Size Increment Research Articles

Defects analysis in low displacement damage neutron-irradiated austenitic stainless steels

Analysis of neutron irradiation-induced defects is carried out using Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) on three variants of austenitic stainless steels, SS 304 L(N), SS 316 L(N), and SS 316 grid plate material irradiated in the Indian Fast Breeder Test Reactor at Kalpakkam to low displacement damage levels of 1.76–6.75 dpa at an irradiation temperature of 380 °C-400 °C and dpa rate in the order of 10−7dpa/s. There is a significant variation in the faulted dislocation loop size distribution and number density as a function of irradiation dose among these stainless steels due to their different stacking fault energies which is evident from the quantified defects data presented. At ∼5.08 dpa, SS 304 L(N), SS 316 L(N) and SS 316 exhibited faulted dislocation loop number densities of 2.3 × 1022/m3, 4.8 × 1021/m3, and 1.2 × 1022/m3 with mean loop sizes of 15.5 ± 6.3 nm, 35.4 ± 13.7 nm, and 16.1 ± 5.6 nm respectively. Thus, at an identical dpa level, SS 304 L(N) and SS 316 L(N) have the highest and the lowest faulted loop number densities respectively. The general size-distribution behaviour, the increment in the loop size with enhanced size distribution as a function of dpa is observed only for SS 316 L(N). The dislocation density data previously determined using X-ray diffraction analysis is correlated to the number density of dislocation loops along with their size distribution determined using TEM analysis. Finally, the change in the yield strength due to the increment in the faulted dislocation loop number density is determined.

Investigation on submerged friction stir welding of AZ31B magnesium alloy under the influence of rotation speed

In this study, submerged friction stir welding (SFSW) was performed to weld 6 mm thick AZ31B Mg alloy plates, aiming to explore the impact of rotation speed on microstructure and tensile behavior. The water medium was used to submerge the samples. The SFSW was conducted at three different speeds (815, 960, and 1200 rpm), to assess the impact of rotation speed on SFSWed joint performance. As the rotation speed increased from 815 to 960 rpm, tensile strength increased plateauing over a range of the rotation speed. However, a significant drop in tensile strength occurred at 1200 rpm due to the formation of void defects. The SZ exhibits a size and width increment in the lower part with increasing rotation speed. The hardness of the stir zone (SZ) gradually rose with increasing rotation speed from 815 to 960 rpm. Fracture locations were observed in the thermal-mechanically affected zone (TMAZ) adjacent to the SZ at a rotation speed of 815 rpm, and in the heat-affected zone (HAZ) adjacent to the TMAZ at a rotation speed of 960 rpm. The joint welded at 1200 rpm fractured within the SZ. This study offers valuable insights into the welding and joining field, particularly regarding their mechanical characteristics.

Force system of 3D-printed orthodontic aligners made of shape memory polymers: an in vitro study

ABSTRACT This study aimed to report forces and moments delivered by 3D-printed aligners. Tera Harz TC-85 resin and Zendura FLX (ZF) thermoformed sheets (0.76 mm) were used. Rectangular strip specimens (50 × 10 × 0.6 mm) were produced for a three-point bending test (3PB) at different temperatures. Full anatomical aligners were produced for 3D force measurements on different teeth and directions at 37 °C, using a custom-made device. ZF exhibited flexural forces between 1.7 and 2.3 N, while TC-85 from 0.3 N to 2.7 N, with temperature affecting TC-85 more significantly. At lower temperatures, TC-85 was stiffer than ZF, but at higher temperatures, it became less rigid. The 3D-force measurements indicated comparable values for both materials. Force ranged from 0.3–1.7 N and moment from 4.8–9.4 Nmm. The study concluded that TC-85 3D-printed aligners deliver biologically compatible forces for orthodontic movement and offer better control over thickness. Highlights The 3D-printed Tera Harz TC-85 resin revolutionises aligner production. Tera Harz TC-85 aligners generate forces within the orthodontic accepted range. Shape recovery of TC-85 can enable adaptability and larger incremental step size. The 3D printing offers greater control over aligner design and thickness.

