Single Phase Research Articles

Urinary stone assessment in a single-phase may replace the unenhanced and multiphase computed tomography protocol in painless visible haematuria.

Painless visible haematuria (VH) necessitates a computed tomography (CT) usually consisting of one unenhanced and two to three contrast enhanced acquisitions to detect urinary tract stones and malignancy. Recently, we demonstrated that a single nephrographic phase (NP) CT sufficed in detecting malignancy in patients with painless VH. Now, we aim to evaluate the diagnostic performance of single NP CT in stone detection and size measurements in the same cohort. "A Prospective Trial for Examining Haematuria using Computed Tomography" (PROTEHCT) was a single-center prospective diagnostic study in patients with painless VH between September 2019 and June 2021. All underwent four-phase CT (reference standard) from which a single NP CT (experimental) was extracted. Two randomised readers independently assessed the experimental CT for urinary stones and size. Statistical analysis included diagnostic accuracies and inter-reader agreement (kappa) of experimental CT, and size correlation (Spearman's ρ) between experimental CT and reference standard. In 308 included patients (median age: 68 years, 250 males), urinary stones (median size 5 mm) were diagnosed in 21%. The per-patient experimental CT sensitivity was 86% (97% for stones ≥ 5 mm), specificity was 98% and accuracy was 96%. The experimental CT sensitivity for detecting kidney stones was 78% (89% for stones ≥ 5 mm), and 100% for bladder and ureteral stones. No missed stone required active treatment. The inter-reader agreement was almost perfect (96%, k = 0.85). The correlation in stone size was very strong (ρ = 0.91). Conclusions: A single NP CT is sufficient in detecting and measuring urinary stones in patients with painless VH.

Impact of PTQ11 polymer doping on the optoelectronic and structural properties of a CH3NH3PbI3 perovskite photovoltaic cell

At present, one of the most swiftly progressing domains in solar photovoltaics is perovskite-based solar cells. Chemical modification of perovskites with foreign atoms represents a potentially fruitful approach to customizing material characteristics with the aim of enhancing the functionality and durability of solar cells. In this study, we first documented the inverted structure of PTQ11 polymer-doped perovskite solar cells composed of CH3NH3PbI3 (MAPbI3) perovskite thin film. The findings indicate that the active layer morphology is enhanced through PTQ11 doping, leading to rapid suppression of photoluminescence and delayed carrier recombination. The XRD and Raman spectral analyses revealed the crystalline, single phase, tetragonal, and highly pure MAPbI3 thin film with the preferred (220) orientation. Energy gaps ranging from 1.596 eV to 1.577 eV and absorption coefficients exceeding 105 cm−1 were characteristics of the doped thin film, which varied with the doping concentration. A transition occurred on the perovskite film’s surface to form smooth, compressed pores measuring 1.63 µm in diameter. This modification potentially enhanced the photovoltaic performance by facilitating charge transport. With an open circuit voltage of 1.11 V, a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 18.24 %, a short-circuit current density of 22.32 mA/cm2, and a fill factor of 73.65 %, the PTQ11-9 mg/mL sample constituted the solar cell device base. Hence, the findings suggest that the doping of PTQ11 polymer represents a potentially effective approach to improve the performance of perovskite solar cells.

Dynamic Partitioning of Surfactants into Nonequilibrium Emulsion Droplets.

Characterizing the propensity of molecules to distribute between fluid phases is key to describing chemical concentrations in heterogeneous mixtures and the corresponding physiochemical properties of a system. Typically, partitioning is studied under equilibrium conditions. However, some mixtures form a single phase at equilibrium but exist in multiple phases when out-of-equilibrium, such as oil-in-water emulsion droplets stabilized by surfactants. Such droplets persist for extended times but ultimately disappear due to droplet dissolution and micellar solubilization. Consequently, equilibrium properties like oil-water partition coefficients may not accurately describe out-of-equilibrium droplets. This study investigates the partitioning of nonionic surfactants between shrinking microscale oil droplets and water under nonequilibrium conditions. Quantitative mass spectrometry is used to analyze the composition of individual microdroplets over time under conditions of varying surfactant composition, concentrations, and oil molecular structures. Within minutes, nonionic surfactants partition into oil droplets, reaching a nonequilibrium steady-state concentration that can be over an order of magnitude higher than that in the aqueous phase. As the droplets solubilize over hours, the surfactants are released back into water, leading to transiently high surfactant concentrations near the droplet-water interface and the formation of a microemulsion phase with a low interfacial tension. Introducing ionic surfactants that form mixed micelles with nonionic surfactants reduces partitioning. Based on this observation, stimuli-responsive ionic surfactants are used to modulate the nonionic surfactant partitioning and trigger reversible phase separation and mixing inside binary oil droplets. This study reveals generalizable nonequilibrium states and conditions experienced by solubilizing oil droplets that influence emulsion properties.

