Interdisciplinary research: roles for self-organization

No generally accepted principles and guidelines currently exist to help engineers design local interaction mechanisms that result in a desired global behavior. However, several communities have developed ways of approaching this problem in the context of niched application areas. Because the ideas underlying these approaches are often obscured or underemphasized in technical papers, the authors review the role of self-organization in their work. They provide a better picture of the status of the emerging field of self-organizing systems or autonomic computing.     

Secondary web-flange interaction in framed-tube buildings

In the conventional plane-frame model of framed-tube buildings, only the primary interaction between the web frame and the flange frame is considered, through vertical shear transfer at corner columns. In addition to this, a secondary interaction takes place due to horizontal shear transfer at each floor level, through the floor slab having high in-plane rigidity. This interaction causes a discrepancy in member forces of a few bottom and top storeys. A simple modification is suggested in the form of an additional cantilever column connected to the conventional plane-frame model by axial force transfer members at every floor level. The improved model yields member forces in all the storeys that are very close to those obtained using 3D analysis.     

An efficient neural-network model for real-time fault detection in industrial machine

Neural Computing and Applications - Induction machines have extensive demand in industries as they are used for large-scale production and, therefore, vulnerable to both electrical and mechanical...     

A Newly Developed Synbiotic Yogurt Prevents Diabetes by Improving the Microbiome–Intestine–Pancreas Axis

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) is increasing worldwide, and there are no long-term preventive strategies to stop this growth. Emerging research shows that perturbations in the gut microbiome significantly contribute to the development of T2D, while microbiome modulators may be beneficial for T2D prevention. However, microbiome modulators that are effective, safe, affordable, and able to be administered daily are not yet available. Based on our previous pro- and prebiotic studies, we developed a novel synbiotic yogurt comprised of human-origin probiotics and plant-based prebiotics and investigated its impact on diet- and streptozotocin-induced T2D in mice. We compared the effects of our synbiotic yogurt to those of a commercially available yogurt (control yogurt). Interestingly, we found that the feeding of the synbiotic yogurt significantly reduced the development of hyperglycemia (diabetes) in response to high-fat diet feeding and streptozotocin compared to milk-fed controls. Surprisingly, the control yogurt exacerbated diabetes progression. Synbiotic yogurt beneficially modulated the gut microbiota composition compared to milk, while the control yogurt negatively modulated it by significantly increasing the abundance of detrimental bacteria such as Proteobacteria and Enterobacteriaceae. In addition, the synbiotic yogurt protected pancreatic islet morphology compared to the milk control, while the control yogurt demonstrated worse effects on islets. These results suggest that our newly developed synbiotic yogurt protects against diabetes in mice and can be used as a therapeutic to prevent diabetes progression.     

Maternal Exposure to Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP) or Diethylstilbestrol (DES) Leads to Long-Term Changes in Hypothalamic Gene Expression and Sexual Behavior

Xenobiotic exposure during pregnancy and lactation has been linked to perinatal changes in male reproductive outcomes and other endocrine parameters. This pilot study wished to assess whether brief maternal exposure of rats to xenobiotics dibutyl phthalate (DBP) or diethylstilbestrol (DES) might also cause long-term changes in hypothalamic gene expression or in reproductive behavior of the resulting offspring. Time-mated female Sprague Dawley rats were given either DBP (500 mg/kg body weight, every second day from GD14.5 to PND6), DES (125 µg/kg body weight at GD14.5 and GD16.5 only), or vehicle (n = 8–12 per group) and mild endocrine disruption was confirmed by monitoring postnatal anogenital distance. Hypothalamic RNA from male and female offspring at PND10, PND24 and PND90 was analyzed by qRT-PCR for expression of aromatase, oxytocin, vasopressin, ER-alpha, ER-beta, kisspeptin, and GnRH genes. Reproductive behavior was monitored in male and female offspring from PND60 to PND90. Particularly, DES treatment led to significant changes in hypothalamic gene expression, which for the oxytocin gene was still evident at PND90, as well as in sexual behavior. In conclusion, maternal xenobiotic exposure may not only alter endocrine systems in offspring but, by impacting on brain development at a critical time, can have long-term effects on male or female sexual behavior.     