A simplified reliability-based design method for multiple design variables considering different limit states

A generalized reliability model comprising the objective, constraint, and judgment functions is established for the reliability index approach (RIA), taking parameters’ properties of engineering practice and negative reliability index into consideration. Based on this, the reliability-based design (RBD) problem with multiple design variables is translated into the solution to the nonlinear equations, and a simplified method consisting of a simple variant of the Newton iteration method and the finite difference method (FDM) is proposed. Numerical examples are presented to verify the efficiency of the proposed reliability approach and to determine the incremental step size for FDM. RBD of a simply supported beam is illustrated and the variabilities of design variables are investigated considering the uncertainties in the manufacturing process and practical operations. Results reveal that the variations of the design variables should not be ignored. Moreover, analysis results show that the design value might not intuitively increase with the increase of its coefficient of variation (CoV), and it might not increase with the increasing reliability requirement for problems involving multiple variables. The reasons for this phenomenon are very complicated, and it is a systematic problem. One should be aware of this phenomenon, and specific analysis is required for specific problems.

LANDMARK comparison of early outcomes of newer-generation Myval transcatheter heart valve series with contemporary valves (Sapien and Evolut) in real-world individuals with severe symptomatic native aortic stenosis: a randomised non-inferiority trial

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation is an established, guideline-endorsed treatment for severe aortic stenosis. Precise sizing of the balloon-expandable Myval transcatheter heart valve (THV) series with the aortic annulus is facilitated by increasing its diameter in 1·5 mm increments, compared with the usual 3 mm increments in valve size. The LANDMARK trial aimed to show non-inferiority of the Myval THV series compared with the contemporary THVs Sapien Series (Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, CA, USA) or Evolut Series (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN, USA). In this prospective, multinational, randomised, open-label, non-inferiority trial across 31 hospitals in 16 countries (Germany, France, Sweden, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, New Zealand, Portugal, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, Estonia, and Brazil), 768 participants with severe symptomatic native aortic stenosis were randomly assigned (1:1) to the Myval THV or a contemporary THV. Eligibility was primarily decided by the heart team in accordance with 2021 European Society of Cardiology guidelines. As per the criteria of the third Valve Academic Research Consortium, the primary endpoint at 30 days was a composite of all-cause mortality, all stroke, bleeding (types 3 and 4), acute kidney injury (stages 2-4), major vascular complications, moderate or severe prosthetic valve regurgitation, and conduction system disturbances resulting in a permanent pacemaker implantation. Non-inferiority of the study device was tested in the intention-to-treat population using a non-inferiority margin of 10·44% and assuming an event rate of 26·10%. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04275726, and EudraCT, 2020-000137-40, and is closed to new participants. Between Jan 6, 2021, and Dec 5, 2023, 768 participants with severe symptomatic native aortic stenosis were randomly assigned, 384 to the Myval THV and 384 to a contemporary THV. 369 (48%) participants had their sex recorded as female, and 399 (52%) as male. The mean age of participants was 80·0 years (SD 5·7) for those treated with the Myval THV and 80·4 years (5·4) for those treated with a contemporary THV. Median Society of Thoracic Surgeons scores were the same in both groups (Myval 2·6% [IQR 1·7-4·0] vs contemporary 2·6% [1·7-4·0]). The primary endpoint showed non-inferiority of the Myval (25%) compared with contemporary THV (27%), with a risk difference of -2·3% (one-sided upper 95% CI 3·8, pnon-inferiority<0·0001). No significant difference was seen in individual components of the primary composite endpoint. In individuals with severe symptomatic native aortic stenosis, the Myval THV met its primary endpoint at 30 days. Meril Life Sciences.

Influence of Ceramic Wastes as a Recycled Coarse Aggregate with Different Maximum Sizes on the Concrete

