Effect of pouring temperature on cast Al/SiCp and Al/TiB2 metal matrix composites

The effect of pouring temperatures of an ex situ (Al/SiCp) and in situ (Al/TiB2) metal matrix composites (MMCs) synthesized using stir casting method were studied. The Al/SiCp composite were fabricated by mixing of 6wt.% of SiCp into cast A356 aluminium alloy melt and poured at diverse pouring temperatures (730∘C, 750∘C and 770∘C). The Al/TiB2 MMCs were obtained by melting A356 aluminium alloy and mixing of KBF4 and K2TiF6 precursor salts whose stoichiometric ratio composition corresponds to 6wt.% of TiB2 reinforcement and other parameters were constant (stirring speed 300 RPM and holding time 30 minutes). The composite melt was poured into the permanent mould with varied pouring temperatures (800∘C, 820∘C and 840∘C). Coarser and homogenous SiC particles were presented in the Al/SiCp MMCs, whereas, finer and uniformly distributed TiB2 particles were appeared at the MMCs of Al/TiB2. The mechanical properties viz. tensile strength, fracture toughness and hardness of Al/SiCp and Al/TiB2 MMCs were experimentally determined as per the ASTM standards and compared. Higher tensile and fracture strength were occurred at the MMCs of Al/TiB2 as compared to Al/SiCp MMCs and base alloy of aluminium as well. Maximum hardness was attained at the pouring temperatures of 820∘C and 750∘C in the MMCs of Al/ TiB2 and Al/SiCp, respectively

A Comparative Study on Ex-Situ & In-Situ Formed Metal Matrix Composites

An attempt has been made to synthesize the aluminium based ex-situ (Al-SiC) and in-situ (Al-TiB2) formed metal matrix composites with varying weight percentage of reinforcement contents such as 4wt.%, 6wt.% and 8wt.%. Synthesized composites were subjected to a cold extrusion process followed by heat treatment according to the ASTM B 918-01 standards. The mechanical properties of in-situ composites were evaluated as per the ASTM guidelines and compared with ex-situ formed composites and base metal properties. Superior properties were noticed in the in-situ formed composites and the mechanical properties such as yield strength, Ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and Hardness for both ex-situ and in-situ composites were found to increase with increasing the reinforcement addition. Cold extruded Al-8 wt.% SiC composite properties such as hardness, yield strength and UTS are 87 RB, 152 MPa, 216 MPa respectively. Whereas, for Al-8 wt.% TiB2 composite, the corresponding properties are 94 RB, 192 MPa, 293 MPa. The morphology of the composites is analysed by Optical and Scanning Electron Microscopic (SEM) whereas presence of reinforcement particles such SiC and TiB2 along with intermetallic phases Mg2Si and Al5FeSi are confirmed by EDX, XRD and Element Mapping analyses

Screening of wild plant species for antibacterial activity and phytochemical analysis of Tragia involucrata L.

Eight wild plant species namely Tragia involucrata L., Cleistanthus collinus (Roxb.)Benth. Ex Hook.f., Sphaeranthus indicus L., Vicoa indica (L.) Dc., Allmania nodiflora (L.) R.Br. ex wight., Habenaria elliptica Wight., Eriocaulon thwaitesii Koern. and Evolvulus alsinoides L. were used for phytochemical extraction with four different solvents. Antibacterial activity of these plants was studied against Escherichia coli NCIM 2065 using Kirby Bauer agar disc diffusion assay. Effective antibacterial activity was shown by T. involucrata acetone extract (27.3 mm), compared to standard medicinal drug amoxicillin (28.3 mm). Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of T. involucrata extract was 15 mg/mL and hence, it could be pursued further for obtaining phytomedicine. Biochemical constituents of T. involucrata fresh leaf were: sugars (55 mg/g), starch (0.7182 mg/g), proteins (0.0166 mg/g) and lipids (170 mg/g). Alkaloids, tannins, phenolic compounds, flavonoids and steroids were also observed qualitatively. Keywords: Antibacterial activity, E. coli NCIM 2065, Tragia involucrate, Phytochemical analysi

Near-Infrared Imaging of Adoptive Immune Cell Therapy in Breast Cancer Model Using Cell Membrane Labeling

<div><p>The overall objective of this study is to non-invasively image and assess tumor targeting and retention of directly labeled T-lymphocytes following their adoptive transfer in mice. T-lymphocytes obtained from draining lymph nodes of 4T1 (murine breast cancer cell) sensitized BALB/C mice were activated in-vitro with Bryostatin/Ionomycin for 18 hours, and were grown in the presence of Interleukin-2 for 6 days. T-lymphocytes were then directly labeled with 1,1-dioctadecyltetramethyl indotricarbocyanine Iodide (DiR), a lipophilic near infrared fluorescent dye that labels the cell membrane. Assays for viability, proliferation, and function of labeled T-lymphocytes showed that they were unaffected by DiR labeling. The DiR labeled cells were injected via tail vein in mice bearing 4T1 tumors in the flank. In some cases labeled 4T1 specific T-lymphocytes were injected a week before 4T1 tumor cell implantation. Multi-spectral <i>in vivo</i> fluorescence imaging was done to subtract the autofluorescence and isolate the near infrared signal carried by the T-lymphocytes. In recipient mice with established 4T1 tumors, labeled 4T1 specific T-lymphocytes showed marked tumor retention, which peaked 6 days post infusion and persisted at the tumor site for up to 3 weeks. When 4T1 tumor cells were implanted 1-week post-infusion of labeled T-lymphocytes, T-lymphocytes responded to the immunologic challenge and accumulated at the site of 4T1 cell implantation within two hours and the signal persisted for 2 more weeks. Tumor accumulation of labeled 4T1 specific T-lymphocytes was absent in mice bearing Meth A sarcoma tumors. When lysate of 4T1 specific labeled T-lymphocytes was injected into 4T1 tumor bearing mice the near infrared signal was not detected at the tumor site. In conclusion, our validated results confirm that the near infrared signal detected at the tumor site represents the DiR labeled 4T1 specific viable T-lymphocytes and their response to immunologic challenge can be imaged <i>in vivo</i>.</p></div

T-cell trafficking following delayed immunologic challenge.

<p>4T1 sensitized T cells expanded in IL-2 containing media, were injected in naive mice one week prior to 4T1 challenge. (A) The labeled 4T1 specific T cells were able to leave the lymphoid compartments and localize within 2 hours at the site of an immunologic challenge induced by 4T1 cell implantation in the flank. (B) Tumor/Background ratios obtained from mice injected with T cells and implanted with 4T1 cells a week later.</p

Fold increase in cell numbers measured by viable cell counts following <i>ex vivo</i> activation.

<p>Cell numbers were highest on day 6 and this time point was selected for DiR labeling. Following labeling, no significant differences (p<0.05) in cell proliferation between DiR labeled and unlabeled cells were found.</p