Response of Gaussian-modulated guided wave in aluminum: An analytical, numerical, and experimental study

The application of guided-wave ultrasonic testing in structural health monitoring has been widely accepted. Comprehensive experimental works have been performed in the past but their validation with possible analytical and numerical solutions still requires serious efforts. In this paper, behavior and detection of the Gaussian-modulated sinusoidal guided-wave pulse traveling in an aluminum plate are presented. An analytical solution is derived for sensing guided wave at a given distance from the actuator. This solution can predict the primary wave modes separately. Numerical analysis is also carried out in COMSOL® Multiphysics software. An experimental setup comprising piezoelectric transducers is used for the validation. Comparison of experimental results with those obtained from analytical and numerical solutions shows close agreement

Involvement of soluble proteins in growth and metabolic adjustments of drought-stressed Calligonum mongolicum seedlings under nitrogen addition

The planting of seedlings is the most effective measure for vegetation restoration. However, this practice is challenging in desert ecosystems where water and nutrients are scarce. Calligonum mongolicum is a sand-fixing pioneer shrub species, and its adaptive strategy for nitrogen (N) deposition and drought is poorly understood. Thus, in a pot experiment, we studied the impacts of four N levels (0, 3, 6, 9 gN·m−2·year−1) under drought or a well-watered regime on multiple eco-physiological responses of 1-year-old C. mongolicum seedlings. Compared to well-watered conditions, drought considerably influenced seedling growth by impairing photosynthesis, osmolyte accumulation and activity of superoxide dismutase and enzymes related to N metabolism. Nitrogen addition improved the productivity of drought-stressed seedlings, as revealed by increased water use efficiency, enhanced superoxide dismutase and nitrite reductase activity and elevated N and phosphorus (P) levels in seedlings. Nevertheless, the addition of moderate to high levels of N (6–9 gN·m−2·year−1) impaired net photosynthesis, osmolyte accumulation and nitrate reductase activity. N addition and water regimes did not markedly change the N:P ratios of aboveground parts; while more biomass and nutrients were allocated to fine roots to assimilate the insufficient resources. Soluble protein in assimilating shoots might play a vital role in adaptation to the desert environment. The response of C. mongolicum seedlings to N addtion and drought involved an interdependency between soluble protein and morphological, physiological and biochemical processes. These findings provide an important reference for vegetation restoration in arid lands under global change.Fil: Zhang, Z.. Chinese Academy of Sciences; República de China. Cele National Station of Observation and Research for Desert-Grassland Ecosystems; ChinaFil: Tariq, A.. Chinese Academy of Sciences; República de China. Cele National Station of Observation and Research for Desert-Grassland Ecosystems; ChinaFil: Zeng, F.. Chinese Academy of Sciences; República de China. Cele National Station of Observation and Research for Desert-Grassland Ecosystems; ChinaFil: Chai, X.. Chinese Academy of Sciences; República de China. Cele National Station of Observation and Research for Desert-Grassland Ecosystems; ChinaFil: Graciano, Corina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Fisiología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Instituto de Fisiología Vegetal; Argentin

Sustainable digital economy and trade adjusted carbon emissions: Evidence from China's provincial data

The importance of the digital economy and trade adjusted emissions is of great importance to study, especially in case of China. Since China is the leading exporter of the world and achieving high economic growth consecutively for the last 2-3 decades, this study, unlike past studies, evaluates the importance of digital economy, exports, imports and gross domestic product on trade adjusted carbon emissions for China. This is the only study that incorporates the importance of digital economy on trade adjusted carbon emissions for provincial data of China. This study determines whether the digital economy is a viable source of green economy. Research and development will simply replace a physical resource, flows through energy and transportation networks? This question is answered by using updated data, especially for digital economy. This study uses panel data for the Chinese provinces to investigate the impact of the digital economy in limiting CO2 emissions, taking into account GDP, exports and imports as control variables. Using method of moments quantile regression, we find a negative impact of digital economy and exports on consumption-based carbon emissions. Moreover, we find that GDP, and imports amplify consumption-based carbon emissions. © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group

Decoupled and Descattered Monopole MIMO Antenna Array with Orthogonal Radiation Patterns

This chapter introduces a novel design concept to reduce mutual coupling among closely-spaced antenna elements of a MIMO array. This design concept significantly reduces the complexity of traditional/existing design approaches such as metamaterials, defected ground plane structures, soft electromagnetic surfaces, parasitic elements, matching and decoupling networks using a simple, yet a novel design alternative. The approach is based on a planar single decoupling element, consisting of a rectangular metallic ring resonator printed on one face of an ungrounded substrate. The decoupling structure surrounds a two-element vertical monopole antenna array fed by a coplanar waveguide structure. The design is shown both by simulations and measurements to reduce the mutual coupling by at least 20 dB, maintain the impedance bandwidth over which S11, is less than −10 dB, and reduce the envelope correlation coefficient to below 0.001. The boresight of the far-field radiation patterns of the two vertical monopole wire antennas operating at 2.4 GHz and separated by 8 mm (λo/16), where λo is the free-space wavelength at 2.45 GHz, is shown to be orthogonal and inclined by 45° with respect to the horizontal (azimuthal) plane while maintaining the shape of the isolated single antenna element

Immunomodulatory Effects of Psyllium Extract on Helicobacter pylori Interaction With Gastric Epithelial Cells.

