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Coastal waters in the Quintero bay (central Chile) have increasing levels of contamination by trace elements from anthropic activities such metals. However, the toxic effects of this waters that receives industrial discharges on the organisms which inhabit the bay is unknown. Determination of toxic effects is fundamental in the evaluation of the environmental risk exposure of the aquatic organisms of ecosystems. The objective of the study was to evaluate the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of the water of the Quintero bay, which receives industrial residues, on Perumytilus purpuratus. Individuals were collected from five sites in the bay and one from a control site in the coastal area of Tunquén. The Neutral Red retention time and the frequency of micronuclei were determined in hemocytes and branchial tissue. The concentrations of the trace elements Cu, As, Zn and Cd were measured in the tissue. The results show significantly lower Neutral Red retention time and greater frequency of frequency of micronuclei in the individuals of Quintero Bay compared to the control zone. The order of the trace element concentrations in tissues was Zn > Cu > Cd ≥ As. The individuals with the highest concentrations of Cu in the tissue had the lowest retention times for neutral red and the highest frequencies of micronuclei. In conclusion, the waters of the study area in the Quintero Bay has chemical agents that produce cytotoxic and genotoxic effects in the individuals of P. purpuratus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The process of planar devices is approaching its physical limit, and through-silicon via (TSV) technology is the core of 3D integration technology that breaks Moore's law and has a competitive advantage. Chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) is a key process for removing excess copper in the TSV process. The composition of TSV copper film slurry is very important for achieving TSV wafer planarization. At the same time, as the slurry is a disposable product, the cost of copper polishing is relatively high, so the research and development of TSV copper film slurry has become a hot topic. This article reviews the research progress of TSV copper slurries both domestically and internationally from the perspective of improving the surface quality and polishing rate of copper polishing, as well as regulating the removal rate selection ratio of copper and barrier layer materials. It also predicts the future development direction of TSV copper film slurries. It is believed that TSV copper film slurries should be developed based on faster copper polishing rates, controllable copper and barrier layer polishing rate selection ratios, higher polishing quality, lower costs, and lower pollution with less environmental impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochemical reduction of CO2 is an efficient and novel strategy to reduce the amount of this greenhouse-effect pollutant gas in the atmosphere while synthesizing value-added products, all of it with an easy synergy with intermittent renewable energies. This study investigates the influence of different ways of combining electrodeposited Cu and Sn as metallic elements in the electrocatalyst. From there, the use of Sn alone or with a small amount of Cu beneath is investigated, and finally, the best catalyst obtained, which has Sn over a slight Cu layer, is evaluated in consecutive cycles to make an initial exploration of the catalyst durability. As a result of this work, after optimization of the Sn and Cu-based catalysts, it is possible to obtain more than 60% of the organic products of interest, predominantly CO, the main component of syngas. Finally, this great amount of CO is obtained under low cell potential (below 3 V), which is a remarkable result in terms of the cost of the process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrocatalytic C−N coupling for urea synthesis from carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrate (NO3−) offers a sustainable alternative to the traditional Bosch‐Meiser method. However, the complexity of intermediates in co‐reduction hampers simultaneous improvement in urea yield and Faradaic efficiency (FE). Herein, we developed a Cu/Cu2O Mott–Schottky catalyst with nanoscale rectifying heterointerfaces through precise controllable in situ electroreduction of Cu2O nanowires, achieving notable FE (32.6–47.0 %) and substantial yields (6.08–30.4 μmol h−1 cm−2) across a broad range of ultralow applied potentials (0 to −0.3 V vs. RHE). Operando synchrotron radiation‐Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (SR‐FTIR) confirmed the formation of *CO intermediates and C−N bonds, subsequently density functional theory (DFT) calculations deciphered that the Cu/Cu2O rectifying heterointerface modulated *CO adsorption, significantly enhancing subsequent C−N coupling dynamics between *CO and *NOH intermediates. This work not only provides a groundbreaking and advanced pathway for C−N coupling, but also offers deep insights into copper‐based heterointerface catalysts for urea synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, carbon nanotube (CNT) supported M(Bi, Cu, Fe, Nb) catalysts were prepared by the sodium borohydride (SBH) reduction method for hydrazine electro-oxidation. The structural and morphological surface analyses of the 3% Cu/CNT catalyst were characterized by X-Ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-Ray (SEM-EDX) and mapping analyses. The catalytic activities of the catalysts were investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) analysis. The 3% Cu/CNT catalyst exhibited the best catalytic activity compared to other catalysts, with a specific activity of 34.7 mA/cm2 . The electrocatalytic performance of the 3% Cu/CNT catalyst was investigated with different scan rates. It was also found to have the best resistance by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analysis. It has the potential to be a promising anode catalyst for direct hydrazine fuel cells (DHYPs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Case history: Over a period of 2 months in the spring and early summer of 2021, 13 cases of sudden death in cull ewes due to aortic rupture were diagnosed at a small number of New Zealand abattoirs. Clinical findings: In 12/13 (92%) cases, a large blood clot was present in the thorax, and in one case the blood clot was seen in the tissues dorsal to the heart. There were no obvious signs of external trauma. The pluck (heart and lungs) or fixed aorta was submitted for histological examination in seven cases and in all of these, a tear in the aorta was found. Comparing the microscopic appearance of the proximal aorta in these seven cases to three clinically normal ewes from unaffected farms, the aortic wall thickness appeared thinner in the case ewes than the unaffected ewes. Subjectively, there was increased collagen in the tunica media in 3/7 and decreased elastin fibres in 5/7 case ewes compared to the control ewes. Further investigations on the index farm (where the first cases originated), found that the mean liver and serum Cu concentrations in 10 similarly aged, clinically normal ewes were within the normal reference range for New Zealand sheep. Similarly, the liver Cu concentrations of the seven case ewes were within the normal reference range. Diagnosis: Aortic rupture due to an unknown aetiology. Clinical relevance: Clinicians should be aware of this condition as a differential diagnosis for sudden death in older sheep and to assist the Ministry for Primary Industries in establishing the extent of this problem in New Zealand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Static electroelastic behavior of a doubly curved shell composed of copper core reinforced with graphene origami auxetic metamaterial are studied in the present paper. The shell is subjected to uniform mechanical, electrical and thermal loads. To evaluate effective material properties, the micromechanical models are extended in terms of both material properties of matrix and reinforcement with changes of temperature, volume fraction, folding degree and geometric parameters of graphene nanoplatelets. After extension of energy method using piezoelasticity relations, the governing equations are analytically solved and the then the analytical solution is derived to explore importance of foldability and multifield loading on the responses. After that the comprehensive results are obtained with changes of thermal loading, graphene amount, folding degree, geometric characteristics and foundation's parameter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cleaning up carbon monoxide (CO) in water gas shift feedstocks is crucial for fuel cell applications. The catalytic transformation of CO in hydrogen-rich feeds poses a significant challenge in environmental catalysis. To address this issue, a range of Cu–Mn-based monometallic and bimetallic catalysts with diverse supports (such as alumina, silica, zirconia, and titania) were employed. Temperature programming techniques were utilised to observe the reduction and oxidation behaviours of these catalysts. The investigation involved testing CO oxidation at various temperatures over copper and manganese-based supported catalysts in the presence of H2O and CO2 (simulating realistic conditions). A positive impact of H2O on catalytic performance was noted, whereas CO2 had a suppressive effect. Furthermore, the specific support materials (Al2O3, SiO2, TiO2, and ZrO2) were studied to understand their roles in CO oxidation under realistic conditions. In the presence of water, alumina catalysts containing bimetallic metals (Cu–Mn) exhibited 100% CO conversion even at a lower temperature of 160 °C. Conversely, under the predominant influence of CO2, alumina catalyst (Cu–Mn) showed 55% CO conversion. The exceptional performance was attributed to CO preferential adsorption on highly active Cu–Mn sites and a small H2-oxidative atmosphere of the catalysts. The activity results highlighted the strong dependence of CO conversion on reaction temperatures, the presence of metals, and the types of supports. Overall, these findings suggest the potential use of these catalysts for H2 purification under realistic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growing concerns over metal pollution highlight the need for effective remediation strategies. This study evaluates the accumulation capacity and tolerance of Melia azedarach and Ailanthus altissima for trace elements (Pb, Zn, and Cu), aiming to assess their phytoremediation potential. Three-month-old seedlings of both species, grown from seeds collected at the Touissit mine site, were cultivated in perlite and irrigated with Hoagland nutrient solution. Plants were exposed to various concentrations of metal salts—Pb(NO3)2 (8, 40, and 80 mg.L−1), ZnSO4 (8, 40, and 80 mg.L−1), and CuSO4 (2, 10, and 20 mg.L−1)—over a 90-day period. Growth, biomass, metal accumulation, chlorophyll, and carotenoid contents were measured. Results indicate that M. azedarach exhibited enhanced biomass under Pb exposure, suggesting notable tolerance and potential for phytoremediation. Conversely, A. altissima showed an initial increase in biomass at low Pb levels, followed by a significant reduction at higher concentrations. Both species demonstrated decreased biomass under Zn and Cu treatments, with varying degrees of sensitivity. Notably, A. altissima accumulated significant levels of Pb, Zn, and Cu, particularly in the roots, indicating high phytoremediation potential. While M. azedarach also accumulated metals, levels were comparatively lower. Both species maintained chlorophyll content under metal stress, indicating resilience. Overall, this hydroponic screening highlights the considerable capacities of M. azedarach and A. altissima for Pb, Zn, and Cu tolerance, with A. altissima showing particularly high potential for Pb phytostabilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Mining & Metallurgical Engineering is the property of Mining & Metallurgical Engineering 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.)

