The Influence of the Material Structure on the Mechanical Properties of Geopolymer Composites Reinforced with Short Fibers Obtained with Additive Technologies

Additive manufacturing technologies have a lot of potential advantages for construction application, including increasing geometrical construction flexibility, reducing labor costs, and improving efficiency and safety, and they are in line with the sustainable development policy. However, the full exploitation of additive manufacturing technology for ceramic materials is currently limited. A promising solution in these ranges seems to be geopolymers reinforced by short fibers, but their application requires a better understanding of the behavior of this group of materials. The main objective of the article is to investigate the influence of the microstructure of the material on the mechanical properties of the two types of geopolymer composites (flax and carbon-reinforced) and to compare two methods of production of geopolymer composites (casting and 3D printing). As raw material for the matrix, fly ash from the Skawina coal power plant (located at: Skawina, Lesser Poland, Poland) was used. The provided research includes mechanical properties, microstructure investigations with the use of scanning electron microscope (SEM), confocal microscopy, and atomic force microscope (AFM), chemical and mineralogical (XRD-X-ray diffraction, and XRF-X-ray fluorescence), analysis of bonding in the materials (FT-IR), and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy analysis (NMR). The best mechanical properties were reached for the sample made by simulating 3D printing process for the composite reinforced by flax fibers (48.7 MPa for the compressive strength and 9.4 MPa for flexural strength). The FT-IR, XRF and XRD results show similar composition of all investigated materials. NMR confirms the presence of SiO₄ and AlO₄ tetrahedrons in a three-dimensional structure that is crucial for geopolymer structure. The microscopy observations show a better coherence of the geopolymer made in additive technology to the reinforcement and equal fiber distribution for all investigated materials. The results show the samples made by the additive technology had comparable, or better, properties with those made by a traditional casting method.     

An adaptive RAM-DFE for storage channels

A modification of the decision feedback equalizer (DFE), RAM-DFE, is presented and analyzed for use in channels with trailing nonlinear intersymbol interference, especially binary saturation-recording channels. In the RAM-DFE, a look-up table, which can be easily implemented with random access memory, (RAM), replaces the transversal filter feedback section of the DFE. The feedforward section of the equalizer remains linear. A general nonlinear Markov (or finite-state machine) model is used to model the nonlinear intersymbol interference (ISI) channel. With this Markov model, a method is introduced for computing the minimum-mean-squared-error settings of the feedforward filter coefficients and the feedback filter and look-up table contents for the linear DFE and the RAM-DFE, respectively. RAM-DFE with these settings can be significantly better than the linear DFE for channels with trailing nonlinear ISI. Globally convergent gradient-type algorithms for updating the feedforward section coefficients and the contents of the feedback table are introduced and analyzed. Results based on data taken from disk storage units are discussed     

Genetic Carriers and Genomic Distribution of cadA6—A Novel Variant of a Cadmium Resistance Determinant Identified in Listeria spp.

Listeria monocytogenes is a pathogen responsible for severe cases of food poisoning. Listeria spp. strains occurring in soil and water environments may serve as a reservoir of resistance determinants for pathogenic L. monocytogenes strains. A large collection of Listeria spp. strains (155) isolated from natural, agricultural, and urban areas was screened for resistance to heavy metals and metalloids, and the presence of resistance determinants and extrachromosomal replicons. Of the tested strains, 35% were resistant to cadmium and 17% to arsenic. Sequence analysis of resistance plasmids isolated from strains of Listeria seeligeri and Listeria ivanovii, and the chromosome of L. seeligeri strain Sr73, identified a novel variant of the cadAC cadmium resistance efflux system, cadA6, that was functional in L. monocytogenes cells. The cadA6 cassette was detected in four Listeria species, including strains of L. monocytogenes, isolated from various countries and sources—environmental, food-associated, and clinical samples. This resistance cassette is harbored by four novel composite or non-composite transposons, which increases its potential for horizontal transmission. Since some cadAC cassettes may influence virulence and biofilm formation, it is important to monitor their presence in Listeria spp. strains inhabiting different environments.     

