Morphological Studies Research Articles

Re-evaluation of the concept of basaloid follicular hamartoma associated with naevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome: a morphological, immunohistochemical and molecular study

Nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome (NBCCS) is a rare genodermatosis caused by germline mutations in genes of the Sonic Hedgehog pathway (SHH) and characterized by early onset of multiple basal cell carcinoma (BCC). Although skin tumors with follicular differentiation notably basaloid follicular hamartoma (BFH) have been reported in NBCCS, their relations with BCC are poorly defined. In this context, the aim of this study was to clarify morphological, immunohistochemical and molecular features of BFH arising in a context of NBCCS.140 skin tumors from NBCCS and 140 control BCC tumors were reviewed blinded to clinical data and classified as BCC or BFH. The morphological characteristics of these two groups were then compared. Twenty cases were submitted to immunohistochemical and molecular analysis.Thirty-three tumors among the exploratory cohort were classified as BFH and were exclusively detected in NBCCS patients. Histopathological criteria that were significantly different from BCC were: a small size (<1.5mm), connection to a hair follicle, arborescent organoid architecture, lack of cytologic atypia, infundibulocystic differentiation. Immunohistochemical analysis confirmed activation of the SHH pathway in these lesions. Targeted next-generation sequencing suggested that MYCN and GLI2/3 amplifications and TP53 mutations might be involved in progression of these follicular tumors to BCC.Our study confirms the high prevalence of BFH representing up to 24% of skin tumors in NBCCS and potentially being BCC precursors.

ОСЛОЖНЕННОЕ ТЕЧЕНИЕ БОЛЕЗНИ КРОНА ПРИ БЕРЕМЕННОСТИ

Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel disease of unknown etiology. This pathology more often affects young people, so it can occur during pregnancy and complicate its course. A case of intestinal obstruction caused by Crohn's disease during pregnancy was presented. Clinical manifestations are described; data from additional research methods and the results of morphological studies are presented. Particular emphasis is made on management of patients with acute surgical pathology during pregnancy. A brief review of the literature on this issue is presented. In the described case, the cause of intestinal obstruction was Crohn's disease, first diagnosed only during pregnancy. Complications of Crohn's disease are an indication for surgical intervention and not a reason for changing obstetric tactics: in most cases, pregnancy should be prolonged using specific therapy.

Pollen atlas and morphological analysis of the selected types from southeastern Tibet, China

The accuracy of fossil pollen identification is crucial for understanding past plant diversity, vegetation landscape and associated climate change, while dispersed/fossil pollen assignments heavily rely on how robust modern pollen reference is. There is high species richness in southeastern Tibet, China, however, pollen morphological studies in this area are still poorly documented. Here, we present pollen atlas of 57 species (40 genera, 22 families) collected from the Ranwu Lake Basin. Pollen grains were imaged with light microscope (LM, 100X oil-immersion objective lens) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). All pollen types are ordered and presented according to different aperture types and sculpture patterns, facilitating comparison with fossil pollen. Moreover, we selected some representative species mainly based on potential palaeoecological importance, including Sibiraea (Rosaceae), Koenigia cathayana (Polygonaceae), Stellera chamaejasme (Thymelaeaceae), Hordeum vulgare subsp. vulgare and Poa annua (Poaceae), to discuss their pollen identification characteristics for the first time and assess potential applications in Quaternary palaeoecological interpretation. This study enriches modern pollen atlas for Quaternary pollen analysis in the study area and the adjacent regions. Our results provide robust modern reference in pollen-based reconstruction of vegetation history, palaeoclimate and palaeoenvironment, and tracing pollen signal of local human activities as well.

