Multilevel segmentation of Hippocampus images using global steered quantum inspired firefly algorithm

Applied Intelligence - Microscopic Image segmentation has a crucial role in detecting and diagnosing numerous critical diseases like Alzheimer’s disease, Kidney disease, Cancer, many...     

Dynamic vulcanization of polyethylene‐based thermoplastic elastomer blends

In this investigation, the effects of blending with ethylene–propylene–diene terpolymer and subsequent dynamic curing with sulfur on the macromolecular structure and properties of pure low‐density polyethylene and high‐density polyethylene were studied. The crosslinking efficiency of polyethylene‐based ethylene–propylene–diene terpolymer blends upon dynamic curing was assessed with torque and gel content measurements. The curing of dispersed ethylene–propylene–diene terpolymer in a polyethylene matrix improved both the mechanical and thermomechanical properties as a result of the formation of a crosslink structure in the rubber phase. In view of the electrical applications of this cured blend material, the volume resistivity was measured. The thermal stability of vulcanized polyethylene/ethylene–propylene–diene terpolymer blends was found to be superior to that of unvulcanized blends. In scanning electron microscopy analysis, good interface bonding between the polyethylene matrix and dispersed ethylene–propylene–diene terpolymer was observed for the cured blends. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

Effect of Aramid Pulp and Lapinas Fiber on the Friction and Wear Behavior of NBR Powder–Modified Phenolic Resin Composite

Short fiber reinforcement plays a definite role in governing the performance of a composite through the improvement of different material properties. The present investigation deals with the effect of aramid pulp and lapinas fiber on the friction and wear characteristics of a composite made from phenolic resin modified by powdered acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) on a pin-on-disc tribometer. Four composites, containing 10, 20, 30, and 40 wt% of aramid pulp with respect to phenolic resin content, were prepared. Another four composites, containing 50, 100, 200, and 300 wt% of lapinas fiber with respect to phenolic resin content, were also made. It was found that the two different fibers have distinctly different contributions to the friction and wear properties of the composites. It was also found that the incorporation of aramid pulp enhances friction stability of the composites much better than that of lapinas fiber. The change in surface morphology of these composites was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) before and after the friction test. SEM images of friction samples containing aramid pulp corroborated the occurrence of wear through an adhesive wear mechanism, whereas the lapinas fiber–containing composites showed an abrasive wear mechanism.     

Lipocortin-1 and the control of arachidonic acid release in cell signalling. Glucocorticoids (changed from glucorticoids) inhibit G protein-dependent activation of cPLA2 activity

In pre-labelled A549 cells epidermal growth factor (EGF) (10 nM) stimulates the release of [5,6,8,9,11,12,14,15-3H(N)]-arachidonic acid (3H-AA) by approximately 70%. Increasing Ca2+i with thapsigargin (50 nM) stimulates 3H-AA release by approximately 120%. However, the combined use of these two agents results in a synergistic stimulation of 3H-AA release by over 700%. The EGF stimulated release is sensitive to pertussis toxin (10 ng/mL) and guanosine 5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate) suggesting a G protein-mediated event. This is supported by the fact that the G protein activators AlF-4 and guanosine 5'-O-(2-thiotriphosphate) both stimulate 3H-AA release. The stimulation of 3H-AA release by both EGF or direct G protein activation is completely blocked following pre-treatment for 3 hr with 1 nM dexamethasone. This effect is reversed with a neutralizing antibody to lipocortin-1 (1 microgram/mL) suggesting that this protein mediates the inhibitory effects of glucocorticoids on agonist activated 3H-AA release. Thapsigargin stimulation of 3H-AA release is insensitive to dexamethasone treatment. A peptide fragment from the N-terminus of lipocortin-1-Lc13-25 (20-200 micrograms/mL) mimics the effect of glucocorticoid in suppressing both EGF and G protein activated 3H-AA release. A peptide with Me-Tyr substituting Tyr21 is much reduced in activity suggesting that the presence of this residue is essential. As peptide Lc13-25 is not derived from the Ca2+/phospholipid binding domain of the native protein then sequestration of phospholipid substrate for PLA2 remains an unlikely mechanism of action for this peptide.     

Microstructural Evolution and Mechanical Properties of Direct Metal Laser-Sintered (DMLS) CoCrMo After Heat Treatment

Microstructures and tensile properties of Direct Metal Laser-Sintered (DMLS) CoCrMo were investigated in the as-printed condition and after heat treatment. A dense (>?99.5 pct) as-printed DMLS CoCrMo was obtained in the as-printed condition eliminating the need for any hot isostatic pressing. Solution heat treatment carried out at 1150 °C revealed complete recrystallization resulting in an equiaxed grain structure with an average grain size of 40 μm. The microstructure after solution heat treatment and aging at 980 °C revealed inter and intragranular precipitations, enriched in Mo and Si. Solution treatment resulted in the decrease of the room-temperature tensile strength from 1378 MPa (as-printed) to 1114 MPa, which was attributed to the increasing grain size from 0.6 to 1 μm (column width) to ~?40 μm (grain size). The decrease in yield strength was accompanied by the increasing ductility from 5.7 to 15 pct. An enhancement in ductility to nearly 25 pct was observed in tensile tests at 925 °C. This paper comprises a detailed microstructural evaluation of DMLS CoCrMo alloy to determine its suitability for high-temperature structural applications involving repair and refurbishment of components, including an evaluation of microstructural and tensile properties after welding the DMLS CoCrMo to cast FSX414.     

A high performance direct borohydride fuel cell employing cross-linked chitosan membrane

A cross-linked chitosan (CCS) membrane has been prepared by a solution casting method using sulfuric acid as cross-linking agent. The CCS membrane was used as the polymer electrolyte and separator in a direct borohydride fuel cell (DBFC). Ionic conductivity and borohydride crossover rate have been measured for the CCS membrane. The DBFC used in this study employed nickel-based composite as anode catalyst and Nafion^® as anode binder. The power performance of the CCS membrane-based DBFC was compared with a similar DBFC employing Nafion^® 212 (N212) membrane as electrolyte /separator. The CCS membrane-based DBFC exhibited better power performance as compared to N212 membrane-based DBFC. Encouraged by this result, chitosan chemical hydrogel (CCH) was prepared and used as binder for anode catalysts. A DBFC comprising CCS membrane and CCH as anode binder was studied and found to exhibit even better power performance at all temperatures in this study. A maximum peak power density of 450 mW cm⁻² was observed at 60 ?C for DBFC employing CCS membrane and CCH binder-based anode. The chitosan-based DBFC was operated continuously for 100 h and its performance stability was recorded.     

Emerging Trends in Terahertz Metamaterial Applications

The terahertz spectrum of electromagnetic waves is finding its position in various applications of day to day life because of its unique properties, including the penetration through opaque materials. Naturally occurring materials in this range are rare due to the display of a natural breakpoint of both electric, and magnetic resonances in these materials. However recent advances in artificially engineered materials, which show resonance in this region are able to harness desirable properties in the terahertz region. In this paper, terahertz design and fabrication issues have been explored along with their applications. A brief review of metamaterial terahertz applications has been carried out including metamaterial absorbers, filters, modulators, switches, lenses, and cloaking structures. The various patterns of metamaterial unit cells are discussed elaborately along with the possibility of flexible active terahertz structures.