Antiandrogen and Antimicrobial Aspects of Coordination Compounds of Palladium(II), Platinum(II) and Lead(II)

Synthesis, characterization and antimicrobial activities of an interesting class of biologically potent macrocyclic complexes have been carried out. All the complexes have been evaluated for their antimicrobial effects on different species of pathogenic fungi and bacteria. The testicular sperm density, testicular sperm morphology, sperm motility, density of cauda epididymal spermatozoa and fertility in mating trails and biochemical parameters of reproductive organs have been examined and discussed. The resulting biologically active [M(MaL(n))(R(2))]Cl(2) and [Pb(MaL(n))(R(2))X(2)] (where, M = Pd(II) or Pt(II) and X = Cl or NO(3)) type of complexes have been synthesized by the reactions of macrocyclic ligands (MaL(n)) with metal salts and different diamines in 1:1:1 molar ratio in methanol. Initially the complexes were characterized by elemental analyses, molecular weight determinations and conductivity measurements. The mode of bonding was established on the basis of IR, (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR, (195)Pt NMR, (207)Pb NMR, XRD and electronic spectral studies. The macrocyclic ligand coordinates through the four azomethine nitrogen atoms which are bridged by benzil moieties. IR spectra suggest that the pyridine nitrogen is not coordinating. The palladium and platinum complexes exhibit tetracoordinated square-planar geometry, whereas a hexacoordinated octahedral geometry is suggested for lead complexes.     

DeepKnuckle: revealing the human identity

Multimedia Tools and Applications - Identification and authentication are ubiquitous questions which pan across various systems. In certain domains, they are of paramount importance. Like, security...     

Quantitative analysis of microstructure refinement in ultrafine-grained strips of Al6063 fabricated using large strain extrusion machining

Abstract

In present research work, ultrafine-grained strips of Al-6063 alloy were fabricated using hybrid extrusion machining technique known as “large strain extrusion machining (LSEM).” Fabrication of strips was done using the customized HSS tools of different rake angles varying from 0° to 10° under different machining conditions. Microstructural and mechanical characterizations of these strips were done to ascertain the effect of different parameters on their properties. From the results of hardness measurement of strips, it was concluded that hardness of the strips increased by 34–97% of the base material as of the refinement of grain size occurred. Surface lay was improved by 30% with higher cutting velocity and rake angle. Crystallite size was found to decrease with increase in the rate of strain. The shear strain was increased as chip compression ratio increased and rake angle decreased. Fabrication ability of strips increased due to increase in strain hardening exponent and it may result in the large scope of their applications. Nano-hardness of the strips was found to be more than bulk alloy. These above said results showed that ultrafine strips fabricated using LSEM process can become a good choice for future material fabrication.     

A Novel Approach to Improve Properties of BiFeO3 Nanomultiferroics

In this study we report the synthesis of Bi_1?xIn_xFe_1?yTi_yO₃ (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.1, 0 ≤ y ≤ 0.05) nanoparticles by a simple cost effective solution combustion method. Pure BFO samples shows distorted rhombohedral perovskite structure with space group R3c which is also supported by Fourier transform infrared spectra study. The codoping of In and Ti at A–B sites of BFO (BIFTO) partially distorts the crystal structure, increases the lattice strain, reduces the average particle size (14 nm), and increases the Fe³⁺/Fe²⁺ ratio which significantly affect the observed results. The saturation magnetization increases significantly upon codoping (4.60 emu/gm) by about 12 times than that of pure BFO (0.4 emu/gm). The improved ferromagnetic properties upon codoping is further manifestated in large value of linear magnetoelectric coupling coefficient (4.8 mV/cmOe) which further provides an indirect evidence for the collapse of space modulated spin structure. The activation energy increases with codoping (0.68 eV), although less than 1 eV which indicates that the conduction is still dominated by charged defects.