Effect of deep cryogenic treatment on the properties of 80CrMo12 5 tool steel

The effect of deep cryogenic treatment on the mechanical properties of 80CrMo12 5 tool steel was investigated. Moreover, the effects of stabilization (holding at room temperature for some periods before deep cryogenic treatment) and tempering before deep cryogenic treatment were studied. The results show that deep cryogenic treatment can eliminate the retained austenite, making a better carbide distribution and a higher carbide amount. As a result, a remarkable improvement in wear resistance of cryogenically treated specimens is observed. Moreover, the ultimate tensile strength increases, and the toughness of the sample decreases. It is also found that both stabilization and tempering before deep cryogenic treatment decrease the wear resistance, hardness, and carbides homogeneity compared to the deep cryogenically treated samples. It is concluded that deep cryogenic treatment should be performed without any delay on samples after quenching to reach the highest wear resistance and hardness.     

Analysis of biomarkers for the cross-linkage of formaldehyde with bovine serum albumin peptides

Formaldehyde, a well-known environmental toxic hazard, has been found to produce endogenously via semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase-catalyzed oxidative deamination of methylamine. In diabetes, the activity of SSAO has been found to increase with a subsequent increase in endogenous formaldehyde production. It has been postulated that SSAO-induced production of formaldehyde may be involved in the alteration of protein structure, which may subsequently cause protein deposition associated with chronic pathological disorders. Formaldehyde has also been found to react （cross-link） with amino group of the N-terminal amino acid residue and with the side-chains of arginine, cysteine, histidine and lysine residues. Therefore, formaldehyde may be responsible, at least in part, for protein cross-linkage, oxidative stress and cytotoxicity. The cross-linking of formaldehyde with bovine serum albumin was studied using LC-MS and Mascot database. The peptides sequence for control BSA （untreated） digested with trypsin was matched in the online database search query by exporting the MS/MS data to online MASCOT database. In this way, a total of twenty-seven peptides were matched in the database search query. These twenty-seven peptides were then searched manually in all of the tryptic BSA samples treated with different concentrations of FA that were incubated in different time intervals. Six formaldehyde-treated BSA peptides （FKDLGEEHFK, HLVDEPQNLIK, KVPQVSTPTLVEVSR, RPCFSALTPDETYVPK, LVNELTEFAK, DAFLGSFLYEYSR） were found to be the possible markers for formaldehyde-protein/peptides adducts.     

Effect of SrCO<Subscript>3</Subscript> addition on the dynamic compressive strength of ZTA

Ceramic parts usually experience dynamic load in armor applications. Therefore, studying the dynamic behaviors of ceramics is important. Limited data are available on the dynamic behaviors of ceramics; thus, it is helpful to predict the dynamic strength of ceramics on the basis of their mechanical properties. In this paper, the addition of SrCO₃ into zirconia-toughened alumina (ZTA) was demonstrated to improve the fracture toughness of ZTA due to the formation of the SrAl₁₂O₁₉ (SA6) phase. The porosity of ZTA was found to be increased by the addition of SrCO₃. These newly formed pores served as the nucleation sites of cracks under dynamic load; these cracks eventually coalesced to form damaged zones in the samples. Although the K IC values of the samples were improved, the dynamic strength was not enhanced because of the increase in porosity; in fact, the dynamic strength of ZTA ceramics decreased with the addition of SrCO₃.     

Giant magneto resistance and temperature coefficient of resistance in Sm0.55Sr0.30Ag0.15MnO3 perovskite

Silver ions substituted samarium strontium manganite (Sm0.55Sr0.30Ag0.15MnO3) pervoskite was synthesized by using respective oxides in stoichiometric ratio through solid state reaction. The as-prepared sample was characterized by various analytical techniques to confirm its formation and understand the effect of monovalent silver ions in pervoskite lattice. X-ray diffraction pattern confirms the single phase formation while grain morphology in SEM image indicates good connectivity among the grains. The enhancement in metal to insulator transition temperature shows quenched disorder and magnetoresistance phenomena. The magnetoresistance (MR) and temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) emerge from grain growth factor and homogeneity induced by Ag+ ions in the lattice. The reduction in hysteresis loss resulted from antiferromagnetic - ferromagnetic (TN) and ferromagnetic - paramagnetic (Tc) transitions reveals the removal of disorder in perovskite lattice by Ag+ ions substitution. This increases the magnetic moment across distinct ions on the applying magnetic field. The rise in MR% (~99%) with silver doping emerging from smooth spin tunneling of the grains across the boundary and suppression of the disordered magnetic fluctuations with increase in magnetic field has been reported. The present compound exhibits the first order nature of magnetism and observed first time the highest value of TCR ~ 95%.     

