of the values of cutting tool inclination strategies and angles measured in the parallel and perpendicular to feed direction, radial depth of cut and feedrate on the surface roughness. The workpiece was made of the AISI H13 steel, hardness 50 HRC, and was machined using a ball-nosed end mill with CBN edges. The research methodology involved experiments conducted based on the Taguchi orthogonal array, optimization of parameters with the use of Taguchi method and process modelling using neural networks. Thanks to the use of neural networks, the analyses were performed for various levels of machining efficiency, obtained as a result of different radial depths of cut and feedrates. In order to obtain mathematical models welldescribing strongly nonlinear impact of the cutting tool inclination strategies and angles, a separate neural network learned for each tool inclination strategy. The prediction of results was made using a set of neural networks. The analyses and experiments resulted in surfaces with very low Ra parameter of 0.16 mm and mathematical models with a good fit to the experimental data. Values of the cutting tool inclination angle that allow obtaining the surface of specific surface roughness were specified for various levels of machining performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study introduces a new method for efficient and low-damage machining of Ti6Al4V: laser-assisted CBN belt grinding. The impact of laser power and grinding depth on the machining behavior of the material is investigated, the elemental distribution and chemical state of the ground surface are analyzed, and the removal mechanism of laser-assisted CBN belt grinding is described. The results show that increasing laser power will improve processing efficiency, enhance plastic material removal, and improve surface quality; the tangential grinding force is decreased by 63.5% and the normal grinding force is decreased by 72.6% at the maximum laser power; a large amount of Ti and N are present on the ground surface, and they are present in the form of TiN compounds. This study is a guide to the research on efficient and low-damage machining of hard-to-process materials like titanium alloys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study is to explore and compare the mechanical response of AlCrSiN coatings deposited on two different substrates, namely, WC-Co and cBN. Nano-indentation was used to measure the hardness and elastic modulus of the coatings, and micro-indentation was used for observing the contact damage under Hertzian contact with monotonic and cyclic (fatigue) loads. Microscratch and contact damage tests were also used to evaluate the strength of adhesion between the AlCrSiN coatings and the two substrates under progressive and constant loads, respectively. The surface damages induced via different mechanical tests were observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A focused ion beam (FIB) was used to produce a cross-section of the coating–substrate system in order to further detect the mode and extent of failure that was induced. The results show that the AlCrSiN coating deposited on the WC-Co substrate performed better in regard to adhesion strength and contact damage response than the same coating deposited on the cBN substrate; this is attributed to the lower plasticity of the cBN substrate as well as its less powerful adhesion to the coating.

Inflammation is a natural response of the body to signals of tissue damage or infection caused by pathogens. However, when it becomes imbalanced, it can lead to various disorders such as cancer, obesity, cardiovascular problems, neurological conditions, and diabetes. The endocannabinoid system, which is present throughout the body, plays a regulatory role in different organs and influences functions such as food intake, pain perception, stress response, glucose tolerance, inflammation, cell growth and specialization, and metabolism. Phytocannabinoids derived from Cannabis sativa can interact with this system and affect its functioning. In this study, we investigate the mechanisms underlying the anti-inflammatory effects of three minor phytocannabinoids including tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), cannabichromene (CBC), and cannabinol (CBN) using an in vitro system. We pre-treated THP-1 macrophages with different doses of phytocannabinoids or vehicle for one hour, followed by treating the cells with 500 ng/mL of LPS or leaving them untreated for three hours. To induce the second phase of NLRP3 inflammasome activation, LPS-treated cells were further treated with 5 mM ATP for 30 min. Our findings suggest that the mitigation of the PANX1/P2X7 axis plays a significant role in the anti-inflammatory effects of THCV and CBC on NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Additionally, we observed that CBC and THCV could also downregulate the IL-6/TYK-2/STAT-3 pathway. Furthermore, we discovered that CBN may exert its inhibitory impact on the assembly of the NLRP3 inflammasome by reducing PANX1 cleavage. Interestingly, we also found that the elevated ADAR1 transcript responded negatively to THCV and CBC in LPS-macrophages, indicating a potential involvement of ADAR1 in the anti-inflammatory effects of these two phytocannabinoids. THCV and CBN inhibit P-NF-κB, downregulating proinflammatory gene transcription. In summary, THCV, CBC, and CBN