Fe Content Research Articles

Influence of intermetallic phase (TiFe) on the microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of as-cast and quenched Ti–Mo–Fe alloys

This study presents the phase analysis, microstructural characteristics, and mechanical property evaluation of the as-cast and quenched Ti–15Mo–xFe alloys with high iron content ranging from 4 to 12 weight percent. All the four alloys were produced in a vacuum-arc melting furnace. Heat treatment in the form of solution treatment was performed in a muffle furnace at a temperature of 1100 °C, with 1-h holding time and the samples were rapidly quenched in ice-brine. X-ray diffractometer (XRD) was used to analyses the phases present in each alloy whereas the optical microscope (OM) was employed to track the microstructural evolution and percentage porosity. The mechanical properties of the alloys were evaluated using a tensile test and compression test method while the micro-Vickers hardness measurements were conducted to evaluate hardness of the alloys. The XRD patterns of as-cast showed peaks belonging to the β and α″ phases and intermetallic B2 TiFe phases. The as quenched XRD peaks illustrated β phase only and Fe·Ti·O2 phases. The as-cast OM micrographs revealed equiaxed β grains, substructures, dendritic structure, and pores forming around the grain boundaries. The quenched OM showed only β equiaxed grains with pores throughout the grain boundaries. The tensile properties such as ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and elastic modulus (E) of as-cast TMF0 were 264 MPa and 79 GPa respectively and these properties changed upon quenching to 411 MPa and 66 GPa respectively. The elastic modulus of TMF1 in as-cast condition was 74 GPa. The UTS and E of TMF1, TMF2, and TMF3 in as-cast and quenched conditions were not recorded due to the fragility of the samples that failed prior to yielding any useful data. The compressive strength in as-cast and in quenched condition decreased with an increase in Fe content. The micro-Vickers hardness in as-cast and quenched conditions showed a similar trend with hardness increasing slightly upon quenching for TMF0, TMF1, and TMF3 alloys but slightly decreased in the case of TMF2. The fracture surfaces of all the as-cast and quenched alloys were comprised of ductile and brittle fracture.

Optimizing the performance of single-cell ICP-MS/MS for Fe and Zn determination in human umbilical vascular endothelial cells

Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry operated in a single-cell mode (scICP-MS/MS) has emerged as a technique that allows measurement of metal concentration at the cellular level. The approach is made possible by the high sensitivity of modern instrumentation. However, specific applications may be limited by spectral and non-spectral interference that can occur due to the complexity of the matrix that requires to be analysed. As such, the success of this approach requires adequate sample preparation, allowing the stability of the cells to be preserved before introducing them into the plasma. In this context, a method was developed to measure Zn and Fe concentrations in individual human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) using scICP-MS/MS. As a strategy, the suspension of HUVECs was prefixed with paraformaldehyde aiming to achieve experimental stability and repeatability without significantly affecting the background signal. Moreover, different dwell times (3, 5 and 10 ms) were assessed to optimize the instrumental parameters. As a result, the best performance for Zn and Fe measurement by scICP-MS/MS in terms of sensitivity and accuracy was obtained with the dwell time of 3 ms. To the best of our knowledge, the concentrations of Fe and Zn in fixed single endothelial cells has not been explored previously using scICP-MS. Here, the developed scICP-MS/MS method was successfully used to examine the influence of different culture conditions on Fe and Zn uptake in fixed single HUVEC cells.

Influence of Different Substrates on Nutrient Composition of Vermicompost and Vermiwash

