Mechanical alloying (MA), a solid-state powder processing method, is a 'far from equilibrium' synthesis technique which allows development of novel crystal structures and microstructures, leading to enhanced p...Mechanical alloying (MA), a solid-state powder processing method, is a 'far from equilibrium' synthesis technique which allows development of novel crystal structures and microstructures, leading to enhanced physical and mechanical properties. The ability to synthesize a variety of alloy phases including supersaturated solid solutions, nanocrystalline structures, amorphous phases and intermetallic compounds themselves is discussed. No extension of solubility using MA has been observed in the intermetallics studied. Nanostructured grains were observed in all compositions. Long time milling generally resulted in amorphous phase formation in large part because of the increase in grain boundary energy/mole with reduced grain size; good agreement with the Miedema model for amorphization was obtained in the Al-Fe system. Generally an anneal was required to form the intermetallic after MA; however,intermetallics with a large negative enthalpy of formation were detected in the MA condition. A study of the hot isostatic pressing of γ-TiAl powders produced by MA demonstrated that full density can be achieved at least 400℃ below the normal temperature required for conventional powder, that is 725℃ or below. Nanometered sized grains (≤100nm)were observed after HIP'ing up to 850℃.展开更多
An analysis of the heat transfer for a boundary layer forced convective flow past a moving permeable flat surface parallel to a moving fluid is presented. Prescribed surface temperature at the boundary is considered, ...An analysis of the heat transfer for a boundary layer forced convective flow past a moving permeable flat surface parallel to a moving fluid is presented. Prescribed surface temperature at the boundary is considered, A thermal radiation term in the energy equation is considered. The similarity solutions for the problem are obtained and the reduced ordinary differential equations are solved numerically. To support the validity of the numerical results, a comparison is made with the available results for some particular cases of this study. Dual solutions exist when the surface and the fluid move in the opposite directions.展开更多
Wearable electronics offer incredible benefits in mobile healthcare monitoring,sensing,portable energy harvesting and storage,human-machine interactions,etc.,due to the evolution of rigid electronics structure to flex...Wearable electronics offer incredible benefits in mobile healthcare monitoring,sensing,portable energy harvesting and storage,human-machine interactions,etc.,due to the evolution of rigid electronics structure to flexible and stretchable devices.Lately,transition metal carbides and nitrides(MXenes)are highly regarded as a group of thriving two-dimensional nanomaterials and extraordinary building blocks for emerging flexible electronics platforms because of their excellent electrical conductivity,enriched surface functionalities,and large surface area.This article reviews the most recent developments in MXene-enabled flexible electronics for wearable electronics.Several MXeneenabled electronic devices designed on a nanometric scale are highlighted by drawing attention to widely developed nonstructural attributes,including 3D configured devices,textile and planer substrates,bioinspired structures,and printed materials.Furthermore,the unique progress of these nanodevices is highlighted by representative applications in healthcare,energy,electromagnetic interference(EMI)shielding,and humanoid control of machines.The emerging prospects of MXene nanomaterials as a key frontier in nextgeneration wearable electronics are envisioned and the design challenges of these electronic systems are also discussed,followed by proposed solutions.展开更多
Curcumin, a yellow pigment and principal polyphenolic Curcuminoid obtained from the turmeric rhizome Curcuma longa, is commonly used as a food-coloring agent. Studies suggest that curcumin has a wide range of benefici...Curcumin, a yellow pigment and principal polyphenolic Curcuminoid obtained from the turmeric rhizome Curcuma longa, is commonly used as a food-coloring agent. Studies suggest that curcumin has a wide range of beneficial properties e.g., anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-cancer, anti-proliferative, anti-fungal and anti-microbial. These pleiotropic activities prompted several research groups to elucidate the role of curcumin in Helicobacter pylori(H. pylori) infection. This is the first review with this heading where we discussed regarding the role of curcumin as an anti-H. pylori agent along with its potential in other gastrointestinal diseases. Based on several in vitro, early cell culture, animal research and few pre-clinical trials, curcumin projected as a potential therapeutic candidate against H. pylori mediated gastric pathogenesis. This review sheds light on the anti-H. pylori effects of curcumin in different models with meticulous emphasis on its anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic effects as well as some critical signaling and effecter molecules. Remarkably, non-toxic molecule curcumin fulfills the characteristics for an ideal chemopreventive agent against H. pylori mediated gastric carcinogenesis but the foremost challenge is to obtain the optimum therapeutic levels of curcumin, due to its low solubility and poor bioavailability. Further, we have discussed about the possibilities for improving its efficacy and bioavailability. Lastly, we concluded with the anticipation that in near future curcumin may be used to develop a therapeutic drug against H. pylori mediated gastric ailments through improved formulation or delivery systems, facilitating its enhanced absorption and cellular uptake.展开更多
