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The excessive use of petroleum products has led to the rapid depletion of conventional oil resources and negative environmental impacts. Consequently, a growing demand for "eco-friendly grease" relies on sustainable resources. Mere innovations in thickeners are not sufficient. To address this issue, it is essential to introduce novel eco-friendly base oil and complexing agents. Consequently, a series of new grease formulations were developed, using pentaerythritol tetraoleate ester as the base oil along with sebacic acid and azelaic acid in a calcium stearate thickener. The performance of these formulations was evaluated using a four ball friction tester. The results showed a 10.6% reduction in average wear scar diameter with the addition of sebacic acid and a 19.8% reduction in average coefficient of friction with the combination of sebacic acid and azelaic acid (2:1) in polyol based grease compared to mineral oil based calcium grease. To analyze the significance and roles of the variables, multiple linear regression (MLR) and second order polynomial regression were applied to the experimental results. The polynomial regression models were then used as objective functions to optimize the anti-wear properties of the grease with complexing agents, using a multi-objective genetic algorithm. Among all the formulations, the grease with 3% concentration by weight of sebacic acid demonstrated the most promising tribological performance compared to the traditional reference grease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The discharge of industrial effluents has a significant impact on the Water Quality Index (WQI) of the water bodies and is a major source of contamination of groundwater. The present study investigated the physicochemical characteristics and scrutinized the pollution potential of the tannery, textile, and electroplating effluents uploading into the Kala Sanghian drain, located in Jalandhar, Punjab, India. In this study, 12 samples were collected from the four sites (leather complex drain (LD), leather complex outlet (LO), focal point drain (FD), and Bulandpur drain (BD)) of Kala Sanghian drain in the dry season. The result showed that the drain under consideration is very much contaminated and the water is not suitable for irrigation and agricultural purposes. Rather it has a bad impact on the health of local people, the physiology of aquatic organisms, and the soil quality of agricultural land nearby. The present study confirmed the water quality index was more than 100, indicating a highly contaminated drain and water is unfit for any use. The correlation analysis shows that there exists a positive correlation between TDS and temperature (r = 0.994), DO and pH (r = 0.808), BOD and temperature (r = 0.987), BOD and TDS (r = 0.978), EC and temperature (r = 0.963), EC and TDS (r = 0.954), and EC and BOD (r = 0.956). The principal component analysis (PCA) confirms that PC1 alone has more than 89% of the variance with high positive loading for TDS, temperature, EC, and BOD. The hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) reflected two clusters where cluster 1 consists of pH, DO, temperature, and BOD of water while cluster 2 consists of TDS and EC of water. The PCA and HCA study of the data set confirms the high degree contribution of anthropogenic activities through the application of chemicals in agriculture, disposal of municipal waste, and industrial effluents in the deterioration of water quality. The results of the study will help to enhance the sustainable action plan for the management of industrial effluents in the studied area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental flow (Eflow) allocations of reservoir-river systems do not adequately address the connections between reservoir inflows, releases, and corresponding downstream river water quality rendering water resources management difficult. The study integrated the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) for reservoir inflows estimation and corresponding releases with Global Environmental Flow Calculator (GEFC) for Eflows allocations to simulate the resulting Dissolved Oxygen (DO) of the downstream river stretch using QUAL2K. The study considered various plausible scenarios of inflows (10 to 20% reduction), pollution scenarios of Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) (0 to 100% treatment) for arriving drains by altering headwaters DO (4 to 8 mg/l). Eflow water quality charts were developed for the regulation of reservoir downstream river water quality for Bhadra river in India as case study. The study revealed that by maintaining the headwater DO in conjunction with BOD treatment of drains and with sufficient Eflow allocation, downstream river water quality can be improved. By maintaining a headwater DO of 7 mg/l with BOD treatment of drains of 25% and by providing Eflow allocation of 40.12 m3/s with class D, the Bhadravathi river stretch has shown an improved river water quality with about 6.65 mg/l of average DO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple and novel methodology for the synthesis of vinyl