Pulse electrodeposited AgInS2 films

AgInS₂ films were pulse electrodeposited on tin oxide coated glass substrates at different duty cycles for the first time. The films were single phase with orthorhombic structure. Optical absorption measurements indicated a band gap in the range of 1.90–2.02 eV with decrease of duty cycle. Transmission spectra exhibited interference fringes. Using the envelope method, refractive index was calculated. Optical conductivity was evaluated from the absorption coefficient and refractive index data. Optical data was analyzed by the single-effective oscillator model.     

Probing small network differences in sulfur‐cured rubber compounds by combining nuclear magnetic resonance and swelling methods

We studied the network structure of elastomers based on polyisoprene, polybutadiene, and their blends in the narrow range of formulations compatible with actual use in the automotive tyre industry. Cross‐link density (CLD) was quantified comparatively by low‐field ¹H multiple quantum time domain nuclear magnetic resonance (MQ TD‐NMR) and by equilibrium swelling technique. The robustness and agreement of the two methods was demonstrated in measuring minute alterations of unfilled vulcanizates beyond the optimum cure time. Comparison with samples where polysulfidic bonds were selectively cleaved also demonstrates that the length of the sulfur chain constituting the cross‐link does not significantly affect residual dipolar coupling. Kraus, Lorenz, and Parks correction for filler restriction on swelling is validated by MQ TD‐NMR, which also allows extracting information on cross‐link distribution not provided by swelling measurement. Cross‐link distributions in the blends were demonstrated to be significantly different from the weighted average of the pure samples, while average proton–proton residual dipolar coupling values correspond. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42700.     

Fatigue mitigation through the optimization of ergonomic positional parameters in massage therapy using virtual instrumentation

This paper reports a research in which a setup was developed to determine the optimal values of ergonomic positional parameters that would mitigate the development of fatigue while performing massage therapy. This setup was based on virtual instrumentation principles and consisted of a sphygmomanometer bulb, an air sac, a pressure sensor, a data acquisition card and a personal computer installed with the Laboratory Virtual Instrumentation Engineers Workbench software (LABView software). The air sac fitted in this setup is equalised with the muscles and other human body parts which a human therapist is required to press while performing massage therapy. After constructing the air sac fatigue monitoring virtual instrumentation setup, 25 participants who were not actually massage therapists were asked to press the air sac to mimic the behaviour of the massage therapists during the time of their works. After drawing necessary data by performing this activity and by entering the data in Minitab 16 software, regression models to specify optimal values of ergonomic positional parameters were developed. These regression models were practically validated by conducting experiments involving five other participants. The method of utilizing these regression models in determining the optimum values of positional parameters that would mitigate fatigue development while performing massage therapy is illustrated by presenting two cases. While concluding, it is suggested to involve actual massage therapists for testing the performance of the fatigue monitoring virtual instrumentation setup developed during the research reported in this paper.     

Reversible Modulation of Aptamer-Ligand Binding in RNA Light-Up Aptamers Containing G-Quadruplex Using Chemical Stimuli

Regulating a system in equilibrium transiently to out-of-equilibrium by using certain stimuli is the strategy used by natural biomolecules to function. Herein, we showed that the interaction of synthetic RNA aptamers, having a G-quadruplex core structure, with their corresponding ligands could be regulated from their equilibrium state to non-equilibrium state in a reversible manner using simple chemical stimuli (Ag⁺ and cysteine). The approach would be useful for designing aptamer regulators that work in a dynamic nucleic acid network, where a strict control on aptamer-ligand interaction is needed. In addition, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first report which shows that RNA G-quadruplexes can be disrupted by the addition of silver ions. This would be useful not only in designing RNA-based sensors or regulators but would also be useful for understanding the role of metal ions in RNA folding and catalysis.     

Inhibitory properties of camel whey protein hydrolysates toward liver cancer cells,dipeptidyl peptidase-IV,and inflammation

This report describes an investigation of camel whey protein hydrolysates (CWPH) produced by gastric and pancreatic enzymes for their in vitro antidiabetic, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory properties. Degree of hydrolysis (DH) ranged from 8.54 to 47.53%, with hydrolysates generated using chymotrypsin for 6 h displaying the highest DH. Reverse phase-HPLC analysis showed that α-lactalbumin underwent complete degradation, with no intact α-lactalbumin detected in CWPH. The CWPH displayed enhanced antidiabetic activity compared with intact whey proteins; with pepsin- and chymotrypsin-generated CWPH displaying greater inhibition of dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV), α-glucosidase, and α-amylase compared with trypsin-generated CWPH. The highest antiproliferative effect was observed for CWPH generated by chymotrypsin for 3 h, with only 4.5 to 6.5% viable liver cancer cells (HepG2) remaining when tested at concentrations from 400 to 1,000 µg/mL. The highest anti-inflammatory activity was manifested by CWPH generated by pepsin at 6-h hydrolysis. We report enhanced antiproliferative, antidiabetic, and anti-inflammatory activities upon hydrolysis of camel whey proteins, indicating their potential utilization as bioactive and functional ingredients.     