Redescription of Dracovermis occidentalis (Digenea: Liolopidae) infecting American alligator, Alligator mississippiensis from the Bon-Secour River (Mobile–Tensaw River Delta, Alabama, USA) and a revised phylogeny for Liolopidae

We examined several American alligators, Alligator mississippiensis (Daudin, 1802) (Crocodilia: Alligatoridae) from Louisiana, Alabama, and South Carolina in August 2022. The intestine of one alligator from Alabama was infected by Dracovermis occidentalis Brooks and Overstreet, 1978 (Platyhelminthes: Digenea: Liolopidae Odhner, 1912), a seldom collected and incompletely described trematode that lacks a representative nucleotide sequence. Liolopidae comprises 5 genera and 15 species: Liolope spp. infect giant salamanders; Helicotrema spp. infect turtles and lizards; Harmotrema spp. infect snakes; Paraharmotrema spp. infect turtles; and Dracovermis spp. infect crocodilians. Based on our study of the newly collected specimens and the holotype of D. occidentalis, we redescribe D. occidentalis, correct errors in its original description, and provide an updated phylogeny for Liolopidae that, for the first time, includes Dracovermis Brooks and Overstreet, 1978. Our specimens were identified as D. occidentalis by having testes in the posterior 1/3 of the body, a pretesticular cirrus sac, a spined and eversible cirrus, a bipartite seminal vesicle, and a post-acetabular vitellarium. A phylogenetic analysis of the D1–D3 domains of the nuclear large subunit ribosomal DNA (28S) recovered Liolopidae as monophyletic; however, low taxon sampling in the group precludes hypothesis-testing about liolopid-vertebrate cophyly. This is the first collection for morphological study of the type species for Dracovermis since the genus was proposed 46 years ago, the first record of a liolopid from Alabama, and the first phylogenetic analysis that includes Dracovermis.

Optimization of photocurrent and surface wettability of new As10Bi30Se30Te30 thin films through annealing at different temperatures for optoelectronic applications

Group V-VI-based metal-doped double chalcogenides are essential in thermoelectric and suitable optoelectronic devices. The present investigation is based on optimising various optical, structural, and electrical behaviours of quaternary As10Bi30Se30Te30 films through thermal annealing at different temperature scales. The structural study by X-ray diffraction (XRD) exhibited the presence of various Bi2Se3, Bi2SeTe2, and Bi2Te3 phases in the annealed films. The crystallinity gradually enhanced after the annealing process. The microstructural modifications in the material have been confirmed through the Raman spectra. The elemental confirmation was verified from the energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectra, whereas the cross-sectional scanning electron microscopy (SEM) view showed the annealing-induced modifications in the films. The granular structure in the films is seen from the surface morphology study. The reduction of the energy gap from 1.36±0.002 eV to 1.26±0.001 eV upon annealing induced the increment in refractive index from 3.08 to 3.15. With annealing, the non-linear refractive index varied from 4.341x10-10 esu to 5.218 x10-10 esu. This indicates the narrowing of the bandgap and enhancement in the non-linear optical response of the material after the annealing process. The 3rd-order nonlinear susceptibility is also increased by annealing, thus making it suitable for nonlinear device applications. Annealing-induced surface change in the material enhances its surface wettability and makes it more hydrophilic. The linear enhancement in photocurrent with the voltage is ohmic and makes it suitable for various optoelectronic applications.

Clove Oil mediated combustion method synthesised Dy stabilized Lanthanum Ferrite its application as Photocatalyst and Antibacterial agent

The work gives the details about the influence of (Dy) substitution in the Lanthanum ferrite (x = 1mol%, 3mol%, 5mol%, 7mol%) nanoparticles prepared by biofuel mediated combustion method. The studies of PXRD, SEM, UV-DRS, FTIR, TEM were carried out to understand the structural characteristics. The PXRD shows the high crystalline peak of lanthanum ferrites. From Rietveld refinement analysis confirms orthorhombic structure. The estimated crystal size is 31-43nm. The band gap from UV -DRS studies was in the 2.4-2.8eV range. The morphological studies SEM and TEM shows the agglomerated structure. The variation of peak intensity (PXRD), the band gap and the force constant calculated from FTIR confirms the presence of dopant in the host disturbed the crystal lattice. The Photocatalytic degradation for the Eosin Y dye were done under visible light. The 3mol% Dy doped Lanthanum ferrite shows enhanced results of about 85.09% in 60minutes. The crystallinity nature from XRD and band gap of about 2.4eV could more most supportive parameters for the nanomaterial for photodegradation. The antibacterial activities for E.coli and P. aeruginosa shown effective activity, which could make the sample to be more applicable towards biomedical field.

