bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Occupational exposure to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 in wastewater and its implications in the gulf region
Authors: Elhadi Rami , Okoh Anthony Ifeanyi , Semerjian Lucy
Published: February 2024

Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) is a viral disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus-2(SARS-CoV-2) that affects the respiratory system and causes varying symptoms including fever and cough. Throughout the current COVID-19 pandemic, several studies have confirmed that raw wastewater may contain the SARS-CoV-2 genome as the virus is shed from excreta of infected individuals. This review examined the literature from 2020 to 2023 on occupational health, safety, wastewater, and SARS-CoV-2, excluding clinical aspects. Relevant publications from previous epidemics (SARS-CoV-1 and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus) were also considered. Quantitative microbial risk assessments have been used previously and in the current pandemic to assess the risk of inhaling aerosolized SARS-CoV-2 generated during the wastewater treatment processes. Meanwhile, water-based epidemiology (WBE) has been effective in identifying and tracking high incidence hotspots as well as mitigating the spread of the disease. Inefficient processes in wastewater treatment plants may be a source of SARS-CoV-2 transmission to workers employed at such plants as well as to personnel handling treated wastewater for reuse purposes such as irrigation and recreation, more so in the gulf countries owing to the extreme limitation of freshwater in this region; thus, exploring the implications of SARS-CoV-2 genome in wastewater to safeguard occupational and public health is crucial. WBE can assist in the pandemic prevention and control measures by investigating SARS-CoV-2 virus survival and transmission through the wastewater treatment and effective control measures. This review presents an overview of occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2 from wastewater aerosols and elucidates its implications, while recommending preventive and mitigation measures.
Study on the mechanism of 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid in retinal ischemia–reperfusion injury
Authors: Lv Liang , Zhou Li-Xiao , Jiang Fei-Fei
Published: February 2024

Purpose:

To explore the effect of 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE) on retinal ischemia–reperfusion injury (RIRI) and the protective effect of N‐hydroxy‐N’‐(4‐n‐butyl‐2‐methylphenyl)formamidine (HET0016) on RIRI.

Methods:

Male Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly divided into the normal control group, experimental model group (RIRI group), experimental solvent group (RIRI + solvent group), and experimental treatment group (RIRI + HET0016 group).

Results:

The levels of 20-HETE, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in the retina of rats at 24 h after reperfusion were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Hematoxylin–eosin staining was used to observe the retinal morphological and thickness changes at 24 h, 48 h, and 7 days after reperfusion. The number and localized expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9–positive cells in the retina of the rats at 24 h after reperfusion and the activation and localized expression of retinal microglia at 48 h after reperfusion were measured using an immunohistochemical method. The nuclear metastasis of nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB, p65) cells at 24 h after reperfusion was observed using an immunofluorescence method.

Conclusion:

Overall, 20-HETE might activate microglia to aggravate RIRI by the NF-κB pathway, but HET0016 has significant protective effects for the retina.
Effect of defocus incorporated multiple segments lenses on halting myopia progression not responding to low-concentration atropine (0.01%) eye drops
Authors: Jethani Jitendra
Published: February 2024

To assess the effect of defocus incorporated multiple segments (DIMS) (Miyosmart) lenses on myopic progression in children not responding to low-concentration atropine (LCA) (0.01%) eye drops. A total of 10 children not responding to LCA (0.01%) eye drops were advised to start using the DIMS lens to halt the progression of myopia. The children were followed for a period of 1 year. Eight out of 10 children showed a reduction in the progression of myopia. Pre DIMS, the progression was −0.68 D ± 0.3 D sph, which reduced to −0.24 ± 0.2 diopter progression post DIMS lens in the eight children. The remaining two children still progressed by −0.57 ± 0.4 D sph over a year. The axial length growth reduced from 0.28 ± 0.3 mm to 0.16 ± 0.2 mm after using the DIMS lens in these non-responders. The DIMS lens shows initial promise in reducing the progression of myopia even in children not responding to LCA 0.01% eye drops.
Stereomicroscopy – A Potential Technique for Forensic Dental Profiling
Authors: Patel Pankti , Patel Dhwani
Published: February 2024

“Forensic odontology” is concerned with the proper handling, inspection, and assessment of dental evidence as well as the correct analysis and representation of dental findings. An odontologist is regularly called upon to help identify unknown human remains and dental evidence recovered from crime scenes and disasters. Dental profiling is the study of teeth and their surrounding structures with the goal of determining a victim’s identity. One can estimate an individual’s age, gender, and ethnicity using dental profiling. It can also be used to determine dental anthropological features such as personal habits, diet, nutritional deficiencies, oral health, and social class. Dental profiling can be done in a number of ways by either invasive or noninvasive methods. By studying and examining solid samples with complicated surface topography for macro features, stereomicroscopy is one of the ways that might be useful in it. Such a technique could be useful for both invasive and noninvasive dental profiling approaches. Stereomicroscopy refers to a microscopic technique that can be used for stereoscopic viewing or three-dimensional imaging with depth and contrast perception; it is essential for interpreting specimen structure. A stereomicroscope or dissecting microscope is a device used to observe a sample at a low magnification utilizing light reflected off the object’s surface rather than transmitted through it. This paper provides an overview of the stereomicroscope’s usage, applications, and benefits in microscopic forensic dental profiling.
Evaluation of Ataxia–Telangiectasia Mutated IVS10 Mutation in Breast Cancer Along with Clinicopathological Parameters
Authors: Ahuja Sana , Aneja Himani , Yadav Amit Kumar , Ranga Sunil , Chintamani  , Paul Jaishree
Published: February 2024