Processing and characterisation of nano crystalline AlCoCrCuFeTix high-entropy alloy

In this work multi-component equiatomic and non-equiatomic AlCoCrCuFeTi_x hexanary high-entropy alloys (HEA) was synthesised through mechanical alloying. The prepared powder was sintered via spark plasma sintering. Influence of alloying element variation in the multi-component system was studied in terms of phase formation and crystal structure by using Thermo-Calc and X-ray diffraction characterization technique (XRD). Particle morphology and chemical analysis studies were carried out through scanning electron microscopy along with Electron Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy. The crystal structure and nano crystallinity of the hexanary system were recognised using transmission electron microscope (TEM and Selected Area Electron Diffraction [SAED]) while the formation of a solid solution was also studied and discussed. From the XRD and TEM characterisation of 20?h in, milled powders and sintered samples, it was confirmed that the developed HEA system forms a single solid solution BCC phase. The sintered alloy exhibits 97% relative density and an average hardness of 590?VHN.

Special theme block on high entropy alloys, guest edited by Paula Alvaredo Olmos, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Spain, and Sheng Guo, Chalmers University, Gothenburg, Sweden.     

Air voids reduction phenomena of asphalt concrete – A continuum approach

Asphalt concrete used in flexible highway pavement construction has 5–8 percent air voids immediately after laying of the roadway. Constitutive laws for asphalt concrete developed till now have modelled the mix as a linear elastic or viscoelastic material and have not taken into account the effect of void concentration on the mechanical behaviour of the material. In this paper, the theory of linear elastic material with voids is used to model asphalt concrete under isothermal conditions. Two cases of void reduction behaviour are studied, one in which the void volume reduces asymptotically under a constant load and the other in which it reaches the refusal air void content. The model is used to predict the creep behaviour under constant compressive stress as well as to obtain the hysteretic stress-strain behaviour. Solutions for the case of uniaxial deformation are derived and the strains are simulated for a constant compressive stress. Use of the air voids reduction measure as a possible damage parameter is also examined. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

A deadlock detection interface to a commercial simulation language

In this research, issues related to deadlock detection in discrete event simulation models and the feasibility of interfacing a deadlock detection algorithm to a commercial simulation language have been explored. For the purpose of this research, a deadlock detection algorithm has been designed, developed and interfaced to the SIMAN commercial simulation language. Both the algorithm and the interface have been validated using a set of sample scenarios. The details of the deadlock detection algorithm, the interface to the chosen commercial simulation language and the validation scenarios are discussed in this paper, along with the lessons learned and recommendations for future enhancements.     

Precision Nanocluster-Based Toroidal and Supertoroidal Frameworks Using Photocycloaddition-Assisted Dynamic Covalent Chemistry

Atomically precise nanoclusters (NCs) have recently emerged as ideal building blocks for constructing self-assembled multifunctional superstructures. The existing structures are based on various non-covalent interactions of the ligands on the NC surface, resulting in inter-NC interactions. Despite recent demonstrations on light-induced reversible self-assembly, long-range reversible self-assembly based on dynamic covalent chemistry on the NC surface has yet to be investigated. Here, it is shown that Au₂₅ NCs containing thiolated umbelliferone (7-hydroxycoumarin) ligands allow [2+2] photocycloaddition reaction-induced self-assembly into colloidal-level toroids. The toroids upon further irradiation undergo inter-toroidal reaction resulting in macroscopic supertoroidal honey-comb frameworks. Systematic investigation using electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and electron tomography (ET) suggest that the NCs initially form spherical aggregates. The spherical structures further undergo fusion resulting in toroid formation. Finally, the toroids fuse into macroscopic honeycomb frameworks. As a proof-of-concept, a cross-photocycloaddition reaction between coumarin-tethered NCs and an anticancer drug (5-fluorouracil) is demonstrated as a model photo-controlled drug release system. The model system allows systematic loading and unloading of the drug during the assembly and disassembly under two different wavelengths. The results suggest that the dynamic covalent chemistry on the NC surface offers a facile route for hierarchical multifunctional frameworks and photocontrolled drug release.     

Dynamics of Brownian motion and flux conditions on naturally unsteady thermophoretic flow with variable fluid properties

This work examines the boundary flow difficulties of the past and the heat transfer properties of Blasius and Sakiadis flows under prescribed concentration flux and prescribed heat flux. The nanofluid is also taken into account in this model, along with impacts from Brownian motion and thermophoresis. The modified system governing partial differential equations is numerically solved by using the R-K method along with the shooting technique. Various values of physical quantities like thermophoresis parameter, Brownian motion parameter, Eckert number, thermal radiation parameter, heat source parameter, and magnetic field parameter along with the $C_f,N{u}_x,\text{and}S{h}_x$ were calculated using the temperature, concentration, and velocity profiles. Finally, we demonstrated how the Brownian motion, radiation, and thermophoresis parameters can significantly increase the temperature distributions. The concentration distributions were decelerated with an increase in Brownian motion parameters for both Blasius and Sakiadis cases.