exert anti-inflammatory effects by influencing different stages of gene expression: transcription, post-transcriptional regulation, translation, and post-translational regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the engineering world, the machining of advanced materials like titanium alloys, which is having their superior applications in a variety of domains, that is, bio-implants, biomedical, aerospace, and so on, has been a challenge for many decades to the researchers. The optimised surface topography for such alloys has been revealed as a function of various input parameters. In this study, an attempt has been made by conducting the experimental investigation on the surface integrity and the quality machined work surface in turning of titanium alloy, that is, Ti6Al4V through employing cryogenically treated and non-cryogenically processed CBN inserts. The surface quality and the integrity of processed titanium alloy work-surface have been investigated under the influence of various considered input factors. The design of experimentation was constructed for planning the experiments. The analysis of variance test has been attempted for the studied response, that is, surface roughness and the mathematical models for the studied surface roughness (with both CBN inserts; cryogenically and non-cryogenically treated) have also been developed. The attained optimised parametric conditions for surface roughness are; feed rate – 0.067 mm/rev, cutting speed – 63.852 m/min, and depth of cut – 0.526 mm; and feed rate – 0.066 mm/rev, cutting speed – 59.450 m/min, and depth of cut – 0.309 mm, for non-cryogenically and cryogenically treated CBN inserts, respectively. Artificial neural network (ANN)-based modelling has also been attempted to predict and analyse the dataset of experiments. There is a variation of 1.43% between ANN predicted data of NC CBN and NC CBN experimental data. Further, there is an error of 0.2% between ANN predicted data of Cryo-CBN and Cryo-CBN experimental data. The microstructure analysis of the turned titanium surface reflected the presence of few tearing and groove lines with both the CBN inserts employed. The scratches and bamboo lines have been due to the built-up edges produced in the inserts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Hot machining is one method of machining easily hard materials. Heat is added to the cutting tool, resulting in a reduction in hardness and improved machining capabilities. During the hot turning process, the surface quality of the machined component improves. Cutting speeds, feed rates, and depth of cut for both CBN and TiAlN-coated tungesten carbide insert are optimised by trial and error. The effects of CBN and TiAlN inserts on hot turning and cold turning with minimal fluid application have been analysed in terms of power consumption, surface roughness, cutting force. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study is to explore and compare the mechanical response of AlCrSiN coatings deposited on two different substrates, namely, WC-Co and cBN. Nano-indentation was used to measure the hardness and elastic modulus of the coatings, and micro-indentation was used for observing the contact damage under Hertzian contact with monotonic and cyclic (fatigue) loads. Microscratch and contact damage tests were also used to evaluate the strength of adhesion between the AlCrSiN coatings and the two substrates under progressive and constant loads, respectively. The surface damages induced via different mechanical tests were observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A focused ion beam (FIB) was used to produce a cross-section of the coating–substrate system in order to further detect the mode and extent of failure that was induced. The results show that the AlCrSiN coating deposited on the WC-Co substrate performed better in regard to adhesion strength and contact damage response than the same coating deposited on the cBN substrate; this is attributed to the lower plasticity of the cBN substrate as well as its less powerful adhesion to the coating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different additives' influence on electric conductivity of 'dielectric/conductor'-type composites (namely, polycrystalline cBN-based composites contained cBN as a dielectric phase and NbN as a conductor phase) is investigated. Investigated samples are obtained by the application of HPHT (high pressure-high temperature) sintering (P = 7.7 GPa, T = 2000°C). Electrical-resistance dependences on the temperature and applied voltage are measured for all samples. Obtained results' analysis shows that all sintered samples have a semiconductor nature of conductivity. It is interesting that addition dielectrics (Al2O3, Si3N4) as well as semiconductor (SiC) leads to the electric-conductivity improve (drop in electrical resistance) for cBN--NbN composites in some degree (despite the lower electrical conductivity of these substances). Alumina whiskers' addition to cBN--NbN composites leads to a more significant drop in electrical resistance compared to powder particles' addition (from 1.85 to 0.72 Ohm-cm for samples with whiskers (Al2O3w) and from 1.35 to 0.17 Ohm-cm for samples with Al2O3 powder). Hence, as concluded, the sample electrical conductivity is affected by both the additive particles' morphology and the grain boundaries' state of the sintered poly- crystalline