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of different substrates on nutrient composition of vermicompost and vermiwash at Division of Soil Science, College of Agriculture, Pune during 2022-23. High density polyethylene beds of 12 X 4 X 2 feet size were used for production of vermicompost. While 200 liter capacity plastic barrels were employed for vermiwash preparation. There were five treatments of substrate combination like 25% rain tree litter (RTL) + 75% paddy straw spent mushroom compost (PSSMC); 50%tree litter+50% paddy straw spent mushroom compost (PSSMC); 75% tree litter+25% paddy straw spent mushroom compost (PSSMC); 100% rain tree litter, 100% paddy straw spent mushroom compost (PSSMC) were used for the preparation of vermicompost with earthworm Eisenia fetida and replicated four times in completely randomized block design. There were ten plastic barrels of above capacity were used for by using vermicompost prepared from different substrate combinations. The sampling, harvesting and characterization of vermiwash was done in duplicate for first and second harvest after incubation period of 15 days. Results showed that pH, EC, organic matter, C: N ratio, total nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, iron, zinc, manganese, copper in vermicompost were significantly influenced by different proportions of rain tree litter and paddy straw spent mushroom compost. C: N ratio of vermicompost prepared by using rain tree litter and paddy straw spent mushroom compost was ranged between 9.71 and 16.19. Significantly higher total nitrogen (2.31%), phosphorus (1.185%), potassium (0.863%), iron (1072 mg kg-1), manganese (231.50 mg kg-1), zinc (254 mg kg-1) and copper (54.25 mg kg-1) were noted in vermicompost from 100% rain tree litter. Significantly high EC (total soluble salts) at first and second harvest of vermiwash was reported when 100% rain tree litter compost and vermicompost as substrate used. Further, vermiwash prepared by using vermicompost from rain tree litter reported significantly higher nitrogen (0.65 and 0.51%), phosphorus (0.33 and 0.27%) and potassium (0.27 and 0.23%) content at both harvest respectively but higher content was in first harvest. Vermiwash prepared from 100% raintree litter vermicompost reported significantly higher Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu content at both harvesting stage.

Correlation between nutrients, rare earth elements and heavy metals in O. Sativa rice plant organs by instrumentation neutron activation analysis and proton induced x-ray emission techniques

The accumulation of halogens and metals from roots to stems, leaves and grains of Oryza sativa rice plant collected in Northern Senegal (St Louis region) at the same stages of growth but at different salinity soil levels was investigated by measuring their elemental concentration by invasive instrumental techniques of neutron activation analysis and proton induced x-ray emission. The normalized elemental concentration of Na, Cl, K, (Cs, Rb, Sr, Sb, Ba Ca, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Br, Rb, Sb was correlated with one of rare earth elements, La, Ce, Sm, Yb, Nd, Eu, Tb, Tm, and Lu) and the one of the heavy metals Hf, Ta and Th and to assess their subsequent distribution within the Oryza sativa rice plant in a particular salinity environment. The exploration of the experimental data was performed by applying machine learning techniques with Python to find their elemental correlations. This study shows that the accumulation of iron is highly correlated with the amount of rare earth elements and heavy metals investigated. We observe an inverse correlation between Fe and Cl concentrations in the roots and stems of the Oryza sativa rice plant, in which higher levels of Fe in the roots relative to stems correspond to lower levels of Cl. We also remark that there is no accumulation of rare earth elements in the root tissues of the different Oryza sativa rice plants studied. Whereas, in the stem, leaf, and grain organs there is a strong correlation between metal contents and rare earth elements.

Altered spinels act as a mirror of multi-episodic fluid metasomatism in the forearc mantle: An example from the Minhe ophiolite in Qilian Orogen, NW China

Forearc mantle peridotites commonly undergo complex melt/fluid metasomatism, which inevitably has a considerable influence on their geochemical compositions at the whole-rock scale. Serpentinites predominantly comprise the Minhe ophiolite, which is a fragment of the Proto-Tethys Ocean that outcrops in the Qilian Orogen in NW China. These serpentinites contain zoned spinels that vary compositionally from the centers to the margins, with a spinel core overgrown by ferritchromite layer and magnetite at the outermost rim. The mineral chemistry of the spinel cores (i.e., Cr#, Mg#, Cr2O3, and Al2O3) suggests that the protolith of the serpentinites was an oceanic mantle remnant in a forearc setting. Moreover, the ferritchromite exhibited increases in Fe, Mn, Sc, and Ni contents and decreases in Mg, Cr, Al, V, Zn, and Ga contents. Considering the linear correlation among elements (e.g., Co, Ni, and Zn) and the absence of mineral inclusions, the ferritchromite likely formed through ionic substitutions induced by slab fluids. The magnetite was enriched in Cr, Ni, V, Zn, Co, and Cu, but did not have a magmatic origin owing to low V concentrations. All evidence indicates that the peridotites underwent at least two episodes of fluidic metasomatism in the subduction zone. During early slab subduction, aqueous fluids released from the dehydration of the subducted slab directly serpentinized the forearc mantle peridotites, thereby altering the olivine and orthopyroxene to lizardite/chrysotile. During this process, certain mobile elements (e.g., Fe, Ni, and Mn) in the fluids and/or olivine serpentinization were incorporated into existing spinels, favoring ferritchromite growth. The second fluidic episode was dependent on prograde metamorphism at greater depths in the subduction channel, which not only produced antigorite via the recrystallization of lizardite and chrysotile, but also drove the fluids towards a more oxidizing state, thereby facilitating the growth of Cr-magnetites. Subsolidus re-equilibration controlled by fluid infiltration further promoted the inter-diffusion of elements (e.g., Cr, V, Co, Ni, Cu, and Zn) in the zoned spinels.