ABSTRACT

Background:

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide, with an estimated 2.26 million new cases diagnosed in 2020. The important genes associated include BRCA1, BRCA2, CHEK2, PTEN, TP53, and ataxia–telangiectasia mutated (ATM). ATM is responsible for repairing double-strand breaks in DNA making it a significant candidate in breast cancer predisposition. ATM variant, c.1066-6T>G, has been associated with an increased risk of breast cancer in some but not all studies. The Indian studies on the allele IVS10-6T>G are very limited. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the associations between c.1066-6T>G ATM gene variant and breast cancer incidence in Indian women and its correlation with histological grade, stage, and surrogate molecular classification.

Materials and Methods:

Routine histopathological processing was done after adequate fixation of the specimen followed by staining with hematoxylin and eosin and immunohistochemistry for ER, PR, Her2neu, and Ki67. Single-nucleotide polymorphism for ATM allele IVS10-6T>G was studied after DNA extraction, polymerase chain reaction amplification, and restriction enzyme digestion.

Results:

All cases were found to be negative for ATM allele IVS10-6T>G mutation. Maximum number of patients (19 cases; 52.78%) had pT2 stage tumor followed by 11 patients (30.56%) with pT3. Majority of cases were luminal B (11; 30.56%) followed by triple negative (10; 27.78%).

Conclusion:

Although the results obtained by mutational analysis in the present study are not in agreement with the previous study on Indian women it agrees with the numerous previous studies and meta-analyses done on women with breast carcinoma in the Western world.
Lifestyle factors on the long-term survival of gastric cancer patients after radical resection: A cohort study
Authors: Wu Huadong , Zhang Jinjia , Zhou Baojun
Published: February 2024

Background:

This retrospective cohort study aimed to evaluate the effect of lifestyle factors (e.g., smoking, drinking, physical exercise, and sleep duration) on the long-term survival of gastric cancer (GC) patients after radical resection.

Materials and Methods:

GC patients after radical resection were enrolled from January 2016 to December 2017. Their baseline clinical data, lifestyle factors, and prognosis were collected. The primary endpoint was all-cause death. The relationship between the variables and survival was examined using the Cox proportional hazards model.

Results:

A total of 309 patients were enrolled and 296 patients were followed up for a median of 54.0 months, with 130 confirmed deaths. Older age (>60 years) (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.307, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.056–2.161, P = 0.006), advanced tumor, node, and metastasis stage (P < 0.05), poorly pathological differentiation (HR: 1.765, 95% CI: 1.080–2.884, P = 0.023), history of smoking (P < 0.001), never physical exercise (HR: 2.057, 95% CI: 1.170–3.617, P = 0.012), long sleep duration (≥8 h) (HR: 4.160, 95% CI: 1.501–11.533, P = 0.006), and short sleep duration (<6 h) (HR: 3.417, 95% CI: 1.312–8.900, P = 0.012) were independent indicators of a poor overall survival in GC patients after radical resection.

Conclusion:

Smoking cessation, proper sleep duration, and regular physical exercise habits can improve the long-term survival of GC patients after radical resection.
Ethical considerations for real-world evidence studies
Authors: Bhatt Arun
Published: February 2024

Real-world evidence (RWE) studies are conducted on patient’s data primarily collected for monitoring of health status of patients. The use of real-world data to generate evidence in academic research or for regulatory submission raises a variety of ethical issues such as privacy, confidentiality, data protection, data de-identification, data sharing, scientific design of study, and informed consent requirements. The investigators–researchers and sponsors should adhere to current standards of ethics whilst planning and conduct of RWE studies. The ethics committees should consider ethical issues specific to RWE studies before approval.
A Rare Case of Infantile Otalgia and Otorrhagia due to Alive Leech Bite
Authors: Kadasah Sultan Khalid , Argabi Ahmed , Al Shahrani Abdullah , Al-Malki Adnan , Dlboh Shahd
Published: February 2024

Pediatric ear infestation with leeches is a rare event; however, it can lead to serious complications. Leeches usually make their way into the human body through bathing with or drinking of contaminated water from nonhygienic sources and swimming in infested water. To our knowledge, this is the first report of leech removal from the external auditory canal in an infant. We described the case of a 3-month-old infant who presented to our institution with sudden left otalgia, otorrhagia, poor oral intake, and prolonged crying for 4 days, culminating in a single epileptic attack, drowsiness, and electrolyte disturbances. Microscopic visualization of the left ear revealed minimal oozing of blood with clots obscuring the ear canal and a live motile 3 cm leech deeply seated near the tympanic membrane. Extraction was performed. The bloody discharge ceased completely and all symptoms were relieved. Leech infestation is typically considered after other potential etiologies in infants with sudden otorrhagia and otalgia living in an endemic region. It should be considered a hidden cause of pediatric discomfort. Detailed history taking and meticulous ear examinations are vital for the prompt management to avoid unnecessary computed tomography imaging and radiation, unhelpful interventions, and delayed treatment. A diagnosis was reached and treatment performed by careful inspection and leech removal, respectively.
Alprazolam (Xanax®) Inhalant Misuse: Associated Nasal Necrosis in a Young Healthy Patient
Authors: Aldahlawi Moataz M. S. , Marasini Anurag
Published: February 2024