ceramics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This study presents original research of the investigation of the coolant supply to the contact area with two different approaches. The cooling and lubrication are key aspects of manufacturing processes such as grinding to achieve a high surface quality at high productivity. The coolant supply to the contact area has a high impact on the performance of the coolant. This paper presents the results from two approaches to tailoring the coolant supply for conventional and high-performance processes. An analytical approach is established to determine the coolant outlet velocity. Afterward, a sensor is developed to measure the coolant velocity at the nozzle. Conclusively, the influence of the coolant velocity on the volume flow through the contact zone is investigated. The results of this study highlight the importance of coolant outlet velocities of at least 60% of the cutting speed. The two approaches outline low impact possibilities to ensure optimal coolant outlet velocities and thus low thermal loads during the grinding process. Article Highlights Analytical approach to calculate outlet velocities for varying noozles in high-performance grinding with cutting speeds of up to 100 m/s Utilization of a high-speed camera to determine the outlet nozzle velocities in a conventional deep grinding process Validation of the impact of the coolant outlet velocity on the volume flow through the contact area by means of a coolant collection box

Cannabis sativa L. has health benefits, principally due to the levels and ratios of two important cannabinoids, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). THC:CBD ratio affects their pharmacological interaction for the treatment of different diseases as well as its modulation allows for a custom-made product that utilizes the distinguishing effects of CBD, THC, or both, for a peculiar patient or clinical effect. This study aims to investigate the total content of THC, CBD, and their ratio in 34 dried inflorescence legally sold in physical and online stores, by using a validated liquid chromatography-ultraviolet (HPLC-UV) method, after cannabinoids identification performed through MSn studies. Cannabinol (CBN) content was also monitored to evaluate hemp age or conservation status. CBN content always resulted lower than limit of quantification, thus confirming well-stored fresh hemp. All investigated samples showed a total THC amount below 0.59% w/w, thus responding to legal requirements.. The total CBD amount ranged from 2.62 to 20.27% w/w and it was not related to THC level. THC:CBD ranged among 1:3 and 1:26, thus ascertaining their suitability for different target pharmacological uses. In vitro studies using human hepatoblastoma cell line HepG2 suggested that hemp extracts with THC:CBD ratios of 1:9 exhibited higher toxicity than pure cannabinoids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: Specifically, this application deals with cubic boron nitride (CBN) cutting tool selection for the machining of steel 100Cr6 thin-walled bearing rings, but the methodology and findings can be extended to other sorts of turning. In this paper, a practical issue of the application of cubic boron nitride (CBN) cutting tools for the machining of steel 100Cr6 thin-walled bearing rings is addressed. Three geometries of the commercially available CBN cutting inserts were tested at different machining parameters. The effect of geometry was assessed in terms of surface integrity, considering 2D profile parameters, 3D topography of the surface, and residual stresses in the surface layer. The results were sometimes contradictory, since the same cutting inserts provided the largest and the lowest values of the topography parameters, dependent on different cutting conditions. In general, CBN cutting inserts with XCEL geometry ensured the smallest profile parameters Ra and Rz, and the spatial parameters of Smr1 exhibited the largest values among all tested tools, suggesting reduced wear resistance. Residual stresses analysis did not reveal any inacceptable or potentially dangerous surface layer state after machining. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• 30 keV Si−1 ion beams modify Au-hBN nanosheets' optical and structural properties • The strain values as computed from XRD reinforce the FE-SEM findings. • E g value of irradiated samples drops, whereas E u rises with increment of ion beam • FTIR spectra of irradiated samples show cBN, wBN and eBN phases in addition to hBN. This work reports the effect of low-energy ion (30 KeV Si−1) bombardment on the structural and optical properties of gold-functionalized hexagonal boron nitride (Au-hBN) nanosheets. FE-SEM and XRD results indicate the successful synthesis of highly crystalline Au-hBN nanosheets. The grain size modulation and strain variation in Au-hBN nanosheets with increasing ion fluence clearly indicate defect-induced structural modifications. The optical properties of Au-hBN are investigated by Raman and UV–vis absorption spectroscopy. A systematic drop in the band gap and gradual rise in the Urbach energy of Au-hBN nanosheets with increasing fluence is observed. In addition, the FTIR results reveal the growth of cBN, eBN and wBN phases after irradiation. The theoretical simulations are done to study the defect formation and estimate the damage yields. The experimental