Immunostimulant Bathing Influences the Expression of Immune- and Metabolic-Related Genes in Atlantic Salmon Alevins

Disease resistance of fish larvae may be improved by bath treatment in water containing immunostimulants. Pattern recognition receptors, such as TLR3, TLR7, and MDA5, work as an “early warning” to induce intracellular signaling and facilitate an antiviral response. A single bath of newly hatched larvae, with Astragalus, upregulated the expression of IFNα, IFNc, ISG15, MDA5, PKR, STAT1, TLR3, and TLR7 immune genes, on day 4 post treatment. Similar patterns were observed for Hyaluronic acid and Poly I:C. Increased expression was observed for ISG15, MDA5, MX, STAT1, TLR3, TLR7, and RSAD2, on day 9 for Imiquimod. Metabolic gene expression was stimulated on day 1 after immunostimulant bath in ULK1, MYC, SLC2A1, HIF1A, MTOR, and SIX1, in Astragalus, Hyaluronic acid, and Imiquimod. Expression of NOS2 in Poly I:C was an average fourfold above that of control at the same timepoint. Throughout the remaining sampling days (2, 4, 9, 16, 32, and 45 days post immunostimulant bath), NOS2 and IL1B were consistently overexpressed. In conclusion, the immunostimulants induced antiviral gene responses, indicating that a single bath at an early life stage could enable a more robust antiviral defense in fish. Additionally, it was demonstrated, based on gene expression data, that cell metabolism was perturbed, where several metabolic genes were co-regulated with innate antiviral genes.

Fabrication of Multi-Layered Zn-Fe Alloy Coatings for Better Corrosion Performance

Zn-Fe compositionally modulated multilayer alloy (CMMA) coatings were developed onto low carbon steel from acid sulphate bath; and their corrosion resistance was calculated using Tafel polarization and impedance methods. The deposit layers were formed galvanostatically by single bath technique (SBT), using square current pulses. An optimal configuration for the growth of most corrosion resistant Zn-Fe coating was proposed and discussed. At maximum switching cathode current density (SCCD) (2.0–5.0 A dm−2), the deposit with 300 layers showed ~43 times superior corrosion resistance than the same thickness of monolayer coating. The improved corrosion resistance of multilayered coatings is due to small change in iron content, leading to change the phase structure of the alternate-layers of the alloy coatings. The surface morphology and structure of film and roughness of the deposit were assessed using Scanning Electron Microscopy and Atomic Force Microscopy. Thus, superior corrosion resistance of Zn-Fe multilayer coatings was used for industrial applications including defense, machinery and automobile etc.

Improving the Mechanical Properties of Ramie-Polylactic Acid Green Composites by Surface Modification using Single Bath Alkaline and Silane Treatment

This research work emphasises on improving the interfacial adhesion of ramie/ polylactic acid (PLA) composites. For this purpose, ramie fabric was modified using vinyl trimethoxy silane with two different hydrolysing agents, i.e. sodium hydroxide and ammonia. The surface modified ramie fabric was characterised by static water contact angle, elemental dispersive X-ray (EDX) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). FTIR and EDX analysis confirmed the presence of silica. The tensile strength of fabric showed a decrease after the silane treatment. The composites were prepared by compression moulding using untreated and treated ramie fabrics with PLA. The treatment improved tensile and impact performance of ramie/PLA composites due to enhanced interfacial adhesion between fibre and matrix. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) results revealed that treated ramie/PLA composites have higher storage modulus and lower tangent delta than untreated composites.

Landau theory for non-equilibrium steady states

We examine how non-equilibrium steady states close to a continuous phase transition can still be described by a Landau potential if one forgoes the assumption of analyticity. In a system simultaneously coupled to several baths at different temperatures, the non-analytic potential arises from the different density of states of the baths. In periodically driven-dissipative systems, the role of multiple baths is played by a single bath transferring energy at different harmonics of the driving frequency. The mean-field critical exponents become dependent on the low-energy features of the two most singular baths. We propose an extension beyond mean field.

Single bath dyeing of modified nylon/cotton blended fabrics using direct/acid dyes

Purpose This study aims to deal with the dyeing of nylon-/cotton-blended fabric in one bath using direct and acid dyes. Design/methodology/approach The cellulose in cotton/nylon-blended fabric was chemically modified using 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl tri-methyl ammonium chloride (CHPTAC) as cationizing agent to impart positive charge on the cellulose. The modified and unmodified blended fabrics were dyed in a single bath with direct and acid dyes under various concentrations of 0.5, 1, 2, 4 and 6 per cent on the weight of fabric by exhaust method. The dyeing of modified and unmodified fabrics was characterized through the properties such as K/S and colorfastness to washing, rubbing and light. Findings The modified fabric exhibited higher color yield, comparable rubbing fastness and good washing fastness. Originality/value The dye uptake was maximum in a single-bath dyeing process of nylon-/cotton-blended fabrics without electrolyte addition, which minimizes the impact of dyes on environment.

The effects of the combined process of enzymatic bleach clean-up, enzymatic defibrillation and dyeing on the comfort and physical properties of Tencel/cotton knitted fabrics

This study aimed to investigate the comfort and physical properties of raw and finished knitted fabrics made of yarns with different Tencel/cotton blend ratios. For this purpose, Ne 20 yarns were produced with the same twist coefficient on the same production line. Fabric samples were produced on the same knitting machine. The raw fabrics were subjected to two different combined enzymatic pre-treatments and dyeing processes. In the first process, enzymatic defibrillation and dyeing were carried out in the same bath. In the second, enzymatic bleach clean-up, defibrillation and dyeing were conducted in the same bath. The comfort and physical properties of all the raw and finished fabric samples were measured according to the relevant standards. The results were assessed statistically. The results of this study showed that with increased percentage of Tencel in the blend, the water vapor and air permeability, fabric roughness, pilling, thermal absorption and loss of mass values of the fabrics increased, whereas thermal conductivity values decreased. It was observed that the fabrics which were subjected to enzymatic defibrillation and dyeing processes in a single bath gave lower surface roughness and abrasion values but higher air permeability values; while those subjected to enzymatic bleach clean-up, defibrillation and dyeing in a single bath gave higher thermal conductivity and thermal absorptivity values. Comparison of the two processes showed that there were no significant differences in the pilling and the water vapor permeability values obtained from both processes.

Extraction of Work via a Thermalization Protocol

This extended abstract contains an outline of the work reported at the conference IQIS2018. We show that it is possible to exploit a thermalization process to extract work from a resource system R to a bipartite system S. To do this, we propose a simple protocol in a general setting in the presence of a single bath at temperature T and then examine it when S is described by the quantum Rabi model at T = 0 . We find the theoretical bounds of the protocol in the general case and we show that when applied to the Rabi model it gives rise to a satisfactory extraction of work and efficiency.