Copyright of Mining & Metallurgical Engineering is the property of Mining & Metallurgical Engineering 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.)

Safe emplacement of high-level nuclear waste (HLNW) arising from the utilization of nuclear power is a frequently encountered and considerably challenging issue. The widely accepted and feasible approach for the permanent disposal of HLNW involves housing it in a corrosion-resistant container and subsequently burying it deep in a geologic repository. The focus lies on ensuring the durability and integrity of the container in this process. This review introduces various techniques and strategies employed in controlling the corrosion of used fuel containers (UFCs) using copper (Cu) as corrosion barrier in the context of deep geological disposal. Overall, these corrosion prevention techniques and methods have been effectively implemented and employed to successfully mitigate the corrosion challenges encountered during the permanent disposal of Cu containers (e.g., corrosion mechanisms and corrosion parameters) in deep geologic repositories. The primary objective of this review is to provide an extensive examination of the alteration in the corrosion environment encountered by the UFCs when subjected to deep geologic repository conditions and focusing on addressing the potential corrosion scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mg-Cu bimetallic materials have been widely studied because of their low density, good electrical conductivity, and excellent hydrogen storage properties. However, the interface bonding strength of Mg/Cu is low. In this study, we examined the effect of hot-dip tin coating (HDTC) with copper (Cu) on the interfacial metallurgical bonds between AZ91D Magnesium (Mg) alloy and Cu composite casting. A transition layer composed of Mg2Cu and MgCu2 intermetallic compounds (IMCs) formed at the interface of the AZ91D/HDTC-Cu composite casting. However, the transition layer was about 1 μm at the AZ91D/Cu interface, mainly comprising Mg(Al, Cu)2 IMC. Both the AZ91D/Cu and AZ91D/HDTC-Cu interfaces exhibited many labyrinthine Mg(Al, Cu)2 IMCs and layer-like Mg2(Al, Cu) IMCs. Moreover, the interfacial shear strength of the AZ91D/Cu was changed from 12.6 MPa to 52.4 MPa due to the solid solution of Sn atom and the precipitation of Mg2Sn IMC at the interface after HDTC treatment. Meanwhile, the shear fracture surfaces are characterized by brittle fractures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compared to bulk metals, metallic nanoparticles are much more unstable and susceptible to oxidation. Although this instability is often attributed to the increased surface energy resulting from a larger surface area, defects may further degrade the stability. The instability of defect-introduced metallic nanoparticles is quantitatively evaluated by electrochemical measurements in this study. These nanoparticles exhibit lower electrode potentials compared to pure metal plates, and the degree of instability caused by defect introduction can be quantified from a Gibbs free energy perspective. Furthermore, we discuss the redox rates based on polarization curves to correlate instability with the actual dissolution (oxidation) behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By applying an aluminum coating to the copper-nickel alloy resistor, we successfully utilized air sintering. At 800 and 850°C, the alloy was sintered within an aluminum layer. This coating of aluminum serves as a protective layer. The copper-nickel was not oxidized as a result. After wet etching, the protective coating of aluminum was removed, leaving alloy resistors with Temperature Coefficient of Resistance (TCR) values of 417.86 ppm/°C. We produced an alloy paste using copper-nickel alloy (7:3) and then used screen printing to create thick-film alloy resistors. Therefore, it is feasible to create copper-nickel alloy resistors by air sintering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To compare the responses of liver Cu concentrations in dairy cows between three forms of injectable Cu supplementation and a negative control group. Methods: Across two dairy farms in North Canterbury, New Zealand, 80 mid-lactation dairy cows (n = 28 and 52 per farm) were randomly allocated to four treatment groups: (a) 100-mg or (b) 200-mg dose of Cu administered as Ca Cu EDTA; (c) 75-mg dose of Cu as disodium Cu EDTA combined with Se, Zn, and Mn; or (d) no treatment (negative control). Each treatment group contained 20 cows. Groups were balanced for age, plasma Cu and pre-treatment liver Cu concentration. Blood samples and liver biopsies were collected prior to treatment. Six liver biopsies were performed