Monitoring biodegradation of ethene and bioremediation of chlorinated ethenes at a contaminated site using compound-specific isotope analysis (CSIA)

Chlorinated ethenes are commonly found in contaminated groundwater. Remediation strategies focus on transformation processes that will ultimately lead to nontoxic products. A major concern with these strategies is the possibility of incomplete dechlorination and accumulation of toxic daughter products (cis-1,2-dichloroethene (cDCE), vinyl chloride (VC)). Ethene mass balance can be used as a direct indicator to assess the effectiveness of dechlorination. However, the microbial processes that affect ethene are not well characterized and poor mass balance may reflect biotransformation of ethene rather than incomplete dechlorination. Microbial degradation of ethene is commonly observed in aerobic systems but fewer cases have been reported in anaerobic systems. Limited information is available on the isotope enrichment factors associated with these processes. Using compound-specific isotope analysis (CSIA) we determined the enrichment factors associated with microbial degradation of ethene in anaerobic microcosms (ε = -6.7‰ ± 0.4‰, and -4.0‰ ± 0.8‰) from cultures collected from the Twin Lakes wetland area at the Savannah River site in Georgia (United States), and in aerobic microcosms (ε = -3.0‰ ± 0.3‰) from Mycobacterium sp. strain JS60. Under anaerobic and aerobic conditions, CSIA can be used to determine whether biotransformation of ethene is occurring in addition to biodegradation of the chlorinated ethenes. Using δ(13)C values determined for ethene and for chlorinated ethenes at a contaminated field site undergoing bioremediation, this study demonstrates how CSIA of ethene can be used to reduce uncertainty and risk at a site by distinguishing between actual mass balance deficits during reductive dechlorination and apparent lack of mass balance that is related to biotransformation of ethene.     

Glutathione Deficiency during Early Postnatal Development Causes Schizophrenia-Like Symptoms and a Reduction in BDNF Levels in the Cortex and Hippocampus of Adult Sprague–Dawley Rats

Growing body of evidence points to dysregulation of redox status in the brain as an important factor in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effects of l-buthionine-(S,R)-sulfoximine (BSO), a glutathione (GSH) synthesis inhibitor, and 1-[2-Bis(4-fluorophenyl)methoxy]ethyl]-4-(3-phenylpropyl)piperazine dihydrochloride (GBR 12909), a dopamine reuptake inhibitor, given alone or in combination, to Sprague–Dawley pups during early postnatal development (p5–p16), on the time course of the onset of schizophrenia-like behaviors, and on the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNA and its protein in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hippocampus (HIP) during adulthood. BSO administered alone decreased the levels of BDNF mRNA and its protein both in the PFC and HIP. Treatment with the combination of BSO + GBR 12909 also decreased BDNF mRNA and its protein in the PFC, but in the HIP, only the level of BDNF protein was decreased. Schizophrenia-like behaviors in rats were assessed at three time points of adolescence (p30, p42–p44, p60–p62) and in early adulthood (p90–p92) using the social interaction test, novel object recognition test, and open field test. Social and cognitive deficits first appeared in the middle adolescence stage and continued to occur into adulthood, both in rats treated with BSO alone or with the BSO + GBR 12909 combination. Behavior corresponding to positive symptoms in humans occurred in the middle adolescence period, only in rats treated with BSO + GBR 12909. Only in the latter group, amphetamine exacerbated the existing positive symptoms in adulthood. Our data show that rats receiving the BSO + GBR 12909 combination in the early postnatal life reproduced virtually all symptoms observed in patients with schizophrenia and, therefore, can be considered a valuable neurodevelopmental model of this disease.     

