Geraniol Attenuates Oxidative Stress and Neuro-inflammation Mediated Cognitive Impairment in D‑galactose‑induced Mouse Aging Model

D-galactose (D-gal) is a reducing sugar drug can induce artificial senescence and aging process that mimic natural aging along with the accompanying brain and liver injury in experimental animals. Therefore, chronic D-gal administration is widely used to induce cognitive impairment, Alzheimer disease and aging in rodents' models. Aging is a phenomenon in which oxidative stress and apoptosis play a vital role. Geraniol (GNL) belongs to the acyclic isoprenoid monoterpenes, presents in essential oils such as those from Cinnamomum tenuipilum and Valeriana officinalis. In the present study, we examined the effects of GNL on D-gal-induced oxidative stress and neuro-inflammation mediated memory loss in mice. Analyzing the behavioral differences between control and treated groups, including the elderly mice, revealed that GNL significantly improved memory in mice treated with D-gal-induced memory loss (supplementary videos are provided). The anti-inflammatory and the anti-oxidative role of GNL were confirmed by both histopathological investigations and biochemical analyses. Mechanistically, GNL appears to activate PI3K/Akt and thus upregulates the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and the heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) to reduce the oxidative stress and apoptosis induced after D-gal treatment leading to easing of neurological deficits and cognitive dysfunction in D-gal-induced aging mouse models. Accordingly, our comprehensive behavioral analysis and bioassays suggest GNL as a promising agent preventing cognitive impairment and neurological deficits associated with aging.

Durability of Bamboo Bio-Concretes Exposed to Natural Aging

In recent years, several studies on the durability of cementitious materials combined with vegetable fibers have been developed. In order to understand the properties of these materials in different environmental conditions, they can be subjected to accelerated aging through several cycles of controlled variations of humidity-temperature, wetting-drying, freezing-thawing. However, analyzes that expose such materials to real conditions of use during their useful life are scarce. As a result, this study analyzed the physical, thermal and mechanical behavior of bamboo bio-concretes produced with different volumes of bio-aggregates, which were exposed to the natural aging of the summer in the city of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). The cementitious binder was is composed, by mass, of cement (30%), metakaolin (30%) and fly ash (40%). The water-to-cement ratio was as 0.30. The mixtures were produced with bamboo volumetric fraction of 30%; 40% and 50%. After 3 months of natural aging during the Brazilian summer (from December to March), the property determined in the hardened state was the compressive strength. In addition, a visual analysis by photograph was also realize. The results revealed that higher the volumetric fraction, higher the decrease of compressive strength. The visual analysis showed several changes of the external aspect of the bio-concretes.

Effect of Dissolution of η′ Precipitates on Mechanical Properties of A7075-T6 Alloy

The effects of dissolution of the η′ phase by solution treatment on the mechanical properties of A7075-T6 alloy were investigated. Immediately after solution treatment of the T6 sheet at 450 oC or higher, elongation significantly increased and dissolution of the η′ phase occurred. η′ is the main hardening phase. After natural-aging, GPI, which is coherent with the aluminum matrix, was formed and strength increased. When bake hardening after natural-aging was performed, the yield strength slightly increased due to partial dissolution of the GPI and re-precipitation of the η′ phase. In contrast, after solution treatment at 400 oC, there was less elongation increase due to the precipitation of the coarse η phase at grain boundaries and low dissolution of the η′ phase. In addition, when bake hardening after natural-aging was performed, the yield strength decreased due to insufficient GPI, which is the nucleation site of the η′ phase. To promote reprecipitation of the η′ phase, the solution treatment temperature was set to a level that would increase solubility. As a result, the yield strength was significantly increased through re-precipitation of a large number of fine and uniform η′ phase. In addition, to increase the effect of dissolution, a pre-aging treatment was introduced and the bake hardenability can be improved after dissolution.