Background Natural raw resources needed for concrete construction are continuously being depleted as a result of infrastructure development that is increasing. As a result, waste material substitutes are highly favored because they adopt a sustainable strategy. Objective In this study, the possibility of substituting natural coarse aggregates with coarse aggregate made from ceramic wall tiles with three different maximum aggregate sizes (12.5, 19, and 25 mm) in three partial replacement levels of natural coarse aggregate by (25, 50, and 75%) was investigated. Methods Concrete's hardened density, compressive and splitting tensile strengths, ultrasonic pulse velocity, water absorption, and volume of permeable pores were all tested experimentally. Results Results indicated that with the increment of the maximum aggregate size, each of the hardened densities, the compressive and splitting tensile strengths and the rate of water absorption diminished while pulse velocity enhanced, regardless of the substitution rate of ceramic aggregate. However, for all maximum aggregate sizes, the mixture containing 25% ceramic coarse aggregate showed a small improvement in mechanical properties. Compared to the reference mixture, which had compressive strengths of 29.31, 38.73, and 47.13 MPa at 7, 28, and 90 days for the 12.5 mm maximum aggregate size, the improvement ratios were 8.9%, 3.7%, and 2.7% at 7, 28, and 90 days, respectively. Moreover, because of increased heterogeneity, internal bleeding, and the development of microcracks in the larger coarse aggregate sizes, concrete with lower ceramic coarse aggregate sizes has a stronger bond than that of the latter. Results also indicated that the mechanical performance of concrete mixtures having ceramic aggregate slightly improved with 25% ceramic coarse aggregate, then lowered in the mixtures with 50% and 75%, consecutively, at all ages. Concrete using ceramic aggregate displays a poor transition zone because of the improper binding between the paste and the coarse ceramic aggregate caused by the aggregate's porcelain texture. Additionally, the water absorption of concrete mixtures containing ceramic aggregate increased with the increase in the percentage of ceramic coarse aggregate. Conclusion The employing of ceramic waste aggregate was shown to contribute to sustainable development and a cleaner environment by producing sustainable concrete from the recycling of ceramic wastes. Each of the hardened density, compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, and water absorption of concrete mixtures decreased and the pulse velocity enhanced as the maximum aggregate size increased. The mechanical properties decreased at all ages in the mixtures containing 50 and 75% of the aggregate, whereas they slightly increased in the mixture containing 25% of the aggregate.

Fabrication of palm carotene-based emulsion stabilized by rice protein isolate-flaxseed gum complex

Abstract The aim of this study was to develop a stable palm carotene-based emulsion using the rice protein isolate-flaxseed gum complex (RPI-FG) with different ratios (3:1, 5:1, 7:1, 9:1, 11:1). RPI achieved highest solubility at pH 12. Meanwhile, RPI-FG complex shows low turbidity value from pH 6 to 12 for all ratios. Emulsion with ratio 7:1 exhibited 33 % droplet size increment throughout 7 days storage and evenly distributed based on the microstructure images. For creaming index (CI), all emulsion shows 0 % separation on day zero except emulsion with ratio 11:1 (1.90 %) and lowest CI on day 7 was 9.05 % in ratio 3:1. Furthermore, emulsion activity index and emulsion stability index of the emulsions decreased significantly with the reduced of FG in the formulation. These results suggested that carotene-based emulsion fabricated using RPI-FG complex with ratio of 7:1 exhibited the highest emulsion stability and could be further applied in aqueous food systems.

On features of the life cycle of humpback shrimp Pandalus hypsinotus (Decapoda, Pandalidae) in the Tatar Strait

The study is based on biological analyses of &gt; 80,000 ind. of Pandalus hypsinotus collected in trawl surveys and trap fishery in the Tatar Strait in 2010–2022. Due to the lack of age-recording structures, the size-age structure of shrimp is usually determined by various statistical methods, each of which has some limitations and drawbacks. The modal analysis of size-sex composition dynamics is used in this study, including tracing the growth of strong year-classes. The analysis takes into account the dynamics of major seasonal events such as group molting, spawning, and larval hatching. The reproductive cycle of females is assumed to be 2 years. Based on results of the analysis, the life cycle of humpback shrimp in the Tatar Strait is as follows. After the larvae hatch from eggs in April-May, immature shrimp spend the first year of their life at the depths &lt; 70 m, where they reach the carapace length of 9–15 mm, with a modal size of 11–12 mm. In the second year, they grow to the length of 20–22 mm, on average, then become males and migrate to deeper layer where join the adults. Further growth is described on the data for the strong year-class of 2010: the modal size of males reaches 26–27 mm at age 3 years, 29–30 mm — at age 4, 32–33 mm — at age 5, and 35–36 mm — at age 6. Gender transition of shrimp begins at age 5+, but most males become hermaphroditic at the age 6+. The modal size of intersex hermaphrodites ranges from 37 to 39 mm. At the age of 6 years and 9 months, the intersexes spawn en masse and transform into females. The first larval hatching of new females occurs after 15 months, i.e. at exactly 8 years of age. At least three cycles of spawning (larvae release) are assumed for females, taking into account their polymodal size composition and dynamics of their size increments per molt by age. In assumption of 2-year reproductive cycle, the female stage lasts 6 years. Thus, the total life span for the most of humpback shrimps is estimated to be 12 years (6 years before gender transition and 6 years after). Apparently, a small number of them live 14 years and spawn four times, and some can live up to 16 years and spawn five times.