Single source self balanced switched capacitor based singe phase nine level inverter

Multilevel inverters are becoming increasingly significant due to their ability to efficiently convert power in various applications such as renewable energy systems, electric vehicles (EVs), and industrial drives. The growing need for efficient power conversion in these areas has driven heightened interest in multilevel inverters. High inrush current is required for numerous applications, including variable frequency drives, single-phase or three-phase machine drives, locomotives, electric vehicles. However, managing this inrush current is crucial to prevent damage to the power source and other connected equipment, as well as to ensure smooth and reliable operation. The solution for this is to provide isolation between load and source. The proposed single phase switched capacitor multilevel inverter possess the feature of virtual isolation between the load and the source. This topology consists of a switched capacitor cell network and a multilevel inverter. In this work, a simplest architecture is used for the MLI section to reduce the number of switches. The MLI section consists of only eight switches. Although the switched capacitor network in this topology consists of a higher number of switches, the switches in the network carry only very low current, resulting in negligible losses. Additionally, the switched capacitor network is highly modular in nature. The proposed single-phase inverter can be converted to a three-phase multilevel inverter (MLI) by connecting identical units in each phase, with the reference sinewave signal for the pulse-width modulation technique derived from the corresponding phases. Consequently, this proposed topology is suitable for both low-power and high-power applications. This work demonstrates that self-voltage balancing of the level capacitors can be achieved without the need for auxiliary components.In this design, the level capacitors act as the source to the load and are charged through switched capacitors. The voltage THD in the suggested work is less than 5%, which is in accordance with IEEE 519 standards. High voltage gain, better load, and line regulation, are other significant advantages of this novel topology. Another feature of this work is simplicity in design and can be easily extended to higher voltage levels. Comprehensive simulation and experimental results are provided to validate the precise performance of the proposed multilevel inverter

Structural, morphological, optical and down-conversion studies of NaLaMgTeO6:Dy3+ single phase phosphor for white light emitting applications and solar spectral converter for photovoltaic applications

Researches on rare earth activated phosphors in solid state lighting and enhancement in efficiency of solar cells pave attention to develop efficient phosphor materials. In the present work, Dy3+ doped NaLaMgTeO6 phosphors are synthesized using solid state reaction method. The structural studies using XRD analysis confirmed the successful formation of the compound. SEM analysis reveals that the particles are closely packed, which in turn exhibit intense luminescence intensity due to low scattering and high packing density. Elemental configuration were analyzed using EDS analysis. FTIR analysis revealed the vibrational bands of the host matrix. Optical energy bandgap was calculated using DRS spectra. The luminescence characteristics of the samples were investigated using excitation and emission spectra. Upon most intense 351 and 388 nm excitation, sharp yellow emission peak at 572 nm dominates blue emission at 478 nm, further reveals that Dy3+ ions occupy low symmetry site in the host lattice. The optimum concentration of Dy3+ in the present host is x = 0.04 mol and concentration quenching is due to dipole-quadrupole interaction of adjacent Dy3+ ions. The thermal quenching phenomenon is studied using temperature dependent photoluminescence analysis. The CIE chromaticity coordinates and CCT values conclude NaLaMgTeO6:Dy3+ phosphors are good candidate for cool near-white light emitting materials for outdoor illumination. The study on solar spectral response and down-conversion property of the synthesized phosphor demonstrate its applicability as solar spectral converters in solar cell applications.

