Nano-bioconvective anisotropic slip flow in anisotropic porous medium with Coriolis force effects

The present paper examines the impact of the Coriolis force and anisotropic Darcian porous medium on the nonsteady convective flow of bio-nanofluid along a three-dimensional stretchable surface. The problem has applications in extrusion processes and the geographical movement of tectonic plates under a moveable ocean. Emphasis is placed on the combined effects of anisotropic porous medium, anisotropic momentum slip and temperature, and microorganism slips at the wall. The pertaining equations are condensed to a set of similarity equations before being simulated using the Keller-box method, an efficient numerical technique. The study reveals that the friction factor along the y-axis decreases as the rotation parameter increases. Moreover, the heat and nanoparticle volume fraction movement gradient decrease along the y-axis when the Darcy number and stretching rate increase. However, these rates increase with a higher velocity slip. In addition, the density of microorganisms in the bio-nanofluid decreases when there are higher levels of unsteadiness, rotation, and Darcy numbers, as well as with increased bioconvection parameters.     

Development of polymer films and its application on leather surfaces

Ten different formulations are prepared with a urethane acrylate oligomer in combination with two monofunctional monomers (EHA with low T_g and NVP with a carboamide group) and a difunctional acrylate monomer (TPGDA) in the presence of a plasticizer. Polymer films are prepared with these formulated solutions under UV radiation. Their properties (gel, hardness, tensile characters, etc.) are determined. These solutions are coated on leather substrates and cured under UV radiation. The improvement of quality of leather is manifested through the enhancement of tensile strength and elongation of the coated leather. The coating also imparts high gloss on the leather surface as well as high wear resistance. It also protects the leather from the damage of weathering effect. The best formulation is determined to be the one containing NVP with a carboamide group and a plasticizer. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Investigation on interferon alpha-inducible protein 6 (IFI6) gene as a candidate for meat and carcass quality in pig

The aim of this research was to screen for polymorphism and to perform an association study of IFI6 with meat and carcass quality traits. A SNP (g.370A>G) was detected which was associated (P<0.05) with meat colour, pH 24h post mortem (p.m.) in ham, conductivity 45 min p.m. in loin and conductivity 24 h p.m. in ham, drip loss and carcass length in Duroc x Pietrain and with meat colour, muscle area and ham percentage in the Pietrain population. Highest expression of IFI6 mRNA was detected in skeletal muscle (longissimus dorsi) by qRT-PCR comparing different tissues. Both qRT-PCR and western blot revealed that the IFI6 gene and protein expressions were significantly (P<0.05) higher in skeletal muscle with low drip loss compared to that of high drip loss. IFI6 protein was localized in the myocytes membrane. Results suggested that IFI6 might play roles in meat and carcass quality and is a potential positional, physiological and functional candidate gene for improving meat quality traits in pigs.     

Stefan Blowing and Slip Effects on Unsteady Nanofluid Transport Past a Shrinking Sheet: Multiple Solutions

The aim of a present article is to investigate the laminar unsteady two‐dimensional boundary layer flow of a nanofluid with Stefan blowing and slip effect. First, governing boundary layer equations are converted in the ordinary form of the differential equations (ODEs) from partial differential equations using appropriate coordinate transformations. The obtained ODEs are then solved by applying a shooting method with the Runge‐Kutta fourth order method by implementation of the Maple software. The influences of different controlling dimensionless parameters over the dimensionless velocity, temperature, concentration, friction factor, local heat as well as mass transfer have been discussed and represented by plots. It is found that there exist dual solutions for the different applied nanofluid parameters along with the blowing parameter. The results reveal that by increasing the values of the Brownian motion (Nb), thermophoresis (Nt) and blowing parameters (fw), the skin friction increases (decreases) in the first (second) solution.     

Trends in renewable energy strategy development and the role of CDM in Bangladesh

This article analyses and discusses trends in renewable energy strategy development in Bangladesh and the prospective role of the clean development mechanism (CDM) under the Kyoto Protocol. Use of renewables for electricity generation results in less greenhouse gas emissions compared with fossil fuel energy systems and often offers additional synergistic benefits. Despite the large potential for development of renewable energy sources in Bangladesh, currently their contribution to electricity generation remains insignificant. Existing policies and programs on renewable energy in Bangladesh are reviewed in relation to the specific requirements needed for CDM. A number of barriers are identified that impede the implementation of the CDM mechanism. Overall, it is recommended that more appropriate energy strategies, including a new national renewable energy strategy, need to be formulated and implemented and more suitable institutional settings need to be provided to promote energy sustainability for Bangladesh. Also, the suggestion is made that incorporation of objectives for CDM promotion in the new national renewable energy strategy to tie in with Bangladesh's CDM strategy should assist in advancement of renewables.     