Enhancement the linear/nonlinear optical and magnetic properties of ZnCo2O4 nanostructures through Ni/Fe dual doping

Nano Zn0.9Ni0.1Co2-xFexO4 samples were prepared using the hydrothermal procedure in order to enhance the functional characteristics of ZnCo2O4 sample. The structural and microstructural parameters of the prepared samples were determined through Rietveld and FTIR analyses. The morphologies and compositions of the samples were examined by SEM and EDS techniques. Upon Ni2+ doping, the bandgap energy of nano ZnCo2O4 decreased from 2.22 eV to 3.61 eV–2.18 eV and 3.51 eV. Doping with Fe caused a slight decrease in bandgap energy for x = 0.05, then an increase for a higher content of Fe. Several empirical equations were used to determine the refractive index from the corresponding obtained optical energy gap values. As the Fe content rose to 5 %, the value of refractive index and nonlinear optical parameters increased; thereafter, it declined with additional Fe doping. The photoluminescence technique was used to analyze defects and processes of charge carrier recombination in the samples. ZnCo2O4 sample exhibits paramagnetic performance. With the addition of Ni to ZnCo2O4, the magnetic characteristics of the sample became superparamagnetic. Samples doped with Ni and various quantities of Fe exhibit a weak ferromagnetic behavior. The effect of doping on the magnetic transition, coercivity, saturation magnetization and remanent magnetization was explored.

275 Assessment of changes in hemoglobin concentration (Hb) in sows and their offspring over two consecutive reproductive cycles

Abstract There remains a knowledge gap regarding changes in hematological parameters, such as Hb, throughout the reproductive cycle of a sow. The principle aim of this study was to assess Hb concentartions in sows and their offspring over at least two consecutive reproductive cycles. Blood Hb measurements were initiated during the gilt stage and continued through parities 1 and 2, with measurements taken at six time points (d 30, 60, 90, and 112 of gestation; d 2 and 17 of lactation) involving a total of 13 sows. Sow body weight (BW) during gestation was 193.2 ± 38.1 kg for parity 1 and 220.7 ± 26.2 kg for parity 2; in lactation, sow BW was 201.5 ± 14.3 kg for parity 1 and 214.0 ± 19.6 kg for parity 2. Sow daily iron (Fe) intake, based on analyzed Fe content, was 0.621 ± 0.06 g during gestation and 1.79 ± 0.15 g during lactation across parities 1 and 2, which represents more than a 2-fold greater Fe intake than NRC 2012 requirement estimates. All liveborn piglets (n = 204 for parity 1; n = 201 for parity 2) underwent Hb measurements. Blood Hb concentrations were assessed within 24 h of birth before iron supplementation (200 mg iron dextran) and again at 17 d of age. Sows and piglets were classified as either anemic (Hb < 10 g/dL) or non-anemic (Hb ≥ 10 g/dL). Analysis of variance included the main effect of day, parity and their interaction based on Tukey’s comparison. In gestation Hb was less (P = 0.03) at d 90 in parity 1 and at d 90 and 112 in parity 2 (Table 1). Across parity, Hb was less (P = 0.02) at d 60 in parity 2. In lactation, Hb was least (P = 0.0002) at d 17 in parity 1 where sows were deemed anemic; in parity 2, sows were deemed anemic throughout lactation. The total number of piglets born and born alive was 17.15 ± 2.03 and 16.0 ± 1.9, respectively, for parity 1, and 17.0 ± 3.11 and 15.85 ± 2.41, respectively, for parity 2. Regardless of parity, piglet Hb was greater (P < 0.02) at weaning compared with birth. However, Hb concentrations were greater (P < 0.0001) at both time points in parity 2 piglets. There was a reduced incidence of anemia at birth (39.1% vs. 59.02%, respectively) and weaning (14.2% vs 36.1%, respectively) among piglets born in parity 2 compared with parity 1. The decline in sow Hb status with parity, particularly in lactation, suggests the need to explore strategies to improve Hb in sows with advancing parity. Alternatively, piglet Hb status improved with parity, indicating a need to modify iron supplementation methods to facilitate greater Hb in parity 1 litters.

