Processing of AlSi9Cu3 alloy by selective laser melting

ABSTRACT

Additive manufacturing of Al-alloys allows the production of components with a complicated structured shape, geometry composed by lattice structures, internal cooling, etc. The portfolio of Al-alloys for metal additive manufacturing is still under development and is strongly limited, compared to the conventional technology. The alloy AlSi9Cu3 is used in many applications, but its processing details are still missing. The main aim of this paper is to describe the laser process parameters for AlSi9Cu3, processed by SLM technology and manufactured from two powders of different shapes and particle sizes. The tested process parameters were laser power, laser speed, and hatch distance in the range of 100–400?W, 200–1500?mm?·?s^?1 and 90–150?µm. These were tested using a single-track and cube test. Microstructure, mechanical properties and the fatigue of SLM samples were analysed and compared with as-casted material.     

Mammalian-Cell-Driven Polymerisation of Pyrrole

A model cancer cell line was used to initiate polymerisation of pyrrole to form the conducting material polypyrrole. The polymerisation was shown to occur through the action of cytosolic exudates rather than that of the membrane redox sites that normally control the oxidation state of iron as ferricyanide or ferrocyanide. The data demonstrate for the first time that mammalian cells can be used to initiate synthesis of conducting polymers and suggest a possible route to detection of cell damage and/or transcellular processes through in situ and amplifiable signal generation.     

A Symmetrical Diester as the Sex Attractant Pheromone of the North American Click Beetle Parallelostethus attenuatus (Say) (Coleoptera: Elateridae)

Hexanoic acid, 1-octanol, 1,8-octanediol, octyl hexanoate, 1,8-octanediol monohexanoate, and 1,8-octanediol dihexanoate were identified in headspace volatiles collected from the crushed abdomen of a female click beetle of the species Parallelostethus attenuatus (Say) (Elaterinae, tribe Elaterini). In field trials carried out in Illinois, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia, adult male beetles were strongly attracted to 1,8-octanediol dihexanoate alone. Blends of the dihexanoate with one or more of the other compounds proved to be less attractive than the dihexanoate alone, suggesting that the pheromone of this species may consist of a single compound. The symmetrical diester structure of the pheromone is a novel natural product and appears to be structurally unique among insect pheromones.

     

Effects of Ketone Bodies on Brain Metabolism and Function in Neurodegenerative Diseases

Under normal physiological conditions the brain primarily utilizes glucose for ATP generation. However, in situations where glucose is sparse, e.g., during prolonged fasting, ketone bodies become an important energy source for the brain. The brain’s utilization of ketones seems to depend mainly on the concentration in the blood, thus many dietary approaches such as ketogenic diets, ingestion of ketogenic medium-chain fatty acids or exogenous ketones, facilitate significant changes in the brain’s metabolism. Therefore, these approaches may ameliorate the energy crisis in neurodegenerative diseases, which are characterized by a deterioration of the brain’s glucose metabolism, providing a therapeutic advantage in these diseases. Most clinical studies examining the neuroprotective role of ketone bodies have been conducted in patients with Alzheimer’s disease, where brain imaging studies support the notion of enhancing brain energy metabolism with ketones. Likewise, a few studies show modest functional improvements in patients with Parkinson’s disease and cognitive benefits in patients with—or at risk of—Alzheimer’s disease after ketogenic interventions. Here, we summarize current knowledge on how ketogenic interventions support brain metabolism and discuss the therapeutic role of ketones in neurodegenerative disease, emphasizing clinical data.     

Structure−Activity Relationships of Cinnamate Ester Analogues as Potent Antiprotozoal Agents

Protozoal infections are still a global health problem, threatening the lives of millions of people around the world, mainly in impoverished tropical and sub-tropical regions. Thus, in view of the lack of efficient therapies and increasing resistances against existing drugs, this study describes the antiprotozoal potential of synthetic cinnamate ester analogues and their structure-activity relationships. In general, Leishmania donovani and Trypanosoma brucei were quite susceptible to the compounds in a structure-dependent manner. Detailed analysis revealed a key role of the substitution pattern on the aromatic ring and a marked effect of the side chain on the activity against these two parasites. The high antileishmanial potency and remarkable selectivity of the nitro-aromatic derivatives suggested them as promising candidates for further studies. On the other hand, the high in vitro potency of catechol-type compounds against T. brucei could not be extrapolated to an in vivo mouse model.     

MicroRNA Profiling of B Cell Subsets from Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients Reveals Promising Novel Biomarkers

MicroRNAs control the differentiation and function of B cells, which are considered key elements in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, a common micro(mi)RNA signature has not emerged since published data includes patients of variable ethnic background, type of disease, and organ involvement, as well as heterogeneous cell populations. Here, we aimed at identifying a miRNA signature of purified B cells from renal and non-renal severe SLE patients of Latin American background, a population known to express severe disease. Genome-wide miRNA expression analyses were performed on naive and memory B cells and revealed two categories of miRNA signatures. The first signature represents B cell subset-specific miRNAs deregulated in SLE: 11 and six miRNAs discriminating naive and memory B cells of SLE patients from healthy controls (HC), respectively. Whether the miRNA was up or down-regulated in memory B cells as compared with naive B cells in HC, this difference was abolished in SLE patients, and vice versa. The second signature identifies six miRNAs associated with specific pathologic features affecting renal outcome, providing a further understanding for SLE pathogenesis. Overall, the present work provided promising biomarkers in molecular diagnostics for disease severity as well as potential new targets for therapeutic intervention in SLE.     

Extraction of Vanadium(V) from Mixed Chloride/Thiocyanate Solutions with Two Commercial Solvating Extractants

Studies on the extraction and separation of vanadium(V) from mixed hydrochloric acid/ammonium thiocyanate solution with CYANEX 921 and CYANEX 925 in kerosene were carried out. The effects of various factors affecting the extraction process as well as temperature were investigated. Addition of thiocyanate to the chloride solution was found to enhance markedly the extraction of vanadium. HCl solution efficiently stripped V(V). The number of stages required for extraction and stripping of vanadium ions was determined from the McCabe–Thiele diagram. Based on the obtained results, the separation of V(V) from spent catalyst leach indicates the efficiency of the proposed process.     

MgO as a non-pyrolyzable pore former in porous membrane supports

The gas permeability of Y_0.03Zr_0.97O₂ (3Y-TZP) porous supports from thermoplastic feedstocks has been improved by adding MgO as a non-pyrolyzable pore former. Common pyrolyzable pore formers such as graphite often produce tortuous and narrow pore channels with low gas permeability, limiting the performance of oxygen transport membranes or other membranes relying on gas transport to the active membrane surface. Thermoplastic feedstocks for extrusion of tubular 3Y-TZP supports were prepared with four different amounts of pyrolyzable pore formers and/or MgO as non-pyrolyzable pore former. The MgO was removed after sintering by leaching in acetic acid. With this technique we obtained porosities above 70 vol% and gas permeabilities above 3?10^?14?m². Compared to samples with only pyrolyzable pore formers, the non-pyrolyzable pore former increases the gas permeability and reduces the tortuosity.     

Influence of Reaction Conditions on the Settling Behavior of Liquid-Liquid Dispersions

The settling behavior of liquid-liquid dispersions at ambient temperature and pressure is well investigated. However, little is known about the settling behavior of those systems at high pressure and high temperature. In this work, a novel stainless steel settling cell is presented, enabling investigations on liquid-liquid settling behavior at high pressures up to 130 bar. The settling behavior of a promising CO₂ hydrogenation reaction system is investigated by sequentially determining influences of dissolved CO₂, side components, and temperature.