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A water-immersible battery-powered field programmable gate array (FPGA)-based embedded system is a most suitable tool required to check the health of the pipe operating under harsh conditions. A novel, water-immersible, battery-powered, compact, stand-alone and FPGA-based embedded system has been designed and developed, which is suitable for ultrasonic pipe inspection and gauging systems useful for major applications in the petrochemical and nuclear industries. The developed FPGA-based embedded system is operated with lithium-ion batteries for more than five hours, and the IP67-grade system modules are capable of floating inside the pipe along with the flow of oil or water. Such applications require a system that is capable of acquiring large data under water-immersed conditions of battery-operated instrumentation. The onboard Double Data Rate (DDR) RAM of the FPGA module has been utilized for the storage of the 256 MBytes streams of A-scan data during evaluation for more than five hours. The experimentation of the battery-powered embedded system was carried out inside two samples of SS and MS pipes with the help of the in-house developed nylon inspection-head installed with two sets of spring-loaded eight Teflon balls and two 5 MHz focused immersion transducers placed along the circumference at 180° apart. This paper provides brief details of the design, development, and evaluation phases of the battery-powered water-immersible embedded system suitable for ultrasonic pipe inspection and gauging, which can be expanded to 256 channels for demanding applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yttrium iron oxide (YFeO 3) sample is prepared by sol-gel method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) graph shows highly defined peaks showing that the compound possess crystalline nature. The Rietveld refined XRD data revealed that the sample has orthorhombic structure with P bnm space group. The experimental data of structural parameters is in accordance with DFT calculated theoretical structural parameters.Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) shows that a pure phase of YFeO 3 isbeen formed. Scanning electron micrograph of YFeO 3 reveals that the sample has non uniform grain structure with slight porosity in it. The grains have an average grain size of about 200 nm. Raman spectroscopic studyconfirms the structure and phase purity of the sample. The M-H curve of YFeO 3 shows a hysteresis loop, with a coercive field of 61 Oe and a residual magnetization of 0.516 emu/gm. Weak ferromagnetic nature of YFeO 3 is attributed to the remnant magnetization value, which suggests that Fe+3 spins are slightly canted but not perfectly anti parallel. Room temperature P-E measurement of YFeO 3 shows lossy ferroelectric nature of the sample.Positive Up Negative Down (PUND) measurementsdone on YFeO 3 sample gives the trueswitchable polarization to be0.002 C/cm2.From the ln J versus ln E plot, the slope of the line is found to be 1.25, indicating Ohmic conduction in the sample. At 300 K, 57Fe Mössbauerspectra of YFeO 3 exhibit a single magnetic sextet, confirming the presence of a single Fe site and the absence of any magnetic impurities. The value of Isomer shift is0.37 mm/s, quadrupole splitting is found to be 0.01 mm/s, Line width (Г) = 0.47 mm/s and hyper fine magnetic field (B hf) of 49.8 T are being calculated from 57Fe Mössbauer measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A water-immersible two-channel high-voltage (HV) spike pulser has been designed, developed, and mounted inside the IP 67 (Ingress Protection 67) grade enclosure, and it is suitable for the ultrasonic Pipe Inspection and Gauging (PIG) system utilized in the petrochemical industry. Such a critical and strategic application requires a portable, miniaturized, and water-immersible water-tight pulser module, which resides inside the pipe carrying water or liquid petrochemicals. The developed spike pulser printed circuit board (PCB) generates a HV negative spike pulse up to −300 V and 100 ns half-amplitude pulse width, required for the energization of ultrasonic immersion transducers of 5–10 MHz frequency. The water-immersible pulser is mounted inside the water-tight IP 67 grade enclosure, and it is operated through an external DC power supply/lithium batteries. The evaluation of the module was carried out using a two-channel water-immersible HV spike pulser, in-house developed preamplifier, and inspection head supported by four sets of spring-loaded Teflon balls for centering, and the inspection head carries two ultrasonic immersion transducers placed 180° apart and a sample SS pipe with a length of 400 mm, Inner Diameter of 200 mm, and Wall Thickness of 9 mm. The two-channel pulser module was evaluated in water to measure the dimensions of the sample SS pipe. This two-channel water-immersible novel spike pulser has dedicated circuitry, and each channel is a standalone PCB and it operates through external LV and HV DC supplies. The module can be scaled up to 256 channels for dimension measurement and flaw detection of long length pipes. In the absence of any literature available on the water-immersible pulser for PIG systems, the present two-channel pulser module has been designed and developed, and the module was evaluated by gauging of the SS pipe from inside. This paper provides the details of the water-immersible HV spike pulser module suitable for the gauging of metallic pipes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aims to develop low magnetic anisotropy Ni-Zn nanoferrites with cobalt substitution. The results enable the development of nanoferrite samples with superior magnetic properties suitable for high-frequency core applications through an understanding of the influence of cobalt in the manipulation of the magnetic anisotropy of the nanoferrite. Ni0.65-xZn0.35CoxFe2O4 (x varies from 0.00 to 0.24 in steps of 0.04) particles were synthesized by sol–gel method using polyvinyl alcohol as a chelating agent. X-ray diffraction patterns of all the samples showed sharp peaks corresponding to spinel structure with no extra phases. Transmission electron micrographs depict uniform size distribution of particles in the range 185 to 247 nm. Magnetic properties were measured at 300 K and 5 K. Excellent control to reduce the magnetic anisotropy to a negligible amount can be achieved by incorporating minute amounts of cobalt in nickel-zinc ferrite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thin-walled tubes and pipes are employed in industries to work under the conditions of high temperature, high pressure, high flow rates and radiation. Due to such stresses and harsh working conditions, tubes lead to sag during operation because of its low Wall Thickness and smaller diameters. There is a requirement to accurately measure sag and dimensions and assess