The seismotectonic characteristics of ten repeated earthquake swarm sequence within a seismic cluster along Jiali Fault in eastern Himalayan Syntaxis(EHS) have been analysed.The swarms are spatially disposed in and ar...The seismotectonic characteristics of ten repeated earthquake swarm sequence within a seismic cluster along Jiali Fault in eastern Himalayan Syntaxis(EHS) have been analysed.The swarms are spatially disposed in and around Yigong Lake(a natural lake formed by blocking of Yigong River by landslide) and are characterized by low magnitude,crustal events with low to moderate b values.Ms:mb discriminant functions though indicate anomalous nature of the earthquakes within swarm but are considered as natural events that occurred under condition of high apparent stress and stress gradients.Composite fault plane solutions of selected swarms indicate strike-slip sense of shear on fault planes;solution parameters show low plunging compression and tensional axes along NW-SE and NE-SW respectively with causative fault plane oriented ENE-WSW.dipping steeply towards south or north.The fault plane is in excellent agreement with the disposition and tectonic movement registered by right lateral Jiali Fault.The process of pore pressure perturbation and resultant ’r—t plot’ with modelled diffusivity(D = 0.12 m^2/s) relates the diffusion of pore pressure to seismic sequence in a fractured poro-elastic fluid saturated medium at average crustal depth of 15-20 km.The low diffusivity depicts a highly fractured interconnected medium that is generated due to high stress activity near the eastern syntaxial bent of Himalaya.It is proposed that hydro fracturing with respect to periodic pore pressure variations is responsible for generation of swarms in the region.The fluid pressure generated due to shearing and infiltrations of surface water within dilated seismogenic fault(Jiali Fault) are causative factors.展开更多
Reactive sputtered boron-doped zinc oxide(BZO) film was deposited from argon,hydrogen and boron gas mixture.The reactive sputtering technique provides us the flexibility of changing the boron concentration in the prod...Reactive sputtered boron-doped zinc oxide(BZO) film was deposited from argon,hydrogen and boron gas mixture.The reactive sputtering technique provides us the flexibility of changing the boron concentration in the produced films by using the same intrinsic zinc oxide target.Textured surface was obtained in the as-deposited films.The surface morphology and the opto-electronic properties of the films can be controlled by simply varying the gas concentration ratio.By varying the gas concentration ratio,the best obtained resistivity ~6.51×10^-4Ω-cm,mobility ~19.05 cm^2 V^-1 s^-1 and sheet resistance ~7.23Ω/□ were obtained.At lower wavelength of light,the response of the deposited films improves with the increase of boron in the gas mixture and the overall transmission in the wavelength region 350-1100 nm of all the films are>85 %.We also fabricated amorphous silicon(a-Si) thin film solar cell on the best obtained BZO layers.The overall efficiency of the a-Si solar cell is 8.14 %,found on optimized BZO layer.展开更多
Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)is a microaerophilic,Gram-negative,human gastric pathogen found usually in the mucous lining of stomach.It infects more than 50%of the world’s population and leads to gastroduodenal disea...Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)is a microaerophilic,Gram-negative,human gastric pathogen found usually in the mucous lining of stomach.It infects more than 50%of the world’s population and leads to gastroduodenal diseases.The outcome of disease depends on mainly three factors:Host genetics,environment and bacterial factors.Among these,bacterial virulence factors such as cagA,vacA are well known for their role in disease outcomes.However,based on the global epidemiological results,none of the bacterial virulence(gene)factors was found to be associated with particular diseases like duodenal ulcer(DU)in all populations.Hence,substantial importance has been provided for research in strain-specific genes outside the cag pathogenicity island,especially genes located within the plasticity regions.dupA found within the plasticity regions was first demonstrated in 2005 and was proposed for duodenal ulcer development and reduced risk of gastric cancer in certain geographical regions.Due to the discrepancies in report from different parts of the world in DU development related to H.pylori virulence factor,dupA became an interesting area of research in elucidating the role of this gene in the disease progression.In this review,we shed light on the detailed information available on the polymorphisms in dupA and their clinical relevance.We have critically appraised several pertinent studies on dupA and discussed their merits and shortcomings.This review also highlights dupA gene as an important biomarker for DU in certain populations.展开更多
In this paper, we have designed and simulated all-optical tristate Pauli X, Y and Z gates using 2D photonic crystal. Simple line and point defects have been used to design the structure. The performance of the structu...In this paper, we have designed and simulated all-optical tristate Pauli X, Y and Z gates using 2D photonic crystal. Simple line and point defects have been used to design the structure. The performance of the structure has been analyzed and investigated by plane wave expansion(PWE) and finite difference time domain(FDTD) methods. Different performance parameters, namely contrast ratio(CR), rise time, fall time, delay time, response time and bit rate, have been calculated. The main advantage of the proposed design is that all the Pauli gates have been realized from a single structure. Due to compact size, fast response time, good CR and high bit rate, the proposed structure can be highly useful for optical computing, data processing and optical integrated circuits.展开更多
Background The reasons behind the cardinal symptoms of communication deficits and repetitive,stereotyped behaviors that characterize autism spectrum disorder(ASD)remain unknown.The dopamine(DA)system,which regulates m...Background The reasons behind the cardinal symptoms of communication deficits and repetitive,stereotyped behaviors that characterize autism spectrum disorder(ASD)remain unknown.The dopamine(DA)system,which regulates motor activity,goal-directed behaviors,and reward function,is believed to play a crucial role in ASD,although the exact mechanism is still unclear.Investigations have shown an association of the dopamine receptor D4(DRD4)with various neurobehavioral disorders.Methods We analyzed the association between ASD and four DRD4 genetic polymorphisms,5′flanking 120-bp duplication(rs4646984),rs1800955 in the promoter,exon 112 bp duplication(rs4646983),and exon 348 bp repeats.We also examined plasma DA and its metabolite levels,DRD4 mRNA expression,and correlations of the studied polymorphisms with these parameters by case–control comparative analyses.The expression of DA transporter(DAT),which is important in regulating the circulating DA level,was also evaluated.Results A significantly higher occurrence of rs1800955“T/TT”was observed in the probands.ASD traits were affected by rs1800955“T”and the higher repeat alleles of the exon 348 bp repeats,rs4646983 and rs4646984.ASD probands exhibited lower DA and norepinephrine levels together with higher homovanillic acid levels than the control subjects.DAT and DRD4 mRNA expression were down-regulated in the probands,especially in the presence of DAT rs3836790“6R”and rs27072“CC”and DRD4 rs4646984 higher repeat allele and rs1800955“T”.Conclusion This pioneering investigation revealed a positive correlation between genetic variants,hypodopaminergic state,and impairment in socio-emotional and communication reciprocity in Indian subjects with ASD,warranting further in-depth analysis.展开更多
