Characterization of Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Mg–Y–Zn Alloys with Respect to Different Content of LPSO Phase

The Mg–Y–Zn alloys with different contents of alloying elements are extruded at an extrusion ratio of 4:1 at 350 °C. The microstructure of the alloys is of an inhomogeneous character showing fine grains produced due to dynamic recrystallization and coarse original grains elongated along the extrusion direction (ED). Moreover, Y and Zn form a long‐period stacking‐ordered (LPSO) phase whose volume fraction increases with their increasing content in the alloy. All investigated alloys exhibit distinct fiber textures with basal planes oriented parallel to ED. It is seen that increasing content of alloying elements leads to a weaker texture. Compression tests with concurrent acoustic emission (AE) measurements are performed along ED at room temperature and a constant strain rate in order to reveal active deformation mechanisms in the alloys and to relate them to their mechanical properties. The AE response is also discussed with respect to the volume fraction of the LPSO phase.     

Clarifying work–family intervention processes: The roles of work–family conflict and family-supportive supervisor behaviors.

Drawing on a conceptual model integrating research on training, work–family interventions, and social support, we conducted a quasi-experimental field study to assess the impact of a supervisor training and self-monitoring intervention designed to increase supervisors' use of family-supportive supervisor behaviors. Pre- and postintervention surveys were completed, 9 months apart, by 239 employees at 6 intervention (N = 117) and 6 control (N = 122) grocery store sites. Thirty-nine supervisors in the 6 intervention sites received the training consisting of 1 hr of self-paced computer-based training, 1 hr of face-to-face group training, followed by instructions for behavioral self-monitoring (recording the frequency of supportive behaviors) to facilitate on-the-job transfer. Results demonstrated a disordinal interaction for the effect of training and family-to-work conflict on employee job satisfaction, turnover intentions, and physical health. In particular, for these outcomes, positive training effects were observed for employees with high family-to-work conflict, whereas negative training effects were observed for employees with low family-to-work conflict. These moderation effects were mediated by the interactive effect of training and family-to-work conflict on employee perceptions of family-supportive supervisor behaviors. Implications of our findings for future work–family intervention development and evaluation are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Phenotypic Characterization of Transgenic Mice Expressing Human IGFBP-5

Pulmonary fibrosis is one of the important causes of morbidity and mortality in fibroproliferative disorders such as systemic sclerosis (SSc) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-5 (IGFBP-5) is a conserved member of the IGFBP family of proteins that is overexpressed in SSc and IPF lung tissues. In this study, we investigated the functional role of IGFBP-5 in the development of fibrosis in vivo using a transgenic model. We generated transgenic mice ubiquitously expressing human IGFBP-5 using CRISPR/Cas9 knock-in. Our data show that the heterozygous and homozygous mice are viable and express human IGFBP-5 (hIGFBP-5). Transgenic mice had increased expression of extracellular matrix (ECM) genes, especially Col3a1, Fn, and Lox in lung and skin tissues of mice expressing higher transgene levels. Histologic analysis of the skin tissues showed increased dermal thickness, and the lung histology showed subtle changes in the heterozygous and homozygous mice as compared with the wild-type mice. These changes were more pronounced in animals expressing higher levels of hIGFBP-5. Bleomycin increased ECM gene expression in wild-type mice and accentuated an increase in ECM gene expression in transgenic mice, suggesting that transgene expression exacerbated bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Primary lung fibroblasts cultured from lung tissues of homozygous transgenic mice showed significant increases in ECM gene expression and protein levels, further supporting the observation that IGFBP-5 resulted in a fibrotic phenotype in fibroblasts. In summary, transgenic mice expressing human IGFBP-5 could serve as a useful animal model for examining the function of IGFBP-5 in vivo.     