and computational results establish the efficacy of the low-energy ion bombardment approach in systematically altering the structural and optical behavior of Au-hBN nanosheets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cubic boron nitride (cBN) as a superhard material has significant potential to provide solutions for the thermostability problems of the high-speed cutting tools to adapt the harsh mechanical working environments. Granularity-induced improvements in hardness and the thermal resistance of pure polycrystalline cBN (PcBN) is highly conductive to fragment and plastic behaviors of the pristine cBN particles in the first step of high-pressure induced synthesis process. Rapid detection of them with respect to different sizes of pristine cBN powders is realized by the analysis of the internal stress through the methods of X-ray diffraction (XRD) profile and Raman spectrum. It is deduced that the plastic deformation with significant fragment of the relatively coarse-grained PcBN was dominated by the effect of strain strengthening and then recrystallization, resulting in the optimized performance with a combination of the enhanced mechanical properties (Vickers hardness of Hv3958 and compressive strength of 2.38 GPa) and the high thermal resistance (1202 °C). The proposed fundamental plastic deformation theory of the strengthening polycrystalline cBN is of great guiding significance for the field of high-precision cutting tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Al2O3–cBN has received considerable attention in the field of ceramic cutting tools due to its high hardness, high wear resistance, and low cost, but poor interfacial bonding affects the performance of the composite. In this study, a novel hot‐forging process was used to prepare high‐performance Al2O3–cBN composites using Ti(C,N) as a binder. The evolution of the morphology, phase, and microstructure of the hot‐forged Al2O3–Ti(C,N)–cBN composites was determined, and the mechanical properties were measured. The relative density of the composites increases significantly after hot forging, and the deformation of the composites increases with the hot‐forging temperature. The highest performing Al2O3–Ti(C,N)–cBN composite was prepared by hot forging at 1600°C and has a hardness of 20 GPa, a bending strength of 647 MPa and a fracture toughness of 5.37 MPa m1/2, which are superior to those of a directly hot‐pressed sintered composite. However, at hot‐forging temperatures higher than 1700°C, Al5O6N and TiB2 are formed in the composite. In the composite hot forged at 1800°C, serrated grain boundaries promote the strength and toughness of the composite to 877 MPa and 6.76 MPa m1/2, respectively. Therefore, the novel hot‐forging process is expected to enhance material properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanocomposites with one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) phases can demonstrate superior hardness, fracture toughness, and flexural strength. Cubic boron nitride-hexagonal boron nitride-silicon carbide whiskers (cBN-hBN-SiCw) nanocomposites with the simultaneous containing 1D SiCw and 2D hBN phases were successfully fabricated via the high-pressure sintering of a mixture of SiCw and cBN nanopowders. The hBN was generated in situ via the limited phase transition from cBN to hBN. Nanocomposites with 25 wt.% SiCw exhibited optimal comprehensive mechanical properties with Vickers hardness of 36.5 GPa, fracture toughness of 6.2 MPa·m1/2, and flexural strength of 687.4 MPa. Higher SiCw contents did not significantly affect the flexural strength but clearly decreased the hardness and toughness. The main toughening mechanism is believed to be a combination of hBN inter-layer sliding, SiCw pull-out, crack deflection, and crack bridging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-intoxicating Cannabis sativa L. (i.e., hemp) is increasingly used for industrial, cosmetic and food applications. Despite the fact that the EU has not yet established a regulatory framework on hazardous compounds (i.e., toxic inorganic elements), the monitoring of cannabis products is of paramount importance to safeguard consumers, also in view of the species propensity to accumulate toxic metals from the environment. The aim of this work was to assess the compliance with Law n. 242/2016 and the safety of hemp inflorescences from different varieties and Italian regions by monitoring the main cannabinoids and trace elements. All samples complied with the Italian law due to a THC content <0.6% counterbalanced by high CBD levels. However, inflorescences grown in Apulia and Lombardy, and from Finola and Tiborzallasi varieties accumulated higher Cu, Co, Cr, Ni and Pb contents than products from other producing areas (i.e., Sicily and Latium) and varieties (i.e., Antal, Futura75, Kompolti and Carmagnola), being moreover above the limits set by the US Pharmacopeia. A principal component analysis confirmed that trace elements, including toxic metals, were mainly affected by the geographical origin more than the botanical variety. Overall, this study highlights the need to continuously monitor hemp products and establish the earliest related regulatory frameworks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Face recognition (FR) technology can be used in wide range of applications such as identity authentication, access control, and