Adsorption performance with field emission scanning electron microscopy of fruit peel induced Silver Nanoparticles in C16H18ClN3S for waste water treatment

There is a growing demand for cost-effective and sustainable technologies for treating wastewater as water consumption increases and conventional technologies become more expensive. Nanoparticles have a great deal of potential for use in the treatment of waste water. Their unique surface area allows them to effectively remove toxic metal ions, pathogenic microorganisms, organic and inorganic solutes from water. This study investigated the potential of orange and banana peels as renewable nano adsorbents for removing dyes and dissolved organic compounds from textile wastewater. Orange and banana peels are an optimal selection due to their favourable chemical characteristics, namely the presence of cellulose, pectic, hemicellulose, and lignin. Their capacity to adsorb diverse anionic and cationic compounds on their surface-active sites is attributed to their unique functional group compositions. Silver nanoparticles are able to adsorb heavy metals due to their exceptionally low electrical and thermal resistance and surface plasmon resonance. The samples were thoroughly characterised using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), UV–Visible spectrometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and XRD. The nanoparticles were prepared (10 gm,50 gm,100 gm) and subsequently introduced to the wastewater sample. The optical density values were recorded at various time points. The optical density values demonstrate a decline over the course of the experiment, with a notable decrease observed over time. The results of this study provide valuable insights into the efficacy of these natural adsorbents and their potential for sustainable water purification technologies. For the purpose of this research, high performance instrumentation methods were performed as follows:•Field emission scanning electron microscopy for surface morphology studies.•Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) for analytical technique that combines gas chromatography (GC) and mass spectrometry (MS) to identify unknown substances or contaminants.•Optical density values were measured for different timings of degradation.

Unveiling the structural, optical, electrical, and ferromagnetic properties of Ca2+ doped mixed spinel ferrites for switching field high-frequency device applications

In this paper, the calcium-doped nickel-zinc nano-ferrites [Ni0.5Zn0.5CaxFe2-xO4; x = 0.00, 0.10, and 0.30] were prepared using the chemical co-precipitation synthesis route and studied for switching field high-frequency device applications. The structural analysis has been completed by analyzing X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns. The Rietveld refined XRD patterns confirmed the formation of cubic spinel structure of Ca2+ substituted nickel-zinc ferrites. The detection of metal-oxygen bonds present at A and B lattice sites has been unveiled by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The morphological studies obtained through FESEM (Field emission scanning electron microscopy) analysis showed a reduction in the particle size from 70 nm to 53 nm when the concentration of Ca2+ ions in Ni-Zn ferrites was increased. Energy dispersive spectra (EDS) confirmed the presence of elements present in the prepared composition. The structure of a cubic spinel-shaped unit cell has been verified from three active prominent Raman modes (A1g, A2g, and T2g). Diffuse-reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) exhibits the increment in the bandgap values (from 1.55 eV to 1.63 eV) which helps fabricate highly efficient photovoltaic devices. The ferroelectric measurements yielded a rise in polarization values from 1.461 μC/cm2 to 18.228 μC/cm2 for 10 % Ca2+ ion substitution. The tangent loss values declined from 24 to 3 in Ni-Zn ferrites upon substituting Ca2+ ions. The Vibrating sample Magnetometer (VSM) technique found the increment in the saturation magnetization (Ms) values from 34.724 emu/g to 54.662 emu/g on substituting up to 30 % Ca2+ ions in Ni-Zn ferrites. These obtained results support the material in switching field distribution for high-frequency applications. The results exhibited that the prepared samples can be applicable for switching devices, filters, and microwave absorption devices. The results revealed the maximum frequency between 12 and 18 GHz which is useful for Ku band absorption.