Inhalant drug abuse can result in sinonasal and pulmonary complications, including necrosis of the nasal cavity and upper aerodigestive tract. This case report focuses on a 26-year-old male who presented with nasal obstruction and was later diagnosed with endonasal necrosis associated with alprazolam (Xanax®) inhalation. Despite the known misuse of benzodiazepines, particularly through the oral route, inhalation remains a common method of misuse among adolescents. The patient’s symptoms improved after discontinuing alprazolam use and continuing nasal rinsing. The underlying mechanism of injury and the specific role of alprazolam inhalation in causing necrosis are not well understood, emphasizing the need for further research. Inhalant substance abuse is a significant issue among youth and young adults, necessitating targeted interventions and counseling to mitigate the potential gateway effect to more harmful substances.
Awareness and Knowledge of Nasopharyngeal Cancer in the Western Region in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Alherabi Ameen Z , Althobaiti Khalid H , Almnjwami Rakan , Alrabie Aeshah , Mandora Roaa , Hafiz Bayan , Alharbi Bashaer
Published: February 2024

Objectives:

Nasopharyngeal cancer is often diagnosed at an advanced stage. Early detection and intervention significantly decrease mortality rates. There have been few concentrated studies on the level of nasopharyngeal cancer awareness among the Saudi population. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the awareness and understanding of nasopharyngeal cancer in Saudi Arabia’s Western population.

Methods:

This cross-sectional study targeting the Western Saudi Arabian population was conducted from October 17 to November 29, 2022. The self-administered surveys were based on prior published studies and amended by three experts.

Results:

A total of 1220 participants were included. We found that 71.4% of the participants were classified as having poor nasopharyngeal cancer awareness.

Conclusion:

Our study reports concerning poor overall knowledge of nasopharyngeal cancer among the Western Saudi Arabian population. Interventions should be implemented to improve awareness and promote consciousness of nasopharyngeal cancer.
Bilateral keratitis associated with afatinib therapy
Authors: Liu Ya-Tung , Lin Chen-Wei , Sun Chi-Chin , Shao Shih-Chieh , Chen Nan-Ni
Published: February 2024

This case discussed a significant ocular side effect, bilateral keratitis, which could be induced by afatinib, an irreversible epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI). We explored the disease progression of a 52-year-old, stage IV nasopharyngeal carcinoma male patient, who was under afatinib treatment and had experienced progressive bilateral eye dryness and tenderness on increasing afatinib from 40 mg every other day to 40 mg daily. Clinical examination noted bilateral visual acuity reduction, diffuse superficial punctate keratopathy in the right eye, and a central epithelial defect in the left eye. Seidel test results were negative for both eyes, with no corneal infiltration, lagophthalmos, anterior chamber cell precipitation, or retinal lesion. Symptoms subsequently resolved after reducing the frequency of afatinib used, along with intensive ocular hydration. In summary, this case highlighted afatinib’s potential link to bilateral keratitis, and early afatinib dose adjustment with supportive medication could significantly reverse the condition.
Diagnostic accuracy of left ventricular outflow tract velocity time integral versus inferior vena cava collapsibility index in predicting post-induction hypotension during general anesthesia: an observational study
Authors: Sharma Vibhuti , Sharma Arti , Sethi Arvind , Pathania Jyoti
Published: February 2024

Background: Point of care ultrasound (POCUS) is being explored for dynamic measurements like inferior vena cava collapsibility index (IVC-CI) and left ventricular outflow tract velocity time integral (LVOT-VTI) to guide anesthesiologists in predicting fluid responsiveness in the preoperative period and in treating post-induction hypotension (PIH) with varying accuracy.Methods: In this prospective, observational study on included 100 adult patients undergoing elective surgery under general anesthesia, the LVOT-VTI and IVC-CI measurements were performed in the preoperative room 15 minutes prior to surgery, and PIH was measured for 20 minutes in the post-induction period.Results: The incidence of PIH was 24%. The area under the curve, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and diagnostic accuracy of the two techniques at 95% confidence interval was 0.613, 30.4%, 93.3%, 58.3%, 81.4%, 73.6% for IVC-CI and 0.853, 83.3%, 80.3%, 57.1%, 93.8%, 77.4% for LVOT -VTI, respectively. In multivariate analysis, the cutoff value for IVC-CI was >51.5 and for LVOT-VTI it was ≤17.45 for predicting PIH with odd ratio [OR] of 8.491 (P=0.025) for IVCCI and OR of 17.427 (P<0.001) for LVOT. LVOT-VTI assessment was possible in all the patients, while 10% of patients were having poor window for IVC measurements.Conclusions: We recommend the use of POCUS using LVOT-VTI or IVC-CI to predict PIH, to decrease the morbidity of patients undergoing surgery. Out of these, we recommend LVOT-VTI measurements as it has showed a better diagnostic accuracy (77.4%) with no failure rate.
Bedside ultrasonographic evaluation of optic nerve sheath diameter for monitoring of intracranial pressure in traumatic brain injury patients: a cross sectional study in level II trauma care center in India
Authors: Kshirsagar Sujit J. , Pande Anandkumar H. , Naik Sanyogita V. , Yadav Alok , Sakhala Ruchira M. , Salve Sangharsh M. , Nuhaimah Aysath , Desai Priyanka
Published: February 2024