thiocyanates from decarboxylative cross-coupling reaction of cinnamic acids with KSCN under the synergistic interactions of visible light irradiation, Cs2CO3, Rose Bengal as the photocatalyst and air as the terminal oxidant at room temperature is reported. The reaction takes place by a radical pathway as evidenced from our experiments and literature. The report is the first example on the visible-light mediated thiocyanation of cinnamic acids, which employs environmentally benign and inexpensive starting materials and is characterized by easily removable by-product CO2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quest of automobile industries for weight reduction and enhancement of the mechanical strength of components has been a major incentive for new manufacturing technologies such as thixocasting. It is therefore important that the welded joints of such components exhibit adequate strength and formability. The present investigation is on optimization of process parameters to achieve better weld quality obtained in friction-welded joints of thixocast A356 aluminum alloy. The optimum combination of welding parameters is obtained by using the analysis of the signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio based on the Taguchi method. Joint strength higher than the parent material strength is achieved with an optimum set of friction-welding parameters. In addition, residual stress analysis is carried out both experimentally and numerically. Comparisons between the experimental and numerical residual stresses are in good agreement with each other. The residual stress obtained is of low magnitude and compressive in nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bactrocera cucurbitae is commonly known as melon fruit fly. It is a serious pest of several vegetable and fruit plants grown all across the world. The morphological features and damaging nature of this pest species have been well documented. However, the genetics of its any mutation that results into phenotypic variation has not been mentioned at all. While working on this fly, we found a golden brown eye mutant that showed eye colour variation from the wild type flies (bluish green eye coloured). By setting different crosses to get F1 and F2 flies, this has been ascertained that the eye colour mutation is autosomal recessive in nature. The preliminary results of some of the experiments involving mutants clearly depict the pleiotropic effect of this mutant gene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wear behavior of the chromium nitride (CrN) coating on piston ring material against liner material was investigated under dry conditions at room temperatures. Cat iron alloy, widely used in manufacturing of piston rings and cylinder liners, was coated by physical vapor deposition method. Wear tests were carried out on a Pin-on-Disc tribometer. Simultaneous effect of sliding velocities (0.3, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8 m/s) and corresponding loads (10, 20, 30, and 40 N) on wear rate, friction coefficient, and temperature was analyzed. In conclusion, specific wear rate is decreasing by increase in load and velocity. The rise of temperature is 28 to 42 °C at the wear track room temperature resulting in a reduced coefficient of friction (COF) when the increase of load if from 10 to 40 N. The wear mechanism is a combination of mild to severe wear, three-body abrasion, and oxidation wear for dry conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper outlines the detailed procedure for the synthesis of pure ferromagnetic τ phase in binary Heusler Al-55 pct Mn alloy in bulk form through casting route without any addition of stabilizers. To obtain the processing domain for the formation of the τ phase from high-temperature ε phase, isothermal transformation experiments were carried out. The structure and microstructure were characterized by X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy studies. The τ phase start times were obtained through magnetic measurements. In order to tune the casting conditions for the formation of this phase, thermal modeling was carried out to predict the heat extraction rates for copper molds of different diameters (2 to 12 mm) containing hot solids during casting process. This enabled us to estimate the diameter of the mold to be used for obtaining τ phase directly during casting. It was concluded through experimental verification that 10-mm-diameter casting in copper mold is suitable to obtain complete τ phase. A saturation magnetization of 116 emu/g at 10 K was measured for such samples. The Curie point for the τ phase was found to be 668 K (395 °C). Additionally, the cast rod exhibits a compressive strength of 1170 MPa which is higher than those of both ferrites and AlNiCo magnets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adjuvant chemotherapy offered to treat colon cancer is based on the TNM staging system, which often fails due to molecular heterogeneity and undefined molecular mechanisms independent of TNM. Therefore, identification of markers to better predict therapeutic option and outcome is needed. In this study we have characterised the