A simple naked eye detection of Pb2+ on a gold nanocluster decorated disposable paper spot arrays

Among all the heavy metal ions, Lead (Pb2+) has become a serious threat to human health and the environment. It is vital to develop an accurate system to monitor the Pb2+ level. Fluorescent and colorimetric sensors are one such system to detect Pb2+ with high accuracy. Herein, we used thiolated gold nanoclusters (GNC) decorated paper spot arrays for the detection of Pb2+ through a simple colorimetric method. The prepared GNC and the developed complex were well-studied using various characterizations. The addition of Pb2+ to GNC results in a slight shift in the absorption spectra from 485 nm to 534 nm. Further, GNC showed a broad emission peak centered around 650 nm, and the addition of Pb2+ resulted in an enhancement in the peak intensity, due to cation-induced-aggregation-induced emission enhancement (AIEE). The HR-TEM analysis confirms the spherical shape of the prepared GNCs with an average size of 2.60 nm. Whereas, the addition of Pb2+ onto GNC leads to the formation of an aggregated structure of size 6.17 nm due to the formation of a chelation complex. The GNC showed a particle size of 2 nm with a zeta potential of −16.45 mV, whereas the Pb2+@GNC complex exhibited an increment in an average size to 96 nm having a zeta potential of −19.67 mV, substantially demonstrating the capturing of Pb2+ by GNC. Overall, spectroscopic and surface morphology studies indicated aggregated induced emission (AIE) phenomena between GNC and Pb2+. The selective detection of Pb2+ by GNC was observed by the appearance of salmon pink to mauves colour and was captured using a smartphone. The developed paper spot array can detect up to 10 ppm of Pb2+. Further, the developed probe showed a distinguishable color change for Pb2+ along with other cations of interest such as Hg2+, Mg2+, K+, Mn2+, and Fe2+. Therefore, the present paper spot array could detect Pb2+ even in the presence of other metal ions due to its evident distinguishability. The fabricated GNC-embedded paper spot array obeys the new REASSURED criteria proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and could be used for on-spot detection of Pb2+.

Anatomic Referencing of the Distal Femur in Total Knee Arthroplasty: The Impact of Orientation on Femoral Component Size

BackgroundAnatomic referencing in total knee arthroplasty places the femoral component flush to the anterior cortex while maintaining posterior condylar offset (PCO). The intent of this study was to evaluate how component position influences the femoral component size. MethodsDigital surface models were created using 446 femora from an established computed tomography database. Virtual bone resections, component sizing, and component placement were performed assuming neutral (0°) flexion and neutral (3°) rotation relative to the posterior condyles. The appropriately sized femoral component, which had 2 mm of incremental size, was placed flush with the anterior cortex for optimal restoration of the PCO. Sizing and placement were repeated using 3 and 6° flexion and 0, 5, and 7° external rotation (ER). ResultsAt 0° flexion, decreasing ER from 3 to 0° resulted in an average decreased anterior-posterior height (APH) of 1.9 mm, corresponding to a component size decrease of 1 for 88% of patients. At 7° ER, component size increased by an average of 2.5 mm, corresponding to a size increase for 80% of patients. Flexing the femoral component to 3° with ER at 3° resulted in a decrease in APH of 2.2 mm (1 size decrease in 93% of patients). At 3° flexion and 3° ER, 86% had the same component size as at 0° flexion and 0° ER. Increasing ER at 3° flexion increased APH by 1.2 mm at 5° and 3.1 mm at 7° on average, relative to 3° ER. Increasing flexion from 3 to 6° extended this effect. ConclusionsFlexion decreases the APH when the ER is held constant. The ER of the femoral component increases the APH across all tested flexion angles, causing an increase in the ideal femoral component size to maintain PCO. With anatomic referencing, alterations in femoral component positioning and subsequent changes in component size can be accounted for.