Background: Optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) is an emerging non-invasive, easily accessible, and possibly useful measurement for evaluating changes in intracranial pressure (ICP). The utilization of bedside ultrasonography (USG) to measure ONSD has garnered increased attention due to its portability, real-time capability, and lack of ionizing radiation. The primary aim of the study was to assess whether bedside USG-guided ONSD measurement can reliably predict increased ICP in traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients.Methods: A total of 95 patients admitted to the trauma intensive care unit was included in this cross sectional study. Patient brain computed tomography (CT) scans and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores were assessed at the time of admission. Bedside USG-guided binocular ONSD was measured and the mean ONSD was noted. Microsoft Excel ) was used for statistical analysis.Results: Patients with low GCS had higher mean ONSD values (6.4±1.0 mm). A highly significant association was found among the GCS, CT results, and ONSD measurements (p < 0.001). Compared to CT scans, the bedside USG ONSD had 86.42% sensitivity and 64.29% specificity for detecting elevated ICP. The positive predictive value of ONSD to identify elevated ICP was 93.33%, and its negative predictive value was 45.00%. ONSD measurement accuracy was 83.16%.Conclusions: Increased ICP can be accurately predicted by bedside USG measurement of ONSD and can be a valuable adjunctive tool in the management of TBI patients.
Investigation on Mechanical Behaviour of Glass Fiber Reinforced with
Banana Slacks and Coconut Coir
Authors: Santhosh S. , Sakthivel P. , Premkumar M. , Raghulkumar M. , Ragul M. , Ragul S.
Published: February 2024

Natural fibers are increasingly being used to reinforce glass fiber composites
rather than synthetic fibers because of their increased tensile strength,
despite some inherent disadvantages. With the help of the structural analysis
program ANSYS, three different combinations were thoroughly analyzed with an eye
toward factors like total deformation, equivalent elastic strain, and equivalent
stress in order to determine the best combination. The composite specimen
exhibiting the best performance qualities was chosen for further manufacturing.
A fracture load of 8.93 kN and a tensile strength of 81.46 MPa were obtained
from tensile strength tests and Charpy impact tests performed on samples made
from the composite. The impact test, which produced a value of 14 J using a 15
kg pendulum, also shed light on the ability to absorb energy during fracture.
These results indicate that the composite material has qualities that make it a
good choice for dashboards and panels for automobiles.
An Examination of the Friction and Wear Characteristics of
Carburized, Boronized, and Austenitic 1080 and 1566 Steel
Authors: Srinivasan V. P. , Saravanan B. A. , Shanthi C. , Sasidharan R. , Arunkumar S. , Induprakash S.
Published: February 2024

Carburizing, austenitic, and boronizing were used to enhance the friction and
wear properties of AISI 1080 and 1566 steel surfaces. They were subjected to
austenitic, solid boronizing, liquid and gaseous carburizing processes. An
examination done and observed the microstructure, X-ray diffraction patterns,
and hardness distributions of the material. For the wear testing, pin-on-disc
specimen topologies were employed, and removal efficiencies were estimated based
on the sliding distance and the required force applied. In addition, the
abrasiveness of the sample surfaces was assessed. The heat treatment capacity of
AISI 1020 steel was investigated and compared to the heat treatment capabilities
of other steel samples to establish how much heat can be applied to the
steel.
Investigation on Mechanical Properties of ER70S-6 Copper-Coated Steel
Wire Sample Produced by Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM)
Authors: Gideon Ganesh M. , Rajendran I. , Hariharan K. , Naveen Kumar S. , Rajeswaran M.
Published: February 2024

Wire arc additive manufacturing technology has become a promising alternative
technology to high-volume metal deposition in many manufacturing industries like
aerospace and automotive due to arc stability, long process cycle time, and
formability. In this work, the Fanuc arc mate robot forms a single-pass,
single-layer structure with a 1.2 mm diameter wire of copper-coated steel. Pure
Argon gas is used as a shielding gas to protect the weld from oxidation.
Different welding speed is carried out to analyze the bead thickness and height.
Current and voltage as a heat input with optimal welding speed, a 10 kg straight
wall is built with an operative building rate of 3.94 kg/h. The Rockwell
hardness test is used to determine the hardness of the material, and it is
discovered that it is 80 HRB. The tensile test is performed to determine the
tensile strength and yield strength of the component; the measured values are
483.88 N/mm2 and 342.156 N/mm2, respectively. Increasing the welding speed
affects the weld quality and formability, therefore using the optimal parameter
gives better results in the WAAM process.
Design, Modeling and Analysis of Customized Brake Caliper for SAE
BAJA Vehicle
Authors: Ravi Kumar L. , Prathiesh Lalan R. A. , Shriram Naibal B. , Chiranjeev Sanjay P. , Gananathji Naveen Kishore S. , Vasundharadevi D.
Published: February 2024