clinical association of CCR6 with colon cancer and defined CCR6-mediated molecular pathway.Methods: Immunohistochemistry, RT-qPCR, western blot and FACS were used to determine expression of CCR6 and/or EMT markers in colon tissues/cells. BrdU assay and trans-well system were used to determine cell proliferation, migration and invasion in response to CCL20.Results: CCR6 was higher in cancer cases compared to normal adjacent tissue and expression was associated with nodal status and distant metastasis. Similarly, CCR6 expression was higher in cells derived from node-positive cases and highest expression was in cells derived from metastatic cases. Significant changes in EMT markers, that is, E-cadherin, vimentin, β-catenin, N-cadherin, α-SMA, SNAILl and ZEB1 were observed in response to CCL20 along with decreased proliferation, increased migratory and invasive potential.Conclusions: Results suggest CCR6 as a potential therapeutic target as well as biomarker in addition to nodal status for predicting therapeutic option. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Streamflow forecasts are essential for optimal management of water resources for various demands, including irrigation, fisheries management, hydropower production and flood warning. Despite operational application of Ensemble Streamflow Prediction (ESP) for long-range streamflow forecasts in United States of America by the National Weather Service River Forecast System, no such approach has been explored in New Zealand. The objective of the present paper is to explore ESP-based forecasts in New Zealand catchments, highlighting its capability for seasonal flow forecasting. In this paper, a probabilistic forecast framework based on ESP technique is presented, with the basic assumption that future weather patterns will reflect those experienced historically. Hence, past forcing data (input to hydrological model) can be used with the current initial condition of a catchment to generate an ensemble of flow predictions. In the present study employs the ESP-based approach using the TopNet hydrological model with a range of past forcing data and current initial conditions. An ensemble stream flow predictions which provide probabilistic hydrological forecasts, reflecting the intrinsic uncertainty in climate, with lead time up to three months is presented for the Rangitata, Ahuriri, and Hooker and Jollie catchments in South Island, New Zealand. Verification of the forecast over the period 2000-2010 indicates a Ranked Probability Skill Score of 23 to 69 % (over climatology) across the four catchments. In general, improvement in ESP forecasting skill over climatology is greatest in summer for all catchments studied. The ESP based forecast exhibited higher skill for a greater percentage of the forecasting period than climatology. As a result, the ESP forecast can provide better over all information for integrated water resources management purpose. ESP-based forecasts using the TopNet hydrological model have potential as tools for water resource management in New Zealand catchments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work highlights the role of globular microstructure on the workability of A356 aluminum alloy at elevated temperature. The hot deformation behavior was studied by isothermal hot compression tests in the temperature range 573 K to 773 K (300 °C to 500 °C) and strain rate range of 0.001 to 10 s. The flow stress data obtained from the tests were used to estimate the strain rate sensitivity and strain rate hardening. Flow stress analysis of the alloy shows that the effect of temperature on strain hardening is more significant at lower strain levels and strain rate sensitivity is independent of strain. The results also reveal that the flowability of conventionally cast alloy increases after changing the dendritic microstructure into a globular structure through semisolid processing route. Thixocast alloy exhibits lower yield strength and higher elongation at elevated temperature in comparisons to conventionally cast values. This property has an important implication toward thixo-forming at an elevated temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structures of Ne, Na, Mg, Al, Si, P and S nuclei near the neutron drip-line region are investigated in the frame-work of relativistic mean field theory and non-relativistic Skyrme Hartree-Fock formalism. The recently discovered nuclei Mg and Al, which are beyond the drip-line predicted by various mass formulae are located within these models. We find many largely deformed neutron-rich nuclei, whose structures are analyzed. From the structure anatomy, we find that at large deformation low orbits of opposite parities (e.g. $$\frac{1} {2}^ +$$ and $$\frac{1} {2}^ -$$) occur close to each other in energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydraulic fills are one of the most common backfills used by mining industries to backfill the stopes (voids) created after extracting the ore. It is important to estimate the stresses within to the stope to design the drainage and barricades. Most of the existing analytical models for the estimation of stresses within the stopes consider