Influence of δ phase precipitation on the stress corrosion cracking resistance of alloy 718 in PWR primary water

The negative influence of δ phase on the intergranular stress corrosion cracking (IGSCC) resistance of alloy 718 is commonly taken for granted. In addition, δ phase formed at low temperature (about 1023 K) do not present the same characteristics than the one formed at higher temperatures (from 1173 to 1273 K). The aim of the present study is then to understand how δ phase precipitation could enhance crack initiation in alloy 718, whatever the form of δ phase is. For that purpose, several heat treatments leading to δ phase precipitation were realized on two alloy 718 heats, one sensitive to IGSCC and the second not. Specific slow strain rate tensile tests carried out on thin tensile specimens in simulated PWR primary medium at 633 K conclusively prove that δ phase has no effect on the intrinsic sensitivity to intergranular crack initiation of tested heats.     

Réalisation de filtres multidiélectriques sur un substrat biréfringent,déformable et de faible épaisseur (mylar)

La répartition spectrale d'un filtre interférentiel à bande étroite est fixée par le type d'empilement et le choix des diélectriques.Nous étudions une technique qui permet de changer le pouvoir de transmission d'un filtre terminé, en faisant varier l'épaisseur optique du substrat. Ce substrat, qui fait partie intégrante du filtre, est élastique et biréfringent. Cette variation peut être obtenue soit par déformation élastique du substrat qui entraîne une modification de l'épaisseur mécanique, soit par utilisation d'un polariseur qui permet de changer la valeur de l'indice utilisé.     

DIVA: Recognition of typical situations for turbine generator diagnosis

DIVA is an expert system for turbine generator diagnosis. Its aim is to help a plant operator interpret vibration evolution to diagnose developing faults. Interpretation of vibration evolution is primarily a recognition process which is achieved by a particular model of heuristic classification. DIVA tries to recognize the observed situation among a hierarchy of typical situations.The purpose of this paper is to present the model we used for heuristic classification, based on prototypes. Prototypes represent typical problem situations and may also be seen as experts with special knowledge of what to do in such situations. We argue that this model presents significant advantages to deal with complex problems such as vibration surveillance.     

Calcul d'energie de fautes d'empilement dans le dioxyde d'uranium

Energy computations of some (100), (110) and (111), planar defects were performed using an ionic bond model for stoichiometric uranium dioxyde. The repulsive contribution to the fault was estimated in two different ways, i.e. using the Born-Mayer classical treatment, or potentials derived from shell model calculations. The stability of the various defect configurations has been studied; on the basis of our numerical values, we may conclude that dislocation dissociation is unlikely in stoichiometric uranium dioxyde.     

Specific limited hydrolysis and phosphorylation of food proteins for improvement of functional and nutritional properties

Limited specific hydrolysis of casein byStaphylococcus aureus V8 protease was used to produce 2% and 6.7% hydrolysates (2 and 6.7% of the peptide bonds hydrolyzed), each containing five polypeptides (by gel filtration) ranging in size from ∼ 16,000 to ∼1,000 daltons. The mixtures of polypeptides had substantially increased solubilities at pH 4.0–4.5, near the isoelectric point of casein. In general, the emulsifying activity index was less for the hydrolysates than for casein; the emulsion stability was higher for the 2% hydrolysate than was the emulsion from casein. Phosphorylation of zein markedly increased the water solubility of zein above and below pH 4. When the free amino acids tryptophan and/or lysine were added to zein in the presence of POC1₃, some amino acids were covalently bound to zein, in addition to covalent attachment of phosphate groups. Threonine did not become incorporated into zein by this method. These derivatives were much more soluble than zein above and below pH 4, the minimum solubility point. A derivative containing 0.98 mol P/mol of zein, along with 1.05% tryptophan and 0.24% lysine, had a relative growth effect onTetrahymena thermophili of 49% that of casein, in comparison to 4.5% for unmodified zein. All the modified zeins had improved emulsifying activity indices.     

Interaction of an odorant lactone with model phospholipid bilayers and its strong fluidizing action in yeast membrane

Some odorant lactones are naturally present in fruits or in fermented products; they can also be used as food additives and can be produced by microorganisms at the industrial scale by biotechnological processes. Gamma-decalactone was previously shown to have antimicrobial properties. We determined by infrared spectroscopy measurements that this compound rapidly diffused into model phospholipid bilayers (within 2 min), modifying the general physical state of a dimyristoyl-L-alpha-phosphatidylcholine (DMPC) film. In vivo, the lactone strongly increased membrane fluidity in the model yeast Yarrowia lipolytica, as evaluated by fluorescence anisotropy measurements. This effect was more important than that of benzyl alcohol, which is known as a fluidizing agent in living cells, and may explain the toxic action of gamma-decalactone in microorganisms.     

Study of ethanol-induced conformational changes of holo and apo alpha-lactalbumin by spectroscopy and limited proteolysis

This study was performed to contribute to the analysis of alpha-lactalbumin "molten globule" state by using spectral and proteolysis techniques. Samples of holo and apo alpha-lactalbumin in the presence of different concentrations of ethanol were analyzed. Results of fluorescence spectroscopy of both forms showed that as ethanol concentration increased, the tryptophanyl residues became more accessible to the solvent. Near circular dichroism spectra of holo alpha-lactalbumin indicated that its tertiary structure was maintained in 20% ethanol whereas it was altered in 30 and 40% ethanol. For apo alpha-lactalbumin, spectra were similar in all samples studied. Holo alpha-lactalbumin was resistant to trypsinolysis in 0% ethanol, whereas it was easily hydrolyzed in 20 and 30% ethanol. In the case of the apo form and in the absence of ethanol, 70% of the protein was degraded after 1 h. However, in the presence of 20 and 30% ethanol, the overall reaction rate was lowered. Peptides obtained after tryptic hydrolysis were identified by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Differences in population of produced peptides indicate the changes of folding intermediates present in the studied alpha-lactalbumin solutions. This study demonstrated that proteolytic enzymes are suitable tools to determine protein structure complementing physico-chemical studies.     

Histological and cell wall polysaccharide chemical variability among apricot varieties

The variability of histological and cell wall chemical characteristics of apricot were assessed in nine apricot varieties: Harogem, Goldrich, Hargrand, Iranien, Moniqui, Orangered^® Bhart, Stark Early Orange, Ravicille and Rouge du Roussillon. For chemical analyses, Iranien and Moniqui were harvested twice at two weeks interval and Goldrich parenchyma was subdivided into inner and outer tissue.