on the same cow over a period of 70 days and the concentration of liver Cu was measured over time and compared to pre-treatment baseline. A mixed, multivariable, linear regression model was constructed to determine the effect of treatment on the change in liver Cu concentration compared to pre-treatment concentrations, accounting for repeated measurements taken from each cow. Results: There was a difference in the distribution of pre-treatment liver Cu concentration between farms (p = 0.008), with medians of 1,400 (IQR 1,200–1,625) and 1,050 (IQR 805–1,425) µmol/kg on Farms 1 and 2, respectively. There was an interaction between treatment group, study day, and farm, with a treatment effect confirmed only on Farm 2. In the final model, the predicted change in liver Cu concentration (compared to pre-treatment concentrations) among cows on Farm 2 that were treated with 200 mg of Ca Cu EDTA was significantly higher than that of control cows on Days 3, 14, 28 and 42, peaking on Day 14 with a difference of 325.35 (95% CI = 97.00–554.03) µmol/kg. The study found no associations between changes in liver Cu concentration and age or prior plasma Cu concentration. The intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.57 (95% CI = 0.45–0.66), indicating the proportion of variability in changes in liver Cu concentration attributable to inter-cow variation. Conclusions and clinical relevance: This study shows there are differences in response to injectable Cu supplementation at the farm level and wide variation in liver Cu among cows from the same farm. On one farm, a 200-mg dosage of Ca Cu EDTA significantly increased liver Cu concentration for at least 42 days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Povidone-iodine is identified as one of the widely applicable antiseptic reagents for treatment of skin infection and wound healing. Controllable releasing of povidone-iodine is extensively required for healing of chronic wounds. The release of povidone-iodine was systematically studied from the composites based on carboxymethyl starch (CMS). Currently, different ratios from copper precursor and L-aspartic acid (L-AA) were interacted with CMS to obtain Cu-L-AA@CMS composites. Increment the percentage of L-AA was reflected in clustering of dense masses from the desirable composite with highly crystalline/stable structural network. Regardless to pH conditions, Cu-L-AA(30%)@CMS composite showed the highest efficiency for controllable release of povidone-iodine, whereas, the release percentages were estimated to be 58%, 32% and 18% at pH 5, 7 and 9, respectively. The kinetic results revealed the impossibility of povidone-iodine releasing via diffusion/erosion for further support of the hypothesis of releasing via swelling process. Moreover, the release of povidone-iodine using column technique showed that the lowest release was estimated at using high rate of 6 mL/min. Besides the biocompatibility and biodegradability of the prepared Cu-L-AA@CMS composites, it showed the superiority for controllable release of povidone-iodine antiseptic reagent to regulate its beneficial effect in curing of the skin.

Bimetallic nanoparticles (BNPs) have garnered a great interest rather than monometallic nanoparticles (NPs) in terms of biotechnological applications due to their enhanced properties. They have a growing interest as promising biomedical agents for drug delivery, antibacterial, and anticancer treatments due to their significant permeability and retention effects. Both of nano-size copper (Cu) and selenium (Se) exhibited a significant activity in biological treatment and drug delivery systems. Consequently, the present work aimed to focus on the novel biogenic synthesis of Cu-Se BNPs using cell-free extract of a marine bacterium, and studying their anticancer and antioxidant activities. Based on 16S rDNA sequencing, the isolated marine bacterium was identified Bacillus amyloliquefaciens by phylogenetic analysis. Biogenic synthesis of Cu-Se BNPs was optimized by studying the effect of some physiological factors such as reaction time, pH, and temperature. Based on the reaction conditions, the biologically synthesized Cu-Se NPs was obtained with different particle size that ranged from 15.7-106.0 nm. The spherical small sized (15.7 nm) bimetallic Cu-Se BNPs displayed anticancer activity against HepG2 and MDA cell lines, while the cell viability was reduced by 87 % and 81 %, respectively. The estimated IC50 values were 696.4 µg/ ml for HepG2 and 273.9 µg/ ml for MDA, while scavenging capacity (SC) of Cu-Se BNPs (SC50 = 305.3 µM) showed lower ability to 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH) scavenging compared to ascorbic acid (SC50 = 95.9 µM).

