Mapping the magnetic field in the solar corona through magnetoseismology

Science China Technological Sciences - Magnetoseismology, a technique of magnetic field diagnostics based on observations of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) waves, has been widely used to estimate the...     

Superhydrophobicity vs. Ice Adhesion: The Quandary of Robust Icephobic Surface Design

The mesoscale, multitier texture of the lotus leaf has served as an inspiration to fabricate surface designs with controllable superhydrophobic properties, targeting a broad range of applications. The choice of material for such designs is directly related to surface performance, in particular under adverse and realistic conditions. Due to its importance in many applications, here aluminium is employed as a material platform and identify key porous hierarchical textures, yielding extraordinary impalement‐resistant behavior: Droplet repellency is demonstrated consistently for water impact velocities up to 12 m s⁻¹ (extreme Weber number, We ≈ 3500). Despite impressive superhydrophobic behavior, if ice forms on such surfaces, ice adhesion is markedly stronger than on less hydrophobic alumina nanotube array structures. In a departure from the findings of the well‐accepted shear stress‐based ice adhesion criterion, a deviation between decreasing ice adhesion strength and increasing hydrophobicity is observed. This is explained with ice adhesion mechanism, depending strongly on the applied stress field orientation and the respective effective ice–substrate contact area. Our results indicate that ice adhesion criteria for the performance of icephobic surfaces should account for the simultaneous presence of shear and tensile stresses, instead of shear stresses alone.     

Relationship between matrix-microstructure and mechanical properties of copper alloyed thin wall austempered gray cast iron (TWAGI)

In this investigation the characteristics of thin wall (3 mm thickness) castings of copper alloyed gray cast iron have been examined. The samples of the thin wall castings have been austempered isothermally thus the thin wall austempered gray iron (TWAGI) produced. The samples austenitizing at 927 °C (1700 °F), the samples have been austempered at 260 °C (500 °F), 285 °C (545 °F), 310 °C (590 °F), 335 °C (635 °F), 360 °C (680 °F) and 385 °C (725 °F) respectively for 1 h. As a result, these samples developed an ausferrite matrix and excellent mechanical properties. The microstructures of these samples TWAGI have been characterized through optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. The mechanical properties may be correlated with the volume fraction of austenite and ferrite and ferrite cell size in the ausferrite microstructure.     

Role of interdisciplinarity in computer sciences: quantification,impact and life trajectory

The tremendous advances in computer science in the last few decades have provided the platform to address and solve complex problems using interdisciplinary research. In this paper, we investigate how the extent of interdisciplinarity in computer science domain (which is further divided into 24 research fields) has changed over the last 50 years. To this end, we collect a massive bibliographic dataset with rich metadata information. We start with quantifying interdisciplinarity of a field in terms of the diversity of topics and citations. We then analyze the effect of interdisciplinary research on the scientific impact of individual fields and observe that highly disciplinary and highly interdisciplinary papers in general have a low scientific impact; remarkably those that are able to strike a balance between the two extremes eventually land up having the highest impact. Further, we study the reciprocity among fields through citation interactions and notice that links from one field to related and citation-intensive fields (fields producing large number of citations) are reciprocated heavily. A systematic analysis of the citation interactions reveals the life trajectory of a research field, which generally undergoes three phases—a growing phase, a matured phase and an interdisciplinary phase. The combination of metrics and empirical observations presented here provides general benchmarks for future studies of interdisciplinary research activities in other domains of science.     

ORGANIC GEOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION AND SHALE GAS POTENTIAL OF THE PERMIAN BARREN MEASURES FORMATION,WEST BOKARO SUB‐BASIN,EASTERN INDIA

This study investigates the shale gas characteristics of the Permian Barren Measures Formation (Gondwana Supergroup) in the West Bokaro sub‐basin of the Damodar Valley Basin, eastern India. A total of 23 core shale samples collected from a borehole located in the western part of the sub‐basin were analysed using organic geochemical techniques and scanning electron microscopy. The samples are black carbonaceous shales composed chiefly of quartz, mica and clay minerals. Rock‐Eval pyrolysis data show that the analysed samples contain a mixture of Type II and Type III kerogen with TOC values of 2.7 to 6.2%. Rock‐Eval T_max values ranging from 443 to 452 °C correspond to calculated vitrinite reflectance of approximately 0.8–0.9%. A cross‐plot of hydrogen index versus T_max indicates that the samples have reached peak oil to wet gas maturities. A pristane/n‐C₁₇ versus phytane/n‐C₁₈ cross‐plot, together with biomarker parameters such as the dominance of C₂₉ over C₂₇ and C₂₈ steranes and high moretane/hopane ratios (0.22–0.51), demonstrate that the shale samples contain terrigenous organic matter deposited in a suboxic environment. Scanning electron microscopy images of shale samples show the presence of a complex, mostly intergranular pore network. Both micropores (>0.75μm) and nanopores (<0.75μm) were observed. Some pores are elongated and are associated with layer‐spaces in sheet silicate minerals; others are non‐elongated and irregular in shape. The organic geochemical parameters and the observed pore attributes suggest that the Barren Measures Formation has good shale gas potential.     

Planar and Grid Graph Reachability Problems

We study the complexity of restricted versions of s-t-connectivity, which is the standard complete problem for . In particular, we focus on different classes of planar graphs, of which grid graphs are an important special case. Our main results are:

Microstructure and mechanical properties of copper alloyed austempered grey cast iron

Austempered grey cast iron (AGI) has emerged as a major engineering material in recent years because of its attractive mechanical properties. The main aim of this investigation is to assess the mechanical properties of copper alloyed AGI. Alloyed grey cast iron specimens are subjected to austempering heat treatment at six different temperatures for four different time periods. The resulting microstructures have been evaluated and characterised by means of light microscope and scanning electron microscope and X-Ray diffraction analysis. The microstructural features of AGI such as austenite content and its carbon content have been also found to influence the hardness, tensile properties and elongation. Both duration of the austempering time and the austempering temperature affect the mechanical properties of AGI. The hardness, tensile strength and ductility initially increase, and thereafter it decreases on longer periods of austempering. On the other hand hardness, tensile strength decreases as increasing austempering temperature, while ductility increases. The best combination of hardness 380BHN and strength 332?MPa; observed at 927°C of austenitising and 260°C of austempering temperature for 60?min.