All-terrain vehicles are gaining more popularity due to their off-roading nature.
In this ATV one of the most important components which gives us a safe ride and
control is the braking system. This study presents a detailed view of the
design, modelling and analysis of brake caliper using Solidworks 2022 and Altair
Hyperworks software for an all-terrain vehicle. A single piston floating caliper
which is designed to fulfil conditions such as compact size to fit into wheel
assembly, to provide adequate strength and great efficiency of about 80% during
off-road conditions. This caliper is mainly designed to withstand a braking
torque of 315645 Nm. The main aim of designing the caliper is to fit inside the
wheel assembly of the ATV so that the interaction between the caliper is not
with any other components. Furthermore, considerations are accounted as
machinability are integrated into the design process, ensuring that the proposed
brake caliper systems are performing well.
Automatic Switching for Radiation Emission Control Device in
Radiographic Testing – Non-Destructive Testing
Authors: Suresh Balaji R. , Daniel Das A. , Marimuthu S. , Manivannan S.
Published: February 2024

In radiography testing, the radioactive elements Iridium 192 (Ir192) and Cobalt
60 (Co60) are employed to detect subsurface and inner flaws. These radioactive
components are kept secure within the radiation-protected source camera. Despite
the fact that the camera is safe, there is a little quantity of radiation that
may harm human body cells. In this present study, it restricts radiation
emission by placing a lead sheet over the source camera, which absorbs the
produced radiation. The innovative concept involves in this present work is to
place a manually operated switch near the radiation source to emit
radiation.
Wear Behavior of Hard Ceramic Coatings by Aluminum Oxide– Aluminum
Titanate on Magnesium Alloy
Authors: Kishore Kanna K. , Mohamed Thariq R. , Marimuthu S. , Daniel Das A. , Suresh Balaji R. , Manivannan S.
Published: February 2024

Magnesium and its alloys are promising engineering materials with broad potential
applications in the automotive, aerospace, and biomedical fields. These
materials are prized for their lightweight properties, impressive specific
strength, and biocompatibility. However, their practical use is often hindered
by their low wear and corrosion resistance. Despite their excellent mechanical
properties, the high strength-to-weight ratio of magnesium alloys necessitates
surface protection for many applications. In this particular study, we employed
the plasma spraying technique to enhance the low corrosion resistance of the
AZ91D magnesium alloy. We conducted a wear analysis on nine coated samples, each
with a thickness of 6mm, to assess their tribological performance. To evaluate
the surface morphology and microstructure of the dual-phase treated samples, we
employed scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The
bare AZ91D magnesium alloy exhibited a microhardness value of 403 HV. However,
the coatings substantially improved these values, resulting in hardness
measurements of 715 HV and 850 HV, respectively.
Analyzing Mechanical Behaviour of Aluminium Alloy Composites
Reinforced with Ceramics
Authors: Rajeswari B. , Manikandan C. , Rajeshkumar L. , Aravind R.M.
Published: February 2024

Aluminium composites are remarkably used in automotive, aerospace, and
agricultural sectors because of their lightweight with definable mechanical
properties. The stir casting route was followed to fabricate cylindrical samples
with base aluminium alloy LM4, LM4/SiC, LM4/Al2O3, and
LM4/SiC/Al2O3. The tensile strength, compressive
strength, hardness, and micro-structural analysis were performed on samples and
Finite element analysis (FEA) was adopted to predict the failure modes of
composites. The composites experimental results were found to be in line with
the FEA results, however, the LM4/SiC/Al2O3 revealed
better results on the mechanical properties when compared with other composite
configurations. The mechanical properties improvement like hardness 5%-11%,
tensile strength 10.26%-20.67%, compressive strength 15.19% - 32.58% and 71.52 -
82.1% reduction in dimension have been achieved in
LM4/SiC/Al2O3 composite comparing to base metal.
Influence of Diameter Ratio on the Mechanical Properties of Lap
Joints in Friction Stir Welding of 2014 Aluminum Alloy
Authors: Sanddep ch , Vijaya Prakash B. , Amarnath V. , Balu Mahandiran S. , Shanthi C.
Published: February 2024

The increased adoption of AA2014 Aluminum alloy within the manufacturing sector
can be attributed to its lightweight properties and other attributes that
position it as an appealing substitute for steel. Notably, AA2014 Aluminum alloy
is employed in the production of components and frameworks for aircraft engines.
However, conventional welding techniques do not always seamlessly apply to
aluminum alloys due to aluminum's high thermal conductivity, pronounced
susceptibility to oxidation, and comparatively low melting point. These
characteristics can give rise to challenges such as burn-through and porosity
during welding. To tackle these issues, the application of friction stir welding
(FSW), a solid-state welding method, has been embraced. In the creation of lap
joints, five distinct tools, each featuring a different ratio of tool shoulder
diameter (D) to pin diameter (d), ranging from 2 to 4, were employed. An
exhaustive evaluation of the mechanical and metallurgical properties of these
lap joints was conducted, establishing correlations with the microstructure and
microhardness of the stir zone. The outcomes of this investigation disclose that
the lap joint crafted using a D/d ratio of 3.0 showcases superior mechanical
attributes when compared to lap joints produced at other D/d ratios. This
enhancement is attributed to the emergence of finely refined grain structures
within the stir zone during the friction stir welding process, coupled with
heightened levels of hardness. These elevated hardness levels are identified as
the primary contributors to the favorable mechanical and metallurgical qualities
observed within the joint.
Multiuso Faltbar Wagen: A Multipurpose Foldable Trolley Designed for
Efficiency and Ergonomics
Authors: Krishnaraj S. , Senthil Kumar R. , Sedhumadhavan P. , Mahmoodu Murshid Abdullah I. , Abdul Rahman N.
Published: February 2024

Efficient transportation for carrying heavy loads is a common challenge across
various applications, from supermarkets to industrial purposes. Conventional
trolleys often fall short when loaded with heavy cargo, resulting in increased
exertion and diminished productivity. Moreover, these challenges can adversely
affect posture and lumbar spine health, especially for elder people and persons
with cervical problems. There is a need for more user-friendly, ergonomic, and
space-efficient solutions.

