The use of electric potential drop techniques to detect delamination in a melt-infiltrated SiC-based composite

For composite systems where the matrix is electrically conductive, the possibility that the nature of electrical current flow in the composite can be used to detect defects such as out-of-plane delamination. Melt-infiltrated SiC-based composites are an ideal candidate material for such to verify this since the Si content of the matrix is the primary current carrier in the system. Two different potential drop techniques utilizing the four-point probe method were developed on a composite panel that had a large preexisting delamination defect that occurred during processing. The first technique incorporated current leads to supply current in a through-thickness manner and determine the nature of current spreading (voltage drop) some distance away from the current source to assess the location of the delamination. The other technique incorporated current leads in a more conventional manner to produce axial current flow and assessed the nature of current flow in between the current leads on both surfaces of the composite. In this way, in the presence of a delamination, current flow was forced to primarily flow on the side of the current leads. Both techniques were quite effective at locating the preexisting delamination in a panel of 2D woven Tyranno ZMI slurry-derived melt-infiltrated SiC composite.     

Emerging bioremediation technologies for the treatment of textile wastewater containing synthetic dyes: a comprehensive review

The tremendous increase in human population and industrialization has exacerbated the existing problem of water pollution to a great extent. The textile industry is the major cause of this problem due to its significant use of organic synthetic dyes as coloring materials during the dyeing process. The presence of color in wastewater is a major environmental concern, as these dyes are resistant to degradation by physio-chemical treatments. Bioremediation is an attractive method that can completely degrade these dyes while also being cost-effective. This comprehensive review aims to provide a brief insight into bioremediation based on some of the latest emerging wastewater treatment technologies for the removal of synthetic dyes. Starting with the importance of decolorization of synthetic dyes and their environmental impacts, different physio-chemical treatment technologies are analyzed with a special emphasis on their limitations. The bioremediation of textile wastewater with detailed biodegradation mechanisms using different bacterial species (bacteria, fungal, algae, enzyme, and mixed culture) under aerobic and anaerobic conditions is thoroughly discussed. In this article, the major factors affecting the implementation of biological treatment are explained. In addition, the latest emerging treatment technologies, such as nano-bio materials, genetic engineering, phytoremediation, electro-bioremediation (microbial electrochemistry technology, MET), and integrated/hybrid technologies (such as biological processes with physio-chemical processes, electro-coagulation, adsorption, ultra-filtration, membrane, and advanced oxidation) are critically reviewed; their challenges and the future perspectives in textile wastewater treatment are also highlighted. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).     

Efficient design of an authenticated key agreement protocol for dew-assisted IoT systems

The Journal of Supercomputing - Real-time communication is a significant aspect of Internet of Things (IoT). IoT-enabled devices requires the immediate adoption of the highly distributed and...     

Activation of rat androgen receptor by androgenic ligands is unaffected by antiandrogens in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The E. coli lacZ has been utilized as a reporter to evaluate ligand-mediated activation of the rat androgen receptor (AR) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain YCR1. beta-galactosidase activity was androgen-specific and was found to be inducible approximately 260-fold by dihydrotestosterone (DHT), testosterone and R1881. None of the antiandrogens tested was able to antagonize the DHT-dependent induction of beta-galactosidase activity. In the gel retardation assay, exposure of the receptor to DHT in vitro led to the formation of a protein-DNA complex that was not detected in yeast extracts unexposed to hormone. However, activation of AR by a steroidal (cyproterone acetate) and a non-steroidal antiandrogen (flutamide) either alone or in combination with DHT also results in a similar migration pattern. Additionally, LEM1, the ABC transporter that selectively modulates the biological potency of steroids in yeast, although operative in YCR1, was not responsible for antiandrogen resistance. These results thus indicate the involvement of other non-receptor factor(s) in mediating the effect of antiandrogens in yeast.     

A comparative study of radioprotection by Ocimum flavonoids and synthetic aminothiol protectors in the mouse

The radioprotective effects of two flavonoids, orientin (Ot) and vicenin (Vc), obtained from the leaves of Ocimum sanctum, and the synthetic compounds WR-2721 and MPG (2-mercaptopropionyl glycine) have been compared by examining chromosome aberration in cells of bone marrow in irradiated mice. Healthy adult Swiss mice were injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) with 50 micrograms kg-1 body weight of Ot or Vc; 20 mg kg-1 of MPG; 150 mg kg-1 of WR-2721 or double distilled water (DDW). They were exposed to whole body irradiation of 2.0 Gy gamma radiation 30 min later. After 24 h, chromosomal aberrations were studied in the bone marrow of the femur by routine metaphase preparation after colchicine treatment. Radiation (2 Gy) increased the number of aberrant cells from less than 1% in controls to almost 20%. Pre-treatment with all the protective compounds resulted in a significant reduction in the percentage of aberrant metaphases as well as in the different types of aberration scored. Vc produced the maximum reduction in percent aberrant cells while MPG was the least effective; Ot and WR-2721 showed an almost similar effect. However, WR-2721 was the most effective against reduction of complex an almost similar effect. However, WR-2721 was the most effective against reduction of complex aberrations, followed by Vc. Neither flavonoids had any systemic toxicity, even at 200 mg kg-1 body weight. Considering the low dose needed for protection and the high margin between the effective and toxic doses, the ocimum flavonoids may be promising for human radiation protection.     

Energy-use efficiency and economic analysis of vegetable cropping sequences under greenhouse condition

Under off-seasonality, high-value vegetable cultivation in the greenhouse is more profitable and gaining more acceptances day by day. This study aims to analyze the energy requirement and energy input–output relationship with the economics of vegetable-based cropping sequences viz., tomato nursery–tomato–pepper–onion nursery (CS1), tomato nursery–pepper–soil treatment–cucumber (CS2), tomato nursery–tomato–soil treatment–cucumber (CS3), tomato nursery–cucumber–soil treatment–pepper (CS4), and tomato nursery–tomato–soil treatment–pepper (CS5) in greenhouse conditions of Indian sub-Himalayas. The five sequential treatments were statistically analyzed in randomized block design with four replications. Results reveal that cucumber production required highest input energy (1,059.9 MJ/100 m²) than tomato or pepper. The highest input (3,477.4 MJ/100 m²) and output (4,787.5 MJ/100 m²) energy was observed with CS3. Crop protection (28.9–55.7 %), manures and chemical fertilizers (17.5–33.1 %), and plant stacking, training and pruning (16.3–21.9 %) consumed the bulk of the energy for all cropping sequences. The CS3 with the highest tomato equivalent yield produced the highest net energy (1,310.1 MJ/100 m²), energy productivity (0.63 MJ/100 m²), energy intensiveness (0.297 MJ/100 m²), and benefit/cost ratio (1.82). Energy consumption in the form of indirect (70.6–80.2 %) and non-renewable (83.9–85.7 %) energy was higher than direct and renewable energy, respectively. Considering these, CS3 (tomato nursery–tomato–soil treatment–cucumber) cropping sequence will be a more suitable option for greenhouse cultivation.