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The selection of appropriate materials is crucial in mechanical and structural design processes. This research study focuses on the fabrication of epoxy-based composites reinforced with Kota stone dust using a manual hand layup process. To simplify the material selection process, various Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) approaches were utilized. In this research, hybrid MCDM approaches, such as the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and multi-objective optimization based on ratio analysis (MOORA), were employed to rank the epoxy composites filled with Kota stone dust. The AHP method was utilized to determine the weightage of each criterion, while the MOORA technique was used to rank the composites. Manual hand layup method was used for fabrication of composites. The selection of criteria was based on the physical and mechanical properties of the fabricated composites. The results indicate that epoxy composites containing 20% Kota stone dust are the most efficient for structural applications.

The influence of plasma screening on the excitation energies and transition properties of He-like [Ni.sup.26+] ion under strongly coupled plasma background has been analyzed. To perform the analysis, the multi-configuration Dirac-Fock method has been adopted by incorporating the ion sphere model potential as a modified interaction potential between the electron and the nucleus. For comparison purposes, parallel calculations have been carried out using the modified relativistic configuration interaction method. It is found that the transition energies corresponding to principal quantum number conserving transitions ([delta]n = 0) are blue shifted, whereas they are redshifted for the transitions where the principal quantum number is not conserved ([delta]n [not equal to] 0). The variation of transition probabilities and weighted oscillator strengths with free electron densities has also been studied. The present results should be advantageous in the modeling and diagnostics of astrophysical and laboratory plasmas. Key words: strongly coupled plasma, ion sphere model, atomic structure, transition properties. Nous analysons l'influence de l'ecrantage de Debye sur les energies d'excitation et les proprietes de transition de l'ion [Ni.sup.26+] de type He sous fond de plasma fortement couple. Afin de completer cette etude, nous adoptons la methode de Dirac-Fock multi-configurations en incorporant le potentiel du modele de la sphere ionique (MSI/ISM) comme un potentiel d'interaction modifiee entre l'electron et le noyau. Pour fins de comparaison, des calculs sont faits en parallele en utilisant la methode modifiee d'interaction relativiste de configurations. Nous trouvons que les deplacements d'energie du plasma qui correspondent aux transitions conservant le nombre quantique principal ([delta]n = 0) se font vers le bleu, alors qu'elles vont vers le rouge si n n'est pas conserve ([delta]n [not equal to] 0). Nous etudions aussi la variation des probabilites de transition et des forces d'oscillateur ponderees selon la densite des electrons libres. Nos resultats devraient etre utiles a la modelisation et au diagnostic des plasmas en laboratoire et en astrophysique. [Traduit par la Redaction] Mots-cles : plasma fortement couple, modele de la sphere ionique, structure atomique, proprietes de transition., 1. Introduction Investigation of the structural properties of atomic systems in strongly coupled plasma environments has attracted a lot of attention during the past several years due to their practical [...]

Background: The disruption of the circadian clock is associated with inflammatory and immunological disorders. BMAL2, a critical circadian protein, forms a dimer with CLOCK, activating transcription. Extracellular cold-inducible RNA-binding protein (eCIRP), released during sepsis, can induce macrophage endotoxin tolerance. We hypothesized that eCIRP induces BMAL2 expression and promotes macrophage endotoxin tolerance through triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (TREM-1). Methods: C57BL/6 wild-type (WT) male mice were subjected to sepsis by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Serum levels of eCIRP 20 h post-CLP were assessed by ELISA. Peritoneal macrophages (PerM) were treated with recombinant mouse (rm) CIRP (eCIRP) at various doses for 24 h. The cells were then stimulated with LPS for 5 h. The levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in the culture supernatants were assessed by ELISA. PerM were treated with eCIRP for 24 h, and the expression of PD-L1, IL-10, STAT3, TREM-1 and circadian genes such as