This project addresses these challenges through an innovative design that
encompasses various aspects of trolley functionality, including the study of
comfort, wheel selection, and material considerations, drawing from ergonomic
research. Multiple methods are employed to optimize the trolley’s dimensions to
improve its overall performance.

The trolley’s design features a collapsible basket for the transport of
smaller-sized items and a base frame for larger goods and luggage. The project
underscores the trolley’s potential to reduce musculoskeletal discomfort and
reduce fatigue among users, showcasing the positive impact of ergonomic
interventions. This adaptable folding cart represents a promising solution for
the efficient and comfortable transportation of heavy loads, benefiting a
diverse range of users in various applications.
Analysis of Cast Aluminium-Zinc Alloy Surface Fatigue Crack Formation
Growth Characteristics
Authors: Sandeep Ch , Selvarajan L. , Balu Mahandiran S. , Murugan K. , Sasikumar R. , Srinivasan V.P.
Published: February 2024

Utilizing a scanning electron microscope, research was conducted on the formation
of fatigue microcracks in a cast AF620 alloy. The results of fatigue microcrack
propagation under escalating levels of stress indicate that the interdendritic
or grain boundaries of Al grains are crucial for microcrack propagation. In
Al78Zn25 regions, fatigue fractures frequently form within the grains, but if
the stress concentration is high enough, they can also form at the base of the
crevice on the grain boundaries. The fatigue fracture propagates in a wave-like
pattern under a microscope. It was proposed that the length of the crack and the
rate of formation of fatigue microcracks could be correlated to ascertain the
opening displacement at the tip of the crack.
Structure and Behaviour Characteristics of Aluminum –Nickel- Zinc
Alloy by Spray Forming
Authors: Srinivasan V.P. , Anandan R. , Bharani Kumar S. , Sasidharan R. , Santhosh S.
Published: February 2024

The microstructure of the alloy and the manner in which it responds to heat
treatment has been investigated. The alloy was aged at 550OC when it
was initially spray-formed, or when its thickness was decreased by 38%. Before
further aging of some specimens, a four-hour solution treatment at
1015OC was performed. The subsequent phase was a cold deformation
that was barely 60% of the sample's initial thickness. The alloys' electrical
conductivity and hardness may be evaluated based on how long they had been
created. Following solution treatment and cold rolling, the alloy's peak
hardness was around 380 kgf/mm2. In samples aged immediately under
spray-produced conditions, the maximum peak hardness of 255 kgf/mm2 was
attained. Conductivities in freshly cold-rolled samples could reach up to 75% of
the standard for annealed copper internationally. It looks at the
microstructural features of this alloy in this context, paying close attention
to how various processing conditions affect them.
Impact of Notch Design on the Energy Absorption Characteristics of
Aluminium Magnesium 5456 Tube under Axial Impact Load
Authors: Krishnasamy Prabu , Rajamurugan G. , Agarwal Vyom , rai Ritesh
Published: February 2024

Over the years the vehicle population has drastically grown which increases the
number of road accidents. The accident severity caused fatality and disability
being reduced by introducing energy absorption materials (Crash tube). Over the
years, researchers have used aluminium, magnesium, and titanium crash tubes to
enhance the energy absorption characteristics during different crash scenarios.
However crash tube will possess sufficient rigidity to absorb the impact force
during collision but it is still challenging to identify the right material. At
the same time, this paper aims to examine the energy absorption characteristics
of Aluminium-Magnesium hybrid material (Al-Mg 5456) crash tube designs. Three
designs were considered square, cylindrical, and hexagonal designs along with
different notch designs to minimize the weight percentage of tubes. The LSDYNA
results the oval notches performed better in energy absorption when compared to
other designs. Hence, the present findings can satisfy the future needs that are
required for electric vehicles and can be a leading-edge innovation in the
upcoming automotive industry.
The Impacts of Fly Ash Particles on the Zinc Aluminum Casting Alloy
and Its Mechanical Properties
Authors: Dinesh Krishnaa S. , Pandiyan Manikandaprabu , Ben Ruben R. , Dhiyaneswaran J. , Sanjay Kumar S.
Published: February 2024

Fly ash is a light byproduct produced when pulverized coal is burnt in
suspension-fueled furnaces in power plants. Separating the recovered fly ash
from the exhaust gases. Due to its distinct physical and chemical properties, it
is utilized in a wide variety of industrial and building applications. These
applications include the production of cement and concrete, the stabilization of
liquid waste, and hydraulic mining backfill. Fly ash has the potential to
enhance the physical and mechanical properties of aluminum castings, as well as
reduce their costs and increase their densities, all while lowering their
prices. This research investigated the effect of fly ash incorporation on the
mechanical properties of the aluminum casting alloy ZA8. Investigated were the
cast and heat-treated varieties of unreinforced ZA8 and its metal matrix
composite of 15% ferrous, 20% nickel, 10% fly ash, and 10% magnesium carbide.
According to the results, the quantity of fly ash in the melt affected the
tensile and impact properties of the metal matrix composite. The loss of
magnesium atoms in the matrix, which contributes to the strength of solid
solutions, and porosity both contribute to the lower mechanical properties and
impact resistance of the metal matrix composite.
Behavioral Analysis of Aluminum Alloy under Cyclic Channel Die
Compression for Automotive Application
Authors: Balasubramanian M. , Madhu S. , Prathap P.
Published: February 2024

