Characterisation of deformation behaviour and damage progression of recycled aluminium alloy AA6061

Fungi have unique characteristics since they have several applications in the environment and industry due to its ability to produce the different enzyme. This study aims to isolate a new fungal strain from Pontian peatland, Johor, Malaysia to be used for dye decolourizing in the synthetic greywater as a function of laccase (LAC), manganese peroxidase (MnP) and lignin peroxidase (LiP). The bio-synthesized nanoparticles (bimetallic Zn/Cu NPs) in the secondary metabolic products generated during the enzyme production in pumpkin peels medium was evaluated for inactivating Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus seeded in greywater. The fungal isolates were identified according to phenotypic characteristics and by molecular characteristic at D1/D2 region and ITS (ITS1- ITS4) sequences. The decolourization, enzyme production and inactivation process were optimised using response surface methodology (RSM). The mechanism of decolourization and inactivation process was investigated based on Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (FESEMEDX), Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and Raman Spectroscopy analysis. The results revealed that Aspergillus iizukae EAN605, Aspergillus arenarioides EAN603, Penicillium pedernalense EAN604, Purpureocillium lilacinum EAN601, Paraconiothyrium brasiliense EAN202 and Parengyodontium album EAN602 were new strains and first time recorded in Malaysia. The best dye decolourization (78.34%) was 57.15 mg 100 mL of dye, pH 6 and after 8.5 days (R -1 2 of pumpkin peels, =77.9%). The oxidative enzyme production was recorded with 20 g 100 mL -1 of inoculum size, at pH 5.5 and after 10 days, where 6.15, 2.58 and 127.99 U mg 1 , 4.6 mL/100 mL -1 of LAC, MnP and LiP was produced, respectively. The inactivation of E. coli and S. aureus by Zn/Cu NPs was effective with 0.028 mg mL -1 of Zn/Cu NPs, at pH 6 and after 60 mins with 5.6 and 5.2 log reduction respectively. The decolourization mechanism took place due to the action of oxidative enzymes on the inner membrane of fungal mycelium and in the surrounded medium. The inactivation process acts by the destruction of the chemical composition of the bacterial cell wall and membrane. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that peatland has high fungal diversity to be used in the dye decolourization and synthesis of NPs for inactivating pathogenic bacteria in the greywater. -

Characterisation of Mechanical Properties, Damage Progression and Fracture Modes of Recycled Aluminium Alloys AA6061 Reinforced Alumina Oxide

Characterisation of the deformation behaviour of recycled aluminium alloy reinforced alumina oxide in terms of mechanical properties, damage progression and fracture mode is investigated via the Uniaxial Tensile Test in this manuscript. The tests are carried out at room temperature at strain rates of 6X10-3s-1, 6X10-2s-1, and 6X10-1s-1. Stress-strain curves and microstructural analysis are used to examine tensile behaviour, damage progression, and fracture mechanism. The primary form of aluminium alloy AA6061 was compared to the stress-strain curve analysis. It has been observed that when the strain rate increases, the flow stress increases. Field-Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) is used to analyse the damage progression, including fracture mode and continued with a close review on voids quantity and size using Image J Tooling Software. The results show that increasing strain rate increases the number of voids. In general, the recycled AA6061 reinforced Alumina Oxide exhibits strain-rate dependency behaviour. In terms of the fracture mode, an apparent necking develops around the fracture area in primary specimen. Necking, on the other hand, is less apparent in the recycled specimen. Due to alumina characteristics (ceramic), which promote fracture when necking begins to occur. The ductility of the recycled specimen is degraded after going through the recycling operations. With an increase in strain rate, the flow stress and damage evolution become more pronounced. This work contributes valuable information that can be established in various engineering applications significantly to improve the existing recycling proces

Modeling and optimization of cold extrusion process by using response surface methodology and metaheuristic approaches