Identification of new phylogenetic lineage of Lasiodiplodia causing leaf spot and tip necrosis causing agent on Aloe vera in Sri Lanka and screening eco-friendly control measures

Aloe vera, a member of the Asphodelaceae family, is renowned globally for its medicinal properties and widespread applications in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and food production. In Sri Lanka, both cultivated and wild A. vera are susceptible to leaf spot and tip necrosis. The present aims to identify the causative agent of this disease and screen the effectiveness of various natural substances in disease control. Disease incidence was assessed in both cultivated fields and wild habitats, and the results showed a higher percentage in the wild. Isolates obtained from symptomatic leaves were identified as members of Lasiodiplodia based on morphological studies. The phylogenetic analysis, which combined sequences from the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) region and a segment of the calmodulin (cmdA) gene, suggested that the isolates might represent a new lineage within the genus Lasiodiplodia. These isolates appeared to share a common ancestor with Lasiodiplodia hormozganensis. Koch's postulates validated the pathogenicity of the isolates. Natural substances, namely marine algal extracts, plant extract and cell-free supernatants (CFSs) of bacteria, were tested against the isolates. CFSs of Pseudomonas fluorescens and Bacillus megaterium showed significantly higher inhibition on conidial germination compared to the tested commercial fungicide. Further, CFS of P. fluorescens revealed the notable effectiveness on the development of leaf spot and tip necrosis on the leaf compared to the tested fungicide. These findings underscore the potential of P. fluorescens CFS in managing A. vera diseases caused by the isolates of Lasiodiplodia in Sri Lanka.

An investigation of the structure property relation of Na2MnWO6 for device application

This communication delves into the structural, microstructural, dielectric, impedance, modulus, and optical properties of the double-perovskite ceramic Na2MnWO6. Our X-ray diffraction study revealed a multiphase crystal structure in this ceramic, a result of high-temperature mixed-oxide synthesis. Morphological studies indicated a nearly uniform grain scattering and distribution with minimal spaces. The Maxwell-Wagner model, by addressing alternative polarisation mechanisms, studied the frequency-dependent dielectric properties. Our study of temperature-dependent dielectric permittivity identified a ferroelectric to paraelectric phase transition dielectric aberration. The material’s NTCR characteristic was determined using impedance analysis. Jonscher’s power law showed that the conduction mechanism follows the overlapping of large polaron tunnelling and correlated barrier hopping models, establishing the link between conductivity and frequency. Relaxation and conduction activation energies support electron hopping. UV spectroscopy revealed a band gap of 4.01 eV, and temperature-dependent resistance studies suggest a potential use in thermistors with due parameters. These findings significantly enhance our understanding of NMWO, paving the way for its potential uses in electronics and optics, owing to its unique structural, electrical, and optical features.

Morphological and Biophysical Study of S100A9 Protein Fibrils by Atomic Force Microscopy Imaging and Nanomechanical Analysis

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) imaging enables the visualization of protein molecules with high resolution, providing insights into their shape, size, and surface topography. Here, we use AFM to study the aggregation process of protein S100A9 in physiological conditions, in the presence of calcium at a molar ratio 4Ca2+:S100A9. We find that S100A9 readily assembles into a worm-like fibril, with a period dimension along the fibril axis of 11.5 nm. The fibril’s chain length extends up to 136 periods after an incubation time of 144 h. At room temperature, the fibril’s bending stiffness was found to be 2.95×10−28 Nm2, indicating that the fibrils are relatively flexible. Additionally, the values obtained for the Young’s modulus (Ex=6.96×105 Pa and Ey=3.37×105 Pa) are four orders of magnitude lower than those typically reported for canonical amyloid fibrils. Our findings suggest that, under the investigated conditions, a distinct aggregation mechanism may be in place in the presence of calcium. Therefore, the findings reported here could have implications for the field of biomedicine, particularly with regard to Alzheimer’s disease.