Structure and Characterization of Catanionic Complexes and Biocompatible Vesicles of N-Acyltaurine and Sarcosine Alkyl Ester: Encapsulation and Release Studies with 5-Fluorouracil.

Hydrated dispersions containing equimolar mixtures of cationic and anionic amphiphiles, referred to as catanionic systems, exhibit synergistic physicochemical properties, and mixing single-chain cationic and anionic lipids can lead to the spontaneous formation of vesicles as well as other phase structures. In the present work, we have characterized two catanionic systems prepared by mixing N-acyltaurines (NATs) and sarcosine alkyl esters (SAEs) bearing 11 and 12 C atoms in the acyl/alkyl chains. Turbidimetric and isothermal titration calorimetric studies revealed that both NATs form equimolar complexes with SAEs having matching acyl/alkyl chains. The three-dimensional structure of the sarcosine lauryl ester (lauryl sarcosinate, LS)-N-lauroyltaurine (NLT) equimolar complex has been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The LS-NLT equimolar complex is stabilized by electrostatic attraction and multiple hydrogen bonds, including classical, strong N-H···O hydrogen bonds as well as several C-H···O hydrogen bonds between the two amphiphiles. DSC studies showed that both equimolar complexes show single sharp phase transitions. Transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering studies have demonstrated that the LS-NLT catanionic complex assemblies yield stable medium-sized vesicles (diameter 280-350 nm). These liposomes were disrupted at high pH, suggesting that the designed catanionic complexes can be used to develop base-labile drug delivery systems. In vitro studies with these catanionic liposomes showed efficient entrapment (73% loading) and release of the anticancer drug 5-fluorouracil in the physiologically relevant pH range of 6.0-8.0. The release rate was highest at pH 8.0, reaching about 78%, 90%, and 100% drug release at 2, 6, and 12 h, respectively. These observations indicate that LS-NLT catanionic vesicles will be useful for designing drug delivery systems, particularly for targeting organs such as the colon, which are inherently at basic pH.

Microstructures and wear properties of CoCrFexNi (x = 0, 1) medium-entropy alloy coatings prepared by laser cladding

Purpose High-nitrogen steel is a common material for the manufacture of drilling equipment such as drill collars. However, its poor surface properties often limit its applications. The purpose of this paper is to find a way to enhance the surface performance of high-nitrogen steel, which is expected to improve the wear resistance of high-nitrogen steel. Design/methodology/approach The CoCrNi and CoCrFeNi medium-entropy alloy (MEA) coatings were prepared on high-nitrogen steel substrate by laser cladding technology. The microstructure, phase composition and element distribution of the fabricated coatings were investigated using scanning electronic microscopy, electron backscatter diffraction and X-ray diffraction. The phase structure, phase stability and structural stability of the CoCrNi and CoCrFeNi MEAs were investigated in combination with phase diagram calculation and molecular dynamics. Then the wear tests were carried out for coatings. Findings The results show that both prepared MEA coatings have good quality and contain a single face-centered cubic phase. The wear performance of MEA coatings is improved by the refinement of grain size and the increase of dislocation density. Due to the addition of Fe atoms, the lattice distortion of the CoCrFeNi system increased, resulting in a higher dislocation density of the coating. Cr atoms in the CoCrFeNi system are the largest, and the local lattice distortions induced by them are greater. Through this study, MEA coatings with high hardness can be expanded to drilling field applications. Originality/value CoCrFeNi and CoCrNi MEA coatings were successfully prepared on the surface of high-nitrogen steel for the first time without obvious defects. The micromorphology and grain orientation of the different kinds of coatings were discussed in detail. The hardness-strengthening mechanism and structure stability of the coatings were illustrated by experiments and molecular dynamics simulations. Peer review The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-04-2024-0116/

Investigation of sol-gel derived CZTS thin film based solar cell: Experimental and theoretical approach

The successful deposition of eco-friendly Copper Zinc Tin Sulphide (CZTS) thin films on soda lime glass substrates by spin-coating technique has been investigated. The films were deposited by varying the Cu/(Zn + Sn) ratio, ranging from 0.25 to 1.25. The deposited films exhibited a polycrystalline structure with a single kesterite phase with a preferred orientation along the (112) plane. The size of the crystallites was found to be in the range of 14 to 16.6 nm. The higher absorbance of the films was found to be near infrared, with a band gap of 1.56 to 1.72 eV. Higher carrier concentrations of CZTS films were observed with p-type conductivity. The efficiency of CZTS solar cells was studied using the simulator SCAPS-1D. Theoretical graphs of J-V efficiency were also drawn and calculated theoretically.

