Double loop electrochemical potentiokinetic reactivation test optimization in checking of duplex stainless steel intergranular corrosion susceptibility

The double loop electrochemical potentiokinetic reactivation (DL-EPR) test using an electrolyte of 33 pct H₂SO₄ solution with 0.3 pct HCl, at room temperature and at a potential scan rate dE/dt of about 2.5 mV/s, was chosen to evaluate the sensitization of austeno-ferritic duplex stainless steels (DSS). Reproducible and optimal test responses and high test selectivity in detecting integranular corrosion (IGC) susceptibility were verified for four DSS differing in their method of fabrication (cast or wrought) and their ferrite phase content (44 to 57 pct). The test was successfully used to analyze the interactions between precipitation, chromium depletion, and IGC sensitization of the UNS S31250 steel, which was aged between 6 minutes and 120 hours at temperatures varying from 500 °C to 900 °C. The eutectoid decomposition of the ferrite, at different aging temperatures, was investigated using various techniques. The chromium depletion was analyzed qualitatively by X-ray mapping in a scanning transmission electronic microscope (STEM) and quantitatively by analytical calculation based on the chromium diffusion in the ferrite. It was shown that the chromium content in the ferrite can decrease from 30 to 7.5 pct by weight during aging before total decomposition occurs. The interactions between precipitation and IGC sensitization during DSS aging were clearly shown by superimposing the time-temperature-start of precipitation (TTP) and time-temperature-sensitization (TTS) diagrams obtained from the DL-EPR tests performed for various levels of sensitization.     

Nudging hair shedding by antidandruff shampoos. A comparison of 1% ketoconazole, 1% piroctone olamine and 1% zinc pyrithione formulations

Hair shedding and hair thinning have been reported to be affected by dandruff and seborrhoeic dermatitis. The present study was conducted in 150 men presenting with telogen effluvium related to androgenic alopecia associated with dandruff. They were randomly allocated to three groups receiving each one of the three shampoos in the market containing either 1% ketoconazole (KTZ), 1% piroctone olamine (PTO) or 1% zinc pyrithione (ZPT). Shampoos had to be used 2-3 times a week for 6 months. Hair shedding during shampoo was evaluated semiquantitatively. Hair density on the vertex was evaluated on photographs using a Dermaphot. Trichograms were used for determining the anagen hair percentage and the mean proximal hair shaft diameter using computerized image analysis. The sebum excretion rate (SER, mug cm(-2) h(-1)) was also measured using a Sebumeter. The three treatments cleared pruritus and dandruff rapidly. At end point, hair density was unchanged, although hair shedding was decreased (KTZ: -17.3%, PTO: -16.5%, ZPT: -10.1%) and the anagen hair percentage was increased (KTZ: 4.9%, PTO: 7.9%, ZPT: 6.8%). The effect on the mean hair shaft diameter was contrasted between the three groups of volunteers (KTZ: 5.4%, PTO: 7.7%, ZPT: -2.2%). In conclusion, telogen effluvium was controlled by KTZ, PTO and ZPT shampoos at 1% concentration. In addition, KTZ and PTO increased the mean hair shaft thickness while discretely decreasing the sebum output at the skin surface.     

Relationship between the included levels of coffee pulp and the protein content in rations for monogastric animals

The purpose of this research was to determine the effect of including fresh and ensilaged coffee pulp in rations for monogastric animals, and find the best protein and coffee pulp levels in rations for rats. Fresh coffee pulp and pulp ensilaged for 12 months were used; both kinds of pulp were sun-dried before incorporating them into the rations. The chemical analyses of the pulps revealed a lower content in caffeine, tannins, chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid in the ensilaged pulp than in fresh coffee pulp. Thirty-two experimental rations were prepared, 16 with fresh coffee pulp and 16 with the ensilaged by-product, distributed into four different protein levels (10, 15, 20 and 25%), and three levels of pulp (15, 30 and 45%) for each protein level. The rations thus prepared were fed to Wistar albino rats for a six-week period. The parameters used to measure the effect of the two types of pulp were mortality rate, food consumption, weight gain, food conversion and apparent digestibility of the rations. Ensilaged pulp had a higher nutritive value, lower toxicity and better digestibility than fresh pulp. The increase in the protein level of the ration resulted in partial protection against the negative effects of coffee pulp on the performance of animals, since this improved as the protein level of the ration increased.     