BACKGROUND Primary hyperaldosteronism(PH)is considered to contribute to increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)and prediabetes.Both PH and DM are associated with increased risk for hypertension,car...BACKGROUND Primary hyperaldosteronism(PH)is considered to contribute to increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)and prediabetes.Both PH and DM are associated with increased risk for hypertension,cardiovascular diseases,and chronic kidney diseases.However,data on prevalence of T2DM and prediabetes in PH,and impact of T2DM and prediabetes on presentation and cardio renal complications in PH at presentation is sparse.AIM To determine the prevalence of T2DM and prediabetes in PH at diagnosis and impact on presentation and complications of PH.METHODS A retrospective cohort study was conducted in tertiary care settings in individuals with confirmed diagnosis of PH at presentation.Demographic variables,clinical presentations,duration and degree of hypertension,complications,laboratory parameters including sodium,potassium levels,plasma aldosterone concentration(PAC),plasma renin activity(PRA),and aldosterone to renin ratio(ARR)and cardio-renal parameters were collected.Comparison was done between three groups:PH with no DM(Group A)or with pre-diabetes(Group B)or with T2DM(Group C).P<0.05 was statistically significant.RESULTS Among 78 individuals with confirmed PH,62%had pre-diabetes or diabetes;with 37%having DM.Mean duration of T2DM was 5.97±4.7 years.The mean levels of glycaemic parameters among the group A vs B vs C individuals were fasting plasma glucose(mg/dL):87.9±6.5,105.4±9.02,130.6±21.1;post prandial plasma glucose(mg/dL):122.7±9.8,154.9±14,196.7±38.0;glycated haemoglobin(%)(5.3±0.2,5.9±0.2,7.5±0.6,P<0.05),respectively.There was no significant difference in the biochemical parameters(PAC,PRA,ARR,sodium,potassium levels),presentation and complications between the groups.Cardio renal parameters or degree and duration of hypertension were comparable between the groups.CONCLUSION Significant prevalence of T2DM and prediabetes in PH at diagnosis does not impact its presentation or complications.Early screening for undetected PH in T2DM and prediabetes subjects with hypertension may preve展开更多
Er^(3+)-Yb^(3+)-Li^+:Gd_2(MoO_4)_3 and Er^(3+)-Yb^(3+)-Zn^(2+):Gd_2(MoO_4)_3 nanophosphors, synthesized by chemical co-precipitation technique were characterized through XRD,FESEM,dynamic light scattering(DLS),diffuse...Er^(3+)-Yb^(3+)-Li^+:Gd_2(MoO_4)_3 and Er^(3+)-Yb^(3+)-Zn^(2+):Gd_2(MoO_4)_3 nanophosphors, synthesized by chemical co-precipitation technique were characterized through XRD,FESEM,dynamic light scattering(DLS),diffuse reflectance, photoluminescence, photometric and decay time analysis. The enhancement of about～28, ～149 and ～351 times in the green upconversion emission band is observed for the optimized Er^(3+)-Yb^(3+),Er^(3+)-Yb^(3+)-Li^+ and Er^(3+)-Yb^(3+)-Zn^(2+):Gd_2(MoO_4)_3 nanophosphors in comparison to the singly Er^(3+) doped nanophosphors. The electric dipole-dipole interaction is found to be responsible for the concentration quenching. The temperature dependent behaviour of the two green thermally coupled levels of the Er^(3+) ions based on the fluorescence intensity ratio technique was studied. The maximum sensor sensitivity ～38.7 × 10^(-3) K^(-1) at 473 K for optimized Er^(3+)-Yb^(3+)-Zn^(2+) codoped Gd_2(MoO_4)_3 nanophosphors is reported with maximum population redistribution ability～88% among the ~2H_(11/2) and ~4S_(3/2) levels.展开更多
This study explores the possible application of a biodegradable plant based surfactant, obtained from Sapindus mukorossi, for washing low levels of arsenic （As） from an iron （Fe） rich soil. Natural association of...This study explores the possible application of a biodegradable plant based surfactant, obtained from Sapindus mukorossi, for washing low levels of arsenic （As） from an iron （Fe） rich soil. Natural association of As（Ⅴ） with Fe（Ⅲ） makes the process difficult. Soapnut solution was compared to anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate （SDS） in down-flow and a newly introduced suction mode for soil column washing. It was observed that soapnut attained up to 86% efficiency with respect to SDS in removing As. Full factorial design of experiment revealed a very good fit of data. The suction mode generated up to 83 kPa pressure inside column whilst down-flow mode generated a much higher pressure of 214 kPa, thus making the suction mode more efficient. Micellar solubilisation was found to be responsible for As desorption from the soil and it followed 1st order kinetics. Desorption rate coefficient of suction mode was found to be in the range of 0.005 to 0.01, much higher than down-flow mode values. Analysis of the PT-IR data suggested that the soapnut solution did not interact chemically with As, offering an option for reusing the surfactant. Soapnut can be considered as a soil washing agent for removing As even from soil with high Fe content.展开更多
Deep learning has evolved as a strong and efficient framework that can be applied to a broad spectrum of complex learning problems which were difficult to solve using the traditional machine learning techniques in the...Deep learning has evolved as a strong and efficient framework that can be applied to a broad spectrum of complex learning problems which were difficult to solve using the traditional machine learning techniques in the past.The advancement of deep learning has been so radical that today it can surpass human‐level performance.As a consequence,deep learning is being extensively used in most of the recent day‐to‐day applications.However,efficient deep learning systems can be jeopardised by using crafted adversarial samples,which may be imperceptible to the human eye,but can lead the model to misclassify the output.In recent times,different types of adversaries based on their threat model leverage these vulnerabilities to compromise a deep learning system where adversaries have high incentives.Hence,it is extremely important to provide robustness to deep learning algorithms against these adversaries.However,there are only a few strong countermeasures which can be used in all types of attack scenarios to design a robust deep learning system.Herein,the authors attempt to provide a detailed discussion on different types of adversarial attacks with various threat models and also elaborate on the efficiency and challenges of recent countermeasures against them.展开更多
