Low speed lifting cable diagnosis using instantaneous angular speed

Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology - This paper describes an experimental study of lifting cable fault diagnostic based on instantaneous angular speed (IAS) technique. During the study...     

Kinetic study of the reaction between copper(I) chloride and commercial silicon or silicides

The reaction of CuCl with silicon containing as impurities Al, Fe, Ca and Ti or with some silicides (Si₂Ca, Si₂Fe, Si₂Ti) has been investigated in the temperature range 250–310 °C. For the reaction between CuCl and commercial Si, it has been found that at 282 °C, the aluminium promotes the reaction between Cu₃Si and CuCl while its rate of consumption is greatly decreased by the presence of iron impurity. The combined action of these two impurities improves the quantity of the copper-silicon alloy formed. In the presence of silicides, the reaction with CuCl leads to copper formation with a high degree of dispersion.     

BTN3A: A Promising Immune Checkpoint for Cancer Prognosis and Treatment

Butyrophilin-3A (BTN3A) subfamily members are a group of immunoglobulins present on the surface of different cell types, including innate and cancer cells. Due to their high similarity with the B7 family members, different studies have been conducted and revealed the involvement of BTN3A molecules in modulating T cell activity within the tumor microenvironment (TME). However, a great part of this research focused on γδ T cells and how BTN3A contributes to their functions. In this review, we will depict the roles and various aspects of BTN3A molecules in distinct tumor microenvironments and review how BTN3A receptors modulate diverse immune effector functions including those of CD4+ (Th1), cytotoxic CD8+ T cells, and NK cells. We will also highlight the potential of BTN3A molecules as therapeutic targets for effective immunotherapy and successful cancer control, which could represent a bright future for patient treatment.     

Effects of a silicon oxide layer on reactivity of silicon with copper(I) chloride

The effect of an SiO₂ layer thermally grown or partially removed by standard cleaning treatment on the reaction between powder silicon or Si(100) wafer and solid or gaseous copper(I) chloride was studied. The rate of the reaction increases with decreasing oxide layer thickness, which is attributed to the formation of defects, such as pinholes, in the oxide layer, allowing the vapour transport of CuCl to the silicon surface. X-ray diffraction patterns indicate that the proportion of reaction products Cu₃Si, Cu₅Si and copper changes with thickness of SiO₂. In order to explain the presence of Cu₅Si and copper for thick layer and cavity formation inside Cu₃Si nuclei, it has been suggested that the reaction between Cu₃Si and CuCl is promoted.     

Evaluation of the effect of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill) essential oil addition on the quality parameters and shelf‐life prediction of yoghurt

Yoghurt was prepared by adding three concentrations of fennel essential oil (FEO) (2.5, 5 and 7.5 µL) in 100 mL of pasteurised milk. Fennel essential oil did not affect the viability of yoghurt starters during fermentation. Based on sensory analysis, only the 5‐µL FEO concentration was incorporated in order to investigate the physicochemical and microbiological properties of enriched yoghurt during storage. Results showed that FEO in yoghurt did not significantly affect the quality after acidification (P > 0.05). However, total solid content, syneresis and lightness (L*) differed significantly (P < 0.05). Bacterial counts indicated that the control yoghurt had the highest values. Fortified yoghurt had an increased shelf life of 29 days.     

Fatty acid profile,physiochemical properties and oxidative stability of ewe’s sausage as affected by distillated myrtle (Myrtus communis) leaves’ intake

The effects of distilled myrtle leaves (DML) intake on physiochemical traits, fatty acid profile and lipid oxidation of ewe’s sausage (Merguez) were investigated. Twenty-seven ewes were divided into three homogenous groups. Ewes were fed hay and concentrate for control group (C). They received concentrate and M-Hay pellets, containing 87% DML, as substitute to hay in MH group; for MC group, ewes received hay, concentrate and M-Conc pellets having 30% DML in partial substitution to concentrate. They were slaughtered at the end of trial (90 days) with an average body weight of 42 kg. DML did not affect the physicochemical and sensory properties (P > 0.05) of Merguez; whereas, it increased lipid oxidative stability (P < 0.05). MH group showed the highest values of α-tocopherol content, C18:2-n6 fatty acid and polyunsaturated fatty acids. DML could be used in animal feeding to obtain higher meat product quality with better fatty acids content and antioxidant potential.     

Cardiac Autonomic Neuropathy: A Progressive Consequence of Chronic Low-Grade Inflammation in Type 2 Diabetes and Related Metabolic Disorders

Cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN) is one of the earliest complications of type 2 diabetes (T2D), presenting a silent cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Recent research relates the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease in T2D to an ensuing chronic, low-grade proinflammatory and pro-oxidative environment, being the hallmark of the metabolic syndrome. Metabolic inflammation emerges as adipose tissue inflammatory changes extending systemically, on the advent of hyperglycemia, to reach central regions of the brain. In light of changes in glucose and insulin homeostasis, dysbiosis or alteration of the gut microbiome (GM) emerges, further contributing to inflammatory processes through increased gut and blood–brain barrier permeability. Interestingly, studies reveal that the determinants of oxidative stress and inflammation progression exist at the crossroad of CAN manifestations, dictating their evolution along the natural course of T2D development. Indeed, sympathetic and parasympathetic deterioration was shown to correlate with markers of adipose, vascular, and systemic inflammation. Additionally, evidence points out that dysbiosis could promote a sympatho-excitatory state through differentially affecting the secretion of hormones and neuromodulators, such as norepinephrine, serotonin, and γ-aminobutyric acid, and acting along the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone axis. Emerging neuronal inflammation and concomitant autophagic defects in brainstem nuclei were described as possible underlying mechanisms of CAN in experimental models of metabolic syndrome and T2D. Drugs with anti-inflammatory characteristics provide potential avenues for targeting pathways involved in CAN initiation and progression. The aim of this review is to delineate the etiology of CAN in the context of a metabolic disorder characterized by elevated oxidative and inflammatory load.     

Reactivity of commercial silicon and silicides towards copper(I) chloride. Effect of aluminium, calcium and iron on the formation of copper silicide

The reaction of CuCl with silicon, containing Al, Fe and Ca as impurities, or with silicides (Si₂Ca, Si₂Fe, Si₂Al₂Ca, Si₈Al₆Fe₄Ca) has been investigated in the temperature range 200–300°C. For the reaction between CuCl and commercial Si, it was found that, at 282°C, aluminium promotes the reaction between Cu₃Si and CuCl while the rate of consumption of Cu₃Si is greatly reduced by the presence of iron. The combined action of these two impurities leads to the formation of more copper–silicon alloy. In the presence of mixed silicides, the reaction with CuCl also leads to the formation of Cu₃Si. For the quaternary Al–Ca silicide containing iron the rate of formation of Cu₃Si is not increased, which allows us to attribute a stabilizing effect to iron.     

Process True Capability Evaluation with the Consideration of Measurement System Variability and Expected Quality Loss

Process capability indices are widely computed under the assumption that the measurement system is free from errors. However, measurement variability is unavoidable and has a significant impact in process capability evaluation. From an economic point of view, Taguchi loss function is an effective tool to measure the quality loss of a product characteristic deviated from target value that is extensively used without taking into account the effect of the measurement system. This paper investigates the influence of measurement system variability on the process capability analysis through the calculation of process capability indices. A new quality loss function, integrating the measurement system errors, is developed to compute the optimal true process capability regarding to the expected mean value of the Taguchi loss function and the loss resulting from the control of the true process capability. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A fully-digital and ultra-low-power front-end for differential capacitive sensors

In this paper, we present a simple, compact and low-power interface for differential capacitive sensors with a direct digital output. The complete system is composed with a current to voltage converter, an integrator, a comparator and a one-bit digital to analog converter as a feedback. The so-obtained Sigma–Delta modulator is able to deliver directly a bit stream with a ratio of logical ‘1’ directly proportional to the differential capacitance to be measured. A partially integrated prototype has been realized to demonstrate accuracy and non-linearity compatible with a 9-bit sensor.