Understanding the Effect of Tamarind Gum Proportion on the Properties of Tamarind Gum-Based Hydroethanolic Physical Hydrogels

The present study reports the analysis of properties of tamarind gum-based hydroethanolic physical hydrogels. The extent of hydrogen bonding in hydrogels decreased with an increase in tamarind gum content. The hydrogel with the highest tamarind gum content was found to be highly stable in terms of mechanical properties. There was a decrease in the resistive component of the hydrogels with an increase in tamarind gum content. The drug release from the hydrogels increased with an increase in the tamarind gum content. The antimicrobial activity of the drug-loaded hydrogels against Escherichia coli was excellent.     

High-Temperature Oxidation Behavior of Laser-Surface-Alloyed Ti with Si and Si + Al

This study concerns an attempt to enhance the resistance to high-temperature isothermal and cyclic oxidation of Ti in dry air by laser-surface alloying (LSA) with Si and Si+Al. LSA was carried out by codeposition of alloy powders during lasing under the predetermined, optimum-processing routine that ensured formation of a compact, well-adherent, crack-free and homogeneous alloyed zone. The results of oxidation kinetics in the temperature range 950–1150 K for 1–400 hr indicate that surface alloying with Si imparts excellent oxidation resistance up to 1050 K. However, at a higher temperature of 1150 K, surface alloying with 3Si+Al yields a better resistance to oxidation. A detailed characterization of the microstructure and distribution of the phases within the scale and alloyed zone following oxidation studies has been undertaken to suggest the possible mechanism for enhanced oxidation resistance of Ti imparted by laser-surface alloying.     

R-adapted arbitrary lagrangian-eulerian finite-element method in metal-forming simulation

In this article, mesh adaptation techniques have been used with the arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian finite-element method for analysis of metal-forming problems. The r-method of node relocation has been found suitable for this purpose and is driven by errors based on effective plastic strain. Two forming simulations for elastic-viscoplastic materials have been executed under plane-strain conditions, and the effect of mesh adaptation has been studied.     

SiC颗粒增强纯铝基复合材料的研究

探讨了用粉末冶金法,采用常规的冶金加工设备和工艺,制造SiC颗粒增强纯铝基复合材料的可行性;研究了不同SiC含量铝基复合材料的显微组织和力学性能.结果表明:SiC颗粒与纯铝粉混合、加压、烧结制备的复合材料,组织致密,增强颗粒分布均匀;随SiC体积百分含量增加,复合材料的强度、硬度明显升高;SiC体积面分含量小于20×10~(-2)时,塑性不降低;复合材料的拉伸断口为解理与韧窝混合断裂.     

Investigation on the bulk growth of $${\upalpha }$$-$$\hbox {LiIO}_{3}$$LiIO3 single crystals and the influence of pH on its structural,morphological and optical characteristics

\(\upalpha \)-\(\hbox {LiIO}_{3}\) is an excellent optical material exhibiting strong nonlinear optical, piezoelectric and elasto-optic properties. However, its practical applications are limited by the insufficient reproducibility of the mentioned properties caused by the strong influence of the growth conditions, and, in particular, pH of the solution from which \(\upalpha \)-\(\hbox {LiIO}_{3}\) crystal is grown. Herein, we investigate to grow bulk size good quality crystals of \(\upalpha \)-\(\hbox {LiIO}_{3}\) based on the observed problems during its crystallization process. A systematic investigation was carried out to find the effect of pH on solubility, crystal growth, structural, surface and laser damage properties of \(\upalpha \)-\(\hbox {LiIO}_{3}\) single crystals. The structure and phase of \(\hbox {LiIO}_{3}\) were confirmed by powder X-ray diffractometer analysis. The functional groups of the compound were identified using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Surface defects of the grown crystals were studied by etch patterns. The crystal grown at pH 10 showed 10% optical transmission enhancement in comparison to the crystals grown at pH 2. The indirect optical bandgap of the crystal was reinvestigated using ultraviolet–Visible–near-infrared transmittance spectrum. The laser damage threshold studies of the crystals grown at pH 10 reveal the higher optical radiation stability against 532 nm laser. The second-order nonlinear optical behaviour of \(\upalpha \)-\(\hbox {LiIO}_{3}\) crystals grown at different pH conditions have been investigated by using Kurtz and Perry powder technique with Nd:YAG laser pulses at the wavelength of 1064 nm.     

A closer look at termination

Summary Several methods for proving that computer programs terminate are presented and illustrated. The methods considered involve (a) using the no-infinitely-descending-chain property of well-founded sets (Floyd's approach), (b) bounding a counter associated with each loop (loop approach), (c) showing that some exit of each loop must be taken (exit approach), or (d) inducting on the structure of the data domain (Burstall's approach). We indicate the relative merit of each method for proving termination or non-termination as an integral part of an automatic verification system.     

Effects of nitrogen fertilizer application methods on growth and acetylene reduction activity ofAzolla pinnata and yield of rice

The influence of different methods of N fertilizer application-sub-surface placement (SS) and broadcast application (BC) as a single basal dose of 40 kg N ha^–1 of urea (U) and ammonium sulphate (AS)-on fresh weight (FW) and acetylene reduction activity (ARA) ofAzolla pinnata (Bangkok) and yield of rice was studied for consecutive three seasons. The FW, ARA and N yield ofAzolla were significantly superior with SS placement than with BC application. Of the two N sources, AS was superior to U in recording higher FW, ARA and N yield of Azolla irrespective of methods of N application. Crop yield and crop N uptake were higher with SS application alone and in combination with Azolla as compared to that of surface application of N fertilizers. The combined use of AS and Azolla recorded significantly higher crop yield and crop N uptake than that of U combined with Azolla, irrespective of methods of application.