Single step synthesis of sulfidated nanoscale iron modified kaolin clay for hexavalent chromium remediation from groundwater

Remediation of dissolved hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] is often achieved by iron nanoparticles [nZVI], sulfidated nZVI [SnZVI], and adsorption on clay minerals. Although different types of nZVI effectively removed Cr(VI), performance evaluation of nZVI modified with low-cost and naturally available kaolinite clay was not thoroughly studied. In the present research, kaolin was modified with nZVI (K-nZVI) and SnZVI (K-SnZVI) at two different kaolin to iron mass ratios (kaolin: Fe). Both K-nZVI and K-SnZVI were synthesized by a simple one-step process, avoiding complicated amalgamation methods of modified nZVI. Effects of ionic strength, pH, major cations, and anions in Cr(VI) remediation efficiencies were probed. Kinetics of Cr(VI) removal was quantified from sacrificial batch studies. Further experiments were performed in Cr(VI)-spiked synthetic groundwater matrix in the respective pH and initial Cr(VI) ranges of 5.5–8 and 2–100 mg L−1. With maximum Cr(VI) remediation efficiencies of 100% (K-nZVI) and 98% (K-SnZVI) in synthetic groundwater contaminated with 2–100 mg L−1 Cr(VI), both of these materials might be effectively used for groundwater treatment. The usage of kaolin—an analog of the natural kaolinite clay—with relatively decreased Fe content in the nanoparticles would reduce the treatment cost and provide insight into a sustainable solution for Cr(VI) contamination.

Crystal chemistry and formation of authigenic chlorite: Influence on tight sandstone reservoir in the Yanchang formation, Ordos Basin, China

Authigenic chlorite is a crucial diagenetic cement that significant impacts tight sandstone reservoirs. The occurrence, crystal chemistry, formation and influences on reservoirs of different authigenic chlorite types were studied in the Yanchang Formation tight sandstones from the Ordos Basin. This study identified two primary types of chlorites: alteration chlorite and autochthonous authigenic chlorite. The alteration chlorite, characterizing by high Fe, Mg, Ti and AlIV contents and low Si and AlVI contents, originated from biotite during diagenesis. The autochthonous authigenic chlorite can be further classified into grain-coating, pore-lining, and pore-filling chlorite. The grain-coating chlorite features thin layers and limited crystal form. During the syndiagenetic stage, Fe2+ and Mg2+ carried by water adsorbed onto the particle surfaces. Additionally, the grain-coating chlorite contains relatively high K content due to the hydrolysis of biotite during the eodiagenetic A stage. The pore-lining chlorite formed during the prolonged eodiagenetic B stage. The biotite and abundant intermediate-basic magmatic fragments released Fe2+ and Mg2+, contributing to the widespread development of euhedral pore-lining chlorite. Notably, the pore-lining chlorite displayed elemental composition variations from the grain edge to the pore center, with increased Fe, Mg and AlIV, and decreased K and AlVI. The pore-filling chlorite formed locally resulted from Fe2+ and Mg2+ crystallization due to the hydrolysis of intermediate-basic magmatic rocks and the dissolution early formed chlorite. The pore-filling chlorite contains the most Fe, Mg and Mn contents and the least K content. Overall, authigenic chlorite acts as a "double-edged sword" in tight sandstone reservoir. The grain-coating and grain-lining chlorite enhance the mechanical strength, resist compaction, and inhibit quartz overgrowth, while pore-filling chlorite trends to obstruct pore throats and break reservoir quality. This study provides valuable insights into the detailed control factors influencing reservoir quality and can serve as a reference for further research.

Mechanism for Fe(III) to decrease cadmium uptake of wheat plant: Rhizosphere passivation, competitive absorption and physiological regulation

The presence of dissolved Fe(III) and Fe(III)-containing minerals has been found to alleviate cadmium (Cd) accumulation in wheat plants grown in Cd-contaminated soils, but the specific mechanism remains elusive. In this work, hydroponic experiments were conducted to dissect the mechanism for dissolved Fe(III) (0–2000 μmol L−1) to decrease Cd uptake of wheat plants and study the influence of Fe(III) concentration and Cd(II) pollution level (0–20 μmol L−1) on the Cd uptake process. The results indicated that dissolved Fe(III) significantly decreased Cd uptake through rhizosphere passivation, competitive absorption, and physiological regulation. The formation of poorly crystalline Fe(III) oxides facilitated the adsorption and immobilization of Cd(II) on the rhizoplane (over 80.4 %). In wheat rhizosphere, the content of CaCl2-extractable Cd decreased by 52.7 % when Fe(III) concentration was controlled at 2000 μmol L−1, and the presence of Fe(III) may reduce the formation of Cd(II)-organic acid complexes (including malic acid and succinic acid secreted by wheat roots), which could be attributed to competitive reactions. Down-regulation of Cd uptake genes (TaNramp5-a and TaNramp5-b) and transport genes (TaHMA3-a, TaHMA3-b and TaHMA2), along with up-regulation of the Cd efflux gene TaPDR8-4A7A, contributed much to the reduction of Cd accumulation in wheat plants in the presence of Fe(III). The inhibitory effect of Fe(III) on Cd uptake and transport in wheat plants declined with increasing Cd(II) concentration, particularly at 20 μmol L−1. This work provides important implications for remediating Cd-contaminated farmland soil and ensuring the safe production of wheat by using dissolved Fe(III) and Fe(III)-containing minerals.

Genomic Advances in Biofortification of Iron and Zinc in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Majority of population that depend on wheat are found to be deficient in iron and zinc. About 20% of calories worldwide are derived from wheat. Milling of wheat reduces the bioavaibility of Fe and Zn in wheat grains. Micronutrient deficiency is the main cause of malnutrition worldwide and hidden hunger in underdeveloped countries. To overcome this problem it becomes necessary to develop varieties that are rich in iron and zinc content. Biofortification gets around these issues by enhancing the micronutrient content of wheat. The genetic approaches of biofortification particularly the non-conventional methods have proved to be the most efficient ones. These method includes QTL mapping approach, GWAS and transgenics. Although conventional methods for a long time has been used for developing varieties of wheat rich in Fe and Zn but conventional breeding for certain traits may be inconvenient and time-consuming and are prone to errors due to their reliance on traditional phenotyping or visual assessments. Several research have been undertaken to map QTLs of Fe and Zn concentration in wheat grains and have been used in elite genetic backgrounds to improve micronutrient content. Genomic studies revealed through GWAS exhibit high QTL resolution and allele coverage, which can be used for improvement of Fe and Zn content in wheat. Genetic engineering techniques or transgenics approaches allows genetic alteration of crops to improve the nutritional quality of wheat. Genomic approach of biofortification of wheat has proved to be the most efficient methods for increasing iron and zinc content in the crop.

Impact of air quality on the health of present-day workers in an Asbestos roof manufacturing industry, Sri Lanka.

The study's objective was to determine the air quality in an asbestos-related industry and its impact on current workers' respiratory health. Seventy-seven air and 65 dust samples were collected at 5-day intervals in an asbestos roofing sheets production factory in Sri Lanka having two production facilities. Sampling was performed in ten sites: Defective sheets-storage, Production-plant, Pulverizer, Cement-silo, and Loading-area. A detailed questionnaire and medical screening were conducted on 264 workers, including Lung Function Tests (LFT) and chest X-rays. Asbestos fibres were observed in deposited dust samples collected from seven sites. Free chrysotile fibres were absent in the breathing air samples. Scanning Electron Microscopy confirmed the presence of asbestos fibres, and the Energy Dispersive X-ray analysis revealed Mg, O, and Si in depositions. The average concentrations of trace metals were Cd-2.74, Pb-17.18, Ni-46.68, Cr-81.01, As-7.12, Co-6.77, and Cu-43.04mg/kg. The average Zn, Al, Mg, and Fe concentrations were within 0.2-163g/kg. The highest concentrations of PM2.52.5 and PM1010, 258 and 387µg/m3, respectively, were observed in the Pulverizer site. Forty-four workers had respiratory symptoms, 64 presented LFT abnormalities, 5 indicated chest irregularities, 35.98% were smokers, and 37.5% of workers with abnormal LFT results were smokers. The correlation coefficients between LFT results and work duration with respiratory symptoms and work duration and chest X-ray results were 0.022 and 0.011, respectively. In conclusion, most pulmonary disorders observed cannot directly correlate to Asbestos exposure due to negligible fibres in breathing air, but fibres in the depositions and dust can influence the pulmonary health of the employees.

Antiferromagnetic ground state and evidence for metamagnetic transition in itinerant-electron compounds YCo12−xFexB6 (x = 1.5, 2, 2.5)

In contrast to the parent compound YCo12B6, the Fe-doped YCo12−xFexB6 (1.5 ≤ x ≤ 2.5) alloys exhibit an antiferromagnetic ground state. It is further revealed that the antiferromagnetic state gets transformed into a forced ferromagnetic state by way of a magnetic-field-induced metamagnetic transition. The results demonstrate a progressive reinforcement of the antiferromagnetic interactions upon increasing Fe content along the YCo12−xFexB6 series of compounds. The magnetic phase diagram of each (x = 1.5, 2, and 2.5) composition is determined by combining isothermal and isofield magnetization measurements. The composition and temperature dependencies of the critical field are derived and discussed. Whereas for x = 2 and 2.5, the magnetic state changes from antiferromagnetic (AFM) to ferromagnetic (FM) and then to the paramagnetic (PM) state upon heating, exhibiting three distinct temperature regions, a multicritical point of magnetic origin is proposed for the x = 1.5 compound at a temperature of about 117 K. The ordering temperature is found to decrease upon increasing Fe concentration, while the critical field of the AFM-FM metamagnetic phase transition shows the opposite trend. The critical transition field diminishes upon increasing temperature.

Electrical resistivity and magnetoresistance of Sr3Fe2+xMo1–xO9–3x/2 (x = 0.45, 0.60, and 1.00) prepared by the solid-state reaction

In this paper, we focus on understanding the behavior of the temperature dependence of electrical resistivity (ρ) and magnetoresistance (MR) in Sr3Fe2+xMo1–xO9–3x/2 perovskites with x = 0.45, 0.60, and 1.00. Three polycrystalline materials were synthesized using conventional solid-state reaction techniques. Rietveld analysis of room-temperature X-ray diffraction data reveals that all three compositions crystallize in tetragonal symmetry; where x = 0.45 and 0.60 undergo an I4/mcm space group, while x = 1.00 adopts a P4/mmm space group. Electrical resistivity measurements carried out at magnetic fields (0 and 1 T) reveal the presence of a transition from the ferromagnetic phase to the paramagnetic phase in the vicinity of the TMI. The metal-insulator transition temperature (TMI) decreases with increasing Fe content and rises slightly with changing magnetic field from 0 to 1 T. The magnetoresistance (MR) of the SrFeO3–δ sample (x = 1.00) has a large value of about 63.6 %, indicating that it can be exploited for certain devices. A variety of theoretical models are used to study the behavior of electrical resistivity in various temperature ranges, showing excellent agreement with experimental results.