the health and remaining life of tubes and pipes, as per the relevant safety and reliability standards. Sag measurement is a complex task as it has to be performed in-situ. Other than that there is an important requirement to accurately measure Inner Diameter (ID), Outer Diameter (OD) and Wall Thickness (WT) of tubes and pipes. In this paper, a novel type of linear array-based sag and dimension measurement scheme has been proposed for the thin-walled tubes and pipes using Ultrasonic Testing (UT). UT technique has also been employed to accurately measure the sag and dimensions of the thin-walled tubes and pipes. The operating principle of UT is majorly based on Water-Immersion mode for the measurement of sag and dimensions by acquiring Time of Flight (TOF). In this paper, experimentation has been carried out using an in-house developed 4-Channel Ultrasonic Imaging System and using water-immersion mode. The 4-Channel Ultrasonic Imaging System along with an inspection head carrying a novel arrangement of ultrasonic transducers for measurement of sag and dimensions have been utilized. This paper provides details of the sag and dimension measurement of the sample tube and pipe, using the 4-Channel Ultrasonic Imaging System. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structural and magnetic properties of nanocrystalline Ni0.65Zn0.35Fe2O4 synthesized by sol-gel method have been analyzed using various characterization techniques. The single-phase spinel structure and crystallite size have been obtained from X-ray diffraction (XRD). The experimentally observed high specific saturation magnetization, 176 emu/g at 10 K, has been discussed in terms of core-shell contributions based on spin canting of nano Ni0.65Zn0.35Fe2O4 with the help of infield Mössbauer study at 5 K. The proposed cation distribution relied upon infield Mössbauer spectra and the Rietveld analysis of the neutron diffraction and XRD data and provides an insight to improve the properties of this material suitable for high-frequency applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of Gd1−xHoxMnO3 (x = 0, 0.1 and 0.2) compounds known to exhibit multiferroic properties has been investigated for their structural, magnetic and magnetocaloric properties. X-ray diffraction analysis confirms the presence of single orthorhombic phase at room temperature in all the compositions. Low temperature magnetocaloric properties of these compounds have been studied through specific heat measurements in the temperature range of 0–80 K under different magnetic fields of 0, 2 and 5 T. These studies also revealed the existence of Mn3+ ordering transition and lock-in transition (Tlock) near 40 K and 20 K, respectively. These compounds displayed antiferromagnetic (AFM) ordering of Gd3+ ions at low temperatures below 10 K. The magnetocaloric effect has been quantified in terms of the magnetic entropy change (ΔS)M and adiabatic temperature change (ΔT)ad in the vicinity of AFM transitions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of partial substitution of manganese by silicon in Ni47Mn40−xSixIn13 (x = 1, 2, 3) on the structural (martensitic), magnetic transitions and associated magnetocaloric properties around the martensitic transition of these alloys, was investigated. The alloys exhibited the single austenite structure at the room temperature. The lattice contraction was observed with an increase in Si content, thereby inducing the FM and AFM interactions between manganese atoms, which further influence the magnetic and martensitic transitions. The increase in Si concentration was observed with the decrease in valence electron to atom ratio (e/a ratio) and thus influencing the martensitic transitions. The transition temperatures such as martensitic transition (TM) and the Curie transition (TC) of the austenite phase decrease with increasing Si-content. With the increase in Si content from x = 1 to 3, the TM was found to decrease from 259 to 169 K. A high magnetic entropy change (∆S)M of 12.3, 3.1 and 30.6 J kg−1 K−1 was observed for the x = 1, 2, and 3 alloys at their respective martensitic transitions for a magnetic field of 2 T. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The magnetocaloric behavior of chromium doped Pr 0.5 Sr 0.5 MnO 3 manganite system has been studied by synthesizing a series of samples using the citrate sol–gel route. The samples were characterized structurally by XRD and found to be crystallized in orthorhombic structure with Pnma space group. A systematic investigation of magnetization over a temperature range 80–300 K was carried out mainly to understand their magnetic behavior and the transition temperatures are found to decrease with increase in chromium concentration. This may be due to change in Mn3+ and Mn4+ ratio. Further, from the fittings (using a theoretical model) of M-T data at 500 Oestered magnetic field, curie constant has been calculated. It has been observed that due to chromium doping ferromagnetic phases were induced in the charge ordered system and this gave rise to interesting phenomena. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Fe 3 O 4 (core)-gold (shell) nanoparticles tethered with thiol ligands were developed. • Arsenite binding alters the absorbance of SPR band of Fe 3 O 4 @Au nanoparticles. • Rapid optical detection with high selectivity and low limit of detection 0.86 ppb. • Fast removal of bound arsenite due to magnetic core. • Dual functional system allowing detection and removal of arsenite. We report for the very first time, development of a dual functional nanocomposite to perform as an optical probe as well as removal system for As(III) from ground water. Upon suitable thiolation using dithiothreitol (DTT), the Fe 3 O 4 (core)-Au(shell) nanocomposite (DTT-Fe 3 O 4 @Au) has been fabricated that can detect As(III) in aqueous solution with significantly low limit of detection and holds potential for selective removal of As(III) from water owing to its magnetic core. Due to high affinity of –SH groups for As(III), the nanoparticles undergo aggregation in the presence of As(III), resulting in a significant decrease in absorbance, yielding the limit of detection (LOD) as 0.86 ppb, which is much lower than the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended threshold value of 10 ppb. UV–vis spectroscopy in conjunction with dynamic light scattering and electron microscopy techniques have further elaborated the detailed interaction between As(III) and DTT-Fe 3 O 4 @Au nanocomposite regarding their size dynamics and solution behaviour during the interaction. Moreover, ca. 70% removal of As(III) from aqueous solution by DTT-Fe 3 O 4 @Au has been observed by ICP-MS measurement strengthening the potential of this nanocomposite as a dual-functional probe and filter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ho doped TbMnO 3 multiferroic manganites with the formula Tb 1-x Ho x MnO 