Background Social distancing is an effective way to reduce the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.Many students and researchers have already attempted to use computer vision technology to automatically detect human beings...Background Social distancing is an effective way to reduce the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.Many students and researchers have already attempted to use computer vision technology to automatically detect human beings in the field of view of a camera and help enforce social distancing.However,because of the present lockdown measures in several countries,the validation of computer vision systems using large-scale datasets is a challenge.Methods In this paper,a new method is proposed for generating customized datasets and validating deep-learning-based computer vision models using virtual reality(VR)technology.Using VR,we modeled a digital twin(DT)of an existing office space and used it to create a dataset of individuals in different postures,dresses,and locations.To test the proposed solution,we implemented a convolutional neural network(CNN)model for detecting people in a limited-sized dataset of real humans and a simulated dataset of humanoid figures.Results We detected the number of persons in both the real and synthetic datasets with more than 90%accuracy,and the actual and measured distances were significantly correlated(r=0.99).Finally,we used intermittent-layer-and heatmap-based data visualization techniques to explain the failure modes of a CNN.Conclusions A new application of DTs is proposed to enhance workplace safety by measuring the social distance between individuals.The use of our proposed pipeline along with a DT of the shared space for visualizing both environmental and human behavior aspects preserves the privacy of individuals and improves the latency of such monitoring systems because only the extracted information is streamed.展开更多
An analysis is presented for an unsteady boundary layer stagnation-point flow of a Newtonian fluid and the heat transfer towards a stretching sheet taking non-conventional partial slip conditions at the sheet.The self...An analysis is presented for an unsteady boundary layer stagnation-point flow of a Newtonian fluid and the heat transfer towards a stretching sheet taking non-conventional partial slip conditions at the sheet.The self-similar equations are obtained using similarity transformations and solved numerically by the shooting method.Effects of the parameters involved in the equations,especially velocity slip and thermal slip parameters on the velocity and temperature profiles,are analyzed extensively.It is revealed that due to the velocity and thermal slip parameters,the rate of heat transfer from the sheet and the wall skin friction change significantly.展开更多
Detrimental impacts of fluoride have become a global concern for several decades.Despite its beneficial role which is restricted only in skeletal tissues,deleterious effects are also observed in soft tissues and syste...Detrimental impacts of fluoride have become a global concern for several decades.Despite its beneficial role which is restricted only in skeletal tissues,deleterious effects are also observed in soft tissues and systems.The generation of enhanced oxidative stress is the commencement of excess fluoride exposure which may lead to cell death.Fluoride causes cell death through autophagy via Beclin 1 and mTOR signaling pathways.Beside these,several or-gan specific anomalies through different signaling pathways have been documented.Mitochon-drial dysfunction,DNA damage,autophagy and apoptosis are the damaging outcomes in case of hepatic disorders.Urinary concentration defects and cell cycle arrest have been reported in renal tissues.Abnormal immune response has been characterized in the cardiac system.Cogni-tive dysfunction,neurodegenerative condition and learning impairment have also been observed.Altered steroidogenesis,gametogenic abnormalities,epigenetic alterations and birth defect are the major reprotoxic conclusions.Abnormal immune responses,altered immu-nogenic proliferation,differentiation as well as altered ratio of immune cells are well-defined anomalies in the immune system.Though the mechanistic approach of fluoride toxicity in phys-iological systems is common,it follows different signaling cascades.This review emphasizes diverse signaling pathways which are the targets of overexposed fluoride.展开更多
Controlled NOT(CNOT)gate is well known because of its several advantages in quantum computing and information processing.In the area of quantum computing,several methods of CNOT gates were established in last few year...Controlled NOT(CNOT)gate is well known because of its several advantages in quantum computing and information processing.In the area of quantum computing,several methods of CNOT gates were established in last few years.In this paper,we propose a new approach of implementation of tristate CNOT operation with light as information carrying signal.To do this,the frequency encoding method has been exploited for successful realization of the CNOT gate with light.展开更多
Background The serotonin transporter(SERT),encoded by the solute carrier family 6 number 4(SLC6A4)gene,controls serotonin(5-HT)availability and is essential for the regulation of behavioral traits.Two SLC6A4 genetic v...Background The serotonin transporter(SERT),encoded by the solute carrier family 6 number 4(SLC6A4)gene,controls serotonin(5-HT)availability and is essential for the regulation of behavioral traits.Two SLC6A4 genetic variants,5-HTTLPR and STin2,were widely investigated in patients with various neurobehavioral disorders,including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD).Methods We analyzed the association of the 5-HTTLPR(L/S)and STin2(10/12)variants,plasma 5-HT,and 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid(5-HIAA),as well as SERT messenger RNA(mRNA)with ADHD in the eastern Indian subjects.Nuclear families with ADHD probands(n=274)and ethnically matched controls(n=367)were recruited following the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.Behavioral traits,executive function,and intelligence quotient(IQ)of the probands were assessed using the Conner's Parent Rating Scale–Revised,Parental Account of Children’s Symptoms(PACS),Barkley Deficit in Executive Functioning—Child and Adolescent Scale,and Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-III,respectively.After obtaining informed written consent,peripheral blood was collected to analyze genetic variants,plasma 5-HT,5-HIAA,and SERT mRNA expression.Results ADHD probands showed a higher frequency of the 5-HTTLPR“L”allele and“L/L”genotype(P<0.05),lower 5-HIAA level,and higher SERT mRNA expression.Scores for behavioral problems and hyperactivity were higher in the presence of the“S”allele and“S/S”genotype,while executive deficit was higher in the presence of the“L”allele.IQ score was lower in the presence of the STin2“12”allele and L-12 haplotype.Conclusion Data obtained indicate a significant association of the serotoninergic system with ADHD,warranting further in-depth investigation.展开更多
