Fuzzy Tuned PID Controller for Envisioned Agricultural Manipulator

Machine Intelligence Research - The implementation of image-based phenotyping systems has become an important aspect of crop and plant science research which has shown tremendous growth over the...     

A neural cell culture study on thin film electrode materials

Functional neural stimulation requires good interface between the neural cells and the electrode surfaces. In order to study the effect of electrode materials and surface structure on cell adhesion and biocompatibility, we cultured cortical neurons on thin films of platinum and iridium oxide. We used both flat, as-deposited and laser micro-structured films. The laser micro-structuring consisted of creating regular arrays of micro-bumps or holes with diameters of 4–5 μm and height of about 1.5 μm. The micro-bumps were fabricated onto platinum and iridium film surfaces deposited on borosilicate glass substrates, using mask-projection irradiation with single nano-second pulses from a KrF excimer laser (λ = 248 nm). Amorphous and crystalline (deposited at 250 °C) IrO₂ films were deposited onto the laser micro-structured iridium films by pulsed-DC reactive sputtering to obtain micro-structured IrO₂ films. Cortical neurons isolated from rat embryo brain were cultured onto these film surfaces. Our results indicate that flat and micro-structured film surfaces are biocompatible and non-toxic for neural cell growth. The use of poly-d-lysine as a mediator for cell adhesion onto the thin film surfaces is also discussed.     

Effect of Al2O3 and TiO2 on Viscosity,Surface Tension,and Density of Blast Furnace Slag with CaO/SiO2 = 1.13

The influence of Al₂O₃ in the range of 10–20 mass% and TiO₂ in the range of 0.55–5 mass% on the flow behavior, viscosity, density, and surface tension of molten industrial blast furnace slag with CaO/SiO₂ = 1.13 is investigated using a high-temperature microscope, a rotating viscometer, and the maximum bubble pressure method. The measurement results show that Al₂O₃ acts as a network former in the studied CaO–SiO₂–MgO–Al₂O₃–TiO₂ slags. With an increase in the Al₂O₃ content from 10 to 20 mass%, the viscosity and surface tension of the slags increase and the density decreases. In contrast to Al₂O₃, the TiO₂ acts as a surfactant and network breaker in the range of up to 15 mass%. The addition of TiO₂ up to 15 mass% results in a decrease in the viscosity in the liquid-dominated region and a decrease in the surface tension of the studied slags. Therefore, the density increases with the addition of TiO₂ due to increasing molar volume. The behavior of the breakpoint temperature on all the viscosity curves is in complete agreement with the behavior of the flow point temperature and crystallization temperatures of melilite and perovskite.     

Δ desaturase protein expression and fatty acid composition of longissimus dorsi muscle in lambs fed green herbage or concentrate with or without added tannins

The aims of this study were to investigate the effect of feeding system and of supplementation of tannins (8.93% DM) on the relationship between intramuscular fat content, fatty acid composition and Δ⁹desaturase (Δ⁹d) protein expression in longissimus dorsi muscle of lamb. Twenty-eight Comisana lambs (age 45 days) were fed either vetch (Vicia sativa) or concentrate. The herbage diet was (i) lower in saturated fatty acids (especially in C16:0), C18:1 n−9 and in C18:2 n−6; (ii) higher in C16:1 and C18:3 n−3 when compared to concentrate. Within each feeding system the lambs were divided into two sub-groups, one of which received the diet without tannins supplementation, and the other was fed the diets supplemented with the tannins from Quebracho (Schinopsis lorentzii). The animals were slaughtered at age 105 days. The concentrate feeding system increased (p < 0.01) the total intramuscular fat content and the amount of SFA, MUFA and n−6 PUFA and decreased the level of n−3 PUFA (p = 0.05) when compared to the vetch-fed animals but did not affect Δ⁹ desaturase protein expression. There was no correlation between Δ⁹d protein expression and total intramuscular fatty acids, CLA and MUFA level. It was suggested that in ruminants, in contrast to monogastric animals, Δ⁹d expression does not play the key role in intramuscular fatty acids formation. Tannins supplementation resulted in higher (p < 0.05) muscle levels of transC18:1 and C18:2 n−6. It has also increased Δ⁹d expression in the case of herbage-based diet but not in the case of concentrate-based diet. The mechanism of tannins action on the enzyme expression needs to be elucidated.     

Assessing lipid lowering and plasma cholesteryl ester transfer protein activity of simvastatin following administration to rabbits fed a high fat/cholesterol diet

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the lipid lowering and plasma cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) activity following administration of simvastatin to rabbits fed a high fat/cholesterol diet. Methods: Male New Zealand white rabbits were housed in individual cages and fed a standard diet for 7 days. After 7 days, animals were fed 10 g of a regular chow diet plus 100 g of the same diet supplemented with 0.5% (w/v) cholesterol and 14.0% (w/v) coconut oil for 28 days. Following 28 days on this diet, the animals were randomized based on plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels, into a group of control animals and a group (n = 6) of animals fed 100 g of cholesterol/coconut diet plus 10 g regular chow diet containing simvastatin (3 mg/kg/day) for an additional 28 days. Blood samples were taken from the marginal ear vein prior to and 28 days after the initiation of drug treatment. Plasma was harvested and stored at 4°C prior to lipid analysis. Plasma total cholesterol and triglyceride levels were quantified using enzymatic kits. HDL (high-density lipoproteins) cholesterol levels were determined using the dextran sulfate-Mg²⁺ precipitation method. ApoB cholesterol levels were determined by subtracting total cholesterol from HDL cholesterol. Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) activity was determined by standard assay methods. Results: We observed that simvastatin significantly reduced total plasma cholesterol, triglyceride, and apoB cholesterol compared to non-treated controls. Simvastatin treatment did not alter serum CETP activity compared to non-treated controls. Conclusions: These findings suggest that decreasing plasma lipid levels by treatment with simvastatin is not due to changes in serum CETP activity in rabbits fed a high fat/cholesterol diet.     

Nanocomposites based on titanium dioxide,modified by β‐cyclodextrin containing copolymers

The range of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) samples, modified by β‐cyclodextrin containing copolymers was synthesized. The copolymers obtained were investigated by different methods, such as ultraviolet‐, Fourier transform infrared‐spectroscopy, thermal mass spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, transmission electron microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The modification of TiO₂ is shown to promote a significant positive impact on the process of methyl orange absorption and photodegradation on its surface. The modified TiO₂‐photocatalysts prepared in such way could be promising objects for water purification from organic pollutants. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018 , 135, 46373.     

Role of amphiphilic organic additives in design of silica materials with ordered mesoporous structure

Journal of Porous Materials - Templated sol–gel synthesis of silica materials with hexagonally ordered mesoporous structure was realized in the presence of amphiphilic organic compounds (azo...