3 (where x = 0, 0.1 and 0.2) were synthesized through solid state reaction method. Structural characterization has been done using X-ray diffraction and results confirmed single phase nature of the samples. In order to determine the magnetic and ferroelectric transitions in the materials studied, heat capacity measurements have been undertaken at range 2–300 K for 0T, 2T and 5T magnetic fields. From heat capacity studies three transitions were observed in all the samples in the temperature range 10–45 K. These transitions may be due to the ordering of Mn3+ ions and R3+ ions a detailed explanation of which is given below. Magnetocaloric effect has been studied from the heat capacity measurements under applied magnetic field. At 5T magnetic field, the samples exhibited a magnetic entropy change (ΔS) M of ∼1.6 J/mol K and adiabatic temperature change (ΔT) ad of 3–4 K around 10K in the Ho doped TbMnO 3 samples which is considerably high in comparison to earlier reports. Temperature dependences of specific heat (Cp) for Tb 1-x Ho x MnO 3 (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2) manganites at 0T magnetic fields. (b-d) Temperature dependences of specific heat (C P) for Tb 1-x Ho x MnO 3 (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2) manganites at different magnetic fields. Image 1 • Structure, thermal properties of multiferroic Tb 1-x Ho x MnO 3 was studied. • Transition observed at 10K was effected by the magnetic field. • ΔS max and ΔT max values increases as Ho doping increases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structural, magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of Gd5Si2Ge2B0.05 alloy, ball milled for different time intervals in the range of 2–50 h were studied. The x-ray powder diffraction analysis of the alloy prior to milling revealed the presence of mixed orthorhombic and monoclinic phases at room temperature. For a milling duration up to 15 h, the alloy powder displayed crystalline nature. Upon further milling, the alloy powder started to lose the crystallinity and after 50 h of milling, the alloy powder displayed amorphous nature. The average particle size of milled samples was found to decrease with increase in milling time. The saturation magnetization value of the bulk alloy 80 emu/g was found to decrease with increase in milling time due to structural disorder. The transition temperature of the milled alloy powder was found to be around 295 K and the transition was found to become broader with increase in milling time. A maximum isothermal entropy change (ΔSmax) of ∼12 J/kg K was obtained in bulk alloy. For a milling duration of 2 h, a marginal decrease of ΔSmax (∼11 J/kg K) was obtained. Whereas, for higher milling durations, (≥ 15 h) a significant decrease in ΔSmax values were observed. However, the broad operating temperature range of the milled powders can be exploited for magnetic refrigeration applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Gd 5 Si 2 Ge 2 B x (0 < x ≤ 0.125) alloys were investigated to study the influence of Boron addition on the structure, microstructure, magnetic and magnetocaloric properties. Except x = 0.05 alloy, all the other Boron containing alloys under study displayed the presence of major monoclinic Gd 5 Si 2 Ge 2 -type phase along with low volume fraction of hexagonal GdSi-type (5:5 H) secondary phase at room temperature (RT). In the case of alloy with x = 0.05, monoclinic Gd 5 Si 2 Ge 2 -type and orthorhombic Gd 5 (Si,Ge) 4 type mixed phases along with low volume fraction of Gd 5 Si 3 -type (5:3 H) secondary phase were observed at RT. The structural transition (T s ) (orthorhombic to monoclinic) and the Curie transition (T C ) of the monoclinic phase in the x = 0.05 alloy occurred at 293 K and 305 K respectively. These transitions occurred at relatively higher temperatures than those reported in parent Gd 5 Si 2 Ge 2 alloy. At higher concentrations of Boron (x > 0.05), both the transitions, T s and T C shifted to lower temperatures. A maximum magnetic entropy change of 13.6 J/(kg-K) (at 293 K) and refrigerant capacity (RC) of 378 J/kg were obtained in Gd 5 Si 2 Ge 2 B 0.05 alloy which conveys that this alloy has an edge over the parent alloy in terms of operating temperature and refrigeration capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herlyn-Werner-Wunderlich Syndrome (HWWS) is a rare congenital anomaly of Mullerian and mesonephric ducts characterized by uterus didelphys with obstructed hemivagina and ipsilateral renal agenesis. It commonly presents after menarche with symptoms related to obstructive hemivagina. However in patients with significantly normal pubertal and menstrual history, the diagnosis of Mullerian Duct Anomaly (MDA) like HWWS is often missed. Here we report a case of 28 year old primigravida presenting with acute abdomen pain which was followed by spontaneous abortion. This is the first instance of HWWS coexisting with uterine fibroids with/without cystic degeneration based on our literature review. Early and accurate diagnosis for the correct treatment of this entity is also emphasized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of multiferroic materials with the compositional formula Bi 1−x La x Mn 2 O 5 (x=0, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3) in single phase were prepared by the solid state reaction technique. After characterizing the samples structurally, a systematic investigation of specific heat and magnetization studies were carried out over the temperature range, 2–300 K. Based on these studies, it has been observed that the magnetization versus temperature plots of all the samples are found to split in the ZFC and FC modes and the observed behavior is explained on the basis of magnetic inhomogeneity. Finally, using the specific heat data, the magnetic entropy values were calculated using Einstein model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With a view to understand the influence of doping Bismuth ferrite with Yttrium on structural, magnetic and dielectric behavior, a series of samples were prepared by the solid state reaction technique. After characterizing the samples with XRD and SEM studies, magnetic and dielectric measurements were carried out. The impurity phase of Bismuth ferrite is found to disappear with increasing Y doping concentration and finally the sample with x = 0.2 is found to be free from secondary phases. The dielectric constant is also found to exhibit two transitions and efforts were made to explain the observed behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colossal Magneto Resistive (CMR) materials with the compositional formula, La 0.34 R 0.33 Ba 0.33 MnO 3 (R=Pr, Nd, Sm and Gd) were prepared by the sol gel technique. After characterizing the samples structurally, a systematic investigation of magnetization has been undertaken, over a temperature range 70–300 K at 0.05 T magnetic field. An