Effects of Undercooling and Transformation Time on Microstructure and Strength of Fe–C–Mn–Si Superbainitic Steel

Strength of Materials - A metallographic method, dilatometry, and X-ray diffraction were applied to investigate the effects of undercooling and holding time on bainitic transformation,...     

In situ observation of synthesized nanoparticles in ultra-dilute aerosols via X-ray scattering

In-air epitaxy of nanostructures (Aerotaxy) has recently emerged as a viable route for fast, large-scale production. In this study, we use small-angle X-ray scattering to perform direct in-flight characterizations of the first step of this process, i.e., the engineered formation of Au and Pt aerosol nanoparticles by spark generation in a flow of N₂ gas. This represents a particular challenge for characterization because the particle density can be extremely low in controlled production. The particles produced are examined during production at operational pressures close to atmospheric conditions and exhibit a lognormal size distribution ranging from 5–100 nm. The Au and Pt particle production and detection are compared. We observe and characterize the nanoparticles at different stages of synthesis and extract the corresponding dominant physical properties, including the average particle diameter and sphericity, as influenced by particle sintering and the presence of aggregates. We observe highly sorted and sintered spherical Au nanoparticles at ultra-dilute concentrations (< 5 × 10⁵ particles/cm³) corresponding to a volume fraction below 3 × 10^–10, which is orders of magnitude below that of previously measured aerosols. We independently confirm an average particle radius of 25 nm via Guinier and Kratky plot analysis. Our study indicates that with high-intensity synchrotron beams and careful consideration of background removal, size and shape information can be obtained for extremely low particle concentrations with industrially relevant narrow size distributions.

     

Design of an Electromagnetic Frequency Tunned Antenna for Mobile Communications

Wireless Personal Communications - Current mobile communications technology relies heavily on efficient design of antennas, where the operational characteristics of the wireless communication...     

Sintering behaviour of fluorapatite–silicate composites produced from natural fluorapatite and quartz

In this work, the sintering behaviour of fluorapatite (FAp)–silicate composites prepared by mixing variable amounts of natural quartz (2.5 wt% to 20 wt%) and FAp was studied. The composites were pressureless sintered in air at temperatures from 1000 °C to 1350 °C. The effects of temperatures on the densification, phase formation, chemical bonding and Vickers hardness of the composites were evaluated. All the samples exhibited mixed phase, comprising FAp and francolite as the major constituents along with some minor phases of cristobalite, wollastonite, dicalcium silicate and/or whitlockite dependent on the quartz content and sintering temperature. The composite containing 2.5 wt% quartz exhibited the best sintering properties. The highest bulk density of 3 g/cm³ and a Vickers hardness of >4.2 GPa were obtained for the 2.5 wt% quartz–FAp composite when sintered at 1100 °C. The addition of quartz was found to alter the microstructure of the composites, where it exhibited a rod-like morphology when sintered at 1000 °C and a regular rounded grain structure when sintered at 1350 °C. A wetted grain surface was observed for composites containing high quartz content and was believed to be associated with a transient liquid phase sintering.     

Continuation methods for approximate large scale object sequencing

Machine Learning - We propose a set of highly scalable algorithms for the combinatorial data analysis problem of seriating similarity matrices. Seriation consists of finding a permutation of data...     

碳酸盐岩岩溶储层多井评价方法及地质应用

多井评价是建立在单井精细解释对比分析基础上的预测储层及含油气性平面分布规律的技术方法,而常规测井资料无法区分碳酸盐岩岩溶储层,因而利用多井评价结果确定岩溶发育程度在平面上的分布规律就显得十分重要。为此,在岩心标定成像测井的基础上,对四川盆地高石梯—磨溪地区15口井的成像测井岩溶发育特征进行分析,建立了中二叠统茅口组岩溶发育各分带的标准成像图版,利用交会图及直方图分析各分带的常规测井响应特征,在此基础上形成了电成像测井刻度常规测井识别岩溶发育带的新方法。研究结果表明:①高石梯—磨溪地区茅口组岩溶带自上而下可划分为风化壳残积带、垂直渗流岩溶带、水平潜流岩溶带以及受岩溶作用较弱的基岩;②风化壳残积带在成像测井图像显示为"暗—亮—暗"条带状模式,垂直渗流岩溶带为垂直线状与暗色斑状组合模式,水平潜流岩溶带为水平线状—层状与斑状组合模式,基岩整体显示为亮色块状模式偶见线状或斑状特征;③有效储层主要发育在垂直渗流带和水平潜流带的顶部;④该区茅口组岩溶发育主要受裂缝发育控制,而裂缝发育又与断层关系密切。结论认为,该新方法对碳酸盐岩岩溶储层的多井评价具有普遍适用性,为四川盆地中二叠统风险探井的部署提供了技术支撑。     

Lactobacillus Gasseri LGZ 1029 in yogurt: rheological behaviour and volatile compound composition

Yogurt preserves and enhances nutritional value of milk. In this study, we have compared several strains to determine the physicochemical, sensory, rheological and aroma characteristics of different yogurts. We used Lactobacillus gasseri LGZ 1029 (LG), commercial probiotic L. rhamnosus (LGG) and traditional fermentation strains Streptococcus thermophilus and L. bulgaricus (SL). Results showed that the flavour and texture characteristics of mixed-strain yogurts were obviously better than in single-strain yogurts. Addition of LG increased pseudoplastic behaviour, as shown by Herschel–Bulkley model analysis of rheological behaviour. The LG + SL group also had both the highest viscosity consistency index and thickening ability. In addition, a total of 57 volatile compounds were detected in yogurts and the fermentation with the addition of LG was mainly affected by ketones. Our study suggested that a yogurt with new attributes can be produced by using LGZ 1029.     

Use of heat-moisture treated maize starch to modify the properties of wheat flour and the quality of noodles

Waxy, normal and high-amylose maize starches were subjected to heat-moisture treatment (HMT) and then added to wheat flour (WF) in different ratios (1%, 5% and 10%). The properties of blends and their cooked noodles were studied to investigate the effects of HMT starches. The incorporation of HMT starch in WF led to an increase in swelling power, peak viscosity and breakdown and to a decrease in setback, thus inhibiting retrogradation, hence enhancing resultant noodle softness. Compared to the same addition ratio of native starch to WF, HMT starch led to higher tensile strength and extensibility in resultant noodles. WF with added HMT starch had higher resistant starch than with native starch. This study showed that addition of HMT maize starch has potential to bring nutritional benefits. However, it is necessary to select the proper blending ratio and amylose content of starch to add, in consideration of its effect on noodle quality.