In recent days, the severe plastic deformation process has played an important
role in enhancing the mechanical properties of the material. This work involves
the usage of the above method called the cyclic channel die compression method.
Applications of this material include lightweight structures for automotive and
aerospace industries, sports goods having a high strength-to-weight ratio, and
medical implants, etc. A die was fabricated and Al6082 material was processed
and its properties were characterized. Al6082 material was annealed to 445°C for
90 minutes, to solutioning the aluminum alloy's precipitates, resulting in
increased ductility and yield stress of the aluminum alloy. Then alloy was filed
to the required size to correctly fit into the die cavity. After that aluminum
alloy was kept in the die cavity and it was compressed using the universal
testing machine to the predetermined dimensions with constant cross-head travel
of 0.001mm/s. At a certain point, it results in an increased load required for
deforming the material because of work hardening. Materials were processed up to
two passes of Cyclic Channel Compression and were characterized by ASTM E8
standard. The work proves that ultra-fine grain structure can be achieved and It
was also found that a hardness increase of 36.6 % was achievable and a 30.45 %
increase in tensile strength was observed during the above process.
Investigation into the above process is very limited and this study is useful to
understand the behavior of the alloy when subjected to cyclic channel die
compression, particularly for materials where hardness and strength are of prime
importance based on the application.
Innovative Catalysts for Biodiesel Generation from Edible Oils:
Paving the Way for Cleaner Automobiles
Authors: Devan P.K. , Balasubramanian M. , Madhu S. , Prathap P.
Published: February 2024

The study aims to produce biodiesel from waste cooking oil and compare the
effects of two different catalysts (KOH and CaO) on the transesterification
process. Homogeneous catalysts and heterogeneous catalysts are the two types of
catalysts used in the transesterification process to produce biodiesel. In the
present investigation, homogeneous catalysts KOH and heterogeneous catalyst CaO
are used in the transesterification reaction. Catalysts are used to accelerate
the reaction and increase reaction efficiency. The reaction temperature is set
at 65°C. A methanol-to-waste cooking oil ratio of 6:1 is used for KOH and 8:1
for CaO. The catalyst amount is maintained at 2% of the weight of palmitic acid
relative to the weight of waste cooking oil. The reaction time is 150 minutes
for KOH and 240 minutes for CaO catalysts. The blends include B50C (50%
biodiesel with CaO as catalyst and 50% conventional diesel fuel), B50K (50%
biodiesel with KOH as catalyst and 50% conventional diesel fuel), B100C (100%
biodiesel with CaO as catalyst), and B100K (100% biodiesel with KOH as
catalyst). The characteristics of the blends are assessed through the
measurement of properties like viscosity, density, cetane number, and flash
point. Biodiesel produced with heterogeneous catalyst (CaO) has a higher flash
point and increased viscosity. It may be related to a less heterogeneous
catalyst remaining in biodiesel fuel. The experimental test results indicate
that biodiesel produced with heterogeneous catalyst (CaO) showed more power than
its counterpart. The GHG emission (CO2) is slightly higher for B50C
& B100C. In the case of NOx emissions, it is higher for blends and
particularly for B50C & B100C as the flash point is higher leading to
increased combustion temperature.
An Investigation into the Heat Deformation of a Powder-Metallurgical
Iron- Aluminium-Chromium Alloy
Authors: Francis Xavier J. , Sambath S. , Jayabalakrishnan D. , Suthan R. , Zahir Hussain M.
Published: February 2024

Powder metallurgy of 3065IS temperature and strain rate were only two of the
variables used to investigate the higher permeability of an iron alloy. A strain
rate vs. stress plot revealed a critical value. This demonstrated that the
functioning of the alloy was comparable to that of other materials in its class.
We used a transmission electron microscope to examine the microstructure of
routinely twisted materials to determine particle characteristics and
precipitate distribution. This allowed us to gain a better understanding of the
internal workings of materials. Using constitutive equations, we investigated
the link between temperature and stress. This study's findings were incorporated
into equations describing the material's high thermal behaviour, and a modified
version of the cosec equation was used to analyse this reliance. Effective
stress was defined as the distinction between actual stress and a present limit.
It has been shown that the presence of ferrous particles and deposited inter -
metallic phase may result in a continuous threshold stress that changes with
temperature. The temperature of a material influences the stress applied to
it.
Impact of Liquefied Petroleum Gas on the Emission Characteristics of
Diesel in a Single Cylinder Four Stroke Engine
Authors: Suresh Balaji R. , Daniel Das A. , Marimuthu S. , Manivannan S.
Published: February 2024