Assessing the Relationship between Tree Growth, Crown Size, and Neighboring Tree Species Diversity in Mixed Coniferous and Broad Forests Using Crown Size Competition Indices

Competition among trees for limited resources (e.g., sunlight, water, and nutrients) impacts their growth differently. Crown plays a crucial role in resource access for trees. However, uncertainties persist regarding crown size differences, tree growth, and tree competition levels between coniferous and broadleaf trees in mixed-age forests. We conducted a study on 3008 live trees across 28 plots in Hunan Province to measure individual crown size and tree growth increment. Introducing a new metric, the Crown Size Competition Index (CSCI), we assessed competition pressure among coniferous and broadleaf species in mixed-age forests. We examined the correlation between competition indices and tree growth increment while also investigating the influence of neighboring species diversity on tree competition. Our results revealed a significant negative correlation between the tree growth of Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook.(CL) and Phoebe bournei (Hemsl.) Yang (PB) and the competition index. Increased competitive pressure on the focal tree corresponded to a decline in the growth of focal tree volume, with a more pronounced impact observed in PB compared to CL. The diversity of neighboring species contributed to variations in competition for the focal tree, with broadleaved species (PB) exerting a greater influence on the focal tree than coniferous species (CL). These findings underscore the competitive potential of PB in mature coniferous stands and advocate for the restoration of stratified mixes in CL broadleaf forests. Furthermore, our findings support the management strategies for the valuable tree species PB.

Influential Metrics Estimation and Dynamic Frequency Selection Based on Two-Dimensional Mapping for JPEG-Reversible Data Hiding.

JPEG Reversible Data Hiding (RDH) is a method designed to extract hidden data from a marked image and perfectly restore the image to its original JPEG form. However, while existing RDH methods adaptively manage the visual distortion caused by embedded data, they often neglect the concurrent increase in file size. In rectifying this oversight, we have designed a new JPEG RDH scheme that addresses all influential metrics during the embedding phase and a dynamic frequency selection strategy with recoverable frequency order after data embedding. The process initiates with a pre-processing phase of blocks and the subsequent selection of frequencies. Utilizing a two-dimensional (2D) mapping strategy, we then compute the visual distortion and file size increment (FSI) for each image block by examining non-zero alternating current (AC) coefficient pairs (NZACPs) and their corresponding run lengths. Finally, we select appropriate block groups based on the influential metrics of each block group and proceed with data embedding by 2D histogram shifting (HS). Extensive experimentation demonstrates how our method's efficiently and consistently outperformed existing techniques with a superior peak signal-to-noise Ratio (PSNR) and optimized FSI.

An Evaluation of Anatomic Referencing for Femoral Component Sizing Using Computed Tomography-Based Computer Modeling.

One of the critical steps in total knee arthroplasty is femoral component positioning and sizing. Historically, there was wider variability between femoral component sizes, necessitating the concepts of anterior referencing (AR) and posterior referencing (PR). With the introduction of smaller increments between sizes, the concept of anatomic referencing has been introduced to replace AR and PR. The intent of this study was to validate the concept of anatomic referencing and show that with 2 mm increments in femoral sizes, the femoral component can be placed flush to the anterior cortex while maintaining posterior condylar offset (PCO). Digital surface models were created using 515 femurs from an established computed tomography database. Virtual bone resections, component sizing and placement were performed assuming neutral mechanical axis and a cartilage thickness of 2 mm. The appropriately sized femoral component, which had 2 mm incremental sizes, was placed flush with the anterior cortex with restoration of the PCO. The anterior-posterior distance from the posterior surface of the component to the medial and lateral surfaces of the posterior condylar cartilage were measured. The medial condyle was the limiting condyle in the majority of cases (73%). The average medial gap after appropriate femoral component matching was 0.6 mm (0.39-1.41 mm) across all sizes. The overall average condylar gap was 1.02 mm. The most common femoral component was a size 7 (57.2 mm) and the average femoral AP width was 55.9 mm. Anatomic referencing with an implant system that has 2-mm increments in femoral component sizing provides an alternative to AR and PR without compromise. Anatomic referencing allows for perfect alignment of the anterior flange of the femoral component to the anterior cortex of the femur while restoring the native PCO to within 1 mm. This avoids having to choose between AR or PR when in between femoral sizes.