The unsteady two-dimensional flow of a MHD non-Newtonian Maxwell fluid over a stretching surface with a prescribed surface temperature in the presence of a heat source/sink is investigated.Similarity solutions for the...The unsteady two-dimensional flow of a MHD non-Newtonian Maxwell fluid over a stretching surface with a prescribed surface temperature in the presence of a heat source/sink is investigated.Similarity solutions for the governing equations are obtained.The transformed boundary layer equations are then solved numerically by using the shooting method.Fluid velocity initially decreases with the increasing unsteadiness parameter,and temperature decreases significantly due to unsteadiness.It is also found that the fluid velocity decreases with the increasing magnetic parameter.Increasing the Maxwell parameter values has the effect of suppressing the velocity field and increasing the temperature.展开更多
文摘Mechanical alloying (MA), a solid-state powder processing method, is a 'far from equilibrium' synthesis technique which allows development of novel crystal structures and microstructures, leading to enhanced physical and mechanical properties. The ability to synthesize a variety of alloy phases including supersaturated solid solutions, nanocrystalline structures, amorphous phases and intermetallic compounds themselves is discussed. No extension of solubility using MA has been observed in the intermetallics studied. Nanostructured grains were observed in all compositions. Long time milling generally resulted in amorphous phase formation in large part because of the increase in grain boundary energy/mole with reduced grain size; good agreement with the Miedema model for amorphization was obtained in the Al-Fe system. Generally an anneal was required to form the intermetallic after MA; however,intermetallics with a large negative enthalpy of formation were detected in the MA condition. A study of the hot isostatic pressing of γ-TiAl powders produced by MA demonstrated that full density can be achieved at least 400℃ below the normal temperature required for conventional powder, that is 725℃ or below. Nanometered sized grains (≤100nm)were observed after HIP'ing up to 850℃.
文摘An analysis of the heat transfer for a boundary layer forced convective flow past a moving permeable flat surface parallel to a moving fluid is presented. Prescribed surface temperature at the boundary is considered, A thermal radiation term in the energy equation is considered. The similarity solutions for the problem are obtained and the reduced ordinary differential equations are solved numerically. To support the validity of the numerical results, a comparison is made with the available results for some particular cases of this study. Dual solutions exist when the surface and the fluid move in the opposite directions.
文摘Wearable electronics offer incredible benefits in mobile healthcare monitoring,sensing,portable energy harvesting and storage,human-machine interactions,etc.,due to the evolution of rigid electronics structure to flexible and stretchable devices.Lately,transition metal carbides and nitrides(MXenes)are highly regarded as a group of thriving two-dimensional nanomaterials and extraordinary building blocks for emerging flexible electronics platforms because of their excellent electrical conductivity,enriched surface functionalities,and large surface area.This article reviews the most recent developments in MXene-enabled flexible electronics for wearable electronics.Several MXeneenabled electronic devices designed on a nanometric scale are highlighted by drawing attention to widely developed nonstructural attributes,including 3D configured devices,textile and planer substrates,bioinspired structures,and printed materials.Furthermore,the unique progress of these nanodevices is highlighted by representative applications in healthcare,energy,electromagnetic interference(EMI)shielding,and humanoid control of machines.The emerging prospects of MXene nanomaterials as a key frontier in nextgeneration wearable electronics are envisioned and the design challenges of these electronic systems are also discussed,followed by proposed solutions.
文摘Curcumin, a yellow pigment and principal polyphenolic Curcuminoid obtained from the turmeric rhizome Curcuma longa, is commonly used as a food-coloring agent. Studies suggest that curcumin has a wide range of beneficial properties e.g., anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-cancer, anti-proliferative, anti-fungal and anti-microbial. These pleiotropic activities prompted several research groups to elucidate the role of curcumin in Helicobacter pylori(H. pylori) infection. This is the first review with this heading where we discussed regarding the role of curcumin as an anti-H. pylori agent along with its potential in other gastrointestinal diseases. Based on several in vitro, early cell culture, animal research and few pre-clinical trials, curcumin projected as a potential therapeutic candidate against H. pylori mediated gastric pathogenesis. This review sheds light on the anti-H. pylori effects of curcumin in different models with meticulous emphasis on its anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic effects as well as some critical signaling and effecter molecules. Remarkably, non-toxic molecule curcumin fulfills the characteristics for an ideal chemopreventive agent against H. pylori mediated gastric carcinogenesis but the foremost challenge is to obtain the optimum therapeutic levels of curcumin, due to its low solubility and poor bioavailability. Further, we have discussed about the possibilities for improving its efficacy and bioavailability. Lastly, we concluded with the anticipation that in near future curcumin may be used to develop a therapeutic drug against H. pylori mediated gastric ailments through improved formulation or delivery systems, facilitating its enhanced absorption and cellular uptake.