effort has been made to calculate the magnetocaloric behavior of all the samples theoretically using the experimental magnetization data. Other important parameters of magnetocaloric effect (MCE) such as maximum entropy change, full width at half-maximum, relative cooling power and maximum adiabatic temperature change were also computed. The observed behavior has been explained qualitatively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiferroic materials with the compositional formula, Tb1-xDyxMnO3 (x=0.1, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4) were prepared by the sol gel technique. After characterizing the samples structurally, a systematic investigation of specific heat has been undertaken, over a temperature range 4-300 K in 0 T and 5 T magnetic fields. All the samples display interesting specific heat behavior exhibiting transitions due to the long range ordering of Mn3+ as well as R3+ magnetic moments. Magnetic field change generates an entropy change of ~1 J/mol K when a magnetic field changes from 0 to 5 T in the vicinity of antiferromagnetic ordering temperature of R3+. The values of adiabatic temperature change is also appreciable to consider these materials as possible magnetic refrigerants at low temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the epidemiology and the impact of Acute Kidney Injury on outcomes are well-known in the Western literature, good data is lacking from India. Most studies published from India have not evaluated epidemiology of Acute Kidney Injury in the Intensive Care Unit setting and/or have not used validated criteria. In our observational study of 250 patients, admitted to a tertiary level ICU, we have explored the epidemiology of Acute Kidney Injury using both RIFLE and AKIN criteria and have validated them. We have also demonstrated that the severity of AKI is an independent predictor of mortality in critically ill patients. Our results are very much comparable to other studies and we feel that this study will remain as an epidemiological reference point for Indian clinicians dealing with AKI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Multiferroic materials with the compositional formula RMnO3 (where R=Gd, Tb and Dy), were prepared by the citrate gel technique. After characterizing the samples structurally, a systematic investigation of specific heat has been undertaken, over a temperature range 4–300K at different magnetic fields. All the samples display interesting specific heat behavior exhibiting transitions due to the long range ordering of Mn3+ and R3+ moments. Magnetic field change generates an entropy change of ~1J/molK when a magnetic field changes from 0 to 5T in the vicinity of antiferromagnetic ordering temperature of R3+. The value of adiabatic temperature change ~3K for a field of 5T is also appreciable to consider these materials as possible magnetic refrigerants at low temperatures. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• The cobalt substituted nickel ferrites with the compositional formula Ni1-xCoxFe2O4 (x = 0.0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1) are synthesized by sol–gel technique successfully. • The optical properties of the prepared samples are good. • The systematic change in the M−O bands with Co substitution in Nickel ferrite samples. was observed in FTIR spectra. • The prepared samples are showing good magnetic properties especially showing high. magnetostriction values at lower fields. Low field high magnetostrictive cobalt substituted nickel ferrites with composition Ni 1-x Co x Fe 2 O 4 (x = 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1) were synthesized by sol gel technique. The formation of cubic spinel structure of samples was confirmed by X-ray diffraction. Surface morphology and optical properties were studied by using scanning electron microscopy and Differential Reflectance spectroscopy. The systematic change in the Metal-Oxygen (M−O) bands with Co substitution in nickel ferrite samples was observed in Fourier Transform Infrared spectra. With Co substitution remanance and coercivity values were increased and Curie temperature values were decreased systematically. The magnetostriction was found to increase with the substitution of Co from 10 ppm to a maximum value of about 200 ppm. Ni 0.5 Co 0.5 Fe 2 O 4 showed magnetostriction of ∼−63 ppm at 1500 Oe and ∼−85 ppm at 2000 Oe and strain sensitivity value 1.74x10-9A-1m at 1500 Oe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanocrystalline Li 0.5 Al x Fe 2.5- x O 4 (x = 0.0 to 0.8 in steps, x = 0.2) compounds were prepared using the sol-gel auto-combustion technique. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the single-phase cubic spinel structure, which showed that the lattice constant changed significantly, especially in the x = 0.6 sample, where it decreased clearly. The crystallite size decreased with increasing Aluminium content, reaching a small value of about 5 nm for the composition x = 0.8 sample. Raman peaks of pure LiFe 2 O 4 were determined in both phases (alpha and beta), while smaller peaks at 198 and 236 cm−1 that related to the alpha phase were distinguished. All peaks diminished in intensity after Al3+ ions were doped to LiFe 2 O 4 except for the peak at 700, where it became predominantly. The bandgap of the samples was deduced and analyzed from Tauc's plot according to UV–Vis spectra. The change in the electronic structure of the Li-Al ferrites, at which the size of the ferrite becomes close to the de Broglie wavelength, results in a band gap for the Al replaced by LiFe 2 O 4 with different electronic configurations. The variation of the fundamental part of the dielectric constant (ε ′), loss tangent (tan δ), and AC conductivity with frequency has been discussed with composition. The increase in Al3+ ion content affected the coercive force, as it decreased, while the saturation magnetism increased when adding Aluminium (x = 0.2) and then began to decline gradually. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanocrystalline CoTb y Fe 2-y O 4 (0 ≤ y ≤ 0.025) ferrites were prepared through the citrate-gel combustion method. X-ray diffraction confirmed the formation of a single-phase spinel structure with crystalline sizes ranging between 19 and 48 nm. The experimental and theoretical lattice parameters correlated well and were found to be ranging between 8.510 and 8.367 Å. SEM images revealed a large aggregation of spherical-shaped nanoparticles with non-uniform shape and distribution. Magnetization measurements revealed the dependance of both M s , Mr, and H C with increasing Tb3+ content. The evolution of M S and H C upon reducing the measuring temperature indicates the thermal instability of the blocked magnetic moments, which increased for the different compositions. The dielectric properties obtained for CoTb y Fe 2-y O 4 as a function of frequency. The Tb-doped cobalt ferrite catalysts exhibit superior photocatalytic efficiency for crystal violet (CV) degradation as compared to cobalt ferrite nanoferrite catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To comprehend the physical, optical and spectroscopic properties of a novel multicomponent glass system with compositional formula 60Li 2 B 4 O 7 -30Bi 2 O 3 -(10-x)Sb 2 O 3 -xMoO 3 (x = 0, 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10 mol%) has been synthesized by melt quench process. The lack of intense peaks in the XRD confirmed the glassy nature of the prepared samples. On Substitution of Sb 2 O 3 with MoO 3 in lithium tetraborate-bismuthate glasses, a linear decrease in the density and an increase in the molar volume has been noticed. Physical parameters like oxygen packing density, oxygen molar volume and packing density have been computed. Optical energy bandgap evaluated from UV–Visible absorption spectra, declined with increase of MoO 3. Refractive indices exhibited opposite trend with optical energy bandgap and opens applications for non-linear optical devices. Vibrational modes in the as-prepared glasses have been identified by FTIR and Raman spectra. With increase in MoO 3 content, Mo6+ ions transformed to Mo5+ units which in turn converted BO 4 to BO 3 units as confirmed by FTIR and Raman spectroscopies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gadolinium-substituted cobalt manganese ferrite nanoparticles with the composition Co 0.6 Mn 0.4 Gd x Fe 2- x O 4 (where x ranges from 0.0 to 0.08, with x = 0.02) were prepared through the sonochemical method. X-ray diffraction reveals that grown samples are single-phase cubic spinel belonging to space group Fd 3 m, where the crystallite sizes decrease with increasing Gd3+ content. At high doping ratios (x > 0.06), there was a slight increase in crystallite size compared to that of pure Co–Mn ferrite (x = 0), while the lattice parameter (a) decreased in the low doping range of Gd (x < 0.06), resulting in a reduction in crystallite size. Bertaut's method confirms that 80 % of the tetrahedral (A) sites were occupied by Mn ions, while the remaining sites were occupied by other cations in the octahedral (B) positions. Gd3+ ions were found exclusively in the octahedral-B sites. Co2+ ions were expected to occupy the octahedral-B site, which was confirmed in this study for the x = 0.0 and 0.02 samples. Field emission scanning electron microscopy shows the samples are agglomerated and have dense structures. Fourier transform infrared and Raman spectra validated the presence of spinel ferrite modes. Dielectric investigations indicate that as the Gd3+ content exceeds x = 0.0, the dielectric constant and dielectric loss decrease at lower frequencies. The observed dielectric behavior exhibited typical dispersion patterns attributed to Maxwell-Wagner polarization. Furthermore, changes in dielectric properties were observed as the Gd3+ content in Co 0.6 Mn 0.4 Gd x Fe 2- x O 4 nanoparticles increased, which can be attributed to the presence of oxygen vacancies and variations in the distribution of Fe3+ ions at both A and B-sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With an aim to improve the magnetocaloric effect above the room temperature for practical applications, La0.67Sr0.33MnO3 manganite with different manganese concentrations has been synthesized using a novel technique with oxalic acid as a fuel material. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy studies confirm the presence of mixed valence states of Mn3+ and Mn4+ with varying manganese content. Studies of the magnetic properties reveal that the samples undergo ferromagnetic to paramagnetic transitions well above room temperatures, i.e., around 383 K. The second order of magnetic phase transition has been confirmed from Arrott plots. The entropy change (ΔSM) over a wide temperature range was observed around magnetic transition temperature in all the samples which can be considered as a suitable material for magnetic refrigeration applications. A reduction in magnetic entropy in deficiency and excess of manganese samples has been attributed to the magnetic inhomogeneity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Object detection and classification in autonomous vehicles are crucial for ensuring safe and efficient navigation through complex environments. This paper addresses the need for robust detection and classification algorithms tailored specifically for Indian roads, which present unique challenges such as diverse traffic patterns, erratic driving behaviors, and varied weather conditions. Despite significant progress in object detection and classification for autonomous vehicles, existing methods often struggle to generalize effectively to the conditions encountered on Indian roads. This paper proposes a novel approach utilizing the YOLOv8 deep learning model, designed to be lightweight, scalable, and efficient for real-time implementation using onboard cameras. Experimental evaluations were conducted using real-life scenarios encompassing diverse weather and traffic conditions. Videos captured in various environments were utilized to assess the model's performance, with particular emphasis on its accuracy and precision across 35 distinct object classes. The experiments demonstrate a precision of 0.65 for the detection of multiple classes, indicating the model's efficacy in handling a wide range of objects. Moreover, real-time testing revealed an average accuracy exceeding 70% across all scenarios, with a peak accuracy of 95% achieved in optimal conditions. The parameters considered in the evaluation process encompassed not only traditional metrics but also factors pertinent to Indian road conditions, such as low lighting, occlusions, and unpredictable traffic patterns. The proposed method exhibits superiority over existing approaches by offering a balanced trade-off between model complexity and performance. By leveraging the YOLOv8 architecture, this solution achieved high accuracy while minimizing computational resources, making it well suited for deployment in autonomous vehicles operating on Indian roads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compared to single-phase multiferroic materials, multiferroic (MF)-magnetoelectric (ME) composites, which combine magnetic and ferroelectric materials, show improved (many orders of magnitude) ME coupling and a higher operating temperature (beyond room temperature). In the present study, lead-free multiferroic Ni0.5Co0.5Fe2O4/BaTiO3 (NCFO/BTO) composites with different weight percentages were prepared through the solid-state reaction approach. The phase purity and structural confirmation were carried out using X-ray diffractograms. The XRD peak shifting in the composites has been observed, and it is attributed to the formation of residual stresses/strains during the sample's grinding, heating, and freezing