Rice Grains from Slightly Saline Field Exhibited Unchanged Starch Physicochemical Properties but Enhanced Nutritional Values

This study aims to investigate grain quality and nutritional values of rice (Pokkali, a salt-tolerant cultivar; RD73, a new cultivar improved from KDML105 introgressed with Saltol QTL from Pokkali, and KDML105, a moderately salt-susceptible cultivar) grown under non-saline (0.04–0.87 dS/m) and slightly saline (1.08–4.83 dS/m) field conditions. The results revealed that salinity caused significant reduction in grain size but significant increments in reducing sugar and total protein contents in the grains. Nevertheless, the amounts of starch in the grains of KDML105 and Pokkali rice genotypes were unaffected by the stress. The starch granule size distribution was also unaffected by salinity. Interestingly, only starch from Pokkali was significantly diminished in amylose content, from 19.18% to 16.99%. Accordingly, parameters relating to starch gelatinization, retrogradation, and pasting properties of KDML105 and RD73 were unaffected by salinity; only Pokkali showed a significant increase in percentage of retrogradation along with a significant reduction in gelatinization enthalpy. In the saline field, total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity in the grains of all rice cultivars tended to increase, particularly in Pokkali. On average, essential element contents in grains from the saline-treated plants showed a 33%, 32%, 32%, 22%, 20%, 11%, and 10% increase in total P, N, K, Mg, Zn, Fe, and Ca content, respectively. Interestingly, total Fe content exhibited the greatest percentage of increments in KDML105 (187%). Taken together, cultivation of rice in the slightly saline field did not alter its eating and cooking qualities, while enhanced some nutritional properties such as proteins, minerals, and secondary metabolites like phenolic compounds.

Progressive Histogram Modification for JPEG Reversible Data Hiding

With the development of social network, a large number of private JPEG images are stored in social cloud platform. Correspondingly, the platform embeds user ID or authentication labels to manage these privacy images, preventing them from being arbitrarily accessed or tampered by illegal persons. However, data embedding in JPEG domain inevitably produces irreversible modifications to DCT coefficients, thus resulting in obvious or even serious distortion in the host JPEG images. To address this problem, this paper proposes an efficient JPEG reversible data hiding (RDH) method by constructing progressive two-dimensional histogram mappings. We firstly design distortion function to calculate the cost of each DCT frequency band, and then sort them to build histogram mapping containing a series of coefficient pairs. Subsequently, a progressive mapping mechanism is introduced to maintain most of AC coefficients unchanged. According to the given capacity, this mechanism can adaptively generate an optimum two-dimensional histogram mapping to embed secret messages. Our scheme can achieve an effective balance among embedding capacity, visual quality of the marked image and file size expansion, while keeping high cost-performance complexity. Extensive experiments demonstrate that our method outperforms existing JPEG RDH schemes in terms of visual quality and file size increment of the marked image, and provides an efficient solution for the confidentiality and security access problem of sensitive private image in cloud environment.

The relationship between cellular microstructure and the mechanical properties of styrene/methyl methacrylate copolymer‐silica nanocomposite foams prepared by a supercritical CO2 blowing agent

AbstractStyrene/methyl methacrylate (St/MMA) copolymer‐silica nanocomposite foams were prepared using supercritical CO2 as blowing agent, and the relationships between their cellular microstructure and mechanical properties were investigated. The effects of nanosilica content, size, and surface chemistry on the foam's microstructure and properties were examined. Dispersion and distribution of silica nanoparticles with different surface chemistry in St/MMA copolymer nanocomposites were discussed. To determine the most suitable copolymer composition for incorporating silica nanoparticles, some operating conditions such as temperature and pressure were primarily examined to study their effects on the microstructure of resulting foams. In compressive mechanical properties of final foams, a considerably high value was obtained for the compressive strength of the foams of up to 9.5 MPa. The prepared low‐density (below 0.2 g/cm3) St/MMA copolymer microcellular foams can be used in green lost foam iron casting processes.Highlights Styrene/methyl methacrylate copolymer‐silica nanocomposite foams were prepared via supercritical CO2. Foams' cell size was changed by changing silica nanoparticle surface chemistry and size. The uniform cellular microstructure was achieved by nanosilica size increment. Increasing nanoparticle size improved the foam's mechanical properties. Low‐density foams were achieved for potential application in lost foam casting.

An evolving pseudofractal network model

. In this work, we consider a randomized version of the deterministic pseudofractal graph model, which was first proposed in the physical literature. Our model is a sequence of dynamic networks, in which the increment of network size at each time depends on the current size and a sequence of evolving parameters. We first show that the network size is closely related to a branching process in the varying environment. Under a mild assumption, we then prove that the asymptotic degree distribution in our model obeys the power law with an exponent three. Based on this asymptotic degree distribution, we show that the clustering coefficient of our network model converges to a given constant in probability.