Flow cells featuring a gas diffusion electrode (GDE) have emerged as an attractive platform for electrochemical CO2 reduction, offering high current densities (~300 mA·cm−2) and low energy consumption. However, the formation of salt precipitates, particularly carbonate and bicarbonate, poses a significant deficiency by reducing the cell's operational longevity. In this study, we present a novel approach to mitigate salt precipitates in real-time through acid–base interaction. Recovery efficiency and partial current density of the cell were used to evaluate the capability of removing salt precipitates and the maintenance of CO2 reduction reactions (CO2RRs). It was suggested that the direct treatment of intermittent acid rinse recovers the performance of CO2RRs to a large extent (>97%), and the modification of the proton exchange resin reduces the reduction rate of partial current densities to 1/15 than that of the unmodified. This improvement enhances the cell's catalytic performance, enabling the stability test for catalysts within the GDE-based flow cell. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the impacts of laser irradiation on the surface morphology and hardness of copper (Cu) are investigated under various environments, including air, vacuum, and high-pressure gas flow through a supersonic nozzle. After irradiating Cu targets with laser pulses with energy of 30, 60, and 90 mJ/pulse, the surface structures of the targets are analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The SEM analysis reveals diverse surface morphologies, including micro-cones, cavities, droplets, ripples, and island-like structures, depending on laser energy and environments. The XRD analysis provides insights into the structural changes induced by laser irradiation. The results indicate a significant enhancement in microhardness by a factor of 2.77, which is attributed to the surface and structural modifications incurred under various environments. In addition, the XRD analysis reveals a shift in the residual stress in the surface layers of copper from tensile before laser irradiation to compressive afterwards, highlighting the effectiveness of laser surface treatment in inducing favorable mechanical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Povidone-iodine is identified as one of the widely applicable antiseptic reagents for treatment of skin infection and wound healing. Controllable releasing of povidone-iodine is extensively required for healing of chronic wounds. The release of povidone-iodine was systematically studied from the composites based on carboxymethyl starch (CMS). Currently, different ratios from copper precursor and L-aspartic acid (L-AA) were interacted with CMS to obtain Cu-L-AA@CMS composites. Increment the percentage of L-AA was reflected in clustering of dense masses from the desirable composite with highly crystalline/stable structural network. Regardless to pH conditions, Cu-L-AA(30%)@CMS composite showed the highest efficiency for controllable release of povidone-iodine, whereas, the release percentages were estimated to be 58%, 32% and 18% at pH 5, 7 and 9, respectively. The kinetic results revealed the impossibility of povidone-iodine releasing via diffusion/erosion for further support of the hypothesis of releasing via swelling process. Moreover, the release of povidone-iodine using column technique showed that the lowest release was estimated at using high rate of 6 mL/min. Besides the biocompatibility and biodegradability of the prepared Cu-L-AA@CMS composites, it showed the superiority for controllable release of povidone-iodine antiseptic reagent to regulate its beneficial effect in curing of the skin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyamide 66 (PA66) has been used for dynamic bearing applications due to its good wear and abrasion resistance, hardness, and rigidity. PA66/copper micro-composites were studied with respect to micro-mechanical, tribological, and structural properties. A mixing step followed by injection molding was used to develop the different composites: PA66+5 wt.% Cu, PA66+10 wt.% Cu, and PA66+15 wt.% Cu. The morphological aspects of the composites were studied using scanning electron microscopy and microtomography. Good dispersion and adhesion of Cu particles across the matrix were also seen. DSC analysis showed a slight improvement in the % of crystallinity and thermal characteristics of the composites, particularly with 5 wt.