processes. Fourier-transformative infrared spectroscopy confirmed the presence of metal-oxygen bonds in spinel NCFO and Ti-O and Ba-O bonds in perovskite BaTiO3. UV-vis spectra disclose the energy gap values of the magnetoelectric composites. It has been found that the energy gap values for pure ferrite are 1.53 eV, the pure ferroelectric phase is 2.99 eV, and the composites possess the Eg values of 1.78 eV, 2.33 eV, 2.77 eV with decreasing ferrite concentration. The M-H hysteresis loops reveal the ferromagnetic nature of pure ferrite as well as the presence of ferromagnetism in composites. The magnetic moment of the NCFO has been found as 2.26 µB and it further decreased to 0.59 µB for the 0.25NCFO-0.75BTO compound. The magneto crystalline anisotropy has been calculated using the law of approach (LA) method and the details are discussed in the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acquisition of 3D point cloud data (PCD) using a laser scanner and aligning it with a video frame is a new approach that is efficient for retrofitting comprehensive objects in heavy pipeline industrial facilities. This work contributes a generic framework for interactive retrofitting in a virtual environment and an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based sensory setup design to acquire PCD. The framework adopts a 4-in-1 alignment using a point cloud registration algorithm for a pre-processed PCD alignment with the partial PCD, and frame-by-frame registration method for video alignment. This work also proposes a virtual interactive retrofitting framework that uses pre-defined 3D computer-aided design models (CAD) with a customized graphical user interface (GUI) and visualization of a 4-in-1 aligned video scene from a UAV camera in a desktop environment. Trials were carried out using the proposed framework in a real environment at a water treatment facility. A qualitative and quantitative study was conducted to evaluate the performance of the proposed generic framework from participants by adopting the appropriate questionnaire and retrofitting task-oriented experiment. Overall, it was found that the proposed framework could be a solution for interactive 3D CAD model retrofitting on a combination of UAV sensory setup-acquired PCD and real-time video from the camera in heavy industrial facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human eyeballs move relative to the head, resulting in optimal changes in the viewpoint. We tested similar vestibular ocular reflex (VOR)-based movement on Zenmuse-X3 gimbal camera relative to pre-defined YAW movements of the DJI Matrice-100 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Changes in viewpoint have various consequences for visual and graphical rendering. Therefore, this study investigated how to minimize these changes. OpenGL visualization was performed to simulate and measure viewpoint changes using the proposed VOR-based eyeball movement algorithm and compared with results of VOR based gimbal movement. The gimbal camera was setup to render images (scenes) on flat monitors. Positions of pre-fixed targets in the images were used to measure the viewpoint changes. The proposed approach could successfully control and significantly reduce the viewpoint changes and stabilize the image to improve visual tracking of targets on flat monitors. The proposed method can also be used to render real-time camera feed to a head-mounted display (HMD) in an ergonomically pleasing way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposed a gaze-controlled method for visualization, navigation, and retrofitting of large point cloud data (PCD), produced by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) mounted with laser range-scanners. For this purpose, the estimated human gaze point was used to interact with a head-mounted display (HMD) to visualize the PCD and the computer-aided design (CAD) models. Virtual water treat plant pipeline models were considered for retrofitting against the PCD of the actual pipelines. In such an application, the objective was to use the gaze data to interact with the HMD so the virtual retrofitting process was performed by navigating with the eye gaze. It was inferred that the integration of eye gaze tracking for visualization and interaction with the HMD could improve both speed and functionality for human–computer interaction. A usability study was conducted to investigate the speed of the proposed method against the mouse interaction-based retrofitting. In addition, immersion, interface quality and accuracy was analyzed by adopting the appropriate questionnaire and user learning was tested by conducting experiments in iterations from participants. Finally, it was verified whether any negative psychological factors, such as cybersickness, general discomfort, fatigue, headache, eye strain and difficulty concentrating through the survey experiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bismuth ferrites (BFO) nanomaterials are one of the promising materials to provide applications in the electrical world for its unique multiferroic properties. The evolution in its research from the pure crystals to doped and co-doped forms has shown mankind the diversity of its properties and subsequent useful applications. The peculiarities of ferroelectric and ferromagnetic properties, as observed in these multiferroics, are the result of the structural perturbations which is due to the nature of the doping element and different synthesis mechanisms. The enhanced magnetoelectric coefficient, high dielectric constant, and improved ferroelectricity of doped BFO open the use in non-volatile memory devices. A consolidation of the noteworthy changes reported in the structural and electrical properties of BFO bulk ceramics, popular category of multiferroics so far is reviewed here in brief. This review mainly focuses on modifications seen in ferroelectric properties with respect to doping at Bismuth site, Iron site, and both or co-doping. As the modifications are mostly due to structural changes, structural and morphological changes occurring due to doping are also covered briefly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comparative study on the effect of additives ( Bi 2 O 3 and ZrO 2 ) and sintering temperature on structural, morphological and magnetic properties of M-type barium hexaferrite has been investigated. Oxalate precursor method was used to synthesize BaFe 12 O 19 in the present investigation. Additives Bi 2 O 3 and ZrO 2 of 1 wt% were added to some part of the calcined powder and sintered at 1100 °C and the remaining powder was sintered at three different temperatures (1100 °C, 1200 °C and 1300 °C). A significant variation in the crystallite and grain sizes of the samples was noticed both as a function of sintering temperature and nature of additives. Insights of hysteresis loops hinted the redistribution of Fe 3 + ions towards octahedral