surveillance. Interests and research activities in face recognition have increased significantly over the past twenty years, in this research, local binary pattern was be used to design a system that will store all the faces of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) anchor borrowers' loan beneficiaries, the system will use farmers faces binary information and inject the binary information into the recovery farmers database so that no multiple loan will be given to any defaulter and their facial identity will be revealed. The final output of the anchor borrower programme(ABP) is to create economic linkage between smallholder farmers and reputable large-scale processors with a view to increasing agricultural output and significantly improving capacity utilization of processors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, PcBN composites with high strength and high thermal stability were prepared by high temperature and high pressure sintering at 5.5 GPa and 1450 °C using Al-TiSi 2 as binder. The effects of TiSi 2 content on the phase composition, microstructure, mechanical properties, and thermal stability of PcBN composites were investigated. The results indicate that the density of the composites increases with an increase in the TiSi 2 content. The mechanical properties of the composites were found to be the best at 25 wt% TiSi 2 , where the hardness was 3475 HV, and the bending strength was 782.7 MPa. Furthermore, the PcBN composites exhibited good thermal stability in the temperature range of 400 °C–1200 °C due to the presence of the reaction product Si and partially oxidized SiO 2 , which prevented oxidation. • TiSi 2 was first used as a binder for cBN-Al-TiSi 2 composites via the HPHT method. • The cBN-Al-TiSi 2 exhibits high thermal stability with a temperature of 1200 °C. • The cBN-Al-TiSi 2 shows high microhardness and flexural strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inputs use a non-blocking internal process to distribute the data using address of the port of the receiver using a non-blocking interior multistage transmission architecture known as a dual banyan network (DBN). The DBN is a primary component in many communication and switching applications because it efficiently routes and switches data packets. This study shows how to construct a single-layer DBN using QCA. A single layer 2 × 2 crossbar network (CBN) with two inputs and two outputs is suggested and developed in QCA to create the proposed communication architecture. In this study, a 2 × 2 CBN is used as a preliminary building block to create a 4 × 4 DBN. We present a detailed analysis of the DBN design, including its architecture, functionality, and performance evaluation. For a fault-free crossbar switch design, the consequence of a fault that affects the control line is noticed and surpassed. Similarly, the proposed architectures' fault tolerance has been described by considering fault scenarios at the 2 × 2 CBN control lines. Considering the logic gates, number of clock cycles, and device size complexity of the designs are measured. All of the designs were implemented using QCADesigner software. The power dissipation of the suggested layouts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammation is a natural response of the body to signals of tissue damage or infection caused by pathogens. However, when it becomes imbalanced, it can lead to various disorders such as cancer, obesity, cardiovascular problems, neurological conditions, and diabetes. The endocannabinoid system, which is present throughout the body, plays a regulatory role in different organs and influences functions such as food intake, pain perception, stress response, glucose tolerance, inflammation, cell growth and specialization, and metabolism. Phytocannabinoids derived from Cannabis sativa can interact with this system and affect its functioning. In this study, we investigate the mechanisms underlying the anti-inflammatory effects of three minor phytocannabinoids including tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), cannabichromene (CBC), and cannabinol (CBN) using an in vitro system. We pre-treated THP-1 macrophages with different doses of phytocannabinoids or vehicle for one hour, followed by treating the cells with 500 ng/mL of LPS or leaving them untreated for three hours. To induce the second phase of NLRP3 inflammasome activation, LPS-treated cells were further treated with 5 mM ATP for 30 min. Our findings suggest that the mitigation of the PANX1/P2X7 axis plays a significant role in the anti-inflammatory effects of THCV and CBC on NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Additionally, we observed that CBC and THCV could also downregulate the IL-6/TYK-2/STAT-3 pathway. Furthermore, we discovered that CBN may exert its inhibitory impact on the assembly of the NLRP3 inflammasome by reducing PANX1 cleavage. Interestingly, we also found that the elevated ADAR1 transcript responded negatively to THCV and CBC in LPS-macrophages, indicating a potential involvement of ADAR1 in the anti-inflammatory effects of these two phytocannabinoids. THCV and CBN inhibit P-NF-κB, downregulating proinflammatory gene transcription. In summary, THCV, CBC, and CBN exert anti-inflammatory effects by influencing different stages of gene expression: transcription, post-transcriptional regulation, translation, and post-translational regulation.

