Controlling magnetization reversal in Co/Pt nanostructures with perpendicular anisotropy

We demonstrate a simple method to tailor the magnetization reversal mechanisms of Co/Pt multilayers by depositing them onto large area nanoporous anodized alumina (AAO) with various aspect ratios, A = pore depth/diameter. Magnetization reversal of composite (Co/Pt)/AAO films with large A is governed by strong domain-wall pinning which gradually transforms into a rotation-dominated reversal for samples with smaller A, as investigated by a first-order reversal curve method in conjunction with analysis of the angular dependent switching fields. The change of the magnetization reversal mode is attributed to topographical changes induced by the aspect ratio of the AAO templates.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figure

Study the Inhibition Effect of Amoxicillin Drug for Corrosion of Carbon Steel in Saline Media

          تم استخدام طرق الاستقطاب المجهادي الساكن وفقدان الوزن لدراسة سلوك تآكل الفولاذ الكربوني في محلول كلوريد الصوديوم بتراكيز مختلفة (0.1 و 0.4 و 0.6) مولاري تحت تأثير درجات الحرارة (293 و 298 و 303 و 308 و 313) كلفن. كذلك تم دراسة كفاءة تثبيط دواء الأموكسيسيلين على تآكل  الفولاذ الكربوني في  محلول كلوريد الصوديوم بتركيز 0,6 مولاري على أساس التركيز ودرجة الحرارة. أظهرت النتائج المستحصل عليها  ان كل تراكيز الملح (محلول كلوريد الصوديوم) أدت إلى   تآكل الفولاذ الكربوني بنسب متفاوتة وكان معدل التآكل عند تركيز 0.6 مولاري من محلول الملح هو الاعلى (50.46 جم / م 2 د). تشير النتائج أيضًا إلى أن معدل التآكل لكل تراكيز الملح  يزداد عند درجة حرارة 313 كلفن. أظهرت دراسات الاستقطاب المجهادي أن المثبط يقلل كل من العمليات الأنودية و الكاثودية ويتصرف كمثبط من النوع المختلط. وجد ان  امتزاز ألاموكسيسيلين يخضع لنموذج  لانكماير متساوي الحرارة. تم استخدام معادلة ارينيوس ونظرية الحالة الانتقالية لحساب  المعاملات الحركية والديناميكية الحرارية. أظهرت النتائج التي تم الحصول عليها أن تفاعل تآكل الفولاذ الكربوني في كلوريد الصوديوم هو تلقائي وهناك اتفاق جيد بين النتائج التي تم الحصول عليها من كلتا التقنيتين المستخدمتين. تم إجراء تحليلات بالمجهر الالكتروني الماسح ((SEM لدراسة ثبات الطبقة الواقية للمثبط.          Potentiostatic polarization and weight loss methods have been used to investigate the corrosion behavior of carbon steel in sodium chloride solution at different concentrations (0.1, 0.4 and 0.6) M under the influence of temperatures ( 293, 298, 303, 308 and 313) K. The inhibition efficiency of the amoxicillin drug on carbon steel in 0.6 M NaCl has also been studied based on concentration and temperature. The corrosion rate showed that all salt concentrations ( NaCl solution) resulted in corrosion of carbon steel in varying ratio and 0.6 M of salt solution  was the highest rate (50.46 g/m².d). The results also indicate that the rate of corrosion increases at a temperature of 313 K.. Potentiodynamic polarization studies showed that the examined inhibitor suppress both anodic and cathodic process and behave as mixed type inhibitor. The adsorption of amoxicillin was found to obey Langmuir isotherm model. Arrhenius equation and transition state theory were used to calculate kinetic and thermodynamic parameter. Results obtained showed that corrosion reaction of carbon steel in NaCl is spontaneous and there is a good agreement between the data got from the both techniques employed. SEM analysis was performed to study the film persistency of the inhibitor

A study on prevalence of some helminthic infections of the liver and lungs among ruminants in abattoir of Fars province, Iran

Zoonotic helminths are often transmitted to humans through domestic animals. This retrospective study was performed to estimate the prevalence of some important zoonotic helminthic infections of the liver and lung including echinococcosis, fasciolosis and dicrocoeliasis in Kazerun and Shiraz abattoirs, Fars, Iran, during 2011-2013. A total of 12381 sheep, 6473 cattle, 22847 goats, 66 camels, and 10 buffalos were analyzed with regard to liver and lung helminthic infections including hydatidosis, fasciolosis, and dicrocoeliasis in Kazerun, during March 2011-January 2013. Moreover, 121100 sheep, 23515 cattle, 81293 goats, and 69 camels were investigated for the mentioned infections in Shiraz abattoir during one year since March 2012. Kazerun abattoir: The prevalence rates of liver hydatid cysts were 0.86, 2.1, 0.76, and 15.1 in sheep, cattle, goats, and camels, respectively, whereas the prevalence rates of pulmonary hydatid cysts were 0.89, 2.36, 0.9, and 16.6 in the mentioned animals, respectively. Fasciolosis was detected in 0.33, 1.65, and 0.24 of condemnation livers of sheep, cattle, and goats, respectively. However, dicrocoeliasis was just prevalent in 0.004 of goat livers. Shiraz abattoir: the prevalence rates of liver hydatid cysts were 3.44, 3.12, 2.94, and 2.9 in slaughtered sheep, cattle, goats, and camels, respectively. In addition, 4.54, 4.33, 4, and 4.35 of the lung of the mentioned animals were infected with hydatid cysts, respectively. Prevalence rates of Fasciola spp in slaughtered sheep and cattle were 2.49 and 1.86, respectively, and rate of D. dendriticum infection in slaughtered sheep, cattle, and goats were 0.026, 0.91, and 4, respectively. As compared with reports from other studies, it seems that Fars is among the low-endemic regions regarding this type of infection. © 2016 by Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute

Text Hiding in Coded Image Based on Quantization Level Modification and Chaotic Function

A text hiding method in codded image is presented in this paper that based on quantization level modification. The used image is transformed into wavelet domain by DWT and coefficient of transform is partitioned into predefined block size. Specific threshold has been used to classify these blocks into two types named smooth and complex. Each type has its own method of text hiding (binary data), for smooth blocks, secret bits which represent the text data are switched by the bitmap. In order to reduce distortion, the quantization levels are modified. To reach extra embedding payload the quantization level could carry extra two bits depending on other threshold. The complex block carry one data bit on each block and quantization levels are swapped to reduce distortion with bitmap flipping. The proposed method result shows a high signal to noise ratio, with studying capacity as important in this work

Isolation and characterization of antineoplastic alkaloids from Catharanthus roseus l. Don. cultivated in Egypt

Vinblastine and vincristine (the antileukemic agents) were isolated, in a pure form, from Catharanthus roseus L. Don., cultivated in Egypt, by several chromatographic techniques. Five modified methods for the preparation of total alkaloids were carried out. All the isolated mixtures were evaluated by HPLC and HPTLC analyses. The antineoplastic alkaloids; vinblastine and vincristine, were isolated by the use of vacuum liquid chromatographic column on silica gel : aluminium oxide (1:1) mixed bed vacuum liquid chromatography (VLC), Charcoal column, and finally purified by centrifugally accelerated radial chromatography (Chromatotrone).Key words: Catharanthus roseus L., Apocyanaceae, Vinblastine, Vincrisitine, Antileuckemic alkaloids, VLC, HPLC, HPTL

Promising Developments in Bio-Based Products as Alternatives to Conventional Plastics to Enable Circular Economy in Ukraine

Transforming the plastic industry toward producing more sustainable alternatives than conventional plastics, as an essential enabler of the bio-based circular economy (CE), requires reinforcing initiatives to drive solutions from the lab to the market. In this regard, startups and ideation and innovation events can potentially play significant roles in consolidating efforts and investments by academia and industry to foster bio-based and biodegradable plastic-related developments. This study aimed to present the current trends and challenges of bioplastics and bio-based materials as sustainable alternatives for plastics. On this basis, having conducted a systematic literature review, the seminal research themes of the bio-based materials and bioplastics literature were unfolded and discussed. Then, the most recent developments of bio-based sustainable products in Ukraine, as alternatives to petroleum-based plastics, that have gained publicity through local startup programs and hackathons were presented. The findings shed light on the potential of the bio-based sector to facilitate the CE transition through (i) rendering innovative solutions most of which have been less noticed in academia before; (ii) enhancing academic debate and bridging the gap between developers, scholars, and practitioners within the plastic industry toward creating circularity across the supply chain; (iii) identifying the main challenges and future perspectives for further investigations in the future

MicroRNA-146 and cell trauma down-regulate expression of the psoriasis-associated atypical chemokine receptor ACKR2

Chemokines are the principal regulators of leukocyte migration and are essential for initiation and maintenance of inflammation. Atypical chemokine receptor 2 (ACKR2) binds and scavenges proinflammatory CC-chemokines, regulates cutaneous T-cell positioning, and limits the spread of inflammation in vivo. Altered ACKR2 function has been implicated in several inflammatory disorders, including psoriasis, a common and debilitating T-cell–driven disorder characterized by thick erythematous skin plaques. ACKR2 expression is abnormal in psoriatic skin, with decreased expression correlating with recruitment of T-cells into the epidermis and increased inflammation. However, the molecular mechanisms that govern ACKR2 expression are not known. Here, we identified specific psoriasis-associated microRNAs (miRs) that bind ACKR2, inhibit its expression, and are active in primary cultures of human cutaneous cells. Using both in silico and in vitro approaches, we show that miR-146b and miR-10b directly bind the ACKR2 3′-UTR and reduce expression of ACKR2 transcripts and protein in keratinocytes and lymphatic endothelial cells, respectively. Moreover, we demonstrate that ACKR2 expression is further down-regulated upon cell trauma, an important trigger for the development of new plaques in many psoriasis patients (the Koebner phenomenon). We found that tensile cell stress leads to rapid ACKR2 down-regulation and concurrent miR-146b up-regulation. Together, we provide, for the first time, evidence for epigenetic regulation of an atypical chemokine receptor. We propose a mechanism by which cell trauma and miRs coordinately exacerbate inflammation via down-regulation of ACKR2 expression and provide a putative mechanistic explanation for the Koebner phenomenon in psoriasis