文摘The seismotectonic characteristics of ten repeated earthquake swarm sequence within a seismic cluster along Jiali Fault in eastern Himalayan Syntaxis(EHS) have been analysed.The swarms are spatially disposed in and around Yigong Lake(a natural lake formed by blocking of Yigong River by landslide) and are characterized by low magnitude,crustal events with low to moderate b values.Ms:mb discriminant functions though indicate anomalous nature of the earthquakes within swarm but are considered as natural events that occurred under condition of high apparent stress and stress gradients.Composite fault plane solutions of selected swarms indicate strike-slip sense of shear on fault planes;solution parameters show low plunging compression and tensional axes along NW-SE and NE-SW respectively with causative fault plane oriented ENE-WSW.dipping steeply towards south or north.The fault plane is in excellent agreement with the disposition and tectonic movement registered by right lateral Jiali Fault.The process of pore pressure perturbation and resultant ’r—t plot’ with modelled diffusivity(D = 0.12 m^2/s) relates the diffusion of pore pressure to seismic sequence in a fractured poro-elastic fluid saturated medium at average crustal depth of 15-20 km.The low diffusivity depicts a highly fractured interconnected medium that is generated due to high stress activity near the eastern syntaxial bent of Himalaya.It is proposed that hydro fracturing with respect to periodic pore pressure variations is responsible for generation of swarms in the region.The fluid pressure generated due to shearing and infiltrations of surface water within dilated seismogenic fault(Jiali Fault) are causative factors.
基金The work has been supported by the Science and Engineering Research Board(SERB),Department of Science and Technology(SR/FTP/PS-175/2012)。
文摘Reactive sputtered boron-doped zinc oxide(BZO) film was deposited from argon,hydrogen and boron gas mixture.The reactive sputtering technique provides us the flexibility of changing the boron concentration in the produced films by using the same intrinsic zinc oxide target.Textured surface was obtained in the as-deposited films.The surface morphology and the opto-electronic properties of the films can be controlled by simply varying the gas concentration ratio.By varying the gas concentration ratio,the best obtained resistivity ~6.51×10^-4Ω-cm,mobility ~19.05 cm^2 V^-1 s^-1 and sheet resistance ~7.23Ω/□ were obtained.At lower wavelength of light,the response of the deposited films improves with the increase of boron in the gas mixture and the overall transmission in the wavelength region 350-1100 nm of all the films are>85 %.We also fabricated amorphous silicon(a-Si) thin film solar cell on the best obtained BZO layers.The overall efficiency of the a-Si solar cell is 8.14 %,found on optimized BZO layer.
基金Supported by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research,Government of India,No.12458Department of Science and Technology,India,No.IF140909and the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research,India,No.09/482(0065)/2017-EMR-1.
文摘Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)is a microaerophilic,Gram-negative,human gastric pathogen found usually in the mucous lining of stomach.It infects more than 50%of the world’s population and leads to gastroduodenal diseases.The outcome of disease depends on mainly three factors:Host genetics,environment and bacterial factors.Among these,bacterial virulence factors such as cagA,vacA are well known for their role in disease outcomes.However,based on the global epidemiological results,none of the bacterial virulence(gene)factors was found to be associated with particular diseases like duodenal ulcer(DU)in all populations.Hence,substantial importance has been provided for research in strain-specific genes outside the cag pathogenicity island,especially genes located within the plasticity regions.dupA found within the plasticity regions was first demonstrated in 2005 and was proposed for duodenal ulcer development and reduced risk of gastric cancer in certain geographical regions.Due to the discrepancies in report from different parts of the world in DU development related to H.pylori virulence factor,dupA became an interesting area of research in elucidating the role of this gene in the disease progression.In this review,we shed light on the detailed information available on the polymorphisms in dupA and their clinical relevance.We have critically appraised several pertinent studies on dupA and discussed their merits and shortcomings.This review also highlights dupA gene as an important biomarker for DU in certain populations.
文摘In this paper, we have designed and simulated all-optical tristate Pauli X, Y and Z gates using 2D photonic crystal. Simple line and point defects have been used to design the structure. The performance of the structure has been analyzed and investigated by plane wave expansion(PWE) and finite difference time domain(FDTD) methods. Different performance parameters, namely contrast ratio(CR), rise time, fall time, delay time, response time and bit rate, have been calculated. The main advantage of the proposed design is that all the Pauli gates have been realized from a single structure. Due to compact size, fast response time, good CR and high bit rate, the proposed structure can be highly useful for optical computing, data processing and optical integrated circuits.
基金This work was partially supported by the CSR fund(2021–2022)received from the Ganapati Sugar Industries Ltd,India.No other ad hoc financial support was received.
文摘Background The reasons behind the cardinal symptoms of communication deficits and repetitive,stereotyped behaviors that characterize autism spectrum disorder(ASD)remain unknown.The dopamine(DA)system,which regulates motor activity,goal-directed behaviors,and reward function,is believed to play a crucial role in ASD,although the exact mechanism is still unclear.Investigations have shown an association of the dopamine receptor D4(DRD4)with various neurobehavioral disorders.Methods We analyzed the association between ASD and four DRD4 genetic polymorphisms,5′flanking 120-bp duplication(rs4646984),rs1800955 in the promoter,exon 112 bp duplication(rs4646983),and exon 348 bp repeats.We also examined plasma DA and its metabolite levels,DRD4 mRNA expression,and correlations of the studied polymorphisms with these parameters by case–control comparative analyses.The expression of DA transporter(DAT),which is important in regulating the circulating DA level,was also evaluated.Results A significantly higher occurrence of rs1800955“T/TT”was observed in the probands.ASD traits were affected by rs1800955“T”and the higher repeat alleles of the exon 348 bp repeats,rs4646983 and rs4646984.ASD probands exhibited lower DA and norepinephrine levels together with higher homovanillic acid levels than the control subjects.DAT and DRD4 mRNA expression were down-regulated in the probands,especially in the presence of DAT rs3836790“6R”and rs27072“CC”and DRD4 rs4646984 higher repeat allele and rs1800955“T”.Conclusion This pioneering investigation revealed a positive correlation between genetic variants,hypodopaminergic state,and impairment in socio-emotional and communication reciprocity in Indian subjects with ASD,warranting further in-depth analysis.
