Elemental partitioning of platinum group metal containing Ni-base superalloys using electron microprobe analysis and atom probe tomography

The partitioning of platinum group metal (PGM) additions in polycrystalline Ni-base superalloys has been investigated. Alloys with a baseline composition of 15Al–5Cr–1Re–2Ta–0.1Hf (at.%) with systematic variations in Pt, Ir, Ru and W were cast and heat-treated to produce bimodal two-phase γ–γ′ microstructures. Electron microprobe analysis was used to measure the composition of coarse γ′ particles. Selected alloys were studied using atom probe tomography. Pt and Ru weakly partition to the γ′ and γ phases, respectively, whereas Ir partitions equally between both phases. Pt and Ru do not change partitioning behavior appreciably with additional W and Re. Interestingly, Ir lowers γ′ volume fraction and reduces partitioning of W, Re, Ru, Al and Pt. Tungsten partitioning coefficients exhibit an unusually strong temperature dependence, with increased partitioning of W to the matrix at lower temperatures. The thermodynamics of these PGM-containing systems are analyzed and the implications for partitioning are discussed.     

In situ characterization of fatigue damage evolution in a cast Al alloy via nonlinear ultrasonic measurements

A new methodology is described for in situ characterization of fatigue damage accumulation using nonlinear ultrasonic measurements via analysis of the feedback signal of a closed-loop ultrasonic fatigue system. In the very high-cycle fatigue regime, ultrasonic nonlinearity increases with initiation and growth of a dominant, life-limiting fatigue crack. Based on the increase in the ultrasonic nonlinearity with fatigue cycling, crack initiation, small fatigue crack growth and fast crack growth regimes have been distinguished during cycling in specimens with different pore sizes tested at various stress amplitudes. The fraction of fatigue life spent in initiation of a life-limiting fatigue crack decreases with increasing stress amplitude. For a constant stress amplitude, the initiation life also decreases with increasing pore size. The present study also demonstrates the applicability of the methodology for fatigue crack growth studies from natural defects located internally or at the surface in smooth specimens.     

Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles to the Rescue of Renal Injury

Acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are rising in global prevalence and cause significant morbidity for patients. Current treatments are limited to slowing instead of stabilising or reversing disease progression. In this review, we describe mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and their constituents, extracellular vesicles (EVs) as being a novel therapeutic for CKD. MSC-derived EVs (MSC-EVs) are membrane-enclosed particles, including exosomes, which carry genetic information that mimics the phenotype of their cell of origin. MSC-EVs deliver their cargo of mRNA, miRNA, cytokines, and growth factors to target cells as a form of paracrine communication. This genetically reprograms pathophysiological pathways, which are upregulated in renal failure. Since the method of exosome preparation significantly affects the quality and function of MSC-exosomes, this review compares the methodologies for isolating exosomes from MSCs and their role in tissue regeneration. More specifically, it summarises the therapeutic efficacy of MSC-EVs in 60 preclinical animal models of AKI and CKD and the cargo of biomolecules they deliver. MSC-EVs promote tubular proliferation and angiogenesis, and inhibit apoptosis, oxidative stress, inflammation, the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, and fibrosis, to alleviate AKI and CKD. By reprogramming these pathophysiological pathways, MSC-EVs can slow or even reverse the progression of AKI to CKD, and therefore offer potential to transform clinical practice.     

The influence of microstructure on the measurement of γ-γ′ lattice mismatch in single-crystal Ni-base superalloys

Lattice mismatch in multicomponent high refractory single-crystalline Ni-base superalloys has been measured in situ by hot-stage X-ray diffraction. Prior to X-ray examination, all samples were subjected to long-term aging treatments at 1120 °C to relieve coherency stresses. The resolution of the individual γ and γ′ peaks at high Bragg angles in the X-ray spectra and the magnitude of the misfit was found to be sensitive to the microstructure of the material. When the precipitation of coherent γ′ during cooling from the aging temperature could largely be suppressed, the corresponding matrix peaks were narrower and of higher intensity as compared with samples where cooling γ′ was present. Also, a slightly larger misfit, 0.04%, was measured in the microstructures where the cooling γ′ was not present. Procedures for deconvoluting X-ray data are outlined in detail, and the experimental results are discussed in terms of changes in phase compositions and misfit strains produced by the cooling γ′.     

Performance of a continuous-wave forsterite laser with krypton ion,Ti:sapphire, and Nd:YAG pump lasers

The authors characterize continuous-wave operation of a chromium-doped forsterite (Cr⁴⁺:Mg₂SiO₄) laser using krypton ion, Ti:sapphire, and Nd:YAG lasers as pump sources. Measurements were made pumping at 647 nm and 676 nm with the krypton ion laser, between 690 and 1010 nm with the Ti:sapphire laser, and at 1.06 μm with the Nd:YAG laser. Threshold pump powers and slope efficiencies are compared for output coupler transmissions varying between 1 and 15.5%. Room-temperature operation was only achieved using the Nd:YAG pump laser. Forsterite laser output power as a function of both temperature and pumping wavelength is discussed     

Citalopram intervention for hostility: Results of a randomized clinical trial.

Hostility is associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Because central serotonin may modulate aggression, we might expect selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) to be effective in reducing hostility. Such effects have never been examined in individuals scoring high on hostility who are otherwise free from major Axis I psychopathology according to criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed., Text Revision; American Psychiatric Association, 2000). A total of 159 participants (ages 30?50 years, 50% female) scoring high on 2 measures of hostility and with no current major Axis I diagnosis were randomly assigned to 2 months of citalopram (40 mg, fixed-flexible dose) or placebo. Adherence was assessed by electronic measurement and by drug exposure assessment. Treated participants showed larger reductions in state anger (Condition × Time; p = .01), hostile affect (p = 02), and, among women only, physical and verbal aggression (p = .005) relative to placebo controls. Treatment was also associated with relative increases in perceived social support (p = .04). The findings have implications for understanding the central nervous system correlates of hostility, its associations with other psychosocial risk factors for CVD, and, potentially, the design of effective interventions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Transduction of human CD34+ cells that mediate long-term engraftment of NOD/SCID mice by HIV vectors

Efficient gene transfer into human hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) is an important goal in the study of the hematopoietic system as well as for gene therapy of hematopoietic disorders. A lentiviral vector based on the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was able to transduce human CD34+ cells capable of stable, long-term reconstitution of nonobese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficient (NOD/SCID) mice. High-efficiency transduction occurred in the absence of cytokine stimulation and resulted in transgene expression in multiple lineages of human hematopoietic cells for up to 22 weeks after transplantation.