The depletion of oil resource and change in global warming has led to the
development of alternate energy resources. Commercially the LPG gas is used as
alternate fuel for the spark ignition engine. In this work an experimental
investigation is done on Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) along with dual fuel mode
of diesel as an alternative fuel for four stroke compression ignition engines.
The primary objective of this study was to analyze the performance and the
exhaust emissions of the engine using different LPG flow rate. The engine used
in the study was originally a single cylinder, four-stroke compression ignition
engine and minor modifications were carried out to permit the experiments to run
on LPG fuel. The LPG is supplied in the suction stroke mixed with air while
diesel is injected at the end of the compression stroke to initiate the
combustion process. The LPG is made to flow with different levels of 3%, 6%, 9%,
12%, 18% and 21% on the volume basis with Diesel 100%. The electrical
dynamometer was coupled with this compression ignition engine (720 to 2160
watts). Experiments were conducted and performance parameters such as Brake
thermal efficiency (BTE), Specific fuel consumption (SFC), indicated power (IP),
Torque (T), and Mechanical efficiency are calculated. AVL five gas was employed
to determine the percentage of analyzer emission gases such as Co, UBHC,
CO2 and NOx. Optimum performance was obtained at the flow rate of
18% LPG compared with base line data. This paper explores a crucial aspect of
engine emissions, specifically focusing on the impact of liquefied petroleum gas
(LPG) on the emission characteristics of a diesel engine in a single-cylinder
four-stroke setup. This research sheds light on potential improvements in
emissions and environmental sustainability, providing valuable insights for the
automotive and environmental industries.
Low Cycle Fatigue Behavior of Cerium-Modified Stainless Steel at
Elevated Temperatures and the Impact of Aluminum/Zinc Ratio
Authors: Francis Xavier J. , Katherasan D. , Jayabalakrishnan D. , Maniyarasan M. , John Solomon I.
Published: February 2024

In fast breeder reactors, materials such as 10Zr-15Si titanium modified
austenitic stainless steel are utilised for the cladding and wrapping of the
fuel. Using Al/Zn ratios of 8 and 12 and a constant carbon content of 0.05%, the
temperature dependency of the improved alloy's low cycle fatigue life was
studied throughout a temperature range of 433-764 K. This evaluation was carried
out over the whole temperature range. Under both of these circumstances and at
all temperatures, cyclic hardening was seen in the alloy. Based on the cyclic
stress response and micro processes of deformation, three temperature regions in
the range of 433-764 K have been discovered for the alloy with an Al/Zn ratio.
These temperature domains are as follows: predynamic strain ageing regime,
dynamic strain ageing regime, and regime with active precipitation processes.
All of these temperature domains occur between 433 and 764 K. The temperature
dependence of fatigue life in both alloys revealed a peak at 573 K and a sharp
decrease in life as temperature increased.f At temperatures less than 965 K, the
alloy with an Al/Zn ratio of 12 had a lower cycle fatigue life that was longer
than the alloy with an Al/Zn ratio of 8. Both alloys' fatigue lifetimes were
found to be equal at temperatures over 965 K. The deformation substructure that
emerged in both alloys throughout the fatigue deformation process has been
connected to both the cyclic stress response and the short cycle fatigue
life.
Effect of Post Weld Heat Treatment on Notch Sensitivity Ratio of
Electron Beam Welded AA2024 Aluminum Alloy Joints
Authors: Sandeep Ch , Siva Subramanian R. , Gopikumar S. , Mohan Dass M. , Sethu Ramalingam P. , Vijaya Prakash B.
Published: February 2024

Aluminum alloy AA2024 stands out as a widely utilized age-hardening alloy in
aircraft applications worldwide. Despite its superior weldability in comparison
to its 6000-series counterparts, AA2024 still reveals vulnerability in the
welded joint. Specifically, in the T6 condition, the joint strength is only
about 40% of the strength exhibited by the base metal. Faced with this
challenge, design engineers often resort to selecting thicker base metal plates
due to notable disparities in strength values, particularly concerning yield
strength. AA2024 alloy is welded using low heat input electron beam welding.
This weld is eliminated all demerits in other fusion welding process. However,
heat affected zone is always a weaker region in all the fusion welding process.
Post weld heat treatment process, namely, solution treatment and artificial
ageing was performed to dimmish the width of weaker region. Of which, the joint
treated with solution treatment followed by ageing yielded higher strength. It
may be attributed by distribution of strengthening precipitates.
Investigation on Dynamic Characteristics of Aluminum Metal Matrix
Composites
Authors: Rajeswari B. , Manikandan C. , Soundararajan R. , Amirthagadeswaran K.S.
Published: February 2024

Metal matrix composite processing allows the possibility of improving both
mechanical and damping properties by selecting reinforcements which have high
damping characteristics, hardness and strength. In this work, the effect of
disperse SiC as passive agents on the dynamic properties such as damping ratio,
loss factor and effect of damping factor on
Al7075/Al2O3/SiC composite machinability was studied. The
composite samples were fabricated as Al7075/5%Al2O3,
Al7075/5%Al2O3/5%SiC,
Al7075/5%Al2O3/10%SiC and
Al7075/5%Al2O3/15%SiC as well subsequently
experimented. The dynamic properties were found using free vibration test
approach and the hysteresis loop method. Further, the machinability in end
milling operation was accessed by experimentation with the surface finish as the
parameter under scrutiny. The composite
Al7075/5%Al2O3/5%SiC has better damping ratio comparing to
others, also the composite with the best damping capacity produces a fine
surface finish during machining. Due to the self damping characteristics of the
composite reduces the chatter during machining process such that the surface
finish and dimensional stability was improved on the machined components.