Ultrasonic‐assisted dyeing: I. Nylon dyeability with reactive dyes

The use of ultrasonic power (38.5 KHz, 350 W) to assist the dyeability of nylon‐6 fibre with reactive dyes is reported. The effects of the different factors that may affect the dyeability of nylon‐6 fibre with Reactive Red 55 were simultaneously carried out under both ultrasonic power and conventional heating conditions. The colour strength values obtained for the dyed samples using ultrasonic power were higher than those obtained using conventional heating. Also, the effect of alkaline soaping treatment on dye fixation for the dyed fabrics with different reactive dyes, at both acidic and neutral pHs, is generally better with ultrasonic than with conventional heating. The overall results indicate that the enhancing effect is mainly attributed to the de‐aggregation of dye molecules, which leads to better dye diffusion and possible assistance for dye‐fibre covalent‐bond fixation. The results of wet fastness properties of the dyed fabrics reveal improvement using ultrasonic power dyeing relative to the conventional heating method. © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry     

Generation of millimeter wave Gaussian beams and their propagation in a dielectric waveguide

Linearly polarized fundamental mode Gaussian beams were generated and coupled to a hollow circular oversized dielectric waveguide by placing the waist of the beam at the guide entrance. The transmission properties of the waveguide were characterized as a function of frequency for a variety of coupling conditions. These conditions included changes in the input beam waist radius, angle of incidence, and displacement perpendicular and parallel to the guide axis. It has been found that: 1.) power transmission is maximized when the waist of the input beam is centered at the guide input, injected normally, and has a radius of 0.43 times the waveguide radius, 2.) power transmission decreases rapidly with increasing angle of incidence and the rate of that loss increases with frequency, 3.) the waveguide preserves the linear polarization of the input beam, 4.) power transmission in the fundamental waveguide mode is not greatly affected by moderate displacements in the input beam position, and 5.) upon exit from the waveguide the launched EH₁₁ mode propagates as a fundamental mode Gaussian beam in the quasi-far field. The results compare favorably to the transmission theory of Belland and Crenn and approximately to the near and far field mode pattern theory of Degnan.     

Application of three unsupervised neural network models to singular nonlinear BVP of transformed 2D Bratu equation

In this paper, numerical techniques are developed for solving two-dimensional Bratu equations using different neural network models optimized with the sequential quadratic programming technique. The original two-dimensional problem is transformed into an equivalent singular, nonlinear boundary value problem of ordinary differential equations. Three neural network models are developed for the transformed problem based on unsupervised error using log-sigmoid, radial basis and tan-sigmoid functions. Optimal weights for each model are trained with the help of the sequential quadratic programming algorithm. Three test cases of the equation are solved using the proposed schemes. Statistical analysis based on a large number of independent runs is carried out to validate the models in terms of accuracy, convergence and computational complexity.     

SARS-CoV-2 Viral Entry Proteins in Hyperandrogenemic Female Mice: Implications for Women with PCOS and COVID-19

SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19, infects host cells using the angiotensin I converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) as its receptor after priming by host proteases, including TMPRSS2. COVID-19 affects multiple organ systems, and male patients suffer increased severity and mortality. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in reproductive-age women and is characterized by hyperandrogenism, ovulatory dysfunction, and polycystic ovarian morphology. PCOS is associated with obesity and cardiometabolic comorbidities, both being risk factors associated with severe COVID-19 pathology. We hypothesize that elevated androgens in PCOS regulate SARS-CoV-2 entry proteins in multiple tissues increasing the risk for this population. Female mice were treated with dihydrotestosterone (DHT) for 90 days. Body composition was measured by EchoMRI. Fasting glucose was determined by an enzymatic method. mRNA and protein levels of ACE2, Tmprss2, Cathepsin L, Furin, Tmprss4, and Adam17 were quantified by RT-qPCR, Western-blot, or ELISA in tissues, serum, and urine. DHT treatment increased body weight, fat and lean mass, and fasting glucose. Ace2 mRNA was upregulated in the lung, cecum, heart, and kidney, while downregulated in the brain by DHT. ACE2 protein was upregulated by DHT in the small intestine, heart, and kidney. The SARS-CoV-2 priming proteases Tmprss2, Cathepsin L, and Furin mRNA were upregulated by DHT in the kidney. ACE2 sheddase Adam17 mRNA was upregulated by DHT in the kidney, which corresponded with increased urinary ACE2 in DHT treated mice. Our results highlight the potential for increased cardiac, renal, and gastrointestinal dysfunction in PCOS women with COVID-19.     