文摘BACKGROUND Primary hyperaldosteronism(PH)is considered to contribute to increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)and prediabetes.Both PH and DM are associated with increased risk for hypertension,cardiovascular diseases,and chronic kidney diseases.However,data on prevalence of T2DM and prediabetes in PH,and impact of T2DM and prediabetes on presentation and cardio renal complications in PH at presentation is sparse.AIM To determine the prevalence of T2DM and prediabetes in PH at diagnosis and impact on presentation and complications of PH.METHODS A retrospective cohort study was conducted in tertiary care settings in individuals with confirmed diagnosis of PH at presentation.Demographic variables,clinical presentations,duration and degree of hypertension,complications,laboratory parameters including sodium,potassium levels,plasma aldosterone concentration(PAC),plasma renin activity(PRA),and aldosterone to renin ratio(ARR)and cardio-renal parameters were collected.Comparison was done between three groups:PH with no DM(Group A)or with pre-diabetes(Group B)or with T2DM(Group C).P<0.05 was statistically significant.RESULTS Among 78 individuals with confirmed PH,62%had pre-diabetes or diabetes;with 37%having DM.Mean duration of T2DM was 5.97±4.7 years.The mean levels of glycaemic parameters among the group A vs B vs C individuals were fasting plasma glucose(mg/dL):87.9±6.5,105.4±9.02,130.6±21.1;post prandial plasma glucose(mg/dL):122.7±9.8,154.9±14,196.7±38.0;glycated haemoglobin(%)(5.3±0.2,5.9±0.2,7.5±0.6,P<0.05),respectively.There was no significant difference in the biochemical parameters(PAC,PRA,ARR,sodium,potassium levels),presentation and complications between the groups.Cardio renal parameters or degree and duration of hypertension were comparable between the groups.CONCLUSION Significant prevalence of T2DM and prediabetes in PH at diagnosis does not impact its presentation or complications.Early screening for undetected PH in T2DM and prediabetes subjects with hypertension may preve
基金Project supported by Council of Scientific&Industrial Research(CSIR),New Delhi,India(03(1354)/16/EMR-II)
文摘Er^(3+)-Yb^(3+)-Li^+:Gd_2(MoO_4)_3 and Er^(3+)-Yb^(3+)-Zn^(2+):Gd_2(MoO_4)_3 nanophosphors, synthesized by chemical co-precipitation technique were characterized through XRD,FESEM,dynamic light scattering(DLS),diffuse reflectance, photoluminescence, photometric and decay time analysis. The enhancement of about～28, ～149 and ～351 times in the green upconversion emission band is observed for the optimized Er^(3+)-Yb^(3+),Er^(3+)-Yb^(3+)-Li^+ and Er^(3+)-Yb^(3+)-Zn^(2+):Gd_2(MoO_4)_3 nanophosphors in comparison to the singly Er^(3+) doped nanophosphors. The electric dipole-dipole interaction is found to be responsible for the concentration quenching. The temperature dependent behaviour of the two green thermally coupled levels of the Er^(3+) ions based on the fluorescence intensity ratio technique was studied. The maximum sensor sensitivity ～38.7 × 10^(-3) K^(-1) at 473 K for optimized Er^(3+)-Yb^(3+)-Zn^(2+) codoped Gd_2(MoO_4)_3 nanophosphors is reported with maximum population redistribution ability～88% among the ~2H_(11/2) and ~4S_(3/2) levels.
基金funding provided by University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur (No. PV102-2011A, UM-QUB6A-2011) for carrying out this research
文摘This study explores the possible application of a biodegradable plant based surfactant, obtained from Sapindus mukorossi, for washing low levels of arsenic （As） from an iron （Fe） rich soil. Natural association of As（Ⅴ） with Fe（Ⅲ） makes the process difficult. Soapnut solution was compared to anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate （SDS） in down-flow and a newly introduced suction mode for soil column washing. It was observed that soapnut attained up to 86% efficiency with respect to SDS in removing As. Full factorial design of experiment revealed a very good fit of data. The suction mode generated up to 83 kPa pressure inside column whilst down-flow mode generated a much higher pressure of 214 kPa, thus making the suction mode more efficient. Micellar solubilisation was found to be responsible for As desorption from the soil and it followed 1st order kinetics. Desorption rate coefficient of suction mode was found to be in the range of 0.005 to 0.01, much higher than down-flow mode values. Analysis of the PT-IR data suggested that the soapnut solution did not interact chemically with As, offering an option for reusing the surfactant. Soapnut can be considered as a soil washing agent for removing As even from soil with high Fe content.
基金Swarnajayanti Fellowship program by Department of Science and Technology,Government of India Cyber Security Research in CPS by the Haldia Petrochemicals Ltd.and TCG Foundation。
文摘Deep learning has evolved as a strong and efficient framework that can be applied to a broad spectrum of complex learning problems which were difficult to solve using the traditional machine learning techniques in the past.The advancement of deep learning has been so radical that today it can surpass human‐level performance.As a consequence,deep learning is being extensively used in most of the recent day‐to‐day applications.However,efficient deep learning systems can be jeopardised by using crafted adversarial samples,which may be imperceptible to the human eye,but can lead the model to misclassify the output.In recent times,different types of adversaries based on their threat model leverage these vulnerabilities to compromise a deep learning system where adversaries have high incentives.Hence,it is extremely important to provide robustness to deep learning algorithms against these adversaries.However,there are only a few strong countermeasures which can be used in all types of attack scenarios to design a robust deep learning system.Herein,the authors attempt to provide a detailed discussion on different types of adversarial attacks with various threat models and also elaborate on the efficiency and challenges of recent countermeasures against them.
