Tolerance limit of chloride for steel in blended cement mortar using the cyclic polarisation technique

The tolerance limit for chloride in ordinary Portland cement (OPC) and blended cements such as Portland pozzolana cement (PPC) and Portland slag cement (PSC) was assessed by cyclic polarisation. This study covers both cement extracts and mortar. The salient features of this investigation were: in extracts, the tolerance limit for chloride actually doubles for PSC when compared to PPC and OPC. The tolerance limit for chloride for various mortars follows the order: PSC > PPC > OPC. In OPC and PPC mortar, the repassivation potential (E _rep) shifted negatively with higher amounts of free chloride but in PSC mortar E _rep shifted positively (+590 mV) even in the presence of 5,000 ppm of free chloride. PSC takes longer time (50 days) to reach E _rep indicating perfect passivity maintained for the embedded steel.     

A Modified Backpropagation Training Algorithm for Feedforward Neural Networks*

In this paper, a new efficient learning procedure for training single hidden layer feedforward network is proposed. This procedure trains the output layer and the hidden layer separately. A new optimization criterion for the hidden layer is proposed. Existing methods to find fictitious teacher signal for the output of each hidden neuron, modified standard backpropagation algorithm and the new optimization criterion are combined to train the feedforward neural networks. The effectiveness of the proposed procedure is shown by the simulation results. *The work of P. Thangavel is partially supported by UGC, Government of India sponsored project.     

Fabrication of an electrochemical biosensor with ZnO nanoflakes interface for methylglyoxal quantification in food samples

Increased consumption of fried foods such as grilled chicken contains elevated levels of methylglyoxal (MG), which is associated with diabetes mellitus. Hence, in this work, glyoxalase 1(GLO 1) based, zinc oxide (ZnO) flakes interfaced mediator free electrochemical biosensor was developed to detect MG in grilled chicken. ZnO flakes were synthesized by direct precipitation method. X-ray diffractometer and field emission scanning electron microscope were used to study the structural and morphological characteristics of ZnO flakes. The immobilization of GLO 1 on Pt/ZnO flakes modified electrode was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Cyclic voltammetric and amperometric studies were carried out using Pt/ZnO flakes/GLO 1 working electrode. The developed biosensor exhibited linear range of 0.6–2.0 µM, sensitivity of 0.281 µA µM^?1, LOD of 9 nM with a response time of <4 s and shelf life of 18 days (89%).     

Increased LRG1 Levels in Overweight and Obese Adolescents and Its Association with Obesity Markers,Including Leptin,Chemerin, and High Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein

Leucine-rich α-2 glycoprotein1 (LRG1) is a member of the leucine-rich repeat (LRR) family that is implicated in multiple diseases, including cancer, aging, and heart failure, as well as diabetes and obesity. LRG1 plays a key role in diet-induced hepatosteatosis and insulin resistance by mediating the crosstalk between adipocytes and hepatocytes. LRG1 also promotes hepatosteatosis by upregulating de novo lipogenesis in the liver and suppressing fatty acid β-oxidation. In this study, we investigated the association of LRG1 with obesity markers, including leptin and other adipokines in adolescents (11–14 years; n = 425). BMI-for-age classification based on WHO growth charts was used to define obesity. Plasma LRG1 was measured by ELISA, while other markers were measured by multiplexing assay. Median (IQR) of LRG1 levels was higher in obese (30 (25, 38) µg/mL) and overweight (30 (24, 39) µg/mL) adolescents, compared to normal-weight participants (27 (22, 35) µg/mL). The highest tertile of LRG1 had an OR [95% CI] of 2.55 [1.44, 4.53] for obesity. LRG1 was positively correlated to plasma levels of high sensitivity c-reactive protein (HsCRP) (ρ = 0.2), leptin (ρ = 0.2), and chemerin (ρ = 0.24) with p < 0.001. Additionally, it was positively associated with plasma level of IL6 (ρ = 0.17) and IL10 (ρ = 0.14) but not TNF-α. In conclusion, LRG1 levels are increased in obese adolescents and are associated with increased levels of adipogenic markers. These results suggest the usefulness of LRG1 as an early biomarker for obesity and its related pathologies in adolescents.     