Extra Virgin Olive Oil Components and Oxidative Stability from Olives Grown in Tunisia

The effects of the contents of lipids, pigments, α-tocopherol and phenols were studied in relation to the antioxidant capacity of five virgin olive oils obtained from five olive cultivars planted in Tunisia (Arbequina, Koroneiki, Leccino, Oueslati and Chemchali). The antioxidant capacities were evaluated by two different radical scavenging activities: radical scavenging activity by the DPPH assay (RSA-DPPH) and total antioxidant status by the ABTS test (TAA-ABTS). The highest contents of antioxidant compounds (75.96, 10.34, 6.32, 15.39 and 241.52 mg kg⁻¹ for oleic acid, O/L ratio, carotenes, chlorophylls and total phenols, respectively) were found for the Koroneiki cultivar except for α-tocopherol and o-diphenols, which had the highest contents (369 and 160.7 mg kg⁻¹, respectively) in the Leccino and Chemchali cultivars (cvs). Furthermore, the highest antioxidant capacity in virgin olive oil was observed in the Koroneiki cultivar (0.24 mmol TE kg⁻¹) followed by the Chemchali and Leccino cvs (0.22 and 0.13 mmol TE kg⁻¹) for the TAA-ABTS test. However, the RSA-DPPH activity was higher for the Chemchali cultivar (19.9%) than for the Koroneiki and Leccino cvs (18.4 and 13.5%, respectively). Correlation between these capacities and the oil composition revealed that they were mainly influenced by the carotene content, followed by chlorophyll and phenolic contents where the ABTS test was more pronounced. Then, the antioxidant capacity of the virgin olive oils was correlated with polar components and the lipid profile which are important for its shelf life.     

Effect of a combined machining/burnishing tool on the roughness and mechanical properties

Burnishing is a cold working surface treatment process in which plastic deformation of surface irregularities occurs by exerting pressure through a very hard and a very smooth roller or ball on a surface to generate a uniform and work‐hardened surface. This treatment occurs generally after the machining process. In this study, a new combined machining/burnishing tool is designed and is fabricated. This tool allows for generating simultaneously the machining (turning) and the burnishing of the cylindrical surface using a turning machine. First, turned surfaces at different conditions, sketches, finishing and half finishing were performed using only the cutting tool. The evolutions of a surface roughness parameter and the technological time relative to every test condition have been investigated. Second, using the combined machining/burnishing tool at coarse conditions, the evolutions of the surface roughness and the technological time have been also investigated. A comparison among the parameters obtained under different machining conditions and those obtained using the combined machining/burnishing tool has been carried out. Moreover, the analyses of the layers obtained on the combined machined/burnished surface have shown that the burnishing process induces compressive residual stresses on the subsurface treated specimens. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Role of machining defects and residual stress on the AISI 304 fatigue crack nucleation

Machining defects as rebuilt material and dislodgement were often induced by cutting of difficult to machining AISI 304 stainless steel. Their density increases with a decreasing of cutting speed. The effect of these defects on surface topography and residual stress was evaluated by roughness and X‐ray diffraction measurements coupled with numerical simulation. The role of the rebuilt material on the distribution of fatigue crack nucleation sites was investigated by scanning electron microscope examination of post fatigue samples loaded at different imposed strain amplitudes. The association of machining defects and fatigue crack nucleation sites was attributed to the contribution of additional tensile residual stresses induced by rebuilt material rather than local stress concentration. Moreover, the fatigue crack coalescence is promoted by increasing the rebuilt material density. When the machining defect density increases from 5 to 60 particles/mm², the fatigue life decreases from ?22% to ?65% with respect to the electropolished surface.     

Antigenic variation and cross-reactivity in Bacteroides forsythus clinical isolates detected by western blot

Bacteroides forsythus is one of the etiologic agents of destructive periodontal diseases. Determining which antigenic components of the bacterium are recognized in the immune response of periodontitis patients is an important step in assessing strategies for vaccine development. The aim of this study was to identify the major strain-variable and cross-reactive antigens of B. forsythus clinical isolates recognized by serum IgG from patients with early-onset rapidly progressive periodontitis. Ten patient sera with measurable IgG against antigenic components of the species were identified by Western blot. Positive sera were tested by checkerboard ELISA to identify those most responsive to strain-variable antigens in nine clinical isolates and ATCC strain 43037. Correlation analysis of the ELISA data suggested that different subsets of isolates were preferentially recognized by different sera. Western blots revealed that certain sera also recognized major shared components across all the isolates, but preferential recognition of different isolate subsets by different patients was clearly confirmed. To determine if the variable antigens recognized were nonprotein, proteinase K-digested isolates were compared to undigested controls by Western blot. The main strain-variable antigens were proteinase resistant, while proteins at 200 and 210 kDa were identified as the major shared components. Two-dimensional SDS-PAGE revealed that these proteins are the quantitatively dominant heat-modifiable components of the cell envelope. Even though variable antigens are prominent in the immune response of patients, a cross-protective vaccine based on the shared envelope proteins of B. forsythus seems feasible in light of these observations.