Effect of Cold Rolling on Cluster(1) Dissolvability during Artificial Aging and Formability during Natural Aging in Al-0.6Mg-1.0Si-0.5Cu Alloy

Natural aging after solution treatment has a negative effect on the precipitation strengthening of Al–Mg–Si alloys since Cluster(1) formed at a room temperature cannot be dissolved or transformed into precipitates during artificial aging at 170 °C. In this study, cold rolling is focused on as an alternative solution to pre-aging, which is a conventional method to prevent Cluster(1) formation. It is known that excess vacancies are necessary for cluster formation. Cold rolling suppresses cluster formation because excess vacancies disappear at dislocations introduced by cold rolling. In addition, it is expected that cold rolling accelerates the precipitation behavior because the diffusion of solute atoms is promoted by introduced lattice defects. The transition of Cluster(1) was evaluated by Micro Vickers hardness tests, tensile tests, electrical conductivity measurements and differential scanning calorimetry analyses. Results showed the negative effect of natural aging was almost suppressed in 10% cold-rolled samples and completely suppressed in 30% cold-rolled samples since Cluster(1) dissolved during artificial aging at 170 °C due to lowering of the temperature of Cluster(1) dissolution by cold rolling. It was found that the precipitation in cold-rolled samples was accelerated since the hardness peak of 10% cold-rolled samples appeared earlier than T6 and pre-aged samples.

Significance of Digitization of the Cultural Heritage

The digitization of cultural heritage in museums, archives, and libraries is the most important aspect of the digital era. The preservation of cultural heritage is the most important function of the museums, archives, and libraries, so that it can be transmitted to the future generation. The digital materials gathered for multiple storage systems including offsite storage, cloud storage, and so on are necessary to save it from the disasters like floods, fire, earthquakes, tsunami, natural aging, and other factors of deterioration. Digitization is imperative for the modernization and application of all types of technological advancements in various institutions. There are numerous software, hardware, tools, and techniques available for digitization which are described in detail as follows. The information about digitization has been compiled by literature survey and details of the same have been given in the references.

Firing Parameters Effect on the Physical and Mechanical Properties of Scheelite Tailings-Containing Ceramic Masses

The firing parameters in ceramic masses incorporated with 0, 5, and 10 wt% of scheelite tailings were investigated. The ceramic masses were characterized by X-ray fluorescence, granulometric, mineralogical analysis, and Atterberg limits determination. The samples were obtained by uniaxial pressing (20 MPa), sintered at different temperatures (800, 900, and 1000 °C), and heating rates (5, 10, 15, and 20 °C∙min−1). Physical and mechanical tests (water absorption, apparent porosity, and flexural strength) and mineralogical tests were accomplished from the sintered samples. Natural aging tests were also carried out to assess carbonation resistance. For this, some samples were kept in an internal environment (inside the laboratory) for 3 months. The results showed a high content of calcium oxide in the scheelite tailings and a reduction in the plasticity index of the ceramic masses with the tailings addition. The best results were observed for the ceramic mass with 5% tailings. The best results were observed regarding the firing parameters for the temperature equal to 1000 °C, increasing the heating rate to 10 °C∙min−1 without compromising the material properties. The samples kept in an internal environment for 3 months showed a loss of physical and mechanical properties. Such behavior probably occurred due to the onset of the carbonation phenomenon.

Reducing the flaws of 08Yu steel sheet blanks, designed for cold stamping products

The aim of the work is to develop a method of increasing the technological plasticity while maintaining the strength and preventing aging of blanks of cold-rolled sheet steel 08Yu. The task of this work is research and determination of optimal temperature-time parameters of high-speed contact recrystallization annealing and subsequent aging of 08Yu steel sheet blanks to obtain the required level of mechanical properties that would improve their deformability and ability of very deep drawing during cold stamping of products. The optimal parameters of the speed mode are set recrystallization annealing of cold-rolled 08Yu sheet steel, which provides the best structure and properties for further cold pressure treatment. The temperature-time modes of further aging and possibilities to prevent the processes of its natural aging during prolonged operation or transportation have been studied. The method and modes of heat treatment of blanks from finished 08Yu sheet steel to facilitate their deformability and improve stamping in order to reduce waste in the manufacture of products by cold deformatiion with deep and complex drawing were suggested.

IS IT POSSIBLE TO ACHIEVE QUALITY LIGHTING WITHOUT CONSIDERING THE PHOTOMETRY OF THE PAVEMENTS?

In this study, the photometry of a wide range of classic and innovative pavements used in urban and interurban areas were characterised both when new and after 30 months of natural aging. An extreme diversity of behaviour with respect to light reflection was revealed both over time and between pavements. The simulations of relamping cases show that the use of typical CIE r-tables almost systematically leads to non-compliance with the EN 13201 standard, particularly in terms of uniformity. Taking the photometry of the pavement at its stabilized state into account, simultaneously allows for compliance with lighting safety issues and for significant energy savings. As measurements of pavement photometry are rarely carried out, an alternative is to build up a database of urban pavements, which is one of the objectives of the Pavements and Lighting working group.