sites, resulting improvement in saturation magnetization with sintering temperature and decrease in coercivity is attributed to an increase in grain size. Incorporation of Bi 2 O 3 and ZrO 2 in BaFe 12 O 19 leads to decrease of coercivity, squareness ratio but an improvement was evident in saturation magnetization and remanence, and these are explained based on the redistribution of Fe 3 + ions. The distribution of Fe 3 + ions towards octahedral sites was estimated theoretically and compared with experimental magnetic moments with least possible error. Occupancy of Fe 3 + ions in tetrahedral and octahedral sites was further confirmed using Rietveld refinement which shows that χ 2 values are in the acceptable range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the inheritance pattern of fertility restoration in hybrids resulting from crosses between a male sterile line (M31‐2A), a maldandi cytoplasm, and two promising restorers (DSMR‐4 and DSMR‐8). The evaluation of hybrids was conducted in two sets of experiments, including the F2, BC1F1 and F2, F3 generations. The segregation pattern was analysed in the F2 and BC1F1 generations, resulting in a 54:10 ratio of fertile to sterile plants and a 1:1 ratio of fertile to sterile plants, respectively. This indicated the involvement of three genes, at least two of which must be in a dominant condition for restoration to occur, acting in a duplicate complementary manner. In the F3 generation, both crosses were grown to confirm the stability of restorers, and they segregated in the ratio of 10 true‐breeding families and 44 segregating families, which was consistent with the F2 ratio. Additionally, this study observed the influence of rainfall on the partial restoration pattern over seasons, as restorer genes are up or down‐regulated depending on the availability of water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study that examines the frequency and absolute numbers of T, B and NK cells, dendritic cells and other leucocyte populations in patients with active tuberculosis (TB). The study examines the frequency and numbers through flow cytometry in AFB smear positive pulmonary TB, negative pulmonary TB and extra-pulmonary TB. It also reveals the important role of T and B cells in the protection against the development of TB.

Rare earth perovskite manganites have attracted renewed attention due to scientific aspect and prospective device applications. This work explores the structural and magnetic properties of La (1− x ) Bi x MnO 3 ( x =0–0.5) with isovalent Bi 3+ ions substituted at the La 3+ site synthesized through solid state reaction method. Doping of ‘Bi 3+ ’ in LaMnO 3 induces transition from orthorhombic to cubic phase for x ≥ 0.3. Decrease in the magnetic transition temperature in ZFC-FC data is correlated to the distortion induced by ‘Bi 3+ ’ doping. Spin glass like feature is witnessed in orthorhombic phase and it diminished appreciably for x ≥0.3 in the cubic symmetry. At 10 K, coercivity decreases in orthorhombic phase, whereas it increases marginally in cubic phase. Thus, isovalent Bi 3+ doping in LaMnO 3 is found to induce structural change from orthorhombic to cubic which is also reflected in the magnetic properties as a change over from hard to soft magnetic phase. In addition, a phenomenological model is applied for fitting the field cooled magnetization data. The results of fitting and the related magneto-caloric effect are also discussed in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Influence of rare earth doping on electrical, magnetic and thermopower studies of La0.34Re0.33Ba0.33MnO3 compound was investigated. Ferro to paramagnetic transition and metal to insulator transition temperatures decrease with decreasing ionic radius of the dopant ion. Electrical resistivity in the entire temperature range is explained by phase separation model. The magnitude of Seebeck coefficient increases with increasing dopant ionic radius. A cross over from negative to positive sign has also been observed in thermopower data with decreasing A site ionic radius (〈r A 〉). The low temperature thermopower data has been explained using a qualitative model containing diffusion; magnon drag and phonon drag effects while the paramagnetic insulating part has been analyzed using small polaron hopping mechanism. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Lymphatic filariasis can be associated with development of serious pathology in the form of lymphedema, hydrocele, and elephantiasis in a subset of infected patients. Dysregulated host inflammatory responses leading to systemic immune activation are thought to play a central role in filarial disease pathogenesis. We measured the plasma levels of microbial translocation markers, acute phase proteins, and inflammatory cytokines in individuals with chronic filarial pathology with (CP Ag+) or without (CP Ag-) active infection; with clinically asymptomatic infections (INF); and in those without infection (endemic normal [EN]). Comparisons between the two actively infected groups (CP Ag+ compared to INF) and those without active infection (CP Ag- compared to EN) were used preliminarily to identify markers of pathogenesis. Thereafter, we tested for group effects among all the four groups using linear models on the log transformed responses of the markers. Our data suggest that circulating levels of microbial translocation products (lipopolysaccharide and LPS-binding protein), acute phase proteins (haptoglobin and serum amyloid protein-A), and inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-12, and TNF-α) are associated with pathogenesis of disease in lymphatic filarial infection and implicate an important role for circulating microbial products and acute phase proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The factors governing latency in tuberculosis are not well understood but appear to involve both the pathogen and the host. We have used tuberculin skin test (TST) positivity as a tool to study cytokine responses in latent tuberculosis. Methods. To identify the host factors that are important in the maintenance of TST positivity, we examined mycobacteria-specific immune responses of TST-positive (latent tuberculosis) or TST-negative individuals in South India, where TST positivity can define tuberculosis latency. Results. Although purified protein derivative-specific and Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture filtrate antigen—specific Th1 and Th2 cytokines were not statistically significantly different between the 2 groups, the Th17 cytokines (interleukin 17 and interleukin 23) were statistically significantly decreased in TST-positive individuals, compared with those in TST-negative individuals. This Th17 cytokine modulation was associated with statistically significantly increased expression of cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4) and Foxp3. Although