Harnessing PbZrO3-Polymer composites for enhanced electron collection through advanced interfacial engineering

The integration of metal oxide-polymer composites into energy conversion devices presents a promising strategy for improving electron collection efficiency. This study addresses the performance challenges faced by Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs), particularly in enhancing light absorption and charge carrier transport. The investigate the use of hybrid PbZrO3-Polymer composites, specifically PbZrO3 Perovskite combined with PNMPy-PoA conducting polymers, to optimize electron collection in these devices. Utilizing advanced characterization techniques, including structural analysis, morphological studies, and electrochemical measurements, Author explore the synergistic interactions between the metal oxides and polymers. By incorporating PbZrO3 nanoparticles with conducting polymers (poly-o-anisidine and poly-N-methyl pyrrole) and organic DTTCY dyes, synergetic achieves a significant improvement in the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of DSSCs. Our results reveal that the optimized PNMPy-PoA-PbZrO3 counter electrode exhibits a photoelectric conversion efficiency of 3.46 % under ideal conditions, with reduced charge transfer resistance at the electrolyte-counter electrode interface. These findings highlight the effectiveness of hybrid metal oxide-polymer composites in enhancing electron collection and stability, offering substantial improvements in the performance of energy conversion devices.

Improving high-voltage cycling and stabilizing the electrode-electrolyte interface of nickel-rich layered cathodes by magnesium doping

Next-generation lithium-ion batteries will rely on nickel-rich layered oxides as cathode materials, but these materials are associated with structural and voltage losses. Magnesium (Mg) doping helps improve the performance of the nickel-rich layered cathode material. The Mg-modified LiNi0·90Mn0·05Co0·05O2 (NMC-90) has been successfully synthesized through a co-precipitation technique followed by calcination at 850 °C. Modified NMC-90 exhibits better-organized layers and improved interfacial properties than pristine ones based on structural, chemical, and morphological studies. In a voltage range of 2.8–4.5 V, Mg (0.01 mol%)-doped NMC-90 (NMC-M1) composite cathode shows an excellent discharge capacity of 211.11 mAh/g, whereas pristine NMC-90 (NMC-M0) attains only 210.59 mAh/g at 0.1C with an initial coulombic efficiency of 89.5 % for NMC-M1 and 87.5 % for NMC-M0 cathode. The NMC-M1 cathode demonstrated an impressive enhancement in cyclability after 60 cycles compared to the NMC-M0 at 1C rate, in which the NMC-M1 cathode attains a high capacity retention of 80 % while the NMC-M0 cathode shows only 37 %. This study illustrates the importance of studying the effects of elemental doping on cell performance. It will drive the future development of cathode materials with high Ni and low Co content.

Energy-saving synthesis of wurtzite ZnS nanoparticles using Yttrium as a defect regulator by hydrothermal method

In this work, Y-doped ZnS nanoparticles were synthesised using the hydrothermal method with doping percentages of 0.5%, 1%, 2.5%, and 5%. XRD study revealed that doping caused a phase transition from cubic to hexagonal, further confirmed by Raman analysis and TEM images. Morphological studies conducted by SEM and TEM provided insights into the structural changes. Diffused reflectance studies were used to evaluate the band gap, with values obtained as 3.33eV, 3.45 eV, 3.45 eV, 3.44 eV, and 3.37 eV for pure, 0.5%, 1%, 2.5%, and 5% Y-doped ZnS, respectively. Photoluminescence analysis revealed the presence of defect states in ZnS nanoparticles, indicated by peaks at 362 nm, 383 nm, and 390 nm in both pure and doped samples. The intensity of these peaks increased with Y doping, attaining its highest at 1% Y doping, while concentration quenching was observed at higher doping percentages. The EDAX analysis confirmed the successful integration of Y as a dopant in the ZnS lattice. These findings highlight the importance of optimizing the doping concentration to achieve the desired luminous features and provide valuable insights into the doping-dependent luminescence behaviour of Y-doped ZnS nanoparticles. The visible light photocatalytic activity of the nanoparticles was investigated, and it was revealed that the photocatalytic efficiency increased initially and then declined with the doping concentration increased. It was found that the ideal doping concentration for 93% degradation efficiency was 1%. The novelty of this work lies in developing a simple and energy-saving method for synthesizing hexagonal ZnS at low temperatures, which avoids the need for high temperatures and advanced anti-oxidation apparatus.