Structural and thermal investigation of lignocellulosic biomass conversion for enhancing sustainable imperative in progressive organic refinery paradigm for waste-to-energy applications

The depletion of finite fossil fuel reserves and the severe environmental degradation resulting from human activities have compelled the expeditious development and application of sustainable waste to energy technologies. To encapsulate energy and environment in sustainability paradigm, bio waste based energy production is need to be forged in organic bio refinery setup. According to world bioenergy association, biomass can cover 50 % of the primary energy demand of the world. Therefore, the present study focuses on reforming the energy mix for a clean energy generation, where, sample composition of cotton stalk was acidified in dilute (5% wt.) hydrochloric acid (HCL) for analyzing material burnout patterns in biomass conversion systems utilized in organic bio refinery sector. Advanced thermochemical burning technique, which includes pyrolysis and combustion was applied at four different leaching times from 0 to 180 min under nitrogen environment from 0 °C to 500 °C and air from 500 °C to 900 °C, respectively. Different analyses including proximate, ultimate, gross calorific value (GCV), thermos-gravimetric, kinetic, XRD, FTIR, SEM-EDS were used for analyzing the degradation of demineralized cotton stalk at different treatment rates. Proximate study demonstrated that cotton stalk leaching for 180 min has efficiently infused HCL, leading in a significant increase in fixed carbon and higher heating value of 20.23 % and 12.48%, respectively, as well as a reduction in carbon footprint of around 54.80%. The findings of proximate was validated by GCV analysis and CHNS analysis as value of carbon and hydrogen has shown increasing behavior with the time delay in demineralization Thermo-gravimetric and derivative thermo-gravimetric data analyses shows an increasing trend of conversion efficiency, with the maximum increase of 98 % reported for sample 3H.TT.DEM. XRD characterization has reported 23° to 25° angle for all the observed peaks. Sample 3H.TT.DEM has shown maximum angle inclination along with matured crystalline peak. The latter observations has been validated by FTIR spectroscopy as sample 3H.TT.DEM has reported maximum O–H group formation. Sample 3H.TT.DEM has reported lowest activation energy of 139.51 kJ*mole-1 and lowest reactivity of 0.000293649%*min 0C, due to moderate and stable reactiveness. In SEM examination, increment in pore size and number of pores within the structural matrix of cotton stalk was observed with the enhancement in acidulation process. Furthermore, in EDS analysis, 3H.TT.DEM has shown most balanced distribution of the elements. In this research, sustainable transformation of biomass is envisioned to improve the waste bio refinery system, significantly contributing to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals 7, 12 and 13.

Predictors of an informative or actionable cytological diagnosis on repeat breast aspiration after an insufficient aspirate: a multicentre retrospective review

An insufficient/inadequate diagnosis on fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of the breast is not an uncommon diagnostic dilemma. This study aims to review the rate and clinical features predicting an informative...

Structure, optical and visible-light photocatalytic performance of Mo1-xCoxS2 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.1) nanoparticles synthesized by facile hydrothermal method for methylene blue dye degradation

Mo1-xCoxS2 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.1) nanoparticles were successfully synthesized by using a hydrothermal route. The crystal structure of the prepared samples was investigated by Xray diffraction (XRD), emphasizing that all the prepared samples had a hexagonal structure of MoS2, and revealed an increment in the average particle size from 5 to 8 nm with increasing the cobalt ratio. The morphology was examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the recorded images of pure and cobalt-doped MoS2 show flowerlike architecture clusters. FT-IR spectroscopy was carried out to detect functional groups and stretching and bending vibrations of chemical bonds existing in all the prepared samples, confirming the presence of Mo-O and Co-O-Co characteristic peaks. The chemical composition of the synthesized samples was determined by energy dispersive Xray (EDX) analysis. The results confirmed the presence of Mo, S, and Co, which are consistent with the proposed formation of Mo1-xCoxS2 nanosystems. Optical properties were examined by UV–Visible spectrophotometry, reflecting allowed direct transitions with an energy band gap that decreases from 1.9 eV to 1.53 eV with increasing cobalt concentration. The photocatalytic degradation efficiency of methylene blue (MB) using pure and different ratios of cobalt-doped MoS2 as catalysts was tested under visible light radiation, and it was noticed that the MB degradation increased with increasing cobalt concentration.