BMAL2, CRY1, and PER2 was assessed by qPCR. Effect of TREM-1 on eCIRP-induced PerM endotoxin tolerance and PD-L1, IL-10, and STAT3 expression was determined by qPCR using PerM from TREM-1-/- mice. Circadian gene expression profiles in eCIRP-treated macrophages were determined by PCR array and confirmed by qPCR. Induction of BMAL2 activation in bone marrow-derived macrophages was performed by transfection of BMAL2 CRISPR activation plasmid. The interaction of BMAL2 in the PD-L1 promoter was determined by computational modeling and confirmed by the BIAcore assay. Results: Serum levels of eCIRP were increased in septic mice compared to sham mice. Macrophages pre-treated with eCIRP exhibited reduced TNFa and IL-6 release upon LPS challenge, indicating macrophage endotoxin tolerance. Additionally, eCIRP increased the expression of PD-L1, IL-10, and STAT3, markers of immune tolerance. Interestingly, TREM-1 deficiency reversed eCIRPinduced macrophage endotoxin tolerance and significantly decreased PD-L1, IL-10, and STAT3 expression. PCR array screening of circadian clock genes in peritoneal macrophages treated with eCIRP revealed the elevated expression of BMAL2, CRY1, and PER2. In eCIRP-treated macrophages, TREM-1 deficiency prevented the upregulation of these circadian genes. In macrophages, inducible BMAL2 expression correlated with increased PD-L1 expression. In septic human patients, blood monocytes exhibited increased expression of BMAL2 and PD-L1 in comparison to healthy subjects. Computational modeling and BIAcore assay identified a putative binding region of BMAL2 in the PD-L1 promoter, suggesting BMAL2 positively regulates PD-L1 expression in macrophages. Conclusion: eCIRP upregulates BMAL2 expression via TREM-1, leading to macrophage endotoxin tolerance in sepsis. Targeting eCIRP to maintain circadian rhythm may correct endotoxin tolerance and enhance host resistance to bacterial infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An extended calculation of energy levels, radiative rates, and lifetimes are reported for sodium-like chromium. Extensive configuration interaction calculations have been performed using general-purpose relativistic atomic structure package (GRASP). The radiative rates, oscillator strengths, and line strengths are listed for all electric dipole (E1) transitions. However, for magnetic dipole (M1), electric quadrupole (E2), and magnetic quadrupole (M2) transitions, only radiative rates are listed. The importance of valence-valence (VV) and core-valence (CV) correlation effects in the calculation of energy levels have also been shown. To confirm the accuracy of the present results for energy levels by GRASP, independent calculations have been performed by using Flexible Atomic Code (FAC) and configuration interaction method (CIV3). The accuracy of the present levels, wavelengths, transition rates, and lifetimes are assessed by comparing them to available experimental and other theoretical results. We believe that our extensive results may be beneficial in fusion plasma research and astrophysical investigations and applications. Key words: energy levels, transitions wavelength, extreme ultraviolet, soft X-ray, lifetime. Nous presentons un calcul approfondi des niveaux d'energie, des taux radiatifs et des temps de vie pour le chrome de type sodium. Ces calculs d'interaction de configurations etendus sont faits en utilisant l'ensemble logiciel a usage general de structure atomique relativiste (GRASP). Nous faisons la liste des taux radiatifs, des forces d'oscillateur et des intensites de raie pour toutes les transitions dipolaires electriques (E1). Pour les transitions dipolaires magnetiques (M1), quadripolaires electriques (E2) et magnetiques (M2), seuls les taux radiatifs sont presentes. Nous illustrons egalement l'importance des correlations valence-valence (VV) et creur-valence (CV) dans le calcul des niveaux d'energie. Pour verifier les resultats obtenus, nous refaisons les calculs en utilisant le logiciel atomique flexible (FAC) et la methode d'interaction de configurations (CIV3). La precision de nos resultats est verifiee par comparaison avec d'autres resultats experimentaux et theoriques dans la litterature. Nous croyons que la vaste etendue de nos resultats les rend utiles pour la recherche sur les plasmas et la fusion et les investigations en astrophysique. [Traduit par la Redaction] Mots-cles: niveaux d'energie, longueur d'onde de transition, ultraviolet extreme, rayon X mou, temps de vie., 1. Introduction During the past few years, the spectra of multiply charged ions have become a subject of astrophysical interest as satellite-borne telescopes and instruments expand the range of detectable [...]