Highly Porous NiTi with Isotropic Pore Morphology Fabricated by Self-Propagated High-Temperature Synthesis

Highly porous NiTi with isotropic pore morphology has been successfully produced by self-propagating high-temperature synthesis of elemental Ni/Ti metallic powders. The effects of adding urea and NaCl as temporary pore fillers were investigated on pore morphology, microstructure, chemical composition, and the phase transformation temperatures of specimens. These parameters were studied by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Highly porous specimens were obtained with up to 83% total porosity and pore sizes between 300 and 500 μm in diameter. Results show pore characteristics were improved from anisotropic to isotropic and pore morphology was changed from channel-like to irregular by adding pore filler powders. Furthermore, the highly porous specimens produced when using urea as a space holder, were of more uniform composition in comparison to NaCl. DSC results showed that a two-step martensitic phase transformation takes place during the cooling cycles and the austenite finish temperature (A _f) is close to human body temperature. Compression test results reveal that the compressive strength of highly porous NiTi is about 155 MPa and recoverable strain about 6% in superelasticity regime.     

Real-Time Monitoring the Effect of Cytopathic Hypoxia on Retinal Pigment Epithelial Barrier Functionality Using Electric Cell-Substrate Impedance Sensing (ECIS) Biosensor Technology

Disruption of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE barrier integrity is a hallmark feature of various retinal blinding diseases, including diabetic macular edema and age-related macular degeneration, but the underlying causes and pathophysiology are not completely well-defined. One of the most conserved phenomena in biology is the progressive decline in mitochondrial function with aging leading to cytopathic hypoxia, where cells are unable to use oxygen for energy production. Therefore, this study aimed to thoroughly investigate the role of cytopathic hypoxia in compromising the barrier functionality of RPE cells. We used Electric Cell-Substrate Impedance Sensing (ECIS) system to monitor precisely in real time the barrier integrity of RPE cell line (ARPE-19) after treatment with various concentrations of cytopathic hypoxia-inducing agent, Cobalt(II) chloride (CoCl₂). We further investigated how the resistance across ARPE-19 cells changes across three separate parameters: R_b (the electrical resistance between ARPE-19 cells), α (the resistance between the ARPE-19 and its substrate), and C_m (the capacitance of the ARPE-19 cell membrane). The viability of the ARPE-19 cells and mitochondrial bioenergetics were quantified with 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and seahorse technology, respectively. ECIS measurement showed that CoCl₂ reduced the total impedance of ARPE-19 cells in a dose dependent manner across all tested frequencies. Specifically, the ECIS program’s modelling demonstrated that CoCl₂ affected R_b as it begins to drastically decrease earlier than α or C_m, although ARPE-19 cells’ viability was not compromised. Using seahorse technology, all three concentrations of CoCl₂ significantly impaired basal, maximal, and ATP-linked respirations of ARPE-19 cells but did not affect proton leak and non-mitochondrial bioenergetic. Concordantly, the expression of a major paracellular tight junction protein (ZO-1) was reduced significantly with CoCl_2-treatment in a dose-dependent manner. Our data demonstrate that the ARPE-19 cells have distinct dielectric properties in response to cytopathic hypoxia in which disruption of barrier integrity between ARPE-19 cells precedes any changes in cells’ viability, cell-substrate contacts, and cell membrane permeability. Such differences can be used in screening of selective agents that improve the assembly of RPE tight junction without compromising other RPE barrier parameters.     

An Eco-Friendly Approach to the Control of Pathogenic Microbes and Anopheles stephensi Malarial Vector Using Magnesium Oxide Nanoparticles (Mg-NPs) Fabricated by Penicillium chrysogenum

The discovery of eco-friendly, rapid, and cost-effective compounds to control diseases caused by microbes and insects are the main challenges. Herein, the magnesium oxide nanoparticles (MgO-NPs) are successfully fabricated by harnessing the metabolites secreted by Penicillium chrysogenum. The fabricated MgO-NPs were characterized using UV-Vis, XRD, TEM, DLS, EDX, FT-IR, and XPS analyses. Data showed the successful formation of crystallographic, spherical, well-dispersed MgO-NPs with sizes of 7–40 nm at a maximum wavelength of 250 nm. The EDX analysis confirms the presence of Mg and O ions as the main components with weight percentages of 13.62% and 7.76%, respectively. The activity of MgO-NPs as an antimicrobial agent was investigated against pathogens Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans, and exhibited zone of inhibitions of 12.0 ± 0.0, 12.7 ± 0.9, 23.3 ± 0.8, 17.7 ± 1.6, and 14.7 ± 0.6 mm respectively, at 200 µg mL⁻¹. The activity is decreased by decreasing the MgO-NPs concentration. The biogenic MgO-NPs exhibit high efficacy against different larvae instar and pupa of Anopheles stephensi, with LC50 values of 12.5–15.5 ppm for I–IV larvae instar and 16.5 ppm for the pupa. Additionally, 5 mg/cm² of MgO-NPs showed the highest protection percentages against adults of Anopheles stephensi, with values of 100% for 150 min and 67.6% ± 1.4% for 210 min.     

Compressive strength and wear properties of SiC/Al6061 composites reinforced with high contents of SiC fabricated by pressure-assisted infiltration

Pressure-assisted infiltration was used to synthesize SiC/Al 6061 composites containing high weight percentages of SiC. A combination of PEG and glass water was used to fabricate SiC preforms and the effect of the presence of glass water on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the preforms was evaluated by performing compression tests on the preforms. Also, the compressive strength and the hardness of the SiC/Al composites were investigated. The results revealed that the glass water improved the compressive strength of the preforms by about five times. The microstructural characterization of the composites showed that the penetration of the aluminum melt into the preforms was completed and almost no porosity could be seen in the microstructures of the composites. Moreover, the composite containing 75 wt% SiC exhibited the highest compressive strength as well as the maximum hardness. The results of the wear tests showed that increasing the SiC content reduces the wear rate so that the Al-75 wt% SiC composite has a lower wear rate and a lower coefficient of friction than those of Al-67 wt% SiC composite. This indicated higher wear resistance in these composites than the Al alloy due to the formation of a tribological layer on the surface of the composites.     