flat rectangular elements to include the effects of arching, although a continuous compression catenary arch of principal stresses using intersections of shear lines is the reality in field situations. In this paper, a circular compression arch of principal stresses has therefore been used to derive a general expression for stress within the inclined stopes. The results have been compared with the existing analytical and numerical models for vertical stopes as well as inclined stopes. A methodology has been presented to determine the vertical stress variation along the width of stope at different depths. The variation of stresses along the width of stope is also presented graphically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports some numerical investigation carried out on hydraulic fills. A methodology based on the numerical solution of the governing equation via the finite volume method is introduced and tested, and proven to be very efficient. Typical dimensional performance curves are obtained and the influence of governing parameters is discussed. A sensitivity analysis is carried out in order to characterize the influence of the numerous parameters used to simulate the time dependent settlement in hydraulic fills on the outputs of the model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To estimate static and seismic active earth pressure ( Pad) on a rigid retaining wall, numerical analyses using different step sizes have been carried out in this paper, based on the modified Culmann line method by considering Coulomb’s planar rupture surface. Equivalent pseudo-static seismic forces are considered in the analysis. A new concept of modified unit weight by considering ground surcharge is introduced under static and seismic conditions. By numerical analysis, area of soil ( A) has been estimated to obtain the ratio of A/A0 where A0 is θ h2, θ is the angle between retaining structure and ground surface and h is the vertical height of the wall. This ratio remains constant for a particular type of soil and has been used to estimate the maximum active earth pressure using force diagram. Results are provided in tabular form for easy calculation of the coefficient of static and seismic active earth pressure. Present results by considering the new technique, compares well with the results obtained by earlier researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite recent advances, breast cancer (BrCa) still affects many women and the impact is disproportional in African Americans (AA) compared to European Americans (EA). Addressing socioeconomic and behavioral status has not been enough to reduce disparity, suggesting contribution of biological differences in BrCa disparity. Our laboratory was first to show involvement of CC chemokines in BrCa. In this study, using ONCOMINE, TCGA, bc-GenExMiner and KMplotter, we examined the association of CC chemokines in BrCa outcomes and disparity. We show over-expression of CCL5, -7, -11, -17, -20, -22 and -25 in BrCa tissues. High mRNA levels of CCL7, -8, -17, -20 and -25 predicted a decrease in overall survival (OS). CCL7 and CCL8 were associated with decreased relapse-free survival. Expression of CCL17 and CCL25 was associated with decreased OS in AA. In EA, CCL8 was associated with decreased OS. Expression of CCL5, -7, -8, -17, -20 and -25 was highest in TNBC. Expression of CCL11 and CCL22 was associated with HER2. CCL7, -8, -17, -20 and -25 were elevated in AAs. In conclusion, our analysis suggests significant association of CC-chemokines in BrCa progression, OS and disparate disease outcome in AA compared to EA patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ovarian cancer (OvCa) is the leading cause of death from gynecological malignancies. Five-year survival rate of OvCa ranges from 30-92%, depending on the spread of disease at diagnosis. Role of chemokines is well appreciated in cancer, including OvCa. However, their precise role is understudied. Here, we show clinical and biological significance of CXCR6-CXCL16 and ADAM10 in OvCa. Expression of CXCR6 and N-terminal CXCL16 was significantly higher in serous carcinoma tissues compared to endometrioid. OvCa cells (SKOV-3 and OVCAR-3) also showed higher expression of CXCR6 than normal ovarian epithelial cells (IOSE-7576) while CXCL16 was higher in SKOV-3 than IOSE-7576. Furthermore, N-terminal CXCL16 was higher in conditioned media of OvCa cells than IOSE-7576. Compared to OVCAR-3, SKOV-3 cells, which had higher CXCL16, expressed significantly higher transcripts of ADAM10, a protease that cleaves CXCL16. OVCAR-3 cells showed higher CXCR6 specific migration whereas SKOV-3 cells showed more invasion. Difference in invasive potential of these cells was due to modulation of different MMPs after CXCL16 stimulation. Higher CXCR6 expression in serous papillary carcinoma tissues suggests its association with aggressive OvCa. Increased migration-invasion towards CXCL16 implies its role in metastatic spread. Therefore, CXCR6-CXCL16 axis could be used to differentiate between aggressive versus non-aggressive disease and as a target for better prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]