CTLA-4 blockade failed to restore full production of interleukin 17 and interleukin 23 in TST-positive individuals, depletion of regulatory T cells significantly increased production of these cytokines. Conclusion. TST positivity is characterized by increased activity of regulatory T cells and a coincident downregulation of the Th17 response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) and filarial coinfection is highly prevalent, and the presence of filarial infections may regulate the Toll-like receptor (TLR)-dependent immune response needed to control Mtb infection. By analyzing the baseline and mycobacterial antigen–stimulated expression of TLR1, 2, 4, and 9 (in individuals with latent tuberculosis [TB] with or without filarial infection), we were able to demonstrate that filarial infection, coincident with Mtb, significantly diminishes both baseline and Mtb antigen-specific TLR2 and TLR9 expression. In addition, pro-inflammatory cytokine responses to TLR2 and 9 ligands are significantly diminished in filaria/TB-coinfected individuals. Definitive treatment of lymphatic filariasis significantly restores the pro-inflammatory cytokine responses in individuals with latent TB. Coincident filarial infection exerted a profound inhibitory effect on protective mycobacteria-specific TLR-mediated immune responses in latent tuberculosis and suggests a novel mechanism by which concomitant filarial infections predispose to the development of active tuberculosis in humans. Author Summary: Lymphatic filariasis afflicts over 120 million people worldwide, while Mycobacterium tuberculosis infects over 2 billion people worldwide. Almost 90% of infected people harbor latent tuberculosis infection with no clinical manifestations. Toll-like receptors (TLRs), pattern-recognition receptors that are present on host immune cells, constitute an important facet of host immune response initiation against a variety of pathogens. Because lymphatic filariasis and tuberculosis are co-endemic in many parts of the world and because TLR modulation is an important feature of both infections, we examined the effect of coexisting filarial infection on TLR-specific immune responses in latent tuberculosis by comparing cellular immune responses to Toll ligands in individuals with latent tuberculosis with or without concomitant lymphatic filariasis. We first examined modulation of TLRs at the gene expression level and determined that downregulation of TLR2 and 9 is associated with coexisting filarial infection. We then determined that Toll ligand-induced pro-inflammatory cytokine production—which is crucial in host defense against TB—is diminished in the presence of filarial coinfection. Treatment of filarial infection restores cytokine production in individuals with latent TB. Thus, we conclude that coexisting filarial infections might significantly compromise essential immune responses in tuberculosis and that treatment of filarial infections would potentially confer tremendous benefit in combating tuberculosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mycobacterium tuberculosis and filarial coinfection is highly prevalent, and the presence of a tissue-invasive helminth may modulate the predominant type 1 T helper (Th1; interferon [IFN]-γ-mediated) response needed to control M. tuberculosis infection. By analyzing the cellular responses to mycobacterial antigens in patients who had latent tuberculosis with or without filarial infection, we were able to demonstrate that filarial infection coincident with M. tuberculosis infection significantly diminishes M. tuberculosis-specific Th1 (interleukin [IL]-12 and IFN-γ) and type 17 T helper (Th17; IL-23 and IL-17) responses related to increased expression of cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen (CTLA)-4 and programmed death (PD)-1. Blockade of CTLA-4 restored production of both IFN-γ and IL-17, whereas PD-1 blockade restored IFN-γ production only. Thus, coincident filarial infection exerted a profound inhibitory effect on protective mycobacteria-specific Th1 and Th17 responses in latent tuberculosis, suggesting a mechanism by which concomitant filarial (and other systemic helminth) infections predispose to the development of active tuberculosis in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) and filarial coinfection is highly prevalent, and the presence of filarial infections may regulate the Toll-like receptor (TLR)-dependent immune response needed to control Mtb infection. By analyzing the baseline and mycobacterial antigen-stimulated expression of TLR1, 2, 4, and 9 (in individuals with latent tuberculosis [TB] with or without filarial infection), we were able to demonstrate that filarial infection, coincident with Mtb, significantly diminishes both baseline and Mtb antigen-specific TLR2 and TLR9 expression. In addition, pro-inflammatory cytokine responses to TLR2 and 9 ligands are significantly diminished in filaria/TB-coinfected individuals. Definitive treatment of lymphatic filariasis significantly restores the pro-inflammatory cytokine responses in individuals with latent TB. Coincident filarial infection exerted a profound inhibitory effect on protective mycobacteria-specific TLR-mediated immune responses in latent tuberculosis and suggests a novel mechanism by which concomitant filarial infections predispose to the development of active tuberculosis in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lymphatic filariasis can be associated with development of serious pathology in the form of lymphedema, hydrocele, and elephantiasis in a subset of infected patients. Methods and Findings: To elucidate the role of CD4+ T cell subsets in the development of lymphatic pathology, we examined specific sets of cytokines in individuals with filarial lymphedema in response to parasite antigen (BmA) and compared them with responses from asymptomatic infected individuals. We also examined expression patterns of Toll-like receptors (TLR1-10) and Nod-like receptors (Nod1, Nod2, and NALP3) in response to BmA. BmA induced significantly higher production of Th1-type cytokines—IFN-γ and TNF-α—in patients with lymphedema compared with asymptomatic individuals. Notably, expression of the Th17 family of cytokines—IL-17A, IL-17F, IL-21, and IL-23—was also significantly upregulated by BmA stimulation in lymphedema patients. In contrast, expression of Foxp3, GITR, TGFβ, and CTLA-4, known to be expressed by regulatory T cells, was significantly impaired in patients with lymphedema. BmA also induced significantly higher expression of TLR2, 4, 7, and 9 as well Nod1 and 2 mRNA in patients with lymphedema compared with asymptomatic controls. Conclusion: Our findings implicate increased Th1/Th17 responses and decreased regulatory T cells as well as regulation of Toll- and Nod-like receptors in pathogenesis of filarial lymphedema. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]