In this paper, the effect of minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) on tool wear in the hard turning of 100Cr6 ball bearing steel has been investigated and the results are compared to those obtained through dry and wet lubrication methods. The tools used in the study include CBN and nano-CBN tools. The nano-CBN tool is a new generation of CBN tools manufactured based on nanotechnology. No research has been conducted on the impact of this tool on machining processes. The ratio of NCBN tool flank wear land to the CBN tool flank wear land in dry, wet and MQL methods were 0.18, 0.23 and 0.28, respectively. The wear of CBN tool in turning with MQL was 2.8 times greater than the wear of nano-CBN tool in dry machining. In turning with nano-CBN tool, the height of the tool flank wear with MQL was reduced by 22% and 7% concerning wet and dry methods, respectively, while these values were 51% and 24%, respectively, for the CBN tool. The CBN tool wear depends on the lubrication method but the wear of the nano-CBN tool is almost independent of the lubrication method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposes a novel design of binders for polycrystalline cubic boron nitride (PcBN) cutting tool materials. Well-known binder phases TiC and TiN were combined with transitional metal nitrides ZrN, VN, and HfN. Performance screenings of longitudinal turning Inconel 718 and AISI 316 L highlighted the superior performance of PcBN materials with mixed TiC-ZrN and TiC-VN binders. These two systems were further sintered in a wider range of temperatures. XRD and STEM-XEDS analysis confirmed mutual dissolution of both TiC and ZrN, and TiC and VN, thus forming two types of solid solutions (Ti,Zr)(C,N) and (Ti,V)(C,N). Extended performance tests showed that tools with TiC-ZrN binder outperform reference PcBN with TiC binder by up to 20% when machining Inconel 718. When machining hardened Caldie tool steel, the performance of tools with TiC-ZrN and TiC-VN binders were 80–90% higher than the reference tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nickel-based superalloys are known to be difficult to machine. These alloys are generally machined with cemented carbide tools under low productivity process conditions. Superhard polycrystalline cubic boron nitride (PcBN) tooling offers the possibility of increased production rates, however, a thorough understanding of the material performance and degradation is required before a transition from carbide tools occurs. This study investigated the performance and wear mechanism of three different PcBN tools with low (50 vol. %), medium (65 vol. %), and high (90 vol. %) cBN content, when turning AD730, a new Ni–Co-based superalloy. Due to the novelty of the material, little research has been done on its machinability with carbide and even less with PcBN tooling. The results showed the high-cBN grade was the best performer in terms of machining time. However, an undesirable wear morphology is generated, leading to excessively high cutting forces. Both the medium-cBN and low-cBN showed promise with stable rake and flank wear, but with notching as a drawback. Degradation analysis of medium-cBN grade revealed diffusional dissolution of cBN and formation of a reaction layer atop the cBN grains. The reaction layer, which acts as a diffusional barrier, consisted of three sub-layers: (1) Al 2 O 3 , (2) (Ti, Nb, Zr)N, and (3) (Ti, Cr, Nb, Zr)N. The low-cBN grade also showed a reaction layer; however, the smaller cBN grain size of this grade did not allow the layer to sufficiently stabilize. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ceramic cubic boron nitride (CBN) wheel is widely used in grinding field for its superior grinding performance. The random grain orientation of CBN grinding wheel with ceramic bond affects its grinding performance to a certain extent. In this paper, magnetically controlled ceramic CBN grinding wheel was prepared by magnetic field and sintering process. In order to improve the magnetic conductivity of the abrasive grains, nickel-plated CBN was used to replace the abrasive particles. It was found that the direction of the abrasive particles could be effectively controlled by adjusting the strength and properties of the magnetic field, so that the abrasive particles presented a chain distribution under the magnetic field. The experimental results showed that the nickel-plated CBN abrasive grains have good orientation and chain distribution in the bond power by using alternating magnetic field. Finally, experiments were carried out to study the grinding of GH4169 with magnetically controlled ceramic CBN grinding wheel, and the experimental results were compared with common ceramic CBN grinding wheel. It was confirmed that the grinding temperature and grinding force of GH4169 with magnetically controlled ceramic CBN grinding wheel were slightly lower than that of common grinding wheel, and the grinding surface quality is better than that of ordinary grinding wheel. In this paper, the method of preparing ceramic CBN grinding wheel with controllable grain orientation was established, and the system of evaluating the grinding wheel performance was constructed. It enriched the preparation process of ceramic bond CBN grinding wheel, and would have important significance for further expanding the application of ceramic CBN grinding wheel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cannabis is considered as heterogeneous matrix that contains complex profile of secondary metabolites, where more than 100 are classified as phytocannabinoids, present with an uneven distribution. In order to ensure its quality, application of suitable sample preparation techniques as well as time- and cost-efficient analytical methods is required. The DAB method depicts the obligatory procedure for potency testing of cannabinoids in cannabis flower in the EU. In this study we have performed method transfer in order to confirm the applicability of the