Influence of Fe content on microstructure and performance of powder metallurgy Cu–Fe alloys

The influence of various Fe contents (5, 10, 20, and 40 wt.%) on the microstructure and properties of powder metallurgy Cu–Fe alloy by spark plasma sintering, subjected to cold rolling and aging treatments, was explored. The results showed that, with increasing Fe content from 5 wt.% to 40 wt.%, the distribution of Fe phase evolved from the discrete spheroid to the continuous stagger, accompanying with its size increasing from 0.29 to 1.20 μm. Accordingly, the yield strength of the aged alloy increased from 411.5 to 788.8 MPa, whilst the electrical conductivity decreased from 62.5% (IACS) to 42.0% (IACS). Moreover, a rule of mixture was proposed to calculate the contribution of Cu matrix, primary Fe phase and secondary Fe phase to the yield strength of the alloy, which works well in the prediction of mechanical properties for Cu–Fe alloys with Fe content higher than10 wt.%.

Transcriptome profiling of barnyard millet (Echinochloa frumentacea L.) during grain development to reveal the genomic insights into iron accumulation

In the realm of food nutritional security, the development of mineral-rich grains assumes a pivotal role in combating malnutrition. Within the scope of the current investigation, we endeavoured to discern the transcripts accountable for the improved accumulation of grain-Fe within Indian barnyard millet. This pursuit entailed transcriptome sequencing of genotypes BAR-1433 (with high Fe content) and BAR-1423 (with low Fe content) during two distinct stages of spike development—spike emergence and milking stage. In the context of spike emergence, we identified a cohort of 895 up-regulated transcripts and 126 down-regulated transcripts that delineated the difference between the high and low grain-Fe genotypes. In contrast, during the milking stage, the tally of up-regulated transcripts reached 436, while down-regulated transcripts numbered 285. The transcripts that consistently ascended in both developmental stages underwent functional annotation, aligning their roles with nucleolar proteins, metal-nicotianamine transporters, ribonucleoprotein complexes, vinorine synthases, cellulose synthases, auxin response factors, embryogenesis abundant proteins, cytochrome c oxidases, and zinc finger BED domain-containing proteins. Meanwhile, a heterogeneous spectrum of transcripts exhibited differential expression and upregulation throughout the distinct stages. These transcripts encompassed various facets, such as ABC Transporter family proteins, Calcium-dependent kinase family, Ferritin, Metal ion binding, Iron-sulfur cluster binding, Cytochrome family, Zinc finger transcription factor family, Ferredoxin–NADP reductase type 1 family, Putative laccase, Multicopper oxidase family, and Terpene synthase family. To authenticate the reliability of these transcripts, six contigs representing probable functions, including metal transporters, iron sulfur coordination, metal ion binding, auxin-responsive GH3-like protein 2, and cytochrome P450 71B16, were harnessed for primer design. Subsequently, these primers were utilized in the validation process through qRT-PCR, with the outcomes aligning harmoniously with the transcriptome results. This study chronicles a constellation of genes linked to elevated iron content within barnyard millet, showcasing a proof of concept for leveraging transcriptome insights in marker-assisted selection to fortify barnyard millet with iron. This marks the inaugural comprehensive transcriptome analysis delineating transcripts associated with varying levels of grain-iron content during the panicle developmental stages within the barnyard millet paradigm.

Synthesis and Characterization of Zn-xFe high Temperature Solder Alloy

This study aims to develop a lead-free high-temperature solder alloy using Zn and Fe, investigating how varying Fe content impacts microstructure, melting behaviour, and properties. Alloys of Zn-xFe (x = 0, 0.005, 0.01) were fabricated via melting and casting. Increasing Fe content reduced hardness and electrical conductivity, with significant microstructural changes observed. Compared to a Zn-xMo study, our results outperformed in mechanical characteristics. Zn-0.01 Fe emerged as the optimal composition, exhibiting the highest melting temperature (425.81°C), ultimate tensile strength (41.88 MPa), while displaying lower hardness and conductivity. Its microstructure boasted smaller grain boundaries, contributing to superior mechanical properties.

