Laser surface alloying of aluminium with WC + Co + NiCr for improved wear resistance

In the present study, laser surface alloying of aluminium with WC + Co + NiCr (in the ratio of 70:15:15) has been conducted using a 5 kW continuous wave (CW) Nd:YAG laser (at a beam diameter of 0.003 m), with the output power ranging from 3 to 3.5 kW and scan speed from 0.012 m/s to 0.04 m/s by simultaneous feeding of precursor powder (at a flow rate of 1 × 10^− 5 kg/s) and using He shroud at a gas flow rate of 3 × 10^− 6 m³/s. The effect of laser power and scan speed on the characteristics (microstructures, phases and composition) and properties (wear and corrosion resistance) of the surface alloyed layer have been investigated in details. Laser surface alloying leads to development of fine grained aluminium with the dispersion of WC, W₂C, Al₄C₃, Al₉Co₂, Al₃Ni, Cr₂₃C₆, and Co₆W₆C. The microhardness of the alloyed zone is significantly improved to a maximum value of 650 VHN as compared to 22 VHN of the as-received aluminium substrate. The mechanism of microhardness enhancement has been established. The fretting wear behavior of the alloyed zone was evaluated against WC by Ball-on-disc wear testing unit and the mechanism of wear was established.     

Structural correlation to magnetodielectricity and coercivity at room temperature in multiferroic Bi0.7Ba0.3−xPbxFeO3

We report an interesting structural correlation to the static dielectric constant (?₀), magnetodielectric (MD) response and coercivity at room temperature for Bi_0.7Ba_0.3?xPb_xFeO₃ at x = 0, 0.05, 0.10 and 0.15, above which a structurally single-phase material could not be achieved. The Pb doping leads to a ～2.4 times increase in ?₀. The Fe–O–Fe bond angle increases and approaches 180° with the Pb doping, which is associated with a considerable decrease in coercivity. Interestingly, the MD response is correlated with the average Bi–Fe bond length. This structural correlation is crucial for understanding the origin of moderately high MD response and improving the effects of this for technological applications.     

EFFECT OF LIPASE ENZYME ON THE RIPENING OF WHITE PICKLED CHEESE

The effect of addition of pregastric lipase enzyme on the accelerated ripening of white pickled cheese was investigated. Commercial pregastric lipase was added to milk before rennet addition at a level of 0,5, 8, 11 g per 100 L of milk and cheeses were made from this milk. Total solids, fat, total nitrogen, salt, titratable acidity, pH and free fatty acids (C₂-C_18:1) were analysed in the samples during 1–90 days of ripening period at 15 days intervals. Total solids, fat, total nitrogen, salt, titratable acidity, and pH of cheeses slightly increased during the ripening period. Free fatty acids and volatile free fatty acid contents in cheeses made from pregastric lipase added milk were affected by pregastric lipase and their contents were increased significantly (P<0.01) during the ripening period. Particularly, when cheese had a high level (11 g per 100 L milk) pregastric lipase, the amounts of butyric, caproic and caprylic acids in white pickled cheese were quite high. The relative amounts of volatile free fatty acids varied with storage time and pregastric lipase levels.     

THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY OF INDIUM PHOSPHIDE-BASED SUPERLATTICES

Semiconductor superlattice structures have shown promise as thermoelectric materials for their high power factor and low thermal conductivity. While the power factor of a superlattice can be controlled through band gap engineering and doping, prediction and control of thermal conductivity has remained a challenge. The thermal conductivity of three different InP/InGaAs superlattices was measured to be between 4 and 9 W/m-K from 77-320 K using the 3! method. Although the thermal conductivity of InP is an order of magnitude higher than that of InGaAs, we report the intriguing observation that as the fraction of InP is increased in InP/InGaAs superlattices, the thermal conductivity decreases. For one superlattice, the thermal conductivity was even below that of InGaAs. These observations are contrary to predictions of effective thermal conductivity by the Fourier law.     

The beta-gal interferon assay: a new, precise and sensitive method

Cells of a human glioblastoma line were stably transfected with a glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) promoter sequence/lacZ reporter gene. Following this modification, they produced Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase constitutively in amounts that could be measured through their conversion of an added fluorophore into a product readily estimated by fluorimetry. Human interferons (IFN) selectively and in a dose-dependent manner reduce the formation of beta-galactosidase in this system. We have used it as the basis for a novel assay that is sensitive (4-40 pg/ml), precise, completed in 30 h, and applicable to both type I and type II human IFNs. Statistical analysis showed interassay relative standard deviations ranging from 5% to 11%, and most individual assays revealed potencies with limits of error within 85%-115%. Neither partially trypsin-digested IFN nor the other cytokines and mitogens we tested reacted in this system, except for tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). The high selectivity was further shown by the loss of response to IFN in the presence of the appropriate specific anti-IFN or anti-IFN-gamma receptor antibodies.