文摘Background Social distancing is an effective way to reduce the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.Many students and researchers have already attempted to use computer vision technology to automatically detect human beings in the field of view of a camera and help enforce social distancing.However,because of the present lockdown measures in several countries,the validation of computer vision systems using large-scale datasets is a challenge.Methods In this paper,a new method is proposed for generating customized datasets and validating deep-learning-based computer vision models using virtual reality(VR)technology.Using VR,we modeled a digital twin(DT)of an existing office space and used it to create a dataset of individuals in different postures,dresses,and locations.To test the proposed solution,we implemented a convolutional neural network(CNN)model for detecting people in a limited-sized dataset of real humans and a simulated dataset of humanoid figures.Results We detected the number of persons in both the real and synthetic datasets with more than 90%accuracy,and the actual and measured distances were significantly correlated(r=0.99).Finally,we used intermittent-layer-and heatmap-based data visualization techniques to explain the failure modes of a CNN.Conclusions A new application of DTs is proposed to enhance workplace safety by measuring the social distance between individuals.The use of our proposed pipeline along with a DT of the shared space for visualizing both environmental and human behavior aspects preserves the privacy of individuals and improves the latency of such monitoring systems because only the extracted information is streamed.
文摘An analysis is presented for an unsteady boundary layer stagnation-point flow of a Newtonian fluid and the heat transfer towards a stretching sheet taking non-conventional partial slip conditions at the sheet.The self-similar equations are obtained using similarity transformations and solved numerically by the shooting method.Effects of the parameters involved in the equations,especially velocity slip and thermal slip parameters on the velocity and temperature profiles,are analyzed extensively.It is revealed that due to the velocity and thermal slip parameters,the rate of heat transfer from the sheet and the wall skin friction change significantly.
文摘Detrimental impacts of fluoride have become a global concern for several decades.Despite its beneficial role which is restricted only in skeletal tissues,deleterious effects are also observed in soft tissues and systems.The generation of enhanced oxidative stress is the commencement of excess fluoride exposure which may lead to cell death.Fluoride causes cell death through autophagy via Beclin 1 and mTOR signaling pathways.Beside these,several or-gan specific anomalies through different signaling pathways have been documented.Mitochon-drial dysfunction,DNA damage,autophagy and apoptosis are the damaging outcomes in case of hepatic disorders.Urinary concentration defects and cell cycle arrest have been reported in renal tissues.Abnormal immune response has been characterized in the cardiac system.Cogni-tive dysfunction,neurodegenerative condition and learning impairment have also been observed.Altered steroidogenesis,gametogenic abnormalities,epigenetic alterations and birth defect are the major reprotoxic conclusions.Abnormal immune responses,altered immu-nogenic proliferation,differentiation as well as altered ratio of immune cells are well-defined anomalies in the immune system.Though the mechanistic approach of fluoride toxicity in phys-iological systems is common,it follows different signaling cascades.This review emphasizes diverse signaling pathways which are the targets of overexposed fluoride.
基金the Department of Science and Technology(Govt.of India)for providing INSPIRE fellowship to one of the authors。
文摘Controlled NOT(CNOT)gate is well known because of its several advantages in quantum computing and information processing.In the area of quantum computing,several methods of CNOT gates were established in last few years.In this paper,we propose a new approach of implementation of tristate CNOT operation with light as information carrying signal.To do this,the frequency encoding method has been exploited for successful realization of the CNOT gate with light.
文摘Background The serotonin transporter(SERT),encoded by the solute carrier family 6 number 4(SLC6A4)gene,controls serotonin(5-HT)availability and is essential for the regulation of behavioral traits.Two SLC6A4 genetic variants,5-HTTLPR and STin2,were widely investigated in patients with various neurobehavioral disorders,including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD).Methods We analyzed the association of the 5-HTTLPR(L/S)and STin2(10/12)variants,plasma 5-HT,and 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid(5-HIAA),as well as SERT messenger RNA(mRNA)with ADHD in the eastern Indian subjects.Nuclear families with ADHD probands(n=274)and ethnically matched controls(n=367)were recruited following the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.Behavioral traits,executive function,and intelligence quotient(IQ)of the probands were assessed using the Conner's Parent Rating Scale–Revised,Parental Account of Children’s Symptoms(PACS),Barkley Deficit in Executive Functioning—Child and Adolescent Scale,and Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-III,respectively.After obtaining informed written consent,peripheral blood was collected to analyze genetic variants,plasma 5-HT,5-HIAA,and SERT mRNA expression.Results ADHD probands showed a higher frequency of the 5-HTTLPR“L”allele and“L/L”genotype(P<0.05),lower 5-HIAA level,and higher SERT mRNA expression.Scores for behavioral problems and hyperactivity were higher in the presence of the“S”allele and“S/S”genotype,while executive deficit was higher in the presence of the“L”allele.IQ score was lower in the presence of the STin2“12”allele and L-12 haplotype.Conclusion Data obtained indicate a significant association of the serotoninergic system with ADHD,warranting further in-depth investigation.
文摘The unsteady two-dimensional flow of a MHD non-Newtonian Maxwell fluid over a stretching surface with a prescribed surface temperature in the presence of a heat source/sink is investigated.Similarity solutions for the governing equations are obtained.The transformed boundary layer equations are then solved numerically by using the shooting method.Fluid velocity initially decreases with the increasing unsteadiness parameter,and temperature decreases significantly due to unsteadiness.It is also found that the fluid velocity decreases with the increasing magnetic parameter.Increasing the Maxwell parameter values has the effect of suppressing the velocity field and increasing the temperature.
