Effect of substrate bias voltage on the physical properties of dc reactive magnetron sputtered NiO thin films

Nickel oxide (NiO) thin films were prepared on glass substrates at various bias voltages using dc reactive magnetron sputtering technique. The influence of substrate bias voltage on structural, optical and electrical properties was systematically investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), SEM, EDS, spectrophotometer and Hall effect studies. The NiO films are crystalline with preferential growth along (2 0 0) plane. The NiO films exhibit optical transmittance of 55% and direct band gap of 3.78 eV at the substrate bias voltage of −75 V. The electrical resistivity decreases as substrate bias voltage increases from 0 to −75 V thereafter it was slightly increased.     

Discrete shape sensitivity equations for aerodynamic problems

Intensive research and development in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) has recently produced many powerful CFD codes to simulate complex aerodynamic phenomena. However, in order to enhance the usefulness of these CFD codes for design practice, development of design sensitivity equations compatible to these codes becomes very important. This paper represents a part of such an effort to develop a sensitivity analysts methodology that enables the sensitivity equations to be implemented into existing CFD codes with minimal code modification. The methodology is based upon a pre-elimination procedure which accounts for consistently linearized boundary conditions. Formulations of both the direct differentiation and the adjoint variable methods will be presented in the paper.     

Structural and Dielectric Properties of (1-x) (Al0.2La0.8TiO3) + (x) (BiZnFeO3) (x = 0.2 − 0.8) nanocomposites

Journal of Inorganic and Organometallic Polymers and Materials - (1-x) (Al0.2La0.8TiO3)?+?(x) (BiZnFeO3) (x?=?0.2–0.8) [ALTBZFO] nanocomposites were synthesized via...     

Optimisation of machining parameters for milling operations using a scatter search approach

This paper describes the application of a newly developed metaheuristic, the scatter search, for optimising the machining parameters of milling operations. An objective function based on maximum profit is used while considering the practical constraints, such as allowable speed and feed, maximum machine power, surface finish requirement and maximum cutting speed permitted by the rigidity of the machine tool. An example is taken from the literature for comparing the results of the proposed method with other heuristics and handbook recommendations.     

Multi-objective optimisation of surface grinding operations using scatter search approach

A scatter search based optimisation approach is developed to optimise the grinding parameters of wheel speed, work piece speed, depth of dressing and lead of dressing using a multi-objective function model with a weighted approach for the surface grinding process. The production cost and production rate are evaluated for the optimal grinding conditions, subject to the constraints such as thermal damage, machine tool stiffness, wheel wear parameters and surface finish. The results are compared with the results obtained by the ants-colony algorithm, genetic algorithm and quadratic programming techniques.     

Oxidation Kinetics and Oxide Scale Characterization of Nickel-Based Superalloy IN738LC at 900 °C

The high-temperature isothermal oxidation behavior of the polycrystalline nickel-based superalloy IN738LC was investigated at 900 °C in air for up to 1000 h. The results from the tests suggest that the alloy showed single-stage parabolic oxidation behavior during isothermal oxidation. The oxidized samples were characterized using SEM and SEM/EDS, and the results show that the alloy is comprised of an outer dense chromia scale with titania proving Type II oxidation behavior. In addition, the formation of a spinel composition adjacent to the external layer and a discontinuous needle-shaped alumina scale in the alloy subsurface zone were also observed. The depletion of gamma prime (γ′) phase leads to a precipitate-free zone formation in the subscale zone. A JMatPro thermodynamic analysis showed that an increase in titanium content from 1 to 3.44 wt.% increased the chromium activity by 50%. Therefore, the results suggest that the presence of high amounts of titanium (~3.44 wt.%) in IN738LC increased the oxidation kinetics by increasing the chromium scale growth rate and resulting in an oxidation rate constant of 2.79 × 10^?6 mg² cm^?4 s^?1.     

Oral Rg1 supplementation strengthens antioxidant defense system against exercise-induced oxidative stress in rat skeletal muscles

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Previous studies reported divergent results on nutraceutical actions and free radical scavenging capability of ginseng extracts. Variations in ginsenoside profile of ginseng due to different soil and cultivating season may contribute to the inconsistency. To circumvent this drawback, we assessed the effect of major ginsenoside-Rg1 (Rg1) on skeletal muscle antioxidant defense system against exhaustive exercise-induced oxidative stress. METHODS: Forty weight-matched rats were evenly divided into control (N = 20) and Rg1 (N = 20) groups. Rg1 was orally administered at the dose of 0.1 mg/kg bodyweight per day for 10- week. After this long-term Rg1 administration, ten rats from each group performed an exhaustive swimming, and remaining rats considered as non-exercise control. Tibialis anterior (TA) muscles were surgically collected immediately after exercise along with nonexercise rats. RESULTS: Exhaustive exercise significantly (p <0.05) increased the lipid peroxidation of control group, evidenced by elevated malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. The increased oxidative stress after exercise was also confirmed by decreased reduced glutathione to oxidized glutathione ratio (GSH/GSSG ratio) in control rats. However, these changes were completely eliminated in Rg1 group. Catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities were significantly (p <0.05) increased by Rg1 in non-exercise rats, while no significant change after exercise. Nevertheless, glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities were significantly increased after exercise in Rg1 group. CONCLUSIONS: This study provide compelling evidences that Rg1 supplementation can strengthen antioxidant defense system in skeletal muscle and completely attenuate the membrane lipid peroxidation induced by exhaustive exercise. Our findings suggest that Rg1 can use as a nutraceutical supplement to buffer the exhaustive exercise-induced oxidative stress.     

Ene‐Carbonyl Reductive Coupling Mediated by Zinc and Ammonia for the Synthesis of γ‐Hydroxybutyric Acid Derivatives

The reductive coupling of an aryl carbonyl group with an activated alkene to give the corresponding γ‐hydroxybutyric acid (GHBA) derivative was achieved in the presence of zinc and ammonia. A board scope of GHBA derivatives could be synthesized under ambient conditions by this method. A mechanism involving a Zn‐ketyl radical as the key intermediate is proposed.     

Exfoliation of clay layers in polypropylene matrix using potassium succinate-g-polypropylene as compatibilizer

The efficiency of potassium succinate-g-polypropylene (KPPSA) as compatibilizer for the dispersion of clay in a high molecular weight polypropylene during melt mixing for the preparation of nanocomposites was evaluated and compared with maleic anhydride-g-polypropylene (PPMA). Nanocomposites were prepared by direct melt mixing and by masterbatch methods and the structure obtained was characterized by WAXD and TEM. The exfoliation and better dispersion of the organoclay was observed with KPPSA than PPMA. The dispersion of clay was found to be dependent on the method of preparation, type and the amount of compatibilizer used. The dispersion was better when the nanocomposites were prepared by two step masterbatch route than the single step direct mixing method. Flexural moduli and crystallization behavior were studied and correlated with the dispersion of organoclay in the PP matrix.