Gait Generation of a 10-DOF Humanoid Robot on Deformable Terrain Based on Spherical Inverted Pendulum Model

Abstract Gait generation of a humanoid robot on deformable terrain is a complex problem as the foot and terrain interaction and terrain deformation has to be included in the dynamics. In order to simplify the dynamics of walk on deformable terrain, we used a spherical inverted pendulum (SIP) to represent the single support phase, in which the effect of terrain deformation is represented by a spring and damper contact model. The impact model for leg transition is derived from angular momentum conservation. In order to minimize the energy loss due to impact, the double support phase is modeled as a suspended pendulum. Based on the motion of the SIP model, the hip and leg trajectories of a 10 DOF humanoid robot are generated. The joint angles of the humanoid are obtained from inverse kinematics. The motion of the center of mass is analyzed by inverse dynamics of a floating-base robot. The proposed gait generation method has been experimentally validated using a Kondo KHR-3HV humanoid robot on deformable terrain. The results show that the humanoid can effectively track the trajectories of the SIP model.

Structural and Magnetic Properties of Nano Manganite La0.6Sr0.4MnO3 Obtained by Mechanochemical Synthesis Influenced by Preparation Conditions

Single phase La0.6Sr0.4MnO3 nanoparticles with perovskite structure ( R3̅C symmetry) were successfully prepared by ball milling (mechanochemical synthesis) for 1 and 10 h followed by annealing treatment at temperature 900 or 1100 °C. It was found that, the lattice parameters increase with the increase of milling time or annealing temperature. The increase of the annealing temperature results in the increase of crystallite size and the particle size. The obtained samples were found to be ferromagnetic at room temperature. The sample obtained by one hour of milling and 900 °C annealing showed high value of saturation magnetization (about 56 emu g−1) and small value of coercivity (about 31 Oe) at room temperature, while the other samples show reduced value of magnetization and higher value of coercivity. The obtained magnetic results are discussed in light of the core/shell model of nanoparticles. The effect of the presence of oxygen vacancies on the lattice parameters and magnetic properties of the obtained samples is also discussed.

Structural and Electrical Studies of Polycrystalline Pr𝑥Y1−𝑥FeO3 Materials Prepared Through Sol-Gel Route

Objectives: Investigations on structural, morphological and electrical studies of Pr substituted YFeO3 samples synthesized through sol-gel route are presented in this paper. Methods: PrxY1-xFeO3 (x=0.0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0) samples are synthesized by sol-gel auto combustion method. Structural characterization of the samples is done by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) techniques. Electrical properties are studied by J-E and Ln J-Ln E measurements. Findings: Rietveld refined XRD structural analysis shows sharp intense peaks indicating the crystalline nature of the samples and all the samples possess distorted orthorhombic structure with space group Pbnm. FESEM analysis shows non-uniform nature of grain size with increasing porosity. EDX data confirms elemental composition, weight and atomic percentage of the prepared samples which further confirms their purity. The leakage current density increases with increase in Pr doping. The slopes of Ln J-Ln E graphs of all the samples are in the range of 1.11 to 1.51 confirming that Ohmic conduction is predominant conduction mechanism. Novelty: Investigations on the effect of Pr substitution on electrical properties of single phase YFeO3­ samples reveal that the substitution of Pr in YFeO3 decreases the ferroelectric nature of the samples. Keywords: Sol-gel method, XRD, FESEM, EDX, Electrical Properties

Optimization of Properties of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Synthized by SolGel Method