% filler. Additional crystallization enhanced the tensile performance of the composites, including the modulus, elongation at break, and tensile strength. Nanoindentation tests also indicated an increase in indentation hardness and elastic modulus as a function of the filler fraction. A pin-on-disk tribometer was used to study the friction and wear properties of neat PA66 and copper-filled PA66 composites. It was found that the composite with 5 weight percent copper had the best wear resistance. A progressive decrease in the friction coefficient was also seen. Copper filler increases hardness and may effectively reduce the temperature at contact interfaces during rotating cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clean and O-(2 2 × 2 ) R45° Cu(100) surfaces were prepared to study the impact of surface oxygen on the activation of methane dissociation. Auger electron spectroscopy, low energy electron diffraction, infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy, scanning tunneling microscope, and a quadrupole mass-spectrometer for temperature programmed desorption were used to explore the behavior of CH4 on the two surfaces. The dissociative adsorption of CH4 was observed on oxygen-pre-covered Cu(100) but not on the clean surface indicating surface oxygen promotes the dissociation of the C–H bond. This study can be a reference for the conversion of methane into other high-value-added products with high efficiency and low energy consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) wood samples were treated with 3 different major wood preservatives (alkaline copper quaternary (ACQ), copper chrome boron (CCB) and copper azole (CuA)). Treated wood samples were subjected to 1 and 3 months of leaching in 3 different soil types and the amount of leached heavy metal Cu was determined on a laboratory scale. In addition, wood samples were exposed to white rot (Trametes versicolor) and brown rot (Neolentinus lepideus) fungi after leaching and weight losses were calculated. At the end of the 1 and 3 months of leaching period, the soil samples were taken from the pots and the amount of Cu was determined. The lowest Cu content (4.3 mg/kg) was detected in the samples treated with CCB among the wood preservatives, while the highest content (196.3 mg/kg) was determined in ACQ. The lowest Cu amount was determined in loamy sand soil type and the highest Cu amount was determined in clay loam soil type. According to the findings from the current study, leaching in soil did not affect weight losses caused by T. versicolor, while significant weight losses occurred by N. lepideus. This study indicated that loamy sand soil is more suitable for the treated wood if there is a risk regarding leaching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inhalation of nanosized metal oxides may occur at the workplace. Thus, information on potential hazardous effects is needed for risk assessment. We report an investigation of the genotoxic potential of different metal oxide nanomaterials. Acellular and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production were determined for all the studied nanomaterials. Moreover, mice were exposed by intratracheal instillation to copper oxide (CuO) at 2, 6, and 12 μg/mouse, tin oxide (SnO2) at 54 and 162 μg/mouse, aluminum oxide (Al2O3) at 18 and 54 μg/mouse, zinc oxide (ZnO) at 0.7 and 2 μg/mouse, titanium dioxide (TiO2) and the benchmark carbon black at 162 μg/mouse. The doses were selected based on pilot studies. Post‐exposure time points were 1 or 28 days. Genotoxicity, assessed as DNA strand breaks by the comet assay, was measured in lung and liver tissue. The acellular and intracellular ROS measurements were fairly consistent. The CuO and the carbon black bench mark particle were potent ROS generators in both assays, followed by TiO2. Al2O3, ZnO, and SnO2 generated low levels of ROS. We detected no increased genotoxicity in this study using occupationally relevant dose levels of metal oxide nanomaterials after pulmonary exposure in mice, except for a slight increase in DNA damage in liver tissue at the highest dose of CuO. The present data add to the body of evidence for risk assessment of these metal oxides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The low thermal conductivity, the small magnitude of modulus of elasticity, and the high chemical reactivity of Ti-6Al-4V make it difficult to machine this material using traditional processes. The intended requirements for the applications of the said alloy, like in biomedical and aerospace, further complicate its processing. Thereof, electric discharge machining (EDM) opted for this alloy. However, intrinsic issues of EDM, that is, electrode wear rate (EWR) and dimensional overcuts, restricted its utilization. Therefore, the potential of three powder-based additives and dielectric fluids against different electrode materials has been deeply envisaged to address the abovementioned issues. Because the choice of best dielectric has a direct bearing on heat input to the electrode which influences the melting/vaporization of the tool wear of the electrode. It is worth mentioning that these concerns have not been discussed so far in such a broad spectrum. Taguchi's experimental design is used for experimentation. The results show that transformer oil performance is best rated compared to other dielectrics. Overall, the reduction in tool wear rate and overcut obtained with transformer oil is 21.3% and 21.4%, respectively, in contrast to the other dielectrics. The electrode of Cu outperforms for yielding the smaller value of overcut and tool wear rate. In the case of micro-additives, alumina has proved its potential for lowering the electrode wear rate. Deep and wide craters of a depth of 150 µm have been observed by using the brass electrode in kerosene oil, whereas the small and shallow craters of 38 µm depth have been encountered using the Cu electrode in the presence of transformer oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]