Microstructural,Thermal, Crystallization,and Water Absorption Properties of Films Prepared from Never-Dried and Freeze-Dried Cellulose Nanocrystals

In this paper, the microstructural, optical, thermal, crystallization, and water absorption properties of films prepared from never-dried (ND) and freeze-dried (FD) cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are reported. Morphology of the ND CNCs reveals a needle-like structure, while after freeze-drying, they show a flake-like morphology. Microstructural analysis of ND and FD CNCs are further studied via small angle X-ray scattering to probe interactions. ND CNCs yield a transparent film with a low surface roughness (14 ± 4 nm), while the FD CNC film evidence a significant reduction of their transparency due to their higher surface roughness (134 ± 20 nm). Although Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analyses reveal no chemical change occurs during the freeze-drying process, yet a more intense thermal degradation profile is observed for FD CNC film, probably due to the higher oxygen ingress within the gaps created between the stacked flakes. This, in turn, results in a greater loss of crystallinity at a higher temperature (300 °C) compared to the ND CNC film. A rapid decrease in water contact angle of the FD CNC film proves that the morphology of flakes and their orientation within the film has a strong influence in increasing water absorption capacity.     

Botryticidal Activity of Nanosized Silver‐Chitosan Composite and Its Application for the Control of Gray Mold in Strawberry

Botrytis cinerea Pers, the gray mold fungus, is among the most dangerous plant pathogens that cause great losses in agricultural crops. The botryticidal activities of nanosized silver (nano Ag), fungal chitosan (CTS) irradiated fungal chitosan (IrCTS), and nano Ag‐IrCTS composite were investigated. All of the examined materials exhibited powerful antifungal activity against B. cinerea. The most effective compound was nano Ag‐IrCTS composite with a minimal inhibitory concentration of 125 μg/mL. The microscopic examination, of treated B. cinerea with the composite, revealed that an obvious alteration in mycelial shape was appeared accompanied and moderate lysis in fungal hyphae. With the prolongation of treatment, most of the fungal mycelia were lysed into small and elastic fragments. The consequence of strawberries coating, with antifungal composite based solution, was the disappearance of gray mold infection signs in 90% of the contaminated fruits after 7 d of storage, treated fruits had a fresh‐like appearance at the end of storage. Coating with nano Ag‐IrCTS solution could be highly recommended regarding its efficiency in prohibiting B. cinerea growth, preventing gray mold decay and enhancing the overall quality of coated strawberry fruits.     

Metal nanoparticle doped coloured coatings on glasses and plastics through tuning of surface plasmon band position

Several noble metal nanoparticles doped sol-gel derived thin coloured films have been synthesized and characterized. These are pure (Ag, Au, Cu and Pt), mixed/alloy (Ag-Cu, Au-Cu, Au-Ag and Au-Pt) nanoparticles in SiO₂, Au in mixed SiO₂-TiO₂ and SiO₂-ZrO₂, Au and Ag nanoparticles in inorganic-organic hybrid film matrices etc. This investigation leads to the development of tailor-made coloured coatings by tuning the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band positions originating from the embedded nanometals by controlling mainly (i) refractive index of the film matrices and (ii) nanoalloy composition. In the later case a new layer-by-layer (two-layer) synthetic protocol has been developed to prepare binary nanoalloy particles with controlled atomic ratios.     

Correction: Novel Surface Topography and Microhardness Characterization of Laser Clad Layer on TC4 Titanium Alloy Using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy and Machine Learning

Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A -     

Investigations for the optimal combination of zinc oxide nanoparticle-diesel fuel with optimal compression ratio for improving performance and reducing the emission features of variable compression ratio diesel engine

Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy - The continual hike in environmental pollution from diesel engines has raised the concern of researchers to identify certain clean fuels. For this...