Genetic studies on gynandromorphism (sgm,gm) inCulex pipiens fatigans

Summary Individuals showing anterior-posterior gynandromorphism or somatic mosaicism of palpi respectively have been found in a laboratory strain ofCulex pipiens fatigans. The origin of the gynanders on the basis of binucleated eggs bearing anm factor and independently fertilized by male gemetes ofM andm genotype respectively has been suggested.This study was supported by the grant (No. 7/112/919/81 EMR-1), Council of Scientific and Industrial Research Govt., of India.     

Genetic variation in human NPY expression affects stress response and emotion

Understanding inter-individual differences in stress response requires the explanation of genetic influences at multiple phenotypic levels, including complex behaviours and the metabolic responses of brain regions to emotional stimuli. Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is anxiolytic and its release is induced by stress. NPY is abundantly expressed in regions of the limbic system that are implicated in arousal and in the assignment of emotional valences to stimuli and memories. Here we show that haplotype-driven NPY expression predicts brain responses to emotional and stress challenges and also inversely correlates with trait anxiety. NPY haplotypes predicted levels of NPY messenger RNA in post-mortem brain and lymphoblasts, and levels of plasma NPY. Lower haplotype-driven NPY expression predicted higher emotion-induced activation of the amygdala, as well as diminished resiliency as assessed by pain/stress-induced activations of endogenous opioid neurotransmission in various brain regions. A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP rs16147) located in the promoter region alters NPY expression in vitro and seems to account for more than half of the variation in expression in vivo. These convergent findings are consistent with the function of NPY as an anxiolytic peptide and help to explain inter-individual variation in resiliency to stress, a risk factor for many diseases.     

Boundary layer flow and heat transfer of a micropolar fluid near the stagnation point on a stretching vertical surface with prescribed skin friction

The steady laminar mixed convection boundary layer flow and heat transfer of a micropolar fluid near the stagnation point on a stretched vertical surface with prescribed skin friction were considered. The governing partial differential equations were transformed into a system of ordinary differential equations, which were then solved numerically using the shooting method. Results for the stretching velocity, the local Nusselt number, the temperature, and the velocity profiles are presented for various values of the mixed convection parameter λ and material parameter K when the Prandtl number is equal to 1. Both assisting (heated plate) and opposing (cooled plate) flow regions are considered. It is found that dual solutions exist for both assisting and opposing flows.     

Synthesis of titanium oxycarbonitride by carbothermal reduction and nitridation of ilmenite with recycling of polyethylene terephthalate (PET)

An innovative and sustainable carbothermal reduction and nitridation (CTRN) process of ilmenite (FeTiO₃) using a mixture of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and coal as the primary reductant under an H₂-N₂ atmosphere was proposed.The use of PET as an alternative source of carbon not only enhances the porosity of the pellets but also results in the separation of Fe from titanium oxycarbonitride (TiO_xC_yN_z) particles because of the differences in surface tension.The experiments were carried out at 1250℃ for 3 h using four different PET contents ranging from 25wt% to 100wt% in the reductant.X-ray diffraction (XRD),scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in conjunction with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX),and LECO elemental analysis were used to study the phases and microstructures of the reduced samples.In the case of 75wt% PET,iron distinctly separated from the synthesized TiO_xC_yN_z phase.With increasing PET content in the sample,the reduction and nitridation rates substantially increased.The synthesis of an oxycarbonitride with stoichiometry of TiO_0.02C_0.13N_0.85 with minimal intermediate titanium sub-oxides was achieved.The results also showed that the iron particles formed from CTRN of FeTiO₃ exhibited a spherical morphology,which is conducive for Fe removal via the Becher process.     

Solidification,microstructure, and mechanical properties of the as-cast ZRE1 magnesium alloy with different praseodymium contents

The influence of praseodymium (Pr) content on the solidification characteristics, microstructure, and mechanical properties of ZRE1 magnesium (Mg) cast alloy was investigated. The obtained solidification parameters showed that Pr strongly affected the solidification time, leading to refinement of the microstructure of the alloys. When the freezing time was reduced to approximately 52 s, the grain size decreased by 12%. Mg₁₂Zn (Ce,Pr) was formed as a new phase upon the addition of Pr and was detected via X-ray diffraction analysis. The addition of Pr led to a substantial improvement in mechanical properties, which was attributed to the formation of intermetallic compounds; the ultimate tensile strength and yield strength increased by approximately 10% and 13%, respectively. Pr addition also refined the microstructure, and the hardness was recovered. The results herein demonstrate that the mechanical properties of Mg alloys are strongly influenced by their microstructure characteristics, including the grain size, volume fraction, and distribution of intermetallic phases.