Optoelectronic processes in ultrasonic spray coated organic solar cells

In this work, the role of a high boiling point green solvent additive Diphenyl ether (DPE) in device recombination processes in organic solar cell, fabricated using ultrasonic spray coating method is investigated. Without DPE and with 2.4 % DPE, the device series resistance was high of the order of 104 Ω. With 0.3 %, 0.6 %, 1.2 % DPE, series resistance was less. Transient studies show that, for these contents, the rise and decay times of photocurrent was less than 5 µs. For 0.3 % DPE, nearly 3/4th photovoltage decayed with 51.4 µs lifetime and the remaining decays with 4.6 µs lifetime. With higher DPE content (1.2 %), 97 % photovoltage decay was with a longer lifetime 46.1 µs, and remaining with 1.6 µs. With further more DPE content (2.4 %), only 1 % TPV decays with shorter lifetime of 11.6 µs and 99 % decay is in longer time scale of 672 µs. In addition, a longer lifetime of over 1000 µs was also observed for this case, indicating the presence of deep traps, in addition to the shallow traps and bimolecular recombination. Morphology studies show that for 0 % and 0.3 % DPE content, stacked structure of droplets was formed in the film, but with 0.6 % and higher content, the progressively impinging droplets intermix with each other, providing more time for the film to dry. It was shown that the contribution of trap assisted recombination for varying DPE content was due to disordered PTB7 or PC71BM phases, indicating a competition between PTB7 aggregation and PC71BM dispersion in the coated film.

Development of Microcystoid Macular Degeneration in the Retina of Nonhuman Primates: Time-Course and Associated Pathologies

Purpose Microcystoid macular degeneration (MMD) is a condition where cystoid vacuoles develop within the inner nuclear layer of the retina in humans in a variety of disorders. Here we report the occurrence of MMD in non-human primates (NHPs) with various retinal ganglion cell (RGC) pathologies and evaluate the hypothesis that MMD does not precede RGC loss but follows it. Methods Morphological studies were performed of the retinas of NHPs, specifically both rhesus (Macaca mulatta) and cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis), in which MMD was identified after induction of experimental glaucoma (EG), hemiretinal endodiathermy axotomy (HEA), and spontaneous idiopathic bilateral optic atrophy. In vivo imaging analyses included fundus photography, fluorescein angiography (FA), optical coherence tomography (OCT), adaptive optics scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (AOSLO), light microscopy, and electron microscopy. Results MMD, like that seen on OCT scans of humans, was found in both rhesus and cynomolgus macaques with EG. Of 13 cynomolgus macaques with chronic EG imaged once with OCT six of 13 animals were noted to have MMD. MMD was also evident in a cynomolgus macaque with bilateral optic atrophy. Following HEA, MMD did not develop until at least 2 weeks following the RNFL loss. Conclusion These data suggest that MMD may be caused by a retrograde trans-synaptic process related to RGC loss. MMD is not associated with inflammation, nor would it be an independent indicator of drug toxicity per se in pre-clinical regulatory studies. Because of its inconsistent appearance and late development, MMD has limited use as a clinical biomarker.

Microscopic structure and immunolabeling of extremely overlapped scales in some scincid, anguid, and pygopod lizards.

