Assessment of Manufacturing Parameters for New 3D-Printed Heating Circuits Based on CNT-Doped Nanocomposites Processed by UV-Assisted Direct Write

This work consists of the development of an easy strategy to transform any structure into an efficient surface heater by the application of a low voltage over 3D printed nanocomposite circuits. To this end, the electrical conductivity and self-heating capabilities of UV-Assisted Direct Write 3D printed circuits doped with carbon nanotubes were widely explored as a function of the number of printed layers. Moreover, an optimization of the printing process was carried out by comparing the accuracy and printability obtained when printing with two different configurations: extruding and curing the ink in the same stage or curing the extruded ink in a second stage, after the whole layer was deposited. In this regard, the great homogeneity and repeatability of the heating showed by the four-layer printed circuits, together with their excellent performance for long heating times, proved their applicability to convert any structure to a surface heater. Finally, the deicing capability of the four-layer circuit was demonstrated, being able to remove a 2.5 mm thick ice layer in 4 min and 4 s.

Focus Energy Determination of Mining Microseisms Using Residual Seismic Wave Attenuation in Deep Coal Mining

Based on the energy attenuation characteristics of residual wave in deep rock, a method was developed to determine the microseismic focus energy. Differential energy loss in infinitesimal spreading distance is logically deduced, upon which energy attenuation equation was established. With a logarithmic transformation, a linear relation of the residual seismic energy with distance is formulated. Its intercept was used to determine the microseismic focus energy. The result is compared with that determined by the energy density method. The reliability of the determined focus energy and the impact of the built-in velocity threshold on the residual wave energy computation are discussed. Meanwhile, the energy absorption coefficient used for representing the absorption characteristics of the rock medium in the mining region under study is also clarified. Key findings show that the microseismic focus energy confirmed by the residual wave attenuation is reliable. The result’s accuracy is quite high, especially for the events in deep rock with great homogeneity. The developed focus energy computation method is closely dependent on the integrity of waveform, accuracy of repositioning, and reliability of effective components extraction. The new method has been shown to be effective and practical.

Narrative Criticism of the Religious Authorities as a Group Character in the Gospel of John: Some Problems

Recent narrative critical studies of the religious authorities in the Fourth Gospel have proposed, first, that the term ‘Jews’ has only one meaning in the Gospel and, second, that ‘the Jews’ and ‘the Pharisees’ constitute a single group character. However, when viewed from a different perspective, the term ‘Jews’ can be said to have three different meanings in the Gospel. Moreover, when viewed from this perspective, the various usages exhibit a remarkable consistency, one not evident when all instances are thought to have the same meaning. If only those instances of ‘the Jews’ that refer to religious authorities are studied from the point of view of narrative analysis, their character exhibits a great homogeneity but at the same time contrasts consistently with the portrayal of the character of ‘the Pharisees’ (together with ‘the chief priests’ and ‘rulers’). This article describes eight ways in which the character of the religious authorities is portrayed differently (and in a contrasting manner) in the two sets of terms, thus indicating that not all instances of the term ‘Jews’ have the same meaning and that the terms for religious authorities do not constitute a single group character, thus raising substantial questions about the proper method for interpreting these texts within the Gospel.

Fabrication of α-sialon sheets by tape castingand pressureless sintering

Sheets of α-sialon were prepared by tape casting and pressureless sintering. Suspensions consisting of precursor α-sialon powders, dispersant, binder, plasticizer, and 60 MEK/40E as solvent were optimized for tape casting by rheological measurements. Crack-free green tapes with good flexibility and high strength were obtained from suspensions with suitable rheological properties (moderate viscosity, shear-thinning behavior, and negligible thixotropy). The obtained green tapes showed great homogeneity by means of scanning electron microscope observation and pore-size distribution, leading to homogeneous α-sialon sheets after pressureless sintering at 1750 °C for 2 h. The results showed that it was possible to fabricate homogeneous α-sialon sheets with smooth surfaces through tape casting and pressureless sintering.

β-lactoglobulin variability in Argentinian Holstein cattle

To determine the genetic variability and population structure of the β-lactoglobulin (LGB) locus in the Argentinian Holstein breed, milk samples from 12 herds at four locations in Córdoba, Argentina, were analysed. Allelic and genotypic frequencies of LGB variants were compared by contingency tables. A G-test was applied to detect Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. LGB A allele frequency was 0·43 and B allele frequency was 0·57. Allelic and genotypic frequencies indicated great homogeneity among populations. Most of the populations were in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. According to the fixation index, populations were panmictics. The partition of the F-statistic demonstrated that mating was at random, although there was a slight excess of heterozygotes, and there were no genetic differences among populations. The Shannon–Weaver index showed that more than 96% of the total genetic diversity for this locus is attributable to the differences within each herd. The diversity among herds within locations and among locations accounted for <4% of the total variation. Phenograms obtained by the Nei procedure for genetic distances disclosed the separation of the herds into two groups, one with an average frequency of LGB B of 0·61 and the other with an LGB B frequency of 0·53. Locations defined two clusters, but the divergence among populations was not important. These results indicated that the Argentinian Holstein breed from Córdoba constitutes one population.

Characterization of Aeromonas genomic species by using quinone, polyamine, and fatty acid patterns

A chemotaxonomic study was carried out on representative strains of 13 Aeromonas genomic species. Quinone, polyamine, and fatty acid patterns were found to be very useful for an improved characterization of the genus and an improved differentiation from members of the families Enterobacteriaceae and Vibrionaceae. The Q-8-benzoquinone was the predominant ubiquinone, and putrescine and diaminopropane were the major poly amines of the genus. The fatty acid patterns of 181 strains, all characterized by DNA–DNA hybridization, showed a great homogeneity within the genus, with major amounts of hexadecanoic acid (16:0), hexadecenoic acid (16:1), and octadecenoic acid (18:1), and minor amounts of the hydroxylated fatty acids (3-OH 13:0, 2-OH 14:0, 3-OH 14:0) in addition to some iso and anteiso branched fatty acids (i-13:0, i-17:1, i-17:0, and a-17:0). Although some differences in fatty acid profiles between the genomic species could be observed, a clearcut differentiation of all species was not possible.Key words: Aeromonas, polyamines, quinones, fatty acids, differentiation.

Les bruyères in vitro. VI. Croissance de Calluna vulgaris sur milieu strictement nitrique ou ammoniacal et cinétique du pH en fonction du développement des plantes

Calluna vulgaris L. Hull was cultured in vitro on a medium containing either nitrate or ammonium salts. Apical shoots, used as cuttings, regenerated twigs and roots after 15 to 25 days. The uptake of mineral nitrogen by roots had an influence on the pH of the medium. There was either an increase of pH when the N source was NO3 or a decrease in pH of the medium with ammonium. Acidification began with the formation of the first new roots; an increase in pH occurred later with the formation of second order roots. The results were difficult to express, owing to rooting heterogeneity. This problem was overcome by changing the origin of the abscissa, the new origin starting with the date of rooting. This procedure allowed the study of pH changes in relation to different stages of plant growth. With the aid of a standard curve, the study of the leakage of H+ and OH− showed great homogeneity in plant behaviour.