Micromechanical Investigation of the Fatigue Crack Propagation and Damage Development in Al/Al2O3/SiC Hybrid Metal Matrix Composite

Russian Journal of Non-Ferrous Metals - In this study, the micro-mechanisms involved in fatigue crack propagation are investigated qualitatively in a Al/Al2O3/SiC hybrid metal matrix composite...     

pH Responsive Abelmoschus esculentus Mucilage and Administration of Methotrexate: In-Vitro Antitumor and In-Vivo Toxicity Evaluation

The rapid progression in biomaterial nanotechnology apprehends the potential of non-toxic and potent polysaccharide delivery modules to overcome oral chemotherapeutic challenges. The present study is aimed to design, fabricate and characterize polysaccharide nanoparticles for methotrexate (MTX) delivery. The nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared by Abelmoschus esculentus mucilage (AEM) and chitosan (CS) by the modified coacervation method, followed by ultra-sonification. The NPs showed much better pharmaceutical properties with a spherical shape and smooth surface of 213.4–254.2 nm with PDI ranging between 0.279–0.485 size with entrapment efficiency varying from 42.08 ± 1.2 to 72.23 ± 2.0. The results revealed NPs to possess positive zeta potential and a low polydispersity index (PDI). The in-vitro drug release showed a sustained release of the drug up to 32 h with pH-dependence. Blank AEM -CS NPs showed no in-vivo toxicity for a time duration of 14 days, accompanied by high cytotoxic effects of optimized MTX loaded NPs against MCF-7 and MD-MBA231 cells by MTT assay. In conclusion, the findings advocated the therapeutic potential of AEM/CS NPs as an efficacious tool, offering a new perspective for pH-responsive routing of anticancer drugs with tumor cells as a target.     

A Novel Sprague-Dawley Rat Model Presents Improved NASH/NAFLD Symptoms with PEG Coated Vitexin Liposomes

Chronic liver disease (CLD) is a global threat to the human population, with manifestations resulting from alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) and non-alcohol fatty liver disease (NAFLD). NAFLD, if not treated, may progress to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Furthermore, inflammation leads to liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Vitexin, a natural flavonoid, has been recently reported for inhibiting NAFLD. It is a lipogenesis inhibitor and activates lipolysis and fatty acid oxidation. In addition, owing to its antioxidant properties, it appeared as a hepatoprotective candidate. However, it exhibits low bioavailability and low efficacy due to its hydrophobic nature. A novel rat model for liver cirrhosis was developed by CCL4/Urethane co-administration. Vitexin encapsulated liposomes were synthesized by the ‘thin-film hydration’ method. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) was coated on liposomes to enhance stability and stealth effect. The diseased rats were then treated with vitexin and PEGylated vitexin liposomes, administered intravenously and orally. Results ascertained the liposomal encapsulation of vitexin and subsequent PEG coating to be a substantial strategy for treating liver cirrhosis through oral drug delivery.     

Dandelion-Like Bi2S3/rGO hierarchical microspheres as high-performance anodes for potassium-ion and half/full sodium-ion batteries

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) and potassium-ion batteries (PIBs) have been considered as attractive alternatives for next-generation battery systems, which have promising application potential due to their earth abundance of potassium and sodium, high capacity and suitable working potential, however, the design and application of bi-functional high-performance anode still remain a great challenge up to date. Bismuth sulfide is suitable as anode owing to its unique laminar structure with relatively large interlayer distance to accommodate larger radius ions, high theoretical capacity and high volumetric capacity etc. In this study, dandelion-like Bi₂S₃/rGO hierarchical microspheres as anode material for PIBs displayed reversible capacity, and 206.91 mAh·g⁻¹ could be remained after 1,200 cycles at a current density of 100 mA·g⁻¹. When applied as anode materials for SIBs, 300 mAh·g⁻¹ could be retained after 300 cycles at 2 A·g⁻¹ and its initial Coulombic efficiency is as high as 97.43%. Even at high current density of 10 A·g⁻¹, 120.3 mAh·g⁻¹ could be preserved after 3,400 cycles. The Na₃V₂(PO₄)₃@rGO//Bi₂S₃/rGO sodium ion full cells were successfully assembled which displays stable performance after 60 cycles at 100 mA·g⁻¹. The above results demonstrate that Bi₂S₃/rGO has application potential as high performance bi-functional anode for PIBs and SIBs.

     

Correlation of average diffuse and beam radiation with hours of bright sunshine

Empirical equations have been developed which correlate the monthly average daily horizontal diffuse and beam radiation with the fraction of maximum possible number of bright sunshine hours. These correlations are based on measured data from three widely spread Canadian stations.Depending upon whether or not the total horizontal radiation is known, the two correlations for the diffuse radiation are: .The correlation for beam radiation is: .     

Investigation of charge transport mechanism in semiconducting La<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>Ca<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>Mn<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>Fe<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> manganite prepared by sol–gel method

Here in, we report the charge transport mechanism in semiconducting La_0.5Ca_0.5Mn_0.5Fe_0.5O₃ (LCMFO) polycrystalline material synthesized via sol–gel auto combustion route. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the orthorhombic phase of the prepared material. Temperature dependent resistivity and impedance spectroscopy measurements have been carried out to probe the dielectric and electrical conduction mechanism which revealed a change of Mott variable range to the small polaronic hopping conduction mechanism around 303 K. The complex impedance and modulus spectra undoubtedly showed the contribution of both grain and grain boundary effect on the conduction properties of LCMFO. An equivalent circuit [(R_gbQ_gb) (R_gQ_g)] model has been used to address the electrical parameters associated with the different phases (grains and grain boundaries) having different relaxation times. The values of resistances of two phases obtained after fitting the equivalent circuit in the nyquist plot have been analyzed which confirmed the change of conduction mechanism around 303 K. The resultant change in conduction mechanism is also supported by the conductivity plots.     

Ubiquitin in cerebrospinal fluid: a rapid competitive enzyme-linked immunoflow assay

The aims of this study were to develop a rapid immunoassay to determine the levels of ubiquitin in cerebrospinal fluid and to establish the ubiquitin levels in the spinal fluid of normal aged individuals. A competitive enzyme-linked immunoflow assay was developed. In this assay, ubiquitin is bound to nitrocellulose membrane, after which the primary antibody-test sample mixture and the enzyme-labeled secondary antibody under vacuum are applied sequentially. The final reaction product is collected in a microtiter plate by suction. This competitive assay requires only approximately 4 h and is potentially useful for determining in biological fluids the levels of any antigen or its antibodies that might be present. Employing this immunoassay, cerebrospinal fluid ubiquitin levels were found to be 147.5 +/- 5.2 ng ml-1 in non-neurological aged cases.