Skink, anguid, and pygopod lizards possess an extremely flat skin, imparting a compact and solid body and shining surface that facilitates their slider and/or fossorial movements. The present morphological study, conducted using immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy, has analyzed the microscopical morphology of extremely overlapped scales in different lizards, including species with limb reduction (scincids such as Lerista bougainvilli, Scincella lateralis, Lampropholis delicata) or legless (pygopods such as Lialis burtonis and Delma molleri and the anguid Anguis fragilis). The outer surface of the epidermis shows different micro-structures of the Oberhautchen layer containing corneous beta-proteins (CBPs) with variable immunoreactivity for these proteins. The beta-layer is relatively thick in most of these species, probably in relation to the resistance against strong mechanical forces acting on scales during the movements on harsh substrates. The scincid and anguid lizards also possess and regenerate osteoderms that reinforce scales flatness and mechanical resistance during the serpentiform or fossorial movements of these reptiles. Osteoderms are absent in pygopods. Roundish cells with a granular content are detected in the deep hinge region of scales in Lerista and Lampropholis skinks. Whether these cells may secrete substances that facilitate scale anti-friction and also determine shining of the skin surface remains to be shown.

Microstructural and morphological studies of TiCrC nanopowders produced by mechanical alloying

Nanocrystalline Ti0.7Cr0.3C powders were synthesized by mechanical alloying (MA) at room temperature from an elemental mixture of Ti, Cr, and C powders. The samples were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDX). The novelty of our study is to advance our knowledge of the effect of milling time on the evolution of microstructural and morphological changes in the Ti0.7Cr0.3C powders. The XRD results revealed that nanostructured (Ti, Cr)C carbide with an average crystallite size of 11 nm was obtained after 20 h of MA. The SEM results showed that during MA, the morphology process implies repeated cold welding, fracturing, and re-welding of powder particles. TEM investigation revealed that the particles of TiCrC powder ranged in size from 50 to 250 nm.

Mechanical, Thermal and Morphological Study of Bio-Based PLA Composites Reinforced with Lignin-Rich Agri-Food Wastes for Their Valorization in Industry.

This study investigates the performance of different poly(lactic acid) (PLA) composites incorporating agri-food waste additives and commercial lignin, comparing their properties with those of virgin PLA. The following composites were prepared using a single-screw extruder: PLA with 20% rice husk, PLA with 20% wheat straw and PLA with 20% olive pit. Additionally, PLA was blended with commercial lignin at the maximum feasible proportion using the same methodology. The resulting composites were injection-molded into specimens for analysis of their mechanical, thermal and morphological behavior. The primary objectives were to assess the dispersion of the additives within the PLA matrix and to evaluate the mechanical properties of the composites. The results indicate that the addition of high percentages of agricultural residues does not significantly compromise the mechanical properties of the composites. Notably, in the case of the PLA with 20% rice husk composite, the elastic modulus surpassed that of virgin PLA, despite the evident heterogeneity in filler particle sizes. It was feasible to incorporate a higher percentage of agricultural residues compared to commercial lignin, attributed to the larger volume occupied by the latter.

Description of six new species from Mesalina watsonana complex in the Iranian plateau and neighboring regions

Mesalina watsonana is a species complex with a wide distribution range in Iran, some parts of Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and northwest India. Recent molecular and morphological investigations detected remarkable hidden diversity among the geographical populations of the complex, more likely referring to the persistence of undescribed species. In this study, we conducted a very detailed sampling of localities and carried out a morphological study to investigate populations within the complex. Investigation of morphological features within the M. watsonana species complex indicated that it consists of seven distinct populations. They include the West-Southeast-South, East-Northeast, East Dasht-e Kavir, West Dasht-e Kavir, and two central groups (Halil and Kerman groups). Considering our findings, each of the seven populations corresponding to distinct geographic regions should be recognized as species. The six new species include Mesalina khuzestanensis sp. nov., Mesalina halilica sp. nov., Mesalina kermanensis sp. nov., Mesalina ardestanica sp. nov., Mesalina bardaskanensis sp. nov., Mesalina esfarayensis sp. nov. which are distinctive from each other due to their unique morphological characteristics.