A highly osmotolerant rhizobial strain confers a better tolerance of nitrogen fixation and enhances protective activities to nodules of Phaseolus vulgaris under drought stress

The effect of water deficiency on nodules of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) inoculated with three rhizobial strains differing in their osmotolerance, was investigated in two different experiments on sterile sand. In the first experiment, the control plants were maintained at 90% field capacity (FC) and water-deficient plants were grown at 35% FC. The nitrogen fixation and growth parameters drastically decreased under water deficiency, however the three rhizobial strains, Rhizobium etli A32 (sensitive), Rhizobium tropici CIAT899 (tolerant), and Ensifer meliloti 4H41 (highly tolerant), showed different symbiotic performances. E. meliloti 4H41 allowed the best acetylene reduction activity (ARA) and biomass production and the highest number of large-sized nodules, while no significant effect was observed on lipid peroxidation, protein and legheamoglobin contents. The effect on antioxidant activities was the lowest. In the second experiment, plants were maintained at 90% FC during 45 days and then watering was stopped. The results showed that, the response to water deficit was quite similar for the three analyzed symbioses until 35% FC, but below this value of FC, symbiosis involving strain E. meliloti 4H41 was the most tolerant. This tolerance was accompanied, by in both experiments, by a stability of metabolic indices and protective antioxidant activities. These results suggest that, the relative tolerance of the nodules induced by strain 4H41 could be due to a constructive adaptation involving specific cortex structure and stress-adapted metabolic activities acquired during nodule formation and growth, rather than to a timely inducible response due to the stimulation of antioxidant enzymes. This suggestion should be confirmed through microscopic structure analysis and supplemental key enzymes in nodule metabolism such as sucrose synthase and malate dehydrogenase.Key words: Antioxidant activities, in pots experiment, leghemoglobin content, nodule, rhizobia, osmotolerance, symbiotic efficiency, water deficiency

Analyse et contrôle d'un écoulement autour d'un corps de type SUV par DNS et analyse POD

National audienc

Analyse et contrôle d'un écoulement autour d'un corps de type SUV par DNS et analyse POD

National audienc

Behavior of limestone filler cement mortars exposed to magnesium sulfate attack

WOS:000342367500042International audienceIn the cement production industry, looking for a less expensive binder using industrial waste and natural resources has become a major concern for the deficit level in the manufacture of Portland cement. However, despite the technical, economic and environmental benefits brought by the use of blended cements, they are associated with disadvantages. The objective of this paper is to study the effects of the incorporation of limestone fillers on the mechanical properties and durability of mortars prepared in different combinations based on this admixture material. The durability was evaluated after immersing the specimens in a 5% solution of magnesium sulfate for periods up to 360 days, and the penetration of chloride ions. The test results demonstrated that mortar and paste samples incorporating higher replacement levels of limestone filler were more susceptible to sulfate attack. According to microstructural analysis, such as DRX, the deterioration was significantly associated with formation of thaumasite, gypsum, and the brucite in the deteriorated parts of the specimens

Behavior of limestone filler cement mortars exposed to magnesium sulfate attack

WOS:000342367500042International audienceIn the cement production industry, looking for a less expensive binder using industrial waste and natural resources has become a major concern for the deficit level in the manufacture of Portland cement. However, despite the technical, economic and environmental benefits brought by the use of blended cements, they are associated with disadvantages. The objective of this paper is to study the effects of the incorporation of limestone fillers on the mechanical properties and durability of mortars prepared in different combinations based on this admixture material. The durability was evaluated after immersing the specimens in a 5% solution of magnesium sulfate for periods up to 360 days, and the penetration of chloride ions. The test results demonstrated that mortar and paste samples incorporating higher replacement levels of limestone filler were more susceptible to sulfate attack. According to microstructural analysis, such as DRX, the deterioration was significantly associated with formation of thaumasite, gypsum, and the brucite in the deteriorated parts of the specimens

Particle Swarm Method for Optimization of ATIG Welding Process to Joint Mild Steel to 316L Stainless Steel

316L stainless steel joined to mild steel is widespread in several applications to reach a requested good association of mechanical properties at a lower cost. The activating tungsten inert gas (ATIG) weld was carried out using a modified flux composed of 76.63% SiO2 + 13.37% Cr2O3 + 10% NaF to meet standard recommendations in terms of limiting the root penetration. Modified optimal flux gave a depth of penetration 1.84 times greater than that of conventional tungsten inert gas (TIG) welds and a root penetration of up to 0.8 mm. The microstructure of the dissimilar joints was investigated using a scanning electron microscope and EDS analysis. The mechanical properties of the weld were not affected by the modified flux. The results show that the energy absorbed in the fusion zone in the case of ATIG weld (239 J/cm2) is greater than that of TIG weld (216 J/cm2). It was found that the weld bead obtained with the optimal flux combination in ATIG welding can better withstand sudden loads. The obtained UTS value (377 MPa) for ATIG welding was close to that of TIG welding (376 MPa). The average Vickers hardness readings for ATIG welds in the fusion zone are up to 277 HV, compared to 252 HV for conventional TIG welding

Behavior of limestone filler cement mortars exposed to magnesium sulfate attack

In the cement production industry, looking for a less expensive binder using industrial waste and natural resources has become a major concern for the deficit level in the manufacture of Portland cement. However, despite the technical, economic and environmental benefits brought by the use of blended cements, they are associated with disadvantages. The objective of this paper is to study the effects of the incorporation of limestone fillers on the mechanical properties and durability of mortars prepared in different combinations based on this admixture material. The durability was evaluated after immersing the specimens in a 5% solution of magnesium sulfate for periods up to 360 days, and the penetration of chloride ions. The test results demonstrated that mortar and paste samples incorporating higher replacement levels of limestone filler were more susceptible to sulfate attack. According to microstructural analysis, such as DRX, the deterioration was significantly associated with formation of thaumasite, gypsum, and the brucite in the deteriorated parts of the specimens

Mechanical Properties and Microstructure of TIG and ATIG Welded 316L Austenitic Stainless Steel with Multi-Components Flux Optimization Using Mixing Design Method and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO)

In this study, the effects of pseudo-ternary oxides on mechanical properties and microstructure of 316L stainless steel tungsten inert gas (TIG) and activating tungsten inert gas (ATIG) welded joints were investigated. The novelty in this work is introducing a metaheuristic technique called the particle swarm optimization (PSO) method to develop a mathematical model of the ultimate tensile strength (UTS) in terms of proportions of oxides flux. A constrained optimization algorithm available in Matlab 2020 optimization toolbox is used to find the optimal percentages of the selected powders that provide the maximum UTS. The study indicates that the optimal composition of flux was: 32% Cr2O3, 43% ZrO2, 8% Si2O, and 17% CaF2. The UTS was 571 MPa for conventional TIG weld and rose to 600 MPa for the optimal ATIG flux. The obtained result of hardness for the optimal ATIG was 176 HV against 175 HV for conventional TIG weld. The energy absorbed in the weld zone during the impact test was 267 J/cm2 for the optimal ATIG weld and slightly higher than that of conventional TIG weld 256 J/cm2. Fracture surface examined by scanning electron microscope (SEM) shows ductile fracture for ATIG weld with small and multiple dimples in comparison for TIG weld. Moreover, the depth of optimized flux is greater than that of TIG weld by two times. The ratio D/W was improved by 3.13 times. Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analysis shows traces of the sulfur element in the TIG weld zone