In this study, the effects of pH value and capping agent on the morphology, pore structure and size of iron oxide nanoparticles were investigated systematically to obtain optimum properties. Iron oxide nanoparticles were synthized by sol-gel method. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) was used as capping agent by adding to the solution at 70 °C. After the drying process the powders were heat treated at 250 °C for 2 h under air atmosphere. Particle size of each sample was determined by using ZetaSizer instrument. X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique was employed for structural properties of iron oxide nanoparticles, FE-SEM (Field Emmision Scanning Electron Microscopy) was used to analyze the morphology of the powders. Magnetic properties of the nanoparticles were measured by VSM (Vibrating Sample Magnetometer) under air atmosphere at room temperature. Spesific surface area, porosity and pore size distribution of iron oxide nanoparticles were calculated by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) instrument. The results indicated that formation of the γ-Fe2O3 is sensitive to either the pH value of the solution or the capping agent, for the uncoated samples when pH value of the solution is adjusted to 2.5, α-Fe2O3 phase was detected as a single phase. When the solution was neutralized, γ-Fe2O3 was formed as the major phase in the microstructure, γ-Fe2O3 phase was formed as the major phase in the PVA coated samples leading to highest value of 50.33 emu/g measured in the sample of PVA8.5. For the PVA coated samples, specific surface area is in the range of 15.73 – 20.81 m2 /g, the intervals of pore volume and average pore width are increased to 0.099 – 0.121 cm3 /g and 23.19 – 23.07 nm respectively.

Improved microwave dielectric properties of LaZn1/2Ti1/2O3 through Y3+ substitution

LaZn1/2Ti1/2O3 is a double perovskite with promising microwave dielectric properties for applications towards dielectric resonators and antennas. Its dielectric properties can be enhanced through the substitution of suitable ions in either A- or B-sites. In this paper, we report a significant improvement in the quality factor (Q) by substituting Y3+ in the La site with a marginal reduction in dielectric constant (εr). A single phase is confirmed in XRD indicating the formation of La1-xYxZn1/2Ti1/2O3 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.25) solid solutions. The substitution results in an expansion of lattice along the b direction while there is a contraction in both a and c directions, leading to a reduction in unit cell volume. The dielectric constant, εr, is observed to reduce from 33.4 to 29.6 due to the polarizability of A-site atoms. The temperature coefficient of resonant frequency (τf) increases with an increase in x which does not appear to correlate with reducing tolerance factor (t). This non-conventional behaviour of τf in this perovskite based solid solutions brings bond valence of O site (VO) into picture. VO appears to show competing effect on τf. The non-monotonic behaviour is observed in Q×f with a maximum value of 41,400 GHz at x = 0.15 and a sharp decline for x > 0.15. This observation is correlated with variations in the A-site bond valence (VA) and a long-range ordering (LRO) of B-site ions. LRO is associated with Ag mode at 710 cm−1 in the Raman spectra. The low frequency (< 250 cm−1) Raman modes shift to a higher frequency with the increase in Y3+. Y3+ substitution also induces lattice distortion which is discussed in terms of variations in FWHM and relative intensity of the Raman modes.

Drug-resistant tuberculosis treatments, the case for a phase III platform trial.

Most phase III trials in drug-resistant tuberculosis have either been underpowered to quantify differences in microbiological endpoints or have taken up to a decade to complete. Composite primary endpoints, dominated by differences in treatment discontinuation and regimen changes, may mask important differences in treatment failure and relapse. Although new regimens for drug-resistant tuberculosis appear very effective, resistance to new drugs is emerging rapidly. There is a need for shorter, safer and more tolerable regimens, including those active against bedaquiline-resistant tuberculosis. Transitioning from multiple regimen A versus regimen B trials to a single large phase III platform trial would accelerate the acquisition of robust estimates of relative efficacy and safety. Further efficiencies could be achieved by adopting modern adaptive platform designs. Collaboration among trialists, affected community representatives, funders and regulators is essential for developing such a phase III platform trial for drug-resistant tuberculosis treatment regimens.