Microstructural Features Leading to Enhanced Resistance to Grain Boundary Creep Cracking in ALLVAC 718Plus

This study focuses on the microstructural features that enhance the resistance of ALLVAC 718Plus to grain boundary creep cracking during testing of samples at 704 °C in both dry and moist air. Fully recrystallized structures were found to be susceptible to brittle grain boundary cracking in both environments. Detailed transmission electron microscopy (TEM) microstructural characterization reveals features that are believed to lead to resistance to grain boundary cracking in the resistant microstructures. It is suggested that dislocation substructures found within the grains of resistant structures compete with the high-angle grain boundaries for oxygen, thereby reducing the concentration of oxygen on the grain boundaries and subsequent embrittlement. In addition, electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) misorientation maps reveal that special boundaries (i.e., Σ3 boundaries) resist cracking. This is in agreement with previous findings on the superalloy INCONEL 718. Furthermore, it is observed that cracks propagate along high-angle boundaries. This study also shows that in this case, the presence of delta phase at the grain boundaries does not by itself produce materials that are resistant to grain boundary cracking.     

Novel biodegradable form stable phase change materials: Blends of poly(ethylene oxide) and gelatinized potato starch

Novel biodegradable form stable phase change materials were obtained in a process involving potato starch gelatinization in water/poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) solution. DSC and microscopic investigations revealed that the presence of the starch considerably changes PEO phase transition behavior–in the blends solid–solid phase transition for PEO/starch 1 : 3 and 1 : 1 w/w has been observed; for PEO/starch blend 3 : 1 w/w solid–solid phase transition with a partial melting of PEO unbounded through hydrogen bonds with starch has been detected. The heat of phase transition depends on the strength of hydrogen bonds between PEO and starch. The intermolecular interactions were evidenced by FTIR analysis, which showed considerably shift of the stretching vibration bands of both the O? H group (proton‐donor group) from starch and PEO. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

Microwave-assisted desulfurization of NOx storage-reduction catalyst

The activity of NO_x storage-reduction (NSR) catalysts is greatly reduced by sulfur poisoning, caused by the SO₂ present in the exhaust stream. Desorption of sulfur species from poisoned NSR catalysts occurs at temperatures in excess of 600 °C using reducing atmospheres and conventional heating. In this work, microwave (MW) heating has been used to promote desulfurization of poisoned NSR catalysts. The experiments were carried out by heating the catalyst with MW radiation and using hydrogen as the reducing gas. Desorption of H₂S at 200 °C was observed. Desorption at even lower temperatures (150 °C) was observed when water was introduced to the system. In the presence of water, sulfur species desorbed as both H₂S and SO₂. An overall reduction of sulfur species of about 60% was obtained. The use of MW heating proves to be an efficient way to achieve regeneration of poisoned NSR catalysts.     

Processing of preconsciously acquired information measured by hemispheric asymmetry and selection accuracy.

Two groups of 14 right-handed female undergraduates saw a series of slides for 1 msec. Subsequently, these slides were paired with similar but novel slides. One group was asked to view the pairs analytically and to select the one they thought they had seen before. The other group was asked to view the pairs holistically and indicate which of the 2 they preferred. Results support the hypothesis that analytically instructed Ss would be more likley to engage the parietal region of their left hemisphere and holistically instructed Ss would favor relative activation of the right parietal region. An inverse relation was also detected between parietal laterality and selection accuracy. It is suggested that differential hemispheric involvement may account for the observation that affective discrimination can be performed in the absence of conscious awareness. Findings are discussed in terms of a memory model of information processing. (27 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Broad-band frequency characterization of double Y-branch nanojunction operating as room-temperature RF to DC rectifier

Room-temperature dc and broad-band high-frequency (HF) to dc conversion measurements of a double Y-branch junction (YBJ) are presented and discussed. Nonlinear dc characteristics of the devices at room temperature are observed and HF to dc conversion up to 40 GHz at room temperature is presented. The HF to dc conversion efficiency degradation is found to be partly due to losses in interconnects feeding the device. A small-signal equivalent circuit of the YBJ is proposed in order to verify the frequency dependence of intrinsic elements.