Effects of Si addition on crystallization process and soft magnetic properties of high-Fe and high-Cu-content Fe–Si–B–P–Cu nanocrystalline alloys

In this study, the effects of Si content on the glass-forming ability (GFA), thermal stability, annealing window, nanocrystallization process, and soft magnetic properties (SMPs) of Fe86.3-xSixB10P2Cu1.7 (x = 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4, denoted as Si0, Si1, Si2, Si3, and Si4, respectively) alloys with high Fe and Cu contents were investigated. Moderate addition of Si (x = 1, 2, and 3) enhanced the GFA and suppressed the precipitation of compound phases, thus leading to a large crystallization temperature interval (ΔTx) exceeding 185 °C for the alloys. Appropriate addition of Si also resulted in the formation of high-density and fine pre-existing α-Fe nanocrystals in as-spun ribbons and a high growth active energy of α-Fe crystals during the subsequent nanocrystallization process for the Si1, Si2, and Si3 alloys, enhancing competitive growth between α-Fe crystals and resulting in fine nanostructure and excellent SMPs of the nanocrystalline alloys (NAs). As a result, the Si1, Si2, and Si3 NAs obtained by annealing at 420 °C for 30 min exhibited excellent SMPs with saturation magnetic flux density (Bs) up to 1.84 T and a low coercivity (Hc) of approximately 10 A/m. In addition, statistical analysis of the relationship between the average grain size (D) of α-Fe crystals and Hc values of the NAs indicated that an Hc α D3 dependence is observed when the D is less than approximately 30 nm, while this dependence follows the well-known Hc α D6 relationship when the D is above 30 nm. The dependency relationship between D and Hc of NAs can guide the selection of an appropriate annealing process to optimize their SMPs.

Petrology and Geochemistry of the Ultramafic Rocks of Yerrabali Schist Belt, Eastern Dharwar Craton, Telangana, India

Abstract The Yerrabali schist Belt (YSB) is a NW–SE trending 10 km long and 4 km wide belt located at the north eastern corner of Eastern Dharwar Craton (EDC) consisting of Banded Magnetite Quartzite (BMQ), ultramafic rocks, quartz–cordierite– gedrite ± garnet bearing schist, sillimanite–garnet–cordierite schist, metadolomite, amphibolite, ferruginous quartzite, tremolite schist and dolerite dyke. The ultramafic rocks consist of olivine, orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene and spinel. The Fe content of olivine varies from 88-91 and consists of high amount of NiO (0.3-0.511%). Orthopyroxone are enstatitic and clinopyroxene are Mg-augite in nature. The spinel grains are rich in Al2O3 (48.32-59.09%) and show very low Cr# values (0.08-0.29). Thermo-barometric analyses show equilibrium condition of 700°-1100°C temperature and 19-21 kb pressure. Oxygen fugacity of the ultramafic rocks range from -0.035 to -1.356 log units below FMQ buffer. Low Cr# values of spinel along with low oxygen fugacity suggest their formation by low degrees of partial melting from a less refractory Mid Oceanic Ridge (MOR) type mantle.

Effect of alternating interval of laser power on the element distribution, mechanical, and corrosion performance of electrochemical deposited multilayer Fe–Ni coatings

A new multilayer (ML) Fe–Ni coating was developed by frequently alternating the laser power (5 and 20 W) during electrochemical deposition. Owing to the thermal effect of the laser, the elemental content in each layer changed continuously. As the intervals for adjusting the laser parameters became shorter, the formation of ML Fe–Ni coatings became increasingly challenging due to the laser's thermal effect. This study suggests that a constant laser action exceeding 480 s improves the uniformity of the alternating elemental content distribution in the new coating without visible interlayer boundaries. Moreover, the elemental composition of each layer was affected by various laser parameters during the Fe–Ni reduction process. For a stable ML structure (480 s interval), the range of variation in Fe content reaches approximately 16.6 wt% (from approximately 32.6 to 49.2 wt%). Compared with the overall coating, the bonding force increased by approximately 24.5 %, the microhardness increased by approximately 17.3 % (load of 200 g), the wear rate decreased by approximately 21.6 % (load of 5 N), and the corrosion rate decreased by approximately 53.5 % (3.5 wt% NaCl). The improved wear resistance was attributed to the inhibition of crack extension and spalling. In addition, the ML structure was conducive to inhibiting the propagation of corrosion pits. This study provides guidance for analyzing the structural and performance characteristics of ML coatings formed via laser electrochemical deposition.