Studies on synthesis and microstructure evolution of multiphase in-situ composites based on Mo-Cr-Si system

This paper presents the results on in-situ synthesis of refractory metal-intermetallic composites (RMICs), Mo-16Cr-4Si and Mo-11Cr-9Si (wt.%) multiphase alloys and their characterization. The alloys were prepared from the oxides of molybdenum and chromium by their coreduction with Si as reductant. Exothermic nature of the synthesis reactions resulted in the formation of consolidated composite as a product in a single step. As-reduced alloys were remelted by arc melting and heat treatment was given. The evolution of phases and the microstructure were studied by XRD, SEM, and EDS analysis. The multiphase microstructure consist of the silicide phases (Mo,Cr)₃Si + (Mo,Cr)₅Si₃ for hypereutectic and (Mo,Cr)₃Si phase distributed in bcc matrix comprising essentially a solid solution of (Mo,Cr) for hypo-peritectic composition. Comparative studies of the synthesized alloys were also carried out to the composition, phases, microstructure, hardness and their oxidation behavior.     

Resource allocation in decentralised computational systems: an evolutionary market-based approach

We present a novel market-based method, inspired by retail markets, for resource allocation in fully decentralised systems where agents are self-interested. Our market mechanism requires no coordinating node or complex negotiation. The stability of outcome allocations, those at equilibrium, is analysed and compared for three buyer behaviour models. In order to capture the interaction between self-interested agents, we propose the use of competitive coevolution. Our approach is both highly scalable and may be tuned to achieve specified outcome resource allocations. We demonstrate the behaviour of our approach in simulation, where evolutionary market agents act on behalf of service providing nodes to adaptively price their resources over time, in response to market conditions. We show that this leads the system to the predicted outcome resource allocation. Furthermore, the system remains stable in the presence of small changes in price, when buyers’ decision functions degrade gracefully.     

Cyclic Stretch Induces Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase and Soluble Guanylate Cyclase in Pulmonary Artery Smooth Muscle Cells

In the pulmonary vasculature, mechanical forces such as cyclic stretch induce changes in vascular signaling, tone and remodeling. Nitric oxide is a potent regulator of soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC), which drives cGMP production, causing vasorelaxation. Pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) express inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and while iNOS expression increases during late gestation, little is known about how cyclic stretch impacts this pathway. In this study, PASMC were subjected to cyclic stretch of 20% amplitude and frequency of 1 Hz for 24 h and compared to control cells maintained under static conditions. Cyclic stretch significantly increased cytosolic oxidative stress as compared to static cells (62.9 ± 5.9% vs. 33.3 ± 5.7% maximal oxidation), as measured by the intracellular redox sensor roGFP. Cyclic stretch also increased sGCβ protein expression (2.5 ± 0.9-fold), sGC activity (1.5 ± 0.2-fold) and cGMP levels (1.8 ± 0.2-fold), as well as iNOS mRNA and protein expression (3.0 ± 0.9 and 2.6 ± 0.7-fold, respectively) relative to control cells. An antioxidant, recombinant human superoxide dismutase (rhSOD), significantly decreased stretch-induced cytosolic oxidative stress, but did not block stretch-induced sGC activity. Inhibition of iNOS with 1400 W or an iNOS-specific siRNA inhibited stretch-induced sGC activity by 30% and 68% respectively vs. static controls. In conclusion, cyclic stretch increases sGC expression and activity in an iNOS-dependent manner in PASMC from fetal lambs. The mechanism that produces iNOS and sGC upregulation is not yet known, but we speculate these effects represent an early compensatory mechanism to counteract the effects of stretch-induced oxidative stress. A better understanding of the interplay between these two distinct pathways could provide key insights into future avenues to treat infants with pulmonary hypertension.     