Competitive role of inhibitive and aggressive ions in the corrosion of steel in concrete

The effect of various inhibitive ions (hydroxide, citrate, stannate) for the corrosion of steel in concrete was studied by weight loss measurements, chronopotential studies, anodic polarization technique and compressive strength tests. The salient features of the investigation were: in 100% OPC as well as in OPC + fly ash (3:1 ratio) extracts the passivity of steel was readily destroyed even by the presence of 10 000 ppm of chloride. However in 100% OPC and also in OPC + fly ash (3:1 ratio) extracts containing inhibitive and complexing agents like hydroxide, citrate and stannate, the passivity of steel was maintained even in the presence of 30 000 ppm of chloride. The addition of inhibitive ions like hydroxide, citrate and stannate not only decreased the corrosion rate of steel in simulated concrete environments but also increased the compressive strength of mortars. Citrates, stannates and CaO are effective inhibitors of the corrosion of steel in concrete.     

Synthesis and characterization of nano-encapsulated catechin by molecular inclusion with beta-cyclodextrin

Nano-encapsulation of catechin (CAT) with beta-cyclodextrin (BCD) at 1:1 ratio resulted in the production of nano-encapsulated powder (BCD + CAT) by molecular inclusion method. The interactions between CAT and BCD were analyzed by differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), Raman laser spectroscopy (RLS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffractometer (XRD). The results obtained strongly confirmed supra molecular complex formation. DSC thermograph obtained for nano-encapsulated powder resulted in the appearance of new endothermic melting peak at 250 °C with complete disappearance of peaks at 100, 150 and 200 °C present in catechin and beta-cyclodextrin indicating the inclusion complex formation which was also confirmed by spectral characterization (RLS). Particles ranging from 67 to 470 nm were obtained by SEM micrographs. Structural characterization by XRD at 2θ angle from 0° to 80° for nano-encapsulated powder indicated change of state from crystalline to amorphous phase with average particle size of 518.78 nm.     

Boron Trifluoride‐Promoted Indium(III) Triflate‐Catalyzed Sequential One‐Pot Synthesis of (1,2‐Diaryl‐2‐oxoethyl)malonates from trans‐2‐Aryl‐3‐nitrocyclopropane‐1,1‐dicarboxylates and Activated Arenes

A sequential one‐pot synthesis of Michael adducts of aroylmethylidenemalonates with activated aromatics is described. The method involves treatment of trans‐2‐aryl‐3‐nitro‐cyclopropane‐1,1‐dicarboxylates with boron trifluoride etherate to form aroylmethylidenemalonates in situ and then addition of activated aromatics such as indoles, carbazole, pyrrole, thiophenes, methoxybenzenes and benzodioxole followed by a catalytic amount of indium(III) triflate to the same reaction vessel. To prove the synthetic potential of the resulting Michael adducts, one of the adducts was transformed into a pharmaceutically interesting dihydropyridazinone derivative.

     

Electronic and optical modeling of solar cell compound CuXY<Subscript>2</Subscript> (X = In,Ga, Al; Y = S,Se, Te): first-principles study via Tran–Blaha-modified Becke–Johnson exchange potential approach

The electronic and optical properties of the ternary CuXY₂ (X = In, Ga, Al; Y = S, Se, Te) compounds have been investigated using the density functional theory based on the full potential linear augmented plane wave method via Tran–Blaha-modified Becke–Johnson exchange potential techniques. From this study, it is found that these compounds are direct band gap semiconductor and in good agreement with reported results. The optical properties such as dielectric tensor components and the absorption coefficient of these materials are determined in order to investigate their usefulness as solar cell materials.