Obtaining the optimal extrusion process parameters by integration of optimization techniques was crucial and continuous engineering task in which it attempted to minimize the tool load. The tool load should be minimized as higher extrusion forces required greater capacity and energy. It may lead to increase the chance of part defects, die wear and die breakage. Besides, optimization may help to save the time and cost of producing the final product, in addition to produce better formability of work material and better quality of the finishing product. In this regard, this study aimed to determine the optimal extrusion process parameters. The minimization of punch load was the main concern, in such a way that the structurally sound product at minimum load can be achieved. Minimization of punch load during the extrusion process was first formulated as a nonlinear programming model using response surface methodology in this study. The established extrusion force model was then taken as the fitness function. Subsequently, the analytical approach and metaheuristic algorithms, specifically the particle swarm optimization, cuckoo search algorithm (CSA) and flower pollination algorithm, were applied to optimize the extrusion process parameters. Performance assessment demonstrated the promising results of all presented techniques in minimizing the tool loading. The CSA, however, gave more persistent optimization results, which was validated through statistical analysi

Characterization of Anisotropic Damage Behaviour of Recycled Aluminium Alloys AA6061 Undergoing High Velocity Impact

It is impossible to ignore the realm of the topics related recycling aluminium scraps. The recycled form of this material can be a good replacement for the primary resources due to the economic and environmental benefits. Numerous investigation must be conducted to establish the mechanical behaviour before the specific applications can be identified. In this research, Taylor Cylinder Impact tests used to investigate anisotropic damage behaviour in recycled aluminium alloy is presented. To be specific, by performing Taylor Cylinder Impact test at velocities ranging from 190m/s to 300m/s, anisotropic and damage characteristics can be observed in the samples as a function of the large stress, strain, and strain-rate gradient. The application of Taylor Cylinder Impact test as a technique to validate both the constitutive and dynamic fracture responses in such materials is also discussed. The structure of recycled aluminium AA6061 including the damage initiation and evolution are observed under optical microscope (OM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results revealed that the damage evolution of the material change with the increasing impact velocity. Further, the digitised footprint analysis showed a pronounced anisotropic characteristic of the recycled aluminium AA6061

Diameter prediction and optimization of hot extrusion-synthesized polypropylene filament using statistical and soft computing techniques

In this study, statistical and soft computing techniques were developed to investigate effect of process parameters on diameter of extruded filament made of polypropylene in hot extrusion. A multi-factors experiment was designed with process parameters of screw speed, roller speed and die temperature. According to the design matrix, twenty four experiments were conducted. The diameter of the extruded plastic filament was measured in each experiment. Subsequently, statistical analysis was used to identify significant factors on diameter of extruded filament. Predictive models of response surface methodology (RSM) and radial basis function neural network(RBFNN)were applied to predict the diameter of extruded filament. The optimal process parameters to maintain the diameter of the filament closest to the target value were identified using the cuckoo search algorithm (CSA), and particle swarm optimization (PSO). Performance analysis demonstrated the superior predictive ability of both models, in which the prediction errors of 0.0245 and 0.0029 (in terms of mean squared error) were obtained byRSM and RBFNN, respectively. Considering the optimization methods, the optimization approaches of using CSA and PSO were promising, in which average relative error of 1.28% was obtained in confirmation tests

A Case of Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis Associated with Aplastic Anemia

The pathogenic mechanism of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) and aplastic anemia are associated with immunologic events which lead to glomerular cell injury or hematopoietic cell destruction. We present an extremely rare case of FSGS with aplastic anemia in a 30-yr-old woman. The laboratory examination show-ed hemoglobin 7.2 g/dL, white blood count of 4,200/µl, platelet count 70,900/µl. Proteinuria (2+, 3.6 g/day) and microscopic hematuria were detected in urinalysis. The diagnosis of FSGS and aplastic anemia were confirmed by renal and bone marrow biopsy. She was treated with immunosuppressive therapy of prednisone 60 mg/day orally for 8 weeks and cyclosporine A 15 mg/kg/day orally. She responded with gradually improving her clinical manifestation and increasing peripheral blood cell counts. Prednisone was maintained at the adequate doses with tapering after 8 weeks and cyclosporine was given to achieve trough serum levels of 100-200 ng/mL. At review ten month after diagnosis and initial therapy, the patient was feeling well and her blood cell counts increased to near normal (Hb 9.5 g/dL, Hct 32%, WBC 8,300/µl, platelet 123,000/µl) and renal function maintains stable with normal range proteinuria (0.25 g/day)

Atrasentan and renal events in patients with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease (SONAR): a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial

Background: Short-term treatment for people with type 2 diabetes using a low dose of the selective endothelin A receptor antagonist atrasentan reduces albuminuria without causing significant sodium retention. We report the long-term effects of treatment with atrasentan on major renal outcomes. Methods: We did this double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial at 689 sites in 41 countries. We enrolled adults aged 18–85 years with type 2 diabetes, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)25–75 mL/min per 1·73 m 2 of body surface area, and a urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR)of 300–5000 mg/g who had received maximum labelled or tolerated renin–angiotensin system inhibition for at least 4 weeks. Participants were given atrasentan 0·75 mg orally daily during an enrichment period before random group assignment. Those with a UACR decrease of at least 30% with no substantial fluid retention during the enrichment period (responders)were included in the double-blind treatment period. Responders were randomly assigned to receive either atrasentan 0·75 mg orally daily or placebo. All patients and investigators were masked to treatment assignment. The primary endpoint was a composite of doubling of serum creatinine (sustained for ≥30 days)or end-stage kidney disease (eGFR <15 mL/min per 1·73 m 2 sustained for ≥90 days, chronic dialysis for ≥90 days, kidney transplantation, or death from kidney failure)in the intention-to-treat population of all responders. Safety was assessed in all patients who received at least one dose of their assigned study treatment. The study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01858532. Findings: Between May 17, 2013, and July 13, 2017, 11 087 patients were screened; 5117 entered the enrichment period, and 4711 completed the enrichment period. Of these, 2648 patients were responders and were randomly assigned to the atrasentan group (n=1325)or placebo group (n=1323). Median follow-up was 2·2 years (IQR 1·4–2·9). 79 (6·0%)of 1325 patients in the atrasentan group and 105 (7·9%)of 1323 in the placebo group had a primary composite renal endpoint event (hazard ratio [HR]0·65 [95% CI 0·49–0·88]; p=0·0047). Fluid retention and anaemia adverse events, which have been previously attributed to endothelin receptor antagonists, were more frequent in the atrasentan group than in the placebo group. Hospital admission for heart failure occurred in 47 (3·5%)of 1325 patients in the atrasentan group and 34 (2·6%)of 1323 patients in the placebo group (HR 1·33 [95% CI 0·85–2·07]; p=0·208). 58 (4·4%)patients in the atrasentan group and 52 (3·9%)in the placebo group died (HR 1·09 [95% CI 0·75–1·59]; p=0·65). Interpretation: Atrasentan reduced the risk of renal events in patients with diabetes and chronic kidney disease who were selected to optimise efficacy and safety. These data support a potential role for selective endothelin receptor antagonists in protecting renal function in patients with type 2 diabetes at high risk of developing end-stage kidney disease. Funding: AbbVie

Large expert-curated database for benchmarking document similarity detection in biomedical literature search

Document recommendation systems for locating relevant literature have mostly relied on methods developed a decade ago. This is largely due to the lack of a large offline gold-standard benchmark of relevant documents that cover a variety of research fields such that newly developed literature search techniques can be compared, improved and translated into practice. To overcome this bottleneck, we have established the RElevant LIterature SearcH consortium consisting of more than 1500 scientists from 84 countries, who have collectively annotated the relevance of over 180 000 PubMed-listed articles with regard to their respective seed (input) article/s. The majority of annotations were contributed by highly experienced, original authors of the seed articles. The collected data cover 76% of all unique PubMed Medical Subject Headings descriptors. No systematic biases were observed across different experience levels, research fields or time spent on annotations. More importantly, annotations of the same document pairs contributed by different scientists were highly concordant. We further show that the three representative baseline methods used to generate recommended articles for evaluation (Okapi Best Matching 25, Term Frequency-Inverse Document Frequency and PubMed Related Articles) had similar overall performances. Additionally, we found that these methods each tend to produce distinct collections of recommended articles, suggesting that a hybrid method may be required to completely capture all relevant articles. The established database server located at https://relishdb.ict.griffith.edu.au is freely available for the downloading of annotation data and the blind testing of new methods. We expect that this benchmark will be useful for stimulating the development of new powerful techniques for title and title/abstract-based search engines for relevant articles in biomedical research.Peer reviewe