Remarkable mechanical properties at room and cryogenic temperatures in a metastable high-entropy system through BCC and HCP martensitic transformations

Metastable high-entropy alloys (HEAs) with strong transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP) effects are quite desirable from the standpoint of mechanical performance. This can be achieved through ε (HCP) and α΄ (BCC) martensitic transformations during deformation, for which their importance and effectiveness should be systematically evaluated. Accordingly, in the present work, by adjusting the chemical composition of the FeCoCrNiMnV system, the formation of ε and α′-martensite was tailored. Vanadium alloying resulted in a single FCC phase, and increasing Fe at the expense of Co promoted the formation of α′-martensite over ε-martensite. The V-free Fe45Co30Cr15Ni5Mn5 HEA exhibited high strength but low ductility. However, the V-containing Fe40Co30Cr15Ni5Mn5V5, Fe45Co25Cr15Ni5Mn5V5, and Fe50Co20Cr15Ni5Mn5V5 HEAs showed much better tensile properties at room and cryogenic temperatures. The last HEA with the highest Fe content showed a remarkable room-temperature strength-ductility synergy with an ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of 826 MPa, a total elongation of 88 %, and tensile toughness of 604 MJ m−3, ascribed to the remarkable TRIP effect by the α′-martensite formation. At cryogenic temperatures, this effect resulted in a superior strength-ductility balance with a UTS of 1511 MPa, a total elongation of 68.9 %, and a tensile toughness of 814 MJ m−3. The results showed that α′-martensite formation is more important for overcoming the strength-ductility trade-off compared to ε-martensite formation in HEAs.

Antisolvent crystallization of rare earth sulfate hydrates: Thermodynamics, kinetics and impact of iron

The thermodynamics and kinetics of ethanol antisolvent crystallization of rare earths from sulfate solutions has been explored, with a view towards separating the rare earths as part of a NdFeB magnet recycling process. The solubility of single and binary metal (Nd, Pr, Fe) phases in aqueous ethanol solutions has been determined. The impact of Fe and Pr on the crystallization of Nd is evaluated, the oxidation kinetics of Fe(II) to Fe(III) quantified, and the influence of Fe oxidation state on the thermodynamics and kinetics of crystallization investigated. Oxidation to Fe(III) is slow, with a half life of approx. 600 h. For pure Nd, the solubility of the obtained, stable sulphate octahydrate decreases exponentially with increased molar organic:aqueous (O/A) ratio, and is well described by the OLI model until O/A=0.2. Pr crystallizes as an isostructural octahydrate with similar solubility. Fe(II) precipitates as a mixed solid phase, with a solubility approximately 40 times higher than the rare earths at O/A=0.2. Fe(III) solutions exhibit liquid–liquid phase separation without precipitation at all evaluated concentrations. Nd and Pr coprecipitate together in proportion to their relative concentrations, with Pr precipitating at concentrations well below its pure component solubility. Fe(II) does not precipitate with Nd at O/A≤0.2 even at high concentration, with significant precipitation as separate particles at higher O/A for all concentrations. The crystallization kinetics and the morphology of the Nd phase is affected by the Fe oxidation state. The work highlights the potential of antisolvent crystallization for selective and efficient separation of REE from Fe.

767. INFLUENCE OF NEOADJUVANT IMMUNOTHERAPY-CHEMOTHERAPY ON PERIOPERATIVE OUTCOMES IN LOCALLY ADVANCED ESOPHAGEAL ADENOCARCINOMA

Abstract Background This study evaluates the perioperative outcomes of patients with locally advanced esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) who were treated with neoadjuvant immunotherapy (IO) and chemotherapy versus a matched cohort of patients that received neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) alone. Methods A single center non-randomized phase II trial was undertaken in locally advanced (cT3-4 and/or N+) EAC and 49 patients completed neoadjuvant Avelumab + DCF (Docetaxel, Cisplatin, 5FU) and esophagectomy between 2/2018 and 2/2020. These patients were matched to contemporary patients (1/2018-6/2020) who met inclusion criteria but received neoadjuvant chemotherapy alone (NAC) with a comparable Docetaxel based. The postoperative outcomes were then compared between the two groups. Results Ninety-nine patients with locally advanced EAC underwent esophagectomy and meet enrolment criteria for this study. Of these patients, 50 received NAC alone 49 received IO+NAC. Baseline characteristics such as age, gender and clinical stage were comparable between groups. Operative approach and rate of MIE (~60%) was similar in both groups. Overall and major complication rate were similar between groups (50 vs. 51%, p=0.91; 20 vs. 26%, p=0.44 respectively) with concordant rates of anastomotic leak (6 [12%] vs. 6 [12%], p=0.86) and respiratory complications (13 [26%] vs. 11 [22%], p=0.68) in NAC alone and IO+NAC group respectively. There were no significant differences in the LOS and 30- and 90-days mortality rates between the two groups. Conclusion The addition of immunotherapy to neoadjuvant chemotherapy for locally advanced esophageal adenocarcinoma does not appear to significantly alter perioperative short-term outcomes after esophagectomy