Natural plant product Psyllium has anti-inflammatory activity that can modulate the function of cytokines. We determined the effect of Psylliumhusk extract on interleukin (IL)-8 and NF-κB secretion by gastric epithelial cells in response to Helicobacter pylori Human gastricadenocarcinoma cell line (AGS) cells were pretreated with Psyllium extract in different concentrations before H pylori infection. Cell culture supernatant was analyzed for IL-8 and NF-κB by ELISA. RNA from cells was used for real-time polymerase chain reaction for messenger RNA expression of IL-8. Psyllium extract 5 and 10 μg/mL markedly (P \u3c .001) lowered basal IL-8 by 64.71% and 74.51%, respectively, and H pylori-stimulated IL-8 was also (P \u3c .001) lowered by 41.67% and 66.67%, respectively. Psyllium 5 and 10 μg/mL also reduced (P \u3c .0001) cagA-positive H pylori-induced IL-8 mRNA expression by 42.3% and 67.6%, respectively. Psyllium also reduced (P = .0001) NF-κB in response to H pylori strains confirming its role as an anti-inflammatory agent

Development and characterisation of semi-crystalline composite granules: the effect of particle chemistry and the electrostatic charging

This study investigated the surface of semi-crystalline composite granules produced via a novel mechano-chemical process and assessed the effect of electrostatic charging. Ibuprofen (IBU), a model drug with low solubility and known associated processing challenges was loaded in composite granules to improve its processibility and dissolution rates. Synthetic amorphous mesoporous magnesium alumina metasilicate (MAS) was co-processed with hydrophilic HPMC polymer in the presence of polyethylene glycol 2000 (PEG) and deionised water. The solid state analyses conducted by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) revealed the existence of semi-crystalline IBU in the complex composite structures. Dynamic vapour sorption (DVS) study showed the water sorption and desorption profiles of the manufactured composite granules as well as the effect of water on the solid-state stability of IBU in various formulations. Advanced surface analysis conducted via energy dispersive X-ray (EDS) revealed homogenous distribution of the drug/excipients on the surface of the granules while atomic force microscopy (AFM) complemented the findings. The electrostatic charge analysis showed variable charge property which is affected by the size of the particles/granules. As expected, the in vitro dissolution study showed about 5 fold increase in the release rates of IBU compared to that of the bulk drug. The mechano-chemical processing has been demonstrated as an efficient technique to develop semi-crystalline composite granules with enhanced dissolution rates of water insoluble drugs

Identification of avian Mycoplasma species in commercial broilers and layers with respiratory symptoms in Balochistan

Among many avian mycoplasmas, only the Mycoplasmas gallisepticum (MG) and Mycoplasmas synoviae (MS) are responsible for causing respiratory disease in commercial poultry. This study reported for the very first time the serological occurrence of M. gallisepticum and M. synoviae in blood samples (n = 600) from sixty flocks (n = 42 broiler and n = 18 layer flocks) with respiratory symptoms in Quetta, Pishin and Kuchlak districts of Balochistan, Pakistan. Sera were tested for MG and MS antibody responses by serum plate agglutination (SPA) test and by enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) Synbiotics kit. It was found that M. gallisepticum antibodies in broiler flocks detected by SPA and by ELISA tests were 10.47 and 19.76%, whereas M. synoviae were 7.86 and 11.19%, respectively. In layer flocks the MG and MS antibodies detected by SPA and ELISA were 19.44, 31.66 and 8.8, 25%, respectively. The overall antibodies of MG and MS in both broiler and layer flocks tested by SPA and ELISA was found to be 13.16, 23.33 and 8.16, 15.33%, respectively. In broiler and layer flocks the presence of antibodies against both M. gallisepticum and M. synoviae were found in tested flocks with respiratory symptoms. Further studies on prevalence and diagnosis of both the M. gallisepticum and M. synoviae in causing respiratory disease in commercial broilers and layers in Balochistan are required.Key words: Mycoplasma, broilers, serum plate agglutination, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

Assessment of Protective Clothing Used by Chemical Industry Workers in Pakistan

Protective clothing serves as a barrier against many hazards faced by workers in the industry. This study aimed to investigate the performance of locally manufactured clothing used by workers in the chemical industries in Pakistan. The construction parameters were determined using international test procedures for all samples. Then, these were assessed for their chemical resistance behavior after various laundering intervals, following the ISO 6530:2005 test method. After the investigation, it was observed that the collected samples failed to meet the minimum criteria for penetration and repellency through their structure. The samples were unable to repel a minimum of 95% liquid chemical and penetrated it more than 5%, even at zero wash. These conditions worsened with each washing interval. Clothing materials should always be checked for their performance before use to protect workers at workplace

Minimum Atom-Bond Sum-Connectivity Index of Trees With a Fixed Order and/or Number of Pendent Vertices

Let $d_u$ be the degree of a vertex $u$ of a graph $G$. The atom-bond sum-connectivity (ABS) index of a graph $G$ is the sum of the numbers $(1-2(d_v+d_w)^{-1})^{1/2}$ over all edges $vw$ of $G$. This paper gives the characterization of the graph possessing the minimum ABS index in the class of all trees of a fixed number of pendent vertices; the star is the unique extremal graph in the mentioned class of graphs. The problem of determining graphs possessing the minimum ABS index in the class of all trees with $n$ vertices and $p$ pendent vertices is also addressed; such extremal trees have the maximum degree $3$ when $n\ge 3p-2\ge7$, and the balanced double star is the unique such extremal tree for the case $p=n-2$.Comment: 20 pages, 4 figure