Dry catalytic partial oxidation of diesel-fuel distillates into syngas

Volatile compounds distilled below 205 °C from diesel fuel are reformed into synthesis gas by dry catalytic partial oxidation using porous membrane reactors, eliminating complex liquid-fuel injectors and fuel-air mixers, greatly simplifying reformers for applications with solid-oxide fuel cells and NO_x traps. For distillates utilizing 20 wt% of the diesel fuel, 88 mol% of the carbon is converted into CO and 75 mol% of the hydrogen into H₂. Rationale is as follows: Long-chain n-alkanes such as n-hexadecane, with normal boiling point, 286.5 °C, but autoignition temperature, 205 °C, are the least thermally stable hydrocarbons in diesel fuel. If attempts are made to vaporize diesel fuel under oxygen-lean conditions without precautions, long-chain n-alkanes crack at autoignition temperatures forming radicals that initiate polymerization. By eliminating more troublesome compounds by distillation, and by effusing cooler air through porous ceramic membranes to react radicals with oxygen, carbon deposition is largely suppressed. A perovskite catalyst, fed pre-heated air at >900 °C, provides a reservoir of mobile lattice oxygen to react with adsorbed carbon. In continuous runs of 72 h, carbon deposition was negligible in the reactor, on the catalyst, and in the exhaust, except for minor graphite deposited onto walls near the catalytic hot zone.     

Physicochemical Investigation of Biocompatible Mixed Surfactant Reverse Micelles: III. Aqueous NaCl Solubilization, Thermodynamic Parameters of Desolubilization Process and Conductometric Studies

Solubilization of water and aqueous NaCl in mixed reverse micelles (RMs) comprising sodium bis(2‐ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate (AOT), and polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan trioleate or polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monooleate has been studied at different compositions (X_nonionic = 0–1.0) at a total surfactant concentration, S_T = 0.10 × 10³ mol m^?3 in biocompatible oils of different chemical structures; viz., ethyl oleate (EO), isopropyl myristate (IPM) and isopropyl palmitate (IPP) at 303 K. The enhancement in water solubilization (i.e., synergism) has been evidenced by the addition of nonionic surfactant to dioctyl sulfosuccinate/oil(s)/water systems. Addition of NaCl in these systems at different X_nonionic enhances their solubilization capacities further until a maximum, ω_NaCl,max is reached. ω_NaCl,max and [NaCl]_max (concentration at which maximization of NaCl solubilization occurs) depend on type of nonionic surfactant, its content (X_nonionic) and oil. A new solubilization efficiency parameter (SP*_water or SP*_NaCl) has been proposed to compare solubilization phenomena in these oils. The energetic parameters of the desolubilization process of water or aqueous NaCl in single and mixed RMs have been estimated. Energetically, the water dissolution process in oil has been found to be more exothermic as well as more organized in IPP. Overall, the dissolution of water and aqueous NaCl in mixed RMs is entropically driven process. Conductance behavior of these systems in the presence of NaCl has been investigated under different [NaCl] at 303 K. An attempt has been made to give an insight to the mechanism of solubilization phenomena, percolation in conductance and microstructures vis‐à‐vis role of biocompatible oils in these systems.     

Ge/SiGe Superlattices for Thermoelectric Devices Grown by Low-Energy Plasma-Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition

Ge/SiGe multiple quantum wells are presented as efficient material for room-temperature thermoelectric generators monolithically integrated onto silicon. We have deposited and characterized 10-μm-thick heterostructures engineered for lateral devices, in which both heat and current flow parallel to the multilayer. In this paper we investigate in detail the structural and interface quality by means of x-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. Thermoelectric measurements, giving a figure of merit of 0.04 to 0.08, together with mobility spectra and defect analysis suggest possibilities of even higher efficiency. Nevertheless, the high power factor of 2 mW/K²m to 6 mW/K²m is promising for applications.     

Dynamic behaviour of railway tracks on transitions zones

Transition zones between structures as bridges or box culverts frequently present higher degradation rates compared to the remaining railway. This paper presents a numerical model for the dynamic loads on the ballast caused by trains passing a transition. The model was validated with field data obtained from an extensive field survey conducted in two transition zones in the Netherlands. Results show that the forces on the ballast vary significantly both in time and space on a transition, especially with the appearance of voids under the sleepers. Implications of the results on the long-term behaviour of transition zones are presented.