method in determination of varying quantities of cannabioniods in different cannabis strains, focusing on samples with low content of CBD or THC or samples where one of these two cannabiniods is not detected. The HPLC-DAD method was validated and used for routine control of the content and consistency of medical cannabis. Limits of detection, limits of quantitation, accuracy, precision, and intermediate precision were found to be highly satisfactory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent developments in the production processes for cubic boron nitride (CBN) abrasive grains have led to commercially available grain sizes larger than lg > 300 µm. These superabrasive grains allow higher material removal rates during grinding of hardened steel components. Currently, these components are pre-machined by turning processes before being hardened and eventually finished by grinding. However, the turning process can be substituted by grinding with coarse CBN-grains since higher depths of cut are achievable when machining hardened components. This paper investigates the process behaviour of vitrified and electroplated grinding wheels with large grain sizes during the machining of hardened steel components. Process forces, wear behaviour and workpiece surface roughness are investigated for three different grain sizes, and the process limits of both bond types are examined. The investigations show that vitrified tools do not fully suit the demands for peel grinding process with high material removal rates since wear by bond breakage occurs. The electroplated tools on the other hand are capable of very high material removal rates. Their wear behaviour is characterized by clogging of the chip space if the process limit is reached. Even so, both tools outperform a standard hard-turning process in terms of process time by 74% and 94% respectively. This process time reduction in combination with the possibility to use the same (machine) tool to machine both soft and hard sections of a workpiece adds flexibility to current process chains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work is devoted to the calculation of the concentration of the radiation displacement defects in Ca0:28Ba0:72Nb2O6. The main purpose of this work is to determine the dependence of the concentration of defects induced by electrons and neutrons on Ca0:28Ba0:72Nb2O6 on their energy. The dependencies were determined on the basis of calculations made using the Monte Carlo method realized in the Atom Collision Cascade Simulation program. These dependencies can be approximated to known analytical functions. Energy dependence of radiation displacement defects concentrations as well as cascade function versus the energy of electrons and neutrons are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The vitrified bond CBN grinding wheels are characterized by high efficiency, high precision, and low environmental pollution. In recent years, the vitrified bond CBN grinding wheel has been widely used in manufacturing industries such as aerospace, automotive, and machine tools. In this study, a novel vitrified bond formulation containing nano SiO 2 and nano CeO 2 is selected to prepare the grinding wheel. The grinding experiments on 45# steel and YG20 alloy indicate that the grinding performance of the nano vitrified bond grinding wheel is significantly better than that of the conventional vitrified bond grinding wheel. The introduction of nano SiO 2 and nano CeO 2 greatly improves the machining performance of the vitrified bond CBN grinding wheel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In machining activities, sound emission is one of the key factors toward the operator's health and safety. Sound generation during cutting is the outcome of the interaction between tool and work. The intensity of sound greatly influences the cutting power consumption and surface finish obtained during machining. Therefore, the current work emphasized the analysis of sound emission, power consumption, and surface roughness in hard turning of AISI 4340 steel using a CBN tool which was rarely found in the literature. Response surface methodology (RSM) and artificial neural network (ANN) techniques were utilized to formulate the model for each response. The results indicated that the maximum value of input parameters exhibited the highest level of sound due to the creation of vibration in the machine and tool. Higher sound level indicates the generation of lower power consumption but at the same instant surface roughness was leading with increment in sound level. The feed rate exhibited the utmost noteworthy consequence on surface quality with 87.71% contribution. The cutting power can be decreased by choosing the high level of cutting parameters. The RSM and ANN have a good correlation with experimental data, but the accuracy of the ANN is better than the RSM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today, dry hard turning is widely used in the processing of hardened steel due to its advantages such as low cost, high machining efficiency and green environmental protection. In this study, hard turning tests were carried out under dry cutting conditions on hardened DIN 1.2367 (55 HRC) steel material. The effect of the cutting parameters (three different cutting speeds, three feed rates and three cutting depths) on the power consumption and sound level values was investigated. Power consumption and sound intensity were evaluated using statistical approach with analysis of variance (ANOVA). In a study different from the literature, the relationship between power consumption and sound level has been tried to be revealed. According to the experimental results, as the feed rate, depth of cut and cutting speed increase; sound level and instantaneous current value are increasing. The increase in the cutting parameters increases the instantaneous current value, but the total processing time is reduced, thus reducing the total power consumption.