Enhancement of glass-ceramic performance by TiO2 doping: In vitro cell viability,proliferation, and differentiation

A new TiO₂-containing bioactive glass and glass-ceramics based on 50SiO₂-(45-X)CaO-(XTiO₂)-5P₂O₅ system was designed using a sol–gel technique (where X = 5, 7.5 and 10 wt %). The roles of the crystallization behavior and physicochemical characteristics of the designed glass and glass-ceramics which were played in the introduction of TiO₂ substitutions were investigated. Moreover, cell proliferation and differentiation were evaluated against human osteosarcoma cells (Saos-2). The TiO₂/CaO replacements led to the formation of a stronger glass structure and thus increased thermal parameters and the chemical stabilization of the designed materials. The FTIR data confirmed the existence of Ti within the glass and glass-ceramics samples, and no remarkable effect on their chemical integrity was observed. The XRD patterns indicated that calcium-containing minerals, including Ca₂SiO₄,Ca₃(PO₄)₂, Ca(Ti,Si)O₅, CaTiSiO₅, and Ca₁₅(PO₄)₂·(SiO₄)₆ phases were developed as a role of structure/texture under the applied heat-treatment. The results of the cytotoxicity test proved that a safe sample dose is 12–50 μg/ml, at which cell viability is ≥ 85%. The cell differentiation determined by ALP test proved the superiority of glass-ceramics compared with their native glasses. Therefore, the obtained materials could be safely used as novel biocompatible materials for the regeneration of bone tissue.     

Organic geochemical characteristics of Middle to Late Eocene Shahbazan Formation in Dezful Embayment,SW Iran: A case study from Qaleh-Nar oilfield

Abstract

In a first attempt, Middle to Late Eocene Shahbazan Formation as a possible source rock in Dezful Embayment was geochemically investigated. Maturity indicators derived from Rock-Eval pyrolysis (T_max and PI) and gas chromatography (CPI) show that the organic matter, which dominated by a mixed type II/III kerogen, is thermally mature and has already entered the oil window. A fair to good petroleum-generative potential is suggested by moderate to relatively high values of total organic carbon (TOC) and potential yield (S₁+S₂). Deposition of Shahbazan Formation under low-oxygen condition, which is represented by low pristane/phytane ratio (<1), conduced to preservation of organic matter. This is in accordance with considerable TOC contents, ranging from 1.01 to 1.72?wt%. The relation between pristane/nC₁₇ and phytane/nC₁₈ as well as terrigenous/aquatic ratio (～1) represent the mixed marine and terrestrially sourced organic matter. Based on the results obtained from this study, Shahbazan Formation could have been acted as a prolific oil and gas source rock.     

Analysis of the Mechanical Stability of Boreholes Drilled in Sedimentary Rocks

This article presents the method and results of wellbore stability analysis for three common reservoir lithologies consisting of a consolidated sandstone, a shaly sandstone, and a limestone formation. The effect of stress anisotropy on the mechanical stability of wellbores is evaluated while varying the inclination angle from 0 to 90°, for both the Mohr-Coulomb and the Drucker-Prager failure criteria. The selected failure criterion, and the in-situ rock stress regime are found to have significant effects on the safe drilling fluid density required to maintain wellbore integrity. According to some field examples, the Drucker-Prager failure criterion appears to systematically mimic rock conditions more realistically than the Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion. The simulated consolidated sandstone formation is found more stable with lesser drilling fluid density, at any inclination angle, than the simulated shaly sandstone formation. The simulated limestone formation is even more stable than the consolidated sandstone at all inclination angles since it requires lighter fluid density to prevent wellbore collapse. For all these rock types, the higher the deviation angle (from vertical), the higher the drilling fluid density needed for maintaining wellbore integrity. For the depth and rock conditions simulated, both consolidated and shaly sands are unstable in a strike-slip stress regime, but stable in an extensional stress regime. The simulated limestone formation was found stable in both stress regimes. However, in an extensional stress regime, the limestone formation required lighter fluid density to maintain wellbore integrity than in a strike-slip stress regime. This article introduces the theory of using a practically-oriented model to assess the mechanical stability of a wellbore in a linearly-elastic stress field. The model can be used to determine the range of mechanically stable well inclinations for a given formation, and to suggest drilling-fluid density programs tailored to efficient and safe drilling.     

Inverse 1-center location problems with edge length augmentation on trees

This paper considers the inverse 1-center location problem with edge length augmentation on a tree network T with n + 1 vertices. The goal is to increase the edge lengths at minimum total cost subject to given modification bounds such that a predetermined vertex s becomes an absolute 1-center under the new edge lengths. Using a set of suitably extended AVL-search trees we develop a combinatorial algorithm which solves the inverse 1-center location problem with edge length augmentation in O(n log n) time. Moreover, it is shown that the problem can be solved in O(n) time if all the cost coefficients are equal.     

CEO观点：在新兴市场中，微型蜂窝基站制造业者须保持弹性!

无线营运业者的目标,是提供充分的移动能力及无缝式的漫游,以为使用者确保能永久存取宽带连接功能。目前这个目标可透过移动电话网络达成．但其涵盖率于室内和偏远地区具有局限性,这也意味着并非所有使用者都能得到想要的无缝式涵盖率。