Facile green synthesis approach for the production of chromium oxide nanoparticles and their different in vitro biological activities

Green synthesis of nanoparticles using plants has become a promising substitute for the conventional chemical synthesis methods. In the present study, our aim was to synthesize chromium oxide nanoparticles (Cr₂O₃NPs) through a facile, low‐cost, eco‐friendly route using leaf extract of Rhamnus virgata (RV). The formation of Cr₂O₃NPs was confirmed and characterized by spectroscopic profile of UV–Vis, EDX, FTIR, and XRD analyses. The UV‐visible spectroscopy has confirmed the formation of Cr₂O₃NPs by the change of color owing to surface plasmon resonance. The bioactive functional groups present in the leaf extract of RV involved in reduction and stabilization of Cr₂O₃NPs were determined by FTIR analysis. Based on XRD analysis, crystalline nature of Cr₂O₃NPs was determined. The morphological shape and elemental composition of Cr₂O₃NPs were investigated using SEM and EDX analyses, respectively. With growing applications of Cr₂O₃NPs in biological perspectives, Cr₂O₃NPs were evaluated for diverse biopotentials. Cr₂O₃NPs were further investigated for its cytotoxicity potentials against HepG2 and HUH‐7 cancer cell lines (IC₅₀: 39.66 and 45.87 μg/ml), respectively. Cytotoxicity potential of Cr₂O₃NPs was confirmed against promastigotes (IC₅₀: 33.24 μg/ml) and amastigotes (IC₅₀: 44.31 μg/ml) using Leishmania tropica (KMH₂₃). The Cr₂O₃NPs were further evaluated for antioxidants, biostatic, alpha‐amylase, and protein kinase inhibition properties. Biocompatibility assay was investigated against human macrophages which confirmed the nontoxic nature of Cr₂O₃NPs. Overall, the synthesized Cr₂O₃NPs are biocompatible and nontoxic and proved to possess significant biopotentials. In future, different in vivo studies are needed to fully investigate the cytotoxicity and mechanism of action associated with these Cr₂O₃NPs.     

Measurements of neutron induced activation of concrete at 64.5 MeV

The present paper presents the measurement of neutron induced activations on concrete using the 64.5 MeV quasimonoenergetic neutrons produced at the intense ⁷Li(p, n) neutron source at Cyclotron and Radioisotope Center, Tohoku Univeristy (CYRIC). The data were corrected for the effect of continuous neutrons in the source. The neutron energy, neutron yields and the spectrum of continuous neutrons were confirmed with the neutron time-of-flight method and the neutron activation measurement of the ²⁰⁹Bi(n, Xn) reactions having various threshold energy values. The nuclides produced by thermalized source neutrons are negligible. New data were obtained for concrete activation.     

The growth and nutrient uptake of invasive vines on contrasting riverbank soils

This study sought to investigate the research question as to whether the growth and nutrient uptake of two invasive vines, Pueraria lobata and Sicyos angulatus, are affected by the heterogeneity of soil characteristics of two riverbank sites with different flooding regimes. Soil, individual ramets of P. lobata and S. angulatus plants were sampled monthly from quadrats set on homogenous stands from two riparian sites along Tama River, Japan for over a year. Soil nutrients, above‐ground (AGB) and below‐ground biomass (BGB), tissue nutrient, and nonstructural carbohydrate contents were estimated, and resource allocations to different organs were calculated. Flooding frequency directly affected the substrate characteristics of the sites; the frequently flooded site had coarser particle and less nutrient content. There were significant differences between the BGB and the AGB of both P. lobata and S. angulatus between the sites. However, the BGB:AGB ratio of these species were statistically similar regardless of the substrate conditions. Although the biomass of S. angulatus were much reduced in coarse habitat, the total amount of nutrient uptake by P. lobata was not affected by habitat the condition. Concentrations of total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and starch in root tissues of S. angulatus were less in frequently inundated soil. The results of this study suggest that inundation frequency directly affects the substrate condition of a riverbank habitat, which in turn affects plant growth, and invasive plant species growing in such habitat respond differently to substrate condition in terms of growth and nutrient uptake.     

MATE1 Deficiency Exacerbates Dofetilide-Induced Proarrhythmia

Dofetilide is a rapid delayed rectifier potassium current inhibitor widely used to prevent the recurrence of atrial fibrillation and flutter. The clinical use of this drug is associated with increases in QTc interval, which predispose patients to ventricular cardiac arrhythmias. The mechanisms involved in the disposition of dofetilide, including its movement in and out of cardiomyocytes, remain unknown. Using a xenobiotic transporter screen, we identified MATE1 (SLC47A1) as a transporter of dofetilide and found that genetic knockout or pharmacological inhibition of MATE1 in mice was associated with enhanced retention of dofetilide in cardiomyocytes and increased QTc prolongation. The urinary excretion of dofetilide was also dependent on the MATE1 genotype, and we found that this transport mechanism provides a mechanistic basis for previously recorded drug-drug interactions of dofetilide with various contraindicated drugs, including bictegravir, cimetidine, ketoconazole, and verapamil. The translational significance of these observations was examined with a physiologically-based pharmacokinetic model that adequately predicted the drug-drug interaction liabilities in humans. These findings support the thesis that MATE1 serves a conserved cardioprotective role by restricting excessive cellular accumulation and warrant caution against the concurrent administration of potent MATE1 inhibitors and cardiotoxic substrates with a narrow therapeutic window.     

Radiation effects on heat and mass transfer in MHD stagnation-point flow over a permeable flat plate with thermal convective surface boundary condition,temperature dependent viscosity and thermal conductivity

We study a steady laminar 2-D MHD viscous incompressible flow over a permeable flat plate with thermal convective boundary condition and radiation effects. The viscosity and thermal conductivity of fluid are assumed to vary linearly with temperature. Similarity representation of the governing partial differential equations is obtained via group method. Similarity equations are then solved numerically by implicit finite difference technique. Effects of convective heat transfer parameter (b), radiation parameter (R,) magnetic field parameter (M), the thermal conductivity parameter (S), suction parameter (fw), Prandtl number (Pr) and Schmidt number (Sc) on the dimensionless axial velocity, temperature, concentration, wall temperature, the rate of heat transfer and the rate of mass transfer are investigated. Good agreement is found between the numerical results of the present paper with published result for special case.