钢与混凝土组合基柱连接的非弹性响应

对部分包裹的钢-混组合柱进行了单调推倒荷载试验,并评估了结果,柱与基础块的连接采用传统的栓接钢底板和一种创新的插入式体系。试验显示,传统连接形式的结构响应受锚固螺栓性能的影响显著,锚固螺栓引起较大的固定端旋转并消耗一定的能量,相反地,创新型的钢-混组合基础柱插入式连接系统表现出足够的承载力、非弹性变形和能量吸收能力。而且,通过在组合柱基础的非弹性传递,插入式连接具有不破坏混凝土和构件界面的特性。新型连接形式对于框架结构满足承载设计要求,例如在地震易发区域,是可行的解决方法。     

Hydrogen Softening in the Thin Plate of Microcrystalline 316L Stainless Steel

The thin‐plate specimen of 316L austenite stainless steel was charged with hydrogen using a cathodic charging technique. Despite the short diffusion distance of hydrogen predicted by the diffusion‐controlled model for a semi‐infinite sheet, the Vickers hardness measurements revealed the full effect of hydrogen in the center of the cross‐sections of thin‐plate specimens as well as in the vicinity of the outer surfaces, which appears to be due to the short‐circuit diffusion mechanism along the grain boundaries. The room‐temperature tensile properties of both undeformed and deformed (20, 40%) samples were examined and compared. Hydrogen softening was apparent in both types of samples. For example, the 40% deformed sample showed an approximately 17 and 7% lower yield and tensile strength, respectively, after H charging at a strain rate of 2 × 10^?4 s^?1 with a concomitant decrease in ductility compared to that without H.     

Seroprevalence of anti-hepatitis e virus and anti-salmonella antibodies in pigs at slaughter in Switzerland

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) and Salmonella bacteria are zoonotic pathogens that can be acquired by foodborne transmission because food animals, for example pigs, are recognized as a reservoir. The objectives of this study were to determine the seroprevalence of anti-HEV immunoglobulin G (IgG) and anti-Salmonella antibodies from healthy pigs at slaughter in Switzerland, a country with a good health status of pig herds (e.g., eradication of enzootic pneumonia) compared with those of many countries in the European Union, and a rate of importation of live pigs that is very low (<1%). Based on pooled (diaphragm muscles from 3 to 5 animals per producer) meat juice samples, 120 (60%) of 200 and 8 (4%) of 200 samples were positive for anti-HEV IgG and anti-Salmonella antibodies, respectively. HEV seems to be highly prevalent among fattening pigs in Switzerland, whereas the low seroprevalence of anti-Salmonella IgG has not changed in recent years.     

Cooking indices to predict screw-press performance for crambe seed

Screw presses offer one means for extracting oil from crambe seed. Crambe seed was steam-cooked at 80 to 112°C for 5 to 20 min, dried to 6% (wet basis), and screw-pressed. Meal residual oil decreased with increased cooking time and temperature to a minimum at 10 to 15 min and 100°C (8.5 to 8.9% oil vs. 11 to 12% in uncooked or lightly cooked seed). More intense cooking increased residual oil to a high of 16% at 20 min and 112°C. The degree of cooking was quantified using indices based on light absorbance at 280 nm (A280 index, a measure of soluble protein) and myrosinase activity for aqueous seed extracts. Regression analysis showed that oil recovery, meal residual oil, and the A280 index were significantly correlated with cooking time and temperature. A plot of residual oil vs. the A280 index showed that this index helps discriminate between under-, over-, and optimally cooked seed. The myrosinase index helped identify undercooked samples but was unable to identify overcooked samples. The optimal A280 index values from this bench-scale study may not be the same in full-scale processes, but this approach can be adapted for tuning such processes.     

Inelastic response of composite steel and concrete base column connections

This paper assesses the experimental results of monotonic (pushover) tests carried out on partially encased composite steel-concrete columns connected to the foundation block through the traditional bolted steel end plate and an innovative socket type system. These tests show that the structural response of the traditional connection is significantly influenced by the behaviour of the anchorage bolts. The latter cause large fixed end rotations and possess limited energy dissipation. Conversely, innovative composite steel-concrete base column connections with socket systems exhibit adequate overstrength, inelastic deformations and energy absorption capacity. Furthermore, socket-type connections are characterized by spreading of inelasticity at the base of the composite columns without damage localization on concrete and interface components. It can thus be argued that the innovative connection type assessed in this study is a viable solution for applications in framed structures fulfilling capacity design requirements, e.g. structural systems in earthquake prone regions.