Microstructure and mechanical properties of laminated ferrous medium-entropy alloys fabricated by direct energy deposition and post-rolling annealing treatment

Laminated ferrous medium entropy alloy (Fe-MEAs), Fe75(CoCrNi)25/Fe60(CoCrNi)40, was successfully fabricated by direct energy deposition (DED). Due to the component mixing during DED process, a transition layer with face-centered cubic (FCC) and body-centered cubic (BCC) dual-phase was obtained in the Fe60(CoCrNi)40 layer after rolling and annealing. This dual-phase exhibits higher strength compared to a single FCC phase, thereby enhancing the overall strength of the material. During the deformation process of the laminated material, interface constraint will lead to high yield strength, resulting in performance superior to that predicted by the rule of mixtures. Moreover, the transition layer plays an important role in strain transferring and shows greater strain-hardening ability than the other two layers, enhancing the overall ductility of the laminated alloy.

Crystal structure, chemical bonds and microwave dielectric properties of ultra-low loss Li2Mg2GaTi2O8F ceramics

Ceramics of Li2Mg2GaTi2O8F (LMGTOF) were prepared by the traditional solid-state method. XRD and TEM results confirmed that a single phase of Li2Mg2GaTi2O8F, with an Fd-3m space group and a cubic spinel structure, was formed by the ceramics. It was shown by the results that the lattice parameters of the ceramics at 1050 °C were measured as a = b = c = 8.36576 Å, with a volume of V = 585.485549 Å3. Furthermore, it was observed through the analysis of the Raman peak at 718 cm−1 that an inverse relationship was exhibited between the Raman shift and εr. Similarly, an opposing trend was also demonstrated between the Q × f value and FWHM. By bond valence analysis, it was shown that Mg2+, Ga3+, and Ti4+ ions were in a “rattling” state, and the large positive deviation between εcorr and εtheo was attributed to the strong “rattling” effect induced by the cations. At 1050 °C, the best microwave dielectric properties (εr = 14.58, Q × f = 76,689 GHz, and τf = −52 ppm/°C) were exhibited by LMGTOF ceramics.

Influence of Nd3+ on structural, electrical and magnetic properties of Ni-Cd nanoferrites

Here in we report the nanocrystalline Ni1-xCdxNdyFe2-yO4 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1.0 in steps of 0.2: y = 0.0; 0.1) ferrites were synthesised by novel solution combustion technique. The sintered powders have been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transmission infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy dispersive analysis by x-rays (EDAX) methods. DC electrical conductivity carried out by two probe method. Magnetic parameters were measured using vibrating sample magnetometer with an applied magnetic field up to 15 kOe at 300K. The XRD results confirmed the formation of single phase cubic spinel structure formation. It was found that the lattice parameter increased with increase in Cd2+ ion. The crystallite sizes have been found in the range of 44.24 nm to 15.467 nm. Moreover, the formation of two prominent absorption bands confirmed the spinel structure. The SEM micrographs evidenced almost spherical shaped, agglomerated and grainy structure of nanoferrites. Moreover, the Curie temperature (TC) was decreased with increasing temperature and exhibit the semiconducting behaviour. Further, saturation magnetisation (MS), remanence magnetisation (Mr); coercivity (HC) were decrease with increase in the magnetic field. The magnetic parameters; MS, Mr, nB increases attain maximum thereafter decreases with increase in Cd2+ ion and Nd3+ ion content.