[Display omitted] • Phases formed during deposition of Ti over cBN particles were identified. • Microstructure of boride and nitride phases in the coatings over cBN was shown. • Characteristic defects and their location in the coatings were documented. • Effect of Ti deposition over cBN for Active Coating Technology was assessed. Development of an active coating technology (ACT) was aimed at fabricating high strength sinters using metallized powders like in case of titanium coated cubic boron nitride (cBN). It helps to avoid inhomogeneity in distribution of the binder phase during their mixing, being the main defects in such compacts. The information concerning phase composition of the coating formed over cBN during their metallization would be of much help as it concerns setting a proper sintering temperature securing both durable fusion of boride particles and elimination of porosity. Presently, two commercial Ti coated cBN powders are available, i.e. CBN-B-TA, 6–12 µm, from Van Moppes, Switzerland and CeraMicron CM-CBN 80 Ti, 20–30 µm, from Ceratonia, Germany (coded as cBN-VM and cBN-CM, respectively). The present investigation was aimed at characterization of the coatings microstructure and phase composition, being necessary for optimising sintering procedure. The scanning and transmission electron microscopy observations backed with energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis (SEM/TEM/EDS) showed that the cBN-VM particles carried a coating of thickness varying from 50 nm to 150 nm consisting of TiB and TiN phases, while the cBN-CM ones were covered by a much thicker (∼500 nm) coating built of mostly of TiB and TiN 2 -type crystallites. As the columnar nitride phases formed bulk of the coatings, though at the coating/cBN substrate boundary a nano-crystalline layer of TiB phase was documented in both powders. The crystallites of boride phase were accompanied by a strings of porosity. The XRD measurements indicated also presence of small amounts of the α-Ti(N) phase, which was probably intermixed with the other phases without forming a separate sub-layer. The thinner coating, i.e. one that formed over cBN-VM powder, was contaminated with Cl and K being a residue from the molten salts synthesis (MSS) deposition, as well as some surface oxides. The gathered information makes a basis for elaboration of new generation of cBN sinters of improved properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The statistical moment method has been applied to investigate temperature effects on the thermodynamic and elastic properties of the cubic boron nitride (cBN). The analytical expressions of thermal-induced atomic displacement, the mean-square displacement, elastic constants (Young's modulus, bulk modulus, shear modulus, and longitudinal-wave elastic constant), and the bulk and longitudinal sound velocities of cBN compound have been derived. Our theoretical calculations are compared with previous experiments and computations showing reasonable agreement. We have shown that while the mechanical strength and Debye temperature of the cBN material are slightly reduced as temperature rises, the mean-square displacement function increases rapidly. The noticeable difference in mean-square displacements of B isotopes is observed at low temperature, and the disparity diminishes gradually at high temperatures. The calculations of the present work can be used as an appropriate reference for the future experiments. • Thermodynamic and elastic quantities of cBN are studied by statistical moment method. • This approach takes into account the anharmonicity of thermal lattice vibrations. • Mechanical strength and Debye temperature of cBN slightly change with temperature. • Mean-square displacement (MSD) function increases rapidly with temperature. • The noticeable difference in MSDs of B isotopes is observed at low temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]