Modeling and Simulation of Pore Formation in a Bainitic Steel During Creep

In the field of power engineering, where materials are subjected to high pressures at elevated temperatures for many decades, creep-resistant steels are put to work. Their service life is still, however, finite, as the many changes in their microstructure can merely be mitigated and not avoided. Creep cavitation is one of those changes and, in many cases, ultimately causes failure by rupture. In this work, a model is proposed to simulate the nucleation and growth of cavities during creep. This exclusively physics-based model uses modified forms of Classical Nucleation Theory and the Onsager Extremum Principle in a newly developed Kampmann–Wagner framework. The model is validated on P23 steel which underwent creep rupture experiments at 600 °C and stresses of 50, 70, 80, 90 and 100 MPa for creep times up to 46000 hours. The model predicts qualitatively the shape and prevalence of cavities at different sites in the microstructure, and quantitatively the number density, size of cavities and their phase fraction contributing to a reduction in density. Finally, we find good agreement between the simulation and the experimental results especially at low stresses and longer creep times.

Modified forms of easyCLIP

The easyCLIP protocol describes a method for both normal CLIP library construction and the absolute quantification of RNA cross-linking rates, data which could be usefully combined to analyze RNA-protein interactions. Using these cross-linking metrics, significant interactions could be defined relative to a set of random non-RBPs. The original easyCLIP protocol did not use index reads, required custom sequencing primers, and did not have an easily reproducible analysis workflow. This short paper attempts to amend these deficiencies. It also includes some additional technical experiments and investigates the usage of alternative adapters. The results here are intended to allow more options to easily perform and analyze easyCLIP.

SYNTHESIS AND PROPERTIES OF MODIFIED XANTHAN GUM

Xanthan gum is widely used as a stabilizing, emulsifying, thickening agent in pharmacology, medicine, food, oil, paint, textile, perfume, mining and agriculture. For food purposes, potassium, sodium or calcium salts of xanthan formed by carboxyl groups of glucuronic acid and pyruvate group are used. Currently, xanthan gum is not produced on an industrial scale in Russia. There are repeated attempts to create industries in various regions of the country. The paper synthesizes hydrophobized acetylated xanthan gum derivatives with different degrees of substitution. Physical-chemical and colloidal-chemical properties of initial and modified gum are compared by methods of viscosimetry, tensiometry, IR spectroscopy. The point of zero charge of xanthan gum is determined.. Change of macromolecule conformation depending on pH of aqueous solution and preliminary dewatering is shown. Delamination temperatures of initial and modified forms of xanthan gum were determined. The critical micelle formation concentration of the modified gum is 0.2%. At this concentration, the surface activity of the gum is 6.1 and 7.9 mJ m/kg when replacing two and five hydroxo groups, respectively. The possibility of using modified xanthan gum as a binder for obtaining fuel pellets with improved operational properties and calorific value is shown.

The effectiveness of the four-step jigsaw and jigsaw learning model in improving students' argumentation skills about salt hydrolysis concept

One of the learning models that can train students in developing argumentation skills is the jigsaw learning and its modified forms. This study aimed to see the effectiveness of the four-step jigsaw learning and the Jigsaw learning in improving students' argumentation skills about the concept of salt hydrolysis. This study was conducted with 2 classes of 11 grade students of SMAN 7 Kerinci Jambi. Some 53 students in total were purposively recruited and participated in this experiment. Concurrent embedded mixed method with two-group pretest-posttest control group design was used in this study. The results of independent t-test showed that 4SJ was more effective than the Jigsaw class (t= 2.668; p-value = 0.01 < 0.05). It was supported by the n-Gain of 4SJ which was 0.71 and the n-Gain of jigsaw was 0.67. Two factors that influenced the differences in students' argumentation skills were observed; these included the difference in learning duration and the intensiveness in conducting the argumentation debate.

Transfer and Friction Characteristics of Sports Socks Fabrics Made of Synthetic Fibres in Different Structures

Sports socks fabrics produced from polyester, polypropylene, their modified forms Thermocool®, Polycolon®, in three different structures (single jersey, piquet, terry) were investigated for their skin-fabric friction, permeability (air and water vapour), liquid absorption and transfer (absorbency, immersion, absorption capacity, wetback and drying) properties. According to the results, the effect of structure is dominant for frictional characteristics but focusing on the material, polypropylene created a bulkier and lighter structure with lower friction coeffi¬cients, an advantage for sports socks. The effect of structure is greater than the material also for some thermal comfort parameters, e.g. air permeability and absorbency. Focusing on materials, besides their better liquid transfer characteristics, modified forms of both fibres had worse performances for air permeability and absor¬bency compared to their standard forms. Absorption capacity, wetback and drying performances were related to fabric density besides the polyester’s higher regain capacity. While Polycolon® had superiority for wetback performance against standard polypropylene, this was not the case for Thermocool®; however, both modified materials showed apparent superiority for drying periods. Piquet structures were advantageous for absorption capacity and wetback performances for polypropylene. For sports socks parts, specific needs can be met by changing the fabric structure. Considering the materials, polypropylene and Polycolon® can be recommended for both thermal and tactile aspects.

Adsorption of H2S from Thermal Water Using Clinoptilolite

The goal was to study and develop the composite adsorbents to uptake H2S from thermal water on the base of natural zeolite clinoptilolite (CL) from deposit of Georgia and activated carbon (AC). Cation-modified forms of CL have been prepared by wet-milling method. The crystalline structure and content of prepared adsorbents have been studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique, IR-and AAS methods. Adsorption experiments carried out varying the ratio zeolite: AC, composite: solution, duration of contact, granulation degree. The results obtained showed that modification of CL by ion-exchanging method with metal ions (Zn2+, Fe3+, Mn2, Cu2+) has improved the adsorption capacity. Adsorption equilibrium reached in seven-fifteen minutes, and adsorption activity grows in a row: DeCL < CL < CuDeCL < MnDeCL < FeDeCL < ZnDeCL < AC/CL. The sorption capacity ranged from 0.68 mg/g to 28.17 mg/g. pH of thermal water before sorption was 8.97 and in filtrates changed in very wide ranges – from 10.44 until 3.55 depending on type of modification. Presence of multivalent cations of metals in the zeolite confirmed to be an essential factor determined the adsorption activity in relation to H2S, adsorption occurs via both physical sorption and chemisorption. Most active was composite AC/CL with ratio AC:CL, equal 3:2. The difference for H2S between decationated and cation-exchanged forms of CL may be explained by the change of surface potential. Polarity of zeolites depends on Si/Al ratio, which by-turn depends on conditions of acid treatment.

Updated Review of the Toxicity of Selected Fusarium Toxins and Their Modified Forms

Mycotoxins are one of the most dangerous food and feed contaminants, hence they have significant influence on human and animal health. This study reviews the information reported over the last few years on the toxic effects of the most relevant and studied Fusarium toxins and their modified forms. Deoxynivalenol (DON) and its metabolites can induce intracellular oxidative stress, resulting in DNA damage. Recent studies have also revealed the capability of DON and its metabolites to disturb the cell cycle and alter amino acid expression. Several studies have attempted to explore the mechanism of action of T-2 and HT-2 toxins in anorexia induction. Among other findings, two neurotransmitters associated with this process have been identified, namely substance P and serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine). For zearalenone (ZEN) and its metabolites, the literature points out that, in addition to their generally acknowledged estrogenic and oxidative potentials, they can also modify DNA by altering methylation patterns and histone acetylation. The ability of the compounds to induce alterations in the expression of major metabolic genes suggests that these compounds can contribute to the development of numerous metabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes.